Another Saturday has arrived, and with it comes a slightly different routine than usual.
My regular Saturday support worker, Bodie, has headed off to New Zealand for a well-earned 10-day holiday and won’t be back until my shift on the 18th of July. I hope he has a fantastic trip and enjoys some time away. While I do have a fill-in support worker today, unfortunately there wasn’t anyone available to cover next Saturday’s shift. Thankfully, it is only for one week, so I will simply have a Saturday without support before everything returns to normal.
Today’s plans have also changed quite significantly.
Yesterday afternoon, my fill-in support worker sent me a message explaining that he was extremely low on money and had very little fuel left in his car. Because of that, I’ve decided it would be best not to do our usual Saturday outing. The last thing I would want is for us to be out somewhere and have him run out of fuel. Unfortunately, I’m not in a position financially to help fill his tank this week either, so staying home seems like the most sensible option.
Instead, we’ll make the most of the day here at home. The plan is to start with breakfast before sitting down for a chat and then finally tackle two jobs that have been on my to-do list for far too long—organising my computer room and sorting out the garage. In some ways, the change of plans may actually work out for the best, as both areas are well overdue for a thorough clean-up and reorganisation. It is also an incredibly cold morning, so staying indoors doesn’t sound like a bad idea at all.
On a more positive note, yesterday’s weekly grocery shopping brought a small win. I reached another $10 Woolworths Rewards voucher, which is always nice to see. I’m now just over 400 points away from earning the next one. I’ve decided to leave the current voucher sitting in my account until I’ve earned another one, and then I’ll redeem them together. There’s no real advantage to using it immediately, so I may as well let the savings build up.
Unfortunately, that small achievement is overshadowed by the reality of how expensive everyday life has become.
The cost of electricity continues to climb, internet prices seem to increase every year, grocery bills are becoming more expensive with every shop, and my medication costs continue to rise. Like many Australians, I’m feeling the pressure of the current cost-of-living crisis, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to make everything fit within my weekly budget.
As much as I don’t want to, I’m reaching the point where I need to start making some difficult financial decisions. I’ll be reviewing my weekly shopping to see what items I can reduce or eliminate altogether. I’ll also be looking closely at my medications to determine whether there are any that I can safely stop or discuss with my doctor, although I know there are several that I simply cannot go without.
Another option I’ll be exploring is comparing electricity and internet providers. If I can find a better deal elsewhere, switching companies may help reduce some of my ongoing expenses. It is something I’ve been putting off for a while, but with prices continuing to rise, now feels like the right time to seriously look into it.
The reality is that life is becoming increasingly difficult financially. It has reached the point where I know I need to create a proper budget and, more importantly, stick to it. That won’t be easy, but it feels like a necessary step if I want to stay on top of my finances.
For the first time since moving into my forever home, I’m also beginning to think I may need to seek some additional assistance, whether that’s through energy assistance vouchers or food support services. Admitting that isn’t easy, and asking for help feels incredibly uncomfortable. Pride makes it difficult, but sometimes circumstances leave us with little choice. If accepting a little assistance helps me stay financially stable while I work through these challenges, then it may be something I need to seriously consider.
I’m hopeful that things will improve over time, but for now my focus is on making sensible decisions, reducing unnecessary expenses where possible, and doing my best to adapt to the challenges ahead.
As always, thank you for taking the time to read my updates. I appreciate your continued support, and I’ll have more to share soon. Stay tuned, and be sure to check back for future posts.
Note: written with the help of ChatGPT
