A 'glovely' way to stop nail biting

If you're a nail biter and want to stop, get your gloves on and leave them on. Don't knock it until you've tried it! It's impossible to get past a fleecy woollen layer, no matter how hard you try. If you can leave them on long enough, (maybe get the kind with fingertips so you can still use your phone!) the habit is broken and before long, your nails will be strong and long (er). Give it a go!

No need for takeaways with home 'auto replen' system

I have finally found a grocery system that works for me! My husband calls it 'auto replen' grocery shopping. First, I buy discounted Woolworths e-gift cards from the Entertainment Book (saving 5%). Then, having downloaded the Woolworths app on to my phone, I purchase a delivery saver, $50 for three months of deliveries. This works out about $2 per delivery for us.

Whenever we run out of something, or it is getting low, I add it to my shopping list on my phone. Once we reach $100, I then purchase the groceries. Woolworths has the same prices in store as online and the same specials. I have found this reduces takeaway significantly, as we order 2-3 times per week (I have three adults and three children in my household, plus frequently two to four young children or teenage guests. If we want something in particular, we need only wait one day for it.

We liken it to the automatic replenishment system that the larger department stores have. It works for them and it works for us too!

Shopping List Supervisor keeps you in line!

I saved quite a lot of money today at the supermarket because I took along my own, personal List Supervisor!

Every week my five-year-old daughter, who loves to read and write, writes down our shopping list that I dictate to her. She then gets to be 'in charge' of the list at the supermarket and has the job of making sure we don't get anything that isn't 'on the list'! She takes her job very seriously (as five-year-olds do), and whenever I pick up an item that hasn't been written down she pipes up 'That's not on the list!' - and so I put it back! Even items that were treats for her are sent back to their place on the shelf as she exclaims 'Uh-ah Mummy, that's not on the list!'

There are many benefits to employing a List Supervisor - we save money every week, we don't buy as many unhealthy 'treats' and I don't have a bored, nagging child at the supermarket as she is too busy doing her 'important job'! It's a win/win situation for everyone!

A Challenge for life

After reading The $21 Challenge, I thought I would see which other areas of my life I could apply the Challenge to.

First, I opened a separate bank account and now deposit $21 every week before I do anything else with my money. I see this as a type of retirement fund – it will be nice to see the funds in 30 years time!

My next $21 Challenge is to only put $21 worth of petrol in my car each week. I will park my car further away from where I need to go; this will save money and improve my fitness and wellbeing.

When my phone contract ends soon, I am going to challenge myself to spend no more than $21 on pre-paid phone credit each month - now that will be a challenge!

There are so many ways we can implement the $21 Challenge in our lives, thanks to Fiona and Jackie's inspirational book.