Social Hibernation

Hands up who's on a budget?

It currently seems that whilst many people proclaim their need to save money and how skint they are, it seems that in my social circle I'm one of the few that is truly attempting to stick by their goals.

I am turning down most invitations for social engagements in favour of staying in. The boy and I are attempting to combat the inevitable frustration that being housebound brings by playing on the Wii, making up stupid games and working our way through 1001 movies you must see before you die. We've also become mildly addicted to playing Castleville via Facebook.

Money can't buy happiness? Rubbish.

Listening to BBC Radio 2 today the discussion was money can’t buy you happiness.

This is in an age old saying but I’m not entirely sure it’s true. Certainly having money in the bank doesn’t necessarily make you happy, but I think what Spike Milligan said is very true – it makes misery a lot more comfortable. 

The December Pinch

Today, the expense of the festive season well and truly hit. With social catch ups around every corner and last minute gifts, my bank balance has been taking a pounding. 

It was much easier when I lived on the Sunshine Coast and never did anything. But as I insisted on moving to one of the world's most expensive cities in the middle of a recession I must start cutting my costs. But the question is where? 

Potentially, I could look at cutting some friends out as a money saving exercise. After all, the less friends you have the less social occasions one must attend. But then I'm afraid I'd get horribly bored and spend money on wine, fancy underwear and dresses I don't need in order to amuse myself. 

No Spend September Over at Last

As “No Spend September” has now merged into “Sober October” my love of pretty things has re-emerged with a vengeance.

I have been spending my evenings pawing through fashion magazines, planning my purchases. Countless hours have been spent scrolling through endless eBay listings of designer accessories.

The problem is, my taste leans towards the side of designer (a.k.a expensive). I like designer handbags.  I like shiny pretty accessories that don’t come from Diva.  I also enjoy clothes that I won’t see on 5 other people.

My problem is my bank account can’t quite sustain the lifestyle to which I wish to be accustomed. 

I’ve tried to supplement my income by selling crap on eBay.  However, I seem to have sold everything I can bear to be parted from.

Finding a higher paying job is far too inconvenient.  Finding a rich man is far too hard work (not too mention difficult with giant splodgy acne rash on my neck).

So the only solution, clearly, is to day dream about pretty, highly unnecessary things such as these…

   

Sigh. One Day. 

What Would I Do For $5

When Anthill arrived in my in-box this week an article grabbed my attention.

It was an article about a website called www.fiverr.com. Things people would do for $5 (US$5).

What a brilliant idea.. I have become addicted to it, trawling through pages and pages of random things that people will do for $5.  Everything from adding followers to your Twitter to sending you a postcard from Ireland.  Intrigued I decided to give it a go.. after all $5 is not that much to pay for shits and giggles.

So in order to get some more readers to Secret Life I decided to try and increase my Twitter following – paying some dude $5.54 to increase my twitter following by at least 500. 

I am in utter shock that it actually worked.  I gave him my details, and now I have 547 followers.  I think it works on he follows 1000 people with the idea that they will, like sheep, automatically follow you back. 

It’s got me thinking about what I can do for $5.  I’ve always claimed that there’s not a lot I won’t do for money. And I stand by that.  So here is a list of things I would do for $5..

• Send an anonymous photo of my boobs
• Go into the chemist to buy someone Thrush cream or the Morning After Pill
• Wash someone’s clothes
• Alphabetise your DVD’s
• Send you an amusing quote

To be honest.. there isn’t that much that I wouldn’t do for $5. I think I’d draw the line at eating gross things. Hmm… wondering what it says about me that I would willing show my breasts, but I wouldn’t eat a cherry tomato for $5.