Hi..

Yesterday I spent most of the day looking at my superannuation, and in Australia its much different to your American systems.

Organising for everything to be put into one super fund so as to maximise earnings from here on in. I havent got a lot of super at this stage, so did a simulated calculator and it works out how much you should be able to save, based on current age, total in super account and annual income.

If I can manage what I worked out yesterday, whilst working part time hours, and contributing just $300 a year, and a one off payment sometimes in my 50s, Ill own my house outright and have some super funds and be entitled to a part pension. I think I can live with this.. as this is just the low end of the deal.. If I work hard, I mite be able to save more.. heres hoping. Do still want a life too, hence not working my butt into the ground.

Ive had a sore shoulder for the past few days and now today ive got a nasty headache.. grr. Used to suffer from headaches all the time but havent been having many for a long time, so now it really affects me.

On the vegie garden front, my peas have taken a battering from the wind, but my cabbage, brocolli and cauli seedlings are growing well.. the capsicums are finally up but tiny and my tomatoes are taking their time but getting there..

I already have some change in a money tin hidden in my house, though it wouldn't be much.

So I have decided that between now and then (end of June) I will put more change into this tin and when the holidays come, we'll count the money and can use this to do a couple of activities on the holidays.

I've decided to begin giving my DD who has just started Primary school (or Elementary school for all u Americans).

She has decided that she wants to start taking money to school, but she also wants a lunch order, and also to buy chocolates at the supermarket and toys at the cheap shops.. all this together is way too much so I've decided to give her 50c per year of her age per week, so $3 a week. But the allocation of this $3 per week will be as follows:
60% spending and/or short term savings goals
30% long term saving
10% charity of her choice

this works out to
$1.80 spending
90c long term savings
30c charity

Who else gives their children allowances, how old are your children and how much do you give them? And what are your expectations of their money?

It's payday, so I will be able to write my budget tonight, its the same nearly every payday, but i like to have it all written out clearly so I know how much money I have for each category.

I paid my rent today already, so thats one less job to do this fortnight.

I'll be focusing on spending as little as possible on anything for the fortnight and see how I go.

I got a $30 cheque from Emailcash a week or two ago which I haven't banked yet as I'm not sure what I'm going to do with it yet.

I'll orobably just put it in savings. Boring I know, but good all the same as there's nothing I really need to buy other than another pair of navy tights for my DD for school.