Family Entertainment

Here in Aus we are at the end of the first month of Autumn (Fall - if you like to American-ise it) and it is perfect weather to get out and enjoy the wonderful park-lands that can be found all over the country.  This is a great time of year to save money because not only do we not need the expensive heating or cooling systems running (seriously just put on a jumper if you're cold or a pair of shorts if you're still warm) but it's so easy to find free or inexpensive activities out and about in your local community.  You can usually toss in a bit of exercise and 'quality time' for the family in the process!

For activities in my area (close to the ACT) I found the government publishes a site (as part of the Department of Territory and Municipal Services) listing "Environment and recreation facilities, including parks and reserves across the ACT".
Just do a google search for parks or community events in your local area, contact your nearest city council or tourist information centre (they're not just for tourists, locals can use them too!) to find some free or cheap events and activities near you.

On another note - enjoy the Easter weekend coming up, have a scout around the web for some fun (and cheap) ideas to celebrate the birth of chocolate and the hatching of bunnies from eggs!

good food = good budget?

Forbes.com has listed Cheap Foods That Are Good For You.
The foods listed are: lentils, broccoli, carrots, oranges, bananas, white potatoes, milk, beans, tomato juice, yoghurt. The prices listed are U.S. averages, however, I'm sure that they are all reasonably cheap here in Aus too.

On another (yet similar) note, my new fav food blogger, Health Foodie, has started a series of healthy 'fast food'. Reading through the discussion I'm reminded that not only is take-out bad for your body its also pretty bad for your wallet. Have a think about how much you spend of convenience food and stay tuned for more money-saving food ideas.

attention budget conscious Melbourne!

 Penguin's released this new book of cheap places to eat out in Melbourne - not a great use to me here in NSW but it might be worth asking your local library to get in for you, especially if you visit there a bit and don't want to blow the holiday budget on dinner.

The $/hrs Rule and Wish Lists

One of the best pieces of money-saving advice I've heard is the $100/48hour rule.

The concept: when you see something that you want but it costs more that $100 walk away and think about it for at least 48 hours before retuning to buy it - and only return if you decide that you still REALLY want it and can't get it from somewhere else cheaper and if you've saved enough for it.

I want to make a few changes to this rule for those of us who REALLY want to save money.
Change it to a lower amount of money eg $50, $25 or $10 or even $5, whatever seems fair to you and your budget (this might even depend on the type of product) and then try to extend the time further say 7days or a pay period.  Basically the rule is flexible to your needs but don't be too easy on yourself eg. if your rule is $10,000/5min you're really not going to use it (and if you will I think you should leave this blog immediately and go to the Red Cross website or World Vision).

A good way to avoid impulse spending is to keep a wish list.  You can then refer to this list when ever you are tempted to buy something that you don't NEED and see where it fits on you order of priorities.  For example you might have a beautiful cookbook worth $80 that you'd really like and you're tempted to buy a $40 vase... priority? how much would you use the vase? how much would you use the book? If they are equal, add the vase to the list.

Note: don't be confused by sale prices, just because it says 50% off doesn't mean you need the vase more.  If it wasn't worth $40 when you first saw it, it's not worth $40 when you know it used to be $80!

The wish list is also great when that time inevitably comes around that someone asks you "What do you want for your birthday/Christmas/mother's day etc.?" Just refer to your wish list and pick some thing of appropriate value - don't ask your uni-student sister to buy you a $600 stereo system! you might also want to consider the buyers taste, if you want something specific you might be best to leave that one for yourself to buy when you've saved for it - you might not want you uncle to buy you a new bedspread... at least not without some assistance!

You can make wish lists for different occasions, eg. new baby, new home, just because, gifts for friends/family whatever you want.

I've just installed a Google Chrome Extention for the Amazon Wish List feature which means that as I browse the net, I can add anything from anywhere to my list based back on Amazon.com.

I'm pretty excited about the idea - if you haven't worked it out already - I really like organisational gadgets!

See how you go with the $/hr Rule next time you're tempted.
xx

Revamp your old furniture and save $$$$

My desk is UGLY.


I have to admit that after some mild (ish) complaining on my part my better half pulled some useless pieces off of it so that it was more usable, but it is still a boring piece of laminated ply-wood that I hide in the corner and cover with work (well I guess I would do that anyway - but this is my excuse for not uncovering it!).


So I think to myself, "how do I procrastinate today? - aha! I'll find out how to get a new desk, on the cheap."  the obvious answer - paint it, but how? so a little bit of fluffing around on Google and I came across yet another wonder woman blogger (woman, we are good!) Lindsay (of Living with Lindsay was in a similar situation with a wardrobe in her house and decided to  post a tutorial for us to learn from.


Budget benefit? - well this way I wont be tempted to spend money on a new desk at any point especially as this one is structurally perfect.  


Special Note: DIY may not always be the cheapest or best solution, sometimes you might spend more time and money fixing up mistakes than you would have if you'd hired someone to do the job for you or just bought a new one. Just think your options through and do some research before you start any new DIY project.


My lovely better half is off for 2 weeks for work tomorrow so today is filled with organising for this separation and thus I doubt I'll get around to DIY shopping today (or this fortnight) but as soon as it happens you'll be one of the first to know!


Happy furniture 'shopping'!

slash your grocery bills by ditching the label

Latest news on the brand-name vs no-name brands in the supermarket in this article (there are similar articles all over the papers today).  I really love saying 'I told you so!'!!!!!!

"Super Cute" Freebies

Just found this site. The Project Girl has heaps of downloads of her own (and others) creations to help with organisation and planning.  Some of my favs are the menu planner and her storage labels.  Being more organised will eventually save you money.  The menu planner means knowing exactly what you need to buy at the supermarket before you get there and you avoid the mid-week, nothing-in-the-fridge-so-we'll-get-(expensive)-take-out issue and the labels mean that you know where everything is and avoid buying little supplies that you already have.  I should take some of my own advise here - I still can't find my envelopes after we moved like 2 months ago! she also has downloads to help organising moving and travelling (avoid buying stuff when you get there because you forgot something).
A friend of mine did a big clean up of her sisters house not so long ago and was shocked to find that the family had 36 brand new glue sticks! 36!!! all scattered around the house, they could never find one when they needed it so would just buy a new one.  I dare say that if they keep them in good spot they will never need to buy another one again!
She has so many freebies - and they are all so beautifully designed, do not spend money with Martha Stewart without looking here first!

a simply good (cheap) day

Today I did some of my favourite (cheap) things:

1. Took my son to the playground and met up with some other Mums and Bubs.  This is my favourite FREE activity because it is great exercise for both myself and the little man (we walk there and back and run around a lot while we're there) and I get to catch up with other adults!
2. I went to the local op-shop.  This is my favourite way to shop, it is amazing what wonders you can pick up, all great quality and cheaper than chips.  Today I picked up a new pair of PJs for my better half, 2 cookbooks for myself (including a Weight Watchers cookbook and  "Good Housekeeping" Budget Cookbook I will make good use of these!), a storybook for my son and a wedding present for a friend all for only $13!!!!!! And I garantee that my friend will never guess that her pewter goblets only cost $5... well she will if she's read this!  Don't worry I intend to have them engraved and packaged beautifully with a nice bottle of something too (I'm not that cheap!).
   Ebay is also great for this but I love shopping because I find you get a rush from snapping up a bargain and having it to take home then and there.
3. Surfed the net for free competitions.  I enter anything that I can answer, whether I want the prize or not, I usually find that someone close to me will like it even if I don't and it always makes me feel good to give somebody some thing just because I can.  If nobody wants it it can always be given to charity or sold on Ebay.
4. Now here is something that I probably shouldn't mention on a budgeting site but I can justify it... today I bought a lotto ticket.  I play the same numbers every week because if I don't my family will die... well that's not true, but I do believe in Murphy's Law, when I don't play those numbers they will come up!  I do limit myself to just the one ticket a week and that $7-$8 is budgeted for in the weekly accounts.  I really must point out that you shouldn't buy your tickets expecting that one day you WILL win and all your problems will be solved.  That's like assuming that liposuction will mean that you will always be thin and continue to eat junk every day.  If you take the quick solution without changing your habits you will not have a long term solution.  If you answer the question "what would you do if you won the lotto?" with "spend it." even if it is disguised as "buy a new house, car, boat etc etc." you should think a little harder.  My answer is "Invest it in high interest account and live off the interest for a year or two at least then spend it sensibly".

I'll leave you with that for now
xx

The Bigger Picture

Ok, so we know that we are here to save money, but why?
Well money is nice to have more of so we can spend it, right? but why are we saving just so we can spend?
We want to be able to spend knowing that spending now doesn't mean suffering for it later.

In today's procrastination, I learned of a Mr Dave Ramsey a radio show host and personal finance guru in the U.S.  This guy started at the bottom, rose to the top, lost it all and now has it all back and more.
So, I'm thinking, he might know a thing or two.
Davo recommends 7 Baby Steps to financial freedom:

1. Save $1,000 as your beginning Emergency Fund.
2. Pay off all your non-mortgage debt using the Debt Snowball method.
3. Save 3 to 6 months of expenses, completing the Emergency Fund from step 1.
4. Invest 15% of your regular household income for retirement.
5. Create an education fund for your children.
6. Pay off your home.
7. Build wealth and Give.

Now, I don't think Dave expects anyone to do this overnight or even in a year.  I know that it might take me 10 years or more  to get to step 7, but they are goals.

We can't just say 'I wan't to have financial freedom' we have to work for it, and these steps break it down into more manageable pieces.  You can then break them down further if you need to - like save $50 a week for the next 20 weeks and you've completed step one!

The Debt Snowball is basically paying off you debts from smallest to largest.  If you owe $100 on a layby, $2000 on Credit Card, $6000 car payments and another debt of say $800, you'll pay off your layby first (maybe in a fortnight if you can still save that $50 a week after completing step one), then the $800 in 18 weeks after that and so on.  If you can save more per week than you'll get through this faster but the key is to not add more debt!

And that's where we keep up the everyday savings that I talk about here!

So know we have some goals for our money, you're goals might be different to mine but I think this list from ol' Davo is pretty much on the money (pun intended).

So I'll leave that with you - I fear I have a dirty nappy to change ... ah motherhood.  

Checkout Dave's website, http://www.daveramsey.com/, I'll be spending some more time on it when I can find some!

How to Make Extra Money as a Stay at Home Mom | eHow.com

How to Make Extra Money as a Stay at Home Mom | eHow.com

I found this short list of great ideas in my procrastinating this morning!
You don't have to be a mum to do it but the author has given advise on how to earn this money with kids in-tow.

a few quick ideas

Hi there,

Just a few quick ideas that I use to save the moolah.

1. Make use of your local library.
I borrow books, DVDs, CDs, computer games and puzzles for my son.  This way I always have something new to entertain him with, without having to shell out the cash.
For myself and my partner, I borrow books, magazines, CDs and DVDs. Think of how much you can save by cutting down on the magazines and borrowing movies from the library rather than a rental place.  Not to mention the savings on time and money by borrowing exercise DVDs rather than going to a gym or fitness class.  Don't get me wrong - I fully understand the joy of buying a glossy new magazine purely because it is there and that's what 'we' do and the benefits of exercising with a group - however, if our main goal here is to BITE THE BUDGET - these are the things we need to consider cutting down or out.

2. Change is as good as a Holiday?
Well it might take a while but it would be possible to pay for a weekend away just out of the small change left in you wallet at the end of everyday.
I put all but a few dollars of my spare coin into a cute little piggy bank - and I just LOVE that he's putting on weight!
With this savings you can choose to spend it on a special treat every week, like a coffee with the girls or that movie you've been DIEING to see or some nice wine and some scrummy cheese OR you can put it into that savings account and watch it grow or pay off a bit more of your debt and watch it shrink! - every little bit helps.

3. Invest in a set-top box for your T.V.
Australia FINALLY has proper Digital Television and I can tell you, as a Mum, this could not have been soon enough!  With a one off cost you can get at least an extra 5 or so channels with more popping up all the time. I've never paid for television such as Austar or Foxtel but I've had the experience and I honestly don't see the point.  With this new technology there is a children's show on almost anytime you could want it, network ten has a channel dedicated to sport and there is now more sitcoms, news blah blah blah - ok i'm not trying to sell television here.... stop the blabbering Economummy!
If you're trying to cut back, just give it a go - give up the pay-tv and go to a sports bar for the big game - its a better atmosphere there anyway!

4. Don't pay for the packaging!
It really makes me sad to know that some people are still spending too much at the supermarket simply because they refuse to try the generic brand.  PLEASE just give it a try.  When you find the product you usually buy, just take a look around the shelf and see if you can get it cheaper in a different brand.  If you take it home, try it out and don't like it, don't buy it again - what have you lost?
Having said that, don't always assume that the generic brand will always be the cheapest, you might find that a top shelf brand on special is cheaper this week than the store's brand.  All it takes is a few seconds to scan the shelf and those few extra cents do add up at the checkout.

5. Talk to people.
This might seem silly but if you just tell your family and friends or even co-workers etc. that you are looking for or need or would even like something you may be surprised what people could be willing to give away or sell to you very little.  For example:

• When my partner and I first moved into our own place, he happened to mention to a co-worker that I wanted a dining table but we had to save up a bit longer, next thing we knew he was dropping off an old 6 piece dining setting that he had made years ago that his wife has been trying to get him to toss since they bought a new one.  That cost us a 6pack of beer!
• The place that we moved into that time was owned by one of my co-workers and he rented it to us at 'mates rates'.
• A neighbour of ours recently was given a lounge suite by a co-worker.
• A friend of mine has sourced an outdoor play set for my son from her parents in exchange for a cuppa while we laugh at our significant others trying to set it up!

Thats just to name a few.
Don't feel guilty about taking this sort of thing, people wouldn't offer it if they weren't willing to give and always remember to pay it forward when you can (that dining table is now in another friends home).

Well that better be it for now - motherly duties await!
I'd love to hear some of your ideas if you want to share.

xx