A sticky end to nail biting

We found a low cost and easy solution to helping our daughter stop her nail biting habit. We used good quality sticking plasters and stuck them to the ends of each finger, cutting to fit where needed. It's best to use a 'good' brand like Band Aid, which will stay on for a while. These days, Kinesiology tape would probably be my go-to, as I think it sticks best (when heat activated). Sometimes I would paint the bitter tasting polish over the top of the sticking plaster as a reminder if her fingers got to her mouth. She was motivated to stop, and we promised she could have nice nail polish on when her nails grew out, so there was a carrot as well!

Berry nice savings to be had on blueberries!

I have found the answer to enjoying the health benefits of blueberries is in the freezer aisle! Blueberries are so good for you, but very expensive if you buy the punnets of fresh fruit. The regular price of fresh ones works out at well over $30 per kilo and while they look nice on a fruit platter, they don't have a lot of flavour. Instead, I now buy frozen blueberries at around $4 or $5 per 500g pack - less than a third the price! Simply throw a cupful in the microwave with a teaspoon of sugar and zap for a minute or two. Much tastier and are delicious with ice cream, natural yoghurt or just on their own!

Confessions of a shopaholic

Transforming myself from a shopaholic to a smarter consumer has enriched my whole life. Not only am I saving money, my life has become deeper and more meaningful since I decided to live by the following rules:

• Keep away from the shops.
• Buy only what you need.
• Buy second hand if you can.
• Be stylish, not fashionable.
• Don't buy what you can borrow.
• Stop reading glossy magazines that encourage shopping.
• Borrow books and magazines from the library.
• Read about simple living.
• Do it slowly.
• Spend more time with your family and friends.

These rules may sound simple, but they have changed my life. For as long as I can remember, I have loved shopping. I could easily do it all day, every day and never tired of it. I enjoyed the quest to find bargains or something I had 'always' wanted or didn't yet have.

When I felt angry, sad, lonely, fat, old, poor, disappointed, rejected, embarrassed or simply 'not good enough' - I went shopping. It made me feel better.

When I felt happy, confident, rich, delighted, loved, appreciated and 'on top of the world' - I celebrated by going shopping.

Although I work full time, I had never paid off my credit card and financially I was always struggling. Then I heard about climate change and the impact my shopping was making on the environment. That's when I decided I would stop shopping all the time.

At first, this decision left an enormous vaccuum in my life. I used to be very busy - 'Never enough time in the day' was my mantra. Then suddenly I had lots of free time! I didn't have many really close friends, except my mother and sister. We often used to meet for a coffee and a chat while we were out shopping. But with all the free time I now had, I realised I had been too busy to make other meaningful friendships because of my constant shopping.

I don't meet my mum or sister at the shops any more. We now get together in each others' homes and, although I have always enjoyed their company, I rediscovered a deeper connection with them. We talk, laugh and cry for hours and hours. I am learning so much more about them. I have started to deepen the friendships I have with people who were just 'acquaintances' before. Instead of shopping, I invite them over for a cup of tea or lunch or for a walk along the beach. I'm even starting a book club.

Due to the money I was able to save from not shopping so much and because I wanted to entertain more, I rented out my small unit and moved to a lovely old house. However I soon realised I needed more furniture, so I bought it all very cheaply, secondhand from eBay. Everyone who visits my home says how wonderful and stylish it is. I love making cheap, affordable meals for my friends. I had my first party on New Year's Eve and 35 people came, each bringing their own meat, drinks or salads. To any shopaholics out there like me, it IS possible to change - I'm living proof!

Garage sales changed my life

We are retirees. We eat well, dress well, and live in a modern house, with an interesting flower and vegetable garden. Our income would probably be classed as poverty level, but we live like kings, because we have one shared vice. We are garage sale fanatics. Little in the house has been bought new. Older furniture has been restored, as my husband has clever hands. Once a year he sells the surplus at a huge garage sale, and it usually pays for a holiday.

We buy books, linen, furniture, new clothing, garden plants, sewing material and cottons, timber for building toy boxes and hall stands at garage sales. Our kitchen TV cost $25. The little one in the bedroom is 25 years old, so I bought a video recorder for $5.00 and can now get all the channels through the video. My three telephones and the answering machine are all from garage sales, as are my kitchen crockery, blankets and the beautiful satin embroidered bedspread that cost $5.00.

I am like a centipede with shoes as I buy good brands that have been tried on in the shop and are as new. It is the only place I can find the good comfortable shoes I favour. Likewise, many of my clothes are top brands. I bought a $168 pant suit for $10 because the lady's husband didn't like the colour.

The deep freeze, the two coolers, bed lights, beautiful big mats are all from our Saturday morning treks. We list the sales and use a street map to plan a route to save petrol.

Sometimes tinned food or home-made sauces are available, and if the vendors have fruit trees they sometimes sell the fruit by the plastic bag - picked yourself.

Nothing is sacred at garage sales, and provided you need the items there are some real bargains.

How about our home security system for $2.00, because the seller couldn't work it? A little investigation on the Net yielded full instructions.

My computer came from a government auction at one-third of the price quoted for a second-hand model at our local shop. Needed a bit of study to set it up, but I love puzzles, and so had it running with the Windows 98 program I bought for $10. I also keep the grandkids in Playstation games, and my daughter has been married for 20 years and has never bought any linen as I have kept her supplied with good quality buys.

My hobby started after my divorce when I found myself with an old 50's house to renovate and little furniture. So I started to buy 50's vintage furniture as well as renovating materials - paint, wallpaper, timber, doors, curtains.

Along the way I met a widower with the same ideas, so garage sales have provided a lot of rewards - a good life, enough money to enjoy ourselves, and a multitude of associated hobbies and friends.