#blowingthebudget

[drbeemay-blog]

Week 05 low buy

I'm once again thinking about how expensive it is to be poor. Spent $18 on a kilo of walnuts because we can afford that expense, 500g was $25/kg. Being able to buy in bulk is a luxury. Being able to buy tinned apples grown in Australia and cream from an Australian dairy co-op is a luxury. Being able to buy pre-made puff pastry is both a huge convenience and a luxury.

I'm making some Christmas presents for my niece and nephew, something expensive in materials and time, and relies on me having a working sewing machine. Yes it's cheaper than buying them the bags from the original artist, but it's only cheaper because I do have the space and time and energy to make them. That is a luxury.

The kids and I made Christmas cards to send out, which was actually a fun crafting activity. We cut up old Christmas cards and collaged them into new ones. But they fit into a C5 envelope, so what we saved in cards we spent on envelopes and postage.

I took my 4 year old shopping for her brother for Christmas and his birthday. My husband will take the 6 year old shopping for the same. The follies of December and January babies.

I debated including the money that we spend on charity, it is an expense, but we are incredibly fortunate so we can justify the expense. Again a luxury.