When travelling, on a budget, you count every penny you spend (or in New Zealand's case, evey ten cent piece, as they geniously cut out pennies). You spend hours researching the cheapest hostel you can find, the cheapest cup of coffee that isn't from a scuzzy shop, the most cost-effective entertainment for yourself (aka walking around). So, frivolous shopping for things like, a new pair of pants, a second jacket or purse, or even another bra, just isn't on your radar. (well, in my case, it is on my radar, but I have to work hard to push it down so far that I can mentally and physically ignore it)
So after four months of backpacking and traveling around on a very strict budget... you would think I would be used to this no nonsense, no need, no spending lifestyle. WRONG. Now that we have a home, and I am becoming acquainted with my new neighbourhood, I just so happen to notice that in my free time, AFTER I've sat on my couch and browsed the internet with my fourth cup of tea, and AFTER I've curled up on a chair with my hot water bottle and read a few chapters in my recent book, and AFTER I've rummaged around our home and tidied things up, and AFTER I've had my workout in the gym downstairs (can you tell I have a LOT of free time?) I...want...to...shop!!!
However, I'm not completely naieve. I am fully aware that the more items I buy, the more items I then have to take home with me at the end of the trip...and my bag is already ridiculously heavy and stuffed to the max.
There's also the issue of lack of job security.. aka.. neither Luke nor I know exactly where our next pay cheque will come from, and how much it will be.
Annnd, there is that small issue of the fact that right now our main goal is to work as much as possible to save as much as possible to extend our year-long plus plus holiday for as long as possible. So spending money on things I don't need... doesn't really fall into the "saving money" category.
Sooo.. in order to satisfy this need to shop... I have found a new love... GROCERY SHOPPING.
Food is essential, and consumable, and yum! So, although we are still living primarily on a rotating schedule of pasta, rice, potatoes, pasta, rice, potatoes... we have introduced more veggies and fruits into our diet (yay) and seem to constantly be running out of milk (probably due to an exceptionally large coffee intake) so... every chance I get... off to New World I go. Probably every two or three days. (its about a 10 minute walk, so there's a wee bit of exercise in there too.. bingo!) It's so fun looking through all the aisles and looking for the best looking product for the lowest price. I suppose having all this free time and not giving myself a time restriction while I'm enjoying my grocery shop has led to this new obsession.
May my stress levels stay forever this low and my diet not forever this boring.
Now I'm off to unpack my groceries :-D
Sweet Dea
So after four months of backpacking and traveling around on a very strict budget... you would think I would be used to this no nonsense, no need, no spending lifestyle. WRONG. Now that we have a home, and I am becoming acquainted with my new neighbourhood, I just so happen to notice that in my free time, AFTER I've sat on my couch and browsed the internet with my fourth cup of tea, and AFTER I've curled up on a chair with my hot water bottle and read a few chapters in my recent book, and AFTER I've rummaged around our home and tidied things up, and AFTER I've had my workout in the gym downstairs (can you tell I have a LOT of free time?) I...want...to...shop!!!
However, I'm not completely naieve. I am fully aware that the more items I buy, the more items I then have to take home with me at the end of the trip...and my bag is already ridiculously heavy and stuffed to the max.
There's also the issue of lack of job security.. aka.. neither Luke nor I know exactly where our next pay cheque will come from, and how much it will be.
Annnd, there is that small issue of the fact that right now our main goal is to work as much as possible to save as much as possible to extend our year-long plus plus holiday for as long as possible. So spending money on things I don't need... doesn't really fall into the "saving money" category.
Sooo.. in order to satisfy this need to shop... I have found a new love... GROCERY SHOPPING.
Food is essential, and consumable, and yum! So, although we are still living primarily on a rotating schedule of pasta, rice, potatoes, pasta, rice, potatoes... we have introduced more veggies and fruits into our diet (yay) and seem to constantly be running out of milk (probably due to an exceptionally large coffee intake) so... every chance I get... off to New World I go. Probably every two or three days. (its about a 10 minute walk, so there's a wee bit of exercise in there too.. bingo!) It's so fun looking through all the aisles and looking for the best looking product for the lowest price. I suppose having all this free time and not giving myself a time restriction while I'm enjoying my grocery shop has led to this new obsession.
May my stress levels stay forever this low and my diet not forever this boring.
Now I'm off to unpack my groceries :-D
Sweet Dea
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