Bundle up your bags and don't get caught short

I have come up with a super easy way to solve my shopping bag dilemma! Like many people, I was sick of trying to organise a whole bunch of bags of different shapes and sizes in the back of the car, ready for shopping trips. I really like my car to be free from clutter, so wanted a thrifty and simple solution, I decided to use an old cosmetic purse and filled it with 99c reusable nylon bags from the supermarket. These roll up tiny and fasten with a elastic tab, making a neat and tidy little roll. I can fit eight of the tiny rolls into my cosmetic purse and this in turn fits nicely into my handbag or centre console of the car. These days I never get caught without a bag and these ones can get used over and over again. Being made of material, they can also be thrown into the washing machine if they have had meat or something drippy in them and are soon as good as new again!

My level headed method helps me reach my goals

My daily book has been helping me save my goals and achieve all year. At the start of the year I bought an A4 meeting book, with section dividers. This gives me a section for my goals, one for 'major lists' that will go through the whole year and lists of different levels. To give you an example, it's this one here: http://www.createl.com.au/buy/meeting-record-book-purple/2578P

I count general housework as Level 1, things like tidying up/sorting, paper cleaning as Level 2 and Level 3 as big things that need other help, such as tax or renovating/new major organisation of the house and so on.

I work full time at a job that has many night and after hour events, so find myself doing a lot of Level 1 on the weekends. However, unless I make a conscious effort, I do not get much of Level 2 or 3 done. Using this book both at work and home helps me to be really organised!

Save a fortune with gift hampers

I came up with a great gift idea last year, which looked sensational without breaking the bank. I wanted to give families items that they really would use and enjoy, and that would not send my spending into overdrive! I created personalised gift baskets.

Each family member has their own personal likes so I decided to work with them. Most of the items were found in the supermarket, so I added them to my weekly shopping. A few dollars extra each week made little difference to my budget but provided excellent gifts for family and friends. For example, my brother likes hot and spicy food so I purchased minced chilli, hot salsa, oil infused with chilli and hot spices and presented them in a basket wrapped in red Cellophane. Two of my sisters-in-law love fragrance and candles so I made up baskets with different candles, incense, drawer liners, pot-pourri and sachets.

Others included:

• Garlic hamper - fresh garlic, minced garlic, garlic salt, garlic oil and a garlic mincer.

• Chocolate hamper - Jarrah chocolate, Cadbury, chocolate sauce, chocolate ice cream topping and chocolate curls.

• A herb bowl with 'boutique' herbs such as bouquet garni, cinammon sticks, oils infused with herbs and herb cook books.

• DVD hamper - a DVD, microwave popcorn, salsa, corn chips and jaffas.

• Gardening hamper - gloves, secateurs, Osmocote, plastic pot, hedge trimmers and Zero.

• Tea lover's hamper - a trivet, tea cup and saucer, UHT mini milks, tea bags, tea leaves and biscuits.

It is easy to pick a loved one's interest and tailor make a hamper/basket to match. Crazy Clints, $2 Shop and The Reject Shop have heaps of baskets and boxes to present your gifts in. Bowls, platters, saucepans and the like are ideal and useful containers for presentation. All it takes is some Cellophane and ribbon and you have a lovely (useful) hamper as a gift. It also works well for new baby gifts. Fill a box/basket with newborn necessities such as baby wipes, powder, nappy sacks, bibs, bottles, bootees, mittens, singlets, bath items and so on and wrap in Cellophane for that professional look. I saved a fortune last Christmas, yet everyone loved and used the gifts they received.

$410 compost tumbler for only $5

I grow most of our vegetables to eat healthy and save money. I save all scraps to compost and I wanted a tumble composter. They turn lawn clippings and scraps into compost in 14 to 21 days. The composter is priced at $410. I bought a 240 litre plastic drum (cherry bin) from the local trash and treasure market for $5.00. My husband drilled holes in the lid. It doesn't have a frame but I roll it on the lawn for five rotations once a day and I make compost in 21 days. It isn't hard to roll but I can't empty it into a wheel barrow (I'm only five feet tall) so I spread a sheet of plastic on the lawn and tip it out onto that. The compost is fantastic.