have saved over $1,000 in 7 weeks!! See how here!

Well its week #7 and the cat is looking well.  Still there are more savings to be found in the weekly budget with a few new ideas

#30 - kids school photos, usually I buy the value pack but this year just the class photo (its not like we dont have a whole heap of photos of our kids!)  Saves $22

#31 - MYO Pizza tonight - saves us about $40.  It's the last futsal game tonight and we are going to MACCAS for an icecream - strictly icecream - simple, easy, fun, cheap!

#32 - We will have to wait to see if this is fully realised - but if Fraser wins the karate colouring in competition there is a months free training for a prize.  That'll save us about $100 atm, so Fraser - get your pencils out.  He is fully into this - as we have bribed him to enter the comp - normally we wouldnt worry about it !!  I wont put this saving down unless it gets realised . . . .

#33 - bakery bipass, eggs sold and soft drinks not purchased, early pick up from childcare, spot in my ante natal class filled early - $88 or there abouts :)

#34 - bought something to replace something I lost, then I found it BEFORE losing the receipt, $6 back in the bank!

# 35 - staying at a friends over the weekend, up north, to save on accomodation costs - we have to go up for karate tournament for Fraser - I wont add the saving of around $150 because we are really looking forward to seeing them.  I might cook up a dish to take so they dont suggest we go out for tea (that rarely costs us less than $100).  Sneaky eh - I'm getting good at this!!

So, counting savings from points 30, 31, 33 and 34 - $156 + $904 (from the last 6 weeks)

Savings so far - over $1,000 - $1,060 to be exact!

A testimony to Bikrum Yoga

When I turned 40 I was pregnant with child #3 and stiff as can be. My spine was not only stiff but felt like if I was going to experience any unexpected movement something would ‘go’. I avoided the dodgem cars! How boring! I thought I have 3 young children, I cant pull back from life like this. I needed something very different to all I’d done before. My back stiffness is longstanding – I’ve been trying to improve it for decades and I’m glad I didnt stop fighting the good fight. However, coming from a background of PE teaching, regular participation in sport and gym attendance I am still perplexed as to why I’m so stiff – it’s not like I’ve been sitting on the couch or have a sedentary job.

 I attended my first class when my daughter was 5 months old. I had weight to lose, a core to strengthen, a very stiff back, and was coming up to 10 years of suffering golfers elbow (another child rearing consequence). I got through the first class and could not sleep that night. My back felt like I’d stripped 10 years of stiffness out of it. I was so excited! I kid you not – it felt that good. 1 class. My elbows also began to heal – I found the exercise of laying on my pronated elbows excruciating at first, but within a few weeks a lot of tension was gone, flexibility and stiffness in the joint had improved. Bowels also improved. I'd been told I had a lazy bowel, and I think that’s right – but I’ve gotta say if I’m a bit bunged up then a bikrum class always helps within 24 hours – things are moving again.

 I’ve never been a particularly flexible person, still not, But it is a testimony to the practise that at 43 I am more flexible than I’ve ever been. I’d also like to add that for a short time I was practising Fit Hot Yoga and the benefits diminished. But within 1 class at the Newtown Bikrum Studio I felt progress in my overall wellbeing – particularly spinal health.

 What is most amazing is that although I’d love to come more regularly I generally only come twice a week, rarely do I make it 3 times, and I’m going through a busy time and can only make it once a week atm. I’d love to do more, but there you go, life is busy. Still, I’d really miss my once a week, in fact I’d have to be really sick to miss that – one class is better than none!

So there’s my testimony – amazing results, without a huge commitment, just a regular one.

How to save $3,000, next entry

Well I have to say I am starting to run out of new and exciting ways to save money.  We are down to routine habits.  Here is this weeks savings

#26:  Bakery bipass - again saved around $30, less bread in the house, and cheese and bacon rolls made for the kids

#27:  havent included this one yet, but since the cat got sick we havent had Friday night takeaway.  Now that might not sound much of a sacrifice, and it really isnt.  But it is a saving because we used to get takeaway every 2 weeks.  So over 6 weeks I reacon we've saved about $80 - we usually spend between $25-$40 - gosh that seems a lot

#28:  Sold eggs, reduced soft drink consumption, picked up kids from childcare - probably saved $25 this week.  Finding it hard to go without my soft drink as it is my 1 form of caffiene and fizz over the day.

#29:  cant think how to put a price to this but there is one.  Bought some seedlings during the week, I usually buy the healthiest without looking any further.  The healthiest had 6, the next healthiest had 12.  Those 12 are now planted in the garden and doing very well!  Instead of 6.
Well cant think of many other ways I've saved, its been that kind of week.  However, $135 is not a bad effort, I guess most savings come from reducing things habitually and that's what we are doing

Total savings - previously $771 + this weeks effort $135 = $904 - actually thats not bad over 6 weeks!

Enjoy your week!

What's happening in the garden

Well the spuds have completely died down so I am lifting them before they rot in the ground.  Spuds should not be left in the ground.  When they are removed put them in a dry box, damp soil removed, and sick or damaged ones removed.  Cover them completely so no light can get in.

This is the patch of garden that was a useless piece of grass 8 months ago.  Water logged and full of swamp weeds and squelchy mud I used the no dig method to transform it.  That is - layers of newspaper, spuds layed out, heaps of straw, manure, seaweed turned into a fertile patch full of worms with rich organic matter throughout.  It will be interesting to see if it becomes unproductive over winter as the rain increases.  It's been planted out with broccoli and spring onion and has wire around it to keep the chooks out (who are desperate to get their beak around every worm they can see!).  It smells healthy (not dank and swampy) so I am optomistic.  Please post any experiences you've had with overly wet patches.  Dont get me started on why its overly wet!

How to save $3,000 - 5th update

Well after 4 weeks I genuinely saved $666, and havent suffered because of it (although the lack of hair dye was a personal sacrifice I'm not doing again)

This week:

#21: another bakery bipass - saved about $30 over the week, as well as making scrolls instead on sandwhiches

#22:  picked boys up early from childcare - an hour early as Brookey was sick anyway - saved about $15

#23:  nit treatments - yep the nits and lice have hit 4/5 of us - so the options are cheap and labour intensive or quick and over with.  I went 50 / 50, and probably saved $10 opting for cheap conditioner

#24  a friend is looking after Brooke next week while i go to a work thing - saved $35 in childcare

#25  this is a weird one, but Brooke will miss a swimming lesson at $15 each - she is allowed to miss one without $$ penalty

Total saved this week - $105 - shocker of a week for not any soft drinks - lots of stress and not enough sleep - needed the caffeine!!  Better luck next week

Total saving so far - $771

Aunty Joan's Apple Cake

Aunty Joan is 80 something, and a wizard in the kitchen.  After scoring some apples left over from a conference I decided to have a go at it myself.  After looking at the ingrediants I thought this is never going to work - it's too dry, but the apple makes up for it, you will see!

125 grams of melted butter (actually the recipe said 1/4 pound)
1/4 cup caster sugar

now cream the two

add 1 egg, 1 cup sr flour.

You need about 3/4 cup of cooked apple that is cold

Place 1/2 mixture in bottom of 7 inch tin (18 cm - small!!)
spread the apple
top with the rest of the mixture (I flattened it out a bit because it is quite dry and to spread in over cooked apple is like trying to rake dirt over a mud puddle)

Cook in a mod oven for 30 mins
ice with lemon icing

This is so yummy, you COULD eat the lot in 1 go.

Jo's quinoa & tomato salad (kind of like tabouli)

I just created this salad after promising to bring tabouli to a family BBQ.  I didnt have any cracked wheat, but I did have some quinoa (pronounced quin way).  I went to a conference recently and quinoa featured there in a salad and it was yum.

Quinoa is gluten free, and full of fibre and packs a whopping 15g of protein / 100g.  I decided to add a few things like radishes, as they were begging to be used up in the garden.  It provides a nice zing too (so perhaps miss if you've got kids).  I think this salad will be yummy with any meat, but particularly with falafel balls and in a wrap!

So here we go
1 part quinoa + 2 parts water, micro wave 10 mins and leave to stand for 2-3 mins and absorb any other water - I used 3/4 cup quinoa then refridgerate it until its cold
2 large tomatoes
half a cucumber (a long burpless one)
6 radishes
equal amounts of parsley and mint - like about half a cup squashed each
spring onions - 4 big ones

dice all the vegies, fine chop herbs, add to cooked quinoa with 1/4 cup lemon juice (to taste) and any other herbs you might enjoy . . . . I've seen cummin mentioned in other recipes but I'll leave it out

happy eating

potato and egg frittata

Plenty of spuds and eggs at our place, so lets combine the two

mix up eggs, and grated cheese, and a little full cream milk
peel a large spud, and layer the pie dish

add the egg mix, layer by layer and cook in a moderate oven 30 mins or so

I added a tablespoon of SR flour to get a little rise in the dish

eat with tomatoes and broccoli fresh from the garden.  My sons favorite broccoli dish has a little pan fried bacon added, and some parmeson cheese

enjoy!!

How to save $3,000 - 4th update, and still going!

There's some repition to saving money this week, as the ideas from previous weeks continue, but still some new ideas

#16:  I am not doing this again - forgo 4 weekly dieing of overly grey streak in hair - saw hair colour for $15 (that's worth saving), then discounted at $11 (still worth saving I suppose), then discounted again at Chickfeed for $5 - but hair dresser is coming next week anyway . . . so I saved $5 and feel crap everytime I look in the mirror.  Not doing that again.  Will buy up a few packs of $5 colour - this is unusally cheap!

#17:  Did more volunteer work for TAIKO and earned a hefty discount off my fees for a workshop this weekend - saved $50

#18:  Bakery bipass - I usually spend around $8-$12 each trip - around 4 a week.  The boys havent been enjoying sandwhiches and I'm not enjoying buying bakery products to replace them.  But I've been cooking scrolls and cheese and bacon rolls and reduced spending at bakery to ABOUT $15 per week total.  Savings this week and last - around $60

#19:  Ongoing savings from reduced purchasing of drinks, egg sales, etc - around $16 for the week

#20: discovered that if I pick my boys up from child care at 4.59, rather than 5.01 I save an hour childcare or about $10 each and every week

So this week I saved $141, previously I have saved $425, making it a total of - $666 - at this rate it'll take me 6 months, which is on target for a new bathroom before xmas!

Not sleeping? You need a toolbox of strategies to get you there

I suppose I fit into the category of sleep disordered.  That is, I sleep well, every single night, except when I need to get up early for work.  This is a problem because I usually have to parent all day, and then take a class, sometimes 2 in the evening  Sometimes I feel totally mental because having a nana nap is not possible with a little one at home.

Search the internet and you will find hundreds of articles on sleep, or lack of, and what to do about this.  Sleep hygeine is what its called - obvious things like no caffeine after 4, no late night sport, and reduce the technology just before bed, try not to have day sleeps. . . .

After many many years of having this problem when I have to work any kind of shift that starts around 6am I decided to visit a naturopath with a yogic background who specialises in sleep.  I've have 2 early mornings since then, and not perfect, but improved sleep.

Here's what's in my toolbox of strategies to get me off to sleep
1:  Have to admit I take a sleeping tab to get me off - i was taking 1 1/2, now just the 1 - I plan to reduce and remove this when day light savings finishes next week and I'm really confident with the process
2:  I've convinced myself I'm going to have a crap nights sleep so I needed to change my internal dialogue - now I say 'let the darkness in'  I do this literally by leaving the curtains open, and I can see the stars - it's very calming to me
3:  Let the darkness in in other ways - dim lit rooms being key here
4:  deep abdominal breathing from 20 down to 1.  I think the lowest I've got is 8, but generally I lose the process and have to start again at 20.  Whatever, just roll with it
3:  Camomile tea, before bed, and during the night should I wake (yep its cold by then)
4:  A sleepy herbal brew before bed (yuk, but essential I am told)
5:  Full cream milk drink with ginger, cardamon and cinamon stick gently heated through over an hour, and then honey stirred through - just before bed
6:  No technology from 6.  No FB, computer, or stimulating telly

So that's my strategy, what works for you??

How to save $3K . . . . progress so far - ($1,000 saved in one decision)

Well its week 3 of trying to claw back the price of the cats surgery.  When I genuinely hit the $3k mark I'll be ready to get my new bathroom.  I'm finding different ways each week to save $$, and thanks to those who've added their tips - keep them coming.  Who would have thought that Melinda would take the time to measure the lid of something to see if adding a lid of liquid meets the recommended dose of 50ml.  She found it measured 65 ml, so quite a difference there.

Tip #11:  went to the beach on Sat instead of the pool.  Saved maybe $30, cos a trip to the pool for our kids means chips and a drink

Tip #12:  Sunday - invited to the pool (Oh dilemna - its nearly 40 degrees and I'm feeling good about saving $$ yesterday)  But wait, 3 years ago we were given a free pass - would they honour it?  YES!! so saved $15 on entry and it wasnt the chippy pool - lets just say we saved  $15!

Tip #13:  Did some volunteer work helping with Taiko drumming - I love it, love being part of it, happy to help out.  Apparently I am to be rewarded with a $20 reduction in fees, I wouldn't normally take the reduction, it is afterall a fun pass time, but this month I'll take it.

Tip #14:  This one I'm abit embarrassed about cos its a shear waste of money, and I was being a bit precious.  So get over it chicky, its not that bad.  Last year I purchased a 10 visit pass for a yoga studio but fell in love with NEWTOWN Bikrum and it was looking like I wasnt going to use those remaining 9 visits (about $15 each)  So now I am instead of visiting my favorite centre, and I'm doing less visits anyway, so it save approx $130 over the next year.

Tip #15:  I'm not going to add this one to the tally becuase I'd decided to do this before the cat got sick - but later in the year we are going away for 6 weeks.  And 2 cats in a catery for 6 weeks is around $1,000 - we are getting a house sitter instead.  They can enjoy the house, feed the chooks, eat the eggs, and look after the cats.  A few summers ago we did a house swap with a car in WA, we estimated that saved us around $10,000!  It was for 3 weeks, over xmas, and the trip was unexpected - it was a great way to have your cake and eat it too.  And the house we got was AMAZING!

Savings from previous 2 weeks - $330, +  this weeks savings of $195 = $525 saved over 3 weeks