Public vs. private education

I was watching today tonight and a current affair just then... and one thing strike me as quite scary... apparently it can cost up to $250,000 to put a child from secondary school to university .... It'll cost the parents about $2500 a year to put a child through primary public education, or well over $6000 to put a child through primary private education.  It can cost about $450 a week to send a child through secondary private school. 

I'm saying the next comment with no prejudice against the public education at all... but the whole system's way run down... text books. buildings; the teachers are fantastic... but I think the resources in the public education system need to pick up a notch.  This is why if i have kids.. i'd prob send them to private .... but shivers.. it's expensive! and to think there'll prob b two of them....But it's impossible to weigh up ur child's education to money...

Anyway..just felt like writing and pouring my outrage against the education system.  Public education is great, if only the resources can b up to scratch... private education has great resources... but gee... expensive!

z.c.

How I'm gonna spend MY salary!!!!

Ok.. you're probably expecting some extraordinary here... but I just realised.. this is such a common thing: becoming financially independent; well not just that... being totally independent. 

The transition from graduating my UG degree to this state of mind has been tough... and I must admit... any transition for me has been tough, I hate change, why can't the sky just stay blue all the time.  But now I realise, when the sky turns gray and dark at dusk, a new day will rise at dawn, and change brings about a breath of fresh air and new energy.  (and yes... with thanks to halo boy for pointing that out to me, except i wasn't really listening at the time... coz i was wallowing)

So WHAT AM I GONNA DO WITH ALL THAT MONEY I EARN????

ok... $44,216 p.a. may not be what some body would consider as being a lot of money... but with that kind of money, I get to be independent in this little world.

so... let's do some maths... minus HECS and tax I'll come to around $540 per week....

On top of the bulk spending before moving out: bonds, connecting electricity/gas/telephone, furniture, moving costs, and decorating my little space, also making it functional, i.e. electrical appliances, pots and pans, utensils etc (hopefully i can scab some from home), otherwise all expenses would have to come from the income from my secondment. i.e. comin from the money budgeted for rent during those 8 weeks out which is $250x8)

Essentials: rent and electricity etc ($250 + 50)/food (50 + scab from home)/ coffee ($15)/petrol ($40 for 3 weeks)/weekly swimming $5.

Which leaves me with $150 for savings....Ok.. i'm gonna b not so stingy and take out $40 for movies/cd's other activities like hair cuts/colourings whatever.  This then leaves me with $110 for savings per week.... and this is what i'm saving up for:

Frank Gehry watch ($255 atm... hopeing for a sale), parent's 50th birthday presents ($50-70 unless something within that price range is on sale), grandparent's 50th wedding anniversary wedding presents ($80-100, unless something within that price range is on sale), Courses: photography ($350-400), barista course (???), ? philosophy/French/Spanish course; manual coffee machine ($1400), europe trip ($4-5000), a new car when i get back from Europe: hmm... around 25,000 - 35,000... will b keeping this car for a long time (sorry Baby...I think I'll want a new car when i'm back from my trip); deposit for my first home (well... that's a long term goal... will c which real estate market i wanna b in at the end of the day.. Invest in Antarctica hahaha, and set up a country called Zheng! hehehe)

 Wow..... cool... well... sorta have the finances figured out... add a comment if u wanna.. in case i forgot something important...like my coffee...

Wish me luck!

z.c.

p.s. just realised i want a lot of things.... mayb i should want less?!

hi.. hello... um.... any body there?

knock knock...