Saving for a house

Well, I think its probably time that I'm back; its been a while.
I'm back because I have a goal this goal is to save $10,000 in twelve months.
This means $830 dollars per month approximately, which is a huge goal.

The thing about money is that you can still feel bad about spending it as you tick through the things you really want.

As a new to the workforce young woman, I've definitely found as my income has grown, so have my expenses. Now this would come from the independence that comes from working (and having my licence now...) however I have started to be more wary of this in the last few days and subsequently have found a few notes that I would like to raise to get the most of that income for both myself and maybe for you too.


Pay tax, the right way.

This is not something I myself had to worry about, however I have seen many of my peers be charged 'withholding tax' and this is something being taken by the Australian Government that is a charge for earning money without having a record to which citizens annual income this is making up. 

Quick fix: Call your bank, put down your tax file number and enjoy the extra money.

Don't hide from yourself. 

You know that thing you do, the one that I spoke about at the start of this post? The thing where you mentally you are a bundle of angst over the item that you're buying. That my dear one is the sense of guilt that you feel because you know that you could spend that money better elsewhere. Whether it is putting it in the savings account as part of the 10% savings from your wage or the bill money you really can't afford to spend, it doesn't matter.
Not so quick fix: be aware of your spending, over time become more calm with knowing if you're doing a great job of saving or whether you're... 'taking a break from saving'.

Keep your sanity

Saving doesn't mean to cut everything (although can be a medium for saving) it means literally to save some of the income you have. Whilst saving one of the biggest things that grinds my gears is feeling like I don't have enough money to enjoy life. You work for a reason, don't let the daily crunch, crunch you.

Quick fix: Allow splash money, however you much decide and that you've budgeted for that you can spend on anything. Save it 2 weeks in a row or week by week, but whatever you use it for; make it yours.

25x25

Here are 25 things I want to do before I turn 25.

1. Visit a different country.
2. Get acupuncture.
3. Finish a bachelor degree... in something.
4. Save $20,000.
5. Take a day trip, alone.
6. Bungee jump (or give it a red-hot go).
7. Give $100 to a stranger, no strings attached. 
8. Preach a sermon.
9. Go 24 hours without technology.
10. Work doing something I love for 12 whole months. Whether that means a 'real' job or pursuing a hobby full time.
11. Create a perfume.
12. Write a short story.
13. Have an article in the newspaper about me.
14. Attend the Melbourne Cup.
15. Go to a ball.
16. Read the whole bible.
17. Write a letter to myself to open at 50.
18. Cook Christmas dinner for my family. 
19. Start a business.
20. Start a charity.
21. Live alone, even just for a month.
22. Step out in faith *more*.
23. Cliff jump.
24. Re-learn italian.
25. Throw a dinner party for the people that have been there for me through everything, just because I can.

I hope to do these things for the experience, some aren't easily measured but I dare say I'll know by 25 if I've achieved them and look forward to crossing things off as I go.

Eat, drink, wear.

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

EAT// Recently Liam and I found a little burger place in Hobart called The Standard with their signature burger under the same title. Seriously delicious. They have 4 burgers on the menu and more 'secret' options on their Facebook page. All really well priced and yummy, plus the place is really cute. They have white paper lanterns hung from the ceiling and a gold staircase. 
Check them out at Hudsons Lane, Liverpool Street, Hobart.



DRINK// Peppermint tea. Any brand. I like mine with no milk but about a centimetre of cold water in the top. I'm averaging about 4 cups a day. Oops.

WEAR// Gold accessories, plum and sorbet colours. Just love. I love wearing them, seeing them, eating them (berry sorbet I'm looking at you!).

The blood of the covenant is thicker than the waters of the womb.

My family are not Christians and as I am this creates some pretty awkward situations. 
Tonight's moments included refusing to watch Disney's new Frozen, even though I really wanted to watch; and arguing with my mum over if people will be drinking at my 18th birthday in July. 

The birthday situation began with myself talking to my mum about wanting to go to a nice restaurant for my 18th and then probably going out to a few bars for minimal drinks. We were talking about most of my friends being students and trying to accommodate for them in terms of pricing. My mum suggested that we hire a hall and get a caterer and I suggested the church hall. She immediately started getting really frustrated, and this was aggravated by my saying that I would not want alcohol over dinner and that alcohol would only be had if we actually went out for dinner or if people accompanied me out to a pub or club. As my mother always seems to do, she turned the TV off told me that "just decide what you want to do and we will do what you want. Maybe you should just go out with your friends". This, if you're totally unaware of women and our grumpy "do what you want" voices would sound perfect. Hint: I shouldn't do what I want and neither should you if a woman tells you to.

Now I had though about this issue previously and hoped that it wouldn't be a big problem but alas it seems it will be. 

It comes as no surprise to me that I feel alienated in my family, after all why should I feel at ease with those who do not love and follow God? Jesus talks about this type of conflict in Matthew 10:22 & 10:26-39.

In Matthew 10 Jesus is sending out His disciples, the people He has been teaching about God. He is sending them out even saying in v. 16 "I am sending you out like sheep among wolves...", I don't know about you but I don't really like the idea of being a sheep up against wolves. Jesus' analogy speaks to me though, showing me that the people (the wolves) that we are trying to live with and have gospel conversations with, like my family; aren't always going to be too pleased with us. This idea of displeasure for us, I think is repeated in v. 22, with Jesus saying that we will be hated by everyone because of Him. This hatred though is not in vain, even if that is sometimes how it feels. 
Jesus goes on to say that the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. This reminds me and I hope it does you too, that it is better to be with Him than to be comfortable in our life in this world. 

Verse 26 onwards for me is quite empowering, what could be better to hear than our Saviour describing our relationship possible with Him thanks to His death on the cross. 

That is the best type of relationship, one with Him. So I encourage you to stand firm and align your heart with God's, even if it sucks and you are hated, even if it doesn't seem to lead anywhere, even if you feel you have done enough. Because He loves you and always will, no matter what the people around you are saying or doing. 

Love, 
Tiffany.

Words.

Does anyone else get extremely excited finding out there is a word for an idea that you have had or something you were trying to convey?
I had this today. Whilst watching a TED talk on youtube by Ben Goldacre titled 'battling bad science' I learnt there is a word for the branch of medicine which deals with the incidence, distribution, and possible control of diseases and other factors relating to health; and this word is epidemology. 
I realised that through the last months that I wanted more research than pathology but in the same type of area, I realised that I wanted to be uncovering all the crazy disease information that we are yet to know. 

This Christmas…

Today I woke with the distinct feeling of sadness rooted in my stomach.
So close to Christmas, my family and I have received both good news and bad.
In the very small town my father and his family are from (about 3 hours drive from where I am now) a family friend and his colleague fell down a mine that my father & his father used to work at. The two who fell, died. A friend of my mother passed away unexpectedly and although I never knew him, Nelson Mandela passed also.

I would like to raise the thought that, this Christmas; instead of worrying about presents and getting sassy with your loved ones, show them you love them.

In 1995 Dr. Gary Chapman, a Pastor and relationship counsellor from North Carolina, wrote a book titled: The five love languages.
This book (is not only a great read but) gives the reader an insight into the people around them, and perhaps even themselves. In said book, the five love languages are five categories that people feel and show love. In no particular order the love languages are:

1. Physical touch
2. Quality time
3. Words of affirmation
4. Acts of service
5. Gift giving

I suggest that you read the book to find out more about each 'language', and maybe even do the online test (http://www.5lovelanguages.com) to find out what your top 3 'languages' are. 

The point of telling you about those, was to say that not all people feel and/or show love the same way.

Which may explain why if you decline a hug/rebuke a compliment/snap at a kind gesture/refuse a gift/miss cooking with your loved one; they may feel unloved. Which I'm sure is not what you're intending this holiday period. 

Though this was drawn out for what I am trying to say, 

I hope you enjoyed your time here,

Love, Tiffany.

Thoughts.

**THIS POST IS MORE AN UPDATE TO THOSE WHO KNOW ME IN REAL LIFE**

Whilst looking at various things on the UMelb site, I discovered I can do the major I want (pathology) through the bachelor of science, an ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank) of 78* comparatively to the 95-100 ATAR that I would need for the bachelor of biomedicine. What a relief, however the thought still arose that what would happen if I did not get this score. I live in Australia so there realistically is no way that I will not go to university if I want to. But I have decided that - against the side of me that wants to plan everything about my journey to Melbourne - that I will wait and see if, when I apply to both courses through VTAC, I get in.

Then if I get in, I will defer for a year and work; saving as much money to make the transition as each as possible in the process.
If I am declined, I will do a semester of general studies at UTas whilst working and transfer after my first year.

I'm choosing these options as I cannot move by myself as I know I will not cope with so many new things and such transition with no support network. Be it through my friends, family or church. In 2016, the year I plan on starting my degree, my best friend Hilary and my partner Liam will be moving also.

*78 ATAR as my family receives Centrelink payments.

Thanks for listening,
Much love.
Tiffany xo