Tomato paste doubles as cheap puree

Tomato paste saves me valuable dollars on buying puree! Whenever a recipe calls for tomato puree, I just use a sachet of tomato paste and then add water to it to make it up to whatever quantity of puree is required. It works as well and tastes just as good. I like to buy the Delmaine concentrated tomato paste, which comes in four little tubs of 70gm each. It is so versatile, and compared to tomato paste takes up far less room in the pantry!

Cheap phones, games and movies from CeX

If you need to replace a mobile phone, make sure you check out CeX for great deals! They are Sydney based, but you can order online also. My old Samsung phone was dying, so I decided to get a replacement. I ordered a Huawei, and it was locked to Vodafone for just $80. I am using the Telco "Lebara" which is bought by Vodafone. The software is up to date too, better than the old Samsung! So if you know which provider you are connected to, e.g. Telstra, you can order a phone which is "locked" to them. Locked means, you can only use that provider's SIM card, no others. They have a lot of cheap games and movies available too! For more information, visit their website https://au.webuy.com/

Unique and useful gift in a box

A fantastic and unique gift for under $25 is the 'Useful Box'. It makes an ideal Christmas gift but can be used for any occasion. Basically this comprises of a pretty box which contains lots of those little useful things everyone needs but doesn't always have in one place; such as extra pens, string, Blu-Tac and so on - all the sort of things you want now and again but don't usually have on hand when you need them!

By buying all the supplies at the supermarket and a beautiful gift box at a discount store to present them in, I was able to create an entire Useful Box for just under $25, but you could make it even cheaper depending on where you purchase your supplies. To make it extra special, I wrote a little poem to go with the package! Here is a breakdown of the items I bought and their prices:

Bag of rubber bands - $0.69c
Self-contained sewing kit - $3.98
2-hole pencil sharpener - $0.79c
Paperclips - $0.59c
2-pack of stickytape - $1.19
5-pack of blue pens - $1.99
3-pack of 2B pencils - $1.29
2-pack of erasers - $0.55c
Post-it notes - $0.99c
Permanent marker - $0.83c
Blu-Tac - $1.80
String - $1.99
4-pack of AA batteries - $4.07
Gift box to put it all in - $4.00

TOTAL - $24.75

Other things that might be useful to add include fridge magnets, staples and safety pins. I do recommend keeping everything in its original packaging, to avoid people being stabbed by pins or the erasers getting grubby. Just pop everything in the gift box (including the poem if you wish) and either wrap the box itself up, or simply tie it securely with ribbon.

I printed my poem out and taped it to the underside of the gift box lid, then wrote in the card 'be sure to look under the lid!' You are welcome to use the poem below to make your own 'Useful Box'.

'The Useful Box'

I am a box of useful things,
Gathered from across the land.
Inside me find those things you need
But do not always have on hand.

Next time you scratch your head and think
'I wish I had some Post-it notes'
Just open up my lid and find
The very thing you needed most.

When pencils break or pens run out,
When sticky tape just disappears,
When batteries fail or string is needed,
Let this box allay your fears.

So use me as your Useful Box,
And if you wish please add to me
Those things you like to have on hand
So wanting you need never be!

Free on-line classes for computer skills

Save hundreds of dollars on learning computer skills with Hewlett Packard. Their website (www.hp.com) offers free online classes. Become proficient in Microsoft Word or Excel, take better photos and learn heaps of craft ideas to use them with. There are assignments at the end of each part of the course and a short quiz. There is also a message board to leave messages for the instructor and see how others are finding the course or even share ideas. There are two lessons available per week and you receive an email to let you know when each lesson is ready. You even get to print a certificate at the end, stating you have completed the course.

There are various courses available - some for small businesses and others for hobbies such as scrapbooking. Another bonus is you can print each page of the lessons as you go and keep them for future reference. Similar privately run courses or through WEA can cost a minimum of $100!