Never to suffer would never to have been blessed. Edgar Allan Poe.
What do you do when you are struggling? I don't mean just struggling with funds, I mean struggling with everything, anything....what's in your mind, what's in your soul, what's in your heart, what's in your purse. I have been down in the dumps for about 3 days now and nothing seems to be able to shake it. And I am worried - because when I have been like this before, I have always handled it one way and one way only. Spending money.
Do you know the type of spender you are? What makes you spend money? Why do you splurge the way you do?
I am what I call a "reward" spender. I over-spend when I feel I deserve something or when I feel I need to reward myself for something going on in my life - when I have done well at something or when I have achieved something. On these days I literally shop till I drop.
Unfortunately, I often feel I need to 'reward' myself when I am having a bad day. To cheer me up. I deserve it. I work hard. I deserve it. I am a good person. I deserve it.
I have been having a few bad days recently. In fact, I feel probably the whole of the last year has been particularly hard. Maybe the last two years- about the time my husband has been unwell and unable to work. And I have had to keep everything going.
Work full time. Pay the mortgage. Keep a roof over our head and food on the table. Pay private medical insurance to ensure my husband gets the care he needs. Send my son to childcare and miss out on spending time with him. Pay the bills. Keep the family together. Work an extra job.
Why shouldn't I spend some money? I deserve it. I work hard. I am a good person. Blah de blah blah blah.
You hear that? You hear my useless justification for spending money? And I don't spend on things we need. It is all things I think we need. Things I often didn't know I even wanted until see it in the shop.
Yet I shouldn't and I can't and I won't because - I don't have it. I don;t have the money. I am struggling enough to pay the bills, let alone buy crap. And crap it is. I know it's crap - and you want to know why? I am surrounded by it. I am enclosed in a house full of "I-deserve-it-I-work-hard" crap, which I bought in the past when I had some extra cash. And it teases me with how much I have spent in the past. On crap. And I wish I now had the money instead. So, I can't spend like that now. And I won't. I have more important things to pay for now.
So for now, until I earn more money and have enough to cover needs AND wants, I need to find another way to get out of the dumps.
Or else- just suffer in my jocks.
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Not Perfect
I knew that it would happen sooner or later. I knew it because I am not perfect. There, I've said it. Out loud.
I. am. not. perfect.
I spent money. A lot of money. On not so important things. Although I did buy 2 gifts. And not a thing for me personally. And everything was on sale. But I still spent out of my weekly budget. And it was not a small amount.
I went to a well known surf shop to get a "grown up present" for my nearly 16 year old nephew. I got him a lovely mans wallet that was not on sale - for $30. Yet there WERE bargains to be had and I am afraid I got sucked in. I spent $40 on a jumper for my husband (reduced from $120), $34 on a jumper for my friends gorgeous son for his birthday (reduced from $70 - I know, for a kids jumper!) and $10 on a surf t-shirt for my little man which I will wrap up for his birthday(reduced from $30). $114. In one hit. Practically my whole grocery shop for a fortnight. ON GIFTS. However, I would like to notice that I did 'save' approx. $136 for my purchases by buying them during sale time. That's got to count for something doesn't it?
However, I didn't stop spending there.
I bought myself lunch. And a soft drink. $12. (It was yum!)
So. What do I have to learn from my experience? I'm not perfect. I will have some slip ups. I didn't continue spending beyond that and I won't spend for a long while now. Now I have 3 birthday gifts under my belt (purchase for hubby was just a splurge) and I know the recipients will LOVE the gifts bought. I think that I may need to budget for a splurge every now and then. Even if it is for just lunch. I have learnt that I need to be kinder to myself when I do slip up and just get right back to where I was before. And I had a really, really enjoyable lunch. Really.
Life is like that sometimes. But it 's the lessons learnt from our trip-ups that prove invaluable.
I'm not perfect. But who is?
A great blog to read for encouragement even on the darkest days....
http://www.thesimpledollar.com/
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Addicted to comfort
Frugal tip 15 is another of those tips which don't look like frugal tips at all and can be taken as a bit esoterical. My tip is to lose your addiction to comfort and learn about your power consumption.
See? A bit airy fairy yeah? Read on.
According to an article I recently read on news.com.au:
AUSTRALIANS pay 130 per cent more for electricity than Canadians, according to new research - a power premium to rise to 250 per cent once the carbon tax and locked-in price increases take effect.
Electricty is something not to waste yet we use it often without thinking. Because we just flick a switch, turn up a thermostat or access a item we don't think about the electricty we consume or how much it is costing us to use. And that cost is to rise.
By over 250 % once the carbon tax takes affect! Got your attention now?
How may of us compare the meter readings on our electricity accounts to our actual meters? How many of us even know how to check our electricity meters?? Look around you now. How many items in your house are currently accessing electricity? I have two lamps, the TV, fridge, laptop, heater. That doesn't include my son's night light, the washing machine, water heater outdoor light all going on in other areas that I cannot see. And how much electricity am I using? I have no idea. But I am going to find out. It's important to understand consumption and how I am paying for it.
Some great websites that explain this really easily are:
http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/home/monitor-electricity-save.htm
http://michaelbluejay.com/electricity/
I haven't quite got the hang of it yet - but I will. I'll come back to it in a month and tell you how I am going.
The gist of it is this. Are you addicted to comfort? Do you need constant light, heat (cooling), entertainment? How much is your comfort costing you? Now I am not saying to turn off the heat completely, chuck out the telly and live by candlelight but I am saying - be aware of how much you are using and how much you may be able to cut down. For example, if my family and I are watching TV, I make sure all other entertainment is switched off (computers, stereos etc). I often turn off the light too, unless we need them. When I cook in my oven, I always plan ahead so that have a few dishes to cook at the same time therefore not wasting heat. And when I turn on the heat, I keep the thermostat at 20 degrees or lower. Usually lower. My husband and I have found this to be enough to keep the chill off of the air and if we feel cold we put on an extra layer of clothing or rug up with blankets. And if it's still cold - we go to bed. With hot water bottles. And each other.
There are so many ways to save on electricity. Wash clothes only when your machine is full. Air dry clothes on a rack or on a line, not in a clothes dryer. Don't keep your house lit up like Luna Park. It's common sense yet so many of us don't know what we are doing.
Give it a try - understand your energy consumption and give up a bit of comfort. It will be worth it in the end.
See? A bit airy fairy yeah? Read on.
According to an article I recently read on news.com.au:
AUSTRALIANS pay 130 per cent more for electricity than Canadians, according to new research - a power premium to rise to 250 per cent once the carbon tax and locked-in price increases take effect.
Electricty is something not to waste yet we use it often without thinking. Because we just flick a switch, turn up a thermostat or access a item we don't think about the electricty we consume or how much it is costing us to use. And that cost is to rise.
By over 250 % once the carbon tax takes affect! Got your attention now?
How may of us compare the meter readings on our electricity accounts to our actual meters? How many of us even know how to check our electricity meters?? Look around you now. How many items in your house are currently accessing electricity? I have two lamps, the TV, fridge, laptop, heater. That doesn't include my son's night light, the washing machine, water heater outdoor light all going on in other areas that I cannot see. And how much electricity am I using? I have no idea. But I am going to find out. It's important to understand consumption and how I am paying for it.
Some great websites that explain this really easily are:
http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/home/monitor-electricity-save.htm
http://michaelbluejay.com/electricity/
I haven't quite got the hang of it yet - but I will. I'll come back to it in a month and tell you how I am going.
The gist of it is this. Are you addicted to comfort? Do you need constant light, heat (cooling), entertainment? How much is your comfort costing you? Now I am not saying to turn off the heat completely, chuck out the telly and live by candlelight but I am saying - be aware of how much you are using and how much you may be able to cut down. For example, if my family and I are watching TV, I make sure all other entertainment is switched off (computers, stereos etc). I often turn off the light too, unless we need them. When I cook in my oven, I always plan ahead so that have a few dishes to cook at the same time therefore not wasting heat. And when I turn on the heat, I keep the thermostat at 20 degrees or lower. Usually lower. My husband and I have found this to be enough to keep the chill off of the air and if we feel cold we put on an extra layer of clothing or rug up with blankets. And if it's still cold - we go to bed. With hot water bottles. And each other.
There are so many ways to save on electricity. Wash clothes only when your machine is full. Air dry clothes on a rack or on a line, not in a clothes dryer. Don't keep your house lit up like Luna Park. It's common sense yet so many of us don't know what we are doing.
Give it a try - understand your energy consumption and give up a bit of comfort. It will be worth it in the end.
Monday, June 18, 2012
Give the man meat
I'd loved to wear jeans and t-shirts, but everybody
was in the peace movement back then. And that was my ploy. I had to be
careful not to say things like 'I like meat.' Actually I just wanted to
drink beer and to screw. Ed O'Neill.
The next tip is strictly for meat eaters only....and for those who are willing to try something new. Frugal tip number 14 is buy and try the cheaper cuts of meat. Now a lot of you may switch off here and that's fine. Frugally speaking, most of us would be much better of being vegetarians (probably health wise too!) But I have a husband who is a big ole' fashion meat and 3 veg type of guy and I am only too happy to deliver. However, meat isn't cheap and it seems meat costs are on the rise. So, what to do?
Buy cheap cuts of meat. Buy meat in bulk. Try something new. Buy meat on sale.
Cheap cuts of meat. You know what I am going to say now, don't you. Offal. Kidneys, liver and hearts. All extremely cheap and nutritious. And very easy to cook. But not to every one's taste. We can cook up a meal for 3 using offal as a base for under $2. I cook it in pasta, fried, stewed, baked, crumbed and stuffed. We like it and eat it probably once a fortnight. Personally, I can't eat tripe but I pretty much can eat anything else. However, my husbands Italian God-mother apparently makes tripe in sauce which tastes delightful- might be time to source that recipe. If you haven't tried offal in awhile, maybe you could try a new recipe. It's all a matter of personal choice.
There are also cheap cuts of beef (stewing steak, chuck steak, etc) which can be cooked for a really long time and slowly in a stew or casserole. The meat will just fall apart. I buy chicken wings for $2.99 a kilo (sometimes $5 for 2 kilo's) and marinate them in honey and soy for a tasty and very easy meal. I have also done the same with pork ribs. I have downloaded off of the net 101 different ways with mince (I know-crazy yeah?) and sometimes can get mince as cheap as $4 a kilo. Meat can be cheap if you aren't buying eye fillet steak and chicken breasts. I never buy chicken breasts. I can get a whole chicken for the cost of two breasts and get so much more out of it. I usually buy two whole chickens for $8 and cook one once a week. We have roast chicken for the first night, chicken sandwiches for lunch the next day, chicken stir fry or fried rice the next night and I use the carcass and a little meat left over to make chicken soup. Could you get that much out of 2 chicken breasts? I don't think so
I often buy meat in bulk. I have mentioned chicken wings, whole chickens and mince but I also buy sausages and trays of pork chops (usually cut thin - 10 to a tray). Bulk is cheaper and I re-package everything into family serving sizes. I can get some of these bargains at Aldi - but I also visit large meat wholesalers or markets. I can usually buy two months supply of meat for one months cost. One of the patients at work has told me that if you visit the markets near to closing time (around 2pm) you can save almost 50% off of meat prices. That is something that I must try.
You may have noticed that I haven't mentioned buying any lamb. That is because I don't buy lamb. I get it given to me. My father-in-law has a sheep farm and every now and then, he gives me a whole side of lamb. This usually last us a couple of months and I save at least $200. He often gives me cuts I haven't cooked with before and tells me how to use them. He also has a 'farmer-supply' of rabbit and duck (depending on the season or what he has frozen). My father-in-law is of the old school thinking that whatever is killed is not wasted and he can make a delicious meal out of anything. He truly has taught me the most about cooking with unusual meat. I love it.
So I buy cheap cuts of meat. I buy meat on sale (even close to use by - I am going to freeze it anyway). I buy meat in bulk. And I am often trying something new. I make meat go a long way, I don't waste a morsel and we all enjoy eating it.
And sometimes, just sometimes- I even cook with vegies too. True!
Great blog on getting the most out of cheap beef (also a great blog to explore too)
http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/01/19/making-the-most-of-cheap-cuts-of-beef/
The next tip is strictly for meat eaters only....and for those who are willing to try something new. Frugal tip number 14 is buy and try the cheaper cuts of meat. Now a lot of you may switch off here and that's fine. Frugally speaking, most of us would be much better of being vegetarians (probably health wise too!) But I have a husband who is a big ole' fashion meat and 3 veg type of guy and I am only too happy to deliver. However, meat isn't cheap and it seems meat costs are on the rise. So, what to do?
Buy cheap cuts of meat. Buy meat in bulk. Try something new. Buy meat on sale.
Cheap cuts of meat. You know what I am going to say now, don't you. Offal. Kidneys, liver and hearts. All extremely cheap and nutritious. And very easy to cook. But not to every one's taste. We can cook up a meal for 3 using offal as a base for under $2. I cook it in pasta, fried, stewed, baked, crumbed and stuffed. We like it and eat it probably once a fortnight. Personally, I can't eat tripe but I pretty much can eat anything else. However, my husbands Italian God-mother apparently makes tripe in sauce which tastes delightful- might be time to source that recipe. If you haven't tried offal in awhile, maybe you could try a new recipe. It's all a matter of personal choice.
There are also cheap cuts of beef (stewing steak, chuck steak, etc) which can be cooked for a really long time and slowly in a stew or casserole. The meat will just fall apart. I buy chicken wings for $2.99 a kilo (sometimes $5 for 2 kilo's) and marinate them in honey and soy for a tasty and very easy meal. I have also done the same with pork ribs. I have downloaded off of the net 101 different ways with mince (I know-crazy yeah?) and sometimes can get mince as cheap as $4 a kilo. Meat can be cheap if you aren't buying eye fillet steak and chicken breasts. I never buy chicken breasts. I can get a whole chicken for the cost of two breasts and get so much more out of it. I usually buy two whole chickens for $8 and cook one once a week. We have roast chicken for the first night, chicken sandwiches for lunch the next day, chicken stir fry or fried rice the next night and I use the carcass and a little meat left over to make chicken soup. Could you get that much out of 2 chicken breasts? I don't think so
I often buy meat in bulk. I have mentioned chicken wings, whole chickens and mince but I also buy sausages and trays of pork chops (usually cut thin - 10 to a tray). Bulk is cheaper and I re-package everything into family serving sizes. I can get some of these bargains at Aldi - but I also visit large meat wholesalers or markets. I can usually buy two months supply of meat for one months cost. One of the patients at work has told me that if you visit the markets near to closing time (around 2pm) you can save almost 50% off of meat prices. That is something that I must try.
You may have noticed that I haven't mentioned buying any lamb. That is because I don't buy lamb. I get it given to me. My father-in-law has a sheep farm and every now and then, he gives me a whole side of lamb. This usually last us a couple of months and I save at least $200. He often gives me cuts I haven't cooked with before and tells me how to use them. He also has a 'farmer-supply' of rabbit and duck (depending on the season or what he has frozen). My father-in-law is of the old school thinking that whatever is killed is not wasted and he can make a delicious meal out of anything. He truly has taught me the most about cooking with unusual meat. I love it.
So I buy cheap cuts of meat. I buy meat on sale (even close to use by - I am going to freeze it anyway). I buy meat in bulk. And I am often trying something new. I make meat go a long way, I don't waste a morsel and we all enjoy eating it.
And sometimes, just sometimes- I even cook with vegies too. True!
Great blog on getting the most out of cheap beef (also a great blog to explore too)
http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/01/19/making-the-most-of-cheap-cuts-of-beef/
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Just be.
Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.
And so we come to frugal tip number 13.... and it will have to be a quick one becuase I have a wash to hang out, dinner on the stove, the dog is barking at the door and my son is having a tanty in the other room. It's only a matter of time before my husband comes in and demands my presence, my son loses it COMPLETELY and the dog scratches through the door. I can smell the dinner burning...and well, bugger the washing because I am exhausted.
But I am so happy. Very, Very happy.
What??? I can hear you say. But that sounds crazy. And it is. And frugal tip number 13 is a bit out there too. Be happy with what you have.
This is really a continuation of yesterdays tip but expanded a little. I beg of you to stay with me, even if you think this tip is a bit "airy fairy" and has nothing to do with money. Because it does. Let me continue.
I have always been chasing something. I don't exactly what it was, but it was always something. And the chasing meant lot's and lot's of spending. Travelling. Decorating. Shopping. EBay. Amazon. Etsy. Changing. Always searching, searching, searching.
And then the searching stopped. My husband was sick and money stopped coming in. Now I was pining. Wishing for things and stuff and situations that I couldn't afford, didn't have time for and couldn't possibly do. It was sad really. I was feeling sorry for myself, feeling stuck in a rut. I was living in a continual world of 'want', yet I had absolute no idea of my needs.
One day I read a book. And two words jumped out at me.
Just be.
And my whole perspective changed. I started to look at what I had. And it was everything. A beautiful son. A loving (yet ill) husband. A beautiful home. Wonderful family. Fantastic friends. Food on my plate. A job that I loved. And the list went on and on.
I thought I wanted so much. I needed so little. I had it all. Amazing.
And that's when the spending stopped. Right then. Amazing.
Sitting here listening to my son talking as he draws another picture for Daddy and Daddy laughing as his son describes his drawing, smelling a dinner ready to fill my belly, having a roof over my head to keep me dry and warm and feeling a loving heart- I can't help but feel a wonder at it all. And I wonder how I never saw all this goodness in front of me before.
Just be.
If you haven't read the amazing book I refer to - get yourself a copy from the library - or ask me. I will happily lend it to you.
The Art Of Happiness. H.H. the Dalai Lama & Howard C. Cutler
And so we come to frugal tip number 13.... and it will have to be a quick one becuase I have a wash to hang out, dinner on the stove, the dog is barking at the door and my son is having a tanty in the other room. It's only a matter of time before my husband comes in and demands my presence, my son loses it COMPLETELY and the dog scratches through the door. I can smell the dinner burning...and well, bugger the washing because I am exhausted.
But I am so happy. Very, Very happy.
What??? I can hear you say. But that sounds crazy. And it is. And frugal tip number 13 is a bit out there too. Be happy with what you have.
This is really a continuation of yesterdays tip but expanded a little. I beg of you to stay with me, even if you think this tip is a bit "airy fairy" and has nothing to do with money. Because it does. Let me continue.
I have always been chasing something. I don't exactly what it was, but it was always something. And the chasing meant lot's and lot's of spending. Travelling. Decorating. Shopping. EBay. Amazon. Etsy. Changing. Always searching, searching, searching.
And then the searching stopped. My husband was sick and money stopped coming in. Now I was pining. Wishing for things and stuff and situations that I couldn't afford, didn't have time for and couldn't possibly do. It was sad really. I was feeling sorry for myself, feeling stuck in a rut. I was living in a continual world of 'want', yet I had absolute no idea of my needs.
One day I read a book. And two words jumped out at me.
Just be.
And my whole perspective changed. I started to look at what I had. And it was everything. A beautiful son. A loving (yet ill) husband. A beautiful home. Wonderful family. Fantastic friends. Food on my plate. A job that I loved. And the list went on and on.
I thought I wanted so much. I needed so little. I had it all. Amazing.
And that's when the spending stopped. Right then. Amazing.
Sitting here listening to my son talking as he draws another picture for Daddy and Daddy laughing as his son describes his drawing, smelling a dinner ready to fill my belly, having a roof over my head to keep me dry and warm and feeling a loving heart- I can't help but feel a wonder at it all. And I wonder how I never saw all this goodness in front of me before.
Just be.
If you haven't read the amazing book I refer to - get yourself a copy from the library - or ask me. I will happily lend it to you.
The Art Of Happiness. H.H. the Dalai Lama & Howard C. Cutler
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Reading into it
Desire of having is the sin of covetousness. William Shakespeare.
A lot of people may question me about the next frugal tip, yet I have found this to be an excellent example of tailoring tips to work for your own good. Frugal tip number twelve is stop buying and reading magazines.
Now I know you understand the stop buying magazines part. Most magazines that I purchase here in Australia are just below the $10 mark (some imports cost a lot, lot more) and just cutting this out is a saving in itself. I LOVE magazines and always have. I will read magazines on practically any topic: home, self-help, celebrity, green living, travel, craft, music, religion....the list goes on and on. I once had 10 magazine subscriptions going at once. Ten. I never really got the chance to read all of them. So, I cut my subscriptions and I slowly stopped buying new magazines. By not buying magazines I save nearly $50 a month. $600 a year.
I work in a medical clinic and we are never short of magazine donations from patients, yet I found I just wasn't reading them that much. And when I did they were making me frustrated and just a little bit sad. Why? Because I found I was being bombarded with advertisements and articles on things (I thought) I wanted and couldn't have.
Oh look at that dress.
I must get that book.
That cushion would really look great on my couch.
And that couch would really go well with that cushion.
See? Dumb, I know. And that, in turn, started a spend, spend, spend cycle. As a fairly clued-up woman I thought I was beyond this marketing pressure but I obviously wasn't. Having to cut costs was hard but being confronted with "consumerism" on a daily basis was harder. So - I reduced my magazine consumption. I read one every now and then. I get them from work or family. And I pick one's that have articles that mean something to me. Once I start to feel the 'wants' coming on, I put the magazine down and do something I love and already 'have'.
Play with my son.
Take the dog for a walk.
Cuddle my husband.
Do the gardening.
And then I realise what I have. And all I need and want is right here with me. And for free.
Amen.
Choosing to be positive and having a grateful attitude is going to determine how you're going to live your life. Joel Osteen.
Friday, June 15, 2012
Generic Schmeric
All the great things are simple, and many can be expressed in a single word: freedom, justice, honor, duty, mercy, hope.
Winston Churchill.
Frugal tip number eleven is a pretty simple one - when buying groceries, buy generic or buy discount.
The easiest place I have found to make cuts in my life is with my groceries. I have written about the success I have found in writing a menu plan and a list (and sticking to it!). Now I want to let you in on how I have cut my grocery bills by 25% again. Yep - a quarter. I now do the majority of my shop in discount stores.
The major discount store in our area is Aldi. I love it and have organised my lists on what is available in my local store. I buy all our staples and find they compare well with brand name products found in the major supermarkets. Sometimes you can save over half the cost of an item. The major supermarkets I feel have tapped into Aldi's popularity and now offer a great range of generic or "home brand products" - especially milk, bread and cereals . I still find Aldi cheaper but if I cannot find something in Aldi, I always check out the generic brand at another supermarket. And while I am in there I will check out their specials too (but only if they fit my fortnightly meal planner!).
I have also discovered another fantastic frugal alternative to the major supermarkets and those are the discount stores that stock discontinued, unpopular or close-to use by date products. There are a few of these in my area - the most popular being NQR (Not Quite Right) stores. I love these stores and generally go before I write up my menu plan for the fortnight. Why before? Because I don't generally buy more than 5 to 10 items in these stores and I ensure they are written into the meal plan afterward. These stores are also fantastic for very cheap cleaning products (which I am weaning myself from- see future frugal tip) and toiletries. I love picking up deodorants for under $2 and last week I bought a 5 pack of popular brand soap for $1.20! More than half the price in the supermarket. Washing detergent is also very cheap - 8 litres for $4 - and I find it cleans just as well as the major brands.
I am not one of those people who takes any notice of used by dates or best before dates. I use my senses to tell me if food is okay or not - I look at it, smell it, feel it and taste it. To me, these dates help the manufacturer or store rotate their stock and are not an interpretation of food quality or safety. Obviously, there are some things I do observe used dates for - most dairy foods (although I find most products last up to 7 days after an expiry date- again, I use my smell and taste to judge) and meat (although most of my meat is bought close to date and frozen immediately after purchase with no problems). Using common sense is the best way to judge if a food is edible or not. If in doubt, throw it out. But I find this seldom happens.
By using this tip, I can cut another 25% off my grocery bill. Saving $50 a month. An extra $600 a year. It all adds up!
Interested in taking it one step further? Read this fantastic article on "freeganism".
http://www.shoestringmag.com/living-on-less/live-free-or-buy-a-guide-the-good-life-less
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Colour me mild
There is only one cure for gray hair. It was invented by a Frenchman. It is called the guillotine.
P.G Wodehouse
I really, really dislike my hair. I think there was a period of about 3 years in my 38 years of life where I may have thought it looked okay - but the rest of the time, I hate it. It is too curly, doesn't sit right and always seems to be either too big for my head or too flat. And on top of all that - I am going completely grey. Not just a strand here or there, but full head of grey. It is getting so bad that my boss from work, who is about 20 cm taller than me, often tells me I am need to colour my roots!
Not only do I hate my hair - I also dislike hairdressers. I have only had 3 hairdressers I have tolerated- one moved interstate, one had a baby and doesn't work anymore. And the third one is still around. But I can't afford to go to her. Just a cut costs $75. A cut and colour - $280.
You read right. I need to work 3 days to cover just a cut & colour. Now I am not saying she doesn't do a great job. She does - and hopefully, when my finances improve, she will still be there and I can go back to her. But for now I need to cut costs. I need to find an alternative.
Therefore, frugal tip number 10 - cut the costs on a cut and colour. I haven't had to colour my own hair for awhile, so I was surprised to see that the brand I used to use had gone up nearly double in price. While shopping in a discount store, I found a well known brand and it was half the recommended retail price - only $5.99. I bought 2 - thinking that if it turned out okay, I would use it again - if not, I could probably give it away. So last night I gave it a try. I forgot how hard it is to cover all your own greys. It took a good hour and was very fiddly. These are the results-
What do you think? The colour is a bit darker than I usually have (even though it is supposed to be dark blonde) but it covers my roots and is all one colour. And all for $6. Bargain.
I have booked a cut with a friend on Saturday. She hasn't cut my hair before but I am willing to give her a go. She charges $30. So hopefully my cut and colour will only cost me $36.
$280 minus $36 equals a saving of $244. I get my haircut once every 8 weeks. So in a year I will save $1464.
Cos I'm worth it!
P.G Wodehouse
I really, really dislike my hair. I think there was a period of about 3 years in my 38 years of life where I may have thought it looked okay - but the rest of the time, I hate it. It is too curly, doesn't sit right and always seems to be either too big for my head or too flat. And on top of all that - I am going completely grey. Not just a strand here or there, but full head of grey. It is getting so bad that my boss from work, who is about 20 cm taller than me, often tells me I am need to colour my roots!
Not only do I hate my hair - I also dislike hairdressers. I have only had 3 hairdressers I have tolerated- one moved interstate, one had a baby and doesn't work anymore. And the third one is still around. But I can't afford to go to her. Just a cut costs $75. A cut and colour - $280.
You read right. I need to work 3 days to cover just a cut & colour. Now I am not saying she doesn't do a great job. She does - and hopefully, when my finances improve, she will still be there and I can go back to her. But for now I need to cut costs. I need to find an alternative.
Therefore, frugal tip number 10 - cut the costs on a cut and colour. I haven't had to colour my own hair for awhile, so I was surprised to see that the brand I used to use had gone up nearly double in price. While shopping in a discount store, I found a well known brand and it was half the recommended retail price - only $5.99. I bought 2 - thinking that if it turned out okay, I would use it again - if not, I could probably give it away. So last night I gave it a try. I forgot how hard it is to cover all your own greys. It took a good hour and was very fiddly. These are the results-
What do you think? The colour is a bit darker than I usually have (even though it is supposed to be dark blonde) but it covers my roots and is all one colour. And all for $6. Bargain.
I have booked a cut with a friend on Saturday. She hasn't cut my hair before but I am willing to give her a go. She charges $30. So hopefully my cut and colour will only cost me $36.
$280 minus $36 equals a saving of $244. I get my haircut once every 8 weeks. So in a year I will save $1464.
Cos I'm worth it!
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Food for thought
If I made a list of the people I admire, Mom would probably fill up half of it. She could do anything and everything. Patsy Cline.
After a short break, it's time to get the house back in order. And that means filling the fridge and feeding the family. There was a time when I never would have thought of cutting back on groceries to save money. I am a lover of food (as I have mentioned in previous entries - often!) and grocery shopping was a pleasure. I would buy what I thought we might need- and then some. I loved to try new products, ice cream, yummy cheeses, dips, you name it. And I shopped most nights. It was a treat to myself. However, because I was shopping and not knowing what was in my cupboards or fridge, I was also over-buying and then having to dispose of food which was wasted, going off or not required.
Dispose. Throw away. Chuck out.
*Australians throw out 4.45 million tonnes of food every year (source: What A Waste! Australia Institute Report)
*Approximately 936 kilograms of food is discarded by each Australian household (source: National Waste Report 2010 Fact Sheet)
* The value of the
food Australian's discard each year is estimated to be around $5.2
billion (source: What A Waste! Australia Institute Report)
http://www.abc.net.au/tv/hungrybeast/stories/beast-file-food-waste/
Can you believe those figures? This tip isn't just about the money. It's about preventing the amazing food waste that is happening in this world. And it's as easy as a list.
1. How many meals do you need to plan for and how people are you planning for?
If you shop weekly - that 7 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 7 dinners. 2 adults - 1 child. Easy yeah?
Make a list of recipes for these meals and the ingredients and then list them.
2. What ingredients do you already have in the house?
Keep a stock take of what you have already - rough or otherwise. Then you aren't doubling up only something you already need, taking up freezer space for the something you already have and rotating your food to make sure your ingredients doesn't go off!
It makes sense doesn't it? Yet how many of us really do it? I have made excuses for it. Don't have time to plan, would rather be spontaneous, not sure what I would feel like for dinner until that day.
But I have found it only takes me 15 minutess at the most to plan for a 2 week shop. I first have a quick look over the food I already have in stock. I list 11 meals I may like to cook based on what I already have in. (11 and not 14 because we have 3 days of what I call 'anything night' - left overs, baked beans etc.) I then work out what I need to buy to make these recipes including breakfasts and lunches. I include milk, bread and other basics. The list is completed with any snacks, toiletries, nappies, pet food and cleaning products (not so many of these anyhow - see future frugal tip). Over a short period of time, I am able to plan 2 weeks in advance ....and stick to it! I have more room in my pantry and fridge, we always have enough and I am no longer wasting food! I no longer fill my wheelie bin each week. Not even halfway. We eat EVERYTHING!
And guess what? I have cut over $100 a fortnight on basic groceries. $200 a month. $2400 a year.
Now that's what I call a saving - money wise and earth wise.
Fascinating figures on food waste in Australia...
http://www.abc.net.au/tv/hungrybeast/stories/beast-file-food-waste/
Friday, June 8, 2012
Spendthrift wicked
I think everyone can relate to the idea of making a bad choice - and knowing it's a bad choice - but doing it anyway. Kathleen Robertson.
This weekend I am having a break. A break from work. A break from computers. A break from blogging.
But no break from frugality. I am in this for the long run. No rest for the spendthrift wicked.
In 7 days I have noticed a change in my attitude to money. I have tracked my expenses, written a budget for this fortnight and will adjust it on a regular basis, cleared my clutter and wardrobe to earn some extra dollars, organised some gorgeous outfits, cut my caffeine habit (yes-truly) and stopped buying lunch and I've (tried) to cut my portion sizes.
I have really started to view my earnings in a different way. I recently finished reading a book called "Your money or your life" by Vicki Robin & Joe Dominguez. It is recommend by 90% of financial independence blogs and I found it a really inspirational book. The one thing that I have found has stuck in my head from this book, is the chapter "How much are you trading your life energy for?" I began instantly looking at my purchases in relation to my hourly earnings. For instance:
1 coffee = 20 minutes of my hourly wage
Lunch & a drink = 40 minutes of my hourly wage
Haircut and Colour = 2 days of my weekly wage!
The chapter is a lot more complicated than I have explored here but I find it so enlightening. Relating my purchases to my hourly rate makes me really think twice before spending money. So my frugal tip number eight is relate, relate, relate. Think of how long in time you exchange for your monetary purchases - and is it really worth it.
I'll leave that with you until Monday. Have a wonderful frugal weekend.
Check out the website for "Your money or your life"- and get a hold of the book if you can (Contact me-I'll even lend it to you when I have read it a second time!)
http://ymoyl.wordpress.com/
This weekend I am having a break. A break from work. A break from computers. A break from blogging.
But no break from frugality. I am in this for the long run. No rest for the spendthrift wicked.
In 7 days I have noticed a change in my attitude to money. I have tracked my expenses, written a budget for this fortnight and will adjust it on a regular basis, cleared my clutter and wardrobe to earn some extra dollars, organised some gorgeous outfits, cut my caffeine habit (yes-truly) and stopped buying lunch and I've (tried) to cut my portion sizes.
I have really started to view my earnings in a different way. I recently finished reading a book called "Your money or your life" by Vicki Robin & Joe Dominguez. It is recommend by 90% of financial independence blogs and I found it a really inspirational book. The one thing that I have found has stuck in my head from this book, is the chapter "How much are you trading your life energy for?" I began instantly looking at my purchases in relation to my hourly earnings. For instance:
1 coffee = 20 minutes of my hourly wage
Lunch & a drink = 40 minutes of my hourly wage
Haircut and Colour = 2 days of my weekly wage!
The chapter is a lot more complicated than I have explored here but I find it so enlightening. Relating my purchases to my hourly rate makes me really think twice before spending money. So my frugal tip number eight is relate, relate, relate. Think of how long in time you exchange for your monetary purchases - and is it really worth it.
I'll leave that with you until Monday. Have a wonderful frugal weekend.
Check out the website for "Your money or your life"- and get a hold of the book if you can (Contact me-I'll even lend it to you when I have read it a second time!)
http://ymoyl.wordpress.com/
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Smaller equals smaller
Control thy passions lest they take vengeance on thee.
Epictetus.
Today's frugal tip is one that I am not sure of, however I am wiling to give it a go. As the cost of food increases and my waistline expands, the next tip makes a lot of sense.
Frugal tip number seven - follow portion control and cut food portions in half.
This sounds easier said than done. I have been dieting for over 20 years - and still, I am fat. Food is my passion. I love food - love, love, love food. And food loves me - my hips, my ass, my stomach. So by cutting my portions I am going to try and cut back on food costs. And calories.
I am not going to change what I eat, I am going to change how much I eat. I will cut out extra snacks during the day and replace them with fruit. I will eat 3 meals and no seconds. And I will begin to study portion sizes and incorporate them in my meals. I can be a hungry, hungry hippo at times and having this as my control will hopefully not only save me cash but also my waistline.
An easy tip to explain - let's see how I go with the actual going ahead with it....
A great read on saving money and portion control -
Today's frugal tip is one that I am not sure of, however I am wiling to give it a go. As the cost of food increases and my waistline expands, the next tip makes a lot of sense.
Frugal tip number seven - follow portion control and cut food portions in half.
This sounds easier said than done. I have been dieting for over 20 years - and still, I am fat. Food is my passion. I love food - love, love, love food. And food loves me - my hips, my ass, my stomach. So by cutting my portions I am going to try and cut back on food costs. And calories.
I am not going to change what I eat, I am going to change how much I eat. I will cut out extra snacks during the day and replace them with fruit. I will eat 3 meals and no seconds. And I will begin to study portion sizes and incorporate them in my meals. I can be a hungry, hungry hippo at times and having this as my control will hopefully not only save me cash but also my waistline.
An easy tip to explain - let's see how I go with the actual going ahead with it....
A great read on saving money and portion control -
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Hey Big Spender
I cook with wine, sometimes I even add it to the food. W.C Fields.
It has come to frugal tip five - which I will combine with frugal tip six, as I was so caught up in the Jubilee celebrations last night that I forgot to write!!
Frugal tips five & six- stop buying beverages when away from home and take my lunch to work.
Sounds so simple doesn't it? And something I should be doing anyway- but I haven't.
I love, love, love, love cafe coffee. And I hate instant. There - I have said it. Yet, I am spending up to $5 a day on cafe latte -sometimes up to five days a week. That's $25 a week - and $100 a month. Almost one days full wage being spent on coffee a month.
$1200 a year. A return ticket to Las Vegas. Hmmm- Okay - I don't love it that much.
Did you know I am addicted to caffeine? Not only do I drink a coffee a day (strike that - used to!) I am also addicted to Diet Coke. Shameful, I know. And also not cheap. The cost of a 600 ml bottle of Diet Coke a day? $4.
$16 a week. $64 a month.
$768 a year. Time to give it up me thinks
And then there is lunch. I work in a medical centre which is situated in one of the largest shopping centres in Victoria. I am a very lazy person and taking my lunch to work is boring compared to the variety of food available to me on a daily basis. Japanese, Indian, Mexican- fried rice, chicken caesar salad, kebab. Yum, Yum and oh yeah - Yum. How ever yummy these choices are, they are not cheap. On average, lunch and a drink can cost $10 a day - usually more. Even a salad sandwich is $8.50. Yes - really. Although maths wasn't my strong point at school, I can see this is a huge expense. I usually buy lunch 4 days a week ( I know. Shut up!). $40 a week. $160 a month.
$1920 a year. Did you see that? ONE THOUSAND, NINE HUNDRED AND TWENTY DOLLARS A YEAR!
Holy food court...now I can see where my money has been going..and it's not where I want it going. And did I tell you the upside to this? There isn't one! I am overweight and I am sure these eating habits are not helping with that...positively sure. This is one frugal tip that MUST be adhered to. No excuses.
I will give up store bought beverages - coffee, diet coke, juices etc. Water and a nice cup of tea will do just fine. And lunch? Yep - I'll be bringing something from home. Left over dinner, homemade soups, freshly made sandwiches, biccies and dip. For an extra $10 a week on my shop and a little time and effort, I will have enough to 'brown bag' my lunch to work every day. This is one tip I should have undertaken MANY years ago. After looking at the figures - I won't be making this mistake again. It's worth it.
AND $3888 savings a year proves it.
(I haven't even began to look at food costs on weekends out - gulp)
Need yummy options for lunch - check out
http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/collections/lunch+box+ideas.
It has come to frugal tip five - which I will combine with frugal tip six, as I was so caught up in the Jubilee celebrations last night that I forgot to write!!
Frugal tips five & six- stop buying beverages when away from home and take my lunch to work.
Sounds so simple doesn't it? And something I should be doing anyway- but I haven't.
I love, love, love, love cafe coffee. And I hate instant. There - I have said it. Yet, I am spending up to $5 a day on cafe latte -sometimes up to five days a week. That's $25 a week - and $100 a month. Almost one days full wage being spent on coffee a month.
$1200 a year. A return ticket to Las Vegas. Hmmm- Okay - I don't love it that much.
Did you know I am addicted to caffeine? Not only do I drink a coffee a day (strike that - used to!) I am also addicted to Diet Coke. Shameful, I know. And also not cheap. The cost of a 600 ml bottle of Diet Coke a day? $4.
$16 a week. $64 a month.
$768 a year. Time to give it up me thinks
And then there is lunch. I work in a medical centre which is situated in one of the largest shopping centres in Victoria. I am a very lazy person and taking my lunch to work is boring compared to the variety of food available to me on a daily basis. Japanese, Indian, Mexican- fried rice, chicken caesar salad, kebab. Yum, Yum and oh yeah - Yum. How ever yummy these choices are, they are not cheap. On average, lunch and a drink can cost $10 a day - usually more. Even a salad sandwich is $8.50. Yes - really. Although maths wasn't my strong point at school, I can see this is a huge expense. I usually buy lunch 4 days a week ( I know. Shut up!). $40 a week. $160 a month.
$1920 a year. Did you see that? ONE THOUSAND, NINE HUNDRED AND TWENTY DOLLARS A YEAR!
Holy food court...now I can see where my money has been going..and it's not where I want it going. And did I tell you the upside to this? There isn't one! I am overweight and I am sure these eating habits are not helping with that...positively sure. This is one frugal tip that MUST be adhered to. No excuses.
I will give up store bought beverages - coffee, diet coke, juices etc. Water and a nice cup of tea will do just fine. And lunch? Yep - I'll be bringing something from home. Left over dinner, homemade soups, freshly made sandwiches, biccies and dip. For an extra $10 a week on my shop and a little time and effort, I will have enough to 'brown bag' my lunch to work every day. This is one tip I should have undertaken MANY years ago. After looking at the figures - I won't be making this mistake again. It's worth it.
AND $3888 savings a year proves it.
(I haven't even began to look at food costs on weekends out - gulp)
Need yummy options for lunch - check out
http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/collections/lunch+box+ideas.
Monday, June 4, 2012
A working wardrobe
In honour of Her Majesty's Jubilee, I am taking today's tip from her maj herself and recycling my outfits and making my wardrobe work for me.
Frugal tip number four - make a classic wardrobe work for you.
I am an impulse shopper - I must have what is new and fabulous and in fashion. My wardrobe is full of lovely bit's and pieces - yet hardly any of them match, some cannot be worn because they need to be altered and some are horrible examples of fashion fads. I also have a penchant to buy my clothes a size or more smaller than I am. Reasoning for this?
1. I am going to lose weight (and have been 'going' to lose weight for over 20 years) and
2. I would have to admit to he size that I really am (I'd rather pretend that I am not!)
My wardrobe is therefore full of lovely bit's and pieces that neither match, nor do they fit. This needs to change. As I have given up dieting for now (future frugal tip alert), I need to accept my current weight and shop accordingly for it.
As a frugal fashionista my re-newed wardrobe must work for me:
- All items must fit
- All pieces must be interchangeable with other wardrobe items
- All pieces must be ready to wear now (clean, ironed, repaired and taken up!)
I began by emptying my wardrobe, my drawers and hidey spots (under the bed for odd shoes!) and dividing my clothes and accessories into 4 piles:
1. Clothes to keep (those that fit the categories above)
2. Clothes to clean or repair
3. Clothes to sell, exchange or give away
4. Clothes to throw out.
It's very cathartic cleaning out the closets and seeing the wonderful empty spaces, I hardly wanted to put anything back in. I am going to sell some of the newer clothes, working with frugal tip number 3 - sell, sell, sell. After sorting and shifting the clothes that work, I then take to arranging and find with a very basic wardrobe I can come up with 10 different outfits not including underwear, 2 winter coats, 3 pairs of pj's and an old 'trackie' to wear around the house. Not exactly a Queen's choice but pretty grand for me! And everything fits and works together. I feel like I have scored - big time. Never again will I say I have nothing to wear. I also realise I don't need to buy any more clothes for this year - I have plenty.
Unless I lose 15kg.
Or win the lotto.
(Both have the same odds of occurring...buckleys and none)
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Sunday - selling Sunday
Frugal tip number three incorporates two tips in one. Stop impulse online buying and start compulsory online selling.
Sundays used to be my most expensive day of the week. Yet, I was often to be found still in my pj's and having never left the comfort of my own home. Ah, the loveliness of EBay. With a cup of tea (or if after 5 - a red wine) in my hand and my eyes scouring numerous "bargains" at once, I could often spend a couple of days wages on little treasures I was sure I couldn't live without.
Those little treasure buys were the first thing I lamented buying as soon as I realised the financial predicament we were in. What to do, what to do? Why - I could still enjoy EBay, just on the other en of the bargain. I would be the seller.
At once I have put a restriction on buying from the Internet :
- only one item a month
- item must be second hand
- item must be on a mutually agreed list (by hubby & I) of 'must haves' to improve our lives and not clutter
- item can only be paid for by money made from previous EBay sales.
Items on list so far? A bread maker and a slow cooker. Thing that may help in my future endeavors.
And Sundays will now be my Selling Sunday days. And not just necessarily on EBay. Those of you who know me, also know that I come from a long line of Arthur Daley's. You know, Del Trotter's... Okay - second hand dealers. My Dad has always sold at the markets - new and old goods and now I would join him. I would gather up a lot of my "little treasures" and take them along to see if I could convince anyone they are bargains. That would be in a couple of weeks time - if the weather permits.
In the meantime, I will try and sell some of the bulkier items on EBay. I have decided on a minimum of two items a fortnight- not too many to be a nuisance, not too little to see a difference. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to find my camera and have to sort through some junk. I mean treasures.
A great article on how to begin selling on ebay -
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/consumertips/best-online-deals/5014629/eBay-The-beginners-guide.html
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Budget love...budget
A budget tells us what we can't afford, but it doesn't keep us from buying it.
William Feather
The second frugal law that I am implementing this month is budgeting. You can't live a thrifty lifestyle without a sensible budget- sensible being the operative word..And I am not known to be sensible.
Many years ago when I was living and working in the UK, I found my pennies were not going very far at all. On the wall of the lunch room at Gap I found a poster offering free financial advice. I called the number (no e-mail then) and they mailed me a copy of a budgeting book. I have found it useful ever since. Especially when I use it.
Budgeting is easier when you know how much money you are bringing in and how much money is going out. Yesterdays frugal tip of recording all expenses is handy in the sense that you can see where you are spending your cash and where you can cut excessive spending. There is nothing like coming face to face with your outgoings....and recognising that they don't match your incomings! A budget will help to match these numbers...again, in theory.
"It's clearly a budget. It's got a lot of numbers in it." George W Bush
Choose your categories. Where do your spend your money? Once I had discovered where I was spending my money, I found that I have had to change my categories a few times. I used to have one large miscellaneous grouping (haircuts, gifts, animal costs etc) however, I have now found I need to be a little more specific.
I have also divided my budgeting into monthly expenses and yearly expenses. My yearly expenses incorporate those charges that need to be paid yearly - in my case car registration, car insurance/road side assistance and yearly bank fees. I then divide these amounts by 12 (months of the year) and incorporate them into my monthly expenses- therefore, when they are due, I will hopefully have the funds to pay for them. I also get paid fortnightly, so that I find organising my budget into fortnightly segments works better for me. Budgeting is about working out what is best for you.
Budgeting takes time and effort and can often be depressing. It can show up areas you may have been ignoring and highlight a tendency for over spending in other areas. A budget needs to be flexible. I have found that I often need to tweak my budget to fit my circumstances. For instance, I needed money for the dentist this month, so I limited my food budget to be able to pay this unexpected expense. However, I have decided that the budget needs to be flexible only for emergencies. If I am too flexible, I may find my fridge empty yet some gorgeous new shoes on my feet!
My basic fortnightly, monthly and yearly budget has been written up for now. Let's see how it goes....
P.S -A great blog entry about being too restrictive with budgeting -
http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2011/09/29/a-budget-is-only-what-you-make-of-it/
The second frugal law that I am implementing this month is budgeting. You can't live a thrifty lifestyle without a sensible budget- sensible being the operative word..And I am not known to be sensible.
Many years ago when I was living and working in the UK, I found my pennies were not going very far at all. On the wall of the lunch room at Gap I found a poster offering free financial advice. I called the number (no e-mail then) and they mailed me a copy of a budgeting book. I have found it useful ever since. Especially when I use it.
Budgeting is easier when you know how much money you are bringing in and how much money is going out. Yesterdays frugal tip of recording all expenses is handy in the sense that you can see where you are spending your cash and where you can cut excessive spending. There is nothing like coming face to face with your outgoings....and recognising that they don't match your incomings! A budget will help to match these numbers...again, in theory.
"It's clearly a budget. It's got a lot of numbers in it." George W Bush
Choose your categories. Where do your spend your money? Once I had discovered where I was spending my money, I found that I have had to change my categories a few times. I used to have one large miscellaneous grouping (haircuts, gifts, animal costs etc) however, I have now found I need to be a little more specific.
I have also divided my budgeting into monthly expenses and yearly expenses. My yearly expenses incorporate those charges that need to be paid yearly - in my case car registration, car insurance/road side assistance and yearly bank fees. I then divide these amounts by 12 (months of the year) and incorporate them into my monthly expenses- therefore, when they are due, I will hopefully have the funds to pay for them. I also get paid fortnightly, so that I find organising my budget into fortnightly segments works better for me. Budgeting is about working out what is best for you.
Budgeting takes time and effort and can often be depressing. It can show up areas you may have been ignoring and highlight a tendency for over spending in other areas. A budget needs to be flexible. I have found that I often need to tweak my budget to fit my circumstances. For instance, I needed money for the dentist this month, so I limited my food budget to be able to pay this unexpected expense. However, I have decided that the budget needs to be flexible only for emergencies. If I am too flexible, I may find my fridge empty yet some gorgeous new shoes on my feet!
My basic fortnightly, monthly and yearly budget has been written up for now. Let's see how it goes....
P.S -A great blog entry about being too restrictive with budgeting -
http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2011/09/29/a-budget-is-only-what-you-make-of-it/
Friday, June 1, 2012
30 days have.....and have not
30 days have September, April, JUNE and November.
June. What a perfect month to begin being frugal. And 30 days gives me just enough time to make some exciting changes. Each day this month I will try to implement a thrifty tip and carry these through to the rest of the month. These tips will (most probably) be extremely easy changes I can make to my day to day living, in the hope of beginning my frugal adventure.
Frugal tip number 1- Keep track of all expenses.
I have actually been doing this for the past month and what an awful, horrid, awkward yet enlightening experience this has been. It has proven to me that I have been practising limited control over my finances, that I spend an unbelievable amount on take away food and that I spend lavishly on gifts - for everyone I know (even my mechanic - I know - go figure).
I also found that I spend much more on my groceries than I thought, that I have a thing for shoes that cost under $10 (4 pairs in a week) and that I had no idea I was spending three whole hours of my working wage, earning enough just to pay for my credit card interest each month.
I found that keeping a written record of my expenses sometimes (and I mean sometimes) made me think twice before purchasing something because I knew I would have to record it at some point later. Knowing I would have to face up to it later was also off putting. Like now for instance.
I will continue to record all of my expenses. Firstly, so that I can see where I am spending my money.
Secondly, I want (and need) to spend less than last month- this can be my comparison table. And thirdly, because I really do believe I may finally embarrass myself into not spending my hard earned cash on things I can't remember buying- until I see it written on my list!!!!
June. What a perfect month to begin being frugal. And 30 days gives me just enough time to make some exciting changes. Each day this month I will try to implement a thrifty tip and carry these through to the rest of the month. These tips will (most probably) be extremely easy changes I can make to my day to day living, in the hope of beginning my frugal adventure.
Frugal tip number 1- Keep track of all expenses.
I have actually been doing this for the past month and what an awful, horrid, awkward yet enlightening experience this has been. It has proven to me that I have been practising limited control over my finances, that I spend an unbelievable amount on take away food and that I spend lavishly on gifts - for everyone I know (even my mechanic - I know - go figure).
I also found that I spend much more on my groceries than I thought, that I have a thing for shoes that cost under $10 (4 pairs in a week) and that I had no idea I was spending three whole hours of my working wage, earning enough just to pay for my credit card interest each month.
I found that keeping a written record of my expenses sometimes (and I mean sometimes) made me think twice before purchasing something because I knew I would have to record it at some point later. Knowing I would have to face up to it later was also off putting. Like now for instance.
I will continue to record all of my expenses. Firstly, so that I can see where I am spending my money.
Secondly, I want (and need) to spend less than last month- this can be my comparison table. And thirdly, because I really do believe I may finally embarrass myself into not spending my hard earned cash on things I can't remember buying- until I see it written on my list!!!!
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Starting over
These are all words used to describe people who are prudent with their money and who wish to see value for their buck. I used to think I was all of the above. Now I wish I was.
Okay - so I wasn't super vigilant with my budgeting and I could honestly say I never went without. On one hand, I could be really stingy with spending on household groceries for the week. Then, with the other hand, blow my money on a useless "kotchke" I just had to have for my house. I saved little and not often enough- I always thought there would be enough time for saving later. My husband had a great career that paid well and I enjoyed my part-time (although not so well paying) job. We would be fine. We went on overseas trips. We bought classic cars. We spoilt our new born son. We spent up.
Then we decided to buy a house. We only had the minimum down-payment but rushed into finding the property for us. The bank had no problem approving us our loan - even offering us DOUBLE what we asked. We would be fine. We were making enough to cover all payments and still enjoy life. And those costs just kept getting higher and higher.
Then my husband got ill. His illness seeped into every part of our lives and soon, instead of spending up big we were concentrating on day to day living and getting him well no matter what. My husband ceased work and as I did not earn enough to cover even the mortgage, we survived by spending our savings, selling cars and furniture and reducing our costs - but really only minimally. I knew I should budget and take control of what was being spent, and sometimes, I half heartily did that. However, when my husband stopped working I think I truly believe it would be for a short time only. Soon I found myself not knowing what to do or where to turn to.
Nearly two years later, I realise I have underestimated how important being frugal in my life needs to be and am now on my way to discovering thrifty living and money saving ways. I am going to study and employ many ways to stretch my earnings further, to pay down my consumer debt and to learn to love what we have and where we are today - all living below our means and being happy to do it. Better money management, bargain shopping and saving money for what really matters are my goals. I will be using as many resources as I can - blogs, financial sites, television shows, books etc. However, whatever I use must cost me nothing and all info must be available to everyone. This is my journey to financial independence.
I don't know when we will be a two income family again and truthfully, I don't care. I am just grateful to still have my husband alive and by my side. The lessons learnt have been great, however the starting over will be greater.
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