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Month: January 2012

  • January 20, 2012

    Traditional trappings I care not a whit for

    English: Cliff House from Ocean Beach

    Image via Wikipedia

    Pets.

    Not an animal person, never have been. My ex’s mother once said “a home doesn’t feel like a home without pets”. I grew up in a human-only household, so anything else would feel strange.

    T really wants a dog (or dogs, plural), so we can fight that out when we start thinking about buying a house. (And that will apparently be just the first of 2000 arguments over it.)

    Bach.

    I don’t have any stats to draw on, but holiday house ownership seems reeeeally high among Kiwis.

    Now, I love me a holiday and I love staying in a proper house. In my adult life I have only been camping once, overnight. (I think about all the Coro Gold campers who only had a tent to return to after jumping around in mud for hours and shudder) . And there’s nothing better than a free stay at a friend’s parents’ bach.

    But a bach is only used for a tiny fraction of the year (and you certainly can’t rent it out all the rest of the time). And do you really want to keep returning to the same spot? (Maybe. But maybe not). I wouldn’t say no to a free bach (Lotto Powerball anyone? Not that I play, so moot point)  but I wouldn’t mortgage one and I’m not sure I’d tie up cash in one either.

    Boat.

    As much as I hate sand, I really do like the beach. I find being around water really relaxing, and there’s nothing better than a spot of sunbathing with a good book, interspersed with ventures out into the waves to splash around. But actually being out on the water at any depth doesn’t really appeal. Aside from fishing for T, I can’t see how owning a boat would add anything to my quality of life. I would need to be well off to the point where I was seriously stumped as to what best to do with my money.

  • January 18, 2012

    Suburb snobbery

    An eastwards view over the Waitemata Harbour, ...

    Looking over Waitakere to the Shore. Image via Wikipedia

    We Aucklanders are an insular lot. You grow up in a certain area, and apart from a possible stint living close to or in the city, it’s likely you’ll end up going back to where you came from.

    We’re snobs for suburbs. There’s something that comes with being a Westie, a Shore-ite, whatever – it might be cred, or it might be denigrating. Usually elements of both. And sometimes people take it far too seriously. T gets flak from people he knows for not being a proper west Aucklander since we moved to a more central location (first to Epsom of all places, about the swankiest old money area there is, and now Mt Albert, less swish but still very nice). Never mind the supercity, never mind the fact that Waitakere city is no more – the old lines are still as clear as ever for the hardcore.

    At least now that we’re a fair bit closer to the west side (all his friends and family live within a very close radius; on his bike T can make it back from any of theirs in under 10 minutes) he’s stopped hassling me so much about moving further out and how much more house for our rent we could get.

    Sure, we would get more floor space for the same amount (maybe cheaper). But we now live in a 1.5 bedroom house with garage (the 2nd “bedroom” is no more than a study with small closet – we’d probably struggle to rent it out for $50 a week), and definitely don’t need more room. I would need to get a car of my own. Youch. Not only do I not enjoy driving, I’m not very good at it.

    To me, it makes sense to live centrally while we can afford to – we’ll have to move further out when we buy anyway, because prices in this suburb are way beyond our reach. Commuting sucks, so I’ll take my 20-minute walk and proximity to everything while I can get it. And if that makes us suburban traitors, so be it.

    What do you like best about the area where you live and why’d you pick it?

  • January 16, 2012

    Link love (Powered by pizza and Page One)

    This week, for the first time, I used iMapMyRun to track a run.

    The pause function didn’t work, which was annoying. I recoded two separate workouts, one pre-traffic light and one post.

    What felt like a decent 30-35 minute run? Was 3km in 19 minutes. Sigh. (I kinda made up for it on my next one – 15km in two-ish hours.)

    Knowing that I was measuring my progress definitely spurred me on. But my low data cap and my approach to exercise (keep running fun, basically) means I probably won’t be busting out this app all that often.

    Linky time!

    Freedom 35 explains the secret power of multiple incomes.

    You Have More Than You Think lists 10 things we love to buy but hate to use.

    Can I pick your brain? Here’s Urban Muse Writer on paying it forward vs being a sucker.

    Decluttering tips from Leo himself at Zen Habits.

    Here’s some seriously good advice on rocking the first day at a new job at Bullish.

    Dollars and Deadlines breaks down her 2011 freelance income.

    Stuff new homeowners never think about. Via Budgets Are Sexy.

    Awesome advice from an MIT alum to a struggling student, at Study Hacks.

    Geek in Heels on social capital and tapping into the expertise of friends.

    Kyla Roma blogs about eating well as a lifestyle.

    Cate shares a recipe for creamy stovetop mac and cheese.

    Dinner: A Love Story offers four culinary strategies for nervous newbies.

    Neurotic Workholic explains who and what she doesn’t want to be in five years.

  • January 15, 2012

    Adventures in the kitchen: Indian spiced veggies and redemption salad

    I can’t say I’ve ever had any success with homemade Indian cuisine, and unfortunately, the trend continues.

    Up this time is a recipe from Dish magazine, streamlined for a quick weeknight dinner.

    Ingredients:
    500g potatoes, 500g carrots, 1tsp turmeric

    To cook
    1 thinly sliced onion
    2 garlic cloves, crushed
    1tsp each whole cumin and black mustard seeds (only had ground cumin and yellow mustard seeds)
    1tsp ground coriander (skipped)
    1/2  tsp each ground cinnamon and turmeric
    1tbsp honey
    1/2 cup water (used the turmeric water used to boil vegetables in)
    sea salt and freshly ground pepper

    To serve
    slivered almonds
    chopped mint
    yoghurt
    orange flower water, optional

    Cooking is pretty straightforward: Boil small cubes of potato and carrot until cooked through and drain. Cook onion in oil, then add garlic, spices and honey and fry for a minute. Add water, bring to boil, then add veggies. Cook for another five minutes.

    While tasty, it wasn’t anything to write home about. I definitely need to breathe some fresh life into our spice rack (most are old and nearly exhausted quantity-wise). It probably didn’t help that I had none of the extra ingredients to serve it with.

    Rather, that’s dished up with a pauper’s version of Redemption Salad – shredded cabbage, carrot, steak, barely dressed with a mix of brown sugar, lemon juice, rice wine vinegar, soy and minced ginger and topped with spring onions.

  • January 14, 2012

    Financial independence is sexy

    When T got his tax refund last year, he told me he thought about going out and buying something straight away.

    But he didn’t. He could get something better later on if he saved that cash, he said.

    Hearing that? Best present ever. Bugger jewellery and don’t even think about buying me flowers. Having your finances in check? That’s hot.

    Our joint finances have taken an interesting journey of twists and turns. He didn’t have his own bank account when we first moved in together, but hastily starting a new job meant he needed to put down an account number for payroll, so mine it was. Wholly merged finances eventually evolved into a separate account for him, but all the money still flowing to me to handle. Then he started independently dealing to his own spending funds out of his account before taking over full control, giving me a set amount for household expenses every week.

    Now, we’re back to him handling his own fun money, with me taking care of the rest. And this is how it’s going to stay. He’s not one to micromanage, and doesn’t really like to think about money at all. Me, I’m happy to spend a few hours a month running numbers and shifting funds around. And let’s be honest: me pulling the purse strings can only be a good thing on the savings front.

    How long did it take you to settle into a joint financial groove (whether you have merged, separate or in-between)? Was it painful?

  • January 12, 2012

    Eat of the week: Sri Puteri’s

    We’re blessed in Auckland with a fair share of awesome Malay restaurants.

    Until recently, I was a fan of my then-local, KK Malaysian.

    My current favourite, however?

    It’s on the east side – along the main Panmure drag of dollar stores and spice shops.

    Under new management (the old owners didn’t know anything about food, according to the new proprietor, and just wanted to party all the time – they weren’t interested), Sri Puteri epitomises homey, unpretentious Malaysian dining.

    A photo of its chef with Peter Gordon adorns one wall – apparently Sri Puteri’s beat KK in an Auckland-wide cooking competition that a judging panel, including Gordon, oversaw.

    The menu at Sri Puteri runs from typical laksa, rendang and mee through to more Indian offerings (equally enticing; the head matriarch is Indian Malay). Lovely, gloppy satay. Deep, deep bowls of creamy, steaming curry. Enormous platters of rice and noodles, piled high. A twist on assam laksa, more currylike than the soupy traditional, topped off with pineapple and red onion, which counteract the spiciness – too sweet, perhaps, depending on the diner’s tooth. And for traditionalists, round the meal off with an ice kacang.

    For all that, Sri Puteri’s is insanely affordable. I’m talking mains in the $10-15 range, large enough to fill your belly first time around.

    We’re lucky to be able to eat such authentic fare at this price – get in while you can.

    Sri Puteri’s

    59 Queens Road, Panmure

  • January 11, 2012

    What we spent: December 2011

    ** Click here for more info on my monthly spending roundups.**

    Some notes…

    Clothes: Yowza. A same-day shopping run for this wedding was pricey, but necessary – a suit, tie, shoes and a new dress shirt for T. He works in logistics  and was previously in trades, so there’s generally not much need for him to dress up (the last time was probably my Year 13 ball, for which he rented a suit). This was our first peer wedding, and we have more to come, so at least this won’t go to waste. Plus a haircut for me and sunnies for him.

    Dining: Seriously? We killed this. To be fair, our anniversary dinner was free, and then we were out of town for the last week of the month. Perhaps not so impressive? But $99 for three weeks ain’t bad.

    Entertainment: $20 at the driving range, $5 for parking…and $160 on food and beer for our housewarming/engagement party.

    Groceries: Pretty stoked with coming in under budget, especially as I spent lots on fruit in my clean eating week, and this included holiday groceries as well.

    Gifts: All gifts, no donation. Slack.

    Holidays: Petrol, snacks, etc. Will likely end up being more as we’ll chip in some cash to go toward the bach we crashed at.

    Home expenses: We bought a wooden outdoor set off TradeMe. Plus a free table and small TV cabinet from my mum, and we are officially in fully-furnished biz.

    Motorbike: $33 for its warrant, the rest on petrol.

    Rent: A five-week month :/

    Savings: I funnelled a measly $10 extra into savings this month thanks to a quick mystery shop. Definitely didn’t hit 40 percent – probably more like 20 what with gifts and wedding clothes. Plus I still have to put some money toward the bach…so I won’t tally the total up yet.

    T fun: This really is too much, especially as he’s supposed to be managing his own spending money from his own account. Apart from renewing his Xbox membership, this is just a ton of small transactions – an HDMI cable here, McDonalds there, a multitude of apps $1.29 at a time.

    Utilities: Extra high because Orcon billing ended up in two payments this month. We also switched to Powershop (review coming soon), and in addition to our final electric bill with Contact, I bought some power packs at a ridiculously low price per unit. Sky bill was higher than usual, too, thanks to getting in billing sync post-move.

    Uncoded: One big sticky transaction. $75 of this was lent out – waiting on that to come back. $40 was spent on a replacement car part for a friend (T was asked to try and fix the driver’s window, but managed to break it worse) and the rest was spent at NYE.

    This also seems as good a time as any to review our annual spending.…

    We spent less in quite a few categories last year compared to 2010:

    Eating out: $2227 vs $2171 – a negligible difference, really

    Entertainment: $2454 vs $1685 – last year included an Xbox, seven concert tickets (plus two more onsold), while this year was just four concert tickets, passes to two food shows, the Easter show, an Entertainment book and our engagement party. Plus miscellaneous extras

    Groceries: $7486 vs $6594 – prices certainly haven’t gone down, so I can only commend us for shopping smarter. What’s more, we’re eating better. That rings up at about $20 saved a week.

    Utilities: $3446 vs $3172 – I am surprised by this.

    And more in others, understandably:

    Clothes/beauty/grooming: $945 vs $1577 – I bought more clothes for work, T bought a suit and electric shaver/haircut kit.

    Holidays and events: $1844 vs $4996 – There was pretty much no travelling in 2010 – I can think of two weekend trips offhand. In 2011 there was Rarotonga, two Wellington trips, two Coromandel trips, passports, sleeping bags

    Insurance: $1440 vs $1854 – added motorbike insurance to this in 2011. This year I’ll downgrade our full car insurance to third party, fire and theft, I think.

    Rent: $12120 vs $13440 – Rent increased, then we moved to a bigger place and it went up again.

    Transport: $5361 vs $7508 – This includes about $350 on registration, $2300ish on major repairs, and the rest on minor maintenance and petrol (mostly). I can’t remember what petrol cost in 2010, but now it’s at $2.10 and was higher at times throughout the year. No surprises here. What’s worse is that in 2010 I counted my bus costs in here, but I pulled them out separately for 2011. *shudder*.

    2012 really wants to be the year of frugality. Yes, you do. No concerts (unless the Chilis come). No clothing purchases except in dire straits. Watching food spending on all fronts, turning switches off at the wall. Travel will be where it’s at – a few domestic trips, potentially an Aussie trip to visit a good friend once she moves over in April, probably our South Island road trip, maybe a Hong Kong trip with family if a deal turns up.

  • January 10, 2012

    The comparison trap

    I’m a thinker, worrier, overanalyser.

    English: School Running Race

    Image via Wikipedia

    Over a year ago, I reminded myself that life is not a race.

    But can I stop comparing myself to others? Hell no.

    I pat myself on the back when I look at people around me having unwanted children, taking too long to finish their degree, and generally not having their shit together. (Yeah, I said it. I’m not going to pretend I don’t make judgement calls.)

    And then I swallow my envy when others more than double their salary to nearly six figures a year after graduation, spend all their savings on travel, find rich and handsome partners, buy houses by 25.

    I trek the path of full personal independence – partly by circumstance, partly by choice.

    I chose noncorporate work that I love and am good at, even if it will never make me rich. I make enough, and a job I enjoy is worth infinitely more than a lucrative one that would stress me out.

    I found a partner who would do anything for me, even if he doesn’t have a life plan all worked out.

    My life is largely what I make of it. Every decision has an opportunity cost. Suck it up, E.

  • January 9, 2012

    Link love (Powered by sundresses and puddles)

    Time for the first link love of the year, after a seasonal hiatus!

    FOOD

    Closet Cooking has some sumptuous looking chocolate shortbread.

    Asian-inspired redemption salad via Dinner: A Love Story.

    Not Eating Out In New York’s veggie dumplings.

    WORK

    How to become a permanent slasher – an entrepreneur of many talents. Via Sean Ogle.

    Things Tenured Radical learned from the very first job.

    Urban Muse lists five online communities for writers.

    A couple of cool career stories from Yes and Yes – I’m 16 and have a career, and I’m a supermodel.

    Ways to better support your director, at Ms Career Girl.

    Some of 2011’s best articles for writers, via Make a Living Writing.

    The Startup Toolkit on sustainable failure and career entrepreneurship.

    MONEY

    Zooey Deschanel is an inspiration in more ways than one! She Bloggs on whether frugal celebrities are an oxymoron.

    In search of a common language: poverty and the great silence, by A Gai Shan Life.

    Geek in Heels on financial hardships and immigrant life.

    Cassie offers some cheap ways to inject a little something special into every day.

    LIFE

    So Over Debt’s take on SMART goals and being defined by your mistakes.

    A career/relationship mashup post by Her Every Cent Counts – it’s who you know.

    Eight handy personal statistic tracking tools, via Carrie Actually.

    Isaac Likes reflects on the inherent Kiwi culture.

    Girl with the Red Balloon talks about letting go of who you think you should be.

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • January 8, 2012

    Adventures in the kitchen: Gnocchi and Christmas cookies

    Woop! I’ve officially crossed make pasta off my 101 in 1001 list.

    The post-dough cleanup was predictably horrific.


    The tedious mixing, physically tiring and time-consuming.

    But the sense of satisfaction, immense.

    I took directions from this recipe by Iowa Girl Eats, by which I mean I read the list of ingredients and proceeded to eyeball the amounts rather than measuring them.

    Cook and mash potatoes, mix with flour and egg into a dough, then roll out into thin logs the width of your finger on a floured surface.

    (I did try IGE’s trick of scoring a cut around the circumference of a potato, boiling it whole, then skinning it after cooling. It was not as effortless as I hoped, but it wasn’t onerous by any means, and the thin skin that comes off is definitely not wasteful. Do ensure the potato is practically falling-apart soft – make the subsequent mashing process easier on yourself.)

    Cut off small pieces with a wet blade, then roll each cylinder down the curve of an upside-down fork to get the indents, keeping hold of the pasta piece all the way down with a light pressure by way of your thumb.

    (I’d advise having a bowl or pot of water – you’ll need to boil the gnocchi anyway – to dip the knife in so you aren’t constantly reaching for the tap.)

    Then either freeze or boil the pasta, if you’re wanting to cook it straight away. The gnocchi is done when it rises to the surface of a pot of boiling water.

    IGE’s tip to sauté the cooked gnocchi in butter with some minced garlic is spot on.

    Round off the meal with these delightfully fudgy, sugary, chewy cookies. Decadence in small doses.

     

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