Decision time

So it has come to my attention that I spend FAR too much money. Mostly on clothes and shoes and handbags and jewellery and cosmetics... Oh well let's just say, I spend far too much money!

So last night I made a realisation and a decision. The realisation was that if I don't get another job, and/or stop spending money, I am never going to get overseas again, and I am never going to be able to afford a house. This realisation prompted me to second realisation. I only have to save enough money (really), in order to pay for the air fares and travel/accommodation expenses. I have a job and I will be taking leave from said job in order to go on this big trip. So that said - I will have day to day spending money, and some for souvenirs, clothing, jewellery etc (see above!).

So the decision I made was this - stop spending money on my credit card for frivolous purchases. Money will still be spent on essentials (food, phone, occasional nights of entertainment, presents etc), but the rest goes into savings. I have worked out that if I do that I could have enough money to go away in about 5 months time. That is really exciting. What is more exciting is that I am not planning on leaving for another 11 months - so imagine what I could do with what is saved then!

These plans are for my 30th birthday - I want it to be awesome. I want it to be FANTASTIC. Most of all I want to be travelling again!

Help me live my word of the day, without being a miser people!

Today's word of the day is:
Frugal - adjective

1.

economical in use or expenditure; prudently saving orsparing; not wasteful: a frugal manager.

2.

entailing little expense; requiring few resources; meager;scanty: a frugal meal.

Busy, busy, busy (getting older...)

Wow - how time flies when you are having fun!

The last week has been very busy, going up to Sydney to visit with my family for my Mum's birthday - it was a big one this year - 60! If you ask her, she doesn't feel like she is that age (not old, age), and I can understand how she feels. I am turning 29 this Friday, and honestly, I don't feel any older than about 22. Mentally and emotionally I know I have grown up, I can remember being very immature at that age, but physically I don't feel any different.

This week I have a lot of things happening, apart from being in Sydney over the last weekend, I have a family dinner tonight with J's side of the family, comedy night out tomorrow night with friends, my birthday dinner on Friday, surprisingly enough the weekend is very quiet (can anyone say recovery?!), but then next week is full as well with comedy nights happening, a meet up of friends for drinks and dinner, and various other random regular stuff happening.

I guess being more positive and putting myself out there has started to help boost not only my level of activity, but also the amount of people around me, which is really nice.

One of the nice things about getting older, it means that you start to realise when you are growing as a person and in this last year or so, I have tried (not always succeeded) to push myself out of my comfort zone, and grow as an individual. So I am going to enjoy a drink on my birthday, and I am looking forward to celebrating growing older, but never too much "growing up".