Breaking the bank

It has been a long exhausting day for me yesterday. After settling my affairs at the Embassy, I spend the entire day scouting for furnitures and other household items. I went to Ikea for inspiration, and the place was packed. Every section of Ikea was crowded. I had to be in the line for over 15mins at the food hall. At the end of my shopping, I have only 3 items with me. An ‘as it’ stool, a plant, and a toilet brush! But all the available check out counters at the main hall were full too. To make matter worse, the line was taking far too long to move. After standing there for 3mins, I decided to leave. I can’t do this anymore. I was queing for 20-mins at the Embassy, and then at the food hall. My feet will be damned if I continue.

Upon arriving ‘home,’ I pondered on the incomplete ‘To Buy’ list which I have made. I wondered, how am I gonna afford this? The list simply consists of the basic necessity for a family’s household with many missing important items still! I knew I would have exhausted all our resources to get through the list. All the expenses have surpassed our savings and we will have nothing left. This worries me, heaps. I have never been in a situation like this before in my life. This is devastating. Once again, I am back to the lowest of the low. All I see is poverty in the making!

Oh, dear Lord! Please have mercy on this poor soul and her family!

So much to buy. So little money.

One more week to go, and I shall have the keys to the rental house. But even so, I won’t be able to move in yet. I will need to furnish the house with the basic necessity first.

I am practically starting over a life! Building a household from scratch. That takes a lot of effort and money. Especially money. I don’t even have a teaspoon or a bed! No ironing board or curtain’s rod. From mirror to a study are the basic needs.

So much to buy. So little money. Xmas is here. And so is New Year! Everything involves money.

How should I go about with life, being unemployed and in need of money?

House hunting

I went out for house hunting today. This is such a tiring task as I had to travel from one suburb to another.

One of the appointments for viewing was cancelled late this arvo because the real estate agent doesn’t have the keys to the house. Apparently, the previous tenant is still holding on to the keys although he went awol with his rent three months ago. He had ran back to Hong Kong and they couldn’t trace him there.

In order to let me in for the viewing, the agent planned to have the locksmith over to break the locks. After contacting two locksmiths, the request was turned down. They had to refuse the job unless there is a police report. (It’s comforting to know that the locksmiths here are law abiding citizens). I guess no one wants to be held responsible for breaking in. Therefore, my viewing session is cancelled until further notice.

So, I returned to my temporary accommodation while waiting for my final viewing of the day. This is a very nice house which is located within a stone’s throw.

The viewing time arrived. I went. I inspected. What’s my verdict? Well kept and nicely maintained for a 15 years old house. The location is very strategic too. The lady owner sounded nice, which is another plus point. So, after some initial discussion I settled for it. The rental breaks my budget. But then again, the current market value for landed property is neither cheap.

We agreed that I can start on the 1st of Jan 2014. In the mean while, I am allowed to move in my luggage and buy some new furniture on the final week of Dec.

I am glad that the earlier viewing session didn’t happen. I don’t think I would want to rent that place, just in case the HK guy returns! I sense trouble knocking at the door already. I guess this is a blessing in disguise, after all.

I am so thankful that I have finally solved the accommodation issue. It took me over a year to have this issue resolved.

I found a place to stay. Hooray!