Money money money

I'd like to write a whole post dedicated to money. As far as I can remember I have worked and always tried to save some money. Never knew what I was saving for but still tried to save, it made me feel better knowing that I had some money put aside for rainy days so i decided to chose Australia as a country to use my savings on. Not so much of a rainy day situation but at least the money is put towards something useful, I get to see part of the world I never thought I'd explore and use the money in the most cautious way to survive here.
As you all know I'm not travelling alone and since Ramtin is only young and hasn't saved as money as I have, he came to this country with only enough to last him a month. I'd say its a big risk but it makes it more fun, the unknown drove us to the other side of the world and will continue to do so whilst we are here.
We arrived in Sydney (not such a cheap city to live in) and spent the first three weeks in this beautiful city but the living costs were very high with €210 a week just for accommodation and then you have to add food and other costs to this. I calculated if I just stay in Sydney and not work all my saving would be spent in hostels. So I'd say the best decision we made was to leave Sydney. Living with other backpackers and travellers has made me a little stingy. It's not a shameful thing to ask how much everything is as the Australian are used to poor backpackers and even in supermarkets they try and help you find the cheapest of cheap things to buy. In the back of my mind I know I have my savings but to be quite honest I enjoy living on a budget. I like that I can have lunch or dinner for only 50 cents (this is for simple pasta and tomato sauce split between three of us). I've been thinking about the amount of money I spend back home and I think once I return ill be more money conscious and think twice before I spend £15 for a drink and shisha. The way we have been trying to stay on budget is by buying all products from supermarket own brands and this is so much cheaper than other branded goods. My shampoo recently finished, I had brought a bottle form London but it lasted a month and two days ago I had to buy shampoo. Don't judge me but I bought supermarkets own brand, it's not the best but smells good and cleans my hair. I also bought a packet of 6 bars of soap I know it's a lot but there is three of us and we could all share, this is so much cheaper than buying shower gel and also much lighter to carry in our already very heavy backpacks.
I'm going to share another secret with you. The cheapest thing to buy in Australia is the McDonald ice cream. Not Mcflurry or a Sundae but the simple soft cone ice cream. The price... 30 cents. The first three weeks in Sydney was all about McDonald's ice cream but since we have been on the road it's been more difficult to buy them. There are drive thru's but it means going out of your way to buy an ice cream.
Ramtin laughs at me sometimes and just says "you have money just spend it" but I can't and I like not spending money and living cheap. It gives me an accomplishment feeling, like I have tried living the hard way and its not too bad.
Please don't get me wrong I miss the comfort of walking through a supermarket and just buying anything I fancy without looking at the price tag but while I'm out here living a backpackers life I might as well do it the right way and not cheat my way.
Some of you probably finish reading this thinking what has happened to Paras but that's good I'm trying new things and I'm enjoying the experience.
One more thing to add before I end this very long post, Australia is a very self sufficient country you can buy anything from a bar of soap to food all made in Australia. The mining and Agriculture has created jobs for many citizens and backpackers. Although they prefer to offer more permenant jobs to citizens and I respect that very much, they look out for each other as a nation that's why they are doing very well all by themselves.