My, my, it’s been a while! I’ve been working all week at my new job and I gotta say.. it’s a dream come true. I can’t stop talking about how much I love my job. Everyone at my workplace is super cruisy and happy to see me all the time and I feel so bright and chipper every time I walk into the office. I’ve gotten a little taste of the work inbetween all the orientation presentations I’ve been attending all week and it seems like exactly what I was looking for all these months with an excellent balance between web development and graphic design.

As a side note, they even have fruit baskets delivered twice every week for the team and three-ply toilet paper in the toilets (everyone laughs when I say this, but I don’t know anyone’s workplace toilets that have the good toilet paper!). Their thoughtfulness towards the employees astounds me – it’s brilliant, no wonder everyone’s so happy!

I’ve hit the jackpot, literally and figuratively. Well, maybe not literally, since I’m a good few thousand dollars poorer since last Friday and the picture you’re starting at is the main reason why!

I. Love. This. Car. From the beginning, I had it narrowed down between a Mitsubishi Mirage, a Hyundai i20, and a Holden Barina. The Barina was trailing behind initially because fuel economy was a big deal to me and it had the least amount of fuel economy out of the three choices. But taking it for a test drive (and also taking the Barina Spark for a test drive too) really made me fall in love with this baby. A big thank-you to Crystal over at Zupps Holden Mt Gravatt for being so patient with me and a big thank-you to my parents who took me there to take a look at it (and haggled it down 5k or so from their asking price.. thanks mum). Now I have my very own metallic velvet red 2013 Holden Barina, and it’s all mine! Beep beep!

This car (and now it’s my turn to sound like a commercial) has everything that I ever wanted in it. I used to roll my eyes at the Barina “Can your car save your relationship” ads on television but now I’m a true believer. This car is so awesome that I don’t doubt it has powers necessary to save relationships. If only it came along a few months earlier, ah, ha.. Okay, sore spot, moving on..

Throughout the last two days that I’ve had it, I’ve been so impressed with the features and I’ll tell anyone who’ll listen about one of a million features that I totally loved.

Firstly, the key folds down and flicks up at the press of a button. Too cool. Secondly, when you press the button to unlock the car, it only unlocks the driver’s side. Coming from a hyper-paranoid mother, this was a big selling point. No more super villains sneaking into your car from the passenger side or back seat when you unlock your car from a distance! Upon the second press of the button, the rest of the doors open and the boot unlocks. Thirdly, while you’re in Park, the doors stay unlocked until you change the gear into Drive, where all the doors lock automatically for you (and unlock once again when you go back into Park).

On that note of safety, it has like a bajillion airbags in the front and a five star ANCAP safety rating (whatever that means. It does sound good though). Fifth, while we’re on the vein of things that work automatically, the windscreen wipers will periodically switch on when it senses too much water on the windscreen. This has been pretty good for the last two days considering the weather! The lights will also come on when the sensors detect that it’s getting dark. Those lights will stay on for a set period of time after you leave the car so if you get home at night, you can see the way to the front door. The radio will also keep playing even when the car is off and the key is out of the ignition, up until I open the door and step out.

This car has my back, yo.

I also love that it has a digital speedo and cruise control. Super handy for someone like me who tends towards having a lead foot while I’m driving. Now I can just set it to a speed I don’t want to pass and the car will handle the rest for me. Don’t forget the steering wheel dials that let me pump up the music and change my playlist over while I’m driving, yeah! I’ve ordered a spare iPhone charger so I can charge my phone in the USB port is has inside a second glovebox. If I need to use anything that requires electricity, well I have an outlet for that too. I kind of felt like Homer Simpson in that episode where he figures out he can plug anything into his car’s cigarette lighter.

It also has Bluetooth of course, but at a red P plater, I’m not allowed to use it anyways, which didn’t worry me too much since I’m no Miss Popular – ain’t nobody gonna call me while I’m driving, ha.

Anyways, enough about my car and my job, my gosh it’s going to get repetitive for you all soon, trust me! Here’s the outfit I wore to my first day of work:

This is the best dress ever. I didn’t even pay a cent for it! The lovely folks at Mission Australia who have been helping me with my job search have been brilliant assets for me this year. Not only did they provide a good 10 hours of driving lessons for me, they also gave me money to put on my Go Card and a gift voucher for Target so I could buy some things to buy for interviews and work. They gave me enough for a couple of pants, shirts and skirts, but ever the frugalista, I rationed the amount they gave me so that I could afford this dress too. It’s my favorite work-related piece in my wardrobe! Makes me happy just looking at it.

 

Here’s the total rundown for you:

Luxurious Statement NecklaceAliExpress, $4.50 (J Crew replica/fake/copy – now a little bit more expensive)

City Dressing Ponte DressTarget, $49 (on sale for 30% off), though technically free for me

Double Collar BlouseAliExpress, $8.50

Gold Mirror Belt (w/ patent pleather back) – eBay, $6.40

Sheer Black Pantyhose – Target, 25c

Charvonne Black Patent HeelsWittner, $35 (Now they only have nude and red left)

Total: $54.65 (or $103 if you include the free dress)

I know I’ve written a lot, but in summary, I’m having an awesome time, and awesome life, and I’m happier than I’ve ever been.

Being a frugalista isn’t entirely without its perks, let me tell you.. less money spent on clothes means that this car is officially 100% mine – no finance required. I could even afford to get comprehensive insurance despite my red P-plater status, ha (though it was somewhat stupidly expensive). So I’m starting my new life henceforth as a happy career woman with a clean bill of health and no financial debts. Dream job, check; sexy car, check. Up next – an apartment (and a man?).

But who really knows where tomorrow will take me?

14 Comments

  1. Yayyy congrats on the car, Demi! I love it. I love how you’re so excited over the features! Those features are actually really cool though!

    I won’t get sick of hearing about your new job! I think people around me are getting sick of hearing about mine LOL!

    • Demi

      Haha I’m like a kid in a candy store with this car!

      I haven’t got that much to say about my job anymore, but sometimes I wish I kept a journal of my thoughts because I am frequently amazed/shocked by new things I learn about the industry every day..

  2. Those shoes are so classy! I have the same but in nude…now I wish I have the black ones too! They go so well with anything.

    And that car? WOW what an eye popping color. Loves it!! :)

    • Demi

      I am starting to wish I bought the nude ones too! The black ones sold out really fast though–they’re just so versatile.

      Love the colour of my car too.. like a nice candy metallic red, it’s gorgeous.

  3. It’s great to hear that you love your job, how wonderful that you’ve found your dream job so early on! Hopefully you’ll get many good years out of it. And congrats on the car purchase!

    • Demi

      Thanks Joan! It’s looking pretty good so far, gotta say!

  4. As a fellow small red car driver, congratulations on an excellent motor purchase!

    Looking lovely too x

    • Demi

      Aw thanks Joanne! I wouldn’t call it a small car though, it’s a little bigger than my mum’s Lancer which made me wince – I thought I’d be buying a small car until I actually went and measured it, haha! Ah well, I still totally adore it :)

  5. Congrats on the car and the new job! the dress is really pretty, perfect for a first day outfit IMO. I wonder if Tarjay still has it!!

    • Demi

      Thanks, Liz! Target do still have stock of it, I know because I saw it again over the weekend :D You may have some trouble locating smaller sizes though, their size 8 is more like a size 10 and it’s mostly sold out!

  6. Looove that dress! Fabulous colours, and it matches the new car ;) Glad to hear the new job is going well!

    • :D Thanks, Teresa! It really is an amazing dress, I fell in love the moment I laid eyes on it. Definitely a head-turner at the office :)

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