Berry nice savings to be had on blueberries!

I have found the answer to enjoying the health benefits of blueberries is in the freezer aisle! Blueberries are so good for you, but very expensive if you buy the punnets of fresh fruit. The regular price of fresh ones works out at well over $30 per kilo and while they look nice on a fruit platter, they don't have a lot of flavour. Instead, I now buy frozen blueberries at around $4 or $5 per 500g pack - less than a third the price! Simply throw a cupful in the microwave with a teaspoon of sugar and zap for a minute or two. Much tastier and are delicious with ice cream, natural yoghurt or just on their own!

Get every last cent out of your powder foundation

I have found an easy way to use up every last bit of make-up powder foundation. You know when you have almost got to the end of your powder compact, and all that is left is the powder on the rim? It's sad to waste, but so hard to use. Not any more, however! I've discovered it can easily be removed using a small spoon or lolly stick, then transferring it into another container. From there, you can simply apply it with a brush, like a loose powder! From now on, every time I buy a new compact, the left over bits first get mixed together and used. These days I never run out in between buying my more expensive foundation. Better still, I get to use the crushed foundation powder for 'everyday' and keep the new compact for special occasions, making it last even longer!

Wonder cleaner for the stove

I had moved into a home with an old kitchen and the stovetop needed a really good clean. I tried everything to shift the baked on grease from the rings that surrounded the coil hotplates but to no avail.

My friend suggested removing the rings and soaking them in Napisan and hot water. I actually used a generic brand nappy cleaner and it worked just as well. To my utter surprise, it removed what must have been 20 years of baked on grease. The stove looks brand new! I then did the same with the grill and oven racks, and they too came up sparkling and shiny.

For maintenance, some vinegar in a spray bottle cuts through any grease or grime left on a stovetop after cooking. But beware of vinegar on or near marble, as it eats right through it!

I thought this hint would be particularly useful for anyone moving into a rental property or having to clean their rental property before they move out. You'll save on cleaning products and get your bond back! And don't throw out pots and pans covered with grease or grime. Give them a Napisan treatment and save dollars.

Create a 'roundtuit' fund

I have found a great way to stop impulse buying. I turn the money I would have spent into a 'roundtuit'. A roundtuit is one of those things you always put off and say you will get 'around to it'. Have you always wanted to learn to ride a horse or treat yourself to a massage? Or buy an art print but, because of the expense, have never got around to it? Well, I now put the money I would have spent on impulse buying straight into my roundtuit fund.

Instead of buying that glossy magazine, I look at the price and I put that amount into a special pocket in my wallet. I try and jot down what I nearly bought as well. When the time comes to buy the art print I have always wanted, I can see that it was worth two magazines, a fast food lunch, a shirt on special and a home delivered pizza. I don't feel guilty because the purchase has been funded by my roundtuit fund.

I no longer waste money on stuff I don't really need and I can also see where I am most likely to waste money, which will hopefully protect me from temptation. Most importantly, I'm able to achieve my dreams, almost without realising it. It's a great way to save for what you really want, so isn't it about time you got around to it?