Tuesday, 18 September 2012

He did what ?


Since our twins were born we have pretty much lived on a combined single income, even though we have our own business we couldn't justify it.

Over the past few months, I noticed that there are many blogs with many saving ideas included in daily tidbits.My new aim is to spend some time each day engaged in some sort of activity intended to cut costs and live more sustainably.

I haven't done a good analysis yet on the latter. Starting next month, and at the end of the month I will start tracking all our spending and efforts. I hope to see the results of that effort and especially see a reduction in our grocery bill...in a few months.

I realise the concept of frugality and greener living is not for everyone because it is time-consuming.I believe it could take as little as 15-20 minutes a day to start seeing some serious benefits from tracking your spending and being more careful . In time they should be big enough benefits that they start making a real impact on your yearly budget.

Some days it is still a struggle because my husband is a spender and prefers to take the easy road rather than extra time to save a $1 or $2.

So what can I possibly do in 15 minutes that could save money? Here are 10 simple tasks anyone can do in 15-20 minutes.The savings add up over time. if you have suggestions of your own ? please add them

1. Buy in bulk , prepare a few meals in advance and keep them in freezer for easy cooking later on those nights you might be temped to buy takeaway. Planning a weekly menu (really only takes 15 minutes ) can cut down on the grocery bill. Cooking in larger batches uses the same energy. Freezing in smaller portions means you only take out what you need.

Plan around the weekly specials .Knowing what you are going to make in advance makes it a lot harder to skip cooking for a night out because you "don't know what to cook". Keep a record of leftovers in the fridge, or freeze as single portion meals - then when you have enough - the family can choose their favourite TV dinner - saves having food that never gets eaten because it was forgotten in the bottom of fridge and goes bad before you use it or good food going to the dogs.

2. Write a grocery list (and stick to it when you shop or shop online if it available in your area) especially from the advertised weekly specials.Stock up on non perishables when they are on special and items like toothpaste/razors etc.

2. Go shopping in the evening (leave the kids at home- no temptation to buy treats to keep them quiet) and often bakery items like bread/rolls and meat are reduced. Buy them in bulk and freeze.

3. Check the air pressure in your car tyres including the spare, and maintain appropriately. This will save you money on fuel, tyre tread and keep you safer.

4. Hang clothes up to dry on the line instead of using the clothes dryer. Use racks to air clothes first then finish in dryer when you have to. I am fortunate we can hang clothes out on the line to dry - except the stupid dogs have taken to tearing them off the line and playing tug of war till they are confetti.

I really got fired up one day when my new favourite shirt was torn - hubby copped it because he hadn't tied the dogs up {or moved the clothes line as I suggested outside the internal yard fence - hello we have 1000 acres}. One day I noticed my favourite Pj's missing. I thought they must have been left in Sydney ... last week while tidying up outside I found the bottoms surreptitiously stuffed in the back of an outside storage cupboard - the top is ??? I let him off the hook this time because they are just Pjs' o_O ...and he has been so stellar in helping do more a fair share of housework during my treatment.

5. Instead of takeaway night make your own meal 'takeaway' at home - especially if your kids like this meal style - your own burgers and pizza are likely to be healthier as well. Get kids to participate in the preparation as fun learning activity. A modest $20- $30 a week saved equals $1000 - $1500 in a year.

6. Check through all the electrical devices you're not using in the house - turn them off at the switch when not in use. Invest in a master switch. Borrow a device to measure how much power they use. Read more about lots of ways to save energy

7.Use 1/2 normal washing powder in lightly soiled washes and wash clothes in cold water. Only run machine will full loads. The sun helps to bleach stains and a bar of soap and elbow grease works wonders too.

8. Governments across Australia offer a range of rebates and other assistance to help you to live greener. You may be eligible for a number of these. See if you qualify or for any  rebates available

9. Plant seeds/seedlings to grow a small vegetable garden - it's fun and healthy activity for the kids too. Even if it just pots of herbs - they can cost $2-3 a bunch, to use once in cooking. Recycle all waste for the compost.

10. Go through your excess stuff , sell off clutter and things you don't need or use anymore on eBay or trading post (It is free to advertise online for items under $500) and try your local area Facebook buy , swap and sell groups. Before we moved I sold 2 racing car beds, kid's play-gym and toys, a parenting book . I made over $300 through a Facebook group and 30 mins cleaning up the items.


Comments (19)

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Good luck, it's really hard when saving a dollar only looks like a dollar. Lot's of from scratch, don't just think food. I make my own laundry powder, it works out to a few cents a load and it takes me about 10 minutes every couple of months, on the other hand over the last few years it has saved me hundreds. Google anything you spend a lot on almost always I had a make it yourself option. Some I've continued with others weren't much chop. Good luck :) Coming by from IBOT
1 reply · active 651 weeks ago
hi Mel, I want to try my own laundry powder - have you got a link to your trusted recipe ?
Great tips Trish. I like to shop for groceries later in the evening too to get the deals from bread and meat. I like the roast chicken ;p
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1 reply · active 651 weeks ago
I miss being so close to the shops in the country now. Yum roast chicken.
WHat a great list Trish!!!

Definitely clothes dryer and home made takeaways are on our list of big things to change!!!!

#teamIBOT was here to say hello!
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We have been looking a lot at our spending habits etc. I always grocery shop in the evening without the kids, and I only go once a month - the less number of times you are in a shop, the less you spend! I buy things in bulk when they are on special too. It doesn't take that much extra time to save money!!
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1 reply · active 651 weeks ago
I am going to bulk shop once we get a new freezer. I agree about less number of times you are in a shop Jo.
Some great suggestions there Trish. We used to get takeaway at least once a week - when there were babies I guess. But now it's probably twice a year. We usually make pizzas using lebanese bread - cheaper and much healthier too! Another tip is to stop picking. By the time I've eaten the kids' leftovers and my husband or teenager has polished of a sausage just because it's cooked and sitting on the counter, we've consumed what could have been two little kids' dinners the next day. That's hilarious about your pyjama pants. He should have sent them out with the garbage instead of risking you finding them!
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1 reply · active 651 weeks ago
I assume the shredded top went out with the garbage but it made me laugh.
Picking at leftovers is so easy to do - I make a beeline for leftovers and put them straight into containers.
When all five kids were at home we learned to keep a separate account and book for all our bills. Knowing how much to put away each fortnight (paid fortnightly at that stage) and how much was left over for spending/living was a huge advantage as well as spreading the amount put away for bills evenly over the year. It reduced the worry over how we were going to get by when all the bills come at once and gave us a firm amount that we could spend each fortnight on things after the grocery money was deducted from the remainder. This worked a treat for several years until the kids started to leave home and things got easier on one income.
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1 reply · active 651 weeks ago
That is a great idea Carol. Too many people live from one pay to the next and always worried.
Great tips Trish. I definitely could live a little more sustainably and be more frugal- often they seem to go hand in hand. I look forward to hearing about your how you go..
1 reply · active 651 weeks ago
It is challenge to be frugal and sustainable but I think it is worth it , then you have less worry about the occasional luxury or treat spend.
I'm like your hubby, I keep saying that I would willingly pay someone to come to our place and list all of our items on ebay/facebook etc and deal with all the questions although I do save a lot by avoiding household cleaning products and cleaning almost exclusively with bicarb + eucalyptus/tea tree oil
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1 reply · active 651 weeks ago
I don't use much cleaning products either .Good work , Kyla , at saving on them , they can be so expensive for a bit of chemical and 90% water.
Great tips Trish. Good luck.
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1 reply · active 651 weeks ago
Also I think they've now got these "switches" you hook up to that switches everything off when it's not in use. Great for saving energy and money IMO. But no idea what they're called. It's another government initiative - I think?
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1 reply · active 651 weeks ago

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