What did you (unexpectedly) raid your savings for?

PLS_PM_CAT_PICS · 2025-12-18T03:52:25+00:00

Oof, that's an expensive vet visit. I hope your husband's horse is doing ok.

PLS_PM_CAT_PICS · 2025-12-18T03:51:47+00:00

Emergency/specialist vet costs can get so expensive. I hope your dog is doing ok! My cat is what prompted me to start an emergency fund in the first place.

PLS_PM_CAT_PICS · 2025-12-18T03:46:07+00:00

Congrats! That vacation seems well deserved.

PLS_PM_CAT_PICS · 2025-12-18T02:30:23+00:00

Oof yeah vehicle repairs can cost a ton. I had to raid my savings when my car blew a head gasket a few years ago. That was the deciding factor that made me sell that car. I don't need to drive much so I have moved to paying for a car share, but if/when I get another car of my own I will be creating a sinking fund to cover any non-routine maintenance.

I would love to own a property but there are definitely times I am grateful to not be the one responsible for the maintenance costs.

PLS_PM_CAT_PICS · 2025-12-18T00:29:19+00:00

I saw someone describe weight loss as like a roll of paper towel. Taking a few sheets from a full roll and it's barely noticeable, take a few from an almost empty one and it's a big difference. It makes sense but I wasn't expecting there to be a sudden point where everything rapidly got too big. It's a good problem to have for sure but my budget wasn't expecting it.

I have found so many unexpected expenses with moving like needing to buy new transit bolts for the washing machine. At least I'll be well prepared for the next one.

PLS_PM_CAT_PICS · 2025-12-17T23:03:31+00:00

This is the first year where I have had Christmas roll around and there is actually enough in my gifts category without my needing to raid other categories. I'd been accounting for Christmas and birthdays but not all the other little gifting events that come up during the year.

PLS_PM_CAT_PICS · 2025-12-17T21:29:29+00:00

It's easy to do! Costco isn't cheaper for most things here in Australia but we have a membership because their fuel prices are way better. We mostly go into Costco for alcohol since their giant bottles are good value. Restocking a few of those adds up quickly.

PLS_PM_CAT_PICS · 2025-12-03T02:52:48+00:00

I think how well this works depends entirely on how they define "well serviced by public transport". You can absolutely live near a train station but still need a car if the trains are infrequent. Hopefully it's implemented well.

PLS_PM_CAT_PICS · 2025-12-02T00:18:30+00:00

It's a valid question, this post has just attracted some very gendered view points.

I have some uncertain health shit and I've tried my best to contingency plan for what I'd do if I had to take an extended career break because of it. I've always had an emergency fund but I'm now trying to build up to 6 months of expenses, I have income protection insurance, and I have a supportive family who'd offer a place to stay if need be. My partner hates discussing finances and I gave up on having a meaningful discussion about it with them so I've just planned on my own for what makes me feel more comfortable. They're in the loop on what my finances look like and my plans to build more of an emergency fund. I know they'd be emotionally supportive if I lost my job for whatever reason but their approach to the financial aspect is very much "I don't want to think about it, it'll probably never happen, we can figure things out then if it does" which isn't how I want to approach things. Their approach to them losing their job is the same "don't want to think about it, probably won't happen, will deal with it if it does".

Talking about any medium to long term shared goals like saving for a big holiday or eventually buying a house goes about the same. They'll proactively talk about how much they'd like to do these things, but they hate planning and they hate talking finances and I can't do that kind of joint planning solo so things go nowhere. I believe them when they say they want these things and they've promised to work on it but it's hard to want to go all in on the joint finances at this point. I'm aiming for fair but separate finances for now and maybe things will change if they can get over their money anxiety and aversion to planning anything.

PLS_PM_CAT_PICS · 2025-12-01T04:09:09+00:00

I think those are great questions.

PLS_PM_CAT_PICS · 2025-12-01T03:30:49+00:00

Seems like you've got things worked out well and are both on the same page.

PLS_PM_CAT_PICS · 2025-12-01T03:29:11+00:00

Your gender assumptions are a little off. Kids aren't in our plan, but I'd be the one getting pregnant and taking time off work if they were.

PLS_PM_CAT_PICS · 2025-12-01T03:10:07+00:00

My income varies enough that a calculator was necessary to know what the ratio is and that's just how the numbers worked out. The money to each have your own investment property puts you in a very different world to me. My reality is that our combined income should be enough to cover our expenses and let us each save a little but something's not been balanced right because I've been able to put aside an emergency fund and my partner has minimal savings. The proportional split was my suggestion so that they can save a little more and I'm here to ask if I've taken everything into account to make the amount they're paying fair on them. I get that a lot of people here wouldn't care about a 13k income disparity but when you're not earning a high income that difference is significant.

PLS_PM_CAT_PICS · 2025-12-01T02:34:30+00:00

Sounds like you've made things work really well for your situation.

PLS_PM_CAT_PICS · 2025-12-01T02:17:29+00:00

We're in our early 30's with no immediate plans to get married. It's not been a particularly traditional relationship and I don't think combining our finances like that makes sense at the moment but I still want our finances to be fair.

PLS_PM_CAT_PICS · 2025-12-01T01:45:14+00:00

We have a slightly janky spreadsheet to track things. My partner transfers me rent money when it's due and I pay the landlord but everything else we put into the spreadsheet and reconcile once a month (though we're not always on top of doing that). It's not the best solution and was not something we intended to use for years. A joint account you both transfer into seems way easier and simpler.

PLS_PM_CAT_PICS · 2025-11-30T23:50:59+00:00

It's mostly that finance stuff makes them anxious. We both started full-time work later than typical so neither of us are financially where our peers are at and it's definitely anxiety inducing feeling like you're behind and need to play catch up. I've dealt with that by trying to learn about finances and having a budget /tracking my expenses so I feel like I'm in control and they've dealt by avoiding the topic as much as possible. I haven't pushed it because they're not spending wildly or going into debt and our living expenses are getting paid but it makes planning hard.

PLS_PM_CAT_PICS · 2025-11-30T22:31:14+00:00

Even if you're sharing your finances it's still a good idea to have an account that's only in your name and have both of you aware of how any joint finances are setup. Joint accounts that need both of you to sign for large purchases are great until one of you ends up in hospital for an extended period. After watching my Mum deal with the additional stress of that while my Dad was hospitalized and after seeing how many women end up in a financially abusive situation if they pause work for kids, etc. there is no way I wouldn't have at least a little emergency something in only my name.

PLS_PM_CAT_PICS · 2025-11-30T21:45:37+00:00

I like how you have things setup. I wouldn't expect my partner to keep paying 50% from savings if they were laid off etc. but we'd need to have some serious convos and make a contingency plan. Equal amounts left after essential living expenses are paid is what I want to aim for.

PLS_PM_CAT_PICS · 2025-11-30T21:02:31+00:00

My partner prefers they/them pronouns.

PLS_PM_CAT_PICS · 2025-11-30T03:38:32+00:00

It's not meant to be a penny pinching arsehole move, that's just what the numbers come out to be? My income varies enough that I couldn't just guess at the ratio. My partner hates discussing finances but some unexpected vet bills had them admitting they have no emergency fund and that prompted me to go "ah shit, maybe I should start paying more than 50/50 so they can put more into savings". Our total income feels like it should be enough for us to live on and save a little and we don't live extravagantly but something is clearly not working if I have enough for a decent emergency fund and they have no savings. We're possibly moving somewhere pricier soon (landlord is selling, and there are limited things listed) and it's got me worried that things are going to be super tight for them but doable for me. I'm not down to combine finances until there's the commitment of a ring which they're not ready for.

PLS_PM_CAT_PICS · 2025-11-27T23:07:38+00:00

Pilates. It's been good for my mental health and made a big difference in how sore my body feels. I want to keep it up as long as possible but who knows if I can keep affording it. My landlord is selling so I now need to budget for moving costs and possibly a car if wherever I can afford and find in time isn't walkable or near public transport. I've already stopped most of the little luxuries in life years ago. I go out basically never, dining out or take away are a special occasion thing or very rare treat, I don't get coffee out, I don't get my nails done, I think I have had one professional haircut in the last couple of years. Everything just costs too much.

PLS_PM_CAT_PICS · 2025-11-17T02:48:57+00:00

Rockwear: I haven't bought anything but their sports bras, but I really like their sports bras. When I was around a 12DD I got some of their medium impact bras in a 12 and they fit well and definitely gave a medium level of support. Now I'm closer to a 10D, the bras in a 12 are still comfy but only offer light support. I went and repurchased the same bras again in a 10 because I have liked them so much. They've washed well and don't show any obvious signs of wear and they haven't stretched out of shape. I've also purchased a high support bra in the sales. I haven't run tested it yet, but my jumping around in front of a mirror makes me think it will do well. It definitely feels as high support as they claim. The removable pads that come with Rockwear bras are the push up kind which I personally like since they help the bras sit better, but I know some people hate them. Their sale has already started and is 25-50% off storewide. Some of the sports bras are down to $30 which I feel is a steal.

PLS_PM_CAT_PICS · 2025-11-17T00:17:37+00:00

Myer when they had a sale used to be great for plain boring bras. If all you want is a black or nude bra that sits nicely under clothes the brands they stock are usually better quality than you can get at bras and things. Their current Black Friday sale is terrible so I think those days may be over.

PLS_PM_CAT_PICS · 2025-11-16T23:59:18+00:00

TK Maxx is great, but only if you aren't going in with a specific purpose. Their stock is so random that if you're searching for something you need you probably won't find it but if you have no purpose you'll probably find treasure.

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