And no, it’s not that kind of toy.
Last time I travelled interstate, I did so without an iPhone and without anything to keep me connected to the Internet. I pinched Mum’s iPhone for the occasional tweet, but really I was completely unplugged. Contrary to popular belief, it wasn’t actually good for me.
The time before that, it was the Aus Blog Con and while I had a working iPhone, I got rather twitchy that I couldn’t check emails while I was gone and I did miss meeting some people because I didn’t get their emails until 48 hours after the event.
If we add a few interstate trips coming up, plus my utter addiction to all things technology, you can probably see that I was angling for a new portable computer thingy.
Being tax time, which is the only time Nathan and I have any money, I ran the finances through my incredibly complicated budget system (pen and paper) and decided that if we were careful, I could afford to buy myself some sort of tablet device thing, to use for emails/twitter/writing when I’m not at home.
So yesterday, I bought myself an Acer Iconia android tablet and I am in love. Unfortunately so are my children and so I’m spending today twitching every so slightly while I wait for them to get distracted so that I can stroke it.
We also spent some money on the house, buying plaster gap filler and yellow paint for Amy’s bedroom and our budget has money set aside for more paint, lining for my kitchen, fruit trees (care of a Christmas gift voucher), new mattresses for the bunk beds that my children are moving into and new clothes for the kids. Once that is done, everything is back to normal until next tax time.
On the upside, I do have a lot of beans and rice. That’s always a bonus when you don’t have to budget buying poverty food into the mix.
It feels good to buy something solely for myself.
Now I just need to find money in the budget to replace my falling apart shoes and we’ll all be good.
Wohoo! Can’t wait to see it in action. How exciting for you!
I’m excited. My last purchase like this was my laptop that we bought when Amy was only a baby still, so it’s been a long time (both iPhone’s were second hand gifts).
My iPad is set firmly in the hands of my two year old most of the time, so I totally understand your twitch. It makes her happy. The iView app is awesome (don’t know if they’ve made an android app yet?) though I do need to find a new plan with a much larger download limit because of it.
I’m now too scared to check the iView app, because iview is my favourite thing when there is nothing on TV, but we need something mindless for 30 minutes.
Amy has just killed our downloads with internet games, we’ve got some puzzles and etc bookmarked for her and geez, it chewed through a lot of data.
I hope it stays safe!!
Enjoy! It’s so nice to buy something just for you… well, mostly…. when you can snatch it out of the kidlets’ paws.
I think you need to get yourself sponsored by a shoe company – Ecco, Planet Shoes, anyone?
Isaac gets bottom bunk, right?? Ok not my kids but already getting nervous if he’s in top bunk and gets a dislocation. HEY, btw how is everyone doing on that and you know haven’t heard anything in that department. Are you just not chatting about that right now or is no news GOOD news? 🙂
Amazingly, when I read your headline, my first thought WASN’T vibrator, but I-pad.
Yay you! I hope the kids get tired of it soon so you can play with it more.
My budget doesn’t run to new shoes either. My work sneakers broke down, so I went back to wearing the older pair which are still chugging along well in spite of being 3 years old. They are beginning to smell a bit though, on hot days, so new ones will be bought with this years tax refund.
Yay on the new techno toy 🙂
Yay for that news, Veronica.
How cool.
How typical too that kids get first dibs…love those little hands exploring as they know instinctively what to do. My under 2 g d has been introduced to my ipad since she was, ahem under 1. Now one of her first words, when seeing me is “ipad?” and I put her off the idea with other distractions…till I am good and ready…she is a wizz.
Love the idea that you guys are looking after yourselves too.
And LOVE the new header photo and colours.
Denyse X
Santa may bring one to my autie dude….but it’s gonna have to be reinforced with mass concrete first XXX
Ohh Noice purchase! I love my Iconia. We can make all the poor iPad peeps jealous with our usb port and flash 😛
Ooooh yay!! 😀 Glad you’ve managed to get something just for you. 🙂 xx
Hooray for new devices I just got a new device too. Hope the kids let you play with it ! See you Thursday .
Good for you! everyone deserves a treat and you sound well overdue! Enjoy x
Very cool new toy 🙂 We are looking at new camera for me with our end of financial year money 🙂 And new shoes all round.
Darn shoes, why can’t they stay in good condition forever.
That’s so exciting! Beefy’s Dad bought him an iPad, which has become mine because I say so. I use it to read as I can rest it on my lap against a pillow and it is way less taxing on my hands and wrists than a real book. I still haven’t made the leap to putting all of my things on it but I think I will because it would make everything easier. Have fun with it!
Even though it is my iPad, the kids seem to monopolize it. It’s amazing just how well kids take to new technology without even being shown how to use it.
Sadly we had to pay tax back last year, so I’m really keeping my fingers crossed for a refund this year. If we get one it is going toward a new toilet. Exciting eh?
Congratulations on the new thingy whatsit. And all the stuff that the tax made possible.I like your list of things to get. Especially that you have something for you. I hope Nathan got something too. Shoes and needing them I know that one also, but with UK size one and half feet (the half being important) childrens shoes are the only option except that 47 year old EDS feet are not the same shape as a childs. You like me it seems Veronica, appreciate the value of money, something I notice often that those with plenty of it appear to have forgotten. Small additions to make life brighter gladden the heart and I love that you always remember the planet with a tree or two in your budget. If I were very rich the thing I would enjoy the most I think would be the giving, I would love to be able to be generous. So I think perhaps that those of us without the good fortune of loads of dosh are mindful to give of ourselves as best as we are able. Despite never meeting you I imagine that you are a good listener, a faithful friend with a ready smile. You do know don’t you that I will be looking forward to photo’s of fruit trees in your orchard, oh how I would love an orchard having had one and completely taken it for granted as a child. Then it will be the fruits of your labours in the kitchen as the trees become part of the family too. So Veronica thank you for this post, it cheered me up when I was feeling a little glum. How funny that in the blogosphere happiness appears to be catching!
This is a lovely post Veronica.
Hooray for tax time, I got myself a new camera and still have some left over for the bills! Have fun with your new toy! It feels so wonderful to spend some money on yourself for a change.
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