Rags to barely-there riches

It's currently 12:45 pm, Wednesday 26 July. I'm sitting in the park - possibly like a total loner/suspicious person. And I say this without any exaggeration because I fell asleep on the grass and woke up to a large dog staring at me... and drooling... I love dogs, but let's just say I was a bit creeped out.

I just had a long-winded, frustrating conversation with the bank (lol what's new). And 10,25 € later I'm left annoyed and despondent. That 10,25€ was for a new PIN number I had to order because my first one didn't arrive! But yeah, I still need to pay for it despite it not being my fault... Ughh. Where is this 10,25 supposed to come out of my tight, well structured budget? Okay I must admit - I'm the type of person that doesn't like unplanned, unexpected and unordered things. I can also be against certain changes - like paying 10,25 😕

One thing I've had to do while being here is change my mindset when it comes to finance and spending. I often still think in terms of the exchange rate. Which doesn't help me because then "everything is expensive here" when in actual fact... it's normal. Even though I don't even know what the norm is...

For those of you wondering, the exchange rate is R 15.24 for 1€. Now you can understand why little miss over here is real schnoeps* with her money.
Even though my income is in Euros I'm still careful with my spending. Which is pretty difficult when you're a girl who wants to live like Oprah on a student-type budget.... it just doesn't add up.

This is what Miss Over-enthusiastic (ahem, me) wants to do on her non-baller income:

• Get an awesome apartment (and be able to afford it long term)
• Decorate said apartment all Pinteresty
• Buy a tone of airplants (amazing little fellas! Check them out here.)
• Get tattoos (because I have a job now I can technically get them - a deal I made with my mom)
• More ear piercings - bring on the bling!
• Get a Husky Puppy ❤️
• And finally... Be able to fly my family over for a holiday... Yes, very enthusiastic 18 year old waitress.
  Anyone willing to sponsor me?

*schnoeps: a term used to describe someone who does not spend a lot of money/is very careful with spending money.

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Sourced from my blog here