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April 2010 - Simple Savings Newsletter

"Secrets to Saving Money in Australia" Free Newsletter - April 2010

This issue includes:-

Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: You Spent HOW Much?!
May is Best Shop Challenge!
NEW! Hidden Gems Directory
The Fastest Way to Save
Short Story Competition Winners!
Best of the Vault: Shopping Tips
Best of the Forum: Show Me the Bargains!
NEW! Savvy Cook Showcase
Penny's Blog: Out of the Ordinary
Homeopathy Corner: Breaking Up is Hard to Do
From Last Month: One Pan Dishes
This Month's Help Request: Spendaholic Husband
Savings Story: The Last Laugh

Hello,

How are you going? I have a confession to make. I'm not getting much work done at the moment. Most of my time is spent keeping an eye on Elora. She is at the stage where she is big enough and fast enough to get herself into trouble - but not smart enough to get herself out of it. I'm looking forward to the time when she understands that when I am putting clips in her hair so that she can see, I am actually doing her a favour. As it is at the moment, she fights me, shakes her head, tries to snatch the clip, pokes her fingers up my nose or turns her whole body into a wiggly pile of squirming jelly so she can escape to the floor and crawl off. It is cute, it is funny, but some mornings I wish we were on the same team. Still, I guess I'm very lucky that the biggest challenge in my day is trying to put hairclips on a reluctant hairy octopus!

Please don't ask me how she ended up in the middle of a frisbee. I don't know. She didn't say.

She is so mischievous, but not as tricky as the winner of our romantic short story competition. The entries were so fantastic that we have given out extra prizes. Thank you to everyone who entered, we had a ball reading them! Although, Elora just didn't seem to get the punchlines.

The best part about spending lots of time with Elora is her thank you grins. They are contagious. It is like when members send in thank you emails. Your letters mean a lot to me and I know that Simple Savings is helping people, that we are all working together towards something special. So thank you for saying thank you!

"I have now been a SS member for nearly a year and love it! Thank you for the many tips on time saving and general lifestyle changes. My family is now aware of turning off lights and get involved in planning our meals. They compete to see who can put together a gourmet meal using whatever is in the cupboard. You have made us more aware of where our money goes and have made me personally accountable for those unnecessary purchases and impulse buys. I check the tips and Forum daily and have started to save and have a goal for each week. Keep up the wonderful support." (Katarina)

"I have had access to the Vault for less than 30 minutes and thanks to one of your finance tips I have already had my interest rate on my credit card reduced by 7% annually for the life of the card, just by making a phone call. I will lose my link to FlyBuys but all I need to do is flash the FlyBuys card when I make a purchase and straight away I regain that reward. Thanks!" (David)

"I fed my family of six on $22.90 this week thanks to your fantastic book. For our tea tonight we had Star Wars Stew. All the children commented that it looked yuck but once it was cooked and dished up they wanted more! They can't wait for Sophie's Lonely Sausage Risotto on Sunday but most of all they are looking forward to McMummy's tomorrow night! Many, many thanks for making my life easier and our meals more cost effective." (Vanessa Howard)

"I subscribed to the free newsletter for a number of years before I gave in and paid for membership. I love the calendar and after using it last year, even without really focusing on the saving aspect, I had the family asking for it this year! Not only that but my husband and older child are getting on board and encouraging me to work on the hints and tips for savings. As a family we are still in baby steps but now we are all working together and I think that is the absolute best!" (Alison)

"I am writing to you about your $21 Challenge book. I just had to say thanks for the inspiration, the wisdom and the cartoons that make me laugh out loud, but mostly for your genuine concern and care for fellow humans (savers) that oozes from every page. You deserve every blessing that comes your way and I hope there are many." (Jane Gibson)

All the best,

Fiona Lippey

PS: We have a brand new monthly competition! Check out our Savvy Cook Showcase for your chance to win a cash prize!

1. Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: You Spent HOW Much?!

Sally took a deep breath and walked into the Savings Group meeting. It was always the same; that familiar feeling of half excitement, half dread. On the one hand, she loved the company and enjoyed listening to everyone share their tips - but on the other? Sally always felt like she couldn't keep up with the others. Hanna in particular was miles ahead; she was always right, always knew the best place to shop. In comparison, Sally felt like she had nothing to offer.

It looked as though today was going to be no different. Hanna breezed in clutching a bulging shopping bag. 'Here we go again,' Sally thought to herself miserably. 'The latest new wonder purchase. Why is it I never seem to be able to find any bargains?' 'I have to share this with you!' Hanna said with a huge smile. 'Now you know how much I love pink,' she giggled. 'Check these out! I picked up FOUR new pink tops for $98, reduced from $250! Aren't they a steal!'

Sally's eyes almost popped out of her head. 'You paid $98 for those? Why didn't you go to Mr Pazook's? They sell them for $5.00 each!' she blurted out. 'Oh heck,' she thought to herself. 'I didn't mean to say that out loud.' Hanna reacted straight away. 'Are you serious? Wow, I've never heard of Mr Pazook's! Where is it? You'll have to show me! Thanks, Sal!' Sally beamed back at her. Wow! Maybe she wasn't such a bad bargain hunter after all! She couldn't wait to get home to tell Pete!

2. May is Best Shop Challenge!

Sally discovered a real 'hidden gem' in Mr Pazook's shop. Hidden gems are shops that save you time and money every time you go there but the specials are rarely advertised. They are the 'best shops' in your area and this month we want you to go looking for them.

There are two ways to find the best shops in your area. There is an easy way and a hard way. The easy way is to ask around. So start your quest by asking your frugal friends where they shop. They will know the best places and will be happy to help - but they will only share their knowledge if you ask them. Note - it is important to make sure the people you ask are actually frugal. Asking your spendthrift friends to recommend cheap places to shop just doesn't work!

This is the easy way; if this fails, you will have to do it the hard way. Start with the phone directory. Work out all the shops in your area that sell the goods you want, then put on your Simple Savings hat (that's a metaphorical hat, not a real one), get in the car and check out each shop in person. Chat to the staff. Check out the goods, check out the prices and work out which has the best value.

This is how I found our 'hidden gem' of a butcher. When we first moved to Buderim, I missed my old butcher (www.ccmeats.com.au) and tried to find somewhere locally that could match him for quality and price. Every shop I tried was either phenomenally expensive or the meat was just yuck. Then, after six months of looking, I discovered that Buderim Meat Hall does great deals if you buy in bulk. You just have to know to ask. At last we had a reliable source of high quality, cheap and delicious meat.

Although it took a little while to unearth my hidden gem, once I found this shop I was able to save a huge amount of time and money. I no longer had to chase from store to store or waste precious brain space following the specials trail. I had put in the leg work and we get to save $1500 a year on meat. No further effort needed.

This single shop lowered my meat bill by $1500 a year and that is just one shop. This is why it is so important for you to hunt out the best shops. The rewards are huge! Once you have worked out the best places to buy meat, vegies, clothes, shoes, takeaway (yes, I am still a sucker for takeaway once a month) and toys, the savings really add up.

Since moving to Buderim three years ago, I have found that the best place to buy new kids' clothes is at Rivers (www.rivers.com.au) half price sale. The best place to get kids' second hand clothes is our school fete. Kids' shoes are tricky - I'm still trying to work that one out. The best place to buy my groceries is ALDI and the corner shop. The two best places to buy fruit and vegies are at the Fishermans Road markets and Erbachers. The place to get milk is Maleny Dairies (www.malenydairies.com). The best place to buy Thai is Thai Seasons (http://www.menufeast.com.au/info/16387/thai-seasons/mooloolaba/). The best place to get fish and chips is the Mooloolah River Fisheries (http://www.mooloolahfish.com.au/retail.htm). While they may not be the cheapest, the food is divine and they have an upstairs area so you can enjoy your freshly cooked fish and chips without worrying about the kids running onto the road.

These are my hidden gems. What are yours? Have you worked out the best places to shop in your area? If not, do it now. Stop wasting your money and make sure you are getting a good deal. You will learn more about your own district as you hunt for the best shops. Who has the best bargains? Which shop has the most helpful staff? Which shops make the biggest difference to your food bill? Just like with my butcher, finding the best deals might take a little time to find the best shops in your area but be patient and keep searching. Once you find your hidden gems, they will save you a lot of money for years to come. And, when you do find them, be sure to enter them in our new 'Hidden Gems' directory!

3. NEW! Hidden Gems Directory

We want to make it as easy as possible for you to find the best prices where you live. We want the great shops in your area to get the credit and customers they deserve. So we are creating a 'Hidden Gems' directory, which will be available on the Simple Savings website.

For as long as we can remember, members have been sharing their favourite 'hidden gems' in the Savings Forum but we thought it was about time we made it official and created a list of little known places that can help EVERYONE save money. With your help, the Hidden Gems directory will become the fastest and easiest place to source the best prices and service in your region. If we all share our knowledge, we will all succeed in making some fantastic savings.

To give you an idea of how it will look, here is a snapshot of how my favourite hidden gem, Buderim Meat Hall will go in the directory:

Region: Sunshine Coast

Category: Shop

Products/Services: Meat

Name: Buderim Meat Hall

Location: Mill Rd, Buderim, QLD 4556

Phone: (07) 5445 1411

Website: None

Customer service rating: 5 out of 5

Price: 5 out of 5

Quality: 5 out of 5

How to get the discount: Buderim Meat Hall do great deals if you buy a forequarter, a box of chicken, a whole lamb and so on. The owner is Ian and you will need to ask him for bulk meat. There are no signs and at first glance the shop seems expensive. You also have to fit into his schedule. For example, the first time I asked him for a hind quarter, he said 'sure, as long as you can wait a week'. This is because he likes to hang the meat for a week so it tastes just right.

Information about the shop: The meat is very high quality. The beef is often his own. He is in the middle of getting his farm certified organic, but is in the seven year waiting period.

You see how it works? This is going to be fantastic! Now it's your turn. What is your favourite hidden gem? What do they sell? Where are they? Adding your best shops to the Hidden Gem directory is easy. We have made a page for you to fill in here.

To make the directory work, we all need to work together. Simple Savings members are much smarter than the average shopper. We're a lot fussier too! So please ensure that you submit only the really good shops to the directory. Shops that other Simple Savers will love and think you are a champion for telling them about it. With your support, these 'hidden gems' will be hidden no more!

4. The Fastest Way to Save

I'm really excited about the Hidden Gems directory. It's going to be a fantastic addition to our new-look site. If you haven't visited the new sections of the Vault lately, go and check it out, right now! Matt and Sean, our technical whizzes, have made some fantastic changes and members have been having a ball with all the new whistles and bells! If you're serious about saving money fast, look no further than the Vault. From the moment you join, you get access to:

Thousands of tips you can use straight away. The Savings Vault is the real gem of the Simple Savings website. It is massive. It gets bigger every week and there is always something new going on. The Vault has just had a revamp and members are loving the new format. If you haven't seen it yet, you can get a sneak peek by logging into the Vault and clicking on the 'New Vault' link in the top left corner. The new layout makes it easier and faster than ever before to learn how to save money on the exact thing you want, whenever you want it. Another brand new feature enables you to bookmark the tips you like for easy reference whenever you need them. Just pick a tip to get started!

Heaps of fun! Being a Vault member has never been more enjoyable or interactive. Members now have their very own area where they can create their own savings blogs to share with other members. They make fantastic reading! Follow Sarah (http://new.simplesavings.com.au/blog/Sarahs-Simple-Savings/) as she undertakes her first $21 Challenge, the crafty 'Chatterbox' (http://new.simplesavings.com.au/blog/the-everyday-chatter-of-chatterbox/) as she endeavours to make a year's worth of beautiful gifts and single mum Shelley (http://new.simplesavings.com.au/blog/Getting-out-of-debt/), who at 21 is battling more than her fair share of debt as she brings up her gorgeous baby boy. These and many more make inspiring and heart-warming reading. They're also fantastic places to pick up new tips and frugal recipes!

More savvy shoppers than you can possibly imagine! The Forum is just about to be updated into the new site. The Forum is the hub of the Simple Savings community and our information super highway! We have many amazing, clever members who have been helping each other succeed for a long time. No matter what the question is, you will find the answer here - and make a whole heap of new friends in the process!

Vault members are constantly working together to support, encourage and help each other. The best way to save money in the shortest period of time is to become a Vault member and soak up everyone else's knowledge. We offer a 365 day 'no questions asked' money back guarantee so you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Take the plunge and start saving today!

5. Short Story Competition Winners!

Whoever said saving money wasn't romantic? We have had an absolute ball reading your short story entries! Originally we were only going to have one winner, but there were so many fantastic stories to choose from that we decided to award one major winner and four runner-up prizes. You are all so clever!

The winner of the major cash prize of $300 is Jill Shepherd for her story 'Two for the Price of One'.

Two for the Price of One

By Jill Shepherd

Derek paced nervously along the strip of pavement in front of the busy cafes. It was the most popular place to come for lunch in town, a large selection of food, and often a busker or two providing entertainment to those who sat at the outside tables.

He had checked the newspaper that morning, and found a two-for-one meal deal at the Italian cafe he was now passing the front of. He paused to read the menu for the fifth time as he searched the sea of faces coming and going around him. All of a sudden he saw her; the mass of curly blond hair helping her to stand out from the crowd as she headed right towards him. Self-consciously Derek straightened his tie and brushed imaginary dust off his jacket as he moved inside the cafe and joined the long queue.

He had admired her from afar, noticing her on many occasions at lunch times at this strip of cafes. She often seemed to have vouchers for meal deals, and he saw she would ask other lone females, if they would like to share the cost of their meals. He noticed she never approached a man, which was probably very sensible, but one day, he happened to be in the queue behind her when the lady she asked had her own voucher. So he had stepped in to offer to share the cost with her. He remembered the nervous look on her face at his suggestion, but she had accepted his offer. Since then, they had often smiled and greeted each other, and once more last week he had been in the right place at the right time, and they had shared the cost of their lunches again with the voucher she had. They had sat together, and over the course of their short lunch, Derek had become smitten. He had been looking out for her ever since, and was trying to work up the courage to ask her out.

He turned around as she joined the queue behind him.

'Hello again Rachel,' he said brightly, trying to sound calm and casual.

'Oh, hello,' she replied, furrowing her brows slightly as she looked more closely at his face, trying to place him.

'It's Derek, we've shared our lunch costs a couple of times with vouchers,' he explained, feeling more uncertain now that she didn't seem to remember him. Perhaps he had read the signals wrong and she wasn't interested in him.

At the mention of his name, her eyes seemed to brighten, then her eyes flicked down to his wrist and rested upon his distinctive gold Rolex watch.

'Oh, Derek, yes! How are you?' she replied, a smile breaking out on her face now she seemed to remember who he was.

'I have a two-for-one voucher today. Shall we?' he asked indicating that they had reached the front of the queue and it was their turn to order.

'Thank you, Derek!'

They ordered and collected bowls of steaming pasta with sauce; then passed their meal chatting amicably. Derek was struck by how much more outgoing Rachel was than he remembered. But one thing he had remembered perfectly was her beautiful face with soft blue eyes.

Much too soon, they both finished eating and the waitress came to take their empty dishes away. It's now or never, Derek thought, wiping his mouth just one more time with his napkin, trying to calm his nerves.

'Rachel?' he asked, trying to keep his voice steady.

'Yes, Derek?' she replied, with that same wonderful smile

'Would you like to have dinner with me tonight?'

'You know, Derek, I think that would be very nice indeed,' Rachel replied. She reached into her bag for a pen, and grabbed an unused napkin from the edge of the table.

'Why don't you come and pick me up after work?' she said as she wrote something down, handing it over the table to him. 'Around six o'clock?'

'Great! I'll be there,' Derek replied, reading the name of a small second-hand bookshop not far from his work. 'I'll see you this evening.'

Then Rachel picked up her bag and with one last smile she left the restaurant, leaving Derek grinning from ear to ear, clutching the napkin.

At five to six that evening, Derek was standing outside the bookshop, once again full of nerves as he reached for the door handle. As he pushed open the door a bell rang, and Derek saw Rachel behind the counter. She looked up and smiled at him. He smiled back, but faltered when she turned and shouted, 'Rachel, there's someone here to see you.'

Derek's hand left the door, and it slammed shut behind him with a crash. 'But you're...' he managed to stutter, before, out of the corner of his eye he caught a movement and turned to see... Rachel! Confused, Derek looked between the two girls. Twins!

'I'm sorry, Derek' said the girl behind the counter, 'I'm Jennifer, Rachel's sister. As soon as you said your name today, and I checked you were wearing that distinctive gold watch, I knew you were the man she's been talking non-stop about for the past two weeks. I should have told you then, but I must admit I wanted to know more about the man my sister is so interested in.'

Derek nodded, 'That's ok.' Then he turned back to Rachel, 'So would you like to come to dinner with me tonight? Since I haven't exactly asked you yet?' he said, holding his breath as he waited for her response.

Rachel smiled warmly, 'I'd love to,' she replied, but when she looked at her sister, Derek could see she was a little nervous.

'Jennifer can come too if you like,' Derek said generously.

'Oh no you don't!' Jennifer protested laughing. You don't get two for the price of one this time! I'm sure you two will get along just fine without me!'

Well done Jill!

Runner up prizes of $50 have also been awarded to the following members:

Lynley Tulloch for 'Pearl'
Sarah P for 'Shameful Love'
Kelly Heaton for 'Love and Home-Made Compost are Free'
Brenda Howson for 'Secret in the City'

Congratulations! You can view all five top entries here.

6. Best of the Vault: Shopping Tips

You can save hundreds of dollars a year by avoiding marketing ploys and knowing when and where to shop. Here are some great tips from the Savings Vault to help inspire your next shopping journey!

Be bold and ask for discount

I have found that people become embarrassed about asking for discounts when there are other people around in fear that the salesman will say 'No'. If you can get past this fear, you can get many bargains from almost anywhere. I have had bargains reduced by 30-40% due to being bold and asking directly. This is what you can get for your money when what you want is not cheap to start with.

Contributed by: Caron Jolleys

Picking up small bargains on sale

It's a good idea to look for small bargains for children's gifts, such as books for $2.95 from Kmart, little toys and 'girlie' stuff, and store them in a present box.

This year my youngest son was invited to about six birthday parties all within two months. With my hand-made cards and paper and present box, I didn't need to rush around trying to find presents or cards. I already had them!

Contributed by: Jo-ann Green

Wholesale bargains, Adelaide

I can recommend a great outlet for bargains in Adelaide. Gaganis is located at 9-13 Bacon Street, Hindmarsh. They are wholesalers but the public can shop there too at the same prices. They stock all things Italian; pasta, sauces, beans, herbs, dried onion (my favourite), olive oil, kitchen ware and much more. It is so cheap to stock up there! You can also buy their products in supermarkets, but it is cheaper still to buy from them direct.

Contributed by: Annabel Saunders

More bargains at West End, Brisbane

If you can't make it out to DFO (Direct Factory Outlet) in Brisbane, don't panic - there are many clearance shops at West End! You can find great bargains here on art supplies (www.artshed.com.au), save on baked goods at the Vietnamese bakeries and browse the clothing shops around Montague Road. Then there is Reverse Garbage (www.reversegarbage.com.au) which recycles various materials - you'll be amazed what you can find!

Contributed by: Em

Fancy items from bargain stores

I am a big fan of the classical country style of decorating. I often find myself shopping at end of season sales in the big department stores, or at the factory second shops, or even the 'bargain' stores like the Warehouse and Clints. Surprisingly, GO-LO have exactly the same items that trendy country decorating boutiques have for only a couple of dollars.

Contributed by: Sara Dias

Shop for quality second hand bargains

We have saved heaps on our fishing gear by taking the time to shop around for good second hand fishing gear and watching out for the classified ads in newspapers. We have also found high quality rods, reels, lures and other items of fishing gear at low prices at garage sales. Some people get all enthusiastic about fishing and buy a lot of expensive gear, then for whatever reason, their enthusiasm wanes and they end up getting rid of it. This is when you can often get the bargains!

Contributed by: Rob Tonge

Cheap shops on the Gold Coast

On the Gold Coast you can try Salvation Army, St Vincents, Animal Welfare League, Daffodil Shops and Lifeline. Most of the op shops seem to be along the Gold Coast Hwy. Last time I checked there were four within walking distance of the Palm Beach CBD and also half a dozen within walking distance of the Southport CBD. Also in Southport, one can walk to stores such as The Warehouse, Stacks, and Crazy Clarks within the CBD. In Ferry Rd, Southport, there are quite a few second hand furniture stores grouped together, and I have found lots of bargain items in these over the years. Another great spot for finding second hand furniture and knick-knacks is the section of the Gold Coast Hwy between Miami and Burleigh - there are about four large shops in a short section of highway. There is also a huge discount clothing shop in the middle of Southport in the Australia Fair Shopping Centre, where I noticed they have many of their items for only $5.00. As you can tell, Southport is my favourite bargain hunting suburb on the Gold Coast.

Contributed by: Jill Wiseman

Be persistent when asking for a discount

Try shopping around for discounts by 'playing' shops off against one another.

When I needed to buy a bike helmet for my son, I mentioned that a friend recommended that I go to a shop where she had bought the same one for $90. After relating the story four times, I got the helmet for $95 instead of $149.

I always ask for a discounted price, and usually save between $10 and $50 which is a considerable saving. Retailers prefer you to spend at their shop, not others.

Contributed by: Annette Damon

Best bargains not always at $2 shops

For bargain hunters who like to shop at $2 or similar discount shops, I have found that they do not always have the best price. As an example, I purchased a 40ml brand name men's roll-on deodorant for $2.00, only to find that I could have bought it in a 75ml bottle in Woolworth's for $2.11! Just goes to show, it doesn't pay to assume the 'cheap' shops are naturally the cheapest!

Contributed by: Karen Webb

7. Best of the Forum: Show Me the Bargains!

When you ask a question in the Savings Forum, you can always be guaranteed of an honest reply! In these threads, our members share some of their favourite bargains and shopping around tips. No matter what you're looking to buy, they'll find a way to help you get it for less!

Sharing - bargains, specials, free, very cheap...

Where can you find the best specials this week? Look no further than this thread!
read more...

What bargains have you bought (scored) lately?

Find hidden gems and much more in this busy discussion!
read more...

Current meat prices

Where's the best place to buy meat? How do you know if you're getting a good deal or not? Our clever members answer these questions and more here.
read more...

Unit pricing - tricks the stores play

Would you pay over $14 for a kilo of cereal? It's easy to get sucked in by sneaky unit pricing in stores. This thread exposes some of the tricks stores use to make shoppers think they are getting a good deal - and how you can avoid getting a bad one.
read more...

It pays to shop around

Shopping around for the best price is one of the most basic rules when it comes to saving money - but is it really worth the effort? You betcha!
read more...

Help me choose a new laptop

Buying a new computer can be a nerve-wracking experience. Not wanting to make an expensive mistake, Doofybear asks the Forum members to share their advice and experiences. Smart thinking!
read more...

8. NEW! Savvy Cook Showcase

At Simple Savings we are constantly blown away by how clever and creative our members are in the kitchen. They are experts at cooking from scratch, cooking in bulk and making a teensy amount of food go a long way. Not only that, their recipes are lip smacking good! We thought it was about time we showcased some of these wonderful frugal cooks. Keep reading - the next one could be you!

This month's star savvy cook is Kate Andrew, who could be described as a bit of a hidden gem herself! She's been part of the Simple Savings team for some time but we thought it was high time we introduced her properly. Kate designed the $21 Challenge book cover and took care of the book layout. She has also done the calendar year in and out, as well as the downloadables. However, she's not just an amazing designer. Kate is also a mother of three, a super smart shopper and, as we discovered when writing the $21 Challenge book - a fantastic cook!

Those of you with a copy of the $21 Challenge book will have already seen some of Kate's brilliant recipes. They're not just delicious; they're super practical for busy mums. This recipe comes from the $21 Challenge book and is a huge favourite with Penny's family. Penny loves it because it makes a little mince go a long way but most of all she loves it because it's an ingenious way to get her kids to eat tons of vegetables. It doesn't matter which vegies she puts in, they always wolf it down. Once Penny put in so much silverbeet, she turned the mixture bright green - and the kids STILL loved it! Give it a go - we're sure you'll love it too!

Kate's Savoury Mince with Hidden Vegetables

Savoury mince is a fantastic family meal and so versatile! Use it for spaghetti bolognaise, lasagne, pies, nachos, tortillas, tacos - it's even fantastic on toast or in toasted sandwiches for an easy, filling snack.

The key to perfecting this mince is to ensure your vegetables are chopped super-fine (we recommend using a food processor or blender) and that it is cooked for a long time if possible to maximise the flavours. Serves 4-6.

1 tbsp oil
500g mince
1 medium carrot, roughly chopped
1 medium onion, roughly chopped
1 medium zucchini, roughly chopped
½ - ¾ cup roughly chopped, mixed vegetables (the more variety the better, e.g. broccoli, mushroom, cauliflower, spinach, celery, cabbage, even a little pumpkin or sweet potato)
1 - 2 cloves garlic
½ beef stock cube
½ cup red wine (optional)
1 jar tomato pasta sauce (or one 400g tin diced tomatoes + one tbsp tomato paste)
1 tbsp tomato paste
½ - 1 tsp dried oregano
½ - 1 tsp dried basil (or two fresh sprigs in puree)
1 bay leaf
Fresh parsley if you have it

Pop all your vegetables in a food processor or blender and process or puree until super fine. Heat the oil in a saucepan over medium high heat and brown the mince. Add the pureed uncooked vegetables to the pan with your meat. Add any remaining ingredients and bring to the boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 1-2 hours, stirring regularly.

Tip:If you are planning to cook your mince quickly (30 minutes), it is best to cook your pureed vegetables a little before adding to the pan to strengthen the flavour. Remember, mince always has a richer flavour the next day, so don't be afraid to cook it the day before you want to use it!

You can find more of Kate's ingenious recipes in The $21 Challenge book. They are all delicious and so versatile. We have been getting fantastic feedback about them from readers! Look out for:

Kate's Tomato Casserole - Page 138
Kate's Rich Gravy Casserole Base - Page 140
Kate's Coconut Casserole Base - Page 204

If you don't have a copy of the book, you can order one from us here. (*nudge nudge, wink wink*)

New Monthly Competition! Send in Your Recipes!

Now it's your turn! Do you have a favourite frugal recipe that you would like to share? Send them in to us, with an accompanying photo and you could be featured in our Savvy Cook Showcase! We will be giving away a cash prize each month for the best two recipes - $100 for Vault members and $50 for non-Vault members.

We can't wait to receive all your yummy recipes! Send them in to us here.

9. Penny's Blog: Out of the Ordinary

Apr 24, 2010

I've just returned from a very productive shopping trip! Thames is one of my favourite towns. It's full of quaint little shops where you can browse to your heart's content, particularly at the bottom end of Pollen Street, which I believe is called Grahamstown. It's also the home of my favourite op shop, the Salvation Army Family Store! I don't get the opportunity to go there half as much as I'd like, so couldn't resist ducking in there. The racks are always full to bursting and you never know what you'll find. It probably sounds a bit corny but I love the fact that there's just such an air of warmth and caring in the shop. The shoppers are in there to get a bargain and the staff are there to help them get one. I tell you what, most other clothing stores could take a few lessons from these ladies in shop layout. Everything is clearly labelled and so easy to find. I particularly like the section against the far wall, which bears a large sign that says 'OUT OF THE ORDINARY'. I'm dying to know what things are housed there but haven't been game enough to look yet!

I was just about to leave the store when something jumped out at me. A straight, black skirt in immaculate condition and in my size! You wouldn't believe how many shops I have scoured for one of these over the past few months, only to be told you can't buy them any more because apparently they are 'out of date'. Not being a dedicated follower of fashion, I snapped it up regardless and headed for the counter, where I was charged the princely sum of $4.00. I was chuffed to bits with my bargain and couldn't believe it when the lady apologised that she had to charge me full price as it wasn't a 50% off day! When I think how much I would have been prepared to pay in the high street stores just to get my hands on a skirt like this, I had to chuckle. I can't wait for my next appointment in Thames so I can go back and check out the jeans!

I was sharing my shopping success with Noel that evening and the conversation got around to our favourite shops. Noel would never get his hair cut anywhere else but at Trevor Roberts' barber shop in Huntly. He's been there as long as we (or anyone else) can remember and as soon as you walk through the door it's like going back in time. Make no mistake, this is a serious bloke's shop. The walls are festooned with everything from Tottenham Hotspur soccer memorabilia to stuffed ducks, pheasants and marlin. The only reading material you'll find are fishing and hunting magazines, along with National Geographic. There's a big stack of magazines to choose from, which is just as well as you can often be in for a long wait. With Trev, there's no such thing as appointments. You just walk in, and sit and wait your turn. People are happy to wait as long as it takes, because not only do they get the cheapest haircuts in town, they just like being there. Trevor refuses to rush, he'll cut your hair when he's good and ready. In the meantime, customers just sit and soak up the atmosphere - and often, watch the entertainment.

While you wait, you can be treated to any number of visits from some of the 'old fellas' in the town. More often than not they have no intention of getting a haircut, they've simply popped in for some good natured banter with Trev, who is always pleased to see everyone and gives back as good as he gets. I kid you not, Compo, Foggy and Clegg from Last of the Summer Wine would be completely at home here. All the furnishings are old and traditional, from a bygone era and unlike pretty much every other hairdresser I've seen in the last 30 years, Trevor still insists on wearing a white coat. Young or old, everyone loves getting a haircut from Trevor. It's his low prices and his obvious love of his work that keeps them coming back.

Another favourite store of ours is West's Trading, in Te Kauwhata, which has been owned for years by Maurice and Eileen West. You could call Maurice our local answer to Arkwright from Open All Hours (although he'd probably kill me for saying so!). The shop front is deceptive and nobody can believe on their first visit how far back the enormous shop extends. Talk about an Aladdin's cave! They just don't make shops like this any more. No matter what you need, you can find it at West's. A new bed, a wedding present, garden hose, framed art, tap washers, decorative soaps, fishing rods, duck decoys, crayfish pots, thermal underwear - this treasure trove has got it and much, much more. It's like The Warehouse - before The Warehouse was ever invented! The difference is that West's products are always top quality. They pride themselves on supplying their customers with the best and if on the very rare occasion they don't have what you're looking for, they'll get it in for you. Day in and day out, you can find the pair of them behind the counter, chatting to customers about everything from the weather, to fishing or the latest rugby score. Visitors from outside the area are always gobsmacked at their range and prices and never leave empty handed. 'Who would have known?' they say.

And then of course there's our favourite bookshop, which you may have heard me mention before. Browsers in Hamilton - now that's what I call a REAL bookshop! Think 'Black Books' without Dylan Moran. Wall to wall books at teensy prices. You could spend the whole day in there and not buy a thing and nobody would care. It smells of books. The people there love books. I adore the music, the ambience, the fact they stay open late at night so people can come in and browse at their heart's content. What Noel and I realised as we talked, that all of our favourite stores are owner-operated. Not big names or global chains but one-offs and totally unique. Let's face it, there aren't many shops like that out there any more are there? Which is sad but all the time people like Trevor Roberts, the Wests and Browsers continue to give a stuff about their products, their prices and their customers, we shall continue to support them wholeheartedly. And of course the Salvation Army Family Store and every other place who proudly continues to sell straight black skirts without caring if they're out of date! Hurrah!

April 2010

7th - Eyes wide shut

12th - The School of Ken

19th - Try and try again

27th - Under the influence

10. Homeopathy Corner: Breaking Up is Hard to Do

It would be wonderful if we all sailed through relationships and lived happily ever after. Unfortunately almost everyone is affected by a relationship ending at some time or another. Everyone deals with heartbreak differently and it is common to experience a rollercoaster of emotions. The good news is, homeopathic remedies can actually help you through this painful time. If the tears won't stop, or you find yourself unable to face others - or you can't rid yourself of the urge to throw a vase at your ex - there is a remedy that will help you get back on an even keel! Fran Sheffield discusses how homeopathy can heal the heartache in this article:

http://homeopathyplus.com.au/homeopathic-remedies-for-breakups/

11. From Last Month: One Pan Dishes

Last month Emma asked:

"I need meals that are easy for the nights I'm working, preferably cooked in the one pot or pan. Can anyone share recipes for one pan dishes for the oven? I find dishes like lasagne, scalloped potatoes and shepherds pie easy but would really like more variety."

One pan dishes can be a saviour when you don't have a lot of time or energy. Thank you everyone for your recipes. We will be adding them all to a new category in the Savings Vault for One Pot Meals.

Bake a dinner cake

This variation of the much loved zucchini slice is brilliant. It freezes well, it's flavoursome and relatively healthy! My children call it 'dinner cake'!

Ingredients:

5 eggs
1 cup self raising flour, sifted
375g zucchini, grated
1 large onion, finely chopped
200g rindless bacon, chopped
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
60ml vegetable oil

Method:

Preheat your oven to 170C. Grease and line a 30cm x 20cm lamington pan. Beat your eggs in a large bowl, then add the flour, beat until smooth, then add zucchini, onion, bacon, cheese and oil. Mix it all up. Then pour it into your greased pan and bake for 30 minutes or until cooked through. Serves 15!

Contributed by: Amanda Reynolds-Smith

Flexible fish pie

This is a recipe you can play around with, but the basics are:

In a medium size casserole dish, lightly mix together a large tin of tuna or salmon, or the equivalent weight in smoked cod, along with two cups of white sauce, a chopped onion and a cup of peas. Top with mashed potato, sprinkled with breadcrumbs and grated cheese. Cook at 180C for around half an hour.

Here's where the flexibility comes in. You can add any other vegetables you like to the mix, swap the fish for cooked chicken, or include hard boiled eggs. This is a popular dish in our household and the perfect recipe for using things you probably have in your pantry.

Contributed by: Catherine Adler

Family favourite vegetable bake

My kids - and my husband - love this healthy vegetable bake! First up, make this cheese sauce.

Ingredients:

1 tbsp butter or margarine
1 onion, finely diced,
1/2 tsp garlic, finely diced
2 tbsp plain flour
1 cup cream
1/2 cup grated cheese.

Method:

Place all ingredients in a saucepan in the order listed above. Combine and stir until thick. Then grab whatever vegetables you have in the fridge, chop them up and place them in an oven-proof dish. Cover in cheese sauce and sprinkle a little grated cheese on top. Cook for five minutes or until the cheese on top melts. This dish is also great when re-heated the next day.

Contributed by: Katherine Pierson

Always popular chicken casserole

You can't go past a chicken casserole when it comes to one-pot cooking, and this traditional recipe is sure to become a family favourite.

Ingredients:

Chicken pieces
Chopped onion
Other vegies
Tin of diced pineapple (remove tin first)
Herbs
Cornflour

Method:

In a casserole dish, place as many chicken pieces as you need, along with some chopped onion and other vegetables such as carrot, capsicum and mushrooms Throw in a tin of diced pineapple, including the juice, plus herbs and spices to taste e.g. chilli, paprika or thyme.

Cook at 180C for about an hour or in a slow cooker on low setting for at least six hours. You may want to thicken the juices towards the end with a little cornflour to make a nice gravy. You could also use boneless chicken thighs, but the cooking time will be much less. This is delicious served on mash or rice.

Contributed by: Catherine Adler

Health packed sprout omelette

This omelette recipe is a one-pan dish but for the stove, not the oven!

Ingredients:

1 cup alfalfa sprouts
1 cup Mung bean sprouts
2 tbsp chopped shallots
1/2 cup grated cheese
2 eggs, beaten
Salt and pepper, to taste

Method:

Combine all your ingredients in a bowl then pour into a frypan, covering the whole base. Cook then flip omelette to cook the other side, or put under griller. Serve with toast and slices of tomato on the side.

Contributed by: Rhonda Toope

Nan's chow mein

This version of chow mein came from my nan and was popular with my cousins and I as kids, and continues to be popular with our spouses and kids now that we're grown. The following quantities make four good sized servings.

Ingredients:

500g minced meat, particularly good with beef or a combo of beef and pork
1 large onion, chopped
1/2 cabbage, shredded
1-2 carrots, grated
2-3 celery stalks, chopped
1dsp curry powder, or to taste
1 packet chicken noodle soup
Good splash Worcestershire sauce

Method:

Brown the mince and onion in a small amount of oil or water. Add remaining ingredients and stir well. Add enough water to come about one third of the way up the pan; simmer with lid on until the vegetables are cooked through, stirring regularly to ensure nothing sticks. Do not allow to boil dry!

If you don't have chicken noodle soup, just use chicken stock powder. In the past, I have also added a packet of fried noodles near the end of cooking time for extra texture. You can also add whatever vegetables your family like - spring onions and green beans work particularly well.

This recipe doesn't freeze but it does reheat well for a hearty lunch the next day.

Contributed by: Melanie Linder

Easy cheesy pie

This yummy one dish meal now replaces our takeaway night. Not only do the kids love it but it saves us around $30 a week. Cheesy pie is a quick, easy and no-mess treat, so no more big kitchen clean ups when you're already tired. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

1 sheet puff pastry
3/4 cup grated cheese
200g bacon, diced
Small handful of chives
6-8 eggs

Method:

Line a pie dish with pastry. Sprinkle half the cheese and half the bacon into the dish, top with chives. Crack eggs into the dish and pierce the yolks, then add the last of the bacon and top with remaining cheese. Bake at 200C for about 20 minutes or until the eggs are cooked.

Contributed by: Yvonne Lane

After dinner delight

It's technically not a dinner, but it's mouth-watering all the same! Chocolate fondant puddings are really simple and taste delicious!

Ingredients:

200g dark chocolate, melted
1/3 cup brown sugar
2 tbsp plain flour
60g butter, chopped
1 egg

Method:

Combine all ingredients in a food processor. Pour into greased ramekins and bake for 20 minutes at 180C. Serve with cream or ice cream! This is great pick-me-up after a bad day but it's also cheap and quick!

Contributed by: Hayley Webb

12. This Month's Help Request: Spendaholic Husband

This month Cathy H asks:

"My husband is turning 50 this year and I am 42. I am a stay at home mum while my husband is the wage earner. Unfortunately he is a spendaholic. He cannot be bothered to inconvenience himself to save a few dollars. Catching a taxi is more convenient than a train and he will buy anything he wants without another thought. Money is tight at the moment and I am concerned as we are going heavily into debt. He is in control of the money as he earns it. I have no knowledge of exactly what he earns and where the money is distributed because he is a business owner.

"I am a great believer in 'look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves' but he just shrugs it off and keeps spending. He believes that one day he will 'strike it rich' and all the debts will disappear. We have four children aged from 10 years to nine months. We are locked up so tight financially that we cannot borrow a cent. He is not getting any younger and I am really scared that one day he will die and leave me with a massive debt and the costs of raising the kids. We have limited super - certainly not enough - and no other investments. Has anyone got any suggestions to try and make him change his ways?"

If you have a spendaholic remedy we would love to hear it and so would Cathy! Please send your helpful suggestions and support here.

13. Savings Story: The Last Laugh

I have been receiving your newsletter for some time now and used your tips and advice to reduce my food bill dramatically but I didn't think I could do any more to save money. Until I did the $21 Challenge!

My husband reluctantly gave me copy of the book for Christmas. I say reluctantly because he and my daughter were convinced they were going to starve, as $21 for a week's supply of food was not possible. To quote my daughter 'I am too young to starve to death! $21 wouldn't give us enough food for two days, let alone a week!' In an attempt to try and derail my attempt at the Challenge, they sought support from immediate family members, all of whom agreed it could not be done and laughed at me for even wanting to try it. However, I was not about to be deterred! I continued full steam ahead on my mission, now even more motivated than ever to prove to those who laughed at me that it could be done.

Fast forward to the last week of January 2010 - my $21 Challenge week.

Fridge, freezer and pantry underwent the obligatory stocktake to analyse what was on hand, a menu for the week was drawn up and a shopping list was created to buy those items missing. To prove only $21 would be spent on the week the family accompanied me shopping. This is a feat in itself, as any other time I could never bribe them to come grocery shopping! To my delight the grand total came to $19.30. You should have seen the looks on their faces! Priceless. Their only comment? 'We haven't eaten anything yet'.

Still, the week came and went without incident. My daughter, to her surprise, did not starve and my husband commented on the variety of food and in fact how much better we had eaten. Total money saved for the week $180! My hubby apologised for doubting me and congratulated me on continuing with the Challenge, given the obstacles he and the others had put in the way.

As for my laughing family members, they're now begging to borrow the book so they can do the Challenge themselves. Guess I had the last laugh!

Contributed by: Tracey Grobbelaar

April 2012 - Simple Savings Newsletter

"Secrets to Saving Money in Australia" Free Newsletter - April 2012

This issue includes:-

Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: World's Greatest Mum
May is Toycott month!
Hidden Gems Competition Winner
Best Members' Blog: This Month's Winner
Best of the Forum: Retail Therapy?
Best of the Vault: Shiny, New Things
Cooking with Mimi: Family Treat Night
Penny's Blog: You Can't Take it With You
Lin's Garden Diary: Bugging Out!
Homeopathy Corner: Big Savings
From Last Month: Kids' Clothes for Grown Ups?
This Month's Help Request: Where Do I Start?
Savings Story: Major Savings, Freedom, Freedom!
Goodbye, Goodbye...

Hello,

How are you going? It has been an interesting month in Simple Savings land. Something very strange indeed happened. Simple Savings members actually REQUESTED we put up our prices. Yes, it is true! So this is what we are going to do. We are going to increase the price to renew your Simple Savings Vault membership from $17 to $21 per year on the 30th of May. (The price of new memberships is still $47. It will not change.) However, we understand not every member wants their renewal fee to go up. So we are giving everyone the option to renew early for up to five years at the lower price of $17 until the 30th May.

If you would like to renew early, click here.

We have received some wonderful letters this month. Thank you to everyone who takes the time to write in. We love to hear of your success!

"I undertook the $21 Challenge two weeks ago and I am proud to say I was successful in my endeavour. I purchased broccoli, oranges, apples, milk, cheese and eggs for a grand total of $20.85. I normally spend $300 a week on groceries, so this was a huge saving for me and has helped me to think how to use what is in the pantry and replace ingredients in recipes for ones I already have! Thank you Simple Savings." (Heidi)

"I felt the need this morning to share with you how appreciative I am of this website, and in particular, the Forum. As I take stock of all the information I have got out of it, I realise that this site has been like a wise family member to me. I come on here for everything. It's my first port of call and I usually don't have to search anywhere else.
Thank you so much for all that this site has given me." (Alison)

"Just wanted to let you know I finally did the $21 Challenge last week and I finished the week with $3.00 to spare! We ate really well all week. The only items I had to buy were onions, mushrooms, a piece of pumpkin, a small amount of cheese and some fish. I feel really proud that I've finally done this and this week one of my work colleagues has been inspired to give it a go too!" (Linda James)

Thank you to everyone for their kind words this month. I really appreciate it.

All the best,
Fiona

PS. If you want to renew early for less money. Click here.

1. Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: World's Greatest Mum

Sally couldn't help smiling as she got into her car. Today was going to be great! 'Toys R Fab' was having a massive sale and she was determined to be first in line. There was only one thing Sally loved more than buying new things for herself and that was buying new things for her kids - and today she could buy as much as she liked! She could picture the scene already this Christmas. 'My kids are going to think I'm the best mum in the world!' she thought to herself happily.

'Now promise me you won't go overboard,' Pete had told her that morning. 'You don't have to buy something just because it's on special you know'. 'Of course not!' Sally replied, rather miffed. 'I am simply being a smart consumer Peter. I've got my catalogue right here and I've already circled the things I need.' She waved it under his nose. 'Hmm, I'm not sure we NEED any more clutter in this place,' Pete said wryly, 'but at least you won't be paying full price for it I suppose!'

Sally had a ball. She got everything she had circled in the catalogue and much, much more. After all, everything was so cheap! She reached the checkout and smiled happily at all the other smart shoppers with their trolleys heaving, just like hers. 'That will be $862 please,' the cashier's voice jolted Sally into reality. Oops! She had only brought $300 cash with her. Not to worry, she could always use her credit card!

2. May is Toycott month!

Sally had been doing so well, until she fell into the trap that so many of us do - succumbing to the dreaded toy sales. Da, da, da, dumb!

It is a very easy trap to fall into. The annual toy sales have become a cultural phenomenon; everyone is doing it. It is so ingrained that we even had a note sent home from childcare one year asking parents not to drop their children off two hours early on the morning of the Target toy sales. They do not have enough staff to look after the influx.

The sheer volume of toys purchased is astounding! Last year I read a quote by Sally-Anne Newson, head of Big W online sales. She said that their goal was to sell more than three million toys in the sales. "That's two toys every second for 24 hours a day for 14 days". That is a LOT of money to spend on toys. And, it is a lot of unnecessary pressure placed on parents, families and mortgages!

The reason we spend so much money on toys is they are an emotional purchase. We buy them because we love our children. We also love the buzz we get from them smiling and saying "Thanks! You're the best!' One time when I bought some Lego for Jacqui, she was so excited she literally jumped up and down in circles around the store shouting 'Yippee!'. The buzz is so cool that I find myself looking for excuses to buy her new toys. It is this love that marketers use to manipulate us into buying truckloads of toys.

Many of you know that I originally trained as an industrial designer - but few know it was because I wanted to be a toymaker. I love toys! I love making children smile. But, as I gained insight into how the industry works, I started to rebel instead. I started asking, why? Why do we let the media and the toy stores whip parents into a frenzy when we know it is going to place more pressure on the family? These toy sales do NOT save people money. They are using our love for our children against us. We are being encouraged to spend our childrens' future on 'stuff'. Why do we let them do that to us?

Then I made a decision. I decided, I am not going to the toy sales this year. 'No way! No more! No how! I don't want to be herded towards the toy sale checkout. It is time for a Toycott!' There are better ways to get our children to smile and tell us that we are the best mum in the whole world. Like baking their favourite biscuits, listening to them, smothering them in kisses or reading them stories.

In this month's Toycott challenge, we want you to help us teach other parents ways to get their kids smiling that do not involve buying new toys. Tell us the fantastic things you have done which made your children grin. Then we will retell your stories to help and inspire others. Then everyone can get the emotional satisfaction of new toys - without having to buy any. Please write in and tell us, how how you made your child smile as if they had just received a cool new toy? The best four entries will win $50 each. To enter the competition click here.

If you DO find yourself wanting to buy things from the toy sales this year, please be cynical and read our eight steps for protecting your wallet. If you go to the toy sales with your guard down, marketers will take advantage of you.

Here is a link to the Eight Steps.

If you need extra support or someone to chat with, pop into our Forum. Good luck! We look forward to hearing all about those wonderful smiles!

3. Hidden Gems Competition Winner

Our Hidden Gems directory is designed to help members source the best deals in their area. Whenever you come across a real gem of a business, enter it in our Hidden Gems directory and you could be in the draw to win our monthly prize of $100 cash! This is our way of saying thank you for helping other members save by sharing your knowledge. The more information you can give us about your special store, the better.

This month's winner is The Fabric Cave at 78 Belmore Street, Ryde, New South Wales as nominated by Barb.

The Fabric Cave sells fabric remnants, buttons, knitting wool, discontinued patterns, tapestries and so on with all profits going to charity. The fabrics are donated and arranged in colours. There is also dressmaking and upholstery fabric. There were bins out the front with pieces of lycra and tulle and other bits and pieces. The stock changes regularly depending on donations received. If you no longer sew and wish to get rid of your stash they will happily take your donations.

It is open Monday and Friday 9.30-2.00 and the first Sunday of the month 9.30-12.00. The ladies serving were lovely. Although the address is in Belmore St, you enter via Porter St.

I happened to visit the day of their first ever 50% off sale and I bought six pieces of fabric, some quite big and all very good quality for only $19. This included a lovely piece of linen and some good quality stretch material. I can make at least six items of clothing and probably more from that haul. I had selected one piece that had a mark on it which I hadn't noticed and the staff pointed it out to me. Even at full price I would have been happy to buy it!

Congratulations on being this month's winner Barb and big thumbs up to The Fabric Cave for providing a budget-friendly store for sewers and crafters alike.

If you know somewhere special that others would like to know about, please write in and tell us. Send in your Hidden Gem here. Thank you and good luck!

4. Best Members' Blog: This Month's Winner

One of the many benefits of being a Vault member is that you can win a cash prize of $100 each month for your Simple Savings blog! Starting your own blog on the site is easy. All you have to do is log into the Vault, click on 'My Desk' at the top left, then 'Your Blog'. Then get writing! We love reading all your money saving trials and tribulations and really appreciate the effort that goes into each one.

This month's winner is Rising Grace (previously Fall from Grace) for this extract from her blog 'I'm addicted to shopping':

Note: I'm pretty horrified about how much money I've spent. I don't really need or want any comments expressing disgust or shock about it, please keep it nice. I'm feeling very ashamed, especially as I know how tough some people are doing it on here. I'm a bit fragile and writing this at 2am because I can't sleep for worry and won't have the guts to admit any of it in the morning!

I think I have a shopping addiction. A genuine 'need to seek help' kind of addiction.

I can't stop spending money on clothing. Sometimes accessories and shoes, but mainly clothing. Over the last two weeks I've spent *deep ashamed breath* over $1000 on three skirts, a belt, a jacket, a top and a dress. This is not uncommon for me and the reality is that I can't go through a week without buying at least one or two items of clothing, often three or four... I am here to try and figure out why I do it and stop feeling so sick about how much money I've spent.

I think there are a few reasons why I do this:

(1) For much of my early adult life I was extremely overweight and couldn't buy 'nice things'. I lost almost 40kg about three years ago and suddenly a whole new world of *vanity* opened up to me. I can fit into all of the straight sized clothing lines and designer lines that I used to dream about. For someone who couldn't buy a year 12 school ball dress and had to buy a horrid, satin peach 'mother of the bride' ensemble, being able to fit into a designer size 12 is like a dream come true. Suddenly I started to develop my own sense of style and received positive attention from others. I regularly get random compliments from strangers in the street over what I am wearing and I get so much happiness and satisfaction out of that...

BUT...

The happiness and satisfaction only seems to last for such a short while. I will buy a new skirt or dress and by the time I've worn it twice I am sick of it. I am embarrassed to wear something twice in front of friends or my boyfriend. Every time a social event comes up I feel like I have to have something new to wear to it. I guess I am trying to say that it's not just a feeling of vaguely wanting some new clothes but an overpowering need to have something new so that people will think I look nice and I will feel confident enough to actually go to a party. I have actually avoided going on a date with my boyfriend before because I felt that I didn't have anything nice enough to wear, even though my wardrobes (I have three, plus a full sized dressing room) are bulging with clothes.

I think my sense of self-esteem and confidence is irrevocably wound up in what stuff I buy and wear. I am known as the 'stylish' one of my group of friends and sometimes I feel so trapped by that expectation. Every time I have a job interview I have to buy a new outfit otherwise I am incredibly nervous.

I grew up in a relatively wealthy family and I have seen my mother shop like this all my life. My first memory of us spending time together was her buying me designer T-shirts at the age of three. My mother was very disappointed that these shopping trips ended when I started to put on weight as a young teen. Unfortunately, I don't have the income of my parents and my attempts to recreate their lifestyle just means I have nothing else to show for it.

I NEED and WANT to do something else with myself. I have tried to:

Tell myself savings in the bank feel better than a new dress (well for me they simply don't)
Direct debit 10% of my weekly income into a savings account (I have been known to transfer money from this acc. to my regular acc. with my smartphone in the change room at David Jones so I can buy stuff)
Establish an emergency fund of $500 (ditto with the transferring)
Cut up my credit card (done and I only owe a minimum of $500 on it nowadays)
Unsubscribe from fashion retailers' emails so I don't have to know about the lovely new things they are selling
Only go out with enough cash to tide me over (unfortunately I know my CC pin off by heart)
Give myself savings goals (goals that quickly die when I see something new and pretty).

I earn $740 per week after tax and I have nothing to show for it. This time last month I had a $500 savings fund and $600 in savings. I have spent it all. The only way I can pay for this amount of shopping is by living at home with my parents still and neglecting other areas of my life (boring necessities like car servicing).

Does anyone have any ideas about what I can do to help myself? So far I have decided upon:

Establishing my main savings account with another bank so I can't transfer money instantaneously to my everyday account. Any transfers will take three days not three seconds in a change room!
Putting a small amount of money away in an account I like to call 'fripperies' every week. When I have enough money in that account, I can buy something nice with it. If there is no money in that account then NO fripperies
Stop shopping as a 'hobby'. I love to go to a shopping centre on a Saturday and just wander and spend money. No more - I need other hobbies!
Actually getting some help from a psychologist for my self-esteem and self-confidence issues. I think I have a real problem and I won't be able to get through it on my own.

So for my own records, to keep me accountable and to try and keep me on the straight and narrow, I want to start this blog. I'd be interested to hear anyone's thoughts about other ways to help myself through this.

Congratulations Rising Grace for her honesty when facing her personal spending demons. To read more from her, or any of our other members' blogs, click here

5. Best of the Forum: Retail Therapy?

Everyone loves a little retail therapy now and again! Unfortunately it is something many of us turn to when we want to feel better but can't actually afford it and we end up feeling worse! Next time the urge to splurge hits, head to the Forum instead for plenty of savvy support, wise words and terrific tips like these!

Personal style catalogue saves on spending and washing!

Marvellous Mimi has just the trick to rein in your spending when cries of 'I've got nothing to wear!' echo around your house. Why not set up a style catalogue showing all the different outfit combinations you have in your own wardrobe? If it's good enough for the supermodels..!
read more...

What do you think is an excess that others see as necessary/normal?

This thought provoking thread cuts to the heart of the 'want' versus 'need' debate. Where do you think the toy sales catalogues fit into this equation?
read more...

Things I no longer buy

You will be truly surprised and instantly inspired by the countless things our savvy members no longer waste their money on. Delve into this thread for an abundance of everyday ways to keep your cash in your pocket.
read more...

A saving is NOT a saving when...

When you save money, do you put the money you have saved into a savings account or use it to pay off debt? Or does it simply get spent on something else - in which case, does this actually make it a saving at all? Tassie Bound provides some real food for thought when she questions 'where does the money you save go?'
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How much do you spend on clothes for your kids?

Chocolatewheats has a teenage daughter who says she has 'nothing to wear'. But is she really hard done by? How many clothes does a child actually need? In this thread our helpful members are quick to share their advice and experience.
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$1 savings plan

What do you do with those pesky gold coins that seem to find their way down the back of the couch and under the mats in the foot wells of your car? Our clever member Marigold has got a plan to make her small change really work for her!
read more...

Today I saved $$ by... thread number four

It doesn't matter HOW you save money - as long as you save it! This lovely, chatty thread shows the value in every single saving we make. Big or small, it all adds up!
read more...

6. Best of the Vault: Shiny, New Things

What truly makes you happy? Going shopping and spending your hard earned money on more possessions - or enjoying the self-satisfaction and peace of mind you get from having financial security? These clever tips from our Savings Vault show it is possible to achieve both!

Saving money while still having lots of toys

Babies and children love lots of new and varied toys which can end up costing a lot of money. Two good ways to save money and still have lots of toys is to:

Let all of your friends with kids know that you love second hand things like toys and clothes. You will find that they will often quite happily pass on old toys and clothes, both for you and your baby.
Go op-shopping (or second hand shopping). Toys from second hand shops are only ever a couple of dollars maximum and usually all they need is a wash with disinfectant - plus to your child it's a brand new toy.

If you get any toys from these methods it doesn't matter if your child isn't old enough for it yet. Just put it away and bring it out at a later date. Got too many toys? Then split them into a couple of boxes and swap the toys around every week. Your child will rediscover some old toys that they were previously sick of. I have found that as well as saving me money, my child actually prefers second hand toys to new.

Contributed by: Darra L

Make non-spending a habit

When I first became budget conscious, I started looking at where my money was going. The bottle of water from the store, the newspaper on the way home, the quick bite to eat with friends and so on. I was amazed to find how quickly those little things added up. So I implemented a no-spend day once a week. For one day during the week, I would not buy a thing. No food, no stamps, no papers, no mints, no music. Nothing! It was difficult at first to manage one day a week but within a fortnight I had built it up to two days a week. This means I have to work out exactly what I need and wait until a spending day to purchase it. This not only stops silly spending but once you actually have to wait to buy something you usually forget you needed it in the first place! No spending days have transformed my spending habits and I urge anyone trying to cut down on consumerism to consider having their very own no-spend days.

Contributed by: Jan Dooley

Scratch that spending itch

I'm saving madly to build a new house so I've really cut down on discretionary spending. Every so often, however, my fingers itch to spend money on something frivolous and unnecessary. When this happens I think ahead for the next few months. Whose birthday is coming up? Is Christmas coming up? Are there any special events coming up? What essential item do I need to spend money on? I then make a list of presents or essential items and go shopping for those things instead. I have no guilt trips as it's money I would have spent anyway and I'm prepared with presents and other things so no last minute panic. Best of all, that itchy spending finger has gone!

Contributed by: Helen Kuisma

Joining toy library

I joined the local toy library when my son was about ten months old, the age when he needed the bigger, more expensive toys to keep him occupied. For an annual membership of $50, and one rostered 'shift' (1.5 hours) in the library per term, I can borrow up to six toys for two weeks. So far I have only borrowed three toys each time but each set of three toys would have cost over $100 to buy. He gets to play with different toys every two weeks and I don't have to spend hundreds of dollars keeping up with his developmental stages. The value for the $50 membership so far: at least $350 in just two months!

Contributed by: Kirrilly Lindberg

Creative kids' fun from the recycle bin

I've discovered a great way to keep my three-year-old happily entertained with free decorative boxes she can paint! We keep all of our old cardboard boxes for recycling - cereal boxes, tea bag boxes and so on. When my daughter wants to paint something, instead of going out and buying her something to paint, all I do is get something from the recycling, slide my finger down the sides to 'undo' the glue, turn the box inside out and re-glue or, if pressed for time, staple or sticky tape. This puts the printing on the inside, and my daughter has a beautiful clean box to paint and decorate to her hearts content!

Contributed by: Kate

No deposit lay-by traps

I find it annoying that stores put all the great (or not so good) sales, such as the toy sales, on when you receive your tax refund. Many people (including myself) have fallen for the no deposit lay-bys. The catch is that you must pay the first instalment two weeks later but then you can wait until Christmas to pay the balance. A lot of people put heaps on lay-by, only to have to cancel it two months before Christmas. It's the no deposit lay-bys that trap people into spending up big without the money to pay for the purchases later.

Contributed by: Naomi Kuta

Recycle your toddler's clothes

I save around $10 on each pair of my five-year-old's shorts, by recycling her toddler clothes - it sounds crazy, but it really works! I have already saved $60 on my daughter's summer clothes this year! Instead of throwing out size one and two shorts when your toddler has outgrown them; try them on your child again at around age four. You may well find that they fit again or are possibly a little too large! How does it work? Once the children outgrow their 'toddler tubby tummy' and no longer use bulky nappies the larger waistband made for size one and two clothes can fit a four or small five-year-old child easily again. You can either recycle the shorts as before, or make them into a cheap summer pyjama set by adding a T-shirt. You can pick up children's T-shirts for just a dollar or two each from larger supermarkets. Combine the shorts with the T-shirt and you have a saving of up to $15 on a regular set of pyjamas!

Contributed by: Kim T

Some extras to say thanks to our Vault members for all their valuable contributions:

Don't be trapped by expensive branded toy accessories Contributed by: Jeana Sullivan

Smart mums don't spend on toys Contributed by: Sandie

Unspend your way out of debt Contributed by: Lisa R

Felt fun toys are cheap to make Contributed by: Mon Cat

7. Cooking with Mimi: Family Treat Night

While we're all trying to avoid the temptation to shop for toys this month, let's reward ourselves with some delicious new family treats! I'm thinking a fun dinner idea is in order, and my Fondue-Style Pizza followed by my Triple Treat Ice Cream Loaf, fit the bill perfectly!

Who can resist soft, chewy cubes of bread dipped in rich tomato sauce, cheesy goodness and crispy bacon bits! And if you think that sounds good, wait till you slice into the gooey ice creamy goodness of the Triple Treat with layers of pink and white marshmallow sandwiched between ice cream and chocolate! Is your mouth watering yet?!

Fondue-Style Pizza

(Serves 6)

Equipment:

Medium serving bowl
Cheese grater
2 microwave-safe bowls or jugs, 2 litre capacity
Whisk
Bread knife
Freezer bag
Sharp knife
Non-stick frypan
Flat serving platter
Dinner plates

Ingredients:

1 cup milk powder
3 cups grated cheese
2 cups water, made up to stock with 2 chicken stock cubes
4 tbsp extra water
4 tbsp cornflour
4 tbsp tomato paste
A pinch each of oregano, thyme and basil
3 bacon rashers
2 loaves unsliced bread, preferably day old

Method:

Use your bread knife to carefully remove the outer crusts of your unsliced bread. Pop these into a freezer bag for making breadcrumbs or snacks another day. Cut your unsliced, crust-less loaves of bread into 4-5cm cubes and place on your serving platter.

Next, dice the bacon finely using your sharp knife and set aside. You'll be dipping your cheesy bread into the bacon bits, so the smaller they are the better.

Spoon your tomato paste into your bowl, and add the four tablespoons of water and herbs. Stir well until it looks like thick tomato sauce and set aside. You could also use regular tomato sauce or pasta sauce if you prefer.

Now it's time to make the all important cheese fondue sauce. Measure your stock and milk powder into your microwave-safe jug and whisk thoroughly. Microwave on high for 3-4 minutes until steaming hot.

Next, mix the cornflour with four tablespoons of water until nice and smooth. Add along with your grated cheese to the stock and milk mixture and mix well. Microwave on high for a minute at a time, whisking between each minute, until you have a thick smooth sauce.

Toss your finely diced bacon into a hot frypan. Reduce the heat and allow to sizzle away for a minute or two. While you're waiting, re-heat your cheese sauce so it's piping hot for serving.

Now it's time to call family and have them lay out the table with dinner plates, cutlery, the tomato sauce and the platter of bread cubes.

Tip the crispy bacon bits into your small serving bowl and get it to the table pronto! Remove your cheese sauce from the microwave, give it one last good stir, tasting for seasoning. Tip it all into your serving bowl and take it to the table.

Now there's an art to this... but you'll catch on quickly. One morsel and you'll be sold... Simply pierce a fat, fluffy cube of bread with your fork. Dip it lightly into the seasoned tomato paste sauce and shake off the excess. Now dip it into your cheesy sauce before dipping quickly into the bacon bits, collecting just a few. Pop into your mouth and enjoy!

Don't ya love it? Sort of pizza-ish, sort of fondue-ish, heaven on a fork!

Triple Treat Ice Cream Loaf

(Serves 8)

Equipment:

Loaf tin or dish
Aluminium foil
Large spoon
Sharp knife
Kitchen scissors
Microwave safe dish
Serving platter

Ingredients:

1-1.5 litres vanilla ice cream
6 large pink marshmallows
6 large white marshmallows
125g cooking chocolate
6-8 small rectangular biscuits

Remove your ice cream from the freezer and allow it to soften for 20-30 minutes. In the meantime, line your loaf tin or dish with aluminium foil. Snip each marshmallow into three flattish discs with your kitchen scissors.

Cover the bottom of your dish with the biscuits, trimming them to fit. Next, cover the biscuits with a thick layer of ice cream about 10cm deep and smooth with the back of your spoon. Layer the marshmallows, white then pink, over the ice cream. Add another layer of ice cream over the marshmallows as before.

Place the chocolate into a microwave-safe dish and heat on 50% power for about 90 seconds until melted and smooth. Pour a thin layer of melted chocolate over the ice cream loaf and smooth again. Pop your loaf into the freezer for at least two hours to firm up.

When you're ready to serve, run a knife that's been heated under hot water all the way around the edges of your loaf tin to loosen it, and then upend it onto your serving platter, chocolate side up. Cut thick slices using a heated knife. Looks great, tastes even better!

8. Penny's Blog: You Can't Take it With You

April 29th

I'm back! I hope... goodness me, it's been a while! I would love to spin you a wonderful tale full of twists and turns all about my exciting adventures during the past month but the truth is, I've been in bed pretty much the whole time. I'm not going to bore you senseless with my health woes but in a nutshell:

I don't have breast cancer - yay!
I don't have cervical cancer - double yay!
I do, however, have some sort of virus which attacks your heart and kidneys and can even kill you if you don't kill it first. No 'yay' for this one! Ali actually refers to my bedroom as 'The Chamber of Secrets' because I can disappear in there all of a sudden and not venture out again for weeks! Still, I'm up and about now and the doctors are doing their best to get rid of the blasted thing - only time will tell whether they have been successful.

Makes life interesting I guess! It's certainly one way to save money as I haven't been able to drive my car so no petrol expenses, no Zumba classes (saving $20 a week), no lunches out with friends (another $20 a week), no nothing really. All of life's little luxuries and material possessions become totally unimportant when you're not able to tootle off to the shops to get them or watch TV or read magazines to be exposed to all the 'must-haves'. Just goes to show that a person can exist quite easily on nothing but bed rest, chicken soup and ice cream when necessary. I mean really, at the end of the day, what else is important but food, your loved ones and a place to sleep? Not much, I've learned!

April 2012

2nd - Mr Patel - World Famous in NZ!

9. Lin's Garden Diary: Bugging Out!

Arggghh! My broccoli leaves have holes in them! Honesty, they look as though the kids have attacked them with a craft puncher! Keen to prove their innocence, Seb and Zoe became regular little Sherlock Holmes's as they hunted high and low for signs of snails, caterpillars and any other creepy crawlies but kept getting interrupted by pretty white butterflies. Turns out it was actually these nasty little critters that ate our leaves! In need of an effective deterrent FAST, we delved into the Vault and Forum and found a world of information on how to be rid of bugs and diseases, including some great natural recipes for organic sprays:

Banish the white butterfly!
Thanks to Susanne (VIC) for this tip! To get rid of the white butterfly she suggests 'Spray the plants first with the hose and then sprinkle plain flour over them. If snails, white butterflies or cabbage worms are the problem they will eat the leaves and flour. The flour will swell up inside them and kill them'. Donna (QLD) also suggests Pyrethrum spray. Senior Citz (QLD) says 'If you string small bits of white cloth or paper in the area of your vegies, the invading white butterflies will go away as they are very territorial and will not invade where another group is working'. Get the kids involved - Seb and Zoe had a ball drawing and cutting out their butterflies!

Scare off pests with soapy water
Yes, I'm serious! Water from the washing machine can be collected and used directly on plants in the garden. This helps protect from a variety of pests. The soapy water can be collected during the spin cycle and seems to work very well on tomatoes. Alisa (Otago NZ) also suggests 'left over soapy water from washing dishes. My mum swears by it!' You can also make a soap spray, which is good for banishing aphids, red spider mites, and thrips. You need 225g of plain soap and 9 litres of hot water. Grate the soap and dissolve in the water, stirring well. Cool before use. After spraying infected plants gently hose down with clean water. Repeat as often as necessary.

Garlic spray
Use this for ants, spiders, white fly, beetles, leaf hoppers, scale, citrus bugs (stink bugs), caterpillars, aphids, cabbage and tomato worms. Thanks to Bloomen Marvelous (Kallangur,QLD), 'I use about 7-10 cloves of garlic, a good swig of Tabasco (maybe a quarter of the bottle) and/or three chillies. Smash the cloves to a lumpy pulp and put the chillies or Tabasco in an old jug. Pour about a litre of boiling water and let it sit all day, all night and the next day. That afternoon add 70% water and 30% garlic, mix in a garden sprayer and spray as needed. The mixture lasts for about three weeks and then goes off'.

Onion spray
Great for spider mites, caterpillars and thrips. Place onions in blender or chop. Cover in boiling water. Cool and dilute before use.

Seaweed tea
As many of you know this is my favourite feed, but it is also really good for mildew, fruit rot and rust. Leave seaweed (the large floppy type) to soak in a bucket of water. I leave the bucket near the garden and apply once a week, allowing the rain water to top it up.

Chilli spray
Thanks to Mawghan (WA) for this general pest control spray. 'Blend together half a cup of fresh chillies with two cups of water. Add a dash of dishwashing liquid to improve sticking. If you have no chillies substitute with two tablespoons of Tabasco sauce. Always spray a small section of the plant to check for leaf burn. Check in 24 hours and if there is no damage spray all the plants you want to protect. Leaf burn with any spray is more likely to occur during hot weather.'

Lettuce spray
A great way to use up those limp lettuces in your garden or fridge! Use for white cabbage moth. Simply boil up the leaves, then cool and dilute before spraying.

I also love this tip from Cheshire Cat (QLD)! She suggests putting a hair net over young cabbage plants while they are small to keep the bugs out. She says it might look a bit silly but it works at keeping the butterflies at bay!

On a final note, to avoid unwanted pests and diseases, keep your vegie gardens tidy by removing dead leaves and falling leaves and gently forking through to allow good drainage and air flow. Crop rotation and companion planting also help to keep these pests away. A strong plant is a happy plant and is more likely able to fight off the nasties. Happy gardening everyone!

10. Homeopathy Corner: Big Savings

We are often asked why Simple Savings includes articles about homeopathy in our newsletters. It is a great question and the answer is; because I see the world differently to other people. When Fran first showed me how homeopathy works and how the remedies were made I was so excited. I thought if even a tenth of what she is saying is true the government would save itself millions, if not billions, of dollars.

When Fran first started writing articles for this newsletter I wanted her to do price comparison articles such as this one about Ron's osteomylitis. Osteomylitis is a severe and very nasty disease which her patient had been suffering from for 20 years. When Fran told me Ron's story, I started adding up the numbers and realised the government had probably spent about $80,000 helping Ron with very little success. Fran on the other hand gave him his life back for the grand total of $360. That is a huge cost saving!

Here is a link to Ron's article:
homeopathyplus.com.au/osteomyelitis/

11. From Last Month: Kids' Clothes for Grown Ups?

Last month Sophia asked:

"I have lost a lot of weight over the past year and have gone from a size 14 to a size 6. I should be over the moon but I am really struggling to find clothes to fit me. Even adult size 8 clothing just hangs on me. I am resigned to the fact that I am going to have to look at wearing children's clothes but there is such a small selection of shops where I live and none of them have a children's range except for toddlers! Can anyone recommend any stores which carry a good range of clothing for teen girls?"

Thanks so much to everyone who sent in their ideas to help Sophia out. Here are a collection of our favourites!

Become a clothing market expert

Two years ago I had a similar experience. At 175cm and 65kg I was already considered slim/skinny but then was taken ill and my weight dropped to 53kg! I was fortunate in running into an old school friend at the local market (Chandler Markets in Brisbane). She was walking out with all sorts of things she had picked up from the general market/flea markets. From then on I joined her and bought a variety of clothes including designer jeans, pants, jumpers and jackets for $2.00-$3.00. You can try most things on at the stalls and you get an idea of what will fit after a while. It's amazing how a new pair of jeans can add a whole new dimension to your wardrobe. Give it a go - you may even become addicted like I did. People often comment on how well I'm dressed but I never let them in on my secret that my outfit costs as little as $5.00!

Contributed by: Kirsty C

Go undercover

Size 6 adult clothing is not as hard to find as she thinks. I can recommend checking out Undercoverwear's website at www.undercoverwear.com.au and click on the 'clearance' tab. You can find plenty of size 6 brand new fashions starting at $5.00 where the original prices were way more expensive. Also don't forget eBay! Just put 'size 6 women's clothes' in the search area. Major shopping centre stores such as Witchery and Sussan often have plenty of unsold garments on special because they are a size 6 or 8 and most of us are a larger frame. Happy hunting!

Contributed by: Pauline Bilotto

Free delivery from the UK? Whatever next!

For great clothing in all sizes try Next online (www.nextdirect.com). It is a British company which has just started delivering overseas. When you log onto the website you need to click on your country's flag at the bottom as not all items are available in all countries. They have a full range of petite adult clothes but also a range of teenager's clothes - and the best bit is they deliver for free! Honestly, there are no hidden costs and it doesn't matter how much you order; they deliver it right to your front door for no charge and if it is not right you can just send it back to them... for free! Hope this helps!

Contributed by: Emma Rainey

Look around for Asian stores

Visit the Asian shops in shopping centres or in the smaller neighbourhood centres and you will find many items in smaller sizes, including shoes and evening dresses. They are fashionable, cost effective and because they cater for a large percentage of their population they come in several colours.

Contributed by: Deb Manendis

Overseas/online keeps petite wardrobe stocked

I buy a lot of size 6 clothes from eBay, ASOS, Lippy, Wayne Cooper, Cue, and Review. USA is good to buy from for jeans because they go to size 0. On eBay I buy underwear and coats from Asia as the sizes tend to be small. Also I go to factory outlet places. Usually the size 6 clothes end up there reduced, which is a bonus!

Contributed by: Sandra Latter

GirlXpress is great!

Kmart has a great range of clothing called GirlXpress. It is in the adult section but made for teens and stocks a size 6. I buy most of my clothes from there as they are cheap and nice and I know they will fit. Dotti also caters for small sizes.

Contributed by: Celia Tanner

Compare stores with a few clicks

The best places to find smaller sized clothing are Asian and American brands or stores. For example there are Asian-based clothing stores in most shopping centres such as TEMT, SES and Valleygirl, who all often have very small sizes. Also try American-based online stores; they will have measurements to compare your body to their sizing guide, so you may find you will fit their size 4, or even a size 0, which is two below a 6. It may even work out cheaper buying this way because you can compare many stores with a few clicks!

Contributed by: Louise Harvey

Target for teens good for grown-ups too

I recently discovered that Target sell most, if not all, of their clothing online. Target seems to have a great range of teen clothing and their Hot Options brand is often made in a smaller fit. I sometimes wear a size 6, sometimes 8, but I find that Target size 8 fits me quite well. I believe they also put their measurements on the site, so you can be sure whether or not something will fit you before you order.

Contributed by: Robynlouise Thomas

Be philosophical

I am an NZ size 6 (which is smaller than Australian size 6, so I really sympathise with your dilemma - I HATE buying clothes!). I found stores like Jay Jays and Alley X stocked some size 6 (I lived in Townsville). The thing with girls' clothes is that they usually don't make them with hips. They are kind of straight, so if your figure is one where your waist isn't too different in size to your hips, you might manage wearing size 10, 12, or 14 girls, but I'm finding it increasingly hard to find girls clothes that fit hips AND waist, especially after having a baby! I've finally decided that the only way I will ever get the clothes I WANT in a size I FIT is to make them. A friend who has great sewing (and pattern making!) skills is helping me. I've decided to cull my wardrobe over the next few years, so I own less clothing but actually wear what I have rather than a whole motley collection of things that get worn maybe once a year. I'm starting with some elasticised and gathered skirts. Four in different colours that use the same basic pattern, just enough to get me through this coming summer. Then next year I'll probably do the same with some dresses using a style that I can put leggings and long sleeves under, or wear sleeveless so I get optimum use out of them.

So my tips are:

Know what you like
Know the styles that suit and fit you best (no floppy necklines for my small busted frame!)
Consider spending more money on fewer items of clothing, but focusing on ones that can be dressed up, dressed down, and go with multiple other items in your wardrobe
Try to be philosophical about it all - can you put up with wearing those pants that are really a bit too big for a few more months this year, then get new ones next year so you can spend the money on some end-of-season sales instead?
Don't get sucked into buying something only because it fits. If you don't like it, you probably won't wear it. Unless of course it is your uniform!

Contributed by: Amy Diffey

12. This Month's Help Request: Where Do I Start?

This month we have an interesting one! Karen asks:-

"I've been on SS for a few months now, so am relatively new and loving every minute. However, I tend to flick from one thing to another, spending valuable time and need more structure. Do you have any suggestions to new members where to start? For example, I have:-

Mimi's recipes/other recipes on my watchlist.
$21 Challenge (read this book from the library).
Hints & Tips (added to my watchlist).

I desperately need to reduce my shopping bill and need to menu plan more often. Does anyone have any other suggestions? What do other members do to get the best out of SS?"

If you have any tips which can help Karen, please send them in to us here.

13. Savings Story: Major Savings, Freedom, Freedom!

'I have just finished our annual household budget for 2011/12. My husband had kept our 2005 budget and I did a comparison and was amazed how much the cost of living has increased! Insurances have more than doubled, electricity has doubled and water is close behind. Food is a big one that has drastically increased since 2005. However, with all of those increases we have managed to cut our household costs in half since 2005! This has freed both of us up to be able to live the life we want and do things we didn't think possible.

At present we are not working and not getting any help from the government either in any form. My husband has had to change work (he was in the construction industry) because of his arthritis and is now full time at uni doing a degree, I am at home having time out also because of chronic conditions but we are not anxious because we have saved and been busy little savers from working hard and putting into place all the saving tips we could find and Simple Savings have had a large impact on that.

We have rethought EVERY expense we had and REVISED all of our spending habits. Some of which were; looking at all the different insurances we had, which really gobble up our hard earned dollars. We both had two life policies, which we simply did not need. So we cancelled one each and kept the ones attached to our superannuation which come out annually from our super, freeing up cash flow on hand. I have put the $21 Challenge principles into place every week now for our groceries; in other words I don't buy anything we just don't need immediately and I don't get tempted by the yummy sales.

As of last June we are completely out of debt, we own our own home, own cars and all our own stuff :)... This makes a huge difference between having to work sick and having time out to catch our breaths and RETHINK life and what's important. I have also put the $21 Challenge principles into place in clothes shopping and craft... and it's working! I am now trying it out with gifts which are a big one as I have six daughters, their partners and seven grandchildren.

Even my hubby has come on board with all of these things which make life a little easier and more pleasant. I am now passionate about putting saving measures into place and am still rethinking everything before I do it! AND the big plus is I'm having FUN doing it!

Contributed by: Jennifer R (reproduced from her blog)

14. Goodbye, Goodbye...

Phew! Well, that wraps up another busy month's newsletter. We hope you have enjoyed it and have been inspired by all the money saving tips. Our members are hugely important to us and we love hearing from you all! So next time you're on the website, why don't you get in touch and say 'g'day'! Let us know what you would like to see more of in our newsletter or any suggestions you have for something new to try.

Don't forget to spread the love around to all your friends and family too by forwarding them our newsletter or letting them know about our website. Help make their lives easier and save them money too! Or tell them about us on Facebook by clicking the 'like' button on our Simple Savings Facebook page.

Have a fabulous month and good luck with your Toycott Challenge. See you next time!

All the best,
Fiona

April 2014 - Simple Savings Newsletter

"Secrets to Saving Money in Australia" Free Newsletter - April 2014

This issue includes:-

Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: Easy When You Know How
April: $21 Challenge
Ye Olde Shoppe: The One and Only $21 Challenge!
Penny Wise: A Dash of Soy and a Splash of Lemon
Best of the Vault: Take the Challenge!
Best of the Forum: Meet the $21 Challenge Warriors!
Best Members' Blog: Challenges!
Cooking with Mimi: Cinnamon Apple Fritters
Rob Bob's Gardening Blog: Using Paper to Save Coin
From Last Month: Help With 'Cheep' Easter Goodies
This Month's Help Request: Give Me a Hope Among the Gum Trees!

Hello,

How are you going? We loved finding 'Better Deals' during March and got some great emails from you as well as about some of your 'wins' this month - well done! April's $21 Challenge month is an old favourite that reminds us to shop at home, menu plan and spend our dollars wisely - we can't wait to hear how you go.

We love hearing from you - here are two of our favourite emails this month:

"I want to tell you what a single phone call achieved. I got my house and contents renewal notice and saw premiums were going up $28 a month. With a single phone call, I was able to renegotiate and reshape the policy and am now paying only $5.00 more per month than I was and saving $270 for the year." (Anne)

"I've just been looking through my files and found I have kept every Simple Savings hint from April 2009 through to the most recent one. The information is invaluable and I thank you so much for all these years of sending them to me! I'm looking forward to many more!" (Kerry (Mr))

Have a great month!
All the best,
Fiona Lippey

P.S. Remember, macadamia oil is still on special for $15 for one litre, plus postage.
Save $3500 per litre on beauty products!

1. Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: Easy When You Know How

"Psst, Sal, are you there? I need your help!" Chloe hissed, peering around the door. "Oh hello!" Sally smiled. "What's with the whispering?" "I don't want Tom to know I'm here ," Chloe said as she scuttled in. "He'll be home from work soon and he's coming for dinner - but I've got no food! Worse still, I've got no money to buy any more! My car needed a new battery this week and then I had to take Milly to the vet and it used up all my grocery money" Tom's a wonderful cook and he always goes to so much trouble. I can't just feed him beans on toast!"

"Nothing wrong with beans on toast!" grinned Pete. "Why don't you give her one of your double dinners out of the freezer, Sal? They're always good in an emergency - they don't taste half bad either!" "I could," Sally tapped her chin thoughtfully. "But I can think of something much more fun! Can you keep an eye on dinner please, Love? I'm going over to Chloe's. I think it's time for a $21 Challenge!" "Time for a what? Where are we going? And what's that book for?" asked Chloe, looking confused. "We're going to find you some food!" laughed Sally. "Let's get going!"

"That was absolutely delicious!" Tom said later that evening, patting his stomach. "You have to tell me the secret ingredient though - was it baked beans?" "Yes, it was!" giggled Chloe. "Ingenious! Who would have thought?" Tom smiled as Chloe blushed shyly. Thank goodness for Sally and The $21 Challenge. In one recipe she had used up her tin of beans and a tin of sweetcorn that had sat in the pantry for months - and it was GOOD! Best of all, Sally had helped her come up with a meal plan for the whole week. And she thought she didn't have any food!

2. April: $21 Challenge

What can we say about the $21 Challenge that hasn't already been said? Well, to newcomers like Chloe, quite a lot! Amazing as it sounds, the $21 Challenge has been a well-known and loved part of Simple Savings life since 2006. Many of us have integrated it into our domestic management as a matter of course. Like Chloe, we use it as a coping skill to get us through when disaster strikes or when we are faced with unforeseen expenses. We might do it when we want to free up some extra money to go towards a goal or reward. Or we do it as a refresher exercise, to prove to ourselves we've still 'got it' and remind ourselves what we're capable of. Some of us even do it just for fun! Whatever the reason, anyone who has done a $21 Challenge knows how valuable and effective it is. Sally knows this; she learned it from Hanna in the first instance and is now passing it on to Chloe in her time of need.

This month, we want you to PASS IT ON!

A few years ago, Jamie Oliver launched a book entitled 'Ministry of Food' and went on a crusade, imploring readers and viewers to pass their favourite recipes on to their friends, family and colleagues. He wanted people who didn't know how to cook to be able to learn how to create delicious, nutritious, cheaper meals from scratch, rather than resort to expensive, unhealthy take aways and enlisted the help of the public to assist with his mission. This month, we want you to do the same with the $21 Challenge!

The $21 Challenge can help anyone to save money and - where needed - to learn a new way of cooking and eating. It can help you to become more creative and resourceful in the kitchen. It can help you to be more organised and time efficient. It can help you to find cooking more enjoyable with an extensive range of recipes and solutions to common food problems. It can help you to be a smarter consumer. And as Chloe found, it can help you to find both food and money when you think there is none. All you need to do to achieve all this is to give the $21 Challenge a go for one week.

Of course, if you have done the $21 Challenge yourself, you already know all this! So this month, we want you to use that knowledge to help someone else. If you have a favourite $21 Challenge recipe, write it out and give it to someone or share it with your friends on Facebook. Tell the people you care about how the $21 Challenge has helped you and point them in the direction of the Simple Savings website and our Facebook page so they can learn more about it. Better yet, if you have a copy of the $21 Challenge book, lend it out to someone else so that they can get the best that the Challenge has to offer - or best of all, send them in the direction of Ye Olde Shoppe so they can buy their very own copy and keep on passing it on!

The $21 Challenge is perfect for young people leaving home or flatting to help them learn how to cook from scratch and make delicious, healthy meals for little cost. When Penny taught a class of Year 12 students three years ago, she gave them all a copy of the $21 Challenge book and told them. 'You might not appreciate it now - but you will!' Some of those students have gone on to become nurses; some are parents, some are still at university but they have all now left home and still remember the book she gave them (and how some of them had to wrench it off their parents!). The $21 Challenge is also ideal for newlyweds, new parents, families with young children, families with older children - everyone, right up to retirees who would like to find new ways to stretch their dollars further.

Of course the best way to see what the $21 Challenge is all about and how it works is to simply DO it! If you have yet to do a Challenge of your own, make this month the time to give it a go. All the support and inspiration you need is available on the Simple Savings site, including the story of the very first $21 Challenge and how it got its name.

We hope you find it rewarding 'passing it on' this month. Thanks for all your help! Oh - and here's something about the $21 Challenge for EVERYONE that you very likely didn't know. Can you guess who has his very own copy of the $21 Challenge book? Yep, it's Jamie Oliver!

3. Ye Olde Shoppe: The One and Only $21 Challenge

The $21 Challenge book is a bit like magic - you can't really believe you can do it, then poooffff, you have saved $50, perhaps $150 or even more!

Even better... The $21 Challenge is on special for $12, plus postage. You can find out more here.

4. Penny Wise: A Dash of Soy and a Splash of Lemon

My friend reckons you can fix pretty much anything with soy sauce or lemon juice. At first I thought he was quite possibly mad. Many times I would watch aghast as he liberally squeezed fresh lemon into all kinds of dishes I would never have dreamed of shaking one anywhere near! But the thing was, every time he added lemon to something, it turned out good. Better than good; in fact quite often sensational. And, as I've watched him cook more and more I've had to admit to myself that he's not mad after all; he just 'gets' food. As in, he understands its many different flavours and knows exactly what a dish needs to improve it. Eight times out of ten, it's soy sauce or lemon; the other two it might be sweet chilli sauce or curry paste - but he always gets it right and these days I also find myself shaking the soy sauce bottle over many a saucepan or bowl and running out to the garden to pick a lemon! I have been so grateful for this knowledge over the past 12 months when both money and food have been particularly tight. No matter how little food I have had or how plain, I have learned how to make it taste special, even fantastic, with these few things. Sometimes all you need is one simple tip passed on from one person to another to make a huge difference.

And it is tips like this and the many thousands more I have learned from Simple Savings which have helped me through the toughest year of my life both financially and personally. This wonderful site and community has been my lifeline for almost ten years now - but never more so than this last year. I honestly can't imagine what life would be like for the boys and me now without all the knowledge, skills, tips and recipes I have gained from the Vault and Forum over the years. The bank balance may not show it yet, but I feel our lives are extremely rich.

I wanted to be able to give something back as a thank you for all the support, advice and encouragement I have received from members during my first year as a solo mum. The following is a collection of recipes which have helped get me through meal times on many an occasion. Most of them I've had for years, some even since I was a small child but it's only really now they are coming into their own and I am thankful for every one of them. Some are completely made up and I'm not sure if I'm doing you a favour by inflicting them on you but if you are brave enough to give them a go, please do, I would love to hear what you think! I hope you enjoy these recipes as much as my boys and I do but most of all, I hope that perhaps one day they may just help someone else the way they've helped me.

With much love and gratitude to you all,

Penny x

A Dash of Soy and a Splash of Lemon (397Kb)

You can get updates on Penny's new blogs on the Simple Savings Facebook page.

...or in our Members' Blog section.

5. Best of the Vault: Take the Challenge!

Just when we think we've heard every $21 Challenge recipe or idea from Simple Savers, well, they just keep surprising us! Here are some clever and practical tips and delicious recipes to help you on your way to a successful $21 Challenge.

Chicken-less chicken soup

The $21 Challenge forces me out of my comfort zone and makes me look at other ways of making the family's favourite meals. Small variations are hardly noticed and save me money while clearing out my cupboard. Here's an example. The other night I made chicken soup from scratch without using chicken - I just added chicken stock instead of chicken pieces. I served the soup with udon noodles and lots of garlic bread - yum. My six-year-old daughter said she wants it again soon!

Contributed by: Julie Szabo

I fed the family for a week for less than $14

I did it! I spent just $13.30 this week simply by rethinking my meals. I realised that all I needed to do was make a single chicken cover most of the week's dinners. First, I defrosted my $6 chook that had been sitting in the freezer and roasted it. Then instead of slicing it, chopping it up and serving it as pieces, I took all the meat off the bone which amounted to about four cups. I then planned five main meals which incorporated extra protein where possible. Here are the meals, which were all yummy and reasonably healthy:

Chicken, bacon and avocado pasta
White chicken chilli with cannellini beans
Chicken casserole with tinned tomatoes, chick peas and veg
Chicken and veg quesadillas
Chicken risotto (using the stock I made from the chicken carcass)

It was creative, varied and fun and it saved me heaps of time and money!

Contributed by: Mary M

Smart shopper meets $21 Challenge

I had always wanted to complete the $21 Challenge but could never get my head around the idea of sticking to such a small amount of money! But recently, I made a breakthrough.

For the last six weeks we have switched to a fortnightly shop instead of weekly. Our original budget was $130 a week for two adults and three children but we would sometimes spend up to $180 a week. I set a budget of $220 a fortnight and if any extras came up I had to pay for them out of our sanity money.

Last week I recorded the cost of each item I bought and my shopping came to $190 for the fortnight. I then went a step further and listed my recipes and the cost of each item, divided by the amount of serves each meal allows. I then worked out my fortnightly menu plan based around the cheaper meals, which are still nutritious and healthy.

To my astonishment, I have worked out this fortnight's main meals come to a grand total of $38.98, or $19.50 for each week. Therefore I have found a way to partake in the $21 Challenge, even if it is just for my main meals.

I am so excited and even more determined to stick to this fortnight's menu plan and shopping list.

Contributed by: Melissa

Free salad dressing

For a tasty, and free, salad dressing, I use the leftover flavoured vinegar from olives or sun-dried tomatoes. This adds a really interesting flavour to your everyday salad.

Contributed by: Sue Tossell

Set goals, find support and trust and you'll get there

For those wanting to get started on the $21 Challenge, I recommend reading the book from cover to cover first to get an overall feel of it. Next work out how you can implement the Challenge and start saving that precious grocery money! Also, think about your goals and why you are doing this. Go beyond just paying the bills and think about what really floats your boat - it may be to buy your own house or to go on a holiday. Another tip is to read as many books about finances as possible. And finally, find support on the Forum and trust that you will get there!

Contributed by: Minister of War & Finance

6. Best of the Forum: Meet the $21 Challenge Warriors!

The $21 Challenge began when Simple Savings member Barbara told us about a joke her husband had played on her. Little did he know what he had started! Barb had asked her husband to bring home some grocery money and thinking it was a great laugh, he returned waving a single $20 note. How on earth could she feed the two of them and their two teenage boys for a week on that? Determined to prove she could do it, Barb found a $1 coin floating around in her pocket - and the $21 Challenge was born! Since then, Forum members have been helping each other through $21 Challenge weeks with ideas, support and encouragement. Here are some great ideas for when the cupboard is bare... think again!

Are these ingredients useful or should I put them in the too hard basket?

We've included this thread as it is the PERFECT example of what the $21 Challenge is all about - using what you have on hand.
read more...

Recipe: flat bread

So you're all out of bread, rice, pasta, tacos? Think again!
read more...

Down to one egg

The cupboard is never bare with Simple Savers on your side!
read more...

$21 Challenge in the extreme

Forum member 'Taking care of the pennies' shares her $21 Challenge, with encouragement and ideas from the sidelines. Bravo - you're doing wonderfully!
read more...

7. Best Members' Blog: Challenges!

One of the many benefits of being a Vault member is that you can win a $100 store credit in Ye Olde Shoppe or $100 cash each month for your Simple Savings blog! Starting your own blog on the site is easy. All you have to do is log into the Vault, click on 'My Desk' at the top left, then 'Your Blog'. Then get writing! We love reading all your money saving trials and tribulations and really appreciate the effort that goes into each one.

This month's Blog winner is Pumpkin Patch who is doing big things on a small budget!

With February being a no-spend challenge, it couldn't have come at a better time for us - what an expensive month January was with car registration, house and contents insurance, all the utilities in at once not to mention things like RACQ, and other odds and ends. Add to that two lots of visitors, one family of them from overseas, and a trip with them for a few days to the beach which included lots of eating out, not something we usually do.

When they left, I decided it would be an opportune time to do a couple of $21 Challenges coinciding with the February challenge. I challenged myself to go the entire month without buying anything other than essentials. We wouldn't go without much, I had plenty of food in the pantry and a freezer full of meat, the main requirements would be fruit and vegetables. I keep a well-stocked supply cupboard as well, with plenty of toilet paper, soap, toothpaste and the like and I make most of my own cleaning solutions so that would present no problem.

We ate very well indeed, using only things we had on hand - I freeze most of my excess garden produce after the winter crop so there was no shortage there, and each night I could come up with an innovative meal to satisfy even the hungriest male. In addition, we had plenty of breakfast food, and lunches were sandwiches or wraps, home-made soups or quiches. The man of the house was quite amazed that we didn't need to go shopping for anything much at all - I have never done a $21 Challenge before but I really enjoyed the entire concept of it.

The end result was very satisfactory - the food bill for the entire month of February amounted to a very low $51.37. Even I am impressed. I plan to continue this as much as I possibly can but with our overseas visitors returning in the next day or two, that is going to be a big challenge - they tend to eat out almost every day so I'm going to have to work on changing that. At worst, I do have some two for one meal vouchers at our local club that we can use if necessary.

During the month they are here, we will all be going to the beach for a couple of weeks, staying in separate units, so we will again take most of our food with us - they will no doubt eat out much of the time. However, for the other couple of weeks when they are here with us at home, we will be striving not to blow the budget so I have some simple tasty meals planned for us all. I'm sure we can do it.

The bonus will be that I can get the contents of the big freezer down enough so that when we go on our own holidays in a couple of months, we can turn it off along with the drinks fridge, just leaving the main fridge/freezer stocked.

Well done Pumpkin Patch - we look forward to following the rest of your adventures!

You can read more of our members' blogs here.

8. Cooking with Mimi: Cinnamon Apple Fritters...

When the Fridge is Bare and the Apples are Scary!

Turn these ...

into this ...

... with a pancake recipe.

My daughter has taken these apples to school and back for the last two weeks. I guess I should take the hint. No apples in the lunch box. They're a bit battered and bruised, but still edible... sooooo...

Remember the budget busting eggless pancake recipe I posted a while back?

Well it turns out it works well for this too; a great lesson in adapting an old favourite to make a new one. Just add the grated and chopped apple, some cinnamon, fry briefly in hot oil, more cinnamon sugar and ice cream. Feast :)

Here's the recipe again...

1 1/2 cups plain flour
2 tbsp milk powder
2 tbsp sugar
3 tsp baking powder
1 1/4 cups water
2 tbsp oil
1 tbsp white vinegar
1 tsp vanilla essence

Combine the first four ingredients in one bowl and add the next four. Mix well. Done.

For the fritters:

2-4 apples
1 tsp cinnamon
Cinnamon sugar made by combining 1/2 cup caster sugar and 2 teaspoons cinnamon in a small bowl
Vegetable oil for frying
Paper towels or clean tea towels for draining

Peel your apples. Grate two and chop the other two into cubes. Mix the apple in to the batter. Add the cinnamon.

Let the batter rest for about 30 minutes in the refrigerator.

Heat the oil in a small saucepan over a medium high heat, until a bread cube dropped in browns in about 25 seconds.

Remove your batter from the fridge. Don't stir it!

Take tablespoons of batter and drop them carefully into the hot oil. Flip them regularly with kitchen tongs, until they are golden on all sides. Remove them to the paper towel to drain well.

Toss them in the cinnamon sugar and serve immediately as is, or with ice cream, custard, cream or cinnamon yoghurt.

Yummmmmmeeeeeee :)

You can get updates on Mimi's new blogs on the Simple Savings Facebook page

or in our Members' Blog section.

9. Rob Bob's Gardening Blog: Using Paper to Save Coin

and Dirt-Free Chicken Waterer!

Recycling to help feed the squirmers and feather the nest

Paper is one recyclable that most folks will quite happily pop in the recycle bin along with bottles and cans but lately we have been using it for other purposes. We started to think about all the paper that we receive in the form of bills, junk mail, cardboard packaging, toilet rolls, free 'newspapers', as well as scrap paper generated by children, and we decided that we could be using a lot more of this resource on site. I don't recycle the glossy magazine style papers or cardboard boxes as I have read that the chemicals/inks used can potentially leave toxic residues in the soil. The best way I have found to shred the paper (after experimenting with the lawnmower and mulcher) is with a cheap $20 paper shredder we purchased a few years ago.

It has shredded hundreds of old bills, the girls' old school work, old seed catalogues and many, MANY of the discarded newspapers left on the train by folks on Bianca's evening commute home. So far we have come up with more ideas than we have paper for. ;)

We have been feeding soaked and shredded bills and scrap paper to the squirmers for quite a while now. They really do hook right in and make very quick work of it. Dry shredded paper can also be added into worm farms if they become too wet to help soak up some of the excess moisture. We have also used four dampened-down sheets of newspaper as a covering for the top of worm farms to help keep the bedding moist as well as keep the light out. It normally doesn't last long as the worms will quickly start munching on it if there isn't enough food around. :/

I started to use shredded paper for the girls' nesting box after the old bedding got saturated during a heavy storm. There was no fresh straw on hand and I figured that the worms wouldn't mind sharing their paper, and have been using it ever since with no complaints from the girls as of yet ;)

The compost pile is another place in the yard where paper/cardboard can be helpful for some. While we urban gardeners have access to a lot of nitrogen based composting ingredients (food scraps, lawn clippings and perhaps poultry manure) we don't all have yards that supply us with a lot of organic matter high in carbon (dried leaves & branch trimmings). Paper is essentially pulped timber which is very high in carbon and an essential part of the composting process. It's also a lot cheaper than popping down to the produce store (if you have one nearby) to buy a bale of hay (our last bale cost us $10).

Making a cheap, dirt-free chicken waterer

I blogged on a very basic waterer made with one of these nipple drippers a while back but thought I would do a quick little 'how to' post on it, as well as an update on our watering system. These nipple feeders are a great way to keep the water clean and fresh for your flock as they are a closed unit and dirt can't get in. Our chickens have had theirs for a while now and it has been a great success, so I thought I would show you how cheap and easy it is to make one.

These little units work on water pressure. The water in the reservoir keeps the valve shut until the bottom pin is moved, dislodging the tiny ball and allowing water to drip through for the bird/animal to drink. Once the pin is back in place the water pressure forces the ball down, stopping the water. They can be bought from stock and pet supply stores for $3.00-$4.00 each or for around a dollar if purchased on the Internet in bulk.

To install the drippers all you need is a container to hold water, a drill and drill bit. For plastics of different thickness I tend to use different drill bit sizes. For really thin plastics (like the small bucket above) I used an 8mm drill bit. I would use 8.5mm for plastics up to 2mm thick and 9mm drill bit for thicker plastics like PVC pipe.

The first thing to do is to drill the hole. I find that you need to be careful with the thin buckets as the plastic can rip if the drill catches. Next you need to clean the swarf that is still attached to the hole. For this I use a utility knife, being careful not to cut into the hole itself or otherwise the seal around the dripper won't be water tight. The drippers can then be screwed in until the washer is tightly pressed against the base of the bucket. All that's left to do now is to add some water, check for leaks (which can be fixed with a few wraps of white plumbers tape) and hang in the chook pen :)

It won't take any time at all for the chooks to work out how to use them. It only took five to ten minutes before our girls had the feeder figured out. The feeder we use has been expanded to include another water station in their day pen. Both water feeders are now fed by two large reservoir tanks so the daily task of checking the girls' water now involves making sure a simple float valve works. Here's a clip on how ours is now set up that might help give you a few ideas:

That's about it for now. Have been flat out of late so the fish farm isn't quite finished as of yet but I am fairly sure that you will get to see it up and running in the next blog. ;)»
Hope you all have fun in the patch and until next month,

Rob : )»

You can get updates on Rob Bob's new gardening adventure blogs on the Simple Savings Facebook page

or in our Members' Blog section.

10. From Last Month: Help With 'Cheep' Easter Goodies

Last month Aimee emailed us asking for ideas on celebrating Easter with her large family without spending a fortune:

"Now I have stopped working, I'm looking at ways to cut expenses. With Easter coming up, I need some ideas to give Easter gifts to my four children, their partners and my 13 grandchildren, aged from 2 to 19. I would normally just go and buy Easter eggs for everyone - last year this cost me over $250! I just can't afford to do that this year so would love to hear some crafty and clever ideas or recipes to cook, to give them this Easter."

We got some fantastic ideas for Aimee! Here are some of our favourite replies:

ALDI Easter bunnies good for a crowd

With a lot of people to buy Easter gifts for, I go to ALDI and buy their chocolate bunnies for $0.98c each. Not only are they cheap but the chocolate is really yummy and they are a decent size at around 18cm high. I buy these for my 26 volunteers at work as well. Great value!

Contributed by: Ellen D

A saucy Easter with help from Mimi

Who says you have to give chocolate eggs for Easter? A cheaper alternative which is just as nice is to make up a batch of Mimi's Chocolate Sauce for the adults. Add in some alcohol if you have some to make it even more grown up. For teachers and friends at Easter we make large chocolate freckles. First buy blocks of white, dark and milk chocolate, some multi-coloured sprinkles i.e 100s and 1000s or you can use coconut. Find three different sized circle shapes you can draw around, for example, egg cup, glass and so on and draw around them on sheets of baking paper cut to fit trays or large containers that will fit in your fridge. Melt your chocolate, spread thinly on the paper within the circles, sprinkle the sprinkles and put in the fridge. Once set (which doesn't take long as they are so thin) peel off the paper, put the chocolate freckles back in the fridge in another container and start again. You can get a LOT of freckles from one block of chocolate! To give to the recipient, put a mix of the different sizes and flavours in little cellophane bags and tie with curling ribbon or whatever you have to hand in your craft supplies. It's also a great activity to do with kids!

Contributed by: Samantha B

Vine Easter baskets

Our beautiful Easter baskets are pretty much free! This year we are making little Easter baskets with the children (5 years +). To make, first gather some bendy pittosporum or ivy vines or similar and form two circles. Attach them together to form a circle at right angles to each other. Next, lash together at their intersecting points using vine or wool. This forms the frame of the basket. Now wrap the bottom of the basket with weaving material or more vines running from side to side, wrapping around the top edge, going down and over or under the bottom seam and up and around the opposite edge. You can make them as tight or as loose as you wish but I have found the spaces easier to work with if they are a couple of centimetres apart. Continue weaving until your basket is ready. This is a wonderful activity to do with children and lovely to hold Easter eggs, not to mention other things afterwards!

Contributed by: Jane

Yummy Easter gifts for kids and adults

For a delicious and economical Easter gift for grown-ups, try this! First cover glace cherries with almond paste (or almond icing) then coat the cherry-almond balls with melted chocolate. You can make them look really impressive by popping them into mini cupcake cases, which are available from $2 shops. For the younger ones, chunky sized chocolate bars are better value for money than eggs. Watch for the '4 for $5.00' specials at the supermarkets and start stocking up now. Also if you are near a 'Reduced to Clear' or other discount store, you can pick up a range of chocolate goodies for much less than the usual supermarket prices. Today my local 'Reduced to Clear' has small mesh bags of Christmas chocolate baubles for $0.50c. Take the Christmas foil wrapping off and they can easily pass for Easter goodies!

Contributed by: Terri D

Home-made bunnies and baskets

Easter gifts don't have to cost a fortune! A few years back after one Easter I bought some rabbit chocolate moulds and every year since I make solid bunnies as gifts. Good quality chocolate is always on special leading up to Easter. I make paper Easter baskets to put the bunnies in too; there are heaps of instructions and videos for making these on the Internet. They cost next to nothing and look beautiful!

Contributed by: Elizabeth

Split the cost with an Easter picnic

An enjoyable and economical way to celebrate Easter is to host a 'family fun, bring your own plate' picnic. Ask different family members to contribute some eggs for a hunt and other activities. People love being involved in projects like this and appreciate one family member taking the initiative to organise it.

Contributed by: GoGo Goanna

Make an Easter bunny sock puppet

For a low-cost, chocolate-free Easter gift, here are some really easy sewing instructions for an Easter bunny sock puppet! (parenting.com/article/easter-bunny-sock-puppet)

Why not make a few and have a puppet show? At the end of the day they have a new companion to take to bed too!

Search Google for all sorts of crafts and free printables you can surprise the children with or do together. Make a basket up with pencils/craft supplies and some printables as a gift to keep them busy all Easter!

Contributed by: Wendy

'Magic Easter seeds' are priceless for kids

For a wonderful and memorable Easter treat, all you need is to buy a packet of Smarties and make each child an egg-shaped lollipop! The day before Easter, take the children into the garden and give them each an 'Easter Seed' (aka a Smartie) and ask them to plant it. Next morning, get up early and at each seed site, pop a lollipop into the garden like a flower. Voila! Magic Easter flowers! My grandmother did this for me one year and of all the Easters, I remember this one the best. RIP magic Grannie! I love you! Here's how to make the lollies:

You'll need 18 lollipop sticks

Ingredients:

1 cup white sugar
2 tsp glucose syrup (see note)
1/4 cup water
1 to 2 drops food colouring of choice

Line 2 large, flat baking trays with baking paper. Refrigerate until you're ready to use them.

Combine sugar, glucose syrup and water in a small saucepan. Cook over low heat, stirring with a wooden spoon until sugar is completely dissolved. Increase heat to medium-high and bring to the boil (do not stir).

Add food colouring and reduce heat to low. Boil gently for 12 minutes or until mixture has reached correct temperature. To test temperature, drop a small spoonful of sugar mixture into a glass of cold water. Allow to cool, then remove from water. The mixture is ready if the toffee is brittle (149°C to 154°C on a sugar thermometer). If not, continue boiling mixture and checking until toffee is brittle. Remove saucepan from heat.

Remove baking trays from fridge. Drop spoonsful of toffee onto baking trays. While mixture is still soft and warm, press a lollipop stick into the centre of each circle. You will need to work quickly before the toffee sets.

NB: Lollipop sticks are available from Spotlight stores and via Spotlight's mail order service. Glucose syrup, also known as liquid glucose, can be found in the health food section of large supermarkets or at health food stores.

Contributed by: Sandra D

Economical Easter gift bags

Personalised Easter bags are fun to make and cost little. Last year I bought a pack of 20 Easter cellophane bags for $2.00 at a discount shop. Then I made a batch of sugar cookies (you can make your own favourite biscuit recipe) using Easter theme cookie cutters and sprinkled the uncooked dough with 100's and 1000's to make them 'special'. To present them I shredded some new green A4 sheets of paper and put a little in each bag for 'grass'. I bought a kilo of chocolate mini eggs for $5.00 and put a few in each bag with the wrapped cookies. I then wrote a personal note from the Easter Bunny for each person and put that inside. It was fun to make up the bags and didn't take too long to do. The bags were tied up with any ribbon I had in my craft box and a simple name tag completed the job. These bags were then hidden for the recipients to find. All this cost less than $20 and was very well received!

Contributed by: Heather

Marshmallow Easter eggs fun to make with kids

You can buy marshmallow Easter eggs, but it's much more fun to make them! I used to make these with my grandchildren at Easter. Fill a shallow baking tray to the depth of about 15mm with cornflour. Make depressions in it with the back of a dessert spoon (this makes half an egg shape). Make a recipe for marshmallow - we used the Edmond's cookbook recipe - and pour it into the cornflour 'moulds'. When set remove the egg halves from the mould and dust off, then stick the halves together with melted chocolate to make a full egg shape and then coat the whole thing with more chocolate.

Contributed by: Jacqui

Decorate egg-shaped arrowroot biscuits for Easter

I have been using this tip from Family Circle for almost 20 years to save me money at Easter! For an economical treat, simply buy a packet of oval shaped Milk Arrowroot biscuits and decorate them with royal icing and sprinkles. You could use melted chocolate too if liked, be as creative as you like with what you have! They can't be done too far ahead or they'll go soft so keep them in an airtight container until the last minute, then grab some cellophane or cheap little containers, pop in a few 'eggs' and add a gift tag and you're done!

Contributed by: Kerrie S

11. This Month's Help Request:

Give Me a Hope Among the Gum Trees!

Lou has emailed asking for some help! She writes:

"I need some help working out how the second hand website Gumtree works. I have seen things for sale which I would like to buy but I'm not willing to pay the asking price. What I want to know is, can I ring and offer less? What are the best ways to buy things on Gumtree? I really need some tips and advice."

If you have any pearls of wisdom you'd like to share with Lou, please send them in to us here.

12. Goodbye for Now!

Well, that's your Simple Savings Newsletter for April 2014 and we hope you have enjoyed it. Don't forget to pass on the $21 Challenge ideas to any family or friends you think would benefit from saving money on their groceries.

Our members are hugely important to us and we love hearing from you all! So next time you're on the website, why don't you get in touch and say 'G'day'! Let us know what you would like to see more of in our newsletter or any suggestions you have for something new to try. We love receiving your clever ideas!

Don't forget to spread the love around to your family and friends too by forwarding them our newsletter or letting them know about our website. Help make their lives easier and save them money too! Or tell them about us on Facebook by clicking the 'like' button on our Simple Savings Facebook page.

Till next time...
All the best,
Fiona

April 2016 - Simple Savings Newsletter

"Secrets to Saving Money" Free Newsletter - April 2016

This issue includes:-

Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: Caught Short
April: The Problem With Money
This Month's Competition: How Do YOU Keep Your Cash?
Last Month's Competition: Impossible Promises
Best of the Vault: Spend Less Than You Earn
Best of the Forum: A Little Determination Goes a Long Way
Best Members' Blog: Same Time Next Year?
Best of SS Facebook: Overcoming the Elements
Savings Story: Confessions of a Stay At Home Mum

Hi,

This month's calendar contains one of my favourite quotes by Charles Dickens:

"Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen six, result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pound nought and six, result misery."

I love this quote because even though money can't buy happiness, the harsh truth is, spending more than you earn does result in misery. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow - but sooner or later our bad decisions catch up with us.

The easiest way to ward off this misery is to keep your money in your pocket. But, keeping your money in your pocket can be very hard to do. So to make it a little easier, this month we are going to focus on all the different ways members manage to achieve it - me included!

I hope you have a lovely month.

All the best,
Fiona Lippey

1. Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: Caught Short

"Are you nearly ready, Sal? We've only got an hour!" Hanna chivvied her friend along. "Plenty of time! It doesn't take an hour to make a chicken salad," Sally rolled her eyes. "Just making sure I've got my purse. Right, let's go!" Every Friday, Sally and Hanna went for lunch together at their favourite café. It was their weekly treat and every week they ordered the same.

"Thai chicken salad and a large mochaccino?" smiled the waitress on seeing them. "You know me too well!" grinned Hanna. "That'll be $22.50 please," came the response. "What? Are you sure?" Hanna asked in alarm. "It's not usually that much!" "Sorry. Management's put the prices up," the waitress told her apologetically. "I don't have enough," Hanna frowned.

"What do you mean, you don't have enough?" asked Sally in disbelief. "I thought you were an amazing saver! Are you and John going through a tough patch?" She touched Hanna's arm, concerned. "No, not at all!" laughed Hanna. "It's just I only have $20 in my purse. It's all I ever carry on me when I'm out." Sally looked puzzled. "It's true," Hanna explained. "If I only carry $20, I can only spend $20. Guess I'll just have a toasted sandwich instead of the salad please, it's about time I tried something new!"

2. April: The Problem With Money

Why is spending less money than we earn SO difficult? Why do so many people struggle with it? The answer is simple:

We are under constant and continual pressure to spend. Our lives have blurred into one long, constant stream of sales pitches; on TV, on our mobiles, in magazines, on our computers, on the street, via telephone, in the supermarket, at lunch, at school, on the bus, on the train and at the movies. Wherever we go and whatever we do, someone is trying to get us to part with our money.

We all deal with this constant bombardment differently. These are the techniques that I have found work for me.

Out of sight, out of mind

The first thing I do is hide money from myself. I only ever have a tiny amount of money in my everyday savings account and only keep a small amount of money in my pocket. If I'm going out and know I'm going to need more money than that, I only transfer the amount I'm going to need.

Running out of money is okay

I often run out of money when I'm shopping and that is okay. When I have spent all I have in my wallet to spend, then I have reached my limit and that's fine with me. As long as I have petrol or a bus card to get home, it is fine to run out of money.

Stay cynical

Another thing I do is be constantly cynical. I never ever trust sales people/pitches/adverts. If someone says a product is going to make me more beautiful, smarter, fitter or healthier, I want proof. This especially applies to doctors, vets and dentists.

Returns on my investment

If I'm thinking of parting with my money I find myself thinking in a realistic world what sort of return I am going to get on my investment. Will it make me happier, will it bring more money or will it give me useful skills I can use to get my money back?

Grow a thick skin

When it comes to spending money it is important you do not care what others think of you. We need to be able to laugh, be sure of ourselves and shrug off social pressure.

We are told if we don't spend money we will be left behind. But in fact, the opposite is true; If we spend all our money - THEN we will be left behind. No matter how small your income, we want to help you to keep more of it in your pocket - starting right now!

3. This Month's Competition: How Do YOU Keep Your Cash?

Different saving strategies work for different people. Hanna limits the amount of cash she carries; I limit the amount available to me in my bank. This month we want to know what tricks YOU use to hang on to more of your money. What do you do to ensure you don't touch it or fritter it away? How much money do you manage to keep each month? What do you find is a good amount? How do you manage to spend less than you earn on a tiny income or a single wage, or with kids or a huge mortgage? The more tried and true solutions we can share together, the more people we can help to achieve happiness and avoid misery.

Send in your entries to us before midnight, May 15th. The winning entry will receive $100. We'd love to hear what works for you!

4. Last Month's Competition: Impossible Promises

Last month we asked everyone to keep their eyes peeled for the most ridiculous examples of advertising in the form of products which couldn't possibly deliver what they claimed. We knew you wouldn't disappoint - and you didn't! We received stacks of entries and had a hilarious time reading through all the impossible promises you came across in a single month. In fact, there were so many great entries that we couldn't pick just one winner! So, we are awarding a 12 month Vault membership to all the following runners up. See if you can spot your entry!

Starving kids!

I always wonder about the companies that sell ready-made meals delivered to your door. The ads always have the theme of a family with young children and the parents signing up to meal deliveries before cutting to the parents having lost weight and having so much more time to spend with the children because they don't have to cook. But what do the children eat? There is never any mention of meals for the children, and the parents say they don't cook now, so who is feeding them and what are they eating?! Makes no sense to me! Aside from the cost of ready-made meals, I always think the family meals where you cook and eat together are the best fun!

Cheryl Heslin

This product sucks!

The ad showed a whole bag full of stuff being vacuumed down small enough to fit into a suitcase. I have suitcases and thought, Wow, imagine how much stuff I could pack away!' I hesitated for a week and finally decided that it would be worth it. How wrong I was! The first bag wouldn't vacuum. The second bag did but then I discovered that it was way too big for my suitcase. Not to be beaten I put it in the linen press - it was still saving space! Or so I thought, however, by the next day the bag had puffed back up. Whilst I could have returned the goods for a full refund, the cost of returning them ruled out that choice. A lesson well learned! I have never given into temptation from TV ads since and I have only ever bought one thing from the internet which did what it promised to!

Sharron Hillman

For your bottom, from my heart

According to the ads, buying and using Huggies nappies makes you a better, more patient parent and proves you love your kid more than someone who uses inferior nappies!

Kristin Holt

A perfect room for a perfect child

If there's one promise that is impossible it is kids' stylish room makeovers. They look great, the room is clean and tidy and everything has a place. It looks so fantastic that it makes you want to go and get all the matching pieces, so your house will look as good. Of course the reality is, once the kids are in there for a few hours they don't look like that!

Danielle Quinn

Putting the fizz into relationships

Coca Cola is at it again. Have you seen its latest television commercial with the loved up couple who share every passionate moment with a bottle of Coke, only to find that when conflict arises in the relationship (symbolised by a smashing bottle of Coke on the floor), they are suddenly alone? But not for long - that magic bottle suddenly appears once again in the hand of the handsome Romeo to find that his gorgeous lady can't resist the 'Coke' and the relationship is reignited!

Michelle Finch

The joys of toys

I find that adverts for children's toys or games show lots of happy family time and hours of entertainment. In reality, however, the kids look at them for around 30 seconds (while Daddy sits on the sofa with a beer, surfing the internet) before tossing them aside and moving onto something else. Before you know it, all the pieces of that new toy are scattered around the house such that they become just clutter and can never be used again (until, of course, you step on one of those sharp pieces on your way to the bathroom in the middle of the night, cursing that advert that made you buy it in the first place)!

Sophie

Fall at your feet? Not quite!

My mum bought one of the new Scholl foot products, from the ads which imply other women will fall over while marvelling over your gloriously kept nails. So far I've managed to stay upright when I visit!

Erin Holden

Want to cook like Nigella? Get a new fridge!

In the Sunday Mail there is an ad for Fisher and Paykel's Izona CoolDrawer Fridge, in which it states it will make your kitchen as stylish as Nigella's and hopefully your cooking just as good. Well I doubt that my 42-year-old kitchen will look as stylish as Nigella's just by the addition of a new fridge. As for the cooking being just as good, I think that very unlikely too - but doesn't Nigella spend most of her time lurking in the pantry looking through her herbs and spices rather than looking in her fridge anyway?

Yvonne Zemdegs

Muesli bars give you super powers!

I bought a box of "Nice & Natural" super grain muesli bars. Does anyone really think that they are going to get a cape and super powers? It sure gave me a smile when I was packing the family lunch boxes!

Carrie Taylor

Where are all the super models hiding?!

I've been using Lynx deodorant for twenty years now, and not a single super model has ever fallen out of the sky, driven out of her way, or materialised on the bus next to me! Maybe I just need to spray more on (and maybe the extra spray explains why teenage boys smell the way they do?).

Jacob Aldridge

The secret to being a 'real man'

My favourite impossible promise is the 'Old Spice' commercial implying that you will be a 'real man' if you use Old Spice Body Wash.

Tahnee Hrelja

Defy age easily - use a youngster!

The best example of impossible promises have to be advertisements by the cosmetic companies to promote skin care products which claim to be 'age-defying' using models aged under 25!

Maralin Econ

A whole array of impossible promises

Ads for face products always give me a laugh. Often the model or 'everyday person' is either 13 years old, Photo-shopped or has had extreme plastic surgery or botox. Whilst I do sometimes find myself thinking 'ooh, that looks fantastic, maybe I should try some?', the sensible side always kicks in and says WASTE OF MONEY!
I clean houses for a living and love it. The ads that amaze me are the ones that say 'spray it on, wash it off and all is sparklingly clean'. I have used every product out there as I find the client has them in the cupboard. Not one does this for me so that I can sit and have coffee, smile or dance my way through the day. They all need at least a little bit of elbow grease!
Years ago there was an ad for Impulse body spray. If you wore it men were supposed to run up to you on the street to give you flowers. I wore that stuff for ages BUT no flowers!

Sharron Callandar

And, the overall winner is Julie Darby with this ad that makes her want to throw something at the TV every time she sees it. We couldn't agree more Julie!

No need to work out, just rub it in!

I think my all-time favourite for absolute codswallop (and that's a polite way of putting it!) is the TV ad for Nivea Q10 Firming Lotion. Nivea have now uploaded the ad to Youtube, here.

I don't think I've ever seen an ad which contains such a load of garbage as this one - it opens with footage of a VERY fit and toned young woman working out - someone who quite obviously hasn't a speck of cellulite and absolutely no need whatsoever for any kind of firming lotion. But what about the days you can't work out? Simple, says the ad, just use this lotion and (it infers) it's just as good as a workout for toning up - and can give you firmer-looking skin in just TWO WEEKS! Yes folks, just two weeks. We're also treated to shots of this young woman twirling around in a chair and prancing along the street in a short, short dress, and the final straw is seeing her slapping her pert bottom whilst admiring herself in the mirror as the voice-over spouts this nonsense. What is this cream - magic? It can't possibly give results like the ones (supposedly) shown in the ad, and in a fortnight?! Seriously... what an insult to the intelligence this ad is!

Julie wins herself $100 for her entry - guess we know one thing she WON'T be buying with it! Thank you to everyone for sending in all your fabulous entries. Just goes to show, it takes more than clever advertising and sneaky marketing to pull the wool over a Simple Saver's eyes!

5. Best of the Vault: Living Within Our Means

For many people, the thought of EVER being able to have enough money to put any aside seems downright impossible. Fortunately these tips from the Vault and countless others like them are living proof that it really is possible. Why not give some of these a go for yourself?

'Cash only' system better late than never!

I am saving more money than ever before since I switched to using cash only! I cancelled all cards which were attached to my accounts and no longer have a bank account with card access. On pension day, I make BPAY payments on my phone/Internet, power, gas and water accounts. I have automatic transfers of money into my savings accounts; this is a set amount every fortnight. I then go to the bank and withdraw the money I will need for the next two weeks. This consists of money for rent, petrol, medications, pets, groceries and then some pocket money for me. I put these into individually labelled resealable bags, which I keep in a zippered pencil case in my bag, and my spending money goes in my purse. I often have money left in my bags, but I still withdraw the same amount every fortnight. This allows me to grab specials and the occasional treat. Any money that is left in my normal account at the end of the fortnight, I transfer into my savings account the evening before pension day.

I have read and tried so many hints and tips on how to budget your money but this one has proved to be the perfect one for me. The amount of money I now save is amazing. I sometimes think that if I had only used this system when my children were little, I would be a rich woman by now, or at least a well-travelled one!

Contributed by: Gusta T

'No bonus' mentality buys our wildest dreams for free!

Pretending my husband didn't get a bonus and living accordingly has meant we can afford luxuries beyond our wildest dreams with zero effort! Over 12 months ago, hubby received a rather nice pay increase. However, we decided rather than use it and incorporate it into our everyday living, we would continue to live on the same amount as before and put the amount of the new increase into savings, for any luxuries we may want further down the track. In this short time alone my hubby and son have got to go to the Formula One Grand Prix in Melbourne and my daughter and I have got to enjoy a 10 night cruise to the Pacific Islands, complete with spending money! It's amazing how it adds up and it's money we don't miss at all!

Contributed by: Carole Watson

Budgeting for all bills on a low income

I am on a very, very low income, so I budget for every bill and expense. I put away bill money every fortnight and that way I have all my bills covered as they arrive, and we seem to just spend the rest. Last year I decided to pay me as a bill, so every pay day I pay me first, just $50. I now have over $1200 in savings. I can't believe how easy it is; just pay yourself before everyone else. The first couple of pays it was an effort not to touch it, but as soon as I saw it mounting up, I got very excited. I tell myself all the time that money is power. While $1200 is not much to some people, to me it's a fortune. Try it - it empowers you.

Contributed by: Catherine Eve

Kids become bankers in 'cash-only' family

Our family has come up with a fantastic budgeting system, where the kids are the 'bankers'! We have become a 'completely cash' family. This means that we worked out what cash we need to put aside every week and we withdraw only that amount. I have a card in my wallet that has the note denominations on it, for example, three x $50, six x $10 and so on. When I get home, I give the whole lot to our boys aged six and eight and ask them to 'do the budget tin'. We have a money tin with resealable plastic bags in it, which all have category names and amounts on them. The boys go through and meter the money out, putting, for example, $15 in the family entertainment bag, $40 in the Christmas bag and so on. They then give their father and I our allocation for petrol and groceries and they keep out their pocket money. When we want money for clothing, holidays, birthdays or DVD and pizza nights we go to the bags and get what we need. The boys are learning the value of money and we always have cash on hand. We now feel so rich because we are so much more careful when we can actually see the notes. It's the most successful system we have ever used!

Contributed by: Michelle

Avoid doing the Twenty Dollar Tango!

I am saving over $2,000 a year by placing visual reminders around the house to help me stop making spontaneous purchases at the mall.

I was spending $20 here and there on things that I didn't really need, telling myself that the blouse, CD, book or thing I was buying was a bargain at just 20 or so dollars. This habit was costing around $40 a week!

To break it, I dug out a couple of these so-called 'bargains' and left them out on the table to remind me of the money I had wasted. Then I stuck a photo of Fiji on the fridge to represent the holiday I could have spent the money on instead.

Since then, every time I am in a shop and find myself tempted to buy something I don't really need, I close my eyes and visualise the unnecessary items on the table, then visualise myself sitting by the pool in a Fijian resort. It's a simple trick, but the temptation vanishes with the blink of an eye!

I estimate that this saves me around $2,080 a year. Last year this was enough for my husband and I to have that holiday in Fiji, and this year we went to New York.

Saving in this way makes me feel so good that I have cut spending in other areas too. It's wonderful that without feeling deprived we've been able to enrich our lives with travel experiences we never thought we could afford.

Contributed by: Eve

6. Best of the Forum: A Little Determination Goes a Long Way

Is it a realistic expectation to consistently be able to spend less than we earn? These savvy Forum members all say YES! All it takes is a little effort and determination. Jump on in to some of these threads and be inspired.

Living on $20,000 per year or under!

Saffy is determined to do whatever it takes to live close to the line and achieve her dreams. Find out how she does it and gain heaps of valuable tips from other members too!
read more...

Reducing day by day

Knighty is absolutely horrified to see in black and white how much her household spends every day. She has adopted a new 'day by day' approach to getting their spending down to a minimum - and it's working!
read more...

Living the SS way to clear debt and live well

Simplymum is a super busy solo mum of three. She's got more than her fair share of challenges - but she also has plenty of goals she's determined to reach!
read more...

Building up that resilience to cope with what life throws

Seachange has many dreams for her family. There's just one thing she's worried about getting in the way of those dreams - it's called Murphy's Law! How do you get ahead when life has a habit of throwing a spanner in the works? This thread has some valuable suggestions.
read more...

7. Best Member's Blog: Same Time Next Year?

One of the many benefits of being a Vault member is that you can win $100 cash each month for your Simple Savings blog! Starting your own blog on the site is easy. All you have to do is log into the Vault, click on 'My Desk' at the top right, then 'Blog'. Then get writing! We love reading all your money saving trials and tribulations and really appreciate the effort that goes into each one.

This month's Blog winner is ValueEveryCent with her post 'Same Time Next Year?'

"When I was a child my mother took me to see the movie above.

It was basically a laugh at how this couple met for 20 years at the same time each year. The main lead made everyone in her life the same jumper to wear. The movie was a bit like 'Groundhog Day', doing the same thing day after day, year after year!

Anyway this is not the point but mainly stealing the name because nothing I hate more each year is to be the same, be it financially, physically, emotionally or spiritually!

I like change but slow change. Sometimes it doesn't work this way... just my approach.

I am asking you today, will I see you back on SS in another year's time, two years', maybe five, doing the same old thing, making the same old goals etc?

Is this your future?

We have all set our goals on various threads and so I am inviting you to please share any successes you have had so far this year. We made a lot of promises to ourselves and others but what can you tell me that will not be the same for you now and next year?

Please share any successes that you feel pleased about, doesn't matter how small or big.

For me, I know I tend to slow down throughout the year as my energy seems to go.

I made a lot of goals at New Year and I have started off well.

Completed Goals... Never to be the Same Again

I have de-cluttered the pantry at long last (this was such a big relief).
Recently lost half a kilo, that hopefully will lead to more losses and next year I won't be this weight again (this never ends, it seems like a life time job).
I have done two council clean-ups removing unwanted waste.
Started a blog, 'My Frugal Kitchen'.
Commenced re-reading books and giving away unwanted ones.
Changed my hair colour.
And a really big one for me was... I am hopeless at gardening and don't know where to start, so what did I do? Found someone's garden that I admire and honestly I copied it and it looks great. It was fairly easy to achieve and is low maintenance.
Did a re-styling of my house from op shop buys. This was a real budget makeover but looks great.

Currently in Process of Change

About to start a thread called 'Cut Up Your Credit Card for Good!' This I want gone for next year.
I want to have all my old photos printed. I was having a lot of trouble accessing them so now that I have worked out what to do, I will work through getting them printed and nicely filed away.
I would like to give more attention to writing up of daily meal plans and also better organise bills. I recently had time payment cards sent to me so I can do bill paying fortnightly. File everything neatly and in order.
That's it at this stage as I don't want to have too many that I don't do any!

Remember this:

What You Give Attention to Expands!

This is very powerful and I think you all know this.

So what will not be the same for you next year?

Hope this might be a good shake up for some and also hoping those who have not been able to brainstorm ideas or know how to obtain what they want might care to share. Perhaps others may be able to help!

I was floored recently when I read someone on the forum had given up smoking. Could you imagine that - the change to your life, health and financial situation? I was really blown away by that achievement!

Thank you for sharing, ValueEveryCent - and all the best with achieving your goals!

You can read more of our members' blogs here.

8. Best of SS Facebook: Overcoming the Elements

"I have a confession to make. Despite holding a Cert IV in Horticulture and knowing a heck of a lot about gardening, pest control and landscaping... I can't grow vegetables!

Many years ago, I lived in NZ and had the most wonderful garden... tomatoes and potatoes sprouting randomly in my compost heap, a lush and green fernery, a herb garden planted with about 12 different herbs, a vegie garden full of cauliflowers, broccoli, brussel sprouts, peas etc. The yard was lined with happy native plants for the wildlife to scurry in... it was amazing.

Ever since moving to Australia the climate and bug life has thwarted me at every turn. The bugs are supersized, the sun is too hot, the rain too torrential. There are hordes of man-eating grasshoppers that destroy seedlings overnight. The humidity encourages all the fungal and bacterial pathogens to flourish. There are possums and birds that take anything remotely tasty before I've had a chance to harvest it. The 30m gum tree in our yard made the soil acidic and didn't let through enough sun for anything to grow other than weeds. Under that acidic soil is clay, and then rock, barely one metre below the surface. I have tried and tried and tried and just cannot keep anything alive. It's an embarrassment! We have spent so much hard earned money digging out the clay, adding soil conditioners, building raised beds, buying soil, buying plants, seeds, staking things, making protective covers/cages/fences... within a single season it all gets inundated with disease, destroyed by bugs or killed by a combination of weather and forgetfulness.

On the bright side, our yard does have abundant wildlife, birdlife and native bees.

I'm going to give it one last go. I have a watering system in place, am doing some soil testing to make darn sure the pH is correct and all nutrients therefore available to the plants. We have removed the offending gum tree (it was looking dodgy anyway according to the arbourist, and would have landed on our bedroom if it came down in a storm), I have a coop full of chook poo and it's the perfect time of year for planting.

THIS DARNED SUB-TROPICAL CLIMATE WILL NOT GET THE BETTER OF ME!"

Good on you, Bec, we wish you all the best with your mission!

Joining our busy Facebook community is super easy. Either search up 'Simple Savers' on Facebook or click this link and request to join. Once you're in, let the fun begin!

9. Savings Story: Confessions of a Stay At Home Mum

I can hardly believe it but we have an extra $2,000 sitting in our savings account! I have been a stay at home mum for 18 months. My husband earns a slightly above average salary, which allows me to stay at home with our son. We have a modest home, with modest furnishings and modest tastes. We haven't really had a financial plan since we got married two and a half years ago and have just been cruising along, saving a bit some months and spending it other months.

When I first left work I had full intentions of making a budget, planning our meals, organising our lives and generally being on the ball with our finances. Each month when pay day rolled around, I would say 'this is the month where I get organised!' But it never happened. I am the first to admit that I have been lazy, unmotivated, complacent and ostrich-like. I have been a member of Simple Savings for over a year and always thought we were doing OK and didn't really need to know all these ways to save money. I had heard of the $21 Challenge but wasn't really motivated to try it and we were ticking along as usual - until last month.

With baby number two arriving in three months we needed extra storage space so we extended our garage to make room for all our stuff. This extension made a dent in the savings account which although we knew it would, was quite depressing to see the balance dropping and dropping and not going back up. Lo and behold, motivation began creeping in!

I downloaded all our bank transactions for the month and was horrified to find that I had spent an average of nearly $260 per week on groceries for two adults and one toddler. There were lots of other things I was also horrified to see but I started with the groceries as it seemed easiest. Motivation knocked harder. I decided to take charge!

I read the first two chapters of the $21 Challenge on the website, put a copy of the book on my library request list and did a stocktake of my pantry, fridge and freezer. Imagine my shock when I discovered I had enough ingredients to plan meals for the next 19 days! That's not counting meals like scrambled eggs, pumpkin soup and the emergency baked beans on toast. We had enough food in the house to live on for over three weeks! We just needed fresh fruit and vegies and that was about it. I didn't quite make $21 but my first grocery shop after doing the stocktake came to $61, down from $258 per week the previous month.

From then on I watched the bank account like a hawk and knew where every cent went. In previous months when the bank account got low, I would simply pull out the credit card and pay it off on pay day but not this month! This month it stayed in my wallet.

It's pay day again tomorrow and guess what? I have spent an average of $160 per week on groceries, saving us nearly $100 per week. By being aware and thinking to myself 'do I really need that?' and deciding 'no', the savings account has increased by a whopping $2,250! That figure makes me weak at the knees! I can't honestly say where the money has been going before now. We don't have the latest gadgets, appliances or clothing. I am truly at a loss BUT I have to say I'm pretty proud of myself right now! At the same time, I feel a bit sick that I didn't do this 18 months ago, or even 12 or six months ago, but I've done it now. I am motivated to change my ways. I have goals. I have the energy to do this and I have Simple Savings to thank for giving me the tools to continue saving. THANK YOU!

Contributed by: Rochelle Weston-Arnold

10. Goodbye For Now

We hope you have found this month's newsletter helpful. Don't forget to enter our competition with your favourite 'how I keep my money' strategy! Send your entries in to us to be in to win. One competition which never changes is our 'Hint of the Week' competition. Simply send in your favourite money saving tip (you can enter as many times as you like) and you could win a 12-month membership to the Vault. We really appreciate each and every tip we receive. That's all for now, have a fantastic month holding on to more of your money!

All the best,
Fiona

August 2010 - Simple Savings Newsletter

"Secrets to Saving Money in Australia" Free Newsletter - August 2010

This issue includes:-

Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: A Place for Everything
September is 100 Item Challenge
Fiona's Fab FREE Lippey Labels!
Father's Day Gifts
Best of the Forum: Declutter Your Life
Best of the Vault: Clever Cleanout Tips
$21 Challenge Confession
Cooking with Mimi
Penny's Blog: Great Expectations
Homeopathy Corner: Jump Start Your Mind
From Last Month: Affordable Office Furniture
This Month's Help Request: Whittling Away Our Inheritance
Savings Story: Confessions of a Stay at Home Mum

Hello,

How are you doing? It's been an exciting month in our house. Tristan turned three and Elora had her first day at child care! Forgive me for sounding like a bad mummy but I am really relishing my one day of solitude a week. It's heaven!

Decluttering Month couldn't have come at a better time for me. Now I can sort through the house on my own (MWUHAAHAAA!) and clash and bang my way through boxes to my heart's content without fear of waking the baby (DOUBLE MWUHAHAAAA!).

How did you go with last month's From The Yard Challenge? We had a ball in the garden and ate something we grew ourselves almost every day. How cool is that?

Speaking of cool, a little while back we had the pleasure of meeting a very nice journalist called Fenella Souter. She stayed with us for a couple of days and got to experience living the Simple Savings way first hand. The result was a magnificent article which was featured in last week's Good Weekend.

There is one thing Fenella wrote that really stuck in my mind, "the shop 'til you drop philosophy is like fiddling while Rome burns" and this is so true. It made me realise how important Simple Savings is and how important YOU are. So thank you, Fenella for reminding Matt and I that Simple Savings really is about so much more than just saving money!

"I have just read through the latest newsletter with gusto as we are moving into our new house in November where I am planning on starting my first vegie patch. I also wanted to have a few chickens. My husband, however, thought this was crazy and impossible in a normal western suburb of Perth (rather than a large property/farm/rural area). Well! Have I got some news for him! Not only can we have chickens but he will never have to buy fertiliser for his beloved new lawn either! I've also always wanted my children to see where fresh food really comes from and I now feel I can give them that, along with a fun Sunday project building a chicken tractor with Mum and their first ever pets!

"All I can think now is 'Why ever did I let my membership lapse?' I must have been crazy. I love SS and thank you for such a timely reminder of how valuable you were in my life before, and still are now." (Tanya Dell)

"I just had to tell you a story which really made me laugh. I have five children, we shop only once a month and am careful to space all our food and treats out over the month. Whenever the whinging starts, that 'there are no biscuits, school snacks' and so on, I just tell the kids, 'we will just have to make do'. One day I arrived home to find my daughter (12) had been baking biscuits. They smelled delicious and I asked what they were. She said they were 'Doos'. 'What?' I asked. 'Doos!' she repeated. 'You always said if there was nothing in the cupboard, to 'make do', so I made Doos!' she told me. We now call these humble biscuits 'Doos' and I couldn't have been prouder. Whenever we think our parenting has a lot to be desired, remember - good things do rub off too!" (Jenny Cuffe)

"I was so excited to see Mimi in the newsletter as the new Simple Savings cook. I have always loved her recipes (I am a poached chicken fanatic) and have been an avid reader of her Fabulous at 50 thread in the Forum. Now I have seen Mimi's picture (in last month's newsletter), I don't consider that she needs any help in being fabulous - she is beautiful from her bright shining eyes to her gorgeous smile and I just love her hair! It's so lovely to put a face to a name and I'm really looking forward to reading more recipes in the coming newsletters." (Clover)

All the best, Fiona Lippey

1. Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: A Place for Everything

Sally was glad to be home. It had been such a hectic day at work! She couldn't wait to get dinner out of the way and curl up on the couch. The kids were home; she knew that by the pile of shoes and school bags she had almost tripped over when she came in. That, along with the puddle of orange juice and the jar of peanut butter with the knife still sticking out of it on the kitchen bench.

It was the same every day. Sally knew what she would find. Towels strewn across the bathroom floor. Beds unmade. Dirty cups, plates and glasses all over the house. Toys and games never put away - and the washing! What did it take to get everyone to put their own clothes away? Sally didn't need this after the day she'd had. It was time to let them have it!

She found Pete and the kids in the lounge, surrounded by clutter. 'THIS PLACE IS A PIGSTY!' she shouted. 'Why can't you clear up after yourselves? Why do I have to do everything MYSELF?' 'Hey, calm down, love!' Pete put down his newspaper. 'You don't have to do everything! We'll clean up. Come on kids, quick smart!' he jumped up. 'Now Sarah, where does this go?' 'I don't know Dad!' she said. 'James, do you know where this goes?' 'Nope!' came the reply. Pete gazed at his children in alarm. 'Do you two know where ANYTHING is supposed to go?'

2. September is 100 Item Challenge

Parents are always growling at their kids to 'clean up after themselves' and 'put this or that away'. It's frustrating when they don't put things back exactly where we want but think about it for a minute. Do they actually know where their things belong? Have you ever shown them? Or like Sally, do you fly around like a whirlwind cleaning up after everyone else and just expect them to KNOW where you want everything to go? If you're nodding your head while you're reading this, maybe you need a new cleaning system!

Before I explain how this new system works I need to tell you about an argument my husband Matt and I have had for many years. And how, after many years of telling him he is wrong, I have to eat humble pie and finally admit he was right. There, I said it!

You see, time and time again, Matt said that we had too much stuff in our house and the best way to clean it was with a mini skip. He said we should jack the house up on one end and shake it so that all the stuff falls out the window and lands straight in the skip. I told him that he was wrong and that his expectations were simply too high. After all, we have four children and live in a two bedroom house. As far as I was concerned the amount of stuff we had was not to blame for our domestic chaos. The problem was that we hadn't done a good enough job of teaching the children how to clean up after themselves.

Which is where my argument came unstuck. The reason the kids were lousy at cleaning up after themselves is they got confused because - as Matt said all along - we had too much stuff! (I hate it when my husband is right.) I have watched the kids try to clean, they start by picking up an item and then stare around blankly trying to figure out where it should go. Before long the stress of this freezes their brains and icicles start dangling from the end of their noses!

Matt also says that the problem isn't just that we had too much stuff; it was also that every item needed to have a place. Whilst I did agree, I had tried doing this in the past to no avail. I would try giving items a 'place', only to find as soon as it was taken out someone else would spy a blank spot on the shelf and quickly fill it with something else.

But no more! Welcome to Matt's favourite month of the whole year - Decluttering Month! You see, Matt has the librarian gene. He grew up in an ordered and structured home. His mum is even a librarian! So for decluttering month, I have made a system to turn my house into a library. Just like a library, every shelf, box and drawer is being labelled. Everything will have a place. If anything doesn't have a place in the home, it will be given a place in our wheelie bin, or sold or given away. And, just like a library, we will set up and teach the kids a system everyone can follow. Labelling every shelf in our house seems so anal. But, I have started doing it. Because I love Matt and (on this occasion anyway) he is right.

If you would like to join us on this mission to regain control of the house and teaching other householders to clean up after themselves. This is what we are doing.

Label every shelf, drawer and box. I went and bought myself a Dymo label maker from Officeworks on special for $39.
Label items with labels EVERYONE in the household can understand. You will learn more about this in the next article.
Show the kids how the labels work. The kids need to understand what is happening and why. You need to teach them how to put away just one item or one simple instruction at a time. Baby steps are the key here.
Refuse to put other people's things away. This is very important. You see in the past, I used to pick up the kids' things and put them on the shelf. This taught the kids that they could be slobs without any consequences. Well, no more. We have introduced consequences! Now I simply stand next to the item, call the child, interrupt their day the way their mess is interrupting mine, make them come over, pick up the item and put it where it belongs. If the child refuses, I then give them the following explanation. 'By leaving the item on the floor you are telling me that it is not valuable to you and you are happy for me to find a new home for it'. (Code for Mum sends it to the op shop or wheelie bin. TRIPLE MWUHAHAAAA!) The first time I took an item and found it a new home it was VERY NOISY. Three children came to their item's defence! But the wonderful thing about children is they are fast learners and the second time I asked them to put an item away, they did it.

So this is how it is done. If you would like to start librarising your home we have made you some cool labels. So even the smallest munchkins can help clean up.

3. Fiona's Fab FREE Lippey Labels!

One of my important jobs as a mother is to teach my kids how to clean. Luckily I learned some very handy tips from a Montessori school, where my kids spent two years. The first is that youth is no excuse. Children as young as 12 months can clean. A two-year-old can put their own clothes away, empty the dishwasher and tidy up their toys if you make it easy for them. To make it easy for your children we have made you some free labels that the kids will be able to read and understand to attach to their toy boxes and clothes drawers. To help build your child's self esteem it is important to help them feel in control of their own room and of the cleaning process. So we have made them sheets of cool looking printable labels which they can colour in however they like. This way they can put their own personal stamp on the boxes, so it is not just you as a parent forcing cleanliness and order into their room. The labels we have created here have been dreamed up by the Simple Savings staff and their children. If you think we are missing any and you want others, please write in and tell us. Creating these labels was a pretty expensive exercise, so if you like them please tell your friends about them and how cool the Simple Savings Vault is. If enough people tell their friends and buy a Vault membership we will be able to pay for an illustrator to do more cool labels!

Here are the ones we have so far:

Kids' clothing drawer labels

I love these labels because they have trained my children into putting away their own clothes. Even tiny Tristan puts his clothes away. I put a label on the front of the drawer and another inside the drawer. This way, even when the drawer is empty he can still follow the system!

Click the image to download a 200Kb PDF

Kids' toy box labels

These are a lifesaver! We have tried to include a good range of generic toy labels so that they will work in everyone's home.

Click the image to download a 470Kb PDF

Just download the PDFs, print them off, get the kids to colour them in and put them up. Goodbye messy madness, hello easy-clean house!

4. Father's Day Gifts

Father's Day is just a few days away! Since it is Decluttering Month, the kids and I have made Matt something consumable that he will enjoy, consume and not need to find a place on the shelf for.

Here are some simple gifts the kids can make that Daddy will really appreciate.

Coffee freckles

This recipe was originally supposed to be a 'sophisticated' adult, 'after dinner' type treat for my brother-in-law. However, when Jacqui and Tristan caught me making them they insisted on adding 'sprinkles', turning this recipe into a perfect Father's Day gift! It's easy for the kids to make, looks fantastic and has a tasty twist to wake up Dad on Father's Day morning!

Equipment:

Bowl
Biscuit tray
Grease proof paper
Teaspoon

Ingredients:

250g block dark chocolate
1 tsp vegetable oil (Macadamia is my favourite)
1 tbsp finely ground coffee
1/4 cup sprinkles

Method:

Start by putting your grease proof paper on your biscuit tray. Then grab yourself a bowl, break up the chocolate and throw it in the bowl with the oil. Melt the chocolate and oil in the microwave by cooking for 30 seconds at a time and stirring in between. When the chocolate is melted, stir in your ground coffee. Place dollops of mixture onto the lined baking tray. Sprinkle with sprinkles and pop in the fridge to set. Once set, put them in a container and HIDE THEM!

DIY gift bags

We also made little bags for the chocolates to go in. The recipe above will give you enough chocolates to fill three bags. Enough for Dad and both grandfathers.

Star bag

Click the image to download a 20Kb PDF

As before, just print, colour, cut, fold and glue. Be sure to glue the flaps to the inside of the bag so no one can see them!

5. Best of the Forum: Declutter Your Life

We've said it before and we'll say it again, one of the biggest keys to saving money is organisation - and with organisation comes less clutter! Simple Savings members are wonderful declutterers. Check out some of these great Forum discussions to get in the mood for bringing a little order back into your home!

The Most August Glorious One month Declutter

Welcome fellow chucker outers, recyclers, Freecyclers and obsessive cleaner outers! Join GoGo Goanna, Mrs Wez and many other enthusiastic members as they clean up a storm!
read more...

Has anyone scaled back to basic possessions?

As Rickety points out in this interesting discussion, there is decluttering (such as getting rid of five pairs of shoes when there are still 17 pairs left in the cupboard) - and then there is DECLUTTERING! As she and others learn in this thread, it is definitely possible to live with the bare minimum.
read more...

Motivation! Play the dice game to get things done!

Want to declutter but don't know where to start? This thread will help you on your way! There's never been a more fun way to get organized!
read more...

What have you FOUND by decluttering?

Once you start decluttering you not only get to enjoy a tidier home but you can also uncover lots of long forgotten wee gems, as Northen Gal and her hubby found out!
read more...

Is decluttering really worth it?

Why do people spend so much time worrying about having too much stuff? How much is really too much? And is it really worth getting rid of the stuff you have? All these questions and more are answered here!
read more...

6. Best of the Vault: Clever Cleanout Tips

Don't let clutter get you down! These brilliant tips from the Vault will help you make some serious headway in your decluttering - as well as deter you from acquiring any more!

Clutter-free home will stop you acquiring more

Curb your spending and spend less time shopping by focussing on decluttering your home instead. It will really show up how much you already have, and that you probably don't need to acquire more. Here are some tips that helped me:

Don't buy anything non-essential until you have dealt with what you already have. When you do buy something, throw out or give away another item of equal size.
Imagine what you want each room in your house to look like, and the life you want to live. Every time you want to buy something, ask yourself if it fits this image.
Start by clearing away surface clutter. Set a timer for five minutes a day of high-speed tidying where you grab a bag and fill it with things you don't need, like unopened junk mail, empty containers etc. Set yourself a challenge to find at least 20 items.
You can't own more than will fit in the space you have, so balance what you own with what room you have.
Set yourself a decluttering plan, working through your house room by room, cupboard by cupboard. Try to set a little time aside for this every day for a month, and don't pull out more than you can sort through and put away within an hour unless you have more time set aside.
Get your family to help with harder areas, such as the garage, and help each other sort your own personal areas.
Once you have cleared the clutter, maintain this on a weekly basis.

Contributed by: Kym Maloney

Online help for new declutterers

For those who are new to decluttering, free expert help is at hand! Decluttering comes naturally to some people, but to some it does NOT. Even thinking about tackling the big mess that is our home is enough to bring out a panic attack! However, a few years back, I bought a book called 'The New Messies Manual' by Sandra Felton. I learned all about 'messies' and 'cleanies' and strategies for how a messie like me can not only organise the home but KEEP it organised. I have since discovered they have a website (http://www.messies.com) with all sorts of links to other helpful decluttering and organisation sites too. Check it out!

Contributed by: Clair Niven

100% effective 'No More Clutter' deterrent!

I have come up with a simple yet super effective way of making sure I never waste any more money on clutter! I'm a sucker for buying toys for my children. Consequently I am now drowning in broken toys, clutter and debt. But now when I'm in the department stores and see something on special or think, 'my girls would love that', I open up my bag and get out my deterrent! I look at the photos I have taken of my lounge covered in toys and clutter and remember that not am I only saving money by not buying more, I am also saving the planet - and my sanity! Works every time!

Contributed by: Jubes

Unnecessary kitchen appliances

Do you really need these house-cluttering, money-wasting, used once in a lifetime kitchen appliances?

Pie maker
Popcorn maker
Hotdog maker
Sandwich press

Of course you don't! Our mothers and grandmothers didn't have these appliances yet they still managed to make all of these things. Pies in the oven. Popcorn in the microwave or on the stove. Hotdogs in a pot. Toasted sandwiches grilled in the oven.

If you have already bought the kitchen appliances on my list, cut the clutter and earn a few bucks by selling them in a garage sale. Then, get back to real cooking!

Contributed by: Kimberley Headford

Avoid re-cluttering

I am busy decluttering the toys and clothing that belong to my four daughters and, at the same time, I am thinking how I can avoid re-cluttering!

With Christmas approaching, I have begun to compile a list of appropriate gifts that we and our relatives can give to the kids. Included on my list are gift ideas that are more than just 'stuff'. For example, we are heading to the Gold Coast for a family holiday next year, so we have asked relatives for tickets to Sea World. This will save us admission prices of $324!

I have also suggested vouchers for painting lessons from a talented grandmother. Ideas like this use the resources and talents in our family, and helps avoid dreaded re-clutter!

Contributed by: Kathryn Hartley

Clutter-free and organised

I have found a way to reduce clutter, which allows me to find exactly what I'm looking for in a moment.

I have assigned an A4 ring binder to each of my four children, and myself. The binder has about 20 plastic sleeves; in these I place paper work associated with the corresponding person. It could be things like bank accounts, medical or dental history and important school information. The older children and I also keep car registration details and insurance documents in the binder, as well as employment and taxation details.

The binders are filed away in a safe but accessible location, so everyone knows where to find their personal information. For tidy filing, I recommend cardboard cabinets which are sold at major retailers like Kmart.

Contributed by: Maxine Valentine

Purse-free - clutter-free Contributed by: Sonya Gibson

House for sale mentality keeps house clean Contributed by: Lew Harpelle

Paper declutter saves hundreds Contributed by: Clutterhen

A not so essential item Contributed by: Alisa Allison

7. $21 Challenge Confession

This month I have a bit of an embarrassing confession to make. I love our local library and confess to recently looking on their website to see if they had bought a copy of The $21 Challenge and if anyone borrowed it. You see, I had been secretly tossing and turning at night, convinced that if the library had bought one it was probably just sitting on the shelf unloved and unused, soon to head to the bargain sale table.

So you have no idea how relieved I was when I discovered our local libraries had bought six copies and they were all out on loan - with another six people waiting for the copies to be returned!

I can hardly believe that 12 months after the launch of the $21 Challenge book, every copy in the library is still out. That is pretty cool! And, very hard to believe.

If you don't want to wait in the library queue please ask your local library to order more, or ask one of your friends to buy it for you as a present. If you would like a signed copy please order it from here a week or two before you need it because with four kiddies in tow it is hard to sign books every day.

P.S. Two chapters of the $21 Challenge book are still available to read on the Simple Savings site, or you can also read them on our Facebook page. Check it out and tell your friends too!

You can read Chapters 1 and 2 here: (Chapter One) (Chapter Two)

8. Cooking with Mimi

This month Mimi has been busy decluttering her pantry and look what fabulous goodies she has created! It's time to stick your head in the pantry door and follow in her footsteps.

Prune and chocolate truffle slice

A decadent dessert or treat from prunes and daggy bananas? Impossible you say? Well try this one! This is rich and delicious. The fruit gives the slice a rich and fudgy texture which is complimented beautifully by the smooth, glossy chocolate ganache topping.

Serves 8 as a dessert. Must be started the night before you need it.

UTENSILS:

Food processor
Mixing bowl
Container with lid
Measuring cups
20cm square cake tin
Large saucepan
Large bowl to sit on top of saucepan
Flat boxes lined with tissue paper if using as a gift

INGREDIENTS:

275g prunes (to yield 235g prune flesh)
1 cup boiling water
3 small or 2 large overripe bananas, mashed
2 eggs
100g butter, chopped
75g plain flour
50g cocoa
1 tsp vanilla essence
150 ml cream
150g chocolate melts

The night before you want to bake this slice, put the prunes in an airtight container with a lid, and pour over one cup of boiling water. Seal the container and leave the prunes to plump overnight.

Preheat the oven to 180C fan forced. Line the tin with baking paper.

Using clean hands, squeeze the pips from the prunes, retaining as much flesh as possible. If this is too messy, you can skip this step by using pitted prunes. You need 235g of prune flesh for this recipe.

Put the prunes into a food processor and add the butter. Process until well combined and as smooth as possible. Add the banana and vanilla essence and pulse until mixed. Add the eggs one at a time, pulsing until smooth. Add the plain flour and cocoa all at once and process until the batter looks like a thick cake mixture.

Pour the batter into the lined tin. Bake for 30 minutes or until there is no 'give' in the centre of the slice.

Remove and cool.

While cooling, bring a saucepan of water to the boil, turn down to a simmer. Put a bowl on the top of the saucepan, ensuring that it's large enough to sit safely, but not deep enough to be touching the simmering water. Put the cream and the chocolate melts into the bowl, and stir constantly until the chocolate has completely melted and the mixture is smooth and glossy. Carefully remove from heat.

Ensuring that the slice is cooled, pour the chocolate and cream mixture (ganache) over the slice while still in the tin. Refrigerate until cool and firm.

When cool, slice into thin wedges and serve with a scoop of ice cream or whipped cream.

This is also delicious cut into squares and boxed as a gift, but requires refrigeration to retain the ganache topping.

Creamy risotto cake

You can use any rice, any sort of soup, and whatever other ingredients you like for this great versatile risotto cake. A fantastic frugal family meal that can be jazzed up for guests. Hot or cold, this one's a winner!

EQUIPMENT:

20cm round cake tin lined with baking paper
Non-stick frypan
Cutting board
Sharp knife
Spatula
Saucepan
Measuring cups
Large mixing bowl
Serving platter

INGREDIENTS:
1 1/2 cups long grain rice
2 cups water
2 rashers bacon, trimmed of rind and diced
1/2 onion, diced
1 large zucchini, grated
3 eggs, beaten
1 tin cream of chicken soup
250g grated tasty cheese

Line the cake tin and preheat the oven to 180C.

Put the rice and the water into a medium saucepan and bring to a boil.

When boiling, cover and switch off, but leave on the cooling hotplate. Do not peek for 20 minutes or the rice will not cook. After 20 minutes, remove the lid, fluff the rice, and tip into a large bowl. Allow to cool slightly.

While the rice is cooking, heat the frypan, spray with cooking spray (oil), and fry the diced bacon and onion until the bacon is lightly browned and the onion is translucent.

Add the bacon, onion, zucchini, eggs, soup and cheese to the rice. Mix well until combined thoroughly.

Tip into the lined cake tin, and press firmly to compact the mixture. The tin will be very full.

Bake for one hour. Test for doneness by inserting a knife into the centre. If the knife comes out clean, it's ready. If there is any wet mixture sticking to the knife, pop it back in for another 10 minutes.

When done, remove from oven and allow to cool in the tin for 10 minutes. Run a knife carefully around the edge of the tin to loosen the risotto cake. Invert onto the serving platter by putting the plate on top of the cake tin, and quickly flipping it over so that the tin is upside down and the risotto cake falls from the tin onto the platter. Shake gently if it sticks a little, but it should just plop out. Gently ease the tin away from the cake.

Serve cut into wedges like a cake, with a green salad on the side.

This reheats well and is just as delicious cold, making it an ideal lunch or dinner.

Vary this recipe by using different types of cheese, grated vegetables, steamed frozen vegetables and other diced deli meat such as chorizo or ham.

Luxe version: Use shredded poached chicken and a round of camembert cheese instead of deli meat and grated tasty cheese.

Fragrant Middle Eastern rice

Serves 4 as a meal or 6-8 as a side dish

This is a great pantry clean-out dish. You can use any legumes, any rice, and the herbs and spices will bring it to life. I particularly love to use the yellow split peas as there are always some left over at the end of winter... one can only eat so much pea and ham soup, however lovingly prepared! They taste completely different this way and have a gorgeous more-ish nutty flavour.

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 cup yellow split peas
1/2 cup rice
1/2 tsp dried chilli seeds or equivalent minced or fresh
3 tbsp lemon juice (juice of one fresh lemon)
700 ml boiling water
2 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp Fenugreek seeds
2 tsp turmeric
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
1 heaped tsp minced ginger
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp coriander
1 onion, chopped
1 tin diced tomatoes or 8-10 cherry tomatoes (optional)
2 cloves garlic, peeled and left whole (optional)
Chopped nuts and fresh coriander to garnish

EQUIPMENT:

Measuring jug
Large non-stick frypan or wok with a lid
Measuring spoons

METHOD: Put the peas into a large bowl and cover with 6 cups of boiling water. Cover and put aside for one hour. Strain after one hour and rinse until they stop foaming. Using a large non-stick frypan or wok, heat the oil and fry the onions and spices until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add the drained split peas and rice. Stir thoroughly to coat the rice and peas with the spice mixture. It should be making your mouth water already. Measure the boiling water into a jug, and pour it over the rice mixture. Add the lemon juice. Mix thoroughly. Cover and allow to simmer gently over a low heat for 35-45 minutes. Check and stir occasionally to prevent it sticking to the base of the pan. Taste and season if necessary with salt and pepper.

You can serve this dish now and it will be a sort of Middle Eastern version of fried rice, or if you prefer, add the tinned diced tomatoes and garlic 10 minutes before the full cooking time. Stir well, and remove the garlic cloves before serving. This gives a more delicate flavour and texture. Turn your rice into a dish worthy of a dinner party by omitting the tinned tomatoes and garlic, and garnishing with roasted baby cherry tomatoes instead. While your rice is cooking, line a baking tray with baking paper, and spread the cherry tomatoes over it. Sprinkle with olive oil and season well. Roast at 200C for 20 minutes. Garnish your rice with the roasted cherry tomatoes, chopped nuts and fresh coriander, and wait for the compliments.

This looks spectacular heaped on to a large serving platter, steaming, sprinkled with nuts, and decorated with large sprigs of fresh coriander. It's equally colourful and appetising served individually in bowls. Delicious reheated the next day too!

9. Penny's Blog: Great Expectations

Aug 25, 2010

I am now the proud mother of a 14-year-old! Who has spent every day since his birthday bouncing around the house singing at the top of his voice in between telling me how mature he now is! Unfortunately for Liam his birthday was quieter than planned. Ali came down with swine flu so all visitors and outings had to be postponed! Whilst poor Liam was less than impressed, he still had an enjoyable day. As he headed off to bed that night he said 'Thanks heaps for my presents, Mum, they're really cool. This is the second year I haven't had any toys though!' To which I replied, 'Well, you're 14 now! What toys was I supposed to get you? I didn't realise you wanted any!' 'I know, I don't!' he chuckled. 'It's just when you're small you can get heaps of stuff for less money. When I was little I could get five action figures for $100. Now I'm lucky if I can get one pair of running shoes for that much!' I had to agree - but I can't say I miss the clutter that every birthday used to bring. All those new toys with a thousand detachable pieces which would inevitably get lost - or worse, tripped over or impaled in someone's feet!

Particularly at the moment, while it's so important to keep the house tidy. I shouldn't say it but it's lovely to have a few days' respite from people passing through. The last few weeks have been manic; almost every day we have had agents coming through or house hunters. Everybody says how much they like the place but we're still waiting for the right person. Lovely as the people are who we have met, they have all been retired couples or single women. What our house needs is a family! It needs kids running up and down the stairs and playing in the tree hut. It needs a pony or two or a couple of pet lambs. Our place is just too big for one or two people to rattle around in, but there's nothing we can do except sit tight and wait for our dream family to come along. I think we could be waiting a while though. From what I've seen so far, families just aren't buying at the moment. They're all too scared to move until the market changes. Everyone's waiting for everybody else.

Still, we'll do our best to be patient and in the meantime just keep up with the constant tidying! As anyone who has ever sold a place will know, it's a never ending battle - especially if you have kids! Liam, to his credit makes very little mess. The items he brings out of his room are minimal and he always likes his room to be tidy, with everything in its place. Ali, on the other hand is a nightmare. A hilarious nightmare, but nonetheless a nightmare! Always busy and moving on from one activity to the next, he leaves a constant trail of destruction in his wake. DVDs are watched and never put back. He's always making up some game or another and there are always BITS everywhere. Bits of paper, cardboard soccer players, imaginary rugby tournaments - and the latest is attaching his dad's new fishing reel to whatever takes his fancy (usually a bar stool or something equally large) and 'reeling' it in, pretending there's a huge fish at the end of it! I've lost count of how many times one of us has almost tripped and broken a leg on the blasted thing!

The other day I told them I had had enough and that all pocket money was going to be stopped until they lifted their game. With people coming through every day, the house needed to be spotless, yet I was finding I was doing the same chores and picking up the same things as the previous day and the day before that - just silly little things such as picking wet towels off the boys' bedroom floors or ridding the kitchen bench of cornflakes or coffee granules. 'A good chef always cleans up after himself!' I grumbled to the kids for what seemed like the hundredth time. Several years ago I thought I had the answer. I bought both the boys a 'mess basket' and every time I was tidying downstairs and came across something belonging to them that wasn't supposed to be there, I would put it in the appropriate mess basket and present it to them for emptying. There was just one problem. The mess basket never got emptied and the boys could never find anything because they would always forget about the mess basket!

Liam, having the misfortune of being both 14 AND six feet tall was read the riot act. 'Liam, you're a big - make that VERY big - boy. Now I KNOW you make your bed religiously every morning and I KNOW you fill up the wheelbarrow with firewood every day for me but for goodness sake could you try hanging your towel up for once when you've had a shower?! And why do you never EVER put your phone/book/school books/calculator/dirty dishes/contact lens solution/video games away?! Can you please help me out here? We're trying to sell the place for goodness sake!' I pleaded. ' 'FINE!' he retorted. 'I'll put them all away! Jeez! If it bothers you that much! Just tell me where you want me to put them!

And it was then I realised. All these years I have expected my children to be psychic. Every time we have acquired anything, whether it be for them personally or for the family, or for the house, have I ever once said to them 'Right, this is a good place to keep the thingummy-wotsit! From now on, it goes here?' Well have I? Er, no. Being a 'there's a place for everything and everything in its place' sort of person, I have simply taken it upon myself to find the new thingummy-wotsit a nice wee nook in our home, then expected everyone else in the family to know EXACTLY where it's supposed to go from this day forth into eternity, without ever actually telling them. And why on earth should they be remotely bothered about asking where things are supposed to go, when I'm so hell bent on putting things away first in my constant quest for perfection? I can't believe it's taken me 14 years as a mother to work this out but it has!

So now we've got to the root of the problem, the question is how to fix it? One of the main problems is washing. Dirty or clean, it gets everywhere. If Liam so much as dries his face with a bath towel it goes straight in the washing basket. Ali, being the active wee chap he is always goes through twice as many clothes as everyone else but I realised even he was going to extremes when we were going out for Liam's birthday dinner the other night. When I commented that his rugby jersey had got a bit shabby to wear out to dinner, he obediently went and changed. And put the aforementioned rugby jersey straight in the dirty washing basket, after he'd worn it for precisely 30 seconds! This led me to two conclusions - the first being that I was sick and tired of being overloaded with washing and realised the only way to cure them of this was to make them do their own. The next day I presented them with their own laundry basket each. When it's full, they have to take it to be washed and be responsible for drying it and putting it away. The second conclusion I came to was actually the same one I had come to previously - that my children are not psychic. Kids need instructions. Mine have been doing what they were told all along - the problem was that I was only giving them half the instructions. 'Put your dirty ice cream bowls on the bench when you've finished' does not mean the same as 'Put your dirty ice cream bowls on the bench, then rinse them out and put them in the dishwasher!' That may be what I want them to do and is what I am thinking - but it's not what I'm saying!

So it seems that I am no longer able to lay the blame for having a less than spotless home wholly with my children. On the whole they are pretty darn good. It's me who needs to clean up my act, if you'll pardon the pun! From now on I need to make my instructions clear and show or tell them where things need to go. I have a feeling the Vault can help me with this too. Have you checked out the Cleaning section lately? There are TONS of brilliant ideas and so simple too! One tip that jumped out at me and made me think 'that's what we need!' is this one, titled 'Hang the washing! Let's save it instead'. I think there's going to be an awful lot of new hooks being put up in our house!

August 2010

2nd - Are youse fullas rich?

4th - Against the grain

10th - Gut instinct

19th - Serendipity

10. Homeopathy Corner: Jump Start Your Mind

If your mind is foggy and you're finding it hard to think clearly and make decisions then decluttering is going to be a struggle. So this month Fran shows us some simple exercises and homeopathic remedies to clear your mind and give it a jump start.

Fran's article is here: http://homeopathyplus.com.au/increase-your-focus-and-improve-your-memory/

11. From Last Month: Affordable Office Furniture

Last month Ros asked:

"I am looking for affordable office furniture. We have a small business that we run from a single bedroom flat, but we need to move for more room. Does anyone know where I can get good office size desks at great prices? Student desks are just not big enough for what I need."

According to members there are more than a few ways to create or find wonderful office furniture to suit every budget. Here are some of the most interesting ideas we hope will help!

Custom-built desks for less

If you are looking to save on custom built desks, try asking your local kitchen/cabinet maker. They will cut a piece of Melteca to the size you require and edge it for you. All you would then need are some legs or existing desk ends to attach to the top. An additional space saving idea is to put filing cabinets underneath the desk (so remember to have the dimensions in mind when ordering your desk.)

Contributed by: Ann Foster

Great desks going, going, GONE!

You can find lots of cheap office furniture at auction houses. Sometimes you can get desks for just $10 or filing cabinets for as little as $5.00! Just make sure you inspect the goods properly before bidding. They are usually sold 'as is' and once you buy it, they don't accept returns. There are a number of auction houses out there and you really can grab some great bargains.

www.omaras.com.au

www.graysonline.com.au

Contributed by: Samantha P

One man's trash is another man's treasure!

I got a fantastic desk for home which cost absolutely nothing. I contacted a number of large businesses in my area and discovered one that was being refurbished. Because they were upgrading to newer desks they were keen to find homes for all their 'old' ones and were more than happy for me to take one off their hands! I am delighted with my fabulous find!

Contributed by: Paul Phillips

Total office makeover for an unbelievable price!

A friend recently outfitted her home office with near-new office furniture purchased at very low prices from a Trading Post ad. The furniture included a large desk and return, filing cabinet, storage unit and shelves. It all looks brand new and is hard to believe it has been used before. She also got a computer, paper shredder and photocopier, all for ridiculously low prices, from the same ad and is now grinning from ear to ear!

Contributed by: Anne Shaw

Recycled door + filing cabinets = fab new desk!

For a funky, original and retro look for your desk that won't break the bank, use two drawer filing cabinets as bases and span the gap with lengths of plywood or recycled doors. If the plywood sags over a long span simply screw a pine stud underneath for plenty of support. The plywood can be stained, painted or just left unfinished.

Contributed by: Wayne Van Wijk

IKEA offers great deals on desks

I have found the best prices for new office furniture are Ikea and Officeworks. I have just moved interstate and need to start over and have been doing a lot of research into where I can find the best deals as my funds are very limited. I only have a laptop and so have purchased, new, a great little desk for just $29. Officeworks have a range of larger desks for just over $100.

Contributed by: Cecilie Lamshed

Ex-government furniture at excellent prices

I bought a drawer unit and a filing drawer from an ex-government furniture place for just $50, when they are often almost $300 new! Ex-office or ex-government furniture places are full of perfectly usable office furniture that has come from government and large corporations after a refurbishment. They get rid of all their furniture and it ends up in these outfits to be sold for very reasonable prices, second hand.

Contributed by: Carla Dunn

Dining tables are the new desks!

The best office desk I ever owned was a dining table I picked up really cheaply at an op shop. It was much sturdier than a flat-pack desk and, because it was slightly bigger than an office desk it had plenty of room. I gave mine a good scrub and polish, (sometimes they can be transformed with a quick coat of paint) and I had a desk that lasted me years, for a fantastic price.

Contributed by: Felicity Hubbard

Multiple options for outfitting a fabulous office

We have quite a large office and outfitted it all for around $1500. We are well known bargain hunters and have helped friends set up their offices as well! We set up our business with six desks my dad got us from an ex-government auction in Brisbane and were $1.00 each! They are great, solid, ex-drafting desks from a TAFE college. Equivalent office desks can be in excess of $500 each.

We also got some brand new, white, heavy duty metal shelving on eBay for $160 a bay. Sellers who are updating their office often have perfectly good furniture for sale that they just want rid of. We solved our filing cupboard problem (they are so pricey) by getting two four-drawer cabinets from the Salvation Army for $40 each. We then got them electro-coated for $200 for both. It may seem expensive, but good quality four-drawer filing cabinets are around $400 each.

A client of ours made their rows of desks from scaffolding framing and laminate tops (with black edging they ironed on). It suits them as they own a construction business and it saved them a lot of money. You can also use two-drawer filing cabinets as desk 'legs' and get tops made to fit, or large ply/MDF panels. (Ikea is great for home desks but we've found their office desks aren't sturdy enough for everyday use and are really not suitable for the work environment. I've had friends who had to replace their desks from Ikea within the year.) It also pays to broadcast your dilemma and make it clear what you're after. We asked everyone we knew whether they had any spare office furniture. We got given the names of a couple of office furniture places with second hand furniture (like Booths in Camperdown), and were given a board room table and some new office chairs!

Contributed by: Peta Zoubakin

12. This Month's Help Request: Whittling Away Our Inheritance

This month Catherine asks:

"This might sound a bit silly but I'm after some advice about how not to spend an inheritance. Whenever my husband and I use all our pay, we simply start using our inheritance money. Sometimes we just use the credit card as we know when we get home we can just transfer the money out of our savings account. Please help us to stop this nasty habit that will leave us with no more deposit for a house!"

If anyone has any suggestions or experiences which could help Catherine, please send them in to us here.

13. Savings Story: Confessions of a Stay at Home Mum

"I can hardly believe it but we have an extra $2000 sitting in our savings account! I have been a stay at home mum for 18 months. My husband earns a slightly above average salary, which allows me to stay at home with our son. We have a modest home, with modest furnishings and modest tastes. We haven't really had a financial plan since we got married two and a half years ago and have just been cruising along, saving a bit some months and spending it other months.

"When I first left work I had full intentions of making a budget, planning our meals, organising our lives and generally being on the ball with our finances. Each month when pay day rolled around, I would say 'this is the month where I get organised!' But it never happened. I am the first to admit that I have been lazy, unmotivated, complacent and ostrich-like. I have been a member of Simple Savings for over a year and always thought we were doing OK and didn't really need to know all these ways to save money. I had heard of The $21 Challenge but wasn't really motivated to try it and we were ticking along as usual - until last month.

"With baby number two arriving in three months, we needed extra storage space so we extended our garage to make room for all our stuff. This extension made a dent in the savings account which, although we knew it would, was quite depressing to see the balance dropping and dropping and not going back up. Lo and behold, motivation began creeping in!

"I downloaded all our bank transactions for the month and was horrified to find that I had spent an average of nearly $260 per week on groceries for two adults and one toddler. There were lots of other things I was also horrified to see but I started with the groceries as it seemed easiest. Motivation knocked harder. I decided to take charge!

"I read the first two chapters of The $21 Challenge on the website, put a copy of the book on my library request list and did a stocktake of my pantry, fridge and freezer. Imagine my shock when I discovered I had enough ingredients to plan meals for the next 19 days! That's not counting meals like scrambled eggs, pumpkin soup and the emergency baked beans on toast. We had enough food in the house to live on for over three weeks! We just needed fresh fruit and vegies and that was about it. I didn't quite make $21 but my first grocery shop after doing the stocktake came to $61, down from $258 per week the previous month.

"From then on I watched the bank account like a hawk and knew where every cent went. In previous months when the bank account got low, I would simply pull out the credit card and pay it off on pay day but not this month! This month it stayed in my wallet.

"It's pay day again tomorrow and guess what? I have spent an average of $160 per week on groceries, saving us nearly $100 per week. By being aware and thinking to myself 'do I really need that?' and deciding 'no', the savings account has increased by a whopping $2250! That figure makes me weak at the knees! I can't honestly say where the money has been going before now. We don't have the latest gadgets, appliances or clothing. I am truly at a loss BUT I have to say I'm pretty proud of myself right now! At the same time, I feel a bit sick that I didn't do this 18 months ago, or even 12 or 6 months ago, but I've done it now. I am motivated to change my ways. I have goals. I have the energy to do this and I have Simple Savings to thank for giving me the tools to continue saving!"

Contributed by: Anonymous

August 2012 - Simple Savings Newsletter

"Secrets to Saving Money in Australia" Free Newsletter - August 2012

This issue includes:-

Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: Playing Chicken!
September is Free Food Month!
Hidden Gems Competition Winner: Fossicker's Tip Shop
Best Members' Blog: 'Stay-at-home'-itis
Best of the Forum: Pick of the Crop
Best of the Vault: Harvesting Hints!
Cooking with Mimi: Moroccan Spaghetti and other Berry Funny Musings!
Fifty Cent Indulgences: 50c R & R
Claire's Corner: Playhouses are for Chicks
Rob Bob's Gardening Blog: Worm Bathtub Farm & Spring Prep
Homeopathy Corner: In the Yard
From Last Month: Fire Surrounds
This Month's Help Request: Variety is the Spice of Life
Savings Story: Thank You to all the Members of Simple Savings
Goodbye, Goodbye

Hello,

How are you going? I hope you have had a fantastic month. We have had a ball this month with our one light nights. Keeping everyone in the same room has made a huge difference to our family. Before we used to sneak off to different rooms, Matt and I would do some work on the computers, the kids would entertain themselves and no one ever cleared the table. But, all that changed this month. The table got done and kitchen too, and we bought some guitars so each night we have been strumming away and finishing off the evening with a family game of UNO. It has really brought all of us together.

We also bought some very cute one-day-old chicks. The chicks are so cute I thought you might enjoy a photo.

Aren't they beautiful? Things are really coming together in the Lippey household and we are only one or two days away from launching Simple Savings 'Ye Old Shoppe'. I really hope you love the shop and send us in more fantastic emails telling us how cool we are. Like these ones - they always make us grin and inspire us to do even better next time.

"Having been a member of SS for a few years I let my subscription drop. Two of my daughters have just become engaged, one to a lovely boy with a very large family, big wedding. So back to square one, saving. I realised the only way to do this was to re-join SS. I am now on the road to NOT spending on anything unnecessary for the rest of the year and see how much I can save towards these weddings. Even though I am now in my 60s I realised that you should never give up the things that work for you, you never know when you will need them. Thanks SS for being there, it's great to be back!" (Margaret)

"I've been a Simple Savings member for a few years now and enjoy searching through the Vault. Thanks for a great service; I'm sure I've saved a fortune over the years." (Anni)

"I have been a subscriber for a little while to your site, but haven't yet purchased a Vault membership (trying to use the $ saving tips to get one!). I am really enjoying the email updates and the website. I recently borrowed The $21 Challenge from the library just to see how it works - I love it! Haven't put it to full use yet (need a weekend free with no husband or kids in the house!) but I have used some of the recipes and love them. The 5 cup loaf with chocolate chips and cocoa is so moist and such a - relatively - healthy treat, and the chicken curry - yum! Made some modifications to it as I didn't have cream of chicken soup or sour cream, but I DID have cream of chicken and corn and UHT cream. I added more curry powder and some cooked carrot slices and even my youngest daughter ate it! OMG! I am going to take the book back to the library and get myself a copy to keep!" (Danielle)

All the best,
Fiona

1. Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: Playing Chicken!

"Tom! This is a nice surprise," smiled Chloe. "Come in. How's your day been?" "Good!" replied Tom. "I've just come back from the local show and - well - I've brought you something," he grinned sheepishly. "Really? Aw, you shouldn't have!" Chloe beamed. "How exciting!" She went to give the box a shake. "Oh no, don't do that!" Tom quickly stopped her. "They're fragile," he chuckled.

Tentatively, Chloe peered into the box. "Chickens!" she squealed in delight. "Oh Tom, they're adorable! Are they really for me?" "Yes, they're all yours," smiled Tom. "I hope you don't mind. It's just you were saying the other day about the shocking price of food and when the farmer said they were free to a good home I thought of you. Who knows, maybe there'll even be enough for both of us!"

Chloe's face immediately filled with horror. "Oh no, I couldn't possibly. I mean just look at them! Can't we just get a BBQ chook for dinner? I really appreciate you trying to help but they are much too cute to eat. What are you laughing at?" She glared at Tom who was clutching his sides. "Chlo - I didn't bring you these to eat. I got them for you so you can grow them into hens and have your very own eggs for free!"

2. September is Free Food Month!

Giving his girlfriend a box full of cute, baby chicks may be a sweet gesture on Tom's behalf but it's also a very smart one. If Chloe thinks the price of basic food items is already high, she's in for a shock. Wheat prices are set for a steep increase due to worldwide weather conditions pushing up the price of bread, pasta and processed flour products. In addition, the prices of chicken and eggs are also set to rise which means we, as consumers, have a choice. We can either sit around and complain about it or we can refuse to pay the higher prices and do something about it like Tom.

For example, we can:

Cut back on bread/pasta/processed flour items and include more easily home grown starches such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, pumpkin and corn. This not only makes for a better budget but better health too.
Get planting. Growing fruit, vegies and herbs in your own yard is as close to free food as any of us can get.
Get our own chickens. Keeping chickens is one of the easiest things you can do to make a difference to your wallet, your health and the environment.

We have been encouraging members to participate in Free Food Month in Simple Savings newsletters since 2008. The food prices may keep on rising but the ways to beat them haven't changed. Check out our newsletter archive for ways to get growing and keep your food bill at a minimum - for good:

2008: www.simplesavings.com.au/newsletter/2008/8/

2009: www.simplesavings.com.au/newsletter/2009/8/

2010: www.simplesavings.com.au/newsletter/2010/7/

2011: www.simplesavings.com.au/newsletter/2011/7/

If you want to know more about keeping your own chickens, be sure to read the newsletter from 2010. As well as containing heaps of reasons why they are so fantastic and will benefit your household, this is also where the amazing 'Cut and Paste Chicken Tractor' first made an appearance! It really is brilliant; so cheap and easy to make. Have a look and you will see just how simple and hassle-free keeping your own chickens and harvesting your own yummy fresh eggs really is.

If keeping chickens is really not for you or not possible, there are plenty of other ways you can think outside the square and enjoy fresh, homegrown food. You don't even have to have a vegetable garden. Herbs such as mint and lemongrass are easy to grow and make beautiful free tea. Or for something different, why not start a water garden? Edible water plants, such as water chestnuts, Lebanese cress and green taro can be grown in almost any watertight container in the right position.

Whatever you decide to grow - eggs or eggplants, try and make it your goal this month to pick one edible thing each day from your own yard. If Clueless Chloe can do it, so can you!

3. Hidden Gems Competition Winner: Fossiker's Tip Shop

Our Hidden Gems directory is designed to help members source the best deals in their area. Whenever you come across a real gem of a business, enter it in our Hidden Gems directory and you'll be in the draw to win our monthly prize of $100 cash! This is our way of saying thank you for sharing your knowledge and helping other members save. The more information you can give us about your special store or business, the better.

This month's winner is Fossiker's Tip Shop as nominated by Heather Brown.

Well done Heather on finding this Aladdin's cave and sharing it with us.

Fossiker's Tip Shop (Hanrahan Road, Albany, WA)

Fossiker's Tip Shop is a brilliant place to pick up second hand, pre-loved and recycled items salvaged from households before they end up in landfill.

People from all around go to this shop for bargains. I recently went there in time to help a painter unload tins of paint from his ute and managed to get more than 25 litres of white paint, (valued at over $70) for just $2.45! I also got a single bed, minus the mattress, for $1.00, 15 books for $0.20c and enough tiles to cover large amounts of my pathway for $0.50c!

Prices range from whatever small change you pull out of your pocket to about $10 (but that was for a round trampoline missing only two hooks, complete with the mesh protection and still in its original box!). One staff member (who works on a Sunday) is affectionately known as 'The Two Dollar Guy'. Nothing he sells is more than $2.00 - I think he likes to clear out as much as possible on his shift, so $2.00 is his catch cry.

One couple I met there has renovated their home with shower screens, doors, windows and more. They had been quoted over $20,000 to do this and managed it for less than $200! As you can imagine, they are still smiling! They are as keen as I am to encourage others to view this gem of a shop as an exciting place to start a creative savings journey!

The service is generally excellent, sometimes there are so many people and vehicles coming and going that you may have to wait a few minutes to pay the staff member on duty. Mind you this time is well spent comparing ideas and projects with other like-minded people.

Fossiker's Tip Shop is open from 8.30am - 4.15pm every day, including weekends. The website is http://council.cleanaway.com.au/albany/fossicker%E2%80%99s-tip-shop.aspx and their contact number is (08) 9842 3415.

If you know somewhere special you'd like to recommend, please write in and tell us. Send in your Hidden Gem here and you could be the next winner scooping the prize money. Thank you to everyone who entered and good luck for next time!

4. Best Members' Blog: 'Stay-at-home'-itis

One of the many benefits of being a Vault member is that you can win a cash prize of $100 each month for your Simple Savings Blog! Starting your own blog on the site is easy. All you have to do is log into the Vault, click on 'My Desk' at the top left, then 'Your Blog'. Then get writing! We love reading all your money saving trials and tribulations and really appreciate the effort that goes into each one.

This month's winner is Simple Savings member 'Living Without?' for her thoughts on 'Stay-at-home'-itis

I don't know if anyone else suffers from this elusive 'itis'. I find it pops up for a few days every two to three months. You know the feeling... when you are crawling out of your skin and wondering how on earth you ended up being a stay at home mum?

It's not that I don't love my kids... they're great! And, in fact, I find it such a privilege to be at home with the kids, when so many others are unable to. But sometimes it's just so boring! Does that washing really need to be done again? Does another cake need to be baked (in my case the answer is always yes!). Is it really time for another play group?

You can't win really, can you? I have friends who have to work for financial reasons and would give anything to have the time to wash another load of washing, attend another play group or bake another cake (or any cake at all really!). I know all this, and so I know that my 'stay at home'-itis will once again pass. But this bout of my annoying ailment has left me wondering what life would be like if I did return to part time work...

This year I have become a fully committed Simple Saver. Despite always being financially savvy, being a Simple Saver has opened my eyes to a different way of life. DH and I have made many changes and yes, we do reap the benefits in terms of lifestyle, but being a SS does take time. I do apply to the occasional part-time job in my field but if I were to take on a job, what would fall behind?

When I worked part-time after my first child was born we had a house cleaner and ate pre-prepared meals/take away once or twice a week. The SS (and nutrition freak) in me would no longer allow that. Baking would be diminished, although it will never disappear completely because I love it too much. Shopping at a separate butcher, fruit shop and various supermarkets would surely take too much time, and as such, savings would decrease. Would I have time to ring around all my providers when renewals come up? Would I stay on top of the best deals? I am pretty sure I could still fit in yoghurt and bread making (because let's face it, it's a breeze!). More washing would be done at night so I imagine the dryer would start to be used more frequently. My sewing would stop and so my nieces and nephews would go back to receiving shop-bought birthday presents. Then of course I would need more day care, after-school care and presumably there would be no family tax benefits. I find it overwhelming just thinking about it...

Of course, just sitting down and typing this all out seems to have broken my 'stay at home'-itis. Seeing it on screen makes me appreciate more all the things I get to do at home. Great! Next time I'm feeling 'over it' I just need to log on to Simple Savings once more!

Congratulations 'Living Without?' on working hard at home, to stay at home. To read any of our members' blogs, click here

5. Best of the Forum: Pick of the Crop

Whether we live on a bountiful plot of rich soil or a high rise city building, with a little thought and planning, free food can be ours. It might be as simple as a few pots of herbs and a trellis of cherry tomatoes on a tiny apartment balcony to spice up an ordinary evening meal. It could be as ambitious and adventurous as our own Rob Bob's garden of plenty. Here's how some of our members have managed to find free food in their gardens...

Herbs help please

Some great ideas to get your herb garden on its way.
read more...

Raised vegie beds

Dr Seuss would love this thread - make your own easy-to-use raised garden beds out of bricks and sticks, tins and bins - using pallets and mallets!
read more...

Advice on how many baby chicks to get

All together now - awwwww! Some fantastic advice on how to have your own delicious home-grown, fresh eggs!
read more...

Chook recipes, remedies, hints and tips

Great advice on keeping chooks happy, healthy and well fed.
read more...

Triple SSS - semi self sufficient

This thread is an inspiration to any of us who yearn for that little bit of self-sufficiency.
read more...

6. Best of the Vault: Harvesting Hints!

Our Vault is bursting with fantastic ideas to help your Free Food Challenge come to fruition! Here are just a few...

Growing communities with Landshare Australia

I recently discovered a fantastic, free community project called Landshare Australia. It is a brilliant new 'growing' initiative which enables people who don't have any land to grow their own fruit and vegetables by connecting them with people who have a spare bit of land they're prepared to share. It's community-based, open to anyone and best of all, it's free to join. Go to: www.landshareaustralia.com.au

Contributed by: Flikka

High rise gardening

Even though I live in a high rise apartment block, I have still managed to create a fantastic garden - saving me money on fruit and vegetables. I have a small deck on which I grow potatoes, red onions, strawberries and blueberries, along with an assortment of herbs and flowers. They're all grown in pots and are thriving! All you need are some small to medium pots and a few bags of soil to enjoy your own spray-free produce. I cheat a little in that I do buy some plants ready to be potted depending on the time of year. It's great to come home and sit out in my garden and enjoy my own home-grown strawberries. Yum!

Contributed by: Barbara Martin

Save yourself some hard work and rent a chook

After about 12 months of hinting to my husband, we finally have two chickens in our back yard! We are actually renting our girls from a great online company called 'Rentachook' which is based in Ryde in Sydney. We went for the two chook package which cost us $380. This includes the chickens, hutch, straw, feed and containers. The deal is: if, after six weeks, it is not working for you for any reason, they will take it all back and refund you $280. This isn't a bad idea considering the chooks alone cost about $30 each. The company provide detailed fact sheets and have very approachable staff who will answer any questions you have, no matter how silly they seem. It's so easy - which is the aspect that most appealed to my husband; he didn't have to make a hutch or anything, we just picked up the whole lot in our trailer, brought it home and set it up. (They also deliver for a reasonable fee.)

Our new chooks have already laid four eggs and are busy fertilising, aerating and de-bugging our garden! I did some research on the website prior to picking them up and found the company recycle a lot of items and were in need of old stroller wheels for their hutches, and chaff bags and bailing twine for the straw they sell. I have a horse, so the bags and twine were easy for me to find. At the time we were having a council clean-up, so I checked the streets close to home whilst out walking and found a few sets of wheels to take along. They were really grateful and their way of saying thank you was to give me an 'upgrade' - one free chicken and full bag of feed instead of the normal half a bag! I have already started my next collection towards covering some of the cost of my next bag of feed or worming tablets. We are really happy with our chooks and thoroughly recommend 'Rentachook' to those of you who, like us, want to keep chickens at home but don't have the time or resources to get it happening on your own. Check out www.rentachook.com.au

Contributed by: Jodi Deamer

Pots of seedlings savings

I saved $36 on the purchase of a wooden Pot Pal, here's how! As a keen gardener who grows vegies from seeds, I found a way to use an empty spice jar to make seedling containers. I cut 10cm wide strips of newspaper which I loosely roll around the spice jar and then fold and tuck the ends of the newspaper under the base, pressing firmly. I then slide the paper pot off the mould and fill with potting mix.

I make a tray of these and pack them tightly together. The tray can be an old box, a seedling tray from the nursery or a Styrofoam box. Ensure whatever you use has holes for drainage. I add a small amount of my favourite 5-in-1 fertiliser to the potting mix, pop in my seed and cover with more soil. Once the seedling has grown it can be put into the garden bed, newspaper and all!

Contributed by: Elizabeth Symes

No cost gardening from recycled items

We created a wonderful new garden, made entirely from recycled items! My daughter and I love to grow our own flowers and vegetables but when we moved into a place with no area for a garden, we had to find a solution and decided to grow things out of pots and boxes. To start with, we made a list of all things we needed, then found out how much they would cost to purchase. To buy planter boxes and all the equipment for growing from seeds was going to prove a costly exercise!

So we visited some warehouses and were given some old wooden shipping pallets for free. We took them apart and reassembled them as wooden planter boxes! My daughter painted designs on them and we made boxes of all sizes. We even recycled the same nails from the pallets so we didn't have to buy any! We used old margarine tubs to create containers for growing seedlings and a friend gave us a large old glass fish tank. This was great - we simply placed it upside down over the seedlings to make a glass house! We even used the air pipes from the fish tank and connected this to an old drink bottle to create an easy watering system. The only cost left was for the seedlings and potting mix. Fortunately though, another friend gave us a bag of unwanted potting mix and their leftover seeds! Now we are having home grown salads with our meals and have lots of lovely flowers to look at. We didn't need to spend a cent - we just thanked everyone who contributed by giving fresh produce from our very own garden!

Contributed by: Jolon Taylor

Here are some more free food ideas for our valued Vault members:

Go bush for authentic Aussie flavour Contributed by: David J

Chickweed pesto free from the garden Contributed by: Jane R

'Grow your own' herbal teas Contributed by: Christine Croce

Four fruits from one tree Contributed by: Tanya Nehr

7. Cooking with Mimi: Moroccan Spaghetti and other Berry Funny Musings!

Did I tell you about my $28 strawberries? Actually, there were four. Four strawberries. Twenty-eight dollars each.

Well, you see, it was about this time one year ago, that I last got all gung-ho about growing my own produce. I'd grown garlic chives and sprouted spring onions and flirted with finger eggplants that no-one but me would eat, so I thought I knew a thing or two. Yes, I know this is about Moroccan Spaghetti... bear with me.

So I read along with Rob on his gardening hints and tips (Rob's being the garden I most admire), asked a few questions that made me sound like I was in the know, and off I went. I was raised on a farm and my maternal grandies actually grew strawberries for a living, so I thought that berries being in my blood, as such, I'd start there.

Course, being the fusspot I am, there was no way I was growing my strawberries in polystyrene containers, or hells bells, in the ground! I wanted those Frenchy looking white wicker basket things to hang fetchingly from my retaining wall, thus rendering my distinctly Aussie home a little more soignée (also known as 'noice' in true blue Aussie lingo).

A trip to the hardware store and $110ish later, I was home and ready to grow my own berries. At no stage, did I question how many punnets of said berries in season I could have purchased for aforementioned ridiculous outlay. Positively plummy with the anticipation of success, I loaded my white wicker hanging baskets up with commercial potting mix and organically inclined things, and in went the strawberry runners.

Frenetic watering and fertiliser with stinky stuff went on. We watched with bated breath as little pink flowers appeared. We applauded excitedly as a teeny weeny berry formed in the centre of each pink flower. Then it all went pear (strawberry?) shaped, and my memory is a bit hazy. I tend to block traumatic memories, you see.

We think the brush tail possum that resides in our roof ate a couple. Then there was that visitor with the inquisitive two-year-old who wanted to pick the flowers. And of course, the run in with our excitable little whippet, which resulted in one entire basket, contents and all, being spread all over the front garden. Whatever the circumstances, the outcome was the same.

Four strawberries.

Those four strawberries were unlike any strawberries we'd ever eaten, and how we wished there'd been more.

However, Husband was so traumatised by the idea of consuming a $28 strawberry, that he forbade me to try growing any more, fearing a cataclysmic outcome for the kids inheritance that we're madly trying to spend.

So, now I stick with herbs. Herbs I can do. I'm happy to hide herbs amongst the other stuff in the garden. I'm even content with plastic pots full of happy little herbs. Growing herbs actually saves me money, so Husband is happy too.

So, here's a great recipe that uses all of my favourite easy-to-grow herbs. It's vego, is easily adapted for gluten sensitivity, is dairy-free, and has the potential to turn you off traditional spaghetti sauce forever. It's an absolute corker and all you need is a couple of pantry ingredients and some home grown herbs. Not a $28 strawberry in sight!

You'll need a big pot of water to cook the pasta and a medium one for the sauce, as well as a non-stick frying pan for toasting the almonds. A couple of sharp knives and some scissors will be handy too.

Here's the ingredients list:

Pasta, any sort. We use gluten-free fettuccine, but just use your favourite.
1 punnet tomatoes. If you're a more savvy gardener than I, then you might be lucky enough to have some cherry tomatoes or heirloom tomatoes or something equally impressive nodding in your garden. I don't, so I tend to use either a punnet of cherry tomatoes, or 4-5 big bought (insert long suffering sigh) tomatoes, chopped up, roughly. Please don't use tinned tomatoes for this one. It just won't be the same. This is, however, stunning with sun-dried or semi-dried tomatoes.
2-3 big handfuls of herby stuff, snipped up with the kitchen scissors. So, shallots, parsley, garlic chives, coriander, mint, rocket, even a little bit of dandelion, nasturtium leaf and stinging nettle washed well and blanched if you're in to foraging, are all good.
A handful of nuts or seeds. Between ¼ and ½ cup is ideal. We like almond slivers, but you could use pine nuts if you're posh, or pumpkin, black mustard or poppy seeds if you're allergic.
1 onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, crushed
½ tsp each of cinnamon and turmeric
1 tsp each of ground coriander and cumin
1 tin chickpeas, drained and rinsed till they stop foaming, or the equivalent amount of soaked and pre-cooked ones.
¼ cup olive oil

Get out your medium saucepan and add the oil. Heat it over a medium hotplate until warm and add your onion and garlic. Stir it all around for a minute or two until it's soft. You don't want it browned so much, just tender.

Add your tomatoes and spices and turn it all down to simmer very gently while the rest of your meal is cooking. It doesn't need to fry. All you need is for the tomatoes to break down a little.

Turn on your largest hotplate and get the water boiling for your pasta. Cook as directed on the packet.

Put another hotplate on the highest setting and get out your non-stick frying pan. Toss the nuts or seeds around until they're roasted and smell warm and toasty. Tip them out of the frying pan onto a platter straight away or they'll burn.

By now, your Moroccan sauce should be coming along just fine and dandy, and it's time to add the chickpeas and toasted seeds or nuts. Taste it, toss it all around, and add seasoning if you think it's necessary.

Drain your pasta well, and add the sauce, tossing it all well. Add your herbs and turn the pasta over them gently. Ready!

Now Husband, not being a huge pasta fan, skips the fettuccine and says 'I'll just have the Moroccan thanks, hold the spag'. So be it. This is such a great flavoursome meatless meal, that as long as he can have it 'hold the spag', he's happy.

As for the strawberries, the bought variety will do me just fine, thanks very much. I've got my kids' inheritance to spend and it won't be on strawberry runners!

8. Fifty Cent Indulgences: 50c R & R

Hi Everyone,

This month the 50 cent Army indulged in 'A little Break'. Having some time to call our own is good for us physically and mentally and will often keep the wheels on our bus as we navigate this journey of life. There are many ways to enjoy a '50c R & R' - start with turning off your mobile! Plan easy 'holiday' meals. Save for inexpensive but enjoyable holidays throughout the year... such as ours in our little caravan.

Here it is - although it is 'snug', it is the means of so much fun and happiness. We go to a beach area two hour's drive from our home, and for the princely sum of $28 per night, we get to stay in a beautiful scenic caravan park with the sound of waves breaking as we drift off to sleep.

We take beautiful tea and delicious food, our favourite books and DVDs, board games, lovely linen and our beach gear. The slow cooker is a must for easy meals, and wraps, dips and salad fillings make delicious lunches and snacks. One of Annabel's great hints was to fill a 'holiday basket' with your favourite things including wonderful smelling lotions and potions to indulge in some holiday beauty - bliss!

If you find that a vacation seems to be out of the question, why don't you consider a 'Staycation'. This is where you use your own home as a holiday destination with you as the guests! You can still enjoy wonderful treats and spend time pursuing some delightful local attractions. The key to this is letting people know that you are 'on holiday' - you stop work and all your normal activities - you are on holidays after all!

Next month we get to explore the delights of an abundant Christmas where ideas aplenty will await us all for just cents. Drop in, say hello and share your '50c Indulgence' ideas at...

Gifts from the heart... Under 50 cent indulgences

We look forward to seeing you there,
Helen

9. Claire's Corner: Playhouses are for Chicks

When our son turned five, I bought him what I thought to be THE coolest birthday present ever. It was the one thing I badly wanted as a kid, and assumed he would also love... a whopping big outdoor playhouse. Cool right? When I told him that his mystery birthday present was arriving on the back of Granddad's truck he was wide-eyed with excitement and wonder. However, when it arrived, his wonder turned to disappointment. He was imagining Granddad might be delivering a new bike, a rocket ship, a dinosaur or some other exciting truck load of boy-type fun. My childhood dream, it turned out, was nowhere near his!

The playhouse spent most of the next 10 years as a storage shed for bikes, trikes, balls and other outdoor paraphernalia. Sporadically, I'd clean it out and encourage the kids to actually play in it. Which they did a handful of times, until a handful of rather large, long-legged, hairy spiders saw the untapped potential of this vacant real estate and set up their own home. And that was it. The playhouse was deserted, the kids actually feared it. So it sat, a home for unwanted toys and spiders with a taste for the indoors.

But that all changed about two years ago when we found the perfect tenants. Six feathery, clucky chooks. I'd wanted chooks for years - we had them when I was a kid and I have fond memories of my own baby chick that followed me everywhere, and of gathering freshly laid eggs and enjoying yummy, golden-yolked eggs.

The playhouse was the perfect chookie castle. It's super sturdy and totally watertight; we just needed to add a few roosting poles and nest boxes - a couple of second hand beer crates did the job nicely! Setting up the chook enclosure down in the back yard did take a bit of time, and money was particularly tight, so we mustered every ounce of ingenuity we had and used whatever we could recycle! We had a stack of metal poles and netting from the kids' trampoline enclosure that had broken months before. The poles were perfect for the frame, we just needed to buy some wire mesh (discounted of course!) and we used the netting to help block up holes in the bush and hedge that they could escape through when we let them out to forage. The end result was a fabulous, secure chookie area that has resulted in hundreds and hundreds of delicious, home-grown eggs!

Thankfully, this was one recaptured childhood memory that did not disappoint. I still love heading down to the chook house each morning and gathering up those freshly laid, warm eggs. Sometimes they're huge double yolkers! And the colour and taste - mmmm!

We've only had to buy eggs twice since we set up, and that's been during winter when the girls tend to lay fewer eggs. But that's okay because in the height of their production we were getting six eggs a day! Our friends, family and neighbours have been kept well supplied. We've even set up a barter system with a few of them - we've swapped eggs for all sorts of goodies; vegetables, babysitting time, fresh baking, bread and so on! And a carton of fresh, free range eggs is the perfect way to say thanks for those little favours that others do for us.

By my reckoning, it cost us a total of $300-ish to get set up, including the cost of the chickens, the wire mesh and the extra bits and pieces like new hinges for the playhouse door and so on. We were buying two dozen eggs every week (we eat a lot of eggs!), so that's around $16 a week. We now only pay around $4.00 a week for grain - and are getting an abundance of super fresh eggs from super happy hens!

And of course, the chooks offer so many more benefits than just yummy eggs! They love to devour scraps that would normally take up space in the bin, they keep on top of the weeds and they provide fantastic fertilizer! And with any luck, our kids will have wonderful childhood memories of baby chickens and fresh yummy eggs too (which may just make up for their bad memories about giant spiders in the playhouse!).

10. Rob Bob's Gardening Blog: Worm Bathtub Farm & Spring Prep

Bathtub Worm Bed

Last weekend we finished off our bathtub worm farm which we'd started last week. We made it using bits we already had lying about the place... the bath was last year's water chestnut bed, we also used the legs from four metal chair legs bolted together, the rails from an old bed and a screen door that has lived under the house for over five years.

The worms harvested from the blue barrel went in on Monday afternoon. We spread them out nicely under shredded paper and worm slushy, which we added later in the week, and they appear to be doing fine. You can check out our YouTube clip, 'How and what we feed the Worms' if you are interested.

During the week I also harvested one of the 60L barrel farms from a Freecycle member but didn't find many worms in there. I am slightly disappointed in myself as the drum was left far too long before being harvested and I found a few dried out worms under the pavers where the drum sat. I did get a large amount of great looking castings, but only a fraction of the worms harvested compared to the blue barrel in the above clip. They were fed mainly horse manure with some whole vegie scraps every now and then. We also took some worms from the blue barrel farm down the back as well as the black farm to boost the numbers in the gifted tub.

Wormy Bits

Worms are hermaphrodites but mate with each other by joining at the clitellum (the band around the body). Sperm is exchanged and after a while a cocoon forms in the clitellum which is released after it matures.

We haven't found many cocoons this time round as I think it is the wrong time of the year and a tad too cold for these cold blooded squirmers. The cocoons can have up to three babies in each and are viable for long periods waiting for the right conditions before hatching.

From what we have seen, compost worms can handle very damp conditions. We have them living quite happily and thriving in our aquaponic grow beds where they munch on fallen vegetation, roots from plants that have been pulled, as well as any solid fish waste that comes through with the water. We have also harvested healthy worms from some very mucky clogged up farms in the past, I would even go as far as saying they were happier than pigs in muck!

Worms can eat from half to nearly double their bodyweight in a day if the conditions are right. Their healthy appetite allows them to convert nearly any kitchen or garden waste into nutrient rich, cheap fertiliser for your garden at a great rate. They also recycle valuable organic material that would normally go to waste in a rubbish dump.

I would greatly encourage anyone who has the space in their garden to consider getting some of these little fellas. We started off with just a top-up pack of worms (500 or so) and now have at least a few thousand - and those numbers will only climb when the weather heats up. They can set you back a bit when you first start out, but you could ask family and friends with a worm farm if they would be willing to part with some, so you can start up your own. You could also ask on Freecyle as there may be someone there who is willing to share some of their own.

Sowing Seeds for a Spring Harvest

This weekend I will be spending some time with my seed tins, a sketch of the patch, some garden books and my favourite online planting guide - Gardenate. I like this site as you can enter your climate and get a fairly good idea of what is ready to be planted out. I don't stick to it wholeheartedly as we can plant some things that our neighbours can't due to the layout of their block and tree coverage. It really is a bit of a guessing game with plenty of experimentation.

I am also trying to take advantage of a few shady spots to squeeze in some late cold weather crops like snow peas before it warms up too much. I noticed yesterday that a few had started to break the surface.

On Monday I planted some Nantes carrots into a barrel and decided to cover them with coco peat to act as a mulch to keep the seeds moist, time will tell if this will work though! Both lots of beetroot, Mini and Early Wonder, which were planted over the past few weeks, have started to show their leaves! (Happy dance!)

I had a great harvest of a few plants yesterday. We got some assorted peas, some strange sweet potatoes, a nice looking dragon carrot, just under 1.9kg of Roma tomatoes, the last full head of the second crop of broccoli and a few berries!

Happy Harvesting

It's great to see so many fantastic SS garden-oriented threads. There are some excellent gardeners out there with lots of valuable experience to share! Here's a few to help everyone find a little green-fingered inspiration!

SS veggie gardens... Downhill side of winter
How self-sufficient are you? #2
Triple SSS - semi self-sufficient
Kiwi gardeners - what vegies are you growing now?

I'm off to harvest some more worms and castings, happy harvesting and have a great week!

Rob Bob : )»

Catch up with Rob Bob in our Members' Blogs area.

11. Homeopathy Corner: In the Yard

We love simple solutions that bring great results and this month's article really fits that bill. In it Fran shows us how to use homeopathic remedies to scare away snails, get rid of aphids, scare off caterpillars and improve your soil.

Here is a link to the article.

12. From Last Month: Fire Surrounds

Last month Kaylene McGrath asked for our help:

"I live in Tasmania and most of us down here have wood combustion heaters (because it gets REALLY cold).

"I recently had some renovations done and have put my wood heater in the middle of the very large open plan living room so that the entire room heats evenly. Works great! My problem is that I can't find any four sided fire guard screens. The closest I have found was well in excess of $400 and I would have to buy two and connect them. I have cats, dogs and children and am clumsy so I'm constantly worried about someone burning themselves.

"I was wondering if maybe some of the amazing members might have some ideas I could try?"

Thanks so much to everyone who wrote in with their innovative and economical ideas for Kaylene. Here are some of our favourites!

Guard your fire with a pet playpen

Instead of buying an expensive fire screen, a folding pet playpen made of galvanized or powder-coated wire is an economical option. These come in various heights and lengths and cost $40-$80. If one playpen isn't big enough, you can easily join two together. Look for one with a full panel door so you can get in and out easily, as many of them only have a small access door for a pet.

Contributed by: Linda S.

Ask your local engineer or Men's Shed

You could try asking at local engineering shops if they could make a customised fire guard for you (or know of someone who could). My dad used to own an engineering shop and often had local people drop in with small jobs, he never minded. You could also try recycling depots to see if they have something that would work or could be made into a four-sided guard. Also, I often see stories in the local paper about the 'Men's Shed' who help local residents/groups with small jobs. The Men's Shed are retired gentlemen who like to be kept busy and feel useful, I think they are great!

Contributed by: Tracy B.

Fire guards from security door screens

When our children were little and we needed to screen a large slow-combustion heater, we found some old security door screens minus the fly-wire (try the recycling centre, roadside pick-ups and so on). Using hinges, we joined them together along the short sides to make a solid, firm and child-proof safety screen. As our fire was against a wall we used three and then secured the open ends to the wall for safety, but for a heater in the centre of a room, just use four. They are self-supporting and large enough to leave plenty of space between the screen and heater.

Contributed by: Suzanne Waters

Fab playpen fire guard, with bells on!

A friend of mine who needed a four-sided fire guard went along to a second hand shop and found an old playpen for just $5.00. Her husband undid one side, painted it black and fitted it around the fire. He turned the side that he undid into a gate so they could put wood in the fire but it had a padlock so the children couldn't open it. She also hung bells on the top part so if the kids climbed up on it she heard it.

Contributed by: Robyne Neal

Super sturdy fire guard from steel railing

We made a fantastic fire guard, which is by far the most secure fire guard I've seen on anyone's home, for just $75! And I have never worried about our children, or anyone else's, hurting themselves on our fireplace!

Rather than pay a ridiculous price for a flimsy store-bought guard, we went to our local recycling yard and picked up some simple old steel stair railing. The pieces that were designed to go up the stairs now create a nice diagonal feature on the side of the guard, and the panel that was originally on the landing has been cut down to make a gate at the front. The whole thing has been bolted to the wall, and is as sturdy now as when we first installed it.

Contributed by: Terri Adams-Munn

Versatile fencing screens from Bunnings

My friend bought some small, connectible stainless steel fencing screens from Bunnings which can be set up in any configuration. She uses them for mini duckling pens but they could go well around a fire place too. I believe they were under $60 for a set.

Contributed by: Kathleen Hughes

Home-made fire screen from weldmesh

For just $100, my partner made us a fire screen using weldmesh which he cut and hinged together. We used plastic tubing sliced open length ways to cover the sharp edges. The off-cuts also made a frame for growing peas and a pannier guard for my bicycle!

Contributed by: Ruth F.

Compost surround makes sturdy fire guard

For an economical wood burner surround, you can buy a four-sided square cage from Bunnings (creates a one square metre size pen) that is commonly used as a quick set-up compost surround. I recently bought one - they are only about $40 each and are very sturdy too. And if you no longer need the fire surround you have a compost bin ready for use!

Contributed by: Jenny Robertshaw

Transform gates and fencing into fire guards

For a great four-sided fire guard, a wooden playpen can be picked up cheap or free from Freecycle. Simply remove the hinges from one side to open it and use catches to act as a gate. If possible, it can be screwed to the floor to stop it moving. If you want a metal guard, you could check out the second hand stores for old gates that can be hinged together, fencing or even bed heads. We had some fantastic wrought iron railing that with a coat of paint would have been beautiful! As an added bonus, something like this can also be used as a clothes horse for drying.

Contributed by: Barb W.

Try plant climbing fences from Masters

For an economical alternative to expensive fire guards and playpens, Masters (the new competition for Bunnings) has outdoor climbing plant fences that only cost $8.00 and are about 80cm tall, 160-180cm long. If you bought a couple of these (depending on how much room you want to keep between the kids and the heater) and have some string or twine at home, you can make your own fire guards. And later you can use them in your garden!

We bought some and used them at an outdoor event recently to keep our toddler corralled (used long gardening stakes to secure them to the ground and twine to tie them together).

Contributed by: The B's

Safe and Secure with a Lindam Playpen

You could try the Lindam Safe and Secure Children's Play Pen from Target. We bought one recently on special for $119. It is a children's playpen that doubles as a safety guard to block access to a fire or another part of a room. You would normally change the configuration for a wall fire, but as it is six sided, it may go all the way around your fire in the playpen configuration. It even has a child safety gate that you can open to gain access.

Contributed by: Michelle R.

13. This Month's Help Request: Variety is the Spice of Life

Heather has sent in this cry for help:-

"I have a conundrum. We are both in our seventies. My husband has been seriously ill and is on chemotherapy. I am being constantly reminded that he 'doesn't like' stews or casseroles. He only likes grills or roasts. Consequently I am trying to cook something new and different every evening of the week, which I find thoroughly emotionally exhausting. He won't have a main meal in the middle of the day, which we should both have, as it's better for physical reasons. I would greatly appreciate some solutions!"

If you have any pearls of wisdom you'd like to share with Heather, please send them in to us here.

14. Savings Story: Thank You to All the Members of Simple Savings

I just wanted to say a huge thank you to all the members of Simple Savings who helped me, gave me tips and supported me in my efforts to obtain freedom from debt. Our block of land has finally been sold and when we received the cheque in July we were at last totally debt-free. I didn't really believe it could happen but the patience, frugality and hard work have paid off and now my hubby and I can enjoy our lives knowing everything we do, eat, wear, buy and so on, will be ours and paid for with our own money. Thanks again. I couldn't have done it without you.

Pat Murphy

15. Goodbye, Goodbye

Phew! Well, that's a wrap on another Simple Savings newsletter. We hope you have enjoyed it and have been inspired by all the money saving tips. Our members are hugely important to us and we love hearing from you all! So next time you're on the website, why don't you get in touch and say, 'G'day'! Let us know what you would like to see more of in our newsletter or any suggestions you have for something new to try. We love receiving your clever ideas!

We hope you have a great month enjoying your free food!

Till next time...

All the best,
Fiona

August 2014 - Simple Savings Newsletter

"Secrets to Saving Money" Free Newsletter - August 2014

This issue includes:-

Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: How Green Does Your Garden Groan?
August: Get Growing!
Competition: Winner of Our Food Photographer Competition
Penny Wise: Still Growing!
Best of the Vault: Go Potty
Best of the Forum: Get Into Some Gardening - Any Way You Can!
Best Members' Blog: The Good, the Bad and Still Getting There
Mimi's Rustic Roast Lamb Pie (can also be gluten-free!)
Rob Bob's Gardening Blog: Feeding the Patch and the Belly!
From Last Month: Help Me With the Winter Blahs
This Month's Help Request: Purchasing Safely Online

Hello,

How are you going? We've had a fantastic July and are ready to get growing in August! Our members never cease surprising me and in July we were fortunate enough to work with one Simple Savings member, Rikki, who is involved with a charity called Fitted for Work. I was very happy to see 110 discounted copies of The $21 Challenge go to Fitted for Work, Melbourne.

Fitted for Work is a not-for-profit organisation assisting women experiencing disadvantage to get work and keep it. Since 2005 it has transformed the lives of 14,500 women. Here's a photo of Amanda Carlile (National Client Services Manager), Rikki and Anne Lennon (National Development Manager) with The $21 Challenge. You can learn more about Fitted for Work here: www.fittedforwork.org.

We love hearing from you - your savings stories and tips make my day! Here are some of my favourites this month:

"I am a strict budgeter, obsessive meal planner and love to bake/cook as much as I can from scratch so when I read your $21 Challenge I was a bit skeptical and thought it would not apply to me. Well, I was pleasantly surprised! I decided to give it a go this week and managed to create a five-day menu for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and desserts for less than $21 (and this included some deodorant for hubby!). I need to let you know that my pantry is highly organised, you will never find 10 cans of corn or more than two packets of pasta at any given time but I still managed to scrape some delicious meals together and save $200! Thanks for giving me the incentive to have a go and I will definitely be making this appear in my planning a bit more often!" (Kylie)

"I have been receiving your newsletters and Hint of the Week emails for quite a number of years now. The last hint hit home with me and I followed the suggestion of putting unwanted items on eBay and listing them for $0.99c on auction. Hey, guess what?! It worked! I already have a buyer and if $0.99c is all I get then that's great as I know the items have gone to a home where they are wanted." (Noeline)

Have a great month!

All the best,
Fiona Lippey

P.S. Memberships on sale. SAVE $14

We are dropping the price of Vault membership from $37 to $23 until August 20th.
Click here to grab one.

1. Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: How Green Does Your Garden Groan?

"HEY! Watch my plant!" Sarah grumbled at James as they both burst through the door at the same time. "What have you got there, sweetheart?" Sally asked. "It's just her silly old basil plant from school. Honestly she treats it like it's her baby or something!" scoffed James, as Sarah glared back and clutched her yoghurt pot seedling protectively. "I reckon that's big enough to go in the garden," said Pete. "Shall we go and find a space for it in the vegie patch?" "Yes, let's go!" said Sarah excitedly. "I'm going to grow the BEST basil in my whole class!"

"Look at my crazy sister," James giggled a few days later as he looked out the window. "She's singing to her silly old plant!" "You leave her alone," chided Sally. "She's enjoying herself - and she knows the more you look after plants, the bigger they grow and the more yummy basil we'll have to cook with. Besides, her plant is growing better than all of your father's!" she chuckled. "Hey, hey, she's only got ONE plant to look after, I've got a whole garden full!" laughed Pete. "I'll give her credit where it's due though, she must be doing something right, bless her!"

The next afternoon Sally was getting the washing in when she stopped in her tracks. What was that noise? It sounded like someone was in pain! Quickly she ran around the side of the house in the direction of the noise to find Pete watering the vegie patch, singing at the top of his voice. "Good grief, it's YOU! I wondered what on earth all the racket was!" said Sally. "Well I remember reading years ago how Prince Charles said he sings to his plants and it certainly seems to be working for Sarah so I thought I'd give it a go. It's quite fun!" grinned Pete. "Looks like it!" chuckled Sally. "Although I hate to say it - but you might want to leave it to the professionals, love. You want the plants to GROW, not GROAN!"

2. August: Get Growing!

Poor Pete! Maybe he just needs to choose a different song to get his garden growing - perhaps a little Green Day would be more appropriate! Even if his vocal efforts leave a little to be desired, at least he's out there giving it a go and as Sarah shows, you don't have to garden on a big scale to get some terrific results.

There are all sorts of reasons why people don't feel able to grow their own food. Lack of time, lack of space, lack of money to get set up - but the biggest reason is lack of confidence. I have black thumbs. I don't know how to grow anything. What if I fail? The truth is, however, EVERYONE can grow SOMETHING! Even small children like Sarah can grow sprouts on a windowsill or a seedling in a yoghurt pot. And, no matter how young or old you are, the feeling you get from planting something yourself and watching it grow and flourish is hugely rewarding.

So this month, we want you to bite the bullet and grow something - anything! Herbs in particular are a fantastic start for the nervous gardener. They are inexpensive, don't take up much room and are very easy to look after. Better still, you will have instant and fresh flavour at your fingertips for your cooking, making all your meals even tastier. Here are the easiest ones to grow.

Don't pay $3 for a bunch of herbs, get the plant instead.

Flat Italian parsley is a strong sturdy plant you can add to almost any savoury dish. It doesn't need any attention - just the right amount of sunlight and regular watering. Use it in salads, dress up a sandwich or sprinkle over rice and noodles.

Basil is a quick-growing, easy plant to look after and nothing tastes as delicious as fresh basil in a summer salad or stirred through a pasta sauce or casserole. Make your own pesto and keep in the fridge for quick and delicious pasta meals.

Mint is fragrant and fast-growing and needs very little attention. Perfect with meat, vegies, salads and dessert dishes, what's not to love! A few sprigs make soothing hot teas or refreshing cold drinks. Try varieties like peppermint, spearmint, chocolate mint or some of the 'fruit flavoured' mints such as apple or berries-and-cream!

Rosemary is another plant that once it is established, you will be able to enjoy for years. Dress up a lamb roast with lots of rosemary and garlic and use with poultry, casseroles, soups and vegetables.

Lemon grass needs NO maintenance and is an essential ingredient in many Asian dishes and delicious in soups, stews, salads, desserts and teas. Why buy a jar for $4.00 to use a few times when you can buy the plant for less, and use forever?

Echinacea is another tough plant people forget they can grow. Why buy capsules of dried echinacea for $30 when you can grow this hardy plant for years, for only a few dollars?

Your August Challenge is to get out and grow! Choose one of the herbs above and get growing - and saving! Singing is optional.

For more information, have a look here.

3. Competition: Winner of Our Food Photographer Competition

"Oh wow... this one is BEAUTIFUL... look at THIS ONE!" ...This is the sound of Fiona looking through the beautiful photos we received for the food photography competition. Wow! When we launched the competition we knew we'd get a few entries, but we never guessed we would get so many, and of such great quality! Some were quirky, some were rustic and some even had child stars in them! What stood out most was how much time and effort you all took with your photos.

These people get an honorable mention for their beautiful photos:

Rachelle Dudson
Sandra Rielly
Jodie Stevens
Caroline Kiwara
Mabel Pan

(Click here to see all of the runner-up photos.)

It was very hard to choose a winner - we'd like to congratulate Kylie Mibus as the winner of the $400 prize for her beautiful photo. Well done Kylie.

4. Penny Wise: Still Growing!

Why is it, do you think, that the universe always sees fit to bestow good fortune upon us with one hand, then take it away with the other in the blink of an eye?! Just as you dare to think life is finally going to cut you a little slack, along comes the hand of fate to slap you a big backhander and knock you down again. Apologies for sounding all doomy and gloomy but I'm not actually wallowing in self-pity - really! Whilst this has indeed happened to me in the last month on several rather unwelcome occasions, some of my dearest friends have also been going through similar trials, both financially and emotionally. It's always harder to watch people you love struggle than it is to go through it yourself, isn't it? The only good thing is, well, after all this time I'm used to it. All these months of trying to survive and deal with life's ups and downs on my own has given me so much valuable insight and wisdom; you don't realise how much until you find yourself using it to help others. Despite being wise by name, I've never thought of myself as wise by nature! I see it in the Forum all the time and am blown away by the amazing advice and assurance other members have to offer but I've never really thought about what people have had to go through in order to be able to give that amazing advice. Being able to use your own dark times to help others in a positive way really is a wonderful thing. As Noel often used to say, "There's always something good to come out of something bad," and there really is.

One thing I do know for sure is that my years of Simple Savings knowledge have given me a huge advantage over my friends. We may all have a lot of the same dramas - unexpected vet bills, mechanic call-outs, speeding tickets; you name it, just like everyone else. We may all lie awake at night worrying how to make ends meet, pay the bills and still afford new school shoes or birthday presents for the kids. But unlike them I have SS as my secret weapon, constantly encouraging me to think outside the square, get creative and find new ways to save. I don't have to buy cleaning products or beauty products or so many of the things other people do. They can't imagine not buying them because they've never known any other way. They don't know how to lower their food bill by cooking from scratch instead of expensive packets and jars. All these things we as Simple Savers do as second nature is still literally a foreign language to so many. Simple Savers know how to literally live on nothing when we need to. And when we run out of nothing, we still manage to find a way to eke out more.

Most of the time I find saving money is pretty effortless. Of course things will always come along to stuff up your efforts, such as getting a flat car battery two hours from home and all of a sudden having to pay $70 to renew the AA membership you weren't going to bother renewing so you can get home! But bills aside, it's actually very easy not to spend money, although sometimes you have to justify whether the savings are worth the effort. Take my vegetable garden. Several weeks ago I made the decision to get rid of the whole area and put it all back into lawn. It was a hard decision and one I struggled with for some time but as soon as it was gone I felt a weight had been lifted. The clincher for me came when a neighbour smiled kindly and said, "Gardening should be a pleasure, not a chore," - and that was exactly what mine had become. The vegie garden I had inherited with my house was 10 metres long by five metres wide, it was huge! And while initially I found growing my own food hugely rewarding, it soon became apparent that all my spare time was going to be required tending to it. When you're the solo parent of two teenagers, your weekends and after school times are not your own and before long I just couldn't keep up with the constant weeding and planting. It got to the stage that I had actually stopped looking out of the window as I couldn't bear to see how much it was getting away on me. Not only that; but once my Gilbert's Syndrome symptoms really started to make themselves known, I couldn't get out in the garden when I wanted to as I was too often stuck in bed. These days you would hardly recognise me as the same girl on the cover of The $21 Challenge book, my body weight has almost halved since then. When you only weigh 44kg you tend to run out of energy pretty quickly!

Not only that; keeping a vegie garden of that size constantly planted was proving expensive. Eventually it got so that I was buying plants I didn't even like to eat just to have some variety and to try and keep the weeds at bay. I also found that much of my spare time was spent driving around the neighbourhood giving huge amounts of food away. Don't get me wrong, that part was fantastic and so rewarding but it just became so time consuming and was actually costing me money, particularly in petrol! As soon as my garden was gone, I was able to look out of the window at my beautiful yard, still full of fruit trees and smile again. As I type I still have an abundance of lemons, oranges, mandarins and tangelos and locals will still benefit from my free produce. I also have two large half-barrels and a long wooden planter which I will use to grow food in from now on, in quantities we can manage, as well as many trellises to grow beans up and am looking forward to still being able to enjoy home-grown lettuce and tomatoes in summer. It's all about getting the balance right I guess; the main thing is, I'm still growing something!

Even so, I am finding not having a vegie garden is making a difference to the food bill and the amount and variety of vegetables we eat. Before, I was spoilt for choice and would simply create meals around what was ready to be picked. Now I find myself wincing at the cost of broccoli! It has also had an effect on the kind of dishes I cook, as I no longer base my meals around whatever produce needed to be used up. But I still feel the decision to get rid of my monster vegie garden was right. Ali, my littlest 'baby' turned 16 yesterday and Liam is 18 in less than three weeks. He'll be leaving home at the end of the year and Ali won't be far behind. Already the three of us couldn't keep up with the mountain of food coming out of it and our household is only going to become less. A Simple Saver I may be but I would rather spend what precious time I have left with them watching Liam flying round the rugby field or Ali wielding a cricket bat rather than at home on my own pulling out weeds. There'll be all the time in the world for that soon enough and when that happens, I'll probably be wishing for that enormous vegie garden again!

You can get updates on Penny's new blogs on the Simple Savings Facebook page.

...or in our Members' Blog section.

5. Best of the Vault: Go Potty

Here are some ideas to help with this month's challenge and get some dirt under your fingernails! It doesn't matter whether it's a pot of herbs on the window sill or a bottle of sprouts on the kitchen bench - just do ONE green thing this month.

A garden that travels with you

We were planning to travel around outback Western Australia in our caravan but still wanted to enjoy home grown vegetables while we were on the road. No problem - we took a vegetable garden with us! It simply sits on a non-slip tray under the caravan table!

I bought a $2 plastic planter box and a $1.99 punnet of mixed lettuce, and then I picked some parsley and spring onions from our garden. I filled the planter with soil from our vegie patch, cut the tops off the spring onions, leaving about 20cm of green tops and 5cm of roots, and planted them at one end of the planter. The parsley went into the other end, followed by the lettuce. I recently bought another planter and we now grow spinach and celery as well. I share excess produce with fellow campers, who all make wonderful comments about our caravan harvest!

We plant everything close together to stop weeds coming through, and use leftover water to feed our thirsty plants. We just need to watch out for wildlife like goats, rabbits and kangaroos when the planter is outdoors.

Of course you don't have to be a traveller to benefit from this idea. If you live on your own or have limited space try growing vegetables in a planter. The results will be fantastic!

Contributed by: Shirley Turner

Boxing on through the frosts

I am a keen gardener but we have late, heavy frosts in our area - when we should be planting seeds or seedlings. I have overcome this by planting seeds in old plastic wrap and foil boxes! When the frosts are over, the boxes can be planted directly in the ground as they are bio-degradable.

Contributed by: Keeping Warm

Bucket loads of savings on tomato pots

I saved almost $40 on pots for growing my own food! Recently a friend gave me some tomato seedlings. I don't have space in beds, however, so they had to go in pots. I checked the price of ordinary 'cheap' black plastic pots at Bunnings and found they were $5.50 each. I needed eight pots; this was going to be an expensive solution! Then I had a brainwave - I could use buckets instead! So off I trotted down to The Reject Shop where they had just what I wanted for $0.78c. I bought eight buckets, drilled holes in them for drainage and my tomatoes are now growing happily in their new home. Best of all I saved $37.76 and my free seedlings will grow into delicious free tomatoes!

Contributed by: Trish

Basil faulty

Growing your own herbs can save you money, but you save even more if you don't have to replace dead plants on a regular basis!

I love basil but as I had no space to grow it outside, I had to grow a potted plant on the window sill. Invariably, the poor thing would wilt and die and I would have to fork out more money to replace it.

This year I purchased a new basil plant, but this time I put the pot into a clear plastic bowl and half-filled the bowl with water. It has worked brilliantly. I can immediately see when it has run out of water and I refill. No aphids and a very large, healthy plant so running out of water was a big factor in the past failures.

Moral of the story, look after your plants and they'll look after you.

Contributed by: Linda

6. Best of the Forum: Get Into Some Gardening - Any Way You Can!

You don't have to be a green-fingered expert to enjoy successful gardening - you just have to start! Grab a pot, hanging basket or any handy container and some good soil and plant something this week.

Share the seed Facebook group Australia and New Zealand

Join this Facebook group to share what you know, and learn what you don't!
read more...

Things that grow from cuttings

Don't waste your money buying when you can 'snap and pot'.
read more...

Vegie garden thread #2

There are some great ideas here to get you into your garden.
read more...

17 foods to grow once and regrow forever

So you think money doesn't grow on trees!
read more...

7. Best Members' Blog: The Good, the Bad and Still Getting There

This month's winner is 'Lil ol me' for sharing her adventures in the kitchen. Lil has been blogging about her system of preparing meals to take them from the freezer straight to the slow cooker - here is how she got started:

I have to share my latest obsession. I came across a system of dinner preparation called freezer/slow cooking. It's brilliant! And saving me so much money. I now go to the shop once a week and I know I have everything for the week's dinners.

Essentially you plan every meal to be made in the slow cooker. You have to do a meal plan and then go and do your shopping. Once home, get out your re-sealable bags and fill them with ALL the ingredients for the meals. Label each bag and put them in the freezer. Each night I pull one of the meals from the freezer and let it defrost in the fridge. The next morning it gets popped into the slow cooker - Dinner DONE! How easy! It has worked perfectly for me and has freed up so much time. It took me about an hour and a half to prep all the meals and clean up, then I didn't have to worry about what to cook for dinner for the rest of the week.

It has saved me money as I don't have ingredients that I forget about in the fridge. I haven't had a meal I'd planned to make but one of the kids has eaten the ingredients for. It's given me extra time to prep/make other snacks for the kids instead. Now I will be honest enough to say a couple of the meals have been nothing short of bleurgh! One mouthful and I knew there was no way the kids would eat it (or me!) so I've made sure I have a really quick back-up just in case. Last night was one of those occasions but instead of a take away option, I quickly whipped up two ingredient pizza bases and the pizzas were ready 30 minutes later.

Here is the link which started my interest in this cooking system

http://whoneedsacape.com/2014/06/30-summer-freezer-meals/

With the extra burst of inspiration, I've been working on clearing out the pantry of all the odd ingredients. I've had dates floating round for months. I can't for the life of me remember what I bought them for. They quickly become a sticky date pudding one night, after I had spare time, since I didn't have to make dinner. OMG - delish! It's been made a few times since.

I've also made sure I keep home-made yoghurt and home-made condensed milk in the fridge, which is very helpful. A bit of a habit I've been getting into is having slices on hand for the kids to snack on. I haven't bought lunch box 'fillers' for three or four weeks now. I have so many ingredients on hand that I haven't had to really buy anything special to make them, and it's really helping me reduce pantry clutter. I re-discovered the slice recipe book in the Downloads section of SS and it's brilliant! I forgot how good it was. I have a large oven so I can fit four different slice trays in there at once and have four slices ready in 30 minutes. Sliced into 18 pieces each, that's 72 pieces of slices ready for the kids to grab.

Phew! So sounds like lots of cooking, but it really hasn't been, but I'm creating some wonderful habits in reducing my grocery spending and pantry clutter.

Well done Lil ol me - we're pretty sure your mum and dad feel exactly the same way!

You can read more of our members' blogs here.

8. Mimi's Rustic Roast Lamb Pie (can also be gluten-free!)

These little pies are simply divine and for a gluten-free family like us, a real mouthwatering treat. The pastry is so light and crisp and thankfully bears no resemblance whatsoever to that suspicious looking stuff wrapped around equally suspicious 'meat' that we call a pie these days.

I made these on the spur of the moment one afternoon when the leftover roast shoulder of lamb was begging to be used for something other than a toasted sandwich. Lamb shoulder, by the way, is a far more economical roast than the leg, and is in fact what many of us used to enjoy as our Sunday roast. Slow roasted with garlic and herbs for 3-4 hours, it's a worthy addition to the menu and yields an enormous amount of meat.

I've modified a recipe from a CWA cookbook written in conjunction with the Lady Mayoress circa 1938 and, like many of the old recipes, it worked like a charm.

You can use any shortening you like but for the sake of authenticity, I used beef shortening (dripping/supafry) as suggested in the original recipe. I figured in the quantities it was required for this dish we were still far and away ahead of the game compared to the fat content in either bought pastry sheets or bought pies. I found that it really did give a superior result, but we eat very little in the way of added fat and we all have good cholesterol levels, so I'll leave the decision on what shortening you use to your own conscience.

This recipe will work well for either gluten-free or normal flour.

I baked these in large (not Texas sized) muffin pan holes.

For three generous rustic pies, you'll need:

For the pastry:

2 level tbsp shortening (beef dripping, margarine, butter, lard)
3/4 cup plain flour mixed with two teaspoons baking powder (or use SR flour) and a pinch of salt. Note: I used Laucke Gluten-Free Bread/Baking Mix which comes in a white box with blue lettering in the health food section of the supermarket. That's why my pastry has little seeds in it.
2 tbsp cold milk, plus a little extra for glazing
Extra flour for dusting the bench or two sheets of baking paper into which to sandwich the dough for rolling
Large scone cutter or egg ring to cut the pastry to size

For the filling:

1 cup leftover roast meat, diced
1 cup boiling water
1 stock cube
1/2 tsp Vegemite (optional, for colour)
1 tbsp cornflour
Seasoning to taste

Then just:

For the gravy:

Add a cup of boiling water to a microwave-safe bowl and stir in the Vegemite ensuring it melts and dissipates.

Crumble a stock cube into a separate cup and add the cornflour and a tablespoon of water and mix to a paste.

Add the paste to the boiling water and whisk well with a fork or miniature whisk.

Microwave on high in 60 second bursts until it boils and thickens. Check the consistency. It needs to be a pretty thick gravy, but add a little more liquid if it's too thick.

Add the meat and stir well. Set the filling aside while you make the pastry.

For the pastry:

Preheat the oven to 180C.

Grease the muffin pan holes liberally with butter, margarine or a liberal spray of cooking spray.

Rub the shortening quickly into the flour with your fingertips. The key to good pastry is to keep everything cold, so don't stress too much about completely dissipating the lumps. A few tiny lumps of the shortening through the flour is fine.

Dust the bench with a little flour.

Add the milk to the flour mixture and stir with a knife to form a stiff dough. Bring the pastry together with your hands. If it's a little too crumbly to adhere, add more cold milk, a teaspoon at a time. It should form a firm ball when moulded with your hands.

Tip it onto the floured bench or place one sheet of baking paper on the bench, place the dough on it and cover it with the second sheet. This actually works really well as it prevents the dough from sticking to either the bench or the rolling pin.

Roll the pastry out to about the thickness of a twenty cent coin.

Cut three bases and three tops using the large scone cutter.

Gather the remaining dough into a second ball, roll it out again and cut long strips about 2-3cm wide to form the sides of your pies. Just do a guesstimate of the depth of your muffin pan or if you're particular, measure the depth with a ruler and cut the strips to the corresponding width.

Place a base piece of pastry in each muffin hole, then line the sides with a strip of pastry dough, trimming it to size. Press the dough against the sides of the muffin pans and press the edges neatly and gently together with your fingers at the bottom to make the base stick to the side pieces. Prick the base and sides a few times with a fork.

Fill each pie with the meat and gravy filling.

Cover the pies with the remaining circles you've cut for tops.

Use scraps of pastry to cut rough shapes or leaves to decorate the tops if you wish. Press these gently into place.

Glaze the tops of the pies by brushing with a little of the extra cold milk and place the pies in the oven.

Bake until golden brown on top, approximately 25-30 minutes.

To remove the pies from the muffin pan holes, run a sharp knife around the edges of the hole to loosen them and, using a spoon either side, gently lift them from the pan. If you've greased the pan holes sufficiently they should just lift out. I had two come out perfectly and one that disintegrated... clearly the cook got the messy one. I can assure you it was still delicious!

The great thing about these is whilst this looks like a lot of instructions, I actually had the filling and the pastry made in about 15 minutes and the pies in the oven five minutes later. Within 45 minutes we had a really delicious meal that would have seen us parting with anything up to $25 each in a bistro, café, restaurant or upmarket pub.

Served with a simple salad they really are guest-worthy and they need little more than a few scraps of meat, leftovers or even vegetables in a gravy or white sauce to be a truly scrumptious treat.

I've always considered myself an utter pastry novice and I've never yet made a successful pie or pastry dish from scratch... until now.

Give it a try. You'll never buy a frozen pie again. :)

You can get updates on Mimi's new blogs on the Simple Savings Facebook page

or in our Members' Blog section.

9. Rob Bob's Gardening Blog: Feeding the Patch and the Belly!

Feeding up the patch for next to nix

This month's challenge on Simple Savings is all about getting out there and growing your own food. Not only does it save you coin but you'll end up with some of the freshest and tastiest vegies you will ever eat. One way to make growing your own food even cheaper is to make your own liquid fertilisers.

Manures, worm castings and composts are a great way to feed the plants and soil in your vegie patch for no or very little cost. While a bag of manure can set you back a couple of dollars (if you don't know a friendly farmer that is), compost and worm castings can be made from the likes of lawn clippings, kitchen scraps, weeds, animal bedding (poultry, rabbit and guinea pig) and tree prunings. When applied to the garden they add invaluable organic matter to help loosen the soil, retain soil moisture, as well as provide food for compost worms and other beneficial life forms.

Manures, worm castings and composts can also be used to make up some tasty liquid fertilisers that will go much further than the compost/manure itself. When a fertiliser tea is applied to the garden you are providing the plants with an instant boost of available nutrients suspended in the liquid and are also feeding the soil with the beneficial micro-organisms that are also present in some of the teas.

Making up these liquid fertiliser teas can be relatively easy OR can be up scaled into a full-on liquid fertiliser 'brew' by adding air, molasses and other goodies to make up a tasty bacteria-laden treat for your soil and plants. To keep things simple I will be mainly talking about the basic teas that anyone can make with a bucket/drum and some rich organic matter and water. Just a note here on water, most town/city water contains chlorine which is added to kill the bad microbes in the water. If you are worried about killing beneficial microbes in the brew you can leave the water in an open top container exposed to the sunlight for a couple of days and that will help gas off the chlorine.

Manure teas

A big thanks to Puurrey Wife for asking a question on the Forum about manure teas - you helped me decide what to blog on this month. ;-) Manure teas are very basic and easy to mix up if you have a good supply of aged manure. The only manure teas I've made up for this patch involved worm castings but I will cover that below. Growing up on our small farm we had an endless supply of cow manure from our two dairy cows, which was collected and left to age in a pile. After the pats had dried out for a few months they were broken up and used as a top dress for vegie patches for us and my grandparents. We would also add it to the compost piles or tumblers, to break down before being dug through the soils. It is never a good idea to use fresh manure as it can be rather rich in nutrients and do more harm than good by burning plants. It is best to let them dry out or compost before using.

My mother and grandfather used to make up a very basic brew with cow pats in a drum of water. It was as easy as dumping a 10L/2½ gal buckets worth of well-aged, crumbled up manure into a 60L/16 gal drum then filling it with water. It would then be left to sit and soak in the water, breaking down the lumps over three to five days. It was also stirred whenever we remembered and often became slightly 'aromatic' (which I now know to be due to anaerobic decomposition). When it came time to use the mix it was bailed out into a watering can and mixed 1:1 with water for use on the garden. The remnants in the base of the drum were dumped into the compost heap, so got a second chance at making it out onto the patch at a later date.

Just a quick pointer - a lawn mower makes very quick work of mulching up sun dried horse and cow manure. Just be sure to take the washing off the line first or you might be made to do it all again. :-/

Other aged manures can also be used like horse, sheep, goat and even some pet manures like guinea pig and rabbit. We have also included fish waste from our aquaponics set up in a few different brews and I have read of a chap who makes up fertiliser tea from poultry manure but it is a much longer process that I am not familiar with. Might be something for folks to look into if they feel game. ;-)

Please note that manure from carnivores like cats and dogs should never be used to make up liquid fertilisers as it can carry pathogens that can cause diseases in humans. They need to be composted properly over a VERY long period of time.

Compost tea

The compost tea that we make is very simple and can be added to the patch immediately with no brewing required. About 15L/4 gal of compost is used per batch with the tea being mixed up in a 60L/16 gal drum. Many folks will have their own ratios but this one works for us and haven't had any complaints from our plants as of yet. ;-)

To begin with you add the compost into a drum and fill to the top with water. Next you need to give the drum a good stir to get all the brown goodness suspended into the mix. If your compost is like ours you will get some bits of undecomposed straw and other organic matter floating on the top. If you plan on using a watering can with a rose on the spout it is a good idea to remove these chunks and add them back into the compost pile.
Once the compost is well and truly mixed with water you can bail/pour out the tea and water the garden. I like to feed the heavy feeders like pumpkins/cucurbits, corn, tomatoes, capsicums, broccoli/brassicas and so on with this first batch from the barrel as it is the richest brew.

Once the barrel is down to the sludge at the bottom you can fill it back up with water and repeat. I continue to refill the barrel until the water starts to look like a very weak cup of tea then call it quits. We normally get about four to five batches out of a bucket worth of compost which easily gives all the gardens in the back yard a great feed. Any sludge left in the base can be put back to the compost pile or added to the garden beds.

I would like to do this at least once a week but unfortunately the compost pile just wasn't that large and we ran out last weekend. I've decided to bite the bullet and use a commercially bought compost blend we used when we first started the garden here and have had some great results with.

This will be the first time I've used a commercial blend in a tea so I think I will start off with only 4L/1 gal of compost in the drum and will see how the plants react over the coming week.

Worm castings tea

We now make up our worm cast tea in a similar way as we do the compost teas. The main difference is the amount of castings we add into the mix.

The main reason for this is that I think the castings are much more jam packed with beneficial microbes and nutrients, so are more valuable and deserve to be spread around the vegie beds as much as possible. To make up a batch of castings tea I add about one large handful or about ¾ cup of castings straight into the 9L/ 2 gal watering can, fill with water, mix well and apply immediately onto the plants.

I used to suspend the castings in a stocking or paint strainer bag overnight and massage the wormy goodness out of them by hand every few hours, but I now think the above method works just as well. I do think that the plants respond well to this quick feed just as they do with the compost teas. There is also evidence that some of the constituents of worm castings and teas made from it can help prevent disease and deter pests on plants. Click HERE for a word doc download from Soil Ecology Laboratory of the Ohio State University regarding tests conducted on various garden pests.

Weed/green manure teas

In a previous blog I posted details on one of the weed/green manure teas that we make up but thought it was worth going over again quickly as these teas would have to be the easiest, if not cheapest of all to make. Almost any weed will do but to make up a top notch brew it is a good idea to use some dynamic accumulator plants like comfrey, nettles or dandelions in the mix or even by themselves. These plants have very deep roots that 'mine' nutrients from deep in the ground, bringing them up to their leaves for us to harvest and make use of.

All you need to do is collect a fairly full 10L/2½ gal bucket of greenery, rip, cut or shred them up into smallish pieces then cover them with water and wait. If needed you can pop a brick or rock in there to help keep the greens submerged. After two to three weeks the greenery will be very decomposed with the mix resembling a very 'aromatic' sludge with some bits floating and others settling on the base. I like to strain the mix through a paint strainer so the solids don't clog the rose of the watering can. As this tea can be somewhat concentrated it's best to water it down before using it on the patch. Most folks recommend a one part tea concentrate to 10 parts water. I cheat a bit and add one part concentrate to around nine parts of water in the watering can and haven't seen any adverse effects on the plants.

Brewed teas

Brewed teas are another great liquid fertiliser designed to boost the amount of beneficial microbes in the brew before adding it to the soil in the patch.

About a year ago I did a blog called Compost tea & treats for the chooks where I went through a basic recipe I use for brewing up wormcast/compost teas using a small aquarium air compressor and molasses. The same treatment can be given to the green manure teas. It's not a necessity but it does help reduce the pungent aroma made by the steeping process and will help to increase the amount of helpful aerobic bacteria in the brew before applying it to the patch.

I hope that quick look at home-made liquid fertilisers helps you out in some way. That's about it for this month's blog. Hope you all have fun in the patch and shall catch you next time.
Rob

You can get updates on Rob Bob's new gardening adventure blogs on the Simple Savings Facebook page

or in our Members' Blog section.

10. From Last Month: Help Me With the Winter Blahs

Last month Treena emailed us about ideas for keeping cheery during winter:

"Please ask your members for some ideas for me! I get the 'winter blahs' all through winter. I hate the cold and the rain, and it is dark when I get up and dark as soon as I get home. I really need some ideas on managing this time of year and staying chirpy. I hate the winter blahs!"

We got some fantastic ideas - thank you for sharing your wisdom! Here are some of our favourite replies:

When it's dull outside, brighten up the inside!

It may be dull outside in winter but you can really lift your spirits by brightening up your surroundings! It doesn't have to be expensive; it can be as easy as:

Changing your quilt to a floral that makes you smile (or just change the cushions to a cheerful pattern such as pink stripes).
Finding a mug that makes your heart sing; one of my favourites cost $0.50c at a local charity shop.
Having a winter declutter, and deep clean. Check out Peter Walsh's books for inspiration.

Don't forget to brighten YOU up too! My sister gave me a pair of fake red velvet flat shoes one year and every time I wore them they made me smile. I only stopped wearing them when they fell apart! Wear red lipstick, a splash of blush, swipe of mascara - whatever works to make you feel good for the rest of the day. Pick up a couple of cheap and colourful bracelets or invest in some bold pink, flamboyant red or cheeky purple nail polish for your nails.

Finally, find something fun to do in the evenings:

Learn a new craft, join a class or find 'how to' videos online.
Join a community group such as a choir or local theatre group.
Buy or borrow an exercise DVD to keep you motivated and fit when it's cold outside.
Challenge yourself to cook a new healthy soup/cake/main meal at least once a week
And last but not least, invite people over to show off your new, brighter surroundings!

Contributed by: Lara D

Ensure a happy winter with Vitamin D supplement

A simple Vitamin D supplement has given me my happiest winter I can remember in years! A couple of months ago I went for a full skin check with a doctor I was seeing for the first time. He asked about my skin/sun habits and told me that, as I work in an office and cover up when I am in the sun, I probably don't get enough Vitamin D. He suggested I take a supplement as apparently the amount in a multivitamin isn't enough. I found some Blackmore's Vitamin D 1000 IU on clearance at a local supermarket and stocked up. Within a week I noticed a marked positive improvement in my mood! Before, I had been taking a low dose of St John's Wort for what I thought was mild depression but have tossed that bottle out now, as since taking the Vitamin D the black clouds of winter have lifted!

Contributed by: AHouseOfMyOwn

Rug up and get out there!

I love winter! One thing I love doing is using my slow cooker in winter. Just a few minutes to get organised in the morning and you have a lovely hot meal ready for when you get home from work exhausted! Knitting is also a lovely thing to do during the colder months. If you don't already know how to knit, set yourself a challenge to learn and make something you will use, such as a cosy throw rug. A walk with my dog also exhilarates both me and him, even if it's just a quick one. I love layering up to keep warm. Enjoy all those beautiful winter clothes, woolens, boots and hats we can only wear at this time of year and just rug up and get out there!

Contributed by: Julianne G

Bring the sunshine in with calendulas

A perfect low-cost winter pick-me-up is a bunch of fresh flowers to enjoy in your home. We grow Calendula flowers all year round and a vase of them in our lounge room really cheers the room up!

Contributed by: Simmy

Don't suffer the blues alone

My mother always knew the perfect ways to keep the winter blues at bay! We would often walk into the house to the smell of soup, which was a fabulous way to shake the cold out and always felt great to be home. You can create this yourself even when working by preparing soup or a warming dish in the slow cooker before you leave for work so it's ready when you come home. We also had simple meals around an open fire - with no lights by choice, but it was so nice we always went to this as first option whenever there was a power cut too! We would also wrap up warmly and go for a walk on a Sunday afternoon to 'blow the cobwebs away' and would choose an exposed walk beside the beach. Everyone would come back battered and windblown but utterly recharged! Also, my father couldn't take long holidays in the summer so we did windy beach holidays in winter instead. I can vouch for this being fabulous too.

Other things you can do to lift your spirits are splurge on some early season spring flowers with lots of scent; our local thrift shops often sell bunches kindly donated by those with plenty. This can be factored in as part of charity giving, so you're not exactly splurging! Invite friends over for an informal cuppa; this is an especially great way to get to know a few neighbours that you aren't really acquainted with beyond brief hellos and brief chats. I've held a couple of these now and it's been fabulous, just give yourself a week to contact your guests, keep the snacks simple and enjoy. As a result we now have a great community bond, I've got extra walking companions, more folks who are happy to look after pets when others go away and each person has commented on feeling that little bit isolated before but no longer!

Also, our phone plan allows for long distance calls to other countries at the one combined rate per month as phoning anywhere in our country. If you can do this cheaply it is a great way to say hi to extended family. I try to phone someone I think would appreciate knowing they're being thought of every couple of weeks. It doesn't have to be long but it's nice to make those connections and keep in touch with friends who have moved away. I was labelled extremely shy as a child but all it takes is a little courage and the company of others, or simply hearing their voice down the phone line can really help you through a drab time of year.

Contributed by: lari C

Leave the 'home fires' burning

A warm, cosy atmosphere can do wonders to keep the winter blues at bay. When I was living on my own, I left a lamp on a timer in winter so that I never came home to a dark house. Just having a light on made the house look so much more welcoming. Effective heating also makes a difference - I love my heated lap rug!

Contributed by: Judith

Day and night, there will be light

I have found that the key to beating the winter 'blahs' is to get enough light. I used to suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder - if the winter was a bright sunny one I was OK, but a winter of grey skies really impacted, leaving me very 'blah'. Fortunately the solution was mind bogglingly simple! I bought a special needleworker's daylight lightbulb for my upright lamp, which I use for reading and crafting in the evening. Because the light waves are the same as normal daylight, your body and mind think they have been out in strong daylight - so your mood doesn't plummet. SO simple and not expensive! You'll be astonished the difference it makes!

Contributed by: Austerity Alley

Recreate the sun with 2000 lumen light

The best way to deal with the winter blues is to get as much sunshine as you can, but if that isn't possible, fake it! A 2000 lumen light has the same effect as the sun and will provide the light you need to produce the right hormones to give Seasonal Affective Disorder the boot. Search online or ask at your local hardware store for the best one to suit you.

Contributed by: Julie

Helping others gives winter blues a lift

A great way to give the winter blues a lift without resorting to expensive retail therapy is to spend a little time helping others less fortunate than yourself. Community organisations always need volunteers, especially in winter, so ask around your area for a charity or homeless shelter where you can help. It's so rewarding, yet costs nothing and I guarantee you won't complain that it's winter again!

Contributed by: Ford Prefect

Don't be SAD, go for a walk!

I suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (appropriately known as SAD) but find if I can force myself outside no matter the weather to walk around the block every day it helps. I try and walk without a hat or sunglasses to get maximum sun exposure but when it's wet a bright umbrella and gumboots really help to lift my spirits. People smile at me, probably because they think I'm mad but it works for me!

Contributed by: Roslyn

11. This Month's Help Request: Purchasing Safely Online

Donna has emailed asking for some help! She writes:

"How do people spend safely online? For the first time ever, my Visa was 'stung' when it was used online for a very small transaction in Chinese currency. When I rang the bank, they cancelled it immediately and told me that one scam was to put through a few dollars and then if it goes unnoticed, put through a very large amount a couple of weeks later. I am very careful online - but obviously not careful enough. What kinds of things do people do to spend safely online?"

If you have any pearls of wisdom you'd like to share with Donna, please send them in to us here.

12. Goodbye For Now!

Well, that's your Simple Savings Newsletter for August and we hope you have enjoyed it. We hope you'll get some dirt under your fingers and plant just ONE something - a pot of herbs, maybe a small box of gourmet lettuce and cherry tomatoes. Growing your own food is a little bit of magic!

Till next time...
All the best,
Fiona

August 2016 - Simple Savings Newsletter

"Secrets to Saving Money" Free Newsletter - August 2016

This issue includes:-

Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: Everything She Wants
August: Desert Island Dreams
Super Dooper Bumper Best Of The Vault
Best of the Forum: We're Not Going Without, We're Getting Ahead!
Best Members' Blog: The Techno Age
Best of SS Facebook: How to Stop Buying Things You Don't Need
Savings Story: Tears Turn to Triumph for Happy Declutterer

Hi,

The start of a new season is the perfect time to ditch old habits and replace them with shiny new ones instead. Over the years we have talked about 'wants versus needs' many times. While most people know what they are and can tell the difference, we don't always consider the effect they have on our lives and how they can trip us up. That's what this month's newsletter is all about! It's full to bursting with tons of brilliant and thought provoking tips to help you get closer to achieving your dreams. We hope you enjoy reading it as much as we have enjoyed putting it together.

Wishing you a wonderful month,
Jackie

1. Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: Everything She Wants

"Brr, I'm sick of this cold weather!" Sally grumbled. "Lucky Hanna and John, sunning themselves in Bali!" "Yes, I know where I'd rather be right now!" chuckled Pete. "I wish we could afford a holiday," sighed Sally. "Fat chance of that though! Honestly Pete - first they're off on holiday, next they're moving to a beautiful new house. What next, a new Ferrari in the garage?"

"Ooh, do I detect a hint of sour grapes?" teased Pete. "Come on love, they work hard, they deserve a break as much as anyone else. Good on them I say!" "But we work hard too! You're right, maybe I am jealous but I don't understand it. Why is it Hanna always gets everything she wants?" Sally pouted. "I'm sure she doesn't get EVERYTHING she wants," Pete kissed the top of Sally's head. "I think she just wants different things than you do."

"What do you mean? I'd love a holiday and a new house!" Sally replied indignantly. "Yes - but Hanna earned those things by going without many things for many years. And when you don't waste money on the little things, you can afford big things like holidays. That's the difference, love," Pete explained gently. Sally glared at him with a look that could have curdled milk. "Well thank you very much, Peter. I said I wanted a holiday, not a lecture!"

2. August: Desert Island Dreams

Contrary to what Sally believes, Hanna doesn't get everything she wants. She has avoided wants and bought only what she needed for a long, long time. She didn't buy lots of clothes, lived with old furniture, went without a new car and fixed, patched, borrowed and mended wherever she could. Her patience and hard work has paid off and now she wants to finally enjoy her dream holiday; would you begrudge her that?

Like many people, Sally also longs for a tropical island holiday. She could get there, she's so close she's almost standing on the edge of it - but every cup of takeaway coffee, every pair of shoes, every new mobile phone she buys pushes her further and further away from ever setting foot on it, because she doesn't see them as a barrier. Until Sally recognises the distance that she herself is putting between her and her island, her holiday dreams and hopes for security will continue to elude her.

Is there a pile of junk between you and your dreams, like Sally's? Think about the things you frequently spend money on. Takeaway? Mobile top-ups? Cigarettes? Credit card purchases? How many of them need to be there? How many have you put there? These are your barriers. As long as you keep putting those barriers between you and your goals, you're never going to get there.

We all know the difference between a want and a need. This month focuses on identifying and eliminating all the things which are cluttering your path and getting in the way of what you REALLY want.

3. Super Dooper Bumper Best Of The Vault

When it comes to spotting the difference between a want and a need, our members are experts! We have so many terrific hints in the Vault on this subject that it was impossible to choose just a few. So this month we bring you a Super Dooper Bumper Best of the Vault, featuring no less than 25 of our favourite examples. Read on and see how easy it is to make a big difference to your finances by giving unnecessary wants the old heave-ho!

$66 saved in one caffeine-free month

I saved $66 in one month, just by giving up caffeine! I vowed I would not buy or consume coffee, chocolate or soft drink for a whole month and this was the result! Not only do I feel better for it I have an extra $66 to show for my efforts. I am convinced I can do even better next month and am planning a 'no sugar' month - no lollies, donuts or biscuits which I would normally buy. By doubling the challenge to include no caffeine AND no sugar, I believe I can double my savings to $120 per month! I have tried all sorts of ways to try and slash my grocery bill before this, but this has been the best I have come up with yet!

Contributed by: Meagan Widders

'Fish and chip philosophy' curbs spending

Our family lives by my 'fish and chip philosophy' which helps us put our spending priorities into perspective.

Whenever anyone in our family wants to buy something, we check if it's on special and then think about whether or not we really need it. To help us decide, I point out how the money spent on this item could be put toward fish and chips at the beach. We only have fish and chips occasionally, but it puts a concrete thought in our minds about how the money could be spent - on something frivolous now, or saved up and spent on a special treat for the whole family to enjoy.

Also, if someone comes home with something that they could possibly do without, I ask - 'how many fish and chips would that have bought?' This reinforces the point about being careful with money, without having to give a lecture about it!

Contributed by: Tanya O'Neill

'Grandma's Day' saves $30 a week on groceries

My husband and I have begun saving up to $30 per week on our grocery bill since we invented 'Grandma's Day!' When we go to the supermarket we ask ourselves, 'would Grandma have been able to buy this item in her day 60+ years ago?' If the answer is no, then we decide we don't need to buy it either! This saves us money on a whole range of items such as fancy dips, designer coffees and biscuits. We used to pay over $3.00 for a pack of 10 biscuits, now I can make 12 biscuits for around $1.00. Using plain yoghurt as a base we are even making our own dips; there are so many websites with great dip ideas. Now we are saving valuable money and our waistlines too!

Contributed by: Kitty

'Needs' and 'wants' jar system stops impulse buys

My 'wants' and 'needs' money boxes are saving me heaps of money in frivolous purchases. Every time I feel the urge to buy something I decide whether it is a 'want' or a 'need', write the item on a piece of a paper and put the paper into either my 'want' jar or my 'need' jar. At the end of the month I assess what's in each jar and decide if it really is a want or a need item. If it's a need I research the cheapest place to buy it, and it comes out of my weekly budget. More often than not I decide that I don't need the item, so the money stays in the bank!

Contributed by: Melissa

'Use what you have' - words to live by!

By having the words 'Use what you have' written as a reminder in your home (perhaps on a blackboard), it can help stop you from buying something you don't really need! Here are some examples of how this has helped us:

I had run out of soap, but as we had a stash of soaps from hotels where we had stayed, we used those up first. I also had samples of moisturiser which I used up before buying more, and will use up all my perfume before buying more.
When I wanted to buy a new pair of jeans, I used the ones I had until they were almost worn out. Now it is easier to justify a new pair!
I wanted to get a new doona for one of the boys. But after a rummage around in the cupboard, I 'used what I had' and found a couple of blankets. He now has a toasty warm bed.

The best part is you can usually create extra space at home while you use up what you have and save money!

Contributed by: Cor Quin

A little imagination can save a lot

Before I let myself buy something it has to pass the 'use it test'. I imagine buying it, taking it home and taking it out of the packaging. I think about where I'm going to put it and what I'm going to do with it. Then I imagine if I'll still be using it in a few weeks, months or years. If you find this hard you probably don't need it as much as you think you do!

Contributed by: Anon

Are evil muffins controlling your cash?

We control our cash by turning our spending weaknesses into our worst enemies! Whenever we get tempted to waste our money, we protect ourselves from what we call the 'evil muffins'. It's a handy little saying started by my brother and we all use it now to help us save. He used to love buying café-style muffins - until he realised his addiction was costing him $400 a year and stopping him from going on holiday. From then on, those tempting muffins became his evil foe! Whenever he sees them now, he refuses to let them ruin his holiday dreams. Instead of giving in and buying them, he thinks 'Ugh - what an evil muffin!'

Of course it doesn't have to be just about muffins; it could be Coke or a chocolate bar - whatever your usual preference! We often don't think about those 'small, insignificant' purchases each day - like a simple muffin. But add up all the 'muffins' you buy every week. When you realise how much they are costing you, you may find yourself looking at those small indulgences in a whole new light too. Don't let the evil muffins ruin your dreams!

Contributed by: Xenia N.

Avoid doing the Twenty Dollar Tango!

I am saving over $2000 a year by placing visual reminders around the house to help me stop making spontaneous purchases at the mall.

I estimate that this saves me around $2080 a year. Last year this was enough for my husband and I to have that holiday in Fiji, and this year we went to New York.

Contributed by: Eve

Beat the winter blues

Since the cold season began I have spent a lot of money on unnecessary items such as hiring DVDs, instant foods, takeaway and junk food. Life tends to take a turn for the worse from warm, sunny, happy days to dark, cold and rainy days which makes you feel depressed and not want to do anything.

I have decided to try and overcome my depressing state and make better use of my time and money. Here are a few of my tips:

I have made and frozen different flavoured soups so when I feel cold, down or in a hurry I can quickly make a warm, delicious snack.
I have decided to bake once a week with a friend (while I cook my dinner in the oven). Not only will this help heat my house but it will save money on buying junk food and biscuits too. Also having someone else here with me helps with not feeling down and depressed.
I am doing one thing each day to make myself feel special and uplift my mood. This helps curb my need for spending money too. I do simple things like painting my nails, giving myself time-out from the kids and making jewellery - which is both relaxing and rewarding. I recently made a necklace and earring set which I gave to a friend. She loves it which in turn makes me feel happy!

Don't let the winter blues get you down, do something special with your time for yourself and for others, you'll feel a lot better about yourself and whatever situation you're in.

Contributed by: Simone Wright

Change of attitude

For many years I shopped with the attitude of - 'It's my right to buy whatever I want, when I want it'. Recently though, I have changed my attitude to shopping and now go out with purse in hand and the thought - 'It's my right to buy whatever I need, when I need it'.

It does take a bit of self-control but the savings are worth it, as I now only buy those items I really need. This change has brought about many other benefits too. It is now a lot easier to see what is in my pantry as I don't have five bags of pasta sitting there, or five different types of coffee. Even my once disorganised wardrobe is thanking me because I now think hard about whether I really need new clothes rather than buying on impulse.

I am thankful for the tips I have picked up on Simple Savings and my bank balance is thankful too!

Contributed by: Serendipity

Confessions of a shopaholic

Transforming myself from a shopaholic to a smarter consumer has enriched my whole life. Not only am I saving money, my life has become deeper and more meaningful since I decided to live by the following rules:

Keep away from the shops
Buy only what you need
Buy second hand if you can
Be stylish, not fashionable
Don't buy what you can borrow
Stop reading glossy magazines that encourage shopping
Borrow books and magazines from the library
Read about simple living
Do it slowly
Spend more time with your family and friends.

These rules may sound simple, but they have changed my life. For as long as I can remember, I have loved shopping. I could easily do it all day, every day and never tired of it. I enjoyed the quest to find bargains or something I had 'always' wanted or didn't yet have.

When I felt angry, sad, lonely, fat, old, poor, disappointed, rejected, embarrassed or simply 'not good enough' - I went shopping. It made me feel better.

When I felt happy, confident, rich, delighted, loved, appreciated and 'on top of the world' - I celebrated by going shopping.

Although I work full time, I had never paid off my credit card and financially I was always struggling. Then I heard about climate change and the impact my shopping was making on the environment. That's when I decided I would stop shopping all the time.

At first, this decision left an enormous vacuum in my life. I used to be very busy - 'Never enough time in the day' was my mantra. Then suddenly I had lots of free time! I didn't have many really close friends, except my mother and sister. We often used to meet for a coffee and a chat while we were out shopping. But with all the free time I now had, I realised I had been too busy to make other meaningful friendships because of my constant shopping.

I don't meet my mum or sister at the shops any more. We now get together in each other's homes and, although I have always enjoyed their company, I rediscovered a deeper connection with them. We talk, laugh and cry for hours and hours. I am learning so much more about them. I have started to deepen the friendships I have with people who were just 'acquaintances' before. Instead of shopping, I invite them over for a cup of tea or lunch or for a walk along the beach. I'm even starting a book club.

Due to the money I was able to save from not shopping so much and because I wanted to entertain more, I rented out my small unit and moved to a lovely old house. However, I soon realised I needed more furniture, so I bought it all very cheaply, second hand from eBay. Everyone who visits my home says how wonderful and stylish it is. I love making cheap, affordable meals for my friends. I had my first party on New Year's Eve and 35 people came, each bringing their own meat, drinks or salads. To any shopaholics out there like me, it IS possible to change - I'm living proof!

Contributed by: Jane

Do you really need it? Ask before you buy

I am spending less simply by asking myself 'I didn't need this yesterday, so do I really need it today?' For example, there are lots of tempting winter clothes in the shops at the moment but I got through last winter properly clothed with the ones I already have, so do I really need new ones? When I see that lovely ornament, picture, dinner set, quilt cover and so on, I ask 'will it really change my life for the better?'. I only have to look around the house and add up in my head what all my impulse buys have cost me to realise they were not necessary!

Contributed by: Leonie

DVD rental money put to better use

Changing one of my husband's bad habits has enabled us to pay our car loan off faster! My husband is a DVD maniac - I wouldn't be surprised if he has seen every movie in our local store. I calculated he was spending approximately $50 per week on movies! So we made a deal on January 1st this year that in order for him to hire a movie, he must walk the 500 metre journey to the store instead of taking the car. He is also no longer allowed to pay full price for a rental; he can only hire a movie if he buys it using a savings coupon. In just 16 weeks, this small change of habit has enabled me to pay an extra three payments on our car loan!

Contributed by: Jenny Davidson

Enjoy a friend's company without spending

To take your mind off going shopping and spending, organise for a friend to come around for coffee instead. It's a great way to catch up with each other and enjoy someone else's company - no spending necessary! You could also alternate between them coming over, or you going to their place, then you are still going on an outing!

Contributed by: Toni

Farewell Foxtel, I'm better off without you!

I've just saved $1380 a year by cutting Foxtel and my house has never been cleaner! Why? Because the time I was spending watching shows that I previously just HAD to watch, is now spent making my house sparkle instead. My husband has just been made redundant and all unnecessary expenses had to go. Foxtel was first on the list and now we're finally getting to those niggly chores that we kept putting off. Watching 'Extreme Couponing' has now become real life 'Extreme Cleaning'!

Contributed by: Claire the dancing Brizvegan Bear

Follow the $1 per wear rule

I manage my clothes purchases by asking myself just one question. 'Can I get this item to $1.00 per wear?' What I mean by this is if I buy a $30 top, I need to be sure that I will wear it 30 times before a) I get sick of it, b) it gets worn out, or c) it goes out of fashion. A $30 top worn only three times equates to $10 per wear. I wear around five items every day, so I aim to pay no more than $5.00 per day for my outfits. Spending any more than that sounds ridiculously expensive and it really helps me put a purchase into perspective.

Contributed by: Shantal Jones

Friendship and community a cure for shopping

I have put an end to my shopaholic ways for good by volunteering at my children's school. When my eldest two were young I spent an awful lot of time 'shopping for company' and got myself into terrible debt. My eldest two are now at school and my younger two started day care six months ago as I wanted them to socialise with other children and give myself some time alone. When they first started I found myself going back to my old ways and, although I never spent any money (thanks to sheer willpower), I would wander the shops aimlessly. I became frustrated with myself and realised that I did not actually want all this time alone and would rather be busy doing things.

Then I got a note in my daughter's school bag asking for volunteers for the canteen, and I haven't looked back since. I now volunteer every Thursday, my children are proud to have me around and I have made some great friends and really feel part of a team. Not only that, but I don't spend a cent! I have enjoyed it so much that this year I decided to take on the role of coordinator for the school's soccer teams. It just goes to show that saving your money and spending your time buys you something priceless, not just material.

Contributed by: Rebecca Z.

Girl power pact curbs spending and encourages recycling

My girlfriend and I have made a pact that is helping to keep our spending down and protect the world's resources. We have agreed never to buy unnecessary items and we both support and encourage each other to stick to it. Our new motto is 'nothing is cheap if you don't need it'. We now avoid sales, where once we would have been the first there, we stay away from shopping centres and we buy things second hand from garage sales and op shops wherever possible. I have found I rarely need to purchase things from a store any more, as long as I am patient and look at used items with a 'renovator's eye'. We now see this as a new way of living and have a monthly competition where we track our spending to see which one of us has been the most frugal and inventive. This has done wonders for our budgets!

Contributed by: Cheryl Haining

Happiness and honesty saves on splurges

The easiest way I have found for me to save is to be honest with myself. After becoming aware that I was saying 'this will be my ONE indulgence while I save' at least once a day (with savings going nowhere - strange that!), I had to face the facts. I am not happy with what I am doing work-wise at the moment; therefore I vent my frustration by spending money on trifles. This simply keeps me in limbo, just numbing the 'pain' enough to go on and on. I now have a choice - either I change my job or my attitude. Either way, all these 'deserved indulgences' will no longer be necessary. Estimated savings - $3.50 per day for my coffee, with shoes and designer hair shampoo thrown in, I come up with a way to instantly save an easy $300-400 a month!

Contributed by: Maienkind

Is your vice worth the price?

Almost everyone has a vice of some kind. It could be cigarettes, coffee, chocolate or energy drinks, the list goes on! Everyone deserves a treat now and again, but have you ever added up how much your vice is REALLY costing you, not to mention depriving you? Now you can find out in just a few seconds, thanks to an amazing Vice Calculator at mozo.com.au/vice-calculator

Just hop online and answer a few basic questions, and if your vice is not listed on the page, no problem, you can enter in your own to get a personalised result. The important thing is that you enter in your estimate for how much your vice currently costs you each week and the calculator will tell you in an instant how much it will cost you over a lifetime if you keep up your current rate. You will be amazed. You will be horrified! But you might just end up thousands of dollars better off. It is a fantastic and thought provoking tool for all ages, so get the whole family involved!

Contributed by: Summer Breeze

Look but don't buy

I am a very impulsive, visual person and I love beautiful things. Consequently, any time I'm near a shop, there's a danger of overspending on gorgeous stationery, home wares, ribbons, books and so on. I also enjoy the string handled bags many of these items are packed in and love to inspect my purchases when I get home from shopping.

Since I enjoy the experience of looking for lovely things, it would be counterproductive for me to try and avoid shopping. What does work for me, however, is to take a beautiful notebook in a string handled bag and write down everything I would have bought on these expeditions, along with the stores and the prices. That way, I can still look and imagine but without the price tags! And the total at the bottom of the notebook page is my saving for the day. Last month that amounted to $260, enough for health insurance for our family, which we always claimed we couldn't afford.

This little change has saved our family over $3000 this past year. It's amazing how powerful you feel just having a list of what you wanted, even when you didn't buy those things. After a few days, most of what is on the list is forgotten and those very few items that still stand out in your mind can be the odd treat to yourself, or ideas to give to family and friends as birthday or Christmas gift requests.

Try it! You won't believe it works until you do.

Contributed by: Nicol Morgan

Our profitable pact

My husband and I made a pact to reduce our spending and cut up our credit cards this year. We now have to pre-arrange all purchases with each other, either before we leave for work in the morning or by phone during the day. This works for many reasons:

I rarely take my mobile phone with me so, more often than not, my husband can't reach me to ask if he can buy something. In the time it takes for me to listen to his message and get back to him, he has usually changed his mind about the purchase anyway!
If I have to call my husband before buying something frivolous, I choose not to, simply because I don't want to justify buying a trashy magazine, a custard tart or an eBay bargain. I just do without and I don't give it a second thought once I leave the shops or go offline.
We can give each other a second opinion on whether or not we really need to buy that item. One of us might know of a cheaper alternative, of someone who can lend us the item or even remember that we already have the item at home.

Our strict pact certainly works for us - we have paid $1500 off our credit cards in the last three weeks!

Contributed by: Science Nerd

Save by not buying 'stuff'

I found this very interesting video that can really help the way you think about buying less. It takes 20 minutes to view and you will learn, as well as laugh, as Annie Leonard looks at the way our production and consumption patterns affect our environmental and social issues.

storyofstuff.org

Contributed by: Jan

Savvy saving or dumb debt?

Upon visiting one of those daily deal websites I saw that they had Frozen themed single duvet covers for $24.95. Before I knew it, I had four of them in my cart, one for each child, and was about to make a whopping saving of $167.52! My credit card was already in my hand when my brain woke up and reminded me that we don't actually need new duvet covers and that, while the kids would like them, it wasn't going to make anyone's life any better. That $167.52 saving was actually just going to be a new dumb debt of $112.44 running up interest on my credit card.

This is big for me - I think I may have turned a corner!

Contributed by: Maxed Out Mama

Stay loyal to your budget, not stores

I have realised that one of the best ways for me to save money is to leave all my store loyalty cards at home. While cleaning out my bulging purse recently, I realised that it was bulging for the wrong reason. Instead of being full of cash, it was full of loyalty cards! Over the years the marketers had worked their magic on me and as a reforming Sad Sally I was upset with myself. For example, if you are a VIP with Sussan, for every $500 you spend there they give you a $50 voucher - which expires in three months. I realised I had been shopping there for women's fashion to the exclusion of most other stores and over two years had spent a whopping $2500 to get $250 in vouchers! That's $105 per month and while good quality, I have since realised similar items in other shops cost less at normal price.

Even more annoying was the number of times I had gone there and bought garments at full price because I knew I'd get VIP points, only to find the same items a couple of weeks later on their reduced racks, making the justification of their points useless.

So I decided that from now on all my loyalty cards will be kept in a wallet safely at HOME. If I want something I will shop around for it. Most stores have hold times so I can always go back if it's in one of the 'loyalty' stores. So far I have saved two months of cruising the racks of Sussan and other stores. That's $210 I've managed to hold on to so far and still counting!

Contributed by: Olivera Sands

True wealth comes in many forms

I am richer than I've ever been thanks to my Simple Savings outlook. When I first joined SS I made a number of small but significant changes to my life and the savings and benefits immediately began to add up. Here are a few of them:

I almost halved my grocery bill in a month - it went from $815 in February to just $430 in March when I started shopping at Aldi and carefully tracked every cent. I discovered my 'inner baker' and instead of buying cakes and biscuits, I baked them from scratch at home. When my washing machine broke down, instead of having to pay out $700 for a new one my wonderful boss gave me an old spare machine they had and no longer used. I made two calls to my insurers, one for my car and one for my house, and found I could save $150 and $400 respectively on my yearly payments. I checked my mobile plan. Because I hardly use it, it was not working in my favour. I changed to a prepaid plan and now what I spend is what I use.

And, finally, I stopped looking for another job to earn extra money. Every dollar I save means time I don't have to work. I am now building my 'wealth' every day in more ways than one.

Many of my friends I used to envy have new cars, impressive houses, expensive clothes - and huge credit card bills. They holiday in Bali or Queensland but work 40 hour weeks in order to do so. They pick up tired and stressed children from after school programs and feed them take away foods because they're too short on time and energy to cook from scratch.

I have a 13-year-old car, a 1980's house, cheap clothes - and NO credit card debt. We holiday three times a year for a week at a time in our trusty 80's caravan and I work 20 hours a week, during school hours, for four days a week. I have one day just for me (or housework). My children walk to and from school and come home to baked goods, home-cooked meals and a happy relaxed household. I'm there to oversee and help with homework and I watch all their sports games.

Ask me again if I want another job to have the 'stuff' I once thought I wanted/needed and my answer will be a clear, precise, 'No way'. Thank you Simple Savings for helping me to step back and see what's really important in life.

Contributed by: Di P.

4. Best of the Forum: We're Not Going Without, We're Getting Ahead!

One of the best things about the Savings Forum is the motivation and encouragement you can find there. It's the perfect place to share all your savings triumphs and tribulations and stay accountable to each other. Here are just some of the excellent 'wants versus needs' discussions and challenges our busy members have been undertaking.

'We've got no money, so we must think'

When finances are short it is often necessary to get creative in order to achieve what we need to without spending. After reading this quote from Nobel Prize winner Ernest Rutherford, GoGo Goanna wants to know how other members 'think' their way out of spending money.
read more...

Not buying it!

No books, no takeaway, no new clothes - Happy Aspie has been inspired by Judith Levine's book 'Not Buying It' and has decided to apply its principles to her own life, one month at a time. Follow her progress (and feel free to join her!) in this series of threads.
read more...

Sacrificing now to be better off in the future

As her name suggests, 'Not your typical Gen Y' is just that and is not impressed with the media stereotype of her generation! She isn't scared to make sacrifices to reach her goals and wants to know what other members have also changed or given up in order to ensure a secure future.
read more...

The value of nothing - people know the price of everything and the value of nothing

As Oscar Wilde famously wrote, 'nowadays people know the price of everything and the value of nothing'. But decades later, are we even further away from an understanding of the real cost of what we consume? This fascinating thread started by Donna is well worth a read.
read more...

My 2016 op shop clothing challenge

Farmer Susy made a great saving last year on her work clothes by purchasing them from local op shops. This year she is going one further by vowing to buy ALL her clothes this way and wants to know who would like to join her? Save the planet and save a bundle by jumping on to this thread.
read more...

Reducing day by day

Knighty was horrified recently when she calculated how much she and her hubby were spending on average each day. Since then, she has kept careful tabs on their daily spending and made non-essentials a thing of the past. Read how much of a difference it has made here!
read more...

Run your household like a business

'Think positive' and her family have the potential to save $400 a week - but it's going to take some staunch application! So from now on, they have agreed to run their home like a business and everyone is responsible for making it work - kids included! A great idea and a very interesting and enjoyable thread.
read more...

5. Best Members' Blog: The Techno Age

This month's Blog winner is Bexta with her very well written and thought provoking post 'The Techno Age'.

The Techno Age

Sometimes I feel that my generation (I'm 27) have a hard task ahead of them when it comes to saving money. We live in an age where we are constantly viewing other people's life choices, without necessarily 'really' seeing what is happening. We have smart phones, we have tablets and laptops and PC's, these devices are almost like opening a portal between our lives and anyone else we come into contact with over social media. And often, what we see is only a snapshot. A small portion of time. One choice.

We get to see the purchase of a new car, home or lounge. We get to see holidays and fashion parades. We get to see a life as the owner of the profile has created in their digital world. What we don't get to see is the repercussions of a single choice. We don't see bank balances or inside closets. Often, we don't see the real truths that are staring us right in the face. Based on the snapshots we see, we form opinions and make assumptions.

It's a scary age really; there are so many outside influences to contend with. Going home after a long day and leaving the hustle and bustle behind isn't really what it once was. Because, so many of us go home and use our social media accounts as a way to unwind, relax and chill out. But what we are doing at that moment in time is opening ourselves up to how our car is getting a bit old, the guy down the road got a great deal on finance, he seems to be doing OK, we could do that. All of a sudden we 'need' a new lounge, the kids 'need' an over the top birthday party and we all 'need' a ritzy holiday. Because, well, everyone's doing it.

I call us the Jones generation. Because everyone is keeping up with the Joneses. I should clarify that I am being very general in saying that everyone my age is like this. Not all of us are like this, a lot are though. And fighting against that can sometimes feel like you are unsuccessfully swimming upstream.

We try very hard not to buy into the Jones generation, to the point where I no longer view Facebook. People's personal lives and their digital lives sometimes don't correlate, leaving an impression that doesn't actually exist. It's hard though, it really is all around us, constantly telling us ideals of your life could be simpler, mundane tasks could be gone, more time to enjoy the finer things, your children could play quietly together, it goes on and on and on. The real kicker is this though, we get these ideas of what we 'need' from the outlets we utilise in our 'free time', we buy these things to give us more 'free time', often we then have extra time to spend being exposed to all those things that we 'need', we jump straight back onto the ferris wheel of the Jones cycle...

Ultimately we are all in control of our own life choices, where we spend our money, how we live, what we eat etc. We have choices to make and blaming these outlets is unfair, we have our own responsibility to take where wants are merged with needs. It's interesting though, how times have changed, how I worry about what my children and my children's children will have to contend with. Hopefully minimalism continues to be hip and we will all be better off!

Brilliant stuff Bexta, thank you so much for sharing!

You can read more of our members' blogs here.

6. Best of SS Facebook: How to Stop Buying Things You Don't Need

Love Facebook or hate it, the Simple Savers Facebook group is a great way to learn even more tips and enjoy reading other members' successes. One of our favourite posts this month comes from Kylie, who draws our attention to an excellent and very timely read.

With spring very nearly upon us, now is the perfect time to get cleaning and decluttering. But even more importantly than clearing space and getting rid of unwanted stuff is ensuring that we don't make the same costly mistakes again. This excellent article will help you to identify and assess your shopping habits, steel your resolve and see through all those sneaking marketing ploys that got you to buy that stuff in the first place. Thank you for sharing, Kylie!

Joining our busy Facebook community is super easy. Either search up 'Simple Savers' on Facebook or click this link and request to join. Once you're in, let the fun begin!

7. Saving Story: Tears Turn to Triumph for Happy Declutterer

My new love of decluttering has finally got me on the road to a house deposit! For years I have had a budget and was very money conscious but still couldn't control my spending habits. I felt as though I had tried a million different things to stop impulsive purchases but hated not getting what I wanted. This led me into frustration and a hate towards everything involving money.

I finally found the answer when my partner expressed his concern with our lack of wardrobe space in comparison to the rate of growth of my wardrobe items. He made a rule that if one thing was to come in, I also had to take out one thing to donate. I had a rocky start and there were many tears but once I decided on a couple of items I seemed more inclined to get rid of more and more and I continued on to declutter ALL my possessions. Going through each item in my house I got rid of a lot of things but before I tossed them out, I first laid them out on my bed and just thought about how much money I had thrown away. How many hours had I had to work to pay for all these things that I didn't even love?

It hit me hard that I had blown all this money on impulse purchases and trends that I got over very quickly. Hundreds of hours of hard work, for me to essentially throw my money in the bin. I printed all my banking transactions for the 12 months prior to my breakthrough and highlighted all my purchases that I probably could have gone without. It all added up to over $8000, over 300 hours of hard work, the cost of my first two cars!

Now when I see something I want to buy, I stop and think back to how much money I've wasted already. And I can feel content in my decision not to purchase. I love fashion, I love shoes and I love bags. But I LOVE my new found freedom and the control over my finances that decluttering has given me even more!

Contributed by: Jaymee Hams

8. Goodbye for Now

That's another newsletter done and dusted! We hope you have enjoyed it and found it helpful, especially the Super Dooper Vault selection! Do let us know how you go with your 'Desert Island decluttering' too, we would love to hear how it works for you!

Until next time,
Jackie

December 2010 - Simple Savings Newsletter

"Secrets to Saving Money in Australia" Free Newsletter - December 2010

This issue includes:-

Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: Can I Help?
January is No Screens Month!
Aussie Street Party Update!
Best Member's Blog: This Month's Winner
Best of the Forum: Square Eyes
Best of the Vault: We Love No Screens!
$21 Challenge Update
Cooking with Mimi
Penny's Blog: Tough Love
Homeopathy Corner: A Day in the Life
From Last Month: Singles Need Help Too!
This Month's Help Request: Holiday Food for Hungry Teens

Hello,

Happy New Year! I hope you are having a fantastic holiday and are ready for 2011. We have spent the holiday chilling out at home and have been having a lot of fun cooking, reading and playing together. It has been wonderful. I even like the rain because it means we are all inside in the one room bonding together. One day we entertained ourselves by making one of Oprah Winfrey's video assignments. It was so much fun! Tristan loves the video so much he has watched it at least eighty times! You can find out more about that in the $21 Challenge Update below.

Also, if you haven't got your 2011 War on Debt calendar yet, it's not too late! We will be following it all year, so download and print your copy here to get started.

We're really looking forward to hearing all about your savings successes this year. Letters like these ones really make our day!

"I just wanted to share the success in my financial situation with you. As of this week the personal loan - which I had started to regard as a regular bill - has finally been paid off! The Mastercard limit has been reduced from $1900 to $1000 (the lowest limit I could get). The cash advance will be finished in six more payments and Radio Rentals will be done by the end of March. This has taken me two years of hard work and budgeting but I am so close now to being debt free, it's thrilling. On remembering your advice to shop around and consider carefully, I found a second hand lap top with a large screen for $200 cheaper than the smaller, brand new mini laptop. With the money I have free now I will be starting a freelance journalism course by correspondence. If it wasn't for the help I have gotten from your newsletters and book I would still be struggling to get by. Now, no bill I get will ever be a problem to take care of. Thanks ever so much!" (Beverley Allen)

"After receiving your regular emails I was finally tempted to subscribe - great decision - I saved my subscription with one hint! Will recommend you to all my friends. Thank you!" (Carol Turnbull)

"I have been a fan of your site for a long time now and often direct people to you but it has taken me until now to try the $21 Challenge. Well, this week I did it. I fed my family of six for just $20.60. I was so excited that I told everyone! No one believed it would work and they thought I must have had ample supplies in my kitchen already. On the contrary, I had minimal amounts of several things but it forced me to be creative. My husband was skeptical (yet quite impressed) that I had spent such a small amount. But I could tell by the look on his face that he was doubtful that he'd be happily fed! Well, I have surprised everyone, including myself. We have had square, nutritionally sound meals, plus snacks every day for the week. Now for once I actually truly NEED to go grocery shopping. But it means I can include Christmas meals in my fortnightly budget this time and come out on top!" (Rebecca Zahra)

"I just had to write and tell you. Your $21 Challenge book saved me money even before I opened it! I have a loyalty card with Dymocks and as luck would have it, as I purchased your book I had earned enough credits to receive $6.00 off my purchase. I thought how apt it was that it was your book that I saved on. So I thought to myself that this must be an omen. For the next two days I sat and read it from cover to cover. My first real saving directly from the book was last night's dinner. I had forgotten to get any meat out and normally this would have me running to the closest take away. But remembering what I had read, I did a quick stocktake of my fridge and found that I had enough vegetables to make a stir fry. Having no sauce was not a problem, I made my own. Then to top that off, the apples I was about to throw away because they were past their best, I made into an apple and blueberry crumble. The kids thought I was the best cook out! Not only did they get a yummy and nutritious dinner, but dessert too. Now I have proved to myself that your system works, it is now time to do a serious stocktake and get down to business." (Narelle Fasulo)

Happy New Year!
All the best,
Fiona Lippey

PS: Fly with Simple Savings! Well kind of *grin*. If you happen to be travelling with Virgin Blue, you can read all about us in their current Voyeur magazine for all in-flight passengers. If you're not flying on holiday anywhere, however, you can still read the fantastic article by Alix Clark online at http://new.simplesavings.com.au/downloads/189/

1. Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: Can I Help?

"Thanks for the cuppa, I'd better be on my way," Sally smiled as she made her way to Hanna's door. "Oh - thank you!" she said in surprise as a small hand quickly grabbed her empty cup, popped it into the dishwasher and turned it on. "Hey, I was going to do that!" came another voice in loud protest. "Mum can I empty the dishwasher when it's finished? She did it last time!"

"Yes, alright," Hanna rolled her eyes and grinned at Sally, who stood frozen in the doorway, mouth agape. "Did I just hear right?' she asked in disbelief. "Your kids actually WANT to empty the dishwasher? Are they sick?" "No!" laughed Hanna. "They just want to play computer games. They're earning screen time!"

"I told the kids there was no way they were spending the summer holidays glued to computer and video games," Hanna explained. "So we struck a deal. If they want to use them, first they have to help around the house. Emptying the dishwasher entitles them to 30 minutes screen time, taking the rubbish out gets them 10 minutes and so on." "Aha, now I see why they're so keen to do it!" laughed Sally. "Thank you, Hanna, I think you've given me the perfect cure for our family's square eyes. I really must be going!"

2. January is No Screens Month!

If you are wondering where the inspiration for this month's Sally and Hanna story comes from, it comes from my house. At the moment it is MY kids who are begging and squabbling over who gets to empty the dishwasher. Yes - they actually beg to empty it and think I am the best mother in the world if I sneak up behind one of them, quietly tap them on the shoulder and whisper. "The dishwasher is ready!" Then the lucky chosen child quietly stops what they are doing and sneaks over to empty the dishwasher before any of their siblings notice. I am not joking. This is really what happens! My children beg to do chores and I have last year's No Screen Month and my mother to thank for it.

You see, No Screens Month in the Lippey household last January was a disaster. My mum was visiting for the whole month and thought it was mean that her grandchildren were banned from watching screens. So, she ignored Matt's and my wishes and brought her laptop, a handful of 'new' DVD's and an iPhone and plonked my children in front of the screens for hours and hours and hours on end. After several weeks of this, I confess to having a little tantrum. OK - I had a BIG tantrum.

Luckily for my family, it was a very productive tantrum. After the steam coming out of my ears had cooled a bit I sat and thought, "Right - how can I make this work? How can I work out a system that will appease my mother, suit my kids, my husband, me and the rest of society before my cup of tea cools?" (OK I made up the bit about the cup of tea...)

The biggest problem last January was that Mum thought I was depriving my children by not letting them watch TV or play computer games for hours on end. However, I think leaving children in front of screens for hours on end is depriving them of life skills and vital experiences. We both want what is best for my children, so Mum and I came to a compromise. The kids could enjoy their screen time - as long as they EARNED it. If they wanted to spend half an hour playing a computer game or watching a DVD they had to do something to earn it first. We started by doing half an hour of writing practice to earn half an hour of screen time but over the past 11 months we have moved on from there and now live by the following rules:

The house must be clean before anyone is allowed to use their screen time. (The reason for this is if the kids get settled in and start watching a movie I have no chance of getting them to clean up their mess. And, I am not going to scurry around them cleaning the house while they sit on their butts watching a movie. The house must be cleaned first.)
If you want to use screen time before school, everything must be done. Breakfast eaten, lunch made, teeth clean, shoes on, hat in car, bag packed, homework finished and so on.
If you want use your screen time in the afternoon, you must first have emptied your school bag, put it away and done your homework.
Screen time for education or work purposes is free. Screen time for entertainment (games, movies, playing and so on) must be earned.
If the children share the task, they have to share the time allocated to that task depending on how much of the actual work they did.

Here is how my children earn their screen time:

Emptying the dishwasher = 30 minutes screen time
Cooking dinner = 30 minutes
Making everyone's lunch = 30 minutes
Sweeping the floor = 30 minutes
Folding a basket of washing = 30 minutes
Bringing in the washing = 15 minutes
Cleaning and setting the table = 20 minutes

This system works brilliantly for us but you are welcome to work out different pay rates for your household. You may like to include screen payments for doing homework or taking out the rubbish, whatever applies to your family. The things you need to think about when creating your screen payment list is how much screen time you want your children to have and how many tasks you want them to be doing around the home, then work backwards from there.

Our new screen currency system has been fantastic, but it has had a few teething problems. You may find you experience the same when you first introduce it into your household. You may face some tough opposition from your loved ones; especially if they have taken their screens, Xboxes, computers and you for granted until now. To help with this period of transition we have started a Forum thread for advice and support. This is a place where you can share your frustrations and triumphs and ask Fiona and other members for help so we can band together and convert your resident couch potatoes into helpful house potatoes!

Here is a link to the thread: Creating Helpful House Potatoes

The Savings Forum is a members-only feature. If you would like to become a member and gain instant access to this and thousands of other threads in the Forum, it costs $47 to join for the first year and just $21 to renew each year. As an extra bonus for Vault members, we have also introduced gift memberships at a special price. From now on, if you are a current Vault member you can give your friends or family a full year of membership for just $21! Click here to order.

3. Aussie Street Party Update!

We had a fantastic response to our very first Street Party campaign, reaching a grand total of 112 parties registered to take place on December 5th! Thank you to everyone who supported us, we hope you had a fantastic street party. Don't forget to write in and tell us all about it! Kirstin from the SS staff was one of the first to register her street party and was really pleased with the results:

"When my neighbour responded to her street party invitation with 'But, I don't know anyone,' I knew we were doing the right thing. Even though there are only a handful of families in the street, we didn't all know each other. The Aussie Street Party was the perfect opportunity, and something I'd wanted to do ever since we moved into this new street five years ago.

"We all brought a plate to share and our own chairs and drinks and chatted about all kinds of things, from which lawn was being grown, our families, successes and failures in the garden and to the shared issue we all have with the drainage system in the street. It really was a chance to get to know each other and have a good natter.

"Since then, Brett has helped a neighbour with his computer and he gave us a bunch of garlic chives for our vegie patch. Now, when we greet each other we use names, it's not just a polite wave. As the spare blocks fill up over the years it will be terrific to see our neighbourhood grow. We're all looking forward to next year's street party and wonder how many more families will join our neighbourhood."

If you haven't entered the competition yet, don't panic! There is still time. You have until January 7th to tell us all about your party AND maybe win a cash prize! Simple Savings and That's Life! are giving away $1000 in prizes. All you have to do is tell us in as much detail as you can about your street party - before, during and after. How did you feel handing out your invitations? Were you nervous? How many people came to your party? What funny things happened? Has anything changed for the better in your neighbourhood since your street party? Feel free to send in photos too - the more the merrier! As a reward for your efforts in helping us to bring back the good old days, one lucky winner will get $500 cash, with five runner up prizes of $100. Simply email your party stories to tl.greataussiestreetparty@pacificmags.com.au. Good luck and thanks for entering!

4. Best Member's Blog: This Month's Winner

Don't forget, if you're a Vault member you can win a cash prize of $100 each month for your Simple Savings blog! Starting your own blog on the site is easy. All you have to do is log into the Vault, click on 'My Desk' at the top left, then 'Your Blog'. Then get writing! We love reading all your money saving trials and tribulations and really appreciate the effort that goes into each one.

This month's winner is Naomi D for her post "It's beginning to feel a lot like..." taken from her blog "A soft place to fall". Naomi has been busy this month getting her family ready for Christmas. We love her festive photos and will definitely be putting some of them into practice for next Christmas.

...Christmas!

Long time no blog - where have I been? Enjoying life with my babies and all that comes with it!

Decorating the house...

Making a family activity advent calendar...

Front view:

Back view - excuse the flash!

Baking stained glass cookies...

Smelling the scent of Christmas from our pomanders...

And kissing the gorgeous husband because the moustache he grew for Movember is finally gone and he raised $400!

Love and light to you all at Christmas!

Congratulations Naomi, we wish you and your family a wonderful 2011! To read more from Naomi, or any of our other members' blogs, click here

5. Best of the Forum: Square Eyes

Just in case you need any further reason to restrict the screen time in your household, here are some great discussions on the topic in the Savings Forum!

Consuming Kids - The Commercialisation of Childhood

The best way to explain this thread is to watch the TV link given at the start! Compelling viewing.
read more...

War on Debt 2010 - January No Screen Challenge

You can always count on Claire M to keep our Forum members organised and on track with their calendar challenges! This thread is from last year's No Screens Month but is well worth revisiting.
read more...

How much television does YOUR child watch?

Princess Pauper asks the question and receives some quite varied answers in this interesting and thought provoking thread!
read more...

Television and children

If the much loved children's author Roald Dahl were still here, he would be right behind our No Screens Month! His poem 'Television' reproduced in this thread will soon have you reaching for the 'off' button on your TV! A must-read.
read more...

Playstation and a 4 year old

How young is too young for a Playstation? And once they get one, how the heck do you get them off it? If your child is obsessed with video games, you won't want to miss this discussion!
read more...

Nintendo games causing eye strain?

Are your kids too 'wired' to sleep? Read this thread and put an end to the headaches!
read more...

6. Best of the Vault: We Love No Screens!

Do you think you can't live without TV and video games? Think again! Here is a selection of some Vault tips from members who have discovered they can live very happily without screens!

Organise your life and save - turn off the TV!

I have discovered that pressing one little button is the key to a calmer, more productive life and is saving me heaps of money. All this has been achieved since I made the decision to turn off my TV! The TV used to suck up an extraordinary amount of time, but now we ONLY have the TV on if there is something scheduled we specifically want to watch. This means that evenings are no longer spent on the couch. Instead, the house is clean and tidy, there are home-made snacks in the cupboard and extra meals in the freezer. This has also put a stop to emergency trips for takeaway or grabbing something quick from the supermarket. I estimate that over the last year this has saved around $30 per week in junk food ($1560 per year) and living stress-free is nothing short of priceless!

Contributed by: Diane

'No screen' for 20 years

When our children were still young, our TV stopped working and we decided not to replace it. Instead the children got to enjoy more play time after school and we also took them to the library on a regular basis to borrow books.

On one occasion, in order to get through a mountain of ironing, I borrowed a combined TV/video player and watched videos while ironing. The children also got to watch something after school. After the video, they said they were going to go and play, but to their dismay they found out that the time allocated for playtime had been taken up with watching the 'box'. They were not happy!

It's been 20 years since we had a TV and our children have grown up. They are determined that when they have children, their kids will not have a TV either.

Contributed by: Galligina

A decade of 'No Screen'

My family has been involved in 'No Screen' sessions for the last 10 years! As my four kids are all still at school, we have no screens from Monday to Thursday, unless it is specific to homework, at which stage it becomes a half hour session. This ensures there is time for afternoon tea, playtime, music practice and homework. On weekends and school holidays, the screen times are limited to a half hour computer session for each child per day, while the TV is turned off at 10 in the morning and doesn't come on again until after dinner.

There are no complaints, as we've been doing this for so long. We borrow DVD's from the library, which cost us nothing to rent, rather than watch the commercial channels. The kids don't know what they are missing as we don't get a TV guide either!

Contributed by: Bronwyn Cartledge

Ban the gadgets and get your kids back!

I have saved on electricity and restored some balance in our house by banning the electrical gadgets! The habitual scene in our house when the kids came home from school was becoming a concern to us. As soon as they'd dropped their school bags the kids plugged themselves into the TV, computer, stereo or iPods; conversation died and activity was nil! So I took control back and put a ban on anything electrical being turned on within 15 minutes of returning from school. Wow! By the time 15 minutes was up, they were reading books, outside playing or helping me in the kitchen and had all but forgotten about the electrical items. I am not sure exactly how much we have saved, but the kids have definitely benefited from this. Being outside running around, sharing books or playing games together has made for a much, happier household and conversation is back! I look forward to seeing our next electricity bill because I know, even if it is just a little bit smaller, we are all richer.

Contributed by: Sharee Breed

Ditch the TV

One of the best things I have ever done is ditch my television. Here's why you should do it too!

You can earn some extra cash by selling your TV.
You no longer waste time sitting in front of the box every night. You can use the extra time to invest in personal development or to do things you enjoy. Save some cash by starting a home vegetable patch or free up your weekend by doing household chores at night, instead of watching television.
You are no longer bombarded by advertisements which make you want to buy more than you actually need.

Forgetting about the television has been a win-win-win for me!

Contributed by: Kendall Hurren

Pay TV takes a permanent holiday

We are planning a holiday so I phoned Foxtel and found out that you can take a break from your contract once a year, for a period of one week to three months, and only pay $5.00 per month.

We have decided to go one step further and use these three months as a saving, and then cancel the contract. We are currently paying $88 per month for Foxtel; this will save us $1056 per year. $88 pays for four tickets to the cinema every month or a live play every two months. We decided our money was best spent on quality rather than quantity, so we're happy to cancel our contract. We also found that we were searching for things to watch on Foxtel just because we had paid for it, and this was not a very good use of our time. Now we are eagerly planning our holiday with the spare time we have from not watching TV!

Contributed by: Denise Pastor

More hints for Vault members:

'No Screen' is a relaxing money saver Contributed by: Marie Chandler

'No Screen', no big loss Contributed by: Vicky Booth

A big yes to 'No Screen' Contributed by: June Davies

Changing children's TV watching habits Contributed by: Rosemary Downs

DVD rental money put to better use Contributed by: Jenny Davidson

7. $21 Challenge Update

This month the $21 Challenge book has been helping some lucky bank customers on their way to an even more prosperous New Year! The lovely ladies at a branch of the BNZ bank in New Zealand has been merrily handing out copies of The $21 Challenge as a special Christmas gift to selected customers in recognition of their sterling efforts to save all year. Good on you BNZ!

Warning - Super Cute Video Alert!

Last month we shared some adorable photos of three-year-old Master Tristan Lippey making his favourite jelly ice blocks. This month the whole family has been busy making the fantastic home-made pizza recipe from page 161 of the $21 Challenge book. If you thought making your own pizza bases was too hard, you've obviously never tried this recipe! It's so easy and delicious, once you give it a go, you'll never want to buy pizza again!

Fiona and the kids enjoy making pizzas so much they even made up a song about it! In fact, they went one better and made a video of them all singing it and sent it to Oprah Winfrey, so she could see how cooking brings their family together! If you would like to see the video, you can watch it on Oprah's brand new OWN channel here:

http://myown.oprah.com/community/library/video_detail.html?entity_id=208725372&media_id=8

To view the video click the link or the image above.

They all loved making the video and hope you enjoy watching it too. If you like the video, please tell your friends, click the 'like' button on Facebook and pass it on! When you do this, you will be doing something really important. You will be helping us to get the $21 Challenge book into America. We hear so much about the poor eating habits in the US and know that we can help families over there learn to cook and eat cheaper, healthier food just as we have done in Australia and NZ. But it's hard to get noticed when you're half a world away. For the past year we have been trying to get a copy of the book to Oprah but so far it has proved impossible; nobody even responds to our emails *pout*. Making videos like these is about as close as we can get to getting noticed in the US, so if you like our video and the $21 Challenge, please help us by sharing it with everyone you know. The more people who hear about us, the sooner we can start doing in the US what we do best - helping people!

Also, mark your War on Debt calendars for February because Fiona is doing a library tour of the Sunshine Coast! She will be talking at the following libraries and would love to see you there:

IMPORTANT: Although they are free to attend, these are booked events. You will need to ring the library and reserve a seat.

Cooroy Library, Thursday 3rd Feb, 6pm - 40 seats - (07) 5454 9000
Coolum Library, Tuesday 15th Feb, 10am - 25 seats - (07) 5343 2000
Kawana Library, Thursday 17th Feb, 10am - 30 seats - (07) 5458 6500
Maroochydore Library, Thursday 17th Feb, 2.30pm - 40 seats - (07) 5475 8900
Caloundra Library, Monday 21st Feb, 10am - 30 seats - (07) 5499 5444
Nambour Library, Tuesday 22nd Feb, 10am - 35 seats - (07) 5441 8332
Noosa Library, Thursday 24th Feb, 10am - 25 seats - (07) 5442 4411

You can also book your tickets online from the calendar page of the Sunshine Coast Libriaries website. Here is the link:
Sunshine Coast Libraries Events Calendar.

8. Cooking with Mimi

Fiona and the kids have been having a ball these holidays cooking Mimi's recipes. Take the time this No Screens Month to get cooking in the kitchen with your children. These recipes are heaps of fun to make and delicious too!

Granita

This is very similar to the wicked looking slushies that kids love but much cheaper and far healthier. They won't believe how simple it is to make their own!

Equipment:

Food processor or blender
Sharp knife
Medium saucepan
Loaf pan
Fork

Ingredients:

600g fruit, chopped coarsely
2 cups orange juice
1/3 cup sugar

Blend or process your fruit until smooth. Place juice and sugar in a medium saucepan over a medium heat and stir until sugar dissolves. Stir in the fruit puree. Pour the mixture into a loaf pan and cover with foil. Freeze for two hours. Remove from the freezer, and using the fork, scrape to roughen and loosen the ice crystals. Cover and return to the freezer for around six hours. Stand at room temperature for 10 minutes before scooping into small bowls or cups to serve.

Twice Baked Potatoes

When you mention the title of this recipe to your kids, you'll see their brains going into overdrive trying to imagine what this could possibly be. One try and you'll have a hard time convincing them to eat potatoes any other way!

Equipment:

Baking tray
Large bowl
Potato masher

Ingredients:

Sufficient large potatoes to allow one or two halves per person, scrubbed well until clean
Milk
Butter if desired
Selection of add-ins e.g. cheese, diced ham or bacon, corn kernels or creamed corn, baked beans

Wrap the cleaned potatoes in foil and bake at 180C for up to one hour or until a skewer goes in easily.

Remove the potatoes and allow to cool. Refrigerate if necessary.

Halve the potatoes lengthwise, and scoop out the cooked flesh, leaving enough clinging to the peel to form a little 'bowl'.

Mash the removed potato flesh with your add-ins.

Scoop the mixture back into the shells of the potatoes, piling it up generously.

Return to the oven to bake for a further 30 minutes or until golden brown.

Serve as a main with a side salad, or on its own as a snack or side dish.

Fruity Pancake Sauce and Syrupy Stewed Fruit

This is a great frugal recipe and yields two yummy dishes in one! Kids and grown ups alike will love this fruity sauce for pancakes, filled with the stewed fruit or over ice cream. Both fruit and syrup will last up to two weeks if kept in the fridge.

Equipment:

Sharp knife
Medium saucepan
Bottles with lids
Airtight containers

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups water
1 1/2 cups sugar
250g fruit, washed and diced. Any overly soft fruit is great.

Place your sugar and water in the saucepan over a low heat, and stir until the sugar dissolves. Increase the heat to medium-high, and bring the syrup to the boil. Simmer for 10 minutes and remove from the heat. Add your diced fruit and return to a simmer on a medium heat. Reduce to low and cook for three minutes or until the syrup assumes the colour of the fruit.

Strain the syrup and bottle, then store in the refrigerator.

Place the fruit in airtight containers and swirl through muffin batter to make delicious fruit muffins, or serve with softened ice cream. Refrigerate until ready to use.

9. Penny's Blog: Tough Love

December 20th

It definitely pays to live in the middle of nowhere! I can hardly believe it but I've made it to Christmas without experiencing an ounce of stress! No crowded shopping malls, no impulse buys, no standing fuming in queues or swearing under my breath at other fraught shoppers as we bash baskets and trolleys into each other. Almost every purchase has been carefully thought out from the comfort of my own home and personally delivered there too! Even the items I put on lay-by months before we moved were picked up without having to travel to the city. I just rang the stores, explained I had moved and asked if I could complete my order over the phone using my Visa Debit card. They happily agreed to post them out for a fraction of the price it would have taken for me to drive two hours to pick them up!

Speaking of which, I haven't put any petrol in my car for longer than I can remember! I'm not sure when I will get around to filling it up either, thanks to the fantastic birthday present I received from Noel and the boys. Check this out, is this the coolest bike in the world or what!

It's so sturdy I should never need to buy another one and will pay for itself in no time with the amount it will save me on petrol. I absolutely adore my bike! And, with its flowery design I don't have to worry about the boys pinching it either! So if you ever happen to be in Whangamata and see someone whizzing past, madly ringing her 'ding-dong' bell like an Avon lady, it will be me!

Obviously I can't reveal what Noel and the boys are getting for Christmas but one thing's for sure; they won't be sitting inside this summer. If Liam thinks he's getting a new swag of Playstation games he is sorely mistaken! We made an early start to No Screens Month by putting his Playstation away under lock and key. From now on he is only allowed to play it on rainy days when there is not much outside he can do. When we first moved here Noel and I were delighted to see that he was so busy having fun in the great outdoors that he didn't even turn his Playstation on for the first few weeks. However once the boys made new friends and they all started hanging out at our place, things changed. The Playstation would go on and they would waste away day after scorching hot day holed up in Liam's room trying to beat each other at being soldiers, zombies and goodness knows what else.

The thing I hate about Liam using his Playstation for long periods of time is that you can actually see the changes in him. He loses all motivation and you can actually see him withdraw into himself as he becomes lost in his own little world where nothing else matters except scoring a century or beating the bad guy. Conversation gets replaced by grunts and he just about needs a rocket under his backside to get him to actually do anything. The only way to get my big, beautiful boy back was to take the blasted thing off him.

When he first realised his beloved games were no longer accessible 24/7 he was far from impressed. He saw it as punishment - I saw it as helping him. 'I want a son, not a cabbage!' I pleaded. 'There's a big world out there - we live at the BEACH for goodness sake! Go and find something else to do!' And he did. And when his friends came round and discovered the Playstation was out of bounds, they all found something else to do too. The backyard cricket came back, the tent went up in the garden, they started going to the pool and the beach again and their laughter could be heard late into the night as they raced around the neighbourhood playing Spotlight, which is basically a game of hide and seek in the dark. The different was marked and no one was happier than Ali, who had also had enough of having a cabbage for a brother and a bunch of couch potatoes as friends.

Ali loathes video games. As far as he's concerned, they actually STOP people having fun when they could be doing much cooler stuff outside. Like catching fish on a hand line from the wharf or exploring the big hill at the end of the road. Or earning money. Back where we used to live, jobs for kids their age were hard to come by but when we moved here the boys saw that many of their friends had jobs. As soon as Ali spotted an ad for newspaper delivery contracts in his school newsletter, he picked up the phone. Five minutes later he proudly told me 'I've got a job! I have to deliver 135 newspapers twice a week'. Next thing we know Liam is also dialling the number and securing a job for himself too! The money isn't huge but as Ali says, at least they're not stuck inside. They get to ride their bikes around the neighbourhood and once all their papers are delivered, the rest of the day is theirs. The first day they got to grips with their delivery route, they were touched at the number of elderly people who came out to thank them and help them by telling them who lives where, which houses were empty and so on. 'It's fun!' said Liam. 'Yeah - better than playing Playstation', Ali said pointedly at his brother. 'And you don't get paid for doing that!'

I don't believe in forcing a kid to do anything they don't want to do but there is one thing that we have really pushed the boys to do and that is surf life saving. Not that Ali needed any pushing. From the outset he loved heading out to the waves on his kneeboard, getting bowled around in the surf on giant tubes and working as a team in the rescue boat. Liam however needed a LOT of pushing. Even bribing didn't work! The reason? None of his mates at school did it. They all preferred hanging around town or playing video games. He didn't want them to tease him for being the only one who did it. That, coupled with an acute case of shyness. I thought we were fighting a losing battle until we went to his school prize giving, where the speaker was an inspirational young woman who had spent the last six years working for Surf Rescue. She spoke of how she was the only one in her year who did surf lifesaving when she was at school but she didn't care because the moment she joined up, she became part of a family. She told the kids not to be sheep and follow the rest of the crowd but to do what they wanted to do. To take every opportunity that was offered to them. All the things Noel and I had been trying to tell Liam for weeks - honestly, she couldn't have said it any better if we had been paying her to say it! Although I think it helped immensely that the girl who was speaking now was absolutely gorgeous and not fuddy duddy old Mum and Dad!

So that weekend the boys went along for the first time and received a warm welcome. 'You can't be shy around here!' they told Liam with a grin. Ali loved it instantly and whilst Liam was more reserved to start with, he's learning it's much more important to be happy than be cool. The stunning girl who spoke at prize giving is now their instructor and from Boxing Day they will be spending every day of the summer holidays at the beach training to be lifeguards. They'll be getting fit, healthy and sea savvy and learning vital First Aid skills. What with that and their newspaper round, I reckon Liam will be so busy having fun, he won't even miss his boring old Playstation!

December 2010

10. Homeopathy Corner: A Day in the Life

Have you ever wondered what a homeopath actually does? Well wonder no more! This month, our favourite homeopath Fran Sheffield shares a typical day, helping to treat a wide range of cases from psoriasis to asthma and everything in between!

Read the full story here.

11. From Last Month: Singles Need Help Too!

Last month Anna asked:

"I am REALLY, REALLY struggling, especially after a prolonged illness. Currently I am regretting 'doing the right thing', such as having a mortgage, paying for health insurance and so on.

"Independent singles are such a marginalized group that nobody seems to care about. We are not eligible for any support, tax benefits and so on, and other saving techniques such as buying in bulk are not practical. Please, please, please help."

Thank you to everyone who responded with such fantastic tips and advice! Whilst unfortunately we are unable to print them all, hopefully terrific ones like these will help Anna and other singles to feel more positive and get back on track.

A winning formula for singles

As a single in a similar position there are a few things you can try first - look at all your providers from electricity, gas, insurance even bank rates and try phoning them and asking for a better rate because you are thinking of signing up with their competition - this worked for me with phone and electricity. The unhelpful car insurance salesperson said they couldn't do a better deal, so I found a better one myself with a quote on the Net. Just doing this can get you some extra dollars monthly. Do you really need all the Internet access you're paying for and are you over-using your mobile phone? Take a good look at things like these and try and make some adjustments.

You don't have to buy bulk food, just buy reduced wherever you see and bag and freeze them in individual portions. Speak to friends, colleagues and relatives and you may find they would like to share some items. Start growing your own vegies - just a few of the things you like. Experiment with low-cost foods like noodles and rice where you don't need huge amounts of proteins to go with it. Think about any money you spend on restaurant/cafe/takeaway/coffee or snacks and imagine how many groceries you could get for the same amount. Oh - and read everything you can find on Simple Savings and you'll come out the winner!

Contributed by: Lisa Giselle Pastars

Tips from a happy SS single

I'm single, have a mortgage and a car loan and occasionally think 'What am I doing!?' Meanwhile all my 'couple-y' friends aren't quite sure what I'm so worried about! Some simple things I have done to cope include:

Get a housemate! Not only does it take the weekly edge off your mortgage payment, but when those bills come around they can be halved - a whopping weight off your shoulders.
Learn to love your freezer! Get some cheap takeaway containers and each weekend make up a batch of something and freeze into single portions. You will soon enough have a stock pile of foods so you can alternate meals for weeks. Think of meals that can be extended with sides of rice or pasta such as chilli con carne with extra kidney beans and beef stroganoff with extra mushrooms.
Use eBay! Wait for the free listing weekends for smaller items and go for it. Be careful not to underestimate your postage costs though.
Adopt a firm 'I can do it myself' attitude around the house, you can save a fortune on tradesman.
Make a rule to never pay full price for any clothes or footwear. You'll save a fortune.
Avoid hairstyles/colours and so on that need to be tended to every 6-8 weeks. Instead, choose ones that can be managed for a few months.

Stick at it and good luck; be proud of yourself for having a go on your own!

Contributed by: Afton Gooda

Speed up your mortgage payments and enjoy the rewards

I am a single independent female living on my own. I had a fairly large mortgage, but have mananged to pay it off. I realised that paying it weekly rather than monthly would save me lots as regards interest. I just switched my payment regime with my lender and treated the lesser amount I was paying each week like it was rent. Now I have no more 'rent' to pay I am saving the amount I used to pay for something I really want in the future!

Contributed by: Sally H

Tweak savings tips to suit singles

Singles, whether independent or not, need a support network. Friends, family and social/other organisations are vital. Immerse yourself with likeminded people, even if they are not single. You can make lots of savings; you just have to think outside the box - lose the 'I have to do everything myself' mindset and let your community or circle of friends help you.

Instead of looking at what you are not eligible for or can't do - look for what you ARE eligible for and CAN do. Look at each area in your life and make changes - make up a list or a picture board, whatever appeals to you to help organise your thoughts.

If you look at your mortgage, what can you come up with that is acceptable to you paying it off and what do you want out of life? For example you could sub rent out a section, take on an overseas independent student, a boarder, a working backpacker - not only will they help pay your mortgage but you can gain so much more. Community groups are great sources of help and you may well be able to help them at the same time. A lot of saving tips/techniques can be tweaked to suit you - you just have to be creative.

Contributed by: Angela Caballero

Make buying in bulk work for singles

Even if you are single you can still make buying in bulk work for you. The best way could be to get together with some other single friends or family members and go on a 'buy in bulk' shopping spree once a month or fortnight. You could try local markets where you can pick up boxes of fruit and veg cheaply and share the cost and the goodies. It could be a great day out with your friends while saving all some money too!

Contributed by: Deborah Jamieson

Get cooking with other singles

When I was a single, I got together with the other three singles in my apartment block and we took turns cooking meals once a week. Most nights were eat and run, or we would take our meals to our units to eat alone if busy with work. We each had a night to cook, and if people could not make it, we made up a takeaway for them!

Contributed by: Mel Smith

Use your single status to your advantage

Use the advantages independent singles DO have, such as being able to share accommodation costs in a way that families cannot. I suggest systematically eliminating all debt until you can once again position yourself financially strong and make headway. Although it may seem good, a mortgage can impoverish you if you can no longer easily afford it (after all, mortgage does mean 'death grip' in French!). A book called 'Total Money Makeover' by Dave Ramsay gives a good blueprint on going from financial mess to 'financially sound'. I found it a great help.

Contributed by: Sue Rumsley

Make individual food portions last longer

If buying in bulk wastes a lot of food through spoilage, then investing in a food saver could be a good idea. It is like vacuum packing all your foods into single meals/serves. The lack of oxygen available in the sealed bags means there are heavily reduced oxidation processes which are what spoils the food. A bonus of doing this is when these items are frozen, freezer burn doesn't take hold, but it can even lengthen the fridge life of an avocado by at least five more days!

Contributed by: Rebecca Skelding

12. This Month's Help Request: Holiday Food for Hungry Teens

This month Jennifer asks:

"Help! School holidays are here and I'm already being eaten out of house and home by hordes of active teenage boys! They are all great kids who love hanging out at our place and I don't want to make them feel unwelcome but constantly feeding extras is really hurting my food budget. I don't feel as though I can feed my own children and not the others when they are around so I always end up giving in and making food for everybody. If I tell them to fend for themselves for lunch they simply go into town and waste their money on takeaways, my kids included! Does anyone have any suggestions for cheap fillers I can have on hand or whip up quickly so we can all save money?"

If anyone has any advice which could help Jennifer, please send them in to us here.

December 2013 - Simple Savings Newsletter

"Secrets to Saving Money" Free Newsletter - December 2013

This issue includes:-

Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: Get Stuffed!
December: Old-fashioned Fun!
Ye Olde Shoppe: No More Tiger Stripes
Penny Wise: A Very Penny Christmas
Best of the Vault: The Lost Art of Having Fun
Best of the Forum: Simple Pleasures
Best Members' Blog: Upon Reflection
Cooking with Mimi: Luxury Gold Leafed and Embellished Coconut Ice
Rob Bob's Gardening Blog: Sweet Talking the Flowers!
From Last Month: Digital Dilemma!
This Month's Help Request: Christmas Sales Savvy

Merry Christmas!

Thank you for your kindness and wonderful support this year. To show our gratitude we got your calendar finished early :-) Click the image below to grab your copy.

I hope you really love this year's calendar and it inspires you to new heights. It is lots of fun working and saving together.

We received some wonderful emails this month. Here are our favourites:

"I received your latest newsletter and couldn't help but thank you for all the hints and tips. We are going overseas tomorrow, and after almost two years of saving here and there with the help of your wonderful website, we are flying to three Asian countries for five weeks! Here's a surprise - my husband Roger and I always save our loose change and the result is $2200.20! Roger and I save in our own little ways and still enjoy our life to the fullest! Simple Savings - the best website in the whole world. Thanks again Fiona and also to your wonderful staff." (Mell & Roger)

"Loved the last newsletter and wanted to congratulate Claire on saving long and hard for her kitchen - well done Claire, you're an inspiration." (Leonie)

"Christmas shopping DONE! I have given my friends and some younger relatives memberships as gifts this Christmas. I hope they get just as much out of this amazing website as I have." (Triscia)

Have a great month!
All the best,
Fiona Lippey

1. Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: Get Stuffed!

"That was wonderful, Edna, I'm absolutely stuffed!" smiled Sally, patting her stomach at the Christmas table. "You're welcome dear, so glad you're all better. Sounds like a nasty virus that got hold of you all!" Edna sympathised. "It looks like James has made a great recovery anyway, look at him out there playing cricket, he's having a blast! Isn't it funny how the kids have all deserted their flashy toys for a bat and ball? Some things never change."

"The food is amazing Edna. Tell me, where did you buy this Christmas pudding? I must grab one for us next year, it's delicious!" praised Cousin Ruth. "Buy, dear? Heavens no, I made it! Have done for years. It's my own great-grandmother's recipe." Edna said proudly. "Wow, that must be REALLY old - OUCH!" giggled James, running in for a glass of water and getting an elbow from Sally. "Dad - will you come and play cricket with us?"

"Sure mate, just coming! Thank you so much for having us all Edna. It's been a really enjoyable day." Pete pecked her on the cheek. "Nothing like a good old-fashioned Christmas!" Edna smiled, "Well it's been lovely to have you here. I'm just glad you were able to make it after all. When Sally rang and said you were all sick..." "Yes, well if Sally had had her way - OOMPH!" Pete spluttered as Sally shoved a huge spoonful of pudding into his mouth. "If I had my way, we'd come to you EVERY year Edna!" Sally beamed. "Pete just can't get enough of your Christmas pudding, can you darling!"

2. December: Old-fashioned Fun!

Pete is right, there really is nothing like a good old-fashioned Christmas! Carol singing, cricket in the yard, silly hats and the traditional Christmas pud. Back in Edna's day that's how all Christmases used to be. Fun and relaxation was high and pressure was low - but sadly those kinds of Christmases are no longer the norm. These days Christmas comes with a hefty price tag, and the fun many of us have had marketed to us is in the form of computers, video games, movie theatres and theme parks, not something as low-cost and simple as a bat and ball or a pack of cards.

Not in Simple Savings land, however! This month we're encouraging everyone to bring back the Christmases of old. Forget all the hype and pressure, the fancy marketing tricks and hard sell and just have a good time! What do you remember about the Christmases of your youth? Let's try and re-create them this year.

The best thing about old-fashioned fun is that it's usually free. Remember the things you used to do and the games you used to play? Enjoy them this Christmas with your loved ones and show them the best games don't have to come from a store! Here are some ideas to jog your memory:

Get the board games out and challenge everyone to a game of Life or Monopoly
Teach your kids how to play some of the card games you played as a kid
Play charades
Make play dough and use Christmas cookie cutters to make fun ornaments
Have a water fight
Go for a walk on the beach
Play games in the park
Invite the neighbours around
Get a long sheet of plastic and make a Slip and Slide
Decorate a tree outside for the animals and birds
Make paper chains
Make mince pies or shortbread from scratch
Play Christmas music and teach the kids how to sing your favourite Christmas songs
Go carol singing
Take the family to look at the Christmas lights in your neighbourhood.

Remember any of the above? What else have you forgotten about Christmas? Bring it back this year. Stop looking at the lists, and the area under the tree and thinking it is not enough. Give the gift of time and love instead and enjoy some old-fashioned fun!

3. Ye Olde Shoppe: No More Tiger Stripes

We'd like to share this email we received from one of our Forum members, Tradies Wife, who has a new little baby to love - congratulations!

"I'm experiencing a very long pregnancy at over 42 weeks. When I was pregnant with my other two babies, stretch marks were part of the pregnancy 'glow'. However, during this pregnancy I ditched the commercial body butters and pregnancy creams you can buy for stretch marks. I made my own creams to begin with, then got a bit lazy and decided to just use straight macadamia oil from the SS shop.

"The result, well, I have very, very few stretch marks. To the point that when I went in and saw the mid wife she asked me what on earth I use! I was a little surprised that I didn't have more too!

"Not only has the macadamia oil worked brilliantly, but it is very cheap to buy at around $21 a litre. That is plenty for a whole nine months + as well as having some left over for massages and other beauty treatments.

"And it's saved me from gaining pregnancy tiger stripes!"

You can read more about macadamia oil in Ye Olde Shoppe here

New product: Pressure Cooker Saved My Life

This book will make you and anyone who reads it feel good about themselves. When Fiona first read it she loved it so much she bought another three copies and gave them to her family and friends. It is a must read book, and now it's available in Ye Olde Shoppe!.

4. Penny Wise: A Very Penny Christmas!

The Christmas tree is up, the lights are sparkling, the wreath is on our front door - and that's all I've done so far. It's our first Christmas in our new little house and to be honest, I'm feeling completely overwhelmed. Unlike Sally in the newsletter stories, I don't have to worry about impressing anyone this year. My present shopping list has got a lot smaller and this year it's just going to be me, my boys, my mum and her partner. Technically it should be a really relaxed and low-key Christmas! But the pressure is still very much on. You see, it's my boys' first Christmas without their dad and I want to make it extra special for them. I know they're going to be sad, I know they're going to feel it but I'm going to do my darnedest to make it as happy as possible.

We all know Christmas isn't about the presents and I have no problem filling our home with masses of Christmas spirit - the same corny carol CD's will be playing the same as they have every year for longer than the kids can remember. Ali and I will make shortbread Christmas angels as always, the house will be full of the aroma of mulled wine simmering in the crock pot and there will be crackers and daft paper hats. But what is really worrying me IS the presents, or lack of them. We've always had a great big pile of enticing gifts under the tree and while the boys know money is tight, they still have wishes for Christmas just like every other child and right now, I have no idea how I'm going to afford ANY. Every spare dollar and beyond is allocated towards paying bills and I don't want to start the New Year off in overdraft or struggling with credit card debt. Still, I know there are many other families in the same position and far worse off and I am NOT going to let this beat me. I'm going to make sure my boys have a wonderful Christmas no matter what!

Tomorrow I am going to devote the whole day to selling my worldly goods on Trade Me, or on our local Facebook Buy Sell Swap page. I've actually had more success with Facebook as there are no fees and everything seems to get snapped up pronto, rather than having to wait for days for an auction to finish. No mucking about with postage either, as everyone just comes and picks up their bargains! Putting things on layby just isn't an option this year as I know I won't be able to pay them off in time for Christmas so I just hope my items sell. I think I also have a good amount of Flybuys points accumulated which could be a big help - unfortunately I'm still a joint card holder with the boys' dad though so I hope that he'll be willing to let me use some for their presents (and that he hasn't used them all up already!). I guess no matter what happens, as long as I'm being pro-active and doing all I can, I can't do any more than that. I did have one huge flash of inspiration for a wonderful present which I know the boys will love and help to keep the mood happy and light on Christmas Day! But, I can't tell you what it is yet!

I don't mean to sound all 'bah humbug' but I can't wait to get Christmas over with. Let's face it, when you're trying to save it's a bit of a flipping great inconvenience! Don't get me wrong, I'm looking forward to spending a relaxing day together and being on hand for the boys to do whatever they want; it's the one day when I do really get to relax in my own home and stop worrying about the huge pile of ironing or all the squillion other things that need doing - but all I really want to do is get ahead with my finances. Just keep plugging away at those lingering bills and get them paid off - at the moment it feels like I owe EVERYBODY money! I really don't like having that hanging over my head. But from next week there will be no lunchboxes to make and I can make the three of us yummy lunches from next to nothing. Both the boys are job hunting - Liam had one and was loving the independence of earning his own money but unfortunately he got laid off a few weeks in after they took on too many staff and didn't have enough work. Ali is hoping to work at the local supermarket - with a population that swells in our town from 4000 to 70,000 over summer the hours are intense but it's only for a few weeks and the money is well worth it.

I have a feeling that 2014 is going to be a good year for us - I do hope so! Both the boys have been through so much; they really deserve a good Christmas and an easier year ahead. But they have also learned an awful lot and I truly believe it has made them stronger, better people. They know what it is like now to truly exist on nothing (as do I!) and although there are times their situation makes them angry or depressed, they have learned through the friends they have made that there are many of their peers who have had to deal with much, much worse and it makes them humble. As for me, it's been a bumpy old time indeed! But every time I feel as though I've reached breaking point a little voice inside my head says 'No you bloody haven't!' and eventually I come out the other side with renewed determination. Right now I may be feeling a little overwhelmed about Christmas but I know we'll have a good day no matter what and apart from that I'm feeling stronger now than ever. I just can't wait for 2014 to hurry up and arrive so I can show my boys and myself what we can achieve. It's going to be the year of Penny, just you wait and see!

You can get updates on Penny's new blogs on the Simple Savings Facebook page

or in our Members' Blog section.

5. Best of the Vault: The Lost Art of Having Fun

Sometimes it seems as if we've forgotten how to have fun that doesn't involve a screen or earplugs! Christmas is the perfect time to turn the clock back and start having fun the old-fashioned way with some ideas from the Vault:

Monopoly with a local touch

Move over Mayfair! This version of Monopoly is much cheaper and puts the home into home-made!

When I was a kid we made a Monopoly game using local landmarks and streets. We got an old games board, although a square of cardboard would work just as well, and covered it with white paper. We marked it out just like a Monopoly board but we put our local streets, shops and services as the stops on the board. We made up our own chance cards and used small toys as counters. It was great fun to play our own Monopoly, especially if anyone from the neighbourhood came over to play.

Contributed by: Su M

Enjoy the sunset

Find all the best spots in your area to view beautiful sunsets. Pack a nice picnic supper, take along some favourite music and stop letting the sunsets pass you by. These lovely memorable times with loved ones are truly priceless.

Contributed by: Lexie Walker

Low-cost murder mystery parties

If you frequently entertain, enjoy a low-cost night with a difference by hosting a murder mystery party! A chance for you and your guests to be 'someone else for a night' and have some fun while taking part in some detective work. These are making a real comeback! I enjoy having friends over and have run a few murder parties but they can be costly to buy, even second hand. However, I stumbled upon a helpful website which has seven free games to download. It even gives hints as to how to write your own murder mystery game. Take you and your friends into the heart of a Ruth Rendell novel and fill your evening with role-play, scandals, accusations, greed, affairs and murder!

Contributed by: LJM

Bombs away

During warm weather, we make origami water bombs by folding the pages from newspapers we have read. For instructions, go to www.origami-instructions.com/origami-water-balloon.html

We spend the morning making them and then it's bombs away in the afternoon! We get a fun, if somewhat soggy, workout by throwing the bombs at each other. Once we've exhausted our energy and cooled off, we put the newspaper bombs straight into the compost ready to layer with the next lot of scraps. Green fun all round and it costs nothing to enjoy. Certainly cheaper than taking the family to the aquatic centre!

Contributed by: Louise Myers

6. Best of the Forum: Simple Pleasures

We Simple Savers already know that the simple things in life are often the best - and often free! Our Forum members have some wonderful ideas and inspiration to get more 'simple' back into your life this Christmas!

Elfing older people

Buttercup is on a mission to bring a little joy to those who might need it this Christmas - good on you Buttercup!
read more...

What I like about Christmas

Get your tissues ready - lovely Claire and friends talk about simple Christmas pleasures.
read more...

Being a Weasley at Christmas

Nik C. and her wisdom-wielding wizards give Christmas a 'Weasley workover'.
read more...

Stepping back and living a new life

Forum member RB shares the new direction her life is taking - watch out world!
read more...

7. Best Members' Blog: Upon Reflection

One of the many benefits of being a Vault member is that you can win a $100 store credit in Ye Olde Shoppe, or $100 cash each month for your Simple Savings blog! Starting your own blog on the site is easy. All you have to do is log into the Vault, click on 'My Desk' at the top left, then 'Your Blog'. Then get writing! We love reading all your money saving trials and tribulations and really appreciate the effort that goes into each one.

This month's Blog winner is Karebear who is literally changing her life and we can only applaud her courage and conviction!

"I have been pondering the great mystery of life over the last couple of months. A couple of extended family members have passed away, one from cancer and the other from old age. Only this week my teenage nephew was diagnosed with Leukaemia and is undergoing chemotherapy as I write.

"I have been working so gosh darn hard these last few months, and I guess I've had a little wake-up call. Yes, I want to be debt-free and financially independent, but I do want to have a little fun along the way. I know of people who have put everything off - family, travel, life experiences - until they 'retire' and then within weeks something terrible happens (accident or illness) and they don't get the chance to kick back and savour the fruits of their labours. Well, I realise I might come across as wishy washy, but I want the best of both worlds!

"So, with this in mind, I have made some rather firm guidelines to get rid of the credit card, keep saving for the future and get the mortgage paid off within five years. Firstly, and most importantly, I have set some time aside for me which means I will make sure I have at least two days off from work, every week! I'm feeling light-headed as I type this because over the last five to six years, for about eight months of each year, I have worked seven days a week. One stint was 51 days of non-stop work. Next year I plan on taking some long service leave so I can build up the business I have started and then maybe, just maybe, I can reduce the hours of my full time job even more!

"I do have two major goals I want to achieve as well:

"Major Goal 1 - I really want to go to Europe! Once my new holiday account balance hits $5,000, I'm booking my flights and I'm off!

"Major Goal 2 - A little camper trailer! Australia is a wonderful country and I would like to see a lot more of it!

"On a personal level, my health is suffering because of the crazy hours that I work but I'm finding out about Tai Chi classes and going to continue cycling. With the days off, I can make up a few bulk meals to freeze to make life easier and I plan on doing a major spring clean on my house, a bit here and there.

"My finances will be healthy, I will be healthy and my house will be neat - bring it on!"

Well done Karebear - we look forward to following the rest of your adventures!

8. Cooking with Mimi: Luxury Gold Leafed

and Embellished Coconut Ice

Here's my Coco Chanel inspired luxury coconut ice, which I am gifting for Christmas this year. Who says coconut ice has to be pink!

It's a fairly standard coconut ice recipe that I've had for decades, and if you have your own version then, by all means use that instead. It's the decorating that makes this one special. It's also important to cut the coconut ice into slabs rather than the traditional squares just to make it look a bit more grown up.

Each slab costs around $3.00-$8.00 depending upon how much gold leaf and how many roses you use to decorate it.

You'll need:
(This will yield about six slabs, as pictured)

125g Copha (1/2 a block)
1 x 500g packet icing sugar, sifted
1 x 250g packet dessicated coconut
2 egg whites, whisked in a cup with a fork until they're foaming around the edges. This takes no more than a minute.
2 tsp black gel food colouring (available at cake decorating suppliers for $6.00-$7.00)
1 sheet edible gold leaf (also available at cake decorators for about $7.00 a sheet)
One large soft artists brush or a pastry brush
Small fondant roses, either made by hand if you're a bit clever, or purchased at the supermarket in the baking aisle or at cake decorators.
Greaseproof paper to wrap or you can use baking paper
Wide craft ribbon or satin or organza ribbon to tie around it
1 cake tin or slice tin 20cm x 20cm, lined with baking paper, with some overhanging the edges of the tin so you can lift the coconut ice out easily

To make:

Melt the Copha in a small microwave bowl on 'high' until just barely melted and allow to cool slightly.

Put the sifted icing sugar and coconut in a large bowl and stir to combine. Add the cooled melted Copha and the whisked egg white and combine well.

Press half of this mixture into a thin layer on the base of your lined tin. Clean, wet hands will help smooth the surface and a fondant smoother is great if you have one, just to really press it flat and into the corners.

Now add the black food colouring to the other half of the coconut ice left in the bowl. Make sure you mix it really well, stretching it out with the back of a spoon and stirring it back in, a bit like kneading with a spoon, to be certain there are no white flecks left.

Smooth this over the white layer with clean hands and the back of a spoon to even it out.

Chill for an hour, then loosen the coconut ice with a thin knife around the unlined edges, and carefully lift it out. Cut into six even slabs.

Tear off an 8cm wide strip of greaseproof or baking paper and fold it in three, finishing the seam underneath. Trim it to fit around your slab. Cut a length of ribbon about 15-30cm long and have it ready. Set aside.

Take one sheet of edible gold leaf and place it face down on the black upper side of your coconut ice. Using the brush, rub in circles on the back of the sheet of paper attached to the gold leaf to encourage the gold leaf to adhere to the surface of the coconut ice. Continue to do this, using up as much of the gold leaf on the sheet as you can, until you're happy with the amount on the top of your coconut ice.

Add the roses in one corner. If you've bought them from the cake decorator, they'll be on a stem which you can simply cut to length and stab into the top of the coconut ice. If they're home-made or from the supermarket, you'll need to adhere them with a bit of icing.

Wrap the folded length of greaseproof paper around one end of the bar of coconut ice and tie it in place with the length of ribbon.

You can now lay it on platters for the table or wrap it in lace, cellophane or a box for gifting.

Very pretty and even blokes love it!

You can get updates on Mimi's new blogs on the Simple Savings Facebook page

or in our Members' Blog section.

9. Rob Bob's Gardening Blog: Sweet Talking the Flowers!

Copious Curcurbits

Of all the plants we have grown this spring, we are most pleased with our melons, spaghetti squash, zucchini and pumpkin vines. :)» The pumpkin vine has proven to be quite a handful with its never-ending quest to conquer the front yard and we now think the spaghetti squash is trying to make a break for it through the corn into the asparagus bed. I think it might be time to make a counter-attack with the garden shears but shall see how far they advance before I make a tactical move.

Even though the plants themselves are going gangbusters at the moment they still don't always set the amount of fruit we would like. Un-pollinated/lost fruit is one problem we come up against even when the plants are well fed and watered.

This family of plants have what is known as imperfect, or incomplete flowers, meaning the male and female reproductive organs are on separate flowers. Perfect/complete flowers have both male and female organs in the one flower (tomatoes, eggplants, chillies, etc.). Imperfect flowers rely on bees and other pollinators to transfer the pollen from the male flower to the female.

Unfortunately, the bees do not always perform their duty so we end up with a fair amount of failed fruit. One way you can remedy this is to take matters into your own hands, put on the bee suit (optional) and do the job yourself. The flowers are only receptive to pollination for a short amount of time so it is best to get out there and pollinate them before 9am if you want the best shot at getting fruit to set.

First you need to select a freshly open male flower that has loads of pollen on the tip of the stamen (anther). Carefully remove the petals from the outside of the flower until the stamen is fully exposed.

Then all you need to do is dab the pollen onto the tip of the stigma of the female flower and the job is done. You can normally tell within 36 hours if the pollination has been successful as the fruit will start to grow. With zucchini in particular I have found that some days there will be no male flowers on the plant, but that is really no problem as the female fruit is perfectly edible at that size. There just won't be a lot to go around the dinner table.

Another way this can be achieved is to use a small soft bristled paint brush to collect the pollen from the male flower and deposit onto the stigma of the female flower. I have seen this method recommended when you may have a few female flowers to pollinate but only a single male. If you are growing more than one variety of pumpkin/squash and are still interested in saving some seeds, it is possible to tie off the female flower to ensure that the seeds will grow true to type plants.

Get out into the patch as early as you can, pollinate the flowers then tie off the petals around the female flower to stop any pollen from other varieties getting in there. Alternatively, if you felt like donning the mad scientist lab coat, you could try to develop your own hybrid varieties using the same technique. ;)

I would like to thank Sarah on the Share the Seed group for inspiring this post and all that contributed. I hope some of the pumpkins stick for you all. ;)

Rob : )»

You can get updates on Rob Bob's new gardening adventure blogs on the Simple Savings Facebook page

or in our Members' Blog section.

10. From Last Month: Digital Dilemma!

Last month Megan emailed us asking for help in organising her digital photos before she loses them forever:

"I really need some ideas on how to organise my digital photos! I have hundreds and hundreds on my camera, on my laptop and on my phone and I am very concerned about losing them. How do other people organise their digital photo collection? I really feel overwhelmed."

We got some fantastic ideas for Megan - you're going to be a busy lady! Here are some of our favourite replies:

Update photos regularly for quick sorting

I organise my digital photos on my laptop in folders by year and then month. If sent/given photos from friends these are saved in a separate folder marked accordingly.

I regularly download from my camera/iPad/phone to my laptop. When done frequently it is hardly a chore. This main photo file is then copied onto an external hard drive (back-up) for safety, as computers are notorious for crashing and losing/deleting data!

If you have hundreds and hundreds of photos this will be a lengthy project to undertake. However, if you commit to start now and move forward saving all future photos using tips such as this, but also incorporate a small amount of backlog with each download session, you will be organised in no time at all.

Contributed by: Amanda Walker

Create a personal cloud!

To solve my digital dilemma and keep all my precious files safe, I bought a network-ready external hard drive which I have connected to the router. Mine is a Western Digital (WD) brand. I then transferred all my pictures, music and videos to the hard disk. It took a little time and patience transferring everything over but I can now access my photos, music, videos and documents from anywhere in the world provided the router and disk is ON 24/7. You can access the files using Wi-Fi or your phone network. It is basically your personal cloud! Likewise, that disk will also work as a media server. As long as they are on the same network you can play songs and videos and watch your pictures from your computer, phone, tablet and even your PS3 and Xbox!

Contributed by: Sharav Shrestha

Storing photos old and new

We run a small computer group of retirees and their suggestions on managing photos came up at one of our meetings: There is a free software program called 'Picasa' which can be downloaded from the Internet and allows you to edit and modify your photos, and manage them into slide shows. Adobe Photoshop also does the same function.

We recommend the following:

First of all, get rid of all second rate, duplicated, unwanted and poor quality photos.
Sort what you have left into date order (you can make this easier by roughly classifying them into different years).
This relates to photos in digital format - change the name of each photo to one which reflects both date and brief description of content or place. Note the date should be in reverse order - looks like this '2013/08/15' or '2013' if you don't know the exact date, followed by a short description 'Tony's 21st birthday', then save to a computer file. Open separate folders in your computer for particular activities where you have a lot of photos. Continue this way with all your photos, then do a sort and save them to a USB memory stick, DVD or CD.
From experience, DVDs and CDs don't always maintain the quality of the picture and they have limited storage capacity. Whatever method you use, make sure that your storage device has a label specifying the contents.
You may end up with multiple storage devices with your photos on them; file these in a suitable container in date order.
It's always a good idea to have more than one digital record of the same photos, stored in a different place so that you don't lose your photos. You can also take advantage of websites on the Internet which will store your stuff for you, so that your computer memory is not filled up.
When it comes to old photos in hard copy version, write the date and description in pencil on the back and place them in envelopes for each year, facing the same way so that they don't stick together, using tissue paper if they are really precious. For these you will need a storage box, and these are widely available in most $2 shops.
At a later date, when you have time on your hands, it might be a good idea to scan all the older photographs and store them along with your other more recent digital photos.

Contributed by: Norma King

Round up all the gadgets once a month

As a scrapbooker and avid photographer of four active children (and a puppy), keeping track of my digital pics is essential. As soon I'm done for the day I transfer all from my camera or phone onto my computer. I have folders under 'My Pictures' for each year with subfolders for each month. I go through each pic and cull blurry or 'too hard to Photoshop' photos (I'm lazy!), then rename each photo using my trusty ACDSee program which batch renames using the format of year, month, day and brief event description. ACDSee numbers each picture sequentially so I only have to type the info and click the process button.

Once a month I round up all the kids' electronic equipment and transfer all their pics to my computer as well, sort by date, then rename and move into relevant month folder. I back everything up to an external hard drive once a week (sometimes more often as it can take a while - I set it for overnight so is not cutting into day computer use).

Every year for Christmas I burn DVD copies of the year's photos for the grandparents and send with a monthly collage/description 6x6 scrapbook which I *try* to do over the course of the year.

That way - heaven forbid - I know I have back-up copies of all my photos with the grandparents and as technology changes I will update to suit.

Contributed by: Mum2Five

Organise your pics and save with Snapfish

For those struggling with a mass of digital photos, I use Snapfish to organise all mine - www.snapfish.com. You can upload them from your computer or your mobile phone (just get a free app for either an iPhone or an Android). I regularly upload the photos straight from my phone and my husband's. You can also upload them from your camera by plugging it into your computer. It's easy to create folders as you upload and add to them. From there, you can do all sorts of things with your photos - order prints or gifts, share the albums with your friends and relatives, or - and this is my favourite - you can make photo books. This is the BEST way to use digital photos. It's like scrapbooking but cheaper and neater. You could spend hours and hours putting books together if you are interested, but it is also simple to do very quick albums using their auto fill feature.

NEVER pay full price for any products on Snapfish - they are constantly doing discounts on one thing or another. You just need to keep checking to see if they are doing a discount on what you want. For example, just before Mother's Day they did a two-for-one deal on photo books, so for Mother's Day both grandmothers got a beautiful photo album of their newborn granddaughter, and they absolutely loved it. I have also done small softcover photo books for under $10 to send to overseas relatives and I have made elaborate 'yearbooks' with stories and captions and bright colours, which I then save until a big discount allows me to buy it cheaply!

Contributed by: Rebecca C

A USB works for me!

One of the cheapest and easiest ways to store and protect digital photos is to store them on a USB flash drive. My daughter keeps hers with her most of the time so that she can print one or two out cheaply when she does her shopping at places like Kmart. If you can get the storage devices on sale, you could probably use a few of them, for example, different ones for different topics, 'Family', 'Friends', 'Pets' and so on!

Contributed by: Gusta T

11. This Month's Help Request: Christmas Sales Savvy

Sophie has emailed asking for some help! She writes:

"I have gone to a few Christmas sales in the past but stopped going as there seemed to be more hype than bargains. How do you get good deals at the Christmas sales?"

If you have any pearls of wisdom you'd like to share with Sophie, please send them in to us here.

12. Goodbye for Now!

Well, that's your Simple Savings Newsletter for December 2013 and we hope you have enjoyed it. We hope we've inspired you to enjoy some good old-fashioned fun - let us know how you go!

From our family to yours, we wish you a wonderful Christmas, and we can't wait to share an exciting 2014 with you!

Till next time...

All the best,
Fiona

December 2015 - Simple Savings Newsletter

"Secrets to Saving Money" Free Newsletter - December 2015

This issue includes:-

Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: Troll Blood!
December: Make it Fun, Make it Funny!
Best of the Vault: Festive Feasting!
Best of the Forum: Countdown to Christmas
Best Members' Blog: Zero Dollar Christmas
Cooking with Mimi: An Extravagantly Decorated Table Saves on Food That Goes to Waste
Rob Bob's Gardening Blog: A New Pond for the Patch and a Fishy Update

Hello,

MERRY CHRISTMAS!! I hope you have a lovely break. We have made you a Christmas gift (2016 calendar) and we will be sending it to you in a few days. In the meantime, we have some great last minute gifts that only cost pennies but look fantastic!

Thank you for supporting us for another year. And, thank you for kind emails. They inspire us to work harder. Here are our favourite emails this month:

"Thank you for everything Fiona and Matt - I have had great pleasure in buying memberships for my adult children for Christmas this year." (Tanya)

"Still loving my $21 Challenge - thank you! You have saved me hundreds of dollars every few months." (Mariah)

Have a great month!
All the best,
Fiona Lippey

P.S. The calendar is almost ready and we will be sending it to you in a few days.

1. Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: Troll Blood!

Sal looked at the list she had made and sighed. "I have 21 gifts left to buy and only have $120 to spend. That's less than $6 each. What on earth can I buy for $6 that says 'Hey, Merry Christmas! You're special!'?"

Hanna smiled at her friend across the desk and started to speak but Sally cut her off. "No Hanna, I know you're going to say I can make something. I did that last year remember and it ended up costing a fortune, way more than if I bought them something in the first place. No, I've got to think of something I can buy, and quickly."

Hanna tried again, "Sal, I was going to say I have the perfect idea. It IS home-made but it's quick and easy and cheap to make. The best thing is you can personalise it for each person which makes it extra special." Sal perked up. "Hanna, that sounds wonderful. What is it?" Hanna smiled, "It's 'Troll Blood'!"

2. December: Make it Fun, Make it Funny

'Troll Blood'? What on earth is 'Troll Blood' you may ask? Did we really capture a few internet trolls and turn them into chocolate sauce as the label says?

The answer is, "YES! Yes we did! And it was lots of fun!!"

OK, the real answer is no. Troll Blood is made from cocoa, water, sugar, vanilla and salt and it is part of my long-running quest for the perfect gift. For years I have watched to see which gifts people enjoy the most. These gifts are the ones that appeal to the heart, the mind and/or the senses. They are often:-

gifts that are hand-made
gifts that make them laugh or smile
gifts that taste good.

If you can find a gift that does all three things, then you have a hit! So I've combined all three to make the ultimate frugal gift to use for Christmas and birthday gifts. It is a killer chocolate sauce recipe, stored in easy to buy jars with a great selection of labels to match your friends' tastes.

We have had a ball making the labels and we uploaded them so you can do it too.

First I'll show you all the labels up close and then the all-important recipe.

We have 'Troll blood' for your friends who find internet trolls really frustrating.

For teachers and coaches with a wicked sense of humour, we have 'Essence of Revenge'!

For the friend who likes things simple, we have some basic Christmas labels.

For friends who like coffee, we have altered the recipe (see below), offering to blow their heads off!

Or, help them concentrate :-)

For your friends who love chocolate. We have..

Here is the recipe (and all important labels) to make two delicious jars of 'Troll Blood' (or whatever else you'd like to call it!) to give to loved ones and others who share your dislike for trolls!

Troll Blood

Makes 2 x 1 litre jars

Shopping list:

2 x 1 litre jars ($6)
1 box (380g) cocoa ($4)
2kg sugar ($2)
Vanilla essence
Salt

Labels:

Print out chosen labels

Glue stick

Scissors

Ingredients

2kg sugar
Box of cocoa (380g)
1 litre water (or coffee)
1 tsp salt
1 tbs vanilla essence

Put sugar and cocoa in a really big stock pot. Stir together to remove all the lumps from the cocoa. Add liquid (water or coffee) and salt. Turn stove to high and stir continually. When it is boiling, turn heat to medium. Keep stirring and watching. If it gets too hot it will bubble over. Let syrup simmer until it thickens, about 5-10 minutes. Remove from heat and add vanilla essence.

Pour into two jars. When cooled add your labels.

And now you have two awe-inspiring, home-made gifts for a tiny $6 each! It is the ultimate frugal gift.

Download the labels here.

Merry Christmas!!

Fiona

3. Best of the Vault: Festive Feasting!

Say 'Merry Christmas' with love by cooking your own festive fare this year. With a bit of thought and organisation, you can create a delicious and inexpensive Christmas for your loved ones to remember. Here are some great ideas from the Vault:

Boozy strawberry syrup

This delicious strawberry syrup makes an ideal festive gift for sipping and slurping! It's so easy and only takes a week until it's ready. All you need are strawberries, sugar, vodka and a clean jar.

Put fresh strawberries into an elegant jar or bottle.
Drizzle with white sugar until the jar is filled.
Fill with vodka.
Turn daily for a week to dissolve the sugar.
Decorate the jar with ribbon and/or a festive tag.
Use as a drink with lemonade or over crepes, ice cream or strawberries. Yum!

Contributed by: Kathy L

Frozen Christmas Bombe

This Christmas recipe serves 6-8 people.

1 cup mixed dried fruit
1/2 cup sliced glace cherries
2 tablespoons brandy
1 x 359g can sweetened condensed milk
2 x 300ml cartons thickened cream
1/2 cup dark choc bits
1/2 cup white choc bits
1/2 cup flaked almonds, toasted

Combine dried fruit, cherries and brandy in a bowl. Cover and stand for 30 minutes.
Line a 1.5 litre (six cup capacity) pudding basin with plastic wrap, freeze whilst preparing ice-cream.
Beat sweetened condensed milk and cream in a large bowl with an electric mixer until thick. Fold through the fruit mixture, dark and white choc bits and almonds.
Pour the mixture into a prepared basin. Freeze for several hours, or overnight.
Before serving, turn out pudding onto a plate; then smooth the surface with a wet knife.
Decorate with fresh fruit/berries, and bottled sauce of your choice.

Contributed by: Vivien Wakefield

Minimal Cost Christmas

Christmas can be an expensive time of year but I have learned to make savings. I buy turkey and chicken pieces instead of a whole bird. This way saves time in cooking and preparing and if you want stuffing to go with it, make it up in muffin tins.

I make my own cake instead of buying one. I soak the fruit and nuts in black tea for 24 hours and make it up as usual. I don't make a cake with more than 2 eggs in, I find it unnecessary. I pour a tablespoon of brandy or whiskey over the cake daily for 2 weeks to keep it fresh; the taste does disappear after a few days of not doing it.

Mince tarts can be made with 500g of mixed dried fruit minced up fine in a blender to go further. I make sweet shortcrust pastry and put in about 2 teaspoons for each portion, then bake for 20 mins or until golden brown.

Using these methods, I have worked out that our Christmas dinner will cost under $20 to serve ten people. We make our own beer so for $11 we have 72 bottles of beer. I buy the beer kits when they are on special. I make my own hats, sweets and table settings. The library has lots of books on the subject, most items needed can be found in op shops for a minimal cost.

Contributed by: Kaye King

4. Best of the Forum: Countdown to Christmas

Christmas doesn't have to be a last-minute spending rush. Here are some great ideas to help you plan a wonderful Christmas without breaking the budget!

Secret Santa - how do you do it in your family

Secret Santa is a great way to do family gift-giving, have fun and save money all at the same time!
read more...

Mimi's under-$5-looks-like-more DIY Xmas gifts

Mimi shares her beautiful gift-giving ideas in this thread - they are so pretty you'll be making one extra to keep for yourself!
read more...

Hosting Christmas

There are some great ideas for surviving being the host this Christmas!
read more...

5. Best Members' Blog: Zero Dollar Christmas

One of the many benefits of being a Vault member is that you can win $100 cash each month for your Simple Savings blog! Starting your own blog on the site is easy. All you have to do is log into the Vault, click on 'My Desk' at the top left, then 'Your Blog'. Then get writing! We love reading all your money saving trials and tribulations and really appreciate the effort that goes into each one.

This month's Blog winner is Sandy for her blog about NOT spending on Christmas presents!

"I can't believe how fast the year is going, and how close Christmas is! We recently started a new business and while it is doing well, we are barely, if at all, actually covering our personal expenses, so I have started dreaming up Christmas and how I can make it work. My husband thinks I'll have to spend some money and I probably will but I am determined to keep it very close to nothing! I have been looking around and thinking what resources I have that I can use to make into gifts - not just something nice but also something that people will appreciate and use.

So far I have come up with the following:

a ginger plant (already sprouting)
home-made bags that can be used at the market, both light-weight net ones for individual vegies and larger ones for whole bunches
a peg apron
lemongrass plants
reusable fabric covers (instead of cling wrap)
Freecycle begging (hopefully I can get some bath toys for bubby)
home-made gift vouchers

The resources I am planning on using are the big stack of fabric I have, some large onion bags and some 20kg rice bags (some of which I am using to grow potatoes but I have plenty).

Although in some ways it is a bit of a struggle and we're feeling the pinch, for me it is a challenge to rise to. Unfortunately it is harder for my husband who doesn't have a lot of time, loves to give gifts and loves the luxuries of life. I am so proud of the way that he is coping with the tight finances though."

Well done Sandy - you are an inspiration - thank you for sharing!

You can read more of our members' blogs here.

6. Cooking with Mimi: An Extravagantly Decorated Table Saves on Food That Goes to Waste

This year, I'm focusing on setting a truly beautiful Christmas table, and serving simple food. I get that we don't feel right if the table isn't groaning with stuff on Christmas Day, but it's a special sort of crazy really, isn't it? We waste so much and I'd rather donate a little more to charity now that we have a family of adults. So, we're making it a feast for the eyes and soul, not just the stomach.

Our menu this year is a simple leg ham, two lovely salads, fresh stone fruit and nuts in the shell, and a dessert yet to be decided. That's it. But I wanted our Christmas table to be truly beautiful with a tartan theme, which I should probably explain!

I got this tartan at Spotlight for $2 a metre.

I already had the striped 'ticking' style fabric, the vintage blue and white toile, and the chambray remnant. They go together in that totally over-the-top mixed pattern style that I would never do for every day, but which I kinda like for Christmas :)

We have off-white china, silver candelabra and a small collection of blue and white ginger jars. I need more of those actually so I feel an op shop trawl coming on! I've been lucky to pick the ones I have up for $2 or thereabouts. New, they're actually really expensive!

Here's a first run....

That's all from things I already have. The beautiful roses were a gift from a friend. Aren't they a gorgeous colour? I had to giggle to myself when I did this though, because my eye simply won't allow too much busy-ness and I chose to include the rose, as well as my pink wine glasses, because of that touch of pink on the ginger jar. This is a more understated version, isn't it. I'll have to take my 'understated-ness' off, I think!

I think I'll fill the ginger jars with chocolate éclair lollies or something and just stress that the sweets are for eating and the jars for returning ;-) I'll do a long low floral centrepiece using some silverware I've collected over the years, and some similar coloured roses either from the garden or from the florist wholesaler a day or two before. You'd be amazed what you can create with a fruit bowl, some $2 florist foam, a bunch of inexpensive flowers and some greenery from the garden!

So in between all that prettiness will sit a couple of platters of cold food, beautifully presented and won't we all feel special. There's more to a celebration meal than indulging the stomach. What about indulging the eye as well.

Merry Christmas :)

You can get updates on Mimi's new blogs on the Simple Savings Facebook page or in our Members' Blog section.

7. Rob Bob's Gardening Blog: A New Pond for the Patch and a Fishy Update

The patch is flying along and I thought I'd include a few update shots of the taro, corn and Queensland Arrowroot that I post about on my last blog. As you can see from the picture above, the taro has taken right off in the wicking barrels. I was concerned that they might not like the full sun they're getting in this position but so far they look like it's not bothering them at all. I think it helps that these barrels are automatically topped up with water so the soil is always moist.

The mixed glass bead and gem corn plants have also put on a lot of growth over the past four weeks. We had a rather ferocious storm on Sunday and I was concerned they may blow over like a friend's did in West Ipswich, but I think the front fence took a lot of sting out of the wind. I think I will have to set up some sort of twine around them like I have with previous crops as they won't be so protected once they reach 2m / 6½' tall.

The Queensland arrowroot has totally blown me away. I know our compost was good but didn't think it was this nutritious ;-)

There is also a red Amaranth (grown for its seed by South Americans) flourishing in there that is the most vigorous looking amaranth we've grown to date. Not only is it the tallest amaranth we've grown (we can see it from the house over the shade house) but the base of the stem is massive. I've decided to leave this plant just to see what comes of it. Will definitely end up with enough seed to add into my date and nut cocoa balls methinks ;-)

A few other plants have done surprisingly well for us so far include this pumpkin, grown from some seeds shared with me by Ruben, an online friend I met through the Share the Seed Facebook group. It's growing up a small trellis and so far looks to be a great producer with five fruits already forming.

They're a smaller fruiting pumpkin that is a hybrid variety (so no seed saving unfortunately) that has proven to be fairly mildew resistant up until this week. I have noticed a few patches of mildew forming so will be removing the worst affected leaves and will use a fungicide spray on the other leaves to try and knock the infection off. Reuben was also kind enough to share some cucumber seeds with me as well. They were sown directly into the Root pouch wicking garden at the back stairs in August. Three months later and the little garden is looking just a tad overgrown ;-) So far we've picked about a dozen nice sized cucumbers from this patch which we've been enjoying immensely. I think Maya wants two of these left aside so she can make sliced cucumber pickles but she'll have to be quick, as we're eating one of these a day at the moment ;-) A few of the chillies have been picked with loads of mint and a few sweet potato leaves going into meals as well.

A New Pond for the Patch

Just over a month ago we set up a pond in the patch under the Tahitian lime tree so we could grow a few edible water plants. We are also hoping it will provide a spot for frogs to spawn in and to provide water for beneficial insects.

The pond is made from a 500L grow bed** we purchased with the aquaponic system a while back but we can't fit into the system the way it's laid out at the moment. Setting it up was as easy as levelling the ground and installing an overflow port that would run excess water off to irrigate the lime tree in times of heavy downpours. For the time being it's just sitting on the ground but its position may change in the future. Ideally some of the base should be dug into the ground to help keep the water cool during our scorching summer heat.

I decided to try using Root Pouches to grow the plants and filled them with a potting mix and compost blend. We sat these on top of some milk crates and an upside down plant pot. Two of the pouches were planted out with water chestnuts and the third with arrowhead/duck potatoes. The water chestnuts we've grown a few times now but the arrowhead is a new one for us. I've been told that they have a nutty flavour so it will be interesting to see how they go once they're harvested.

One thing we keep in mind when setting up ponds in the yard is to keep the mosquitoes from breeding in them. To make sure that we didn't have an explosion of wrigglers, we added some native fire tailed gudgeons.

They will quite happily polish off any mozzie wrigglers but won't eat any eggs or tadpoles. A water pump was also added to keep the water moving and well oxygenated for the gudgeons. I'm looking at replacing the 240V pump with a small solar pump but just haven't found one I'm happy with yet. On top of the water I added some small floating plants called azolla and duck weed (Thanks Adie & Tina). These two tiny plants are very nutritious and can be fed to the fish in the aquaponics, to chooks or compost worms if we want. I've also seen a few folks that eat both plants but I think I'll pass for now. ;-)

On the west facing side of the pond a small garden bed was made to help provide shade from the hot afternoon sun. It was planted out with some Queensland arrowroot to not only shade the side the pond but to also serve as a ladder for frogs that may want to use it to spawn in. So far I'm really pleased with how it's going and can't wait to see some tadpoles swimming in there.

** A stock tank would work just as well if you're after an above ground pond. They can be purchased from rural supply stores and also recycling businesses like Tilkey here in South East Queensland.

Aquaculture Update

A few weeks back we harvested the fish in the fish farm and pulled it down. It was always meant to be a bit of an experiment just to see if I could run a straight aquaculture system in the backyard and I found that it helped me learn a few things I hadn't yet come across running the aquaponic system. I am glad that it's all pulled down now as it was a shame to see all the nutrients go to waste instead of growing produce for ourselves. These were the last of the Jade perch from the fish farm. There was a 9th fish but I was in a hurry and had already dressed it before realising I hadn't taken a picture. The smallest weighed 450g/1lb and the largest 700g/1.5lb which I was very pleased with. They had been in the fish farm for about 18 months and were supposed to come out in 12 months at an average weight of 500g, but due to a few hiccups along the way their feed rations were cut a few times meaning they didn't grow as fast as I would have liked them to.

The tanks and barrels from the system will be heading over to my parent's place where it will be recycled into an aquaponic system for them to grow some silver perch in.

Aquaponic System

The aquaponics has been pumping out the produce of late, with around 80% of the greens we've been eating coming from the system. We are having a few issues with a caterpillar on the Okinawan spinach at the moment. These caterpillars have been devastating the plants in the aquaponics so I think it might be time to give the plants a haircut and spray with some Dipel to knock the infestation on the head.

The fish are feeding really well now that the weather has warmed up. The Jade perch are all ready to come out as we feel like a fish meal. A few of the silver perch are around the 500g/1lb mark now and ready to come out but the trick will be to pull them out rather than the smaller fish. The rest will be left in for a while longer until they grow out to harvest size.

There are some big changes coming for the aquaponics now that the fish farm has been pulled down. We are hoping to fit in around 3m²/32feet² of new grow beds were the fish farm once stood, with at least one large bed being a floating raft bed for greens-only production.

So there's a bit of a look at how things are going in the patch at the moment. I hope everyone's gardens are pumping out the produce now we're into summer.

Have a great one all.
Rob

You can get updates on Rob Bob's new gardening adventure blogs on the Simple Savings Facebook page or in our Members' Blog section.

8. Goodybe For Now

Well, that's your Simple Savings Newsletter for December 2015 and we hope you have enjoyed it. Don't forget to check the Forum and Facebook for challenges and inspiration to help you with some great lunchbox ideas and don't forget to let us know!

Till next time...

All the best,
Fiona

December 2018 - Simple Savings Newsletter

Simple Savings Newsletter - December 2018

Making Christmas Gifts
The Ultimate Gift Planner
NEW Competition: Inspiring Others
WINNERS: Proudest Simple Savings Moment
Forum: We Have a New Search Engine!
Two-hour Decluttering: Precious Memories

Hello,

How are you doing? I hope you are having an enjoyable festive season.

First up; the legendary Simple Savings Calendar is ready. How low can you go in 2019?

Get yours here.

We have made many changes to the site this year and hope to make many more.

Wishing you a wonderful Christmas,

Fiona

P.S. If you're stuck for a gift idea for someone you care about, how about gifting them a Vault membership? It costs just $21 and will help someone else to save money all year round. Who knows, it may even change their life!

1. Making Christmas Gifts

This year all my Christmas shopping was complete by December 1st. The tree is up, presents are wrapped... and I am a big fat liar! The truth is, I have planned out everyone's gifts, but we are still busy making them. Making Christmas gifts is one of my favourite things to do. We make all sorts of gifts, Word Art, customised bags, Christmas trees, favourite songs, t-shirts, biscuits, jars of troll blood, even 'poo' - yes, you read right!

Here some of the gifts we have made this year, as well as instructions on how you can make them too:

Say it with Word Art

How about this for a heartwarming gift for a favourite teacher? Miss Elora made these two pieces by asking her classmates what they think of their teachers and then typing their responses into WordArt.com.

All you have to do is type in your words, choose your design and play with it till it is perfect. Guaranteed to make your recipient's day!

Customised Bags

Shopping bags are a very practical gift. Since the Compulsory Bag Ban I've tested nine different types of re-usable bags in order to find the best one for the job. I wanted a bag which is strong enough to carry my shopping, small enough to fit in my pocket and live in my handbag, large enough to fit my shopping in, looks good and is well priced. The best bags I found were at Woolworths and cost 99c. They meet all my requirements and are also really easy to decorate and transform into a unique and personalised gift.

Here are some of the bags the kids and I have decorated for our friends, family and each other. At the bottom, I'll show you how we did it.

Elora (aged 9) did this one for her teacher.

I made this one for my stylish friend. I kept it simple, so it would match her capsule wardrobe.

This one I was testing simple patterns:

and this one is our Christmas card design:

Creating your own is simple. Simply grab some 99c bags from the Woolworths checkout and some oil based paint markers, available from Office Works. You may have noticed me use these in previous newsletters.

Before you start decorating the bags, place some paper inside the bag to catch the paint which may seep through the fabric. Then draw away to your heart's content!

Next, cut the supermarket logo off the tag. Do not cut the tag off! The tag helps you find the piece of elastic, which holds the bag together.

The tag folds over so you can slide your scissors into the middle of the tag, cut it in half and then remove the half with the logo.

Then you can simply colour the remaining tag.

Christmas Trees

Miss Jacqueline has been busy making Christmas trees with her 3D pen.

If you would like to see how she makes them, here is a link to her YouTube video:

Music Gifts

Many years ago I gave my sister a mix tape of all her favourite songs. She absolutely loved it.

She got hours and hours of joy from that mix tape and said it was the best present anyone had ever made for her.*

While no one does mix tapes any more, what you can do is make a loved one a list of special songs just for them, using Spotify. Songs you think they will love, songs that remind you of fun things you did together, songs you loved when you were a teen or songs to inspire.

Earlier this month I asked our Forum members to help me put together a list of their favourite frugal songs, which I have put into a Spotify play list for you:

This list of favourite frugal songs features:

Coat of Many Colours - Dolly Parton
Every Little Thing - Peter Doran
Buy Now Pay Later (Charlie No. 3) - The Whitlams

The Gambler - Kenny Rogers
Royals - Lorde
Simple Life - Casey Abrams
Simple Pleasures - David Myles
Give Me The Simple Life - Dane Vannatter
Can't Buy Me Love - The Beatles
Mercedes Benz - Janis Joplin
Lost in the Supermarket - The Clash

Thrift Shop (feat. Wanz) EXPLICIT - Macklemore & Ryan
Save That Money - Rufus Thomas

Save Dat Money (feat Fetty Wap & Rich Homie Quan) - Lil Dicky
Chic 'N' Stu - System Of A Down
Spend, Spend, Spend - The Slits

No Money - Galantis
The Busy Girl Buys Beauty - Billy Bragg
Taxman - The Beatles
Money - Pink Floyd
These Days - Powderfinger

You Can't Always Get What You Want - The Rolling Stones
What Do I Do - Lanie Lane
Shake It Off - Taylor Swift

Oh No! - Marina and the Diamonds
Love Don't Cost a Thing - J Lo

Here is the link to Spotify

If you would like to know more about how these songs inspire others to save money, or if you can think of some more songs to add to the list, pop into our Forum thread here.

Years later, I confessed to my sister that I hadn't made the mix tape, she had made the mix tape herself. I found it in her room after she had left home and sent it to her!

T-Shirts

Personalised t-shirts are a useful and low cost gift which you can customise perfectly to suit the recipient. We have a great range of designs for all ages which you can print out directly from our site.

Home Made Biscuits

...with hand decorated labels.

Home made biscuits are a great gift. However, I've been told teachers aren't too fond of receiving food made by children with questionable hygiene! This method means mum can make snot-free biscuits, while the kids colour the labels to go on the jars.

To make it super easy for you, we have some labels for members to use in our Downloads area:

Tinned 'Baby Poo'

The best presents either taste delicious or make you laugh. We have created a gift that does both - canned baby poo!

This is one of our favourite gifts to give. It's funny, looks great and tastes great too. Yes, it really does taste great! This is because the 'baby poo' is actually yummy caramel, made from boiled sweetened condensed milk.

To make your own, start by peeling the label off of four tins of sweetened condensed milk.

Place some cutlery in the bottom of a large pot and fill with water. This is important, as you don't want your tins to be touching the bottom of the pot, otherwise they can over cook.

Carefully place your tins into the pot, making sure they are completely covered with water and the bottom of each one is touching the cutlery, not the pot.

Bring everything to the boil and simmer for two hours.

Once the tins are cool, remove them from the water.

Dry the tins thoroughly to stop them rusting.

Print and cut out your baby poo labels, then once the cans are completely cool and dry, stick them on.

As you can see, the caramel really does look like baby poo!

You can make your own labels with Canva (www.canva.com) or if you are a Vault member you can use our labels. The labels (for Members) are in our downloads area, here.

Here is the back of the label:

The labels are for Vault Members Only

Jars of 'Troll Blood'

You may also remember our Troll Blood and some of our others from a few years ago:

You can find the recipe for Troll's Blood, along with other labels in the December 2015 Newsletter

I hope you enjoy these gift ideas and they put smiles on your loved one's faces. Have fun!

2. The Ultimate Gift Planner

The Ultimate Gift Planner is a handy invention which works by showing you the who, when and what of your year ahead. First, you figure out all the people you give gifts to in a year. From this, you can estimate how many gifts you wish to give. Then comes the fun part; thinking of some great gift ideas. By taking a photo of your completed planner with your phone, from now on, any time you are shopping, you will have everything you need to get the perfect gift at the perfect price.

No more Christmas rushes, no more getting caught unprepared, no more Christmas queues. You will already have everything under control!

Download your Ultimate Gift Planner here.

3. NEW Competition: Inspiring Others

January is Wealthy Habits month, and what better way to start the year than inspiring others to set their money saving habits off on the right foot?

This month we want to know: What is the best advice you would give to someone who has a big pile of wasteful habits? How do you motivate and encourage someone who is new to the saving game?

Or at the other end of the scale, what was the thing someone else said to you which inspired you to change your wasteful ways?

We have four prizes of $50 to award for the best answers. To enter, send us your entries by December 31st. Email your entries to: competitions@simplesavings.com.au

4. WINNERS: Proudest Simple Savings Moment

What an incredible response we had to our last competition, 'What is your proudest Simple Savings moment?' The entries were so good, I couldn't choose just four winners, we had to increase it to six! Here are the winners:

"Over the years Simple Savings has helped me tighten my shopping (both food and clothes), learn to repurpose or use up and be content with our lifestyle, rather than wanting what the 'Jones Family' had. This allowed us to live on one income for a long time without feeling like we or our children were missing out. But more than that, I learned how to cut down our household bills and budget using the banks to help, rather than hinder us. This was very evident when last year we were in the process of buying a house (and moving), when our income dropped very suddenly. We went with only a quarter income for six weeks and have only had half the budgeted income since. Even though that happened in October (while dealing with moving and connection costs), we still paid all our school fees, booklists, Christmas expenses and back to school costs with cash. Through the power of wise budgeting, household management and knowing how to use what we already had, we have come through unscathed (and without a credit card debt)! Thanks to all the work at Simple Savings and the community of people willing to share their knowledge!"

Susan Zelley

"I joined Simple Savings a few years ago but wasn't following your ideas religiously at the time.

"Then in 2015 I was made redundant. It was my third redundancy and it hit me really hard. Our income was reduced in half and I was not able to get a job for two-and-a-half years. Since I had a lot of time on my hands, I started reading all the information from Simple Savings. I even won a free membership, so went through the membership area and learned heaps.

"I didn't have much money during those two-and-a-half dark years but I learned so much. I've become very organised and my house looks very neat. Everything is in its place and I have become a very creative cook and a great housekeeper. I have even managed to save all the extra money I earned by writing articles, tax refunds, being paid to sit on a couple of boards and taking catering orders for friends and making cakes. One year we went on holiday to Japan while I was still unemployed and we didn't borrow money or use our credit cards.

"I set up my own consultancy after about a year of redundancy, and started earning a little money and later worked for one of my clients for a year. This year I found a great part time job which I enjoy very much.

"After learning to live on one income for a few years, we still live quite carefully. Our lifestyle hasn't changed much and we have savings, bought two cars (mine was falling to pieces) and also bought an investment property. I borrowed the money for my car from our savings and am paying it back to myself without paying interest on borrowed money. We've had three overseas holidays after redundancy too and hoping to do more travelling.

"Thank you Simple Savings for helping me cope and learn about life".

Sue B

"My proudest savings moment was the day I cut our grocery bill in half. I sat down a couple of days beforehand and listed everything in the pantry and freezer and got out all my recipe books. I meal planned and was determined NOT to waver from my shopping list. I went to two alternative grocery stores, and finally the supermarket I usually shop at to get anything that wasn't available elsewhere. When I arrived home I set to baking and cooking, freezing a certain portion of what I made for future convenience. I made a list of the items I have available and put it on the fridge so everyone knew what what available. There was more variety in our menu which the family enjoyed. Savings as well as enjoyment - who can ask more than that!"

Cheryl McKay

"My proudest Simple Savings moment was after we had moved to our new home we bought. It was not the fact that we had bought our home, nor was it the fact that we had a garage to put our boat in, nor was it the fact that we had enough room for our three cars; one belonging to our son that we helped purchase. What was it you ask?

"It was a scrumpled piece of paper. Yep, that was my proudest Simple Savings moment! It was during the unpacking of our boxes that I found a scrumpled up piece of paper, that when I unscrumpled it had a list of goals for the next five years. This is what was on that list:

Help our son buy his first car - tick
Buy a home that is affordable for us, is inviting to everyone who comes and visits and is available at the end of 2011 - tick (paying a mortgage that is less than the rent we were paying).
Buy a boat for my husband and me and a car to be able to pull the boat - tick and tick.

"You would think we had won the lottery! Or had a change in jobs or an inheritance - but no, it was all down to deciding that we wanted to start making our hard earned money work for us, not us having to work hard just for our money. So I joined Simple Savings and started being money savvy, thanks to ALL of the wonderful members who were happy to share their experiences and stories, both good and bad. I started to be money smart just like the members and all the above items I was proud to read what we had achieved. I did have other items on the list, but they were things that didn't really matter to us (such as buying brand new furniture for our new home, we decided we were happy with our second hand purchases, apart from some items we bought brand new). Although one goal on the list is still important to me, to have a holiday wherever I want every year. That one might be number one in my next list. Off to find a new sheet of paper and a pen!"

T Kaye

"My proudest savings moment was when I paid off all my debt. A $40,000 credit card and a $10,000 personal loan.

"I made a decision about three years ago that I needed to get rid of my debt, once and for all. I did this by tracking all my spending. I bought an exercise book and began writing down every cent that I spent. I changed my habits, because I had to make sure that what I bought was good enough to go in the book. If I thought it wasn't worthy, then I didn't put it in. I ate everything out of my pantry, gave up shopping trips to Kmart (it's cheap, but it's not cheap if you don't need it, and can't afford it). I also started putting aside 20% of my wage and I now have $70,000 in the bank. A great start on buying my first home! I turned off every light that I could, stretched out my shampoo, conditioner and handwash by mixing it with water when I was almost out. I only bought groceries on special and gave up my weekly manicure/pedicure!

"While I can now relax this a little, I am still going to keep it up, so I can continue to save for a deposit on a house".

Jocelyn Robinson

"With a new baby on the way it was time to tackle the 'junk room' You know the one; the spare room/space that just seems to grow every time you open the door? This is the before and after. Everything was taken out and only put back if needed. Multiple car loads to the local op shop and donations given away on our local 'Pay it Forward' page, left us with a clutter free nursery.

"My top tips - be ruthless. If in doubt chuck it out, try not to keep too many multiples of items. If you were out at the shops right now would you buy the item? If it's broken/damaged are you really going to fix it?"

Before:

After!

Erin Johnston

Wow! Thank you to everyone who entered the competition and congratulations to our winners. You all deserve a huge pat on the back!

5. Forum: We Have a New Search Engine!

You read correctly! Matt has created a lovely new search engine to make browsing the squillions of brilliant discussions and topics in the Forum tons easier. The feedback has been great and members are really enjoying using the new function. Matt has some more tricks up his sleeve to make it even better still in the future! We hope you love using the new site on your phone too. If you haven't tried the new search engine yet and would like to learn more about it, pop into the Forum thread here.

6. Two-hour Decluttering: Precious Memories

The hardest thing with decluttering is getting started. Every job seems too large and I never have the time. So to make it less daunting and ensure it actually gets done, I break my decluttering missions into managable chunks of no more than two hours at a time. Here are some recent examples of decluttering in the Lippey household:

Kids' paintings

Our kids love their painting but over the years we had accumulated an immense stash of canvases in the garage, never to see the light of day again. So we came up with some simple rules that would help us to declutter, while still being able to 'keep' all of their paintings for posterity:

If you can find a space for it on the wall, we will keep it
If you want to keep painting on the canvas, we can keep it

Otherwise we would take a photo of the painting, take the canvas to the tip shop for someone else to use, and just keep the photo of the artwork on file instead.

First, we took all the paintings outside and found a spot with perfect light. Next, we put a step stool next to them and started photographing the canvases. Twenty minutes later, I had shots of all the kids' paintings. Here are some of them. They are very cute :-)

Now all of their paintings are out of storage and are either on walls, or documented with photographs. In addition we also have regained some valuable shelf space. Those canvases had been taking up masses of room in the garage for years, yet it took less than an hour to get them down and photograph them all. It also only took 10 minutes to get the kids to choose their favourite paintings and 20 minutes to hang them around the house. Best of all, we had fun doing it!

My sewing box

This is my sewing box. It is small, tidy and looks nice when it is sealed.

Unfortunately, inside was a complete mess. Sewing with it was a pain. I could never find anything and to locate something I either had to dig around in the box and risk being stabbed with a needle, or tip the entire load out onto the table.

I racked my brain trying to find a solution and contemplated buying the perfect sewing box from Bunnings when I realised I already had something that might work. A cutlery canteen the kids bought at the school fete for $5.

I started by sorting through the pile, throwing out duplicates and things I would never use, such as sequins from my belly dancing days. Next, I laid things out in the cutlery canteen so I could see them.

Here is the final result. It took around half an hour to transform everything from a horrendous mess to a neat and tidy sewing box.

As I looked at my lovely new sewing box and thought of the impossible mess it used to be, I had to wonder: Why did it take me this long?

The bottom drawer

This year's quest to reduce my time in the kitchen has been a success. The Thermomix is used 2-3 times a day, the ingredient labelling system is fantastic and finding lids in my container drawer is super easy. But, there was one drawer I hadn't yet had the strength to touch: The miscellaneous bottom drawer. Here is a photo of it. ARGH!!

It took me ages to start decluttering this drawer but the whole thing was emptied, sorted, cleaned, repacked and photographed in less than an hour.

The best part of all about my spurts of two-hour decluttering is that my husband Matt and friend Rae also joined in. Between them they filled up the trailer. How's that for impressive! Goodbye clutter! Hello SPACE. I'm looking forward to starting 2019 with a cleaner, more organised home.

2018 has been a good year. My kitchen is more efficient. My goals for 2019 are to keep my family healthy, re-paint the inside of my home and get back on the growing veggies wagon.

Wishing you a safe and happy Christmas, and a prosperous New Year!

All the best,

Fiona

PS: If you like these free money saving tips, imagine how many more you can learn when you purchase a Vault membership! The Vault contains thousands of tips to save you money on just about anything you can think of, all neatly categorised for you to browse the areas that interest you most easily. It costs a tiny $21 per year to join, and will save you much, much more throughout the whole year. To learn more and become a member, click here.

February 16th 2017 - Simple Savings Newsletter

Hello,

Thank you for all your wonderful feedback about the changes to our newsletters. We're so glad to hear you are enjoying the new, shorter format!

"Love the new format & determined to make some positive changes this year, both in lifestyle & finances!" Tracy C

"Just want to say what a great idea it is to send smaller emails more often, I get withdrawal symptoms waiting for the monthly ones!" Trish B

As always, if you have any feedback - good or bad, please write in and tell us. What would you like to see in your Simple Savings emails? Which savings topics which you most like our help with?

I look forward to hearing from you.

Many grins,
Fiona

Sally and Hanna: What's the World Coming To?

"Oh good grief, it just gets worse!" Sally said, looking at her computer screen in panic. "What gets worse?" asked Hanna, through a mouthful of sandwich. "What do you think? All this stuff about Donald Trump, it's all over Facebook", Sally waved a hand at the screen. "Honestly, I haven't slept properly in days! Don't you worry about what's going to happen to you?" she looked wide-eyed at Hanna.

"Why, what's going to happen to me?" Hanna smiled, still calmly eating her sandwich. "Don't you know what this could mean for us? We could lose our jobs, our homes, anything! Honestly Hanna, I thought you of all people would be up with the play", Sally glared. "I am up with the play!", Hanna replied. "But there's no point worrying about it; we're already doing everything we can. It's business as usual in our house."

"What on earth do you mean?" Sally asked. "I mean things don't have to change", smiled Hanna. "We just live frugally the way we always have. When you know how to survive on a tiny budget, you are always prepared for whatever life throws at you. Relax, Sal! It will be alright." "Do you really think so?" Sally looked hopeful. "Yes, I do", Hanna replied. "If you're really worried, grow a few vegies in the yard and get some chickens. Balance your budget and focus on building yourself a nest egg. You'll get through." "Well - that makes sense. I feel a bit better now", said Sally "Thanks Hanna! Build myself a nest egg, you say? Guess I'll definitely need those chickens then!"

Next time: In our next newsletter we will talk about some easy ways you can get started building your own nest egg. Chickens are optional ;-)

Savings Tip: My '$10 top-up' challenge saves up to 2/3 on groceries!

I am spending a fraction of what I used to on food and other groceries since I set myself a $10 top-up challenge! Every few days I would go to the shops to top up bread, milk, butter, tomatoes and other essentials. However I found invariably I would need this or that that hadn't been included in my regular grocery shop and I would end up spending about $20-$30. Not any more though! Now I walk in with only $10 and stick to the $10 top up budget. For example, today it was bread on sale, chicken drumsticks and hot cross buns, which came to a total of just $8.50. I am much happier with the new, lower amount! Walking in with $10 for top-up groceries is challenging but also saves us money as we use whatever is at home and there is a lot less wastage. Happy me, happy wallet and happy environment!

Contributed by: PlanB

Got a great money saving tip? Send it in to us and you could win!

We love to hear all your favourite ways to save money. Share them with us today and you could win a year's free membership to the Simple Savings website! All it takes is a few minutes to enter and the winner gets to enjoy access to thousands more brilliant money saving tips and resources in our precious Savings Vault, as well as everyone's favourite, the Savings Forum. To be in to win, send your tips in to us here. You can enter as many times as you like, so don't be shy!

Bye for now

That's all for today. If you want to get a head start on building your nest egg before the next newsletter, visit our website - there are stacks of brilliant tips waiting to help you save money right now!

Until next time,
Fiona

February 2011 - Simple Savings Newsletter

"Secrets to Saving Money in Australia" Free Newsletter - February 2011

This issue includes:-

Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: Sally the Super Saver!
March is Hidden Gems Month
This Month's Competition: Share Your Best Hidden Gem and WIN!
$21 Challenge Update
Best Member's Blog: This Month's Winner
Best of the Forum: Hidden Gems Galore
Best of the Vault: Thinking Outside the Square
Cooking with Mimi
Penny's Blog: Hooray for Hidden Gems!
Homeopathy Corner: Disaster Remedies Part II
From Last Month: Too Many Tomatoes
This Month's Help Request: Go Away Silverfish!
Savings Story: Don't Give Up

Hello,

How are you going? I hope you have had a good month. It has been a month of ups and downs in the Lippey household. This month, I did eight library talks, which was both really scary (I hate talking in public) and absolutely wonderful. The best bit was meeting so many Simple Savers. A lot of really lovely people turned up to the talks and it made them a lot of fun. I also learnt many new tips from the audience including some new hidden gems (special places to shop) in my area that I didn't know before. Such as; ALDI is the cheapest place to buy environmentally sustainable fish on the Sunshine Coast and the best place to get fruit and vegies is at Fisherman's Road market at 4.30am on a Sunday! I also found out how brilliant our local librarians are. It was wonderful to meet so many members in person for the first time, and to top it all off, we received awesome letters too!

"Imagine how perfect it was to receive your newsletter this month, perfectly timed! I've been away for 10 days and came home late last night to nothing 'fresh' in the house. I was wondering what on earth to have for lunch, when I read the pantry salad recipe. In an hour's time I will have a healthy and nutritious lunch at 'no cost'! Also, imagine my surprise to discover that I can actually make chocolate syrup! As the mother of two 'starving' teenage boys who are constantly guzzling milkshakes, it had been getting quite expensive to buy the topping. Now I can make my own from a few simple ingredients which are also in my pantry!

"I'm still grateful for learning that I can freeze pumpkin, and now freeze all sorts of vegies prepped and cut up, ready to just toss into a stew or soup. I recently discovered that you can also freeze garlic! Many, many thanks to this month's contributors as once again I've learned heaps! Keep up the great work." (Belinda Lee)

"I've borrowed 'The $21 Challenge' twice from my local library. I don't generally buy books but I've made an exception for this one. I have been managing our household shopping for over 40 years and thought I was a very wise shopper. I was brought up with the mantra 'waste not - want want' ringing in my ears. My mother was a born recycler and I realise most of it has actually rubbed off on me. However reading your book made me see that I was falling into some bad habits and the two big supermarket chains were causing me to make unwise purchases. I've always shopped with a list, but I was falling into the 'special' trap and buying stuff I didn't really need immediately. When I took stock of my pantry I found I had too much of everything!

"The turning point for me in my decision to actually lay out some cash for your book was all the fantastic information on how to substitute ingredients. Especially herbs; there's always one that I haven't got that appears to be a key ingredient in a recipe. I look forward to the many times I know I'll be dipping into your book for ideas on how to use up the odd bits and pieces that we all end up with, no matter how good we think we are at not wasting anything.

"I no longer rely on my memory for the contents of the freezer. I bought a special notebook and I list the contents of the freezer right down to the last lonely sausage or bits of herbs. Use it up/cross it off, add something/write it down. It's made a huge difference to the way I menu plan and shop. I use one section of notebook for a permanent shopping list. I buy nothing for the pantry until I've opened the last of that particular item and it's then written on the list. Now before I go shopping, I plan the week's meals using the freezer list, check what's on the permanent list for any key ingredients and only go and buy what I really need for that week. Thank you a thousand times over for the wake-up call!" (Anne Whiteway)

"I have been a member for about three years now and in November of last year I was thinking about not renewing my membership. I didn't think I was using the site or your information much. I didn't think I was much of a Simple Saver. Then, at the end of last year, I did a financial overview of where we're at for my husband. I've been a stay-at-home-mum since July 2008 and in that time we've managed to live OK; we've had two kids, still managed camping holidays and we are over $20,000 ahead in our home loan. OK so the GFC assisted with that but if I hadn't been a Simple Saver I may not have capitalised on it! So after this I realised that I AM a Simple Saver and I do need this membership. I've used and eagerly await my new calendar at the end of each year, I use the Bill Payment System each week and I use the Vault for gift ideas and really, ideas on anything. So, although I may not be as hard core as some, I am very proud to be a Simple Saver and thank you very much for a job well done and for helping me to spend precious time with my babies." (Kylie-Ann Martin)

All the best,
Fiona Lippey

P.S. We are working on the follow up book to the $21 Challenge now which is focusing on long term food savings. If there is anything you would like us to cover in this book, please send us an email and we will do our best to include it.

1. Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: Sally the Super Saver!

Sally had to stop herself from running into her Savings Group meeting! All month she had dedicated herself to finding the best deals and the best shops in her area. No stone had been left unturned and now Sally was reaping the savings. All her findings had been recorded neatly in black and white and now she couldn't wait to show the others.

"I've done it!" she announced proudly. "Since our last meeting I've been EVERYWHERE working out the best place to buy things in our area. I know the best place to buy my vegies, the best place to get my meat, the best op shop and I've even got the best insurance plan!" she beamed triumphantly, tapping her folder.

The rest of the group clapped and cheered in surprise. "Well done, Sally! You really are a Super Saver!" Hanna gave her friend a hug. "That's a fantastic effort, Sal, congratulations! We would love to see what you came up with. Any chance we could have a look at your folder?" "Of course, I'd be happy to show you!" Sally's eyes sparkled. "You could save us all a fortune by the time we leave this room!" grinned Hanna. "Thanks, Sal, you're a real gem!"

2. March is Hidden Gems Month!

Sally has taken a huge step in the right direction. To be a smart consumer you definitely need to do your homework and shop around. However, you also need to work together with friends so that everyone can benefit from each other's knowledge and help one another. This month is Hidden Gems month, where we share our favourite little-known shops and encourage others to share theirs too!

What exactly is a 'Hidden Gem'?

For those who haven't heard about them before, Hidden Gems are shops that save you time and money every time you go there but the specials are rarely advertised. They are the best shops in your area - but you have to go looking for them.

How do I find a 'Hidden Gem'?

This is the easy way; if this fails, you will have to do it the hard way. Start with the phone directory. Work out all the shops in your area that sell the goods you want, then put on your Simple Savings hat (that's a metaphorical hat, not a real one; we don't sell hats!), get in the car and check out each shop in person. Chat to the staff. Check out the goods, check out the prices and work out which has the best value.

Why are 'Hidden Gems' so brilliant?

Not all shops are equal. Hidden Gem stores can save you a heap of money compared to other stores. Imagine if, like Sally, you shopped around and got the best deals on vegies, meat, insurance and everything else. Imagine how the savings would add up each week, each month, each year. You could save an absolute fortune! I recently met a woman at a library talk who spent three hours researching and calling a few stores and lowered her yearly bills by $1280. Not bad for three hours' work!

So celebrate the Hidden Gems in your area this month! Find them and, importantly, SHARE THEM in our new, improved Hidden Gems Directory. This is a special feature which is available to Vault members only. Why? Because it takes time and effort to find really good Hidden Gems. Our frugal members have worked hard to dig up these bargains and are not willing to give them away to all and sundry. We respect their wishes, which is why the directory is, and will stay, exclusive to Vault members. If you would like to become a Vault member and enjoy all the benefits it has to offer, you can do so right away! Simply click here to join and access a wealth of tips and advice from thousands of savvy members who shop at Hidden Gem stores every day. Good luck hunting for your Hidden Gems this month - and when you find them, be sure to tell us about them!

3. This Month's Competition: Share Your Best Hidden Gem and WIN!

Hidden Gems may be hard to find but they stand out a mile from other stores with their consistently good service and value for money. Stores such as these deserve rewarding with your custom and support. They deserve to be given credit for doing the right thing by their customers. In this month's competition, you get the chance to do just that! We want you to tell us all about your favourite Hidden Gem shop. Who are they? Where are they? Most importantly, WHY are they your favourite Hidden Gem? Why do you like them? What is it that makes them so good? The more information you can give, the better. There will be a first prize of $500 and three runner-up prizes of $100 each. Awards wil be given for the most entertaining and well-written accounts of your favourite store. We can't wait to see all your wonderful Hidden Gems! You can enter the competition here. The closing date for entries is March 25th.

4. $21 Challenge Update

It's been a busy month with the $21 Challenge! Fiona has been flat out doing library talks and we have been working with the lovely ladies at Healthy Food Guide magazine to help spread the word that the $21 Challenge IS indeed healthy! Check out this month's issue, which has a brilliant eight-page feature including tips for surviving the Challenge, some favourite recipes from the book and heaps of ways you can use up all kinds of leftovers from your fridge and turn them into yummy, filling dishes. This is the second time that the $21 Challenge has been featured in the Healthy Food Guide magazine - big thanks to Georgia and Niki for their support!

5. Best Member's Blog: This Month's Winner

This month's winner is Tracey D (or should we say Tracey's hubby!) for this extract from their blog 'Happy Little Blogger' where the family find a real gem of a second hand piano. Or do they?!

Scaling dizzy heights

Given the musical bent of our children - they know all the words to Mary Had A Little Lamb and I caught Miss 7 tapping her foot the other day - we have decided to buy a piano.

Oddly, the only comment we've managed to illicit from both Tracey's mother and my own when we mentioned this is, "Where the heck are you going to put it?"

They have a point. We only just manage to fit the children in.

Naturally I gave each of them the same answer, "Wherever Tracey says."

Another reason we MUST get a piano is ever since Tracey came up with the idea I've been entertaining a secret desire to learn to play Billy Joel's Baby Grand (only I would sing both Billy's AND Ray Charles' parts cause I'm needy and want attention).

Sadly I also secretly know that as I have stumpy fingers and no rhythm it would be nothing short of a miracle if I learned to play chopsticks.

Weeks of searching on eBay finally secured us a slightly used Beale Upright for $50, and only 5km away from where we live.

Getting it here turned out to be a problem. All the Internet sites I visited called for four blokes with experience and muscles. Well, that's not going to happen. Master 19 has gone to Brisvegas and between the two of us he's the only one with muscles. I plead guilty to having the piano moving experience though, but only because I've watched the YouTube videos...

So I rang a local removalist. Only an hour's work, tops. Couldn't be more than $100, right? Oh, so wrong. $220 - plus extra for each step. Added onto the $165 for tuning the beast when it arrives and this $50 piano is becoming serious money for a bunch of as yet unproven virtuosos!

So I'm thinking, maybe if I grab a couple of young fellas and give them beer? Four blokes at a carton each will cost us $120, steps included. Actually, five cartons: forgot to pay myself.

But then Tracey calls up the seller and discovers the description, "The item may have some signs of cosmetic wear, but is fully operational and functions as intended," was a little exaggerated and the old Joanna would play everything in the key of O (as in 'O no that sounds awful') cause we would also need to re-felt the piano. Whatever the heck re-felting is. Cost? Something like a kidney.

Needless to say we're still looking for a piano.

And the kids - Elton, Tori, Kate, Ray, Carol and Alicia - will have to wait a while longer until they belt out their first number one hit.

Congratulations Tracey and hubby, keep up the great work! To read more from Tracey, or any of our other members' blogs, click here

6. Best of the Forum: Hidden Gems Galore

The Savings Forum is a great place to find all sorts of Hidden Gems as our savvy members share them with each other all the time! Whether you want to find the best deal on car rental, the best phone or Internet plans or the best place to buy a new computer, look no further than the Forum!

New Gilberts in Midland, WA

Mum of E&A is excited to share one of her new favourite stores, where she managed to get fantastic deals on everyday groceries and saved a fortune on a fortnight's worth of food!
read more...

La Manna at Essendon

Want to know how good a particular store is? Ask the Forum! You can guarantee honest reviews and can save time and money before you even start!
read more...

Save on gluten-free products in Adelaide

A gluten-free diet can be hugely expensive without a reliable Hidden Gem! In this thread Julie shares her favourite gluten-free shop in Adelaide.
read more...

Sharing bargains, specials, discounts, free...#4

Want to know where the best bargains can be found right now? These members have been busy digging up Hidden Gems all month!
read more...

Online perfumes

Jemma likes the look of the savings she could make by purchasing her favourite fragrances online but is hesitant to buy without recommendations. Fortunately the members are quick to help her sort the best from the rest!
read more...

The Ahh Bra

Salli desperately wants some new bras but is wary of paying a fortune for ill-fitting, poor quality garments. She sees an advertisement for the 'Ahh Bra' but wonders could they be too good to be true? The Forum members give their verdict!
read more...

Which bank are you with?

Time for a Major Change needs some help deciding which new bank to choose. Which offers the best service and value in ongoing fees? The members are happy to help!
read more...

Best health insurance

Salt & Pepper wants to know 'what do you like about your insurance?' Read on for a thought provoking discussion!
read more...

7. Best of the Vault: Thinking Outside the Square

It doesn't matter HOW you find a Hidden Gem, as long as you find one! These tips from the Savings Vault show how a little creative thinking can result in some massive savings.

Prepping floor for tiling saves $1205

We saved $1205 by removing the old lino and carpet ourselves when we had our house tiled. When we received our quote from the tiler we noticed a charge of $1250 to remove the old flooring. Instead, we went to Bunnings and bought a heat gun, Stanley knife, wide chisel, sharpening stone, bolster, paint scraper and a hammer, all for $45. We then spent three days of fairly strenuous work, but it was worth it for the $1205 saving! Removing lino is fairly easy. Cut a strip down the lino about 50cm wide, run a heat gun over it in a sweeping motion until the lino is warm then in a steady motion peel the lino up. When it gets hard again, re-warm it with the heat gun. If the lino separates from the backing, stop and use the chisel to scrape underneath it until it is peeling off smoothly again.

Contributed by: TayNicJam

Enjoy Ssssuper Ssssavings with a Drain Snake!

We've saved hundreds of dollars on call-out fees for a plumber by hiring a 'Drain Snake'! Our pipes often become blocked and require clearing out, which, until recently, was always done by a plumber. Although we were getting 'mates rates', the cost still came to $150 for less than an hour's worth of work. (I dread to think what the normal rates are for a plumber!) So, instead, we hired a heavy-duty 'drain snake' from an equipment hire centre for $45, and it worked better than the hand-held one the plumber used. Our drains are working better than ever and have done so for the last few months since we hired it.

Contributed by: Elkebelle

Passport to free kids attractions in NSW

If you live in NSW sign up to kidspassport.nsw.gov.au for free kids' passes to over 70 museums, galleries, art centres and attractions across the state. After registering online you will receive a passport for each child which allows them to enter for free. This has saved me heaps over the school holidays. The program runs until April 26 2011.

Contributed by: Sarah Rakow

Enjoy constant discounts on iTunes cards

I always buy iTunes cards at a discounted price thanks to a handy website I found that keeps track of when iTunes cards are on sale at all the different retailers. I have found the site invaluable when buying presents for teenagers. I simply check for the best deals currently available and always get between 10% and 25% off the full retail price. I have been following this for about eight months and during that time there have only been a few weeks where there wasn't a sale on somewhere. The site's called 'iTunes on sale' and is also available on Facebook and Twitter. Check out: http://www.itunesonsale.com.au

Contributed by: Jacinta Shanahan

Book Depository a big book saver

Check out UK website www.bookdepository.co.uk for the cheapest books. I am a uni student and always find this is the cheapest source of books. I recently bought copies of A Christmas Carol for $7.43 when the local retailers were selling it for $19.99! The Book Depository ships anywhere in the world for free. The only downside is that you may have to wait up to two weeks for your books, but it's worth it!

Contributed by: Morgan Dwyer

House-sitting allows your savings to grow

I have saved $5580 in just five months on rent and expenses by becoming a house-sitter. When I recently lost my job I was forced to reconsider my finances and immediately registered with a house-sitting website for an annual fee of just $65. On my personal profile I entered my details and nominated my preferred areas to house-sit. House-sitting means that you are providing a service to someone in exchange for accommodation. Although some will ask for a small fee to cover utilities, I have not been asked to do so as yet. I simply purchase my usual groceries for myself.

I asked a family with a spare room if I could use it as a base between house-sits. I pay a small weekly rent and my share of the electricity and land line and the costs are very modest compared to what I'd pay whilst living alone. I also found a great 12-month storage deal for the bulk of my belongings where the company gave me four months free because I paid up-front, in full (saving me $1000).

Over the last 20 weeks, it has cost me $2320 for storage, rent and utilities when it would have cost me $7900 had I continued to rent on my own - a saving of $5580. Five of those weeks were rent-free house-sitting where I've paid absolutely no utilities expenses. There are numerous house-sitting websites but the one I registered with is www.housecarers.com.

Contributed by: Neene

8. Cooking with Mimi

This month is Hidden Gems Month so I wanted to tell you about two little gems I've found. The first is in my own backyard!

Do you remember picking nasturtium flowers as a child, and sucking the nectar from the little side stems? I certainly do, but it never occurred to me that the rest of the plant was tasty too! In fact the entire nasturtium plant is edible - leaves, flowers and seeds. The leaves have a flavour very similar to rocket, and the seeds can be used like peppercorns. You can also toss the pretty sunset-coloured flowers through a salad or use them as a garnish. I have several recipes for you this month that show how to use nasturtiums as an ingredient to spice up some of your meals; as well as one which makes a tasty and unique gift.

As for my second 'gem', Hidden Gems was a title destined to send me searching for another 'undiscovered' ingredient, and it was inevitable that my friendly local butcher would get in on the act! I complained to him that it is hard to find an inexpensive cut of meat that isn't minced or made into sausages, and that's when he introduced me to another little treat.

Many of us would remember our neighbourhood butcher giving the lamb shanks to Mum or selling them for $0.20c. No one wanted them back then but now they're a gourmet item! However, the lamb shank of the new millennium is beef cheeks.

Beef cheeks are inexpensive and respond well to braising and slow cooking much like lamb shanks. They need time to become flavoursome and tender, but you'll be well rewarded with a beautiful, melt-in-the-mouth dish, bursting with flavour. This recipe combines both my Hidden Gems!

Slow Braised Beef Cheeks with Nasturtium Leaf Salsa Verde

You may need to order the beef cheeks ahead of time. Some butchers still call them ox cheek. They should cost between $0.50c and $1.50 each. A larger one can be split in half lengthwise and will easily feed two people.

Equipment:

Slow cooker (crock pot) or casserole dish with a firm fitting lid
Sharp knife
Frypan and tongs
Medium bowl
3-4 cup capacity jug
Measuring cups

Ingredients:

½ to 1 beef cheek per person
1 large onion, sliced
¾ cup plain flour
¼ cup balsamic vinegar
2 cups boiling water
2 stock cubes, chicken or beef flavour
1 tsp mustard
1 tbsp brown sugar

Method:

Turn the slow cooker on to 'low' or if using a casserole dish, preheat the oven to 175C fan forced or 190C non fan-forced. Put the flour into the medium bowl.

Trim the beef cheeks of most of the sinew. There will be some fat remaining and that's fine. It makes the cheeks extra tender. If your butcher has supplied larger pieces, cut them lengthwise in two.

Toss the meat and the onion rings in the flour.

Add the boiling water to the stock cubes in a jug, and stir until dissolved.

Heat the frypan over a high temperature, and sear the beef until golden brown. Set aside in the slow cooker or casserole dish.

Panfry the onion rings for about one minute until golden.

Add the stock, balsamic vinegar, sugar and mustard to the onions in the pan, and stir until the gravy is slightly thickened.

Pour the mixture over the beef, ensuring it's well covered.

Seal the casserole dish firmly with a lid or foil, or place the lid on the slow cooker.

For slow cooking: cook for 8-9 hours on low, 3-4 hours on high.

For oven bake: cook for 2-3 hours, checking for tenderness after 2 hours.

This is a dish that actually improves if made 1-2 days ahead of serving. Reheat gently in the oven or slow cooker for up to an hour, ensuring you have plenty of gravy. Add more liquid if necessary. Be certain that the meat is well heated through before serving.

For extra compliments, serve the beef cheeks with salsa verde, made from ingredients in your own garden!

Nasturtium Leaf Salsa Verde

Salsa verde is a paste-like green sauce, often served with meat dishes to add a bit of a savoury flavour. A little like pesto without the nuts, this one will add a real peppery bite to your braised beef cheeks.

Equipment required:

Food processor or blender or mortar and pestle
Jug for storing
Measuring cups

Ingredients:

1 cup smallish nasturtium leaves (the large ones have a very strong flavour but are fine if you wish to use them)
1 cup other green herbs, such as basil, rocket, mustard, shallots or cress
½ cup olive oil
3 cloves garlic, chopped
2 tbsp vinegar
1 tbsp mustard
1 tsp sugar

Method:

Add everything except the oil to the blender or bowl of the food processor. While the blender or processor is running to puree the ingredients, slowly drizzle in the oil. The finished consistency should be similar to thick gravy.

Check for seasoning and add salt and/or pepper if necessary.

Serve some drizzled over the beef cheeks with a little extra on the side.

Salsa verde is best used fresh and when a new batch is just a few steps away, with the ingredients abounding in your own garden, why wouldn't you use it to spice up sausages, chicken, fish or rissoles as often as you like!

While we're on the subject of using garden greens, let me share a recipe for a gorgeous herb infused oil that adds a real burst of flavour to dressings, soups, salads and mayonnaise. This makes a lovely gift, presented in a pretty bottle. I source most of my gift bottles from the local Lifeline store for under $2.00. I also scour supermarket shelves for unlikely items stored in a bottle with a pretty shape. There are often some great finds in discount stores and on the clearance tables at department stores too.

Nasturtium Leaf and Lemon Infused Oil

Must be made two weeks ahead before use.

Ingredients:

25 freshly picked nasturtium leaves
Zest of 4 lemons
1 litre extra virgin olive oil
Pinch or two of salt

Method:

Roll the nasturtium leaves into a cigar shape and feed into your chosen storage bottle.

Zest the lemon, being sure to not get any of the white pith as it will make your oil bitter. Feed the zest into the bottle.

Gently heat the oil, to kill any bacteria present

Pour the oil over the leaves and zest, and seal. Store in a cool, dark, place, swirling the bottle around every few days. After two weeks pour a little onto a spoon and taste test. If the flavour has developed enough for your liking, strain the oil, discard the leaves and zest, add seasoning and bottle into a suitable small container. If you would prefer a stronger flavour, leave for a few more days, testing every third day, until the flavour has developed to your liking.

This oil is used as a condiment, much like tomato sauce. Swirl a little into soups on serving, or use as an ingredient in salad dressing. It's also delicious drizzled over steamed potatoes, rice or pasta. It has a strong flavour though, so use sparingly.

It is important to heat the oil gently prior to adding the zest and leaves, to kill any bacteria present. Once the oil has infused with these ingredients for several hours it can then be bottled for use. Please use within one week.

To make a longer lasting oil, you must dehydrate the leaves and zest first. You can do this simply by peeling the zest from the lemon with a vegetable peeler and arranging it, along with the nasturtium leaves, in the sun for several days. When completely dry, you can then add these ingredients to the oil, leaving to infuse for several weeks, before straining and bottling for gift giving. Use within three months.

And...

Finally, you might be surprised to know that nasturtium leaves are a perfect replacement for Rocket in any recipe. They have the same peppery, savoury bite as Rocket, and frankly are far easier to grow!

Here's my new twist on a cafe favourite salad.

Mignonette and Nasturtium leaf salad with Pear and Parmesan

Serves 1

Equipment:

Sharp knife
Vegetable peeler
Serving bowl
Paper towels

Ingredients:

2-3 leaves mignonette lettuce (any lettuce or greens will do)
4-6 young nasturtium leaves
1 pear
A few curls of parmesan cut from a larger piece with a vegetable peeler

Method:

Tear the lettuce into bite-sized pieces.

Trim and shred the young nasturtium leaves if desired, or do as I do and leave them whole, stems attached.

Slice the pear thinly, leaving the skin intact.

Use the vegetable peeler to slice a few curls from a wedge of cheese. Parmesan is best for this, but any will do.

Place the lettuce in the bowl. Place the pear slices on top in a fan shape. Decorate with the nasturtium shreds and parmesan curls.

Serve immediately, seasoned to taste.

9. Penny's Blog: Hooray for Hidden Gems!

February 16th

As any long suffering parent knows, shopping is a far more enjoyable experience if you don't have children in tow. Not only is it far less stressful, it's also so much cheaper! The novelty of the supermarket wore off for my children a loooong time ago so for some years now I have been spared the embarrassing tantrums at the lolly aisle and random objects mysteriously appearing in my trolley, followed by yet more tantrums at the checkout. However, my two boys have now reached the delightful age where they refuse point blank to go shopping with me at ALL!

The main reason for this is that at 12 and 14 respectively they tell me it is definitely not cool to go shopping with your mum - especially in a small town like Whangamata where EVERYONE sees you! However, they have also made no secret of the fact that they hate shopping with me these days because I spend more time talking than shopping. I can't help it; I've met so many wonderful people since moving here! They are real gems and I'm proud to say that to date I've discovered them all myself.

Take Daryl and Gail for instance. They own the boys' favourite shop, Roar. Long before we moved here I was impressed with their service. As soon as you walk into the store it's obvious that these two love what they do. Like us, they're just so glad to be here! This dedicated couple employ no other staff; it's just the two of them working long hours all year round but you are always guaranteed a warm welcome. Having made the move to Whangamata with their children a few years previously, they were happy to answer any questions Noel and I had with regard to the area, in particular the school and how their own children had made the transition. They were both so helpful and never forgot our faces. Every time we popped in when on holidays or checking out real estate they would immediately ask 'So are you here for good yet?' I couldn't wait to go into the shop to tell them when we had finally made the move!

Since then I try and support their business wherever possible. They always go out of their way to help people find what they're looking for and if they don't have it, they do their best to get it in for you. I love the fact that their shop is 100% devoted to local brands, that they play cool music in store and they are always nice to my boys. Daryl even helped Ali fix the new watch he got for Christmas when he was having trouble with it! They always truly appreciate our custom and have often given us discount on our purchases. Their shop is a one-of-a-kind, true hidden gem!

Another firm favourite is the Whangamata Surf Shop, owned by the Williams family. These guys are awesome! When the boys wanted to learn to surf there were several places we could have gone to for advice but I thought we would try them first and I'm so glad we did. They have been surfing for decades and really know their stuff. As soon as Ali and I walked in, Braedon made us feel welcome. We learned so much from him in that one visit that Ali was able to get up on his surfboard within around 15 minutes of taking it out in the sea. Since then we have also had the pleasure of dealing with Braedon's parents, Dean and Janine and his sister Ella, all of whom work in the shop. Nothing is too much trouble and they always make time to chat and offer help and advice even when the shop is heaving with people. Most of all though, I love their infectious enthusiasm. They make the most of every single day and support each other in everything they do. They are an extremely tight-knit family and their love for each other, their business and their passion for surfing and helping others just radiates from them. Whether Ali needs new wax for his surfboard or Noel needs a new wedding outfit, you can guarantee they will always see us right. I've lost count of the times they've offered to teach me to surf - one day I might just take them up on it!

The thing about Hidden Gems is, when you find a good one, you will keep going back. I remember years ago I had a job as a Saturday girl in a shoe shop with some other girls from school. We were always on hand to help and would approach customers with a smile if it was obvious they needed assistance but apart from that we would let them browse in peace. Until a new manager was appointed, whom we immediately christened Tiny Tim. Small man, huge ego! He insisted that we all jump on the poor unsuspecting customers before they had barely got in the door. We hated doing this and would try to avoid it wherever possible under his ferocious glare but it was obvious that the customers didn't like it. Nine times out of ten they were just coming in for a nosey in their lunch hour and didn't even know what they were looking for but so desperate was our manager to make his sales figures look better than his predecessor that he would do anything to try and manipulate people into buying. We were literally driving customers away! I couldn't bring myself to do it and it wasn't long before I left, as did the rest of the girls I worked with. We had barely handed in our stripey blouses and name badges before we heard that Tiny Tim had been 'let go'...

Fortunately I have yet to come across any Tiny Tim's in Whangamata! Instead I love to support people like Leith and Ange at Stirling Sports, who travel to other stores especially to get things for us, give us discounts AND invite me running. Or the bubbly Sarah from Saltwater who is always 100% honest when she says 'Yes, that dress does look crap on you,' but is nice enough to add 'But it's not you - it's the dress!' Not to mention she invited me to go along to her Zumba class twice a week the moment she learned I'd just moved here. Or EJ, the brilliant hairdresser at Sorenson's who cuts my hair like nobody else. I never have to worry about leaving the salon with that 'Look everybody! I've just had my fringe cut!' look - and to top it off, my first haircut was free!

So those are my favourite Hidden Gems - am I allowed to mention cafes too? I know cafes aren't very SS but if you want brilliant value for money you can't go past Vibes cafe for fantastic breakfasts and Cafe Rossini for awesome lunches. Last time Noel and I went there for lunch we ordered an open chicken sandwich and almost fainted at the price but when it arrived it was MASSIVE! Neither of us could eat it all and we were so full we couldn't even think about eating dinner hours later! Well worth treating yourself if you're ever in town - and if you are, let me know and I'll meet you there!

February 2011

10. Homeopathy Corner: Disaster Remedies Part II

The last couple of months have been horrible. It feels like we have had one natural disaster after another, so we have asked Fran to share with us the homeopathic remedies that can help people in times of distress.

11. From Last Month: Too Many Tomatoes

Last month Kathryn asked:

"I would like some information on preserving or freezing tomatoes. I have too many in the garden to use and do not own a cannery or special jars. I made some pasta sauce last week and reused old pasta sauce jars. I am a mum of five kids, including six-month-old twins, so the ideas need to be fairly simple please. Thanks in advance."

Thank you to the masses of people who responded with their terrific tomato tips! Unfortunately we cannot possibly print them all but here is a selection of some of the huge number we received.

Cook up your tommies on a smokin' hot BBQ!

I came up with a solution to use up the glut of beautiful grape tomatoes we have in our garden. Whenever my husband uses our Weber kettle BBQ I cut a tray's worth of tomatoes in half and sprinkle them with salt, pepper, sugar and olive oil. I then cover them with basil, oregano or rosemary (or any combination of herbs) and put them in the Weber once my husband's finished barbecuing, to cook in the residual heat. Alternatively, they can be slow roasted in the oven, but by using the heat in the Weber after it has cooked something else we save on energy. Once the tomatoes have cooled, I transfer them to a jar or container and freeze them. We had some tonight with pasta, mushrooms and cream and they were delicious!

Contributed by: Margaret Eade

Oven-dried tomatoes are bursting with flavour

I love to oven-dry our seasonal tomatoes. It's such a simple process, but the resulting flavour is fantastic and they can be stored in jars in the fridge for up to two weeks afterwards.

Ingredients:

2kg ripe tomatoes, cut in half
Sea salt
Olive oil

Method:

Preheat oven to 140°C (120°C for fan forced ovens) and line two baking trays with baking paper.
Scoop out seeds from tomatoes, and if they are large, cut them into quarters.
Place onto trays, flesh side up and sprinkle liberally with sea salt.
Roast tomatoes for 2½ hours. Check tomatoes every half hour after the first 1½ hours of cooking.
They are ready once the edges are just starting to look charred but the tomatoes are still soft and pliable.
Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.
Place into a large preserving jar or sealable container and pour over enough olive oil to cover.
Seal jar and store in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

Contributed by: Toni McPherson

Sensational stew is quick and easy too!

I have vivid memories of my mum's mouthwatering tomato stew we used to enjoy as kids. She's since told me how easy it was to make and that it was a lifesaver on the nights when she was too tired to do any fancy or laborious cooking. She simply placed a saucepan full of tomatoes in hot water on the stove, added finely chopped onions, salt, pepper and any herbs she had and just boiled it down to a stew. She sometimes took out the skin (but not always) and it didn't matter if it was a bit sloppy, as it was just great on toast with a bit of cheese on top! These days I make up a large amount and freeze it for an easy breakfast or tea option.

Contributed by: Leonie Moore

Frozen pureed tomatoes replace countless tins

Whenever I have a lot of extra tomatoes in the garden I make use of them in recipes that would usually require a large amount of tinned tomatoes.

To prepare them I score the bottoms and place them whole, into boiling water for about two minutes to make them easy to peel. Once peeled, I slice them, place them in a saucepan and cook them for about fifteen minutes. When they have cooled, I either leave them 'chunky' or use my stick blender to make a fine sauce with them.

Then, using a soup ladle, I transfer the sauce into sandwich resealable bags, squeeze out the excess air and seal them up. (Each bag takes about two ladles.) By laying them all out on a baking tray and popping them in the freezer they freeze flat and stack nicely when frozen. Any time a recipe requires a tin of tomatoes I have the perfect amount ready in my freezer.

Contributed by: Bronnie Cartledge

Cut out the hard work and freeze them whole!

Nothing is as simple as freezing tomatoes whole! I don't peel, slice, dice or jar sterilise, I simply give my tomatoes a rinse and pop them straight into the freezer. I freeze them in a single layer overnight then bag them up to avoid freezer burn.

When I need them in my cooking, just a few minutes out of the freezer will allow the skins to peel away easily. (If you don't mind the skins you can put them straight into the pan as they are.) While they're still mostly frozen I chop the tomatoes and use them as I would tinned tomatoes. As they heat through, they mash down easily and the resulting meal always tastes delicious.

Contributed by: Carol Penglis

Relish the thought of those tangy tomatoes

My sister-in-law passed on a delicious tomato relish recipe to me a few years ago. It's now a family favourite and I try to make a batch or two of it every season. It is great in sandwiches and a tablespoon added to rissoles or scrambled eggs produces a lovely flavour.

Tomato Relish

You will need:

1.5kg tomatoes
500g onions
2 cups sugar
2 1/2 cups vinegar
1 tbsp cornflour
1 tbsp curry powder
1 tbsp dry mustard
1 tbsp salt
Pinch pepper

Method:

Chop the tomatoes and dice the onions finely. Place them in a large saucepan and add sugar and vinegar.

Bring to the boil and then simmer slowly until the liquid reduces and the sauce thickens. Blend flour, powders, salt and pepper with a tiny amount of water and add to saucepan. Stir until boiling again. Allow to cool for five minutes. Bottle into warm, sterilised jars.

Contributed by: Sharon Blanck

Bag up your tomatoes for freezing

Whenever I have a large amount of seasonal tomatoes at home that I don't have an immediate use for I just pop them all into a clean plastic bag and put them straight into the freezer. They can be frozen whole until I'm ready to process them into sauce. If I just need one or two, I give the bag a good knock to dislodge a couple.

Contributed by: Lauren L

Ask around and borrow a dehydrator

If you do not have access to a dehydrator, ask around and see if you can borrow one. If not, you can use your oven on fan-bake. The temperature should be at the lowest setting and you should leave the door propped open with a wooden spoon. Slice tomatoes and dry at 40C for maximum enzyme retention. Dehydration should take twelve or more hours depending on how thick the slices are. Dry tomato slices until pliable but not moist. Store in plastic bags or jars. They can be marinated in olive oil and slices of garlic (the oil can then be reused). I use my sun-dried tomatoes in a range of recipes to add that authentic Mediterranean flavour.

Contributed by: Christine Smith

Bonus tips for Vault members -

Wonderful Watties tomato sauce Contributed by: Dale Findlay

The perfect pot of homegrown pasta sauce Contributed by: Ali-cat

Tomatoes make a souper-tasty meal! Contributed by: Bridget Mcleod

Make your own DIY dehydrator! Contributed by: Maths Nerd

Recycle your jars for cost-free preserving Contributed by: Maria Sigal

Authentic sun dried tomatoes Contributed by: Kelly Kohlhardt

Slow cooked tomato sauce is worth the wait Contributed by: Lyn M

Keep your cool with this tasty Gazpacho soup Contributed by: Valerie Georgeff

Introduce a 'produce-swap' day! Contributed by: Greg And Sue Brunner

12. This Month's Help Request: Go Away Silverfish!

This month Merrilyn asks:

"I am looking for a non-toxic way to eradicate and deter silverfish from my house. Has anyone got a solution for me?"

If anyone has any advice which could help Merrilyn, please send them in to us here.

13. Savings Story: Don't Give Up

This month's story is taken from our Savings Forum. Our Vault members found it so inspirational, we hope you will too!

"It's been some time since I last posted in the Forum. Since the last time I posted, I have:

Broken up with my girlfriend (and her daughter) which was a huge relief financially and emotionally.
Reduced my total debt last year by approximately $22,000. ($6500 credit card gone, $12,000 off car loan, $1000 off another credit card, $2000 off loan to Aunty, $3000 from HECS).
Most importantly I've lost 31kg since I found out that I have a ASD (Atrial Septal Defect) - or hole inside my heart, about 14 months ago. It's slow progress, I've done it totally on my own, as no doctors or fitness people are game to touch me. But soon I'll have lost enough weight and be eligible for corrective surgery to repair it.

How have I done it all? Sometimes I really don't know myself. Education, determination, constant vigilance and stubbornness. Sure, that all sounds like a load of marketing hype but it's the truth. Those ideals and the resonating thought in my head that I am in a war with my debt. Until I win, or die trying I will attack from every angle and chip away at it until I completely obliterate it.

Education. I have educated myself continually. I read Simple Savings and all the other financial sites that people recommend every week, sometimes daily. I look for good deals everywhere I go. I watch for the good deals on TV, newspaper and Internet in every financial aspect. There is no one method that will save enough money to get any person. It is the conglomeration of hundreds of little savings (soldiers) and new ones being added all the time that add up to an army of different ways to destroy the enemy that is debt.

Determination. I am completely determined to reduce my debt and lose weight. I have to do it so I can start a new life for myself. I have to do it because I have no other viable choice. I do it because the alternative is a life of debt, misery and as far as my health goes, death by the time I am 50 if I am lucky. Being in debt is like being dead. You cannot do those things your heart desires. You are not free to make your own choices about where you want to go, and what you want to see. Money can buy you happiness. It seems to be the logical opposite side of the equation. Lack of money brings nothing but misery. The opposite I believe must be true. It split up my relationship and has imprisoned me in my own home for too long.

Constant vigilance. I work out of a spreadsheet which I look at daily to remind me and motivate me. I equate everything to a dollar amount. I scrutinize everything I spend money on by keeping EVERY receipt and chastising myself when I see some frivalous spend was a bit of the line lost. I re-evaluate the situation all of the time so I know which side is winning. As time goes on, companies offer new deals, which you won't know about if you just sit on your hands and hope that you've got the best deal.

Stubborness. I sit at home, I don't go anywhere often other than work. I've built my own little fortress of solitude. I have put my blinkers on to the world around me, as until I am debt-free I do not want anything to distract me from my goal. I am stubborn and will not be swayed. I have changed my entire outlook on life and I know that if I stick to what I have learnt, I will win this war. I have set myself clear goals to keep motivating myself.

I set weight loss goals - how much I want to lose and by when. How far I will walk. How many steps I will take. How many times a week I will exercise and what my ultimate goal will be. I have set myself a goal of having this debt cleared and weight loss achieved by the end of next year. $48,000 to go and another 40kg to lose. When I started out on this seemingly un-winnable battle, I was looking at $90,000 in bad debts and 150kg starting weight. I know I will win. I have no choice but to keep trying.

I have already started to look to the future. Started to think of new goals to work towards as I overcome this seemingly less insurmountable pile of debt. I want to have enough money saved to cover myself if I were to lose my job for any reason. The day I can see as much in my savings account as I see in my debts will be a sweet day. I also want to go on a well deserved overseas holiday.

What I want to say to anyone who is in a similar situation, is don't give up. I've tried to get help from banks or personal trainers and been knocked back repeatedly, but never let it stop me. I only let it make me more resolute in my attitude. No matter how much you think your situation cannot get any worse right now, believe me it can. Look at all the flood affected people around Australia. It puts your own problems into perspective and you must stop and give thanks for what you do have. Imagine having all you have fought for wiped away in a surge of water in a matter of hours. Keep strong and fight the good fight and eventually you can win your own war. Declare war now on your debt, or weight loss or whatever other personal battle you might have. I wish you all the best of luck Simple Savings Warriors.

Paull Mitchell

February 2013 - Simple Savings Newsletter

"Secrets to Saving Money in Australia" Free Newsletter - February 2013

This issue includes:-

Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: Just When You Thought it was Safe...
February: Control Your Cash
How to Make a Basic Budget by David Wright
Best of the Vault: Best Budget Bits
Best Members' Blog: Paper Days and the Pledge
Best of the Forum: Stash That Cash!
Hidden Gems: Lexatonia Tiles
Homeopathy Corner: An Introduction, Part 3
Cooking with Mimi: Budget Busting Egg-free Pancakes
Claire's Corner: No More Primary School for Us!
50c Indulgences: New Beginnings
Rob Bob's Gardening Blog: Trying to Beat the Heat in the Patch
From Last Month: Yeast and Wheat-Free
This Month's Help Request: Outdoor Makeover
Goodbye For Now

Hello,

How are you going? I hope you are having a lovely February. Things have been very busy in Simple Savings land. This month we have been flat out moving into our new office/warehouse. Wow! Can you believe it! After ten years of running Simple Savings from the corner of our lounge or spare bedroom, we finally have an office! And, the kids now have two bedrooms between the four of them; a boys' room and a girls' room. They are in heaven!

This month our focus is on budgeting and we have been working with our favourite budgeting expert, David Wright from Simply Budgets. I really enjoy working with David and I have been able to wrangle some great discounts on his budgeting software for our members. His software costs $127 on his site, but he is allowing us to sell it for just $97. And, I have even talked him into giving all our subscribers a free trial for 30 days. (See below.) How cool is that! :-)

I love being big enough that we can negotiate good prices for you :-) I also love your emails and Facebook messages. Here are some of this month's favourites:

"I was really happy to receive your first 2013 newsletter, as always it is full of wonderful, helpful information. It has started me on a new growth spurt. I was reading 'See it, Be it!' and started to think of the page I would set up. I picked saving money. For me that would mean not gambling on poker machines. I searched the web for a picture that would portray not gambling on poker machines - there were pictures of gamblers at poker machines but nothing that was not gambling. However, I found a book called 'Addiction by Design'. Well, I am now looking honestly at my gambling addiction and I have you to thank for that.

"I also read '2013 the year to...'. I really felt like something tasty to eat - ahhh a packet of chips, I thought. The article talked about substituting. I looked in my cupboard and there were some packets of noodles which had been there for a while unused. I opened one and crunched them up and put the sachet of flavour over them. Well, I can tell you they are a very satisfactory substitute for a packet of chips. I feel well satisfied. Again, thank you for a wonderful helpful newsletter." (Lois)

"I would like to take this opportunity to express my love for your site and the difference it has made to me and my family. Thank you. Each day I learn something from this site. I believe I also have become a better person because of all the giving and sharing that takes place in the Forum. You cannot but feel inspired and also not want to be involved in some way by support, suggestions or in helping others once you start reading the Forum. This is such a wonderful outreach for the whole community not only in the savings area. Thank you from a grateful subscriber." (Janet)

Have a great month!

All the best,
Fiona Lippey

P.S. FREE BUDGETING SOFTWARE TRIAL

We arranged a free 30 day trial of Simply Budgets software for all our subscribers. (PC only.) There are no strings attached to this trial. None at all. Here is the link:-

simplesavings.com.au/simplybudgets/download

If you have never seen this software before and you would like to see how it works, here is a video explaining the software on YouTube:-

youtube.com/watch?v=FOj5N5oEO5s&feature=share&list=UUiWgZQg6k3vYJqKXnuBZ11Q

(Important, you can only get the FREE trial from this newsletter. Elsewhere on our site you will be asked to pay for the trial. I had to twist David's arm behind his back to get him to agree to the free trial. ;-) )

1. Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: Just When You Thought it was Safe...

Sally and Pete were sharing a quiet glass of wine after dinner. Sally sighed contentedly. "You know what, Pete, have you noticed how much less we argue since we started using a budget?"

Pete harrumphed, "Oh no, we still argue Sally, just not about money!" Sally laughed, "Well that's true, but you know what I mean - all our bills are paid on time and we have even started SAVING money each month."

Pete agreed. "Yes, it certainly feels great to be able to control our cash and now we can finally afford that new bathroom."

"Hmmm," said Sally dreamily. "I'm thinking black slate tiles and gold fittings..."

"Oh no," said Pete, shaking his head. "It has to be white tiles and chrome!"

"Black and gold," growled Sally.

"White and chrome," grimaced Pete.

"Black and gold..."

2. February: Control Your Cash

Wow. How far has Sally come?! Once upon a time she and Pete would have been fighting over Sally's hidden credit card statements, or her latest shopping spree. Pete would be begging Sally to please, PLEASE stop buying things with money they didn't have, and Sally, bless her heart would have only looked more confused and desperate as Pete got more angry and frustrated.

Of course, Sally and Pete are not the only couple in the world ever to have fought about money. Money problems are after all the number one reason for divorce. Even Matt and I have been known to clash over the cash! One of the best arguments we ever had was about adding a verandah to our house. I claimed we had the money - Matt argued we didn't. As it turned out, Matt was right.

It wasn't easy to convince me - he had to prove it to me with hard numbers before I begrudgingly agreed with him - but that was the clincher. Matt KNEW we couldn't afford to build that verandah because he had all the numbers in black and white to prove it, whereas I was only guessing. When it comes to deciding when you should or shouldn't spend money it is important you base your decision on hard figures. Don't just guess!

In our case we were fortunate. Matt had our budget under control; he knew how much money we did or didn't have but many couples are not so lucky. Most just wing it - and that is a dangerous way to be. It's like Russian roulette - you just guess, go ahead blindly and hope for the best. You have no way of knowing if you have the money and whether that purchase is going to cause yourself a big headache in a month's time or six weeks' time - unless you have a budget.

So what we want you to do this month is to make your own budget. In the following article, our friend David Wright is going to explain how you can do your own budget. You can create one in an Excel spreadsheet, bits of paper or use his software, do whichever way is easier for you. But, make sure you do your budget!

3. How to Make a Basic Budget by David Wright

I am going to show you how to make a basic budget so you can predict, and pay for, all your bills months before they arrive. It is a bit like having a crystal ball for your finances so you will never be caught short, or accidentally run out of money again.

To do this I'm going to ask you to do the following -

Collect up all your bills from the last 12 months
Sort them into categories
Add up the numbers
Create a 12 monthly spending plan

Sounds complicated? You'll see it isn't at all. Sure, this part takes a little time but the pay-off will be well worth the effort because once you have finished you will have gained absolute control over your finances. No more just guessing! Let's get started.

STEP 1. Gather Your Expenses

First, grab all your bank statements and receipts from the past 12 months. Next, you need to begin sorting them into date order and separate categories, as described in step two:

STEP 2. Categorise Your Expenses

The easiest way to do this is to lay your statements and receipts out down your hallway in a long chronological line, month by month. Once you've done that, use highlighters to colour-code similar expenses, such as marking all the electricity payments with yellow, all the health insurance payments in blue and so on. You will immediately see that patterns emerge for your recurring expenses. Stand back at the end of your hallway and you'll be able to see your big bill months and your little bill months.

Once you have them all laid out and highlighted, you should notice that they fall into these three categories:

Regular Expenses:- Predictable expenses that fall within a yearly cycle, such as the electricity bill occurring every three months or the grocery bill occurring weekly.
Long Term Expenses:- Semi-Predictable expenses which fall on a much longer cycle. These will be things like buying a new refrigerator or replacing tyres on your car.
Unpredictable Expenses:- These are expenses that require 'Savings' to be put aside, such as paying for physio bills after a broken leg or paying for a daughter's wedding.

So now you need to separate all your bills into the three categories mentioned: Regular Expenses, Long Term Expenses and Unpredictable Expenses.

STEP 3. Add Up the Numbers

Each of these three expense categories will affect your budget in different ways. So we are going to treat them differently.

Regular Expenses

Your Regular Expenses are very consistent and happen several times per year. So it is easy to work out how much the item costs you each year by multiplying the amount with the number of bills you received. For example:

Electricity $200 x 4 times a year = $800/yr
Telephone $50 x 12 times a year = $600/yr
Petrol $80 x 52 times a year = $4160/yr
Home insurance $80 x 12 times a year = $960/yr

Once you have worked out what every item costs, add up the total cost of all your Regular Expenses for the year and then divide it by your number of pay days (52 for weekly, 26 for fortnightly and so on).

This figure is the amount of money you need to put aside each pay day to pay for your Regular Expenses.

For the sake of this exercise, let's say the amount we need to cover our Regular Expenses is $654 every pay day.

Semi-predictable Long Term Expenses

Some of the Long Term Expenses you will need to budget for can be found in last year's statements and receipts, but many will not be. So you're going to have to walk around your house and write down all the things that you will need to replace when they wear out or rust out. Think about how long a new one should last, think about how old your items are now and try to estimate when you think you will need to replace them and what each one will cost. Then work out how much you need to put aside each year for your future Long Term Expenses.

Do it like this example:-

Refrigerator replacement $1000 every 10 years = $100/yr
Washing machine replacement $1200 every 8 years = $150/yr

Add up the total cost of all your Long Term Expenses per year and once again divide by the number of pay days in a year. This figure is the amount of money you need to put aside each pay day to cover your Semi-Predictable Long Term Expenses.

For the sake of this exercise, let's say the amount we need to cover our Long Term Expenses is $80 per pay day.

Unpredictable Expenses

After you have planned for your Regular and Semi-Predictable Expenses, there is still a need to put money aside for expenses that are just not predictable at all, even if they are 'once in a lifetime' expenses. Doing this will pick up anything not covered already and will then give you a complete picture of your total household budget.

(Nominate a weekly amount for each item - some will be an estimate and some you can calculate fairly accurately.)

For example,
Daughter's wedding $10 a week = 10 x 52 = $520/yr
Retirement fund $50 a week = 50 x 52 = $2600/yr
Round the world holiday in two years' time $100 a week = 100 x 52 = $5200/yr

Add up the total amount needed per year. Now divide this by your number of pay days. This figure is the amount of money you need to put aside every pay day for your Unpredictable Expenses.

For the sake of this exercise, let's say the amount we need per pay to cover our Unpredictable Expenses is $180 per pay day.

Now, it is time to add all your categories together.

Regular Expenses - $654 per pay day
Long Term Expenses - $80 per pay day
Savings - $180 per pay day
Total required - $914 per pay day.

If you have done all this, when you get to this point you will know how much money you are supposed to put aside each pay to cover your bills into the future.

Perfect in theory, however, the biggest revelation for me was when I found there is no guarantee that doing what I have outlined above will ensure you will always be able to pay your bills when they are due!

I got really frustrated when I did all the calculations, worked out my budget and I still had bills arriving that I struggled to pay. I'd be tearing my hair out wondering what I had done wrong!

Bills would come and I would find myself short of money.

I had to sit down and really think about what was going wrong. And then I worked it out. The answer was that I had not done anything wrong; I had just not quite done enough right. There was one more piece to the puzzle! The job was not quite finished off and I set about working out the perfect system to get it right!

I had done a two dimensional budget. It balanced Income and Expenses perfectly! What I went on to discover was the need for a three dimensional budget which not only looked at ins and outs but also brought timing into the plan. That's when we went from a financially struggling family to a low-money-stress family!

Taking Shortcuts

When I first started this 'three dimensional' budgeting I did it all on bits of paper using a calculator and a calendar. I'll explain how to use the calendar next month. It worked so well I got VERY excited, even if it did take me a lot of time. It made such a difference I just wanted to tell everyone about what I had discovered.

I eventually made software to speed up the process and do the calculations and I started doing budgets for other people who were suffering the same way I had been. I changed many people's lives for the better.

If you would like to trial my budgeting software, Fiona has harassed me into letting her give you a 30 day trial for free. Here is a link to the software:

simplesavings.com.au/simplybudgets/download

(If you want the trial for free, hang on to this link. If you try to get the trial from David's site or from our Ye Olde Shoppe both will try to charge you.)

4. Best of the Vault: Best Budget Bits

There are so many ways to help you control your cash! The Vault is full of fantastic ideas to help you keep your money in your pocket - some are clever, some are cool and some are just downright kooky! Here are a few to get you started:

A better way to budget

We have learned how to save $372 per fortnight, or almost $10,000 a year, on our living costs!

Since having a baby, I have been dipping into our re-draw from our home loan for the last three years. On top of my partner's salary, we have spent about $30,000 extra since our baby was born. Because our savings were dwindling, I had to do something about it. We were using EFTPOS to buy everything and usually by mid-fortnight, we had spent our salary and then started using the re-draw facility.

I decided to draw up a budget. The first thing we did was to open three bank accounts: a savings, bills and a pay account. I used a free budget manager from www.alphalink.com.au/~sergeb/smart-budget.html to help so that I could see the 'big picture' of where our money was going.

To make it easier, I over-budgeted our expenses. This is our weekly budget:

$150 food
$20 each pocket money
$50 weekend money (shared)
$55 petrol (two cars)

Each pay day I divide the money up and put it into labelled jars. If we don't use all of the allotted money, I take it back and put it into the savings jar.

I also used the budget planner to calculate all our bills, including rates and mortgages, electricity, gas, registrations and insurances, so that we put money away each fortnight. Expenses like gifts, clothes, postage and other sundries have to come out of our food budget.

Simple Savings provides very innovative ways to save on these expenses. I looked around and found a butcher's shop that was cheap with staple foods where I now buy meat ($20 a fortnight) eggs ($1.00 per dozen) and bread ($2.00 for three loaves). I have found a cheap fruit and vegetable shop, where I am buying crates of apples ($8.50) and 10kg bags of carrots ($5.00) to juice instead of buying juice.

Since doing this, we feel like we have more money, more fresh food and we are not broke a week later - plus we've been saving $372 EVERY fortnight, which equates to $9672 a year!

Contributed by: Elizabeth

Stick to a budget night and reap the benefits

By doing my budget on my payday every second Friday I have found that I have stopped overspending or impulse buying because the money is already allocated. My budget is already drawn up so as soon as my money goes into the bank I immediately transfer any money for savings into my savings account (bonus interest of course) and I pay as many bills online as I can. Then I subtract my direct debits (mortgage, life insurance, car insurance) from my balance and work out exactly how much money I have left to physically take out of the bank. This way I only use the ATM once a fortnight, saving on fees, and the only money I have is the cash in my hand. With that cash I disburse it to bills which can't be paid online, gifts, whatever is due that fortnight and all I have left then is my pocket money, which I also divide up into different amounts for different outings I have planned for that fortnight. This only works if you do your budget the very day you get paid, otherwise it is easy to spend money without thinking about where it's coming from and finding it later isn't easy.

Contributed by: Elisa Simpson

Some brilliant, and timely, budget advice

Have money, will spend. Only problem was, we were spending too much!

My husband and I wanted to make major renovations to our home, so I went back to work. We had been doing just fine on his income but the extra money I was making disappeared into thin air. We are fortunate to have free daycare, courtesy of my mother-in-law, so that didn't explain the mystery of my missing money! What we were doing, quite simply, was spending too much of that extra income. Time for action.

First, I opened a separate bank account and had my wages transferred into it. The interest rate is not that flash but the fees are low.

I set up an Excel workbook with a calendar style budget. I can see how much money is coming in and going out on any given day, and I include estimates of upcoming bills. I always make the estimate slightly more than the previous bill. If the new bill is less, it's a bonus.

I keep an inventory of what is in my pantry and write a proper shopping list so I don't buy what I don't need.

My Excel workbook also includes a price list of everything we buy so when I go shopping I know exactly how much it should cost me. This helps me keep to my budget and if it goes over I see if there is something we can do without for another couple of weeks.

I regularly have a big cooking day when I make enough meals to last three weeks. We no longer buy takeaway as there is always something quick and easy in the freezer. My goal is to eventually cook enough meals to last for four weeks. I'm getting there!

I take snacks and lunches to work. I buy a loaf of raisin toast for $4.00, stick it in the freezer and take two slices to work each day. Better than paying $3.00 for a couple of slices in a cafe. Lunch can be tasty leftovers or a sandwich from home. Snacks consist of fruit and nuts and to satisfy that afternoon chocolate craving, I buy a 'fun size' packet of Milky Way bars. With 20 bars in each pack, this is much better value.

Instead of buying new shoes, I have found a place that will re-sole my favourite shoes for $6.00.

We are now saving my entire pay packet and a fair chunk of my husband's as well. Our renovation dream is much closer to becoming a reality.

Contributed by: Irene Knezovic

No more stress with budgeting

My husband hates not being able to spend money, which has made saving a bit tricky! I was stressing about money but then I discovered Simple Savings and began to find ways to get on top of our budget.

Now I put his petrol and spending money in an account that is just for him. Another account, which we both access, pays all the weekly expenses and a third account is not touched for anything but the bills. As I do all the banking, I then go through at the end of the week and transfer any leftovers into the 'sealed' account. It's a bit fiddly but it removes him from temptation and keeps the budget running smoothly.

Contributed by: Bernadette S.

Old fashioned price tags help keep budget on track

We are saving literally hundreds of dollars a month by putting price tags on all our food. Until we had our baby nine months ago my husband and I really had no budget. We'd just buy things as we needed/wanted and would visit the supermarket numerous times a week. I wanted to be a stay at home mum to our daughter but on one income this was proving really tough. We sat down to work out where all our 'disposable' income was going and we realised we were spending an extreme amount of money on food. My husband liked to cook adventurous meals that included countless extravagant ingredients and we were spending around $200-$250 a week for just the two of us!

So we decided to focus on how much money we spent on each meal. I started writing the cost of each item on the jar, container or tin when we brought it home from the supermarket and it was quite incredible how much of an effect this had on our spending habits. Seeing the dollar signs on every item that we were cooking with helped us recognise the bargains at the supermarket and get the best deals available. We then set a dollar limit for each meal of $5.00 for breakfast, $8.00 for lunch and $15 for dinner. Each week we challenged ourselves to reduce the cost of each meal by a dollar and are now managing on around $2.00 for breakfast, $2.00 lunch and often under $5.00 for dinner. It also makes meals more interesting as we're always looking for an ingredient that fits inside our budget. Once a week we have a 'Friday Night Feast' where we don't stick to the minimum spend, yet we still find ourselves trying to make the most cost-effective meal!

Now we're buying less tinned and pre-prepared food, we've stopped buying chips, biscuits, desserts and pasta and are making our own wherever we can. We buy meat every second week and if we run out we just supplement with beans and legumes. Now we can survive on under $150 one week and $100 the next. We've found we're now cost cutting in every aspect of our lives and have saved $400 in the last fortnight alone.

Contributed by: Sally McQuillan

Here are a few more ideas for our valued Vault members:

Hold on to your cash with Mojo's help! Contributed by: fatbottomedgirl

Stay within food budget, aisle by aisle Contributed by: Faye June

The 'Better You' Budget Contributed by: Heather F

5. Best Members' Blog: Paper Days and the Pledge

This month's winner is Faye for her blog on getting organised and saving money!

I did something that I've been putting off for far too long yesterday - I had a paper day.

It took me a whole day but I managed to achieve SO much! For example, I made a 25% saving on my gas and light bills combined. I rolled three superannuation funds into one. I re-activated my ING account and set it up for my emergency fund... I was on a roll!

I also went to the library today and borrowed a home energy audit kit. I have an LED LCD HD 3D TV on order from Castle Hampers so until the end of the year I will still be using my old televisions with set top boxes. I think they will give me the biggest shocks in my energy audit.

I also read some time ago that anything with an element is brutal for energy consumption. So when my toaster died I just didn't replace it and now use the griller on the gas stove. I recently cut all my hair off and no longer use a dryer or straightener either.

So that leaves the kettle. Every morning I have a couple of cups of tea and then a coffee, all in fairly quick succession. That's a fair bit of boiling (element) time. So I'm taking The Pledge. I'm going to fill the kettle full (instead of just one cup's worth) and put it in the thermos. I'm looking forward to seeing if it makes a difference. I started doing this once before, but petered out but this time I'm deadly serious!'

Congratulations Faye on getting organised and making changes!

To read any of our members' blogs, click here

6. Best of the Forum: Stash That Cash!

We are continually amazed by the huge numbers of kind, helpful and resourceful members who make up our fantastic Forum community. If you have a problem, someone will have an answer! And when it comes to money - careful, stand back - you are going to get stampeded with information and support! If it's one thing our members do well, it is supporting each other, so this month we'd like to highlight a few of our favourite long term savings threads - it is never too late to join in.

$140,000 mortgage down to $0 in 12 months #14

It is ALL HAPPENING in Freedom's thread and to borrow one of her sayings, 'When one little thought turns wild, magic can happen :)'
read more...

2013: The lowest we can go #3

Can you hear the squealing? That is the sound of dollars begging for mercy as this amazing group and their fearless leader s-t-r-e-t-c-h them to breaking point!
read more...

Feb '13: Babysteps mortgage, CC and savings challenge

Another friendly and fantastic group of Financial Freedom Fighters who strive to make every dollar count.
read more...

Babysteps with Dave Ramsey #13

This series of threads kicked off in 2010 and is still going strong!
read more...

7. Hidden Gems: Lexatonia Tiles

Our Hidden Gems directory is designed to help members source the best deals in their area. This month's Hidden Gem is Lexatonia Tiles, Sydney as nominated by Simmy.

Lexatonia is a family run business specialising in tiles but we used them for most of our bathroom renovation. They have a huge (almost overwhelming!) range of tiles, but if you don't find one you like they can order in pretty much anything. They also order by the metre rather than the box so you can order as little or as much as you like without having to pay for a whole lot of extras you don't need.

The service is wonderful. They will order in anything for you from their bathroom suppliers and find the best price they can. They price matched a few things for us and threw in a couple of upgrades for free too. I must have been in there ten times over a fortnight and they were always helpful and understanding of my limited renovation knowledge! If you tell them your approximate budget they will work hard to find a solution within that range.

Where: 6/2 Abbott Road, Seven Hills, NSW
Contact: (02) 9674 1944

Well done Simmy on locating such a fantastic hidden gem and thanks so much for sharing.

8. Homeopathy Corner: An Introduction, Part 3

Sometimes I wonder where my family would be today without homeopathic remedies and without Fran. And it is not a nice thought. Fran has helped us through some very difficult and worrying health episodes. However, so many people still do not understand homeopathy or how it can help them and that is really sad. So I am very pleased that Fran is doing her best to help as many people as possible. She really is worth her weight in gold. And then some!

This month Fran is unraveling some of the mysteries of homeopathy by explaining all the different forms remedies come in and how frequently you should give remedies. Here is a link to this month's article:-

homeopathyplus.com.au/homeopathy-made-simple-how-would-you-like-your-remedy-part-3

Thank you Fran!

9. Cooking with Mimi: Budget Busting Egg-Free Pancakes

It's the end of the school holidays, which means it's the start of the school term. The bank account is empty courtesy of Santa and the school uniform shop and the kids still want a treat. Hells bells, as my Aunty Myrtle used to say!

When I was a kid, pancakes were the ultimate Mother Hubbard meal. You know the one where she looks in her cupboard and it's bare but she still has to feed herself and the dog and goodness knows who else? That was our place on weekends. In fact, that's still our place, but thanks to my humble childhood, I still know how to rustle up something from nothing.

I've actually managed to trump the family dynasty's secret budget busting pancake recipe though, by eliminating the need for an egg. One egg + flour + oil + a little milk and sugar used to be the recipe of choice for us, and probably for you too.

No egg = no yummy pancakes today.

But with the simple addition of some white vinegar and a little rest for the batter, we can now have pancakes even without an egg in our Mother Hubbard's cupboard.

Here's how:

Budget Busting Pancakes

1 1/2 cups plain flour (GF flour works well too!)
2 tbsp milk powder
2 tbsp sugar
3 tsp baking powder
3/4 cup water
2 tbsp oil or melted butter or margarine
1 tbsp white vinegar
1 tsp vanilla essence or vanilla extract

You'll also need a non-stick pan, a plate to hold your cooked pancakes, cooking spray or a little butter, oil or margarine, and a spatula. Of course honey, maple syrup, fruit and yoghurt or ice cream and caramel sauce are all an excellent idea for satisfying pancake consumption too. Our favourite used to be a little butter whipped in a bowl with honey to sweeten it, so steal our idea if you wish. It's certainly a frugal option!

A much neglected secret I learned at my grandmother's knee on the subject of perfect pancakes, is to have a thin, neat edged spatula with which to flip them. A metal one is best. Basically, dodgy plastic egg flip thingy with rough forward edge = rough looking pancakes with nasty blobby edge. And one more? Only cook one neat pancake at a time. Do not be tempted to try and fit three in the pan. It's difficult to flip 'em, and it just gets messy.

Now, combine the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Make a hollow in the middle of the dry ingredients and pour in the wet ingredients. Mix well with a whisk until smooth.

Allow the batter to rest for 30 minutes. You'll notice bubbles forming on the surface. Do not be tempted to stir the batter again. You'll be scooping it straight into your hot pan, fluffy air bubbles intact.

Heat a non-stick pan over a medium-high hotplate and spray it liberally with cooking spray or just a smidge of oil or butter. Honestly, you don't want them to 'fry' as such. The dryer the surface of the pan, the better. If you don't have spray oil, melt a little butter or margarine in the pan, then remove it from the heat and wipe the melted butter away with a paper towel. That's how little you need. And that pan has to be nice and hot initially, but you'll be turning it down to about 2/3 of full power after the first pancake bites the dust.

Accept that the first pancake, for reasons only known to the cosmos, will always fall into the aforementioned dodgy category. If you can get a picture perfect pancake on the first go, I want to hear about it. I think it's the universe's way of keeping us humble...he-he!

Take a large serving spoon or 1/3 cup measuring cup and scoop it full of bubbly batter. Plop the batter into the middle of your hot, lightly greased pan, and spread it quickly with the back of the spoon or the edge of the measuring cup, into a nice, even circle.

Watch for the edges of your pancake to cook and rise slightly and for bubbles to form on the surface. Do not try to flip your pancake until a nice firm edge has formed or you'll end up with aliens, not pancakes. Slide your lovely thin spatula under one edge of the pancake and if it lifts easily with no ensuing dribbles messing up your neat circle, it's ready to flip. At this stage, your pancake is pretty much done, and you're just browning the other side, so give it about thirty seconds, lift it to check for a nice golden colour and slide it onto a waiting plate.

Turn the hotplate down to 2/3 full heat.

Continue with the rest of your batter, cleaning the edge of your spatula thoroughly after flipping each pancake. It's a simple thing that really makes a difference.

Keep cooking and stacking those pancakes till the batter is all used. This quantity makes 6-10 decent sized pancakes, so enough for one good pancake eating session, whether for two big kids or 10 littlies.

Pat yourself on the back for being such a great parent. Kids fed, takeaway visit averted, happy tummies... it doesn't get much better than that!

You can discover more of Mimi's yummy creations in our Members' Blog area.

10. Claire's Corner: No More Primary School For Us!

So, here we are one month in to the New Year... last month I resolved to achieve three things this year: lose weight, pay off the credit cards and get the bathroom sorted. And I've made a good start, well... a start of sorts! I've signed myself up with MyFitnessPal (thanks to a member suggestion some time back!). It's a great little site that helps you track your calories and help you think twice about what you're eating. I don't know if I've actually lost any weight because we don't have any scales, but I have definitely been more controlled with my eating. Think I'll pop up to the doctor tomorrow and use their scales and see what the number is! I've also transferred my credit card debt onto a lower interest card (1.99%) and have budgeted to pay it off over the next six months. And as far as the bathroom goes, we've planned to buy what we need over the next two months and do the bulk of the work over Easter. So I guess all the planning is there... just need to make it all happen!

With just a few days until the kids are back at school, my youngest is preparing for her first day at intermediate - she's a bundle of nerves! I'm working hard to help her feel relaxed about it, but I guess it's just one of those things that she'll have to go through. I'm pretty sure she'll come home after her first day feeling happy. With any luck she'll have a few friends from primary school in her class and her teacher will be nice! Deep down, I'm just as nervous as she is! We were lucky to have a wonderful primary school that we loved, so it's a bit of an adjustment. I admit that I shed a few tears on her last day, I feel like we've entered into a new era as a family - we no longer have primary school-aged kids!

Meanwhile, Miss 14 has morphed into a fully-fledged teenager over the holidays. She now stays awake most of the night and sleeps all day. When she does emerge, she's either hungry, bored, grumpy or tired... or an unpleasant combination of all of the above! Just before Christmas, she was using my laptop when she 'accidentally' (read - carelessly!), walloped it into the wall while carrying it - decimating the delicate screen! She was extremely sorry and spent a few very anxious hours worrying about how I'd react when I got home. Needless to say, I wasn't thrilled - I use my computer for work every day, so it was a scary feeling not to be able to use it!

I had been considering upgrading, so I decided to take advantage of a very good deal at The Good Guys and got myself a newbie (my Christmas pressie to myself I guess!). She then paid to have the screen repaired on the broken one, and now has it for herself. The upside is that I no longer have to put up with her wanting to use mine all the time, the downside is that she now uses hers ALL the time! She's back at school in a week, so I've decided to start enforcing limits now so that she will be back into a good sleeping routine when school starts... this will be easier said than done!

So I have one child entering her intermediate years, one in the midst of teenage-dom and one who is becoming an adult - of sorts! My eldest turned 19 on Christmas Eve, it staggers me how quickly time goes by - everyone tells you when they are babies that they grow up fast, but you don't believe it until it happens before your very eyes! Mr 19 has been labouring for the past four or five months building fences, but he's just applied to join the Navy (after much deliberation over which one of the forces he'd go for). He has the prerequisites, so now it's just a matter of passing the intake tests. He's just waiting to hear back about the date, but he's as keen as mustard to get in so that's a good start!

I'm now off to do some internet searching for budget bathroomware, update MyFitnessPal and switch off madam's computer!

For this month, I've chosen a quote that touches on the topic of kids growing up... seems to be on my mind a fair bit this month!

"While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about."
- Angela Schwindt

You can read more of Claire's warm and wonderful words in our Members' Blog area.

11. 50c Indulgence: New Beginnings

Our Indulgences under 50c thread started the year with the theme of 'New Beginnings'. Along with the Simple Savings Calendar theme of 'See it, Be it' we went about setting our intentions for the New Year and hopefully, for the whole year ahead!

I have used the tips in the Calendar and they really work! For example, if you are trying to give something up, you need to replace it with something else. Another great idea is to tell other people so you get some support for the changes or new habits you are trying to create. In the thread we have shared and encouraged each other as we have worked our way into the year. Telling everyone my intentions has really worked for me and the support has been wonderful!

A beautiful way to keep your goals in mind is to make a vision board. As was discussed on the forum this is a brilliant way to keep reminding yourself of your goals. I keep several vision boards and had a review and update for the new year. I had to really think about my goals and my wish list this year. Amazingly there is nothing I really want except time with my family and some little holidays with my husband. So my updates include the cutest caravan and happy gatherings, picnic baskets and the ocean. From past experience I will most likely find all these things come into my life as the year goes on.

My other vision boards are to give me joy and inspiration every day. I want to keep the things I adore and treasure somewhere I can see them all the time. The one in my bedroom has photos of the girls when they were little, love letters they wrote me, flowers and trinkets. It makes me smile every day. I have another of beautiful times with my husband, our wedding and concert tickets we have been to and so on. They really bring me joy every day and add a great deal of gratitude to my life as I am reminded how lucky I am. Positive images and thoughts have to be good for us!

Another form of vision board for me is my yearly diary. My daughter makes it for me by covering a diary with pictures of things she knows I love. Every night when I write in my diary I see all these lovely things that are somehow personal to me. It's a very easy and inexpensive treat and making one as a gift is a beautiful idea! For example, horse pictures for the little girl who loves horses or dinosaurs for a little boy.

Scrap booking or having a photo album just to collect images of things you love and inspire you soon creates a sort of inspiration file. I started these when I was 12 and when I look back through them I see the life I have is the one I cut and pasted for so many years! Looking through my current one is total therapy. My heart just sings seeing so many lovely things in one place! This is a great project for teenagers to help them focus on the life ahead of them and feel excited about it.

So as you make your plans for the year, use reminders to help you reach your goals. Helen and I have great plans for a thread each month that will help us achieve those goals. Our next thread will help by looking after our health AND saving money at the same time so come and join us!

Annabel

You can drop in and join Annabel, Helen and the Under 50c Army here: Heaven scent... under 50 cent indulgences February 2013

12. Rob Bob's Gardening Blog: Trying to Beat the Heat in the Patch

Saving plants from the heat

With the heat wave that some parts of Australia have had, I thought I might share with you how we are trying to minimise its effects on the plants in our patch.

We are expecting six days of 35-40°C temperatures so hopefully the wicking beds will provide enough moisture to keep most of our plants well hydrated. We have a number of plants in pots; some are irrigated using Wetpots, while others are relying on us to keep the water up to them on a regular basis. All of these will be feeling the sting from the heat so, in an attempt to keep some water up to them, I have placed a few in trays. Keeping pots in trays with a centimetre or two of water in the bottom is a great way to ensure that the plants have access to water. It is best not to leave them in direct sunlight as the water will evaporate quickly.

All our potted plants will be getting a small watering every morning before the heat sets in. The wicking beds will be filled on the Monday afternoon (last 30°C day) and the beds will get a bit of a hosing so the mulch can soak up some moisture as well. They will be checked again on Wednesday and Friday evenings to see if they need a top up. Some valued plants will be given a spot water if needed but I am prepared to lose a few of the older or poor performing ones. My biggest concern will be the seedlings that I am nurturing in the trays.

One idea that might help vulnerable plants is the use of a plastic bottle with a small pin size hole in the base.

The water will slowly drip out ensuring that the plants around it receive a little moisture during the day. I have seen bottles like these at the local community garden used to keep potato plants moist during times of extreme heat.

Shade is something that will also help your plants survive the heat. We are lucky in that we have the shade house but it isn't doing the best it could in some areas.

The capsicums under the 30% cloth are already showing signs of 'sunburn' so we will be adding some 50% cloth over the top just to make sure we don't lose any more. There are a few different ways to shade plants using things you may have on hand. A portable pergola would make a fantastic shade structure that could be situated over a garden bed or two. A sheet tied to a few stakes or to the side of a building would make a great cover for plants. An outdoor table (lay a cloth over the top if glass) or even outdoor chairs would be good enough to give vulnerable short plants a bit of cover from the harsh sun. Moving pots under the eaves of the house, a large tree or veranda would also decrease the plants' stress levels. I hope that may give a few ideas on how to help plants withstand heat over a hot period.

Chilli paste from the patch

We have managed to save all the chilli crop from the fruit fly this year (does a joyful jig) so I decided that the first lot would be used to make up an Asian-style chilli paste. Most of the ingredients came from our patch with the galangal, lemongrass, lime rind and leaves all being stored in the freezer from the last harvests. Only the coconut vinegar and sugar came from the shops **: )»** I must also thank Joy for sharing her recipe with me and while I didn't follow it to the 'T' I used it as a portion guide.

Sambal Oelek

500g chillies
300g galangal (ginger would work just as well)
300g garlic
4 stalks of lemongrass, chopped
2 tbsp grated lime skin
Small handfull of Kaffir lime leaves
350ml coconut vinegar
200g rapadura sugar

Place all ingredients except for the sugar and vinegar into a food processor. Slowly add the vinegar while processing on high until all ingredients become a paste.

Bring the paste to the boil in a saucepan. Slowly pour sugar in and stir until dissolved.

Reduce heat and let the paste simmer for five minutes.

This made enough to fill three sterilised pint/500ml jars, two of which were added to a hot water bath for 10 minutes so they could be stored for later use or used as gifts for friends. I must say that I was very pleased with the flavour and I am still hanging out to try it with some locally farmed black tiger prawns.

I ♥ my Asian curries. **: )»**

Read more of Rob Bob's garden blogs in our Members' Blog area.

13. From Last Month: Yeast and Wheat-Free

Last month Sue Izard emailed us about yeast and wheat-free recipes. She said:

"My daughter has just been told she needs to spend a few months yeast and wheat-free to give her adrenal glands time to recover from a whole range of foods they were reacting to. I've looked in the Vault but most of the dietary info is about gluten-free foods. Does anyone have any ideas about yeast-free?"

We got some fantastic ideas for Sue - thank you for sharing your wisdom! Here are some of our favourite replies:

Learning to live yeast-free

Many years ago my elderly dad was advised to eat a yeast-free diet to treat a skin problem. He was overwhelmed by the long lists of food he should avoid. However, I went online and found some good ideas.

Firstly we wrote down his current diet. Next we substituted the things he normally ate with yeast-free options. The biggest initial challenge was bread but he substituted oat porridge for toast; rice cakes, crackers or crispbread for sandwiches and we found lots of yeast-free snacks. Vegemite had to go but he was happy to avoid it along with beer and wine in order to recover. When in doubt he ate a variety of fresh meat or fish with lots of fresh or frozen vegetables (except mushrooms and olives) and tea with milk but no sugar.

Most difficult of all was cheese which he loved. However, as his skin cleared he felt it was worth it and has now developed a new appreciation for nuts like almonds, cashews, macadamias, pecans and walnuts.

Contributed by: Marg Mansfield

Spelt bread may suit if yeast-free

If you're on a yeast-free diet, here are a few products that I have found to be very good. Orgran have a good range of yeast and wheat-free products - some are available in the supermarket and others can be bought from organic shops. I like their gravy mix, especially when mixed with meat juices. I also use Healthybake or Ancient Grains spelt bread. This uses a sourdough base so it has a small amount of natural yeast but less than regular bread. They also do breads made with other flours such as rye.

For more good ideas and yeast-free recipes, visit www.theyeastdiet.com.

Contributed by: Lesley Smith

What to avoid/enjoy if you're yeast-free

If you're on a yeast-free diet, here are a few tips on what to avoid and what to enjoy:

Avoid gluten-free breads as these are usually still baked with yeast.
Avoid soy sauce on sushi as the sauce is fermented.
Avoid Marmite or Vegemite as these both have yeast in them.
Avoid fermented drinks like ginger beer.
Avoid having a lot of sugar as this can cause an overgrowth of yeast. This includes dried fruit, fruit juice and pasta sauces.
Enjoy plenty of rice, quinoa and potatoes.
Enjoy meat, fish and chicken.
Enjoy a few pieces of fresh fruit each day, but not too much as it is high in sugar.
Enjoy plenty of fresh vegies each day.

Contributed by: Belinda Lansley

Tricks to living yeast-free

I had to live yeast and sugar-free for about six months when I was in my thirties. There were two key tricks for me - the first was to focus principally on eating meat and vegetables. I ate a lot of meat and salad during summer, then as winter came I ate a lot of soup (by cooking up lots of vegies in a pot with stock or water plus rice or barley). This was followed by grilled fish, chops or steak and potatoes or rice of all kinds (risotto makes a nice change) with cooked vegies.

The second trick was to make social time with friends that involved something other than food (such as a movie, an art gallery or park). This helped me to avoid the foods I wasn't meant to eat!

I also explored vegetable patties with nut butters as the thickener and fish patties made in the food processor (egg holds them together). I delved deep into Asian food styles (which use no wheat and no yeast) and I explored wheat alternatives such as oats for biscuits and so on. For breakfast I feasted on smoothies, home-made bircher muesli (soaked oats, mashed banana, honey and milk, mixed up and topped with fresh fruit) and in winter I made fresh porridge every day. The main thing was to be prepared so that I was not caught hungry and tempted to eat 'off plan'.

Contributed by: Jo Verity

Super quick yeast-free bread recipes

For a quick yeast-free bread fix, here are a few helpful recipes:

Wraps

1 egg
2 tbsp water
3 tbsp LSA or ground almonds
1/2 tsp baking powder
Salt and pepper to season

Mix all ingredients well and spread onto a flat dinner plate. Microwave for about three minutes. Remove carefully, cool and fill. This recipe can also be used in a waffle maker to make 1-2 waffles.

Nut & Seed Bread

1 egg
3 tbsp almond meal or LSA
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
1 tbsp nut butter
1 tbsp linseed

Mix all ingredients together and pour onto greased bread and butter plate. Microwave for 90 seconds. Remove from plate and cool. Slice carefully to make two thin slices.

Mugmuffin

1 egg
1 tbsp oil
1 tbsp milk
3 tbsp almond meal
1/2 tsp baking powder
2 tbsp icing sugar
1 tbsp cocoa
1/2 tsp vanilla essence

Mix all ingredients well in cup or mug and microwave for 90 seconds. If using a mug it will rise over the mug but settle down when cooked. This recipe works best in a medium to large tea cup. Change flavour as desired.

Contributed by: Janice Giddy

Menu planning key to special diets

When my son was reacting to wheat, gluten and numerous other things, my naturopath suggested that I base most of his meals around protein, fruits and vegies, and rice (instead of pasta and breads). It's actually really easy to do and just requires a menu plan that is followed to the letter.

For example, breakfast was a basic omelette made with egg, water, corn or peas, or leftover shredded chicken with a little cheese. For lunches some ideas include: home-made kid-friendly fried rice, chicken or boiled eggs, tinned tuna with vegie sticks and home-made beetroot dip and chicken and corn soup with rice instead of noodles in.

Dinner was the most simple of all and included things like chicken, pork or fish with salad or vegies with mash or home-made wedges. Snacks were always yoghurt and fruit. Home-made frozen yoghurt popsicles were great for dessert, just mix and freeze mixed berries with any flavoured yoghurt and add some honey. And for smoothies, mix yoghurt, milk, a banana and a little honey and cinnamon.

Contributed by: Brooke

Yeast substitute for everyday baking

Here's a quick and useful tip if you're on a yeast-free diet... use equal parts lemon juice and baking soda as a yeast substitute in everyday recipes! You can still cook your regular meals and stay yeast-free. Just make sure you add them last so they work properly.

Contributed by: Squishy Squishy

Home-made yeast-free pan-fried bread

It can be hard going without sandwiches when you're yeast-free but there are some great alternatives such as corn cakes, rice crackers, scones, pancakes and pikelets made with some of the alternative flours like buckwheat that are all yummo!

Many gluten-free flours (which also mean wheat-free) are now superior to what they used to be. As a treat to die for, try Melinda's Heavenly Chocolate Fudge Brownie packet mix - honestly, it lives up to its name! I found it at Coles.

However, my favourite is pan-fried bread, especially with home-made soup. Mix up assorted flour (go easy on the rice flour as it makes it gluggy, I always include a good portion of buckwheat) with an egg, some dairy (yoghurt makes it airy, I like to use ricotta or cottage cheese myself), a grated carrot (optional) and enough water to make a dough consistency. If you're not using a self-raising flour, use a raising agent. For a savoury version, add mixed herbs, grated vegetables and fresh pepper. Or if you like a sweet version, use grated fruit or sultanas. Avoid honey though as it will make it burn.

Cook in a hot frying pan that can be covered. I use olive oil for savoury breads and butter for sweet. Put in the mix and press evenly. Cover with the lid, turn the heat down a quarter and wait about five minutes. Turn the heat down another quarter and turn bread over. Wait another five minutes then turn the heat down to low and give it a few minutes each side until you get a hollow sound when you tap the bread with your knuckles. If you like a crustier finish, leave the lid off when you turn the heat down to low. I find you get a better loaf if you do smaller ones than a large one. It is a bit of trial and error to get it right but from then on it is easy. Cut into wedges to serve.

Contributed by: Jacki Perry

Yeast-free bread options

If you need to be on a yeast-free diet, my tip is to be careful as there is often yeast 'hidden' in many sauces, flavourings and sandwich spreads.

There are several yeast-free breads available (they taste best toasted or in a sandwich press). They are quite expensive so I buy a loaf and freeze it in two-slice packs as it's very difficult to separate the pieces if you freeze it as a whole loaf.

There are several yeast-free options for wrap-style bread including mountain bread. I also buy roti bread from my local fruit shop which is very cheap. Plain potato chips and plain corn chips (without flavouring) are yeast-free. You can also buy yeast-free pizza bases in Coles and Woolies and make your own pizzas.

For a yummy savory treat, I mix tinned tuna, shallots, chopped cherry tomatoes and grated cheese and spoon them into Yorkshire pudding cases from Aldi. You then bake them in the oven until the cheese turns a golden brown. Yum!

Contributed by: Sally H

14. This Month's Help Request: Outdoor Makeover

N. Carson has emailed asking for some help! She writes:

"After six years of indoor renovation, we are finally ready to begin on the outdoors! The prospect of ripping up 4x32m of concrete driveway and replacing it with bitumen, digging out 35sqm of unwanted dirt in the backyard, erecting a front brick fence, building a deck and also general landscaping is extremely daunting - and costly! Any advice regarding cost-effective concrete demolition, skip hire, dirt removal or waste disposal - and also outdoor renovation advice would be incredibly appreciated!"

If you have any pearls of wisdom you'd like to share, please send them in to us here.

15. Goodbye For Now!

Well, that's your Simple Savings Newsletter for February 2013 and we hope you have enjoyed it and have been inspired by all the money saving tips. Our members are hugely important to us and we love hearing from you all! So next time you're on the website, why don't you get in touch and say, 'G'day'! Let us know what you would like to see more of in our newsletter or any suggestions you have for something new to try. We love receiving your clever ideas!

Till next time...
All the best,
Fiona

February 2015 - Simple Savings Newsletter

"Secrets to Saving Money" Free Newsletter - February 2015

This issue includes:-

Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: How Nude Are You?
February: Nudity Quiz
Best of the Vault: Fresh is Best
Best of the Forum: Back to Nature!
Best Members' Blog: Being Organised Saves Thousands
Mimi: Roasted Vegetable Salad With Spicy Sausage and Honey Mustard Dressing
Rob Bob's Gardening Blog: Crook Plants and a Wander Through the Patch
Penny Wise: Going it Alone
From Last Month: Recipes Using Non-Perishable Ingredients
This Month's Help Request: Secret Linen Business!

Hello!

We hope you had a fantastic January sourcing great local deals. Matt and I worked out we were still very happy with our local grocer and butcher but it was good to see what others had to offer. This month we're asking a very personal question about how 'nude' you are - you'll have to read on to find out more! We also say goodbye to Penny Wise/Jackie Gower in this newsletter and we wish her all the best. Thank you, Jackie!

I always love hearing your savings ideas and stories and tips! Here are some of my favourites this month:

"I joined Simple Savings not quite sure what to expect - I'd never been on a forum before! I was so surprised to see how friendly everyone was, and how helpful. I've already saved money on my bills and am about to do my first $21 Challenge. Thank you, Simple Savings - I'm glad I took the plunge and joined." (Lynette)

"Hi Fiona and Matt. I just wanted to thank you for your fantastic website - my daughter may have Facebook, but I have Simple Savings!" (Trudy)

Have a great month!
All the best,
Fiona Lippey

P.S. We need to find homes for lots of $21 Challenge Books! $5 each, plus postage!

P.P.S.S. We have a new public Facebook Group. Check it out!

1. Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: How Nude Are You?

Hanna sipped her coffee at her desk while she scrolled through her emails. She yelped and put her coffee down quickly. "Sally? Did you just send me an email?" she asked over the desk.

Sally fought to keep a straight face. "Yep. It was from me." Hanna looked at her and whispered worriedly, "It has the word 'nudity' in the subject line. Are you sure it's safe to open?" Sally rolled her eyes - she loved getting one up on Hanna and this time she had her! "Of course it's safe. And, you're going to like it!"

Hanna gulped... she knew she wasn't going to like it! Sally was sitting right next to her now and she couldn't get out of this one. She clicked the link and sighed, "It's about food?!"

2. February: Nudity Quiz

The Nudity Test!

Have you ever wondered how nude you are? And I don't mean whether or not you have clothes on. I mean how nude your diet is. Well, it is time to find out.

From looking at people's different, shopping, spending and eating habits we have observed there are four levels of food nudity. We based these levels on the types of clothes the food is wearing. To help people evaluate their own habits and have a bit of fun, we have put together a little Nudity Quiz.

But first let's start by looking at the four levels of nudity. They are:

Tarted Up

You've heard the expression, 'mutton dressed up as lamb'? That pretty much sums up Tarted Up food. It's a subterfuge. Tarted Up food is so artificial and over-packaged that the original ingredients are no longer recognisable and you can't really tell what's on the inside. The Tarted Up diet consists of very little or no nude food. Food is often tinned, frozen or packet products. Takeaway food and drink also feature strongly.

Well Dressed

Well Dressed food is higher quality - but it still comes at a hefty cost to your pocket and the planet. Well dressed food often poses as nude food, but it isn't due to the resources that have gone into presenting the food. This category covers items such as gourmet paninis, posh salads and barista coffee. A good portion of this diet is still heavily packaged and disposable.

Comfortably Nude

Who wouldn't like to be Comfortably Nude?! Comfortable nudists have the balance right. Sure, the odd packet might make its way into their trolley and they may succumb to the occasional takeaway but on the whole this diet ticks all the right boxes. Comfortable Nudists know that real food is not only the best food but also the cheapest. They cook from scratch wherever possible and enjoy both the health and financial benefits of their chosen lifestyle.

Totally Starkers

This diet is as close as you can get to being completely and utterly nude in this day and age! Those who are 'Totally Starkers' are pretty much self-sufficient and grow as much of their own food as possible. Everything they need comes from the yard and they keep their own chickens and livestock. Supermarket visits are a rare occurrence and takeaway is non-existent. This diet - while being the most labour intensive - is by far the cheapest, healthiest and most eco-friendly way to eat.

Now you have read the levels. It is time to take the test...

Here is a link to the test. I hope you have fun doing it!

P.S. Don't forget to join in the fun in the Forum!

3. Best of the Vault: Fresh is Best!

Your challenge this month is to get nude! Take a look at your menu plan, shopping list and shopping habits to see how you can get more fresh ingredients into your fridge and cupboards.

Four easy-to-grow herbs

Herbs are very expensive to buy, so it's well worth growing your own. Here are four of the easiest herbs to grow:

Parsley grows very easily as a border along paths and can be chopped and frozen.
Mint grows well in pots near a tap. Lots of recipes require fresh mint so it's a good herb to have on hand.
Basil can be grown in pots or in a sunny spot in the garden. A good trick is to freeze basil in ice cubes for later use.
Rosemary thrives almost anywhere and even makes a small hedge!

Many other herbs grow with a minimum of fuss, but the four I have listed above will make a great start to your garden as they are used in cooking nearly every day.

Contributed by: Julie Chissell

Fruity ice adds flavour

My family has never been water drinkers as we don't like the bland taste. To keep our water intake up, we resorted to buying expensive bottles of flavoured water. Not anymore!

We recently had a baby, which means my water intake is very important, plus we must pay extra attention to our budget. So, I've come up with a way to still enjoy flavoured drinking water without the cost. We bought a few cheap ice trays from The $2 Shop and now use cheap fruit and vegetables to make flavoured ice cubes.

For example, strawberries were on special the other day. I cut them into quarters, placed a couple into each section of the ice tray and added water. The end result is pretty little ice cubes that clink delightfully in my glass of water - and the strawberry flavour is lovely.

We experiment with different flavours, like cucumber, lemon juice or blueberries. Sometimes we even use two different fruits in each ice cube. I love serving cool drinks to guests as I often receive positive comments!

Contributed by: Kallie

Start a buying club

We have started a friends' buying club and are saving hundreds of dollars on groceries!

Each week one person goes to the wholesale market and buys fruit and vegetables in bulk. They then separate the produce into boxes and distribute the boxes to the other club members. Every month, we also buy household products in bulk lots, such as shampoo, soap and washing powder. We then repack these products into our recycled bottles and containers!

We save over $200 per month on these simple purchases and we don't impulse buy as we hardly go to the supermarket anymore. It's so easy to do. Just get five neighbours or friends together, work out a roster and a few simple rules and start saving money.

Contributed by: Danielle

YouTube video shares secret to 'free' chicken

A simple YouTube video has helped me get a fantastic saving on buying chicken! We eat free range chicken, but my daughter loves it so much it has started to do our budget in. Just two chicken breast fillets at a total of 600g at $17.99 per kilo costs $10.79. Ouch!

In contrast, a 1.5kg whole free range chicken at $6.99/kg costs $0.28c less at $10.51. By using the techniques in this video, 'How to bone a chicken' I can get the two breast fillets I need, with the rest of the chicken thrown in for free! I'm sure this works equally well with ordinary or organic chickens. These days I buy four chickens at a time - and I'll never buy fillets again!

Contributed by: Silly Mummy

4. Best of the Forum: Back to Nature

For many of us, life is hectic and busy and cooking a fresh, nutritious meal is just another chore at the end of the day. Here are some ideas to kick-start your own nude food revolution!

The ho-hum of eating the same vegetables every day

It's just not Deliberate Creator who has a severe case of 'vegie boredom', but there are some great ideas in this thread to put some crunch back into your cooking repertoire.
read more...

The cost of convenience

Jenelle W's 'fritata experiment' shows us just why nude food is less expensive than 'convenience' shopping - great read, thanks Jenelle.
read more...

Using the whole bunch of celery

This thread takes a different look at 'waste' - definitely food for thought!
read more...

Spiced carrot salad

This quick, easy and delicious summer salad is a perfect example of nude food!
read more...

5. Best Members' Blog: Being Organised Saves Thousands

One of the many benefits of being a Vault member is that you can win $100 cash each month for your Simple Savings blog! Starting your own blog on the site is easy. All you have to do is log into the Vault, click on 'My Desk' at the top left, then 'Your Blog'. Then get writing! We love reading all your money saving trials and tribulations and really appreciate the effort that goes into each one.

This month's winner is Lil ol me for sharing her 'Once a Month Shopping' adventure!

"My BF and I took our first big step into Once a Month Shopping. I don't mind saying it was both exciting and a little scary. But when we saw the money saved at the bottom of the receipt, we were thrilled.

I scanned all the catalogues for specials, especially lunchbox specials, and wrote a list of all the items that were 40% savings or better or available in a reduced bulk pack. I then worked out how much we'd need for four to eight weeks, depending on the item. Some of the quantities were scary. Buying five of anything that is already a 20 pack is A LOT! But then a family of seven does eat a lot too! In total I planned to visit four stores, luckily all within close proximity of each other. I didn't bother with the 'what do we need this week question', it was all about what is super cheap that we use all the time.

Knowing we only wanted specials actually helped prevent any impulse buys, and having my BF possibly helped as well. ;-) All up it was actually quite a fast adventure; no wandering through the aisles as at most shops we only needed four to five items, just a lot of them. We did spend our entire weekly food budget, but we confidently know we don't need any lunchbox fillers, beverages, toiletries, cleaning supplies, washing supplies, meat and frozen vegies for at least a month. What this should mean is now we have the next three to four weeks to save what we normally would have spent.

In the end, we may have spent $322, but we saved $187, in just one shop. Whilst this isn't our entire monthly shop as we did have a lot of meat already in the freezer, even if we only save this much each month, that's an extra $2244 in our pocket each year, just by buying the same regular items on special.

I did get to enjoy another delicious saving today, just by knowing my consumer rights! A couple of days ago I went to put an item on layby for my son's birthday in February. I had done my research online and headed to the store that had the best price. When I got there, I discovered they had the better model advertised on a sign at the lesser model price. I asked for the better model at the advertised price, and was told it was a typo. I didn't bother arguing instore but took a photo on my phone to email their customer service when I got home. They were incredibly fast at responding and within 30 minutes I was given an apology and was able to return to the store to get the better model at the reduced price. I saved $30, plus the added bonus of a loyalty card giving me an extra 5% discount, so overall it was a saving of $40. I had my SS hat on, and instead of using the credit card, I put the item on layby, giving me five weeks to pay it off with no interest.

I always knew being organised saved you money, but never really embraced the concept until now. I'm sure if I wasn't so organised, I would have bought the same item two days before his birthday, paid full price, and used the credit card. Being so close after Christmas, I was also able to find clearance covers for the device reduced from $17 down to $2! Even more money saved, just by being organised."

Well done Lil Ol Me on getting organised and making some huge savings!

You can read more of our members' blogs here.

6. Mimi: Roasted Vegetable Salad With Spicy Sausage and Honey Mustard Dressing

Yummy, easy, colourful, healthy... what more could you want?

You'll need:

An assortment of vegetables to roast... I chose potato, pumpkin and carrot, cut into similarly sized chunks, tossed with oil and seasoning and roasted at 180-200C until tender.
Red capsicum, torn into large chunks, tossed with oil and seasoning, and roasted at the same time, until the skin blackens and bubbles.
Baby spinach or salad leaves
Fresh herbs, any kind
1 tbsp honey or maple syrup
1 heaped tsp Dijon mustard
2 tbsp white vinegar
Spicy sausage, for example, kabana, cabanossi, chorizo, black pepper and beef or Thai chicken, pan fried and sliced thinly

Then just:

Skin the capsicum, discard the skin and slice into strips.

Heat the honey for just a few seconds in the microwave to liquefy it, and add the vinegar and mustard, whisking well.

Set out your plates and add a layer of greens as a 'bed' for the vegies.

Toss the roasted vegetables and cooked and sliced sausage and divide equally between your plates.

Top with the roasted capsicum strips and drizzle with the dressing.

Enjoy!

You can get updates on Mimi's new blogs on the Simple Savings Facebook page

or in our Members' Blog section.

7. Rob Bob's Gardening Blog: Crook Plants and a Wander Through the Patch

A virus in the patch :-/

Plant diseases can be a persistent problem in the vegie patch if you don't get on top of them quickly. Luckily enough for us the most common diseases we have to face in the patch are powdery and downy mildew. Both of these can easily be treated and controlled with a simple spray made of bi-carb soda (baking powder) and water. Plant viruses are unfortunately a little bit harder to deal with as there are no effective treatments once the plant is infected. They first became an issue in our garden a year or so ago when we started to notice that the leaves of some heirloom tomatoes were not developing correctly. The same deformation of the leaves started to quickly appear on two lots of potatoes and a few eggplants.

The infected plants all had a noticeable symptom of a fern-like curling of the leaves. This severely stunted all growth and stopped any flowers forming on the fruiting plants. I was lucky that at the time I had a visit from a knowledgeable mate (cheers Sir Dave) who identified the cause of the weird leaf curling as a plant virus, possibly cucumber mosaic virus, although we never had an official diagnosis made.

Plant viruses are normally spread by sap-sucking insects like aphids, whitefly and thrips, as well as some leaf-eating insects, so it does pay to stay on top of them if you see them around the patch. I have read that it isn't a good idea to spray the plants for pest insects once a viral infection has been identified, the reason being that this will quite often make the insects carrying the infections flee to other plants, in turn infecting them.

There is no treatment for a plant once it's infected other than to remove the plant material and dispose of it outside the garden. I have included a link to a webpage/PDF download that has more information to help identify different plant viruses you might encounter in your patch, the plants they can infect and the means by which they are transmitted. This summer we've seen infections pop up in a few spots in the garden. The 'giant tree' tomato was the first casualty; from there it spread to a few nearby capsicum seedlings. We have also seen the symptoms show up in a few other plants like the celery and some potatoes down the back, again all located within a few metres of each other. Most of the plants have already been removed so I hope we have stopped or at least slowed down its spread.

After chatting to some gardening friends online recently (cheers Nathan & folks), I narrowed down the weird cupping of the leaves on the yacon to be most possibly caused by a plant virus as well. I think it may be the cucumber mosaic virus as it is known to affect many different types of plants but, as I said above, I haven't had any samples tested. On the upside, I got to do an early harvest and ended up with a few sweet yacon roots to juice and munch on.

I hope that helps a few folks that have come across similar issues with their plants but were unsure of what they were.

A wander around the patch

I thought I'd give you a bit of a walk through the yard in this blog, we have a few new plants on the go as well as a few upcoming changes we want to implement around the patch.

Bits out the front

I have let some of the beds out the front have a bit of a rest over the past few months so there isn't a lot going on out there. Most beds were given a bit of a feed with some stable scrapings with a few then going on to provide us mini harvests from volunteer plants which has been great. The asparagus bed slowed down its spear production for a while but has bounced back nicely after a few doses of compost tea (funny that). The spear size we are now getting is a lot smaller and would normally be let go to turn to fern by most folks. One way you can continue to get a small harvest from your plants once the spear size is too small for harvesting is to 'tip' the thin young spears once they reach a certain length.

I like to let them grow to about 600-800mm (2-2½') and then pinch off the tender growing tip. This way we can extend the harvest while also allowing the plant enough greenery to provide energy for the crown to grow and thrive. It also keeps the plant ferns from exploding onto the lawn. While the small tips look a tad scraggly they taste just as nice as the large juvenile spears.

The perpetual spinach in the bed next to it were knocked around by the recent hot weather.

We have been using the spinach as chook fodder mainly and will be sowing a few more to replace these plants. I am looking at turning this bed into a corn bed in a month or so after the other corn matures a bit.

The next bed has had the yellow cherry tomatoes removed as it was starting to look a bit scrappy and the production slowed down. Half a dozen field peas were sown out in there along with a couple of tromboncino (trombone) zucchini.

To get the bed ready for the zucchini it was top dressed with some commercial compost, then a 100mm/4" layer of aged horse manure and topped it all off with some mulch. The manure will not only feed the soil but will also keep the compost worms in the bed well fed. A mesh wire trellis will be added so the zucchini has something to climb on once they put on a bit of size.

Kira's bed is booming at the moment.

It's looking rather jam-packed with two volunteer Thai basil and LOADS of French marigolds. The Thai basil is covered in flowers and it won't be long before the same can be said of the marigolds. It has been great watching all the hoverflies and the different bees come in to feast on the basil flowers.

The next bed was planted out with some sweet corn a few weeks ago. Unfortunately the high temperatures we had last weekend knocked a lot of the new shoots off, so I decided buy some seedlings to fill the gaps.

With Sunday's temperature said to be reaching 38°C/100°F I decided to pop some small sections of shade cloth up over both the corn and zucchini beds. That way I won't have to replant then both again. ;-)

The next bed has a volunteer rockmelon pop up in the corner while the corn was in there. Since the corn was removed it has decided to take over the front corner of the yard including the bed next to it.

So far we've had two fruit ripen on the vine, the first one was unfortunately split and infested with bugs but the second was perfect. :-) I have a feeling that these are the offspring of a store-bought fruit as they are nowhere near as sweet as any of the varieties we have grown before. They do have a very strong rockmelon flavour though and taste great in the morning juice.

Bits out the back

Things out the back have been going a bit slow lately as a few of the beds are being allowed to rest for a few months like some out the front.

A first for us this year is using green pawpaw/papaya in salads.

It has a mild flavour and went really well in an Asian-style salad we made up the other night. It was definitely a lot better received by the girls than the ripe fruit we picked. ;-) I will be making up a green mango and pawpaw salad tonight to try out a Thai-style dressing. Far too hot for an Australia day lamb roast/BBQ methinks. ;-)

Bianca and I have also decided to remove the longest wicking bed in the patch as we are 99% certain that the reservoir membrane has been compromised and is allowing water to escape.

At this stage we will be replacing it with a series of smaller wicking beds that will all be connected to an auto top up reservoir which will make them easier to fill. I'm thinking they will be built along the lines of our Auto Top Up Wicking Barrels. I am contemplating plumbing them up slightly differently though so they might also be suitable to add into the aquaponic system at some point in the future. Before that happens we will need to harvest the potatoes and transplant the chilli bush from the bed.

One lot of plants I'm very pleased with so far this summer has been the spice plants. We have five stands of turmeric in various wicking gardens and barrels with all of them putting on some great growth. One barrel in particular has even managed to dazzle us again with some very beautiful flowers.

The flower on the left with the pink tinge to the petals is a newly emerged Madras turmeric flower and the one on the right shows how it fades into a green tinge after a week or so. We also have four types of culinary ginger around the patch as well.

The Kencur ginger is a low-growing ginger that has a rather stunning little flower. We haven't cooked with this or the Chinese keys ginger, as we are trying to grow enough rhizome to get larger yields next season. I am sure that a small amount will be set aside once the plants die back at the end of the season this year to go into a meal or two. ;-)

A fishy update

I have finally set the fish farm up the way it was meant to run a few weeks ago when the silver perch were removed and added into the aquaponic system. That left 59 Jade perch to split between the two fish tanks of this system. Between the fish farm and aquaponics we should be having a few meals of fish a week once they put on a bit more size, something that we are looking forward to. Might even pop a few in the smoker. ;-)

I did a bit of a clip showing how the fish were moved and also covered how much feed the fish are getting for folks that might be interested.

That's about it for this month. Hope you enjoyed the quick walk around the patch and that summer is treating you and your patch well. It is crazy to think sitting here in 36°C heat that we are only six or so weeks away from starting off some of our cool weather crops.

Cheers folks & have a great one.

You can get updates on Rob Bob's new gardening adventure blogs on the Simple Savings Facebook page

or in our Members' Blog section.

8. Penny Wise: Going it Alone

I didn't know what to call this post - 'Going on holiday?' 'Putting Penny to sleep?' I'm still not sure! Still, we'll go with this one. You may have noticed that my blogs on Simple Savings have been getting fewer and farther between. This is largely due to the fact I have been working so many jobs but (and this probably sounds a bit weird) on the rare occasions I had time to sit and put 'pen to paper', I just couldn't tune into being Penny any more. My own head was so full of stuff that I just couldn't think of a thing to say! It took a while to realise what the problem was but I can see now that this was the real me trying to get out. As soon as I realised what I had to do, the urge to write immediately came back again! And, what I need to do is give Penny a rest and let Jackie take over. I need to put my head down, bum up and get both Penny and me out of the financial mess we're in. And, not being one to do things by halves I am also saying goodbye to the budgeting ladies. They have been wonderful and I have been so lucky but I want to stand on my own two feet now and be 100% focused without - well, without anyone telling me what to do I guess. It's time to step up, do things my way and see how fast I can reach my goal.

So this will be my last blog as Penny, at least for now. The thing is, the real me still has a lot going on in her head! And, I'm a writer. I have to write stuff, I can't help it. I'm never happier than when I'm writing heaps, even if nobody else reads it. So the real me has started a new blog and you are very welcome to pop in any time. It's called Riches Have Wings and it feels like a breath of fresh air to me right now. I shall miss Penny, she was a bit of a sweetie lol but I like to think the new, more focussed me will have more to offer, both as a writer and a money saver. I guess time will tell! I'm sure I will still pop my head into the Forum now and again so it's not goodbye. I still know where to find you and now you know where to find me. :) If you would like to stay in touch with me or keep posted on how I'm doing in my mission, the best way is to 'like' my official Jackie Gower, Writer page on Facebook. I wouldn't have made it this far over the last couple of years without the help and support of all of you so please don't be strangers and I'll try not to be too!

See you all around. :) xxx

9. From Last Month: Recipes Using Non-Perishable Ingredients

Last month Cherie emailed us about ideas for non-perishable recipes:

"A group from our church wants simple recipes for meals made from non-perishable ingredients to give to families who find it a struggle after Christmas. Some ideas we had were pasta bake and tuna casserole but we'd love some more."

Thank you for your wonderful ideas for Cherie; here are some of our favourites:

Cream corn and corned beef make easy 'cupboard' casserole

Tinned cream corn and tinned corned beef make a nice casserole mixed together. You can also mix coconut milk and corned beef, add chopped onion and lots of spinach or any other greens. I base this dish on a Samoan one called Pulisami. Another good combination is a tin of green curry tuna and a packet of rice risotto.

Contributed by: Honora

Don't overlook meals from tins!

If you're looking for non-perishable meals, don't overlook tins! You can get non-perishable 'luncheon meat' in the form of tinned sausages, chicken and corned beef. You can have tinned mushrooms with rice, noodles or potatoes, as well as baked beans and creamed corn. Don't forget hard boiled eggs! You can stretch these meals with tinned soup, pasta/noodles and a dash of imagination to make casseroles, bakes and risottos. (From 'Cooking with Soup'.)

Contributed by: Doreen

Make a bake for goodness sake!

'Bakes' are a fantastic way to make non-perishable meals for camping or hampers for those in need. Think of pasta/tuna/cheese bakes!

Use macaroni (elbow pasta) for the best results and cook it as usual. Meanwhile make a cheese sauce with (powdered) milk, (processed) cheese and cornflour. Grate some extra cheese. Drain the pasta and put into a casserole dish. Open, drain and break up the tuna and mix into the pasta. Gently stir the cheese sauce through the pasta and tuna, and top with the extra grated cheese. Bake in moderate oven until casserole is hot and cheese topping is golden and melted. This is also nice with curry powder stirred through. No exact measurements, as you use what you have, but it goes a surprisingly long way!

Contributed by: Brenda

Delicious vegetarian meal - just look in the cupboard!

I have a vegetarian recipe that can use tinned/fresh sausages/hot dogs to replace the vegetarian ones. It's really quick to make, hearty and freezes well. The only real cooking is for the rice but packets of pre-cooked rice could be used (doesn't taste as good).

1 packet of Sanitarium hot dogs OR 6 cooked sausages OR one can or jar of hot dogs
1 tin corn kernels
1 tin 5-bean (or 3-bean, etc) mix - the ones with no vinegar
1 tin crushed or diced tomatoes
2 tbsp tomato paste (more if you want)
3 tbsp Ayam brand sweet and sour sauce (more if you want)
1 and a half cups cooked rice
1 beef stock cube (or more)

Method:

Slice hot dogs into 1cm lengths and toss in frying pan on low to medium setting.

Open and drain the corn and beans and add to pan, stirring lightly.

Add the tomatoes, tomato paste and sweet and sour sauce. Then crumble the stock cube over this and stir well to mix the flavours evenly.

Add cooked rice and stir through, allowing to simmer for a few minutes. If you prefer, you can leave the rice out of the pan and serve it as a side dish.

Serves 4

Contributed by: Xymonau

One minute meals from next to nothing

You can make a very quick and easy macaroni cheese using pasta, cream cheese spread and garlic salt. Just as easily you can make a tomato-based pasta sauce. You can cook a 'baked bean stew' with baked beans, dried onions, tins of tomatoes, peas and corn. Add salt and pepper to taste, then serve over rice. Yummo!

Contributed by: Sinders

10. This Month's Help Request: Secret Linen Business!

Siobhan has emailed asking for some help! She writes:

"I need some help with linen! I cleaned out my linen cupboard recently and sadly realised everything was mis-matched, poor quality and bought without much thought. For example, the fluffy white towels for our family of mechanics was probably a bit silly, as were the brightly coloured (cheap!) sheet sets that feel awful and don't wear well. It's time to do some shopping to buy replacements that will last, look and feel good and, well, spoil us just a bit! So I need your BEST ideas for linen - what brands to buy, what to look for, tips, storage, washing and so on. Please let me know your 'secret linen business'!"

If you have any pearls of wisdom you'd like to share with Siobhan, please send them in to us here.

11. Goodbye for Now

Well, that's your Simple Savings Newsletter for February and we hope you get a chance to do the Nude Food Quiz and see if you can make any changes!

Remember: We also have a new public Facebook Group for you to check out!

Till next time...

All the best,
Fiona

February 2018 - Simple Savings Newsletter

Simple Savings Newsletter - February 2018

This issue includes:

March is Start a Nest Egg Month!
Calendar Challenges
Tips For Building a Nest Egg
Supporting Each Other in the Forum
Competitions, Competitions, Competitions!
Vault Memberships

Hi,

How are you going? Did you save lots of money in February? I hope so :-)

March is "Nest Egg" month. In this newsletter I hope to show you how Nest Eggs are more than just money. They are freedom.

If you already have a Nest Egg: Well done! Read this newsletter and then send it on to a friend who you think might find it useful.

Have a great month!

Many grins,
Fiona Lippey

P.S. While writing this newsletter I found out that none of my children knew what a Nest Egg was. Every time I said the words "Nest Egg". They said "What is a nest egg?"

Put simply, a Nest Egg is a sum of money saved for the future.

P.P.S.S. Competition Update
We had some lovely entries for last month's No Spend Challenge Competition. But everyone has entered Category 1 and 3. We have had no entries for Category 2. Originally, the competition closed Midnight, March 1st. We have extended the date by one week to midnight, March 8th. More information below.

1. March is Start a Nest Egg Month!

Wouldn't it be wonderful if everything in your life was ALWAYS rosy? If everything always went as planned? You never got ill, you lived till 99, your fridge never broke, your car always ran and you were never, ever, ever whacked with a large "Oh #$@%!, I missed that one!" bill.

Life doesn't work that way. Life throws us curve balls. Bad things happen, and whether they leave you completely hammered and scraping for spare change under your car seat or feeling really lucky because you can still afford to pay for the kids' sport comes down to one thing: The size of your nest egg.

A nest egg is important because it gives you freedom. No one wants to be controlled by their lack of bank balance, and if you don't have a nest egg when disaster strikes this is exactly what happens. Instead of being able to make wise, good for your future, wealthy choices you are forced to make poor, poverty-driven, payday-to-payday choices.

To show you the sort of poor decisions people are forced to make simply because they didn't have a nest egg, I have made a quick table of the curve balls I have seen thrown at people and the sort of decisions they were faced with dependent on the size of their nest egg.

Curve Ball

With Nest Egg

Without Nest Egg

Car dies and isn't worth repairing

Pay cash for good quality second hand car. Total $6,000

Get an unsecured personal loan for $6,000 car. Total cost of car after interest, $7,560. End up another $1,560 behind.

Fridge dies

Pay $400 cash on Gumtree for a high quality, second hand fridge.

Buy a new fridge with a Buy Now, Pay Later scheme. Total cost of new fridge around $2000.

Auto-immune disorder

When your GP and the public system was unable to help you, you were able to pay for a good homeopath and recover your health.

When you were still ill after visiting the GP and going through the public system. Took the drugs on the PBS, couldn't afford anything else, had no other options and remained ill.

Drug addicted family member

Pay $10,000 for rehab. Take time off work to help family member. Be able to choose the best treatment for your child.

Cry. Feel helpless. Beg hospitals and doctors to help you. Have them turn their back on your family.

Bad sprain

Pay for private hospital, moon boot and physio. Able to rest and heal quickly.

Wait for 8 hours in public emergency ward. Struggle to pay for physio, have problems with ankle for years to come.

House burned down

Buy yourself some clothes and a toothbrush. Check into a hotel.

Wait for the insurance to pay for some accomodation, clothes, etc while relying on the charity of friends or relatives.

IVF

Get it straight away. Try everything you can to conceive baby.

Wait while your eggs decrease and have to save money to pay for it.

Car accident

Lay in bed, rest and recover.

Dose yourself on pain killers so you can keep turning up to work. Injuries are unable to heal properly.

Teen's Wonky Teeth

You can pay for braces.

Sink further into debt or child has to put up with dodgy teeth till they can pay for their own braces.

Toddler's Chalk teeth

You have the $2,000 spare. Pay for young child to get teeth fixed under a general anaesthetic in a private hospital.

Teeth must be fixed while child is awake in the chair because the government dental subsidies only cover procedures in the dentist's chair.

Vaccination*

Do your research and choose the healthiest option for your child.

Coerced into making a medical decision because government money is desperately needed to pay rent.

All of the situations above are based on real events. They are based on real people and the very real choices they have to make. Can you see how a nest egg makes your life easier? If you have a good nest egg it will shelter you and stop your situation from progressing from bad to worse.

This is why we want you to build yourself a nest egg. We want you to be strong. We want you to be able to face every challenge with your head held high.

Yes, we know this is a hot-button topic. The Australian government has recently made this into a financial issue and there are plenty of families feeling the strain. That makes it our concern.

2. Calendar Challenges

Just in case you haven't seen them, the challenges we set for March are:-

Beginner: - Choose your path. Decide how you want your future to be.

Moderate: - Plan your path. Work out how you're going to make your plans come true.

Hard core: - Walk your path. Start working towards your new future.

When building a nest egg there are some very important steps. The first is deciding what type of future you would like. Do you want a future where you are in charge, or do you want a future where your lack of money rules your life? These are the sort of choices only you can make. This is why the first Challenge is for you to Choose your path.

If you have already chosen how you want your future to look, then it is time for you to make a plan. You need to decide what it is you are going to do to put money away. What are you going to do differently?

Deciding how you want your life to be and planning how to make it happen are two very important steps. The next step is to take action.

Members-Only Worksheets

These worksheets are for Simple Savings members. Please log in to Simple Savings to access them.

If you are not yet a member, it is a tiny $21 per year. Grab a membership here.

Homework!

Would you like us to mark your worksheets? Scan or take a photo of your finished pages and send them in to info@simplesavings.com.au

3. Tips For Building a Nest Egg

Many people believe building a nest egg is too difficult and out of their reach, but nest eggs don't have to be large and they don't have to be complex. Here are some great tips to get you started.

Careful saving and clever investing build impressive nest-egg

We have managed to build a share portfolio worth approximately $30,000 for our two children who are now aged 14 and 15 - and we did not put any of our own money into this.

Not having a lot of money ourselves, over the years we purchased clothes and toys from eBay and garage sales. When the items were not required any more, we put them back onto eBay, along with anything else saleable (and often from garage sales). Any money earned went straight into a bank account for the children. Each time we reached $1000 we purchased shares. We have been both lucky and unlucky in our choices, but over the years, we have built a substantial nest egg for our children that only took our time to build, not our money.

Contributed by: Kerry R

Get $500 from Smith Family Saver Plus

Joining The Smith Family's Saver Plus program is a great way to start a nest egg. If you save $500 over ten months with The Saver Plus program and complete their financial literacy course they will give you $500. To be eligible to join Saver Plus you must:

have a Centrelink Health Care or Pensioner Concession Card
be at least 18 years old
have some regular income from work (self or partner) including casual, part-time, full-time or seasonal work
have a child at school or attend vocational education yourself, and
live, work, study or have a child at school in an area when Saver Plus is delivered.

Once eligible participants sign up for Saver Plus they:

are assigned a Saver Plus Coordinator that provides personal support and guidance throughout the program
identify a savings goal
make regular deposits over 10 month period
attend MoneyMinded training to improve their financial skills, which consists of four informative, fun and informal workshops

Upon completion of the program, ANZ matches the participants' savings dollar-for-dollar up to $500 which can be spent on educational expenses including computers, text books, uniforms, excursions , music and sports costs.

Ditching disposables kick-starts a nest egg

I've saved hundreds through not buying disposable nappies! When my baby was born, I made the decision to buy Coles Comfy Bots nappies and Coles refill pack wipes instead of buying Huggies. After one year, the saving was a staggering $410! I put the money into an ING savings account. Once she was toilet trained, I kept putting the money into the same account, which earned 5.85% interest. Over five years, I've saved $6,572! A great start to an education fund!

Contributed by: Joanne D

Steal money from yourself

If you tend to spend your money till it's gone, the best way for you to build a nest egg is to steal it from yourself before you have chance to spend it. Set up a separate savings account which automatically deducts money from your main account the same day your pay goes in. Then the money will be gone before you have a chance to miss it.

Create extra money

With a little smart thinking I have found a way I can turn a few minutes' extra effort into 12 days of extra income! I work full time, have three children and a husband and am also studying part time for a Uni degree. Each day I work an extra 20 minutes at my full time job. My work allows me to accrue this so that one day per month I am able to have a 'creating extra money day'. I spend this day doing all the bits and pieces that bring extra money and/or savings in to the house. Examples include:

claiming health rebates (Medicare and/or private) due to my family;
completing market research questionnaires on free trial products I have received and tested;
touching base with key budget conscious sites such as Simple Savings and Government sites so I know changes to entitlements and so on
entering competitions; and
claiming 'cash back' or gift cards on frequent/user/membership cards.

I really enjoy doing this and look forward to seeing how much 'income' I can make one day each month. To me it is truly a fun and creative day off work and study!

Contributed by: Tania Lee

Discount jar a great way to save

I've found a way to make my discounts work twice as hard - and earn me over $1000 in a year! I work for a large supermarket group and have a staff discount card. Around seven years ago I decided to start a "Discount Jar". Whenever I got a discount, I put the same amount into my discount jar - with the idea being to save towards a family activity at Christmas time such as going to a theatre restaurant or a Ghost Tour at St Helena Island.

The first year we saved just under $200 but each year it grew as I also started saving any discount I received from petrol and other similar discounts. On 1 December 2012, we opened the discount jar and, to everyone's surprise, discovered we had $1,052.75!

Due to family members being away just before Christmas we didn't do our normal outing, so we decided to put it towards our new kitchen that we'll be getting shortly. This year I have already saved at least $250 in the jar so it should be another good year. I've even started jars for our sons!

Contributed by: Fay Howard

Fill a treasure chest with gold!

One year a friend gave me a money tin and on the side of it was printed, 'If you fill this tin with only gold coins by the time it's full you will have at least $500'. It really didn't look big enough to hold that amount of money, but I love a challenge so I decided to find out if it could!

We started in March and any gold coins we had went into the tin. Our goal was to open the tin at Christmas and use it to pay off lay-bys plus have some spending money over the Christmas break.

November rolled around and the tin wasn't quite full. However, when we opened it up and counted our 'gold' we were very surprised and extremely happy to discover we had collected $700 in our little tin!

Because of that little treasure chest of gold we enjoyed a fantastic stress-free Christmas! I was able to pay for all the presents for our immediate and extended family as well as cater for a great Christmas day feast, AND we had spending money left over for the holidays.

Now it's a family tradition. My sceptical husband happily donates all his gold coins to the tin and my 12-year-old will go hunting for gold coins just to add them to the collection! I know that I don't have to worry about the financial strain of Christmas any more as my tin has it covered.

Contributed by: Nicole

Coke bottle challenge

Stashing your $2 coins in a coke bottle is a great way to start a nest egg. You'll be amazed by how much money you can get in each bottle.

$350 saved in a 250ml bottle
$880 saved in a 600ml bottle
$1,510 saved in a 1 litre bottle
$1,580 saved in a 1.25 litre bottle

(IMPORTANT: You can talk about your challenge in the forum but DO NOT TELL OTHERS about your coke bottle challenge on Facebook. A few Group members have already had their Coke bottle savings STOLEN.)

If you like these tips and want more we have another 18,659 of them in our Members' Area. If you would like a membership, it is a tiny $21 per year. Grab a membership here.

4. Supporting Each Other in the Forum

If you would like a helping hand to find your Savings Mojo with your No Spend Challenges, or if you are No Spend Master ready to guide others, pop into our paid members' forum.

Here are a couple of recent threads, for members:

Need to find at least an extra $1000/mth

When leaem asked for help getting her budget back under control, Simple Savers were there to help with kind, detailed and very useful suggestions.
read more...

Money tin challenge 2018

Simple Savers have been cheering each other on in this thread for five years. The good thing about sharing your savings in this thread versus sharing them on Facebook is... no one knows where you live.
read more...

5. Competitions, Competitions, Competitions!

We had some lovely entries for last month's No Spend Challenge Competition, but everyone has entered Category 1 and 3. We have had no entries for Category 2. Originally, the competition closed Midnight, March 1st. We have extended the date by one week to midnight, March 8th.

The winners will be the most inspiring entry in each category. Please send your No Spend Challenge tales to competitions@simplesavings.com.au by midnight, March 8th. Here are the three categories:

Category 1: Show us how you avoided 20 non-essential purchases to win $25
Category 2: Show us how you avoided 50 non-essential purchases to win $50
Category 3: Show us how you avoided all non-essential purchases to win $125

Please make sure your emails states which category you are entering. The full competition rules are here.

6. Vault Memberships

This is a free newsletter sponsored by our paid members area the Savings Vault. If you would you like to become a paid member, you can do so here.

Till next time...

Goodbye for now... I hope you have a fantastic month. I'm really looking forward to seeing your worksheets and hearing about some fresh warm nest eggs in the coming weeks. :-)

Many grins,
Fiona

February 2020 - Simple Savings Newsletter

Simple Savings Newsletter - February 2020

How are you going this month?

In February we are focusing on de-cluttering. It is my husbands favourite month. I like to collect and hoard, he likes to throw things out. This month, we will be working together to make our home a nicer place. (Don't ask what happens other months!)

We have good news about our Leg Up program. It is now officially up and running. Here are some of the stories from people we have been able to help by giving them a Vault Membership so far:-

"I had unplanned twins in 2019 and now need all the $ help I can. (They are cute though)"

"I'd love a leg up subscription please!! I was a vault member a few years ago and loved all the info and the community. Had to stop working and become full time carer to my youngest son (special needs) while he is undergoing chemo. Just had to cut out the extras I'm afraid."

"I'm in need of financial assistance as I'm going through a very difficult time currently (messy divorce) that is financially crippling myself and my children."

In case this is the first time you have heard about our Leg Up Program, from now on for every full price Vault Membership purchased we are giving one away to someone who could do with a helping hand. If you would like to apply to the Leg Up program, click here.

And, if you are interested in decluttering, keep reading.

All the best

Fiona

Challenges: De-cluttering month

This month we want you to read through the newsletter, take a look around your house and set yourself some challenges. You can choose from the calendar challenges below or set your own.

The calendar challenges for this month are:

Easy: Find new homes for 50 items
Medium: Find new homes for 200 items
Difficult: Find new homes for 1000 items

Read through this newsletter, have a look around your house and decide, what will your decluttering challenge be?

Guide on how to de-clutter from someone who hates de-cluttering

This is an "If I can do it, so can you" kind of guide.

Some people love cleaning, they really enjoy it. That person is not me. It will never be me. I doubt there is anything anyone can do to get me to enjoy cleaning or decluttering. But I enjoy the results. I like it when the kitchen is clean, I like it when I can find things in the garage and I like how it makes life easier.

If you like collecting things and hate throwing them out, if cleaning is something you usually have on the bottom of your to do list, then this is the decluttering guide for you.

The first step will be examining your house

The next, working out how decluttering could help you

Then making a plan

And, choose your challenges

Let's begin..

What parts of your home annoy you?

If everything is absolutely fantastic about your house and your life. If you have all the free time you need to do all the things you want, stop reading now. But, if there are days that you can't find the lid for a container, you can't remember what you own, your time is being wasted and the space in your home is being hogged by things you never use. Then it is time to turn those annoyances into a plan.

Grab a few sheets of paper and at the top of each page write down the name of each room, such as kitchen, kids bedroom, parents bedroom, hallway etc.

Then take a stroll through each room and make a list of things that bug you. They don't have to be enormous things. It could be a paint chip, a mess on the floor, a cupboard too full to be useful or kids always leave their shoes in that spot..

Another way to look at it. Write down all the things you would change about your house if you had $5,000 to spend and unlimited labour.

It could be things such as messy bookshelf, sad furniture, paint is tired, walls are dirty, screens need a wipe, unorganised, larger verandah, don't know what is in the garage, laundry pile is a midden, anything that is holding you back from enjoying your home.

The reason I want you to write those things down is because later that list is going to form the backbone of your plan. But, before we go there. Ask yourself the question...

What is your stuff costing you?

This is a really important question, because everything has a cost. The sooner you work out that cost, the sooner you can decide whether or you would like to keep paying the price. To work out the costs some questions to ask yourself are:-

Is your stuff holding you back?
What is it your clutter is stopping you from enjoying?
Is it costing you a tidy house?
Is it causing you to buy things you don't need?
Is it wasting your time?
Is it causing you to lose time?
Is it stopping you from enjoying your home?
Are you having to pay cash for storage?
Could you rent out a room if you cleared away?
When was the last time you used things you have stored?
Is it costing you brain space?

NOTE: If you have any suggestions for other ways clutter creates costs. Come share them in this month's challenge Vault thread.

Have a think about the costs and and write down what you will be losing if you allow your life and house to remain the way it is.

After you have written it down, think about the next question.

What is in it for me?

This is a really important question. Why should you stop doing something else you probably love and make time to declutter. I want you to think about the list of annoyances you have made of your house and how changing the things on that list will improve your life.

Will it make you feel happier?
Will it free up your time?
Will it make you more content?
Will it give you more space?
Will it help your budget?
Will it give you more control of your life?
Will it save you money?

Think about it and write down three ways improving your home will improve your life.

Getting the most bang for your buck

Going through your whole house has probably given you a long and very daunting list of annoyances that would take years to change. I doubt anyone can get through that list in one month and keep their sanity.

The good news is you don't have to do everything on your list, you only need to do a few things. But which things? Which things are going to get you the largest rewards for the least effort?

To find this out, I want you to sort through your list and rate each item on the list from 1 to 10. 1 being the easiest to do and biggest reward and 10 is the hardest to achieve and least impact.

For example, helping my boys sort their clothes is easy to do and it will reduce the time it takes them to get ready in the morning. So, it is high on my list. Let's say one.

Cleaning the entire garage will take some time, but it is affordable and being able to place my hand on the thing I need in ten seconds, would be heavenly. So this gets a 2.

Getting rid of the awful furnishings in our laundry that we don't really use and probably should have been thrown years ago. Isn't that hard to do and will make me feel good. But, I may need replacement furniture. It is a three.

Stripping and painting cornices in the lounge room. Is too difficult to do this month, but I'll feel so much better after they are done. So, it is getting a five.

Stripping and painting the cornices in the bathroom is easier. It got a 3.

New lino throughout the house is a dream of mine, but costly, difficult and it won't change the way our home functions. So, it gets a nine.

This ranked list is the start of your plan.

On a separate piece of paper write down everything you gave a 1 or a 2.

This is now your 'Improve your home, Improve your life' to do list.

Manageable chunks

The next step is to break any of the big items on that list to digestible two hour chunks.

For example, cleaning the garage is a big job and the idea of doing it all at once does my head in. So instead I have broken it into two-hour chunks such as:

Sort camping gear
Sort tools
Sort wood stash
Sort junk in corner

You get the idea.

Choose your challenge

Once you have read the newsletter it is time to choose your challenge. Will you gently dip your toe in and do an easy challenge or try something harder? I've chosen to challenge myself with 8 two hour decluttering/house improvement sessions.

What will your challenge be?

Help, Support and Guidance

If you would like more ideas and people to talk with about decluttering. Join in Claires' Monthly Challenge thread. This is where Vault members support each other on their challenge. If you can't afford a Vault membership at this time, apply to our Leg Up program.

Extra inspiration from the forum

Members have been helping each other declutter for years. Here are some information-crammed threads to help you declutter:

2008 July: Decluttering Month

2009 - War on Debt: Nov - Decluttering Month

War on Debt 2010 - September: 100 Item Challenge

2014 - Calendar Challenge - September - Declutter

2018 October - CHUCK OR FLOG - SS Calendar Challenge

2019 July - CHUNK OR FLOG - SS Calendar Challenge

Kon Mari method of decluttering #1

Competition: Cook's Challenge

Often decluttering our pantry or fridge involves throwing out a big pile of food. This is pretty wasteful. Instead, I'm giving you a challenge to grab some ingredients out of your pantry, fridge, freezer or yard which you would not normally cook with or eat, and turn them into something special.

This month we are giving away 2 x $50 prizes to the best creations.

To enter the competition send the story of your food with before and after photos to competitions@simplesavings.com.au by 23rd February.

Decluttering tips from the Vault

The Vault is filled with 20,000+ money saving tips. Here are some to help you declutter your home. If you would like to read more tips from the Vault, buy a membership for $21 or apply to our Leg Up program.

Get decluttering help from a 'friend'

I have found the cheapest and easiest way to declutter is to enlist the help of a friend - an imaginary one, that is! Sometimes when cleaning out your wardrobe, it's easier to let a friend help - particularly if that friend is very honest and harsh at culling old clothes. While clothes aren't a problem for me, I have a huge collection of CD's, books and DVD's and was finding it really hard to part with them! Books especially were a problem - I couldn't bring myself to let them go, even though I knew I would probably never read them again.

So I decided to pretend I was someone other than myself! Sounds silly? Maybe - but it allowed me to detach myself enough from the emotional side of me that wanted to keep all the books. In doing that, I was very fast (not giving myself time to think) and went a lot on intuition. I threw out over 200 books! I then closed the door, rang my friends, told them there were a heap of books on the floor in my office and they would be there till 5pm if anyone wanted any. Any that remained I then took up to the Salvation Army at 5pm, so I was not tempted to go through the pile later in the evening. It's definitely been the most successful decluttering method I have ever had!

Contributed by: CC

(Vault members are discussing this hint here.)

Save the important things in life

I live in an area that was recently hit by floods. While we rushed to try to save everything from the water, I was amazed as to how much 'stuff' we had that we just didn't need. Being surrounded by all these items actually made saving the 'important' stuff so much harder. I thought I had already decluttered my home, but I was wrong. The flood has made my whole family more aware of how we accumulate 'things' through our lives - some of which are important and others which are not. As people we tend to hold onto things that we 'might use one day'. I found, however, that it was these items that just got in the way in an emergency. When disaster strikes you need to be able to save your family, then if you have time, the important 'things' in your life. In the coming weeks, we will be having a massive garage sale to clean out our home and sheds and we won't be keeping anything that has not been used in the past two years. Not only will we be able to clear out the unused, non-essential things, we'll also be able to make some money to replace some of the important items that we lost in the flood. Decluttering for me came in the form of a flood - don't wait for Mother Nature to help, she'll only make it harder. Be proactive and start sorting the things that really matter from the things that don't.

Contributed by: Ros Plunkett

(Vault members are discussing this hint here.)

Tears turn to triumph for happy declutterer

Contributed by: Jaymee Hams

(Vault members are discussing this hint here.)

Toolshed a goldmine for scrap metal

While recently decluttering my husband's tool shed, we were amazed to find he was harbouring a small goldmine! The shed was overflowing with stuff that he didn't use but said he could not do without. After a quick tidy up he discovered he had two or three boxes of wire and cable from a previous job. He took all the unwanted cable off to the scrap metal yard and was handed $101.30 for his trouble. We got paid $1.30 a kilo for stuff that was doing nothing but taking up much needed space! Apparently, they strip the copper out of the wire and then sell it to other companies. So, take a good look at what unwanted items are cluttering up your tool shed - you too could be harbouring a nice little earner!

Contributed by: Mrs J

(Vault members are discussing this hint here.)

Audit your medicine cupboard

Auditing my medicine cabinet stops me from buying unnecessary products. I decided to check the expiry date of all the medications in my medicine cabinet and do some decluttering while I was at it.

To my horror, some prescription medicines had been in there for so long I didn't remember what they had been prescribed for in the first place. As I removed these products, I thought about how much money had been wasted on these expired medicines. Some had cost over $40, so there was literally hundreds of dollars worth of useless medicines clogging up my cupboard.

To avoid further wastage, I wrote up a list of all the still-valid medications along with their expiry dates. I now carry this list around with me and when the doctor recommends certain medications, I can check the list before I head to the chemist and see if we already have that medication at home. This list will also ensure that I can keep track of staple non-prescription medications, such as Nurofen or Infant Panadol. There is nothing worse than having a sick child in need of Panadol late on a Sunday night when the pharmacy is closed!

As you can see, taking 10 minutes to check the medicine cupboard at home will not only benefit your health, but also your bank balance!

Editor's note: All medicines should be safely disposed of by taking them to your local chemist.

Contributed by: Jackel

(Vault members are discussing this hint here.)

Makeover your property without spending a fortune

It doesn't have to cost a fortune to give a property a real makeover. I can recommend the following:

Set aside $10,000 or so for renovating the bathroom/kitchen. Many houses are sold with dodgy old bathrooms or kitchens. Of course, if you find a house without this problem, you'll still have this money set aside to use on other things!
When we bought our property, the gas hot water system was 25 years old. Because of the money we had set aside as above, we could buy a solar hot water system for about $3,000 (no solar rebates at the time).
Paint is the cheapest facelift.
I have never met anyone who was satisfied with the job done by a professional painter. A careful amateur can do the job very well. Borrow a home handyman book from the library and all it will cost you is for the paint, sugar soap and equipment. Take it slowly and a room at a time.
Decluttering before you move makes it cheaper.
A few good possessions (instead of quantities of junky knick-knacks) will make the space look bigger, even if it's not!
Take the time to research the history/period of your house so that your decorating is well-informed.
Do up the front of your house last. An expensive 'look' encourages thieves.

Contributed by: Ellen Hrebeniuk

(Vault members are discussing this hint here.)

Sell your unwanted stuff and achieve your dreams!

Simple Savings and Gumtree have changed my life! Whilst at uni as a mature age student, my then partner (now husband) and I bought our first home together. Although excited, I was also slightly terrified. I was a full time student commuting to a university two hours from home using public transport and now we had a mortgage!

This is when I found Simple Savings and started to use as many hints as I could. I also implemented everything my grandmother had either taught me or I had seen growing up. We started a vegetable garden, we collected rain water, we sold plants on Gumtree and everything we did helped us to live a comfortable life. The best thing I did was follow the advice from a uni friend and join Gumtree. It's been almost four years since I graduated and we have decluttered our home, been to Bali FIVE times on what we have earned in sales and are heading off to Bali again in November whilst I'm currently selling items to fund that trip too! It's the best thing we've done; some people find it time consuming but I've made it a part of our life. I love seeing someone getting an item that is of use to them rather than it ending up in landfill and we have a spacious, clean clutter-free home as a result!

Contributed by: Loz

There are plenty more decluttering tips in the Vault.

Kon Marie Method

In this newsletter we have talked about my methods of decluttering. But we'd be remiss if we didn't mention the god of decluttering: Kon Marie. Many of our members have been following Kon Marie's methods for some time and Beth is the best person to explain Kon Marie's genius to you.

Keep only what brings you joy

I am saving more than ever before thanks to a brilliant book which has helped me declutter and totally review my spending and shopping habits. I am using the KonMari method of tidying. The author gets us to review what we own, picking up every item and thinking about whether it 'sparks joy'. If it does, we can keep it, but it must have a place, a home where it lives. If it doesn't, then get rid of it.

She recommends that you learn how to do this by starting with your clothes. Find every top (excluding hanging blouses at this stage) that you own in the whole house and work out which ones 'spark joy', get rid of the others, then stack the kept ones nicely in one or two shelves or drawers (one for summer tops, one for winter tops).

Then do the same for all your 'bottoms' (trousers, jeans and so on). Try them on. If they don't fit nicely, donate them or chuck them.

Next is all your hanging space including every coat you've stored somewhere around the house, then socks, then underwear, then handbags, then extras (scarves, belts, hats), then special items like swimwear or ski gear (I think I did my pyjamas at this point because I had them stored with my swimmers), and lastly shoes.

Take your time, but be thorough as you process each category. By the time you have finished your clothing, you'll have a new sense about just how much money you waste on impulse buying. It becomes embarrassing to think about how much money you didn't need to spend, how much we get fooled into thinking something is right for us, but then we never wear it.

After that, she recommends searching the house for all the books you have. Some of us have way too many, but I have found that I can have sections of my house for the different types of books, and as I go through them, there are quite a few that get discarded along the way. Most have just gone straight into the recycling bin, as unless a book is less than three years old, or an absolute classic, even op shops can't sell them.

While you are hunting through the house, you'll find other stashes of things which embarrass the heck out of you. For me, I had to get a great big plastic storage bin and as I stumble across face creams, deodorants, shampoos and makeup, it all goes in the bin. I'm not trying to sort them yet, but it is obvious that when I finally get to that category, it is going to be much easier to sort through them and think honestly about which ones still 'spark joy' and which ones are so old that I'd never want them on my skin.

I will stop writing this novel at this point but if you have read this far and are still interested, please find 'The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying' by Marie Kondo, a young Japanese lady. There's also a second book applying the philosophy, entitled "Spark Joy".

Since I started on the process, my spending has dropped dramatically. I can suddenly see how many magazines I have bought and never read, how many items are in my pantry waiting for me to apply the $21 Challenge to make them into scrumptious healthy meals, how many art supplies I have bought and hidden in various cupboards around the house, how many jumpers I really didn't need...

I feel clearer, healthier, happier and richer in so many ways. I am so thankful that I stumbled on these books. Slowly the word spreads as my sister and friends become affected by my enthusiasm and start working through their cupboards as well. Life changing stuff!

Contributed by: Beth T

Competition Winners: What is your best water-saving tip?

Choosing the best water saving tips for this month's competition was a real challenge. I love reading everyone's stories and learning something new for each and everyone. This month's winners are Carmela B, Lorraine S, Margaret M, Susan T and Jane T. Each won $20.

If you missed out on this month's prizes, we are giving away two $50 prizes this month. The information is above.

The never ending water can

Keep a watering-can outside the backyard door.

If you empty the kettle every morning to refill it with fresh water. Empty the kettle into the watering-can.
If you boil eggs in a pot.When the water cools, empty the pot into the watering-can.
If someone leaves a glass of water from, say, the night before; empty the glass into the watering-can.

You'll be surprised how this so-called 'waste-water' piles up. You'll never have an empty watering-can. It beats throwing the water down the sink!

By having the watering-can just outside the backyard door, you won't get put off by having to go out far on a cold winter's morning.

You can power the planet on waste!

Contributed by: Carmela B

Catching the overflow from your hot water tank

Did you know that hot water systems automatically expel water from their overflow pipe. We questioned the plumber who installed the unit only to be told to read the unit information about our hot water system and we found that many, if not all tanks, pass out lots of water as a natural process. We have now removed our outlet pipe from the invisible system where the water just disappeared down the drain and we catch the water in an ice cream tub and put it on a rose tree which is close to the tank. We have been amazed at just how much water we are recycling.

Contributed by: Lorraine S

Living in a camper

We live in a slide-on camper travelling Australia so we use water frugally.

Just some of the many things we do:

I make my own sprouts and the rinsing water is used for cooking potatoes, rice, dried legumes, soup base, etc.
We don't shower every day and when we do we heat water in an old 10litre saucepan, that showers both of us easily.
Dirty dishes get wiped off with cut up old clothing rags, before washing, so less water is needed.
A spray bottle with a bit of detergent, sprayed onto non-greasy plates etc and then wiped with a rag works wonders.

Contributed by: Margaret M

Stretching every drop

We live on a property with no connection to town water and are completely dependent on tanks for our domestic water supply. I learned very quickly that there's nothing like watching the water level drop below half to make you aware of water usage! Because of this, we've always been careful with how much water we use, but after no rain for six weeks this summer I've started to get creative in how we reuse water.

My very handy hubby plumbed in a grey water system made of an old plastic drum for our washing machine (which only runs full loads on water saving cycle) and he's diverted the water from our bath/shower and basin through a pipe directly onto the lawn (check with council before you do this, in town grey water must be treated or bucketed out).

Inside, I leave the plug in the basin so my small daughters only use one sink of water to wash their hands all day and their very shallow bath water is used to clean the worst of the farm grime before we shower. Rinsing toothbrushes provides enough water to clean the basin at the end of the day.

My newest (and simplest) change is a 4L icecream container in the kitchen sink. It catches water from washing hands, rinsing cloths or cooking utensils, etc, and I then tip it into a 20L bucket to go on the garden. Some days I can fill the bucket 2 or 3 times! And all that water was running down the sink… Just seeing the wastage makes it so much easier to curtail.

Contributed by: Susan T

Sucking water from the air

With the recent bushfires near us, we have noticed a significant increase of wildlife, particularly birds, in our garden. It took a little while to realize they were increasing in numbers, and in need of water.

Our bird bath is filled by rain under normal weather patterns and takes around a whole good sized watering can of fresh water to fill it. I cannot justify filling it from the tap each time because of the cost and the drought.

However since dehumidifying our bedroom each day, we have a 10 litre bucket of water every 2 days, which we now use to fill the bird bath. We get a good sleep, and they get their thirst quenched. On the days when rain is available, we save the bucket water to pour into the watering can.

Contributed by: Jane T

Til next time...

I hope you enjoyed this newsletter and if you know someone you think could do with a Vault membership, encourage them to apply to our Leg Up program.

If you have anything you would like to say or ask us please write to info@simplesavings.com.au

All the best,

Fiona

January 18th 2017 - Simple Savings Newsletter

Hello,

In our last newsletter, Pete said it takes him three days to earn enough to pay $80 for pizza. To this you may have thought the same thing as James; "Three days!?!" How can it possibly take an average wage earner so long to get ahead? Here’s how:

Three Days to Earn $80

If you are an average person working with a single income, average expenses and a mortgage it can take you a very long time to earn a small amount of spending money.

To show you how long it can take, we pulled together some numbers from various government websites such as the average spend per household from MoneySmart.gov.au, average mortgage repayments from yourmortgage.com.au, average pay according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics and how much tax you would pay on that amount from the Australian Tax Department.

Average Wage - $41 per hour income

Essential Spending - (per hour spend)

$10 on tax
$13 on mortgage
$1 on fuel and power
$5 on food and drink
$1 on clothing and footwear
$6 on transit
$2 on medical

Sub total - $38

Left Over - $3

So $38 of the $41 average earned per hour is gone on necessary living expenses. This leaves you earning only $3 disposable income for every hour worked.

This in turn means the average person working with an average family/couple with single income, average expenses and a mortgage will have to work 27 hours or three and a half days to earn $80 of disposable income.

Of course, this number changes for each individual depending on a range of factors, but you get the idea. That is how Pete and many others have to work three days in order to free up $80 for pizza. They just don’t realise it.

(Numbers used came from average mortage statistics and the Weekly Spend by Life Stage table at moneysmart.gov.au)

Let's look at the average pay rates around Australia and New Zealand.

Average hourly pay rates in Australia and New Zealand

Per hour

Per year

Tasmania

$35 AUD

$ 69,477 AUD

South Australia

$37 AUD

$ 73,757 AUD

Victoria

$38 AUD

$ 75,634 AUD

Queensland

$38 AUD

$ 75,936 AUD

New South Wales

$40 AUD

$ 80,132 AUD

Northern Territory

$41 AUD

$ 81,624 AUD

Western Australia

$45 AUD

$ 88,327 AUD

Capital Territory

$46 AUD

$ 89,846 AUD

New Zealand

$29 NZD

$57,710 NZD

If you would like to calculate how much "spending money" your household earns each hour, we will show you how in the next newsletter.

Great Tip: Our Profitable Pact

I rarely take my mobile phone with me so, more often than not, my husband can't reach me to ask if he can buy something. In the time it takes for me to listen to his message and get back to him, he has usually changed his mind about the purchase anyway!
If I have to call my husband before buying something frivolous, I choose not to simply because I don't want to justify buying a trashy magazine, a custard tart or an eBay bargain. I just do without, and I don't give it a second thought once I leave the shops or go offline.
We can give each other a second opinion on whether or not we really need to buy that item. One of us might know of a cheaper alternative, of someone who can lend us the item or even remember that we already have the item at home.

Our strict pact certainly works for us - we have paid $1,500 off our credit cards in the last three weeks!

Contributed by: Science Nerd

From the Forum: Preparing for Income Cut but not Lifestyle Cut

Forum member 'Price of a loaf of bread' knows just what she wants from life - and isn’t scared to make sacrifices to get it! This thread will have you thinking outside the square.

Preparing for income cut but not lifestyle cut

Bye for now

That’s all for this newsletter. If you have any questions, pop into our Forum where there are always tons of great people to lend an ear and help you out of a tight spot.

I look forward to catching up with you again in a few days.

All the best,
Fiona

P.S. Renewing Vault Memberships only costs $21 per year. Start the New Year off on the right foot!

January 2011 - Simple Savings Newsletter

"Secrets to Saving Money in Australia" Free Newsletter - January 2011

This issue includes:-

Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: Going 'Without'
February is No Spend Challenge!
Best Member's Blog: This Month's Winner
Best of the Forum: Feel Great About Not Spending!
Best of the Vault: No Spend Month Motivators
Cooking with Mimi
Penny's Blog: Talk the Talk, Walk the Walk
Homeopathy Corner: Grief and Trauma
From Last Month: Holiday Food for Hungry Teens
This Month's Help Request: Too Many Tomatoes
Savings Story: Working Mums Get the Balance Right

Hello,

How are you doing? I hope you haven't been affected by a flood, cyclone, earthquake, bushfire or a tornado this month. OK, well I don't think any of us had to battle a tornado! Jokes aside, I hope you are well. Simple Savings and our staffers pretty much escaped the floods unscathed. A few of us went without power or had extra house guests, but we are all well.

A couple of days ago, Matt, the kids and I celebrated our tenth wedding anniversary. As we all gathered around the cake, Matt and I looked first at each other, then at the four excited faces staring at us, then back at each other - and realised those four adorable faces weren't there ten years ago. Simple Savings wasn't here ten years ago. It has been a very busy, exciting and fun ten years. Thank you for being part of it and coming on our journey with us. It has been a ball!

"To the team at Simple Savings, you guys are simply fantastic! I love, love, LOVE reading your newsletters, they are so inspiring. I may only be 17 years old but your tips are so useful even for me! I am currently saving for a deposit for my first home and I know that once I achieve that goal I can still use all your helpful hints to help me pay off my mortgage faster and keep loving a great life as a Simple Saver! You have so many tips and useful ideas that you should really write another book with lots of the stuff from your newsletters and the Vault in it! I know I would be one of the first to put an order in. Keep up the good work." (Jessica Kilsby)

"Just wanted to say thanks for always bringing me back on track. I've just had a read of the articles in the Vault for keeping credit card debt under control and immediately applied online for a low rate balance transfer for my current credit card debt. Repayment of the total balance will now occur sooner thanks to a very low interest rate for the first 18 months." (Kerry Bebendorf)

"Just wanted to let you know how impressed I am with your site. I have been receiving the free newsletters for a while now and finally bit the bullet and joined the Vault last night through your $37 special. I must say I wasn't sure about joining as there is so much great info and tips in the newsletter I was questioning myself if it would be worth it but I wanted to know what was hidden in there. Well I am so glad I joined. There is so much great stuff. I have spent nearly one whole day scouring the site. I love the Forum and all the hints and tips. I still have so much more to read. What a fantastic idea and I love the fact that many of your members are so pro-active by posting comments/replies and links to great deals. Thanks again and Happy New Year." (Wendy Ashcroft)

"I just wanted to let you know that we have recently survived the Brisbane floods. During the four days of being stranded in our home without power, I often thought of what a life changing experience your book and site has been. It was truly sad to feed the contents of our family meals to the chickens, but heartening to know that we will have eggs each day. When the power came on, we made some bread, and whilst others are without essentials our new focus on a simpler life means we will recover sooner than expected, and be back to replanting the garden. So, many thanks to helping us through the process." (Kim Aitken)

All the best,
Fiona Lippey

1. Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: Going 'Without'

"Oh heck, we've run out of dip!" groaned Pete as he peered into the fridge. "Sal! Can you get some more French onion dip next time you go shopping?" "You'll have to wait a while!" grinned Sally. "It's No Spend Month remember? We can only buy what is absolutely essential - which doesn't include dip. Dip is a luxury item. Sorry!"

"Yes but it doesn't apply to me and my dip!" Pete said indignantly. "I don't need help to stop spending. You know I love French onion dip! It's my nightly treat. And it's such a small luxury. Can't we bend the rules a little? The kids don't need to know," he wheedled. "Oi! We heard that!" came two indignant voices from the lounge. "No chance, Dad. If we have to follow the rules, so do you!"

"Oh great," Pete rolled his eyes in defeat. "Guess that's it then. I'm going to have to go without for a whole month." "Honestly, Dad, don't be such a girl's blouse!" Sarah walked into the kitchen. She went to the pantry, grabbed a packet of French onion soup and a carton of sour cream and quickly mixed them together in a bowl. "Here's your dip. See - you don't have to go without," she winked. "Try thinking outside the square next time!"

2. February is No Spend Challenge!

Just like Pete, some of us have a very warped view of what is an essential item! We all have little luxuries which we claim we can't live without. Mine is tea (we grow our own coffee but not tea. Only because every time I go to buy a tea plant they've run out). Penny swears she can't function without her nightly glass of wine. But it's amazing what we can survive without when we try. The great thing about doing a No Spend Challenge is that it removes your blinkers and helps put things back into perspective. It helps you to distinguish between a want and a need and helps you to see how much money we throw away on things which frankly just don't matter.

What sort of luxury items do you confuse with being an 'essential?' Take a look at this list of examples. How many of them do you regularly buy that you could live without, if push came to shove?

Takeaway food of any sort, including coffee
Lollies or chips
Dips
Soft drinks
Magazines
Books
Clubs (for example, music and book clubs)
Frozen dinners
Movies or DVDs
Games
Fancy brands
Bought cakes
Pre-made food
Ice cream
Clothing
Beauty products
Alcohol
Online shopping
eBay / Trade Me
Perfume and make-up
Plants and garden decorations
Haircuts
Raffle tickets and Lotto
Alcohol and other drugs
Bottled water
Hardware

And so the list goes on. Last time we drew up this list we had people handing it round the office. What were essentials? What couldn't people go without? Everyone's responses were different. 'But I need my weekly magazines for the puzzles'... 'Nope, couldn't go without dip'... 'You mean you can make dip?' Yes, Pete isn't the only one who didn't know you could make dip! I used to think that if you wanted dip you had to buy it in a tub from the supermarket. Especially hommus. Now I am older and wiser and know I can make it myself from basic and much cheaper ingredients. This is one of the great things about No Spend Month; it teaches us to look outside the square. It teaches us to be creative. It forces us to use our brains. It helps us to break our addictions (yes, even the SS team!).

So this month, take a good look at the list above and see what you can go without during February. Even if you don't take part in the No Spend Challenge, look at the list and ask yourself 'Do I need these things? Or do I just want them?' Think about what you normally spend on these items and how much money you could save in a single month if you went without them. The No Spend Challenge is an opportunity to re-assess your life. We think so many things are important when in truth, they just aren't.

Make sure you write in and tell us how your No Spend Challenge went! We would love to hear how much you managed to save and the changes you made. The No Spend Challenge has become an annual favourite among Simple Savers. If you want a good laugh, read through our No Spend Challenge newsletters of old! They continue great information about how to succeed on your challenge, some lovely articles by Sophie Gray, brilliant blogs by Penny and the Sally and Hanna stories are hilarious.

January 2008 - http://new.simplesavings.com.au/newsletter/2008/1/

February 2009 - http://new.simplesavings.com.au/newsletter/2009/2/

January 2010 - http://new.simplesavings.com.au/newsletter/2010/1/

Don't forget you can track your success with our free Savings Diary!

One of the great things about No Spend Month is that it's a fantastic way to save a truckload of money in just one month. How do we know this? So far, 4771 people have logged their savings in our free Savings Diary. Keeping a Savings Diary is a very important part of this challenge because it will show you how well you are going and help to keep you motivated. You will be able to look at it and say, 'WOW! Look at that! I saved $3000 this month. My gosh, I never realised I had been wasting that much money!'

You can make your own savings diary with a little note book, or you can use our online version which is free for all subscribers. No personal information such as bank details is given in this diary; it is simply a place to record what you spend each day and what you spent it on.

If you need more information come and join us in the Vault. There are 14,000 money saving tips to be found there and the Forum is always buzzing. If you have struggled to save money in the past, this is the place to go to keep you focused and moving in the right direction.

If you would like to become a member of the Savings Vault, it costs $47 to join for the first year and just $21 to renew each year. We also have a 365 day no questions asked guarantee, so if you do not like our members' area (as if! *grin*), you can have your money back. As an extra bonus for Vault members, we have also introduced gift memberships at a special price. From now on, if you are a current Vault member you can give your friends or family a full year of membership for just $21! Click here to order.

3. Best Member's Blog: This Month's Winner

This month's winner is Kitty for her post '23 days alcohol free - one day it will be 23 days debt free too!' taken from her blog 'Debt free in five years'. It just goes to show what you can achieve when you start choosing needs over wants!

23 days alcohol free - one day it will be 23 days debt free too!

23 days alcohol free. Nearly at the end of the month and although there have been plenty of chances to raise a toast and have a glass of something, I have lost the urge completely. I just wanted to prove to myself that I have discipline in one thing! That one thing spreads to other things, hopefully!

It seems to take about one month to form a good new habit and the savings habit is almost that old too. Seems I also have developed a morning blog habit too. This seems to set my mind on track to make plans for each day. Putting something down in writing is making a commitment. No-one will judge my success or failure, but I know that I have told someone else, and that counts.

It is not easy to achieve a long term goal. Lots of us sign up for gym memberships, diets, investment schemes, etc at the beginning of the year and not many last out the first month, or even the first week. We are told that our aims are too ambitious and that we should aim lower and then build up. I don't agree with that. If we aim low and fail it is too easy to say, it didn't really matter after all!

Here's a few sobering facts:

Most people do not (or are unable to) save enough for a comfortable retirement
Most working couples would not be capable of living on the age pension (less than $26,000 pa)
Very few of us exist without the use of credit cards and other short term debts
Many of us eat too much, drink too much, smoke or indulge in habits which are harmful to our long term health

So, here is the plan. Hubby and I have set a five year plan in action. At the end of that period, we will be debt free, or as close to that as possible. We will have worked hard on our home-based business and it will be a saleable asset. We will sell that, and also by then our modest super will have increased. Then we will downsize, sell our home and buy a smaller, new one, with room to park a caravan. We then store all our belongings, rent out this home for 12 months while we travel all over, becoming grey nomads. After that, we will return, and invest some of our savings into starting up another micro business, until retirement age. (Another 5 year stint)

I could say, we will just do this until we are at retirement age, but I think 10 years is too long to see a reward, and the striving isn't intense enough to have meaning. I think unless every day is a challenge, you don't make progress. It has to be tough to make us stronger!

By the way - I have a break even figure on my computer where I record every transaction. The break even figure is current super value plus savings minus debt. Today's figure is -$83,094. That means, if we cashed the super and paid out the debt we would still owe the above figure. We should get to 0 after about 2 years. Sweet!

Congratulations Kitty, keep up the great work! To read more from Kitty, or any of our other members' blogs, click here

4. Best of the Forum: Feel Great About Not Spending!

There's no need to spend money to have the good life. Read how these members get through on limited funds and feel good about it in these inspiring threads from our Savings Forum.

Help me to stop spending

Danielle is looking for areas to stop spending as she analyses her family's expenses.
read more...

My personal no-spend challenge

Emma has made it public - she wants to stop spending! She wants to be accountable for every cent she spends so she has announced it in the Forum. Brilliant idea!
read more...

No spend fortnight

Judy is overwhelmed by a whole month of no spending so she attempts a no spend fortnight instead. Will her husband's DVD addiction get in the way?
read more...

Our no spend Valentine's picnic

Who says you have to spend money to be romantic? Yazza_Mattazz and her husband plan the perfect Valentine's Day picnic in this fun thread.
read more...

5. Best of the Vault: No Spend Month Motivators

No Spend Month might sound tough but it is one of the most popular challenges among Simple Savers because it's so rewarding. Here are some of our favourite tips from the Vault to get you in the mood for NOT spending!

Hubby gets into No Spend

After finally managing to convince my husband to try No Spend Month, he still needed a little encouragement. So I stick pictures of the 'dream things' he wants on the fridge, so every time he goes there he can see what we're doing this for.

After a bit of whinging about how stupid and hard it all was, he has finally come around and we now have No Spend Month every month! He didn't even spend money on my birthday present and made me some yummy cupcakes with ingredients already in the cupboard! I guess he really wants that fishing boat!

Contributed by: Joelene Watson

Re-acquaint yourself with your wardrobe

Before you hit the shops to splurge on a new wardrobe, check what you already have first! For a shopaholic like me who loves to buy clothes, shoes and accessories, this tip is essential to saving money. Every few months I find myself whingeing that I have nothing to wear, but determined not to spend any more money, I spend a few hours going through my clothes and re-acquainting myself with them. I soon realise I actually have clothes to wear and with the addition of some $2.00 accessories from bargain stores and a little experimenting with combinations, I end up with a whole new look for less than $20!

Contributed by: Jackie Woods

Purse-free, clutter-free

Leave your purse behind and stop buying things - it works for me. During my work breaks I would go out to the shops at least a few times a week and I find myself buying the odd magazine, getting a few groceries or just buying stuff. I would always take my lunch from home so it wasn't lunch purchases, this was more like the 'clog up your life with stuff' stuff.

One day I decided not to carry my purse with me to the shops, that way I could not spend what I didn't have. Now I just look around instead of shopping around. And it works - I find I spend so much less! I get back to work and have second thoughts about buying those things that just minutes before, I had felt were so important to buy.

Even when meeting a friend for the odd coffee I now take just enough money from my purse and put it in my pocket; again purse-free and I can't spend what I don't have. Guaranteed to work every time!

Contributed by: Sonya Gibson

More tips for Vault members:

Time well spent Contributed by: Karen Mcaulley

No-spend recipe scrapbook Contributed by: Corrie Bovenkamp

Ho ho ho! Happy no-spend Christmas! Contributed by: Kerriann

Calendar budget tracker keeps spending on right page Contributed by: Nedina Davies

6. Cooking with Mimi

The long term effects of the recent floods that have devastated many areas of Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria are yet to be felt by those of us not directly involved.

One thing is for certain. The big supermarket chains will have to make some tough decisions on whether they stock local produce, some of which will be 'imperfect' and blemished, or whether to continue supplying consumers with the 'perfect' product we've come to expect, by importing our fruit and vegetables.

I grew up on a farm, and my vote would be for local produce, however blemished or imperfect. There are many ways of utilising produce that is less than pretty, by preserving, stewing, and turning it into jams, chutneys and relishes.

Maybe it's time to rediscover these old arts, using that which is still highly nutritious, but perhaps not as good-looking and shiny as we've come to expect in the modern supermarket era.

One way of turning a bowl of less than perfect fruit into a delicacy worthy of any table is by making your own jam. The bottles of brightly coloured spreads in the supermarket are far from real 'jam'. Once you've made your own, there'll be no turning back and the Jams and Spreads aisle will become another one you'll never need venture down again!

Jam making is as easy as 1-2-3. One kilo of diced and deseeded fruit, two lemons, and three cups of sugar are the only ingredients you'll need. You can use any combination of fruit in season, in any condition. Of course you can halve, double or triple those quantities, according to how much fruit you have on hand.

Seven Fruit Jam with Coconut and Vanilla

This is a microwave recipe and one kilogram of fruit is as much as you can conceivably microwave at one time without making a huge mess... take my experienced word for it!

Equipment required:

One large, deep microwave-safe bowl or jug, around 1.5-2 litre capacity
Sharp vegetable knife for dicing and deseeding fruit
Several sterilised recycled jars with the type of metal lid that has a little pop-up button in the centre. See note for sterilising instructions.
Measuring cups
Potato masher
A chilled saucer and spoon for testing jam done-ness. Just pop them in the refrigerator before you start.

NOTE: To sterilise jars, wash well in hot, soapy water. Rinse in hot water. If they have a residual smell from the original contents, a teaspoon of vanilla essence in the rinse water will help disperse it. Do not dry with a tea towel. Put the oven on the lowest setting and place the jars upside down on a baking tray. Stand the lids, leaning on the jars. Leave until dry, about 15-20 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool.

Ingredients:

1kg fruit, deseeded, and diced. (I leave grapes and blueberries whole and mash them a little with a potato masher. For this particular batch I used blueberries, seedless green grapes, passionfruit, a nectarine, plums that had gone soft, some leftover tinned cherries, and a couple of sad looking strawberries.)
2 lemons, halved
3 cups raw sugar

Optional for this particular recipe:

1/2 cup desiccated coconut
1 tsp vanilla extract or essence
2 tsp coconut essence

Method:

Place the fruit into the microwave-safe container. Mash any berries or smaller fruit a little with the potato masher.

Juice the lemon halves and add the juice and the empty lemon halves to the fruit.

Add the sugar and stir well.

Microwave on high for 10 minutes at a time, stirring every five minutes.

After the second blast of 10 minutes, test the jam. Place a spoonful of jam onto the chilled saucer and allow to cool for a minute or two. Push it with the spoon, If it wrinkles like a piece of Cling Wrap, it's ready to bottle. If not, continue to cook on high for a further five minutes at a time, checking after each blast of five minutes. Depending upon the microwave, this can take up to 40 minutes altogether. Be careful as the jam will be very, very hot.

Once cooked, add the optional ingredients if you wish and allow to cool slightly.

Spoon the warm jam carefully into the sterilised jars. Fill the jars almost to the top, then screw the lid on very firmly and turn them upside down on the kitchen bench for five minutes. This creates a vacuum to seal the jars correctly for storing and makes the little pop-up button, pop 'in' as they cool.

Label with the date and a description and store in a cool place.

Home-made jam makes a great addition to a gift hamper and, along with a few other home-made goodies, gives you an endless supply of teacher, thank you and impromptu presents.

Mimi's Mum's Lush Home-Made Chocolate Syrup

Easter is not far away, and already the foil wrapped goodies are making an appearance in the stores. Why not do things differently this year? A bottle of this chocolate syrup with a hand decorated glass in a basket with a big ribbon on it would put a smile on anyone's face.

Makes 750ml

Equipment required:

Measuring cups
Dessertspoon
Teaspoon
Whisk
Large microwave-safe jug or bowl, at least 1.5 litre capacity
Sterilised recycled bottle or bottles for storing (sweet chilli sauce, tomato sauce and soy sauce bottles are all ideal). See previous notes on sterilising.

Ingredients:

2 1/4 cups raw sugar
3/4 cup cocoa
1 1/2 cups water
3 tsp vanilla extract or essence

Method:

Combine the sugar and cocoa in the microwave-safe jug using the whisk. Whisk in the water until combined well and smooth. Microwave on high for four minutes, whisking every one minute.

Allow to cool and stir in the vanilla.

Pour into prepared bottles. Date and label for future use or gift giving. Keeps indefinitely in a cool place or in the refrigerator.

It's important to be able to survive on staples in our pantries in times of ill health, unemployment, unexpected expenses or, as it has occurred recently, times of natural disaster.

A well stocked kitchen cupboard is a true asset and one that shouldn't just be considered a Simple Savings strategy, but a sensible living strategy too.

Pantry Salad

Here's a fantastic, quick salad, using only pantry items, that's tasty enough as a meal on its own, as a side dish to take to a barbecue or a great healthy lunch for the kids' lunch boxes.

Serves 6-8 as a side dish, 4 as a meal

Equipment required:

Large strainer or colander
Large spoon
Small jug
Teaspoon
Small whisk or fork
Container or bowl

Ingredients:

1 tin beans or bean mix, for example, borlotti beans, red kidney beans, cannellini beans or bean mix, drained well and rinsed in a strainer until the frothing subsides.
1 tin corn kernels, drained well
1 large tin of tuna or chicken in brine, drained well
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup vinegar
1 tsp minced ginger
1 tsp mustard
2 tbsp honey, sugar or maple syrup

Method:

Tip all tinned ingredients into a large bowl and mix well with a spoon.

Put the remaining ingredients into a small jug and whisk with a fork or tiny whisk until combined.

Tip the dressing over the salad and mix well.

Refrigerate for one hour before serving to allow the flavours to develop.

This salad keeps well for up to four days, refrigerated and covered.

To vary, add to tossed salad leaves, add bacon or diced deli meat, or serve over baked potatoes.

7. Penny's Blog: Talk the Talk, Walk the Walk

January 28th

Lately it appears I've had more in common than I'd like with one of my favourite movie characters, Austin Powers. For starters, we're both British, have crooked front teeth and share the same disturbing penchant for toilet humour. However, just as Austin famously lost his 'mojo', lately I appear to have lost mine. My money saving mojo that is. I guess with everything that's been going on the past few months it's impossible to be all things to all people. When the kids don't think they are getting enough attention they throw a tantrum. Come to think of it, when the husband doesn't think he's getting enough attention he throws an even worse tantrum! But unlike my family, my money saving mojo doesn't throw a tantrum or demand immediate attention. It just skulks in the corner, watching you make stupid mistakes, watching you throw good money away and saying nothing. Until one day you check the bank balance and almost have heart failure. 'Where's all the money gone? Eek, someone must have hacked into my bank account! Quick, check the transactions!' And realise to your dismay that there is no hacker. The only saboteur is you.

And you sit there, staring at the evidence in black and white, kicking yourself for every stupid thing you could have done differently. At which point there's not much you can do. There's no point beating yourself up; you just have to dust yourself off and move on. I've been through the scenario enough times to know! But one thing I've learned is that it's not hard to get your money saving mojo back. That's the stupid thing. As Fiona has said all along, saving money is SO easy when you know how. And I do know how - so I'd better get to it!

Of course the great thing about being Simple Savers is that we know how to save money faster than anyone else. Whilst other poor souls are struggling with complicated budgets and losing sleep because they don't know where to start saving, we just throw ourselves headlong into fun stuff like the $21 Challenge or No Spend Month. So that's exactly where our family is going to start next week. In fact, we're going to do both at once!

What I both love and hate about No Spend Month is that it makes you cringe sooo badly. Every time you fill in the Savings Diary and the little box which says 'Essential' next to each purchase doesn't get ticked I feel like a total plonker. No matter how small and insignificant the amount is, if it's not classified as essential when I enter it in the diary I feel like a failure. It's such a huge wake up call when you are forced to be accountable for the number of times you get sucked in every day! It's great for the kids too. They both have jobs and earn their own money and while it's not a huge amount, what they do with it is up to them. Most of the time they do pretty well; now we don't live near any major shopping centres all the big 'wants' such as video games have disappeared off their lists. However, I have a sneaking suspicion that a lot of their hard earned cash goes on Koola Bear frozen drinks and macadamia nut cookies from Subway! So they will be taking part in No Spend Month too and I think they will be surprised at how much their bank balances will have increased by the end of it.

As for the $21 Challenge, what can I say that hasn't already been said? What I love about the $21 Challenge is that every time you do it, it reminds you exactly what you are capable of. My favourite chapter of the book is actually Chapter 2, firstly because it was so unexpected; Fiona and I never dreamed the benefits of doing the Challenge would be so huge or so many but also because Chapter 2 acts as a memory trigger. I see what other people are achieving and it reminds me of what I have also been able to achieve in my own household and makes me strive to do it again. What with the Challenge AND No Spend Month, I reckon my mojo will be back to full power in no time!

Actually, for the first time ever it was Noel who suggested we do the $21 Challenge! So there you have it; for all the women who complain that their husbands would never let them do a $21 Challenge in a million years, you may be surprised! I can't say I blame him though; even with our extra storage shelves in the garage our tiny pantry is a total mess yet again. We can't find anything, we can't see anything, it's just a big jumble. So we're doing the Challenge to help us unearth what the heck is lurking in there and use it up so we can make some space and restore a little order.

One thing that Noel and I have both wondered out loud is that now we have achieved our dream of living in Whangamata and our lives (apart from the obvious as outlined in the last couple of posts) have become so much easier, am I going to run out of things to blog about? I would like to think not; I think it's purely because we've lost our mojo over the last month or two. When it comes to saving money there is always more you can do. Look at Lynda Hallinan, the author of NZ Gardener - she's inspired half of NZ to 'get growing' from her vegetable patch in urban Auckland. Moving to the beach is no excuse. If she can do it, so can we!

January 2011

8. Homeopathy Corner: Grief and Trauma

Hardly a day goes by without a disaster making headlines somewhere in the world - they are an inescapable part of life and whether natural or manmade have always been with us.

Disasters cause physical and mental traumas. This month Fran shares with us economical remedies that homeopaths use around the world to help people through these tragic events.

To read Fran's article go to:- homeopathyplus.com.au/first-response-homeopathy-remedies-to-use-in-a-disaster

9. From Last Month: Holiday Food for Hungry Teens

Last month Jennifer asked:

"Help! School holidays are here and I'm already being eaten out of house and home by hordes of active teenage boys! They are all great kids who love hanging out at our place and I don't want to make them feel unwelcome, but constantly feeding extras is really hurting my food budget. I don't feel as though I can feed my own children and not the others when they are around so I always end up giving in and making food for everybody. If I tell them to fend for themselves for lunch they simply go into town and waste their money on takeaway, my kids included! Does anyone have any suggestions for cheap fillers I can have on hand or whip up quickly so we can all save money?"

Wow! This request received one of the biggest responses ever! Unfortunately there's no way we can print every tip we received but a big thank you to everyone who took the time to contribute. Don't forget there are also heaps of terrific snack suggestions in the $21 Challenge book too! *cheeky grin*

Super cheap noodles from Asian store

It pays to check out your local Asian supermarket if you have hungry teens to feed! My local store sells big packs of 30 two-minute style noodles for under $15. They are tastier than the ones from the supermarket; a little more spicy. At less than $0.50c per pack, even when my teenage son cooks up three packs at a time for a snack, they're still cheap!

Contributed by: Wendy Pryor

Send hungry teens to the supermarket

If you are being eaten out of house and home by hordes of teenagers and you know that they have money and can afford takeaway, why not suggest to them that they pool some of their money and send them into town to purchase some of the following to bring home and cook/eat?

A couple of loaves of fresh bread
A dozen bread rolls
1kg mince meat or sausages
Bottle of tomato sauce
2 litres of ice cream
A box of icy poles
2 litre bottles of soft drink
1kg grapes or other fruit
Large packet potato chips

All of these could be purchased on special from the supermarket and are much cheaper than buying individual takeaways!

Contributed by: Margaret Gray

Stock up and they won't starve

Trust me, teenage boys aren't useless and they will never starve! When I had teenage boys boarding with me I found the best thing was to go to the supermarket about half an hour before closing time. All the bakery goods were reduced to $0.50c each and I would bulk buy for the freezer. This way I always had heaps of bread, rolls, cakes and buns ready to eat whenever. I also stocked up on tinned goods (on sale) that could be made into Jaffles or toasted sandwiches. I bulk bought the cheapest two-minute noodles I could find and would just use stock powder if no flavour sachets were included. I also showed them how to make their own pancakes and fritters. Once they learned that, they became pretty adept at helping themselves!

Contributed by: Bronnie Cartledge

Simple food and plenty of it for happy teens

When feeding teenagers I find that they don't want fussy food - and unfussy food is always quick and cheap! I make a whole batch of mini pizzas and cocktail sausage rolls from scratch. I have a bread machine which is really quick and easy to use. With a single batch of pizza dough I can make up to 70 mini pizzas and with one tin of sausages and two sheets of frozen puff pastry, I can make up to 80 cocktail size sausage rolls. Teens love this kind of food!

Contributed by: Ruth Barringham

Keep teens well fed with leftovers

I also constantly have a houseful of teenage boys, even though only one of my own is still living at home! I manage by getting creative with leftovers. For example, the leftover Christmas turkey became roast turkey and gravy rolls, turkey and salad sandwiches and finally, diced into a pasta sauce with some vegies from the garden. There was absolutely no waste. I buy almost everything on special, so two loaves of grain and wholemeal bread (low G.I. - keeps them full for longer!) for $4.00, a bottle of pasta sauce for $1.50 and a bag of pasta for $0.69c made the above meals very affordable.

A dozen eggs for $2.50 will make six good-sized omelettes. Add in a sprinkling of bacon, a little grated cheese and two slices of grain toast each and you have a hearty meal that will keep them satisfied for ages. A bag of rolled oats for $0.99c will form the basis of a mountain of Anzac biscuits and those soft bananas in the fruit bowl make great banana muffins. I recently bought a 2kg bag of potatoes for $2.00 and made baked, stuffed potatoes using a little bacon, onion, grated carrot, tomatoes, cucumbers, cheese and a touch of light sour cream. The boys love these and I used the leftover salad to make chicken burgers the next day.

I only have water to drink, so there's no cost for soft drinks, cordial and so on and as a commercial cookery teacher of many years, I have observed that behaviour is greatly enhanced by the absence of these beverages. Having said that, if I have the opportunity to purchase milk cheaply, milkshakes are a great filler and the protein will keep them satisfied. Rice pudding made with low G.I. basmati rice is another favourite. You might be interested to know that I insist on the boys cleaning the dishes and also on them taking turns to help with the preparation. It's a win-win situation as they're learning both social and life skills and I don't feel as though I'm a slave to someone else's children!

Contributed by: Fiona Flanders

Sneak more vegies into your teenage male!

A good stretcher for lunch or dinner is savoury mince. Simply brown some mince and onion, then add whatever vegetables you have in the fridge. A tin of baked beans will stretch it out, and a little Mexican chilli powder will vary the flavour. Any sauce bottles with just the last bit in the bottom can be rinsed out into the mix to add flavour too. Serve on toast with pasta or rice or mashed potato. A little grated cheese on top is nice and might distract the teenage male from noticing that there may be more vegetables than meat in his savoury mince!

Contributed by: Gwen Stanyer

Bread cases make great teenage hunger busters

Nothing beats bread cases for filling up hungry teens. So cheap and versatile! Great for using up that day- or two-day-old bread that's no longer sandwich worthy. Makes a great lunch box filler too! To make, simply cut the crusts off each slice of bread and spread the squares with butter or margarine. Place butter side down into a muffin pan and bake at 180C for around eight minutes until crisp. Once cooked, fill with your favorite topping, sprinkle with cheese and bake again until the filling is hot and the cheese is melted. Favourite topping ideas include tinned spaghetti, baked beans, bacon and egg, leftover bolognese sauce, in fact leftover anything really!

Contributed by: Y Lane

Teach teenagers how to use the breadmaker

My husband and I are raising five hungry sons. When they all lived at home it was easy to fall into the trap of 'instant' food for them as they tend to graze constantly. However, I taught the boys to keep the bread maker going all the time, so that when one loaf was cooked and cooling on the bench (not for long) the kid on the spot threw together the batch of ingredients to start the next loaf. Biscuits and cake do not fill hungry teens up but a constant supply of home-made bread does!

Contributed by: Melanie Jones

Frugal and filling food for teens

When feeding hungry teenagers, go for food that is filling and can be made with whatever leftovers you have in the fridge. American-style muffins are a great option - try this recipe from taste.com.au:

taste.com.au/recipes/368/savoury+texas+muffins

It's worth reading the comments at the bottom of the recipe for great ideas on variations on the recipe too.

Pies are another way to use leftovers for a filling meal for teenage boys - and you don't have to use much meat if you want to keep the cost down; just make sure there are plenty of vegies, especially starchy ones like potatoes or sweet potato. In warm weather, you can probably also take advantage of the BBQ and fill them up on plain old BBQ sausages in bread. Always a big hit with teens!

Contributed by: Anita Coia

If they're hungry, they'll eat healthy!

When feeding extra kids, keep it simple. Often kids are 'hungry' for junk. However, carrot sticks with dip, cut up apples with cheese and general fruit and crackers are always a surefire hit. If they are hungry they'll eat it and not notice it's healthy. If not they stop asking and keep playing!

Contributed by: Rita Williams

Super duper bumper breakout box for Vault members!

Budget-friendly, teen-friendly snacks Contributed by: Kerrie Patrick

Fill teenage tummies quickly with scones Contributed by: Sindy Schmidt

Feed the crowds with Quick Fried Rice Contributed by: Adi Ryan

Souper filling food for teenagers Contributed by: Veronica Collins

Healthy home made wedges with zing Contributed by: Renee Denham

Stick to your guns when feeding extras Contributed by: Yvette Markham

Avoid teens eating you out of house and home Contributed by: Leeanne Giffin

Economical baked bean nachos Contributed by: Michelle Walker

Hungry teenagers? No problem! Contributed by: Mel Burgess

Quick links to easy snacks Contributed by: Trublue

10. This Month's Help Request: Too Many Tomatoes

This month Kathryn asks:

Do you have a simple solution to Kathryn's excess tomato problem? You can send them in to us here.

11. Savings Story: Working Mums Get the Balance Right

I have been receiving your free newsletter for a few years now and have really enjoyed the information you share. Recently, however, I have noticed a trend towards the opinion that 'it is cheaper to be a stay-at-home-mum' and I wanted to share my experience.

I agree that it is important to empower families to find ways to have a parent at home to care for young children. There is no compensation for missing out on important milestones of our children, not to mention handing over our kids for someone else to care for and raise for vast portions of the day. Raising children is a parent's most important task! However, as a mother who now works part time I would offer a word of caution for your consideration. Women constantly judge one another for the choices other women make when it comes to parenting style and whether to work or not. We tear each other apart with our judgments. As a young stay-at-home-mum it took me a while to realise that other choices were not 'wrong' and that I was not 'right'. We just do things differently.

For me, working has not altered my ability to continue with money-saving practices and has actually saved us money. Let me share with you some examples:

I work at my children's school. I only make one trip to and from school each day that I work, instead of two, which saves us money on petrol.
Because I work, I am less inclined to go out for lunch or a cuppa with my friends.
I continue to cook healthy meals from fresh, raw ingredients. If I am too tired my girls (who are 13 and 14 years old) are all too happy to help. I usually plan for one of them to cook a whole meal every couple of weeks. This way they are also learning vital living skills.
My girls do a lot of our baking, ensuring that they always have lunch box snacks for school.
My wardrobe for work crosses over with what I wear when I'm at home. Therefore I do not require expensive 'work only' clothing.
I continue to menu plan. I began this practice in 1999 and for some silly reason have kept them all! I use previous year's plans as inspiration.
I combine errands to do in one trip. We live in a semi-rural area, a half hour drive from the suburbs. We have a weekly trip down there for a kid's activity so I drop them off and get all my grocery shopping and other errands done in one evening. This saves me so much time and petrol. But it also means I'm not having to dash up the street for this, that and the other thing during the week.
Working also means I don't have much time to shop. If it doesn't fit into my one weekly trip, it just doesn't happen. A huge money saver!

As you can see, being a working mum does not have to mean our family spends more money or makes less financially efficient choices. Even when I worked four very full days each week (last year) I was able to maintain the things that are important to us, as listed above.

Thanks again for sharing ways that we can be good stewards of our resources. You do a great job!

Tracy Williams

January 2013 - Simple Savings Newsletter

"Secrets to Saving Money in Australia" Free Newsletter - January 2013

This issue includes:-

Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: Sally Kicks a Goal!
January: See it, Be it!
Hidden Gems: Mills Markets, Daylesford
Best Members' Blog: Out With the Old, In With the New
Best of the Forum: 2013 is the Year To...
Best of the Vault: Inspire Me!
Cooking with Mimi: Barbecue-Ready Stuffed Marshmallow Aliens
Claire's Corner: Chapter 2013
50c Indulgences: The Gift Called Christmas
Rob Bob's Gardening Blog: Planning Out the Year to Come
Homeopathy Corner: 'How to' for Cough and Flu
From Last Month: Starting a Non-Profit Organisation
This Month's Help Request: Yeast and Wheat-Free
Savings Story: Well Done, Briget!
Goodbye, Goodbye

Hello,

Happy New Year! We hope you have had a wonderful Christmas and a great rest. We have been having fun travelling from beach to beach and relative to relative. It has been a lovely holiday. Now we are getting ready to leap into 2013 by sending January's newsletter early ;-)

This year we are following the 2013 Simple Savings calendar. If you haven't already gotten yourself a copy, click here.

There are some new monthly challenges our Vault members wanted to try, and look out on the Forum and Facebook for our daily dose of inspiration.

It's been a big, big year at Simple Savings and we thank you for your support and fantastic feedback. Here are a few of our favourite messages:

"We had our first street party here last Saturday night after using your encouragement and invitations. We printed off 15 and delivered them to the surrounding houses. Seven households ended up attending and so many said, 'Thank you for organising this! It's great!' They are all really keen to do it again next year and block off the cul de sac (this year we had it in our side yard)." (Kath Olliffe)

"I would like to take this opportunity to express my love for your site and the difference it has made to my family and I. Thank you. Each day I learn something from this site. I believe I also have become a better person because of all the giving and sharing that takes place in the Forum. You cannot but feel inspired and also not want to be involved in some way by support, suggestions or in helping others once you start reading the Forum. This is such a wonderful outreach for the whole community, not only in the savings area. Thank you and merry Christmas from a grateful subscriber." (Jan B)

"Thank you for all you do with Simple Savings. I'm still learning and slowly making changes. I feel well supported and the response to any of my queries is always helpful and gracious. I take every opportunity to promote SS as it is an important part of my life now. Wishing you a very merry Christmas." (Jane, ACT)

"Going to have a 'Simple Savings' Christmas this year!" (Elise)

Have a great month!
All the best,
Fiona Lippey

P.S. Please note Ye Olde Shoppe will re-open 21st January.

1. Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: Sally Kicks a Goal!

"Detail Sally - you need lots of detail to give you as much inspiration as possible," Hanna enthused as she and Sally glued pictures on their already cluttered vision boards. "I think I've got the hang of it," said Sally, "Look, I've even found a picture of my perfect bathroom sink for our renovations!"

Pete couldn't help himself any longer and sidled over to look over their shoulders. "What on earth are you two doing? Aren't you a bit old to be doing school projects?" he laughed. Sally rolled her eyes at Hanna and said to him very patiently, "Pete, we are setting our goals for next year by making visualisation boards. We look for pictures of how we want our life to be and stick them on the board." Pete couldn't contain himself now and guffawed out loud, "Seriously? Does that work?"

Hanna held up her board. "Of course it does, Pete. That is how I lost five kilos this year." Sally looked excited as she showed Pete her board. "Yes. And, I want to do the same. See, here is a picture of me when I was skinny." Pete laughed. "But, Sally you were only 17 in that picture." "Yes," smiled Sally "AND, soon I will be 17 again. I can already feel my wrinkles disappearing."

2. January: See it, Be it!

If this is the first time you have ever heard of a vision board, sit down and let me tell you ALL about it. They are a tool to help you STOP and THINK about things. The way they work is they encourage you to look at all different areas of your life and choose the direction you want your life to take. For example:

If you want to be thinner, you would stick a photo of your thinner self on your vision board.
If you want your bank account to be fatter, write down how much money you would like to have in your bank account and stick that on your board.
If you would like a new bathroom, place a photo of your dream bathroom on your board.
If you would like a different job, place a photo of the job you truly want on your vision board.
If you want to learn to cook, stick photos of the dishes you would like to learn on your vision board.
If you want to learn to knit, put photos of the items you would like to make.

It is that simple, and that is what we want you to do this month. This year we are following the themes of the calendar. If you haven't downloaded yours yet, here it is...

So let's get started.

Write down a list of ten things you would like to improve about your life.
Find some pictures online or in magazines that will remind you of your goals.
Stick them on a piece of cardboard, in a Word document or in a book.
Then tadaa! You are done. You have made yourself a vision board which will help steer you towards your goals in 2013.

Your vision board is the ultimate memory trigger. So place it somewhere you will see it every day to make 2013 a great year!

3. Hidden Gems: Mills Markets, Daylesford

Our Hidden Gems directory is designed to help members source the best deals in their area. This month's Hidden Gem is Mill Markets, Daylesford, Victoria as nominated by Lynne M.

"The Mill Markets at Daylesford is a huge second hand shop in the back streets of Daylesford. It's open seven days a week from 10am to 6pm. The Markets are filled with multiple stallholders selling an enormous array of goods. It is the best place for quality recycled clothing, shoes, bags, jewellery and so on for the whole family, from vintage to modern styles at very low prices. There are household goods from every era including vintage and retro furniture, old tools, boxes and tins. There are also antiques and collectables at far cheaper prices than major city antique shops (and the shops in Daylesford's main street!). You can browse at your own pace with no pressure and there are friendly staff walking the floor if you need assistance - they even ask if they can carry your selections to the counter so you can keep browsing in comfort! I have been there a number of times and it is always changing. There is even a small cafe and restrooms. You can often catch a great special if a stallholder is closing down - crazy prices just to clear their stall. It's a great place to bag a bargain - I love it!"

Where: 105 Central Springs Rd, Daylesford Vic 3460
Contact: (03) 5348 4332 daylesford@millmarkets.com.au
Information: http://www.millmarkets.com.au/locations/daylesford

Well done, Lynne on locating such a fantastic Hidden Gem and thanks so much for sharing.

4. Best Members' Blog: Out With the Old, In With the New

One of the many benefits of being a Vault member is that you can win a cash prize of $100 each month for your Simple Savings Blog! Starting your own Blog on the site is easy. All you have to do is log into the Vault, click on 'My Desk' at the top left, then 'Your Blog'. Then get writing! We love reading all your money saving trials and tribulations and really appreciate the effort that goes into each one.

This month's winner is Bruce/Tracey D for this insight into female shoe shopping!

Miss2 was hell today, very whingey and demanding, and Tracey thinks this was somehow my fault. It all started because a school shoe of Miss9's blew out yesterday, leaving her with one sole flapping about like a fish on land. Meanwhile I was home sick today, nursing myself back to good health curled up on the lounge watching Toy Story 2.

Now you might see these two things as unrelated, but you would be wronger than a man in a marriage. Because of the shoe blow out, this morning Tracey made a mad dash to the shopping centre to buy new ones. Because there was a 'buy one pair, second pair half price' deal Tracey saw an opportunity to save money. Not. Tracey saw an opportunity to buy more shoes.

Gleefully checking her purse to see how many credit cards she had on her, she gave the girls their sizes and instructions and sent them hurtling through the shop looking for something suitable. Within a minute, Miss5 was back with her new shoes on her feet. They were pink with two inch heels and her little feet barely made it out of the toe box.
"Um, I don't think..."
"But they're my size!" screamed Miss5, teetering precariously.

And they kind of were - they were a size 9 in adults, and not children's. Not that Miss5 left disappointed. Tracey came home with five pairs of new shoes. My lack of high fives and exclamations of, 'Oh wow! Shoes! Yes!' didn't go unnoticed.

"You don't think I did well?"
"Why five?" I asked, as Tracey deposited box after shoe box onto the table. How do you discover you need more shoes at the shops? It didn't make absolute sense to me. "I thought we needed to replace one pair?" I don't know why I wasted my breath. I'll give Tracey this; she was able to explain the logic behind each and every purchase. Or I assume so. I drifted off to my happy place fairly early in the conversation. Although this lack of gushing and, let's face it, genuine interest might possibly be attributable to the fact I'm not well.

Tracey, on the other hand, was suddenly full of energy. Shopping can do that. "You watch the kids. I'm cleaning out their rooms," she announced, bounding off to the bedrooms. Now this bit does make sense - because Tracey had all these new shoes to somehow fit into their cupboards she needed to make space. So I put on a movie and Miss2 and I lay on the lounge together, with only occasional interruptions as Mum walked past the telly with armfuls of toys she expected to be able to throw out.

A little pointer for all you mums and dads out there - the Toy Story stories probably aren't the right movies to put on the telly when you're in the middle of throwing out old and unused toys.

Well I know that now. And fortunately it's a lesson I won't quickly forget because Tracey bought herself a new pair of shoes this morning with which she intends kicking me up the bum. :)

Congratulations Bruce/Tracey D and thank you for a great read! To read any of our members' blogs, click here

5. Best of the Forum: 2013 is the Year To...

See it, be it in 2013! As the year ends and a bright new one begins, now is the time to look at our lives and see what we might want to change or improve. Health, finances, family and friendships are examples of areas that might benefit from change.

Here are some great threads about making a difference in 2013.

Setting an intention for 2013

What are your intentions for 2013? Share them with other people and give yourself another reason to stick to your goals in 2013.
read more...

Am I lazy? Goal setting challenge

You are not alone - goal-setting is something we all struggle with! This great thread shares ideas on how to set and achieve your goals.
read more...

Goals and baby steps December

If you are in need of inspiration, these monthly threads are a fantastic place to start! Write up whatever things you want to achieve this month and soak up the support this wonderful group brings. Go on - what are you waiting for?
read more...

6. Best of the Vault: Inspire Me!

Sometimes, although you know what you want to achieve and you have a fair idea of how to get there, there is still something missing. It's called 'inspiration' and it's a bit like a key for your ignition - you just can't get started without it! Well fortunately, the Vault is crammed full of incredibly inspirational ideas to get you started on planning a wonderful 2013. Here are a few of our favourites.

Here's the plan for achieving your goals

Budgeting can be difficult and achieving goals can seem impossible, so I have designed a monthly budget to meet our obligations and to make a start on our goals. This starts each January and here's how it works:

List all the goals you want to achieve, for example, paying off the credit card, setting up an emergency fund or buying a boat.
Number the goals from the most important to the least important. Goal one is the most important, goal 12 the least important.
Go through the list and allocate a goal for each month. Put goal one into January, goal two into February and so on. That is your goal for the month but you can be flexible. For example, depending on the balance, you might want to focus on credit card repayment for two months instead of one.
Take a goal off the list once achieved and add a new one or bring the other goals forward. Remember, this is flexible, so if you need to re-prioritise a goal, simply place it in front of the others and continue on as before.

You might not achieve every goal by the end of the month but you will have made a start. This will give you great motivation to continue.

Contributed by: Miss A

Visualise then realise

I love the idea of visualising your dream purchase like a car or paying off the house.

Here's a practical way to make that dream come true.

Draw a picture of your goal, for example, the outline of a car. Draw a grid over the picture, maybe 52 squares, each representing one week or whatever number matches your savings plan. Then, allocate a dollar value to each square in the grid. Each week, fill in a square to represent how much you own or have saved towards your goal. Stick this picture where you can see it every day, so you can focus on your goal on a daily basis. This is great encouragement for the young and old alike.

Contributed by: Louise Mulqueen

Positive thinking lifts pressure

My husband and I are soon to become parents and our income has been cut in half. Now that we're on a tighter budget, I have realised how much we were caving in to outside financial influence from friends and family. From innocent dinner invitations to suggestions on 'must-have' products for the new baby, the dollars were being seduced right out of our pockets. At the same time, it quickly became uncomfortable saying, 'We'd love to, but it's not in our budget' in almost every conversation. It made me feel constantly deprived and I would actually end up spending money to make myself feel better. My husband stopped wanting to talk about our finances at all because he felt stressed out.

After thinking long and hard about our spending habits, I decided there were three main ways that outside influences were sabotaging our budget: social invitations, gift giving and pressure to buy. Once I specifically identified these influences it became so much easier to combat them.

Instead of declining every dinner invitation and feeling bad about constantly telling our friends we didn't have the money, we organised a monthly dinner party for the entire group. We rotate hosting duties and guests just bring a bottle of wine. Instead of eating out once a week with one or two friends, we now have a festive gathering once a month with everyone all at once - but only pay for a home-cooked dinner a couple of times a year! It puts us back in control of how much we spend. I've also realised that people essentially just want to spend time with you, so you can feel free to counter suggest a cheaper and more creative option than going out to dinner. Instead of, 'it's not in our budget', I now say, 'Would you be up for a picnic on the beach instead? The weather is supposed to be beautiful'. If the plans are set in stone, I say, 'We already have a commitment for dinner, but can we meet up with you all for a drink afterwards?'

I also noticed that giving gifts was really adding up. It was so simple to start making my own gifts instead. My favourite is to make chocolate covered strawberries and wrap them up in a beautiful gift box.

To stop caving in to pressure to buy, I've had to change the way I go shopping. It used to be a leisure activity to go with friends on the weekends, but I know I am too easy to influence. It's just inevitable that they will say, 'You look great in that, you should buy it' or 'I had this with my first baby, you definitely need it'. Now I shop alone, with a list! I've also stopped taking the bait in conversations. If someone is recommending a $700 mountain buggy stroller, I ask if they know of a more economical brand of similar quality.

The most important way I've stopped outside influence from wrecking our budget is to talk openly about things with friends and family. Through this I've learned that most people are in the same situation. A friend confided that she was deeply in credit card debt and didn't know what she was going to do. Now instead of meeting her for a weekly manicure and lunch date that costs at least $60, we have opened up and become a real support system to each other for reaching our financial goals. It's often perceived as taboo to talk about money with people, but I think our friends have been just as relieved as we are!

Contributed by: J.C.

Poetic inspiration

A while back a friend gave me a little poem that helped me stay within my budget as a single mum. 'Eat it up, wear it out, make do or do without!' The first encouraged me to be 'creative' with my cooking skills and use what I had in the cupboard, substituting ingredients where needed instead of running to the supermarket. The second gave me inspiration to create my own 'fashion' wardrobe and the last taught me that we could survive, and quite happily, without all the latest gadgets and expensive outings and so on. We stayed a close family, enjoying the simple things like picnics, walks in the parks, riding our bikes together, things that don't cost a cent but mean a million dollars! Making this my motto, I was able to put aside $5.00 a week (a lot of money back then!) and each school holidays we would have a day in the city and enjoy a nice lunch, a trip to the zoo or chips at the beach. At the beginning of each season I would go to Target or Kmart and layby new clothes for the children as they outgrew last season's and with my weekly savings, my children had at least one or two new outfits each year to complement the trips to Vinnies! All in all, learning to live within my budget kept me worry free, allowing my little family to enjoy the simple things in life!

Contributed by: Ute Pettigrove

Here are a few more ideas for our valued Vault members:

Combine weight-loss goals with financial goals Contributed by: Melanie Reddaway

Don't lose sight of your goal Contributed by: Mookiyum

Make your savings goals your screensaver! Contributed by: Kieran Booth

Set goals, find support and trust you'll get there! Contributed by: Minister of war & Finance...

7. Cooking with Mimi: Barbecue-Ready Stuffed Marshmallow Aliens... Invading Your Home Soon!

Are you sick of the same old desserts and treats? Cream of this, flour laden that, butter soaked thingos drizzled with cardiac arresting other stuff. Who needs it? For me, a toasted marshmallow, done in the fireplace in winter, and in the barbecue in summer, and I'm happy. Even under the grill will do in a pinch. Especially now that I want to be the new me. The me that's slender, fit, healthy and here for 45 more years.

Alien looks aside, these belong in everyone's dessert repertoire, and untoasted and lined up in a box, make the perfect gift. The girl child took one look at this baby and in her usual, gracious and ever respectful 12-year-old manner said, 'you don't expect me to eat THAT, do you?' Thus challenged I thrust one at her, straight from the grill and cradled in a spoon. 'Try,' says I. Eyes widened at first melt-in-mouth sensation, then closed in bliss as taste buds found warmed cinnamon sugar on the base. A swirl around the mouth released the salty popcorn kernel, along with the craisin and soft gooey choc chips. The final tang of just a couple of crystals of gourmet salt lingered for a second or two, whereupon she didn't even ask for another, but headed straight for ingredients on bench to make several for herself.

Did she ask Fabbo Mother whether she'd like some? No. Did it keep her out of my hair for a few hallowed moments? Yes. Therefore worthy of repeat performance.

Following is the ridiculously and mercifully short ingredients list which will make a hideously bountiful number of Aliens.

1 bag marshmallows
1/2 cup popcorn
1 tbsp craisins
1 tbsp chocolate chips
1/4 cup water in a shallow cup or lid
1/4 cup cinnamon sugar, hot chocolate or latte mix
Gourmet salt flakes if you wish
Choc hazelnut spread or peanut butter to secure the popcorn kernels if giving as gifts

If you're making these as a gift, have a box ready to hold them. You will not be toasting them ahead of time. This would look ugly, not taste nearly as good and elicit response similar to that from the girl child, above. This also means that you need to include instructions for elevating to heavenly status. Something short and sweet like, 'Grill, barbecue or toast in the fireplace for 20-60 seconds' would about do it.

Take marshmallow, cut a deep cross into the top with a sharp, pointy knife. Ease an opening into marshmallow with fingers, being careful not to totally destroy marshmallow.

Into the little pocket, squeeze a kernel of popcorn, a couple of choc chips and a craisin. If you're gifting these, do it the other way around. Craisin - choc chips - popcorn on top. Secure the popcorn with your choc spread or peanut butter. This just holds it all together. We prefer the choc chips on top if they're going straight from bench to grill to mouth, but it really makes little difference. Heck, once you get a run on these, entire communities could spend a weekend trying to decide which way tastes better.

Dip the base of the marshmallow into the water quickly, then dip it into the flavoured sugar, hot choc or latte mix.

Set aside, 'cause this alien is done.

Consuming is easy. See directions for gift giving and off you go.

For the gourmet type a last minute touch of a couple of salt flakes after grilling, barbecuing or toasting in the fireplace is a new kind of devilishness.

Warning: Consuming more than ten Marshmallow Aliens in one sitting is critically unfair to thighs waiting to become slender. Watch out! Merry Christmas!

You can discover more of Mimi's UFOs (Unique Food Odysseys!) in our Members' Blog area.

8. Claire's Corner: Chapter 2013

I love this time of year! The silly season gives way to some well-earned end of year relaxation and the weather here in New Zealand is at its best. After a long, dark and cold winter it seems as though summer has arrived with a bang! The pohutakawas are in full bloom, the Auckland harbour is sparkling and there is a renewed sense of positivity in the air!

At about this time every year for the past four years, I've promised myself I'd make a serious start on writing a book. I've spent countless hours thinking about said book, I've pondered over plots, created a few characters and have tucked away a few clever lines. Starting 'The Book' is one of the many things I want to tick off my 'to do' list in 2013. Actually, when I think about it, it's probably more like seven or eight years that it's been in the planning stages! I can't really put my finger on why I haven't started it. I love writing, I love reading and I love coming up with characters and plots. But there just seems to be a bit of a block when it comes to sitting down and actually starting! But this year, while the sun is shining and the days are long and beautiful, I hope to progress from 'planning' and actually start writing!

One of the reasons I love writing is because it's a nice little escape from some of life's more pressing realities such as budgeting, dieting, parenting and other such joys! I can create my own characters and give them a life of my choosing - triumphs or tragedies, joy or despair, passion or grief... or a roller-coaster ride involving all of the above! Wouldn't it be nice if we could write our own story and decide exactly how our own stories would pan out? Hmmm... could be interesting?!

Of course, we can be the authors of our own story to some degree... with just a little careful planning along the way! And while getting that book underway is definitely a priority on my list for the year ahead, there are also a few other goals I want to achieve this year so that my own life story tracks along in the right direction! Here are a few of the key areas I'm planning to focus on this year:

Kill the credit card debt! For many years I was proudly able to state that we didn't have any credit card debt, mainly because I refused to have a credit card. But over the past year or so, for all the usual reasons, we have amassed some stomach-churning debt that has reached ridiculous levels. Hubby has cut up his card and we've paid it off this month; next month we'll begin tackling mine! I want it completely paid off by the end of the year. I've sat down with our budget and have decided that it is possible. It won't be easy, there will be sacrifice, there will be tears, there will be shops that will be wondering where I am... but it will be done!
Get the bathroom sorted! Approximately 19 years ago (I remember because I was pregnant with our son), we started renovating the bathroom. This year, the plan is to finish! It's laughable I guess, but it's just one of those projects that kept slipping down the priority list. But we are now at the stage where our bathroom is embarrassingly awful, I cringe when friends come over and need to use it. My goal is to have it finished by April. Again, it won't be easy... mainly because it costs money! We've had a few professional quotes and we simply can't afford to get someone to do it for us. So it's going to be a good ol' DIY jobbie!
Shift that last stubborn seven kilos! About six years ago I lost 25kg. But I've managed to put about 10kg back on. I've slowly lost three kilos but the last seven are proving very difficult! But this year I turn 40 (in May), so I'm determined to get back down to my goal weight before then! And because I've spent enough money in my life on trying to lose weight, I want to do it myself without spending a cent. My plan is to start journaling what I'm eating and to make the most of the great weather by doing plenty of walking. Watch this space!

I think that's enough to go on for this year. All being well, by this time next year I'll once again be credit card-free, I'll be at my goal weight of 74kg and I'll have a bathroom that I won't be ashamed of! And maybe, just maybe, I'll have written the first three chapters of my book!

So what are your goals for the New Year? How will the next chapter of your life unfold? I'd love to hear what hopes, plans and dreams you have for 2013!

DECEMBER QUOTE: Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.

You can discover more of Claire's Corner in our Members' Blog area.

9. 50c Indulgences: The Gift Called Christmas

Our Indulgences Under 50c thread this month was "The Gift Called Christmas". We focussed on enjoying Christmas without being overwhelmed with too many demands or expenses and working out what's most important to us so that we make the most of this special season. I find Christmas a good time to reflect, to be grateful for what we have and to help others. This year several of our beautiful regular contributors have come into the Christmas season with serious illnesses and heartache in their families. This reinforces just what is important - simply being with our family and friends.

As usual we came up with lots of inexpensive ways to make Christmas special. For me, hand-made gifts and decorations cut the expense but increase the joy of Christmas! All year round I knit, sew and craft for Christmas. My little tip for crafters is to watch for materials in op shops - almost all my materials come in at under $0.50c a metre this way. I purchased images for the front of some of my pot holders on eBay very inexpensively. When I finally bring out all the things I've made over the year, I am amazed at the choice of gifts I can give people! I sat my sewing under the tree before I began wrapping and it was lovely to see it all! My advice would be start in January and it just works out!

In our home one of our favourite ways of creating a lovely atmosphere is to light lots of candles. I tend to just group what we have on a pretty tray. You can make them look much more dramatic if you place them in front of a mirror or use a mirror as your tray.

A second fail-safe way to make your home feel special is with flowers. Mine are just from my garden and the vase was $0.50c in the local op shop. I painted it to match my decor. Even if you just have greenery or some bottle brush, once a big bunch is in a vase it just looks lovely - and is free!

An evening drive to look at all the beautifully decorated homes is always part of our Christmas. We pack a picnic and thermos and make a night of it!

We hope you had a very happy Christmas everyone and thank you for your contributions of wonderful recipes and beautiful ideas. The New Year is very exciting and we have so much planned for 2013. Come and join us in January!

10. Rob Bob's Gardening Blog: Planning Out the Year to Come

Long-term goals for food production in 2013

Our long-term goal has been to become as self-sufficient as possible with the space that we have here. So far the focus has been on the back yard and I think the time has come that we develop a plan for turning our front yard into a more productive space. I would love to be harvesting from there by this time next year. The very front of the yard has a retaining wall that is unfortunately made from treated hardwood, so I'm not too keen on growing food directly in soil next to it. We have some tin left over from making the beds out the back and I'm thinking about making up some more wicking beds along the retaining wall. The only cost involved will be for soil and sand as the rest of the materials have already been stockpiled, which will help us out financially.

I would love to try out growing in a Hugakulture bed and am thinking about how we could incorporate one into the front yard. Hugakulture beds are constructed with a row of stacked timber of different sizes that are then covered with a soil and compost blend. The resulting mound is then covered with thick layers of mulch and planted out. The idea behind it is that the timber will slowly rot down in the base of the bed releasing nutrients and while it is decomposing it will act like a sponge, soaking up water and storing it for the plants to use. There are a number of sites that can explain it better than I with www.richsoil.com/hugelkultur being one of the better ones.

I would like to build the bed as a hybrid between the Hugakulture and a keyhole garden-style bed. I saw this version of a keyhole bed, 'African-style raised bed', and can see how the two different types can be brought together. A stockpile of fallen branches and a few small logs have been started in anticipation of starting the bed. Now we just need to find an old unwanted rainwater tank or something similar to act as a surround.

I would also like to add another 1000L fish tank and three more grow beds to the aquaponic system but this may be a bit of a tricky one with the limited space we have. Some of the IBC wicking beds that were placed next to the set up during the year may have to be relocated but that will only take a weekend to do.

I think with the new gardens out the front and the addition of more fish and grow beds we will be moving much closer to our goal of having the majority (60%+) of our own vegies grown on site.

Goings on in the patch

I decided to tidy up a few bits around the patch in anticipation of planting out some new seeds that arrived this week. I tried out a new seed supplier called "The Seed Collection" after seeing a post on the Share the Seed wall on Facebook. The prices were fair and they had a few seed types that I've been chasing for a while, like white beetroot. These will hopefully be planted out sometime this weekend along with some short 'Kuroda' carrots that I want to try out in the aquaponic grow beds. A few of the other seeds we got will be sown into seedling trays and coco peat pellets for planting out in the patch once they have put on a bit of size.

A decision was made to remove the bull's horn capsicum from the aquaponic system to allow more sunlight into the small barrel bed at the rear. Hopefully it will help some of the water chestnuts bounce back. I plan on removing all the strawberries from the aquaponics to make room for more leafy greens.

The fruit fly baiting stations will also be put up this weekend. I have made up five boards that will have the eco-naturalure applied and wired/tied up around the patch. Hopefully we will see a result from them fairly quickly as I have a few tomatoes that could really do with planting out in the patch, as well as a few capsicums and chillies that are not in the hoop house.

Harvests from the patch

Have had some great harvests from the patch this week.

The first Kakai pumpkin was picked this week. It hasn't been opened yet, but I'll show some pictures of the seeds and flesh once we do. I will be saving some of the seeds from this one for next year's crop me thinks! The bell chillies are also ripening up nicely and I have harvested about one third of the bush so far. There is a long list of people who want to have a go growing these, so I have already put some seeds to one side. We have continued to use up a lot of the greens in vegie stir-fries and were very happy to be able to include some of the brown seeded snake beans...

The size of these beans were a bit of a surprise. We are used to growing the shorter black seeded variety that only grow to about 300mm/1foot in length. A few of these beans grew to over 600mm/2foot in length. We have also been adding the eggplants to the stir-fries as we have been picking them along with sweet potato leaves. The sweet potatoes don't appear to be too badly affected by losing a few leaves here and there, so we will be using them a lot more often as greens from now on.

We also harvested another two spaghetti squash and cooked up our first one last night.

The squash was cut in half lengthways and then roasted in the oven for half an hour. The seeds were then removed and the flesh scraped out into fine angel hair pasta-like threads. I must say that we were all very surprised by the flavour. Bianca and I were expecting a bland zucchini like flavour but our taste buds were greeted with a sweet, almost buttery flavoured sensation. I will definitely be growing these squash again and am glad to see the vines slowly rebounding after receiving a good feed of seasol and molasses from last weekend.

That's about it for this week. Temperatures are set to reach 36°C here tomorrow and 38°C by Monday so think I should pop out and fill up the beds and barrels.

Have a great one all!

**: )»**

Rob Bob

Read more of Rob Bob's garden blogs in our Members' Blog area.

11. Homeopathy Corner: 'How to' for Cough and Flu

While we are looking at things we would like to improve this year, one of my goals is to spend more time working with Fran to teach people how to prescribe homeopathics. A couple of months ago I went to the Australian Homoeopathic Associations Convention and the things I learned were incredible. The amount of money our government could save itself by encouraging homeopathics is phenomenal. When the Swiss government taught their doctors how to prescribe homeopathics they cut the per patient costs by 15%. THAT IS A HUGE SAVING!

I truly believe Australia needs to follow Switzerland's example and this year I am going to work with Fran to help make that happen. As part of this Fran has been writing a Homeopathic book for beginners and here is a section of it. It explains the sort of things you need to look for when prescribing remedies for coughs and flus.

Well done Fran. You are doing a great job! Here is a link to the article:-

homeopathyplus.com.au/homeopathy-made-simple-treating-family-and-friends-part-2

12. From Last Month: Starting a Non-Profit Organisation

Bea Davidson asked for help last month:

"I am looking at starting up a non-profit organisation for youth in my area. I would love to hear ideas about getting a business off the ground with as little outlay as possible. I need to know about everything from finding a premise, outfitting, setting up and then day-to-day running as cheaply as possible. We need to save as much money as we can so we can pour our profits back into the youth activities. Thanking you all in advance!"

Thanks so much to everyone who wrote in to share their wisdom with Bea. Here are some of our favourites!

Local councils can help with non-profit set ups

When starting up a non-profit organisation, try your local council and/or councillor as a first point of contact. Most councils have community halls available for minimal rent for NPOs, they may even have other buildings that are available for permanent lease. Councils also have a community services department that can help you find or get funding and assist you in setting up the group properly. For youth services, they may have a youth officer who can help you with activities and funding. Last but not least, councils often have good furniture such as tables and chairs available free of charge to community groups.

The local church is also a good place to get a permanent place to meet if it is only once or twice weekly and often, they can help you with activities or food during the activities. If you need additional funding, try looking on your local government website.

Contributed by: Deb Manendis

Six tips for non-profit success

If you're planning to start a non-profit organisation, here are a few tips to help things go a little smoother!

The most important thing is bookkeeping. If possible, use a computer program such as MYOB or Quicken, or get yourself a volunteer. Meticulous account keeping shows integrity and honesty, and every supporter can get a 'profit and loss' report at the press of a button! Using a computer program is actually very speedy once it has been set up to reflect all your needs.
Insurance (personal and public liability, property and so on) can be a huge cost but is vital. You will not be able to rent a place without this.
Your local service clubs such as Lions can be of great help.
Your 'must have' office needs are a computer, a three-in-one printer and up-to-date office software. This is all you need at the outset. You can design and print your own logo, letterhead, business cards and more with this basic software. You do need to look professional.
Make sure the name you choose for your organisation is unique. Go to ASIC to lodge your business name. If there is another group using the same or a similar name, they will let you know.
And lastly, keep plugging away - it can take up to a year to get everything in place!

Contributed by: Jane Stranger

Try Salvos for youth group start-ups

If you are keen to start a youth group in your area, you may find your local Salvation Army church a great help. You may be able to use the facilities of their hall and kitchen and so on. They very often have all sorts of youth-oriented things they can offer too. They often don't charge for the use of their facilities to help you keep costs down and as a way of donating to your cause.

Contributed by: Evelyn Wall

Approach bigger businesses for donations

If you are starting a non-profit organisation and need furniture, supplies, equipment or materials, try approaching businesses in your area. Many companies and businesses will donate to a good cause. The bigger companies like Bunnings usually require a letter on an official letterhead outlining what you are trying to do and what you require.

Our local Bunnings has a community liaison officer who approaches companies on your behalf asking them if they will donate materials to charities and community groups. Local groups like Rotary, Lions, Mens Sheds and so on will often also help. We also have a local community radio that does free advertising for charities and fund-raising. It also pays to talk to the local newspaper and get them to a write-up on what you are doing.

Contributed by: Isabel T.

Seek out skills from your community

Well done for wanting to help the youth in your area. My suggestion is to approach the council for any assistance they can give you - they might have an area available for use. They might also be able to give you information about government grants you could apply for. You could also try approaching organisations in your community for support with donations or sponsorship.

Get friends and family on board - everyone knows someone who knows someone that may be able to help - from providing help with running the program, providing goods and services and volunteering, even business planning.

There may be some elderly people in your community who have certain skills they'd like to utilise or pass on to the youth such as carpentry or cooking. If you're looking at incorporating sports into your youth centre, local sporting clubs might be able to help with coaching and tips.

Ask for help and assistance from everybody. Put posters up around town asking for help and ideas. Perhaps hold a meeting to gauge support and interest from the local community. Good luck and I wish you every success!

Contributed by: Leanne Matthews

Check out Glen Gerreyn's story

A fantastic guy called Glen Gerreyn did just what you want to do with only $2.00 in his pocket! He is very successful in what he does and I honestly think that rather than 'rethink the wheel', sometimes it is great to ask for help and borrow someone else's ideas. He is a great believer in asking for help and has been very successful in gaining sponsorship for his organisation, all in the interest of the kids. You can find out more at oxygenfactory.com.au/glen-gerreyn.

Contributed by: Mandiii Bonnett

Low-cost computers for non-profit organisations

Here are a few tips for saving on the costs of computers if you plan to start up your own non-profit organisation:

Low-cost refurbished computers are available for non-profit organisations from ItShare South Australia www.itshare.org.au, Computerbank www.computerbank.org.au (Victoria), www.computerbank.com.au (New South Wales) and www.cbq.org.au (Queensland).

If you already have a computer you might consider using free and open source software such as Open Office for word processing, spreadsheets and presentations. You can find out more at www.openoffice.org. You may also like to check out the Mozilla Firefox web browser and Mozilla Thunderbird email program at www.mozilla.org

Another tip is to enquire at your local council as they may have a grants program you can apply to. Approaching your local member of parliament is another good idea as they often know about grants available and may write support letters to help with your grant applications.

Contributed by: KW

Visit Our Community website

Try visiting ourcommunity.com.au. They may have some people there who could help you out with advice.

Contributed by: Tania Belletty

Great websites for non-profit organisations

If you are planning to start a non-profit organisation, here are a few helpful links with heaps of information on grants, licences, OH&S, tax, applications, hiring and more.

www.business.gov.au/Pages/default.aspx

www.business.gov.au/BusinessTopics/Grantsandassistance/Pages/default.aspx

deewr.gov.au/help-available-and-eligibility-neis

www.ato.gov.au/nonprofit/

For more about non-profit sponsorship, try: nonprofit.about.com/od/fundraising/fr/sponsor.htm

And for information about starting a non-profit business, try these two links:

search.newtabking.com/?search=starting+a+nonprofit+company+australia&search=starting+anonprofit+company+australia

http://startpins.com/search.php?q=companies+who+sponsor+youth+charities+and+nonprofit+organisations+australia&type=Web+Search

Contributed by: Lynda H

13. This Month's Help Request: Yeast and Wheat-Free

Sue Izard has emailed with this cry for help:

If you have any pearls of wisdom you'd like to share with Sue, please send them in to us here.

14. Savings Story: Well Done, Briget!

When emailing to thank us for the 2013 Calendar, Briget told us a bit about her savings journey and we wanted to share it with you. Well done, Briget - we hope you enjoy your well-deserved retirement!

"Thank you very much for another wonderful calendar. 2013 will be our first year of retirement and Simple Savings will be even more important to me now as I try and stretch our savings as much as I can.

"I have been a member since 2003 (I just realised it's nearly 10 years) and you have seen me through trying to be a SAHM for the last years of my son's schooling (successfully achieved) and then through saving so my husband could retire a few years earlier (achieved three weeks ago).

"I feel so glad I found your wonderful site that has helped our family achieve these goals.

"I hope you and your families have a wonderful Christmas holiday and look forward very much to whatever 2013 brings for us all."

15. Goodbye, Goodbye

Well that's our first newsletter for 2013! We hope you have enjoyed it and have been inspired by all the money saving tips. Our members are hugely important to us and we love hearing from you all so get in touch on the Forum or on Facebook and say 'G'day'! Let us know what you would like to see more of in our newsletter or any suggestions you have for something new to try. We love hearing from you.

We are looking forward to sharing a fantastic 2013 with you.

Till next time...

All the best,
Fiona

January 2015 - Simple Savings Newsletter

"Secrets to Saving Money" Free Newsletter - January 2015

This issue includes:-

Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: I Love a Man in an Apron
January: Meat and Two Veg
Penny Wise: Three's Company
Best of the Vault: Best Value Bargain Hunting!
Best of the Forum: Making the Most of Your Two Meat and Veg!
Best Members' Blog: Looking Forward to 2015
Mimi: Mango Sweet Chilli Turkey Breast
Rob Bob's Gardening Blog: Container Gardening and Update on the Patch
From Last Month: Help Me Plan 2015
This Month's Help Request: Recipes Using Non-Perishable Ingredients

Happy New Year!

We hope 2015 is going to be a fantastic year of savings and success for you! Things are busy in the Lippey family with Sam starting high school and Elora starting Prep - our family is growing up! We've got some great plans for the Simple Savings family as well - stay tuned!

Thank you for your Christmas wishes and your wonderful emails - I love hearing your savings ideas and stories and tips! Here are some of my favourites this month:

"I just want to add my thanks to the thousands you must receive. About seven years ago I found Penny Wise in a magazine and joined the same day. We are not spendthrifts but not entirely frugal either, so the whole package of tips and good living philosophy was very welcome and a couple of years later when DH was retrenched we were quite comfortable that we could manage and we did. Three years later and after a few false starts, DH at 64 found good employment in his field and I was able to retire. SS again became my favourite reading and I am applying lots of ideas and getting ready for when DH finally decides to retire too. Not all SS stories are dramatic but there are very few people who have not improved their lives after being in contact with your site. Thanks again." (Glenda)

"Thank you Simple Savings - I received a membership for Christmas and am on here every day. I just know that 2015 will be MY year to start saving." (Candice)

Have a great month!
All the best,
Fiona Lippey

P.S. If you haven't downloaded the 2015 Calendar, you can download it here.

1. Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: I Love a Man in an Apron

"Hey Hanna, do you have time for a quick coffee during lunch?" Sally asked, tidying her desk. "Sorry Sal, I'm off to do some grocery shopping," said Hanna, grabbing her bag. "I found the BEST butcher, just around the corner from here - he's wonderful!" she sighed, staring into space.

"Um, let me get this right - you're doing GROCERY SHOPPING during your lunch hour?" Sally quizzed. "That's right, Sal," Hanna smiled smugly, "I got so tired of paying huge prices for poor quality meat at the local supermarket. Then a few weeks ago I found Fred, just around the corner from work. So I just buy my meat, put it in the work fridge and pop it in the car after work."

"That's great, Hanna - can I come with you and have a look as well?" Sally asked, getting excited at the idea of some good bargains. "Good idea, Sal! Then we can visit Stan at his fruit and veg shop, and then Steve at the deli while we're out." Sally stopped and looked wide-eyed at her friend. "Hanna, I have to ask, have you been shopping for groceries or boyfriends?!"

2. January: Meat and Two Veg

Everyone has a brilliant butcher in their neighbourhood - but most people never go to him. Instead they convince themselves that it is easier to buy their meat and fresh food at the supermarket when they do their normal shop. But it really isn't easier - it is costing you time and money and leaving you vulnerable.

What is easier is to find the best prices in your area and shop there from now on. Then you can save yourself money every time you shop.

There are two ways to find the best places; you can do the leg work yourself or you can ask around. This month we want you to do both.

First we are going to give you some tips on how to do the leg work. Then, we will look at 'phoning a friend', SS style.

Finding a good butcher

Grab your phone book and ring each one. Ask for the prices of your favourite cuts. Make sure to ask if they do bulk discounts. Write down all the prices and hang on to them.

Next, go to your supermarket and compare similar quality meats. Then ask the supermarket employees what times of the week they discount their meat. Check those out and compare the prices. Buy meat from the places that have the two best prices to find the best value.

Finding a good fruit/vegie shop

When searching for the best fruit/vegies you are going to have to get in the car and drive around. The quality can vary from store to store so you will need to use your own eyes. Aim to visit three fruit/vegie stores and two markets. Compare the price and quality and then ask the staff if they have discounts.

If you can find a good place to get your fruit/vegies and your meat you will easily save yourself $50 a week, which adds up to $2500 per year.

'Ask a friend', SS style

The other way to find the best deals, shops and prices is to ask your frugal friends. Your frugal friends will have already worked out the best spots. And, this month we are focusing on sharing those tips and special spots and asking you to help us grow the Simple Savings Directory to cover as many areas as possible. So by the end of the month, we will all have a list of the best shops in our area so we can save money all year.

Earn a six month membership

Please have a browse through the present Directory and add any shops which deserve to be included. If we include your entry, you will have earned yourself a six month membership to the Savings Vault.

P.S. Don't forget to join in the "January: Meat and two veg challenge" thread in the Forum.

3. Penny Wise: Three's Company

Sometimes I swear my life is crazier than a soap opera. Which is why I haven't written anything lately, I just can't keep up! The last month alone has seen me perilously close to losing my house before bouncing back in the nick of time, then before I could recover from that I went from being given the opportunity of a lifetime - an all-expenses paid trip around Asia - to having it pulled from underneath me less than 24 hours before I was due to check in at the airport! That's a story that's too long to share and it's neither here nor there anyway; the wonderful thing to come out of it was that instead of whizzing halfway around the world at breakneck speed, I got to instead spend a leisurely extra couple of weeks preparing for Christmas with my boys and as I realised almost immediately with the cancellation of my trip, that was where I truly wanted to be.

Ah yes, my boys. As you can see they are rather large these days. And biased though I may be, they are pretty fab. I remember when their dad and I first split up and people would pat my shoulder and say knowingly 'it's the first year that's the worst'. So I wasn't too impressed when that first milestone passed only to have people once again say in a knowing voice 'it's the first TWO years which are the worst!' Who knows what the future holds from here? The past two years have certainly been extremely challenging for all three of us but one thing is for sure, we have learned a truckload about people and about life. My boys are kind, they are empathetic, they are protective, they are grateful, they are incredibly strong, they are tolerant (especially of me!), they are pretty much completely unflappable and having had things as tough as they have the past couple of years, they take nothing for granted.

However, what I love most about them is their perceptiveness. They see and understand so much more than I give them credit for. For example, the other day Ali got paid $20 for mowing lawns. He had been without money of his own for longer than I could remember but when he came home he no longer had it. He told me that when he had finished mowing he went around to his friend's house, who lives just with his dad. 'He opened the fridge and they had NO food, Mum,' he said seriously. 'I mean, I know we don't have much but they had even less. So I hope you don't mind but I gave them my $20 and told them I didn't want it back. At least they can go and buy bread and milk now.' I was so touched and so proud of him I burst into tears. I'm pretty sure that back when I was 16 I wouldn't have even noticed what my friends had in their fridge and have gone and blown the whole lot on make-up and CDs no sooner had that $20 been put in my hand. But that's Ali for you, he just sees things.

As for Liam, my gentle giant, well he's gone and surprised us all lately! Whilst perfectly capable, he's never thought of himself as an academic. However, Liam's problem for some years has been that he has been unable to find his niche in life, something he's truly passionate about. It really troubled him greatly and affected his school attendance badly, as he truly had no idea why he was there, other than the fact that he couldn't find anything else he wanted to do either! Much as his dad and I loved him, we were starting to really despair of him EVER finding anything - and then three weeks from the end of school - his last few weeks of school EVER - he found it. And instead of finishing his 13 years of school on a mediocre note, he changed overnight and began working like a Trojan, staying late after school, working weekends and spending every spare minute doing everything he could to ensure he passed the year with the necessary qualifications he needed to study his dream course, a three-year Bachelor's degree in Creative Media Production.

You see what I and many others didn't realise about Master Liam is that he is actually a very creative soul. All this time everyone thought he was up in his room just wasting his life away playing Xbox, he wasn't. OK some of the time he was! But the rest of the time he was working on his artwork, his graphics, his movies and animation. And, his writing. I had absolutely no idea but he writes stories and poetry - and he's really good; what a dark horse! The only other people who knew about this were his classmates, where his comic talent is well known. So nobody was more surprised than me and his teachers when unbeknown to us, Liam - super shy Liam, who never says boo to a goose - suddenly got out of his seat at his graduation prize giving and took the stage in front of hundreds of people. And there, relaxed as anything and chuckling to himself as he went, he read out a poem he had written himself about every one of his class mates and what the future held for them next. It was hilarious, the whole place fell about laughing and he got the biggest cheer of the night! I was absolutely flabbergasted and as his teachers all came up and hugged me, it was obvious that they were too - even some of the men were in tears! And it was that night I realised that he had finally found his niche - and that he was ready to leave home.

So 2015 is going to be a very different year for us! Eight weeks from now Liam will be starting life as a uni student in Wellington and it will just be Ali and me here. Who knows what the year will bring but one thing is for certain, all three of us will be living off the smell of an oily rag! Everyone is conscious that the time we have left together is precious but for now everyone is working all hours coping with the summer influx here in Whangamata. Liam is working at one of the local motels as a jack-of-all-trades doing everything from ground maintenance and painting to laundry and stripping beds. It's a great way for him to brush up on all his domestic skills before leaving home. As for Ali, we're working together! I'm still at the Whangamata Club by night pulling pints but during the day I've taken on yet another job cleaning holiday homes for one of the real estate companies and the demand is such that Ali and I work together, doing as many as four homes every day before I can quickly dash home and get changed into my bar staff uniform. It's not glamorous but it's fun and I feel like all three of us are doing the best we can. Heaven knows it would be nice to start the New Year off on the right foot!

As you can probably tell, I don't get too much time to put 'pen to paper' at the moment! There are a million things I would love to say and will no doubt kick myself for forgetting to mention them but I couldn't end the year without thanking each and every one of you who has taken the time to read my ramble and support us this year. It's been a year of ups and downs to be sure, but for every down there has been more than enough ups to make up for it and the boys and I are truly humbled by the kindness shown to us, particularly by Simple Savings members. To those of you who used your super powers to make our festive season extra special, thank you so, so much. You know who you are, even if some of you insist on staying anonymous! I did say thank you via Facebook to my Christmas fairy who magicked beautiful new towels and a shiny new frying pan to my workplace but I don't know for certain if she (or he!) saw it so I do hope you see it here. Not only will Liam no longer have to take holey towels to uni, you have no idea how much of a lifesaver our new frying pan was when our oven was broken for three weeks! We are truly grateful. Once again this wonderful community of savers has helped us to survive the year in so many, many ways. From Liam, Ali and myself, we wish you all the very best for a prosperous 2015!

You can get updates on Penny's new blogs on the Simple Savings Facebook page.

...or in our Members' Blog section.

4. Best of the Vault: Best Value Bargain Hunting!

Your challenge this month is to find the best value butchers and grocers in your area. All you need is an idea of what you buy already and a sense of adventure! You just never know what you might find...

Ask butcher for discounts on bulk meats

I've managed to save an extra $10-$20 on the cost of my bulk mince just by asking the butcher for a discount! I used to buy my mince in little 500g packs from the supermarket, but as my family grew and started eating more, I began buying in bigger 3-5kg packs. However, this meant driving about 20 minutes out of my way to a 'discount' butcher. One day when I was out of mince and in a hurry, I called into my local butcher and asked if he'd knock down the price if I bought five kilos of mince. It was advertised at $7.00/kg but he said I could buy five kilos at just $5.00/kg! That's a saving of $10 and even cheaper than the 'discount' butcher! After about a year I plucked up the courage to ask if I could have the low-fat mince discounted too and managed to get it for $8.00/kg instead of $12 (for five kilos)! I divide the mince into 500g bags and pop them in the chest freezer. Since then I've tried other butchers and have always received a discount when buying bulk, anything more than two kilos is considered bulk!

Contributed by: Havva T

Cutting the cost of organic chicken

I've found a great way to save at least $20 on the cost of organic chicken! We eat a fair amount of chicken and like to source the organic, free range kind. It can get very expensive though, so I started hunting for reduced-price whole, uncooked chickens and started cutting them myself. One chicken turns into two chicken fillets, two thighs, wings and legs and a carcass for stock making or chicken soup. I generally will buy at least two chickens at a time to make them easier to use in meals. I cut them and then freeze the portions.

Contributed by: Sim1

Would you like fries with that?

I saved $26.45 on potatoes when I bought my spuds in bulk! I had seen potatoes for sale in my normal supermarket at $6.49 for 4kg, so my eyes nearly popped out of my head when I spotted a huge 20kg bag of potatoes for only $5.99 at my local fruit and vegetable shop recently! I couldn't pass a bargain like that by so I bought one of the bags, rolled up my sleeves and lugged it out to the car!

When I got home, my hubby took one look at the bag and said, "So I take it we'll be living on potatoes for the next month then?" But I had a plan for those spuds! The first thing I did was go through the bag and sort them into baby, small, medium and large potatoes. The weeny ones would be perfect to use whole as side dishes. The large potatoes were huge - just the right size for baked potatoes. I then peeled and cubed the small potatoes and put them into saucepan-sized bags to freeze and be used later for mashed potato which I also froze. Finally I peeled and sliced the medium potatoes lengthways to use for fries and bagged them into 1kg bags. I was delighted with my potato stockpiling! My $6.00 bought me:

1/2kg of baby spuds
4kg of baking potatoes
5 x 800g bags of cubed potato for mashing
10 x 1kg bags of fries

I worked out my basic savings by comparing the price of a 4kg supermarket bag of potatoes ($6.49) with my bulk bag, meaning I saved $26.45. However, buying ten 1kg bags of supermarket chips (at $3.50 each) would have cost me $35 alone, so all up I worked out I actually saved a grand total of $48.41 on potato products!

Contributed by: Emma K

Asian supermarkets for seafood bargains

Trying to feed my family on a limited budget can be a challenge but I have found that fish and seafood is cheaper than meat when I shop at large Asian supermarkets. Fish pieces, cleaned calamari, frozen prawns and fresh mussels are all sold in large packs which can be divided up over a number of meals. I use this seafood economically in spaghetti marinara, fried rice and potato-based chowders. Mussels are great when steamed open and then baked or barbecued with garlic butter.

It's nice to know the family can enjoy delicious seafood so look out for Asian supermarkets in your area. You'll be surprised at the variety and the low cost.

Contributed by: Leonie P

5. Best of the Forum: Making the Most of Your Two Meat and Veg!

The Forum is a wonderful place to get answers and ideas - you just never know what you'll learn! Here are some great threads about making the most of your two meat and veg... you may just be surprised...

2015 food shopping budget

Follow Loz's journey into cost-cutting in 2015 - we dare you not to learn something new along the way!
read more...

The perfect meal plan

Our SunnySarah discusses her adventure looking for 'the perfect meal plan' - definitely lots of food for thought here!
read more...

What to do with chicken drumsticks

Need some ideas for a great value chicken dinner? Look no further!
read more...

Grocery challenge - January 2015

Join Claire and forum members in their grocery challenge to cut costs as much as possible.
read more...

6. Best Members' Blog: Looking Forward to 2015

One of the many benefits of being a Vault member is that you can win $100 cash each month for your Simple Savings blog! Starting your own blog on the site is easy. All you have to do is log into the Vault, click on 'My Desk' at the top left, then 'Your Blog'. Then get writing! We love reading all your money saving trials and tribulations and really appreciate the effort that goes into each one.

This month's winner is Ebony C for starting 2015 with a bang!

"I am planning to be on top of things for the new year.

"I've begun by printing the Simple Savings calendar and putting it on the fridge. I've spoken with DH about the first few months and what we can do. This year we are saving for a holiday for our 11 year anniversary (I'm hoping for it to be a honeymoon, but not getting hopes too high). We wanted to be in Thailand now, but a dental emergency put a dent in those plans and our bank balance. Lucky (thanks to the tips from this site) we were able to use our savings for the dentist and not have to look elsewhere for the money.

"I got some mince in bulk last week and made some meals for the freezer. I was able to stretch 1.5kg mince into lasagna, shepherd's pie and spaghetti bolognaise. I added heaps of vegies to the shepherd's pie to make the 500g mince for it stretch into two pies. I'll top them with mash when I reheat them.

"I looked at March on the calendar and saw it was create-away month. I spoke with DH and we thought we could make mini pizzas, have little boxes for noodles or fried rice or even fish and chips. I'm a bit nervous about No Spend Month, but figure that we will learn to go without the items that are not necessity. I lost my job earlier this year and stopped buying paper towel (I clean with microfibre and Chux cloths instead) and we haven't really missed it (I lost my job in March).

"I'm looking forward to eating better and watching our bank balance not dwindle away.

"Here's to a Happy New Year!"

Well done Ebony - we'll be following your progress and cheering you on every 'step' of the way!

You can read more of our members' blogs here.

7. Mimi: Mango Sweet Chilli Turkey Breast

Post-Christmas there are always stacks of turkey breast marked down to next to nothing near me. Turkey breasts are huge and one can feed two to three people if you go about it the right way. I got a tray of two turkey breast fillets for just $6.00 on Boxing Day and it fed six of us.

I 'butterflied' the breast by cutting it as if to slice it into two thinner fillets BUT stopping about 3cm short of slicing all the way through. You then fold the top flap out and you have one huge thin fillet, connected in the middle. Now mash a soft mango or mix up some cream cheese and herbs or a cup of breadcrumbs, herbs and an egg. Then spread this thinly over the entire surface of the breast fillet.

Cut yourself a couple of pieces of kitchen string about 25cm long and slip them under the length of the breast, short edge to short edge. This will make it easy to tie the breast up once rolled. Carefully start to loosely roll the turkey fillet up Swiss roll style from short edge to short edge. That sounds weird but will make sense when you come to do it. :) Tie the string pieces firmly to retain the rolled shape. If any stuffing has squeezed out when you rolled, just push it back between the layers with clean fingers. Stab the whole thing all over with a sharp pointed knife to allow the sauce to permeate the breast as it cooks.

Sit the rolled turkey breast in a baking dish sprayed with oil and drizzle with a generous amount of sweet chilli or BBQ sauce. Bake, covered in an oven preheated to 180C fan forced or 190C normal, for 30 minutes. Remove the lid or foil and bake for a further 20 minutes. Baste with juices and sauce every ten minutes.

Remove from the oven, allow to sit for five minutes, then cut into neat circles, removing the string as you go. Serve with a crisp salad and crusty bread, steamed rice or baby potatoes. This is a super posh looking meal that's really inexpensive and so easy to do. :)

You can get updates on Mimi's new blogs on the Simple Savings Facebook page

or in our Members' Blog section.

8. Rob Bob's Gardening Blog: Container Gardening and Update on the Patch

Container gardening for small spaces or rental properties

Just because you live in a unit or are renting a house and are not allowed to have a garden, doesn't mean you can't grow some of your own food. Container gardening is a great way to grow a few herbs and vegies that doesn't take up a lot of room or require you to dig up any lawn. When it comes to containers to grow in, you are only limited by your imagination!

While Bianca and I were renting, we started out growing in garden pots, broccoli boxes and tree propagation bags then moved on to bathtubs, buckets, barrels and also got a tad creative with the larger 'container' beds that we built. ;-)

We have grown everything from thyme to pawpaw (papaya) trees in containers and haven't found many plants that don't do well.

Keeping the size of the pots under 60L will come in handy if you need to move house, especially if you don't live on the ground floor of an apartment building. ;-)

When we moved from our last rental we decided to gift the bathtub we had to the neighbour who turned it into a duck pond for his feathered friends. We thought it was a lot easier to manhandle it next door than to relocate it to the new house. ;-)

The first step towards a bountiful harvest from your containers really does start with the growing medium you will be using. Not all potting mixes are created equal so it is a good idea to shop around to see what brands are available in your area. I try to stick to reputable brands with blends that include compost and natural fertilisers like 'blood & bone'. A quick search on gardening forums and groups should be able to help you in sorting out the reputable brands from the dodgy ones. ;-)

When using potting mixes I still like to add a few extra goodies to make sure that they have good drainage, are packed full of nutrients and have a few extra micro-organisms in the blend. The last batch I made up consisted of two parts commercial potting mix, one part worm castings/compost and one part hydrated coconut coir. The worm castings will add some organic matter containing beneficial microbes as well as nutrients to the mix, and if you're lucky, maybe a worm or two. The coconut coir will help keep the mix moist as it has great water holding capacity. I have also added some course sand to other mixes in the past to aid in the drainage, but felt that it wasn't needed this time round as the potting mix looked to be nice and loose.

Another option is to investigate your local landscaping supply yard to see what sorts of garden soils they have available. If you are looking at starting up a sizable potted garden this may be one option you might want to look at to save quite a lot of coin.

If you are lucky enough to have access to compost and/or worm castings, you could always make some of your own with other goodies mixed in.

While the 'recipe' I use changes depending on what we have on hand, I think this is a fairly good all round blend to grow most vegies in:

2 parts compost
2 parts rehydrated coir
1 part worm castings
1 part course sand (can be bought in bags)
1 part aged mulched up horse manure

An important aspect in growing in containers is keeping them well hydrated without over-doing it. When we first started I really had no idea and drenched every pot twice a day which was far too much and looking back now, probably washed a lot of the nutrients out the drain holes. Over the years we have used a few methods to keep the soil moist for the plants.

The easiest would have to be a simple tray under the pot which allows for a small amount of water to be wicked up into the soil as the plant requires it. One down-side to having water laying around in a situation like this is that mosquitoes might breed in the still water. To stop this, it is a good idea to let the trays dry out ever few days to kill the mozzie wrigglers.

Irrigating with drippers or spray heads is another option if there are no restrictions on the amount of water available to you. In the past we have mainly used the Wetpot sub surface irrigation emitters, due to our climate and frequent droughts in SE Queensland.

Self-watering wicking containers are also another great low maintenance way to grow food that keep the plants well hydrated.

If you've read my previous blogs then it's no surprise that these would be mentioned. ;-) Wicking containers/gardens are basically a self-contained bed/container that has a reservoir at the base. From this reservoir, water is wicked up into the soil for the plants to use. This way they not only provide the plant with constant moisture but lessens the amount of moisture lost due to evaporation.

Over the past few years we've made small wicking buckets, a wicking bath, wicking barrels and larger wicking IBC container gardens. While the larger IBC beds would be a bit of an effort to relocate they are still technically a container so don't think a landlord could really complain. ;-)

Another form of container gardening we have been playing around with over the past year or so is air pruning. Air pruning is a great way of growing plants in containers without letting the roots of the plants become pot bound, allowing you to grow larger plants in smaller pots.

To start off with I transplanted a chilli plant into a reusable green shopping bag (that may be familiar to some). ;-) The idea behind planting into a fabric bag and air pruning is that the roots from the chilli plant will grow to the outside of the bag, hit dry air and die off. Further back on the roots a number of new roots will sprout to replace the dead one, allowing the plant more access to nutrients and moisture.

Another DIY version of this is our hybrid air pruning/wicking barrel that we are growing our pawpaw (papaya) tree in. The video below has a bit of an explanation on air pruning and how this hybrid barrel was made.

I am so happy with how the pawpaw has gone that I've decided to pot out some of our dwarf fruit trees into fabric Root Pouches** It will be very interesting to see how the air pruning effect will go with these trees and I hope they will be as productive as the pawpaw looks to be.

We are also using the cloth pouches in a self-watering/wicking style garden bed. I got the idea for this from watching Larry Hall's Self Watering Kiddie Pool Grow System on YouTube. The idea behind this system is to have the base of the bags sitting in a few centimetres of water.

Water height is regulated by drilling drainage holes where you want the 'high tide' point to be. The water can then seep through the bag and wick through the soil, keeping the plant well hydrated. To stop mosquitoes and evaporation being an issue, the base of the tray will be filled with small rocks to help insulate and stop the bugs from easily accessing the water. I also plan to set up a float valve to help keep the base topped up.

Just a quick mention too on hydroponic growing - while it's been 16 years since our last attempt at hydroponic gardening, I do think that it is one option that would appeal to folks that can't garden in the soil. It can be set up outside or inside under lights and plants can grow very quickly. If it does interest you, there are a few folks I follow on YouTube who are very knowledgeable in the ways of hydroponics. Both Brock Hughes and MhpGardener have impressive systems that could easily be scaled down to a small balcony or indoor system.

Harvests & update from the patch

Since the last update I have unfortunately had a hard drive crash in my computer so have lost a great deal of harvest and progress shots from the patch. I did post a bit of a round up clip of our small backyard farm if anyone is interested.

Harvest wise, we did get our best sweet corn harvest to date which made the girls very happy. :)

We have some seeds to plant out of another variety to see which we like the best. We might even try to squeeze in a 'Painted' corn crop at the end of the season. ;-)

The cucumber vines we had on the go have slowed down and we did lose the Armenian cucumber to mildew and 28 spot lady beetles.

We do have three nice, large fruit we will be saving seeds from. The largest weighed in at 1.8kg/4lb and we will be saving the flesh to add to our morning juices. If history is anything to go by, the plants grown from our saved seeds will hopefully have a lot more vigour. ;-)

The one eggplant bush is supplying all our needs at the moment which is fantastic. We have left a few of the fruit from both types of eggplants on the plants to mature so we can replenish our seed stocks with fresh seeds.

The lime tree is laden with fruit here at the moment, with a fair few fruit ready to pick now.

It is also now covered in flowers after the recent rain we have had here in SE Queensland. I finally managed to get a shot of the blue tiger butterflies that like to frequent the citrus trees.

That's about it for this month. I would like to wish everyone all the best for 2015 and hope you all get the chance at having a crack at growing some of your own food or trying to grow something new.

Cheers all & have fun in the patch,
Rob.

**Disclaimer - I have recently taken on the role of a retailer for Root Pouches in Australia. This blog post is in no way to be taken as an ad and I encourage folks to save their coin and experiment with DIY methods.

You can get updates on Rob Bob's new gardening adventure blogs on the Simple Savings Facebook page

or in our Members' Blog section.

9. From Last Month: Help Me Plan 2015

Last month Iris emailed us about ideas for planning and organising in 2015.

"I am so glad to say goodbye to 2014 - I have wasted so much money and time and energy because I CAN NOT get organised! It's almost the start of another year and I have some time to sit down and plan 2015. Can you please ask your members for their best tips on getting and staying organised? 2015 is going to be the year that I stay on top of things - please help!"

Thank you for your wonderful ideas for Iris, here are some of our favourites:

Keep things simple and delegate

If you want to get organised and stay organised, keep things simple! Use ONE system - such as an online calendar - and keep all your notes, appointments and so on in that one place. I was trying to use several and ending up in a muddle. Now I put everything onto the calendar which is part of my email program and I have suddenly stopped missing appointments and forgetting important things. If it is a busy day I just print that page and keep in my handbag for when I am out and about. Easy!

Most importantly, however, don't be afraid to DELEGATE. I always feel bad about mess in the house. Recently I decided just to change myself, put things away immediately and so on. That made a difference. When other family members ask 'where are my shoes/the remote/bag/book?' or whatever I now just ask them to recall where they were last and look there. The kids love it because I am empowering them more rather than taking over and best of all I no longer see myself as responsible for others' mess!

Contributed by: GoGo Goanna

Exercise book keeps me on track

To help me stay on track with my busy schedule, I have an exercise book with a list in it. My list is quite detailed, but yours doesn't have to be. The list consists of daily chores arranged in a kind of timetable. Next to the list I have ruled columns for each day, and as I progress through my day, I put a cross in the box next to the completed chore for that day.

I now use this system for many things, such as my pantry where the pantry list has everything that usually is kept in the pantry, and then it is given a cross when used, and ticked when replaced. This is very helpful for budgeting and for doing those challenges. It would be easy to apply this method to many things.

Contributed by: Gusta T

Review last year so you can plan next year

My best tip on getting and staying organised is to get a really clear idea of where you are right now. Looking back through the year, I consider the things that I'm pleased with and what worked well. Then I make a list of what I didn't get to and honestly answer whether I'll get around to each one. While I'm making my 'wins' list and my 'procrastinated' list I get insights about what works well in my life and what I've moved on from or will never get around to. I make notes about these so I remember them later and stay on task. Somehow doing the review clears my mind so I have a much clearer idea of where I'm headed, than I had before the review. It stops me making the same mistakes over and over!

Contributed by: Judith

Getting organised is fun with Flylady

If you're serious about making your life easier and being more organised, I can highly recommend you pay Flylady a visit! Visit her www.flylady.net website for more information on loving yourself while getting things done effortlessly; getting organised with daily decluttering and following your own routines; saving your money, energy and your valuable time to enjoy life with your loved ones. Become a free member and you will be thankful you did. Just follow the instructions and you will be 'organised' before you even realise!

Contributed by: Mithila

Stay focused with visual reminders

I have found the best thing to keep your mind on target is a vision board. You can use paper or cardboard, draw or cut out the pictures you want and hang it in your bedroom so you see it at least twice a day. Also, make yourself a money thermometer to use for savings - put the total amount at the top and colour it in as you save until you reach your goal. You can also make one to help keep your goal with paying off debts too. Seeing it regularly can help keep you focused and see the financial changes happening. Great motivation!

Contributed by: Simone

Make each day a breeze with household calendar

You can help everyone in the household be more organised by getting a big calendar which has enough room for multiple entries for each day. Put it on a wall in the kitchen, somewhere that is close to the fridge or kettle so every day you are looking at it multiple times a day. Write everything on the calendar for everyone - appointments, birthdays, events, late night meetings, school dates and so on. This way everyone can see clearly what is going on. You won't be running late for anything and the kids will be sent to school with correct uniforms, forms, money, equipment and everything else. It also prompts you to pre-cook meals for any busy evenings. Also, make it a habit to spend 15 minutes each night planning the next day - pack bags, organise paperwork and so on. You'll find mornings are a lot smoother!

Contributed by: Kelly

Be organised but be realistic

To help me be more organised I have bought a five-subject notebook, in which I have made the following sections:

Yellow - to do list
Green - home business
Pink - personal
Blue - grocery and menu planning
White - financial

I look at my book every day and know what jobs need to be done, what personal matters I need to attend to, where my home business is at, what we are having for dinner this week and what I need to buy and my financial goals for the year, with what I need to do to achieve them.

When setting yourself tasks however, be sure to know yourself and your limits. A decade ago, I was able to save all the housework for the weekend and would stay up until 2am Saturday morning getting it done - but I wouldn't have to do it for the rest of the week and could focus on my full time job and part time study. These days I have medical conditions and run out of energy quickly, so little and often works best for me with house cleaning, I need frequent rests. Whatever works for you!

Contributed by: Living like noone else

Make a three-weekly menu plan

If you want an easier, more organised daily routine I can highly recommend making a three-weekly meal list. This means, write out seven dinners, then another seven, then another seven and label them week 1, 2 and 3. Next, write out a shopping list for all of the ingredients for each list for each week. No more brainstorming what to have when, and because there are 21 different meals, by the time you get back to week 1 you're not sick of the same old thing! You do just one shop per week with your permanent list for the relevant week and simply bring along a small list of toiletries, breakfast and lunch foods. Save time, energy and money!

Contributed by: Olivia S

10. This Month's Help Request: Recipes Using Non-Perishable Ingredients

Cherie has emailed asking for some help! She writes:

We think Cherie's help request would also be a fantastic resource for camping and emergency kits! If you have any pearls of wisdom you'd like to share with Cherie, please send them in to us here.

11. Goodbye For Now

Well, that's your Simple Savings Newsletter for January and we hope you get a chance to find your best value meat and two veg!

Till next time...

All the best,
Fiona

January 2018 - Simple Savings Newsletter

Simple Savings Newsletter - January 2018

This issue includes:

February is No Spend Month!
Tips for No Spend Month
Supporting Each Other in the Forum
Competitions, Competitions, Competitions!
We Are Seeking a Writer

Hi,

How are you going? I hope you had a great January and you are ready to take on "No Spend" February.

To help inspire you we have $200 in prizes this month with challenges for every level.

I hope you enjoy them and have a great month.

Many grins,
Fiona Lippey

PS. We have dropped the price of new vault memberships this month from $27 to the renewal price of $21.
Get your membership here.

1. February is No Spend Month!

Have you ever wondered how much money you waste in a week? Have you ever thought; "How little could I live off if I had to?" If so, Now is the time to find out, because February is No Spend Month!

What is No Spend Month?

This is where we challenge you to slash your budget and save as much money as you can by avoiding all non-essential spending.

The rules are as follows:
Your mission is to avoid spending money on ANYTHING in February other than the absolute essentials for your work, education or survival. Obviously there will be some things you cannot avoid, such as basic food and prior bills, but apart from that your mission is to make sure you don't buy anything that is not essential.

For example, this month you should NOT be buying:-

Takeaway food of any sort
Lollies or chips
Dips
Soft drinks
Magazines
Books
Frozen dinners
Movies or videos
Fancy brands
Bought cakes
Pre-made food
Ice cream (wait… What?!)
Clothing
Beauty products
Alcohol

Things you CAN spend money on:-

Rent or mortgage
Basic food
Utilities
Insurance
Petrol
Car
Health care
School essentials (meaning uniform, camps or stationery requirements, NOT money for the canteen!)
Other prior bills (we don't want you incurring late fees!)

Ooh, that sounds a bit harsh! What's in it for me?

Yes, we know it's harsh, but look at that list again... How many of those things do you currently buy each month? How much you would save by NOT buying them for a month? Go on, have a guess... Imagine how much headway you could make! Imagine all the things you could do to get ahead financially if you managed to keep all that money in your bank instead of automatically handing it over to shopkeepers for things you don't need. You could use it to pay off a credit card. You could pay some extra off the mortgage and save a heap of interest. You could use it to create an emergency fund to bring a little extra peace of mind. You could use it for a reward or holiday for your family. Put like that, isn't it worth the effort for a few short weeks?

Just in case you think going without for one whole month is too difficult. We have three challenges for you to choose from:-

The first is to go without 20 items you were planning on buying.
The second is to avoid 50 non-essential purchases.
The third is to go hard core and avoid all non-essential purchases for the entire month.

Pick the challenge that best suits you and grab a notebook to record your success. Every time you avoid spending money, write what it was and how much you saved. This way you can track your success and be proud of how well you're doing.

To help you on your journey we have some quick tips and some great prizes. Read on...

2. Tips for No Spend Month

Find a No Spend Buddy

During a No Spend Month, team up with a like minded buddy or family member and keep an eye on each other. There are so many things you can do in partnership, or on your own, including:

Raid each others pantry rather than make a trip to the shops
When heading out to run errands, make one trip for both of you
Pay bills online
Raid each others cupboards or gardens before buying gifts
Cancel the lawn-mowing for the month
When cooking, cook surplus and deliver to your buddy
Make greeting cards from household materials including card and glitter. Use downloadable images too

As you've seen, no spend is no problem!

Alcohol-free February

Being in your mid to late twenties and saving for a house is very tough these days. Most of my peers have given up on the idea of ever getting into the property market, as it's so difficult. This can make it hard for me to keep on track with my saving, especially when my friends often want to go out for dinner and drinks.

Going out for drinks all the time also takes its toll on your health, so to give myself a health kick and a financial boost I've decided to combine No Spend February with Alcohol-Free February. Not only do I save money by not buying drinks when I'm out; I also save on taxi fares because I'm happy to be the designated driver.

It's only been a week so far, but I already feel great and am amazed how much I've saved!

Contributed by: Rachy Bee

Beat the savings slump with a new challenge

Our family got its savings mojo back this month and reduced our grocery bill by 50%! Those of you who have been doing Simple Savings for a while and have paid off your mortgages know how it is easy to slip with saving. Whilst a mortgage is a drive for many people to save, since paying ours off I realised our efforts had waned. The motivation to save had gone. So our family took February's No Spend Month to the extreme and bought only half our usual amount of groceries. We spent $400 instead of $800 or more and instead of buying, we made biscuits and bread, ate everything in the vegie garden that could be eaten (lots of silverbeet!), used the stocks in the pantry and freezer, ate leftovers religiously and made presents instead of buying. The result was that my husband's hard earned wages were hardly touched for the month compared to usual! This has motivated me to save more and more each month to save for a caravan and nice family holidays, including a trip around Europe! Thanks Simple Savings!

Contributed by: Belinda Lansley

An idea with quirks that works

I know this hint is a little quirky, but it works for me so I thought I'd share it with you.

I used to love to buy things, just for the sake of it. It didn't matter what it was, who it was for or how much it cost. I just couldn't help going out, buying something and bringing it home. As you can imagine, this shopping habit got me into a lot of financial trouble. Even after cancelling my credit cards and devising a budget, I still had these shopping cravings. So I came up with this unusual plan:

I now borrow items from the library to curb my appetite for buying things!

I warned you it was a little crazy.

Instead of going to the shops and using my credit card or splashing out cash, I go to the library, (sometimes with a list!) and borrow things. Magazines, DVDs, CDs and books all come home in my recycled shopping bag, with my 'receipt' (return due date receipt) and I even use my 'credit card' (library card) to pay for them. It really does work. Now I just have to devise a plan to get them back on time and not pay overdue borrowing fees!

Contributed by: Roxy M

No Spend Month every three months

It was not until I was on my way home that this aged brain suddenly realised I had bought enough ingredients for four of each meal. Out of stupidity and lack of thought I had actually hit on a winner. The next few nights I cooked the meals, made one serving for me and froze the rest in meal lots. Over the next few weeks I added to my meal list and ended up with a variety of meals from which to choose, plus I saved myself literally hundreds of dollars by stopping panic buying and takeaways. And of course I was at last eating in a healthy way.

Every three months I have enough meals to last me for the entire month, plus I can feed any unexpected visitors. I have made sure that it does not become boring and have now incorporated the same system into work lunches and every now and then breakfasts.

So, all in all the old girl has now become this very budget conscious, gourmet cook and I have to admit it has given me a real sense of achievement. Money is still tight, but I am not being strangled by the lack of it anymore.

Contributed by: Lynn Earley

If you like these tips and want more we have another 18,659 of them in our members area. If you would like a membership, it is a tiny $21 per year. Grab a membership here.

3. Supporting Each Other in the Forum

If you would like a helping hand with your No Spend challenges or if you are No Spend Master ready to guide others, pop into our paid members' forum.

In the forum you can start your own No Spend Challenge thread, similar to the one SalliMumof3 started or join the group thread started by the always magnificent Claire M.

The forum is for paid Vault Members only. If you would like a membership, it is a tiny $21 per year. Grab a membership here.

4. Competitions, Competitions, Competitions!

We want to watch you succeed at your No Spend Challenge, and we would like to share your success to inspire others. To encourage you to show us how well you are doing we are giving away $200 in prizes.

The winners will be the most inspiring story in each category. Please send your No Spend Challenge tales to competitions@simplesavings.com.au by midnight, March 1st. Here are the three categories:

Category 1: Show us how you avoided 20 non-essential purchases to win $25
Category 2: Show us how you avoided 50 non-essential purchases to win $50
Category 3: Show us how you avoided all non-essential purchases to win $125

Please make sure your emails states which category you are entering. The full competition rules are here.

Last Month's Winners: T-shirts and Dinners

The shirt competition was won by Janine Daniels she made her husband a T-shirt that would be perfect for my husband. Janine has won $50 for her great effort.

Mona won $50 in our Dinner table competition. Here is one of her delicious dinner photos.

5. We Are Seeking a Writer

Simple Savings needs a new writer. If you are a master wordsmith, love helping people and have a spare 4-5 hours a week, send me an email (jobs@simplesavings.com.au) and tell me why you would be perfect for the job.

Till next time...

Goodbye for now... I hope you have a fantastic month. I'm really looking forward to hearing how your "No Spend" Challenges go.

Many grins,
Fiona

January 2020 - Simple Savings Newsletter

Simple Savings Newsletter - January 2020

Greetings!

This year our focus is on helping the planet. Do you know, everything frugal that we do helps the planet? From growing your own food, buying less, using less, re-using items, fixing and mending, cooking efficiently - it all helps. Saving money and helping the planet go hand in hand.

I hope you are well and safe. The fires are scary and sad. When people are evacuated after the fires because towns lack food and water, it scares everyone because it shows how much we take for granted.

It is time to stop taking things for granted and do all we can to care for each other. At times like these, all the frugal knowledge we have, all the things we do not only help ourselves, they also help our neighbours. They even help people who haven't been born yet.

So let's make a difference in 2020. Let's do our best to be frugal and help the planet.

Happy savings,

Fiona

PS: Apologies for not getting this newsletter out at the start of January. Sometimes I get a bit overwhelmed. I'll do my best to make sure February's newsletter is sent to you by February 1st.

This Year's Challenges

This year, we have set a frugal challenge for every month. You will find the full challenges in the new 2020 calendar.

If you haven't downloaded your FREE Simple Savings calendar yet, you can do so here.

Here are the challenges for the year ahead. I'm looking forward to doing them all together!

January: Conserve Water
February: Decluttering
March: Emergency Prep
April: Waste Not, Want Not
May: $21 Challenge
June: Know Your Area
July: Get Moving
August: Tasty. No Skill Required.
September: Grow Your Own
October: Shopping Online
November: Low Impact Gifts
December: Take a Break

January's Challenge: Conserving Water

As you can see from the list above, this month's challenge is all about conserving water. It couldn't be more timely. To begin making a difference, we would like you to think about doing the following in your household. You can either start off gently, or throw yourself in at the deep end (yes, that pun was intended)!

Easy - Change one water wasting habit

Moderate - Change two water wasting habits

Difficult - Revamp your whole water usage

Before you get started saving every precious drop, we suggest you:

Read this whole newsletter. It is filled with tips and tricks to help you reduce your water usage, some of which you may never have considered before.
Do your research. While we have great tips and information on conserving water in this newsletter and in our Vault, we are not the only place to look. There are a number of great sites around, like this one for example:

https://wateruseitwisely.com/100-ways-to-conserve/?view=list
Choose your challenge. Once you have sourced some ideas and had a think about some of the things you can do this month, set yourself some goals. Such as, do you want to change just one habit, or do you want to go all in?
Make a plan. Choose the habits you want to change, write down the new habits you would like to replace them with, make your old habit hard to do, make your new habit easy to do and create yourself memory triggers to help you on your way.
Take action. Get in there and do it! Be the change you wish to see in the world.

What can my household do?

When was I was trying to work out how we could lower our water usage, I ran into a huge number of problems. For example, I didn't know things like:

How much water do we use?

What is normal?

How are we using all this water?

Am I frugal or wasteful with water?

In case you are also asking yourself the same questions, here is how you go about finding out:

How much water does my household use?

There are two ways to work this out. If you get a water bill, it details how much water you use per day. Divide this number by the people in your household. This will give you your daily water consumption per person. If you don't receive a water bill, this website can help you work it out.

https://www.hunterwater.com.au/Save-Water/Water-Usage-Calculator.aspx

What is normal?

Our water consumption falls into two categories. 'At home' water usage and 'unseen' water usage. On average, Australians use 282 litres of water in the home every day. Across the country, this ranges from 100 litres in some coastal regions to 800 litres in dry inland areas. Most water used is not in the home. It is 'unseen' water which is used to grow food and in the workplace. According to Australian Bureau of Statistics we each consume 2520 litres per day.

To work out whether or not your household is above or below average for your area, Google the average usage for your water region with these search words:-

"(Your region name) average household water consumption"

For example, I live on the Sunshine Coast, where the average is 170 litres per person. So my Google search was 'Sunshine Coast average household water consumption'.

How are we using all this water?

Let's look at how we are using all this water in our homes and elsewhere.

At home water use:

Flushing the toilet (single flush cistern) = 12 litres
Bath = 100 litres
Shower (10 minutes) = 200 litres
Dishwasher load = 50 litres
Washing machine load = 150 litres
Brushing teeth with tap running = 5 litres
Drinking, cooking, cleaning per person per day = 10 litres
Hand basin = 5 litres per use
Garden sprinkler = 1000 litres per hour
Garden dripper = 4 litres per hour
Car washing with hose = 200 litres
Hosing the driveway = 100 litres
Total daily consumption per household = 900 litres

These numbers came from

https://www.rwcc.nsw.gov.au/save-water/average-water-use/

Unseen water use:
An apple = 70 litres
A glass of beer = 75 litres
A glass of wine = 120 litres
Bag of chips = 185 litres
Slice of bread = 40 litres
Cup of tea = 35 litres
Cup of coffee = 140 litres
A potato = 25 litres
An egg = 135 litres
Glass of milk = 200 litres
Hamburger = 2400 litres
Cotton t-shirt = 2000 litres
Leather shoes = 8000 litres
One kilo of beef = 16,000 litres

(This data came from Cool Australia)

Are we wasteful or frugal with water?

In case you are wondering, 'What about me? Am I wasteful or frugal with water?', here is a little quiz our magnificent long time member Claire M put together:

Are you guilty of doing any of these?

Running the tap while cleaning your teeth or washing your hands.
Spending too long in the shower, or having a deep bath often.
Washing up and rinsing dishes under a running tap with no plug or basin.
Handwashing clothes under a running tap.
Not fixing a leaking tap or cistern.
Boiling more water than you really need for hot drink, or making stock then tipping out the rest down the sink.
Using sprinklers and turning them on, then forgetting about it until next morning or hours later.
Filling a child's wading pool with the hose, then forgetting to turn it off, or allowing children to play with the hose while filling.
Allowing children to play under the hose, or using the hose to make a water slide in the backyard.
1. Leaving the hose running while you wash the car
2. Hosing the lawns to keep them green.
3. Watering gardens every day, or just the leaves and not the root area.

This quiz has come from Claire's Water Saving Challenge thread in the Forum, where she and some other fantastic members are supporting each other to save. They have done an amazing job of collecting together all the hints and Forum threads which will help you with your challenge!

NB: To access the Forum, you need to be a Vault - or paid - member. To become a Vault member and unlock thousands of saving tips on every subject, click here!

Our 100 litre daily target

In the Lippey household this month, we have been examining our water habits. In our house, we use 132 litres per person per day. While this is below the average for our region, it is not great. At the moment, the Southern Downs Regional Council are asking people to reduce their water usage to 100 litres per day.

To meet the desired target, our household needs to cut our use by 32 litres per person - 192 litres in total for our household - every day. This is going to be tough!

I thought the hardest part about reducing our at home water usage would be getting the kids on board. But they have been great. I'll tell you more about them later.

I have been looking at our water habits in this household and these are the changes we can make now.

Re-using towels

Some of my children have this really annoying habit of only using their towel once, throwing it in the wash and then going to the cupboard in the hallway for a fresh towel. Part of the reason it has gone on for so long is we didn't have enough towel rails. There wasn't really anywhere for the kids to hang their towels, so they left them in a pile on the floor. The other part is they are being lazy and short of becoming a towel Nazi, I have no way of knowing who is or isn't re-using their towels.

The first step in my plan is to add more towel rails to the bathroom. I bought them months ago, now we just need to install them! A few months ago I also read a hint about buying different colour towels and assigning them to a child. This way, you know which child is hanging up their towel. It is a great idea, but buying new towels is excessive, so I'm going to sew coloured tags on our towels, assign each child with two towels, then remove the rest of the towels from circulation.

This way, each child will have to look after their towel, or they will either not have a clean towel or have to try and pinch their sibling's clean towel. This will be entertaining!

We used to have a similar problem with tea towels in the kitchen. Instead of hanging up the tea towel and re-using it, they would leave it in a soggy mess by the sink and get a fresh one from the drawer. To stop to problem with tea towels I removed all but two tea towels from the kitchen and hid the rest. It worked.

(I thought the kids would argue and whinge. But on the contrary, they are all on board. They really want to help.)

Re-using cups

Some days we do three dishwasher loads and most of it is cups. My kids use a glass once and that is it. Part of the reason is our cups look the same, but mostly it is laziness and me allowing my kids to have wasteful habits. I'm taking the advice of one of the hints below and am going to put coloured elastics on each person's cup. That will be their cup for the day. Then I'll remove the rest of the cups from the kitchen.

(I thought this would be a battle. But, the kids are super keen on this idea too.)

Timing showers

When it comes to showers we are pretty decadent. It is probably our most wasteful water habit. The water is so lovely, we often forget that we are in the shower and only get out when someone bangs on the wall!

To curb this I have bought a waterproof clock and shower timer.

(I bought the timer from AliExpress. Which means it will take a bit of time to arrive. But already the kids have started reducing their shower times. Last night Tristan said to me, "Look how quick I was in the shower. Were you watching?" "No, I don't watch you in the shower." "Then were you listening? Were you? It was the quickest I've ever been!" I'll let you know how it goes with the timer!

Watering the garden with rainwater

At the moment, I water the garden with drinking water. Up until writing this newsletter I had never considered any other options. However, is time for that to change. It is time to be smarter and get a water tank. But, the problem is, I know very little about water tanks.

After researching tanks, their cost effectiveness, regulations and rebates. I have come to the conclusion. I still know nothing about tanks. Zip. Nada.

This means getting a rainwater tank to water my veggies and wicking bed will need to be a long term goal. If you are an expert on water tanks however, I would love to hear from you. Please send me an email to info@simplesavings.com.au

Unseen Water Usage

So already we have some solid and hopefully effective ways of reducing our at home water usage in place. But what about our unseen water usage? How can we lower that?

Lowering our unseen water usage is tricky because it is hard to measure. On the unseen water usage list above, it shows 16,000 litres of water is used to produce one kilo of meat. When we eat meat for dinner, our family of six has between 600g (bolognaise) to 1.8 kg (lamb roast). At the moment, we eat meat five or six nights a week. Reducing this to three to four nights a week will save an average 32,000 litres of water a week. It will also save a tonne of money.

Other ways we can reduce our unseen water use are:-

Grow more of our own food
Live a more minimalist lifestyle
Limit purchases
Buy second hand goods
Eat less processed food
Eat more vegetarian and vegan meals

If you would like some recipes for vegetarian and vegan meals, mobile minimalist Jackie Norman and her husband Gareth are giving away a free recipe ebook, called 'Easy Veganuary'. If you would like to download a copy, you can do it direct from here

Here is one of their latest recipes:

Summer Asparagus Salad

Serves 2 as a main, or 4 as a side

This is our favourite salad right now! So quick to throw together, only a few ingredients and we love the zingy lemon-mayo dressing. Vegan mayonnaise is available readily from most supermarkets, however you can also use regular.

Ingredients:

1 bunch slender asparagus spears
3 stalks celery, finely chopped
60g leafy greens, such as mesclun
2 tbsp fresh lemon juice (one for cooking the asparagus, one for the dressing)
3 tbsp vegan mayonnaise (available from supermarkets, or you can use regular)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Sunflower seeds, to garnish

Method:

First, prepare the asparagus by discarding the ends and cutting the rest into bite-size pieces. Put a splash of water in a frying pan or skillet over medium-high heat, along with one tablespoon of the lemon juice. Add in the asaparagus and cook gently for 6 - 8 minutes, until the stems are softened. Set aside and let it cool for five minutes.

Add the cooled asparagus to a large bowl, along with the celery, leafy greens, mayonnaise and the other tablespoon of lemon juice. Mix well and season with a good scrunch of salt and pepper. Serve, garnished with sunflower seeds.

For more delicious vegan and plant-based recipes, check out their Facebook page, 'Camper Van Kitchen'.

Water Saving Tips from the Vault

With so many fantastic water conserving hints in the Savings Vault, there is really no excuse for us all not to be doing our bit to help the planet right now! Here are some good ones to get you started.

Use less dishwashing water

Here's a great hint for saving water. It is especially helpful in water-restricted areas and with rising water costs. Buy a $2.00 wash basin that fits nicely into your kitchen sink and use it to wash dishes in. The basin holds less water than the sink so it saves on water usage. You use less detergent so that saves money also. Then you can pour the water on your garden plants outside, so you save three times over!

Contributed by: Valerie Blake

Saving hundreds of litres in water

Despite a lengthy drought in Brisbane, I have saved over 35,000 litres of water in our pool and haven't had to use any tap water to water the garden in two years! Two years ago I attached a hose to the spouting of our house, so that I could fill the pool with rainwater as it fell and I could capture water for our pot plants and herb garden. This has saved us hundreds of dollars. Even a light sprinkle fills my 48 litre container, giving me two weeks of free water for the pot plants! Also, during the summer months I encourage my family to take 'Norwegian showers', which involves wetting yourself all over, then turning off the shower, lathering your body, and washing your hair, then turning the shower back on to rinse off. We have dropped our water consumption from one kilolitre per day to .65 kilolitres per day!

Contributed by: Keith Treuel

Water saving tricks from way back

We saved over $100 on a new-fangled water saving device! Recently we saw a new type of garbage bin being advertised in the local paper. It had a tap screwed into the bottom of it and was being promoted as a water saving device for $140. We couldn't help chuckling at the hefty price tag as my handy hubby had made us one of these a long time before! He just went to Bunnings, bought an ordinary garden tap and fittings for around $15 and fitted the tap to our existing garbage bin. I just wheel it in the laundry when I do a load of washing and get 60 litres of grey water to use on the garden. The bin can still be used for the normal round of rubbish on a weekly basis. Much cheaper than paying $140 for the same thing. My dad even used to do this too, using an old metal drum tied to a golf cart buggy on wheels!

Contributed by: Karin

Saving water saves money

We implemented all these water saving methods and found it very easy to change our old habits with simple common sense.

Brushing teeth: One small glass of water, wet toothbrush in glass, after brushing rinse mouth with water from glass then rinse toothbrush in remaining water.

Showers: Purchase a large round bucket from Crazy Clarks or similar outlet, place in the shower and stand in it. Turn shower on, wet hair and body, turn shower off, shampoo hair, turn water on and rinse hair, turn water off, wash body all over with body washer and shower soap, turn water on and rinse. You will be amazed at the small amount of water used!

Bathing children: It is very easy to bathe a small child in the large round bucket under the shower - plus they think it is great fun!

Toilets: Transfer the water from large shower bucket into toilet cisterns, and use it to flush the toilet.

Night visits: Don't flush during the night after urination, one flush first thing in the morning is sufficient, or use saved bucket water.

Older dishwashers: Put an 'Out of Order' sign on the dishwasher and wash dishes

the old fashioned way! New models usually use less water than hand washing.

Taps: When running water from the hot tap from cold to hot, use the electric jug to save the cold water. Boil the jug and then transfer to vacuum flasks for tea/coffee during the day. When leftover water from the flask is cool, fill up water bottles and put in fridge for drinking.

Washing machine: Use the water from shower tubs for the first cycle wash and don't over use soap powder.

Contributed by: Margaret Both

How an elastic band saves washing up and the environment

Don't you hate it when someone uses a clean glass out of the cupboard every time they have a drink? Me too. So I came up with this nifty water saving idea. Everyone in my family has a different coloured elastic band which they put around their drinking glass, so glasses don't get mixed up during the day. Each family member keeps the same glass all day and refills when necessary. Really cuts down on the number of glasses we wash each day. By doing this we save water and teach the kids a good lesson about waste.

Contributed by: Claudia Frasca-jones

Hundreds saved with handy friends' help

My husband saved $500 - $1000 installing the plumbing for a rainwater tank with a friend. Although he is not a handyman, he has friends who are! One gave him four off-cut wooden planks (which would normally cost $130) at no charge, to make the base on which the tank stands and even trimmed them to the required size and supplied brackets. Used sump oil was painted on to protect the wood - again, no cost. Crusher dust for the base was $33 for a cubic metre. Piping to connect the tank up to the drain pipes was another $100. He and another friend spent a few hours over several evenings connecting it all up. In exchange for his time and use of his tools, my husband helped out at his friend's pizza stall at a local food and wine festival. So for the grand total of $133 our new tank is installed, saving a small fortune in plumber's fees and wood for the base. As my husband has always said, 'What goes around comes around!'

Contributed by: Jane Frederick

Digital timer reduces water bills

We have four kids, and found our first water bill after returning to Australia from living in New Zealand, was huge! One way we thought of reducing it was by buying a digital timer that the kids use when they have their showers. Normal shower - three minutes, which is plenty. Hairwashing nights - a bit longer! The timer beeps loudly when time is up, we can hear it in other parts of the house, so can also keep a check on whether they are using the timer properly! This is working well so far and it is amazing how much time they used to waste (and water and money!) standing under the shower.

Contributed by: Leanne Kitson

Bonus quick links for Vault members:

Digital timer reduces water bills (forum)

Put an end to water hammer for $8

Turn air into water

Use 50% less hot water, save 50% more!

Try some speedy washing

Turn the pressure down

Washing away excess bills

Set laundry days reduces water bill

Competition: What is your best water saving tip?

Hopefully the ideas and information you have read so far has already got you well and truly inspired to conserve water. Perhaps you already do some of them - good on you! What other things do you and your household do to save water? What other brainwaves have you come up with, which have worked for you? We would love to hear! They can be as wacky or as innovative as you like, as long as they work.

Send your entries to competitions@simplesavings.com.au by January 27th to be in the competition. The best five tips will win $20 each. Thank you for sharing your clever ideas and helping others.

Leg Up Program: Update

In our last newsletter, we told you about our exciting new Leg Up program. This is where we give one Savings Vault membership away for every full price membership purchased, so that we can help even more people.

Hopefully, this program will be up and running to launch in February's newsletter. If you would like to apply early and be one of the first people to get a membership, fill in our early application form.

Did you make a plan?

We hope you have enjoyed this month's newsletter and our focus on conserving water. I hope you have learned some useful tips and tricks. Now you are nearly at the end, have you made a plan for saving water? Do you have any questions? If you want to talk more on the subject, the best place to go is Claire's challenge thread in the Forum. Good luck!

Till next time

Many grins,

Fiona

July 2010 - Simple Savings Newsletter

"Secrets to Saving Money in Australia" Free Newsletter - July 2010

This issue includes:-

Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: Going 'Cheep'
Which Came First, the Chicken or the Veg?
Naomi's 'Cut and Paste' Chicken Tractor!
Best of the Forum: Backyard Farmers
Best of the Vault: Get Your Garden Going!
$21 Challenge - Read Chapter 2 Free!
NEW! Cooking with Mimi
Penny's Blog: Too Much Like Hard Work
Homeopathy Corner: Snail Bait
From Last Month: Share the House, Halve the Cost?
This Month's Help Request: Affordable Office Furniture
Savings Story: Get off the Merry-Go-Round and Get Ahead!

Hello,

How are you going? Good, I hope! All is well here. I'm really excited about this month's 'From the Yard' challenge! This month, your mission is to lower your food bill by spending 16 hours of your time (four hours a week) transforming your yard from a useless space into a food producing asset.

Which leads to the question 'how?' If producing your own food is that easy, why haven't you already done it? I guess it is a bit like the $21 Challenge. It might sound hard at first, but once you have done your research, made a plan and given it a go, you discover it is actually easy and fun! So that is what we would like you to do this month - give growing your own food a go. Then you will be a able to share some of success these guys have already acheived:

"After being inspired by the $21 Challenge I have found a way to save a whopping $3120 a year on my groceries! I used to go shopping weekly and spend around $150 for my family of five. Regardless of how much I needed for the week I always managed to spend the same amount of money. I would then find myself throwing away unused fruits and vegetables and finding old tins in the cupboard months later.

"However, I decided that I would try to make my shopping last two weeks and do a 'mini-shop' on the second week. This involved buying only the bare necessities, such as bread, milk and a few top up vegetables. I now find I spend no more than $30 on the second week of shopping, I am being much more creative in the kitchen and spending less time at the shops. A win all round!" (Kellie)

"Not so good for the Simple Savings team but a saving for me - I BORROWED the $21 Challenge book from the library! I am unemployed at the moment and have really loved the tips. Also the children I look after love to choose which recipe to try. We have used up a lot of items from the freezer and cupboard which normally would sit there or be thrown out. With a house move imminent I now have less to pack too! Congratulations on a wonderful book and website, I have spread the word!" (Penelope Dawe)

"I would like to thank you for the Power Saving Calculator. Using this has helped our family save loads of money and be more energy efficient. I now apply this calculator to my other gas and water usage bills and it is starting to have the same effect on our savings." (Tracey Rowe-Tucker)

"Thank you Simple Savings. Six months ago I was informed my son would require braces. Although a payment plan was organised my first payment was to be a lump sum of over $1500. I am a single parent and was quite stressed at the thought of trying to come up with this amount of money in such a short time. After joining Simple Savings I used the Savings Diary to see where my money was going and how I could save. Using the helpful tips and recipes from this site, not only did I manage to make this payment, but I could also afford to move house after the units we were renting were sold and all tenants were evicted. Thank you again Simple Savings, I will continue to save with the help of your site." (Sharon Bennett)

"I really enjoyed the Double Dinner Challenge. It all started with me putting one pork hock into the slow cooker with three cups of water. Now our freezer is filling up and I never have to stress over meals. Tonight, we are having chops. I hope everyone is as successful as we have been." (Linda Stapleton)

All the best,
Fiona Lippey

PS: Simple Savings now has its own FACEBOOK page! If you would like your friends to be Simple Savers too, tell them about us by posting something nice on our Facebook page. We love compliments!

1. Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: Going 'Cheep'

'Just look at these!' Sally grumbled to Pete as she was cooking breakfast. 'We pay through the nose for 'high quality eggs' and what do we get? Paper thin shells, washed out looking yolks - and as for the whites - they just splat all over the place! I refuse to pay $5.99 a dozen for eggs like these. I want eggs like Hanna has!'

'To get eggs like Hanna has you have to have chickens, dear,' Pete smiled. 'Then that's what we'll do!' Sally replied. 'Just think Pete, we could be eating delicious, perfectly formed, golden yolked eggs for breakfast every morning from our very own chickens - instead of THESE,' she stabbed her fork in her runny egg, eyeing it with disdain.

'I know what's coming next,' Pete said drily. 'You want me to build a chicken run? Sorry love but you're going to be waiting a while. You've already given me 101 jobs to do! Nice idea though!' He gave her a kiss and got up and left the table. Sally fumed as she finished her breakfast. 'I'll show him! We WILL have our own chickens. I'll build them a run myself! There must be some plans on the Internet or something. How hard can it be?'

2. Which Came First, the Chicken or the Veg?

Like Sally, once upon a time I craved fresh eggs with golden yolks so high that butter could fall off the side the way a mountain climber slides off Mount Everest. But I thought owning chickens was too hard, so instead I tried my hand at growing mouth watering vegies.

I trotted off to the nursery and bought punnets of seedlings and a box of Seasol. Then I took them home, planted and watered them, and waited impatiently for them to grow. Eight weeks later, I was rewarded with such a pathetic crop of vegetables that I came to the conclusion it would have been cheaper and easier if I had just bought them at the supermarket! The only plant that did grow beautifully in my garden was a cabbage. I worshipped that cabbage, my one true success like I had climbed Everest itself, without falling off. I was so proud of that cabbage! Until, (wheeee, over the side!) I found out it wasn't actually a cabbage, just an inedible weed.

It was very disheartening. The main thing I learned from the experience was how little I knew, because growing vegetables is hard - if you don't know what you are doing. Someone who really knows what he is doing, however, is Jackie's (Penny Wise's) husband Noel. He is a vegie growing dynamo! Over a three month period last year Jackie's family of four harvested and ate 50 kilos of vegetables Noel grew himself. That is brilliant! That is a real... Everest of vegies.

I want to be able to grow vegies like Noel can, so in order to be a savvy gardener like he is, I have been listening very carefully and doing what he does. For example, when Noel was planting his garden, he did something very clever. He didn't go to the nursery and buy seedlings first. Instead he put a temporary chicken run in the spot where he was planning to grow vegetables.

Then, he got the chickens to prepare the vegetable beds for him! He threw in mulch and food for them, then sat back and waited while the chickens weeded the bed for him, turned the soil over for him, fertilised the bed for him and brought the soil to life. All the while giving him fresh eggs too! (I think Jackie married a very clever man!)

You see, the thing Noel knew about growing vegetables that I didn't is, the key to growing vegetables is getting the soil right. And, the easiest way to prepare the soil is by building a mobile chicken run - or a chicken tractor, as many people call them.

Even though I had heard this several times, it didn't sink in until we finally got our own chickens . Only then did I discover a few secrets about chickens and growing vegetables! Here's what I learned:

Owning chickens is easy. I thought it would be really hard, but they are a lot like keeping budgerigars, albeit very big ones! If you have enough skill to look after a cat or a dog, you have all the skills needed to get your own fresh, golden-yolked eggs every morning.
Chickens are lower maintenance than vegies. I don't mean to put growing vegetables down, far from it! However, as beginner gardeners we found the time and effort required to get vegetables out of our garden to be huge, compared to the amount required to get eggs out of our chickens. The first year I tried growing vegetables we had more failures then successes and spent several hundred dollars but only ate about $20 of our own produce. In comparison, this is the first year I have been keeping chickens and already our six chickens have given us $1000 worth of eggs!
Chickens will reward you faster than vegies. The wonderful thing about chickens is you can build your chook tractor in the morning, buy a couple of 'point of lay' chickens in the afternoon and when you wake up the next day, you will have eggs waiting for you! OK it is not always the next morning; it may take a week or two if you are unlucky but when you get that first egg, it feels like you have just conquered Mount Everest.
Chickens get you out into the fresh air . They literally drag you out to the garden. Since our kids are noisy and our vegetables were silent, the vegies had a tendency to get forgotten for long wilting stretches while we were busy doing all sorts of things with our much noisier children. However, this changed once we got chickens! Chickens will not be ignored. Our girls are always so happy to see us, that their joy drags everyone out into the yard. Spending time in the yard has become much more fun and while we are out tending to the chickens, we now also use this time to tend to the vegie garden!
Chickens won't tie you down . You can still go on holidays. Often if you own livestock you are always bound to your home and going on holidays is a huge issue. Not so with chickens. Many people who are reluctant about minding a cat or a dog will happily care for your chickens, because they get to eat the eggs. Egg-cellent! Speaking of neighbours, I don't recommend you get a rooster.
Chickens reduce your food bill. Before we had chickens we ate 28 eggs per week. Now we eat 42 eggs per week! This means we enjoy virtually FREE eggs on toast for breakfast instead of having to buy cereal. AND virtually FREE egg based meals for dinner. AND the most delicious light and fluffy sponge cakes! Here is a link to a YouTube video of Miss Jacqueline demonstrating our gluten-free, dairy-free, sponge cake recipe, made with our own fresh eggs.
Chickens are environmental warriors. They are a great way for you to reduce your food miles and carbon footprint. When you have all the eggs you need in your own back yard you don't have to drive to the supermarket to get them. Home produced eggs require no trucking, packaging or other resources which are harmful to the planet. We have also greatly reduced our household waste since we started feeding all our food scraps to the chickens.
Chickens will even plant food for you! Not only are chickens great little workers in the garden, they are also great recyclers, turning food scraps into manure which fertilises the soil and in turn plants more free food for us! We have lots of tomatoes growing thanks to the chickens, not to mention pawpaw and pumpkins, and the banana plants went... er, bananas, when the chickens moved onto that patch and started their magic. If you don't have time to garden, get the chickens to do it for you!
Chickens are trendy! Hard to believe I know but they have actually become 'cool'! This was something I wasn't expecting. Our chickens are quite a neighbourhood attraction. All the kids stop to talk to the chickens and feed them. Even at dinner parties or mothers groups you will find that people with chickens have a certain 'street cred'.

It's true! It's quite common to hear people say 'I wish I could keep chickens'. The great news is, you CAN. Anybody can keep chickens. All you need are chickens and a chicken tractor. 'A chicken tractor! Where the heck am I supposed to get one of those?' I hear you ask? You're about to find out!

3. Naomi's 'Cut and Paste' Chicken Tractor!

For years I had wanted to keep chickens but every chicken tractor design I came across online was too hard for me to attempt to build with wee kiddies underfoot. I did try nagging Matt to make me one last year when I was heavily pregnant. Unfortunately I got the same response as Sally did in this month's story. Apparently, I had already given him a million jobs to do, such as programming some obscure money saving website and proofing a book! *mock sigh and an eye roll* In the end, I bought a VERY EXPENSIVE chicken tractor out of desperation. By the time we had bought a few books and read up on the subject, got our chickens and had our chicken tractor delivered I had spent $1100!

Naomi also wanted to keep chickens but had gone through a similar experience. All the plans she came across online were too complicated and hard to understand. She came to the conclusion it was going to be impossible to build her own chicken tractor so ended up spending $500 on a flat-packed chicken coop from eBay. It was disappointingly small, heavy and in the end she got rid of the chickens and used it to house guinea pigs instead.

We didn't want you to make the same very expensive mistakes we did. So Naomi has designed a simple, lightweight, durable, fully functioning 'Cut and Paste Chicken Tractor' that EVERYONE can make for around $300. We called it 'Cut and Paste' because there are no screws and bolts involved. If you can cut with scissors and a hacksaw and glue a few bits of pipe together, then you have all the skills needed to make this very light weight chicken tractor.

The design is so simple you can make it in a day. You only need to read through the instructions, print out the shopping list, get the bits home and stick it all together. How easy is that! For those who are near a Bunnings store, we have even included their product codes and written the shopping list so you can find what you need in order as you walk around the store.

The above version is intended for keeping two to four chickens. Later on down the track if you think four chickens are not enough then you can easily get some more! All you have to do is cut the wire ties and add an extension. Later you can also change the design to suit your yard.

Note - This design is NOT fox proof. If you need to make it fox proof you will need to use chicken wire on all sides or make it a lot taller.

For Naomi's full instructions with step by step photos, shopping list and chicken purchasing tips, click here.

We have made these plans free because we want everyone to be able to make a huge difference to their food bill, their family and the planet. There is enough information here for you to get started. You can learn heaps more about keeping chickens by reading some of our many Forum threads on the subject, or through talking to our Forum members. You do have to be a paid member to do this but when you join the Vault you will enjoy an almost instant return on your investment - just like your chickens!

You can join the Vault here.

4. Best of the Forum: Backyard Farmers

Whether you're a first time gardener or a seasoned 'green thumb' the Savings Forum is always an excellent place to talk about the great outdoors. Check out some of these discussions for starters!

The best way to learn self sufficient living?

Do you dream of living 'the good life' but don't know where to start? Help is at hand! In this thread you will discover some great tips how to live a thrifty, self sufficient lifestyle.
read more...

How many eggs did you get today?

A fun and inspiring thread about counting eggs! This thread is also a great place to talk about what type of chickens you have, how many and how good they are at laying beautiful fresh eggs for you, your family and friends.
read more...

Chicken talk for those who have/want chickens

Chicken lovers unite! Whether you need advice on keeping chooks, want to cluck along with other members about your chickens or learn from their tales, this is the thread for you.
read more...

What are you growing this year?

Read this thread and prepare to be amazed! You wouldn't believe the variety of fruit and vegies our members grow. This discussion will inspire you, as well as pass on some helpful tips, such as which plants are suited for the tropics as well as the colder climates.
read more...

Backyard sufficiency for renters/people on small blocks

You don't need to own a sprawling property to enjoy self sufficient living. If you are renting or living on a smaller block you will find some fantastic tips here. Some members are even using mini greenhouses inside!
read more...

5. Best of the Vault: Get Your Garden Going!

More people have turned to vegie gardening as a way to reduce their food bills in the last few years than they have in decades. Join the trend and get growing, with the help of some of these tips from the Savings Vault!

Meet a growing family

Our family does the best we can to help save the planet, and save ourselves money, by growing our own vegetables and trading with others who do the same. I have a few tips for growing your own seedlings which can reduce costs in the garden and help you recycle household waste.

Seed Trays - Reuse seedling trays you had previously purchased, or be inventive and reuse something you may have placed in your recycling bins such as toilet rolls or plastic milk bottles, punched with several holes for drainage. Use soil from your garden or worm castings - these are very good for seedlings.

Sourcing Seeds - We get our seeds from heirloom catalogues; these have greater variety, are cheaper than hardware or nursery seeds and as they're not hybrids, the seed is always viable. We always let a few plants go to seed and collect them. Last year, one broccoli plant provided enough seed to fill a brown paper bag; that will last several years and all for an initial cost of around $3.00. A year's supply of broccoli from the shops would cost well over $100 for a family of three.

Making markers - To mark out which seeds are which, make your own markers from recycled materials. We use the coated cardboard from heat treated milk containers. They cut easily and are water repellent so they can be used over and over again. If you use permanent markers, sunlight won't fade the writing.

Starting seeds - To get seeds started in cold weather you can keep them inside, on top of the hot water heater, or make mini greenhouses from plastic cartons and bottles. I was lucky enough to get a plastic greenhouse which is small enough to fit on a balcony or veranda but large enough to produce enough seedlings for our vegetable garden year round.

All this planting, marking and watering might sound labour intensive but it only takes about one hour a week.

Contributed by: Kristy Faris

Never buy lettuce again

I'm never buying salad items again! For $2.99, the cost of one store bought lettuce, I bought a packet of lettuce seeds containing approximately 50 seeds. Add to that a $4.99 bag of compost, and a bit of muscle to dig up a patch of garden, and I now have fresh salad every day for only $0.15c a lettuce!

I can't eat it all, so I'm giving some away to friends and family which means they are saving from my savings! So simple, fresh and tasty and a huge saving of $141.52!

Contributed by: Lisa

Pay yourself for home grown fruit and veg

I save by paying for the fruit and vegetables I grow in my garden! As I harvest what I have grown I put some money in a box. I don't charge much, for example $0.50c for a large cabbage and $0.10c for enough carrots for a meal, but it's enough so that at the end of the month I have a reasonable amount of money for something I really need.

Contributed by: Nanna Poddy

Plant rhubarb, grow savings

Save money by growing your own rhubarb. It's so easy to grow, lasts for years and you can use it all year round.

A small bunch can cost $2.00 to $6.00 in the supermarket, but one or two plants will produce plenty for a small family. If you know someone who has several crowns of rhubarb, ask if they will split one or two for you. Don't bury the crown when planting and give it plenty of compost or some manure to start with. For longer stalks, plant it inside a wide pipe about 30cm-40cm high. This will encourage long stems as the leaves reach for the light.

When the stalks are thick and red, pull them away from the crown to harvest, rather than cutting them. To freeze, wash and trim both stalk ends - don't use the leaves, which are poisonous - then cut into pieces about 1cm long. Put into a plastic bag, sprinkle a little sugar over and shake before sealing and popping into the freezer. It's then all ready for a quick rhubarb pie, crumble or whatever you fancy. Keep harvesting whenever it is ready and you'll never run out.

You can use rhubarb leaves for cleaning the inside of a saucepan too! Just boil up the leaves in the saucepan with plenty of water and stains seem to disappear. Be sure to rinse well afterwards.

Contributed by: Val Solomon

Plant tomato seeds and sprouting potatoes

When using fresh tomatoes, put the seeds into a pot and you will save money by growing your own tomatoes. You will find they not only look better but taste better too. The same goes for potatoes. When you have them a little too long they will grow little eyes in them. Just plant them in the ground and you will have your own fresh potatoes. They take around six weeks to grow. When they start to flower put some dirt over the base of the plants to cover the growing spuds. When the plant above ground is dead it is time to harvest and enjoy.

Contributed by: Teresa Bloomfield

Sweet potato all year round

Many people do not realise this, but it is possible to grow 'seasonal' vegetables all year round! For the price of a single sweet potato, our family enjoys its homegrown produce summer and winter. It takes very little time and effort. First you need some large, empty pots - old plant pots will do. Next, put some shredded paper in the bottom, followed by either compost or cheap potting mix. Then, purchase one small sweet potato and cut it into four. Let the cut quarters dry off for a week, then plant into your pots. In a small area, these will grow and trail and make a nice display of greenery; in a large area they will grow against a fence and cover the area.

After six months we take out and use a sweet potato and always cut a little to dry. Then we simply put the newly dried pieces back into the pots and start again! I have six pots going and these keep us in sweet potatoes all year. You can do this with other vegetables too, using pots or whatever else you can find. I have converted an old plastic baby pool into a vegie garden and use it to grow lettuces, just picking the leaves as we need them. Even an old tyre in one corner of the yard has been filled with shredded paper and soil and grows beetroot, which are delicious served cold in summer, and hot in winter with a dollop of sour cream!

Contributed by: Betty Threlfo

Tasty free rockmelons in your garden

I enjoy a fresh home-grown breakfast every morning! I love eating rockmelon for breakfast, but I didn't love the price, so I planted the entire seed ball of a rockmelon that I bought to eat back in the spring. I am now getting my own fresh and tasty, chemical free rockmelons at a fraction of the price!

Contributed by: Katie Chambers

A garden that grows and goes Contributed by: Shannon Dobson

Eggs-cellent idea for vegetable growers Contributed by: Jo Murphy

Four easy-to-grow herbs Contributed by: Julie Chissell

Nothing nuts about this home made pesto! Contributed by: Heather Mackay

6. $21 Challenge - Read Chapter 2 Free!

Just in case you haven't got round to reading Chapter 2 of the $21 Challenge book yet, here's another reminder! When we were writing the book, the second chapter kind of happened by accident. You see, in this chapter, families share their experiences of the $21 Challenge and why they love it. Once we read everyone's feedback, the many benefits were so varied and so great, we just had to put them all in the book - and you know what? It ended up being our favourite chapter!

It looks like we weren't the only ones who enjoyed it either! We decided to make the second chapter free because when Jackie was touring around libraries talking about the $21 Challenge, she discovered that people couldn't stop talking about the second chapter of the book. They said it really inspired them and made them want to save money. We thought that was fantastic but even more so, we thought it was really important that everyone could read that chapter, so that we can help as many people as possible.

So here they are! Both chapters are available to read on the Simple Savings site, or you can also read them on our Facebook page. Check it out and tell your friends too!

You can read Chapters 1 and 2 here: (Chapter One) (Chapter Two)

Oh - and don't forget (*shameless plug*) you can purchase the WHOLE $21 Challenge book here!

7. NEW! Cooking with Mimi

We are pleased to welcome a new regular addition to our newsletters. By popular demand, we proudly introduce one of our favourite savvy cooks from the Forum - Mimi!

For a long time now, Mimi has shared her delicious frugal recipes in the Forum; many of which have gone on to become regular favourites with members and their families. One of seven children, Mimi is a devoted mum and an unabashed 'foodie'. Having spent years in the catering business, she likes nothing more than whipping up new creations in the kitchen. If you can buy it in shops, or eat it in a restaurant, you can bet Mimi will come up with a way to make it - for a fraction of the price!

Each month from now on, we will showcase Mimi's recipes - and enjoy every minute sampling them too! Check out this month's yummy selection!

Creamy Egg Spread

My mum used to work at a posh city hotel. She learned this recipe from the chef, who used it for afternoon teas for the 'blue rinse' ladies. This spread is delicious on sandwiches with watercress (easily grown at home), toast or on crackers of any kind.

4 cups water
6 eggs
½ cup mayonnaise
1 tbsp lemon juice
2 tsp Dijon mustard
1 tbsp finely chopped onion
½ tsp Tabasco sauce
90g softened cream cheese or labna
Seasoning to taste

Bring your four cups of water to the boil. When it's bubbling, add the eggs, and cook at a rapid boil for eight minutes.

Remove from the heat, drain and run the eggs under cold water for a minute to prevent them discolouring.

Allow the eggs to sit in cold water for five minutes, then peel, and quarter.

In a food processor bowl or blender, combine the mayonnaise, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, onion and Tabasco sauce until smooth. Add the eggs, cream cheese or labna and pulse until combined.

You can also just mash this together, but you won't get the same creamy consistency.

Taste and season if necessary.

Transfer to a covered bowl. Keeps well, covered, for 24-48 hours.

Poor Man's Guacamole

This dip looks just like Guacamole - with one big difference. It's made with broad beans and not an avocado in sight! Broad beans are dead easy to grow but harder to convince the family to eat. They generally look unattractively grey once steamed, but pop them out of their little grey pods, and these ravishing little vivid green babies come to life. Their flavour is just as mild as avocado, and once pureed, the texture is similar too. The beans also retain their pretty green colour, unlike avocadoes which will brown once stored as a dip, so this is a great make-ahead recipe. These ingredients make the most enormous amount so this is a winner for those feed-a-crowd occasions.

Don't let your imagination stop at using this one as a dip either. Try it as a pasta sauce, a topping for baked potatoes, and as a sandwich or wrap filling with some crunchy carrots and sprouts.

If you don't grow your own broad beans, you can buy frozen ones for under $3.00 in the frozen vegetable section of your supermarket. You will need two 500g packets for this recipe.

6 cups water
1kg broad beans
60ml olive oil
60-100ml reserved cooking liquid
1 lemon, zested and juiced
1 tsp fresh or minced coriander
2 tsp cumin
1 tsp ginger, grated, minced or powdered
1-2 cloves garlic, minced
1 small chilli, diced finely

Bring your six cups of water to the boil in a medium saucepan. Add the broad beans, cover, reduce the heat, and simmer until tender. Drain, reserving the liquid, and cool. Pinch the beans to pop them out of their pods if you wish, otherwise leave whole.

Add the steamed broad beans, lemon zest and juice, coriander, cumin, ginger, garlic and chilli to the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until a thick paste forms. With the motor running, drizzle 60ml of the reserved cooking liquid and 60ml of the olive oil through the chute.

Check the consistency and flavour and add salt and pepper to taste. If the dip is too firm, add up to 30ml more olive oil and cooking liquid, checking after each addition, using the same method.

Use as a dip with vegetable sticks, or as a replacement for guacamole in any Mexican dish.

Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Toasted Almonds, Crispy Bacon and Feta

Think you don't like brussels sprouts? Think again! These little morsels are scrumptious as a side dish, or light lunch. We all know the benefits of eating cruciferous vegetables - they provide great roughage and have long been touted as a cancer preventative BUT - they are seriously in need of a makeover!

Luckily, this dish is so good, even people who don't like brussels sprouts will come back for seconds. It's about as un-sprouty as they come!

500g brussel sprouts
50g flaked almonds
2 rashers middle bacon, finely diced
100g feta cheese
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
Salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 220C.

Line a large baking tray with baking paper.

Remove the tough outer leaves of the brussel sprouts and rinse well. Roll in a clean tea towel or paper towels to dry. Cut each sprout into quarters. Pour the olive oil and balsamic vinegar into a large bowl, and season well with salt and pepper.

Put the prepared brussel sprouts into the bowl, and toss until well coated. Pour the brussel sprouts, and the excess oil and vinegar into the lined baking tray. Bake for around 20 minutes until they start to turn golden.

While the sprouts are roasting, heat a non-stick frypan over a medium heat. When well heated, add the flaked almonds and stir constantly with a wooden spoon, until they turn golden. This should take no more than a minute or two. Remove the almonds to a bowl.

Reheat the pan, and add the diced bacon. Fry the bacon until cooked to your liking. I prefer it a little underdone and soft, but the rest of the family prefers it very crisp.

Remove the brussel sprouts from the oven. Sprinkle with the cooked bacon, crumbled feta, and toasted almonds.

Return to the oven to heat the feta through, about 5 minutes.

Remove from the oven and serve.

Silverbeet Coconut Curry

My mum used to grow silverbeet when we were kids. We ate it steamed with loads of butter and salt. Fortunately, I now know other ways to eat this beautiful leafy treasure! Curries are so popular these days and everyone has their favourite version. This one is full of iron. It's the perfect combination of healthy and deliciously flavoursome. Remember that the silverbeet shrinks down significantly with cooking so pile it in and let the delicious curry sauce weave its magic.

6 leaves of silverbeet, sliced down the middle to halve, then into shreds about 5cm wide
2 tbsp Thai curry paste
300ml coconut milk
300ml stock or water
3 bay leaves
2 tsp fish sauce
3 tsp sugar
1 tsp minced ginger
1 stalk lemongrass, finely sliced (or equivalent from a jar)
2 cups rice
3 ½ cups water

Put the rice and water in a medium saucepan. Bring to the boil, stir well, and cover with a tight fitting lid. Switch OFF, but leave on hotplate. Do not disturb and do not peek or the stored heat will be released and your rice will not cook. Leave for 20 minutes, then fluff the rice with a fork. Cover and keep warm while the curry is cooking.

Heat a large wok until smoking. Add curry paste, and stir fry until fragrant.

Add the coconut milk, stock (or water), bay leaves, fish sauce, sugar, ginger and lemongrass. Stir well until simmering.

Add the shredded silverbeet all at once. Stir to cover in liquid. Cover and allow to simmer for about 3-5 minutes until the silverbeet is tender. Serve with rice.

8. Penny's Blog: Too Much Like Hard Work

July 19th

Hooray! We have an abundance of broccoli in the garden again! Just in the nick of time too, as we had just run out of the stash we had frozen from the last crop and we absolutely refused to buy it from the supermarket, much too expensive! It's scary how expensive winter vegetables are to buy; it certainly makes you think twice about which ones you're prepared to pay for.

The latest statistics show the price of fruit and vegetables has risen by more than 9% over May and June so I was really impressed to see a couple of local places this week helping families to get more fresh produce for their dollar. The Glenview Fruit and Vege Market in Hamilton has been stopping traffic with their sign advertising their winter special. For $10 customers can get a broccoli, a silverbeet and a bag each of carrots, apples, onions, kumara, pears and potatoes. Or, you can buy $20 worth of freshly picked homegrown fruit and vegetables for $10 in Huntly, thanks to Kim Rangi; an enterprising Community Health Coach. Good on 'em and others like them I say!

Still, the cheapest way to save on fruit and vegies is of course to grow your own. I'm certainly grateful at this time of year for my little freezer full of broccoli, cauliflower, broccoflower, pumpkin and celery. I almost always freeze our celery as none of us like it raw but it's great in soups and stews!

Since his new job started, Noel hasn't had too much time for getting out in the garden but he's still been saving us plenty of money on our food bill - thanks to other people's vegetable gardens! He's been having a wonderful time pootling along the winding coastal roads and picking up all sorts of bargains from local roadside growers, saving at least 50% compared to supermarket prices. However, his best coup so far is the sack of about 60 avocados given to him by one of his new clients! Apparently they stay green as long as you want them; you simply put them in a warm place such as a hot water cupboard or by the fire and they will ripen over several days. We won't need to buy avocados for a VERY long time!

Because so many of the places he travels are in the back of beyond, we have to be really disciplined about making sure Noel always has plenty of lunch, drinks and snacks packed from home. It's great - he just pulls up at the nearest beach wherever he happens to be and tucks into his lunch, looking out over the sea. Mind you, almost wherever he goes on his travels his friendly new clients invite him in for sandwiches or home-made soup. How many jobs do you get like that these days?

It's a standing joke in our family that if the sky were to fall in tomorrow, Noel and Ali would survive quite comfortably, whilst left to our own devices Liam and I would undoubtedly starve. One of my favourite sayings, which I've said before and admit to pinching from Fiona is 'Give a man a fish and he will have food for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will have food for life'. Ali is definitely living proof of that! He can grow his own food, he can hunt it and he can catch it too. Only yesterday he singlehandedly brought home enough dinner to feed u have to do is pick it and eat it - where's the hard work in that? Or would you rather drive to the supermarket to get your fruit and vegies?'

Of course I don't actually say it - I just smile sweetly and bite my tongue but I find it hard to believe that so many people truly believe they don't have the time to eat the cheapest, best quality food that nature can give them - or stranger still, that they don't have the time to SAVE themselves time going shopping! I would hate to think that our years of planting and nurturing all this wonderful food might be left to rot or feed nothing but the birds and possums when we leave here. There must be other mad people like us out there who enjoy nothing better than 'too much hard work!'

July 2010

13th - Times like these

23rd - That's my boy!

9. Homeopathy Corner: Snail Bait

Snails hate homeopathy - or at least Helix Tosta, a remedy made from ground up toasted snail. Fran Sheffield has been doing some research into its effectiveness and surveying some of her customers who have been protecting their plants from snails with Helix Tosta, and the first set of results are in. 83.8% of people who used it to protect their plants said they considered the results good or excellent. That is great news for us, but sad news for the snails.

If you would like to learn more about Fran's snail experiments go to:-

http://homeopathyplus.com.au/snails-and-slugs-pack-their-bags-and-leave-with-homeopathy/

http://homeopathyplus.com.au/helix-tosta-survey-results/

10. From Last Month: Share the House, Halve the Cost?

Last month Sylvia asked:

"I am a widow and have had a male friend for three years. We live in separate houses and take it in turns to cook for each other every other night. We go away on holiday together and get along fine. We are both on a pension and finding it is getting tougher and tougher to stretch our money from payday to payday. My friend keeps suggesting that we should live together as it would basically halve our expenses but as well as the thought of giving up my independence, I am a little concerned with the legal aspect of setting up home together.

"His idea is to sell his house and move in with me. However, I'm not sure what would happen were I to pass away first (I am 67, he is 71). My own house is left to my family and I am worried that after two years, he and his family could legally be entitled to half of everything should I die before him. Although we would be living together, our friendship is only platonic and neither of us would dream of using the other's money or assets to our own advantage. However, the savings would be so great at around $1000 a month that I am starting to feel it is worth giving some serious thought. I would really love to hear any advice members could give on how we could make this living arrangement work legally, as well as anyone who has possibly been in a similar situation!"

We knew that we could rely on our wise members to offer plenty of savvy advice! Thank you to everyone who sent in helpful suggestions like these:

Platonic friends can have a pre-nup too

Any legal worries you may have about sharing your home can be solved by getting a prenuptial agreement - even though the relationship is purely platonic. It will outline what each party wants at the outset and then will be clear to everyone should either of you were to pass away during the time you are sharing the same house.

Contributed by: Diane Fawcitt

Consult a relationship lawyer

Even if you are not in a 'relationship' as such, you need to discuss exactly how this will work with your friend and then both discuss this with a relationship lawyer. It would be best to have a Contracting Out Agreement drawn up (both will need legal advice) and this will make it clear as to who is entitled to what in the event of going separate ways or one passing away. This also makes it clear to the families that you have attended to this and made provisions for them. Also, ensure your wills are both up to date and the Contracting Out Agreement is kept with the will. Good luck!

Contributed by: Shelley Turnbull

Better neighbours than friends

You can get along with a person really well on a daily basis - but living together is a whole different story, as I found out! My neighbour and I both had four year old boys. With both of us receiving single parents pension we decided we would share a house to save on expenses. One of the things we had to do early on was answer embarrassing and intimate questions from Centrelink about whether or not we were in a relationship, which we were definitely not! On the positive side it ended up being financially beneficial, however, just because we got along great as neighbours, living together was very different and we only lasted about 10 months.

Contributed by: Russell Syme

Go halves on the house

I think it's a fantastic idea that you and your friend want to live this way, but you are right, it is almost impossible to protect your children's interests beyond the grave. Here is my suggestion. When your friend sells his home, get him to 'buy into' yours. By this, I mean give you half the money and put his name on the title. You then invest the money so that, if he dies before you, you are able to buy back that share and if you die before him, then he can buy your family out of their share. This way, you not only save by living together, but you can have a little investment on the side, earning you a small income. A win-win situation I think!

Contributed by: Janine Valbergs

Seek advice from Centrelink

Before committing to sharing a house, please seek information from Centrelink before making your decision. As your friend wants to live within your home, you would be best to set the arrangement up so that he is simply renting a room from you and you are simply sharing the household expenses as housemates. This protects your finances as he would have no ability to contest a will or have grounds for entitlement as he was simply a tenant within your home. The savings and the company would be well worth the effort of legally setting the situation.

Contributed by: Emma Beatson

For better or worse - or just better?

When two friends agree to share a house, you can make a legal contract to cover your worries, just as a married couple can have a pre-nup agreement. However, there are also other things you might want to consider. You would have to have a clear agreement about splitting the bills, especially the food bill - just in case he thinks you'll do all the cooking for him! Also, bringing two households together you will both probably have items to sell as there would be two of everything, so that will require some discussion. Yet another thing to think about is, if this man becomes sick, do you want to become his carer? This would need some careful thought and you would need to have an agreement between the two of you should this arise. However, if you get on well then you could do a lot to look after each other and live much more comfortably. Good luck!

Contributed by: Annabel Brinkworth

Sharing a home doesn't have to be complicated

Platonic friends can share a house and still retain ownership of their respective estates. Any good lawyer can draw up a will which still leaves each partner's estate to his or her own family and not revert to the more recently acquired partner. The second house could be rented and the income shared. Then, should the home owner of the house in which they live pass on first, the second can recover his or her own home and allow the deceased estate to be wound up.

Contributed by: Neville Crocombe

Both parties well cared for with legal agreement

I can vouch that sharing your home with another person can be a good idea. I was a carer for someone who lived with me. We were treated as separate people by Centrelink, not as a couple. I visited my solicitor and made an additional note to go with my will that stated we were living separately. I also made provisions for the person I was caring for to be allowed a set amount of time to continue residing at our shared home should I pre-decease them, and have made mention of items they were entitled to in order to re-establish themselves elsewhere.

By doing this I have made the situation clear, it is all legal and I feel I have been fair with the re-establishment clause and effects. This has also put the other person's mind at ease because they will not suddenly find themselves homeless should anything happen to me.

We have since had a change in our relationship and have married, however, I have still left these clauses in place as the home we have I had bought prior to our marriage, and upon my death goes to my children.

Contributed by: Glenys Gordon

Pay rent when sharing a house

I can highly recommend sharing a house! It really helps to keep the finances under control. My son and I currently share a house with a male friend and have done so now for several months to save costs. Our relationship is entirely platonic and he has a girlfriend. I moved in to his place and to ensure he was legally covered should anything happen, I pay him a small amount of rent ($100 per week) which he keeps in a log book. His accountant said that as long as I am a renter, my family has no comeback should anything happen. We both sign the rent book each week to say I have paid, so the evidence is clear. We go halves in all electricity and groceries and this has saved us both heaps. It is also great to have the household chores halved! I do the housework and he keeps the gardens and so on. He uses the rent towards his rates and house insurance/repairs so it benefits him as the home owner and it all works out great for both of us!

Contributed by: Rosemary Knights

11. This Month's Help Request: Affordable Office Furniture

This month Ros asks:

If anyone has any suggestions or experiences which could help Ros, please send them in to us here.

12. Savings Story: Get Off the Merry-Go-Round and Get Ahead

I never dreamed that saving money and paying bills could be so much fun! At the start of this year my husband and I decided that we were sick of living pay to pay. It seemed like all we did was pay off the bills, only to have more to come in and not leave enough to go round. We always seemed to be juggling what to pay on what payday. One day, after having a nice long chat with my mum, my husband and I sat down and worked out a budget. We looked really closely at every bill that we paid and how much they were each month. We then divided all the bills in half and started to pay them every fortnight instead.

We also analysed all the bills to see where we could save. We bundled our home phone, Internet and pay TV together and saved ourselves more than $100 a month. We also looked into our mobile phones and saw that we were paying for a high cap plan that we were not even using! I changed them and this saved us at least another $100 per month. From then on I began going over all our bills with a fine toothed comb. In the last four months alone doing this has saved us at least $900 on various bills because the companies had our charges incorrect!

After doing this for few months the bills started to come in and to our joy we found we were in credit. It's a wonderful feeling to see a bill where you are in credit for $30, or that you only owe $3.00 on your mobile phone bill for the month!

We budget ourselves $400 for groceries each fortnight (including takeaway and so on). Anything not used goes into a tin to put towards the following fortnight. We have the same system with fuel too - we budget for it, pay it and whatever is left over goes into the kitty for the next fortnight.

We now also have an allowance for ourselves. Out of this comes our luxury items such as waxing, hairdresser, shoes, smokes, coffee, work lunches and so on. If we don't have the money for the things we want, we just have to save up until we do!

We are finally getting ahead of our bills instead of the bills getting ahead of us. There is no longer a panic if an unexpected bill comes in. Any remaining money is put towards paying off our credit card and any extra money we get (e.g. child care rebate, tax refund and so on) also goes straight on paying off this card. Once it is paid off it we will finally be putting our money where we want it - into a savings account, instead of paying off debt!

Contributed by: Kerri Shepherd-Ashby

July 2012 - Simple Savings Newsletter

"Secrets to Saving Money in Australia" Free Newsletter - July 2012

This issue includes:-

Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: Switched Off
August is Switching Off Month!
Hidden Gems Competition Winner: MyFitnessPal.com
Best Members' Blog: A New Journey
Best of the Forum: Switched on Savers!
Best of the Vault: How Low Can You Go?
Cooking with Mimi: Dinner by Candlelight... Not Just for Romantics!
Fifty Cent Indulgences: Pantry Delights
Claire's Corner: July, You Sucked my Wallet Dry!
Rob Bob's Gardening Blog: A Pondering on Self-Sufficiency
Homeopathy Corner: Fighting Colds and Flu
From Last Month: Post Chemo Hair Care
This Month's Help Request: Fire Surrounds
Savings Story: Going for Gold!
Goodbye for now!

Hello,

I hope you are having a great month. Life in Simple Savings land has been fun. We have been preparing to open an online shop which will be devoted to goods to help you save. And, I mean SAVE!

If all goes well (as if!) the shop should be open with its first couple of products by the end of the month. So keep your eyes peeled. We have been very fussy selecting products because we want every item to help improve your lives. We want these products to be so good that when you receive them you will want to write us lovely compliments such as these ones:

"I just received The $21 Challenge for my birthday on the weekend and read it in one sitting - I love it. Your book has come into our house at exactly the right time as both my husband and I have been subject to pretty scary cuts in hours/income at the moment. I have written my 'streamlined' grocery list and I am ready to take up the challenge! Thanks again." (Kim M.)

"I love reading your fantastic newsletters. Over the years I have found the tips and tricks invaluable, and have turned my spending habits around for the better! Thanks for your wonderful service." (Karen Chapman)

"Love your newsletter! Makes for a positive start to my working day. Instead of thinking I need to earn more, which is a lie I tell myself after I spend and waste too much, your newsletter is a friendly reminder that I can make better aware choices with what I do with my money. Thanks for your newsletters, they are fantastic!" (Amy Dew)

"That was a very swift reply to my email and so lovely to get a proper personalised one as opposed to a computer generated one. My finances are very tight for the next eight weeks; getting together the last of the money I need for expenses to attend my brother's wedding in Sydney. I've got a daughter to pay for too, but with my skills of making a dollar stretch and knowing how to shop on the cheap I'll get there. I find the $21 Challenge book provides me with lots of inspiration! I shopped for just under only $10 this week and next week I have just $14 total to spend, along with what's at home in the cupboards and fridge, so even less than $21! I know I can do it as I have become very resourceful!" (Bridget S.)

All the best,
Fiona

1. Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: Switched Off

"Morning! Fancy a cuppa?" smiled Chloe. "Love one - it's freezing out there!" said Sally. "Ooh - it's lovely and toasty in here though!" "I'll say!" agreed Pete. "Make mine a pina colada Chlo, it's like the Bahamas in here! What must your power bill be like?"

"Ugh, don't ask," Chloe grimaced as Sally smiled apologetically at her husband's lack of tact. "It was $600 last quarter. I can't believe how much it costs to keep this little place warm, especially when there's only me living here. It's just crazy," she grumbled.

"$600! That's crazy alright - ow!" Pete spluttered as Sally elbowed him. "Well if you have any suggestions on how I can make it less, do tell!" said Chloe. "Er - switch your heating off? Put on a jumper and some socks?" replied Pete. Chloe looked mortified. "Oh no - I couldn't possibly do that. I don't like wearing jumpers. They are so itchy!"

2. August is Switching Off Month!

Do you recognise Clueless Chloe? How many people do you know who claim they want to lower their electricity bill but are not prepared to put their money where their mouth is? Well, this month it is time to change that. It is time to take action. It is time to switch off the things WE CAN DO WITHOUT, such as the lights, TV and computer being on in every room of the house.

We are focusing on turning these off because it is a small and easy change that will make a huge difference to your life. It will not just save you money, it will bring your family closer together. And, that is very important.

With everything we gain in this world we also give something else away. When we gained the ability to light and heat every room, and be able to entertain ourselves in our own separate spaces, we lost something. We lost intimacy. We lost all the benefits of sharing the same room, such as entertaining each other and not just being entertained.

We lost the ability to tell jokes, to play games, to laugh and, in some cases, smile. We stopped reading to each other. We stopped learning how to resolve arguments. We lost all the wonderful things that being in the one room gave us.

So let's get them back. This month, switch off most of your lights after dark and only light one room so everyone starts hanging out together. And, only have one screen on at a time. This will help everyone relearn how to share and be intimate with each other. This won't just lower your power bill, it will bring the joy back to life.

3. Hidden Gems Competition Winner: MyFitnessPal.com

Our Hidden Gems directory is designed to help members source the best deals in their area. Whenever you come across a real gem of a business, enter it in our Hidden Gems directory and you could win our monthly prize of $100 cash! This is our way of saying thank you for sharing your knowledge and helping other members save. The more information you can give us about your special store or business, the better.

This month's winner is MyFitnessPal.com as nominated by Carmen Stobaus. Well done Carmen on finding such a great resource and thank you for sharing it with us.

MyFitnessPal.com

I never thought of this as a Hidden Gem before, because I don't pay a cent for it and it is all online, but after reading about Claire's story with Weight Watchers I was motivated to tell you about a 'Hidden Gem' that helped me lose a staggering 35kg in 10 months!

MyFitnessPal.com is a 100% free online site that provides tools to help you set weight loss and calorie goals. You can also use their huge database to very easily track calories and find answers to all those curly weight loss questions in the forums. Plus you'll get support from people all over the world trying to get healthier too!

I have 15 more kilos to lose, and with the support of this fabulous online community I know I will make it... and maintain it! As well as diet, there is also a large focus on exercise with tips for everyone, from those who like to walk the dog for exercise, to those who like to Zumba or lift serious weights! A lot of members have stayed on after reaching their goal, and are a source of great advice.

This site is for everyone. If you have specific goals developed by a doctor or nutritionist, you can change the settings to suit. Plus there are heaps of recipe ideas for those on a budget, or those with diabetes or other special dietary needs. You can use it to maintain your weight once you get to your goal (yay!) and you can make lifelong friends in your city and all over the world.

Last time I went to Weight Watchers it was something like $15 per meeting (weekly). With MFP you get meetings daily or more often and it is all free! Over the course of a year you would save $780, which is precisely what my gym membership costs!

I challenge Claire to sign up for free and try it, and all the other Simple Savings members looking for support to achieve and maintain a healthier lifestyle, I love it!

My Fitness Pal is completely free, all the time to everyone! The website is http://www.myfitnesspal.com/

4. Best Members' Blog: A New Journey

This month's winner is Colleen for sharing her commitment to her challenging and rewarding savings adventure in her blog 'A New Journey':

At the end of 2011 I was accepted into university to do a Master's Degree in Clinical Psychology. I was thinking of working part-time and studying part-time. Then reality hit - it would be impossible to do three really tough things well. I couldn't work in a stressful job, be a parent to three kids and be a uni student. Something had to go and lucky for me it was the job. So from February 2012 we dropped to a one income family. I feel a considerable amount of pressure to perform at university because of the decision to leave work to study, but also pressure to pick up more of the family responsibilities. One of my personal goals has been to reduce expenditure to minimise some of the impact of the loss of income. So I stumbled on Simple Savings in June. I started reading Penny's blog and that inspired me to join this month. One of my little changes so far has been to add a set of cups to my car - now when we go out I buy a bottle of drink rather than five separate drinks. It can be a substantial saving. On Saturday I bought a 2 litre juice for $2.50 (on special) and the attendant scanned it at $5.00. I checked my receipt after paying and noticed it wasn't reduced so I went back to ask for a refund of the difference and was given my $5.00 back. Previously I wouldn't have bothered because it was only $2.50 but not anymore.

I am looking forward to finding new ways to save.

Congratulations Colleen on facing your challenge head on. To read any of our members' blogs, click here

5. Best of the Forum: Switched on Savers!

Saving money on your electricity bill can be as simple as changing one or two small habits. For some people it can be a satisfying daily ritual of checking power consumption meters and installing power saving devices. However you choose to save those dollars, here are some great ideas that might help spark a 'light bulb moment'.

Make your own Wonderbag... a stored heat cooking insulator

Here's a fantastic thread all about thinking outside the box and cooking up great electricity savings!
read more...

To solar or not to solar? That is the question

Solar savings are on the house! Our members shed some light on solar energy as they discuss their different experiences.
read more...

Simple steps will cut your electricity bill by $715

This inspiring thread shares some great ideas for switching off appliances and switching on to savings.
read more...

Here comes the carbon tax - ways to save on your carbon cost

Have a look through this thread for some simple but effective ideas to lower your electricity bills. How many of these hints could make a difference to your next bill?
read more...

Candles - how to make the most out of your candles and extend their life

Sometimes you need to stop burning them at both ends and just enjoy them! Candles are practical, inexpensive, ambient and romantic - and can save you money!
read more...

6. Best of the Vault: How Low Can You Go?

You probably do many things in your daily life to save money, and hopefully a wander through the amazing tips in the Simple Savings Vault will help add a few more dollars to your savings. We are continually surprised at the wonderful hints we get - some of them are so simple yet extremely effective while others are just downright inspired!

Set your mixer tap to cold and save

My father always had his mixer tap handle set to cold. This meant the gas hot water system didn't fire up and waste gas every time he turned on the tap. When he really needed hot water he used it, but when you think about it, most of the time cold water will suffice. The main problem is that when the handle of a mixer tap is set in the default middle position, it draws hot water whether you need it or not. So by setting the handle to the far right you only get cold water. Since doing this, we have used approximately 200mJ less gas each quarter, and of course produced less greenhouse emissions.

Contributed by: Elaine Killen

Power up your savings with single remote

I have saved nearly $100 on my power bill after purchasing a Kambrook remote control power saver from Bunnings. It has three adaptors which plug into the wall, then you connect your power board and set it to the remote control. I have one in the family room, one in the lounge and one in my bedroom. It's great because you don't need to switch the power off at the wall by hand any more, and is especially great when I have told the kids to get ready for bed and they just sit there watching TV and not moving. I just use the remote and the TV turns off! At around $30 I think it was a great investment!

Contributed by: Lynette G

Keep your shower head close and save

Here's a small but effective tip to save on hot water. When you have a shower, move the shower head close as possible to your head/neck. This will minimise the amount of heat lost from the water before it hits your body. The heat loss is particularly evident in winter which is the very time when you are craving a hot shower!

To test this theory all you need to do is set the water to the desired temperature with the shower head in the normal location, then adjust it closer to your body and you will find that the water is now too hot! We have solar hot water with a manual booster and find that sometimes this tip is sufficient not to need to turn the booster on.

Contributed by: Fairy

Save power when cooking rice

Simply put rice in the pot and add water as normal then bring to the boil with the lid on. After it comes to the boil, turn off the hotplate, leaving the saucepan on the plate. The rice will continue to boil for ages. It may take longer than normal cooking, but it saves power, as you do not have the stove on all the time. I even use this for cooking macaroni and spaghetti.

Contributed by: Veronica Wilesmith

Heat your bed without electricity

If you're considering spending money getting or replacing a costly electric blanket - think again. I have discovered a much cheaper alternative! During a recent stay with a friend, I woke up in the middle of the night wondering why my wheat bag was still hot. I soon realised that in fact it was the BED that was hot, the entire length of my body. On mentioning it to my friend, I discovered the answer. She had been concerned the camp mattress I was sleeping on might be a bit hard and didn't have any spare mattress protectors or blankets, so she lined it with an old curtain, which had thermal lining. The thermal lining radiated my body heat back at me all night long - and unlike an electric blanket it didn't cost a single cent to run! Be sure to use the curtain only as an under blanket and tuck it well under the mattress. Try sewing elastic to it and making it a fitted under blanket. Don't sleep directly on it, place a sheet over it first and sleep on that.

Contributed by: Susan Korrel

Stop heat from rising with portable winter curtain

We have saved hundreds of dollars on our winter heating bill with our homemade curtain! We live in a two-storey house and because hot air rises, whenever we heat the living area downstairs the heat goes up the stairs and heats the bedroom area instead! In order to keep the downstairs area warm we used two 'trouser hangers' (the clothes hangers which have clips on them for hanging skirts or trousers) and clamped them onto a long piece of cheap polar fleece. We then secured this to the top railing and draped it down over the stair entrance, so it blocks the stairs trapping the heat downstairs. Now we use much less heat to warm the now smaller space downstairs. A huge saver for us and so easy!

Contributed by: Grace Byrnes

A couple of extras for our valued Vault members:

'Spin the power meter' game for visible savings Contributed by: Maya Linnell

Car phone charger saves power at home Contributed by: Donna Apro

Sensor light saves all night power use Contributed by: Toni O'grady

Thermos flask keeps water hot for hours Contributed by: Lynne A

7. Cooking with Mimi: Dinner by Candlelight... Not Just for Romantics!

We often eat dinner by candlelight, in fact in this household, the earlier the sun sets, the better, as we adore our candles! Winter and summer alike, at around 6pm the tea light candles come out, housed in recycled jars and lanterns of all sorts.

My 12-year-old daughter and I make a little routine of getting them out, lighting them and placing them around the living area. The TV goes off, cups of tea are made (or the occasional glass of wine for us grown-ups!), and we enjoy a half hour of chat before dinner preparations take over. This time is so important to us as a family. It gives our 12-year-old an insight into the grown-up world of bill paying and running a business or having a job, and she gets to tell us what's happened in her day. In connecting as a family, we all let go of the aggravations of the outside world.

We don't always eat dinner by candlelight, but the addition of candles can certainly turn a very mundane meal into a bit of an event. It also encourages Miss Twelve to appreciate setting the table and having a jug of water on the table along with nice glasses, rather than the free-for-all of busier evenings. This costs nothing to do, yet is such an important lesson in life. I've had many very ordinary meals, served beautifully, and some expensive meals served without much thought, and I know which ones I enjoyed the most!

Tropicana Soufflé Pizza Omelette (serves 4)

Tonight we're having Tropicana Soufflé Pizza Omelette. But served by candlelight with a bit of Michael Bublé in the background, it will become 'Parmesan Soufflé with zesty barbecue sauce and honey roasted ham, garnished with tropical fruits!'

Equipment:

Non-stick frying pan and lid
Large mixing bowl
Small bowl
Fork
Electric beaters or balloon whisk
Large metal spoon
Egg slice
Serving plates

Ingredients:

4 large eggs (I recommend free-range organic - they're worth it!)
Cooking spray
½ - 1 cup diced ham
½ - 1 cup finely diced pineapple
1 cup grated cheese

Method:

Separate your eggs, putting the yolks in the small bowl and the whites into the large bowl. Using your electric beater or balloon whisk, whip the egg whites until they are light and fluffy. A pinch of cream of tartar will help them hold their form. Add a pinch of each of your herbs. Fresh ones are nicer if you have them, but dried are fine too.

Mix your yolks with your fork and dribble them into the whites. Using your large metal spoon, very carefully fold the egg mixtures together. You want to maintain the air in your whipped whites to give the best possible result.

Heat your non-stick pan over a medium high heat and spray it liberally with your cooking spray. Gently add your egg mixture into the heated pan, allowing the mixture to slide from your bowl into your pan. Spread it carefully and lightly so you have an even distribution. Allow the mixture to cook for about two minutes until it forms a firm base. Sprinkle your omelette with cheese and pop the lid on the pan for another minute or so. In the meantime, turn your grill to 'high'.

Lift your lid from the frying pan and sprinkle your other toppings evenly over your omelette. Add a little more grated cheese if you like - the cheesier the better here! Pop the frying pan under the grill and let it bubble away to lusciousness. Slice it up just like regular pizza and enjoy!

One Pot Thai Yum Yum

One pot cooking is a great, energy efficient way of preparing meals (for you and your power bills!). But it can be easy to get stuck in a rut with one pot meals and assume they're all about Mediterranean cuisine and stodgy comfort food, so let's dispel that myth here and now!

In the western world, we seem to consider it mandatory to have every pot, pan, dish and appliance, as well as a long list of expensive ingredients, to prepare our meals! Often, one pot, one knife, some serving plates and a few well-chosen ingredients are really all that's required. It's certainly an interesting and very Simple Savings kind of idea, isn't it?

My experiments with lighter flavours yielded this dish a few weeks ago. When I think of Thai food, I think heated spice, lush fresh herbs, lots of fragrant, yummy sauce to scoop up with rice or noodles, and that great feeling of being 'full', but not bloated to bursting! My daughter has dubbed this meal Thai Yum Yum!

To prepare your Thai Yum Yum, you'll need just one sharp knife and a big saucepan with a lid and your bowls for serving.

Ingredients (serves 4):

4 fresh fillets of fish
1 tin coconut milk
1 onion, quartered
2 tbsp Thai curry paste (use your favourite)
1 cup stock (made by dissolving a chicken or vegetable stock cube in a cup of boiling water)
A few handfuls of green beans, topped and tailed
1 tin of water chestnuts or baby corn (optional, but adds a nice crunch)
2 tsp dried or fresh coriander leaves or minced coriander
Cherry tomatoes to garnish
Steamed rice to serve

Method:

Turn on your hotplate and pop the saucepan on. Add the curry paste and the onion quarters, and stir until fragrant. Add your coconut milk and your stock and give it all a good stir. Turn the hotplate down to low and let your sauce simmer for about 10 minutes.

While your sauce is simmering, cut your fish into even sized pieces, drain the water chestnuts or baby corn and cut your cherry tomatoes in half. Add the beans and corn or chestnuts to the sauce and simmer for 3-4 minutes to heat them through and tenderise them slightly.

Finally, add your fish or calamari and stir through. Cover and steam for around three minutes - any longer and your fish can become tough and overcooked. Thicker cubes of fish may require an extra minute or two. If you're using tinned tuna or salmon slices, you're really only heating them through very gently, otherwise they disintegrate and become mush. For this reason, I'd also avoid using plain tinned tuna or salmon.

To serve, spoon some rice into your bowls and scoop a generous amount of Thai Yum Yum over the rice, garnishing with coriander leaves and halved cherry tomatoes. This adds the appetizing colour that one pot meals sometimes lack.

As far as one pot meals go, this is an absolute corker, and worthy of serving to guests. They'll never forget what they had either, as it is absolutely yum yum!

Here are links to Mimi's other blogs in the members' area this month:

8. Fifty Cent Indulgences: Pantry Delights

Charm and delight abound in our 'indulgences under 50c' thread (aka The 50c Army!) where our resourceful members share their inspirational ideas for home, friends and family. During July, 'Pantry Delights' was all about making the most of our kitchens, from stockpiling to storage. And to prove that a pantry makeover can be easy and affordable. Here's how I made over mine:

My husband found an old baker's stand on the side of the road which we re-painted and decorated with op shop tins and glass jars. I love glass as it's easy to clean and doesn't leach chemicals into your food or affect the flavour of ingredients. I often add a personal touch by painting the lid. You could also add a transfer or cut out to match your kitchen décor.

Once I'd put the bulk items into tins, I suddenly had room in my kitchen cupboards to build up my supplies. I then painted the interior of one cupboard door with blackboard paint and wrote up easy, quick recipes for those times when I'm tired or just can't think what to cook!

In the spirit of the 50c indulgence threads, the grand total for this entire makeover came to just $20!

Our thread is all about making each day special with small things that make a difference. For more inspiration and ideas, come and join us at 'indulgences under 50c'. We'll be talking 'Holidays and mini-breaks' in our August thread.

Hope to see you there!

Annabel

9. Claire's Corner: July, You Sucked my Wallet Dry!

I can't say that I will be sorry to say goodbye to July. It has been a long, cold dark month - and an extremely expensive one in our household! Household rates, water rates, a higher-than-usual power bill, dog registration, school holiday programme fees, school camp payment, school fundraising, winter jackets... it has been an onslaught! Oh, and on top of all that it was our youngest daughter's 11th birthday, and thanks to a couple of forgotten promises, I ended up spending far too much!

Firstly, she reminded me that, many moons ago, I agreed that she and a friend could go to Paint The Earth (where kids can paint cool ceramic ornaments). No problem I thought, I have a 25% discount voucher, so it will only cost about $45 all up. No such luck! We ended up taking an extra friend (thanks to some last minute begging!), and the discount voucher was for an entirely different shop (my brain clearly needs a tune up), so it ended up costing $90! I was also reminded that I promised we could go out for dinner on her birthday. I did try and talk her into some delicious home-made meatballs, but she wasn't wearing it. There goes another $90+, groan. Oh and did I mention that Hubby has been off work recovering from knee surgery for the past few months, and will be for at least another month. He's on ACC but it is well below his normal wage. We should not be spending like this!

I've realised that overspending is very much like overeating. Once you've had a few extra nibbles here and there it becomes quite hard to hold on to your self-control - the lines between 'need' and 'want' start to blur and before you know it... oops, you've done it again! Speaking of which, I have not lost an ounce of weight in the last few weeks. I've only got four weeks left on my Weight Watchers' winter pass, and now I'm starting to think that's been a big waste of money too!

But with the beginning of a new month comes the opportunity to try a few new tactics. And it's going to start with some serious planning. It has helped that I keep a notebook for all of our bills. Every single bill, from school trips to rate instalments, goes in the notebook as soon as it arrives. I have four columns: Creditor, Amount, Date Due, Date Paid. It's really helpful for looking back to see where the money has gone, and how much I'm regularly spending on what. This month has taken up an entire page! I've realised that I'm paying for a few monthly subscriptions that I don't need and that June/July are our most expensive months. If I'd spent a little more time planning in May, I probably could have kept a tighter rein on our outgoings.

On the upside, with our 18-year-old being away for the past five weeks, at least we have seriously saved on our food bill! He comes home this Saturday - I can't wait to see him! He's been on a six-week course run by the army and it's been pretty full on! This week they're meeting with prospective employers, including recruiters from the defence forces (he's dead keen to join the air force), so I can't wait to hear how that goes. And I'm expecting him to be pretty lean and fit; they've been getting up at 5.30am and doing tramps, obstacle courses and fitness training (in the middle of winter!). Apparently he's lost five kilos! Hmm... I wonder if I could convince them to take me on...

Righto, I'm off to scan the Vault for all your wonderful tips on meal planning. If I'm going to save anything this month, and keep ahead of the lad's appetite, I'm going to need them!

Before I go, here's a little quote on the subject of self-control, it seems quite relevant to both saving money and losing weight (my two goals for this month!).

"Discipline weighs ounces, regret weighs tons." (author unknown)

To read more of Claire's corner or any of our members' blogs, click here

10. Rob Bob's Gardening Blog: A Pondering on Self-Sufficiency

Last week I was asked what was I trying to achieve with our garden and to tell you the truth I was not sure what to say other than to produce as much food as we could from our yard... I have said before that we are trying to be self-sufficient; however, I don't think that is an honest response. Part of being self-sufficient means providing a continuing supply of food through the whole year, which is something I have not been able to achieve. There has never really been a long range plan implemented for the patch, instead we have only been focusing on the current growing season.

It appears that the subject has been on other people's minds of late as well. Last week Mankini started a great thread called 'Triple SSS - the Semi Self Sufficient thread' which for me has come just at the right time to help me reflect on where we are going with the veggie patch, as well as the other food production projects we have on the go. Add to this a post made in the SSS thread by Bev W, where she asked, 'And what is your main goal for this year? Is there something that you want to set up, learn, do... to help you with your SSS dream?' In order to get a continuous food supply for ourselves and the animals we care for, I realised that there is a fair bit of planning to do to make a decent system. There are some on that thread who are or are very close to living the lifestyle we yearn for and I think must be congratulated. As there is no time like the present, I have already made a start on it over the weekend by implementing one of the most overlooked planning methods... I grabbed a 'refreshing' drink and sat on my bum in the patch waiting for it to talk to me. Well, um, maybe not talk to me but I did sit for quite some time trying to see how I could arrange all the bits we have into an almost self-sustainable system where we rely on as few inputs from outside as possible. No doubt you will see some of these steps and projects as they are completed...

This is an excerpt from Rob Bob's wonderful gardening blog. Don't miss the full version which includes progress on his aquaponic project - you can read it here.

Switching off for August

One of the things I love about the end of the day is getting out into the patch and switching off from our everyday routine. On the weekends it is even better when the whole family gets out there to work or play without any of the electronic distractions that we sometimes tend to get caught up in. A favourite past-time on winter weekend nights is spending it with friends around a fire in the yard. It's nothing special, just a small brazier with some dried up bits of pruned timber or split logs donated by family and friends.

It is very easy to entice the gathered children away from their gadgets and the TV with a promise of sparklers and a marshmallow or two on a stick to roast in the fire. It is so easy to switch off when gazing into the flames with great company and the garden as a backdrop. Hours are normally spent talking, feasting and having a great time but it never seems to last long enough.

Another switching off we try to do as often as we can is the garden tap. Although we have not installed water tanks as of yet we try to collect as much fresh rain water as possible. We have many 15L buckets and a small 500L rain water tank that we fill with water collected from a tarpaulin shade cover off the back of the house. This is mainly used in the aquaponics as top up water or to fill up the wicking barrels. I know it is not much in the scheme of things but every little bit counts.

That's about it for now. Have a great one all. **: )»**

Rob Bob's full blog on 'Aphid update, switching off and some planting out' can be read here. To get your fill of Rob's news, projects and tips, you can read his other blogs in the members' area this month:

11. Homeopathy Corner: Fighting Colds and Flu

Wouldn't it be fantastic if everyone had a Fran! A person they can call on when someone is sick who can make your child better the way Fran has done so many times for our household. But, unfortunately it doesn't work that way. Good homeopaths are few and far between and Fran is so busy that even I am hesitant to ask her to help me choose a remedy unless I am desperate. So I have been busy harassing Fran behind the scenes to write a series of books to help people who want to be able to choose the right remedy but don't have the time or the many thousands of dollars to do a four year homeopathic course just so they can get rid of a cough or a cold.

And, here it is... Fran's first eBook teaching everyday people how to get rid of common colds - for the tiny price of $7.00. Yeh! Three cheers for Fran. Hip hip hooray! Hip hip Hooray!

Fran has even released a sample chapter of the book for free on her website. You can find it here.

12. From Last Month: Post Chemo Hair Care

Last month Sandra asked for our help:

"Hi Guys. I would love to put in a request to your readers/subscribers...

"I have recently finished 5 months of chemo and my hair is just beginning to grow back. It is only stubble at the moment but as it grows again I'd like to use a natural shampoo with less chemicals etc but I don't want to pay huge amounts for the privilege of going 'organic'. Any suggestions on a cheaper option that will be healthier for me and my hair?

"Any suggestions on skin care etc are also very welcome as my skin is extremely dry from the chemo and radiotherapy...

"I did look at using baby shampoo, but aside from the no-more-tears formula (simply the same ph as your eyes) it still had all the chemicals... "

This is a question we hear often but one with no easy answers. Thanks so much to everyone who wrote in to share their tips and hints with Sandra. Here are the best of the bunch!

You don't need shampoo!

Ditching shampoos and conditioners has not only helped my hair and my health, but has saved me thousands! I have a dear friend who had chemo and when her hair started to grow back, her doctor told her not to use anything to wash it but water. Her hair was soft, shiny and wonderful - it just made you want to touch it! To keep her company and honour her, I decided to do the same. That was at least five years ago and since then I have only ever washed my hair with water! When I go to the hairdresser, I wash before I go and they are happy to just spray it with water before cutting. A saving of thousands of dollars at the hairdresser! It has also meant a saving of hundreds of dollars on shampoos and hair products, I no longer have migraines and my hair is shiny and healthy. Occasionally I pick some herbs, such as rosemary and sage, from the garden and simmer them and rinse my hair with the herb water. For my skin, I now only use products from McArthur Natural Products. They are all natural and I find them to be very good. Their website is shop.mcarthurnaturalproducts.com.

Contributed by: Dianne Page

Coconut oil and green smoothies for chemo recovery

First of all, congratulations on completing treatment. We have been down the same path with my six-year-old son so I know how hard it can be. He has been off treatment for nearly two years and still suffers from dry skin. I have found massaging his skin with coconut oil very helpful. It isn't too greasy and absorbs into the skin. You can use it all over, even on your hair. I bought a 750ml bottle of Fijian coconut cooking oil for about $5.00 and this lasts over a year. In winter the oil does harden, but microwaving the bottle or putting it in hot water melts the oil. You can buy it from health-food stores and also Indian grocery stores that sell island foods.

We also found green smoothies (made using lots of green vegies blended up with some fruit) worked to help the skin. A naturopath told me they are very alkaline which neutralises all the acid in the body (chemo and all the other medicines can be very acidic). And they taste surprisingly good! You can search You Tube to find out more info.

Contributed by: Leanne Toia

Safe shampoo and post-chemo skincare products

I would love to give Sandra some help as I've been through the same thing. I used a brand of shampoo called Gaia. It's an organic baby shampoo which is available in major supermarkets. It works really well and you only need a tiny bit. It is more expensive per 100mls than other brands, but you need less so it is pretty good value. My bottle lasted over nine months!

For dry skin, I used aloe vera and/or paw paw ointments. They are both readily available, reasonably priced and they are natural and work better than any chemicals. Use it straight on the radiation exposed skin and you get less side effects. Congratulations on finishing the chemo and I wish you all the best.

Contributed by: Rebecca D.

Cutting costs and chemicals in the bathroom

I haven't bought shampoo, conditioner, moisturiser or facial cleansers for the last two years! I've found much cheaper, easier and natural alternatives, so I'm saving money and getting lots of comments now on how good my skin looks!

Baking soda is my 'shampoo' of choice! I simply dissolve about a teaspoon in a cup of warm water and pour through my hair, letting it sit, then rinsing well before finishing with a rinse of apple cider vinegar diluted in cool water. I do this once a week, or twice if my hair seems particularly dirty. It seems to keep my hair healthy and shiny without the need for any chemicals.

I also use warm oil on my scalp once a month to keep it moisturised, the oil I use depends on what I have. Olive or coconut oils are both good. I pour it on warm, massage it in then let it work its magic for at least half an hour before rinsing well followed by my normal 'shampoo' routine.

For my facial cleansing routine, I use a mix of olive and castor oils. I massage this into my face then use a face cloth with hot water laid over my face to 'steam' open the pores. I repeat the 'steaming' a couple of times then gently wipe the oil and dirt from my face, followed by a splash of cool water as a 'toner'. I find this leaves my skin feeling soft, supple, clean and moisturised. I do this about three times a week at night and also use a baking soda and sugar scrub once a week.

My three kids have never used shampoo or conditioner and the only thing I need to buy is a very mild chemical-free body wash, which lasts my family of five at least a month as we only use a tiny amount. I also use baking soda as my deodorant. Making my own toothpaste is my next project! Going 'natural' has saved my wallet big time and also the health of my family as I know I'm not putting any nasties into my kids' bodies! Buying baking soda and olive oil in bulk makes this even cheaper.

Contributed by: Toni L.

Hair care tips for sensitive skin

I have extremely sensitive skin and find that even baby shampoos react with my skin, but many chemical-free shampoos nearly break the bank! However, I have had huge success using goat's milk or olive oil soap as a shampoo, followed by rinsing with diluted vinegar to get the suds out. And you don't need conditioner as the vinegar will do that. It smells vinegary when you do it, but by the time your hair dries the smell is gone.

Contributed by: Haffygal

Clean shiny hair with egg yolk shampoo

When my daughter was little she was found to be allergic to 49 out of 52 things, which made her chemical intolerant. One thing I found that worked very well as a replacement shampoo and conditioner was egg yolk. The method is as follows: Separate one egg and whisk the yolk together with half a cup of luke-warm water. I used to put a shower cap on after applying the yolk mix and leave on the hair for a few minutes, then rinse very well to avoid an eggy smell. This leaves the hair conditioned and clean and very shiny.

Contributed by: Penny Hughes

Hair care ingredient guide

For a great guide to shampoo ingredients I can recommend Paula Begoun's book, 'Don't Go Shopping for Hair-Care Products without Me', it should be available from your local library. She has years of experience in the cosmetics industry and it is her job to assess ingredients and rate products. The basics are to avoid any ingredient that will cause irritation like fragrances, perfumes and essential oils, sodium lauryl sulphate (note that sodium laureth sulphate is fine), and also ammonium (because it reacts with some other common ingredients in products). I can recommend the simple old fashioned Melrose range from the health food store. They sell a fragrance free shampoo at a very decent price.

Contributed by: musicalsay

Try mayonnaise for healthy hair

Store-bought mayonnaise makes a great shampoo alternative for thin hair if you are recovering from chemo. Leave in your hair for a few hours and rinse well. For skin care, try using vitamin E cream or real honey. Try a small amount on your skin first if you are worried about reactions or allergies.

Contributed by: Tracy Walters

Chemical-free shampoos and more

I have MS and am very sensitive to perfumes and additives in products, here are some of my tips for economical chemical-free products:

The Nature's Organics range of shampoo and conditioners is available at Coles and Woolworths (Safeway), and is regularly on special for $2.00 each. The products have no parabens or mineral oils and the company is Australian owned.
Sorbent Hypo-allergenic toilet paper is free from dyes and perfumes. They are usually $10 for a pack of 12.
Redwins Sorbolene moisturising cream, soap and bodywash are fantastic as they do not have any perfumes or smells to them. I have been using these products for years with no reaction. When my mother finished radiation for breast cancer I also converted her to these products as her skin was very sensitive.
Coles Face Moisturiser with SPF15 is the only face cream I can handle as all others have oils/perfumes in them. At around $2.50 a tube, it is a real bargain.
Another suggestion is Bio-Oil. For scars, very dry skin or just a bit of pampering it is well worth the money as a little goes a long way.
And for make-up, Nude-By-Nature was recommended for my mum.

Contributed by: Annemaree Upton

Cheap, effective and safe shampoo

Here's my tip for a cheap, effective shampoo and conditioner! My four children and I wash our hair with bi-carb soda and vinegar. I use one tablespoon of bi-carb to one cup of water. I then use two tablespoons of vinegar to a cup of water for a rinse. The bi-carb is good for the scalp and roots of the hair. Just massage it in and make sure you rinse it really well, rubbing your scalp the whole time. The vinegar is like a conditioner for the hair, so you put it on and leave it as long as possible. For best results blast in cold water to close the pores.

To begin with you may need to wash your hair as frequently as normal until your hair gets used to the change, but I've gone from washing it every day to just twice a week, or twice every ten days. Regular shampoos strip your hair of their natural oils, but using bi-carb and vinegar restores it to its natural state and keeps it clean and with plenty of body. Aluminium-free bi-carb soda costs around $6.00 for 350g from a health food shop, but it lasts for ages because you use such a little amount.

Contributed by: Kerry Alexander

Look Good, Feel Better

If you are recovering from cancer, you may like to contact an organisation called Look Good Feel Better. It is specifically for those who are recovering from cancer and chemo and is in all major hospitals. You'll find details about basic skin and hair care and workshop dates on their website, www.lgfb.org.au. At the workshops you are given hands-on opportunities and a free gift of goodies.

Clarins and Phytomer are both distributed by Trimex which started the program, and fifteen years on is still their major sponsor. I recommend Clarins Santal oil (one bottle should last 18 months) and Phytomer shampoo (100% plant based).

Contributed by: Cheryl Roberts

Redwin Sorbolene for lush hair regrowth

I had chemotherapy and radiotherapy (and lost all my hair) in 2008 following breast cancer. I started using Redwin Sorbolene Sensitive Body Wash and haven't looked back. It costs about $11 for a one litre pump pack in the supermarket and lasts me about six months. When my hair was growing back I used it on my scalp too. My hair grew back curly and lush!

Contributed by: Shelley P

Michael's Olivara for dry, post-chemo or sensitive skin

If you need a great product for dry skin, I can recommend a range called Michael's Olivara. The range includes skin lotion, body wash, shampoo and so on. The founder originally made it for his brother, a cancer sufferer who needed skin products during and after treatment. I have suffered with sensitive skin for many years and truly love this range. It is available from pharmacies and is produced here in my home state of W.A. The website address is www.michaelsproducts.com.

Contributed by: Joyce Streeter

13. This Month's Help Request: Fire Surrounds

Kaylene McGrath has sent in this cry for help:-

"I live in Tasmania and most of us down here have wood combustion heaters (because it gets REALLY cold).

"I was wondering if maybe some of the amazing members might have some ideas I could try?"

If you have any pearls of wisdom you'd like to share with Kaylene, please send them in to us here.

14. Savings Story: Going for Gold!

Four years of cut lunches = an Olympic holiday!

By taking our lunch to work every day rather than buying, my husband and I have been able afford to go to every Olympic Games since 1984! We are both currently in London volunteering in the Olympic Village and visiting London. People say we must be rich to be able to afford to do this every four years, but by not buying lunch, we can afford it!

Here's how...

Let's say you each spend $15 a day (including coffees) = $30

... do that for say 50 weeks = $1500

... do that for four years = $6000 - enough for airfares and tickets to some of the Games!

We also stay with a homestay family (found through word of mouth or from the Internet). I am at present writing from my host family's house in London. We have free accommodation and just pay for any food we use. Because we are out most of the time we often take a banana and some water with us and take a sandwich or buy a sandwich (from our holiday money).

We get to see the city through the eyes of a local family and they get to learn about a foreign family and what our lives are like, so it is a real win/win. We have done this since 1984 and every time we get back to Australia our friends say 'next time we are coming with you!' So we say 'start saving now!' To date we have never had anyone join us.

Yes, it takes discipline but it is so worth it!

Barbara & Laurie Smith

15. Goodbye for now!

Phew! Well, that's a wrap on another Simple Savings newsletter. We hope you have enjoyed it and have been inspired by all the money saving tips. Our members are hugely important to us and we love hearing from you all! So next time you're on the website, why don't you get in touch and say 'G'day'! Let us know what you would like to see more of in our newsletter or any suggestions you have for something new to try. We love receiving your clever ideas!

We hope you have an awesome month and look forward to hearing how you 'switched off' in August!

Till next time...

All the best,
Fiona

July 2014 - Simple Savings Newsletter

"Secrets to Saving Money in Australia" Free Newsletter - July 2014

This issue includes:-

Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: Just Like Mum Makes!
July: PowerCooking
Competition: Food Photographers Wanted!
Penny Wise: Life With Gilbert
Best of the Vault: I PowerCook... What's Your Super Power?
Best of the Forum: Tea on the Table in Two!
Best Members' Blog: The Best Thing in the World Has Happened To Me
Mimi: PowerCooking and Ten Things To Make With Flour and Eggs + Simple Ingredients
Rob Bob's Gardening Blog: Backyard Fish Farm and Pests in the Patch
From Last Month: I Smell a Rat!
This Month's Help Request: Help Me with the Winter Blahs

Hello,

How are you going? I hope you are not too cold, this cold snap is something else! I always feel guilty switching on the heater, so instead, I have been cooking cakes and doing some Power Hours to warm up the house. Now we have a stocked freezer and full bellies. If you haven't heard of Power Hours it doesn't mean I've been weight lifting at the gym! I've been PowerCooking using fantastic easy recipes from our sister website powercooking.com.au. These recipes have all been designed especially for cooking in large quantities so that they can be enjoyed fresh or frozen in portions for when life gets too hectic or you feel like having a night off from cooking. There's never been an easier, tastier way to cook! These beautiful recipes are all free for you to try out, so make sure you give them a go this month.

After last month's newsletter people sent in the most beautiful emails. Here are some of them:

"I thought we had done as much as we could to get our spending under control - and then I joined Simple Savings. The biggest change since I became a member hasn't just been saving a lot of money, it's actually been the way my husband and kids and I have started to look at our spending. We no longer hire DVDs, waste money on takeaway or quick trips to the shop to buy chocolates. I know I'm giving my kids a gift for life. Thank you SS!" (Layla)

"This is really just a thank you note from one happy pensioner. With your sensible suggestions on the site and in the newsletters, I am able to eat well. Thank you, Mimi and thank you Simple Savings for helping to make ends meet on a pension." (Margaret)

Have a great month!
All the best,
Fiona Lippey

P.S. All the recipes are now free at PowerCooking.com.au

If you would like to add Apricot Chicken, Beef Bourguignon and Mexican Style Mince to your Power Hour. They are now free!

1. Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: Just Like Mum Makes!

Pete couldn't get in the door fast enough. It was freezing! He couldn't wait for dinner; hopefully Sally was making something hearty and warming after such a long, cold day! Speaking of which, where WAS she? All was quiet; there was none of the usual singing or chatter - and no comforting smell of dinner wafting through the air. Pete suddenly caught sight of a note on the table. 'Gone out with friends. Dinner on bench. Love Sal.' On the bench were three containers, each bearing a note. Was he seeing things? It looked like Sally wanted HIM to cook dinner!

"What are you doing, Dad? Hang on - are YOU cooking dinner?" the kids asked as they arrived home. "Yes, that's what it looks like, doesn't it?" replied Pete, as he popped the first container in the microwave. "But - do you even know HOW?" they asked, more than a little worried. "Of course I do! See, the sauce is done already!" he pointed out as the microwave pinged. "Right, now I have to add the rice. Why don't you two go and get cleaned up? Dinner will be ready soon," he told them. As soon as they were out of sight Pete sneaked a nervous taste and was pleasantly surprised. This was proving to be a doddle!

"Dinner's ready!" Pete called and the kids sat at the table in trepidation. "Let me present to you, Beef Curry a la Dad!" "Hmm, smells alright," the kids nodded to one another before taking a tiny bite. "Wow, this is really good Dad!" they grinned, "In fact - it's just as good as the one Mum makes!" "Oh really? I'll have to tell her that!" Pete chuckled. He had to admit, his first foray into cooking was a great success. "Where is Mum anyway?" Sarah asked. "She's out - I guess she'll be back soon," said Pete. "Oh no worries Dad," James piped up. "If all your dinners are THIS good, Mum can go out whenever she likes!"

2. July: PowerCooking

Sally taking the evening off and escaping is just what PowerCooking is all about. And, I love it! However, lately it has been a lifesaver for us more than ever. As you probably know, I was in a car accident three months ago and Matt had to hold things together for six weeks while I lay uselessly in bed. Fortunately our PowerCooking meals got us through. I had done three power sessions the weekend before my accident and all that food was already on hand to get us through the first two weeks. It was brilliant!

Easy to Make

You may wonder how I did three PowerCooking sessions in a weekend. Easy! The dishes are so easy to make, my kids do two-thirds of the cooking. Sam (aged 12) does one oven dish, Jacqui (aged 10) does the other and I do the stove dish and potter around cleaning and helping where needed. If you haven't given PowerCooking a try yet, please do! Aim to cook at least one of the oven style dishes from our PowerCooking range. They have been especially created to make life easier and are so delicious they will blow your mind.

Easy to Store

Once my freshly cooked meals are out of the oven, I pop most of them in single serve containers and put them in the freezer until required. A few more are put in the fridge so I don't have to cook for the next few days and some we enjoy straight away. Easy and so tasty!

Easy to Eat

With PowerCooking you can literally turn a freezer meal into a restaurant-quality meal! All you need to do is grab your pre-cooked rice, reheat your pre-cooked base meal, chop some fresh vegies and nuke them together. A fantastic meal from the freezer to your table in just a few minutes. You could never buy a ready-made freezer meal this good!

It Makes My Life Easier

...and it will do the same for you - so give it a go! All recipes at www.powercooking.com.au are free at the moment and we will be adding more to the system just as soon as we find ourselves a food photographer. See the competition below!

3. Competition: Food Photographers Wanted!

We have a big pile of great recipes we would love to add to the PowerCooking system, but we are lacking one thing - fantastic, mouth-watering photos to go with the yummy recipes!

Below is one of the PowerCooking recipes waiting to go onto the site at www.powercooking.com.au. Cook and photograph this. Make it look as tasty and inviting as possible and the winner will get $400 and may also end up a core member of the PowerCooking team.

Vegetable curry korma-style

(8 serves)

4 medium onions, chopped
3 cups of potato, sweet potato or combination, chopped into 1.5cm pieces
5-6 cups of mixed vegies, chopped into 1.5cm pieces. Choose from cauliflower, pumpkin, eggplant, spinach, tomatoes
8-10 tbsp Korma paste (Pataks is milder)
½ cup currants, sultanas or cranberries (optional)
½ cup cashews or almonds, chopped (optional)
4 tsp stock powder, vegetable or chicken
¾ cup water
2x400g tins of lentils or chickpeas, rinsed and drained

To finish:

Cream or yoghurt
4-5 tbsp beans or peas, fresh or frozen
Sauce thickener: mix 1 tbsp flour in ¼ cup cold water

Set oven to 180°C (or 160°C if fan forced) to preheat. Wash, peel and chop vegetables and add to casserole. Add rest of ingredients, except beans and cream, and stir well.

Cover with a tight fitting lid and cook for 1½ hours (8 serves). Remove the lid, add beans and cook a further 20 mins without lid to allow the sauce to thicken.

Remove from oven, add cream and sauce thickener. Stir.

Please send your photos to competition@simplesavings.com.au Competition ends 20th July. We will announce the winner in next month's newsletter.

4. Penny Wise: Life With Gilbert

My first anniversary as a solo homeowner is coming up soon. I can hardly believe it! More's to the point, I can hardly believe I've MADE it with everything that's happened over the past year but by some miracle I have and a huge part of that has been thanks to my SS skills. I can hardly believe how little I spend on food these days, maybe once every six weeks or so I might have to go and do a decent food shop but on the whole I get through most weeks on between $40 and $60. Which I don't think is bad at all considering I'm feeding two hulking great larrikins as well as myself! The funny thing is I don't think we have ever eaten better either! As well as a filling nutritious meal, the boys also enjoy home-made dessert each night, which we've never really done before and the baking tins are always full.

I have to admit, I'm a bit of a hermit these days. If someone had told me a couple of years ago that at the tender age of 41 my favourite way to spend an evening was sat in front of the fire watching Food TV I would have fallen over laughing. I don't really get it myself to be honest! With two largely independent teenagers and a circle of friends who love going out dancing and partying, you would think I would be itching to kick up my heels along with the best of them. Not so however, quite the opposite! I very rarely go out; in fact I don't even like going out; I would rather stay at home warm and toasty with my boys in my beloved Nawtypoo. I've lost count of the invites I've turned down in favour of spending the evening at home making double fudge chocolate brownies or some other homely delight. Besides, what's the point of going out when I'm yawning my head off by 9.30!

I do consider myself to be extremely boring - but the thing is, I'm happy! My life is very simple and I like it that way. And, independent as my boys may be, I know that they love having their mum at home, especially when she spends so much time making yummy food for them! I love the fact that every time they walk in the door the fire is lit and they are greeted by the smell of home cooking. I never imagined that cooking would keep me sane but it really does! It empowers me, makes me feel valuable, that I'm doing a good job. Good grief Penny, what a nana you sound! You'll be walking around with a hair net soon! Still, boring or not, my lifestyle has had some big changes over the past couple of months. Long-time readers of my blog may remember long periods of ill health over the years. I've been diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, glandular fever, you name it, someone's clutched a straw at it and while I never felt in my heart that the medics had it quite right, it was nice to be able to at least put a name to the rubbish way I felt so I went along with it.

Over the past three or four months, however, I began to feel as though something once again wasn't quite right. I had no energy; it was a struggle every day to force myself out of bed. After suffering from insomnia for years, I had gone to the other extreme and could sleep for 13 hours straight and still feel I needed much more. I began to get nasty, burning abdominal pains most nights and extreme debilitating nausea during the day - but most frightening of all was my intolerance to alcohol. After a misspent youth, alcohol consumption was something I was always very conscious of and I tried hard to limit what I had and how often but the past six months had been ridiculous. My friends had long teased me for being a lightweight but gradually I had become worse and they would watch absolutely flabbergasted as just one glass of wine would cause extreme memory loss and if I had two, I literally couldn't stand up. I became very worried that something was dreadfully wrong and after the last episode, which saw me unable to get out of bed for two days following two glasses of wine, I went to the doctor in fear and trepidation. This was a different doctor to the one I usually saw but I didn't care who it was, I just wanted to know what was wrong with me!

First she weighed me and was surprised to see that since moving to Whangamata in 2010 I had lost 32kg - particularly as I had stopped running in 2011! I was surprised too, I knew I had lost around 20kg but I didn't realise it had been THAT much! Then she listened carefully to everything I had to say and when I had finished she asked 'Have you heard of Gilbert's Syndrome?' I most certainly hadn't, so she sat me in front of her computer and brought up some information. 'It's a genetic liver disorder. I think this is you,' she smiled. I stared at the symptoms on the screen in amazement. This WAS me - this was absolutely me. For the first time since I fell ill back in 2008, I felt that someone had finally hit the nail on the head. I was delighted! 'I've never known anyone to be happy about having a liver disorder before!' the doctor laughed. She immediately referred me for tests and over the next two days I had 13 different blood tests but we already knew she had the answer and the results confirmed it. What do you know - turned out my year-round 'golden tan' wasn't due to living at the beach but jaundice! I spent a few more nervous days waiting for nastier complications such as hepatitis and cirrhosis to be ruled out, then got on with living my new life with Gilbert.

My diagnosis was 51 days ago and I haven't touched a drop of alcohol since. I never will either because I know I just can't and I never, ever want to feel that way again. I have also cut out a lot of carbs from my diet, as well as red meat and fried foods and have come to recognise many of the triggers that make me feel bad or lack energy - it can be something as simple as a potato but it is nice to finally know what is going on with my body and make changes accordingly. I am very lucky compared to a lot of Gilbert's sufferers and I am extremely grateful for my health. I guess this has contributed somewhat to my hermit behaviour; not because I have the condition but because I am so glad that I found it and it has made me so thankful for everything I have, in particular the simple things but most of all my children. Now I no longer go out or spend my evenings in front of the TV with a glass of wine, I bake! Every afternoon or evening you'll see me poring through recipe books or scouring the Internet for something yummy to make. Nine times out of ten I end up making something from the Forum, such as Peach Cobbler or Marshmallow Chocolate Muffins. Whereas I used to be someone who tended to stick to the same old recipes, I'm no longer scared to try new things. I think a lot of people are scared to try new things for fear of failure, that it might go wrong or turn out yuck and I used to be like that but no more, now I'll give anything a go if it sounds nice and I have it in the cupboard!

Another great thing about my love and passion for cooking is that when there is baking in the house, the boys are never hungry and they never complain 'there's no food!' I remember Fiona saying this several times over the years and she's absolutely right. It seems a funny thing to say but life really is so much easier and less stressful when the tins are full! I can't believe I used to think that baking was so time consuming and awful when it only takes me 20 minutes to make enough lunchbox and after school goodies for a whole week. This hermit would much rather spend 20 minutes in the comfort of my own kitchen than brave the supermarket!

So seeing as I'm all domesticated and confident-like, I have decided it's time for a new culinary challenge. I looked out of the window the other day and all of a sudden a multitude of oranges, lemons and mandarins had appeared on the trees in the garden. Seriously, how lucky am I to have all this free stuff? I gave a ton away last year but this year I thought I should really make the effort to do something more with them myself as well. I wanted to make lemon honey and marmalade but I hadn't done any preserving since the kids were babies and had given away all my jars and seals and what-not. That was an expensive enough outlay the first time round, I didn't want to fork out for those again! Then to my delight I saw a lady on our local Facebook Buy, Sell and Swap page giving away a whole box of jars and seals for free! I went and picked them up and promised the kind lady a full jar or two in return, she was very happy with that! So now I have no excuse not to make marmalade. I can't wait to get stuck in and see how it goes! There's only one small problem - no one in our house likes marmalade!

You can get updates on Penny's new blogs on the Simple Savings Facebook page.

...or in our Members' Blog section.

5. Best of the Vault: I PowerCook... What's Your Super Power?

You might not be able to control everything else in your life, but you CAN have a nutritious and delicious meal from freezer to plate in a very short time. All it takes is a bit of preparation...

Chop your vegies in advance

On Sundays I go to the fruit and vegetable market and buy lots of vegetables in bulk. I then spend approximately one hour Sunday afternoon chopping up all the vegies and placing them in a huge Tupperware container lined with paper towel. This then provides our family for four nights (Mon-Thurs) with fresh vegies already pre-chopped. All I, or my husband, have to do is grill some chicken, cook some steak or fish and cook some of the pre-cut vegies with it. It saves on time during the week, money because I am buying in bulk, and the vegies do stay fresh and crisp. It also means I do not have to think or worry too much about dinner, especially with other commitments during the week.

Contributed by: Desley Spencer

Clever slow cooker meals

Here's a great way to save money and time. By buying your vegies and meat in bulk, you can peel and chop them all up, mix together with spices and marinades or just leave and divide into smaller portions. Then simply fill re-sealable bags with portions, label and freeze in preparation for future slow cooker meals! It's the perfect way to save time, money and energy after a hard day... especially if you set the meal to cook the night or morning before!

Contributed by: Breanna

Freeze cooked rice and pasta for quick meals

I always have plenty of cooked rice on hand to make quick and economical meals. Once a week I cook three cups of rice in my rice cooker. I then use re-sealable bags to freeze portions for the two of us. This way I save electricity, water and time. We are a pensioner couple, so tips like this add up to a big saving. You can also do the same with cooked pasta - it freezes well and is always on hand when you need it!

Contributed by: Marilyn

Mum's super roast vegies

My mum has a great hint for quick and tasty roast vegetables which are approximately 90% cheaper than the frozen variety you buy at the supermarket!

Buy a bag of potatoes when they are reduced in price, wash them and chop into pieces. You can do this with any other roast vegetables too, such as sweet potato, pumpkin, carrot and so on. Par-boil the vegetables and when nearly cooked, drain and tip onto a baking tray. Sprinkle with herbs such as rosemary or Italian herbs and cook in a very hot oven. Once crisp, remove and serve or allow to cool, then bag and freeze. To serve later, remove from bag and reheat in the oven at 200C. This recipe can also be modified for making potato wedges!

Contributed by: SunnySarah

6. Best of the Forum: Tea on the Table in Two!

The three most disliked words in the English language may well be 'What's for dinner?' Here's how to get a meal on the table with minimum hassle - and a smile!

Freezing stir-fry vegies?

Need a delicious and nutritious dinner in a dash?
read more...

Freezing uncooked bread rolls

Freshly baked bread rolls anyone... nom, nom, nom!
read more...

Meat and three veg style meals for the freezer

Forum member Little Red Engine gets some great ideas for instant meals from the freezer to you!
read more...

Menu planning

Forum members help Jan with some ideas about 'bulk' cooking for one - some great recipes and ideas here for everyone.
read more...

Ideas needed for organised fridges/freezers

Sometimes a little organisation saves a lot of money.
read more...

7. Best Members' Blog: The Best Thing in the World Has Happened To Me

This month's winner is Catslave for sharing something a bit special!

No, I haven't won the lottery. I have something better; much, much better.

I have fantastic parents. I don't know if it's just my age (and the hormones are going haywire - I'm 48), but at least once a week, recently, my parents actions have reduced me to tears - happy tears, grateful tears, thankful tears, I am so lucky tears.

This morning, yet again, I have cried because my parents have helped us out. DH's car won't start (electronic key issue) and he has to drop it off into the dealership to get it sorted. I am at work and have no leave left. DH was at home with DD. DH can get the car to the dealership but it's 30 minutes drive away and public transport to where we live is almost non-existent.

A quick call to my parents and my dad has picked up DD to take her to his place (she goes every morning before school) and will pick up DH at the dealership and bring him home. Not a problem, no worries, not even a sigh from Dad. Just a 'yep, what time and where?'

When both DH and I were working I would drop DD at Mum and Dad's in the morning in her PJs. They would give her breakfast, get her ready for school, pack her lunch and take her to school. After school they would pick her up, help with homework, give her a bath and get her back in her PJs. If I was going to be even a little late getting home, DD would have been given dinner and I would have a dinner waiting for me as well if DH was on nights. For the first year DD was at school I never washed a school uniform. I could go home and relax and enjoy spending time with my daughter without domestic chores competing with our time.

We went on a cruise in January, pre-booked and paid for long before DH became ill. My parents looked after DD for a week and when I came home, my house was the cleanest it has ever been. All washing was done, food in the fridge and a big fruit basket on the kitchen bench.

Over the years they have loaned us money. When we were so broke I was searching the ashtray of the car for money. They have taken DD at the drop of a hat when we have had to go out unexpectedly or when DD would rather go visit Grandma and Poppy than go to a hardware shop. We have called them late in the night when DH was so ill that he had to go to hospital and Mum has come to our place and slept on the lounge so that DD wasn't disturbed from her sleep.

And they had no hesitations in offering for us to stay with them whilst we are sorting out trying to get our shed converted to a habitable building to live in. There are so many stories I could tell of how they have individually or together, gone way out of their way to help me.

So today I have realised that I have something money can't buy, I have parents that would help out their children and grandchildren with their last breath. Even though I have a lot of worry and stressful things happening in my life right now, I wake some days and spend a couple of minutes being thankful of two things in particular. A child I thought I'd never have, born seven months after my 40th birthday, and parents who give me the greatest comfort knowing that no matter what life throws at me, they will be behind me to catch me if I fall.

Well done Catslave - we're pretty sure your mum and dad feel exactly the same way!

You can read more of our members' blogs here.

8. Mimi: PowerCooking and Ten Things to Make With Flour and Eggs + Simple Ingredients

I have just had a pantry cleanout and stocktake.

I have four bags of flour and a huge jar of milk powder.

I've also just been given four dozen eggs.

So it got me thinking. How many meals could I make using just those three ingredients as the base?

White sauce to which I could add any odds and ends of things; sliced boiled eggs or vegetables to make a mornay. A mornay could be served as a meal in a ramekin, as a filling in crepes, as a topping for pasta or rice or thickened to make croquettes.
Gnocchi. Fresh gnocchi is far superior to those little lead lumps you buy at the supermarket and only needs some butter and herbs or a simple tomato-based sauce and parmesan cheese to make it gourmet.
Scones would be on the list for sure. They're so trendy these days; we're paying $4.00 for them in interesting flavours from gourmet bakeries.
Crepes for certain too. To eat as a dessert with Nutella, jam or honey, as crepes stacked into a cake, as a meal with the mornay filling or other yummy stuff rolled in to them and as a substitute for lasagne sheets in a traditional or open lasagne stacked with a slow simmered ragout.
Hot cakes. Egg-free ones so we could save the eggs to make Impossible Pie.
Impossible Pie. An old favourite that makes a great lunch for school or work or a quick meal.
Old-fashioned dumplings for soup, especially at this time of the year. Such a great comfort food and tummy filler.
Spaetzle which my Nanna used to make for me and which are sort of dumpling, sort of pasta-ish and delicious served with a warming casserole or tossed with tiny chunks of diced bacon and thin ribbons of Kale, in a frying pan as a complete meal.
One bowl butter cake. A simple cake that can be iced or decorated dozens of ways to vary the flavour.
Rolled cookies. So easy. Three ingredients. Chill. Cut out and bake. Done.

So two and half hours today saw me whipping up the delicacies you see above, and a few more.

My refrigerator stash now includes a jug of crepe batter to use for dinner tomorrow. We'll use some of the batch of microwave white sauce I made to make a mornay with which to fill the crepes. I also have the gnocchi dough chilling for tonight. The gnocchi will go in to the black lentil and vegetable soup that I got simmering before I started baking.

So the schedule was:

Preheat the oven to 160C for the butter cake.
Make the bickie dough so it could chill.

Bickie dough recipe:
- 1 1/2 cups butter
- 1 cup icing sugar
- 3 cups plain flour
- 1 tsp vanilla essence
Mix the butter and icing sugar with a spoon. Add the flour and combine well. Tip on to a sheet of floured baking paper and fold the soft dough over gently four or five times to gather it together. Scoop in to a ball and chill for at least 15 minutes while you do other things.
Make the butter cake.

Butter cake recipe:

Preheat the oven to 160C if you haven't already done so.

To a medium bowl add:
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1 cup caster sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 1/2 cups plain flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
- 1/2 cup milk
Mix well until combined.

Prepare a 20cm round cake tin by lining it with baking paper.

Pour into the cake tin and bake for about an hour. Test after 50 minutes for doneness. If it springs back in the middle when touched lightly, it's done.

Allow to cool, remove from the tin and transfer to a serving plate. Dust with icing sugar and edible rose petals or ice with a simple glace (icing sugar and liquid) icing.
Make the white sauce.

White sauce recipe:

In a large microwave safe jug, melt two dessertspoons of butter or margarine. Add two heaped dessertspoons of plain flour and mix well. In a separate microwave safe jug, heat two cups of milk (powdered or fresh) for two minutes or until steaming but not boiling. Add the hot milk to the flour and butter roux and whisk until smooth. Microwave on High for three minutes, whisking at 60 second intervals. Season to taste, cool and store in a sealed container in the refrigerator.
Make the crepe batter:

Crepe recipe:
- 3/4 cup plain flour
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 3 eggs
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil or melted butter
- 1 cup water
Whisk all ingredients until smooth. Store in the refrigerator until ready for use. This needs at least 30 minutes resting time to improve the texture of the crepes. Overnight is even better.

Put a knob of butter on a square of paper towel and heat a non-stick frying pan. Rub the wadded paper towel over the base of the pan to grease it very lightly. Flick a few drops of water on the pan and if they sizzle it's ready for crepe making.

Pour about three tablespoons of batter into the pan and working quickly, swirl the pan to cover the base. Cook until the crepe dries out on top and the edges start to lift. Cook for thirty seconds on the flip side and slide on to a platter to cool.

Continue with the rest of the batter.

Fill these with the white sauce to which you've added ham and cheese, leftover chicken and vegetables, tinned salmon or tuna, corn kernels and shallots or anything else you have on hand. Fold them over, sprinkle with cheese and bake in a moderate oven until bubbling and hot. Yum.
Make the hotcakes.

Recipe in the February 2013 newsletter:
Rest the batter while you prepare the gnocchi dough.
Make the gnocchi dough.
Gnocchi recipe:
- 250g ricotta cheese
- 1 - 1 1/2 cups flour
- 2 eggs
- Cracked pepper
Combine all ingredients in a bowl, adding a little extra flour if necessary, to create a soft dough.

Tip the dough onto a well-floured bench and fold over gently four to six times to incorporate the additional flour. It should be very soft and pliable, not elastic and smooth like bread dough. Gather into a ball and enclose in cling wrap. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

When you're ready to cook the gnocchi, dust the bench with flour and remove the dough from the cling wrap. Form it into a sausage shape and cut into short lengths. Press a fork into the surface of the gnocchi to make grooves to catch the sauce you serve it with.

Bring a pot of water to the boil and drop the gnocchi in. Once they float to the surface they are done. Toss them with butter and pan fried sage, a simple tomato sauce and parmesan or olive oil, garlic and chilli.
Make the soup (this was for our dinner tonight).
1 cup lentils
1 tbsp dried onion flakes or 1 onion, peeled and diced
1 tbsp cumin
1 tsp ground coriander
Pinch dried chilli seeds
1/2 tsp dried garlic granules or 1 clove garlic, peeled and minced
1 cup tomato sauce
2 stalks celery, sliced thinly
1 large carrot, peeled and grated
2 chicken stock cubes
6 cups water

Pan fry the celery and onion in a little oil. Add the cumin and coriander and stir till fragrant. Add the other ingredients and simmer for one hour. Drop the gnocchi or dumpling dough in to the steaming soup just before serving.

Make the cinnamon stars with the bickie dough that's been chilling in the refrigerator.

Cinnamon stars recipe:

Halve the chilled cookie dough and keep half for another day. Roll the chilled dough out between sheets of baking paper. Use a cookie cutter in any shape to cut the dough into as many biscuits as possible. I got 35 small stars from half the batch of dough.

Line a biscuit tray with baking paper and transfer the biscuits to the tray. You may need to roll and cut the dough a second time and use a second tray depending upon the size and shape of your bickies.

Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar or caster sugar.

Bake them at 180C for 15-18 minutes until firm to touch. These bickies do not need to be browned, they just need to be firm to touch. That way they'll be crisp and delicious. They're brilliant made with gluten free flour too.
Turn the oven up to 220C to bake the scones.
Make the scones. I do mine in a slab and cut them into squares. That way everyone gets a soft edge. We like the soft edges.

Scone recipe:
- 3 cups flour
- 6 tsp baking powder
- 1 tin reduced cream or 1 cup fresh cream
- 1 cup sparkling soda water
- 2 dsp sugar
Prepare a large casserole dish to bake the scone slab in. Mine is 25cm square. Just give it a generous coating of cooking spray and set it aside.

Mix all ingredients in a bowl. Do not over mix. A light hand means light scones. Tip out on to a well-floured bench and fold the dough half a dozen times, then ball it up and transfer it to the casserole dish.

Flatten it out gently, it doesn't need to be smooth. These are nice kind of rustic looking.

Bake them for about 20-25 minutes or until the middle of the surface is firm and it sounds hollow when tapped.

Remove from the oven, allow to cool slightly, then use a very sharp knife to cut the scones into 16 neat squares.

Serve immediately with jam and cream or ice them with glace icing and enjoy later. Freeze any uneaten scones.
Make the hotcakes.

While the scones are baking, make the hotcakes according to the recipe, using the batter you've made and rested. One batch of batter yields 6-8 fluffy hotcakes.

Well, that was my 2 1/2 hours done. I didn't get to the Impossible Pie, the Spaetzle or the Dumplings for the soup, but I still managed to fill the fridge and freezer with enough goodies for the weekend and week ahead for mere cents per serve and a little bit of effort.

The more you tackle the idea of power cooking, the easier and more rewarding it gets.

Give it a try. :)

You can get updates on Mimi's new blogs on the Simple Savings Facebook page

or in our Members' Blog section.

9. Rob Bob's Gardening Blog: Backyard Fish Farm and Pests in the Patch

Fish Farm

I have spoken to a few folk online who loved our aquaponic set-up and the idea of raising their own fish and vegies but just didn't have the available space for the grow beds, and/or have a climate suitable to raise fish outside. Many did, however, have access to garages or basements where they had just enough room to set up a fish tank and some filters.

This led me to search YouTube where I came across one chap who had built a rather impressive indoor fish farm. Not long after that I went to a 'How to build a simple fish farm workshop' at a local community garden that was hosted by a leader in Aussie aquaculture design, Paul Van der Werf. After seeing how easily the system went together I decided to have a crack at it myself.

The system basically consists of two fish tanks, a Radial Flow solid waste filter, a biofilter and a sump tank.

The system itself may look a tad complicated with all the pipe work, but is actually very basic in its components. Here's a quick explanation of how they all work together.

The fish excrete two forms of waste; a solid which passes though the digestive tract and ammonia which is excreted through their gills.

The water flows out of the fish tank via gravity into the Radial Flow solids filter at the front of the system. The solids 'fall/precipitate' out of the water as the flow is disrupted and slowed down on its way through the filter. The clean water then flows through to the biofilter where the ammonia is processed. In this filter there are 85 litres of biomedia which becomes home to naturally occurring bacteria that process the waste ammonia.

One family of bacteria (nitrosomonas) transforms the ammonia (which is toxic to fish) into nitrite (also toxic to fish) and another family of bacteria (nitrobacter) transforms the nitrate into the more fish-friendly nitrate. The media we use in this filter is a commercial media used in water processing plants and I have also seen folks use nylon bird netting, plastic bottle tops and a few other recycled goods to help keep the cost down. From there the water flows into the sump tank to be pumped back up to the fish tank to make its journey around the system again.

There are a few things that need to be monitored while starting out, like the ammonia, nitrite and pH levels in the water, but once the system ages a bit and the bacteria colonies establish themselves and process all the waste ammonia, only fish feeding and minor maintenance is required.

In this system we decided to raise 50 plus Jade perch (25 or so in each tank) as they are a fast growing species and also have the highest omega3 levels according to CSIRO research. We hope to have them to plate size (600g) within 12-15 months and after that the fish farm will be turned into a second aquaponic system for the patch.

This update is a more in-depth look at how the fish and system are progressing.

Pests in the patch

One of the common pests folks have in the patch at this time of year is the white cabbage butterfly (Pieris rapae).

While they can be quite fun to watch dance through the yard, it is their progeny that we find ourselves declaring war on every autumn and winter.

You will find their eggs stuck to the underside of the leaves of your cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and other brassica plants, and when found are normally squished upon discovery. The caterpillars can be a bit trickier to find as their colouring lets them blend easily into the leaves. One thing that does give them away is their tell-tale balls of frass (insect poop). I may not have found the little blighter in the above picture if it had relieved itself elsewhere. ;)

The two best ways I have found to control these pests are by excluding them from the vegie patch using insect netting and by using the bacterial insecticide BT (Bacillus thuringiensis) on the plants outside the hoop house.

Vegie netting would have to be the best method for keeping the butterflies out of the patch and plants free of caterpillar damage. We have been using the current netting for three seasons now and it should quite easily last another three plus years. It also doubles as a light shade cloth come summer and I have read that it will help protect against light frost too. The first netting we used was the old mosquito netting from the girls' cot and, while this worked well, it only lasted one summer in the full sun. I have also seen folk recommend fabrics like tulle as it is cheap. The one down side is that they do deteriorate in the sun and will probably only last a season or two. I have also found that if you shop around you can get the proper UV resistant vegie net for the same price if not cheaper than the other fabrics like tulle.

Using netting can be as easy as pushing some stakes into a garden bed and draping the loose netting over the top.

Or you can go all out and make a basic hoop house to cover a few garden beds like we have. A semi-permanent structure like this comes in handy over summer as it only takes half an hour to throw a couple of lengths of shade cloth over the top to take the sting out of the sun.

A down side of having a vegie net hoop house is that it also excludes beneficial insects like bees, lady bugs and praying mantis. I find that I need to manually pollinate the tomatoes in the hoop house at the moment (tapping the flowers every day is my method) and I have also noticed that aphids tend to flourish in the hoop house with no predators to keep them in check. Nothing a quick liquid soap spray can't fix though. ;)

The BT insecticide is my weapon of choice for protecting the brassicas outside the hoop house. This powder is available from most garden/hardware stores and is very easy to make up following the directions on the packet. It is also safe for use around mammals, birds and fish and is used by certified organic farmers all over the world.

The one down side of BT is that it will also kill caterpillars that are not pest species, so I tend to only spray the plants I want to protect and not the whole garden. Another is that it needs to be reapplied every few weeks and can wash off in the rain, but as winter is traditionally our dry season that isn't too much of a problem up here.

Hope that give folks a few ideas on how they can control these nasty little beasties.

Well, it's time to do some landscaping for the new aquaponic system between the light showers of rain. Hope you've enjoyed the quick description of the fish farm and feel free to ask any questions you may have.

Cheers folks & have a great one,
Rob

You can get updates on Rob Bob's new gardening adventure blogs on the Simple Savings Facebook page

or in our Members' Blog section.

10. From Last Month: I Smell a Rat

Last month Susan emailed us about ideas for getting rid of an unwanted smell:

"I need help getting rid of the smell of a dead rat. My husband has been up in the ceiling twice but cannot find its body. The smell is particularly bad in one of our bedrooms. We heard a rat in the ceiling above the bedroom, but now there is no noise, just an increasingly bad smell. I would appreciate any advice or tips."

We got some fantastic ideas - thank you for sharing your wisdom! Here are some of our favourite replies:

De-odour bags absorb smells

My husband deals with pest control and his advice is to get de-odour bags from your local pest control supply store such as Garrards or Globe here in WA. They cost about $20 per bag. Put them in the roof as close to the source of the smell as possible and they will absorb the smell. You can also get this type of bag from epestsupplies.com.au. Hope it helps!

Contributed by: Allison

Place toilet deodoriser blocks around problem area

When it comes to removing smells such as this in unreachable areas, there isn't much you can do except wait for the smell to gradually die down unfortunately! However, in the meantime you can try placing a few toilet freshener blocks around where the smell is. It might just help!

Contributed by: Melissa B

Check under insulation for the culprit

Having had the same problem I do sympathise, the smell is terrible! Have you tried checking under the insulation in the ceiling? My husband has always found the dead rats under the insulation in the ceiling. You just have to let your nose guide you to which section of insulation it may be under. Not a pleasant task but this immediately gets rid of the smell! Otherwise you just have to wait for the smell to eventually pass but be warned, it may take a month or two.

Contributed by: Binnie

Let home-made deodoriser mask and absorb odours

This home-made carpet deodoriser is cheap to make and is great for absorbing all kinds of unpleasant odours, even dead rats! I make this by combining bicarb soda with cornflour 50/50, say a cup of each. To this I then add a good sprinkling of lavender essential oil, enough to make the scent STRONG (use the pure stuff, not the cheap, watered down variety). Mix it all together using an egg whisk as this breaks up any lumps, then let it sit in a screw top jar with the lid on to ensure good distribution of the scent through the mix. Sprinkle this through the roof cavity that is nearest to the smell. If you don't really like the idea of the powder stuff floating around on loose surfaces, use takeaway containers or similar and place strategically in the roof cavity. Also keep some of this in a few small bowls and place them in the room that the smell is worst in. You can also do this with eucalyptus oil for a really clean smell, or lemon essential oil is another good one. Good luck!

Contributed by: Lyn

Check in walls and under floors

What a nasty problem to have! The smell of a dead rat rises so there is a good chance it is either under the house or in the wall cavity. Hope you are able to find it and put an end to the smell!

Contributed by: Margaret

Soak the area in bleach

Dirty rats! Whilst our problem wasn't exactly the same, it may help. We had a very bad rat urine smell and stain in the ceiling of the linen cupboard. My husband crawled into the roof space and found where the stain was. He could hardly move in the low pitched roof and I was tapping the location saying 'here it is'! He then poured a litre of bleach on the stain. I could see the bleach soaking through the underside of the ceiling, so I soaked my mop head in hot water with a good shake of eucalyptus oil and propped it up on the underside overnight. The smell has now gone and while we will need to seal it and then paint the affected area, hopefully that will be the end of it!

Contributed by: Shelagh

11. This Month's Help Request: Help Me with the Winter Blahs

Treena has emailed asking for some help! She writes:

If you have any pearls of wisdom you'd like to share with Treena, please send them in to us here.

12. Goodbye for Now!

Well, that's your Simple Savings Newsletter for July and we hope you have enjoyed it. We hope you'll do some PowerCooking of some sort this month and see just how much easier it makes life in the kitchen!

Till next time...
All the best,
Fiona

July 2016 - Simple Savings Newsletter

"Secrets to Saving Money" Free Newsletter - July 2016

This issue includes:-

Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: Change of Scenery
July: Financial Weight Loss
Last Month's Competition: Brainwaves and Forehead Slaps!
Best of the Vault: Lighten the Load
Best of the Forum: Anything is Possible
Best Members' Blog: Coming Out of Crisis Mode
Best of SS Facebook: Decluttering the Pigsty!
Savings Story: Our Sea Change

Hi,

At this time of year it's easy to get stuck in the doldrums. If you're finding your usual money saving enthusiasm has been waning lately, this month's newsletter should help to bring it back! With plenty of tips and success stories to inspire you, we hope you enjoy reading it as much as we have enjoyed putting it together.

Wishing you a terrific month ahead,
All the best,
Jackie

1. Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: Change of Scenery

"Sal, come and look at this," Hanna waved Sally over to her computer. "Ooh, very nice!" Sally said as she took in the property on the screen. "Nice bit of land, water views, not too far out of town" "We're thinking of renting it," Hanna smiled. "You're WHAT?" Sally almost dropped her coffee cup. "But you already have a perfectly good house! Good grief, first you're going on overseas holidays, now this - Hanna what's happened to you? I can't believe you're frittering so much money away!"

"I'm not frittering any money away! If we rent our house out, we can rent this one instead. We'll actually be lowering our weekly expenses," Hanna grinned. "What on earth makes you think that?" Sally said disbelievingly. "Look at the size of that place, the rent on it must be huge!" "Not at all, you'd be surprised," Hanna explained. "We've done some homework and we can rent out our house for considerably more."

"I don't get it - how can a place like that possibly be so much cheaper?" "Location, Sal!" Hanna smiled. "John and I may have to drive an extra 15 minutes to work living further out of town but it's a small price to pay compared to how much we'll be saving. Plus we'll have more land so we can be more self-sufficient. We really will be better off than before!" Sally still looked doubtful, then a thought suddenly occurred. Of course! What else could it be? She bent down and whispered furtively in Hanna's ear. "It's okay, your secret is safe with me. You've won the lottery haven't you! I won't breathe a word..."

2. July: Financial Weight Loss

Appearances can be deceiving. At face value, Hanna's idea may seem incredibly decadent - but it really isn't at all. She isn't thinking about a bigger kitchen or an extra bathroom, she's aiming for freedom. In a nutshell, Hanna wants to lose weight. Financial weight, that is!

Think of it this way. The biggest weight around most people's neck is their mortgage. Even thinking of the word 'mortgage' can automatically make us frown, or wrinkle our noses! After all, once you have one, you're stuck with it. We accept it as an unavoidable expense; something which is not flexible, not optional. Or is it? As with most things, there are always alternatives. You just need to step back, be open to ideas and think... maybe. That's exactly what Hanna is doing. Here are just some of the ways you can reduce that financial weight. Whilst some of them require major changes, others don't; but they can all be very worth it.

Consider selling your home and buying a cheaper one with a smaller mortgage. Instant weight loss!
Look at where you live. Can you relocate to a cheaper area? This doesn't have to mean 'less nice' or moving miles away; as Hanna demonstrates, you can find your own new patch of paradise relatively close to home. It may cost you a little more in travel, but if it means reducing your mortgage by $100,000 or more, it's well worth it.
Take in a boarder. Make that spare room in your home work for you! Another popular option is to take in an international exchange student. Many schools welcome the offer of a local host family and as a rule it is a well-paid role.
Rent out your spare room. Organisations such as Air BNB are great if you have a spare room but don't want a permanent visitor. Another option is to rent out your home when you go away on holiday. This is becoming increasingly popular and enjoys plenty of positive feedback.
How small can you go? Think you can't possibly fit everyone in a two bedroom unit? Think again. If you can live in a smaller space you can reduce the weekly pressure of a mortgage and/or really high rent. Over the years members have shared some fantastic stories of how they have used their existing space to create another bathroom or extra bedroom, rather than buying a larger home or renovating. The key is to solve the problem without increasing expense.

As you can see, that mortgage millstone around your neck doesn't have to be so heavy. You're not stuck with it - you CAN change it. You don't have to do what everyone expects of you; there is always a choice. Like any 'weight loss' plan, you just need to find what works for you. Then go for it!

3. Last Month's Competition: Brainwaves and Forehead Slaps!

Last month we asked you to share your biggest financial brainwaves and blunders. We had a feeling this would be a popular competition and you certainly didn't disappoint! We thoroughly enjoyed reading each and every entry. They made us laugh, they made us cringe and it made us smile to read of each triumph over adversity. Choosing a winner was extremely difficult but the cash prize of $100 goes to Irene Bird, who told us:

"The dumbest thing I ever did with money was to spend ALL of my FIRST EVER pay check, at 16 years old, on the most fabulous pair of black and white shoes. I was in heaven! The only problem was they had six inch heels and I couldn't walk in them! I never did wear them, but oh I thought I would be the girl with the most beautiful shoes in the whole wide world! Needless to say I was heartbroken, and my mum, well, she was speechless!

"But the smartest thing I have ever done with money was to remember that stupid mindless purchase and to never be seduced into such a mistake again with my hard earned money. I am now 69 years old and I can still remember how I felt that day, and now I think before I hand over my money for anything.

"A great lesson learnt very early in life that has stood me in good stead."

Congratulations Irene and good on you for learning from your experience first time around. A big thank you to everyone who took the time to enter, we loved reading all your stories!

4. Best of the Vault: Lighten the Load

If you love the idea of reducing the weight of your mortgage but don't know how or where to start, head to the Vault to check out inspiring stories like these and many more. This month we bring you a bumper selection of some of our favourites as they're all too good not to share!

'Old dogs' learn new tricks and save $60,000!

We saved almost $60,000 on the cost of building our new home! We are just about to move into the house we owner built. We are both in our sixties and knew nothing about building. Rather than take on a mortgage, I did an Owner Builders Course online and we got stuck into building our house with the cash we have. We bought heaps of things from Gumtree and soon discovered cash is a great bartering tool. It has ended up costing us $126,000 to get to the stage the builders were going to charge us $185,000 for, so we have pretty much saved a third of the cost with the added bonus of no mortgage! We have had some fun along with some drama but even though it was quite hard work, it has been well worth the effort. It goes to show, you CAN teach old dogs new tricks; especially if they are willing to learn, and if you have the time to resource things yourself, you can save a heap of money.

Here is a link to the course I did (in WA) but you should be able to find one for your state: Absolute Education

We also did a White Card course through Urban E-Learning

Contributed by: Yvette Summers

Downgrading will see us mortgage free

My new 'granny flat' addition will see me mortgage free! I currently have two homes; my owner occupied home and my investment property that my grandparents live in and pay me rent for. The houses are side by side and we enjoy this convenience.

I recently worked out that because one block has a huge back yard for suburbia (a quarter acre) and plenty of backyard, I'd actually be best to build them a granny flat, letting us move into the house they currently live in, and we'll sell our owner occupied home.

For a short period, we will be stepping into a smaller home, but we will be 100% mortgage free once we have sold our house. That gets me out of $375,000 debt and saves me all the interest that I pay each year!

We'll slowly do our own renovations and extensions as we save the money, which we will be better able to do without that massive debt hanging over our head. Sometimes it's better to downgrade a little.

Contributed by: Wishful thinking

From lows come great highs

Our story is a great example of how thinking outside the square has enabled us to get ahead, even through the toughest of trials. My husband is on a disability pension receiving $450 per fortnight and I work 20 hours per fortnight earning $397. I have chosen not to apply for Centrelink benefits due to the numerous requirements. Our uninsured home burnt down 10 years ago leaving us homeless (I went into premature labour and spent six weeks in hospital with complications so I had somewhere to stay but my partner lived in our car with our two dogs for this time). We were at the lowest point ever and could not imagine how we were going to survive. We were advised to go bankrupt, which we did but we were now unable to get finance (in hindsight an absolute blessing) to get another house.

We did what most people do and rented a house in the suburbs thinking this was it for us. After three years of this we decided to look elsewhere and found a house in 'woop woop' which was $6000 (pre-real estate boom). Using my first home owner grant we purchased our house and although it was two hours from anywhere good, it was ours outright. This in itself is a handy hint to look outside of the box - our 'woop woop' town had a doctor, a supermarket and a school so it was fine and we lived there happily for another three years. At this point the real estate boom happened and we sold our house for $48,000 and decided to look outside the box once again. We ended up 2000km away from home in a place two hours from Adelaide. We still live here happily and after four years the value of our property has gone from $35,000 to $95,000 (I swear getting our first home owner grant was like winning the lottery).

But we still couldn't save any money so two years ago I cancelled my fortnightly family tax benefit from Centrelink (approx $200 per fortnight). It was hard - very, very hard for the first eight months but then it was tax time and I was very surprised when I received a tax return of more than $7000 with my lump sum FTB part A and B. We paid our bills and bought a second hand car. This year I paid a little extra tax each week ($10) and was pleasantly surprised by an $8000 tax return. With this we bought a block of land 30 minutes down the road (in a bigger town closer to Adelaide). The value of this block is double what we actually paid! Some people say we were lucky but luck had nothing to do with it - we were just prepared to live in very yucky houses in areas no one wants to live. Three months ago a house in our town sold for $21,000 which is around the same as the first home owner grant now and there are still others which would be around the same price. We don't have sewerage or town water but we have a school and a pub so it was certainly a change in lifestyle.

Other people have asked how we are doing so well now and I just laugh! We are earning $845 per fortnight and I have chosen not to work extra hours so I can still be a stay at home mum to our diabetic 10-year-old. We have private health cover, Internet, insurance, power, phone, petrol expenses ($100 fortnight), rates, medical expenses and even private school fees to pay but we still have enough to go around and often support other people with food, even though they are making much more than us. This year we plan on buying a second hand relocatable house for our block with our tax return. It may be a form of forced savings by not getting a fortnightly benefit but when it comes in it is amazing. Thanks to careful budgeting and Simple Savings we easily survive!

Contributed by: Lee

Leaving temptation behind

A while ago, after clocking up more than six years in a city office, I was on a downward spiral. Working in the city exposed me to the temptation of worldly things that I thought I needed at the time, for example, expensive clothes, shoes, parties, after work drinks and so on. My credit card was on a knife's edge until I eventually came around. I changed my tactics and gave up my pride. I left the city lights, applied for a government job close to home and have never looked back.

I've been saving at least $3640 on yearly travel expenses, such as petrol and train tickets. My new job offers me free travel on all public transport around Sydney city and suburbs.
My annual pay packet has almost tripled, compared to the petty minimum wage I was getting at the office.
I can now get up later, and get home earlier. This allows me to prepare meals I can bring to work the next day, saving me at least $50 a week, or $2600 a year!
I've sold the 'worldly' things I accumulated over the years at garage sales I've held, earning me a couple of grand in total.
I've paid off my credit card and my car within a year of working at my current job.
I've just bought a house which I'm renting out. I hope to pay it off in 10 years.
Finally, the self-confidence I have gained from all of this is priceless.

Sometimes, we don't need to look very far for opportunities. Not everything can be offered by the bright lights of the city...

Contributed by: Corinne Tullao

Living with one bathroom

Our family of seven is living proof that a second bathroom is an unnecessary luxury. A simple shower curtain has saved us thousands. Many people can't believe that we cope quite adequately with a single bathroom, particularly with three teenagers in the household.

Our toilet is located out of the bathroom and often people need to wash their hands or brush their teeth in the bathroom, while others are using it. With a good solid coloured 'non see-through' curtain, even the teenagers don't mind the bathroom being invaded as no one can see anything.

It also helps to have mirrors in each of the bedrooms, particularly with teenage girls, so they can do their hair and makeup in their rooms and not at the bathroom mirror. Some of us shower in the morning and some in the evening. Planning this saves a rush for facilities all at once. Sharing a single bathroom also teaches family members valuable lessons in sharing, consideration and co-operative skills.

When you consider that, at the most, people spend perhaps half an hour in the bathroom each per day, having a second bathroom with all the extra facilities is costing thousands of dollars that perhaps could be saved and put towards other things you may require. Plus of course cleaning one bathroom is much more preferable than two!

Contributed by: Tenacious1

Making the most of living arrangements

We have saved thousands on accommodating our family (two adults and four children) into our small three-bedroom home. With four daughters ranging from two years to 13 in age, it is essential that they have their own space, but building an extension was not an option. Here in Tasmania we were looking at up to $12,000 per square metre!

A larger home (with a larger mortgage) was also out of the question, so some careful planning was needed. We managed the perfect solution for less than $1000!

We sorted out the sharing of bedrooms as best we could according to age and personality. We then placed two sets of second hand steel bunks in each of the girls' rooms. We took out the bottom bunk of each set and made an under bed study/privacy area for each of the girls.

We got material and made curtains to surround the study areas in colours of the girls' choices. They all love their bedrooms and appreciate the privacy this setup has given them.

Just as we got sorted, my teenage sister came to live with us! After a week or two of her sleeping on the couch, we had to re-assess our situation. We looked around our small home for any wasted spaces that were being overlooked and found one.

We were using the back end of the lounge behind the couches as a toy/play area for our small toddler, but with a bit of planning, we have turned this area into a small bedroom for my sister.

Instead of dividing the room with a permanent wall, we have partitioned off the room with cupboards, three facing the lounge room and one facing into the 'bedroom', to be used as a built-in robe, all backed with burnie-board to the ceiling.

We then put a cavity sliding door off this new room, which leads out into our hallway and runs along the wall of our lounge. The new bedroom is big enough for a single bed, computer desk and has a nice new white built-in wardrobe.

We now have a new wall of storage cupboards in our lounge/dining area that looks neat and tidy. The cavity door cost us $180 in kit form from our local building/timber store. The new plaster to put up after the door installation cost us $40. Installation cost us nothing because we have a handy brother in the family. The four pantry/wardrobe cupboards cost $180 each. Based on the prices of houses in our area, we have saved between $40,000 and $100,000 in mortgage debt and in excess of $80,000 in house extension costs, based on builders' quotes.

Our living areas are now a little cosier than before but as everyone has their own little areas to disappear into as the need arises, we are so far managing very well.

Long-term, as our finances allow and the girls need more space and independence we are planning a relocatable cabin for the back yard. Timberworld has a plan for a fully self-contained cabin (kitchen/ensuite/laundry) with two bedrooms fully insulated, plumbed and wired, available for around $39,000. Compared to the price of extending our home, it is a huge saving. The girls will never have to be in a rush to leave home due to lack of space and they will have the best start in life that we can give them.

The only problem we have right now is three teenage girls and only one bathroom - but I'm sure we'll think of something!

Contributed by: Angela Duggan

Own your house before you turn 30

I bought my first house at 22 years old, and had paid the mortgage in less than eight years. The key is to get flatmates!

I had two spare rooms and acquired two flatmates paying $60 each per week. This eased my financial burden of a mortgage and made all the difference - it allowed me to save money.

At the time, my mortgage was $800 per month but I was receiving $480 per month from rent - so I only had to pay $320 per month. In effect, I was paying just $80 per week for myself; only $20 per week more than my flatmates, for a house that was mine!

My flatmates were friends of mine, who appreciated paying me a lower rent than they would have to pay anywhere else. We did this for five years which amounted to $31,200. If I had continued to live alone, it would have been zero! Not to mention, the savings I made on costs of telephone, power and gas, which were all split three ways.

Sure, at times it can be hard sharing house but it is definitely worth the sacrifice. My focus was to pay my mortgage off as soon as possible, as it is a loan that is not tax deductible. I used an offset account so I could take advantage of saving interest, but in the event that should something break down I could access the funds.

I never purchased furniture or expensive cars - I drove a bomb that was reliable, I shared living expenses and rented rooms, enabling me to stick to my plan to pay off the mortgage within eight years.

My income was only average, and I was single. It is not what you earn; it is what you do with it that counts! The beauty of buying a house is that while you are paying it off, it appreciates in value. A great investment - unlike purchasing a car, which only depreciates.

Contributed by: Afina

We bought three homes while on a low income and Health Care Card

We bought three houses on a low budget income, still having a Health Care Card. Finance was the hardest thing to overcome. I love to look at houses in the papers and would always feel bad as I knew I couldn't afford to buy anything. When I spotted a two bedroom house for $59,000 five years ago, half an hour from the city, I withdrew our four children's savings ($10 each a fortnight for two and a half years). I told them they could make a lot more interest (predicting about 10%) if they invested in Mum and Dad's house.

We managed to convince Keystart (the savings was what convinced them). We did all our own work - even the children got paid to dig the trench for the sewerage connection. We turned the kitchen into a playroom and the back room into a kitchen (we bought a nice kitchen out of the Quokka for $350 from a rich suburb).

We enclosed the front verandah and bought and stripped four french doors to make a nice third bed/sunroom, stripped wall paper, pulled up carpet, sanded and lacquered the house. We painted the outside white with $100 of old paint. We paid $1.00 per metre for nice dress material and made lovely curtains throughout the house for $20 plus hooks and tape.

All up, our renovations cost $5000 (and I don't even know how we found that over 18 months!). The only regret is that we sold the house too cheap before the price hike, but three and a half years ago we sold it for $95,000 (remember we bought it for $59,000).

We bought our next house in a similar scenario. At $70,000 they thought it could only be bulldozed, but a bit of elbow grease can do wonders! Everything was dark brown inside - walls, ceilings, carpet and wallpaper. We spent very little and lived there for a year. We are still renovating that but it is tenanted for $140 a week.

I wanted to live back in Perth and searched for a low doc loan as I was not happy with the service with Keystart; very slow to get finance if you are in a hurry. After some research I found Morgan Brooks and got a 6.75% low doc loan instead of 12% and was able to borrow more. No papers required to prove income, just an estimated amount for the year.

We bought our first brick home in 2005 for $160,000 after lots of negotiating, 13km from the city. We saved $4500 on the previous offer because we had finance nearly approved and had no house to sell. We were able to get the loan because by that time, the other house had increased its value from $70,000 to $140,000!

Five months in our new home we are feeling a little tired of renovating but now need two more bedrooms for four teenagers. The main reason for this is their huge private school fees. What happened to their savings money I withdrew five years ago? The kids now all have $10,000 invested - I think that's a lot more than the predicted 10%!

Contributed by: Kathleen Smith

5. Best of the Forum: Anything is Possible

This month we asked some of our Forum members to share ways they had managed to reduce their mortgage and/or make it more manageable. For some it meant making major changes; for others it required little effort - but they all worked! Here are just some of their responses:

Shifting suburbs

"We have just bought a house in a different suburb, but still have our house to sell. So we haven't downsized our mortgage - yet. We will be moving from a four-bedroom, two-bathroom new house to a three-bedroom, one-bathroom 1960's house. We wanted to reduce our mortgage but also the house is in a more convenient area for our life 'at the moment'.

We have decluttered and are quite minimalistic. We don't have to have all the latest techno gadgets and have realised that we as a family don't really take up as much room as we thought. It will be different but not impossible and we are looking forward to the move. Financially, we have reduced our mortgage by about $70,000." Claire

Resisting peer pressure helps us reduce

"We have 'reduced' our mortgage by resisting peer pressure in inner Sydney to take on large scale renovations. Instead we repair and focus on small changes that make big improvements to our quality of life.

Big renovations with borrowed funds may turn out to be worthwhile in capital gains for others who have taken that route, but for us it's more important to be debt-free, work less (or retire earlier) and spend more time with our kids." Batsy

We moved across the street and saved $80,000!

"We moved to a cheaper house, which just happened to be directly across the street, and reduced our mortgage by $80,000. We haven't altered our repayments since interest rates have dropped, and use an offset account. I also rang and asked for a rate reduction, thinking we could get a loan with another lender (didn't work out) but we did get a 0.03% rate drop; better than nothing!" Penelope Pitstop

Lodgers helped me become mortgage-free

"I was committed to paying my home loan early so looked at the timeline, then got calculator out and did some calculations. The balance owing in the timeframe equals how much per fortnight I would have to pay to get there. My two sons also had to contribute their share even though they are on Centrelink so we all paid 33% of power and water and they paid all the Telstra bills.

"I live away from home as it was the only way I could earn enough money to reach my financial goals. I then decided with the house I rent in NT, having two housemates to share with me would mean keeping my actual costs minimal. I set up direct debits so I never saw my money and with this in mind I reached my goal a lot quicker than I thought possible.

"I do have sanity money and this makes me feel I'm getting small rewards immediately not just two, five or 10 years down the track. A budget/money plan is a must or you don't get a true picture of your financial situation.

"I think internet banking and rounding down whenever possible started me in believing I could do it. I am now mortgage-free and after a couple of months catching up on bills and topping up the emergency fund I will be using the same principle with my super." Fit & Trim

Relocate and reduce

"I moved from a small two-bedroom flat in Sydney to a three-bedroom house in a regional city. I still had a mortgage in Sydney, but I am now mortgage-free!" Sue P

'Making do' paid our mortgage in 10 years

"We started two years before we even got a mortgage - we lived in a terrible flat that had very cheap rent, and lived on one wage and saved the other. We had a large enough deposit to avoid mortgage insurance.

"We bought a house on the outskirts of Melbourne, as we wanted to be able to pay it back on one income.

"When my first baby was due to be born, my husband was offered a full time job, an hour's drive from our house, so we rented it out and found a rental for ourselves close by his work. He walked to work, so we went down to one car and one mobile phone.

"In this time interest rates were dropping, but we kept our repayment amount the same. The rent we got in paid the mortgage and we were able to claim a lot of expenses on tax. The rent we paid was quite low, and we were able to put extra on our mortgage.

"I used my sewing skills to make clothes for my children out of remnants and adult clothes. We were given or lent a lot of baby stuff, and I haunted the op shops.

"I learnt to cut my own hair.

"We went on holidays, but stayed with family members or went to a caravan park and made our own food (instead of eating out).

"When we got close to paying it off, we stopped buying anything unnecessary. I used broken washing baskets for at least six months.

"Our house was paid off in 10 years.

"I couldn't have done it without the wealth of knowledge and support I found here, particularly the threads 'Run My Freedom'." Shelstar

$20 a week is all it takes

"A friend of mine has paid $20 extra a week on top of her mortgage and this has reduced her loan by $22,000!" PlanB

Read the full thread here: How have you reduced your mortgage?

Another highly recommended thread is 'Home finance basics' from super savvy member Stephen Lake.

"This thread has some golden rules for quick mortgage reduction - basically they say it all! Over the years I've done almost all of the points Stephen has raised and have paid off in total five mortgages by doing these." Seachange

6. Best Members' Blog: Coming Out of Crisis Mode

This month's Blog winner is Mona with her post 'Coming Out of Crisis Mode.'

"Much to my surprise I found that upon reflection I had been living my life in crisis mode. This has happened to me few times in my life; once when I separated from my husband and found myself a single parent to five. I was left with no assets and huge debt. From the day we separated I struggled to get through each day. With days merging into weeks, months would go by in a heartbeat and there was little joy in my life. This was a shock and a life altering event as was a vicious assault two years later that left me reeling and finding it impossible to manage. So how did I end up just surviving once again? I really cannot tell you and rather than one event, multiple occurrences built up and the proverbial straw indeed broke this camel's back. I had ill health, lost my job, family issues, the aging and poor health of my parents and the financial burden of being a low paid and aging woman. I looked up and there it was - I found that I had gone from a happy woman to a very sad lady struggling to get by.

"Supported by friends and my wonderful online team of virtual friends I have fought my way out. I have so very much to be grateful for and now that, God willing, I am recovered I am wanting to put things slowly back together again. The house that resembled a hoarder's haven is slowly getting back to the happy home it should be. A menu plan and home-cooked meals are replacing that last minute dash to buy takeaway. The insecurity of casual work has given way to permanent work, though at a lower rate per hour by a fair amount, it is regular and as safe as any work can be in our times. I am finding joy once more in the simple things; a drink in the garden and playing with the dog, even that one last child living at home is as delightful as it can be. How does coming out of crisis mode increase my financial security? Well the answers are numerous.

"I can now menu plan and on the days I have off I can cook several meals in advance and add them to the freezer. I am able to look for specials at the stores and go with a detailed shopping list. I have the time to keep an eye on the fridge and what ingredients need using up are used and not left to waste. My budget is done and stuck to. I no longer look to spend money to 'make myself feel better'. I am always reflecting on things I need to do and in ways reaching out to my children to keep contact up and to keep myself abreast of their lives. I am able to settle down and make gifts with the many craft items I already own.

"The most important thing is that I am living my life, not surviving it. I also was very much shocked to find that I, in my turn, am capable of making a huge difference in other people's lives. Twice in the past few days an elderly acquaintance told me I made all the difference to his life, and that he looked forward with great pleasure to see me walk into his room. The daughter of another elderly lady said that I always made her mother smile. Work colleagues began to remark that my happy countenance and joy in coming to work lifted their own spirits. My mother commented only yesterday that she looked forward to my phone calls and that my upcoming visit was the one thing in life she had to be joyful over. My youngest daughter's friends left me a note to say they loved coming to visit at my home because I was 'awesome'.

"We never know how our smallest word or deed impacts others. A simple smile or friendly word can make the lives of those we know or even just pass by, so very different. Without knowing it we can make or break the spirit of others. SO, from today on I am devoted to making each moment count and hopefully I can go on and bring a small ray of sunshine into the lives of those I pass on this wonderful journey of life."

What a beautiful and inspiring post, Mona, thank you for sharing!

You can read more of our members' blogs here.

7. Best of SS Facebook: Decluttering the Pigsty!

Love Facebook or hate it, the Simple Savers Facebook page is a great way to learn even more tips and enjoy reading of other members' successes. This month, Chels discovers the joys of decluttering and can't wait to share it with the rest of us!

"I just wanted to say how proud of myself I am. I got tired of seeing my house look like a pigsty. I had no homes for lots of stuff so this week I have gone through nearly everything (including linen, kitchen cupboards, bathroom cupboards etc). My kids' rooms were disgraceful, they were so messy. We managed to get rid of so much stuff and donated a lot of it to people in need.

"There was so much junk. So much material junk. Stuff I really didn't need but purchased because I wanted it. I have not had an urge to shop at all since because I am enjoying the space and downsizing.

"This has been a big eye opener for me. And I guess a big 'savings journey' because now I know how much money I have wasted over the years I don't want to spend a cent on things I no longer need again!"

Good on you Chels, great work! Joining our busy Facebook community is super easy. Either search up 'Simple Savers' on Facebook or click this link and request to join. Once you're in, let the fun begin!

8. Savings Story: Our Sea Change

Last month one of our members, Linda Stapleton, wrote to tell us how she and her hubby were working on downsizing their mortgage and preparing for their retirement. We wanted to share her story with everyone to show what can be achieved when you think ahead and think outside the square.

"I wanted to share the story of our 'sea change' with you. Some time ago we purchased our new retirement/investment home. It took a while and we had a few fumbles... some solicitors simply shouldn't be practising. We came out of the sale in a better position financially than we thought we would, having over-estimated the amount of 'emergency/fees back up money' we may need. We now have a nice nest egg, a small mortgage and are now landlords with enough rent to pay all of our expenses such as mortgage, insurance, rates and so on. It can be done if you research it and are realistic about your 'wants'.

"We had to adjust our perception on what we needed to retire. To begin with, we were judging what we needed on what we had now. Then we realised we would be a lot older, less agile and would have a completely different lifestyle, slower and less demanding. Our perspective on what we would 'need' changed dramatically. Downsizing our 'needs' changed our view on what sort of home we would buy and changed the price dramatically as well. It also changed the income potential, effectively increasing how much we would earn in relation to our outgoings. We had to weigh all of this up when looking at every property. Basically it was the bigger the property, the bigger the mortgage but the amount of rent we could get was about the same as what we could get for the smaller property in the same area - actually some of the cheaper places brought in more rent than a larger property could bring in. We found a place that brought in the same rent as a larger property and was half the price but of course half the size. However, there are only two of us so half the size and less outside maintenance actually suited us better anyway. It is an individual decision, of course.

"Thankfully this is now all in the past and we have our home. It is rented and we are ready to sort our belongings, weed out what we don't need and begin the process of preparing to retire. We have ten years to do this but have years of stored and accumulated 'stuff' to sort out. We are now decluttering and re-purposing our belongings to suit our future.

"I will start having garage sales and selling on eBay, which will be a new experience for me. I will be doing an inventory on my 'stuff' to see what I have and what I can make with it. I will also use techniques I have learned with Simple Savings to reduce my belongings and to make money on them.

"Our sea change is now inevitable. How smoothly this transition occurs depends on how much hard work I can pull off in the next ten years!"

Linda, you are one very organised lady! Congratulations, we look forward to hearing of your progress.

9. Goodbye for Now

That's it for another newsletter. We hope you have found it helpful and has got you thinking of ways you can reduce the weight of your mortgage or other debts. Don't forget you can enter our 'Hint of the Week' competition every week too! Simply send in your favourite money saving tip (you can enter as many times as you like) and you could win a 12-month membership to the Vault. We really appreciate each and every tip we receive. See you next month!

All the best,
Jackie

July 2018 - Simple Savings Newsletter

Simple Savings Newsletter - July 2018

Practically Nude
Scary Spices
Finding Ingredients
Competition: Ideas for Spinach and Pork
Quiz: How Nude Are You?
Thermomix, Bloody Thermomix!
Impress the Chef
June Winners: Warming Up For Winter
Puppies!

Hello,

How are you going? I hope you are doing well. Earlier this year one of my young and single girlfriends asked me, "How much time do you spend in the kitchen?" After looking puzzled for a bit, I replied "I don't know. Why?" "It is like you spend your whole life cooking. My image of you is a person who cooks all day and all night."

Her comment really surprised me and that night I worked out I was spending 25+ hours a week preparing food for my five humans, one teen and four dogs. Since then I have been on a quest to reduce the amount of hours I spend preparing food (Cooking, cleaning, shopping, planning) without increasing the costs or lowering the quality.

In this newsletter I'm going to share this journey with you.

I hope you find it handy.

All the best,
Fiona

P.S. The new site is even closer than it was last month. My husband, Matt, is hoping to switch them over while no one is looking.

1. Practically Nude

All this year I have been having fun with my own brand of Practically Nude eating which is high nutrition, low cost, convenient and low on plastic. Most people think this is impossible; that cheap food is unhealthy, time consuming and bad for the planet. They are wrong.

I'm going to show you how we eat well while keeping the costs and my time in the kitchen low. I do it by shopping smart, cooking large batches, loving my freezer and re-arranging my cupboards.

Shopping smart is the key

When I say 'shopping smart', I don't mean following the latest Coles catalogue or getting dragged into Surprise Buys at Aldi. 'Shopping smart' means doing your research and finding ways to consistently buy low priced high quality ingredients in your area.

For example, 18 months ago when meat prices skyrocketed I shopped around and found a place to regularly buy pork roasts for $4 per kilo. (Meat City, in Morayfield)

When we first moved to Buderim I found a brilliant place for fruit and vegetables. At the moment, they are selling their store grown silverbeet for $2 a bunch. (Erbachers)

Cooking Large Batches

Making double, triple or quadruple quantities of a dish saves time and energy. It makes life easier. I can make three night's dinner in little more time than it takes to make one. It is really satisfying.

Loving My Freezer

When eating meals from the freezer all you have to do is defrost, add some fresh veggies and herbs or seasoning and re-heat. It is so easy.

If a new freezer isn't in your budget, hunt around Facebook and Gumtree. Last month I bought a second hand 300L upright freezer on Gumtree for $150 and gave my small chest freezer to a friend.

Re-organising Your Kitchen

Making your kitchen more efficient is a great way to save time. This year I have re-arranged everything in my kitchen cupboards to make ingredients easier to find and reach, and reduced my time spent cooking. Read on for the details.

2. Scary Spices

My old spice box used to look a lot like this. Messy, unorganised and downright scary. Digging through it to find spices was a massive waste of time. The trouble is, my kitchen is really small and I couldn't think of a better way to store my spices.

One day I was staring at the blank space on the side of my fridge and thought; "If only I had magnetic spice containers. I could line them up in alphabetical order on the fridge and never have to dig through my scary spice box again."

After some searching (and a few fails), I found magnetic spice containers for $1.86 each including delivery.

I bought a pile of containers, made some quick labels and here is the result:

Woohoo!! Now I can find the spice I need in a couple of seconds and have reduced my cooking time for almost every meal. The only problem is the spice containers do not stay in rows for long. My kids like to move them around and pop things in them. Sometimes, they look like this:

But even that is far better than my scary spice drawer.

I love my new spice rack, it inspired me to attack my ingredients cupboard...

3. Finding Ingredients

The other way I was wasting massive amounts of time was in finding ingredients. This is how my ingredients cupboard used to look:

A massive wall of containers which all look the same. Every time I wanted to find something I had to hunt my way through. Pulling out and inspecting the containers was a huge time waster.

I have tried quite a few labelling systems over the years, but they all had problems.

The Decor 'tellfresh' are hard to read. They had a long chat with my bin.

My label maker was a fail because the labels were hard to remove and it lacked flexibility.

The stickers I found online were fails because they are all the same colour.

...or changed colour for no apparent reason.

Also the range of available ready-made ingredient labels was tiny. Our diet means I use lots of ingredients no one made labels for.

The system I had been using was to cut the label off the packet and put it inside the container:

This works, but is really inefficient and I was still spending ages looking for ingredients.

It was time to invent my own colour coded, flexible, efficient, long lasting, time-saving labelling system. It needed to be:

Easy to use
Easy to read
Easy to clean
Easy to remove
Easy to maintain
Flexible
Long term
Affordable

Most of all, it must reduce the overall time I spend in the kitchen.

I wanted something in which you can invest a few hours now which will reduce the amount of time you spend cooking each and every week for many years.

The solution is a laminated, colour coded, Blu-Tackable labels.

The lamination makes them long lasting, easy to clean and suitable for a whiteboard marker.

Colour coding them into the categories made the ingredients easier to find at a glance.

Now my baking ingredients are easy to grab at a glance. If I'm after flour, I skim the dark blue labels. If I want rice, I skim for bright yellow. If I want chocolate I skim for a dark brown label. Colour coding the labels makes finding the ingredient I need much faster.

The labels are attached and removed quickly with Blu Tack.

All the spare labels are stored in one box with the Blu Tack and a whiteboard marker.

The whiteboard marker is for writing new labels for unusual ingredients.

The system even has index tabs so labels are easy to find and put away.

I have been using and improving this system for a few weeks and I absolutely love it! It is saving me time every time I cook.

You can download the whole system to print out, laminate and install in your kitchen, it is free to download until the end of July.

download it here.

After that it will become a Members-only treat. If you are not yet a Vault member, it costs a tiny $27 per year.

4. New Competition: Ideas for Spinach and Pork

Buying pork roasts for $4 per kilo and silverbeet for $2 a bunch is fantastic, but I'm running out of ideas for new dishes. This month we are giving away $100 for the best pork recipe and $100 for the best silverbeet recipe. We are also awarding four $50 prizes for best tips for using silverbeet and/or pork.

To enter, send in your story by July 30th. Email your entries to: competitions@simplesavings.com.au

5. Quiz: How Nude Are You?

July is the perfect time to sit our nudity test. The nude food quiz takes only a minute and evaluates your shopping and eating choices to help you work out "How nude are you?"

Check it out, here.

6. Thermomix, Bloody Thermomix!

My friends have been nagging me to get a Thermomix for years. Even though these are my good friends, and I trust their advice and purchasing decisions for so many other items, I'm cynical when it comes to the Thermomix.

My resistance has been mostly to do with 'commitment bias'. You see, the more money, time and energy you invest in something, the more likely you are to think positively of your choices. Basically, a Thermomix is a huge investment and no one wants to admit they made a $2,000 error, so they would tend to shout its praises even if it sucked. The other reason I don't trust Thermomix praise is their business structure rewards people for saying nice things about them.

The upshot of this was that every time someone said anything nice about a Thermomix, I treated the information as untrustworthy. Or, as one of my other friends said: "Stop telling me about your bloody Thermomix!".

When my friends bugged me to get one, I would explain that I have a good blender, stand mixer, stick mixer, stove top, and plenty of helpers, I don't need or want a Thermomix.

Well, in the last six months my blender broke, my stick mixer broke and my stand mixer has been making frightening sounds. I decided it's time to try one of these blasted Thermomix things! I'll test it out for a month, I figured, and if it doesn't make a solid contribution in my kitchen, I'll sell it on. No real risk. If it is brilliant I'll keep it. If it's poor to average, I'll sell it.

Of course, there was no way I was going to pay full price! Are you kidding me?!

After a bit of shopping and quite a bit of research I concluded that a Thermomix is a very complicated machine, and fixing a broken one is not worth attempting. I found you can sometimes buy them unopened, with warranty, on Gumtree. A new one costs $2,089 from Thermomix. Unopened Thermomixes on Gumtree range from $1,650 to $1,900.

Four weeks ago I bought an unopened Thermomix for $1,700 with 17 months warranty.

You may not know this but I haven't eaten gluten or lactose for 20 years. Neither does my constantly hungry 16 year old son, Sam. This means I have endured awful or ridiculously expensive bread. I have tried every gluten free bread mix on the market. I paid $7.69 per kilo for brown rice flour and $25.26 per kilo for almond meal. If I'm feeling really kind I buy Sam's favourite Zehnder White Gluten Free Potato Bread for $12.12 per kilo.

Since getting the Thermomix that has all changed.

I now buy brown rice for $2.20 per kilo and make my own Brown Rice Flour. Saving $5.49 per kilo.

(We would have to eat 310 kilos of brown rice flour to recoup the cost of my second hand Thermomix.)

The other reason I'm so impressed with the brown rice flour is while brown rice is really easy to get, brown rice flour is one of those ‘difficult to buy’, ‘special trip’, ‘up to $17 per kilo’ ingredients only sold at health food shops. Being able to mill my own instead of making a special trip to the shop is a big time saving.

With the Thermomix I am now making gluten free bread which is tastier than Sam’s favourite $12.12 per kilo bread, for $2.40 per kilo. Saving $9.72 per kilo. (I'll tell you more about that in another newsletter.)

I'm saving $12.34 per kilo on almond meal by buying almonds (skin still on = more fibre) for $12.92 per kilo and milling them instead of buying blanched (skinless) almond meal for $25.26 per kilo. If you doubt the importance of almond meal, then you need to try my favourite chocolate cake recipe, in the next section. :-)

So the Thermomix can mill stuff. It does many other things too. For example, we have weaning puppies here at the moment, and making puppy food in the Thermomix is a heck of a lot faster than what I was doing before. The Thermomix is saving me money and time.

My friends were right and it is time for me to eat humble pie (made in the Thermomix, I guess). Our diet means I should have bought a Thermomix years ago when they suggested it. Not having one has been costing me money and time.

I'm keeping the Thermomix. It passed the test.

7. Impress the Chef

If you are wondering what I do with so much Almond meal, a lot of it goes into a cake my chef brother-in-law recently declared is "the best chocolate cake I have tasted in ages."

This cake tastes so good no one will suspect it is gluten free and dairy free.

Ingredients

1 tsp bicarb soda
100 grams cocoa
½ tsp salt
300 grams almond meal
400 grams caster sugar
2 tbsp vanilla sugar
300 ml olive oil
250 ml water
6 large eggs

Method

Pre-heat oven to 180 degrees
Grease and line a large cake tin or two medium cake tins
Grab a medium bowl, large bowl and a sifter
The large bowl is for your dry ingredients
Sift bicarb, cocoa and salt into large bowl
Add caster sugar, vanilla sugar and almonds to large bowl and mix
In the other bowl, mix olive oil, water and eggs
Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix well
Pour into cake tin and bake for an hour

(The cream on top of the cake in the photo is Lactose free. The chocolate on top of the cake is gluten and dairy free. This recipe has been adapted from Nigella's Olive Oil Chocolate Cake.)

8. June Winners: Warming Up for Winter

Last month's entries to our "Warm Up for Winter" competition were fantastic. Simple Savers are very clever, good hearted people. Our winner was Jenine, who has been on a mission to stay warm while lowering her bills, followed by Susan Z who is on the same mission, and forum regular Clutterhen whose story is so gorgeous it makes me wish I was one of her children. Congratulations Jenine, Susan and Clutterhen. Here are their entries. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I did.

The winner is Jenine B

I have been on a mission to reduce our heating costs and have some great tips to share.

We have a wood heater and I looked at making paper bricks but it seemed too messy, labour intensive, time consuming and it is recommended that you buy a special brick making tool. Instead, I've come up with a simple and quick way to use materials around the house to make the wood go further. I cut up empty toilet rolls into mini tubes and then roll up old documents, office paper and newspaper (not glossy paper or paper with a lot of printed colour) and insert them into the tubes. The result is like this.

These mini logs don't last as long as wood but they can be made very easily and last much longer than scrunched up paper.

We have draughty old double hung windows. On the internet you can find a number of videos showing how to use plastic wrap and a paint scraper to easily stop the draughts by pushing the plastic gently into the cracks all around the window until the draft is sealed and the plastic cannot be seen. Instead of plastic wrap, I’ve been using waste plastic from packaging so it is completely free.

I also use bubble wrap on windows that I don't need to look out of. For bubble wrap double glazing, you simply cut the bubble wrap to the size of the glass, spray the window with water and place the bubble wrap onto the glass. It will usually stick and stay there - some of my bubble wrap has been on the windows for a couple of years now. It still lets the light in too. You can find detailed instructions on the internet by searching for "bubble wrap double glazing."

Our old house has a number of vents high up in the walls where a lot of heat was escaping to the outside. These vents were designed in the times where heating was usually from open fires and unflued gas heaters. If you don't have either of these types of heating it is worthwhile closing them off. To do this, I simply used an old bucket of plaster type filler I found in the garage and filled in the holes. You can still see the vents but I think they have a bit of character so I don't mind that.

A couple of years ago, I purchased Heat Saver Vent Covers from a Queensland manufacturer. These great covers are made to order and cover evaporative cooling vents during winter to stop heat from escaping. They attach using a white magnetic strip which is virtually invisible on the vent when the cover is off. You simply hold the cover close to the vent and it attaches and it is just as easy to remove. I have added bubble wrap into the covers to further increase the insulation value.

I hope these tips provide some ideas for Simple Saver members. They have certainly made a difference to our heating bills!

Jenine

The first runner up was Susan Z. She has these tips to drop her power bill by 70%.

Use electric blanket and electric throw blankets in the evening rather than heating the bedrooms. It uses less power to keep you warm.

Use power saving solar lights in the evening, they can be wall mounted or attached to a bedhead or even hooked on the current lamp, it goes in or near the window during the day to recharge, there are lots of types out there, and yes, they are bright enough to read with. Just make it a part of your going to bed or getting up routine to put them to charging. (this can be used all year, but it helps subsidize the extra electricity cost of heating in winter or cooling in summer)

Use sensor lights and the most cost-efficient globe for the purpose in such rooms as bathroom, toilet, stair well or hall. These lights can often be left on unintentionally, raking up a hefty power bill.

Making sure linen and bedding is appropriate to the time of year can prevent the use of heating overnight, using timers, sensors etc on heaters is a great way to only heat the house when you need. Most modern heaters can be set to come on and turn off at particular times. For example, if you don't like getting home from work to a cold house, set it for 20mins before you're due home and to turn off 20mins before 'bed time'.

Adopt a policy of 'if you are cold, have you got on a jumper/socks/slippers/dressing gown, shut windows/curtains/doors etc' before turning on or turning up a heater.

Turn it off at the switch, have electronics set up on power boards that can be turned off at the switch early when not actually in use, they drain a lot of power even when the appliance if turned off, anything with a light to show it has power to it, is using power!

My family has implemented these simple steps, here is our last power bill to show the difference it can make

The next runner up was forum regular, Clutterhen. I love the heartwarming way she keeps her bills low.

In the colder months when we get home from school and work we keep moving to get all of our jobs done as soon as possible. We cook dinner if it hasn't already been precooked. Baths and teeth brushed early so everyone can settle in Mum's bedroom which is the only room in the house where we use heating. Mum's room was chosen as it has the biggest bed but any room is good.

I warm the room about 30-60minutes before we head in there. Once in the room, homework, study, work paperwork, reading, TV, movie, crochet etc are done together in mum's bed staying warm under the doona. Sometimes chairs and trolley table are brought in if someone wants it.

I also make hot chocolate or tea and something warm like a toastie if supper is wanted.

This saves on electricity and encourages warmth among us by being closer together as a family.

9. Puppies!

Earlier I mentioned we are weaning puppies at the moment. Even though this has nothing to do with saving money, I thought you might like to see some puppy photos.

The first one is the little boy when he was four weeks old.

The next is of Elora keeping the puppies company. She is reading on the iPad while the puppies crawl all over her.

The last photo is of the puppy trying to bite Jacqui's thumb. He is teething.

Can you tell the puppies get a lot of love in our house?

Before anyone asks; these puppies are not for sale. They already have beautiful homes to go to. The children aren't for sale either. I'm definitely keeping the children... Unless I get a really good offer on my sixteen year old. Selling him would help me on this quest to drastically reduce the time I spend in the kitchen.

Till next month...

Many grins,
Fiona

June 2010 - Simple Savings Newsletter

"Secrets to Saving Money in Australia" Free Newsletter - June 2010

This issue includes:-

Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is
Houses of Straw
July is $50 Challenge Month!
Double Dinner Competition Winners
Best of the Forum: Stashing it Away
Best of the Vault: Hidden Surprises
$21 Challenge - Read Chapter 2 Free!
Savvy Cook Showcase: Tristan's Terrific Techni-coloured Taters
Penny's Blog: All Things Bright and Beautiful
Homeopathy Corner: Kitchen Cupboard Cures
From Last Month: Coping as a Carer
This Month's Help Request: Share the House, Halve the Cost?
Savings Story: Live Like Kings on Op Shop Budget

Hello,

Things have been going along well in the Lippey household. It's amazing how fast the kids are growing up. Sam was just one when we started Simple Savings. Now he is eight years old and so grown up! I often try to take photos of him, but he always runs off as eight year old boys do and I end up with a photo of the side of his head as he flees. However, I have discovered this is because I have been taking the wrong approach. The best way to photograph an eight-year-old boy is to try to take a nice photo of his sister. Then the eight-year-old boy will insist on being in the photo, so he can harass his sister! If only I'd worked this out sooner!

Sam has also just hit that next stage where he is getting the hang of telling jokes. Last week when he yelped after stubbing his toe, he followed with a dead pan 'Don't worry, I get fatal injuries all the time'. I was in stitches! I don't know where he gets his dry sense of humour from, must be his father!

Matt is a great daddy. He is kind, he makes us laugh and does more than his fair share to keep our bills low. Like last week, when he needed new glasses. The lady tried her best to appeal to his ego so he would buy expensive frames. 'Do you want to try these $300 frames? They will look good on you,' she assured him. 'No thank you. I'll just go with the cheap ones,' said Matt. 'But - don't you want your glasses to make you look good?' the lady kept trying. 'No,' Matt replied. 'I'm only going to be wearing them in the car at night and no one is going to see me. I'll just get the cheap ones.' LOL! Well done my gorgeous hubby.

It is great that we are all in this together. And, we ARE in this together. Simple Savings exists because you support us and your support means we can afford to help people. When someone writes in to thank Simple Savings for their help, they are thanking you as much as they are thanking me. So when you read these thank you letters, pat yourself on the back! Thank you for helping us to help people.

"I love Simple Savings. I use a weekly menu planner and as a family we decide what we would like. That way, if I am not home in time from teaching or my hubby has been called out to work, the kids can see what's on the menu and put the vegies on for us. Saves us getting takeaway and the kids can also take the food out of the freezer the night before if I forget. Thanks for the menu planners, I love them!" (Joanne Sharp)

"I came across the Simple Savings website by accident only last week and already I'm hooked. I have subscribed to the free newsletter and just by reading the Newsletter Archives, I have been motivated to tighten the purse strings.

"I am currently on maternity leave so only on the one income at the moment. Although we have budgeted for my time off, it always helps to save on those everyday expenses, such as the grocery bills.

"I was intrigued by the $21 Challenge that I came across on your website. Although I have not yet purchased the book, I read the first chapter on your website and took it upon myself to have a $21 Challenge this week. My grocery bill this week came to $15.85 (that included eight litres of milk)! It is amazing just how much food we already have in our freezer, fridge and pantry.

"Your website has inspired me to check out our local weekend markets where I bought my fruit and vegies this week. Such a saving! It has also motivated me to make good use of the delicious navel oranges that we have growing on our tree in our backyard. I have been cooking up an orange storm in our kitchen this week!

"Thank you so much for an amazingly practical and resourceful website and newsletters. I'm sure it won't be too long before I subscribe to the Saving Vault! I'm hooked! Thank you again." (Lisa Whawell)

"Using the $21 Challenge principles I have managed to drop my weekly shop from $120 or so to around $50 which also includes adding $5.00 to my Christmas club account at our local supermarket. I have saved over $400 in six weeks! I now double check and have a new saying - 'do I really need that or can it wait until next week?' This is a very new way of shopping for me as I have always spent lots of money on food every pay. Instead of food my savings have been going towards my loan which is fantastic. A huge THANK YOU to the $21 Challenge for the big savings I have made so far!" (Stephanie Peehikuru)

"I just wanted to pass on my thanks for the smart person that created the Weekly Power Calculator. I downloaded it after receiving another exorbitant electricity bill and used it weekly to track our energy use for the last three months. To my surprise, it actually worked, and today when I received my latest bill in the mail it didn't come as a shock, as I already knew how much we had spent for the quarter. I was only out by $1.00 which I can live with!

"Thanks once again for all your great advice. We will be using this worksheet from now on!" (Natasha Bencich)

"Thanks to SS member Belsie, I have saved $140 in two minutes after reading her hint! Whilst walking my dog yesterday I saw a tree lopper's truck and mulcher parked in our shopping strip. I asked the driver if he was working in the area today. He was and now I have over two cubic metres of mulch delivered to the exact spot to 'mature' for 2-3 months for free! At our local Mitre 10 good mulch costs around $55 per metre, plus delivery charges of $30. If it wasn't for Belsie's Facebook hint I don't think I would have thought to ask. I am so happy with my savings! Now all I need to do is negotiate some free help in spreading it!" (Marg Stanton)

All the best,

Fiona Lippey

PS: VAULT SPECIAL NOW ON! You asked for it, you got it! This month you can buy a Vault membership for just $33 compared to the usual $47. $33 isn't much money and you will get much, much more than $33 back. Check out our Save-O-Meter, which shows our members have already saved over SEVEN MILLION dollars - and that's just the savings we know about! You can join the Vault here. Join now and find thousands of ways to help you with your $50 Challenge! Offer closes midnight 31st July.

1. Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is

"Don't you dare point the finger at me, Peter!" Sally jumped down her husband's throat. "I have NOT been spending money behind your back! I might have made a mistake or two in the past but I've been trying hard to make up for it and you know it!" "Well if that's the case, where on earth has all our money gone then?" Pete demanded. "Can you tell me please, because I sure as heck don't know!"

"Yes I can! I can tell you exactly where it's gone!" Sally stormed. "The kids needed new winter clothes, my car needed two new tyres - and we spent $300 on YOUR new reading glasses, remember? It's been an expensive month. Have a look at the bank statement if you don't believe me and see for yourself," Sally waved it under his nose.

"No, no, there's no need," Pete grunted. "I'm sorry I had a go at you, I'm just angry. We're going backwards, still! What are we going to do about it Sal?" "What are WE going to do about it? On the contrary, I'd like to know what YOU are going to do about it!" Sally asked. "I've been doing my bit for months. We're saving heaps on the food bill since I started cooking in bulk. Heck, I even learned how to feed the four of us on $21 for a week! No, Dear, this time it's your turn for a change. I'm challenging YOU to find a way to boost our bank balance!"

2. Houses of Straw

Men and women often fight about money; who spends what, when, where and why. In newsletters gone by, it has always been Pete accusing his wife of sending the family backwards. Admittedly, Sad Sally was and still often is a Sad Sally, but Pete has his moments too. For their household to get ahead, saving money needs to be a team effort.

When we started Simple Savings, Australia was in a boom period. Everyone thought they had money; people swanned about showing off their pretend wealth. The people who enjoyed saving money were a fringe group. They were the boring ones, the sensible ones, making an effort to pay off their mortgages. The dull people, saving for a rainy day. The ones in the older houses driving older cars that everyone else looked down on. Like the third little pig in the famous fairy tale, they thought of their future and built their financial house out of bricks while the others played.

Everyone else built their homes out of straw or wood but it didn't matter. People had lots of money and the economy was buoyant for so long that everyone was fine as no wind ever came. The people in straw houses laughed at the people in the brick houses, who were careful and cautious. But then the wind blew. Credit dried up and the straw houses started falling down. People were no longer laughing.

In the last three months 33,000 manufacturing workers lost their jobs. This means 100,000 Australian manufacturing jobs have been lost since the start of the GFC. According to the latest Fujitsu Australia Mortgage Stress Report 40% of first home owners are currently experiencing some type of mortgage stress and at least 218,000 households are at risk of having to sell, refinance or foreclose their homes, right now. Things are pretty serious. Things are getting pretty grim behind closed doors. And, (sorry I had to say it) the wolf is at the door.

So what does this mean? If you built your financial house out of bricks, then just like the third little pig you can come to the rescue. You can help your neighbours who have built their houses out of straw. The easiest way is to lend them a copy of your $21 Challenge book. Don't buy them one - that could be seen as insulting. They have probably gone to a great deal of effort to hide their problems from the world and you weren't supposed to have noticed. Just say, 'I love this book! You have got to borrow it and try this recipe. It is so yummy.' Then let them keep your copy as long as they need it.

If, however, you didn't build your financial house out of brick, you will need to make some tough decisions. The first is, can you afford to keep your house? Not a hypothetical house but your real one, the one you are paying off or renting right now. Seriously, look at your finances and work out how long you can afford to live where you are. Then get yourself to a financial counsellor. Quick. Times are changing and the sooner you are prepared the better.

After you have been to see a financial counsellor, come back her and read through our old newsletters. Go in chronological order, starting way back in December 2002.

3. July is $50 Challenge Month!

This month we are challenging you to find a way to save an extra $50 for every week of July. We don't mind how you do it, just give it a go! After all, $50 a week is not just $50 a week. It's $200 a month or $2600 a year!

Think about what you spend each year on bills. Have you ever worked it out? Many Simple Savers are very efficient at working out their monthly and weekly spend, but have you ever tried working in reverse?

Check this out for an average annual bill tally:

$1300 - Car registration (two cars)
$2350 - Insurance (house, two cars and mortgage protection)
$1820 - Electricity
$520 - Water
$1700 - Phone (one mobile, house and Internet)
$460 - Council rates
$1800 - Fuel
$5000 - Groceries
$5200 - Cigarettes (two smokers - yikes!)
Total $20,150

If you could look at your own tally like this, you probably wouldn't wonder so often where your hard earned cash goes every year, would you? In fact you would probably want to take a darn good look at what you are spending and take a few steps to cut it down!

So here are our top 10 ways to start plotting your course towards saving some extra money each week.

Say goodbye to alcohol, cigarettes and junk food - Stop buying those everyday luxuries you take for granted - such as Coke, alcohol, cigarettes and junk food. Fact - you don't need them. They just take up a lot of the spare money you have and are things that you really can go without. If you can do this, you will soon find that you have money left over for emergencies or to put away in the bank.

Revisit your expenses - Keep yourself accountable each week for what you are spending to achieve your goals. These tools from the site will help you.

Get a piggy bank - You just can't beat the old fashioned piggy bank. This creates a visual reminder to capture those little handfuls of change you come home with. At the end of the year, you'll have a nice little savings fund for Christmas.

Pack your lunch - Don't go out for lunch every day. Pack your lunch instead! This can easily save you $50 a week.

Don't forget to ask - Ask for a discount. You might find that many places give unadvertised discounts. For example, paying in full instead of monthly installments or just asking the plumber next time he visits. Many things are negotiable if you ask!

Lower your meat costs - Meat is generally the most expensive source of protein. By cutting down on just one expensive meat meal per week you can save $50. Make a lovely quiche or vegetarian meal instead. You and your wallet will be better off.

Lower your interest rates - Call your bank and/or credit card company to negotiate a better interest rate on your loan or outstanding debt. This can save you hundreds in interest payments.

Use only one car - Get rid of the second car. Just trying to get by on one car may seem like a challenge, but it's well worth it if you are a two-car family. How does at least $1000 in insurance and registration savings sound to you? That's not even including the petrol savings!

Use your library more - Instead of buying books and renting movies, use your local library to check out books and movies for free.

Get excited about saving - Find a passion for saving money. Not because you want to hoard all your cash, but because you want to use it for you and your family's future. And don't forget about your own retirement. Enjoy watching your savings grow, safe in the knowledge that you won't have to depend on someone else for your future.

4. Double Dinner Competition Winners

Well done! This month's winners are Naomi D and Colin S. Both have won a cash prize of $200. Well done!

Naomi D.

Wow! Naomi D did a fantastic job cooking up a frenzy making a fantastic freezer stockpile. She sure earnt herself a week off from cooking. Here is her winning blog post.

"Well, only a week or two left till our new bub is welcomed home so I have been cooking up a storm filling our freezers. It is now jam packed with hundreds of containers (each shelf is a few layers deep) of yummy food ready to heat in a hurry and feed our hungry family!"

"I hope cooking an extra meal or two for the freezer is going well for everyone else this month :)"

Colin's recipe is:

Granny's old fashioned chicken and dumplings

This recipe is more or less a stew, but can be added to to make a soup. It is faintly British in style (i.e. the dumplings) but has become 'all-American' in style over the years. This recipe reminds me of my granny (who is still alive at 103!) because chicken is her favourite meat and she's always used the cheapest cuts to save money! She could give us all lessons on how to make a dollar stretch - she lived during the Depression and I think that taught her to be extremely resourceful.

Ingredients

Stock/soup

1-3 kg chicken, skin on (whole or parts)
3-4 L of water (to cover chicken)
2 stalks celery
2 carrots
2 cloves garlic
1 whole onion
1/4 tsp dried sage
1/4 tsp dried marjoram
1/4 tsp dried thyme
Salt (to taste)
Pepper (to taste)
2 tbsp butter
2 tbsp vegetable oil
2 dried bay leaves
5-10 whole mixed peppercorns (if you don't like pepper leave it out)
1 cup frozen baby green peas
1/4 cup cream sherry
2 cubes chicken stock powder (optional)

Optional: The herbs are optional, but do make it taste better, as is the sherry. The alcohol in the sherry cooks out leaving behind a warm, rich flavour but if you don't have it, leave it out as well.

Dumplings

2 cups plain flour
1 tbsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 cup milk (preferably full cream but any will do)
3 tbsp fat (copha, butter, or other - I use butter)

Optional: You may wish to add a few pinches of pepper, sage, thyme, and marjoram to the dough, but if you don't care for them, leave them out.

Equipment

Measuring cups and spoons
Large stock pot - holds approx 5 litres of liquid
Lid may be used but not necessary
Colander
Slotted spoon
Sifter
Large mixing bowl
Microwavable jug
Soup spoon for making dumplings
Large spoon or ladle for stirring

Method

Stock/soup

Wash your chicken and place into your stock pot.
Fill the pot with water to cover the chicken but leave a good amount of space (2 inches or so) between the lip of the pot and the water so it won't boil over.
Place onto stove top and turn on high. Add celery, 1 carrot, garlic, and your onion (unpeeled with roots cut off).
Add herbs, salt, pepper, butter, oil, and bay leaves to your pot. Bring to full rolling boil, and turn down to simmer (medium-low to low heat). You may place the lid on at this point to keep steam from escaping, but leave it ajar so the soup won't boil over.
Allow to simmer for 1 hour or a little longer. Turn stove top off for safety.
Remove all the chicken and vegies from the pot, placing vegies aside (see notes below). I do this over the sink in case there's any spillage and it IS hot! I place the hot pot in one sink and an empty colander in the other. I slide a slotted spoon into the chicken cavity to remove the chicken in one go, but it sometimes falls apart, which is where the slotted spoon comes in handy.
Plunge the hot chicken into cold water so you won't burn your fingers. Alternatively, leave it in the fridge to cool.
Debone your chicken by removing all usable meat and placing it into a separate bowl. Discard any bones.
Add the chicken pieces back to the pot - I usually shred mine, but you can leave it in large chunks if you wish.
Turn stove top to medium, add peas and your thinly sliced second carrot. Bring back to a boil and turn down to simmer again. By this time the water will have reduced by 1/3 to 1/2. You don't want any less than 2 litres left so add some water if needed to bring back to this level.
Add sherry.

Dumplings

These are simple drop dumplings so the batter will be thick and gooey, wetter than bread dough and will need to be pushed off the spoon into the pot.

Sift your flour into a large mixing bowl, add baking powder, salt and herbs if you wish.
Pour your milk into a microwavable jug and add the fat. Heat in your microwave for about 1 minute or until fat turns to liquid and mixes with the milk.
Pour slowly into dry ingredients and mix thoroughly with a spoon until all dry ingredients are incorporated and wet.

Combining the two

Make sure the stock is simmering well with little bubbles coming up all round - almost a boil but not quite.
Spoon up a spoonful of batter, push it off the end of the spoon with your finger into the stock. It should float right back up to the surface, if not, increase the heat a little. Continue spooning batter into stock until all batter is gone. You can adjust the size of the dumplings as you wish. Some like them large golf ball size and others like them smaller. It's your choice. If this is your first time, try a few of each and see which you like.
Once all the dumplings are in, stir well and continue to stir and cook over medium heat for approximately 20 minutes. If you want to be sure, cut a dumpling open with a butter knife. It should look fluffy on the inside, white and wet or slick on the outside. It should not taste like raw flour. If so, cook for another 10-15 minutes.
Taste the stock to see if more salt or pepper is needed. If it is too thick add some water - if it becomes too watery add another cube of chicken stock and cook until desired consistency is reached.

Notes

This is a 'taster's choice' type of meal. You make it to your own taste adding or subtracting when and where you like, but that also makes it quite versatile. If you like more carrots and less peas, do that! Or add other vegies to your liking. Just don't leave the chicken out! I tend to put this on early Saturday or Sunday mornings and it's done by lunch, takes little effort or watching, too.

You can get fancy and buy your stock, or make it for pennies if you wish. Making it takes a little longer but is well worth the effort in my book. If you already have chicken stock made you can use that for a much richer stock or you can add a chicken frame or two to the pot! Chicken bones render much more flavour to soups than does the meat. You can roast the chicken frames (not the whole chicken with meat) and vegies beforehand for an hour at 180C. Adding these to the pot makes it wonderful and adds a different depth to the flavour. So try it, experiment with it and see what you come up with that you and your family like.

This meal can be reheated on the stove or microwave and is usually better when eaten the second day after cooking! It can also be cooked in a slow cooker, adding the dumplings and cooking on high for another 45 minutes. It can be frozen too.

I generally mash up the celery and carrots to go into my dog food, but it could be used in baby food as it will be so soft. Discard the rest.

Trying to convey this dish for others is hard as I've always cooked by sight, taste, feel, and that ephemeral bit of intuition that grannies seem to imbue their apprentice grandaughters with. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to be able to cook it nor does it take much skill. It does help if you know how you like things to taste! This SHOULD taste like a warm, rich, chicken stew, with lots of little bits of soft bread to make it all the more filling.

*I did have to estimate the cost of this dish due to the fact that I buy chicken in bulk, but with pantry ingredients this should cost no more than $15! And generally around $10 or less.

5. Best of the Forum: Stashing it Away

We just love the way members are always ready to share their secret ploys to save money throughout the year! These clever ideas make saving money easy and painless.

50 cent holiday fund! Wow!

Wise Owl is one wise lady indeed! In just seven months she managed to save over $1230 for her holiday - all of it in 50c coins! Learn how she did it here.
read more...

Extreme money saving ideas story

Maria just had to share this story after reading of an incredible woman in the UK who successfully managed to live for a whole year on just one pound a day! Read all about it here and be inspired too!
read more...

What is your best money saving purchase?

Sometimes you need to spend out a little in order to be able to save a great deal more long term. LizzyLoo considers her chest freezer to be one of her best investments and asks other members to share theirs too in this fun and interesting thread.
read more...

I will not buy lunch in June

It doesn't have to be just in June! These members have discovered that taking your own lunch to work is saving thousands every year. Grab some handy ideas for lunch here.
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Recession challenge #42

Don't let the recession get you down! Join this merry group of enthusiastic SS'ers for friendship, support and a good few laughs along the way.
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6. Best of the Vault: Hidden Surprises

You never know where extra cash is lurking! These tips from the Savings Vault will soon have you hunting around for new ways to save!

The hidden cost of magazines

It took me only two years to save a deposit for my first flat - all because I stopped buying and reading magazines. The obvious savings came from the cost of the magazines; I was buying Cleo, Cosmo and New Idea. What I hadn't counted on were the follow-on savings, and I wish I had done it sooner.

I was no longer persuaded by the glossy advertising. I stopped buying make up, clothes and household gadgets that I simply didn't need but felt compelled to buy. The message I got from these magazines was that something in my life was missing, even though it was fine. Fifteen years later I am doing really well but my two friends continue to spend frivolously on make up and clothing - I wonder if it has anything to do with the piles of magazines in their homes.

Contributed by: Moo Moo

Save thousands with an empty wallet

The easiest way to save thousands every year is to avoid spending on your cards or using your EFTPOS savings. Instead, use a bus pass holder to keep your license and a few dollars for your day's needs (for example, transport, coffee and so on) and leave all your cards at home.

I have saved thousands of dollars with this strategy as I have a tendency to be an impulse shopper. If you do find an item that you really must have - just ask the shop to put it on hold for you. They should be happy to do this.

You will also find that when you walk away from a purchase and have to think about it for a day, you usually do not buy! The vast majority of purchases are impulse buys.

Even when you go to the supermarket, just take the amount of cash you want to spend on groceries that day. This forces me to stick to my budget. I do sometimes leave a $20 note hidden in my car for emergencies, but I make sure to hide it in the boot under the spare tyre so it is not easy to access except in an emergency!

Contributed by: Michael Philipou

Make money from your spare room with Crashpadder

A fantastic website has helped us pay an extra $800 off our mortgage! With rising interest rates we had been thinking about letting our spare room out to earn some extra money. We had previously rented it out to a friend for several months, but as it is also our guest room and we frequently have guests staying with us, this was not really ideal. I decided short term accommodation for travellers would be best, as we could charge a little more for the room (to cover such things as electricity, Internet and so on) and we could just do it when it suited us. We hoped to meet some interesting people, and make a little bit of money along the way.

A little online research later and I discovered the fabulous website www.crashpadder.com set up for exactly that reason! We registered, and have now rented the room for a whole month to a lovely English couple, earning an extra $800 to put towards the mortgage for that time. Crashpadder has a feedback system too, so you can rate places you stay, or people that stay with you. I can't wait to see it get as big here as it is in the UK!

Contributed by: Kelly Cloake

Do a $21 Challenge in your bathroom cupboard

Apply the same principle of the $21 Challenge to your bathroom products! Over the years I have received many little gift packs of body lotions, body washes and the like. I've always put them away, thinking 'because they are small, these will be good to use when we go away on a holiday'. However, the quantity I had far outweighed the amount I needed for any holiday! So I did a complete clean out and gathered all of the body washes, shampoos and such together. I used a clean, empty 250ml handwash pump bottle and poured all the little bits of body wash from the mini containers into it. I also did the same with other bottles for my shampoo and conditioner. I am saving heaps on buying body wash and shampoo by finally using what was just sitting around the house!

Contributed by: Kristy Dorrepaal

The 'better you' budget

I have stumbled upon the perfect budgeting tool which costs me nothing and helps me save a fortune! I had a huge mental block regarding frugality until I started using this mantra to help keep my money in my pocket. Before I make a purchase, I ask myself the following question:

WILL THIS MAKE ME A BETTER ME?

Will a new top make me a better me? Will an iced coffee make me a better me? If not, I don't need it. I have found this to be a great antidote to wasting my money. Now I can focus on what my values are, what my priorities are, on what is really important to me. I'm no longer feeling deprived and am spending my money wisely. Try it - it really helps!

Contributed by: Heather F

Saving money is all fun and games Contributed by: Dale Findlay

Sleep saves me money! Contributed by: Tracey D

Double up and double the savings Contributed by: Maria Vialle

Saving is easy from weekly indulgences Contributed by: Vicki Cochrane

7. $21 Challenge - Read Chapter 2 Free!

We thought it was about time we gave you a wee update on the $21 Challenge book! This month we have been enjoying some fantastic reviews. A big thank you to KiwiParent magazine and also The Sensible Sisters for giving us a plug and saying such wonderful things about The $21 Challenge! Click here to read the Sensible Sisters review, or here to read the KiwiParent feature.

Exciting stuff - but that's not all! For the first time, both the first AND second chapters of the $21 Challenge book are available to read online, absolutely free! Sharing them with your friends couldn't be easier, as not only are they available to read on the Simple Savings site, you can also read them on our brand new Facebook page!

The first chapter has always been available for preview but we decided to make the second chapter free because when Jackie was touring around libraries talking about the $21 Challenge, she discovered that people couldn't stop talking about the second chapter of the book. They said it really inspired them and made them want to save money. We thought that was fantastic but even more so, we thought it was really important that everyone could read that chapter, so that we can help as many people as possible. So check it out and tell your friends too!

You can read Chapters 1 and 2 here: (Chapter One) (Chapter Two)

You can purchase the whole $21 Challenge book here!

8. Savvy Cook Showcase: Tristan's Terrific Techni-coloured Taters

This month's Savvy Cook is none other than two-year-old Master Tristan Lippey! You would think after having four kids I would know better than to leave a two-year-old alone with a piece of flat bread, a bottle of tomato sauce and a jar of sprinkles while I changed Elora's nappy. While my back was turned, Tristan took it upon himself to make a sprinkle and tomato sauce sandwich. I almost growled at him, 'What have you done?!' Fortunately my brain kicked in and I said to myself, 'I want this child to learn to be independent. I want him to learn to cook, I want him to experiment!' So instead of growling, I applauded, 'Well done! Tomato sauce and sprinkles - very creative! Now, do you mind if I put those sprinkles away and come back with the camera?' As you can see, he was very proud of himself!

Tristan loves to cook. He particularly loves cooking with sprinkles and that is how we have ended up featuring one of his own original recipes in this month's Savvy Cook Showcase!

Tristan's Terrific Techni-coloured Taters

One evening, Tristan was helping me to bake potatoes. I asked him to sprinkle the salt - but all he heard was 'SPRINKLES!', so now we have a new favourite family recipe!