Learning to be Self-Sufficiant October 10, 2009

Twice now I’ve gone into stores with the plan to extend my warderobe a little bit and gone right back out 5 minutes later because I can’t get myself to throw my money away on some overpriced pieces of cloths. So, I thought I’d renovate the clothes I do have and tired of/don’t fit anymore.

Looking at the piles is clothes on my floor I’m realizing I have more
Clothes than I originaly realized! Yay. Now the only problem is that I’m getting tired looking at all the work in front of me. Mostly because I don’t have anyone to teach me and until I figure it out it’s gonna take a lot of trial and errors! Bleh. Oh well. I’m just gonna have to remind myself of how nice it’s going to be to have not only more clothes, but know that it’s one if a kind and very cheap.

Kisses to all.

Bye Bye Money, Hello Food! July 27, 2009

I’ve truly had some very good days lately. Maybe even perfect. Too bad having good days means spending money. Proving to me yet again that either me or my future husband better make a load of cash each month!

First of all the Helsingborgs festival was really good. Not because of the music (although I did get to listen to Salem al Fakir, who I’ve come to the conclusion I quite like) but because of the food! I love food. Not the kind of really high-end stuff that everyone with good taste is supposed to like, but all the different kinds of junk food that can be made in stands and fast food stores. Yum! I’ve heard from somewhere that sushi is actually considerd fast food in Japan, if this is true, it explains why I like it so much! Festivals and markets are none the less perfect for this kind of stuff!

Despite the fact that I told the Bear that he may as well not make any food that weekend as I was going to gorge myself with all the stuff the festival has to offer, I still didn’t come close to eating all the stuff I was hoping to! Ok, so a lovely lunch/dinner at the step family’s place last saturday didn’t exactly ensure an empty stomach at the festival, but I gave it my best effort. Looking forward to the next years round.

Another thing I love about festival is all the life the town gets. There’s music, smells and sounds pouring out of every corner… And the perfect opportunity it gives to meet up with friends. Lovely.

Then sunday as the town settled into it’s post-festival sunday calm, I had a wonderful day taking it easy, watching movies and fixing with my new sowing machine. Despite a throbbing headache and a sore knee.

Now today, I only worked 3 hours which is a perfect amount for a job one’s starting to dislike and then went on an unplanned shopping spree. I just realized writing this that I supposed to use that money to buy an i phone at the end of the month. Damn it. Heh, oh well.

I also found a very good hairdresser finally!  I have a tradition of letting the hairdresser to do more or less what they want with it to ensure that I get something different, but thus far they’ve been too chicken to actually do anything funky with it. This one loved the challenge and made a loose poney tail and chopped it right off. I love people who face a challenge. And she made an awesome job of it. I’m loving it!

Next month the plan is to colour it pitch black and the month after that to put in pure white extensions in there to funk it up.

Oh! And I finally signed myself up for driving lessons (been waiting for the governments OK that I’m allowed to get them thus far).

…all the money trickling away….

Lovely, most perfect kisses to all!

Hata CSN May 8, 2009

I forgot to mention one of the best parts of that trip I last wrote about. I got my mum’s very old, very broken bag replaced, for completely free. The handle broke on the way and it got replaced with a much better bag on the spot. How great is that!  I wasn’t even that bothered about the handle breaking, but the sister”in-law” being so mother-like she convinced me to do it. So I got a pleasant surprise. Haha. Service like that is irreplaceable.

I just noticed it when I was cleaning up (much love to the Bear for being such an understanding boyfriend and waiting so patiently for me to do my part of the homely chores!)

Other than that, I changed my decision in my CSN (aka student loan) dilemma i had a couple of months ago. (I’m not allowed to make above a certain amount of money while I’m taking a student loan). I had a while ago decided that I was just going to take the chance and work less over the summer so I don’t go above the max. The last few weeks ago though, I’ve realized that there’s no way I’m going to manage that low income! So, after having a discussion with a classmate of all the things that annoy us (CSN, social democrats – aka Swedish socialist party – and the low standard of education in our socionomy course) I decided I’ve had enough trying to reconsider both my economy and CSN at the same time since that is an obvious impossibility and decided to make the money, since economic freedom comes higher than trying to make sense of a system that’s done a great job of hustling students for a long time.

To put it simply as possible:
There’s two parts of the student “wage”. A kind of “free” part that one can get despite how much one makes and doesn’t have to be paid back to CSN, and a loan where each individual can pretty much choose how high or low of a loan they want (within limits) for a maximum of 240 study weeks. This loan one starts paying back as soon one makes enough money according to CSN. That part all makes sense, right? So, let’s add on a little bit of information that I think can make sense of to some degree.

Depending on how much of a loan one takes there’s also a maximum amount of money one can make on the side.  Also, if I should only take the first part of the student “wage” which is “free” then I’m allowed to make as much as I want and I don’t have to pay that little sum back. Now to the tricky part:

I decide how much loan I want to take out, so I’ve got the crazy idea in my head that then it should also be up to me how much money I want to make on the side. I’m thinkin’ that if I’m encouraged to work, and on top of that enjoy working, there’s a better chance that I’ll be able to pay that loan back right? But no. I’m not allowed to make more money than what CSN has decided is a good amount for us student. Decrease the loan and I can make more money but with a sum total that still wouldn’t be that much higher than if I worked less and had a higher loan. I get that it’s all tax money and thus should not be abused, but how is me wanting to make money and paying taxes bad for business, or even better (worse), bad in the world of taxes?

…The hustling doesn’t end there. If I should make more money than the loan allows I have to pay CSN that extra amount I’ve made at a later point. How the hell did they get the rights to the money that I made, on my own, without their help?

Oh, and remember that first part of the CSN that’s kind of “free”? As I mentioned earlier I can make as much as I want by only getting that part of the student “wage” without having to pay back at some point. But, if god forbid, I take out a loan as well and make too much money? Then I have to, for some reason I have yet to figure out, (and I don’t think everyone knows this) pay a part of that “free” sum back as well. Eh? What?!

I can to some degree understand that one shouldn’t get this part if one doesn’t need it… But does it make sense that I have to pay that part back only if I also take a loan? Is the idea that by then I’m not supposed to know how much they’re asking for me to pay back so they may as well add on a little from something that’s supposed to be “free”?

I’ve actually sat with a poor telefonservice woman at CSN to try and get some sense out of this but ended up hanging up the phone more confused than ever.

I finally understand why so many dislike CSN!

Bitter kisses to all.

What the F*** April 19, 2009

I don’t know what class I come from but as a kid I thought we were lower class. Probably because I compared myself to the other kids in my class who I thought had it all. As a teenager I figured we were middle class. At this point I figure my parents are something in between middle and higher class. None the less, I had an idea that in a very general term can describe the classes as thus: 

- Lower class meant barely or not having enough money to go around while working more than the original 8h/day 5 days/week

- Middle class meant working regular 9-5 shifts and having enough to go around and if one doesn’t live too extravagantly, even some extra money to travel for and etc.

- Higher class is having (and making) more than enough money and not worrying all that much over the balance at the end of the month.

Seeing how spoiled so many of the kids I went to school with were, I had decided that the middle class life was the way to go because I wanted my kids to learn good values (not in terms of religion or other). I think that’s part of the reason I was ok with the fact that I had chosen a line of work were a middle class wage was the most one could ever hope for. I believed the most important factor was believing and liking ones job.

It all feels so naive now. 

I think I had somehow romanticised the picture of the middle class. Right now, as a student, I’m getting a sum from the government that’s about half of the average wage of a social worker and the extra amount from working my ass of at my extra job. The sum total adding up to about 2/3 of my future monthly wage. Knowing this, I’m freaking out. I’m scrambling for money at the moment because I have much too much of an extravagant expectation from life to be able to lead a middle class life. I’m just realizing this.  Knowing there are so many people out there making more money that I ever will without any kind of education is really getting me down as well, especially now that I’m no longer sure that social work is my calling in life. 

I want, need, and love money. I’m a good capitalist. I like (love) to work hard for the money I earn as well. What the hell am I doing studying socionomy? I’ll be working very hard at making barely/not at all enough money to live the life I want. Smart.

As for the argument of me earning 1/3 more when I get a normal 5-9 job… it isn’t all that much if you think about the fact that that 1/3 is supposed to handle family and loans as well. And I want a summerhouse abroad! 

I feel so frustrated I’m ready to tear my hair out… and frustration leads to helplessness with me.

…Although it could just be the fact that I’m tired as hell and really need a good nights sleep.

(Bitter) Kisses to all.

Shop-a-holic! April 4, 2009

I did something I’d promised myself I wouldn’t do until next month. I went shopping. And ended up spending the whole sum I had put aside this month for summer. Oh well, on the positiv side, I came hoem and tried them on again and realized that some of them didn’t fit with my other clothes the way I had hoped so I can get some of my money back when I return them. This is the way I shop, buy more than I should, and then return some Crazy, but it’s a good way to test new stuff that I’m not used to getting.

 wonder if they’kk take it back even if my dear Isis’ decided that the return pile would make a good bed? (i.e. cat hair)  

Sweet Kisses to all!

P.s seems like my supervisor wants to make a new part time position at my apprentice place when I’m done because he likes the order I keep. How about that eh?

Student Loans and Stumping of the Workforce March 31, 2009

Since I got my first paycheck from my part-time job I’ve been struggling with making the most economically sound and personally reasonably choice. I take out a student loan from the government and because I do, I’m not allowed to earn more than a specific amount of money each year (it has its purposes, but it’s still idiotic since the government should be supporting the people who want work and make money and not stumping their workforce). Anyway, the summers are included into this and thus, I’ll be making too much money if I get a full time job during summer. Thus there were three choices I could make, according to me:

1) Earn all I want and pay back the difference (between the amount of money I’m allowed to make and the amount I do make) when they ask for it, which will be in two years.
(+) don’t have to worry about how much money I make and thus have the economical freedom I long for.
(-) In two I’ll have more to pay back than the regular load I have to pay back just taking the loan.

2) Cut the loan I take by a bit so that the amount of money I’m allowed to earn increases.
(+) Don’t have to pay back quite as much once I finish studying/Don’t need to worry quite as much about how many weeks I have left that I’m allowed to take loans for.
(-) I’ll be surviving on the same amount of money I would have anyway but with the added press of always hoping I work enough hours.

3) Work less during summer so I don’t exceed the max amount I’m allowed to earn.
(+) I get to enjoy summer for the first time since moving to Helsingborg.
(-) I have to get better at saving and planning my spending (since I have to make sure I have enough each “season”)… which I’m shit at.

I’ve been asking everyone I meet and almost everyone agrees that I should work less during the summer… I have to agree. So I’ve finally made a decision! #3 it is! …Besides, I’m not even sure how much work  I’ll be getting enough this summer, despite the fact that the boss says I can pretty much choose how much I want to work. I didn’t get the second job I applied for either (which sucks, I was really looking forward to it). Somehow though, I’m sure it all will all work out for the better.

It’s not like I don’t have enough plans and ideas to fill up my time with! London trip, bicycle trip around Skåne, going up to Dalarna to meet the parents, finish painting the apartment, and attempting to get my drivers licence finally! …And that’s just the stuff I can come up with from the top of my head. Other interests like books and politics can finally come into play and two of my friends will be coming back around May.

All in all, yeah, I think #3 will be the right choice.

Oh! And I’ll get more time for training! I finally got my ass to my beloved Kick n’ Box again yesterday and realized how much I’d been missing it. I should probably start of slow though. Today I’ve been walking around like a zombie. My head’s been killing me, I’ve been having dizzy spells and my arms are as stale as old bread from the muscle pains. Dehydration and a low blood value is my guess but a slow start is the way to go none the less! I’m hoping I’ll get a steady pace going by summer.

It’s amazing how good 2009 has been so far… and I still have so much more to look forward to! The only thing that sucks is the fact that I can’t wait for my apprenticeship to be over. But then again, if everything in life had been fault-free, I’d be getting more than a little suspicious.

Sweet Kisses to all.

Ikea Furniture + Social Work = Heart February 3, 2009

First day of apprenticeship I have to say was a lot of work, with a lot of new things to learn. As I was waiting for my supervisor to set me to work I noticed that the once already in place were putting together an ikea bookshelf and I offered to help. By lunch I had put together 4 bookshelves and one office chair and had jokingly become the ikea consultant. Me and the supervisor finally got the time to sit down and write out a contract by 1 pm and when that was done, I was to finish for the day. 

As I said, I learnt a lot today! Heh. But in all honesty it was a good day, I didn’t need more to do because it let me get a feel of the place and the people before things really get started. 

Also, I seem to have gotten a part time job! Now all I have to figure out is how I’m going to balance 2 jobs, make time for driving lessons and at the same time be the housewife  (minus the cooking) that I feel that I am. All of these come high in my list of priorities (well, I don’t like to be the housewife, but it needs to be done so I don’t live in a pigsty) so I’m not sure I’m willing to pass up on any of them. It’s all about planning right? …And willing to go through some bad stuff (like having so much to do the days need to be planned from sun up to sun down) to have some good stuff (keeping busy, having money, learning to drive, ect). I’d much rather stress over time, than and loss of money and possibilities, because the latter is giving me a stomach ache.

Kisses to all.

The Kindness of One December 12, 2008

I’ve always believed in the goodness of humankind. Maybe not the mass, but very much the individual. Today is a very good example of that. I just picked up the wallet I lost during summer at the polis station. Want to hear the most amazing part? It still had all my money and cards in it. I mean I lost in the middle of a festival, that is to say: very many people people usually don’t trust. Last time I lost my wallet I lost it in the stockholm suburbs, and not the rich kind. That time I got it back as well, money and all. I’ve lost my keys twice in one week and gotten them back. I’ve payed double of what I should without saving the receipt to prove it and still gotten the money back. 

I’m either remarkably lucky, got good karma or people aren’t as bad as people like to think.

Funny thing is, at a time when most people have less money than usual, I got an unexpected tax return (which most people get during the summer), and the 240 kr I lost during the summer. Oh, and in a week I’ll be in a country where most everything is dirt cheap.

Sweet Kisses to all!

Things I want… November 21, 2008

An Iphone = about 6000kr 

• Want skype on the phone so can talk to my parents (who’re abroad half the year) a little more flexibly than now + I want a good phone for once.

Driving lessons = guessing it’ll cost upto 10000kr

• for obvious reasons…

A sowing machine (!) = I’m guessing about 1500kr

• I’m getting tired of almost never having clothes that fit me the way I want just because I have the direct opposite body proportions (short, big chested and curvy) as the rest of the swedish XX-population seem to have or the completely unrealistic mannequins they made the clothes after (tall, tiny perky breasts and skinny). I like my body btw, just want clothes to fit it!

 

Anyway, with a sum total of 17500kr for three things you’d think I thought money grew on trees!

 

Kisses to all!

Summery September 2, 2008

I wrote this on Saturday but never posted it: So far, a good start to the weekend! Friday: training, eating and a god night in with friends and the Bear playing console games. This morning (Saturday) me and the bear slowly get woken up by Isis walking around us, licking and purring, prodding at us to get up so we would feed her and her hungry brother. Nice, slow and easy wake up call I have to say. Much better than any mind shattering alarm clock. Once up, we walk around to the weekly saturday flea market to take a look at grandma, grandpa and mamma bears junk they wanted to get rid of. I have to say that although places these mostly contain junk, I was surprised at the little finds here and there. For one, I was looking at a bag I really wanted yesterday at the price of 500kr. I found a highly similar one today for 60kr. Very Nice! Plus two bracelets that actually look quite nice. My final buy was, much to the Bears distress, a 4000 piece puzzle. Hehe. It’s so big none of the tables at home are big enough for the finished piece. So the next time you come by our place walk around the blanket on the floor or you’ll be stepping on my hobby. (Don’t want the cats eating/nibbling/playing/ect on the pieces.)

 

A very cozy brunch at a closeby café was the next stop before coming home to sitdown with the excrutiating puzzle. Some company of a friend, and now, for the first time in ages I’m dressed up and going out to “utposten” to destroy the somewhat healthy streak I’ve been on (note: my idea of a healthy streak is one whole day of healthy eating). The challenge for tonight? Continue the non-smoking streak (a streak here being 1 week atleast )

—

 

 

 

Today, on a Tuesday, I can tell you that the non-smoking worked… so-so. I stuck to two cigarettes at utposten but once we left for a place I don’t like being at, I ended up smoking half a pack. Not good, not good at all… and I’m still feeling the repercussions of it in my throat and lungs. I can’t believe I’ve been doing this to my lungs and body for so long. Ah well, there’s still some time left before I can truly say I’ve quit the cigarettes. And hopefully I will be able to say it by the end of the year!

None the less, now that school’s started again, I’m not really finding the time to do any of my hobbies so, i’ll be back when I’ve figured out how to get the school stuff back into my daily schedule.  

Sweet kisses to all!