• MeanElevator@aussie.zone
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    1 month ago

    Hmmm…boss is going on secondment for 6 months, his role is available and I have been strongly encouraged to apply.

    Wish me luck

  • Bottom_racer@aussie.zone
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    1 month ago

    My cousin was stung by a bee 2 days ago and went into anaphylactic shock.

    Just saw the photos last night from the hospital.

    Holy shit that almost took him out. He’s 6’3 and a big strong dude. Induced coma and all.

    Wild.

  • just_kitten@aussie.zone
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    1 month ago

    I was feeling it on the weekend but this morning it’s really hitting me like a ton of bricks that I’m ready to go home now. I’m so tired and I just want my own bed and to operate in English again 😭 my travel stamina just isn’t the same any more. Two weeks seems to be the limit.

    The cold back home will be a rude shock but whatever…

      • just_kitten@aussie.zone
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        1 month ago

        It’s been great, some absolutely lifelong memories made and new experiences. Who knew Japanese drivers were absolute speed demons?? I think my cup is full now though. I have had enough stimulation… 👵

        • Duenan@aussie.zone
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          1 month ago

          Japan is somewhere I’d like to go one day, would like to visit Akibahara one day and of course see all the nice scenic things.

          Never knew about that but I guess they have their share of rev heads.

          When are you coming back?

          • just_kitten@aussie.zone
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            1 month ago

            So much to do for anyone with any interest and very easy to get around, it’s one of the best places to travel. If you are into any Japanese pop culture at all then of course nothing beats being in Japan itself. I miss the days I was into all this stuff, but to be fair so much is now available online compared to 15 years ago.

            I’ll be leaving Thursday evening, back on Friday arvo. Not long to go!

    • underwatermagpies@aussie.zone
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      1 month ago

      Can you manage a rest day? Travelling can be tiring and stressful. A day or half a day where you just chill rather than looking for the next experience or adventure can help you reset and refresh.

      • just_kitten@aussie.zone
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        1 month ago

        I’ve had half-rest days here and there and am taking it slow today… only just had breakfast. Gotta head into marunouchi to get some primo green tea and matcha sweets and a few other misc things, but that’s it.

        Tomorrow would’ve been a great 100% rest day but there before flying off, but there wasn’t a vacancy at my current accom so I need to move somewhere else for my last night. At least it’ll be closer to where my friends are as they’ll be coming down for one night before we all head back to Melbourne together.

        I think what I’m feeling right now is that I can’t fully rest at any place as I have put my money towards experiences, food and gifts, not accom, so I’ve not really been able to sprawl out and really feel good lounging around. Keep having to think about what my next meal should be, what train options do I have, how much cash do I have left, etc. It’s great that I’m heading back into a long weekend so enough time to recover and adjust :)

      • Nath@aussie.zone
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        1 month ago

        I wish I could manage a rest day. In theory, that was yesterday - but I think a real rest day happens when the kids are at school.

  • CEOofmyhouse56@aussie.zone
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    1 month ago

    I go down to Coles maybe once or twice a week and everytime I go I end up helping an elderly customer.

    Today an old duck asked the Coles worker for a pen and paper so she could write down some measurements. He didn’t have any so suggested he put them in her phone. I said I’ve pen and paper so then the useless prick walked away. I then of course got told why the measurements were needed for this special buys mirror. She was also hard of hearing so it basically got shouted at me. 😂

    Last week I got ambushed by one that kindly asked if I could read the sugar content on a pack of liquorice cos she got the diabetes and can’t have too many or she’ll end up on the floor. I replied “or on the toilet”.

    The week before it was an old codge looking for dried pineapple because his mate made this unreal dessert and he’d like to replicate it.

    I swear to God I do not encourage life stories from our elderly folk. They cannot help but spill their guts to me. Anyway I’m happy to help but I think Coles and Aldi need to start paying me for my impeccable customer service.

      • Baku@aussie.zone
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        1 month ago

        I got asked by a smaller old dude on Thursday for a hand grabbing something from the top shelf at aldi. At first I got kind of weird vibes from him, I know this sounds bad, but he had… The vibe, and the look. Pack a day since 10, lungs packed up, smells like grog, ranting about something or rather with every second word being some variation of “fuck”. But then I realised he was ranting about how also puts things high up and how it’s a “tall cunts world” and asked me if I could grab it for him. Tbf I’m fairly talk and had to tippy toe to reach them. But I got a “cheers” and he walked off to the register, still ranting about heights

  • Force_majeure123@aussie.zone
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    1 month ago

    Girl across from me in the tram violently coughing just into her hand, snorting up snot. I’ve dodged covid so far but I think this is it for me… Rip

  • Force_majeure123@aussie.zone
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    1 month ago

    Job interview tmrw. They should definitely want to have me, but unsure how hard they will fight giving me more money… Feel quite confident but just not going to enjoy the part when they say “nah your pay would be the same” and I need to play dumb and push back somehow. Going to wing it

  • Baku@aussie.zone
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    1 month ago

    I got a little bit of good news about the situation with the new YP moving in. They’ve pushed it back until Thursday, although not as a response to what’s been happening, it was pushed back because of background stuff I’m not privy to. But I don’t care, it suits me just fine. And because I’ve been home alone overnight before, and A. Didn’t die, and B. Didn’t burn the house down, they’ve decided to not put their support worker people in until he moves in on Thursday night.

    It’s probably going to suck for the new YP though. I’ll have to pass along my number in case he needs help finding anything, but it does mean I don’t have to deal with the workers for a week and he will have a chance to settle in first. They were trying to organise a meeting tomorrow (should’ve happened about 2 weeks ago, but I don’t think I need to point out they didn’t do that), but I don’t know if that’s going ahead or not because the program leader has been sick since she got back from holidays. I’ve been trying to figure out wtaf is going on with her supervisor who’s one rung below the area manager who’s a dick, nut although she’s lovely, she kind of too high up to really be looped in on what’s happening down here, and she’s an interim replacement because the last person in her role quit, too. But the lead tenant is gone, the case manager is off today, and the program coordinator is sick, so I don’t really have any other choice…

    I don’t understand what’s happening in my organisation, and to be blunt, it doesn’t seem like anybody else does either… But I think I’ve been ranting about them here every single comment I’ve made for the last week so I should probably shut up - I think you all get the general idea 🤣

  • Baku@aussie.zone
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    1 month ago

    The lead tenant’s officially moved out. It’s disappointing, but I understand why he has. We had a good chat over dinner earlier. He got pizza, I made a lemon slice and got the drinks. It was good.

    I also was convinced to speak to the area manager about the situation and try and impress upon him that not only does old mates move in (right now) work out worse for him and me, it works out worse for him (or at least his organisation) too, since paying somebody to be here overnight and on weekends isn’t exactly cheap. Unfortunately, he didn’t settle for just saying no, but he decided to be a condescending dick about it too. I did bring a support person with me who witnessed the couple of things he agreed to and advocated for me, which was handy. Although the 2 things he agreed to weren’t actually concessions, they were just things I didn’t realise were even being considered in the first place.

    I’m trying to keep a positive mindset and be empathetic towards the new person, he gets even less of a say in the matter than everyone else. Moving here is only a choice before you express interest in it. Once you indicate you may be interested, even just conditionally, it’s pretty much a done deal you can’t cancel. But even ordinarily it’s difficult to put on a brave face and show your best side when things are changing, but now I’ll basically be placed in a position where I am the lead tenant, which feels kind of like an emotional drain multiplier. Like penalty rates. Luckily I’ll be away from Thursday until Tuesday, so I can let the dust settle for a bit. But the thing is, the workers won’t be consistent or know where things are, so I’ll have the try and show the new YP where everything he might need is on Wednesday and give him my number in case he needs something. God, at this point, just make me the damn worker

    • imoldgreeeg@aussie.zone
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      1 month ago

      Kiddo you are handling this really well. Remember you can do everything right and still have dumb things happen because of others. You have done what you could and I am really glad you got to have a nice goodbye with your current LT.

      Enjoy your break and fingers crossed for the new situation, that it all works ok for you

      • Baku@aussie.zone
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        1 month ago

        Thanks. I’m sure I’ll be right, but logic doesn’t outrank emotions. The break will be much needed, just generally it feels like I’m getting to the end of my tether and need a break, not even taking into account the situation with the new YP. There was Adelaide in March, but I was there for a conference not really a break and really just returned more exhausted than when I went (it was an awesome time though)

  • TinyBreak@aussie.zone
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    1 month ago

    I’ve been, whats it called? Is it edging where you’re intentionally teasing yourself? Dunno, lets say teasing myself watching videos of my dream car reviews and track days and stuff to motivate me to save more. Right now I got 2k in the savings so another 50k to go so still a long way. Wanted one since I was 16 so I made the call its happening before I turn 40. I dont wanna be one of those blokes who goes out and buys a sports car for their mid life crisis. I plan to have the mid life crisis IN the sports car haha

    • StudSpud The Starchy@aussie.zone
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      1 month ago

      My dream car is a 1958 Plymouth Fury, converted to electric. Many many money, but I’m of the mind that we should bring back wingtips for cars, dammit!

      • TinyBreak@aussie.zone
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        1 month ago

        1958 Plymouth Fury

        Oh! Beautiful! How much would that set you back?

        People always telling me to dream bigger and 50-something, but like… 50 something is doable. I dont wanna dream the impossible.

        • StudSpud The Starchy@aussie.zone
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          1 month ago

          It would set me back so much. I’d have to find someone willing to sell one, and probably have it imported to Aus from the US. Convert to electric, and work out the laws around the drivers seat being on the other side (can also convert, but I’m pretty sure one can put a sign up in the car for other drivers). Also, any maintenance would be exxy, as I’m sure I’d have to have custom parts made or imported. Hence, dream car!

          At least yours is feasible! A goal to work towards!

          • TinyBreak@aussie.zone
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            1 month ago

            Yikes yeah that does sound expensive as. Bit more future proof than my dinosaur though. Fuel prices hit 5 or 10 bucks a liter and I’m screwed.

    • SpinMeAround@aussie.zone
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      1 month ago

      Oooh, what’s your dream car? I ended up with my dream car much earlier than expected, it’s been great fun but now I think I’m ready to back to a daily runabout style car, haha.

      • TinyBreak@aussie.zone
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        1 month ago

        A WRX. I’ve owned a Liberty and an Impreza before it, all feels like a build up to own a turbo’ed AWD. I’m hopeful its fine as a daily driver, hence not the STI. What is yours?

        • just_kitten@aussie.zone
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          1 month ago

          Seen some really sexy WRXs and Civic Type Rs here in Japan, people go on about how polite and docile and well mannered Japanese are but then you think about the souped up cars coming out of the country and yeah. It turns out everyone is fanging it, even the grannies in their cubeshaped kei cars, let alone the guys in their real speed machines.

          I realise that we have an extremely different car and road culture in Aus and it’s mostly because there are too many angry dickheads who simply cannot be trusted in Aus sadly. Lots more grey areas around road rules in Japan but it all seems to work…

          • TinyBreak@aussie.zone
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            1 month ago

            Seen some really sexy WRXs and Civic Type Rs here in Japan, people go on about how polite and docile and well mannered Japanese are but then you think about the souped up cars coming out of the country and yeah. It turns out everyone is fanging it, even the grannies in their cubeshaped kei cars, let alone the guys in their real speed machines.

            They truly are my kind of people!

        • tombruzzo@aussie.zone
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          1 month ago

          My brother had a WRX from 2005 or so. It was a limited edition with a tension bar across the motor, single forged wheels, and some special suspension or something. One of 200 made.

          It was a smart move because it was more feral than a regular WRX, but you still had some of the modern car comforts before getting into the stripped back race spec STI.

          • TinyBreak@aussie.zone
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            1 month ago

            they have a club spec out at the moment. only 150 available to purchase. Sound exactly like a modern version of this. Sadly, I think the mrs might veto a racing spec one, which is fair I guess.

        • dumblederp@aussie.zone
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          1 month ago

          If it’s your dream car then that’s that, but isn’t any turbo Subaru basically the same. My mate’s insurance went way down when he switched from a rex to a fozzy even though they had the same engine. I had an 06 Foz that was a great car that didn’t suit me.

          • TinyBreak@aussie.zone
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            1 month ago

            Sadly they dont make a turbo Subaru any more. Or more correctly, they DO they just dont sell it here. I’d probably be happy enough with a Impreza Turbo. They also dont sell ANY manual cars in aus any more except the WRX and the BRZ. Hell the WRX STI is dead right now till they get a new engine at some undetermined point. Its like they’ve almost given up on the enthusiast market.

            But yes, even in a non turbo Impreza the insurance company still assumed I was gonna wrap it around every tree I saw at 24. Adding my girlfriend at the time dropped it dramatically. Like having a girl in my life was gonna make me settle down or something.

  • Duenan@aussie.zone
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    1 month ago

    Potentially up to 12 people away at my work, some taking long service but the majority of them sick.

    Hitting the point I think where we can’t replace people in the interim.

  • Gibsonisafluffybutt@aussie.zone
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    1 month ago

    I met up with a close friend tonight. We were talking about my job search and he alluded to the idea that maybe I should just give up and go back to menial labour.

    This is someone who I used to consider family.

    Stuff like this is why I keep people at arm’s length.

    • PeelerSheila @aussie.zone
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      1 month ago

      I echo dumblederp on this. I also like menial labour, and the money I get is enough to support my family and have some “treats” if I’m careful. But I’m on the wrong side of 50 and facing the reality of waking up in the morning with aches and pains which aren’t going away, and which are a worry for the future and for my longevity in the workforce itself. Everyone I work with who has a previous qualification/actual profession has quit and gone back to that profession because of the pain and the work being just so hard.

    • dumblederp@aussie.zone
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      1 month ago

      I like menial labour but it just doesn’t pay well enough. I’m no longer prepared to wear my body for mediocre wages while boss makes bank. Plus at the moment I’ve a hernia and am missing intense exercise pretty hard.

    • SituationCake@aussie.zone
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      1 month ago

      Although I can see how it could come across as unsupportive, they may not have meant it in a bad way? A job that’s paying the bills is a positive thing, plus social interaction and keeping busy. I’ve done plenty of basic jobs myself over the years, and come from a working class family, and would never think less of anyone because of their job title. If it’s a close friend then maybe you could ask what they meant by it, but maybe they were just seeing that you might be getting down about the job hunting and were suggesting alternatives?

  • melbaboutown@aussie.zone
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    1 month ago

    Just tried to give Gardening Australia a shot in the arm. Ignore the weird moon phase planting stuff in the growing guides, I picked the Local Food Connect link because the June planting list was simple and the site also has info on food resources + community gardens.

    I think I might prefer to keep using Aussie Frugal Living because it’s part of Aussie Zone and I’m familiar with the mods. Also aside from Seagoon’s recent post and my reply the other place hasn’t been active in 11 months :(

    Does anyone have any ideas on what content they’d like to see? I can do cheap low fuss recipes, clothing repair tips, cleaning tips etc. Also would you want to have a random discussion thread in there for anything not warranting its own thread?

      • melbaboutown@aussie.zone
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        1 month ago

        Lol if I remember.

        Also I have this weird fear of getting made fun of for my tight fistedness/povness (despite the fact that it allowed me to save an emergency fund from very little)

        • Duenan@aussie.zone
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          1 month ago

          No shame here.

          I’ve had to do really cheap meals myself such as 2 minute noodles and peas or frozen veggies or Devon sandwiches for a week at times.

            • Duenan@aussie.zone
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              1 month ago

              I’ve also done pasta. 89c for a packet of 500 gram pasta with a bottle of pasta sauce 1.89 a jar spread over a few days.

              Add some cheap stuff like frankfurts and some veggies which are cheap.

              That might have been my cheapest frugal eats that I’ve made.

              I don’t mind spam!

              • melbaboutown@aussie.zone
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                1 month ago

                I’ve got a one pot pasta that uses generic tomato sauce, broth from a cube, UHT milk, cheap mince, and frozen veg or whatever veg is in season

                The inexpensive sausages and franks are also good, you can even cut leftovers into coins and put them in a casserole

                • Duenan@aussie.zone
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                  1 month ago

                  Ah cool.

                  I think best per volume bottles might be from woolworths for pasta sauce but they’re sort of I don’t know, tasteless?

                  Been doing the aldi sauces which I do like and are cheapish, pasta is of a good consistency there too which cook really nicely aldente so that’s a super bonus for me.

                  Sometimes I mix it up between franks and sausages and cut them up into it. Tuna also works if you like it, mince at Coles is down to 9 dollars a kg for the 1kg pack so you can buy one and split it up for multiple meals at the moment.

                  Peas are sort of a staple for me but green beans frozen can be gotten cheaply as well which works too.

                  Thank god I love pasta

        • dumblederp@aussie.zone
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          1 month ago

          I think I spent about $3.50 on food today. Porridge, lentil curry, beans on potato, two eggs on toast. Maybe $5 with trimmings. e: $6, some pear and feta for desert.

            • dumblederp@aussie.zone
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              1 month ago

              I had jerk stomach for about five years after I got back from India. I did the fodmap routine over about six months and it seemed to restore my gut somewhat. I still get heartburn with too much white flour.

        • TinyBreak@aussie.zone
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          1 month ago

          Yeah nah bro, not in this economy no ones gonna be making fun. My mortgage is +1k greater when I moved in, power bills through the roof, council is knocking on my door for rates. I’m about to propose to the mrs we introduce 1 or 2 “Pov” nights for dinner, where we see what we can make for a capped price.

          We all get it! Though I am gonna raise an eyebrow if you’re reusing teabags for the 4th time 🙃 I legit have been wondering about reusing some of the expensive tea bags a second time. 47 bucks for a box of tea is taking the piss!

          • melbaboutown@aussie.zone
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            1 month ago

            Heh, I use generic instant coffee, and generic teabags. I don’t tend to reuse teabags but… if it’s still sitting in the cup from having been left in there… 🤔

            There might be more tolerance now, sure. I just see people who are uh, perhaps a little new to being skint. I think what’s been happening is that working class (and underclass) have been forced to be frugal for a very long time so people’s expectations are lower and adaptability is higher. But conditions are now getting so bad that they’re starting to hit the middle class and it’s causing a real culture shock.

            Like you suggest an occasional treat that can be made with leftover amounts of stuff you already have/buy in bulk - so they go out and buy large sizes of new ingredients they don’t have any other use for, just to try it, and then tell you that it’s not working out heaps cheaper than bought :|

            Or this weirdly rigid handholdy article about recipes you can use if you can’t afford olive oil anymore… It’s like darls, those aren’t the only recipes you can use now. There may be specialised uses like animal fat or peanut oil for extremely high heat/deep frying but for general cooking you won’t explode if you substitute a more affordable oil for olive. It’s usually just a spoonful or spray anyway. Even if you don’t want low quality ‘vegetable oil’ the canola and sunflower oil are high in essential fatty acids so there is still a little bit of a health benefit there.

            Or news articles will come out with the most obvious cost cutting tips presented like nobody has ever thought of them before when… it’s something everyone you know has been doing forever.

            It makes me feel weird to say stuff like I haven’t bought olive oil in years, have never had a Netflix subscription, I don’t buy coffees or takeaway, grew up wearing op shop and hand me downs, I would always darn socks and replace zips or elastic rather than buy new clothes, I would use dried or tinned foods, never buy body wash - only shower with bar soap and cut own hair…

            Poor shaming and class divides have been such a thing for so long that something very normal for me (even preferred to ensure more financial stability) might be a bridge too far for someone who hasn’t quite adjusted to ‘the new normal’.

            • TinyBreak@aussie.zone
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              1 month ago

              Poor shaming and class divides have been such a thing for so long that something very normal for me (even preferred to ensure more financial stability) might be a bridge too far for someone who hasn’t quite adjusted to ‘the new normal’.

              I also LOVE that its a way to stick it to the man! Cause fuck coles and woolies for screwing us for years. Screw fast fashion. Fuck the economy that requires us to buy buy buy. The planet is dying and society is too stuck in the status quo to see it. Being cheap is a great way to “fight back”. Kind of.

              • melbaboutown@aussie.zone
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                1 month ago

                That too, that too 😏 There’s even a perverse pleasure to deliberately being a povo gremlin sometimes.

                I’ll see the price go up on something I can do without and be like, ‘you know what, I’m good.’

                Oh, your sales are falling? Less discretionary expenditure? Nobody’s buying as much stuff anymore? Well maybe it’s because the workers can no longer afford to buy the goods they produce, mf. Between low wages and inflated prices you killed the golden goose and nobody can afford shit anymore. I will proudly wash my hair with bar soap and pay my cat’s vet bills rather than pay you shysters any more than I have to.

                Unfortunately physical disability = needing delivery (always the cheapest slot) otherwise I’d have long switched to a supermarket that wasn’t Woolies or Coles. But my genetics fucked me over there

                • TinyBreak@aussie.zone
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                  1 month ago

                  yeah that makes it tough as heck. Woolies and coles just end up taking advantage of battlers doing it tough.

    • imoldgreeeg@aussie.zone
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      1 month ago

      They aḷl sound good. I have some DIY food things I have been meaning to post but haven’t had capacity. I will get there.

    • SituationCake@aussie.zone
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      1 month ago

      I’ve just put a comment in there. I saved $400 recently by swapping to a different car insurance provider. It’s a boring task, but a worthwhile reminder to shop around. I’m just mad I was probably over paying for years.