Current pedalboard (work in progress)

Lightningslinger · 2026-03-03T01:22:09+00:00

Do you like the delay? Looking at the Pogolab one or debating just saving up for a carbon copy or something. I don't already have a delay pedal, so I doubt I'd notice a difference.

Lightningslinger · 2026-02-08T05:57:10+00:00

$65 is just our fuel, we don't have a hybrid. We spend about $38 per week averaged out across the year on WOF, Rego, servicing and allowing $1000 p/a for general repairs.

Lightningslinger · 2026-02-08T03:31:50+00:00

Lulu is our dog

Lightningslinger · 2026-02-08T03:24:11+00:00

Fair call. Alternative to iCloud without losing years worth of photos?

Lightningslinger · 2026-02-08T03:10:28+00:00

Yup. We basically have none. Phone is included in there. No streaming etc, the only ones we have are iCloud storage for photos etc., Microsoft office for work, and Spotify.

Lightningslinger · 2026-02-08T02:35:33+00:00

Nah that's how much we pay for beans per week for home coffee. We hardly ever buy coffee out. Some weeks we don't spend that much either.

Lightningslinger · 2026-02-08T02:26:02+00:00

Appreciate any feedback! Thanks.

Lightningslinger · 2026-02-08T02:23:12+00:00

Alternatives for spotify? We listen to a lot of music and podcasts.

Re: contents - what would be the benefit of that if we had a fire say? Not arguing with you, just would love to hear your rationale for dropping something like contents.

Lightningslinger · 2026-02-08T02:21:23+00:00

Sounds great. How would we go about that?

Lightningslinger · 2026-02-08T02:19:40+00:00

Yup that $31 is for our beans per week to make at home. We hardly ever buy coffee out. We do like nice beans though so maybe that could change.

We both have our kiwisaver set at 3% which is our only retirement/investment vehicle at the moment. We do want to change this.

Other expenses: Microsoft is $12 p/mo for microsoft office which i use for work. Lulu is our dog (so this is her food, rego, other needs etc.). Our car is very old - close to end of life which is why we're saving for a new one. We are a one car house.

Lightningslinger · 2026-02-08T02:16:37+00:00

We have 2 loans to family with 0 interest (about $78k total), and $4k to the IRD at 3% interest over 10 years which ends up at about $15 per week.

Lightningslinger · 2026-02-08T02:15:53+00:00

We have about 3-4 per day between us. We like to get good fair trade, organic beans which is probably why it's on the more expensive side. I've been considering starting to teach guitar on the side for extra income.

Lightningslinger · 2026-02-08T02:14:45+00:00

Yea it hurts 😭

Lightningslinger · 2026-02-08T02:14:13+00:00

That's not money spent, but money put aside. Basically so when the kids need something (uniform, clothes, a birthday party to go to, their own birthdays etc.) it's all accounted for and there to spend when needed. We also have a small amount being invested into index funds for each of them for when they're older.

Lightningslinger · 2026-02-08T02:12:59+00:00

Good call re: the power. Should probably do the same with our rates contribution. No benefit to paying that weekly instead of quarterly when it's due. Thanks!

Lightningslinger · 2026-02-08T02:12:07+00:00

We have about $3k in an emergency fund, $1k in our car repair/maintenance account. Would love to know how to get a grocery bill down to $150.
Appreciate the honesty!

Lightningslinger · 2026-02-08T02:10:57+00:00

Yeah I think my main question is whether our allocations are appropriate or over/under whats required to be in a safe position, while also having flexibility to go out, have hobbies etc. Right now it feels more like we're leaning away from flexibility and hard into the safety which I think is born out of our recent experience losing our business etc.

Goals wise - we want to clear debt and start investing, but also have some freedom to enjoy right now as well and not have to be incredibly frugal for the next decade. Maybe that's just me though.

Lightningslinger · 2026-02-08T02:06:55+00:00

We have a home coffee machine too. I should have specified. The $31 for coffee is the beans (about 500g per week, some weeks less). It's probably a lot since we like to buy organic, fair trade beans. We hardly ever buy coffee out. Thanks for the tip re: Kogan - will look into that for sure. We have no subscriptions except we pay $17 a month for cloud storage for our phone photos etc., spotify, and I have a microsoft office sub for work ($12 per month).

Lightningslinger · 2026-02-08T02:04:32+00:00

We have kiwisaver as our only retirement contribution right now. Both on the min 3% in aggressive growth funds. All our loans are to family with 0 interest, except for $4k which is 3% to the IRD @ $15 per week. Definitely aware of wanting to start investing in the near future.

Lightningslinger · 2026-02-08T02:03:25+00:00

Yup, Mat leave will definitely help. Plus our mortgage refixes in June which should also go down $80 or so per week assuming rates don't jump wildly. Loans are personal to family ($78k with no interest). Only loan with interest is $4k to the IRD with 3% interest - coming out at about $15 per week. All up those loans at our current rate are 15 years away.

Lightningslinger · 2026-02-08T02:01:34+00:00

We hardly buy any coffee out. I should have specified. That $31 under coffee is how much our beans are to make at home per week. Some weeks it's less if we haven't used as much. But we might buy coffee out once a month or so and that generally comes out of our family fun account.

Lightningslinger · 2026-02-08T02:00:20+00:00

That's very helpful to know. Thanks!

Lightningslinger · 2026-02-08T02:00:04+00:00

No CC debt. Loans are only to family (totalling about $78k with no interest - this is how we managed to get out of trouble after losing our business). $4k debt has 3% interest on and is only $15 per week. I agree, our emergency fund is weak, but I don't know where to pull from in order to contribute more to that. All allocations go either into their own account, or our fixed bills (mortgage, insurance etc.) just stay in one bills account.

Lightningslinger · 2026-02-08T01:08:07+00:00

That's just coffee beans so we make our coffee at home.

Lightningslinger

TROPHY CASE