Dishwashing liquid breaks down hard to remove stains

I have found a cheap and effective solution for tough laundry stain removal! Stains such as fats or body odours can be notoriously hard to remove. Normal washing powders may be made for getting out dirt and stains but not for breaking down fats and body fluids. To combat the problem, I simply add a squirt of dishwashing liquid to the wash, along with my normal powder and soaker and it works like a charm. After all, it breaks down grease and fatty food residue when doing dishes, it makes sense for it to work on clothes too!

Keep the straws from unwanted drink bottles

If you have a drink bottle with an internal straw, when the bottle cracks, leaks or dies, don't throw the straw out! Remove it from the bottle and keep it in your cutlery drawer for whenever you need a straw, or keep a couple in your bag for use when you're out. I keep three in a little cotton bag in my handbag for when we order a drink that would normally come with a disposable straw (milkshakes, iced coffees, spiders, soft drinks). After use, I just give the straw a quick rinse in the restroom sink, or wrap in a serviette, and give a good wash when I get home. A simple way to reduce waste and help the planet!

Enjoy a big breakfast and save!

I have slashed my grocery bill, kept my kids from grazing AND lost five kilos, simply by enjoying a bigger breakfast. Breakfast items are generally cheaper if you are careful how you shop. Plain brand muesli, Vita Brits, porridge and cornflakes are all cheap items to have in your pantry. Plain brand yoghurt, fruit (canned or fresh) and vegetables are also fairly cheap, as well as tuna on toast. The helpings are generous and we eat until we are full. I've found that over the course of the day, hunger pains are gone, snacking is unnecessary and we eat smaller portions for lunch and dinner. Our savings have been made especially on dinner; we find that we don't eat as much meat and it takes a lot less to satisfy us at night. Not only have the kids stopped grazing, they have better concentration at school, eat all of their dinner because its a smaller portion and have stopped that afternoon dash for sugar, chips and treats. The kids enjoy eating the bigger breakfast because they are really hungry in the morning, as opposed to eating a heavier meal at night when they are tired and fussy and likely not to eat much. Since changing our biggest meal from dinner to breakfast, I've lost five kilos in four weeks and our grocery bill has gone down by at least $30 a week. I can also bulk cook dinner and make them stretch even further now. I look and feel great, am saving money and my family is happier too!

Monthly get together without spending

My mother, sister and I have changed our spendthrift ways to help each other out and enjoy quality time and a regular meal together.

We used to spend our weekends shopping. Of course we bought things we did not need. Even worse, we spent tons of money on eating out in the mall! So, we changed our habits! Once a month we spend a day at one of our houses, taking it in turns. The hostess is responsible for lunch and the others help her with a project around her house.

For example, we have painted a playroom, done general cleaning, cleaned a garage, collected items for charity and more!