Thanks so much everyone! So much helpful stuff in there.
I am a meal planner. Just trying to get used to planning smaller meals! I am used to being able to freeze all the leftovers.
Thanks N2L - I will definitely look into NILS. I found a direct rentals place that does no interest Centrepay rentals to own over 12 months to HCC holders, will look into that more too I think.
BG - can't use my advances, I am not eligiable for them at the moment, I used them to help cover moving costs and what not over here a couple of months ago.
Keike - the phone thing isn't a bill stuff up - it has come from an issue when I first moved over here with Telstra not connecting my home phone on the bundle properly, which has only been resolved in the last week, meaning I had to keep using my mobile to make calls, which went above and beyond my cap in a BIG way. DH had lowered my cap without telling me and so I am screwed, and VF had removed the free call between our two numbers, despite both DH and I calling to put it back on on 3 separate occasions. I am in the process of getting rid of the contract mobile altogether, but will be stuck paying it out as there is about 12 months left on it. We got them both on a business deal years ago and it just keeps rolling over, which i did last year and upgraded the phone. Since separating and separating the accounts though and putting it in my name, we lost a major discount (the point of having them both on one name ITFP ). Anyway, I have a prepaid, and have a home phone now that includes the net, and ALL local and mobile calls, which I can start using by Wednesday to contact D for the girls to talk to him. That is really our major expense, phone wise, comeone is always calling to or from a mobile.
WRT to the Foxtel, yep, I watch it and for me it is worth it. As I said, there really is no going out or anything on my own, so movies, everything, all happens at home. The girls watch the cartoons, and I watch the footy, cricket, movies and most importantly, the docos. It will be getting reduced when uni starts back in a couple of weeks though.
I have given the concession details to the utilities and to Telstra, all of which come out each fortnight via Centrepay so I don't even see that money - which is AWESOME! lol Love that it comes out before I see it, unlike the money that comes out the day after it goes into my account, that is depressing!
Abigail - I didn't realise that the rego could be reduced or free with the pension card! I have the WA rego on the car until October, then will need to switch it to Vic (which I think will also involve a trip over the pits to get a RWC, is that right??) so having to not pay that full cost will be a life saver.
I use the car much less frequently here than in Perth, so that is helping. I am getting about 3 weeks from a tank of petrol most of the time, if I don't go to far too often, saving me about $100 a month.
The girls are covered under exDH's top notch private health insurance - a BIG bonus of his job is the supreme health cover included on top of his salary - it doesn't cover me, but does him. The car insurance is about to get changed over too next month when it expires, so will be doing that monthly, but should only be about $80 a month for full comp cover.
I get boxes and things of fruit/veg, but I can't plan that way what is coming, so I am hesitant. I have looked into having the basics delivered from AFD and a few other places, and it is just not economically viable at the moment. The girls can't drink cow's milk anyway, so have to get "specialty" milks and I only drink milk in my coffee and for cooking (which I use theirs). Will be making our own bread though, I can't afford my bread anymore, but the $1 loaves from Coles just don't sit well with me. They eat a lot of bread so need to be careful with it. I really hate processed crap.
We go to the park OFTEN - about 3-4 times a week. It is our staple now, but when it is raining and freezing, the playcentre is a good out for them - in Perth though most of the time it is too hot to go to an outside park, so the playcentre became something we did several times a week - but it was more than HALF the cost of our local playcentre (which is crap, expensive and we won't be going back to).
It is good to now there are some places I can take them that are concession friendly - DD2 is *almost* at an age now where I can take her to places like the museum without her getting bored witless.
DD1 is at kinder days a week, and the mums have told me about the Steiner playgroup that runs for DD2, but not sure I can afford a daycare day for DD2 yet. She goes to the creche at the gym when I go, as does DD1 on her days off kinder, the hour to myself is lovely! lol But will be leaning on my brother and sister I think to take them for a day every fornight so I can study.
Abigail - yes, I am on a FT study load, who do I contact about information for the Pensioner Education Supplement?
Fionas - thank you That does help immensely, I think I need to work on my mindset a lot at the minute, it is all pretty negative up there really, and needs to change, or I am going to end up in a ball rocking back and forth in the corner. Not Pollyanna at all - exactly what I needed.
Can anyone tell me anything about Myki? Has this replaced the oldschool yearly/half yearly tickets? Is it worth getting this, or will I need to get one for me and one for DD1 herself (she is 5 in November), or am I still best off sticking with Metcards for now? When do the Metcards stop being sold?
Thanks again everyone, I think it is really just going to require much more attention than I am used to it needing, and me getting used to doing it all on my own 100% of the time.
I don't think you can get met cards anymore, myki only from now on. Also, you do not need to take the car for a RWC to register it here. If you do it before is due, you can get back some of the rego you paid in WA.
Another thing. With the ftb advance you can pay it off earlier and get it sooner too. So if you previously got a 500 advance and have paid back 300, you can get the last 200 paid back and advance the whole 500 again. Puts you 300 up now. May not help you with the freezer situation right now, but it may when rego is due or something.
I increased my payments each fortnight so I could get advance again a week earlier due to rego. You don't have to pay that one over 13 fortnights. That's the maximum timeframe.
Just puttIng it out there. Something to consider. I paid an extra few bucks a fortnight and got it paid off a fortnight early. Some people double the payments so thy get limp sums every few months, some pay a lump sum like I first mentioned as they could use the extra cash for a situation like yours with the freezer...
I didn't know that, BG. Will have a look at that, because I have found that if I don't have the money, it doesn't worry me not having it - that's why I love Centrepay! lol Thanks
For local cheap stuff:
There's a Tasman or similar butcher near Aldi at Mentone, near the DFO. The veggie shop there is good too.
A few friends have recommended shopping at Dandenong market for cheaper goods - meat, veggies, etc. Obviously, the freezer thing is a issue ATM but that may come in handy down the track.
There's a cheap veggie shop in Bentleigh near the IGA on the west side of the train tracks.
There's a wholesale market in Cheltenham that you can shop at. They don't just do wholesale. They have meat, veggies, and things in bulk like rice, pasta and toilet paper.
). Anyway, I have a prepaid, and have a home phone now that includes the net, and ALL local and mobile calls, which I can start using by Wednesday to contact D for the girls to talk to him. That is really our major expense, phone wise, comeone is always calling to or from a mobile.
That does help immensely, I think I need to work on my mindset a lot at the minute, it is all pretty negative up there really, and needs to change, or I am going to end up in a ball rocking back and forth in the corner. Not Pollyanna at all - exactly what I needed.
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