Keep nail biting (and vampires!) away with garlic

My mother put an end to my nail biting using this inexpensive trick. She simply rubbed a freshly cut piece of garlic onto my nail tips. Whenever I would be tempted to nibble my nails I would get a raw garlic taste in my mouth. Gross! It didn't take me long to be cured!

Keep the straws from unwanted drink bottles

If you have a drink bottle with an internal straw, when the bottle cracks, leaks or dies, don't throw the straw out! Remove it from the bottle and keep it in your cutlery drawer for whenever you need a straw, or keep a couple in your bag for use when you're out. I keep three in a little cotton bag in my handbag for when we order a drink that would normally come with a disposable straw (milkshakes, iced coffees, spiders, soft drinks). After use, I just give the straw a quick rinse in the restroom sink, or wrap in a serviette, and give a good wash when I get home. A simple way to reduce waste and help the planet!

Being frugal can be fun

Sometimes I feel as though I've lived on a budget all my life! I live alone in a second floor rented apartment - no yard or garden, just a concrete car park. To combat that 'locked in' feeling, I have endeavoured to bring the outside in for little cost.

I have several indoor plants; beautiful, green and healthy. My small cold water fish tank has two goldfish in it, they are healthy and lively and provide colour and movement darting around. Very cheap pets too, a can of fish food lasts for ages and you can get all kinds of tanks to suit any budget.

I conserve water by using the 'old' water from the fish tank when I change it to water my plants, giving them lots of nutrients! I also use the water left from steaming vegetables to water the plants too.

I have no car, so must walk to get my groceries and other needs. I tell myself this is all POSITIVE. Everytime I walk to the shops and back it is exercise and energy sustainable. I'm not creating any air pollution either!

Almost all my clothing comes from the local opportunity shops - guess you could call me Second Hand Rose! I have three good op shops in my area, which are also great for cheap books, kids' toys - just about anything you can think of!

Frugality is not about being 'mean'; it's often very necessary for those on a fixed and limited income - and it can be a lot of fun!

Shopping List Supervisor keeps you in line!

I saved quite a lot of money today at the supermarket because I took along my own, personal List Supervisor!

Every week my five-year-old daughter, who loves to read and write, writes down our shopping list that I dictate to her. She then gets to be 'in charge' of the list at the supermarket and has the job of making sure we don't get anything that isn't 'on the list'! She takes her job very seriously (as five-year-olds do), and whenever I pick up an item that hasn't been written down she pipes up 'That's not on the list!' - and so I put it back! Even items that were treats for her are sent back to their place on the shelf as she exclaims 'Uh-ah Mummy, that's not on the list!'

There are many benefits to employing a List Supervisor - we save money every week, we don't buy as many unhealthy 'treats' and I don't have a bored, nagging child at the supermarket as she is too busy doing her 'important job'! It's a win/win situation for everyone!