Cost of living #3

[LovyDovySpuffy]

Tried looking for kangaroo meat on Amazon. Only kangaroo jerky was found there. Went somewhere else to find kangaroo meat.

 

[Joan the Vampire Slayer]

Well, spring came quick and now it's warm enough to turn off my heat, which I am so thankful for! The gas bill was killing me.

I had to pay for my dog's trip to the vet this week. I guess I didn't really realize the upfront costs of getting a dog! I had forgotten, as I haven't had a dog in 20 years. It wasn't planned though. I found her dumped on the side of the road, in a box, and I just had to rescue her. I love having a dog, but boy is it an expense. I spent a bit on supplies for her; a crate, toys, harness, etc. She has her last appointment for her shots next month, and then I need to get her spayed and licensed. So that's going to be around $400 total. But then the only costs for her going forward will be to feed her. So that's manageable.

Other than that, I'm just trying to work as much as possible and get ahead, but its not easy with the cost of everything being so high.

It's garage sale season here and I need to hustle and find some stuff to resell.

 

[simdagger]

So glad you saved her.
I saved my hound from a farmer who left him to rot, he was a lame puppy couldn't work ( hare coursing) he was full of worms and barely alive now he's the best damn dog in the world, his legs got strong and can run like a champ, loves the ocean (can't swim as he's basically a greyhound but seeing him run full speed through the water makes me smile everyday)

 

[TriBel]

It wasn't planned though. I found her dumped on the side of the road, in a box, and I just had to rescue her.

My mum was in a line of traffic when a car hit a puppy. The car didn't stop - nor did the next six. Mum did. She put the puppy in the car and took her to the nearest vets. Her leg was shattered and needed pinning. My parents paid for the op and local radio put an appeal out for her owner. No one came forward and dad said "Sod 'em. I'm keeping her". She was between 3-6 months old when they got her - and 19 years old when she died. My dad was heartbroken.

 

[LovyDovySpuffy]

@November, you're right. Kangaroo is not popular in the states. They're quite anal about what's normal to be eaten in the states, especially on a legal basis. You can't even buy haggis in the states legally. You'd have to make someone discreetly make haggis in the states for consumption.

 

[November]

has her last appointment for her shots next month, and then I need to get her spayed and licensed. So that's going to be around $400 tota

Some organizations may have vouchers to pay for her spay. End game for PETA and those kinds of organisations is a world with no pets, so they very much encourage desexing of animals and some of the offshoots have vouchers for low income people to pay for it. I got both my girls desexed with an rspca voucher and costs were under $200 each.

Dogs are the cheapest pets to run tho! Getting more dog food on special delivered tomorrow for me. Bunnies are not cheap. Their 4 days of food costs more than 4 weeks of dog food.

Gona cook some pasta today. Maybe make a mac and cheese. My weight loss has come to a stop now. I have to go back to carbs for a while lol

 

[LovyDovySpuffy]

@November, you can technically get kangaroo meat online legally in the states. But popular supermarkets in the states usually do not allow kangaroo meat last time I checked. Chicken, beef, lamb, pork, turkey, shrimp, cod, salmon, tuna, and a few other seafood things are normal in the states. But I know Aussies have more meat and seafood variety in their supermarkets.

 

[Joan the Vampire Slayer]

My mum was in a line of traffic when a car hit a puppy. The car didn't stop - nor did the next six. Mum did. She put the puppy in the car and took her to the nearest vets. Her leg was shattered and needed pinning. My parents paid for the op and local radio put an appeal out for her owner. No one came forward and dad said "Sod 'em. I'm keeping her". She was between 3-6 months old when they got her - and 19 years old when she died. My dad was heartbroken.

I saw a dog get hit by a car a couple weeks ago here. The car didn't even slow down. It was horrible. The dog yelped and went running, and I tried to run after it, but I couldn't find it. I was pretty shook over it. I hope someone else found it, and it survived.

I'm so glad that puppy was rescued by your dad and found a good home!

I cruelty of people is amazing. Just the other day, someone posted on Facebook that they found a puppy in a dumpster.

There are a lot of stray dogs and unwanted dogs in my area and I guess people have become desensitized to it. I love my dog so much, she's like my child. I can't even think about what would have happened to her, had I not found her...

 

[November]

Are any other countries running adverts to tell people to pick up their prescription meds? I keep seeing this ad on tv that says all PBS meds are $30 or under so go fill your scripts. I mentioned it a neighbour and they said its because people on aged pension have stopped buying their meds and are ending up in hospital because of it. There just isnt enough money in their budget even when the drugs are $30 or under. Another reason I'll never take daily meds ever again!

The homelessness is full on now. The ground is getting colder so all the people in the bush are starting to make their way down to the city for winter. Having a home is just such a huge advantage. Im 5 years into mine and I am still in awe everyday of how much easier it makes life. And still trying to retrain my brain into the fact I have it! I dont think I appreciate it enough.

 

[Plasma]

The homelessness is full on now. The ground is getting colder so all the people in the bush are starting to make their way down to the city for winter.

Wait, so people live in the wilderness of Australia? Is it the aboriginal people or is it other people who just live off in the wilderness, away from society?

 

[November]

Wait, so people live in the wilderness of Australia? Is it the aboriginal people or is it other people who just live off in the wilderness, away from society?

Australia is very big and people live differently all over it. The poverty is more extreme than most are aware of. Especially inland and up north.

These people through my town are homeless, slowly hitchhiking hundreds of kilometers between cousins in over crowded social housing and homeless services as the seasons change. My town used to be a camp (reserve?) before it was cleaned up for migrant workers and some relatives still pass through. They cant stay long, even in the bush, because there is no affordable food in the town (this is on purpose). It is hard to discuss and I have been warned before.



Im planning a run down to the city for supplies before the school holidays. I want to get more yarn for something to do but its just a want not a need so I gotta figure out the needs first!

 

[LovyDovySpuffy]

@November, yeah. I forgot meat and seafood variety depends on what region you live in where Oz is. Can imagine you being careful about buying things if there is less choice. Or at least I would be careful.

 

[November]

I noticed today in the city that none of the shops have outside displays anymore. City farmers (pet store), furniture Emporium and best and less (clothes) used to have big displays outside their doors with products, now there is nothing. I thought they were closed! I am wondering if its to do with the all the shoplifting at the moment. Though it might be hard to take off with a 25 kilo bag of chicken poop... I duno just made the place seem empty.

Prices are definitely high. Even Aldi chocolate isnt cheap any more! It used to be $2 here, then $2.99 which was still cheaper than everywhere else, and now its $3.49 which isnt much better than anywhere else. Aldi is a bit annoying to shop at because you cant do a full shop there like one can at coles or woolies. They didnt have any turkey or chips today 🙁

 

[nightshade]

Popped over to the zero waste stall today, got a bag of new potatoes, and 2 packs of chicken drumsticks. One was frozen so put in straight into the freezer, I'll put the other pack into the slow cooker with something! Not sure yet. Also got some cereal bars that I'll take to work.

 

[November]

Rewards memberships are worth it. I just looked at my receipt and I got a $47 discount at the pet shop. $17 off the price of the dog biscuits on the frequent feeder discount.
I got two chew toys, more than 50% off and they have a 100 day chew guarantee. Plus some cheap greenies that were cheap because they go out of date next month, but my girls will finish the pack before then anyway.

I went to the stock feed for rabbit hay and got Lilah a new collar, was $7 cheaper than at the pet shop, same brand and everything. I got more kong toys from the stockfeed as well because they way underpriced those toys! Kong brand at the pet shops were over double the price. Sometimes its worth checking out the dusty isles.

Also got a new pillow, 30% off with my VIP card at spotlight. They need to do some deals on my yarn! Its gone up 25c each this year

 

[Plasma]

Though it might be hard to take off with a 25 kilo bag of chicken poop... I duno just made the place seem empty.

If people want something, they will most definitely get it! There was recently a news piece about some people in the US ramming a storefront with a truck to steal sports merchandise.

 

[nightshade]

If people want something, they will most definitely get it! There was recently a news piece about some people in the US ramming a storefront with a truck to steal sports merchandise.

There was a story on the news today about the theft/killing of a pet pig.

I have to say not having the airfryer is making me think about meals more, I got too used to easy meals in it.

 

[November]

I just ordered some more boots online. Sneaky bastards tried to charge for the box they come in! I did go in store yesterday but they had a better deal if I ordered online, second pair for half price. They only last me about 3 months since I started walking two dogs, but trying to find anything cheaper that fits is probably not worth the energy. Maybe later in the year. I have enough boots now until September lol.

If people want something, they will most definitely get it! There was recently a news piece about some people in the US ramming a storefront with a truck to steal sports merchandise.

There were so many ram raids in one of the suburbs I used to live in, that they stopped reporting it because people were copy-catting. That was in the outer suburbs of the city though, I figured regional people were too off their faces to co-ordinate anything like that haha.

 

[nightshade]

I spent the gift cards I had for Christmas, new jeans! I didn't have much choice to get some as my supermarket specials were very thin in the crotch area, so a disaster waiting to happen!

I'm still finalising my food shopping order which is due on Monday. Its at £45, and minimum is £40, so I have a little wiggle room for alterations.

 

[nightshade]

Got paid more than I expected, I worked extra but hadn't really realised how much extra, so new airfryer bought!
That's the good news, the bad news is Tesco are putting the minimum order up to £50 from £40, which is more than I need to order in a month. Their clubcard scheme isn't as good as it used to be either,so might look at Asda prices and their loyalty scheme.