Make-up removal wipes make tough cleaning a breeze

I stumbled across a fantastic household cleaning product quite by accident! While cleaning and decluttering the makeup drawer, I accidentally found myself smearing broken-off eyeliner and other cosmetic dust around. The standard multi-purpose cleaners were not helping and the mess was getting bigger. In desperation, I grabbed out a make-up remover wipe and attacked the mess. Just like that, it removed all the old eyeliner, plus power foundation and everything else from the bottom of the drawer! I'm adding make-up wipes to my regular bathroom cleaning routine from now on!

No need for takeaways with home 'auto replen' system

I have finally found a grocery system that works for me! My husband calls it 'auto replen' grocery shopping. First, I buy discounted Woolworths e-gift cards from the Entertainment Book (saving 5%). Then, having downloaded the Woolworths app on to my phone, I purchase a delivery saver, $50 for three months of deliveries. This works out about $2 per delivery for us.

Whenever we run out of something, or it is getting low, I add it to my shopping list on my phone. Once we reach $100, I then purchase the groceries. Woolworths has the same prices in store as online and the same specials. I have found this reduces takeaway significantly, as we order 2-3 times per week (I have three adults and three children in my household, plus frequently two to four young children or teenage guests. If we want something in particular, we need only wait one day for it.

We liken it to the automatic replenishment system that the larger department stores have. It works for them and it works for us too!

Enjoy a big breakfast and save!

I have slashed my grocery bill, kept my kids from grazing AND lost five kilos, simply by enjoying a bigger breakfast. Breakfast items are generally cheaper if you are careful how you shop. Plain brand muesli, Vita Brits, porridge and cornflakes are all cheap items to have in your pantry. Plain brand yoghurt, fruit (canned or fresh) and vegetables are also fairly cheap, as well as tuna on toast. The helpings are generous and we eat until we are full. I've found that over the course of the day, hunger pains are gone, snacking is unnecessary and we eat smaller portions for lunch and dinner. Our savings have been made especially on dinner; we find that we don't eat as much meat and it takes a lot less to satisfy us at night. Not only have the kids stopped grazing, they have better concentration at school, eat all of their dinner because its a smaller portion and have stopped that afternoon dash for sugar, chips and treats. The kids enjoy eating the bigger breakfast because they are really hungry in the morning, as opposed to eating a heavier meal at night when they are tired and fussy and likely not to eat much. Since changing our biggest meal from dinner to breakfast, I've lost five kilos in four weeks and our grocery bill has gone down by at least $30 a week. I can also bulk cook dinner and make them stretch even further now. I look and feel great, am saving money and my family is happier too!

How to make your own white board

We made our own white board for next to nothing out of an old glass frame and some white spray paint. I got an old picture frame with glass in it for $4.00 from Vinnies. I took out the glass, cleaned it and spray painted one side with white paint. I then painted the frame black and put it all back together again with the painted side of the glass on the inside, and my new white board was ready. I use regular white board markers on it and it only takes a tissue or cloth to wipe off.