tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34142202Mon, 08 Jun 2026 22:09:57 +0000spendingNZBudgettravelworkgoalsfamilyjobfriendsUSroommatestaxesfundsrelationshipvacationapartmentretirementfeeling awful2011funlifesavingssisterUGHsavingexercisesalaryshopping2010charityplansblogcarchristmasBFrent2009australiaillnesskiwisaverAprilXBFcredit cardsgood newshealth insurancelaptopannoyancechangegroceriesmoneyI love NZaucklandbanksdilemmafreehealthimmigrationinsurancemedicalmonthlytravelingtripawesomebirthdaycareerelectricextra incomehousekarmapaycheckweeklyNew ZealanddoctorhiatusholidayshomesickinterviewmovingrandomreviewrewardssocialsummerweekendTax rebateannual expendituresbossesboyfrienddebteatingplanningweatherwinterRothbad newsbusycleaningclothesdancedealsexperiencesfinancesgaragegratitudehealthcarelessons learnedprojectsquestionrefundwish listyear end review2008201230'sCell phoneFAILNet WorthOctoberadvicecccomplaintsconferencedrunkelectronicsexpensesfiredfirst world problemsflightfloodfoodfree stuffglasseshobbiesinterest ratesluckmoviesnew year's eveother peoplepaidrantsellingstuffstupiditytallytime managementtiredwantswindfall2007401KBank accountsCDEXCITEMENTHawaiiRWCThis weekadsadventuresawkwardnessbillsboyscookingcoworkersdifferencesdonationdreamearned incomeeconomyemergency planningempty daysexhaustedfieldworkfirefunnyfuturegivinggoalissueslonelinesslossmommononegotiatingopportunitiespaintingpersonalpricesraisesciencespending.talktraditional IRAtravel budgettravellingtvupdateupdatesworriedAmericaChristmas presentsCouch to 5KDCEOIEarth DayFebruaryITAJulyJune 2010June 2011Karyn BosnakMarchMayMay 2009NZ applicationNZDNovemberReverbSouth IslandTelevisionUS financialUSDWiiYES WE CANairmilesbaggagebeachcampingcelebrationsconfrontationcontactscostscredit reportdaddeathdecisionsdentistdisappointmentefficiencyentertainmentepic yearerrandsexpectationsfitnessfriendshipgadget lusthalfhappyhikeincomeinterior designerinternetinvestingjet lagjobsladderlaundrylayoffleaving a jobmeal planningmiraclemistakesmotivationmoving sucks.musicnew infonewsno posts...obsessionsofflineorganizationpartypicturepollpreparingpuppiesquarter life crisisreturn policyripped offrolloverroth IRArugbysavings accountsscaryseasonsskiingsnowflakestoriesstrategystretchsupervisorsurplussurveysutilitiesvotingwardrobeweddingwhat keeps me up at night20's;ACCAll Your WorthBand of HorsesBonus BondsCACVSChaChaDIYEarth HourElizabeth WarrenEquifaxExperianFICOFed RateI am weirdJanuaryJanuary 08July 2011Kings ArmsLaguna BeachMay 2010May 2011MobWarsMoney ManObamaOpen LetterOprahPFPMS-ingPermanent residencyREIRite-AidSeptember 2008The Dark KnightTransUnionaaccidentsagealoneannuitiesanonymityantsanxietyarghauctionavoidancebailoutbalancebankruptcybeing alonebloodbonusesbreakupsbuscashbackchancheapskatecitizenshipclothingcompetitionconsumerismcontractcontrolcouponscredit scorecrockpotcurrencycursedcustomer servicecyclonedailydatingday of the deaddeathmatchdebt as an investmentdiagnosisdigital cameradocumentarydonationsdramaeducationelectionembarrassmentsemergency fundengagedentire content of post in the titleenvironmentalismerrorexcessive exclamation pointsexchange rateexpensiveffallfalloutfamousfashionfeesflufortnightlyfreakoutfreecyclefrugalfunds budgetgamblinggetting oldergiveawaysgovernmentgrad schoolgripesgrowthgymhopeshouse downpaymentideasidiocracyinheritanceinterestkindnesslaid offlawsuitlayoutleaving NZlieslife insurancelifestyle creeplinkslistlive richloanlock outlong term carelovesloyaltyluggagelunchluxuriesmathmenmental illnessminimalismmoving back homenetworkingnew looknitpickynon-financialnostalgiaoldoptionsorganicother people are weirdoverseaspassionpatriotismpayment planpending moneypeople are lovelyperfectpermitphotospinecone researchpissedprice comparingprioritiesproductsprogressprop 8protestpsychologypublic speakingpublic transportationpunctuationpuppy millspurposequittingrealityrecipesrelationship updatesrelationship woesrenovationreportresultsrevocable trustringriskrolloversrumorssalesschedulesecret fearssecretsseptember 2011sharebuildershirtsshort-termside incomesleepsnowsnowflakingsoftwaresolar powersolutionsspamstabilitystock marketstocksstolenstressstuff I didstupid taxsuccesssurprise expensestechnologythe best laid plansthe whole ninetime bombtime off in lieutipstithingto-dotragedytravetravel budgettricky waterstripstroubletwitterunemploymentupgradevanguardverizon suckswalletwork weekMoney, my life in NZ, and battling the PhD Monsterhttp://sensetodollars.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Sense)Blogger1939125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34142202.post-187012940220406059Mon, 08 Jun 2026 22:09:57 +00002026-06-09T10:09:57.648+12:00Some (rare) good news as June starts:&nbsp;&nbsp;As I reported in the May update, I passed my long-awaited and (more recently) dreaded PhD defence (NZ spelling). While my emotions about doing it without my father are very fraught, and I have felt nothing except sadness since, little leaks of relief about it being done are starting to creep in. I do have revisions to make, however, so the journey http://sensetodollars.blogspot.com/2026/06/some-good-news.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Sense)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34142202.post-6137256142627578738Fri, 05 Jun 2026 20:30:00 +00002026-06-06T08:30:00.250+12:00Life UpdateGRIEFNo update here, so I'll repeat last month's update (again): This continues to be the centerpiece of my life. It is my immediate feeling when I wake up, as I go about my day, and as I drift off to sleep. It permeates everything.May was the sixth full month without my dad. The reality of the situation - I will never talk to, hug, or be able to see my dad every again, and he'll http://sensetodollars.blogspot.com/2026/06/may-2026-life-update-and-budget-review.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Sense)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34142202.post-2379231113789830295Tue, 05 May 2026 08:23:00 +00002026-05-05T20:23:16.315+12:00Life UpdateGRIEFNo update here, so I'll repeat last month's update: This continues to be the centerpiece of my life. It is my immediate feeling when I wake up, as I go about my day, and as I drift off to sleep. It permeates everything.April was the fifth full month without my dad. The grief keeps getting worse and worse as reality starts to sink in.I am on Week 11 of an online group grief http://sensetodollars.blogspot.com/2026/05/april-2026-budget-review-and-life-update.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Sense)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34142202.post-1006622170776673086Tue, 07 Apr 2026 05:45:00 +00002026-04-07T17:45:57.255+12:00Life UpdateGRIEFThis continues to be the centerpiece of my life. It is my immediate feeling when I wake up, as I go about my day, and as I drift off to sleep. It permeates everything.March was the fourth full month without my dad. The third month anniversary was a doozy, and so I was apprehensive about this 4th one. It hit me but not as badly. Something about the three month mark made it more http://sensetodollars.blogspot.com/2026/04/march-2026-monthly-round-up.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Sense)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34142202.post-1079112133394568066Sat, 28 Feb 2026 23:05:00 +00002026-03-01T21:23:57.824+13:00Life UpdateGRIEFLet's start with the biggest issue and the thing consuming most of my life right now: grief.&nbsp;February was the third full month without my dad. I have never ever ever in my life gone that long without talking to him. It is still so unimaginable. The reality and permanence is only just now starting to hit. I completely broke down on the 3 month anniversary of the phone callhttp://sensetodollars.blogspot.com/2026/03/february-2026-budgets-break-downs.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Sense)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34142202.post-957390077172438296Mon, 23 Feb 2026 02:03:00 +00002026-02-23T15:03:00.119+13:00Life UpdatePhD &amp; WORK&nbsp;I am well behind on all of my ongoing work and deadlines. But I can't bring myself to care.&nbsp;HEALTH &amp; LIVINGI need to get a flatmate. I decided that I wouldn't even look for one until after my defense, whenever I feel ready for that. I need time. I need space.I am waiting until my fieldwork is over in Feb to sign up for the gym again.My well person check in http://sensetodollars.blogspot.com/2026/02/january-2026-report-sad-girl-summer.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Sense)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34142202.post-830815173026849976Sat, 21 Feb 2026 23:57:00 +00002026-02-22T12:57:00.110+13:00[This was written in October, before my dad passed]Don't you just love the clickbaity articles and youtube video titles?! (Not.) I have to say that they kinda work on me sometimes, though!While in the last few tumultuous years of my PhD, I dreamed of what came after, and purposefully saved a ton of money for those goals. I was stuck inside working / trying to get myself to work, skipping fun http://sensetodollars.blogspot.com/2026/02/this-one-mind-trick-will-change.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Sense)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34142202.post-8676142981603426274Sat, 21 Feb 2026 06:57:00 +00002026-02-21T19:57:29.467+13:00I have a slew of posts I have partially written over the past 6 or so months and not had the time/inclination to finish and post. My monthly budget updates, for example. My new $$ strategy. My new credit card. An experience in first class long haul flying.&nbsp;I'll just start finishing them and posting them, so there will be a glut of posts over the coming days to weeks.&nbsp;&nbsp;http://sensetodollars.blogspot.com/2026/02/catching-upslowly.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Sense)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34142202.post-1155622287315634001Fri, 16 Jan 2026 20:56:00 +00002026-01-17T09:56:28.079+13:00&nbsp;...I would just go and fill SO many Go-Fund-Mes to the brim. Reading them is so, so sad.&nbsp;That Elon Musk and TSwift and all the Bezos's of the world are not doing things like that is absolute insanity. How can they LIVE with themselves? Having so much while other people have so very little and suffer so much. I would be fighting for fairness, to equalize the system, if I felt as http://sensetodollars.blogspot.com/2026/01/if-i-were-well-off.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Sense)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34142202.post-973000660998934166Tue, 06 Jan 2026 05:02:00 +00002026-02-21T20:32:09.157+13:00Life Update&nbsp;December passed with me in a fugue. My world stopped when I got the phone call that my Dad had passed the day before Thanksgiving. My mom left a voicemail at 4 am NZ time and I woke up and saw the notification at 7 am. I've been at home since the Friday after Thanksgiving. Our holidays will always be marred by that memory. Nothing will ever be the same anymore. So far the grief http://sensetodollars.blogspot.com/2026/01/december-2025-first-full-month-without.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Sense)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34142202.post-9040880755734914419Sun, 28 Dec 2025 17:07:00 +00002025-12-29T06:07:00.123+13:00With Dad gone, 45 in office, perimenopause and ADHD hitting hard, a terrible economy, rising costs, AI slop takeover, and a second pandemic of disinformation (on top of the covid pandemic, which is STILL GOING ON - a family friend just lost their sibling to it), as well as the loss of several dear friends (these people are not dead but are too busy to keep in contact now that they have left NZ), http://sensetodollars.blogspot.com/2025/12/i-dont-know-who-i-am-or-what-i-want.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Sense)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34142202.post-50309573888299077Sat, 27 Dec 2025 16:19:00 +00002026-06-07T16:59:10.101+12:00<!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> http://sensetodollars.blogspot.com/2025/12/draft-2026-goals.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Sense)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34142202.post-4276652239492534311Fri, 26 Dec 2025 22:15:00 +00002026-01-20T17:00:58.766+13:00Just a place where I can track my credit card applications and airmile balances...Last updated December 2025Current goal: accrue points/miles for annual US - NZ trips, and 2026 Islands + Iceland trip. Note: To those wondering if all this churning affects my credit rating, my CreditKarma consistently rates my scores are &gt;800. I've only ever gotten turned down by Chase, once, and just after http://sensetodollars.blogspot.com/2025/12/travel-cc-planning-updated-post.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Sense)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34142202.post-1496467723788196990Mon, 08 Dec 2025 09:33:00 +00002026-02-21T20:25:50.546+13:00Life Update&nbsp;My father passed away the day before Thanksgiving. My life will always be marked as "Before Dad Passed Away" and "After Dad Passed Away." Nothing will ever be the same anymore, including me. What else is there to say.November 2025 Budget I am earning a full salary now so things are very comfortable. I was in NZ until the Friday after Thanksgiving, then traveled to the US to http://sensetodollars.blogspot.com/2025/12/november-2025-last-month-my-dad-was.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Sense)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34142202.post-6490768409504272546Fri, 05 Dec 2025 11:19:00 +00002025-12-06T00:19:10.085+13:00The thing I've been dreading for decades happened. My father passed away. I couldn't get home in time to say goodbye. It's utterly heartbreaking and I have no idea how to go on. My defense was scheduled for next week (of course now postponed). One of my biggest cheerleaders and supporters in life and the PhD won't be there if I eventually do complete it. Right now I cannot imagine how normal lifehttp://sensetodollars.blogspot.com/2025/12/my-dad.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Sense)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34142202.post-8513613487880972188Thu, 06 Nov 2025 11:42:00 +00002026-02-21T20:23:13.527+13:00November 7 2025: Just found out that my dad definitely has lung cancer. :( It's so sad. He JUST stopped chemo for leukemia last year. We're so sad.http://sensetodollars.blogspot.com/2025/11/its-lung-cancer.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Sense)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34142202.post-7991953237774266665Sun, 02 Nov 2025 03:14:00 +00002026-02-21T20:22:33.484+13:00&nbsp;Life Update&nbsp;The first week of October was me running around getting last minute visits and shopping and packing together before leaving the US. I can't believe it's the end of the month already - I feel like I *just* arrived back in NZ.&nbsp;PhD &amp; WORK&nbsp;My first week back was a whirlwind of getting ALL OF THE THINGS done that I had blissfully ignored for six weeks. I had my http://sensetodollars.blogspot.com/2025/11/october-2025-straddling-us-and-nz.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Sense)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34142202.post-754061888685830126Sun, 12 Oct 2025 02:45:00 +00002026-02-21T20:17:37.306+13:00Life Update&nbsp;Ahhhhh...vacation. September was a bastion of doing (mostly) anything I wanted! Being at home is wonderful, challenging, restorative, and stressful, all in a tangled ball and layered both deep inside and on top with dread and abject horror at what the current administration is doing.&nbsp;&nbsp;The trip started with a travel interruption, described in my August summary. I spent http://sensetodollars.blogspot.com/2025/10/september-2025-budget-blown.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Sense)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34142202.post-5535702669490516719Fri, 12 Sep 2025 08:13:00 +00002026-02-21T20:17:55.424+13:00Life Update&nbsp;Well, August was wack. I ran myself ragged trying to get things sorted before I left for the US. Some major things happened:&nbsp;PhD &amp; WORK&nbsp; Just as I recovered from the Uni asking me to reformat my ENTIRE THESIS, and as I was leaving for the US, they said they needed a response within three days to my examiner's reports being in, so that they could schedule my defense.http://sensetodollars.blogspot.com/2026/02/august-2025-budget.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Sense)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34142202.post-213417697868981647Fri, 08 Aug 2025 18:30:00 +00002025-12-08T22:40:43.461+13:00I leave for the US on Monday. T-minus 3 days - USA here I come!I'm in the US now - I won't be posting much.http://sensetodollars.blogspot.com/2025/08/off-to-us.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Sense)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34142202.post-8769686856096618333Sun, 03 Aug 2025 14:10:00 +00002025-08-08T08:09:56.948+12:00 &nbsp;Life UpdateOh gosh, where do I even start. It's been a bad month overall, although I had my birthday and some wonderful friends to celebrate it with.&nbsp; PhD &amp; WORK&nbsp; The monster is BACK!!! The Uni said that my PhD was not formatted correctly and FOUR MONTHS after submitting, they decided to tell me. My supervisor pushed back for like two weeks because http://sensetodollars.blogspot.com/2025/08/july-2025-update-from-bad-to-worse.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Sense)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34142202.post-1982833523099676686Tue, 01 Jul 2025 12:12:00 +00002025-08-05T02:09:25.782+12:00&nbsp;&nbsp;Life Update Two adages come to mind when I think of this past month:&nbsp;When it rains, it pours. (And not just because it rained most of this month)Be careful what you wish for.&nbsp;It's now only been three months post-PhD. Saying that makes me realize that I have been too hard on myself. My brain continues to consistently go into 404 error mode when I try to do difficult work. http://sensetodollars.blogspot.com/2025/07/june-2025-i-lost-my-job-next-year.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Sense)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34142202.post-6277259824818757702Thu, 12 Jun 2025 09:59:00 +00002025-06-12T22:11:30.413+12:00In a previous post, I outlined how I will be receiving a full-time salary for the first time since ~2013. This week, I received the first partial paycheck of that full-time salary.&nbsp;I have a few plans for that income. Unfortunately, not much of it is very fun. I received word that after this year, the Uni is going to refuse to approve any more contracts for the job I've been doing since 2008.http://sensetodollars.blogspot.com/2025/06/full-time-salary-new-budget.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Sense)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34142202.post-7238685738044633489Thu, 05 Jun 2025 17:38:00 +00002025-06-06T05:38:10.738+12:00&nbsp;Life Update Two months after PhD submission and I have only *just* started to realize the toll it actually took on me. I can get through about two tasks a day and then...my brain and body just go into 404 error mode. Blue screen of death. I am still enjoying my weekends and free time, and have stopped putting so much pressure on myself to get more fun things done. MUST HAVE FUN is a rat http://sensetodollars.blogspot.com/2025/06/may-grays-budget-round-up.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Sense)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34142202.post-6245335719011320361Wed, 14 May 2025 07:10:00 +00002025-05-16T01:09:23.221+12:00Giving back has been a part of my life, my whole life. It has always been a THING. Mostly in the background, but there. Growing up in the church and having a social worker for a mom will do that. I definitely have, instilled in me, the importance of making the world a better place. My definition of giving back has expanded quite a bit. It now includes donating money, time, skills, or lending a http://sensetodollars.blogspot.com/2025/05/giving-back.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Sense)0