A Year of Saving - February 16th 2015

Well it's the 16th already and I'm just now catching up.

I love No Spending Month, it really makes it easy to keep my money in my purse. So much so that apart from milk, bread and some fruit I haven't spent a cent. So far I haven't even put petrol in my car - staying home really does save a lot of money.

I have had a couple of treats, lunch with Mum on Thursday. It's her treat, and there is no way she'll not have it so I don't even try to change it. But we have been having "cheaper" lunches.

We were away for a few days, took our food from home, camped, so no money spent. And it was bliss to be out of phone range for that time. No phone, no internet, no TV, no radio - just the sounds of rivers, birds, March flies and deer to break the silence. One night we had a deer wander through our campsite - oh my goodness they are huge and they make such a loud noise, it sounds like steel dragging over concrete, especially in the middle of the night :)

Since we've been home there's been only milk and bread bought.

I've done a quick freezer inventory and I think I can put off a meat shop until the end of March. The freezer is full, there is a lot of meat and chicken still, but I've been freezing tomatoes, eggplant, capsicum and beans from the garden too. Definitely no money spent there, I love free food. The seeds and water do have a cost, although it is a very small cost. Once I've been able to grow enough food to cover the cost of the seeds and water the rest of the crop is free - it really does pay to grow your own food.

Today, because it is a little cooler, I'll do some baking and get some biscuit dough into the freezer. The cake tins are empty and while we don't eat a lot of sweets if they're empty for too long I may have a revolt on my hands.

Oh, tonight's dinner will be "free" too. We had a roast chicken last night and I've pulled as much meat as I could off the bones to use in our fried rice. The bones are now in the freezer to make stock.

The dehydrator will get a workout today too. I've set it up on the back verandah and filled it with basil leaves. The basil is just growing so fast it is going to seed before I can use it. I picked about half of it early this morning and it's now drying so I can crush the leaves and store them for later. I have to say the verandah smells divine, sweet basil is one of my favourite scents.

We have 17 pumpkins growing in the backyard. I've been turning the every day so they don't get any soft spots on the skins. Come winter we'll have as much pumpkin soup as we can eat and I'm already salivating at the thought of all that lovely roasted pumpkin we will have. Drizzled with a little olive oil and sprinkled with crushed garlic then baked until soft it is just amazing.

Not much to report, but still a few savings and a lot of "non-spending" so far this month.

Dishwasher Stuff

Anyone who knows me, knows that I love my dishwasher. I view my dishwasher as the one essential I can’t do without in the kitchen. I can’t stand a dirty, cluttered sink and I really hate washing dishes, so the dishwasher is a genuine need.

Now, I've had this same machine for over 10 years and it’s still going strong, doing wonderful things to dirty plates, glasses and cutlery and pots and pans and definitely saving me money, time and energy. Oh, it was cheap too – we only paid $400 for our dishwasher, it’s by no means a whiz bang fantastic machine. It is exactly what I want: a dishwasher I can put dirty dishes into and pull clean dishes out a short time later. Bliss!

There are a few tricks you can use to keep your dishwasher doing a top job, ensuring your dishes and glassware are properly washed and dried (no rough bits or spots!). And they are simple, easy and inexpensive, too.

1. Connect your dishwasher to the cold water. There are a couple of advantages to this: you’ll use less energy and the cold connection actually improves the wash performance of the machine. This is because with the cold connection, the water in the cabinet has to be heated and while this is happening, the dirty dishes are actually soaking. This softens food particles, especially those such as egg, which would “cook on” if they were rinsed with hot water immediately. Of course, if you are after speed, hook the machine to the hot water and the washing time is reduced.

2. Dishwashing detergent: It’s a personal choice, but I haven’t had a problem with the Homebrand Automatic Dishwasher detergent. I've also used ALDI dishwasher detergent (which has been discontinued) and of course Finish with great results. Your water will determine how much detergent you need to use. For soft water areas, 10 - 20 grams of detergent will do the job, in hard water areas, double it. I use two teaspoons of dishwasher powder for a normal load. If the pot or plates are particularly greasy, burnt or sticky then I use three teaspoons of powder. And yes I measure it out. The container of powder has a teaspoon in it just for this purpose.

TIP: Don‘t ever be tempted to use your ordinary hand-washing detergent it will cause way too much suds, giving an unsatisfactory wash and could even harm the machine.

3. Detergent substitutes: Use 1 tablespoon of bicarb soda with 1 tablespoon of borax. If you will be using this mixture on a regular basis, add vinegar to the rinse cycle every few loads.

TIP: Stretch your regular detergent by mixing it with the bi-carb/borax mixture.

4. Don’t rinse. Scrape off the chunks of food, but never pre-rinse items for the dishwasher. Automatic dishwasher detergent is highly alkaline and needs the acidity of the food to reach optimum cleaning action. Besides, rinsing wastes time, energy and water.

5. Stack it properly: Follow the instructions in the manual for loading the dishwasher. Make sure that dishes and cutlery allow the spray arms move freely. With cutlery, stack some up, some down in the basket.

TIP: For safety s sake, make sure pointy knives are point down in the basket.

6. Rinse aid: A rinse aid improves the sheeting action of water and leaves dishes sparkling clear, but it can be pricey. There are a number of generic rinse aids available, and they seem to do a reasonable job.

TIP: White vinegar is a reasonable substitute. Fill your rinse aid dispenser with straight white vinegar. Occasionally toss a cup of white vinegar to the last rinse to keep everything looking good!

7. Save water: It takes less than half the amount of water to run your dishwasher that it does to wash them by hand. So, give yourself a break and save water and money, too and let your dishwasher do the job for you!

Cash Only!

How are you going with No Spending month? It can be easy to spend when you don't have to physically hand over the cash. Those credit and debit cards make it seem painless to buy things - just swipe, or these days tap, and collect your purchase. Simple! Easy! Painless! And at budget friendly!

For the rest of February try shopping only with cash - for petrol, milk, lunches, groceries, bills - and see what a difference it makes to your life. It will take some getting used to, but you can do it. And if you are worried about emergencies 'hide' $50 in the zipper compartment of your handbag or wallet. But don't spend it - it's emergency money only.

Force yourself to actually walk into a bank (of course you have time - you must get a lunch break and if you don't then use the ATM) and withdraw the cash you will need to get through the week. Then leave the plastic at home in a safe place and see how your attitude to spending changes.

When you know you only have so much to spend you are very conscious of what it is spent on.

MOO Doggy Soap Bars

Our dogs often become a part of our family, giving love and loyalty to us, and trusting us to care for them. We can feed them and make sure they are immunised, walk them and play with them and give them toys to play with.

And we bath them. Yes, our dogs need bathing regularly to maintain clean, healthy coats and skin. But did you know your dog can be as sensitive to chemicals in soaps and shampoos and end up with irritated and painful rashes, just like we can if the shampoo isn't right?

This Doggy Wash is gentle, safe and easy to make.  This soap includes tea tree oil as a natural antibacterial, vitamin E for skin healing and a gentle glycerine soap base.  Vegetable glycerine is easy to use (melt-and-pour), a natural vegetable product, very moisturizing, and extremely gentle on sensitive skin.

Doggy Soap Bars

You will need:
1 block Melt-and-Pour vegetable glycerine soap base
10ml liquid Vitamin E oil (found at pharmacies and natural health stores or squeeze from capsules)
5ml tea tree oil (do not be tempted to use more - this is the safe dose for dogs!)
Soap moulds (small yoghurt containers, silicone cake moulds etc.)
Cooking spray
Isopropyl alcohol

Step 1.  Fill your double boiler with water and bring it to the boil. Turn heat down so the water is just simmering.

Step 2. While the water is coming to the boil prepare your moulds. I use silicone cupcake moulds and spray them with a little cooking spray. Put them on a baking sheet so they have a stable base to cool on. You can use empty cartons, cans, muffin pans - anything that can withstand the heat of the melted soap base (it gets very hot).

Step 3. Cut your block of glycerine into chunks, about 2cm in size.

Step 4. Add the soap base to your double boiler. Pop the thermometer in the side and keep an eye on the temperature - you don't want it to go over 50 degrees Celsius. Stir the soap so it melts evenly. If the temperature goes up, take the pot off the heat and continue to stir until all the soap has melted.

Step 5. Take the soap off the heat and stir in the Vitamin E oil and the tea tree oil.

Step 6. Fill your moulds. I use a soup ladle, you can use a jug or a large spoon - anything that will hold the hot liquid.

Step 7. Spritz the top of each mould with the rubbing alcohol as soon as you fill it.

Step 8. Let the soaps harden. This will take at least a couple of hours. Turn them out of the moulds. Wrap in plastic wrap or store in a sealed plastic bag or container.  Glycerine will "sweat" during humid weather if not wrapped up, which doesn't affect its usefulness but is not so pretty. It's the same principle that draws moisture to your skin after using glycerine soap, so it's actually a good thing.

A Frugal and Romantic Budget Valentine's Day

Some people feel that they must spend a lot of money in order to impress the person they love on Valentine's Day to keep them from thinking they're cheap. Others assume that there's nothing worth doing that doesn't cost a lot of money. But the truth is that some of the best dates on Valentine's Day (or any other day) are either inexpensive or free.

This year Valentine's Day is Saturday so day time dates are easy, and they are often cheaper too.

* Have a picnic in the park. Eating sandwiches together might not sound like a recipe for romance in any other setting, but packing a simple lunch and enjoying it in a beautiful natural setting can be a really special event. To make it even more special, make it a surprise. Pack the picnic basket, sneak it into the car and ask your partner to go for a ride without sharing the destination until you're there.

* Check out free or low-cost concerts. In the summer, many cities have a free concert series in the park. You might also find live music for cheap at your local civic centre or at fundraisers. This is a great way to broaden your musical horizons together.

* Play miniature golf. It's not just for kids - mini golf courses can be found in any city and many smaller towns. It's easy to play, even if you've never played real golf. And it may be better if you're not a golf pro - the worse you and your partner are at it, the more fun you'll have!

* Visit an art gallery or museum. Some offer free admission, and you can get into many others for just a few bucks per person. This makes a great date for those who are just getting to know one another, because it provides plenty for you to talk about.

These are just a few ideas for dates that won't cost an arm and a leg. If you're willing to look for them, cheap Valentine's Day date opportunities abound. So don't give up on Valentine's Day just because you're on a budget. Get creative and find fun yet frugal activities to do together!

Perfect Wholemeal Pancakes Just in Time for Shrove Tuesday

We love pancakes, and I love to make them. They're quick, easy and very cheap. They are not however always the most healthful treat, so this recipe made with wholemeal flour and rolled oats is just what I like. We can have our pancake fix without the guilt of white flour and not much else.

The mix keeps really well in an airtight container for months, although once you have it made up it is so easy to just add the liquids and make them they will become your go to breakfast, morning tea, afternoon tea, dessert.

Wholemeal Pancake Dry Mix:

Ingredients:
4 cups wholemeal flour
1 cup plain flour
3-1/2 cups rolled oats
4 tbsp sugar
3 tbsp baking powder
1 tbsp bicarbonate soda

Method:
Process rolled oats in food processor so they are broken up a little. Do not puree into a flour. In a large bowl mix oats, flours, sugar, baking powder and bicarb soda. Store in airtight container.

To make the pancakes:

Ingredients:
1 cup of dry mix above
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 cup buttermilk
1 tablespoon of orange juice
1 large egg

Method:
Place 1 cup of dry mix into a bowl.
Whisk in vegetable oil, buttermilk/almond milk, orange juice, and 1 large egg.
Cook in a lightly buttered frying pan.

To freeze your pancakes:

1. Lay pancakes out on a cookie sheet. Do not overlap them.
2. Place in freezer for 1 hour or until completely frozen.
3. Remove from freezer and place 3-4 in plastic freezer bag.
4. When ready to eat, place in microwave for 60 seconds or until hot.

Ten Crafts You Can Do with Everyday Items

Have you ever looked at a craft project and thought you'd like to try it, only to discover you need a zillion special supplies? Trips to the craft store can be fun, but they can also be time-consuming and expensive.

So why not do craft projects from items around the home? Here are ten crafts you can do with everyday items.

Scrap Paper

Despite the prominent use of email paper still inundates our lives. Make use of it with some of these craft ideas!

1. Quilling

Sometimes called paper filigree, you can achieve an amazing and detailed look with scrap paper. The principle is simple: wind thin strips of paper (1/16 to 1/8-inch wide strips) tightly around a thin tool or toothpick. Remove and shape with the fingers into flowers, hearts, vines, etc.

2. Papier Mache

Dip newspapers torn into strips into white glue and water mixed half and half. Layer them on a mould and allow to dry. Then sand smooth (if you like), paint, and decorate!

3. Paper Chains

Colourful magazines and even junk mail make great "links" for a paper chain. Cut into strips, link as rings, and make the chain as long as you like.

4. Decoupage

Cut out pictures and designs from magazines, pamphlets, or even wrapping paper. Then turn the cut-out over, scrape the edges thin from underneath (you can use a craft knife for this) and coat the back of the picture with decoupage medium. Carefully glue the design to the object (lamps, boxes, picture frames, table tops, etc.). Use a paintbrush to smooth and cover with more decoupage medium.

5. Paper Beads

To make paper beads, follow the method for quilling - except coat the paper strip with decoupage medium before you wrap it (leaving about 1/4 inch decoupage-free at the beginning so you can slip it off the toothpick when finished) and wrap at a slight angle. Add a dab of glue or decoupage medium to secure the end. If you like, paint the paper before cutting it into strips.

6. Place Mats

Cut brown paper bags or other scrap paper into strips, and weave into place mats. Cover with paint and/or decoupage medium.

Cardboard Tubes

 Toilet paper and paper towel tubes can be the inspiration for all kinds of crafts!

7. Hair Clips

Take a 10cm cardboard tube (cut to size) and cut it in half vertically, so you have an open trough shape. Paint with acrylic paint, let dry, and hot glue beads, silk flowers, and other decorative items to the outward-curved side. Glue a plain hair clip to the underside.

8. Napkin Rings

Cut cardboard tubes into two- or four-centimetre-wide rings. Paint with acrylic paint, and when dry, hot glue beans, beads, and spices (like whole cloves and peppercorns) to the outside of the ring. Or you could coat the painted tube with white glue and roll it in a mixture of seeds, beads, beans, and so forth.

Sunglasses

Over the years, many of us accumulate a collection of non-prescription sunglasses. Use them in these craft ideas!

9. Lens Chimes

Pop out the lenses of your sunglasses. Hot glue them to varying lengths of thin wire (1 lens per wire) or upholstery thread, and hang them in the wind!

10. Empty Sunglasses Frames

Now you can have fun with the frames. Hot glue beads and rhinestones to them, coat them with glitter, or hot glue feathers and other items to them. You can create a great costume accessory or mask!

Shop to the Floor Plan

Approximate $ Savings: $25.00 to $40.00 per week  

When doing the groceries get a map of the shop detailing where the items are and then write your shopping list according to the aisles e.g. aisle 1 nappies, baby wipes; aisle 2 shampoo etc and you will find that it helps to stop impulse buying. It will also save time as you don't have to go down the aisles that you don't need anything in. I have been doing this for about a month and have saved at least $100.00 that has helped with the credit card debt
Contributed by Amanda

Look Expensive for Less

We all want to look like a million dollars. The trouble is that most of us don’t have the bank balance to match our ideal image – and that image can be really important in the world of work, where being well-groomed and professionally presentable can be important to your prospects. Don’t despair. If you shop smart when buying your work wardrobe you can still look expensively dressed.

Let’s run through some of the hallmarks of an expensive wardrobe. The first is that outfits fit. This is where well-cut clothes have the edge. If you can’t afford designer clothes, opt for simpler cuts, like shift dresses, that are absolutely the right size all over. Classic clothes are often also conservative. Avoid plunging necklines or hemlines that are too high. Sleeves of some kind are often classier than bare arms, especially in the workplace.

Classic elegance also often relies on simplicity. Think of Coco Chanel’s ‘little black dress’. Frills and fussy details are best avoided, not least because they are most likely to go out of fashion faster. If you want to dress up an outfit, use accessories.

Expensive clothes always look as if they’ve just come out of the box. This is partly down to good quality materials (as well as clothes that are well cut and hang properly). You want to look well groomed, which means that you don’t want wrinkled clothes that always look in need of ironing. When considering a purchase, check the material for how much it creases. A good blend of fibres will give you the best of all worlds. It won’t look cheap, or like pure polyester, but it won’t crease like linen or silk.

Colour and pattern are also important things to consider. There are classic patterns and designs, but even these go in and out of style. On the other hand, you can’t really go wrong with plain fabrics – unless you pick the wrong colour. Neutral colours like grey, camel and blue are always safe and stylish. If you want to make more of a statement, keep it muted and well away from the extremes of the colour wheel, like bright reds, purple and oranges.

Lastly, nothing completes an outfit like a good pair of shoes. By the same token, nothing looks worse than a cheap pair. It’s worth not cutting back too much on shoes, for image purposes as well as comfort. Beware of shoes that are too shiny or have heels that are more suited to the catwalk than the workplace. A few other good accessories will always upgrade an outfit. A smart necklace, a good watch or a stylish scarf will upgrade your basic outfit and show that you have panache as well as subtle taste.

Looking expensive is about knowing what fits and suits you. It’s about being well-groomed and understated, without ever being boring. It’s about choosing appropriate styles, patterns and outfit accents for the occasion.

Get it right and well-chosen budget clothes can look a whole lot more expensive than they actually are.

From Spendthrift to Cheapskate in 4 Easy Stagesc

When someone is a new Cheapskate it can sometimes be overwhelming hearing about how other Cheapskates manage to live. Experienced Cheapskates tend to automatically live the Cheapskates way, saving money, time and energy has become an ingrained habit for them and they don't even think about how to stay within budget. Sometimes we forget the stages we went through on our journey to frugality:

S - Spendthrift Extraordinaire - buys name brands
1 - Fiscally Conscious - buys name brands on sale
2 - Bargain Hunter  - has switched to cheaper or generic brands
3 - Novice Cheapskate - makes own at home using commercial mixes
4 - Champion Cheapskate - makes own at home from scratch

Here are some examples of the differing stages and what they could involve:

Washing powder

S - buy brand name, use full scoop
1 - buy on special
2 - use 1/2 scoop
3 - change brands
4 - make Cheapskates Washing Powder

Snacks

S - Buy brand name multi packs
1 - Buy brand name bulk pack and portion out
2 - Switch to generic multi-packs
3 - switch to generic bulk packs and portion out
4 - make your own (pita chips, crackers)

Takeaway Pizza

S - buy from the pizza parlour, have it delivered
1 - buy from the pizza parlour, pick it up
2 - buy from the pizza parlour with a discount voucher, pick it up
3 - switch to fresh pizzas from supermarket
4 - make them at home (see Penny Pinching Pan Pizza) and have 3 for the price of one bought

Nappy Wipes

S - buy brand name
1 - buy brand name on special
2 - buy brand name, cut in half
3 - switch to generic
4 - use wet face washers and a plastic bag

Spray and Wipe

S - buy brand name
1 - buy on special
2 - use less/dilute
3 - cheaper brand
4 - switch to Miracle Spray

Finding your perfect level of Cheapskateness is personal. What is ideal for one person or family may be extravagant to another and make another feel completely impoverished. Not everyone is at the same place on their journey to finding the Cheapskates way and not everyone will find their ideal level of Cheapskating at the same place.

As you travel the road to the Cheapskates way take the time to try each step and evaluate whether it works for you or not. There will be times when a level four change won't bother you at all and other times and situations when you won't be able to cope with anything other than sticking at Spendthrift Extraordinaire (mine is coffee; I have a brand I like that I buy on sale and I won't change it, so for coffee I'm at a level 1).

As you go from buying brand names without a thought, to checking the price and buying if on sale through to switching brands, cutting the amount you use and making things yourself from scratch you will find the level you are happy at. It won't be the same for everything either.  As I've confessed, when it comes to coffee I'm a dedicated spendthrift. And that's ok. I am more than happy to go to Champion level on something that's not as important to me (washing powder for instance) so I can stay at Spendthrift level with the things that are important to me.

Take each stage slowly and remember:  we are all at differing stages. This is your personal journey. Enjoy the trip.

Pizzadilla

These are really just quesadillas made with a pizza filling, but the kids love them and they are delicious and just right for using up small amounts of leftovers, perfect for No Spending month. Use low fat cheese and a low salt tomato sauce and ham for a healthier version.

Pizzadilla

Ingredients:
1 tortilla
2 tbsp tomato sauce
Grated cheese
Shredded ham

Method:
Spread tortilla with tomato sauce. Sprinkle half with ham and cheese. Fold over and heat in a sandwich press. Cut in half. Serves 1.

No Spending Month Day 1: The 10% Grocery Cut

We all have to eat and during No Spending month I encourage you to eat from your pantry, fridge and freezer before buying more groceries, but no doubt there will be groceries you'll need to buy.

This week cut your grocery bill by 10% this week. If you normally spend $200 a week, this week you are only going to spend $180. Check what you have on hand before you go shopping (fridge, freezer, pantry) and only buy what you really need rather than what you think you need. Then shop for those things within your new grocery budget. If you come in with an even bigger saving, well done. And don't forget to pay some off debt and put the rest to your emergency account.

To help you with your grocery cut, menu plan with what you have on hand. To help you with this, we have a gorgeous  menu plan/shopping list combo, designed by one of our long time members Catherine Allan, with the shopping list in the same order as our Grocery Tracking Spreadsheet . You can download it under Cheapskater Creations on the Printables page.

Are You a Pack Rat?

Are you sitting there, surrounded by clutter, running out of space, unable to put your hands on what you need when you need It? Where does all this clutter come from? Does it just appear overnight, is someone deliberately trying to bury us under mountains of clutter? Let's pinpoint some sources so we can be on guard (and one step ahead of the clutter!)

Where Does It Come From?

1. Hobbies - equipment and papers, partially completed projects.
2. Clubs and organizations - Scouts, Brownies, P&C, CWA, CFA, SES and so on.
3. Holidays - souvenirs, brochures, itinerary, matchbooks.
4. Gifts - all those lovely little souvenirs family and friends give you as mementoes of their holidays, the wonderful artwork that comes home from school or kinder everyday etc.
5. Inheritance - no need to say more.
6. Breakage and Loss - the cup with the broken handle, the button your found under the chair etc.
7. Worn out but still good - old faded curtains (maybe they can be dyed), old clothes (they may be good for gardening)
8. Out of Style - old fashioned, but too good to give away or throw out
9. General paper - junk mail, school newsletters, church bulletins etc.
10 Kids - and I don't mean the children themselves, just the stuff they attract (mini meal toys etc.)
11 Religion - it's hard to throw away religious stuff, isn't it?
12 Home decorating - old pictures, old wall papers, old ornaments, soft furnishings, old paint etc.

What do I do with it?

Firstly, don't confuse collecting with cluttering or collections with clutter. There is a distinct difference. Collectors are usually much more restrained, know exactly what they are collecting and collect  only it, and are much more organized than the average packrat. Collectors are selective, packrat keep anything and everything.

To deal with clutter successfully, you will need to decide whether you are a collector or a packrat. If you are a collector, find ways to display or store your collection safely, weed out the junk and get rid of it.

If you are a packrat it's not so easy. You will probably have years and years of ingrained habits to overcome. Start by sorting (I know that its hard) into groups - use, save, throw out, sell, give away. Neatly put away the 'use' items, store the 'save' items, immediately get rid of the 'throw out' items - don't even think that they may come in handy, and take the 'give aways' to the Salvos straight away.

Now, I don't expect that this will happen immediately, and it may take more than one session. Be diligent, follow the steps, your clutter will disappear and in its place, you'll find a collection.

Menu Planning Breaks the Grocery Spending Habit and Saves $60 a Week

Cheapskater Julie is saving $40 - $60 a week by doing something we all know saves money, time and energy: meal planning.

"After reading the hints and tips for menu planning and shopping our family made a monthly menu plan with meals we all like and eat. I then made four weekly grocery lists to go with the planner. This took less than an hour. The lists contain all that is needed to make each meal for that week. I costed out our shopping using the Aldi site so I know what the weeks shop will cost approximately. Now each week all I need is to get my list and shop. Wanting to save money I decided to shop at home the night before I went to the supermarket. Most weeks we can cross off a 1/3 of our list by shopping in our pantry, saving anywhere from $40 - $60 a week. Our grocery bill is now down to about $90 a week for 5 people including extras for lunch and brekkie. We started at $150 and as I had a $150 that was always what I spent out of habit."

Julie used the Aldi Smarter Shopping site to cost out her shopping lists. Unfortunately Aldi recently took the site down which is a shame as it was a very handy tool.

You don't need a website to make your shopping list and price it though. Use your price book or check prices with either the Coles or Woolworths online shopping sites. You'll get an approximation of how much your grocery shopping is going to cost regardless of where you shop.

Luscious School Lunch Ideas

School goes back this week and that means lunchboxes, and lots of good food to go in them. I spent the greater part of 18 years packing school lunches and over the years came up with some simple foods that would ease the boredom of sandwiches and fruit for the kids.  They are kind to whoever has to pack them too, all quick and easy and deliciously different ideas.

Shaker Salad

Place lettuce, grated carrot, cherry tomatoes and cucumber slices in a large ziplock bag.
Place some corn chips and grated cheese and a serve of salad dressing in separate ziplock bags. Make sure the bag with the dressing in it is sealed properly.

At lunchtime, pour the dressing over the salad. Re-seal the bag and shake to mix through. Top with the corn chips and cheese and enjoy.

Star Sandwiches

Spread bread with mayonnaise and to with slice of chicken and a slice of cheese. Top with second slice of bread. Using a star shaped biscuit cutter, press shapes from centre of sandwich.

Dippers

Kids and adults a like love dippers. You can put together your own version very easily with a little imagination.

Dips:
Cottage cheese
Tzatziki
Hummos
Peanut Butter
Cream Cheese

Place your desired dip in either a small, resealable container or a twist of greaseproof paper.

Dippers:
Carrot sticks
Celery sticks
Mini grissini
MOO Pita chips
Corn chips
Mini crackers

Pinwheel Sandwiches

These dainty and special little sandwiches will appeal to even the most jaded of appetites. I guarantee you won't be getting any lunchtime leftovers brought home with these.

Before making the sandwiches flatten the bread with a rolling pin or drinking glass. This makes the bread easier to roll.

Spread with butter, cream cheese or mayonnaise. Top with sliced deli meat. Roll bread tightly into pinwheel. Slice into 4 pieces. Stack on top of each other and wrap tightly in plastic wrap.

Happy Australia Day

This is one of my favourite views of Australia. I am, and always will be, happier in the bush than the city. Spending time in the bush is my favourite pastime and Wayne and I spend as much time as we can camping, walking and driving through this amazing land we have the privilege to live in.

We live in a country blessed with unique natural beauty, and it shouldn't be taken for granted. 

We live in a country blessed with a unique way of life, where we are free to live as we choose, and it shouldn't be taken for granted.

We live in a country with clean air, clean water, clean soil and we shouldn't take it for granted.

We live in a country where we are free to move from town to town, city to city,state to state as we choose, and we shouldn't take it for granted.

We live in a country where we can go to bed each night feeling safe from the horrors of war and conflict and we shouldn't take it for granted.

We live in a country with an ancient history of 40,000 years and a modern history of just 245 years. 

We can't change history, nor should we try. It is what it is.

We must learn from the triumphs and the tragedies of our history and use those lessons to make the future of Australia better for the next generation, so they can then learn from them as well and make Australia better for the generation after, continuing the learning for all generations to come.

Happy Australia Day everyone.

A Stress Free Start to the New School Year

It's back to school time already! The holidays have just flown by.

We're over Christmas, had our fun in the sun (with appropriate protection, of course) and shopped for new shoes, hats, uniforms and books. We've covered text books, labelled new clothes and lunchboxes, marked pencils and textas and we're all ready to start the new school year.

And now it is time to get the kids back to school. By now they are probably busting to catch up with their friends to swap Christmas holiday stories.

To help the school year start smoothly and stress free, I have some simple steps to ease back into school routines. They are the routines I used when my own children were at school and they worked beautifully (most of the time - we are a normal family after all).
Here they are:

• Create a 'launchpad' where schoolbags, hats, sports equipment etc. is kept. Then it's just a matter of pick it up and go in the mornings.
• Pack lunches and drinks the night before and refrigerate/freeze!
• Make sure backpacks are packed and ready to go the night before. Lay out clothes the night before.
• Remember kids need to make as many decisions as possible. Avoid power struggles by letting them make small decisions.
• Create a special hamper in the laundry for uniforms and other rush items.
• Fold T-shirts so that the design is recognizable without unfolding.

Each evening before the kids go to bed, have a 10 minute family tidy-up time to get everything back in place.

Getting Ready for Grocery Shopping

I'm due to do my monthly grocery shopping in a fortnight. If you remember, I split the January monthly shop between October, November and December shops last year so I wouldn't have to bother with the supermarket or butcher this month.

This week I've started to put my February list together, using old shopping lists. Because Aldi have taken down their online shopping list (why?) I've had to go back to pen and paper, the way I used to write it up before I became the computer savvy super shopper that I am (and that is totally tongue in cheek - there is nothing computer savvy about me!).

What I've discovered though is that we don't need a lot thanks to our grocery stockpile. There is still plenty of meat, chicken and fish in the freezer. In fact it is still almost full and we have been steadily eating from it since December when I did my last big meat shop. The pantry is still looking full. The fridge is full. The garden is producing more than enough salad veggies and herbs to keep us going and we have oranges and rhubarb for fruit. Ok, that's not a huge variety for fruit but there are tins of fruit salad, peaches, apricots and plums in the pantry and stewed apples, rhubarb and plums in the freezer.

My almost full freezer. I keep frozen veg in a green bag, easy to identify and to lift in and out of the freezer. I use coloured bags for freezer storage to make storing, sorting and finding what I want easy.

There is MOO cordial in the freezer if we want something different to drink and thanks to an NQR special a while ago there are tea bags enough to last another few months. I may need to get coffee but if Wayne and I cut back to just one cup each in the mornings we'll have enough to last until the end of February.

We will need cheese, butter and eggs and of course fresh milk each week but that's about it. The meal plan for February is already done and I don't need to buy anything special for it.

Use the cardboard cartons from the supermarket shelves to act as dividers and shelving in your pantry instead of buying expensive organizers. When they start to get ratty, just pick up a new one from the supermarket.

And all that has led to me making a wildly radical (again, tongue in cheek) decision. Because February is No Spending month I'm going to try and get to the first Friday in March, which will be the 6th, with what food we have in the house  and garden. I am pretty sure we can make it easily and I am pretty sure I am the only one who will notice I haven't done any grocery shopping.

My revised grocery budget for February is $60, leaving $260 to put into the slush fund - a nice amount to add to the money for the quarterly meat shop (I have talked about why in the Member's forum).

34 Ways to Save on the things you use Every Day

1. Buy in bulk.

2. Compare weekly ads for best prices.

3. Go generic, avoid brand names.

4. Buy fresh fruits and vegetables at your local farmers' market.

5. Scout for coupons and discount offers.

6. Shop according to what's on sale.

7. Buy fruits and vegetables that are in-season.

8. Buy re-usable cloth serviettes instead of paper.

9. Use rags or tea towels instead of paper towel. 

10. Buy everything for the week in one trip.

11. Plan ahead for purchases you know are coming up.

12. Plan your weekly menu in accordance with sales and the food you already have in the house.

13. Use frequent shopping cards.

14. Shop at garage sales and secondhand stores (op shops).

15. Read the fine print on credit card offers.

16. Negotiate lower interest rates on your credit cards.

17. Keep a budget for your household.

18. Ask yourself if you really need an item you wish to purchase.

19. Make more meals from scratch.

20. MOO your household cleaning products.

21. Take advantage of samples.

22. Cut down on utility bills - use less water, turn off lights, hang clothes to dry, and more.

23. Check the clearance section first.

24. Reuse items and buy reusable batteries.

25. Avoid grocery shopping when you’re hungry.

26. Search for less expensive insurance from top-rated companies.

27. Take advantage of Internet sales and discounts.

28. If possible, avoid taking children with you to the supermarket.

29. Implement the $100/24 Hour to cut down on impulse shopping.

30. Make your own organic weed killers.

31. Brew your own coffee and lattes.

32. Take your lunch.

33. Avoid vending machines - bring your own drinks and snacks from home.

34. Buy off-season - shop at the end of summer for summer items, the end of winter for winter items or after Christmas for holiday items and use them during the next year.