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May 2010 - Simple Savings Newsletter

"Secrets to Saving Money in Australia" Free Newsletter - May 2010

This issue includes:-

Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: Here's One I Made Earlier
June is Double Dinner Challenge!
This Month's Competition: Best Double Dinners
Before and After Competition Winners
NEW! Hidden Gems Directory
Best of the Forum: Cook Once, Eat Twice
Best of the Vault: Delightful Double Dinners
Savvy Cook Showcase: 'Sizzler' Style Cheesy Toast
Penny's Blog: New Tricks
Homeopathy Corner: The Big C
From Last Month: Spendaholic Husband
This Month's Help Request: Coping as a Carer
Savings Story: $14,000 a Year Savings

Hello,

How are you going? Life in the Lippey household has been charging ahead. Elora's hair has grown long enough for a hair fountain (top knot)! Here she is, waving hello to everyone. I love it when the littlies learn new tricks!

As you can see below, she has also mastered the didgeridoo. OK, so it's not exactly a didgeridoo. It is a Post Pak tube and she is trying to bite it. The real reason it is in her mouth is she thinks it is a giant teething rusk.

If you get the impression from these photos that sometimes I get a little lost in baby land and chase my kids around the house with a camera, you'd be right! I can't help myself, it's so much fun. I love taking photos of the kiddies because I am so proud of them. I'm also proud of the $21 Challenge book and the way we all built it together. When we get letters like these ones, be proud, because they are thanking you for helping us build it together.

"I just wanted to say a very big 'thank you' for the $21 Challenge concept and book.
"After a bit of overspending this month and an unexpected dental bill, I literally had around $21 left in the bank at the end of last week. I worked through the book on Saturday. It took me a few hours to do the inventory of my fridge, freezer, pantry and garden - I didn't realise just how much food I had in the house. (I also found a few 'science experiments' lurking in the fridge and things well past their use by dates!)
"I set my goal to feed my family (myself and my cat!) at $21 max - for all breakfasts, lunches and dinners for a week. I thought, if a family of four humans can do it, surely a family of one human and one feline could do it too!
"Then I worked out my menu plan. I discovered that all I needed to buy to get us through this week was a packet of oats, one carrot, one cucumber, three bananas and a few green beans. Total expenditure on food this week? A measly $6.64! On top of that, I already have four dinners on next week's menu plan using items I already have in the house - so I shan't be spending much money next week either!
"The whole exercise also made me think about what other household commodities I actually NEEDED to buy this week. Answer? Just a packet of toilet rolls, cost $3.31. So my total household expenditure for this week is under $10! I'm also going to review all my other household expenditure, using the Vault of course, and see what other savings I can make.
"I know it's only the cat and me, but $6.64 is a HUGE saving over my usual $70-$80 per week on food alone! If I can do that even once a month, I can save nearly $1000 in a year, and as a full time student living on Austudy and some savings, every dollar counts. Once again, I can't thank you enough for inventing the $21 Challenge!" (Sandy Jennings)

"I finally decided to bite the bullet and buy your book. I read it and soon realised that I had roast beef and a bag of lettuce from last weekend and mountain bread from two weeks ago sitting in the fridge. Some of the lettuce was used last night for salad to accompany my home made quiche, then for today's lunch I made beef and salad toasted wraps. The rather brown bananas I had been wishing would be eaten got turned into banana bread. It all seems so simple, why didn't I think of it before? Thank you so much for turning the light bulb on for me and opening my eyes to the food I was just throwing away. I can't wait to put my newly acquired knowledge to the test when I do the food shopping this week!" (Tanya McSwan)

"We completed our first ever $21 Challenge. My first trip to the shops came to less than $14. My husband could not believe it! Even with buying the A2 milk my toddler has to drink and gluten free bread for my hubby, our grand total came to just $30. Sure beats the $300 that I was spending! The great thing is that I have enough frozen food to last me a couple more Challenges and have barely touched the pantry! We were getting very low in money, and because of this Challenge, we have been able to save more money this fortnight." (Rebecca Sennet)

"I bought a copy of The $21 Challenge and gave it a go. We succeeded in spending only $19.85 for the week and I could not hold back my excitement! I shared some of the tips with my colleagues at work and all of a sudden I had an excited audience. One colleague in particular has now taken on board some of the tips and uses a shopping list when supermarket shopping. She writes down only what she needs to purchase to create a meal - and nothing else. Not only has the $21 Challenge helped my family change its thinking when shopping, I have also helped a colleague. A terrific feeling!" (Tracie)

All the best,
Fiona Lippey

P.S.: Secret Society of Simple Savers
It wasn't on purpose, it was never meant to happen, but it has. We have become a Secret Society of Simple Savers. Think about it - do any of your friends know you are a Simple Saver? Do you know if any of your friends are Simple Savers? Are you and your friends on the same journey but neither of you know about it, because at the last family get together you never thought to ask the question, 'Are you a Simple Saver?'. Well, no more - Facebook has come to our rescue. (I knew there had to be some purpose for that thing!) Simple Savings now has its own Facebook page, and by clicking on the 'like' button you will be starting a conversation with your friends and family to find out if they are Secret Simple Savers too. And, if you are really lucky you might even find someone to share your Double Dinners with! (We will tell you more about those in a minute.)

P.P.S: Check out this brilliant full page feature on page 10 of the Melbourne City Newspaper! With an informative article on the $21 Challenge, Fiona's Eight Steps to Happiness and a fantastic story from one of our members, Sharyn Polatos, what more could we possibly ask for? Click here and turn to page 10 for the full story. Thanks MCN!

1. Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: Here's One I Made Earlier

'Brr, it's freezing!' shivered Hanna. 'I think I'll make a nice stew for dinner tonight!' 'Hmph - I've got a good mind to go on strike and let my ungrateful lot sort their own dinner out!' Sally scowled. 'It's the same every night. Pete gets home from work and flops down in his comfy chair. He gets to watch the news in peace for an hour and nobody is allowed to interrupt him.' 'Sounds familiar!' chuckled Hanna.

'Meanwhile I'm out in the kitchen cooking dinner by myself. The only time anyone talks to me is when they want something. Then they all scoff their dinner and disappear quickly before they get asked to help clean up. I've had enough! Nobody appreciates me. I just want a night off,' Sally fumed.

'I know what you mean. Then let's have a night off! Heck, let's have a week off!' grinned Hanna. 'Now there's a lovely thought - in my dreams!' grumbled Sally. 'No really, Sal - we could do it! How about this week we cook twice as much of everything and freeze half of it. Then next week we could have the whole week off!' 'Wow, no cooking for a week?' Sally smiled dreamily at the thought. 'That sounds like heaven! But - how, Hanna? How on earth would that work?'

2. June is Double Dinner Challenge!

Sally's cartoon dream is funny, but not very practical. The best way to get a week off cooking is to make a big batch of frozen meals. Pulling a nutritious, home-made dinner out of the freezer is heaven. When life is hectic I love being able to just grab a container of food, nuke it, throw in some herbs, stir, nuke it some more and serve. A true no brainer meal for the days when I have no brain (which is surprisingly often...).

My friend Marge taught me about true no brainer meals. When her husband had cancer, she would cook him nutritious meals in bulk and freeze them in containers. Then any time he felt like eating, he could just pull the food out of the freezer, nuke and eat, no matter what time of the day or night it was. (You may already have 'met' Marge in our Pumpkin and Vegetable Soup YouTube video. She also features on page 126 of the $21 Challenge book, in the recipe for Marge's Tomato Soup. Both recipes are the same soups she made for her husband. He was a lucky man.)

Marge's husband has since sadly passed away but she still cooks in bulk and takes her frozen meals visiting. If any of her friends are ill, she takes them a couple of meals to pop in their freezer. I think this is a fantastic idea and a lovely gesture so you know what? I've decided I am going to follow her lead. From now on, whenever a friend is sick, swamped by small children or life in general, I'm going to turn up with a big pile of 'no brainer' freezer meals. This way, the people I care about can have a couple of nights off too.

This month I want you to spoil yourself as well! By making some no brainer meals you can enjoy not just a night off, but a whole WEEK off cooking. All you have to do is cook double quantities for seven nights. Then you get the whole next week off! It doesn't get much simpler than that.

This is how we do it:

Choose some one pot recipes.
Multiply the ingredients by two.
Don't add any of the herbs or spices the recipe asks for yet (herbs taste strange when you freeze them. Garlic in a jar, ginger, curry paste and onion are OK but not dried herbs or fresh garlic).
Cook the meal in a big pot.
Scoop out half the mixture into containers with lids and leave on bench to cool.
Add half of the herbs into the pot and put the other half in a safe place for later.
Enjoy your freshly cooked meal!

Now, when you are clearing up after dinner, put the other container of food in the freezer. Then, next time you want a 'no brainer' night, simply grab your containers from the freezer, defrost in a bowl in the microwave, grab those herbs you saved from before and add them, stir, heat and serve. How easy is that!

I love my nights off cooking, it is my absolute favourite cheat. To make sure you have absolutely no excuses for giving it a go, here are two yummy recipes to get you started.

Fiona's Iron Curry

Makes two meals for four adults.

This energy boosting dish is for those 'lacklustre' days - you know the ones where you feel worn out, your hair looks limp, bags under your eyes and your skin is just blah? When that happens, I'm usually low in iron. This dish came from me trying to jam as much iron and nutrients into my family in one meal as possible.

Spinach is high in iron, meat is high in iron and tomato helps the body absorb iron. So this is a 'pick you up, give you energy, make you look good' meal. Matt calls it 'Iron Curry' and I think it's a pretty fitting name. As long as you don't tell your family it's healthy, they'll love it.

1 onion
2 bunches of silverbeet
2 zucchini
2 cups brown rice
Dash of oil
½ tsp powder ginger (can be fresh, whatever you have)
1 tsp garlic
4 tbsp curry paste (any type, your choice)
1 kg minced meat
2 cups water
2 400g tins tomatoes
1/3 cup of peanut butter

Start by cooking your brown rice in the microwave. Put your two cups of brown rice in a microwave rice cooker with four cups of water on high for 18 minutes, then forget about it for a while.

Wash the silverbeet and get rid of the stem, then loosely chop the silverbeet and zucchini (the smaller you chop them the faster they will cook). Put a large pot on the stove to heat up and put in the oil, ginger, garlic, onion and curry paste. Stir them for a minute and throw in the meat, stirring until it's brown all over. Add your water, zucchini, peanut butter and tinned tomatoes. Bring everything to the boil, then add the spinach. Cover with a lid and simmer for 20 minutes. When it is done blend the lot in the pot with your stick blender. Now you can grab your cooked rice out of the microwave and divide half the rice and the curry mixture into freezer containers. Enjoy the freshly cooked other half for dinner!

IMPORTANT: Freeze the rice and Iron Curry in separate containers so you can defrost them without the rice consuming all the liquid.

Apricot Vegetables (with a dash of chicken!)

Makes two meals for four adults.

Once upon a time this was a recipe for Apricot Chicken but I jammed so many vegetables in it I thought I should really change the name!

2 cups brown rice
Dash of oil
3 onions
840g tin apricot nectar
1 kilo chicken thighs
5 carrots
½ bunch of celery
500g beans
125g cheese
4 tbsp cornflour
Nutmeg

Put the brown rice in a rice cooker or large bowl with four cups of water and place in the microwave on high for 18 minutes. Then forget about it until you need to serve.

Dice everything - onion, cheese, carrots, celery and beans. Next dice the chicken thighs. Warm up a large (8 litre +) cooking pot, splash some oil in the bottom, then throw in your chopped onion and cook gently until soft. (If you want to save time you can do this whilst cutting up your chicken.) Pour in your tin of apricot nectar and blend with a stick mixer. Bring to the boil and add the chicken, carrot, cheese and celery. Bring back to the boil and simmer for ten minutes. Add your beans and simmer for a further two minutes. Mix your cornflour with enough water to make a paste, then pour into the pot and stir well to thicken. Grab your cooked rice out of the microwave. Divide half of the rice and chicken and vegetable mixture into freezer containers. Enjoy the other half for your dinner, served with a sprinkling of nutmeg.

Now it is your turn! What are YOU going to cook? How are you going to do it? Just as importantly, how much fun are you going to have? To reward you and support you, we are having a best blog and best recipe competition. I'm looking forward to reading how you go, not to mention trying out some of your fabulous recipes!

3. This Month's Competition: Best Double Dinners

This month we have TWO prizes of $200 to give away! As you will see in this newsletter, keeping a diary or blog of your challenges is a fantastic way to stay motivated and keep on track. So this month we are encouraging everyone to blog your Double Dinner challenge. Share your experiences and your recipes with us and you could win a cash prize! The best Double Dinner recipe and the best blog will each be awarded $200.

If you've never cooked in large quantities before, don't be scared to give it a go! It really couldn't be easier. We have already given you two yummy recipes to get started and there are tons more recipes for bulk cooking and freezing in the Savings Vault and Member Downloads area. Think about the dishes your family likes to eat. What are your favourite dinners? What are your easiest recipes? Would they freeze well? Don't be scared to ask if there is anything you are not sure about - our team is here to help you or you can always find a helpful answer in the Forum. The only real essentials are a stash of freezable containers (empty ice cream or takeaway containers work just as well as anything else) and a big pot.

How to enter

To enter the recipe competition, go to this page and submit your recipe. We will choose the best tasty, funny, money saving recipe. We shouldn't, but I have to confess the recipe judges are easily influenced by funny/informative/funky photos!

To enter the blog competition. Blog your week on your usual blog or in the Vault and when it is done, email us here so we can come and read it.

All entries must be to us by the 25th June so we have time to choose the winners and put their fantastic results in next month's newsletter.

So what are you waiting for? Get cooking - and get blogging! Good luck and have fun!

4. Before and After Competition Winners!

Last month we asked to take a peek inside your pantry - before and after a $21 Challenge! The most inspiring entry came from Sarah PN, who also blogged her $21 Challenge as she went. Sarah has won a cash prize of $200. Congratulations!

Here is a shortened version of Sarah's winning entry, featuring some mouthwatering photos of some of the meals she enjoyed from the $21 Challenge book. The full version, including recipes and Sarah's menu plan is here. As you can see, she has done an amazing job!

Today marks the start of my $21 Challenge! I filled in my spending target for the week as well as my reasons for wanting to do the Challenge, according to the instructions in the $21 Challenge book:

Our $21 Challenge Target

Who are your teammates? Myself and my dear husband, Simon.
How little are we going to spend on food this week? $21 or less.
What will that sum include? All food.
How much will we save by sticking to that target? Approx $50.
What are we going to do with our savings? Put them towards the mortgage.

My Top 5 Reasons to Take the $21 Challenge

It will give me more control
It will make me feel good
It will help me to be healthier
It will give me security
It will help me get ahead

Next I downloaded the stocktake lists from www.21dollarchallenge.com/tools and set off to the kitchen, clipboard in hand, to delve into the freezer, declutter the fridge, and explore the pantry! We pulled everything out, covered the shelves with red non-slip matting, and put it all back. I'm quite happy with how it turned out and feel the Challenge is off to a good start!

So far all we need to buy is:

Pita bread $2.09
Cous cous $2.25
Coconut $1.85
Milk $2.09
Rice $2.79
Cream cheese $1.89

Total bill for the week: $12.96!

Having not gotten myself organised in time to have breakfast this morning, I craved anything and everything I saw people eating at the train station. Those potato cakes smelled so good! I reminded myself: not only will doing the $21 Challenge save me money, but it will make me healthier too. I will make sure to get up on time tomorrow, have a decent breakfast, and not be tempted by fatty potato cakes!

We have got through another day without spending any money on food! After a long day at work, and being 'cheap night' at the movies, hubby and I decided to go out for the evening, but not break our Challenge. So, we made sure to eat before we went - we had one of our frozen bonus meals that was sitting in the freezer and made pineapple mousse to enjoy for dessert when we got home.

It was only after we got back from the movies that I realised the front of my black-and-white dress was splattered with pineapple mousse (from the blending). Eek! How embarrassing... hopefully it blended in?!

Today turned out rather differently than expected. We ended up meeting a friend for a farewell dinner at Ikea! We figured out that we could afford one meal out as part of our $21 Challenge - provided we chose items that were on the specials list. Chicken schnitzels with chips, lemon and condiments were just $3.95, as was the organic pasta or the sausages and mashed potato. At $7.90 total for the two of us, we are still under budget at $20.86!

Blueberry pancakes were on today's menu but I didn't end up making them after all. With so many leftover desserts such as fruit jelly, Budget Bix slice and mango mousse I thought we should eat some of that up instead. The roasted vegetable salad was delicious though! Just goes to show what an awesome book 'Stunning Food from Small Change' by Sophie Gray is. I must also say that this week's lunches have been the best in ages! I'm not missing my bought lunches anymore.

What can you do with one and a half carrots? You can make carrot soup! By this stage of our Challenge, we had only one and a half carrots and no onions left! So it was time to stretch my stretching powers a little. Here's my modified version of the Carrot Soup recipe on p.197 of The $21 Challenge :

Sarah's 1-and-a-1/2 Carrot Soup

(aka. Spicy Cream of Carrot Soup)

serves 2

1 1/2 carrots (no matter how small), sliced and then chopped into semi-circles
1 tbsp of butter or margarine spread
Salt to taste
4 cloves of garlic (or 1 small onion), chopped finely
1 cup of stock (any kind - vegetable is best, but I only had beef)
1 cup of milk (fresh or from powder)
1 tsp ground turmeric
paprika to taste

Garnish (optional):
Sweet chilli sauce
2 tbsp cream cheese OR 2 tbsp cream
Thinly sliced capsicum to garnish (optional)

Boil the carrots until soft, then mash in the saucepan with butter and salt.
Add all other ingredients and bring to the boil, then allow to simmer until fragrant.
Serve hot, with a swirl of sweet chilli sauce and a dollop of cream cheese or cream as preferred.

After a draining weekend visiting my seriously ill grandfather, Simon offered to take me out to dinner and a movie, but we decided to wait until the end of the Challenge and stay in. We watched DVDs and had a 'healthy' but deliciously junk-foody version of nachos!

Spicy Hot Nacho Dip recipe here: www.recipezaar.com/recipe/spicey-hot-nacho-dip-415076

My FINAL DAY of the $21 Challenge - and at last we had a day that went to plan! I made the Quick Microwave Apple Pudding this evening, a recipe I had chosen especially for Simon, as he loves everything apple. Our tiny kitchen was quickly filled with the delicious scent of hot apple and sugary cinnamon. It is such a great recipe, so simple, and yet so comforting and delicious on a cold almost-winter's night. Eventually, the smell became so delicious, I had to call hubby out to the kitchen to share it with me, and we both sat there watching the pudding cook until it was golden and ready. What a great end to the $21 Challenge!

The big question of course is, how does our pantry, fridge, and freezer look now?

Here is the final state of our kitchen after our $21 Challenge. I'm glad that we got to use up some of the items that had been lingering in our pantry though, and use up all of the fresh fruit and veg that may otherwise have gone off and been wasted. It's not quite an 'Old Mother Hubbard' situation, but I am looking forward to grocery shopping!

Congratulations on a fantastic effort Sarah! Thank you to everyone who entered. Four runner up prizes of $50 have also been awarded to: Jenny Blair, Siboney Duff, Samantha Elley and Denise Jury

Well done!

If you would like to order a copy of The $21 Challenge
you can order it directly from us by
clicking this link or go to your local book store.

5. NEW! Hidden Gems Directory

Thank you for sharing your favourite Hidden Gems with us! As our directory grows it is going to become a fantastic place to find the best bargains on all sorts of things in your region. Each month in our newsletter we are going to focus on a different type of Hidden Gem. This month, we want to know where all the best hairdressers are hiding!

When we first moved to Buderim there were two things I had real trouble finding. A good butcher and a good hairdresser. You see, many years ago my mum spoiled me. She took me to a really expensive salon in the middle of Sydney and they did such a good job that everyone I met for the next couple of weeks said, 'Wow! Have you lost weight?' I hadn't lost weight, it was just a great haircut! So for years since I have searched for a hairdresser who can cut hair as beautifully as that salon in Sydney. Finally, after sampling eleven different hairdressers, I found a reasonably priced hair cutting genius!

Here is my Hidden Gem this month. Let me introduce my wonderful hairdresser Christine!

Store name: Christine

Address: Anzac St, Eudlo

Phone number: 07 5478 8485

About the store: Christine is a fantastic and well priced cutter. She is also a lovely lady and great with kids, which is a nice bonus. She is no fuss and has a great eye for what looks good on people. In an amazing coincidence, 40 years ago Christine was apprenticed to Penny's mother in-law in NZ!

How to get a great price: There are no special tricks for getting a 'good price' hair cut with Christine. Her prices are reasonable and don't tell her, but she does such a great job I'd happily pay twice as much! It is nice knowing that after I have been to Christine people are going to say. 'Your hair looks nice.' Once after having it done, a lady at Sam's school didn't even recognise me! She had to do a double take!

If you know of a fantastic hairdresser in your area that consistently provides excellent value and service, tell us about them! Write in and share your Hidden Gems here. Vault Members; If you haven't checked out our Hidden Gems directory yet, you can take a look here.

6. Best of the Forum: Cook Once, Eat Twice!

Whether you like to cook once a month, once a fortnight or once a week here are some great threads from the Savings Forum sharing recipes and tips on how to freeze yummy, ready to eat meals in a jiffy!

Recipe file - OAMC and freezer recipes plus more

This is a recipe file not to miss! Belinda shares her best Once a Month Cooking recipes with an easy download for you to keep. Thanks Belinda!
read more...

Basic crockpot mince mixture...7 meals from 2 kg!

Mimi has a wonderful way to stretch mince into seven meals! Simply make a big batch and freeze and it's ready to use in seven different and delicious ways.
read more...

I hate cooking dinner (seriously hate it)

Hate cooking? Then this is the thread for you. You are not alone and there are great ways you can cook double without noticing so you don't have to cook every night. Give it a go!
read more...

OAMC - I have to brag and ask for ideas : )

Need to find some inspiration for a cooking session? Learn from our savvy members how they prepare and manage a once a month cook up.
read more...

7. Best of the Vault: Delightful Double Dinners

Cooking extra meals in advance is a fantastic way to avoid takeaway. And it just goes to show that you can include your friends and family in your double dinner plans and swap meals as well!

Don't double all the ingredients

I always cook twice the amount so that I can freeze some of the final product for consumption later. This means that I can produce muffins or similar at breakfast and lunch. To reduce the costs, I do not double expensive ingredients such as dried apricots or blueberries. Sometimes I leave out expensive ingredients such as pine nuts, and sometimes I use a cheaper substitute.

Contributed by: Annabel Brinkworth

Swap cooked meals with friends

My friends and I have very busy lifestyles and often save time and money by doing the following:

We all have a favourite recipe that can be frozen. We buy enough ingredients of our individual recipes for eight meal-sized serves (four couples), and cook up a giant batch. We then freeze the meals in plastic containers and swap them; each couple now has four different frozen meals. This means that we don't have to cook for four nights!

It's a fantastic way of saving time and, because we can buy in bulk, it's also cheaper than making a batch for two. I make a vegetable-and-beef stew in my pressure cooker for about $2.50 per serve!

Sometimes if the weather is a little miserable we gather together to make the meals, and have a ball just being together. This is cheap entertainment!

Contributed by: Wendy McDermott

Cook and freeze

I buy mince in bulk when it is on special and cook up a big pot of spaghetti sauce, which I freeze in batches.

This sauce is not only good for quick spaghetti bolognaise, but it can also be used for ravioli, lasagne, mince on toast - the list is endless. I find that making the original batch without a lot of herbs and spices works best, as I can always add different flavours when it's time to use the sauce.

Contributed by: Margret McPharlin

Cooking up extra batches saves fuss later

When you are cooking make up 1-2 kg batches, say of casseroles, soups or bolognaise sauce. It will only take a little longer to cook than a one off meal but you will have plenty to freeze for those times when you're too tired or no time to actually cook but want a meal fast. When baking, make a day of it and do six or more and freeze for later.

If you're doing a sauce to go with pasta, cook extra pasta each time you have it and freeze in meal size lots. This will reheat in a pot of water in under two minutes and you already have the sauce made. Simply toss the sauce into the nuke machine on the defrost setting and in around 15 minutes you have a great home cooked meal with a minimum of fuss. Great for those with physical limitations such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, M.S., chronic fatigue and so on. You know who you are. You know what it's like, you're beat but starving.

This takes the load off, saves you money with power and your own energy!

Contributed by: Leonie Cechini

Avoiding takeaway

I always make dinner on a Sunday night and make lunch and dinner for much of the rest of the week. I have commitments two nights of the week in the early evening that mean I must eat on the run or eat out. This means that I average six meals a week that I can't cook easily so have to think laterally to overcome ... so on Sunday night I make dinner and also cook another meal. This week for example I made a chicken curry.

Chicken tenderloins: $6.00 for 500g
Tandoori paste: $3.00 for 1/2 jar
Coconut cream: $2.00 for 300ml tin
Frozen vegies: $2.00 for 500g bag
Rice: $1.00 for two cups

Fry the paste for a few seconds then add the chicken. Stir to coat then add the coconut cream and 1/2 can of water, along with the vegies. Simmer gently until the chicken is done. Cook the rice and divide it up!

This is making me four meals for $14. To make six meals a week that would be $21 as compared to $60 to eat out!

At $3.50 a meal, I'm saving around $6.00 a meal. It's also healthier for me so I'm saving money on my health costs as well. Over a week that's $36 in savings or $1872, which is an annual trip overseas!

Contributed by: Emma Skelton

Two meals in one saves time and money on groceries

I save time and money on my grocery bill by planning how I will create a second meal out of the leftovers of everything I cook. When I go shopping, I also buy ingredients for the second meal if I don't already have them. For example:

First night: Roast chicken
Second night: Chicken fried rice
First night: Corn meat
Second night: Corn meat fritters
First night: Pasta bake
Second night: Shepherd's pie
First night: Lamb chops
Second night: Lamb casserole with vegies

This method has been successful for us by making it quicker and cheaper to cook meals.

Contributed by: Laurent Menigoz

Here are some other recipes available to Vault members:

$13 mince mix makes base for 7 meals Contributed by: Mimi

'Borrowed' pizza Contributed by: Onwards and Upwards

A large pot of food savings Contributed by: Margaret Rendina

A saucy side dish idea Contributed by: Anna Francis

Bacon recipe to feed family for $1.60 Contributed by: Michelle Zappulla

Brown Rice and Tuna Slice Contributed by: Shane O'Donnell

Cheap and versatile meal base Contributed by: Hugh Johnson

Cheat's Lasagne Contributed by: Sharon Bohlsen

Chef's own pasta Contributed by: Leigh B.

Chicken Tetrazzini Contributed by: K

Favourite freezer cooking recipes Contributed by: Melanie Lindner

Freeze cooked rice and pasta for quick meals Contributed by: Marilyn L.

Home-made sausage rolls Contributed by: Trace babes

How I fed a crowd for very little Contributed by: Janet C

Low cost tomato soup Contributed by: Irene Jones

Make your own chicken nuggets Contributed by: Ezri

Pie surprise Contributed by: miss A

Prepare your own frozen roast dinners Contributed by: Pauline Seretis

Rice on ice Contributed by: Lorna Reynolds

Savoury Stew for tight budgets Contributed by: Clarice Boland

Super soupy chicken casserole Contributed by: MissMimi79

Taco mince without the expensive kits Contributed by: Michelle Zappulla

Tomato and Vegetable Soup Contributed by: Sharon Bohlsen

Tortilla 'takeaways' from your freezer Contributed by: Amy Diffey

Vegetable lasagna Contributed by: Shane O'Donnell

8. Savvy Cook Showcase: 'Sizzler' Style Cheesy Toast

This month's winner is Mimi for her fantastic version of a much loved old favourite. Who remembers the delicious, golden Cheesy Toast that you could only get from Sizzler restaurants? Clever Mimi has found a way to replicate this yummy classic in the comfort of her own kitchen, to make an affordable treat her family can enjoy any time. Another bonus of this simple recipe is that it is VERY filling. A perfect, low-cost choice for feeding hungry guests! Mimi wins $100 cash prize for her contribution. Well done!

'Sizzler' Style Cheesy Toast

Mimi says "My kids love this for a quick and easy lunch, snack or accompaniment to our gourmet 'better than tinned' spaghetti.

"The kids love to make the cheesy spread, and flip the toast, and it's always a treat consumed to many groans of 'yummmmm!'

"You can use any sort of bread or bread rolls, but make them thick slices for authenticity!

"This saves us so much money, because we realised we only really go to Sizzler for the Cheese Toast! It's also a great way to use up ends of home-made bread and stale rolls of any kind."

Cooking Time: 2 minutes
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Serves: 6
Cost: $3.00

Ingredients:

12 slices thickly sliced bread, or 6 halved rolls of any shape or size. Halved hamburger rolls are perfect. For authentic Sizzler flavour, only use white bread or rolls.
250g butter, dairy spread or margarine, softened
1/2 cup finely grated fresh or dried Parmesan cheese (the dried Parmesan will have a stronger flavour. You can find it in the pasta aisle of the supermarket)

Equipment:

Frypan
Grill, or griddle pan (one of those ones that leaves a 'stripe' on your food when cooked)
Spatula

Method:

Mix the softened butter, margarine or dairy spread with the Parmesan cheese.

Heat the grill or griddle pan and 'toast' your halved rolls or bread until lightly browned.

Spread the bread or halved rolls thickly on the UNCOOKED side, and set aside. Allow the spread to melt a little into the surface of the bread.

Heat the frypan over the highest hotplate setting, and quickly 'sizzle' your toast, spread side down. You only want to melt the spread and crisp the surface, so 20-30 seconds should do it! Press on the bread with a spatula to get the spread all hot and super crispy.

Serve immediately to happy faces:

Notes:

This is a quick, fun holiday or weekend meal, and can be turned into a gourmet meal with the addition of side salads and deli meats, or your favourite pasta dish.

Best made fresh as required.

Spread keeps well for several weeks in the refrigerator.

Keep sending in your yummy recipes for the chance to win a monthly cash prize! Send them in to us here.

9. Penny's Blog: New Tricks

May 26, 2010

It's amazing what you can do when you try! Take the last week or two for example. Liam has learned that he can live very easily without Facebook now it has been blocked from our computer. Ali has learned that if you hold on for long enough you can bring down an 85kg chap on the rugby field, even if you're only 35kg yourself. And I've learned that being a school teacher is very hard work but can be hugely rewarding and a lot of fun! Yes, for the past three weeks I have had the pleasure of teaching a life skills class to the Year 12 students at the local college. The aim? To teach them smart money habits the Simple Savings way at 16, so that when they leave home they don't end up like I did, broke and clueless at 32. Easy peasy! Or so I thought...

'Now - you're going to need to talk for an hour at a time, can you do that?' asked the Head of Department. 'Can I do that? Pah - you're looking at a veteran of 50 squillion Simple Savings talks lady, I can do this standing on my head!' I thought, but didn't say. As far as I was concerned I had it sussed. The first week would be based on how to be smart with your money, the second week would cover all the daft things people do to throw away their money and the third week would focus on long term goals and how to achieve your dreams the Simple Savings way. I was really looking forward to it! Unfortunately my kids were appalled at the prospect of having their mum parading around their school. 'Now for goodness' sake Mum, don't call the other kids by their names in class, otherwise they'll think 'Hey, how does she know who I am?' Liam gave me a stern warning. Ali on the other hand was more concerned with my looking the part. 'No way Mum, you can't go looking like that!' he rolled his eyes at the sight of me wearing jeans, a hooded sweater and purple baseball boots. He rifled through my wardrobe and picked out a floral blouse and suitably 'boring' shoes. 'THAT'S the sort of thing teachers wear,' he advised sagely.

I also sought the advice of 17-year-old Alex on the subject matter I had chosen for the class and whether he thought it would appeal to young people. 'Yep, that looks good,' he said. 'But are you sure you've got enough material for a whole hour's lesson?' 'Yeah, this will be heaps to go on!' I said confidently. 'Oh well, as long as you're sure,' came the reply. Sure? Of course I was!

The big day dawned and I realised I was terrified. Fortunately I had an enormous desk at the front of the class to plonk all my stuff on, so I could refer to my notes constantly without the students realising I was doing it! The lesson began and straight away I got their attention, just the way the Simple Savings website had first got mine years ago. Fiona has said to me many a time 'Teaching people to save money is easy. Making people WANT to save money is the hard part'. So I went for the tactic that I thought would appeal most to teenagers. In a nutshell, the smarter you are with your money and the more you can save, the less you have to work. You could literally see the lightbulbs going on inside their heads! Just like these teens, until I heard of Simple Savings, I had never had any reason to want to save money before. I knew I HAD to, because I was fast sending us broke - but that had always been the problem - I had never wanted to, until I read the Home Page. If you haven't read the Simple Savings Home Page for a while, go and read it, right now! You'll have to log out to see it if you're logged into the Vault but do read it. It talks about just that, how being smart with your money will enable you to work less and achieve your dreams. Sometimes it's great to just reaffirm with ourselves why we do what we do and why Simple Savings is so darn good.

Anyway, the first lesson was going along swimmingly. We discussed the 'Time is Money' equation and they were horrified to discover that one of their friends would have to work 60 hours at his part time job just to pay for the lollies he bought each week. We talked about wants vs needs when it comes to what we spend our money on and how little bits of money add up to a lot. At this stage one of the students was reprimanded by the teacher aide observing in the corner for texting in class 'I'm not!' he protested indignantly. 'I'm using the calculator function to work out how much I spend on chocolate!' We talked about how to shop around for the best price on things and before I knew it I had gone through the entire lesson plan. There was just one rather large problem. We were only 20 minutes into the lesson - we still had 40 minutes to go! What on earth was I going to fill it with? There was only one thing for it - I was going to have to reach deep into my SS brain and pull out as much information as I could. Those poor kids wouldn't have known what had hit them as I bombarded them with one thing after another, going off on one tangent to the next. By the end of the lesson I don't know who was more exhausted, them or me!

Mercifully my first class finally came to an end. I had a whole new respect for teachers and the amount of work that goes into planning an effective lesson. I had also never had such a sore throat in my life! 'That's why most teachers carry water bottles,' grinned the teacher aide. 'That was really good!' he said. 'Just one thing - you don't have to talk ALL the time. Give the kids something to do, so they can put what you're teaching them into practise. It also gives you a chance to rest your voice for a few minutes!' Bingo! Of course! Those poor kids had sat there as good as gold while I had done nothing but ramble on at them for an hour. I fully expected them not to bother coming back the following week but they must have been gluttons for punishment and from then on I made sure I was much better prepared.

By the time we got to the third lesson I was much more relaxed and really enjoying the kids' company. I learned that teenagers are a lot more switched on than we give them credit for and as we discussed their goals and dreams for the future I was pleasantly surprised. Only one student out of 23 had no idea what she wanted; the others wanted anything from their own home to their own veterinary clinic, a trip around Europe and in one girl's case, 'a Dodge Viper and a trip around the world!' We had heaps of fun drawing up a budget using the Bill Payment System. First we went through all the junk mailers, circling all the things they would like to buy once they left home and were earning their own money. I loved listening to all the discussions, especially how they were now seeing all the sales spiel for what it really was! Then we had a go at filling in the Bill Payment System using the average monthly wage and trying to make ends meet as we paid the average monthly bills, based on national statistics. We were all shocked to see just how little was left! It really opened their eyes and made them see how important it was to pay for the essentials first, because then they would know that there was no way they would be able to afford a widescreen television, even if it was 12 months interest free. It was a great way to show that living within your means is possible but you have to use your money the right way round if you want to stay out of debt.

The final lesson was coming to a close and I had really enjoyed my time at the school but there was just one thing I wish I had had more time to cover. I was surprised when I asked the students in the first lesson what they most wanted to learn how to save money on and their answer was 'food'. Unfortunately I had run out of time but there was one thing I could do to help them save money on food that would be more valuable than anything I could teach them in an hour long lesson. I gave them all a copy of the $21 Challenge book. You would have thought I had given them the moon! Since then, both the students and their parents have told me how much they have enjoyed the book. I'd like to think it will end up in the kitchen of their flats or dormitories when they leave home - if their parents will part with it that is!

Another thing that the students have told me is that they thought that learning about saving money was going to be boring, but found that it wasn't at all. I would love to say that was down to my general wonderfulness as a teacher but definitely not! The reason it wasn't boring was because of all the wonderful material I had to share from Simple Savings - and let's face it, the reason we all love SS is because it makes saving money easy and fun, rather than the cumbersome chore people assume it to be. I think I definitely learned as much about teaching as the students learned about saving and while I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, I think I'll leave it to the professionals from now on!

So that's one challenge down and there's another just round the corner! I just took a peek at my calendar and realised that next month is Double Dinners Month. One word - eeeek! I don't know why but I have always been rubbish at cooking in bulk. Correction Penny - be honest, you've just never had the confidence to give it a proper go, have you? *Sigh* 'tis true! Last time I thought I would be clever and make a double batch of Shepherds Pie I ended up with mince and potato soup. I guess maybe I've just never used the right recipes! However, it's a skill I would really love to have and this month is certainly a good time for me to give it a go. Ali has just been selected to represent the region at rugby, which will mean three nights a week training and a lot of time travelling. I can see dinner going decidedly pear shaped in the evenings if I don't get my bum into gear and get organised. This is one challenge I'm determined to do really well!

10. Homeopathy Corner: The Big C

It's a word we all dread. Nobody wants to receive a cancer diagnosis. Unfortunately many of us or our loved ones are affected by 'the Big C' at some time in our lives. Whilst chemotherapy and radiotherapy is a valuable and effective part of cancer treatment, the side effects can be many and unpleasant. In this helpful and informative article, Fran Sheffield explains how homeopathy is frequently used by cancer sufferers to ease the discomfort and various side effects of conventional cancer treatment. A must-read:

homeopathyplus.com.au/homeopathy-for-radiotherapy-and-chemotherapy-side-effects

11. From Last Month: Spendaholic Husband

Last month Cathy H asked:

"My husband is turning 50 this year and I am 42. I am a stay at home mum while my husband is the wage earner. Unfortunately he is a spendaholic. He cannot be bothered to inconvenience himself to save a few dollars. Catching a taxi is more convenient than a train and he will buy anything he wants without another thought. Money is tight at the moment and I am concerned as we are going heavily into debt. He is in control of the money as he earns it. I have no knowledge of exactly what he earns and where the money is distributed because he is a business owner.

"I am a great believer in 'look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves' but he just shrugs it off and keeps spending. He believes that one day he will 'strike it rich' and all the debts will disappear. We have four children aged from 10 years to nine months. We are locked up so tight financially that we cannot borrow a cent. He is not getting any younger and I am really scared that one day he will die and leave me with a massive debt and the costs of raising the kids. We have limited super - certainly not enough - and no other investments. Has anyone got any suggestions to try and make him change his ways?"

Thank you to everyone who wrote in with helpful suggestions for Cathy. Hopefully these will make a big difference!

Thwart spending habits with forward planning

Being prepared and organised is my way of combating my husband's spending habits! My husband doesn't want to know about money and saving, and he would rather die than use a voucher, but by being one step ahead I can help to cut back on unnecessary spending.

By anticipating what's likely to come up I can avert splurges, for example having a pizza in the freezer and wine bought on special on nights when hubby is likely to want to eat out.

Each month I prepare a 'know what you owe chart' and prioritise our debts according to interest. Having this down in black and white makes it harder to ignore and makes it easier to discuss what we owe and what it's costing us.

Knowing exactly what you owe and paying off one debt at a time makes the whole situation much clearer and takes the emotion out of it. Being prepared gives you power over your debt situation and the confidence to believe you will overcome it.

Contributed by: Nerida Stocks

Track hubby's spending to reveal true savings

If the spending habits of a family member are causing you stress or having a negative impact on you, try tracking their spending for a month to highlight the problem.

If sitting down to talk about financial problems hasn't worked, perhaps the hard facts will. By writing down everything your loved one spends, you can show them just how much that $2.00 here and $5.00 there adds up to at the end of the month, and that this money could be used more wisely.

Contributed by: Marleen Slo

Working together works out savings

I got my husband to come around to the idea of budgeting by making it something we do together.

When we first got together we were in a lot of debt but he just wouldn't adopt a saving mentality. Rather than doing all the calculations myself and telling him what he can and can't spend, I got him involved by asking him to work out things like our annual credit card interest and how much it would cost per fortnight to pay our utilities (rather than getting a big bill each quarter).

By doing this he felt he was in control of our money and involved in making our budget. He also saw the hard figures for himself so it was a good wake up call.

It seems like a small gesture, but it really helped to change his attitude. For example, his lunch was costing $50 to $100 a week which would really make me mad, but now he is in to the idea of taking lunch from home and I encourage this by making sure I cook extra each night so there are always some nice leftovers. Working together really works!

Contributed by: Wendy Caire

Pocket life's luxuries without breaking the bank

My husband and I control what we spend by allowing ourselves an agreed amount of 'pocket money' each week which can spend as we wish. After paying off the regular bills such as groceries and utilities, we give ourselves an allocated amount for things like lunch out, dinner, movies, clothes, haircuts and so on. Each person can choose how to spend their money without having to justify it to the other. It means we can each have our little luxuries (like my husband's new canoe which he bought a couple of years ago by saving up his pocket money), but because it's a set amount that we can afford, our spending on such luxuries doesn't get out of hand. In fact the opposite has happened because we have gradually reduced the allocated amount of pocket money as we have got better at saving.

Contributed by: Pippa

Owning up to debts is first step to recovery

My husband and I took control of our growing debts and now save over $1000 a month after taking a long hard look at exactly what we were spending. With credit cards almost at the limit and living month to month, the final straw came when we went into overdraft and were then charged by the bank. It was hard to do, but nine months ago we pulled out our bank and credit card statements for the previous three months and calculated just how much debt we were in. We were shocked at how much we were spending each month, but it forced us to establish a budget.

One thing that stood out was how much my husband was spending during the day - approximately $800 a month! We realised that his credit card could be cleared just by taking his own lunch and snacks to work. We also cut our grocery bill from between $300 and $500 per week to just $150 per week, and only allowed ourselves to withdraw $150 a week from our account so we could actually see our money. I quickly learned to bulk buy, scour the mailers and buy things on special.

In the last nine months we have paid off our credit cards and bought a new car, and are going on a holiday next month! We now put over $1000 per month in a high interest savings account which gives us a cushion for emergencies. It's amazing what you can achieve by facing up to your debts and digging your head out of the sand!

Contributed by: Zoe Crook

12. This Month's Help Request: Coping as a Carer

This month Bianca asks:

"Hi everyone, I am a single mum with two kids aged 13 and 9. My eldest boy has recently been diagnosed with Asperger's and he is not coping at high school. I am facing the likelihood of becoming his full time carer and undertaking distance education to get him through. Does anyone have any experiences that they would be willing to share about managing financially as a carer?"

If anyone has any suggestions or experiences which could help make things a little easier for Bianca during this time of adjustment, please send them in to us here.

13. Savings Story: $14,000 a Year Savings

I am saving $14,000 a year - thanks to Simple Savings! My partner and I (both in our twenties) were spending about $800 a fortnight on food, sometimes more. People would be astounded if they heard that and would think it's impossible but it's not. We ate out constantly and when we ate at home we would buy steak and would never make a salad without lashings of bocconcini, olives and all the other good stuff! The amount of food we threw out was phenomenal and we NEVER ate leftovers. An evening meal for the two of us cost $50 on average. I had never done a weekly or a fortnightly shop until this year. I usually went to the supermarket every night at around seven thirty when we finally worked out what we felt like for dinner. If I only paid $30 for dinner I would be extremely pleased, but I always expected the total to be around $45-$50, for just one meal!

Anyway, to cut a long story short, one day I had to go to ALDI for something and when I tried their food - I realised it was fine! While I still need to go to Coles for some things, now I buy the bulk of my groceries from ALDI. Every fortnight I write a list of what meals we would like to eat and make a mock order to see how much it is going to cost, using the Coles and ALDI websites. This worked well in itself and we were saving money but then I had another brainwave. Instead of simply clicking away at all the ingredients I wanted for the entire fortnight, I worked out how much each individual meal from our planned 'menu' was going to cost. I was absolutely gobsmacked to see that some of the meals I considered to be cheaper were actually the most expensive meals we were eating!

So now I have a list made up of all the meals we like and the price next to them, much like a restaurant menu. At the start of each fortnight my partner and I sit down together and we can choose any meals we like - provided they stay within the fortnightly budget.
This has given us much more liberty in the variety of meals we eat and it has also made us much more aware that whilst you may think nachos or burritos are cheap, it's much cheaper to make Spaghetti Bolognese!

It takes a little time to work out how much each meal costs to start with but it's well worth it. For example, if you have a recipe that uses a cup of Mozzarella cheese but you have to buy the whole bag, work out roughly how much will get used and divide up the cost. If you're serious about saving money you will do it. We have cut our fortnightly food bill down to $250, saving $550 a fortnight!

Having all our meals planned and costed in advance means you take almost the exact money to the grocery store. I take $10 more, just in case of a price change in anything but it means I no longer get sucked in to buying little extras. We have fun sitting down together and choosing our menus!

Simple Savings motivated me to take control of our finances and stop being lazy; being lazy costs a lot of money!

Contributed by: Brook Sutherland

May 2012 - Simple Savings Newsletter

"Secrets to Saving Money in Australia" Free Newsletter - May 2012

This issue includes:-

Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: Chocolate Heals All
June is 50c Indulgences Month!
Toycott Competition Winners: Making Our Kids Grin
Hidden Gems Competition Winner
Best Member's Blog: This Month's Winner
Best of the Forum: Enjoy Every Day!
Best of the Vault: Inexpensive Indulgences
Cooking with Mimi: Pan-fried Peppered Fetta and Posh Pâté
Penny's Blog: It's Now or Never
Lin's Garden Diary: More Surprises
Homeopathy Corner: The Court of King Caractacus
From Last Month: Where Do I Start?
This Month's Help Request: Gluten-free Diet
Savings Story: SS Newsletter Got Us Back on Track
Goodbye for now

Hello,

We have sad news for you this month. Our beloved, fantastic, wonderful Jackie Gower AKA Penny Wise has resigned. People often congratulate me on the $21 Challenge book but few realise the $21 Challenge book was never really my book. It was Jackie's. It was her dream, her baby and I only helped her make it happen. She was the drive behind the $21 Challenge. Jackie deserves the credit and the applause. None of us want her to go, but her choices are hers and it is something we have to accept.

We can't stop her from going, but we can give her a big, huge, loud, cheery send off! If Jackie has helped you turn your life around now is the time to speak up! If Jackie's book (and it really is Jackie's book) has saved you money, say it loud and say it proud! Please let the world know. Go to sites such as Amazon , Barnes and Noble, Womo and Facebook and tell Jackie how cool you think she is and how she has made a difference in your life.

Three cheers for Jackie Gower. Hip-pip! Hooray! Hip-pip! Hooray! Hip-pip Hooray!

Good luck Jack. I hope your next adventure is a huge success!

We are going to miss you!

P.S. Jackie's final blog is below.

P.P.S. The price of renewals was due to go up on 31 May. We have extended it for a week till 8 June in case anyone has missed out and wants to renew early at the lower rate. To renew early click here.

1. Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: Chocolate Heals All

Hanna was preparing for her savings group meeting when Sally walked through the door in tears. Sally had been beating herself up the entire way there. How could she have been so stupid? In one afternoon she had spent two month's savings at the toy sales. She felt sick to the stomach when she thought about how well she had done to save so much, only to blow it all! "It was such a dumb thing to do!" Sally cried to Hanna. "Please don't tell Chloe, she looks up to me and I'd feel so bad if she knew. I don't want anyone to know - please Hanna, I want it to be a secret!" she pleaded.

Hanna poured Sal a cup of tea and sat down to listen. Her friend was so sad, but how could she help her? Sally was sobbing, "Oh Hanna, please, please don't tell Pete," she begged. "I don't want ANYONE to know! NO ONE!" Hanna sighed and took a deep breath. "Oh Sally, it's OK. It was just a toy sale."NO! IT ISN'T" yelled Sally through her sobs.

Hanna was at a loss, how could she cheer Sally up? Just then she remembered her 50 cent goodies. She had brought a stash of chocolates, teas and soaps to show the girls. She might not know what to say, but she knew something that might make Sally smile. She grabbed some chocolate from the table and offered it to Sal. "Thanks Hanna, but even chocolate won't help me this time!"

2. June is 50c Indulgences month!

At the end of the day I doubt Pete or Chloe truly care about how much Sally did or didn't spend at the toy sales. They love her for her, but Sally can't see that at the moment. She is scared, insecure and in need of a giant hug. And, I don't think she is the only one needing a hug. We all do, we all need to be reminded that we are special and loved.

It is 50 Cent Indulgences Month, which means your task is to spoil yourself at least once a day. Do you think you can do it? Each day we want you to take some time out just for you and indulge yourself while only spending $0.50c. Let's have a look at some of the gorgeous things you can do:

Eat a small piece of chocolate.
Have a shower by candle light.
Go out to the yard and smell the roses.
Have a cup of tea without interruption.
Go to the toilet on your own. *wink* (I have four kids.)
Turn your boring soup into a cafe-style meal with a swirl of cream and some parmesan.
Dress up and look stunning.
Soak in a bath with macadamia oil (all the premium beauty products contain macadamia oil).
Lock yourself in your room and read a good book.
Switch off the computers and enjoy the silence. Bliss!
Add some ice cream to your coffee. Yum!
Look through old photos

Those are just some ideas but the Forum and this newsletter are packed with many more. For the last two years the wonderful Helen and Annabel have been encouraging members in the Forum to feel good about themselves. Feeling good about yourself is so important that Helen will be giving us regular monthly updates. We don't want you to spoil yourself only during 50 Cent Indulgences Month; we want it to become such a regular habit that you spoil yourself all year long.

To make that happen get out your Wealthy Habits calendar. On your calendar, write down how you are going to spoil yourself each and every day this month. Make a list of all the wonderful things you can do and tick off each day that you indulge yourself.

If you need help there are loads of people ready to support you in our members' area and on our Facebook page. Hopefully, fingers crossed, we may even have a free App for you later in the month to help you look and feel stunning.

I'm really looking forward to this month. It is going to be INDULGENT!

3. Toycott Competition Winners: Making Our Kids Grin

We have been inundated with over 300 entries for how you put smiles on your children's faces without buying them new toys. Thanks to everyone who sent in their stories and suggestions. They were great!

The top suggestions included getting crafty with cardboard boxes and other household recyclables, cooking favourite dishes, gardening together, toy libraries, face pulling games, lounge room discos, family movie nights, treasure hunts, outdoor activities like bird watching, bike riding, ball kicking and even dog barking impressions!

Here are our favourite four - congratulations to all our $50 winners.

GoGo Goanna: My children and I have a nightly routine that involves reading in my bed. It makes them smile more than any toy and it's simple and free! We choose our books together and everyone has at least one choice each. We take turns reading and the kids take great delight in using their voices expressively, asking the meaning of words and discussing the illustrations and how they are drawn. I compliment them on their reading - such as, 'Hey great scary monster voice!' and they now do the same for me. After reading time it's cuddle and tickle time. They love to say, 'Mum, raise your arms! Go on, we are not going to tickle you. Giggle, giggle!' Then it is all on with tickles all round!

This is when I most often hear that I'm the best mum in the world and they hear that they're the best children, and of course, in my world they are! It's also the time when they tell me their worries and fears, the news of the school day or anything else on their minds. After all this, which only takes 30 minutes to an hour depending on how many books we read, they are relaxed and happy to go to sleep - as am I!

MannaMamma: Realising that what our kids wanted was our time, not toys, we started making the time to take each of the kids out on '$5.00 dates' where they get our undivided attention. They choose where we go and what we do, as long as it's in the $5.00 budget. That's enough to get a milkshake or a doughnut, or they can save up their money and buy or do something special.

They love the time we spend together and feel really special, not because of the money we've spent, but because we've taken an hour out of our time just to be with them. We turn off our mobile phones, and it's just us for a whole hour - no sharing (unless they want to). Our relationship with our kids has improved out of sight, as has their behaviour! And as they're growing up, they know that if they need to talk to us about anything, ever, we will make special time for them. Anything they say is OK. Nothing is judged or criticised.

Our eldest is about to hit the teenage years and this has helped tremendously already. I hope it will change his experience of being a teenager and likewise with our other kids as they grow. As an added bonus, they're also treating each other and other people as unique and precious too! Sometimes they even want to go on 'double dates' with their siblings because they don't want each other to miss out! What I would have given to have thought about my sister like that when I was growing up!

Mary B.: My 23-month-old grandson and I have a wonderful evening ritual that makes us both smile. After his bath at night, he is dressed warmly and we go outside to see if the moon is out. If it is, we talk about what shape it is - full, half and he even knows crescent now. We look for the moon's face - the eyes, nose and mouth. And if it is covered by clouds that means it is hiding from us! We also look at the stars and spot the Big Dipper and then we look for planes overhead. It is a beautiful way to connect and is part of his bedtime routine. I'm not sure who smiles more - him or his granny!

Pat Sneath: My children are now grown but when I was a single parent with little extra money for toys, these are some of the things I did that my girls really enjoyed:

During the school holidays we would walk to the library where the girls would each pick out a book. We'd then have an hour each day for quiet reading time. I would always read them a book each night after their bath and before they went to sleep. They loved it and still talk about it - they both now do this with their own children!
Together we'd learn about new countries. We'd go to the library and get free videos, books and cookbooks about the country we wanted to learn about. We'd spend an evening watching the video and cooking something from the cookbook! Sometimes we'd also make crafts from that country using recycled items.
We had themed video nights where we got into our pyjamas early and would watch our videos with home-made popcorn. We had a lot of fun and laughs, those nights were never serious, but I sure learnt a lot about what they were thinking and what was happening in their lives!
When I began working full time and once they were in school I would take each girl out of school for one day every other month and have a 'mother-daughter day'. I always wrote a note to the teacher and told them this was our bi-monthly TLC day. Not one teacher ever complained that they should have been in school; in fact more than one teacher told me they wished more parents would have personal one-on-one days with their children! I'm proud that the girls both loved having time just with me; sometimes all we did was shop for groceries and then go home to do laundry and play the board games they got as Christmas presents.
We used to dye white t-shirts, jeans and sneakers bright orange using clothing dye! My daughter's friends all wanted to know where she got her neat set of clothes!

I never had a lot of money to spend on them, but I did spend as much time as I could with them. They still remember and talk about our fun times. My eldest daughter is now going on 45 and she still remembers how we used to sing all the way to the library (which I had forgotten!). So time is what they ultimately enjoy; your time and full attention!

4. Hidden Gems Competition Winner

Our Hidden Gems directory is designed to help members source the best deals in their area. Whenever you come across a real gem of a business, enter it in our Hidden Gems directory and you will be in the draw to win our monthly prize of $100 cash! This is our way of saying thank you for sharing your knowledge and helping other members save. The more information you can give us about your special store or business, the better.

This month's winner is Ned's at McLaren Mall, Mt. Barker, South Australia as nominated by Sandra R.

"I absolutely love shopping at Ned's in Mt. Barker! Everything is fairly priced and there is truly something for everyone - kids, collectors, interior decorators on a budget, teenagers, and even grannies who just want to treat someone or themselves!

"It's perfect for people who don't have the cash to buy expensive goods, but still want something that looks nice. There are even display stands with quirky things such as grinning dragons, fishing frogs or weird masks. It's like an Aladdin's cave every day of the week. The last thing I bought there was a ceramic candle holder (with candle) to sit on my new kitchen desk for just $3.00!

"Ned's is a family-run business that began with one small shop in rural South Australia around 15 years ago. The owner then opened a shop in Mt. Barker and there are many more locations now. The girls who run the shop are extremely helpful and interested. Whenever I ring and ask if they will hold something I've seen it's never a problem. Sharon seems to have been there forever!

"This shop has been challenged by bigger stores in Mt. Barker such as Cheap as Chips, The Reject Shop and such, but they've adapted and kept themselves unique. From a single shop, they've done so well to grow and expand around the Adelaide metro area and rural S.A. They are even able to advertise on T.V. nowadays!

"What makes Ned's in Mt. Barker so amazing for me is their brilliant displays - with something for everyone. The girls work hard to make colour-coordinated displays throughout the shop. These have become a must-see when shopping for groceries each week. I don't need much these days with both children grown up and independent, but I go if only to see what the displays are this week."

Congratulations on sending in this month's winning entry Sandra R. and a big shout out to Ned's for providing wonderful, courteous service and a vast array of budget-friendly products.

If you know somewhere special you'd like to recommend, please write in and tell us. Send in your Hidden Gem here and you could be scooping the prize money. Thank you and good luck!

5. Best Member's Blog: This Month's Winner

One of the many benefits of being a Vault member is that you can win a cash prize of $100 each month for your Simple Savings blog! Starting your own blog on the site is easy. All you have to do is log into the Vault, click on 'My Desk' at the top left, then 'Your Blog'. Then get writing! We love reading all your money saving trials and tribulations and really appreciate the effort that goes into each one.

This month's winner is Gemma Appleby for her inspirational savings adventure 'How Simple Savings got me to LONDON!':

When I was younger I never imagined I'd get the travel bug, but I did! It's been a year this weekend since I first jumped on a plane at 22 years old to start travelling the world, and it's a big thanks to Simple Savings for getting me there!

I discovered Simple Savings when I was reading a magazine article about 'The $21 Challenge'. It really intrigued me, so I jumped on the website and signed up to start receiving the regular emails. I was a bit dubious at first, but as the tips started rolling in it really got me thinking about how I was spending my money. After a big life change, I decided I'd love to travel the world, so I started a savings plan that would allow me to live in London!

I needed to save about $12,000 in total, and starting from zero that seemed like a huge challenge! I had only just started my career as a radiographer and I also had a $17,000 student loan that I wanted to pay off. I started by writing down every little thing I spent my money on - from bars of chocolate to clothing purchases and car expenses. I soon knew exactly where my money was going - and how much I was spending unnecessarily. I kept track of my spending on an Excel document and updated my income and expenses every day. At the end of each month I tallied up the totals and challenged myself - how could I do better this month?

I eventually joined Simple Savings and discovered the Vault which really inspired me with so many great hints and tips on how to save money! Before I knew it I had bought my plane tickets and had registered with the Health Professionals Council in the UK. I had my visa processed with my savings in the bank and within six months of leaving New Zealand I had paid off my student loan (with a bit of help from my wonderful parents). And I did it all within just one and a half years!

Since then I've been living in London and have seen so much of the world! I've been to five cities in France, spent a week in Hong Kong, travelled to the Oktoberfest, visited Spain and Ireland, and have even managed a trip home for a wedding and a holiday in Australia. I'm looking forward to the trips I already have planned for this year - a weekend in Malta, a week in LA and Vegas, a weekend in Croatia and Venice, and many trips around the UK! What a savvy saver I have become!

Congratulations Gemma on making your dreams come true. To read any of our members' blogs, click here

6. Best of the Forum: Enjoy Every Day!

Many of us live life at full speed, making each day a multi-tasking marathon! Why not slow down and take time out to enjoy the simple pleasures. Indulge yourself every day with ideas like these - you deserve it!

Gratitude is an everyday thing - May 2012 :) - #2

Enrich your life by recording and reflecting on all the great things you are thankful for. Why not join the SS Forum gratitude group here.
read more...

Suggestions to make life more fun and interesting and give me some purpose

Perhaps you too are lacking some inspiration in your daily life. Well who better to turn to than our helpful Forum members! This thread is brimming full of ideas to inject some spice into your life - go for it!
read more...

How to look expensive on a shoestring budget - #2

Our marvellous Mimi leads the charge on indulging ourselves in the fashion stakes. Follow her tips on keeping your wardrobe up to date, at minimal charge.
read more...

How to meet new people and make new friends

There must be something in the air. Everyone wants to get out, meet new folk and bring interest and pizzazz into their lives.
read more...

Your SS successes. Positive celebration and motivator

Now is a great time to take pride in your achievements so far on the road to financial freedom. Celebrate your successes and be motivated to keep going! This Forum thread will get you on the right track.
read more...

7. Best of the Vault: Inexpensive Indulgences

50 cent Indulgences Month is the perfect time to spoil and pamper yourself. No excuse needed! Just head to our Vault which is jam-packed full of super suggestions to give you a little luxury every day.

55 cent birthday gift

I have just given someone a birthday gift which cost $0.55c and I am quite proud of myself.

My new year's resolution is not to be wasteful with money. Normally I buy a cheap card for $1.00 and then buy a cheap $10 gift. Not bad. This year I purchased a $0.55c pink refillable display book (on special from newsagents) and filled it with all my favourite secret recipes. The front page contained the birthday wishes. I did it all on a computer, with some simple graphics. The recipient is a mother of three boys on a budget, and all the recipes were simple, quick and economical. She was thrilled!

Contributed by: Kath J

D.I.Y. bath bombs

These are great to give to your friends as a little something to say thanks, happy birthday or merry Christmas. They are especially ideal for the ladies.

All you need are the following:

1 1/2 cups bi-carb soda
1/2 cup citric acid
Scent or fragrance of your choice (you can use essential oils if you have them)
Food colouring of your choice
Sweet almond oil or any cooking type oil
Flower petals if desired

NOTE: Make sure everything is dry. Even the smallest hint of moisture will make the ingredients fizz.

Sift the bi-carb and citric acid into a large bowl; add petals if desired then divide mix into four separate batches.

In another bowl, mix one tablespoon of oil, enough fragrance to suit you and enough food colouring to get the desired colour. Mix well. This mix is enough for one of your small batches of dry mix.

Add the colour and fragrance mix to a batch of dry mix and mix in with fingers very quickly, making sure that it does not fizz. Mix well to make sure the colour and fragrance are distributed evenly.

Press firmly into lightly oiled moulds. You can use just about anything as a mould. Try using the plastic lid from a can of hairspray or jelly moulds if you have some. You can buy bath bomb moulds from some craft shops. Make sure that you press the mix firmly into the mould, otherwise it will crumble.

Leave in a dry spot for about 24 hours, then gently press them out.

Bi-carb is approx $2.10 for 500g. Citric acid is approximately $1.70 (not sure of the size) and food colouring is approximately $0.85c. These are available from the baking section of the supermarket.

You can use your favourite perfume as a scent or essential oils. I buy oils from a $2 shop as they are not too expensive and it doesn't matter how much you put in.

You can use fresh petals or potpourri if you like, but these can be left out if you wish.

How many should it make? It all depends on the size of the mould you use. The smaller the mould the more you get but you should get at least four to five good sized bombs. Depending on how many you make, these can cost about $1.00 each to make.

For gift giving, package in some cellophane or tissue paper and festive ribbon.

Contributed by: Ellen Gush

50c holiday fund saves $1200!

I have saved enough money for a holiday entirely in 50 cent coins! Over the years I have tried the old $2 Shop money box tins but I always seem to have to break into them with a can opener! Instead, I got a catering size coffee tin and made a hole in the lid big enough to put 50 cent coins through. I taped the lid with enough tape to make it a pain in the butt to open, then printed off an A4 piece of paper with the words '50c holiday fund, donations gratefully accepted' and taped it to the front of the tin. I then put it in the lounge room and added every 50c coin I had to it. As it became a habit I actually made a point of paying for things in a way that would probably get me a 50c coin! Those coins were taboo for using EVER and even visitors would see my tin and rummage for 50c coins to add. Recently I counted up my tally and WOW! I have $1,238.50! Now when can I take that holiday?!

Contributed by: Wise Owl

Frame colourful cards

Framed paintings and prints on the walls can give much pleasure and add warmth, colour and character to a home. These can be out of reach of the budget of many people.

Why not keep colourful or beautiful birthday cards, Christmas cards, notes or postcards that you particularly like. You might want to dig out any special ones you have kept over the years. Look in opportunity shops for old picture frames which will be much cheaper than those even in bargain shops.

Cut a piece of heavy cardboard to fit the back of the frame. Stick the backs of the cards to the cardboard so that the card can still be opened. Clean the glass, and scrub or paint the frame. Place your cards (stuck on the cardboard) behind the glass. The cardboard can be held in place with a few small holders (bought inexpensively from a hardware shop) that can be bent or turned so that the cardboard may be removed easily and you are still able to read the messages if you want to.

You will have memories on the back, and bright, colourful pictures for your walls on the front! Other people will enjoy them too.

Contributed by: Donald Scott-Orr

$3 girl's night out

My friends and I save heaps on girls nights out with a special 'pamper' evening we hold at alternate houses every few months. We all bring clothing, accessories and make-up that we own but never use (because they were impulse buys, we changed our minds and so on) and start the evening by doing a clothes swap. We all then do each other's hair, make-up, nail polish and so on and we also invite the local Avon lady to come along and give us beauty tips. Most importantly, we each put in $3.00 that goes towards a couple of bottles of wine from the local supermarket. This usually leads us out for a night of boogying, so we end up getting pampered, feeling beautiful and getting an awesome dance work out for just $3.00 and a few supplies from our homes!

Contributed by: Samantha Cassidy

Extra tips for Vault members

Groovy cushions from old pillows Contributed by: A Mitchell

Maximum enjoyment and value from roses Contributed by: !Runt!

Candelight, wine and a picnic at dusk Contributed by: Rachael Wood

Holiday week without the expense Contributed by: Cathy Carige

8. Cooking with Mimi: Pan-fried Peppered Fetta and Posh Pâté

Affordable Indulgences

June is 50c indulgence month, so I thought I'd share a few indulgent ideas to get us going. Actually if it weren't for 50c indulgences, there'd be zero indulgences for me. My Pan-fried Peppered Fetta has all the elements of a true indulgence - inexpensive, gourmet-ish, and easy to replicate whenever you like. And you're sure to love my Posh Pâté. I've been making this one for 35 years. It's a special treat for my close friends and family at Christmas and now it can be your little indulgence.

Posh Pâté (makes three 100g serves)

I love pâté. There's something so earthy, mysterious and lush and luxurious about it; even more so when it's home-made and you know what the ingredients are. So if you've never made pâté before, I urge to you have a try. It's worth it, I promise.

Equipment:

Non-stick frying pan
Sharp knife
Large spoon
3 x 150ml capacity ramekins or containers
Small microwave-safe jug
Food processor

Ingredients:

250g chicken livers
3 tbsp butter
1 small onion, diced
1 bay leaf
1/4 tsp dried thyme
3 rashers bacon, diced
3 tbsp port (you can also use sherry, wine, brandy or a mix of half orange juice and half chicken stock)
1/3 cup cream
Cracked pepper, if desired

Method:
Place one tablespoon of butter into your pan and melt over a high hotplate. Add the chicken livers, onion, bacon, bay leaf and thyme. Let this sizzle away for seven to ten minutes, using your large spoon to stir regularly until nice and golden on all sides.

After about seven minutes, cut one of your livers (that is the chicken livers, not yours!) in half and check that it is browned all the way. Tip the contents of your pan into your food processor. Scrape all that yummy, crunchy, brown stuff on the bottom of your pan in there too. Add your cream and cracked pepper. Now pop your pan back on to your hotplate and pour in your alcohol or chosen liquid. Beware that alcohol will sizzle and hiss madly as the alcohol content burns off. Use your large spoon to scrape the pan and loosen any leftover crumbly bits. Add this to the mixture in the food processor. Process it all on the fastest setting for a minute or two until it looks really smooth and creamy.

Spoon your finished pâté into your ramekins and smooth the top well. Place the remaining two tablespoons of butter into a microwave-proof jug, cover and heat on 50% until melted. You'll notice the clarified butter rises to the top and the milk solids to the bottom. If possible it's the clarified butter you want to use so let the melted butter just sit for thirty seconds or so then carefully pour the clarified butter over the surface of the pâté until it is completely covered.

Chill your pâté for at least two hours before enjoying with slices of buttered toast, crackers or vegetable crudités. It will keep for up to a week in the fridge.

Pan-fried Peppered Fetta with Roasted Pumpkin and Onion Confit

The trick to this recipe is to pepper the fetta first, then freeze it for a while. This means you end up with a warm, delectable slab of peppered fetta and not a gooey messy pile of fetta and pepper smeared over the bottom of your frying pan. For the side dish, I cook a whole pumpkin ahead of time, roasting the wedges and storing them in a lunch box in the freezer for snacks or to add to meals. Just cut a whole pumpkin into wedges (with the skin on), spray with cooking spray and roast at 200°C for about 30 minutes until tender.

Pan-fried Peppered Fetta (Serves 4)

Equipment:

Non-stick frying pan
Dinner plate
Sharp knife
Baking paper
Small shallow bowl
Metal spatula

Ingredients:

5cm thick (approx) block of fetta
Cracked black pepper
Flour for dusting
Oil for frying
Roasted pumpkin and onion confit or your favourite relish for serving

Method:
Slice your slab of fetta in half lengthwise giving two thinner slabs. Cut this into three or four fingers, crosswise. Place the fingers of fetta on your plate lined with baking paper. Sprinkle each piece of fetta generously with the cracked pepper, press the pepper gently into the surface of your fetta so that it's well embedded. Now pop your plate with the peppered fetta into the freezer for about 20 minutes.

Meanwhile set up your serving plates with your pumpkin drizzled with the onion confit (or your favourite relish) and spread some absorbent kitchen towels on the bench to drain the cheese once you have fried it.

Pour about two tablespoons of oil into your frying pan and place it over a medium-high hotplate. Remove your well chilled fetta from the freezer. Spoon your flour over the fetta and toss carefully to coat before immediately placing in the frying pan. You'll probably need to cook these two or three at a time, topping the oil up a little for the second batch.

Pan-fry for about a minute on each side to brown and warm the cheese through. To flip your fetta, it's easiest to use a thin metal spatula. Once cooked, drain on your absorbent kitchen towel before transferring to your plate. Serve immediately and enjoy!

9. Penny's Blog: It's Now or Never

Well, I think this has to be a first, even for me. I know I can be slack but I don't think I've ever missed a whole MONTH of blogging before, have I? Apologies for my absence but I fear part of the reason for my tardiness is I've been putting it off because I know this one is going to be so blooming hard to write. I know, it's not often I'm lost for words, I've been writing since I was seven years old! I still vividly remember the very first time I saw my name in print; it was in 'Bunty' magazine and I won a prize for writing a poem about my dog. After that I plagued the poor editor with poems about my cat, my grandmother's budgie, whatever I could think of. Since then, I've never really stopped.

When I first started writing a blog, I didn't even really know what one was! But as a new member of Simple Savings and a Sad Sally of the highest order, I was being transformed into a Happy Hanna at an amazing rate. These tips REALLY worked! I wanted to shout it from the rooftops how good they were so that everyone who came to visit the website would give them a go and know SS really could help them. I tried nagging Fiona to write a blog but with two toddlers and a business to run she said she didn't have time - but I could if I wanted. So I did. I would never have dreamed that seven years later I would still be doing it, I've never managed to keep a diary longer than a couple of weeks before!

I also never dreamed that anybody would actually READ it. But people did and over the years it feels as though I've made a lot of wonderful friends. In fact, if you've read my blog you probably know me better than the majority of people who actually know me in real life! When Penny Wise first appeared on Simple Savings, my boys were just six and eight years old. Now they are 14 and 16. I have loved sharing the details of their growing up (although they would probably absolutely kill me if they knew some of the things I had told you!) I have been lucky enough to meet some of you in person and I have received many, many incredible emails but none so memorable or life changing as the one I received back in 2006 from Barb telling me of her very first $21 Challenge. Who could have possibly imagined where that would lead? It still never fails to blow me away just how many people the $21 Challenge has helped; just the other day I was sent a lovely letter from Work and Income NZ, telling me they have incorporated the $21 Challenge into their Smart Choices program with hugely successful results. Amazing!

I remember the very first time I went to Australia and met Matt and Fi in person. There we were, sitting in the lounge with a leisurely glass of wine and Matt said to me cheekily 'Now, you do know you're with Simple Savings until death now, don't you?!' I didn't have a problem with that, far from it! I could never imagine doing anything else. But writing the $21 Challenge book with Fiona made one of my dreams come true. Ever since my 'Bunty' days that is what I have wanted to do more than anything; write books. Everyone has a novel in them, so the saying goes and over the past couple of years I've realised I have at least three, all demanding to be let out. Whether any of them will actually be any good remains to be seen! But there's only one way to find out.

So I have made the decision to leave Simple Savings and see if I can write those books. I'm hoping this blog doesn't sound too stilted and impersonal but the truth is I don't want to stop and think too hard about the people I'm leaving behind or I'll turn into a big slushy mess. I have enjoyed every moment of being Penny Wise and I'm sure I will still get called Penny for a long time to come. I'm sure people will continue to quickly slam the doors on their pantries and try to hide the contents of their shopping trolleys when they see me too! But it's time to move on, if I don't do it now I never will.

Thank you to each and every one of you who has popped in to read about us over the years. It's been a wonderful ride and it has been a privilege to be able to share it with you. Thanks to you I have never felt alone or unsupported in our journey. I have learned an astonishing amount since joining Simple Savings. From the day I joined it really did change my life. For anyone who isn't familiar with our family, the house we are standing in front of in the photo is our dream house at the beach, where we moved 18 months ago. We are living proof that anything is possible!

From now on, I'll be leaving the money talk to Fiona and the team but if any of you are gluttons for punishment and would like to continue following our family you are very welcome to do so in my brand new blog! Yes, after all this time not waffling on about myself is proving a hard habit to break, so I have started a new blog called Laughing is Free (laughingisfree.blogspot.co.nz) and I would love for you to visit. I can't promise it will change your life and I can't promise it will save you money but it might give you the odd chuckle - and I CAN promise not to write any poems about my dog, cat or grandmother's budgie. You are also very welcome to check out my Facebook page (facebook.com/jackiegowernz), don't be strangers!

But for now I guess this is it. From all of us a fond farewell and all the best for a very prosperous future. Each and every one of us is incredibly lucky to have Simple Savings in our lives, so do make the most of it.

Ladies and gentlemen, Penny Wise has left the building :-)

10. Lin's Garden Diary: More Surprises

When it comes to gardening, our family has come a long way. In fact, you could say we've gone from complete gardening amateurs to having earned our 'green fingers badge' in less than a year. Something we're pretty proud of!

You may recall that Sebastian, Zoe and I began sharing our gardening journey in last September's newsletter. Having failed miserably in the past to grow even the simplest of vegetables, we decided it was time to learn a little more. So I started researching and reading everything I could about gardening, including all of the fantastic hints in The Vault. Then with our gumboots on and our sleeves pulled high, we got stuck in and created the most fantastic vegetable garden. The time the kids and I have spent together has been magic, not only have we grown lots of delicious fresh produce, but the kids now enjoy a wider variety of vegies and salads - which they love because they've grown them in their own garden.

And just like our thriving vegies, our gardening expertise keeps growing and growing. You may recall that over the past few months we've been saving hard for a worm farm. Well, we were thrilled to arrive home recently to find one sitting at the front door. It turned out to be a gift from our neighbour who knew that Seb and Zoe would enjoy it. So our next gardening adventure will involve learning how to be great 'worm farmers' - Zoe's kindy has even donated some worms to get us started.

We encourage you all to have a go at growing your own vegetables, it's extremely satisfying and once you know the basics, it's surprisingly easy. But if you're still a gardening amateur, like we were, and have no idea how to get started, why not take a look through the Simple Savings newsletter archives and follow Lin's Garden Diary. We'll teach you how to plan and build your garden, how to successfully sow seeds, the importance of having a gardening mentor, composting and more. We know you'll love it as much as we do and it's a great way to spend some fun family time together that the kids will always remember.

So whether you're a 'gardener in training' or you have earned your green fingers badge like we have, Sebastian, Zoe and I wish you all the best of luck with your growing endeavours. From now on I'm going to be working behind the scenes at Simple Savings and next month there will be a new gardening blogger to help inspire you on your way. I'm not saying who it is yet; Fiona is still working out the details. It will be a surprise.

11. Homeopathy Corner: The Court of King Caractacus

While trying to explain why I loved Fran's article, I thought of Rolf Harris's song "The Court of King Caractacus". Do you remember it, with its fascinating witches and their scintillating stitches? It is a great song; I love how the list just keeps getting longer and longer. Just like the list of medications some people take, such as one drug for their headaches, another for their rheumatism, another for their blood pressure and another to combat the side effects of the rheumatism medication. The list soon gets as long as the Court of King Caractacus's parade. Not long ago, when one of my friends went to hospital they were on 22 different medications. Luckily, homeopathy does not work that way. It is the opposite. One drug treats many illnesses so it is simpler, cheaper and there is no need for the Court of King Caractacus.

This month Fran gives examples so you can see how one remedy can treat a number of different conditions. So this means, no matter what the illness, a proper homeopath will only prescribe you one remedy at a time. To read Fran's article go here:-

homeopathyplus.com.au/four-problems-one-solution

12. From Last Month: Where Do I Start?

This is a query we regularly get from our new members. Last month Karen asked:

"I've been on SS for a few months now, so am relatively new and loving every minute. However, I tend to flick from one thing to another, spending valuable time and need more structure. Do you have any suggestions to new members where to start? For example, I have:-

Mimi's recipes/other recipes on my Watch List.
The $21 Challenge (read this book from the library).
Hints & Tips (added to my Watch List).

"I desperately need to reduce my shopping bill and need to menu plan more often. Does anyone have any other suggestions? What do other members do to get the best out of SS?"

Thanks so much to everyone who wrote in to share their wisdom with Karen and all our new members. Here are the best of the bunch!

One step at a time...

Our family of four has been in financial crisis for quite some time and over the past three years Simple Savings has been a godsend! We've been through major illness, a significant accident and major surgery, not to mention being out of work. Thank goodness for the monthly 'how-to' emails full of great tips and reality stories about others in the same or worse situations and how they were coping. What I have learned is that I, and you, can do it! It just takes one small step at a time.

One of the biggest realities for me was going through my pantry and freezer and writing EVERYTHING down. From that list I managed to make 36 meals for my family. Of course I had to buy some extras along the way but the basic meals were planned from what we already had which made it easy. Every day I'd simply look at my list and choose what was for dinner. It really does take the hassle out of planning meals. Another helpful idea is to get other family members involved with planning; they can even choose a night they'd like to cook using the ingredient list.

Contributed by: Jo G.

Make the most of SS threads

I've found it really useful to start a thread with a specific question relating to what you want to know. You can also put your shopping list up for others to comment on and offer suggestions for reductions and substitutions. It also allows you to see examples of other Simple Savers' menu plans as well!

Contributed by: Squishy Squishy

Spread sheet your $21 Challenge stocktake

I thoroughly recommend The $21 Challenge - here's how I took it just a little bit further. After doing a stocktake of my fridge, freezer and cupboards, I entered everything on to a computer spread sheet. I listed the items in the different shelves in my freezer, did the same for the fridge and then the cupboard shelves. I then printed them off and attached them to the doors. Now I can tell at a glance what I have and where it is! If I use something, I cross it off the list and if I buy something I add it to the list where I've left a couple of spaces. Once a month I update my lists, which is always quick and easy since it is already on the computer!

Contributed by: Lesley Forster

Set goals, find support and trust you'll get there!

For those wanting to get started on The $21 Challenge, I recommend reading the book from cover to cover first to get an overall feel of it. Next work out how you can implement The Challenge and start saving that precious grocery money! Also, think about your goals and why you are doing this. Go beyond just paying the bills and think about what really floats your boat - it may be to buy your own house or to go on a holiday. Another tip is to read as many books about finances as possible. And finally, find support on the Forum and trust that you will get there!

Contributed by: Minister of war & Finance...

Manage savings ideas with Watch Lists

By using the Simple Savings' 'Watch List' function, I've found it really easy to keep up to date with everything I'm interested in! First of all, work out where in your household you'd like to make savings or improvements. For me it's de-cluttering, grocery shopping and gift buying! Next, search for these topics in the Simple Savings Blogs or savings Forum. When you find one you're interested in put it on your Watch List. This makes it easy to follow the updates and chat with others who may have hints and ideas on topics you're interested in.

A helpful tip is to keep a list of the topics you want to follow in a notebook or on a list. This way you can quickly pop ideas down as you think of them and when you have the time, you can go through the list, look everything up and add the threads to your Watch Lists.

A quick tip that I'd also like to share is to set the timer on your mobile phone to help you remember things that need to be done - like stopping for lunch and a cuppa! I'd also like to recommend buying The $21 Challenge book, or get someone to gift it to you. It's full of great ideas and will provide inspiration and motivation to make big savings!

Contributed by: Searock

Track savings ideas in a journal

You may find it useful to keep a journal of the savings ideas you put into place around your home. This way you can see just how much you have changed over time! It's also a great way to keep your favourite hints and tips together and you'll have ideas about what you want to do next as you read it. Start with one tip that saves you cash and you'll get instant rewards! Add in a tip that saves you time and you'll have more time for that hobby or to spend with your family! Find a tip that saves you energy and this will probably save you time and money in the long run.

Search for hints that suit your circumstances. For example, find lunchbox ideas for school kids and slow-cooker recipes to save time and money and help you enjoy a hot meal at night without much effort. Find ways to make home-made gifts for friends and family that will save you time whilst boosting those feel good vibes!

Contributed by: Clutterhen

13. This Month's Help Request: Gluten-free Diet

Wendy from Victoria asks:-

"My husband has recently been diagnosed with a rare auto-immune condition called 'Relapsing Polychondritis'. I have been told a gluten-free or wheat-free diet would help. Do you have any tips for gluten-free eating on a budget?"

If you have any tips which can help Wendy, please send them in to us here.

14. Savings Story: SS Newsletter Got Us Back on Track

When I first joined Simple Savings in 2010, my husband and I had a four month old baby and neither of us had a job as we had both been living in the Philippines (my home country) for eight months prior - using money from his redundancy in 2009. With $6.00 in our pockets and a shocking credit card debt of $35,000 (from three cards), we arrived back in Australia and had to stay with my husband's parents. We still had to pay weekly rent in the form of a loan, which is of course another form of debt. But to the credit of my in-laws, they did help us with food and provided dinner every night.

Thankfully, after three months my husband got a job. The tips from the SS free newsletter helped us pay off my husband's parents and we were able to rent a flat and start paying off the credit cards one by one. We now have only one card left to pay which has less than $10,000 owing on it and we haven't used it for more than a year. It's still a huge amount of debt but we consider that we've done really well to reduce our debt by $25,000. We've also been able to visit my family in the Philippines for three weeks for just $6000 including food, accommodation and treats. We called it our Simple Savings holiday!

We owe all of this to our SS newsletter. I learned to cook from scratch, I embraced the beauty of buying from op shops and learned to create and stick to a budget. And the best thing that I did was open a savings account for upcoming bills - I put money in every day and forget about it until the bills arrive. I always pay them as soon as they arrive rather than wait for the due date, this way I save any late payment fees and other charges.

Contributed by: SSbabyB3

15. Goodbye for now!

Phew! Well, that's a wrap on another Simple Savings newsletter. We hope you have enjoyed it and have been inspired by all the money saving tips. Our members are hugely important to us and we love hearing from you all! So next time you're on the website, why don't you get in touch and say 'G'day'! Let us know what you would like to see more of in our newsletter or any suggestions you have for something new to try. We love receiving your clever ideas.

Don't forget to spread the love around to your family and friends too by forwarding them our newsletter or letting them know about our website. Help make their lives easier and save them money too! Or tell them about us on Facebook by clicking the 'like' button on our Simple Savings Facebook page.

We hope you have an awesome month and make good use of your 50c indulgences - you deserve it!

Till next time...

All the best,
Fiona

May 2014 - Simple Savings Newsletter

"Secrets to Saving Money" Free Newsletter - May 2014

This issue includes:-

Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: What Goes Around
May: Low-Cost Indulgence
Ye Olde Shoppe: CreaClip
Penny Wise: An Unexpected Journey
Best of the Vault: Especially For You!
Best of the Forum: Simple Pleasures
Best Members' Blog: Thank You Simple Savings!
Mimi: Living a Life of Luxury For Free
Rob Bob's Gardening Blog: Companion Planting and a Fishy Update
From Last Month: Give Me a Hope Among the Gum Trees!
This Month's Help Request: Ideas For Outdoor Cover and Flooring

Hello,

How are you going? We had a fantastic April spreading the word about the $21 Challenge and telling people how they could find money at the back of their cupboards! Having the kids home on holidays meant we had even more reason to use up what we already had and keep their tummies full.

It was great to hear how your own $21 Challenges went! Here are a few of our favourite emails this month:

"Guess what? I finally told my girlfriend about the $21 Challenge and she actually went home and emptied out her cupboards, fridge and freezer. She rang me at the end of the week to say she's saved about $150 by not buying groceries. Now she's even thinking of joining Simple Savings to save even more!" (Sherry)

"You know, my long awaited trip would not have happened if it had not been for Simple Savings. I was hesitant to venture overseas again but my husband of 54 years enticed me with a cruise and visiting my family in Scotland. It was too good an offer to miss. But we had to save really hard and thanks to SS we have made it.

"It has taken us a year and my husband has been so surprised at my determination to save. See - even at my age you can learn new tricks! We shared our travel news with our family and new suitcases appeared on our birthdays and Christmas! Gifts and money appeared on the Christmas tree, all went to the cause. Now we just have to enjoy!" (Nan)

Have a great month!
All the best,
Fiona Lippey

P.S. We added the CreaClip to our store this month. It is getting great reviews:

"My family look well groomed and I am saving $70 every six weeks on hair cuts, thanks to the CreaClip from the Simple Savings shop! My children’s hair grows like wildfire and it feels as though we are going to the hairdresser all the time. A family trip of four people to the hairdresser every six weeks averages $70 for us. That's $560 a year!

"I enjoy my time being pampered at the hairdresser, yet I often wished for a way to cut my family’s hair so that it didn’t look like it had been cut at home. When I initially saw the CreaClip, to say I was mildly interested was an understatement. I subsequently watched many YouTube videos on the CreaClip, and then decided to take the plunge. Well, I wasn’t disappointed!

"My first 'victim' was my eldest daughter. Her overgrown style was transformed into a trendy bob with a tidy fringe. I started to gain confidence! Second to have a turn was my youngest son, who was a bit more keen having seen his sister go under the scissors. A bit more of a challenge to cut, but hopefully I will get faster with more practice.

"Next, the kid who I thought would be the most hesitant was actually the first to chop his own hair off! He was happy, his fringe looked good and I was happy, as he could now see! Ironically, I was the most tentative. But took a deep breath and voila, a neat trim. I chose not to have the luxury of someone else doing my hair; I wanted to do it myself. Once again, I hope to get faster with practice, but overall I am very happy, not to mention $560 a year better off!"

1. Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: What Goes Around

"Are you feeling OK? You look shattered!" Sally asked Hanna, concerned. "Oh dear, do I? I guess I have been burning the candle at both ends lately," Hanna sighed. "John's mother had a hip operation recently. I've been going in to see her morning and night and take meals around to her. She's had a bit of a rough time of it, poor thing." "Looks like it's having a bit of a rough effect on you too my friend!" said Sally. "Drive safe! See you tomorrow."

That evening Sally ran herself a hot bath with her favourite scented bubbles. How she loved her little indulgences! As she soaked away the stresses of the day, Sally wondered if Hanna was even home yet. She had never seen her friend look so tired! She thought back to the times Hanna had cheered her up when she was feeling really awful by surprising her with a gift. It may have only been something small, like a mini chocolate bar or a special soap but it had meant so much, right when she needed it. It gave Sally an idea...

Hanna arrived the next morning to find a dainty gift bag on her desk. "What's this?" she asked, looking around. "It's from me," grinned Sally. "You looked so tired yesterday; I thought you could do with some pampering." "Oh how lovely of you!" Hanna beamed, picking up the bag. "What do we have in here? Lavender bath salts, just what I need! Some herbal tea, yummy chocolate - and - a picture of Hugh Jackman?" she raised an eyebrow. "Ah yes," Sally chuckled. "Sorry, I couldn't afford the real thing, but I thought it would make a nice pick-me-up." "You're right there" Hanna burst out laughing and gave her friend a hug. "He can pick me up any time! Thanks Sal!"

2. May: Low-Cost Indulgence

Good on Sally for recognising that her friend needed a bit of a boost! Many of us are a lot like Hanna. We spend our days rushing about like mad things, forever making sure everyone else is okay, are where they are supposed to be at all times and at the right time, not to mention well-fed, well-dressed and well looked after - and in the process we often forget to look after the most important one of all - ourselves. Yes! You really ARE the most important! People like Hanna are the glue which sticks everyone and everything together. When they are strong, healthy and happy, so is everyone else. But we are all only human, not machines! We can only keep running for so long before our batteries start to go flat. If this sounds like you, don't keep going until your wheels fall off! This month, we want you to take the time to recharge your batteries with some wonderful low-cost indulgences.

Amazing as it sounds, many people don't know HOW to relax; they're just too un-used to it! Fortunately the Vault and Forum are full of squillions of low-cost and free ideas to help you smile, help you unwind, help you sleep, help you laugh and most of all, just enjoy the moment. For starters you could:

Be like Sally and run a long, hot bath
Do a jigsaw puzzle (when was the last time you did one?)
Do a crossword or Sudoku
Watch a movie
Go to a museum or art gallery (many of these are free)
Borrow a book or magazine and put your feet up
Download our 'Beauty Queen on a Budget' book or app and give yourself a beauty treatment.
Go for a long walk or leisurely bike ride

You get the idea - and be sure to check out our newsletter archives and Forum threads for '50c indulgences' and 'One in, all in' suggestions. While unfortunately we can't guarantee you'll find Hugh Jackman in the Forum, we CAN guarantee you'll find plenty of other ways to brighten your day!

3. Ye Olde Shoppe: CreaClip

Snip snip! That's the sound of dollars being cut from your annual hairdressing bill! Fiona fell in love with a nifty hairdressing device called the CreaClip about three years ago. It makes home hairdressing easy and you can cut bobs, bangs and layers without resorting to pudding bowls, sticky tape or spirit levels! Fiona kept bugging CreaClip's designer, Mai Lieu, to let her sell it in Australia, and she has finally said yes! Fiona calls it the 'home hair cut you're not afraid to leave the house with' and you can see it in action here in this terribly cute video of Fiona and her gorgeous kids:

And find out more about it here: CreaClip in Simple Savings Store

4. Penny Wise: An Unexpected Journey

Good gracious, my apologies, it's been a while hasn't it! Among other things, since I last wrote we've had to have our dear little 16-year-old cat put to sleep and I've had my kitchen taken over by a giant mutant eel. Not even kidding - in fact the eel story probably deserves its own blog! But all in good time. On the positive side at least the eel episode got me out of the rock I was hiding under. You know, the one I was under a few months ago? Yes, I'm afraid I've been hibernating under it again. But this time I haven't just been languishing and feeling sorry for myself, no sirree! I've been on a journey - a journey of self discovery if you like (which is about the only journey you CAN go on from under a rock, let's be honest) - and although it's been incredibly hard, it's been more valuable than I could have ever imagined. Hooray! The hard part is, where to begin?

Let's start with an interview I did recently for the Sunday Star Times. One of the many fun and interesting questions I was asked was what my thoughts were on the connection between money and happiness. Ironically had I not so newly emerged from under my rock I may have given a completely different answer! However I feel the answer I gave was the right one, at least for me. I would like to say that I have never believed that money and happiness are connected, however surely that would be a lie. After all, years ago when I was a Sad Sally, I must have felt that they were because I often saw spending money as a way to feel better. If I was having a good day, I would go shopping to make it even better. If I was having a bad day I would go shopping to make it less awful. If I was having a fat day, a thin day or a bad hair day, I would go shopping to give myself a lift. Obviously I stopped believing that years ago when Simple Savings became part of my life and I can honestly say that even though I own less now and have less in the bank than I've ever had, I am absolutely content with what I have. The only way that I feel that money and happiness are truly connected is if you use the wealth that you have to help other people. That brings a huge buzz of happiness. I'll get to that.

But if there is one thing I know for certain about happiness is that it MUST come from within. You absolutely cannot rely on anyone or anything else to make you happy. How do I know? Because that's what put me under that rock. For a long time I've been relying on someone else to make me happy. Of course I've known it; just didn't want to admit it! But I knew it alright and so did he - yes, 'twas someone of the male species. Which was wonderful while it lasted - except he didn't want me to rely on him to be happy. For starters it's not fair to put that kind of burden on someone else! But he wanted me to learn how to be happy for myself, so he pushed me away. At first I hated him for it, he broke my heart! More than once. But I'm also extremely grateful to him because at the end of the day all he wanted for me was to reach the potential he saw in me and be the best I could be. I haven't reached that potential yet - hey, it's only been a few weeks! But I will. And when I do I know there will be nobody prouder than him. But it's been one hell of a journey towards healing my heart and learning to create my own happiness.

At first I wasn't sure HOW to be happy. For starters I was incredibly lonely, I didn't fit anywhere! I'm not a kindy mum, a soccer mum, a retiree, an avid church-goer - any of the little groups which make up much of our town's population. I've never been a 'popper-inner' either - you know, someone who just 'pops in' for a chat or a cup of tea. I'm the kind of person who never likes to disturb anyone, I've always figured everyone else is too busy to be disturbed, just like me. I've always loved walking on the beach and would do so for hours every day but even that lost its appeal. Still, sitting around moping is no good for anyone so I installed a pedometer app on my phone to make sure I did at least 10,000 steps every day. It became important to me - even if I achieved nothing else I had walked 10,000 steps and it had made me get out of the house. It's a good habit to get into and apart from being good for both body and soul it costs nothing and you can pretty much guarantee you'll see something wonderful every day to lift your spirits.

And there was ONE group I was part of - a Facebook group. Two actually! One was our town's Buy, Sell and Swap group. It's a buzzing little group of buyers and sellers all keen to save or make a little extra money. Over the past few months I've watched it grow and I love how even though most of us don't personally know each other, everyone is always so keen to help each other out and their names and faces soon became familiar. The other was a spin-off of that group called Pay it Forward. This group was similar but the rules were that everything had to be free. It was amazing how kind people were and how willing they were to give some really good items away and soon I found myself doing the same. Then one day a woman - one of the regulars - posted with the idea of having a weekend cook-up. She encouraged everyone to post whatever they would be willing to cook or bake on the page that weekend and those items would be collected and then distributed to struggling families in the area. I thought it was such a wonderful, selfless idea and watched, smiling as the list of names grew. And as they did, one other woman pointed out 'isn't it ironic, that the people who give the most so often have the least to give?' That really struck a chord with me - and she was absolutely right.

I think we all go through times when we feel like hiding under a rock! But the world keeps turning and life has a habit of going on, no matter how hard we try to avoid it. And all the while I was hibernating, the sun continued to shine, the rain continued to fall and my garden, which had been so beautifully tended all summer but was now being neglected, continued to grow. I kept trying to ignore it; I didn't want to look out of the window and see all the work that needed doing but one day I forced myself to go out and pick whatever needed picking. I took a big bowl but soon filled it up and had to keep coming back inside to grab another and another. Apples were all over the ground, the old bed frames heaved under the weight of scarlet runner beans and I had never seen so many tomatoes in my life. In addition there were olives, feijoas, tamarillos, cabbages, caulflower, silverbeet - I looked around my garden and couldn't believe how rich and abundant I was. All this food - this staggering amount of food was FREE. One thing was for sure, there was no way the boys and I alone could eat it all - and we didn't need it all. So I did the only thing I could do - post plenty of bragging photos on Facebook. I'm kidding! Well kind of - I did post a couple - I was proud after all! Particularly of my giant tomato which bore an uncanny resemblance to Animal from The Muppet Show. But I also put out a call for help. I posted on my own Facebook page, as well as the Buy and Sell and the Pay it Forward pages and asked for people to help by please taking some of our mass of produce off our hands.

Just a small sample of my wares!

Immediately the responses began appearing and I had to start writing a list of who wanted what. This was great! I was so happy that all this food wasn't going to go to waste after all. The next afternoon I bagged everything up and set about delivering them around town. I dropped some off to the new bride who had no fresh fruit or vegetables and was waiting impatiently for her own garden to grow. I dropped some off to a lady who lives alone in a unit and loves nothing more than cooking and baking for her grandchildren when they come to visit. I dropped some off to the young couple who work in Bunnings and are saving all their pennies for travelling. I popped some around to some neighbours I had never met and I dropped a big lot off to a wonderful lady who knew of a family in desperate need and was going to take them round to them herself. This was a lady I had seen around a lot and I always thought she looked like a lovely, warm person but had never really spoken to her much. As it turned out we got on like a house on fire and by the time I left her home she had invited me to join the local singing group and volunteer every Friday at the community garden!

More deliveries followed and everyone was so genuinely grateful it was quite humbling but most of all my little afternoon adventure made me so, so happy and had cost me the grand total of $4 for two packets of freezer bags. These days I have no hesitation in posting anything I have to give and as for the community garden, you have to see it to believe it. It is beautiful!

My tale hasn't finished yet - I still have more to share and I can't wait to tell you, I'm so excited! And none of it would have happened if I hadn't taken a deep breath, pulled on my Bridget Jones knickers like a big girl and gone out there and picked those vegies. I promise to tell you just as soon as I can. I guess what I'm trying to say is, happiness really does come from the simplest things. And it's something that we all have within us. I still believe that happiness does indeed have to come from within yourself. But it's OK to go out and find it too :-)

You can get updates on Penny's new blogs on the Simple Savings Facebook page.

...or in our Members' Blog section.

5. Best of the Vault: Especially For You!

There are so many wonderful ways to enjoy a little bit of luxury and spoil yourself without spending the big bickies. From creating your own day spa to enjoying the great outdoors, it's time to spoil yourself!

Low-budget pampering

It costs very little to look after yourself properly. Try these low-cost ways to pamper yourself!

Take a nap - there's no bad time for a nap. You don't have to actually go to sleep; just stretch out on the couch and relax. Relaxing and thinking pleasant thoughts are the key!
Take time out to read a great book while sipping on your favourite beverage.
Soak your worries away - add some fragrant oils or cheap shampoo to a hot bath and soak yourself. Maybe read a book and drink that beverage!
Keep up appearances - arrange a pampering session; whether it is a massage given to you by your partner or getting together with one of your girlfriends and doing each other's nails.
Eating in is just as much fun as eating out - and much cheaper! Invite some friends over for dinner, put on some music and enjoy some good company.
Grab your partner or friends and head to the beach or to your local park and play. Doesn't matter which sport or activity you do as long as you build a sweat. It's free!
Keep it simple - Try to take a little time each day to be quiet. Just sit and reflect, and enjoy the luxury. Pamper yourself by congratulating yourself and acknowledging your achievements. We all need to do this, as the self-esteem takes a battering from time to time!

Contributed by: Cristina Gaylor

Enjoy the sunset

Find all the best spots in your area to view beautiful sunsets. Pack a nice picnic supper, take along some favourite music and stop letting the sunsets pass you by. These lovely memorable times with loved ones are truly priceless.

Contributed by: Lexie Walker

Surprise yourself with a special treat

When money is tight and I want to treat myself with something special, I go to my 'special treat container' for a surprise solution. The container has pieces of paper in it with activities that I can do at home and don't cost money. When I want to treat myself, I stick my hand into the container and pick out a random piece of paper. Some of the activities included are giving myself a pedicure or manicure, watching my favourite girly DVD or dressing up in front of my mirror with the clothes I already have in my wardrobe and creating new outfits that I hadn't thought of before. Whatever I choose is a special treat just for me and it costs nothing to have a great time at home!

Contributed by: Careful Saver

Guilt-free day of pampering at home

I saved a fortune on a day's well-earned pampering! I had a rare day to myself and was wondering how I could best spend it. My initial plan was to go to a movie, buy a coffee and some chocolates and then get myself some lunch, maybe a neck and shoulder massage - money, money and more money!

So instead I pulled some home-made chicken and vegetable soup out of my freezer and put on a DVD which I had been given for Christmas and hadn't ever made time to watch. I got out the foot spa, essential oils and foot cream, put on a face mask and made myself an extra big coffee in the recently bought coffee maker (bought for half price). The total cost for my treats? $2.77! This was for a whole marked down wedge of Brie, with two days before it was due to expire! I had a wonderful day of peace and quiet and pampering and I didn't have to leave the house!

Contributed by: Annette White

6. Best of the Forum: Simple Pleasures

It's time to stop, breathe and enjoy life's simple pleasures! Here are some wonderful ideas from the Forum:

What makes you come ALIVE? Really ALIVE?

Deliberate Creator and other Forum members talk about what puts the sparkle in their lives - what are you waiting for?
read more...

Music, books, health and home - my gap year (life post-redundancy)

Forum member Summer Breeze shares the excitement of her 'gap year' - share her thoughts on her favourite books, music, her garden and everything else that makes her happy!
read more...

Ideas for spending time with my daughter who comes home for a visit from Uni

There are some wonderful ideas for everyone in this thread of Anneke's - and a reminder to appreciate the special people in our lives!
read more...

7. Best Members' Blog: Thank You Simple Savings!

This month's winner is Rebecca T for her 'thankful' blog and her new 'frugal adventure'!

Today I am going to hijack my own blog to give a big thank you to Simple Savings - to Fiona and her staff, and all the wonderful members who have shared their knowledge about how to save money.

We have taken the exciting, scary, terrifying and daunting step of buying an investment rental property. It is something we have talked about for 10 years(!), and have finally committed ourselves to. While I am completely aware of how fortunate we are that we are able to do this, MAN is it scary! Committing ourselves to a 30 year mortgage, to borrowing 100% of the price, in the fairly inflated post-earthquake market is terrifying, especially to a family of five on one income.

But the biggest thing for me is how much it is going to change our income in the short term. We face the prospect of basically losing one third of our income with increased expenses. As you can imagine, my first thought was 'Aaaaaaaaaaaaagh'! We live a fairly frugal lifestyle already, so I was overwhelmed by panic at this prospect - how were we possibly going to manage?

However, in the couple of weeks we have had since doing this, I have had the opportunity to consider this, its implications and how we are going to get through. I was relieved to discover that we can probably claim a moderate amount of the expenses back in the next financial year - that took a huge pressure off, realising that we are talking about 14-15 months of serious skimping.

The second issue that has helped my panic, and this is where the gratitude comes in, is that I was able to appreciate the resource that is the Simple Savings website. I am grateful for its many wondrous savings ideas and, most importantly, the shared forum of people of a similar mindset who inspire and encourage me, motivating me to be proactive rather than just react to my circumstances.

So this year we will be the most frugal you can imagine. No extras at the supermarket, minimal clothes for the kids, no kitchen accessories or gadgets (my weakness), no shoes or other accessories for me... and following the theme for this blog - no new clothes for me. Great motivation to continue my journey to make my wardrobe more exciting, but WITHOUT SPENDING ANY MONEY!

Having known about our drop in income for a couple of weeks, it has been interesting thinking about this coming year and how easy it is to spend money. I'm going to reread the Café Avoidance Syndrome thread, the Starving Woollies threads, the beauty advice, the 50c indulgence threads and the meals for under $5 threads, and they will provide the rules and the motivation I am going to live by. We will survive, and I am (almost) excited by the challenge.

In the meantime, thank you to everyone who has made this website what it is - I am very grateful!

Well done Rebecca T - we know you can do it!

You can read more of our members' blogs here.

8. Mimi: Living a Life of Luxury For Free

I love thinking up little luxuries that are free or cost us little. A candle in the bathroom, some silk greenery, a thrifted kimono, crystals and a delicate hand towel, all found in my own home, make my bathroom feel extra special. Cost... nil.

Sometimes the luxuries of life seem very far away when the budget is stretched and it's hard to maintain a happy outlook when life is completely bereft of treats. But you can have lots of luxury in your life if you just redefine what luxury means to you. Using silverware inherited from my nanna puts a smile on my face and when it's not in use it's tied with organza ribbon and hung on the wall.

Here are some other ways that I introduce a little luxury into our lives every day:

Walk near a waterway, whether it's a creek, river, oceanfront or lake. Most towns have a waterway or pleasant bike path somewhere.
If you can afford a coffee out, go somewhere other than the local café. Often a coffee in a five star hotel will cost no more, yet feels far more luxurious and decadent. My most favourite thing to do is to just sit in the lobby of the up market hotels with my book of the moment. It's all hush and quiet bustle and plush and comfortable, and nobody bothers me. Well, the staff ask me if I'd like another glass of water, but that's all. I just say I'm waiting for a friend. Who's to know that my friend gets unavoidably detained? When I can afford it, I order a coffee or an exotic tea, but often I don't even do that. It's MUCH nicer than going to a noisy shopping centre where I'll be tempted to spend. Make sure you dress nicely for your flirtation with the luxurious though. You're less likely to be asked to move on, and just getting dressed up makes you feel more wealthy, even if you're not!
I remember going to a work related conference many years ago, where the speaker advised eliminating junk from your life. That means junk food, cheap and nasty stuff of all kinds and some people. You can't live well if you're constantly dragged down by junk. And I don't mean you don't support those you care about when times are tough or when they have a crisis. But some people and things are just a drain.
I like to be my own housemaid. So when I make the bed in the morning, I spritz the pillows with my favourite perfume. When I tidy the bathroom, I fold my towel just so, with a little pocket, and put my night time toiletries in the pocket for the evening. It goes on the end of my bed or on a chair in the bathroom so it's ready for me that night. I do the same after my night time shower for the early morning rush. It just makes the usual routine of getting ready, a bit special.
Along the same lines, set up a breakfast tray for yourself and for other family members on weekends. Trays are available for very little at discount stores and a little tray with a bowl, spoon, serviette, tea or coffee cup and silk flower to greet you first thing in the morning is a true joy. If you don't have a tray and can't afford one, cover a large book with rubber non slip lining (used to line drawers and around $2.00 for several metres at discount stores), and cover it with a pretty tea towel. Instant tray! Just be careful carrying your breakfast on it as it won't have sides!
Use a childhood scent to make you smile throughout the day. For me, that means old fashioned Sunlight soap near the kitchen sink (found in the laundry aisle at the supermarket) for hand washing and a miniature container of Johnsons Baby Powder next to my chair in the living room, so that I can sprinkle my hands with it before I knit or crochet in the evenings. The scent makes me feel so calm and leaves a faint whisper on the knitting that the recipients of my knitted gifts, just adore.
Decluttering... aaaargh... BORING! I know. But if you can't bear to part with it, do what we've all done with the kids' toys. Hide some of it away in boxes. Rotate it once a month or when the seasons change. The most luxurious places I've been to are all quietly restrained and whilst not necessarily minimalist, certainly they're choosy with what's on display. One or two or even three significant pieces on display, whether it's photos or ornaments, says more about you and is more eye catching than dozens of little ones.
Another idea is one that will make you smile, but it really is effective. We all have passwords for so many things these days. Change your passwords, or some of them at least, to reflect your luxurious life outlook.

Some suggestions might be:

The name of a favourite or dreamed of holiday destination and the year you'd like to visit it again.

The name of a luxury car you admire or want to own and the year you'd like to own it.

The name of your favourite luxury designer bag, scent or make up.

A reminder to yourself like 'Dressupforme247'. In other words, make an effort to look nice for yourself all day, every day.

A goal like 'weigh64in6'. Or weigh 64 kilos in six months' time.

Even something general like 'ilovediamondsandpearls' is fun and just makes you feel a bit special. Go on, laugh. But just try it. I bet it makes you smile every time you type it in.
Always have something that feels beautiful close at hand. For me, things that feel luxurious can be:

Solid, heavy or smooth, like the beautiful paperweight my husband gave me for Christmas a few years ago that sits on my desk, or the silver pen that my daughter gave me for Mother's Day that sits near the computer.

Soft and silky, like Johnsons Baby Lotion or my faux fur rug or the baby pink yarn I'm using to crochet a throw rug.

Flowing and floaty, like the op shopped $1 real silk scarf I have tied to the handles of my handbag.

Glittering and bling-ey like the red ballet slipper key ring my daughter bought me at a fundraiser. It has Swarovski crystals all over it and makes me smile every time I pick up my keys.

Thick and glossy, like my stash of Vogue magazines snaffled at the local Lifeline recently for $0.50c each.

Organic and authentic, like the $5 bamboo bristle and wood dishwashing brush I got last week.

No matter where I am, I try to have something close by that feels special.
Now something we are all guilty of and which certainly does NOT contribute to a life of luxury but is definitely worthy of mention here - eating on the run. By which I mean literally eating or drinking while you are moving; be it physically or whilst driving. Please don't do it. Can you imagine the Duchess of Cambridge walking along pushing George in a pram and drinking coffee from a takeaway cup at the same time? It's a bad look. It's bad for the digestion. It's bad for the soul. Honestly it is. As Buddha says, when you eat, just eat. Sit, eat and drink from china or glass, not paper. Use real cutlery, and don't go to places where the cutlery is plastic. Right there is the start of the problem. McDonald's or pizza might seem a cheap meal but you're eating processed food from cardboard packages. This does not make you feel like you're living a luxurious life. It might be a treat in its own way but there are better treats that feed your heart and soul more than a quick takeaway meal. I wrote a detailed breakdown a couple of years ago on Factoring Fun Food into the Budget. See that discussion for an eye opener on the cost of fast food, and what you could be buying instead.

Factoring Fun Food into the Budget

When you eat, just eat. Avoid anything with cardboard boxes around it that has paper serviettes and plastic cutlery with it. It might take time but you and your family will live better, eat better and feel like you're wealthier, not poorer. I promise.
Use colour to create an illusion of luxury.

I'm a Coco Chanel fan. I've read about her, watched docos about her and I find her fascinating. Alas, I cannot afford Chanel in my life. I can, though, incorporate Chanel's' distinctive black and white branding into my life. So, white dinner plates and black serviettes with beautiful serviette rings...pearl if you please... home-made. Black and white striped cushions on my sofa. Coffee cups with black, white and gold accents. A quilted white bolster cushion with black tassels and gold ribbon trim. A little bit of the Chanel feel for no cost... or very little at least. If you're a Tiffany lover, then go for mint and white with silver accents, Dolce and Gabbana perhaps over the top gold satin and more gold braid trim. Hermes would be some restrained tan faux leather with equestrian motifs, Versace I'd do a few Medusa heads about the place, and Dior, well... I'm thinking black lace. You get the idea.
Have beautifully scented shampoo and conditioner with which to wash your hair. I don't mean expensive. I mean something that you love, whether it's green apple, peach, coconut, berry, lemon, honeysuckle, frangipani, jasmine or something else. An easy way of having shampoo and conditioner that is scented exactly the way you like it is to buy unscented shampoo and conditioner from a health food supplier (remembering that the more you buy the cheaper it is, so find a friend who wants some luxury in their life too and go halves) and add several drops of essential oil to it. You can buy the most divine essential oils online with which to scent your shampoo and conditioner and my current favourite is either jasmine or frangipani and those in a shampoo and conditioner... to die for.
Borrowing furnishing and storage ideas from your favourite restaurant or café and implementing them in your own home is another way to bring luxury into your own space. Roll tea towels into neat cylinders and re-home them in a large wicker or wire basket on the bench. Have a waiter's style apron for yourself and the kids to wear when preparing meals. You could even pop a tiny notebook and pencil into the front pocket so that the kids can note down instructions or ingredients that need replenishing. Serve your coffee with a serviette tucked under the cup, a sugar cube on a spoon next to it and a tiny bickie with it. It can just be a tiny teddy or those mini wafers that you can buy for kids now. Garnish your scrambled eggs with chopped chives, add some fresh rocket to your salad sandwich, tear some fresh basil into your spaghetti bolognaise. Herbs cost next to nothing to grow and providing you remember to water them every day, even the supermarket ones in pots will grow well and give you a months' worth of fresh and delicious garnishes on your meals. I am not fond of processed food but the one thing I love is the tinned whipped cream. It's such a small expense, lasts weeks or months in the refrigerator and just allows you to give your own desserts and drinks, as well as desserts and drinks for the family, that Posh Café touch. Try a puff of it on home-made pikelets, hotcakes, scones or crepes with a blob of jam too. It just looks special.
Yet another tip is to iron your pillow cases. Yes, I know, I hate ironing too. But this is actually a great way to teach the kids how to iron. I used to love ironing the pillowcases and hankies when I was a kid. I loved the smell of the fresh linen straight off the line heated by the iron. Ironed pillowcases just feel so soft and smooth and really give the bed that five star look and feel. I ironed all of ours in about five minutes flat yesterday and it's such a pleasure to see them there waiting to be used and to enjoy the feel of them as I slide them onto the pillows.
Before preparing your salad for dinner, cut a garlic clove in half and rub the exposed part all over the inside of your salad bowl. This imparts the faintest bit of garlic on the salad leaves and makes the salad smell gorgeous - assuming you like garlic of course. It's not even enough to give you garlic breath, it's just sort of 'there'. When you serve the salad, serve it with wedges of lemon on the side instead of salad dressing. These look particularly posh if tied into a bit of muslin with some kitchen string to secure it knot style on the back of the lemon. This also prevents the lemon pips ending up in your salad.
Choose a palette for your home. Sometimes feeling luxurious when you're on a tight budget is about giving yourself the language to feel okay about saying no. I have a friend with whom I cannot shop without her exhorting me to buy this or buy that. So I've started saying 'oh, that doesn't suit my palette'. It stops her in her tracks... lol! But really, it's amazing what a difference it can make to confine yourself to mainly blue and white with touches of red or beige and white with touches of chocolate. Not only does it make even the humblest of homes look fancier, it also helps eliminate impulse buys. If you can say to yourself 'yes, I love it but it doesn't suit my décor' (said in a rahhhther posh voice), you feel quite magnanimous about passing up the bargain (or not so bargain!). If you have little ones then maybe your palette is 'anything that hides dirt' and that's okay too. Maybe it's then about making smart decisions. If you have white tiled floors, cover them with dark rugs. Dark furniture covers or microfibre furniture hide a multitude of sins. Even dark coloured towels (as much as white ones are lovely) in the darker colours of your 'palette' *wink* that look cleaner for longer make your home and bathroom look a bit more posh.
Play tourist in your own town and see all that your home has to offer, from beautiful gardens to ferry rides, to guided walks and art galleries and museums. Very luxurious indeed and all for free or almost free!
Have some beautiful serving cutlery or make some of your more utilitarian stuff look more posh by polishing it up and embellishing it with a short piece of ribbon on the handle. This also means serving dinner in bowls in the centre of the table and allowing everyone to help themselves. I always found that my kids ate more and ate better when we served dinner this way. I have some beautiful salad servers and serving spoons that I inherited from Mum. As mentioned above, some of them were my Nanna's too. They are silver and are so pretty that I hang them on the wall tied with organza ribbon when they're not being used as serving cutlery.
Have crystal somewhere in your home. This could be a special crystal glass to drink from, a crystal bowl to serve salad from, a crystal vase or actual hanging crystals. That special 'ring' that comes with clinking crystal glasses or bowls together, the weight of a beautiful vase, the sparkle of a single prism hanging in the window or even a crystal keyring just makes the day more luxurious. Crystal doesn't have to be the old-fashioned cut crystal that our nannas had either. There are often quite beautiful and plain crystal bowls and glasses in the thrift shops. And Swarovski type crystals for embellishing other items can be had for very little money online too. To check whether an item is glass or crystal, gently clink it against something or flick it with your finger and look for that 'chime' that only real crystal produces. It's like the difference between stoneware and fine china to use crystal over glass and really gives you an appreciation of how delicate and beautiful it is. I also have a single large teardrop crystal hanging in my bathroom. When the mid afternoon sun shines on it, it produces the most beautiful rainbows all over the bathroom. It's just gorgeous.
Wear diamonds and pearls. Now before you all shout me down wondering where my Simple Savings mentality has gone, let me add that they can be fake. Who can even tell the difference these days anyway! I regularly wear pearl studs that cost me $20 for 100 pairs on eBay and they look lovely. They're also great gifts! Add a few freshwater pearls threaded onto clear elastic as a bracelet and you're looking rather posh. Twinkly studs that look like diamonds can be had for $1-$100 depending upon the quality and I love that they're so versatile and understated. No-one needs to know they're fake. Get yourself some pearls and diamonds. You deserve it!

There are hundreds of ways to engender a little luxury in your life every single day, many of which, as I've shown, cost very little or are free and make you feel a million dollars.

Have a luxurious day everyone!

You can get updates on Mimi's new blogs on the Simple Savings Facebook page

or in our Members' Blog section.

9. Rob Bob's Gardening Blog: Companion Planting and a Fishy Update

Companion Planting & Polyculture

'Companion planting' is a method of growing food that involves planting a variety of plants that have a beneficial relationship with the others planted close by. Some plants are said to keep certain pests away due to their perfume while others will attract predator insects, like ladybugs, into the garden so they can feast on pests like aphids.

Other plants can be used as sacrificial plants that deliberately attract pests to a spot in the patch where they can be dealt with easily. In the aquaponic system we found that chives made a great black aphid attracting plant and we were able to deal with them in one spot. :)

Many flowering herbs and ornamental plants also play an important role in bringing pollinators like bees and butterflies into the vegie patch. Legumes like peas and beans help increase available nutrients for other plants to use and also make a great green manure crop to dig through the beds and increase the nutrient levels.

A great example of this growing system is called the 'Three Sisters Method' and is still used by backyard gardeners around the world. This well proven companion planting system was used by native peoples across North America for thousands of years. In this system the three plants normally used were maize/corn, climbing beans and squash/pumpkins. The corn was grown to provide a growing frame for the beans which in turn fixed nitrogen to the soil, and the squash was used as a living mulch that helped to control weeds and received shade provided by the taller corn.

I've been told by a friend (thanks Adie) that some like to plant a fourth sister (borage) here in Australia to help bring in bees/insects to help with pollination. After looking into it further I found that the 'Rocky Mountain bee plant' (Cleome serrulata) was used in some places in the Americas for this purpose and doubled as a food source.

Here are a few links that explain the origins of the Three Sisters Method and planting schedule in a bit more detail:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Sisters_%28agriculture%29

http://www.almanac.com/content/companion-planting-three-sisters

http://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/native-american-gardening-zm0z13fmzsto%20.aspx?PageId=1#axzz2zV5sn2p3

Some of the claims made about companion planting are not always backed up by scientific data and unfortunately just don't work that well we've found. :/ We have tried on a few occasions to reduce root knot nematode numbers by planting out French Marigolds (a common 'go to' plant for pest control) in beds around the garden. Unfortunately, as a living plant, they just don't do much at controlling the nematodes but we have had great success using them, along with mustard greens, as a green manure crop that is mulched up and dug through the soil to decompose and gas the nematodes into submission, as I've mentioned in other blogs.

There are a load of companion planting guides in books and on the web that I have found useful. Here are a few that I have found useful for us here in Australia:

http://www.sgaonline.org.au/companion-planting/

http://www.gardensablaze.com/Companions/CompanionYield.htm

I would also recommend a great Aussie/Kiwi book by Jackie French called "Jackie French's Guide to Companion Planting in Australia & New Zealand" if you can find a copy.

Polyculture is an expansion of the companion planting idea where many different types of plants are sown out together. It can also include animals into the system, something I won't be doing, much to the displeasure of our chooks. ;) While not all the plants are 'companions' in the sense as I mentioned above, all the plants have a function. Some are planted due to their ability to be an early, late or continual cropping plant to spread out the production period of the bed. Others are planted for their pest repelling properties and some make themselves useful as a thick layer of leaves close to the ground to help shade the soil and stop it from drying out.

This season I decided to combine a fair few different plants into a Polyculture bed to see how it goes. The companion plants we will be using are Alums (garlic & shallots) to deter the aphids and some leafy greens to help provide a layer of living mulch to help keep the soil from drying out.

The short term crops we have planted out are radishes, rocket (arugula), leaf lettuce and beetroot leaves with the bulbs of the beetroot taking a bit longer to mature. The broccoli, garlic, shallot bulbs and walking onions are the longer term crops in the bed that will take quite some time to mature. Perpetual spinach, rainbow chard and shallot greens will offer a continual crop of leaves with the side shoots from the broccoli providing us with a continual harvest up to December this year, if not longer.

When it came time to plant out the bed I placed one row of shallots down either side of the bed and had a row of Glen large garlic up the centre. Up one side between the garlic and shallots went a row of broccoli and up the other went a mix of beetroot and chard seeds. Once those plants and seeds were in, lettuce, rocket and radish seeds were broadcast throughout the bed.

So far the bed is looking very promising with some leafy greens and shallot already harvested for small lunchtime salads. I am also very happy to see that we have a few volunteer purslane pop up which will also be used in salads. :) Shall keep you updated with the progress of this bed as it will be providing us with quite a few meals this season if the current results are anything to go by. ;)

Aquaculture/Aquaponics

I have finally finished the aquaculture/fish farm system for the back yard, well sort of! We did have two fish in the system that we were given but lost one on the weekend while trying to adjust the pH for new fingerlings... was a silly mistake. I'm now getting the pH levels under control and hope to add the lonely fish back in tomorrow along with a perch from our aquaponic system so they can start to condition the water before the fingerlings arrive. Here is a bit of a look at the fish farm for those that are interested:

While we won't be growing vegies with it this season it will be turned into an aquaponic system after the first harvest of fish has been done - just need the OK from Bianca to expand the aquaponic area. ;)

We were lucky enough to be offered the opportunity to buy an aquaponic system from a local aquaculture designer, Mr Paul Van, who is moving to the United Arab Emirates where he is building a massive 4400m² pilot aquaponic system.

I must say I am more than stoked to have bought this system and my mind is full of ideas on how it can be set up, as this system is about three times as large as the current aquaponic system we have. I think I might actually be able to split it up into a few different systems to help increase our aquaponic vegie production with a crayfish or two tossed in as well. ;)

I'm hoping to have the system set up in the next month or so after we dismantle the current one and move it to my parents for them to make use of. I definitely won't be able to say I will be bored over the coming few months. ;)

A while back I planted a sweet potato slip in the aquaponic system to see how it would go. I was very impressed with the greenery the plant provided for salads and stir-fries but was skeptical as to if we would get many tubers from it. Here's a quick look at some of the small tubers we pulled from the bed along with the bonus tubers I found growing on the vine in the soil beside the system.

That's it for this month's look at the garden... Hope everyone's cool weather crops are in and well on their way... Still have a few more to pop in here and will give you a look next month. :)
Have a great one all,
Rob :)»

You can get updates on Rob Bob's new gardening adventure blogs on the Simple Savings Facebook page

or in our Members' Blog section.

10. From Last Month: Give Me a Hope Among the Gum Trees

Last month Lou emailed us about ideas to help her use the second hand website Gumtree:

"I need some help working out how the second hand website Gumtree works. I have seen things for sale which I would like to buy but I'm not willing to pay the asking price. What I want to know is, can I ring and offer less? What are the best ways to buy things on Gumtree? I really need some tips and advice."

We got some fantastic ideas - thank you for sharing your wisdom! Here are some of our favourite replies:

Negotiate, you have nothing to lose!

I think of Gumtree as a new version of the old 'Trading Post' paper. By this I mean most people would make an offer unless the listing specifically said 'no offers' or 'not negotiable'. Otherwise go ahead, barter with sellers! You have nothing to lose. Email the seller and ask if they will accept xxxx dollars. Remember to keep your message really friendly and respectful and you'll get a better result. I sell on eBay and I am offended when prospective buyers send a curt message offering a low price. Courtesy goes a long way! I've bought several items on Gumtree, all at lower than the original asking price. Work around their time frames for collection or if you need the item posted, make sure you agree on a price for postage first or you could be whacked with a sneaky mark-up. Good luck and happy bargaining!

Contributed by: Nicola A

Only purchase from 'real' photos

I have bought and sold a lot of things on Gumtree and this is what I have learned:

I will only buy if there's a good photo of the item that looks like it's been taken in someone's home - it is too easy to copy and paste photos from websites so the item looks brand new!
I always ring and ask lots of questions and if I'm still interested, try and get to see the item as soon as possible. Always take your time looking over the item, try it, and if you're going to buy it, make your offer reasonable.
Always pay in cash and take the item with you - and have fun!

Contributed by: Shona

Place a 'wanted' ad and let the sellers come to you

If you are concerned about approaching people in ads, why not submit your own ad in with whatever you want, including as much detail, even a rough price guide and let the sellers find YOU? They will know exactly what you're looking for and you won't waste time looking or contacting needlessly. I collect antiques and have found this is a great way to connect with serious buyers.

Contributed by: Evie

Always check, never assume

When interested in purchasing from Gumtree, make sure you ask questions! We bought an instrument from there and just assumed it was relatively new as the ad said 'stopped playing after six months' and was being sold with 'new reeds, new cleaner, new cork grease, new case'. When we went to see it, the instrument was very, very old and not at all what we expected. All our fault because we assumed and didn't ask the most important question! Now when we buy off Gumtree we get a list of questions together so we don't waste our time or the seller's!

Contributed by: Mark N

Being nice can get you the best price

I use Gumtree frequently both for buying and selling things. In my experience, most prices on Gumtree are negotiable, unless the item is special in some way, for example, an antique or limited edition or the seller states in the advert that the price is 'firm'. The best way to get a discount is to call the seller up and have a chat with them. Be friendly and polite and ask whether the price can be discounted - but within reason. If there is no number to call then send a text or email but again be friendly and polite. Alternatively, if you want to view the item before buying, you may consider negotiating the price face to face instead. As an example, I saw some Coleman camp chairs on Gumtree for $65, arranged to see them, negotiated the price down to $50 with the seller and we were both happy!

When I am the seller I find some people can be very rude when texting or emailing, especially 'timewasters' who are not really interested in buying your item or 'lowballers' who basically want to pay as little as possible. I had one such email today in response to an item I have on Gumtree for $45 which literally just said '$15?' - no 'Hi', no name, no nothing! Needless to say I have not responded. I have a general rule that I would rather not sell to someone who offers peanuts or who is rude and unfriendly when contacting me. So the moral of the story is: be nice, be polite and be reasonable with your offers, and you will generally find that sellers will be too!

Contributed by: Kim B

Pros and cons of text/email selling

I have done a lot of buying and selling on both Gumtree and eBay. I must have replaced my balcony setting five times through Gumtree - if I didn't like it, I would just sell it again and never lost money! I have completed many transactions purely via email, text messages or phone. I am a shy person and don't like talking on the phone so this way I have more courage to make an offer. I make reasonable offers as I figure both the seller and the buyer have to be happy. However, some sellers don't like negotiating through email or text and will state that in their ad; phone calls only.

One thing I have learned over time, especially when selling, is to NEVER be surprised with what people will buy or be prepared to pay. Some of the oddest things I would have just given away, people have paid ridiculous prices for! With buying, don't be afraid to make an offer, the worst they can do is say no. As a seller, I find it harder to say 'no' in person, however, I am more likely to reject an offer if it is via text or email. Overall, do what you are more comfortable with - and have fun!

Contributed by: Sue A

Words of advice from experienced buyers

My husband and I have bought quite a few things from Gumtree ranging from baby goods and furniture to work tools and even a boat. What we have learned:

Buy local or within driving distance and go and see the item first hand. If you are interested, make an offer then and there (don't go away and ring them later as someone else might come along and buy it first).
Make sure you have the cash ready to pay them unless it is a big ticket item.
If you are buying tools and equipment always inspect it first to make sure it's in good condition, or at least the condition you expect.
If you are buying a car/boat and so on, get an inspection report first.

Good luck!

Contributed by: Victoria G

It never hurts to ask

When considering making a purchase on Gumtree, the first thing to do is to find out if the item/s are still available. People frequently forget to update their ad. I also look to see if the seller has chosen the 'negotiable' option and check to see how long ago the item was listed, then I either email them or call and ask if they are negotiable on their price. Sometimes people ask unrealistic prices and the more popular an item is the less likely they will be to drop their price but most people I've found are happy to make a sale and rehome their item, so it never hurts to ask.

Contributed by: Caroline

11. This Month's Help Request: Ideas For Outdoor Cover and Flooring

Nayia has emailed asking for some help! She writes:

"I would like to ask if anyone has any ideas to solve this problem. We have a (very) small room out the back which has become our fourth bedroom. The room itself is fine, but it is four metres from the house, with no eaves for protection. If my son wants to go to the toilet or come into the house, he gets wet if it's raining and/or traipses dirt into the house or his room. There is no space outside his room for a mat and very little inside it. The room also gets full sun so is boiling in the summer. We are renting so we can't drill into the walls or guttering for cover, but we'd love some suggestions for:

"(a) a cheap cover we could use that would reduce or block out the rain and sun. We thought we could buy a big patio umbrella, but it won't cover the whole area and will blow over in wet windy weather.

"(b) a cheaper solution than decking tiles, which are very expensive, for the ground. The area to cover is about 1.5 x 4 metres.

"Thanks for any suggestions"

If you have any pearls of wisdom you'd like to share with Nayia, please send them in to us here.

12. Goodbye for Now

Well, that's your Simple Savings Newsletter for May and we hope you have enjoyed it. We hope you'll find some time in your day to spoil yourself - you deserve it! There are some wonderful ways to enjoy some little luxuries - please let us know how you go!

Our members are hugely important to us and we love hearing from you all! So next time you're on the website, why don't you get in touch and say 'G'day'! Let us know what you would like to see more of in our newsletter or any suggestions you have for something new to try. We love receiving your clever ideas!

Till next time...

All the best,
Fiona

May 2016 - Simple Savings Newsletter

"Secrets to Saving Money" Free Newsletter - May 2016

This issue includes:-

Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: A Sobering Thought
May: Peace of Mind - Do You Really Have It?
Last Month's Competition: How Do YOU Keep Your Cash?
Best of the Vault: Insurance Ups and Downs
Best of the Forum: Questions and Answers
Best Members' Blog: From Debt to Freedom - Inch by Inch
Best of Simple Savings Facebook: Bling on a Budget
Savings Story: A Good Move Reducing Our Annual Budget

Hi,

How are you going? This month I have handed over the reins and the newsletter is brought to you by Jackie Gower. If you enjoy it and want more from Jackie please write in and tell us how cool you think she is!

Have a great month,

Fiona

1. Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: A Sobering Thought

"Ooh did you see this?" Sally pointed out a story to Hanna in her magazine. "This poor woman! She was on holiday overseas and got hit by a car when coming out of a restaurant. There she was, thousands of miles from home and stuck in hospital for weeks and to top it all off she got landed with a massive medical bill." "Didn't she have travel insurance?" Hanna asked. "Yes! She did - but get this," Sally went on. "They wouldn't pay out because she had been at the restaurant and had one drink - ONE! It's not right," she shook her head.

"No it's not - but it happens a lot," Hanna replied. "I remember a friend of Pete's gave us an SOS call a couple of years ago. He was in Japan and lost his wallet with everything in it. Once again he wasn't covered by insurance because the last place he remembered seeing it was in the taxi on his way home from a bar. Fortunately though, he was lucky. The hotel cleaner had accidentally picked it up with the laundry and it turned up a few days later, clean as a whistle!" Hanna laughed.

"That WAS lucky!" Sally chuckled. "Still, it makes you wonder though. I mean, you pay all this money for insurance for peace of mind but should you ever need to use it half the time it turns out there's some loophole. I mean, fancy not even being able to have a glass of wine at an exotic restaurant when you're away!" "So, what insurance companies are REALLY saying is," Hanna burst into giggles, "holiday insurance covers you on your holiday - as long as you don't have a holiday!"

2. May: Peace of Mind - Do You Really Have It?

Years ago, taking out an insurance policy was a big deal. I still remember groaning inwardly when our insurance agent would come to our home. We'd sit for what seemed like hours over endless cups of tea as the agent would meticulously go through our policies, making sure we knew exactly what we were covered for, what we weren't and triple checking that the policy included things we specifically needed. Whether it was health insurance or home insurance, thanks to our agent and the laborious meetings, we always knew down to the letter what our policies contained, without even ever having to dig them out to check as the years went by.

These days, things are very different. Signing up for an insurance policy takes little more than a few minutes and personal interaction rarely goes beyond a phone call or filling in an online form. It's convenient, fast and super easy. For many people, getting insurance on a new car, the contents of their home or even their lives is nothing more than a mere formality, another item to tick off the 'to do' list. Taking out insurance is still a big deal - but we don't treat it like one, which is no surprise when we're constantly told in the ads how easy and fool proof it is. The sad and very dangerous repercussion of this is the whole process has become so simple that the power, the knowledge and personal input has been taken out of our hands. It's supposed to be easy - but let me tell you it's far from easy when you go and make a claim and find you're not covered the way you thought you were at all. My story is a long one but I hope people will read it because what happened to me can happen to anyone and does, all the time.

In 2013, I took out an income protection insurance policy on a routine visit to my bank. As a writer working from home my work isn't exactly hazardous but nevertheless, as a newly solo mum on a single income, I would no longer be able to survive in the event of an accident or a prolonged illness which prevented me from working. The whole process took just a few minutes and involved my bank manager giving me a form to fill in. Short of something disastrous like my hands falling off and ruining my ability to type I wasn't anticipating any problems and my application was soon approved.

Then one winter I got pneumonia. Twice in fact - once with viral meningitis thrown in for good measure. Not surprisingly I ended up in hospital and recovery was very slow. As the months dragged on with no income of any kind coming in I realised that I was going to have to claim on my income protection insurance. After all, that's what it was there for, right? Indeed it was, the sympathetic voice on the other end of the phone line told me when I placed my claim. They promised to have things sorted in a jiffy - would I just agree to give them access to my medical records? Sure! I told them, silently breathing a sigh of relief at my presence of mind for taking out the policy, not to mention the $4000 per month I would now be paid.

So I was more than a little surprised when, a few weeks after, they contacted me to say that my claim was being declined on the grounds that a) I didn't tell them when I took out my policy that I had had a lump in my breast in 2012, b) I didn't tell them I also had a dodgy smear test in 2012 and c) I didn't tell them I was depressed in December 2013. You might be thinking 'Indeed, why didn't she tell them that?' The answer, as the original policy form I filled in at the bank clearly showed (and I was thankfully able to use as evidence) was that they never asked. What they did ask was a) had I been hospitalised at any time over the past five years due to serious illness. My answer was no and it was the truth, I had not been hospitalised at any stage until my pneumonia. My breast lump turned out to be a harmless lump of fatty tissue which disappeared by itself and the abnormal smear test had not turned out to be anything harmful and required no further treatment. As for being depressed, my marriage had broken up a few months earlier; I was hardly going to be doing cartwheels! But I never took a single one of the anti-depressants the doctor prescribed me and still had the entire packet to prove it.

Besides, what did any of these things have to do with the price of fish? I was making a claim on the grounds of pneumonia, yet the way they were carrying on I was potentially suicidal if I wasn't already half dead from the other things first. Despite the fact that it was their lack of questions on taking out the policy which were at fault, they insisted that had they known about these conditions they would have never given me the policy; or at very least would have deferred it for 12 months to make sure I didn't kick the bucket first. Basically, the cover I had been paying for all this time wasn't covering me at all and never had - yet even now they were still taking my money. Back and forth the emails went and every time I stuck to my guns until the only thing they had left to say was that they still considered me a high suicide risk. Unfortunately for them they were saying this to a woman who had $6.35 in the bank to feed her kids with and I was not only feeling determined but powerful. So on Sunday morning I wrote an email and gave them both barrels.

I poured my heart out in that email, but not in a 'woe is me' way. I threatened them with going to the media - my exact words being "I don't think a mother trying to feed two teenagers on $6.35 whilst still being stung for $77 a month non-existent cover will look particularly favourable on your organisation on national television, do you?" I would have done it too. Above all I made it clear that I had had ENOUGH, I had been through enough crap and that all I needed was for people like them to give me a darn break.

My next step would have been to go to the insurance ombudsman. As it turned out, however, I didn't need it. I received a phone call from the company the following day, advising me that they would be paying out my claim on compassionate grounds. In other words, "we're still saying it's not our fault but it is really". Not only did they pay out my claim, they also refunded every monthly payment of $77 I had made throughout the life of the policy. I was delighted with the outcome - but it was nothing compared to the relief I felt that I was now going to be able to survive.

I received another surprise when a national Sunday paper contacted me wanting to cover my story. Why? Because situations like mine happen all the time. People are constantly being ripped off and hurt by insurance companies but they don't fight back. They don't realise they can, nobody likes to make trouble, it's human nature.

But you are not being a bad person by arguing for your rights! You don't have to play nice. Insurance is a massive business and they are heartless and cold, they will try any strategy or fancy words to avoid paying out money. Don't be a victim. Do your homework and stand up for your rights. If you are right and you KNOW they are wrong, stick to your guns. Let them know they can't walk over you. It doesn't have to stop there either; there are bigger people above them who can take them to task. If I hadn't fought back I would have got nothing and lost everything. You can do it too.

If you haven't checked your policies in a while, dig them out and sit down and have a read - a PROPER read, just like we did in the old days. Check the small print, check your cover, check for discrepancies and any missed or important information and put them right while you can. Because if there's one thing I and countless others before me have learned the hard way, insurance isn't important unless you need it. And then it is.

3. Last Month's Competition: How Do YOU Keep Your Cash?

Last month we asked you to share some of the strategies you use to keep your money safe in a world where everyone else is trying to take it from you. WOW - what a response! Our competition box has been groaning under the volume of emails! Thank you to everyone who took the time to enter our competition. Your entries were fantastic and really inspiring. The winning entry comes from Leigh Burgess. We loved her story because, not only is she doing a brilliant job of hanging onto her money, she has also come up with a very novel and effective way of reaching her goals. Great stuff!

Single Woman on a Saving Mission!

"As a single woman I think it's imperative to track your cash. I am paid monthly on a set date, so it's the old sink or swim method. You either learn to budget or drown, and watch out for the months with five weeks in them.

"Two days after my salary is deposited I have set amounts automatically transferred into separate accounts for my savings, bills and retirement. I have a record of every amount I need to pay, including the elective items like the PO Box rental, hairdresser, clothes and so on. I work on an annual figure per item, divide by 12, and that's what is transferred each month. The balance sits in my everyday account and I draw out a set amount each week for petrol, groceries, weekly coffee with the girls and such. This is the only cash I carry. Anything left at the end of the month is moved into savings. I like to save up for the big ticket items, fridge, carpet etc, and I use a chart system. I keep it on my fridge and see it every day.

"I am also currently saving for an overseas holiday. On top is a picture of the Eiffel Tower so guess where I'm going! I have a spread sheet with lines across the page. Each line is marked into squares and each square represents a set dollar amount. For me, its $50. A photo of a plane against one line is the airfare cost. This is $2000 so I have 40 squares. A hotel is on the next line. That's $2700 so there are 53 squares. A street cafe photo represents meals. A waiter represents tips. I always budget tips as these can really eat into your spending money. The Louvre is for spending money. I concentrate on one item at a time and each month I colour in a square, in red. The airfare graph is full so now I am working on the hotel bill! It's a visual reminder of how far I have got and how far I still have to go. It really keeps me on track to reach my goals. I have another spread sheet for my retirement fund. I set a dollar goal every two years and track it the same way as the holiday fund. When I reach my two year goal, I set another. I won't retire a millionaire but I will be comfortable, thanks to my tracking sheets!"

Congratulations Leigh, you've won yourself $100 for your holiday kitty! Look out for another fun competition in next month's newsletter.

4. Best of the Vault: Insurance Ups and Downs

For years we've been encouraging members to compare insurance policies regularly from year to year to enable them to get the best deal between companies. However, it's just as important to know exactly what those policies include. Have you checked yours lately? These tips from the Vault may surprise you, and could also result in some valuable savings!

A little loyalty adds up to big savings on insurance

A quick phone call saved my daughter more than $200 on her first insurance. Now at university and recently flatting for the first time, we figured her belongings were probably no longer covered under our insurance policy. As our insurance company is now phone-in only, we popped into the only insurance office in her city to enquire what she would need. After a quote for $261 for the year and a lecture on the importance of liability insurance we left with our heads spinning. Thinking I would just compare it with what our current company would charge before committing, I phoned them. They told us that as she would be still coming home each year in her holidays she was still covered by our contents insurance, (even if her belongings were still in her flat) AND with liability cover up to one million dollars! I'm so glad I double checked rather than going with the new company. A little loyalty can definitely pay off!

Contributed by: Anna Allen

Big win over dispute was worth it

There is hope for the 'little people' after all! After an ongoing dispute with a well-known insurance company, I have recently won my case, saving $785 which I had previously written off.

Almost two months ago I needed to make a claim on my general insurance policy. After carefully collecting and faxing documentation to the insurance company, the claim was processed. However, to my shock I received only $450 instead of an expected $1235.

I contacted the company and spoke to a variety of individuals who all refused to process the remainder of money. The reason given for the refusal of full payment was very obscure and did not make any sense. I felt that I was definitely being unfairly treated. Feeling completely exhausted with constant phone calls to the company and refusal after refusal, eventually I ran out of steam and gave up the chase.

However, just four weeks later after seeing a story on a morning television show that discussed insurance claims and the use of ombudsmen, I decided to give it one more go. I rang the company and asked them to again tell me why the claim was denied. I wrote down the response given. Several times during the conversation I asked the person to repeat any words that I missed. They soon realised that I was recording the information provided. I then asked for the name of the person with whom I was speaking and requested details on the appropriate department to contact to lodge a complaint on the decision made. I was offered a phone number but refused this and stated that I would be putting the complaint in writing. Reluctantly, I was given the relevant information. I then mentioned that if I was unsuccessful with the complaint, I would take the matter to an insurance ombudsman as I believed that I was wrongfully denied the payment. The person on the other end of the call then did a complete back flip and offered to go through the details with me one more time!

After discussing my claim for several more minutes, he advised me to fax one more document through to the company and then my claim would be fully paid! After faxing the information requested, I happily received a cheque for the full payment one week later.

It just goes to show that little people can win against major insurance companies. If I had not taken up the fight again, I would have missed out on $785 to which I was entitled. My fight did not cost me any money (only time), as the calls were toll free. By mentioning those magic words: 'complaint' and 'ombudsman' (and being prepared to follow through), I was finally taken seriously. I am sure many major companies such as the one I dealt with expect us to give up, therefore lining the pockets of these major corporations. I highly recommend fighting any dispute in which you feel unfairly treated! I did and am so glad that I gave it one more go, as it has certainly paid off!

Contributed by: Helen M

Check if your insurance covers theft

Check your home contents insurance to avoid expensive scenarios like this one. Did you know that your home contents insurance may not cover theft from your house by someone you let in? I found out the hard way a couple of weeks ago when my mobile phone valued at $1000 was stolen off my kitchen table by a youth who had come to visit my youngest son.

After reporting it to the police, I rang my insurance company to make a claim. I was told because I'd given the thief permission to come into my house I was not covered. This also includes tradespeople, guests at parties and so on. I rang five other major insurance companies to find they have the same policy. Check with your insurance company, you may not be covered for all that you think you are!

Contributed by: Ruth Hastie

Don't over pay your home insurance - check this tip!

When insuring your home, don't insure it for what it's worth if you sold your home - that price includes the land block too! Like many people, I'd been insuring my home at the market value for years! Instead I now ask a building company every two years what they charge to build a home per square metre. I find out if that price includes chattels and so on and allow an extra big amount for contingencies (water, power, plans and permissions and removal costs) in case my home was to burn down. Re-checking every two years allows me to modify my insurance accordingly and I've been saving heaps ever since learning this tip!

Contributed by: Diane Green

Insure for replacement value

By reviewing your insurance, you could potentially save yourself hundreds of dollars.

I work in the home loan industry and have noticed while reviewing files that some people are grossly over insured. It became apparent that when asked 'how much is your property worth?' by the insurer, some people are answering with the purchase price or 'market value' of their home, rather than the replacement value of the building structure.

In some cases, I would estimate customers were being charged almost double because the 'estimated replacement value' they quoted to the insurer was the value of the entire property (land, landscaping and so on, including the house) rather than just the amount it would cost to clear the site of debris and rebuild the house.

In my own case and in the early years of my home ownership, I was paying over $700 per year for insurance on my home because I lived on acreage and the insurer had assumed I was running a small farm. Upon reviewing my insurance, and discussing my needs with a few different insurers, I was able to secure insurance for my house, with public liability that extended to the full 15 acres I own, for around $350 - because I searched for a quote that did not include liability insurance for livestock and farm machinery.

Be wary, though, your estimated 'cost of replacement' should increase each year in line with increases in building costs. Being under-insured is almost worse than being over-insured, as insurers may not pay your claim, or if they do, they will deduct the amount you were under-insured from the claim. (i.e.: if your replacement value of the home is $200,000 and you are insured for a replacement value of $150,000, the insurer might deduct the $50,000 you were under-insured from the sum you paid insurance for - leaving you with $100,000 to replace your $200,000 home).

Some insurance companies can provide you with estimates of the replacement value of your home, upon request. Otherwise you should obtain an estimate from a qualified builder who is constructing homes in the current market.

Contributed by: Nichole Kertesz

Get to grips with insurance jargon

It helps to be familiar with insurance terminology so you can make sure you're getting the most from your insurance. Here's a handy site to help you translate private health insurance jargon: www.privatehealth.gov.au/faq/glossary.htm

You'll find a handy glossary which gives a definition of common insurance terms including the different types of cover.

Contributed by: LJH

Insurers 'decrease the increase' when price hikes are challenged

A few weeks ago our annual car insurance premium letter came, informing us that we had a 17.5% increase. Like a true Simple Saver my husband called the insurer to challenge them about why they had increased it so drastically. The insurer replied with the usual reasons relating to inflation, risk factors, insurance trends and so on and at this, my hubby pointed out some simple facts:

Our cars have decreased in market value (meaning they have less insured value and would need less insurance payout in case of a claim).
We have not made a single claim to date (meaning our premium should remain the same).
Insurers take into account how long you've had a valid driver's licence for. The risk factor reduces as the number of years a driving license is held increases (meaning we are considered low-risk drivers, therefore our premium should reflect this).

At first our insurer wouldn't budge, but after we obtained a competitive quote from another insurer our current insurer brought the increase down to just 2.05% from the proposed 17.5%! This is an 88% reduction on the initial increase!

Contributed by: Aditi Sharma

5. Best of the Forum: Questions and Answers

One of the many brilliant things about the all-knowing, all-saving Members' Forum is that you get answers to your questions fast. Got an insurance query or problem? There's a wealth of knowledge right here!

And now for some general private health insurance questions

Lorax wants to make sure she gets the best cover and value for her family and has many questions. Fortunately the members are on hand to help! This informative thread is well worth a read:
read more...

Check your insurance policy if you have young drivers or others regularly using your car

Kids grow up fast and sometimes we forget to update our insurance policies accordingly - particularly when it comes to their driving status. SS member plethora has just checked her insurance policy and is set to receive a nice refund but learned a lot in the process and wants to share for the benefit of other members. Get informed here!
read more...

Life insurance payout question

If, heaven forbid, a person was killed in a road accident and was not obeying the road rules at the time, would their life insurance still pay out? A thought provoking question with some interesting answers:
read more...

Beware of unprofessional practices by insurance company

SQ has been hearing horror stories from people who have been taken advantage of by the same insurance company and wants to warn other members. Can these scenarios really happen? And if so, what can be done about them? Another very interesting and informative read!
read more...

6. Best Members' Blog: From Debt to Freedom - Inch By Inch

An Update 4 Years Later and NEW Challenge!

One of the many benefits of being a Vault member is that you can win $100 cash each month for your Simple Savings blog! Starting your own blog on the site is easy. All you have to do is log into the Vault, click on 'My Desk' at the top right, then 'Blog'. Then get writing! We love reading all your money saving trials and tribulations and really appreciate the effort that goes into each one.

This month's Blog winner is Lily Rose with her post "From Debt to Freedom - Inch By Inch. An Update Four Years Later and NEW Challenge."

"So here it is, April 2016, and I decided to do a blog on SS as I am taking on a new financial challenge (more on this later!).

When I went in to create a blog, I found blogs from four years ago... and WOW, what an eye opener in how far I have travelled in four years, even given a financial disaster that cost me around $60,000... (again... more later...).

As a bit of background, I'm 47, never married, no children. I have a lifelong medical condition which has given me some ups and downs over the years (but hey, I'm still here).

Here is my post from October 2012, a mere four years ago:

October 2012

Life has some ups and downs... and I'm working on the upswing at the moment, digging my way out of debt and towards financial independence. This blog will hopefully keep me on track and amuse me along the way. If anyone actually reads it, it will be a bonus.

Debt position 6 months ago (March 2012)

After two years of ill health and underemployment, I went from no debt (had worked for three years to achieve this and was at break-even point!), to ending up $33,400 in debt. Of this, $9k was to Mum (no interest) and $24.5k on credit cards (three cards, interest payments approx. $250 per month). All three credit cards were on red line, and I was starting to have payments declined and incur fees. Well, it was either that or ask Mum for (still more) money...

I started working casually on 29 Feb 12, and in the last six months (working part time, about 25-30 hours per week), have whittled the debt down to $30,878.80 and have a $501.39 baby EF.

Current debt position (October 2012)

Baby EF - $501.39

Debt $30,878.80

Plan for paying out debt (April 2013 - April 2016)

Rent out house, trade in car for a 4WD and caravan (very budget range for both) and have a working holiday for three years. By renting out the house, it will cover the costs of the house (rates, water, insurance $350 per month), as well as pay down debt ($850 per month) in three years. The house is seriously too big for me and costs a bomb to live here by myself. I don't need a three bed house on 1/4 acre for one person - in truth, I would be far happier in a two bed unit with a view.

So, welcome to 1 October - in six months I will be hitching up the caravan and setting off. At least that's the plan.

In the meantime, I have six months to downsize the house, sell as much as possible, sell car, buy 4WD and caravan, learn how to tow a caravan, set up etc, transfer my life on cloud, upgrade technology for being on the road (long overdue...) and so much more. It will be a steep learning curve, a big organisational challenge and more!

That was then...

April 2016

So, did I follow the plan? Sort of, not really... although I did get out of debt (finally!). I got a 12-month contract position from March 2013 - March 2014 and paid down debt over that period (no extras, no social life, no nothing!) and then, thanks to an unexpected windfall, had some extra $ to be able to pack up the house and head to Darwin. Originally the plan was to spend six months in Darwin during the dry season, then head to Sydney for the summer and rinse and repeat (basically I loathe the cold weather, so was trying to escape winter!). I rented out the house down south and figured it would pay for itself as far as rates etc, and any extra was to go into a fund for maintenance and improvements.

So I left in March 2014, carrying only what I could fit in the car (which is a teeny weeny two seater convertible with virtually no luggage space!) and left two tea chest cartons at home to be sent up when I had an address. I rented out the house minus the garage and stored all my stuff in the garage... this is an issue that I will have to deal with at some point. I took a month to travel up to Darwin via Queensland (hello Great Barrier Reef!) and mostly had a great holiday apart from one near death experience less than 300km from Darwin... I arrived in Darwin on 12 April 2014 and checked into the YHA.

So, new town, no job, no address and no possessions or furniture. Within a month, I'd found share accommodation (thinking that it was a cheaper way to live and had the bonus of meeting friends of the flatmate), a FABULOUS job (which I still have and am so grateful for) and a boyfriend (OK, so that turned out to be disastrous on many levels, but bear with me, I'll get to that shortly). Hello Darwin!

So in the last two years, I've had a financial disaster that cost me a lot of money (will do a separate blog on the boyfriend experience shortly), but have got to the point where I have bought a very modest two bed flat that settles in two days' time.

So, new mortgage here I come!

I have great plans to live on the smell on an oily rag in the first year of the mortgage and aggressively pay down the principal.

However, I have a few really expensive habits that I need to eliminate...

I drink. I smoke. I drink far too much soft drink (sugar-free variety, but still, it's expensive and not good for me in the long run).

On the plus side - I've got a good income that will allow me to comfortably cover my expenses. And I'm due a pay rise in May.

On the plus side - I've got a budget for works that need to be done to the flat and the cost of the furniture I need. I WILL NOT overspend this budget.

On the negative side - I still need to pay my tax bill from last financial year and the house down south needs a little money spent on it to repaint the bathroom and replace the side fence.

I have the money (read ability to borrow!) to pay for these works. I have no other debts at this time.

Anyhow, that's enough for tonight... if you've read this far, thanks! Will do more posts soon as I feel that this blog will help keep me accountable in the next 12 months as I try and pay for the new flat, the works that need to be done and pay down as much of the principal as I possibly can."

What a terrific and honest blog, Lily Rose, well done! We wish you all the best in your new journey and your new home.

You can read more of our members' blogs here.

7. Best of Simple Savings Facebook: Bling on a Budget

Love Facebook or hate it, the Simple Savers Facebook page is a great way to learn even more tips and enjoy reading of other members' successes. One of our favourite posts this month comes from Tricia, whose kids have the best dressed feet in town thanks to a little creativity from their mum! This was a first-time project for Tricia and we're sure you'll agree she has done a fantastic job. Not only that, she managed to save a fortune on the 'real thing'!

"I see people online paying $70 - $100 for a pair of custom-made shoes for their kids. Meh! Total cost for the ones in the photo including materials and shoes, $35. I paid $10 at ALDI for the shoes, the rest came from eBay. I had to wait a few weeks for all the materials to arrive from China but it was worth waiting - plus, you get the extra leftover glue, rhinestones, ribbon and so on for your next project! Onto a pair of black canvas now!

Congratulations on a brilliant job Tricia, it just goes to show it really does pay to have a go at making things yourself, even if you've never done anything like it before. Keep up the great work (and we look forward to seeing the black ones!).

Joining our busy Facebook community is super easy. Either search for 'Simple Savers' on Facebook or click this link and request to join. Once you're in, let the fun begin!

8. Savings Story: A Good Move Reducing Our Annual Budget

Moving house and a few simple changes have set us up to save a massive $110,000 over ten years! Two years ago we relocated. As a result of this move we reduced our fuel costs by $50 a week through no longer travelling to and from our farm daily. It was 40km a day, now it is just 800m away. We also decided that we would only shop once a month because it is a half hour drive to the main shops.

We have reduced our power costs from $80 to $30 a week by using iSelect to help choose a better provider which meets our needs better. Having solar panels on our shed roof contributed to the reduction in power costs. We have a solar hot water system now and a wood burning stove which not only heats the house but also heats our water in the winter months. We have a lot of fallen timber on our property so we are happy to saw it up in preparation for the winter months. It has the added benefit of being good exercise so there is no need for a gym membership! We have also reduced the amount of time we use the traditional oven by getting a $100 convection oven and this is a lot cheaper to run than the traditional oven. All of this has contributed to reducing our power costs by $50 a week.

We reduced our medical bills when I came off medication which I had been prescribed and my health dramatically improved as a result. While I was unwell we had required home help assistance. This is no longer necessary and is a further saving of $120 a month.

I was able to reduce our health insurance by $100 a month to $240 and still get all the benefits we required by using iSelect. It definitely was not worth staying with the same provider for 15 years.

We reduced our grocery bills by producing almost all our own meat and vegetables. Unfortunately, as a result of a neighbour spraying, our vegetables have cost more recently, however, in general our grocery costs are down from $250 to $150 a week. We do not buy any chemical cleaners or laundry or dishwasher powders because we use bicarb soda and vinegar. We also do not buy shampoo or hair conditioner.

Not only are we enjoying a healthier lifestyle, we are also now enjoying the financial benefit of reducing our costs by $11,000 a year which will equate to a savings of $110,000 in ten years. Really incredible!

Contributed by: Rebecca C

9. Goodbye For Now

That's another newsletter done and dusted, where is the year going? We hope you have enjoyed it. Don't forget to dig out your insurance policies this month and have a proper read. You could save a lot of money - and potentially also a lot of heartache. We'd love to hear how you get on.

See you next month!

Jackie

May 2020 - Simple Savings Newsletter

May newsletter: $21 Challenge

Hi,

How are you going? The last couple of months have been challenging. I hope you are doing okay.

With so many dramatic changes in such a short period of time, you may be feeling swamped with emotions like worry and fear. Rest assured, that's totally normal!

Whenever I find myself just a little bit scared, I think of my grandparents, three of whom came to Australia in difficult times. Two escaped the holocaust and one stowed away on a boat from Greece. My Jewish grandfather narrowly escaped the Gestapo, twice. The first time they missed him and his mate by 15 minutes. The second time a patrol picked them up as they were climbing the Alps to escape. The Gestapo tossed a coin, shot his mate, and let my grandfather keep climbing. Their feats remind me how resilient humans can be, and that we will overcome this challenge. The threat of Covid19 will only last a short time and our economy will regrow.

There have been a lot of changes in a short period of time. But we are adaptable. We live in a land used to trauma. We have a well-equipped, free healthcare system. We are good at looking after our neighbours and loved ones. We grow twice as much food as we eat. Our welfare system is struggling, but there is a determination to fix it and take care of everyone. And, pretty soon we will be on the other side of this (and preparing for the next heat wave / flood / fire / cyclone / bad hair day!).

In the meantime, I hope our May newsletter provides you with some inspiring saving tips and handy resources for the weeks ahead.

Fiona

PS. You may have noticed that we missed April's newsletter. With six of us working/studying at home over the last six weeks, we've had quite a bit of adapting to do! This month, we are merging April's Waste Not, Want Not challenges with May $21 Challenge newsletter.

May - $21 Challenge and Waste not, Want not

If you are new to this newsletter, each month we set some challenges to help inspire you to improve your habits, help your budget and the planet. This month's challenges are:

$21 Challenge:

Easy - Halve your weekly bill.
Moderate - Do a $50 Challenge.
Difficult - Do a $21 Challenge

Waste not Want not:

Easy - Reduce your waste.
Moderate - Cut your waste by half.
Difficult - Use everything you buy.

$21 Challenge eBook: Crisis Edition

A few weeks ago, while wandering through the shops seeing empty shelves and dazed faces, I thought back to previous disasters like Cyclone Yassi and the Christchurch earthquakes. Many people wrote to us to say thank you, and told us that when they could no longer buy food from the shops or eat the way they normally eat, the $21 Challenge became their lifeline.

Crises demand great resourcefulness. The $21 Challenge contains the resources people need to eat well in a disaster and make every shop count. It does this with:

adaptable recipes
teaches people how to stocktake
how to make a menu plan based on food you currently have.
how to substitute ingredients.
how to creating accurate shopping lists.

After thinking on this, I called Jackie Gower and together we revised the $21 Challenge book. Now it can be used two ways. If you want to save money, start at the beginning. But, if your ability to move and shop normally is restricted by floodwaters, an earthquake, cyclone, pandemic or whatever else, then chapter four onward has everything you need to eat well until the disaster has passed.

We have also made the latest edition a Kindle eBook. This way it can be downloaded in a hurry by every and any device.

If you would like to check out the revised version of the $21 Challenge. Here is a link to it on Amazon.

Make every shop count

Until things are back to normal, we need to make every shop count. This means being organised and following these 3 simple tips:

Before you leave the house to go shopping, do a stock take. Know what you have in your pantry, freezer, fridge, and garden. You can do this in a notebook or use our free $21 Challenge printables:

Make a plan

Plan out your week or fortnight's meals based on the food you already have in your home. There are loads of ways to menu plan. Jackie likes to keep it simple whereas Fiona's needs to nut everything out or things fall apart.

Jackie Menu Plan

Fiona's Life Plan

Write a shopping list

While you are writing your menu plan,list any ingredients you will need to buy. This will become your shopping list. Here's a handy shopping planner to make it easy

Leg Up program

For every full priced Vault membership purchased from Simple Savings we give one away to some who could do with a Leg Up. Here are some of the incredible stories from people you have helped us help in the last month.

"I was a member several years ago and loved Simple Savings. I have the cookbook and try to save money whenever I can. This year more than ever we are struggling with our finances and need to get an emergency fund together. Not having one causes stress living from paycheck to paycheck. I thought of renewing my membership to assist in helping me and my family save money. Due to finances being so tight I put it aside for when I can afford it. So it's a vicious cycle. I would love to be a part of the Leg Up program and know it would be a valuable tool in helping us stop treading water and start swimming. Also am very happy to pass on any tips I have learned while living frugally."
Mel

"We have been financially crippled after my breast cancer diagnosis in October 2017. The following two years of chemo, surgery, radiation and now lifelong drug treatments have taken all our savings and we desperately need to learn how to live frugally so we have a change to build up some savings. We have no savings left and I really want to build an emergency fund. We are all too aware of what life can throw at you unexpectedly."
Jean

"I've been sole parenting twins plus one, as well as studying towards a master's degree for the past couple of years so you could say money's been tight. When my Vault membership lapsed I wasn't able to renew but would love the chance to access it again as it's full of the good stuff!"
Katy

If you would like a Leg Up, apply here

Growing Veggies: Wicking bed update

Do you remember last year, we put in two wicking beds? The great news is, in the past 12 months, we have eaten something out of those garden beds nearly every day.

How exciting is that? At one stage it was 500 grams of snow peas a day. We have also eaten kilos of parsley, coriander, basil, beans, mint, lettuce, tarragon, chives, shallots, bok choy, and climbing spinach.

All the information you need to start your own is here.

$21 Challenge Hints

We have collected some choice hints from the $21 Challenge section of the Savings Vault:

$21 Challenge focaccia/pizza

Here's a yummy (and forgiving!) recipe for pizza or focaccia, it's great for lunches and dinners!

INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 cups self-raising flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 tbsp butter
1 cup shredded or mashed veggies
2 tbsp tomato paste
1/2 cup grated cheese

METHOD

Rub the butter into flour and salt then add veggies. I use grated zucchini, shredded silverbeet or whatever is left in the fridge. If the mixture is too dry, add a splash or two of milk until you have a dough. Press the dough onto a baking pan, I make it as large as needed to accommodate the toppings I have. Next spread on some tomato paste (I have also used dips such as olive or hummus, just use what you have). Finally, add your toppings and sprinkle with cheese. Bake at 160 for about 15 minutes and enjoy.

By: Hound Girl

$21 Challenge is just the beginning

I paid off my credit card, thanks to the $21 Challenge book! I read it, filled in the sheets for the pantry, fridge and freezer inventory, planned my menu and was so excited to spend only $22.65 during my first challenge. No wonder people are rapt with the book! I love the recipes in the book, as well as my neat and tidy pantry, fridge and freezer. I adore the curry recipes and the weekly life planner. Sophie's Peanut Chicken and Rice is a real favourite, as are the bulk biscuit recipes. In the first month alone I reduced my food bill from $447 to $276, a saving of $171.

Feeling inspired, I cut up my credit card, paid off what was owing and cancelled it! I have a debit card which I can still use like a credit card, but as it uses the money in my account, I have to think twice before I buy something in case I overdraw the account and have to pay bank fees. Without the use of a credit card, I have a more defined limit which makes saying no easier. It is very exciting and liberating to know that I can have more control over my finances with a bit of forward planning!

By: Vivian Rudowski

Cooking with your favourite drop

I have just discovered The $21 Challenge, and after doing an inventory of the fridge, freezer and pantry, I was amazed at how much food we had stockpiled. I was also surprised to discover how much alcohol was sitting at the back of the cupboard. To use up all this liquor, I have been searching for recipes that require a drop or two of alcohol.

A dash of chocolate or coffee liqueur adds a decadent touch to a batch of choc chip muffins. Rum, brandy or whiskey, as well as port or sherry, can be added to fruit cakes. Sherry can be substituted for rice wine in stir-fries, while red or white wine is great in sauces or casseroles. Beer makes terrific batter, adds so much to casseroles or gravy and, of course, is an essential in beer bread. Or, when making up mustard, mix the powder with beer instead of water. Lovely!

By: Coleen Anderson

Labelling makes life easy

I recently purchased 'The $21 Challenge', and was so impressed that I emailed my family and friends to tell them about the Simple Savings website! I've been using the tips from the Vault for months; however, I've come up with one of my own.

After unpacking my shopping, I divided 750 grams of diced bacon into portions to suit the recipes I'd chosen for our menu plan. I put the bacon into small resealable bags and then labelled them, for example, 200g diced chicken for Chicken and White Wine Pasta Sauce or 125g diced bacon for Impossible Pie. This makes it so much easier to find the right bags in the freezer, plus my husband knows exactly what to do when I have a night off from cooking!

By: Casey Hopkins

No-spend recipe scrapbook

I've been trying really hard not to spend money this month and one way I've been doing this is to create my own recipe scrapbook.

I let all my friends know that I wanted their old magazines - I was given about 20 and I'm still receiving more! I go through the magazines and cut out all the tasty recipes that have few ingredients or ingredients that I already have in the house. I then put all these recipes into a scrapbook, categorised according to the dish. My partner and I now look through our recipe book and in the cupboards to see what delicious snack or meal we can make at home, rather than going to get take away! This is saving us at least $100 a month!

By: Corrie Bovenkamp

Our type of Challenge

When I first looked at the $21 Challenge, I thought there was no way it would work for our family. However, I do find a challenge irresistible, so my kids and I have devised a type of challenge that we think might work for us. We turned a one week $21 Challenge into a four week challenge, which would be more sustainable and work better for us over the long term.

On week one, we aimed to cut our food bill by $25. In week two, the goal was to reduce the bill by another $25. We'd reduce it by another $25 in week three, and in week four we'd actually try to live on $25 for the week! Our usual food bill is around $200 per week, so over four weeks, we'd save $325. We have almost completed week three and are on track for week four. Wish us luck!

By: Sandra Cattini-Schultz

Use it or lose it

As part of my $21 Challenge to use all the food in the pantry, I have set up a 'use up soon' basket containing items getting close to their use-by date. This way, I will remember to use things before I have to throw them out.

By: Justme

Turn dried beans into ready-made meal extenders

Don't leave valuable packs of dried pulses sitting in the pantry! It's easy to put them to good use. First cook the bag according to directions e.g. soak overnight (or during the day if you are working), then change the water and simmer in a pot for an hour for between 20 minutes and an hour depending on the size of the bean. Once cooked, simply divide into serving size batches (e.g. one or two cups) and put into the freezer. You now have instant cooked pulses without having to pay for the cost of canned. I love having lima beans, chickpeas, and adzuki beans all on hand as ready prepared meal extenders for soups, salads, stews and curries. Perfect for $21 Challenges too!

By: Jeni M

Many ways to meet the Challenge

There are so many small things you can do to make your $21 Challenge week a big success. Here are just a few:

Limit shopping trips and make do with what you already have.
Google for ingredient substitutes if you can't think of any.
Plan your meals so that you don't overspend or waste food.
Give your pantry and freezer a regular clear out and use up what's in there.
Look for recipes that use leftovers.
Learn how to joint a chicken on YouTube instead of buying individual pieces.
Buy a side of lamb, instead of more expensive individual cuts.
Hot water with a drop of detergent and some white vinegar cleans a lot of surfaces.

Just imagine the dollars you'll save by doing these simple things!

By: Dianne Barling

Three meals from five chicken breasts

I purchased five skinless chicken breasts on special. From these five breasts I managed to make three dinners!

On the first night, I was able to feed five of us by simply cooking all the breasts and cutting them in half to leave 10 pieces. Some of the pieces went in the fridge for later use - we used the other pieces, plus fresh rolls and salad, to make lovely chicken burgers.

On the second night, there were three of us to feed so I chopped up one piece of chicken, fried some bacon and mushrooms, and stirred this through some pasta with half a tub of sour cream. Yum!

On night three, I had to cater for four hungry mouths. I placed a sheet of puff pastry in the bottom of a pie dish, threw in three pieces of diced chicken breast and some bacon, along with mushrooms, capsicum, broccoli and corn. I topped this with dobs of sour cream and covered with a second sheet of pastry. Voila - another dinner! We even had a few pieces of chicken leftover for lunch!

By: Jo Miiller

Homeopathy and Covid-19

There has been a lot going on in the world of homeopathy in response to Covid-19. While mainstream scientists are hunting for a vaccine, homeopathic doctors are hunting for a successful Covid-19 prophylactic. The race is on and I'm looking forward to seeing who wins. The homeopaths have already started four large prophylactic interventions. Three are in India and one is in Cuba.

The first was by the Kerala Government who gave 4.5 million people Arsenicum Album 30c as a Covid-19 preventative in their state.

https://www.homeobook.com/combating-covid-19-kerala-govt-distributes-homeopathy-medicine-to-45-lakh-people-across-the-state/

The second is by Dr Ranjan Sankaran and billionaire engineer Rajiv Bajaj in Pune, India. There they have prepared 1 million vials of Camphora to protect six million people. Here is an interview between award winning journalist Barkha Dutt and Rajiv Bajaj about homeopathic treatment and prevention of the coronavirus in Pune, India:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTQrNwGvh38

The third is by Dr Kushal Banerjee in New Delhi. Where they have given homeopathic preventatives to 15,000 people and are busy collecting the results. Here is an article on Yahoo discussing his work:

https://in.news.yahoo.com/time-bring-homeopathy-fight-against-113700063.html

The fourth is by the Cuban Government who are giving 11.3 million people the homeopathic preparation Prevengho-VIR starting with nursing

https://www.homeobook.com/cuba-supplies-homeopathic-medicine-for-covid-19/

Of these four trials the one we can 'kind of' watch is Cuba. Their virus statistics are published daily on https://www.wo rldometers.info/coronavirus/country/cuba/

From these statistics we can see Cuba's active infections are dropping which could be because the Prevengho-VIR is working or it could just be that isolation is working. The real test for the Prevengho-VIR prophylactic will be whether or not the numbers stay low when life in Cuba returns to normal. If it does, it is excellent news for everyone because the Prevengho-VIR combination is already available in Australia. The only trick is those wanting it will have to hunt it down themselves, because those who can provide it are not allowed to advertise their services.

WIN $50: Isolation tips

This month we are giving away 2 prizes of $50 to the best tips sent in for surviving Covid19, isolation and post lockdown period. Enter the competition here.

Competition Winners: Best tips

This month's winners of of tip competition are Jan, Shirley S, Kathleen McGregor, who each won $20.

Less paper with spray bottle

Was getting low on loo paper with no shops in sight to replenish supply so thinking outside the box I made my own portable bidet by using a simple spray bottle followed up by a towel dry. I have not used a bottle that previously had chemicals in it but one that I bought a while ago that has not had anything stored in it. I have thus halved my loo paper consumption.

I've come to the conclusion that if you are in short supply of anything there is always an alternative it may just not be as convenient.

Contributed by Jan N

Help others and save big with movie vouchers

We don't normally go to the movies because tickets cost $22. But, at the moment Event Cinemas are selling advance tickets redeemable till Jan 2021 for $8 each.

We bought some to help the cinema and will celebrate by watching movies when isolation is over. To get the vouchers you need to be a Cinebuzz member.

https://giftshop.eventcinemas.com.au/Category/2020MovieVoucherOffer

Contributed by Shirley S

Turn meaty leftovers into pizza

DH loves meat lovers pizzas. So each week now I make our own on a Friday night. The pizza bases which I buy from Countdown are 2 large ones from the bakery department for $3.20 but I wait until they are on special for $2. Then during the week any leftover meat I save and use it to top the pizza along with mushrooms, tomato paste and grated cheese. I have even put a little bit of raw mince aside when cooking the dinner to make spicy meatballs with them by adding a bit of BBQ sauce and seasonings. One week we had meatballs, bacon, salami and a little bit of roast lamb along with the grated cheese and mushrooms.

Pak n Save sell meat lovers pizzas using bits and pieces from the deli and they charge $14.99 for their pizzas. So our homemade ones are definitely saving us money each week and I feel they are nicer too.

Contributed by Helen Van Houtte

Citric clean makes loo sparkle

I recently discovered how valuable a simple little container of citric acid can be for saving me lots of money on useless cleaning products. Over the years, I've been watching both of our toilets getting worse with a disgusting yellow and brown build up covering the base. No amount of cleaning ever worked. I've even got all the water out in the past and scrubbed and scraped at it to only have it come back. This morning I've discovered that scrubbing is overrated and so are all of the other cleaning products for toilets for this kind of build up. Instead grab yourself some citric acid from your local grocery store, tell your family to do their last business in there and let them know you'll be leaving a substance in the toilet overnight. Pour the whole contents into the toilet. Have a good night's sleep cos you'll be cleaning without even working hard lol! In the morning, be prepared for it to look and smell like someone's peed in there overnight. That's the breakdown of the gunk in there. I seriously didn't realise this would work. Simply scrub with the usual brush, use a little bit of elbow grease and whala! A sparkling clean toilet bowl again! For only $2.50!

Contributed by Kathleen McGregor

Freezing your own Beef Wellingtons

I make individual beef wellingtons (mainly because I live on my own but is also great for just 2 of us).

When I am having a steak for dinner, I will cook up an extra 2 or 3 steaks. Allow the extra steaks to cool down then make the wellington and wrap in store bought puff pastry. I use the thin blue sheets that divide the puff pastry in the packet, to put between the wellingtons before putting them in Tupperware to freeze.

When I want to take just one wellington out, I find they have not stuck together and makes it so much easier (and I haven't used additional separating stuff).

Contributed by Jude Smith

Till next month...

That is all for this month. I hope you have a safe, healthy month.

Take care,

Fiona.

November 2010 - Simple Savings Newsletter

"Secrets to Saving Money in Australia" Free Newsletter - November 2010

This issue includes:-

Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: Facing up to Christmas
Bonus Gift for Vault Members: Beauty Queen on a Budget!
Secrets To A Truly Beautiful Christmas
Aussie Street Party Update!
$21 Challenge Update
Visions of Christmas Past
Best Member's Blog: This Month's Winner
Best of the Forum: Favourite Festive Threads
Best of the Vault: Fast Track to Christmas
Cooking with Mimi: Make-Ahead Christmas Menu
Penny's Blog: A New Woman!
Homeopathy Corner: The Right Remedy for the Job
From Last Month: First Time Kitchen
This Month's Help Request: Singles Need Help Too!
Savings Story: We Did the Maths!

Hello,

Happy Christmas! Thank you for supporting us this year; we really appreciate your help. To show our appreciation we have made you a free calendar for 2011. It is a gift for every single member from us to you. You can download your new calendar here.

We hope you like your calendar and that it helps you to have a very enjoyable and prosperous 2011! Of course being Simple Savings, this is no ordinary calendar. Just like any other calendar you can use it to remember dates and write notes - but the War on Debt calendar also does what no other calendar can do. It can help you improve your life and your finances. How cool is that! Feel free to print off as many as you like and give them to the people you care about too.

We have so much fun doing what we do. We love helping to make a difference. Most of all, we love it when you succeed and write to tell us all about it!

"I am a relatively new single mother to three kids aged three to 13. Yesterday I found myself with $52 to get me through the next week and a half. I freaked. Then I literally looked up (I was in a book shop!) and saw your book, The $21 Challenge. After reading your book last night and the email and attached links today, I have already seen the possibilities ahead. I worked out that I have enough food to last us at least a month (just got my Chrisco in!) Then I sat down and REALLY looked at my financial situation. After a lot of number crunching and tough decisions, I have discovered that I CAN afford to not only eat well, but also live well. After my divorce, I thought I was destined to 'struggle forever', but now, thanks to my fantastic purchase (the book has already paid for itself!) and the great 'lists' I have printed out, I can actually see my future in a much more positive way. So, THANK YOU for caring so much about the people like me who need a helping hand and help to see that good things can happen with the right advice. I will be sleeping well tonight." (Natasha G.)

"My siblings and I are always teasing our mum about the things we could find in her pantry i.e. spices that expired five years ago. I finally convinced my husband to help me do a stocktake of our food. We found ground cinnamon 'best before 1994' but even worse was the ground ginger 'best before 1989'! The funniest part of it is that I'm only 31! In 1989 I was only 11 years old so the spices could only have come from my mother! Thanks SS for helping me find these things so I could clear them out to make room for fresh things. I plan on doing some baking this weekend after I finish work with my six-year-old and now I know what I have without having to buy new (except for the cinnamon and ginger)!" (Toni Barnard)

"At the end of 2009 I was a new graduate. I wasn't able to go West (remote teaching) as a lot of young graduates do to secure employment. At the time, I was still working in my well-paid IT career. The thought of dropping down to graduate teacher wages was daunting to say the least. We have a large mortgage and all the usual family expenses.

"Fast forward to the end of 2010, and I have successfully made the transition into teaching. I love my job! If it wasn't for my finely tuned Simple Savings mentality, we couldn't have survived financially. We have had a very lean year; however, I have now started building my dream career.

"We expect that financially, things will improve in 2011. We are working hard to restructure our lifestyles, including that large mortgage. We are planning to downsize our house, something that now makes so much sense to us when looking through our SS glasses.

"So a big thank you to the Simple Savings team for the part you played!" (Sandra K.)

(This is the same beautiful lady as on page 10 of the $21 Challenge book who dubbed the Challenge as like a game of Survivor in your kitchen.)

Well done everyone! We make a fantastic team!

Speaking of fantastic team, we are very proud to announce that our resident cartoonist and illustrator, Steve Panozzo, was recently award the 2010 JIM RUSSELL AWARD for Significant Contribution to Australian Cartooning! Congratulations Steve, your award is very well deserved! Steve has been a hugely valued member of the Simple Savings team for five years now. He is brilliant - but don't just take our word for it! To see more of his creative genius at work, visit Steve's website www.noz.com.au - and while you're there, why not drop him a line to say congratulations on his award? He really has earned it!

All the best,
Fiona Lippey

1. Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: Facing up to Christmas

"Ooh, that looks nice! Is it a Christmas present?" asked Hanna. Sally had been to the beauty salon in her lunch break and was trying unsuccessfully to stuff the evidence into her desk drawer without anyone seeing. "Sort of - it's a present to myself, from me," Sally blushed, as Hanna grabbed the package.

"Miracle Glow Skin Cream," Hanna read the label. "Get younger looking skin in just five days. Wow - I wouldn't mind some of that!" she grinned. "How much was it?" "Um, $180," Sally mumbled. "I know, I know," she said, catching sight of Hanna's horrified expression. "But I just wanted to look nice on Christmas Day. Everyone else manages to look stunning while I always feel like I've been dragged through a hedge backwards!"

"Ugh, I know what you mean," Hanna sympathised. "You should have seen me last year - it was awful!" she shuddered at the memory. "I'm determined not to let that happen again this year though. I've printed off this fantastic book full of super cheap beauty recipes you can make yourself. Tell you what - I'll give you my copy. Now we can both look fabulous! Merry Christmas, Sal!"

2. Bonus Gift for Vault Members: Beauty Queen on a Budget!

I think most of us understand how Sally and Hanna feel at this time of year! Looking and feeling beautiful when you're stuck in a hot kitchen, cooking and cleaning up after the hordes is no easy task. We're so busy trying to create the perfect Christmas for our loved ones, that finding time for ourselves seems to go pretty much out of the window!

So this year we want your Christmas to be perfect in EVERY way. We want to make it easy for you to look fabulous on Christmas Day - and every day after that too! We also want to thank all our paying members for helping us to help people. Your membership fees are vital. As a special Christmas gift from us to you, we have made a book of beauty tips and recipes, which is available free for Vault members. It is a huge collection (almost 20 A4 pages) of beauty secrets shared in the Vault and Forum; including many 'insider tips' generously given by the professionals. They are BRILLIANT - I just wish I'd known them years ago! This book also makes a perfect gift to give to your friends and family for Christmas.

Vault members can download it here. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

If you are not currently a Vault member and would like a copy of our fantastic beauty book, you can join here and print off your copy today!

3. Secrets to a Truly Beautiful Christmas

Of course, a beautiful Christmas is about much more than having flawless make-up and fabulous hair! We don't usually recycle articles but we thought this one from this time last year was particularly good and really sums up how to have a great Christmas day, so we're going to share it with you again (with a few added bits I missed last year):

Think back to your happiest Christmas ever. What do you remember most? Bet it wasn't the presents or the colour of the walls! What people cherish and remember about a wonderful Christmas for years to come are the sounds, the smells, the food, the surprises, what they did and the laughter. These are all things you can tweak for very little money or effort.

Sounds. Have you ever noticed how movie makers use music to manipulate our emotions? Try this out on your household to keep them smiling on Christmas day! Think about the music that makes your family the happiest. It doesn't even have to be Christmas carols. In our household it is Ren and Stimpy's 'Don't Whiz on the Electric Fence!' Whatever lifts your spirits and has you humming along will work. Decide what music to play, write a list and get it all prepared beforehand. On Christmas morning, all you need to do is switch the songs on for an instant happy atmosphere.
Smells. Scents also trigger happy emotions and memories. Use this to your advantage on Christmas morning. Find out everyone's favourite smell and recreate them. It may be the scent of freshly baked bread or freshly popped corn. Mine is the scent of pine from our Christmas tree. I love it. Penny's is cinnamon and cloves from making pomanders. By recreating these smells on Christmas morning you aren't just triggering old happy memories, you are also using the smells to create new ones.
Activity. Movement stimulates the release of endorphins, which make us feel good. So make sure everyone has something fun to do to keep them moving for a good part of the day. Whether it is organising a Christmas treasure hunt, a family game of cricket or even a water fight. Whether you're seven or 70, you can have heaps of fun with a water pistol! If you're having trouble getting older kids away from the video games you could always squirt the gaming console with a water pistol (Only joking. Don't try that one at home, kiddies.) or you can get them to bring out the Singstar or similar games where everyone can have a go. Planning activities costs next to nothing and they will be remembered for many years to come.
Laughter. Find a way to keep your guests laughing and everyone will have a great day. To get people to laugh all you need to do is surprise them. It can be as easy as hiding corny jokes in napkins, wrapping lollies into the presents, giving people really silly gift, wrapping someone's present in so much sticky tape you need a blow torch to open it or, drag out the present opening by making everybody guess what their gift is before they open it. Your exact approach doesn't matter, just as long as you get them laughing! My family still laughs when we reminisce about the time I gave my sister an encyclopaedia for Christmas. She was horrified! Little did she know I had cut a hole in the book and hidden her favourite music CD - the real present - inside! This way the present opening becomes about the people and sharing fun times together, rather than about the gift inside.
Taste. Eating delicious food makes us feel good. So an important part of Christmas day is to keep the food coming all through the day. But, the food doesn't have to be expensive. It just has to be yummy! So ask your family members to name their three favourite dishes and make the cheapest one. For example, Matt's two favourite foods are Honey Soy Chicken Drumsticks ($3 per kilo) and battered King Snapper ($40+ per kilo). Jacqui's favourite is delicious dessert of Mango Sorbet and Sara Lee French Vanilla ice cream, with chopped mangos and sprinkles on top. It may not be traditional Christmas fare but it has become the kids' favourite part of Christmas Day. Already they have been asking 'can we have that mango dessert again this Christmas!'

4. Aussie Street Party Update!

Woohoo! The day of the first ever Great Aussie Street Party is just around the corner! We have been over the moon with the response and are delighted to report that at the time of this newsletter going out, there are 112 street parties registered to take place on Sunday December 5th. How fantastic is that? 112 parties all being held on the same day, at the same time! A big thank you to everyone who got on board with joining us in this event. We really appreciate your enthusiasm and support and hope you all have a wonderful party. We can't wait to hear all about them!

If you haven't entered the competition yet, don't panic! There is still time. You have until the beginning of January to tell us all about your party AND be in to win a cash prize! Simple Savings and That's Life! are giving away $1000 in prizes. All you have to do is tell us in as much detail as you can about your street party - before, during and after. How did you feel handing out your invitations, were you nervous? How many people came to your party? What funny things happened? Has anything changed for the better in your neighbourhood since your street party? Feel free to send in photos too, the more the merrier!

As a reward for your efforts in helping us to bring back the good old days, one lucky winner will win $500 cash, with five runner up prizes of $100. So don't be shy; register your party today here, print off your free ready-made invites and hand them out, quick!

5. $21 Challenge Update

Tristan's favourite recipe from the $21 Challenge book is 'Fiona's non-drip jelly ice blocks' on page 169. Although, perhaps we should rename it to 'Tristan's non-drip jelly ice blocks' or '12 non-drip iceblocks for $0.39c', because he has well and truly claimed them as his own and when we make them we really do get 12 ice blocks from one 39 cent packet of jelly.

We have taken some more photos of exactly how making these yummy ice blocks is done Tristan style, so you can see the whole process here. It's really long but so very cute.

Also, coming to a library near you!

Mark your War on Debt calendars for February because Fiona is doing a library tour of the Sunshine Coast! She will be talking at the following libraries and would love to see you there:

Cooroy Library - Thursday 3rd Feb, 6pm
Coolum Library - Tuesday 15th Feb, 10am
Kawana Library - Thursday 17th Feb, 10am
Maroochydore Library - Thursday 17th Feb, 2.30pm
Caloundra Library - Monday 21st Feb, 10am
Nambour Library - Tuesday 22nd Feb, 10am
Noosa Library - Thursday 24th Feb, 10am

6. Visions of Christmas Past

Christmas is one thing which never goes out of date! Here are some quick links to some of our favourite Christmas tips, recipes and gift ideas from our newsletter archives:

Sophie Gray - festive frenzy

www.simplesavings.com.au/newsletter/2008/november/

Destitute Gourmet Sophie Gray shares some of her favourite tips and recipes for a stress-free Christmas.

Gifts of REAL value:

www.simplesavings.com.au/newsletter/2005/december/

Save yourself a fortune and change someone else's life for the better by giving real gifts which don't cost a cent! We also feature some terrific ideas for low-cost festive decorations (tree toppers) and goodies (tummy stoppers) with Sophie Gray. You can even learn how to keep the worst Boxing Day hangover at bay with the help of homeopath Fran Sheffield!

Printable presents:

www.simplesavings.com.au/newsletter/2004/december/

Give some brilliant Christmas gifts for under a dollar with the help of our free printable vouchers. Perfect to give to mums, dads, grandparents, loved ones - anyone! We also share some of our favourite tips for bagging a bargain in the January sales.

Low-cost Christmas spirit:

www.simplesavings.com.au/newsletter/2003/december/

Expecting a crowd for Christmas? No problem! We show you how to serve up a banquet on a budget. Also, learn how you can have the best looking Christmas tree in the neighbourhood without breaking the bank!

7. Best Member's Blog: This Month's Winner

Exciting news! You can now win a cash prize of $100 each month for your Simple Savings blog! Starting your own blog on the site is easy. All you have to do is log into the Vault, click on 'My Desk' at the top left, then 'Your Blog'. Then get writing! We love reading all your money saving trials and tribulations and really appreciate the effort that goes into each one.

This month's winner is Pumpkin Patch for her post 'Different Strokes'. This extract is taken from her blog 'Nostalgic Memories of My Childhood'. It is beautifully written and invokes many memories of 'the good old days'.

Different Strokes

"When I started to reminisce about the past, I got to thinking of all the debt we seem to have these days and started comparing it to what it was like in the early days. Everybody will always have some sort of regular debt but what we did have to pay for back then was so different to what we do today. The average household paid for everything with cash - unless you were a bit flash and had a cheque book.

The milkman came early in the morning, collected your empty bottles and the money you'd left out for him the night before, and replaced them with fresh bottles of milk, still with the thick layer of cream on top, the baker came and you paid him each day, the fruiterer came once a week and he was paid, and, before supermarkets, my mum even had the grocers 'boy' (who was in his late twenties!) come every Tuesday morning, sit down at the kitchen table with his pad and pencil and write down what she wanted that week. Every Thursday the order was delivered to the kitchen and we would excitedly dig over the contents. All this was paid for in cash on delivery.

In addition, there would be the electricity bill, and perhaps gas too if you had it - no bottled gas then, we were connected to the main pipeline. If you were lucky enough to own your own house, you paid council rates and perhaps house insurance too. If you owned a car - and most people didn't (my dad was the only one in our extended family who had a car and that was because he did a lot of field work during the war years and had to have a reliable utility) - you would pay for registration, and petrol which was cheap enough. I doubt there was car insurance; there weren't many cars on the road in our town.

We had private health insurance - very affordable back then, although Queensland had always had an excellent public hospital system funded by the Golden Casket - and you always got almost all of your expenses back, there was no huge gap fee as now. Another plus was that you claimed your medical insurance and chemist bills on your annual tax and had it refunded in full.

As well there was a radio licence - most people had these as it was the only communication with the outside world, and much later it would incorporate a television licence as well. These were abolished eventually, but you could be fined quite heavily if you didn't have a licence for them.

Most men of that era smoked and drank beer, and I regularly went to the shops to buy my father's tobacco and papers - no age restrictions then. Tailor made cigarettes were a new thing in years to come - and I remember my young girlfriend and I buying a packet (ten in a pack for a few pence) and trying to light them - nobody told us you had to inhale to get it started so we tried for ages to get them lit and of course the taste was foul, so that was that - looking back, that was hilarious, but the female film stars of the day made it look soooo sophisticated. Very few females smoked, and I used to think my city aunts who all smoked were so cool compared to my country family.

Again, most men would stop at the pub every afternoon after work for a few beers, before the pubs closed their doors - they were only open for an hour or so - and the men would head home for their tea. It was a man's world.

In telling this, I'm working between what my childhood memories of growing up were and also how it progressed as we got older. This was probably the extent of the household budget.

There was no such thing as a HECS debt for instance, nor did we have huge mortgage repayments - our own first home cost $7800 new and repayments were $13 per week. We didn't have many electronic mod-cons as we do now, so power was relatively cheap too.

Only people who were well off could afford a home phone so we used the public phone around the corner, or else we rode our bikes to deliver a message. If some disaster happened to a family member in another town, the police from that town would contact the police in your town and then they would come to your door to notify you. Now we have mobile phones glued to our ears at any given point in time and very handy they are too but I remember a gentler time."

Congratulations Pumpkin Patch and thank you for sharing your thoughts! To read more from Pumpkin Patch, or any of our other member's blogs, click here

8. Best of the Forum: Favourite Festive Threads

The Savings Forum contains squillions of fantastic tips and threads on Christmassy subjects. So many in fact, that we found it impossible to pick the best ones! So instead we asked our clever Forum members to share their favourite festive threads, old and new. This is what they came up with!

First broke Christmas

MummaCass wants to know if anyone has any tips to help a newly broke family create a wonderful Christmas for her three young daughters. Our members don't disappoint, with tons of inspiring, low-cost ideas!
read more...

My home-made Christmas

Onwards and Upwards is determined to be organised this Christmas! There's still plenty of time to make some terrific gifts for Christmas; check out what some of these clever members are making!
read more...

Christmas home-made gift ideas

An oldie but a goodie! Stuck for Christmas gift ideas? This thread is full to the brim with brilliant suggestions. The only problem is, which one to choose!
read more...

Christmas gift basket ideas

How cool is this! A personalised gift basket is an ideal gift for the person who has everything. In this thread you will find an amazing list containing no less than 95 gift basket suggestions. You need never struggle to find a suitable gift ever again!
read more...

My Xmas action plan

Has Christmas got you feeling overwhelmed? This inspiring thread from Clutterhen will soon help you feel back in control and well on your way to the best Christmas ever!
read more...

4 weeks till Xmas- are you prepared or panicked!

Christmas is getting closer by the day! How organised - or disorganised - are you? Either way, you're not alone, as these members share!
read more...

9. Best of the Vault: Fast Track to Christmas

The Savings Vault contains over 200 tips for a low-cost, low-stress Christmas! To save you trawling through them all, we have made it super easy for you to go straight to some of our favourite ones!

Advent calendar gets the job done

Every year I save on the cost of buying an advent calendar by making my own that also helps the family get ready for Christmas. The calendar is made of squares of paper stuck to the window or wall. You can get creative and make these form different shapes, like a star, or put up a picture behind the squares that is slowly revealed. Behind each square is a job or activity to help the family get ready for Christmas. This can be things like making our own cards or bon-bons, making presents, listening to some Christmas music or going to a carols concert. On Christmas Eve we make a cake for Jesus' birthday, which we eat the next day. This has become a family tradition that also teaches the children that you can give of yourself at Christmas, not just buy things to give.

Contributed by: Rosie Tea

Bon-bons you will love

I have found a way to make expensive looking bon-bons for a fraction of the price! I was finding that many of the bought bon-bons are expensive but have nothing but cheap rubbish inside.

So now I buy cheap bon-bons that look really nice, then I untwist one end and put in a treat (i.e: mini Mars Bars or lollipops for the kids and Ferrero Rocher for the adults). For work bon-bons, I even put in mini torches, pens and so on. Basically, you can put anything into them, just re-twist the end when you've finished. If it's a big item, you can tie a small piece of curling ribbon at each end. Everyone loves my bon-bons!

Contributed by: Sheena Bigalke

Cheap Christmas windows fun to make

Instead of buying stickers and hanging decorations for my windows at Christmas, I printed off some pictures and got my five-year-old to colour them in. I also recycled old Christmas cards and stuck them back to back on both sides of the windows. The overall effect was great, and it saved me a bundle and made my daughter very proud of herself!

Contributed by: Alison Boyle

Christmas decorations make great gifts

Everyone loves Christmas decorations, which makes them the perfect gift! Our family has a tradition of giving Christmas decorations to each other as gifts each year. It means that we all have something new to put on the tree every year, and from a savings point of view, it ticks all the boxes too.

Decorations aren't too expensive, and as my family lives in Canada, the postage is much cheaper for a smaller, lighter present than for something bulky. As we all have very different tastes, and decorations are fairly universal, nobody is given something they just don't like. We all look forward to see what Santa sends in the post each Christmas!

Contributed by: Cherie Hearne

Combine family gifts for Christmas

If you have families with several children to buy for at Christmas, you can make a huge saving by giving them a 'family' present. We try to give gifts that will enhance their quality time together - for example, this year we are giving my sister's four boys a bird feeder for their garden. Another idea is to compile an Activity Box full of low-cost items that everyone can share. The one we are making is actually a 'Nanny's Box' which will be kept at Nanny's house and contains enough activities for four other families to share whenever they visit her. We are giving them a box filled with items such as colouring books, crayons, pencils, rubbers, balls, puzzles and so on, which we know will provide hours of fun and entertainment. At the moment there are only a few cars to play with at Nanny's so this will benefit all the kids in the family and save us money on buying separate gifts for everyone. Simple, yet thoughtful ideas like these ones can really save the Christmas budget!

Contributed by: Miss A.

More hints for Vault Members!

Activities each day from the Christmas tree Contributed by: Kylie James

Affordable prawns for the festive season Contributed by: Lisa H

Crafty Christmas wreath Contributed by: Lynn Coff

Discounted decorations Contributed by: Jane Saker

Electricity free Christmas lights Contributed by: Melissa Horton

Free letters to make from Santa Contributed by: Michelle O'shea

Hand-made decorations for the tree Contributed by: Gisela Peters

Home-made table centrepiece for $12 Contributed by: Denise Sutherland

Magic reindeer food Contributed by: Emily Mauger

Make gift tags out of used cards Contributed by: Joanne Roberts

10. Cooking with Mimi: Make-Ahead Christmas Menu

Mimi has really come up trumps this month with her selection of festive fare! These delicious recipes can all be made in advance, so you can relax with your guests and be the picture of composure this Christmas!

Bar Room Slaw

This is a little different to your usual coleslaw. It feels so soft and moist on the palate and is a yummy addition to your traditional Christmas menu. Make a day in advance for the best results.

Ingredients:

½ sugarloaf cabbage, finely shredded
1/8 red cabbage, finely shredded
1 carrot, peeled and finely grated
¼ cup double thick cream
¼ cup whole egg mayonnaise
½ tsp sugar
Small pinch dried garlic granules

Equipment required:

Mandolin or 'V' slicer, a sharp knife or food processor to shred the cabbage. The final result relies upon a really finely sliced cabbage.
Grater
Vegetable peeler
Bowl and whisk
Large container to store in the refrigerator

Method:

Using your preferred method, slice the cabbage almost hair thin. This is the most important step, as it will give your slaw the gorgeous, luxurious feeling in your mouth once the dressing has worked its magic.

Peel and grate the carrot.

Combine the rest of the ingredients in a small bowl, whisking thoroughly.

Toss the cabbages and carrot in the storage container until combined. Then toss through the dressing.

Festive Citrus Dukkah

This Dukkah will dress up any old meat, but is particularly delicious with poached chicken breast. The combination of flavours says 'Christmas' and it's a super easy do-ahead recipe! Sprinkle over the sliced chicken breast, with more in a cute shot glass on the side for dipping.

Ingredients:

1 cup raw walnuts
½ cup dates
¼ cup raw or roasted cashews
Zest of one orange

Equipment:

Food processor, blender or mortar and pestle

Method:

Process, blend, or pound ingredients until well mixed. Store in an airtight container until ready for use. Keeps well, refrigerated for up to a month.

Poached Chicken

This method of cooking chicken results in a moist and succulent meat; great for the Christmas dinner table or for everyday sandwiches. Either way, it's one of the best do-ahead, drop dead 'wow' factor dishes ever. Guaranteed legendary status for any cook right here!

Ingredients:

8-10 cups water
Vegetable stock
3 bay leaves
8 cardamom seeds (optional)
1 chicken breast per serving

Equipment:

Large stock pot
Large airtight container for refrigeration

Method:

Bring the water and seasonings to the boil in a large pot.

Add the breasts, trimmed of tenderloins (these can be used for another dish).

Allow to come to a simmer, put on a tight fitting lid, and turn OFF. Do NOT remove the lid. The chicken will cook in the stored heat of the liquid. After 30 minutes, you will have perfectly moist chicken breast, fit for a celebration. Store in the cooking liquid, covered and refrigerated, until ready to serve. These can be made up to three days ahead.

Cut across the grain into thick slices and arrange on top of Bar Room Slaw, with Festive Dukkah on the side.

Nectarine Danish

This is a great Aussie version of a luxury breakfast treat. Who can resist the scent and flavour of stone fruit at Christmas? These are dead simple to prepare and can be popped into the oven to bake 15 minutes before serving!

Ingredients:

Puff pastry sheets
Double thick custard (see October newsletter)
Nectarines
Sugar and a little milk for garnishing

Method:

Cut a sheet of puff pastry into four.

Put a teaspoon of thick custard in the centre.

Arrange thin slices of nectarine on top, and fold two corners in to the centre.

Brush with milk and sprinkle with sugar.

Bake at 220C for 10-15 minutes until browned.

11. Penny's Blog: A New Woman!

November 26th

Yippee, less than a month to go until Christmas! We're all really looking forward to spending our first Christmas ever at the beach but far from making it a grand occasion we are planning the most low-key, stress free Christmas Day ever. Every year without fail we have a huge traditional Christmas dinner, which is absolutely delicious and very enjoyable but an awful lot of effort. On arriving at our new home, however, it became apparent that this year was going to be different. For starters, our tiny kitchen simply wouldn't cope with catering such a massive amount of food! But more than anything, it just doesn't feel right for us any more. Things are so laid back here - WE are so laid back here!

So this Christmas, instead of busting a gut and blowing the budget trying to replicate Christmases of years gone by, we are going to focus on what really matters, which is simply being together. Instead of the traditional roast turkey and all the trimmings, we'll be firing up the barbecue and chucking on whatever we feel like, which will hopefully be a feast of free, freshly caught seafood if the conditions are right! As for the evening meal, we'll be packing a sumptuous picnic and heading down to the beach for a game of cricket!

So far there is just the four of us and my mum for Christmas Day - but I have a feeling this Christmas will be far from the quietest. So many friends and colleagues head over to Whangamata every year for the festive season, we never know who's going to pop in! As it is, we have seen and heard from more old friends in the last month than we have in 10 years! My kitchen might not be big enough to cook a banquet in but at least I have room to make some yummy treats to keep on hand for when visitors arrive. Ali and I have been making shortbread Christmas trees and angels for years - the only problem is, the bigger he gets, the quicker the shortbread disappears!

I'm also refusing to stress out about Christmas presents this year. In actual fact, I have things surprisingly under control already! Most of my gift list is already taken care of thanks to online shopping and bits and pieces I've picked up throughout the year. One good thing about moving away is we are now hours away from the big city shopping centres. At our old place it was so easy to whiz off to Auckland or Hamilton and I always seemed to end up leaving Christmas shopping until the last minute but now we're two or three hours away, it's far easier to do my shopping over the Internet, which is not only quicker but saves so much money on impulse buys when you don't have any shops around; not to mention cafes and fast food outlets!

One more thing I'm definitely not going to be stressing out about this Christmas is my appearance. In Christmases past, no matter how I try, I look absolutely hideous. Spending hours in a hot kitchen peeling potatoes, stuffing turkeys and goodness knows what else does not do much for one's appearance. Every year it seems everyone else looks immaculate in their bright, festive clothing whilst I wouldn't look out of place in a fish and chip shop, with cooking stains all over my clothes, my hair plastered to my head and my hastily applied make-up running down my face in sweaty rivulets. I know I shouldn't worry about it but it really gets me down when everyone else looks so nice. I feel like the weakest link in an otherwise perfect Christmas.

But not this year! One great thing about living at the beach is that nobody wears many clothes. Don't get me wrong, we don't all wander around like Adam and Eve, heaven forbid! But everybody wears the bare minimum and the dress code is strictly casual. No doubt for all the Australian members this is nothing out of the ordinary but for me it's a real novelty. The amount of washing in our house has reduced beyond belief and ironing is all but non-existent! So this Christmas I'll be wearing my shorts and singlet with pride.

Talking of pride, December is 'Your Own Challenge' Month and I was wondering what I was going to do for mine. One of my very favourite SS challenges over the years is the Pride Challenge, which ran on the Forum. Looking back now, I can see it was started by the lovely Mimi! The first thread was this one and it developed into several more, which were eagerly followed by members like me, who wanted to look after their appearance but couldn't quite manage to get it together a lot of the time! Basically, the idea was 'how you look is how you feel'. As someone who lives and dies in gym shorts or track pants I look like a dag 99.9% of the time and when I look like a dag I feel like a dag. I realised on reading Mimi's thread that even making the smallest effort to look after your appearance can improve your self esteem no end and vowed to make more of an effort.

But like so many things with me, over time it all went by the wayside. Until I spotted this fabulous thread, 'What is your beauty routine?' What an absolute treasure trove of beauty secrets! This thread really has transformed my beauty routine, particularly as I confess to not really having one before. I've really been enjoying reading and trying out some of the skincare tips. Noel looked rather bemused when he found me getting the aspirin out to use on my face but oh my goodness, that is just the BEST skin treatment ever! My skin has never felt so good and the pimples that had been glowing horribly on my chin literally disappeared overnight!

As for make-up, I probably wouldn't even wear it once a month before but now I wear it every day! Well, sort of - thanks to one of the many fabulous 'cheats' I have learned. This tip has got me feeling fab and smiling every day! It takes just a few seconds to apply and you look for all the world as though you're wearing flawless, glowing make-up but you're not; it's sunscreen! Perfect for this beach bunny and so cheap too. For the first time ever, I'll be putting my best face forward on Christmas Day!

November 2010

1st - Good old fashioned fun

2nd - Some pics as promised

4th - Full circle

11th - A little bit posh

15th - Busy doing nothing

22nd - 'Welcome to a different pace of life!'

12. Homeopathy Corner: The Right Remedy for the Job

One of the things I love most about homeopathy is that there really is a remedy for absolutely everything! In this month's article, Fran Sheffield takes a lighthearted look at how different remedies can help with everyday hazards around the workplace. Whether you're a chef, a builder or a bartender, you won't want to miss this!

www.homeopathyplus.com.au/something-different-for-christmas

13. From Last Month: First Time Kitchen

Last month Tegan asked:

"I will be moving out on my own for the first time and want to buy some kitchen equipment that will help me be a whiz in the kitchen. I have been putting money aside for this purpose but am unsure what I should buy. I like to cook from scratch but there are so many appliances and gadgets out there and I won't have much bench or cupboard space so I don't want things that will take up too much room or not get used at all. What do you recommend that are the kitchen 'staples' of appliances/gadgets?"

Wow! We had a huge response to this request! Thank you to everyone who contributed their wonderful tips. Unfortunately due to the sheer volume there's no way we can publish them all, but here is a small selection. We hope Tegan - and anyone else setting up a kitchen for the first time - will find them helpful!

Quality is the key to long lasting kitchen essentials

I've found over the years that the best kitchens have the least amount of gadgets. However, my kitchen is proof that quality is the key when buying kitchen 'staples' as I've had most of my appliances for over twenty years. I have two good quality frying pans, one large, one small, and two saucepans, one 2L and the other 1.5L. Good knives are also worth their weight in gold. I recommend you buy a carving/chopping knife, a paring knife and a bread knife, as well as a knife sharpener. One of the few kitchen 'gadgets' I do own is my food processor/blender which I find extremely useful. Finally, remember to follow care instructions for your appliances and they should last you a long time.

Contributed by: Coryn Keith

Be a whizz in the kitchen with a Kitchen Whizz!

A good quality Kitchen Whiz is an extremely useful kitchen appliance to own. It's really versatile and does away with the need to buy many other appliances. With it you can make your usual baking goodies but it also makes coleslaw, dressings, mince and soup in no time. It grates cheese that can then be frozen, and it enables you to make delicious dips and smoothies too! The list really is endless! Think carefully about the number of 'gadgets' you purchase as, with all gadgets, if you don't use them to their full potential, they're simply not worth buying.

Contributed by: Marjorie Bremer

Keep it simple and stick to quality brands

I have never regretted buying my cast iron electric frying pan. It's just so useful and very hard wearing. I also recommend you invest in good kitchen knives, remembering, when it comes to knives - quality is definitely better than quantity. Don't be tempted to buy things like microwaves and toasters with too many 'bells and whistles' though. Unfortunately these days, many manufacturers design their appliances to break down within a year or two, so keep it simple and always buy well-known, respected brands.

Contributed by: Sue Lane

Try before you buy!

Before you rush out and spend your hard-earned money on appliances you think you want for your kitchen, borrow the items from friends and family for a 'trial period' to ascertain whether or not you are really going to use them. I have used this strategy over the years and found, after borrowing something, the thrill of having a new appliance could soon wear off! Once I realised, that the bread maker, juicer, sandwich press, or Mix Master either sat in the cupboard gathering dust, was too fiddly to use or simply a nightmare to clean after use I handed it back to its owner and saved myself an expensive purchase I'd regret!

Contributed by: Vashti B

Casserole dish is Jack of all trades

One of the most useful and versatile pieces of kitchen equipment is a cast iron casserole dish. It can be used on the stove top and then transferred straight into the oven. I cook all the great staples such as casseroles, roasts and lasagne in it, and I've even used it to make bread. One appliance that does the job of many is a great investment, and will save you money, space and time.

Contributed by: Barbara Calnon

Narrow down your options with Choice

Once you have decided on the appliances you want for your kitchen you will need to decide on which brand you wish to buy. The website www.choice.com.au is extremely useful and will certainly help you in the decision-making process. They review the market and test appliances, looking for value for money and ease of use. For $22.95 per quarter or $20 per report you can access reviews and recommendations for hundreds of products and make an informed and assured purchase as a result.

Contributed by: Christobel Say

Analyse your personal kitchen needs

The best way to go about deciding what you really need is to sit down and analyse YOUR requirements. Your own personal 'appliance shopping list' will be different from the next person's list. Make column headings entitled 'What do I cook?' and, 'What equipment is needed?' Include knives, graters, scales, measuring gear and so on, list the basics that you will use everyday and don't forget the saucepans and frying pans! Keep clutter down and save money by choosing and buying only what you need, rather than an expensive and unnecessary 'starter pack'.

Contributed by: Angela Caballero

Back to basics with Grandma's kitchen!

I moved out of home for the first time eight months ago and had to start a kitchen from scratch. My biggest tip? Think about your grandma's kitchen and try to emulate it! I've found a Mix Master, a kettle, a timer and quality scales are essential. Because it is the 21st century I also bought a microwave and a bread maker - and that's it. When cooking cakes and biscuits, lasagne, stews and roasts from scratch, you don't need gadgets. What you DO need are good pots, sharp knives, a big oven roasting dish, a frying pan, a good mixing bowl and lots of storage containers. You can't cook from scratch effectively or cheaply if you don't have a pantry full of sugars, flours, grains and herbs.

I also recommend shopping at reject shops. Who cares whether you buy the expensive or the cheap oven tray? And finally, ask your friends and loved ones if they have any unwanted/unused items to spare. Most will have one pot too many! I picked up my mum's beloved (but recently upgraded) Mix Master, my friend's spare frying pan, and a bread maker someone thought was a good idea and then got bored with. Some you'll get for a song some for exchange and some simply for promises of freshly-baked goods! Get back to basics and enjoy your new kitchen!

Contributed by: CB

Quick links for Vault members:

Kenwood Mix Master is the Kitchen King! Contributed by: Jilly-Anne Strother

Buy at hospitality stores and be amazed at the prices! Contributed by: Sean & Wendy Kelly

Basic kitchen utensils are all the gadgets you need Contributed by: Monica

Homestarter kit is the complete kitchen package Contributed by: Tahnee Hrelja

Get Jamie's help in setting up your kitchen Contributed by: Belinda Lee

14. This Month's Help Request: Singles Need Help Too!

This month Anna asks:

"I am REALLY, REALLY struggling, especially after a prolonged illness. Currently I am regretting 'doing the right thing', such as having a mortgage, paying for health insurance and so on. Independent singles are such a marginalised group that nobody seems to care about. We are not eligible for any support, tax benefits and so on, and other saving techniques such as buying in bulk are not practical. Please, please, please help."

We're sure Anna is not alone in feeling this way! If anyone has any advice which could help her and other singles, please send them in to us here.

15. Savings Story: We Did the Maths!

Five years ago I won a subscription to Simple Savings. I confessed a bad habit, planned a new one to replace it, and was rewarded with entry to the Vault. In that time we have gone from being a double income, no kids household to a NO income, TWO kids household. The reasons we have been able to make that huge change all stems from the discovery of Simple Savings. It changed my life.

I started baking then began menu planning and cooking food from scratch. We started putting spare money into the mortgage, rather than splurging (there were hiccups, sure, but we were learning!). Baby number one came along. We spent, but much less than friends in the same situation. We began to get thoughtful.

I went back to work fulltime when my daughter was 10 months old. That's what you did, right? How else could we manage? I would drop her off at daycare around 7.30am, cry about leaving my baby, pick her up at 5-ish and go home. By the end of the first year the SS mantra to 'do the maths' had sunk in. I did the maths. Once we had paid for daycare, fuel, work clothes and so on I was working for $200 a week. For that amount of money I missed my baby's first steps. Her first tooth. Many, many firsts.

My husband was surprised by my findings, but he went through them and we figured out that with a bit of management we could survive if I went down to half-time at work. That lasted three months until I became pregnant with baby number two and crippling morning sickness gave me the momentum to jack it in entirely and become a stay-at-home-mum. Turns out the $200 per week I was working for had actually cost us more than that in convenience food and takeaway. We were financially better off with me NOT working! Wow!

We made the decision and haven't looked back. It wasn't long before we realised that with my husband commuting to work we no longer needed two cars. The things people had to say about that! But, again, we had done the maths. I could have afforded $100 a week on taxis before it made financial sense to keep the second car - and I haven't resorted to a taxi once! We sold the car before it got too old, and the money went into the mortgage.

Just over 12 months ago, we had paid off enough of our mortgage to get a 2.7kW solar system put on the roof. The new feed-in tariffs in WA where we live mean it'll pay itself off in no time!

We extended our mortgage by $13,000 to convert the roof space into storage space, meaning our 3x2 house is extremely comfortable for our family of four. We've gradually added vegie beds, fruit trees and an aquaponics system to our tiny yard, foregoing lawn as we live 100 metres from a park. We're not self-sufficient; I don't know that on our 540m2 block we will ever quite manage that, but we are happier, with less.

Last year my husband's job became untenable. Unrealistic targets and lack of customer care had turned his job into a punishment. In a dark depression he just didn't know what to do. Again, wisdom from Simple Savings came to our aid. What was the point of doing something he hated; that was destroying him and beginning to seriously wound our family? The money was just not worth it. So, he asked me if I really thought we could manage financially if he went back to university to do Renewable Resources Engineering. We did the maths. And we couldn't. Not without one or both of us working. But then we had a brainwave. We sold our luxury 4x4 vehicle, bought a teeny, tiny car, and put the difference into the mortgage to cover rates and big bills over the four years ahead.

So here we are at the end of our first year of living from Austudy and Parenting Payments, and this morning I realised I felt sad that it was going so quickly! My kids are so much happier; they have less, but they don't notice or care. I'm in awe over how wonderful my life is.

And so, I thank you all, including all the wonderful people on the Forum. I have experienced a 'me-change' over the past five and a half years, and Simple Savings has been the catalyst for what truly is an amazing life. (Hannah C)

November 2012 - Simple Savings Newsletter

"Secrets to Saving Money in Australia" Free Newsletter - November 2012

This issue includes:-

Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: Fun & Games!
December is Old Fashioned Fun Month!
Hidden Gems Competition Winner: Lachlan Valley Meats
Best Members' Blog: Weight Loss Challenge
Best of the Forum: Fun is IN!
Best of the Vault: The Good Old Days
Cooking with Mimi: Healthy Banana Splits... Yumbo Retro Heaven!
Claire's Corner: Like a Kid on Christmas Morning!
50c Indulgences: Everyday Grace
Rob Bob's Gardening Blog: Putting the Spice Back into Life!
Homeopathy Corner: Back to Basics
From Last Month: Adjusting to Retirement
This Month's Help Request: Starting a Non-Profit Organisation
Savings Story: Help us Reach our Savings Goal of $1 Million
Goodbye For Now

Hello,

How are you? Great I hope. We are getting into the swing of Christmas by knocking off early. The Ye Olde Shoppe will be closing on 8th December. If you want anything please order it before then.

We have also been very busy making you a calendar for Christmas. *fingers crossed* It shouldn't be much longer. I will email you as soon as it is done.

This month we have received some of the most amazing compliments. Here are a few:

"I wanted to respond to Sarah's recent hint titled '$12 spray saved my iPhone from the bin'. My two girlfriends and I have done just as you suggested and all three iPhones are now working well - how good is that! We surely saved a lot of money by not having to get new ones. Thanks Sarah, for your awesome tip!" (Mell A)

"Hi Fiona and Matt, thank you for all your support and help on this site. You are amazing the way you go about your business. This site has made a great difference to my life. The empowerment that people receive through the information is wonderful." (Ann-Marie Harris)

"Great newsletter and website, been a member for years, best low-cost investment ever!" (Maggie L'Estrange)

Have a great month!
All the best,
Fiona Lippey

P.S. Discounts for Pensioners - difficult

We are often asked if we can give discounts on Vault memberships for pensioners. We don't because it is really hard to manage. There is no easy way to check if someone would or wouldn't be entitled to the discount. So instead we are going to give a discount to everyone.

DISCOUNTS FOR EVERYONE instead

From now until the 10th of December we are dropping the price of joining the Vault from $47 to $21. This is a massive saving of $26. So if you are a pensioner and you would like a Vault membership now is the time. To buy a Vault membership for $21 click here.

1. Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: Fun & Games

"This is a great idea Chlo, thanks for inviting us," smiled Sally. "Normally we'd be watching TV!" "Oh, you're welcome. Tom and I often have game nights, it's heaps of fun," said Chloe. "I'll warn you though, Tom fancies himself as a bit of a Monopoly expert - I haven't managed to beat him yet!"

Sally took her seat nervously at the table. She had never played Monopoly before, how on earth was she going to compete with the likes of Tom? "Don't worry, Sally, there's nothing to it. It's all about spending money," grinned Tom. "Ha - that's right up your street, Sal!" Pete laughed. Sally glared at them both. The cheek of it! "Right, I'll show you two!" she thought to herself.

Two hours later, Sally was wearing a self-satisfied smile. "I can't believe you won - first time too!" Chloe said gleefully, nudging Tom. "Oh there was nothing to it," said Sally. "I just used some basic principles from our savings group!" "Well it certainly did the trick, well done!" said Tom. "Yes, well done love." Pete gave her a kiss on the cheek.

"Now we just have to get you to do that with REAL money!"

2. December is Old Fashioned Fun Month!

It was not only Sally who won that evening - everyone playing and having fun won! In many ways, this kind of old fashioned fun has gone from our lives. We are all so busy just trying to get by and making a living that we forget to stop and just have fun. What few spare hours we have we end up hanging out on screens, but this just sucks the fun out of our lives. Playing on screens is nowhere near as much fun as playing with real people.

Your goal this month is to find some real people to have some real fun with and have a ball! Here are some things you can do this month:

Call a friend and make a Christmas cake together
Play a game of cards with someone
Buy bulk wrapping paper and wrap up Christmas presents with a friend
Go for a walk with family/friends
Cook biscuits with someone
Invite your neighbour over for a cup of tea
Volunteer to help a charity

There are so many things you could do. There is only ONE rule - turn the screens off!

Old fashioned fun is all about being with other people and enjoying spending time together. When you are with someone else, make sure you are entirely WITH that person! And you will feel the lovely beautiful warmth that you only get from having fun with real people. Go on, get out there and have some fun!

3. Hidden Gems Competition Winner

Our Hidden Gems directory is designed to help members source the best deals in their area. Whenever you come across a real gem of a business, enter it in our Hidden Gems directory and you could be in the draw to win our monthly prize of $100 cash! This is our way of saying thank you for sharing your knowledge and helping other members save. The more information you can give us about your special store or business, the better.

This month's winner is Lachlan Valley Meats as nominated by Lynda Hargan.

These friendly people sell restaurant quality meats and smallgoods. Rump steak, sausages and chicken breast fillets are usually at least $5.00 to $7.00 per kilo cheaper than other stores. They also sell ice, which has been important for me as I live 64km away from any shops. When I go shopping to fill up the freezer I can take the big esky and top the meat up with ice to get it home safely. They also offer discounts for charity events like school sausage sizzles and so on.

I put aside $50 a week for bulk meat and roughly every three months spend between $200 and $300. I buy everything from mince to roasts as they have almost everything I want cheaper than elsewhere. It is easy to shop there and if you get there before say 10 in the morning, they sometimes have cancelled orders which are further discounted! Sometimes their chickens are more expensive than supermarket specials but overall in the last six years I have saved almost $2000 per year using Lachlan Valley Meats.

Address: 129 Canberra Avenue, Griffith, ACT
Phone: (02) 6295 3410

Well done Lynda on locating such a fantastic Hidden Gem and thanks so much for sharing. Lachlan Valley Meats is well worth checking out for people in the Griffith area.

If you know somewhere special you'd like to recommend, please write in and tell us. Send in your Hidden Gem here and you could be the next winner scooping the prize money. Thank you to everyone who entered and good luck for next time!

4. Best Members' Blog: Weight Loss Challenge

This month's winner is a bit of a special one. Although this blog is not about saving money, it IS about inspiration, dedication and commitment. We are sure you will be just as much in awe as we are of Liane. Here is her blog:

Weight loss challenge - week 43, 41.5kg gone

Some of you may remember my 24 week challenge to lose 24kg (which I blasted through!). Well I'm happy to report the weight loss continues. I love Weight Watchers! After 43 weeks of being on the program, I haven't plateaued yet. It's amazing! I did have a bad month in July (birthdays and holidays) where I only lost one kilo for the whole month, although it wasn't the diet's fault, just my lack of focus! But in general I've managed to keep going... one kilo at a time, and now I'm getting close to my goal.

In total now I have lost 49.5kg from my heaviest, 41.5kg since Dec 27th last year. I have lost over 20cm from around my hips alone this year! I look like me again and I love it!

I'm still generally just doing my 20-30 minute walk each day. I started horse riding lessons last term (when I got below 95kg) which was an item on my bucket list for when I got lighter. I've only had about six lessons so far but I've managed a rising trot so I'm pretty chuffed! Everything else has been pretty consistent. I eat well, actually I eat heaps! My poor partner still can't work out how I've lost this much weight with the amount of food I eat. But he's stoked about my weight loss, and happy that he's getting his healthy partner back again.

So now I only have around 11kg to go to get to my healthy weight range. I'm hoping now to make it to 48kgs for the year - double the initial challenge. It seems like a good goal really. I'm not going to be upset if I don't make it, I've come so far this year so it really isn't going to be a stress if I only lose 45kg!

Congratulations Liane - what an incredible achievement! To read any of our members' blogs, click here

NOTE: One of the many benefits of being a Vault member is that you can win a cash prize of $100 each month for your Simple Savings blog! Starting your own blog on the site is easy. All you have to do is log into the Vault, click on 'My Desk' at the top left, then 'Your Blog'. Then get writing! We love reading all your money saving trials and tribulations and really appreciate the effort that goes into each one.

5. Best of the Forum: Fun is IN!

It's all about rediscovering those old fashioned joys. Whether it is time with friends or family, there are lots of wonderful ideas in the Forum to help you celebrate good old fashioned fun. Try some of these with your favourite person...

Fun stuff with friends NOT involving alcohol!

Some great ideas here to enjoy old fashioned fun AND wake up without a headache in the morning!
read more...

Christmas parcels for our troops - closing date Dec 7th & free postage under 2kg

Here's a chance to do something fun with a friend or your family as well as sending some support to our troops overseas and away from their families at Christmas.
read more...

Home-made presents for Xmas 2012

There are so many ideas here to make wonderful home-made Christmas presents. Why not share some of the magic of Christmas preparation with a friend!
read more...

Did you wear a pedometer today?

You will need a pedometer and a friend and off you go! Enjoy the benefits of walking and talking with a good friend.
read more...

Neighbour's pool leaking significantly into my back yard

Sometimes new friends are right next door... as one of our members found out recently
read more...

6. Best of the Vault: The Good Old Days

Ah, the good old days! Bring them back with some of these great ideas from the Vault. Whether we want to enjoy time with our family (and WITHOUT their game consoles) or spend special times with favourite friends, try some of these old fashioned fun ideas:

Enjoy the sunset

Contributed by: Lexie Walker

Low-cost murder mystery parties

If you frequently entertain, enjoy a low-cost night with a difference by hosting a murder mystery party! A chance for you and your guests to be 'someone else for a night' and have some fun while taking part in some detective work. These are making a real comeback! I enjoy having friends over and have run a few murder parties but they can be costly to buy, even second hand. However, I stumbled upon this helpful website which has seven free games to download. It even gives hints as to how to write your own murder mystery game. Take you and your friends into the heart of a Ruth Rendell novel and fill your evening with role-play, scandals, accusations, greed, affairs and murder!

Contributed by: LJM

Circle of friends save as they learn

Our group of friends are having a wonderful time and saving a bundle on evening classes while learning new skills which save us even more in everyday life. This year my gorgeous girlfriends and I decided to get together once a week at someone's home and have craft nights. We all have some skill or another - one can teach folk art, another is a great cook, another one sews, one can knit and some have very little skills at all! We all work full time and lead very busy lives but we are going to mend all the clothes that need mending, cook yummy gifts for birthdays and Christmas and make lots of gifts as well. We are also going to make things to raffle at work to contribute to our favourite charity (the Cancer Council's Relay for Life) which we fundraise for all year long. We have also vowed not to buy lunch at work and contribute $5.00 of the money we used to waste on lunch to a lottery every week. The rest of the money that was wasted on lunch is going into a little account we have opened for a girlie weekend away. At the moment we are all making a scrapbook photo album for the grandparents this Christmas. None of us really know what we are doing but, what the heck; it will turn out alright in the end! We laugh (tears running down our faces at times), chat and generally have a blast. We all love that time together and we do this every Wednesday from 7pm-9.30pm. So come on girls! Get out there, round up those girlfriends and give yourselves a fantastic experience as well as saving lots of money in the process.

Contributed by: Brenda Dawson

Add low-cost fun to your weekly planner

My husband and I are enjoying fun, low-cost entertainment and have saved over $800 this year along the way! We were struggling to think of creative entertainment ideas and would end up spending a lot on food and drinks and/or impulse purchases. So I decided to simply add a column to our weekly menu planner for low-cost weekend entertainment. This way we can plan ahead and still have fun! So along with our dinner this Friday, we plan to play chess and on Saturday (if the weather permits) we may go down to Blues Point in North Sydney with a bottle of wine and picnic basket. Next Saturday we may do the 'Bondi to Coogee walk' or have dinner at home with a couple of friends. We avoid hanging out at the mall (too much temptation!).

Planning and writing these things down on the weekly menu made it more exciting and easier to organise. I have found the local tourism board and Google useful resources for ideas.

Contributed by: Harini

11 fun, cheap school holiday ideas

This is the first school holidays I've had off with both of my children and I'm determined to make it lots of fun, but on a budget! I sat down with my three and six-year-old on the first day and we have brainstormed a list of things to do. We have so many ideas on our list that we'll be able to use them on the next holidays too! We are going to rate everything we do so that we can redo our favourite activities again. Our list includes:

Create, practice and perform our own concert. We need to make props and invites too so it will be a big project.
Fruit Salad Day. We'll walk to the fruit shop, select our favourite fruits and bring them home to make a fruit salad with. After our yummy treat, we'll colour pictures of the fruit we put in the fruit salad.
Make Spongebobs using sponges, google eyes, pipe cleaners and PVA (all stuff I have in my craft box).
Make and post invitations for a picnic with friends at a park.
Even though the weather is still a bit cool we'll visit the beach to collect some shells to make into wind chimes. After our beach visit we can also write down some of the other interesting things we saw at the beach.
Explore all the parks around the city and make our own list of parks to visit with Dad on the weekends.
Check out a couple of the local museums.
Visit local shopping centres to see what kids' activities are on offer.
Have a mini Olympics day. We'll plan our activities using sports equipment we already have.
Have a board game day.
Set up a treasure hunt around our house and backyard.

At the end of each day we're going to sit together and write or draw what we did that day so when we go back to school and kindy we can share it with the teachers. We're very excited about our 'cheap' holidays!

Contributed by: Elizabeth Nielson

A world of fun in your region

How much do you really know about the region you live in? Family activities can be expensive but it's staggering how much free stuff there is to see and do in your neck of the woods.

We have recently discovered the joys of strolling along the boardwalk while the kids have fun on their scooters. We've gone a little further afield to explore mountain country and to enjoy picnics at a couple of the major dams in our region. We've spotted some vineyards on these travels which we'll visit in the near future. We've also found some awesome parks for the kids to play, including one where they can ride on their scooters and BMX bicycles.

We are now on a mission to find other places that can entertain us for little or no cost. I challenge you to do the same and discover your part of the world!

Contributed by: Miss A

And here are some extra goodies for our valued Vault members:

Homespun fun Contributed by: Monica Robertson

Workshop with friends and save Contributed by: Sue Wallman

With a little help from my friends Contributed by: Tenaya Atanasov

7. Cooking with Mimi: Healthy Banana Splits...Yumbo Retro Heaven!

Yes, I know healthy and fun don't always belong in the same sentence. I know my mid-section can attest to a little more fun than healthy at the moment. Dash it all, the festive season does this to me every time! The brains says no, but the other brain says 'go on, one won't hurt'!

So here's something that's not all bad, a bit of good and a bit of fun, all rolled into one; a very traditional looking banana split, but with a difference. Authentic scoops of ice cream sneakily replaced with sweet labna and drizzled with honey. A match made in heaven.

You'll need:

A clean Chux cloth, cheesecloth or piece of muslin, rinsed and wrung out
A large sieve with fine weave mesh
A large jug that the sieve will sit on without falling through
Small ice cream scoop

The yummy bits are:

1 litre of thick Greek yoghurt, bought or home-made
Honey
1 banana per serve
Whipped cream if you want
A real, fresh, in season cherry to garnish the top of your 'nana split
Long dishes to serve

Then you just:

Drain your yoghurt. It's best to do this overnight, so you end up with a lush, thick, luxurious, creamy blob of deliciousness.

Make room in your refrigerator for your jug. Line your sieve with your damp Chux, and plop in half of your Greek yoghurt. Drizzle it with honey. Plop in the other half of the yoghurt and drizzle with more honey. Sit the sieve over the top of your jug, and pop into the refrigerator. The whey will drain from the yoghurt over the next several hours, leaving you with a super thick, super creamy 'ice cream' to use in your banana splits. We actually adore soft brown sugar in place of the honey too. The brown sugar turns all fudge-like and adds a delectable flavour and texture to the yoghurt cream. Luscious!

Grab your dishes. I sourced mine from the local thrift shop for $0.50c each, but similar shapes can be found in kitchenware stores. Assemble your other ingredients on the bench. Scoop two blobs of sweet labna (yoghurt cream) into each dish. Peel your bananas and slice them in half lengthwise. Sit them up on the edge, either side of your scooped labna.

Then, decorate as you wish. We love those little metallic pastel coloured cachous that cake decorators use, a real, fresh cherry or berry instead of a glace one, and a bit of that whipped cream from a tin. I know, I know... terrible stuff... but we're talking fun food here. And the cream in a tin is fun to use, fun to eat and surprisingly economical. A puff here, a squirt there... No, you're not allowed to squirt it straight into your mouth, no matter what Kirsty Alley did in that movie!

Oh my goodness... retro heaven, made healthy. Well, healthy-er, anyway.

See ya. I'm off to make some more blast from the past fun stuff. As soon as I finish my banana split!

To read more of Mimi's wonderful recipes, visit her blog at: </blog/>

8. Claire's Corner: Like a Kid on Christmas Morning

I've discovered a new passion. I can't believe I've never tried it before! It happened at my daughter's school camp a few weeks ago and I can't wait to do it again!

In my experience, school camps fall into one of two categories; arduous or awesome. From memory, all of my own camps as a kid were arduous and involved a lot of tramping, swimming in freezing rivers and dish washing. But it seems school camps have come a long way since my day. In fact, the kids weren't even allowed in the kitchen - no cleaning duties for this lot!

Despite feeling nervous at the very thought of spending the best part of a week with 50 kids, minimal sleep and no 'real' coffee within walking distance, I had the time of my life (as did my daughter!). Our camp was on Kawau Island, a very loud 30 minute bus ride followed by an equally loud 30 minute ferry ride. If you've ever been to Kawau Island, you'll know what an amazing place it is. Apparently the entire island was once owned by Governor George Grey in the late 1800s. Now this chap had quite the life. Not only was he a politician and soldier, he was also an intrepid traveller and explorer (with the means to go wherever he wanted to!). During his travels he would collect exotic plants and wildlife which he brought back to his island. Today, peacocks, wallabies and kookaburras, descended from his collection, still roam around the island (very rare for New Zealand!). Apparently the zebras and elephants didn't fare so well.

According to the teachers, the whole idea of school camp is to challenge the kids to 'try new activities, expand their skills, push their boundaries and discover new-found confidence'. And there were certainly plenty of experiences on offer to achieve all of the above with kayaking, sailing, archery, high ropes, orienteering and fishing. As parent helpers, our role was to supervise, encourage and prevent any blood loss.

I started out on archery. Well, let's just say it was lucky most of the kids had done it before because I couldn't even work out how to get the arrow to fire. It was a challenging experience to say the least! After a few hours of chasing stray arrows and doing my best to prevent the kids using each other as targets, I was able to choose another activity to supervise. And that's when it happened. After much encouragement from other parents and assurances that I had a good chance of staying dry, I set foot inside a kayak for the first time ever. And within a few paddles I was hooked! Along with another two parents, we took our little group of eager kids out into the safety of the cove and explored the coastline. It was so tranquil, so beautiful and so much fun!

I overcame my fear of making a complete egg of myself and realised I was actually pretty good at it. It may sound a bit corny, but I was like a kid who'd just been given the best ever toy on Christmas morning. I'd forgotten how wonderful it is to really, truly enjoy something like you did as a kid. For the rest of the camp I was out there on the water at every opportunity. I know the camp was about the kids challenging themselves and discovering new confidence, which they all did in abundance, but I didn't expected to tick all those boxes myself!

The kids just loved getting back to nature. No TV, no computers or phones, no technology at all! And of course, they didn't miss it one bit. They played, talked, sung songs, made up games, climbed trees, explored and just enjoyed being kids. All stuff that doesn't cost a cent yet makes for the happiest memories ever!

On the ferry ride home it struck me that as adults, we don't have enough 'fun'. The kind of fun that makes you feel like a kid again! Fun that makes you forget about your worries for a bit and just makes you feel good. We get so wrapped up with work, parenting, house-keeping and just getting through the day that 'fun' often doesn't get a look in. So, this month I'd encourage you to get out there and find something that makes you smile from ear to ear. I'd never have thought kayaking was my thing - I'm not keen on boats and I'm a bit of a scaredy cat. But I just love the peace and quiet of being out there on the water, of seeing the world from an entirely new perspective. Maybe there's something out there you've never done that just might be 'your thing'. And if you ever get the opportunity to go on your child's school camp, I'd thoroughly encourage you to give it a go. Who knows what you might discover?

My quote this month comes from anthropologist Lionel Tiger, I think he's onto something...

"Human beings need pleasure the way they need vitamins."

Read more of Claire's Corner in our Members' Blog area.

9. 50c Indulgences: Everyday Grace

Hi Everyone,

Happy November! This is the month when our friends in America stop and give thanks and thought to the things that enrich their lives. We have chosen our own mottoes as a guide for this delightful month: Home Comforts, Earthly Delights, Vintage Bliss, The Thrill of Thrift and Everyday Grace. Here is how I have used these wonderful words this month to enrich our family life!

This is the delicious Plum Bake that graced our table this week and added some 'Earthly Delight' to our fare. I have discovered that discount stores such as Crazy Clark's often have Australian fruit at excellent prices. Ardmona plums were $0.66c each for a 850g tin. Now that's a bargain that makes our grocery budget smile and brought cheers from my family!

Here is the recipe: Plum Bake

120g butter
½ cup sugar
2 eggs, beaten
2 cup self raising flour
½ cup milk, approx.
1 tsp vanilla or almond essence
850g tin plums or fruit of your choice

Grease a pie dish. Cream butter and sugar. Add egg, then flour and sufficient milk until you get a soft consistency. Add vanilla or almond essence and pour into the pie dish. Sit plums in the batter. Bake in a moderately hot oven (375F/190C) for ¾ to 1 hour.

Moving on to 'Vintage Bliss', well that found its place in our home with these gorgeous bunches of holly. They were $1.00 in total and the red gingham star was another bargain for $0.50c. These were the result of a happy forage at our local op shops. They are a great place to find vintage Christmas decor.

'Home Comforts' such as movie nights are an affordable indulgence in our home. We have bought several TV series such as the Andy Griffith show, which works out at under $0.50c an episode. We make up a tray of our favourite snacks and drinks and, if it's a little chilly, we light the fire as well! Snug on our comfortable lounge, it keeps everyone in the family happy and we can indulge in rest and recreation for pennies.

Next month is all about Christmas, 'The Gift of Christmas' in fact! So come and join the wonderful ladies of the 50c Army at:www.simplesavings.com.au/fora/2910607

Helen

10. Rob Bob's Gardening Blog: Putting the Spice Back into Life!

Harvesting & planting spice plants

We decided to harvest a small clump of Galangal this week to allow some small turmeric a chance to get some sunlight. Galangal is a member of the ginger (Zingiberaceae) family and a great addition to the garden if you like to cook Thai, Indonesian and Malay-style curries and dishes from scratch. It can be quite hard to find in the shops and quite pricey when you do, but it is so easy to grow. We use slices of it to make teas with lemongrass and I am going to try to make up some lacto fermented galangal and lemongrass beer this year. It is a non-alcoholic soft drink made on the same principles as lacto ginger beer. If you are interested in trying to grow it yourself, find a good piece in the shops, maybe with some young shoots, and give it a good wash before planting. Now is a great time to plant it out and in the southern states, probably best to plant in a warm spot in the garden.

Another great spice plant to grow is Turmeric (Curcuma longa). It is another spice from the ginger family and gives curry powders that distinctive yellow colouring. It can also be eaten as a vegetable once it's lightly steamed and also used as a yellow dye. It will also stain bench tops and cutting boards fairly easily. Turmeric has enjoyed a long history in the Indian Ayurvedic medical tradition and has just recently started to be studied by western medical institutions. They have found it to have some anti-cancer constituents as well as other healing properties. A quick 'Google' will put you onto a few of these studies if you are interested.

Lemongrass is another plant that we use in a lot of Asian curries and dishes. This week we also divided a neglected clump to share out with some community garden members and an online friend. This is one of those plants, along with thyme, rosemary and basil, that I love to pick and smell while working in the patch. The part of the plant we use the most is the base of the stalk. Our eldest loves to use the green leaves and stems in herbal tea infusions and, as I said above, I think it would make a great lacto fermented drink along with galangal. It is also said to have insect repelling properties thanks to its citronella content, so makes a great plant to pot out around entertaining areas.

One of my favourite dishes to use all three in is a beef rendang curry.

Beef Rendang

Paste

4 cloves garlic, chopped or 5 tsp of minced garlic
2 x 10cm stalks lemongrass, chopped
3cm piece fresh ginger or 2 tsp powdered
5 cm piece fresh turmeric or 1 heaped tbsp of powder
¼ cup size piece of fresh galangal, chopped
Chillies to taste (I use 1 heaped tsp of paste or 2-3 fresh medium heat ones from the patch)
1 large onion, chopped
3 tsp coriander powder
3 tsp cumin powder
Water (enough to help ingredients combine in processor, no more than 1/3 of a cup normally)

Add all above ingredients into processor and blend into a paste, adding water if needed.

Other ingredients

500g diced beef
400ml tin coconut cream
1 tbsp tamarind sauce (½ tsp tamarind paste with 1 tbsp rapadura or brown sugar make a good substitute)

Method

Fry off the paste in a pot until aromatic (2-4 minutes).
Add beef and coconut milk and bring to a boil.
Reduce heat to a medium simmer for half an hour, stirring every 10 minutes.
Reduce to very low and simmer for about half an hour or until the liquid has been evaporated and forms a thick sauce.
Serve with your favourite rice or as we do over lightly steamed cauliflower & broccoli.

Here's our own Rob Bob with a recent harvest... for giants!

Have a great one all
Rob Bob **: )»**

Read more of Rob Bob's garden blogs in our Members' Blog area.

11. Homeopathy Corner: Back to Basics

Homeopathy has been terrific for me and my family. It has fixed numerous health problems and saved us squillions.

Before homeopathy our medical bills were enormous so I started to look around for an alternative - and that's when I stumbled across homeopathy. In the beginning I used to see practitioners like Fran but after learning a little about the remedies I decided to try them for myself. There was no turning back. I now treat many of my family's health problems myself - not the big serious things like heart problems or athritis but all those little things that interrupt the flow of family life and keep us all awake at night - the tummy upsets, twisted ankles, earaches, coughs and colds - things like that.

This brings me to this month's homeopathy article; Fran is going back to basics. She is starting back at the beginning and showing everyone, step-by-step, how to use homeopathy.

If you have always wanted to try a little homeopathy but it all seemed too hard, this next series of articles is just for you. Fran starts them off this month by teaching you how to use homeopathy for all those sporting injuries and first-aid problems. Take a look at it because by the time you get to the end of it I am betting you won't be thinking that homeopathy is hard at all but easy!

To read Fran's article: homeopathyplus.com.au/homeopathy-made-simple-first-steps-to-first-aid

12. From Last Month: Adjusting to Retirement

Last month Dianne sent in this cry for help:

"How do I adjust to retirement??"

Thanks so much to everyone who wrote in to share their wisdom with Dianne. Here are some of our favourites!

Loving retirement

Retirement can be a great opportunity to do the things you've always wanted to do. When my husband and I retired, we bought a motor home and travelled Australia. After we'd experienced what we set out to do, we sold the motor home and bought a 50-foot yacht. We are now on holiday for the rest of our lives and loving it! We leave Bundaberg this month and are heading for The Sandy Straits then up to Darwin and onto Broome. We love our lives and our seafood!

Contributed by: Kay P.

Retirement for dummies

Hi Dianne,
I'm beginning to struggle with this one myself. I'm not yet retired but am planning for it and I'm a bit scared about it! I was browsing through my local library and found an old copy of "Making the Most of Retirement for Dummies", author Julienne Garland. I picked it up, had a flick through and thought this is not a bad book, it's full of ideas and strategies!

It is outdated, however, it is easy to read and covers a variety of issues from finances to health, relationships, community, volunteering, moving and more. I'm finding there are lots of things I hadn't thought of and am now making plans, and changing some of my ideas about retirement too! You might find it useful as well. Good luck and happy retirement!

Contributed by: Leah Z.

Great tips for keeping busy in retirement

If you're planning on retirement soon, here are a few of my top tips!

Keep in touch with a small group of your friends who are also retired and go out for coffee or have them over often. This will keep you from going batty due to watching too much television!
Volunteer at a place you can walk to. It may be a school, a hospital, a library or a resale shop, but you'll meet new people every day this way. You'll also be able to share your knowledge and learn new things daily. This keeps your brain from going to mush - and often your body as well! Just one tip... don't volunteer where you formerly worked. It creates hard feelings amongst those with their noses still to the grindstone!
Take up a moderately intense sport you never had time for while working. Bowling, lawn bowling, badminton, horse-shoe pitching, slow-pitch baseball, recreational skating, cross-country skiing, moderately-paced walking or hiking, bicycling (with an electric bike if your joints are shot!) and swimming all suit the retired lifestyle. And don't forget, you can do most of these activities at any time of the day, any day of the week!
Read a good national or city newspaper at least once a week. The Saturday or Sunday edition is usually full of lengthy editorials and insightful articles into important issues in your country and the world. Subscribe to Internet blogs about topics of interest. One of my favourites is ecogeek.com. It presents short articles on many issues and inventions that are helping improve our environment.
Find free and cheap stuff to do in your neighbourhood or beyond. The University of Toronto's Music Department gives free noontime concerts by students every Thursday, and a once-monthly evening concert on Mondays. Perhaps a university in your city does something like this too. A big cinema chain near my home has $2.00 movies on Saturday mornings at 11am.
Avoid sleeping in too much on weekdays. Get up and participate in your home, your neighbourhood and your community.
Make a list of home improvement projects you've always wanted to do and find the least expensive ways to do them. Recruit friends to pitch in or find students in the area who want to make a few dollars under your supervision.
Now is the time to get a pet. Don't buy a purebred dog or cat, get an orphaned mixed breed from the animal shelter. They are low-maintenance compared to purebreds, and you can take good care of them easily. A dog will help you get out for walks and see your neighbourhood. You'll meet neighbours and strangers who will ask about your pet and you can make another new friend.

Contributed by: Carol S.

Free, fun ideas for retirement

If you're about to retire and you're wondering how to use your time, here's a few tips to help. First, make a list of all the things you glanced at while hurrying to work and thought 'I'd like to have a look at or do that one day when I am not in such a hurry'. These ideas might help jog your memory...

Volunteer at your local op-shop. You'll meet lots of interesting people!
Join a gentle exercise class. Try contacting local churches as classes are often run in church halls. The prices are very reasonable and you'll meet people of a similar age with similar interests.
Go to meetings, for example, shareholder meetings, even if you have nothing to contribute, you might find it really interesting (and will usually get a nice morning tea!).
Walk every day and try to vary your route so you see new things, possibly meet new people and enjoy different gardens.
Look out for free open days. These are often advertised in shop windows or local newspapers, especially in the city centres. Once you get there, you'll see plenty of other things to do.
Adopt a pet from an animal shelter. A dog will need walking daily, or a cat will provide good company.
Use your free train travel voucher from the government if you get one. Go somewhere you've always wanted to, but have never been.
Visit a good op shop to hunt out some good books.
Buy a book of crosswords or puzzles. These are often on a sale table at Target.
Depending where you live, buy a daily travel ticket and travel around on a tram one day. Get off at whatever takes your fancy. Make a list of places you want to revisit.

Contributed by: Leanne Baxter

Taking up the challenges of retirement

I retired early this year and the novelty of every day seeming like a Saturday soon wore off. But as I had lived on my retirement budget for two years before retiring, at least the reduced income did not come as a shock. I was also able to save more money for my retirement nest egg.

I've found the biggest challenge has been the lack of social contact that going to work provided. I live on my own and moved to the coast within a week of retiring so the task has been to create a whole new life. This has been both exciting and daunting!

The first step is to look after your health. Have regular check-ups, get plenty of exercise and eat a good diet. It's a good idea to set some goals in regard to what you want to do with your life. This of course will be determined by available funds.

You'll also want to have a plan for what you're going to do each day so you don't just drift. Look for free or low-cost activities such as volunteering. Save money where you can, for example take food and drink with you when you go out.

It's also good to create little treats for yourself so you have something to look forward to. And be sure to stay in touch with people - letters are cheaper than long distance phone calls. If you are having trouble adjusting to this major change in your life, don't hesitate to see your doctor and get a referral to talk to someone.

Contributed by: Jaye

Diaries a must for retirement

I am 75 and retired and am really enjoying it! It hasn't been difficult because I make sure I still get up at a regular time and keep my diary reasonably full. I still rise around 6.30am - or even 6.00am and take a 30 minute walk (unless the weather is really bad).

It's amazing how ready I feel to tackle the day ahead. After breakfast I do the immediate chores but don't get so carried away with housework that it diminishes my enthusiasm to do something I'm really keen to do, be it something at home or some activity outside the home.

I look forward to regular get-togethers with family or friends. It's nice just having time together to enjoy activities where you can use your expertise. I keep a diary for appointments to look forward to - this is very important. This may mean trying activities you've never had time for or haven't considered previously.

The important things for me, after retiring from a very busy job, were to:

have a plan for the day ahead
make an effort to mix with people (even briefly)
be expected somewhere a couple of times a week
indulge in some of the activities I could never find time for before retirement
and to take time out for holidays, even if it's just a change of pace for a couple of weeks.

Contributed by: Patricia F.

Budget for retirement

When you retire, the first thing you need to do is a budget so you can work out everything that must be paid each year and how much income you expect to receive each year. When you know what cash you'll have spare, you can then decide what you would like to do. And remember, retirement is a time to think about yourself for a change. Enjoy life!

Contributed by: Lorraine Ellis

14 fun ideas for retirement

Here are a few ideas to help brighten up your retirement...

Keep your brain active by doing short courses, for example U3A, WEA, TAFE or home study.
Do crosswords, play scrabble, research the Internet, read books or travel to places of interest.
Consider joining a club such as Probus, View Club, Toastmasters, church groups and so on. Search the Internet and library to find out what's happening in your area.
Go to the movies with friends.
Go to clubs, pubs and nice restaurants as a treat.
Get active and go swimming or bowling.
Watch the sunrise and sunset at a beach or park.
Go picnicking with friends.
Do bus and train trips with friends.
Become a volunteer for a charity organisation such Meals on Wheels, Smith Family or charity shops.
Spend time with your children and grandchildren.
Get a group of friends together for a weekly outing to interesting places.
Get some exercise and join a Zumba class, a walking group or aqua aerobics. Ride your bike, take beach walks, go bush walking, play tennis or go to the gyms you feel comfortable in. You could also try yoga and Tai Chi.
Pamper yourself by having soothing massages, get your hair done and buy yourself a special outfit to wear somewhere special.

Contributed by: Dianne Nicholas

Join Probus for fun and friendship

When my husband and I retired, we found that most of our friends were people we'd met through work. Many lived on the other side of the city, making regular contact difficult. The biggest thing I missed after we retired was social interaction with people around my own age, so shortly after I retired we joined a Probus club. The club had just started up and they were looking for volunteers, so I volunteered to edit their monthly newsletter. Our club has now been going for over 10 years and we've never looked back! We now have the most wonderful friends who are a source of great companionship and help during times of illness or personal crises.

Costs for membership and activities are minimal, apart from week-long holidays and an annual overseas trip, but you can still have a good time whilst only paying for your bus fare on a day outing. You can also travel by car or train to a craft, computer or walking group.

Many of our new friends are also volunteers for community organisations such as op shops, the Smith Family, Vinnies, Red Cross, the local hospital and scouting and surfing clubs - yet another way to make friends and get the most out of life! Some of them also attend classes at our local community college and many local councils have courses specifically aimed at seniors. It pays to keep not only the body, but the brain, fit and healthy!

It has now got to the stage in our lives where we don't know if we'd ever be able to fit time in to go out to work!

Contributed by: Norma King

Making the most of retirement

Retirement does mean adjusting to living on a much tighter budget, but it can be done - and still give us a happy life! I am enjoying my retirement so much!

The first thing I did when I retired on the pension was to get to know my local library better. I found plenty of information there about organisations in Brisbane that I might want to join. I went to just about every talk and workshop I could. I ended up becoming very involved with a local community garden at Beelarong Community Farm at Morningside. My life changed from that time on as I have made some wonderful new friends at the farm and have even taken on my own allotment there so I have access to lots of fresh vegetables.

Another thing I do regularly is check out the Brisbane City Council (BCC) website where they have a mine of information about local free events. BCC fund the GOLD program (Growing Older Living Dangerously) and for a fee of $4.00 per workshop you can learn how to do all sorts of things.

Another worthwhile idea during retirement is to become a volunteer. This is very satisfying and another way to make new friends and keep our lives full and happy.

It's also important to make sure you keep fit and healthy. You don't need to join a gym, just get out there and walk. I bought myself a camera and wander around local parks snapping away. It's easy to stroll around for an hour without even knowing it! Each step you take helps to keep your joints working and your bones strong. When you first retire your doctor can give you a thorough check-up with on-going mammograms, pap smears, skin checks for skin cancer, blood pressure testing, and prostate checks for the men. It's all important because if we have good health, really, we have everything!

It's also important to keep our minds active. Look into U3A (University of the Third Age) who run all sorts of courses without breaking the bank.

If you're in Queensland and are about to enter retirement, here are a few tips to help keep you safe.

The police department in Queensland have a Community Safety and Crime Prevention unit. They will send a police officer out to assess your home and see if you have any areas (doors, windows and such) that make you vulnerable to a break-in. I had a lovely young police woman visit my unit, she pointed out a couple of vulnerable areas which I was able to fix. Here is the link to the police website for home security: http://www.police.qld.gov.au/programs/cscp/homeSecurity/

Another organisation worth checking out is run by the Queensland State Government and is known as the Home Assist Secure project. They will (and I quote) "assist with essential repairs for safety, security and wellbeing for any person over the age of 60 years". They don't charge a call-out fee or for labour, they just charge you for parts. They'll do security checks, install smoke alarms, do lock repairs, minor plumbing work and minor carpentry work. In Brisbane phone (07) 3254 0355, tell them what suburb you're in, and they can tell you about your local branch.

Other states may offer the same services.

Contributed by: Jean Burke

Retirement is all about you

I planned my retirement for over eight years before actually doing the deed. In fact, I might still be at the daily grind if my brother hadn't developed a particularly aggressive, rare and nasty form of cancer which made me realise yet again that life is not a dress rehearsal! I worked out where I wanted to live and how I would manage it financially (boring but necessary).

Part of the planning was taking time to sit down and think about what really matters to me, what my passions are in life and how to apply them to my new status as a retiree. My bucket list read:

Get involved with and contribute to my new community (I moved from Sydney to rural bliss on the NSW north coast)
Explore my passion for protecting Australian wildlife and the environment
Play around with community theatre and get back into my writing and music

Today I'm a member of:

The Rural Fire Brigade (a wonderful way to become involved and accepted in my community and learn incredible life skills).
WIRES (specialising in bats!)
My local musical theatre group and about to go on stage as Mrs Potts in 'Beauty and the Beast'
I also write for local newsletters and online blogs

Only problem is, I think I may have tried to tick everything off my bucket list at once and may have to go back to work for a rest!

So I guess my advice would be - take the time to work out what's important to you and get out there and do it! In our society there's far too much emphasis placed on your work life - people make judgements about you based on what you do and what your salary level is. But there's so much more to you than work! This is your chance to re-invent yourself. It's a time to take up your passions and at last, do what you've always wanted to do - for yourself!

Contributed by: Jenny Beatson

13. This Month's Help Request: Starting a Non-Profit Organisation

Bea Davidson has sent in this cry for help:-

"I am looking at starting up a non-profit organisation for youth in my area. I would love to hear ideas about getting a business off the ground with as little outlay as possible. I need to know about everything from finding premises, outfitting, setting up and then day-to-day running as cheaply as possible. We need to save as much money as we can so we can pour our profits back into the youth activities. Thanking you all in advance!"

If you have any pearls of wisdom you'd like to share with Bea, please send them in to us here.

14. Savings Story: Help us Reach our Savings Goal of $1 Million

This week's Saving Story is a special one. Wonderful things happen in our Simple Savings Forum when like-minded people get together to encourage, support and celebrate each other's journeys. Thanks to a special member called Freedom, the '$140K mortgage down to $0 in 12 months' threads have been inspirational to many of our Forum members. Now this team of gung-ho savers wants to help even more members.

Freedom writes:

"I started this thread in January this year in the hopes of sharing my journey with fellow Simple Savers as I paid down my mortgage. It started out as one person working hard to achieve a dream and has ended with a fantastic team of wonderful ladies who have decided to join me on my personal challenge. We are achieving big things on this thread and in October we managed to reach the goal of $250K in just one month! This included any money we managed to save as well as monies paid off mortgages and other debts. November's target is $500K and in December we want to reach $1 million. We need to get more Simple Savings members working towards this amazing goal in December - every dollar counts! Come and join us in our thread at:

$140,000 mortgage down to $0 in 12 months

Freedom, we are in awe of what you and your group of Super Savers has managed to do so far - we're sure you'll reach your $1 million goal with everyone's help!

15. Goodbye for now!

Thank you for reading all the way down the to bottom.

We hope you have an awesome month and enjoy some good old fashioned fun!

Till next time...

All the best,
Fiona

November 2014 - Simple Savings Newsletter

"Secrets to Saving Money" Free Newsletter - November 2014

This issue includes:-

Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: Love Local!
November: Buy Local
Shoppe Closing Down Sale
Penny Wise: Home Sweet Home
Best of the Vault: Buy in Your Own Backyard
Best of the Forum: Shop in the Shire This Christmas!
Best Members' Blog: This Mum is Getting Fit!
Mimi's Own 'Aged' Sticky Balsamic Dressing
Rob Bob's Gardening Blog: Looking Locally to Feed the Patch For Nix
From Last Month: Instant Entertaining
This Month's Help Request: Caravanning in Comfort

Happy almost-Christmas!

It is getting close isn't it. :) This Christmas we want you to be super duper clever and make your Christmas dollars count by shopping local and supporting your neighbours and friends.

We love hearing from you - your savings stories and tips make my day! Here are some of my favourites this month:

"I bought The $21 Challenge to see what all the fuss was about. Well, we just did our first Challenge and saved a huge $250 on this week's groceries. I plan to do another two before Christmas which will cover the cost of Christmas and Christmas presents. Thank you $21 Challenge!" (Briony)

"Thank you, Fiona, Matt and Simple Savings. I have renewed again and just wanted you to know how much I appreciate everything I have learnt on your site. We have saved so much money, but more importantly, changed many of our bad spending habits since I joined the Vault." (Sharnee)

Have a great month!
All the best,
Fiona Lippey

P.S. We are putting the finishing touches on the 2015 Calendar and it will be available in the first week of December. It's a little bit different this year and we hope you love it!

1. Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: Love Local!

"Oh I GIVE UP!" groaned Sally, banging her head theatrically on her desk. "It's just TOO hard. I've a good mind to just run away to Outer Mongolia until January. Or somewhere like that. Anywhere but here!" "What on earth's the matter?" Hanna raised an eyebrow at Sally. "Is it that stuck-up Celia from accounts again? I've told you before, don't take any notice of her!" "Noooo, it's not that, it's Christmas shopping," Sally explained grumpily. "I have no idea what to buy ANYONE this year, it's really stressing me out!"

"You're stressing out over Christmas presents already?" Hanna asked, "But why? It's only November! Just keep an eye out for all the flyers, they'll start pouring through the mailbox soon and you can grab a heap of stuff on special as soon as you see them. Easy!" she smiled. "Ugh - I tried that last year and it was a disaster!" Sally wrinkled her nose at the memory. "Everyone else in town had the same idea! The malls were hideous and half of what I wanted was sold out. I ended up still rushing around the shops on Christmas Eve, grabbing any old thing just to tick another gift off my list. I'm never doing that again but it's so hard to find decent presents when we're on such a tight budget," she sighed.

"Oh Sal, it's not about how much your gifts cost, it's the thought that counts, you know that!" Hanna reminded her gently. "I know - I just want to be able to buy everyone something really special - something different. But we work so hard all year trying to get ahead with our own finances; we don't want to blow all that effort on expensive things for everyone else when Christmas comes around! I wish there was an easy solution," Sally said sadly. "There is," grinned Hanna. "Don't panic Sal! You're coming on a mission with me this weekend. I know where we can get presents that NO ONE else will have!"

2. November: Buy Local

Hanna is right, when it comes to buying a gift for your loved one it IS the thought that counts - but while we are quick to hand over the present, how often do we also share the thought behind it? The reason we got it just for them, the reason we thought they would love it or find it useful, the story behind where and how we found it? Sometimes the story behind the gift can be just as special as the gift itself!

Bulk shopping using catalogue specials is one way to get your gift shopping out of the way and you can get some terrific discounts - but it is also fun to go hunting for local goodies. Not only that, the gifts you'll find there are limited edition and one-offs, not mass produced! We're talking about buying local produce and wares designed, made and crafted by your neighbours, not on an assembly line in China. The lady who sells the most delicious, fresh honey, collected herself from her own beehives; the family down the road who make their own fragrant lavender soap; the chap who's had that workshop for years and makes the most exquisite traditional wooden toys. All of these things have been made with love and can be purchased and given with love.

Your mission this month is to find those gifts! Think about the area you live in, the places you drive past every day. What is YOUR local specialty? What does your area grow or do or produce that makes it truly unique? What talented art and craftspeople can it boast? If you're not sure, ask around - you'll probably be amazed! If you live in a city, check out the markets. Wherever you live, set yourself a challenge this Christmas to source and buy all your gifts and festive treats as close to home as possible. Food and presents made locally mean more to people; it's not about the price, it's about the thought, effort and skill which has gone into producing them. Some of the goodies you could go hunting for include:

Locally made Christmas pudding or cake
Jams and preserves from markets
Beautiful plants, raised in your area
Fruit grown and sold from roadside stalls to put in a hamper or use in home cooking/baking
Ham smoked by your local butcher
Exquisite handmade items made by a local sewing or patchwork group

Who knows what other treasures you may find? As well as being a less stressful way to shop, local produce and gifts don't have to travel thousands of energy-consuming miles to get to you, so they are fresher and last longer. Give it a go - we promise you, it will be a lot more fun than braving the crowded malls and sweaty, grumpy checkout queues!

BUT - your mission doesn't end there! To make your gifts extra super-duper special this year, we have made you some rather unique and special tags to go with them; so that when you present your gift to the recipient, you can also share the story of how and why you chose that gift just for them. All those little things which make your gift extra personal, such as where you bought it, who made or grew it, why you thought they would like it, perhaps the address and details of their shop/location in case they would like to visit the store themselves - anything else you can think of or would like to add. Gifts mean so much more when you write a beautiful note and loved ones would love to know why you think they would like it. Think about it - wouldn't you?

Love Local Gift Tags

3. Shoppe Closing Down Sale

We still have some great bargains in the Shoppe so get in quick for some early Christmas presents - you have until the end of November!

Ice-block moulds $2.00 per set (saving $23 per set, original price $25 per set).

"The $21 Challenge" books $5.00 (saving $20, original price $25).

GameTag $4.00 per set (saving $16, original price $20).

CreaClip $25 (saving $15, original price $39.95).

4. Penny Wise: Home Sweet Home

School has finished for the year, yippee! No more lunch boxes to make, no more uniforms to wash and when the boys aren't studying for their exams they're running around town trying to find part time jobs to keep them occupied over the next few months. As for me, I've been having a ball lately buying all sorts of new stuff! Let me see, so far I have four pairs of new shorts, four dresses, four singlets, two skirts, one hoody, one crocheted top, a brand new pair of jeans and two pairs of summer sandals. That's me well and truly sorted for a very long time to come, all for the princely sum of $40! Almost everything is a top brand label such as Volcom, Roxy and Billabong and I couldn't be happier with my haul but I didn't buy a single thing from a high street shop or chain store. I got almost everything but the shoes from our Facebook Buy, Sell and Swap group and my sandals came from St John's op shop! As you can probably tell, I am finally feeling better, hooray! I'm still having blood tests and x-rays to ensure I don't have a relapse and am waiting on further tests from the hospital but the main thing is I feel good, woohoo! And after two whole months of doing next to nothing there's no time to waste!

Which is good because for a while I've needed a bit of a wake-up call to remind me how lucky I am to live in such a beautiful part of the country, amongst such a wonderful, warm-hearted community. Even before I got sick and was stuck in bed for weeks I had long ago lost sight of all the blessings of living where we do and after such a long period of inactivity I couldn't even motivate myself just to go out for a walk the way I used to. I didn't want to see anyone, I didn't want to talk to anyone and I couldn't remember the last time I went to the beach! All the joy, all the appeal had just gone. I guess I'm sharing this because I know I'm not the only one and who knows? Maybe it happens to a lot of us; we become jaded with our surroundings without even realising and once it's gone, it can be hard to get back.

Fortunately in the majority of cases, no matter how dark and dismal things seem, life seems to have a way of gently picking you up, setting you on your feet and steering you back in the direction you're meant to go in and whilst I had got quite comfortable and accustomed to lying in bed day after day wallowing in self-pity, two months of illness really was not helping to pay the bills. I had to do something and during one of my legendary middle-of-the-night brainstorms a few weeks ago I remembered some stuff I had under the stairs and even tucked under my bed that I no longer needed. Nothing major, just $5, $10 and $20 items but I decided to try my luck selling them on our local Facebook Buy, Sell and Swap group and planned to devote my day to photographing and listing them. Well I don't know what was in the drinking water in Whangamata that day but people were actually fighting over my listings, I could hardly keep up! For the next three days Nawtypoo was a hive of activity as an endless trail of people called in to pick up their new goodies and hand over their money. By the end of the weekend I had made $600! No postage, no fees, just a few hours of my time.

As you can imagine, I was absolutely delighted and didn't know who to pay first with all that lovely lolly! What an absolute lifesaver. I was really proud of myself for being so pro-active and resourceful after such a long slump and I think the boys were quite impressed too, but the best thing wasn't even about the money, it was all the new people I had met along the way. They were all locals in our little town of 4000, yet in four years I had met barely any of them! They were all so nice and meeting them really gave me a lift. I get a free copy of "That's Life!" sent to me every week and now when I've finished reading it I pop it in the mailbox of one of the Buy, Sell Swap ladies so she can enjoy it with a cuppa and do the puzzles. A lot of the things I was selling people were buying to give as Christmas presents to their loved ones so it felt great to know that my unwanted stuff was going to a new home where it would be given with love and hopefully be loved by the recipient too.

That little mission out of the way, I planned to once again return to languishing in my boudoir but Liam had other plans. 'Can you please come and help me with my photography project?' he asked. 'I need to find somewhere high to take photos from.' The first place we thought of wasn't suitable so had to go a couple of kilometres down the road to Onemana, where you can drive up a big hill to the highest point and look out over the sea. I thought that would do but apparently we needed 'somewhere with ledges' as Liam beckoned me to follow him down a nearby bush track. What I thought was going to be a five minute jaunt turned out to be a 90 minute tramp! Some of the hills were so big we had to grab on to a large rope to pull ourselves up. However, once we reached the top and I had stopped grumbling enough to really look around I realised that the scenery was absolutely stunning. We could see for miles and miles! I thought that was it but Liam kept going, stopping every so often to snap away with his camera and after a while I don't know who was taking more photos, him or me! Through the bush we went until suddenly and quite unexpectedly I began to glimpse flashes of white sand and sparkling blue and green through the trees. There, in the middle of nowhere was a tiny beach! This time it was me nagging Liam to keep going as once again we had to hang on to the ropes for grim death as we made our descent but the effort was worth it. It was like something out of the "Blue Lagoon" movie! Completely perfect and absolutely unspoilt, we had this amazing little place all to ourselves. For four years I lived just around the corner, completely unaware that this delightful wee gem had been hiding on my very doorstep the whole time.

Eventually it was time to head back. Liam had all the photos he needed and as we chatted along the way, with him telling me excitedly that he only had five days left of school EVER, I realised that my gentle giant of a son wouldn't be with me for much longer. It made our spontaneous walk all the more special and I'm so glad I went along that day. It rekindled my enthusiasm for life, my love for the place I live and renewed my energy after weeks spent vegetating inside. And to top it all off, as I huffed and puffed my way back along the track my phone rang and it was the manager of the Whangamata Club, offering me a job starting the following day. One way or the other the powers that be were ensuring there was no way I was going back to bed! Mind you, I figured if I had managed to survive that bush track without my lungs collapsing I was pretty much well enough to do anything!

I have now been at the club for just over a week and absolutely love it. This is us dressed up for Melbourne Cup day! Can you spot me in one of my 'new' dresses? Actually this one WAS new, the tag was still on as the previous owner never wore it! It's tiring being on my feet after being sat behind a computer for 15 years (especially in a pair of $2.50 pink spangly sandals!) but it's so much fun it hardly feels like work. The staff and customers are all so warm and friendly, it feels as though I've been there for ages! I feel as though I'm right in the heart of our little community and I couldn't be happier or feel luckier. My work is still mainly in the evenings so while I have to be more organised than usual (feels a bit weird cooking dinner at lunchtime!) I've got into a nice little routine of going for a good long walk for an hour early in the morning, then settling down to some writing before going to the club. And I've realised while on these walks, or at work that our little town really does have everything we need. I can't remember the last time I bought anything anywhere else!

For starters there's Fara, who lives down the road from me and sells all her free range eggs, avocados and other produce for nothing more than a gold coin donation. Several local ladies do beauty treatments and hairdressing from home - quite a few of my friends go to one of the bank clerks for all their waxing! We also have two amazing florists; Nikki sells gorgeous bouquets from her little gift shop at unbeatable prices but for a real gem I love the new florist in town, Kelly. Every Friday she makes up a beautiful big bouquet (sometimes with a beauty salon voucher tucked in for good measure) and then goes and leaves it in a random spot for someone to unexpectedly find and make their day. HOW COOL IS THAT! Not only that, for our recent school ball she made beautiful free corsages for every single one of the girls attending. All the kids had to do was put their name down for one and then pick them up on the day. All those dainty orchids and tiny roses must have cost a fortune! Even if she wasn't the cheapest florist in town she has my custom for life due to her sheer kindness. So many wonderful people. People will always complain about the price of things and our town is no different but I don't think they realise that we couldn't actually buy things cheaper anywhere else! Sometimes you need to get out there and have a good look around to see how fortunate you actually are. For a long time I had forgotten. I'm very happy to say that now I remember!

You can get updates on Penny's new blogs on the Simple Savings Facebook page.

...or in our Members' Blog section.

5. Best of the Vault: Buy In Your Own Backyard

Your challenge this month is to find those hidden gems in your neighbourhood - the local markets, that little art gallery, the craft shop you always walk past. We want you to explore your local area and see what it has to offer and we hope you'll be pleasantly surprised!

Buy authentic ingredients from restaurants

I can get authentic Indian food at the right prices. As an Indian living in Tasmania, I found it difficult to get Indian groceries in my area, especially some brands of South Indian stuff, which are available in Melbourne and Sydney.

I made friends with a nearby Indian restaurant. Now I order my list of Indian groceries from them! They get their raw materials for their restaurant from Sydney by sea, so were happy to include a few more in their list. Some of the lentils and rice are bulk ordered. It always pays to ask!

Contributed by: Aditi Mark

Half price honey straight from the beekeeper

We now buy honey that is half the price of the supermarket brands and even cheaper than fruit and vegetable shops.

Woolworths' Home Brand honey costs $5.31 for 700g - which works out to approximately $7.60 per kilogram. I just looked in the Yellow Pages under 'Beekeeper', gave the nearest one a call and asked whether they sell direct to the public. Honey now costs us only $4.00 per kilogram and we buy several kilos at a time, stored in plastic milk cartons. We bought a non-drip container of honey at Woolworths and simply refill it with our bargain honey.

Contributed by: Angela Woodward

Pick your own produce directory

Over the years, I have saved hundreds of dollars by going to u-picks, farmer's markets and road side stalls. The majority of times, the items are heaps fresher than the supermarkets, which means they last longer and you know you are supporting local farmers. Thanks to a website I have just discovered, I can now save even more! Below is an excellent link to u-pick farms, which gives heaps of terrific information on all kinds of fruit and vegetables too!

Pick-Your-Own - Australia

Contributed by: Gwen Grosvenor

Farm eggs half price

Eggs bought at a farm are much cheaper - you get two dozen for the price of one at the supermarket - and they are fresher too.

Contributed by: Tracey White

6. Best of the Forum: Shop in the Shire This Christmas!

Christmas gift-giving for many of us isn't the joyful, uplifting experience it really should be. However, this year you could do things completely differently - here are some ideas for sourcing local products and suppliers for unique and thoughtful gifts to put under the tree. Think local this Christmas!

Handmade Christmas

Follow Cat Slave's gift-seeking adventures - you'll get some great gift ideas you WON'T find on a department store shelf!
read more...

Home-made Christmas voucher ideas

Some wonderful ideas for the younger people in your life from Loving Life - and a chance to make some family memories.
read more...

Novelty Christmas gift-giving

CCDee is turning Christmas into a fun-filled lucky dip with some unique gift ideas for everyone.
read more...

7. Best Members' Blog: This Mum is Getting Fit!

One of the many benefits of being a Vault member is that you can win $100 cash each month for your Simple Savings blog! Starting your own blog on the site is easy. All you have to do is log into the Vault, click on 'My Desk' at the top left, then 'Your Blog'. Then get writing! We love reading all your money saving trials and tribulations and really appreciate the effort that goes into each one.

This month's winner is Tradies Wife for getting back into her fitness regime and sharing some great free tips and motivation!

"Ok, so I know heaps of people claim to have the magic answer for shredding post-baby weight. There is so much information out there that bluntly, you can spend a day or two sitting on your rump in front of a computer screen trying to figure it all out and work out what is best for you. Plans on diets and exercise programs, the bits and bobs that you see through your daily scroll through Facebook. It's just plain overwhelming.

My confession. I have a gym membership. That is not very SS, hey. What can I say, it includes childcare for $13 a week. So that means that I really should use it at least once a week. Right. Check. I try to. I really do. But things always get in the way - if it is my husband heading out for a few days for work or if he decides to do a 14 or 16 hour day; my work; kids' health appointments; or I just miss the 'ring after 8am-9am' deadline to book my little ones in. Yeah, I try to ring, but while also trying to get a kinder child, school child and a baby ready to do the school and kinder run at the same time. Hectic... yeah. I could almost count that morning rush as my work out! I'm still working on getting there at least once a week.

So still determined to ditch the extra kilograms that are making my hips hurt and not moving as freely as I would like, I ventured into the world. My ideal day now starts by breastfeeding my baby, changing his nappy and handing him to my husband to get breakfasts ready for the kids. I then venture out, for my 4.5km walk/jog attempts. Hey, it ain't pretty. However, I'm gathering that no one is judging someone who is actually trying to make a positive change as much as they would judge someone who does nothing to benefit their own health. I know whenever I see anyone out for a jog my first thoughts are 'good on them!' and 'If they can, I can give that a shot.'

It doesn't happen every day. Far from it. Quite a lot, my husband has to start work early and can't do the kids' breakfasts. Or something crops up, like daylight savings throwing a spanner into the works, or my baby wakes up later and I miss that vital time slot of 40 minutes. But it is a lot more convenient than getting to the gym.

I've also bought an exercise DVD for times that I just can't get out of the house. Like today, when my baby is asleep in his cot and my kinder boy is home and not well. It allows me to work out in the privacy of my home, and strut my stuff as I see fit.

The other thing that I noticed was that I was probably eating good food already. Just far too much of it. Seriously, that second or third sandwich or extra bowl of cereal was not helping. But I seemed to be hungry all the time. Since exercising more, I've noticed that I don't feel as hungry! Seems odd, but I'm going with the flow and now I'm eating when my body tells me it's hungry. Seems sensible to me.

A few things have helped my motivation. And they are free. The two best things I've found are applications on my mobile phone. The first is RunKeeper, which motivates me to do better each time I venture out. I've set up a goal of 100km, after which I'm going to buy myself a new pair of running shoes! The other application that I LOVE is My Fitness Pro. Seriously this app is excellent. I just type all of my food into it (or cheat and just scan the barcode) and it will give me a breakdown, not just of how many calories I've consumed during that day, but also if I am getting enough calcium or iron. I can then work on boosting these nutrients. How good is that! It makes sure that I'm eating the right stuff, I'm accountable to something and I'm looking after my health the best way possible. These app's are far better than a gym membership and they are FREE! Yay.

I thought I'd share, for others out there that are finding it is really hard to find the time to look after yourself. And for those that figure that in order to get fit they have to spend oodles of cash on gym memberships and diet programs/ready meals and shakes. It just ain't so.

Just between you and me and my belt, I've lost 5kg too.

I'd love to hear about your SS best health and fitness tips too - feel free to share them, a little extra motivation is always a good thing!..."

Well done Tradies Wife- we'll be following your progress and cheering you on every 'step' of the way!

You can read more of our members' blogs here.

8. Mimi's Own 'Aged' Sticky Balsamic Dressing

I got a bottle of really nice balsamic vinegar for my birthday this year. It was utterly delicious and sweet and kind of syrupy and nothing like the stuff I usually buy at Aldi or Coles. I used it all up a while back and investigated buying some more. Well... it was $35, thank you very much, so no-go there! And that was for 200ml! So I've come up with a way to make a similar tasting product that will do very nicely though.

For 250ml of 'aged' balsamic vinegar, you need:

500ml cheap balsamic vinegar
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup port

You also need:

A medium saucepan
A pretty bottle in which to decant the vinegar

I had some port in the cupboard dating back to my honeymoon nearly 14 years ago... It was probably a shame to use it! 14-year-old port fetches a good price at the bottle shop!

You can use inexpensive port. It's available for around the $10 mark and will yield lots of batches of this mixture.

I made a smaller batch first to get the proportions right, so maybe try a third of all these amounts first to make sure you're happy with the finished product.

Put it all into the saucepan, stirring until the sugar is dissolved. Then turn it down to a low simmer and reduce the liquid by about a third to a half. The more you reduce it, the thicker and more syrupy it will be. This takes about 15-30 minutes. And again, it's worth experimenting.

Make sure you watch over it and stir it from time to time.

I like mine thick, but still runny enough to pour from its bottle, so about 15-20 minutes for a big batch is right for me.

Allow it to cool before pouring it into your bottle.

Hang a tag around the neck and maybe add a few recipe ideas on how to use it, and you've got a convincingly gourmet gift.

You can also add jam instead of the sugar, and then you're only limited by your imagination as far as flavours go! Imagine orange or lime scented sticky balsamic or raspberry or plum scented sticky balsamic or even maple syrup scented sticky balsamic. :)

Enjoy!

You can get updates on Mimi's new blogs on the Simple Savings Facebook page

or in our Members' Blog section.

9. Rob Bob's Gardening Blog: Looking Locally to Feed the Patch For Nix

Local sources for cheap/free composting material

I have already mentioned how we make our layered compost in IBC cages in previous blogs but thought I would fill you in on a few ways that you could make up your own compost or feed the compost worm farm using free or very cheap local resources.

We are lucky enough to live close to farming areas and have access to pre-bagged horse manure. Some people collect their own animals' manure and offer it for sale at the farm gate while others collect it in bulk, re-bag it and sell it to the public. The most I've ever paid for a 25 litre bag of manure is $2.00 and that was home delivered.

Our favourite source of horse manure offers aged horse manure in 45 litre bags for $2.70 and comes already aged for well over a month which is great. If you have access to a ute or a trailer then another option opens up to you - I have seen offers on Facebook pages and Gumtree for free manure from stables and properties where folks agist horses. All you need to do is make an appointment and be prepared to put in a bit of elbow grease to collect it yourself.

There are other manures that are fine to compost for the patch like cow, poultry, sheep, alpaca, rabbit, goat and even guinea pig. I think it's a good idea to age any manure you bring into your yard to allow time for any drenches or pharmaceuticals to breakdown, especially if you are unsure of its origin. We like to leave ours for a month minimum if we're uncertain.

Another great source of organic matter for your compost pile is the local shops and shopping centres.

Cafes and restaurants will quite often hold aside coffee grounds for anyone willing to take them. Juice bars are another great source of free organic matter in the form of skins and fibre removed from fruit/vegetables. I was surprised to find out how much organic matter the local juice bar throws out with their general rubbish. The local fruit and vegie store is also a good place to pick up bulk organic matter for composting. Every time we have asked to raid the scraps bin we have been told we can take as much as we can carry.

A resource a lot closer to home would have to be yours and your neighbour's lawn mower catcher and green 'waste' pile/bin.

Our neighbours are great when it comes to helping us out with compost-building materials. One side always offers us lawn clippings to use in our compost or to add to the chicken pen. They have also provided us with tree trimmings which we then mulch up and add to the compost pile. We also have access to spongy rotten tree trunk and branches in our other neighbour's yard. Some of that has been crushed and added into our current compost cage. Not only does it add more 'browns' (carbon) to help even out the carbon/nitrogen ratio but also acts as a sponge so that will hold more moisture in the pile. Another kind local has offered as much duckweed as we want from their pool that has been turned into a pond. It will most definitely come in handy as there are no trees left to prune back here for the next compost cage.

Shredded paper also helps to add bulk to the compost pile.

We are fortunate that we get a fair bit collected for us by friends and family as well as the free 'newspaper' that Bianca collects on her evening commute. We mainly add the soiled shredded paper from the chickens nesting box as the bulk of what we collect and shred goes into the worm farm.

I hope that gives you a few ideas on how you can gather resources for your next compost pile or the vermicompost farm from local sources for free or very little outlay.

A wander through the patch

Thought I'd do a bit of a rundown on what's going on in the patch now that spring has well and truly arrived. The weather has been great with a few days in the mid 30°C's and nice mild evenings. We haven't had much rain but I dare not wish for any as that could come back to bite me in the rear.

The front patch

The front beds have been producing a decent amount of food for us so far this season. We have been very pleased with the amount of asparagus that we've been able to pick. The plants' spear production has slowed down a bit with only a few being ready for harvest every couple of days and most of them have become my breakfast as I do my morning wander through the patch. ;-)

graphics8

The perpetual spinach is being harvested with a fair bit for both ourselves and the chooks to munch on. The chickens are getting some leaves every few days and we are having a meal or two a week from the small stand we have growing here. We're mainly using it in dishes like vegetable frittatas, mashed through roasted pumpkin/squash as well as in one of my favourite home-made 'fast food' treats: spinach, feta, olive and sun-dried tomato pasties.

The corn in the front yard is also going great guns.

I have noticed a few small potential corn cobs growing out from between the leaves and stalk on a few plants but there are no signs of the tassels forming at the top of the plant yet. Another bed will be planted out in the next week or so with others later so we can have a continuous supply of sweet corn all the way through into winter.

The next bed to be planted with corn currently has some broccoli in it that was let go to seed. As the broccoli wasn't really intended for the table and only for seed collection, we didn't mind that some aphids infested the branches. They quickly built up in numbers but I wasn't worried as they attracted a load of ladybugs that also decided to call the broccoli home. The ladybugs have multiplied to the point that we now have hundreds of them in all stages of development crawling over the plants and feasting on the aphids. I posted a clip to our YouTube channel for anyone interested in having a look at the different stages of the ladybugs' life cycle.

After we have collected all the seed we need, the remaining branches with ladybugs on them will be placed in the hoop house out the back to help increase the population there. Hopefully they will keep any whitefly or aphid infestation under control while the adults may help in pollinating the plants.

There will also be a couple of carrot flower heads dry enough to collect seeds from over the next week. I'm really looking forward to growing some carrots from some seed we have saved ourselves. In the next blog I will include a bit of a look at collecting the seeds from these and a few other plants.

Bits out the back

The hoop house out the back has been extended a little to allow more shade around the aquaponics area. It is not a lot but should be enough to set up some NFT tubes to grow some leafy crops in. A few of the plants in the backyard patch have really taken off over the last few weeks. The long purple eggplants have again proven to us that they are one of the most productive varieties we've grown.

I was planning on frying the first lot for some vegie burgers but decided on grilling them with a bit of parmesan cheese on top instead. It made for a very tasty little side dish and to my surprise, was enjoyed even by Kira who isn't normally a fan of eggplant. I think we might look at removing one of the udumalpet eggplants as this one plant will give us more than we need methinks. The mouse melons have also picked up with the warmer weather sending out new sections of vine over the top of the shade house already. The vine is covered in female and male flowers at the moment but have not seen any fruit start to form as of yet. Surprisingly there is still one or two fruit on the plant that made it through winter.

Another plant that has taken off is the blueberry bush. It's absolutely loaded with fruit and I think it will be a best harvest to date.

I have already started to munch on the odd ripe one in my morning walk around, much to the displeasure of the girls. ;-)

The broad ripple yellow current tomatoes have continued to supply us with an abundance of fruit from the various volunteer plants we have growing around the yard.

It has taken a while, but the girls have finally been re-trained to cut up a small handful of these beauties for a sandwich instead of asking if we can buy some tomatoes at the store. ;-)

It takes no time at all to cut up enough to make a tasty grilled cheese and tomato for lunch. ;-)

We have also preserved a few harvests as tomato sauce to be seasoned and used at a later date as a quick meal base. Making up the sauce takes no time at all really - it's as easy as slicing all the fruit in half and adding them to a pot to stew down until the sauce starts to thicken. Once I'm happy with the consistency I use a stick blender to puree the sauce and break up all the skins as I see no point in losing any of the goodness of the fruit. These fruit have a nice sweet flavour and it really makes this sauce a bit of a stand out I think.

That's about it for this month's blog. Hope you have a crack at sourcing some free local goodies to make up some living fertiliser for the patch or even just to feed the worms or other animals you may have roaming around the place. ;-) Shall see you next month with a bit of a look at some seed saving.

Cheers & have fun in the patch,
Rob

You can get updates on Rob Bob's new gardening adventure blogs on the Simple Savings Facebook page

or in our Members' Blog section.

10. From Last Month: Instant Entertaining

Last month Karyn emailed us about ideas for entertaining unexpected guests:

"Please help! I work really hard at sticking to our food budget so there are rarely treats or fancy food in my fridge. While this is fantastic for our budget, I am sometimes caught out when unexpected guests drop by and I really don't have anything 'nice' to give them (unless they are happy with frozen home-made biscuits or vegie sticks and mayonnaise!). I'd love some ideas for savoury, quick entertainers that I can keep stocked in the cupboard, freezer or long-term in the fridge so that I can serve something tasty for those 'pop-in' visitors. Does anyone have recipes or ideas?"

Keep baking on hand for a homely treat

Why do we get stressed out when visitors pop in? We seem to forget that they came to see US, they don't necessarily need fancy food! A plate of home-made biscuits is always a welcome sight to visitors, or do some baking when you have some spare time and keep it in the freezer for these sort of occasions. A loaf of gingerbread, banana bread or similar can be pre-sliced and then frozen. Just take out the slices you need, toast them gently and enjoy with butter and jam if liked. You can do the same with pikelets too. Delicious and easy and guests always love them!

Contributed by: Margaret

Don't let visitors eat into your budget!

We often feel under pressure to feed and provide for our guests, even unexpected ones, when the reality is they probably don't need anything to eat and will accept food out of politeness or maybe if it's a treat, just because it is yummy!

If guests are arriving outside of the main meal; especially if they are only popping in, then try offering just a cuppa. Otherwise try offering a healthy lunch or snack from what you have around. Some ideas include:

Vegie sticks with whatever dips you already have (you can tip the dip into a small bowl and re-fresh with some lemon juice if you need to) are yummy and healthy.
Chopped fruit with some plain or fruit yoghurt dip.
Some savoury things that might be good for re-heating from the freezer such as mini quiche or sausage rolls.
Have a variety of dried fruit and nuts on hand so you can make a mix to put into a bowl to feed guests.
Offer them a sandwich; you can make it a little bit fancy by making them club-style and cutting the crusts off (save the crusts to make breadcrumbs!).

If anyone questions a change from what you would normally provide and you don't want to explain your budget, just tell them you are trying to avoid having any treat foods in the house because you/husband are watching your waistlines. This will probably save your guests' waistlines too as they don't need any sugary biscuits or cakes!

Contributed by: Alison B

Treat your guests without breaking the budget

I never get stuck for a tasty, low-cost snack to serve to unexpected guests! I just keep a jar of corn relish in the pantry, a tub of cream cheese in the fridge and a loaf of bread in the freezer. Mix the relish and cream cheese together and you have a delicious dip to be served with savoury biscuits or toast fingers. I also keep an eye out for boxes of Chinese nibbles such as wontons or spring rolls on special and keep those in the freezer as well. These can be quickly heated in the oven and served with sweet chilli or soy sauce. Your guests will be delighted with the company and the yummy treats and best of all it doesn't break the budget!

Contributed by: Patricia

Hummus dip - no tahini required

This home-made hummus dip is easy and cheap to make and doesn't call for tahini as most recipes do. If you have a tin of chickpeas in the cupboard, you have a dip! You need:

1 tin garbanzo beans/chickpeas
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp cumin

Blend all ingredients together until smooth and creamy. Serve immediately with pita bread, pita chips or vegies. Store in an airtight container for up to three days. To make it even easier you can keep pita bread or tortillas in the freezer and defrost in the microwave or oven. Cut them up before you freeze and you can then just toast in the oven. Or keep a packet of rice crackers in the pantry for such occasions only.

Contributed by: Andie

Keep snacks simple and tasty

We don't get stressed out when unexpected guests turn up. If we feel the need to put food out we usually have cashews in the cupboard, bought on special. These, accompanied by sundried tomatoes and some feta or cream cheese or home-made yoghurt cheese, make a great and fancy dip. Simple Jatz crackers (or similar) topped with a slice of cheese and tomato is pretty good as well. When all else fails, visitors who show up unannounced turn up to enjoy your company, not get fed something fancy and cause undue stress to the host!

Contributed by: Coops

You can't go past crackers for a cheap feed

For a quick, easy, cheap and fairly long lasting treat, you cannot go past crackers. You can serve them with whatever! Inexpensive water crackers last forever in a drawer or an air tight container; simply top with whatever is available at the time. Cheese, tomato, ham or luncheon, pickles - even jam which is a favourite of mine, the list goes on. Great in an emergency when unexpected guests drop in. Very versatile - and if time or humidity has softened them somewhat, simply put them in the oven at 170C for a few minutes to crisp them up again! However, I still remember the best budget snack I ever had one day when I dropped in on a friend who was as poor as a church mouse. I STILL remember with pleasure the potato she sliced and pan fried - and that was over 55 years ago!

Contributed by: Sylvia

Turn leftover pastry into posh nibbles

If you have leftover puff pastry, you have a low-cost delicious snack! Whether it's in sheets or leftover strips from previous baking, there are all kinds of things you can make with them. For example, with some tasty cheese added you can twist strips of pastry into spirals. While you're at it you can add anything that takes your imagination - chopped olives, herbs and so on. These can be kept in the freezer until needed, then popped in the oven for 15 minutes. The result? Delicious 'freshly made' treats! Add a little cracked salt or some chopped fresh herbs from the garden when serving for added flair. Or, you could experiment with jam or Nutella and top with icing sugar, yum! You could even use leftover bolognaise sauce - just seal the pastry strips, then gently twirl and add shredded cheese to serve. See how many different ways you can create!

Contributed by: Eileen

Crackers and cheese are sure to please!

Entertaining guests who drop in without warning is never a problem in our house! I keep some blue cheese (you may prefer another kind of fancy cheese) in the fridge and some fancy crackers in the pantry - the family knows these aren't for general consumption and don't touch them. Keep an eye on the date of the cheese and every now and again you get a treat without having visitors as if it's not used you need to eat it before the expiry date - shame! However, with neighbours like ours who like to wander over with a glass of wine in hand, it's great to be able to put these on the table.

Contributed by: Jaybee

Keep cookie dough in the freezer

If you keep a batch of cookie dough in the freezer, unexpected guests are quick to feed! I use the well-loved $4 biscuit recipe from the Vault and $21 Challenge book. Simply make in bulk then freeze until required. Once needed you just take however many you need and cook them in about 12 minutes. The longest wait is for the oven to heat up!

Contributed by: Yummy Mummy

Everybody loves toasties!

For a filling and tasty snack when unexpected extras arrive, toasties are always a good back up. They can be prepared when you have something else cooking in the oven, then cooked once your dinner or baking is taken out. They also freeze well, and can be reheated from frozen. You can make them as simple or as fancy as you like.

Use any type of stale bread, or buy the cheapest supermarket bread. One method I like is to first spread the bread with butter. Next, mix a packet each of grated cheese and bacon pieces with two tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce and two beaten eggs and spread this mixture evenly over the bread. Or, mix three cups of grated cheese, a packet of French Onion soup, two eggs and half a cup of milk. You can also top your bread with anything you might use for a pizza - spread the bread with tomato paste or home-made tomato sauce. We like cheese, ham, capsicum and sliced olives with a sprinkle of ground oregano. Bake at 180C until golden brown, around 20 minutes. Cool on a wire rack to ensure they stay crisp.

Contributed by: Donna

Fun food for guests of all ages

Feeding unexpected guests doesn't have to be expensive or difficult - in fact it can be fun! Keep some Hundreds and Thousands on hand in your pantry. Even adults love fairy bread (buttered pieces of bread with Hundreds and Thousands sprinkled on top)! Or, do what my mother does and sprinkle a mixture of cinnamon and sugar on top of buttered bread, or simply drizzle honey over buttered toast. Another tip if you have the time to make them is to buy the cheap store brand cake packets (about $0.89c) and make up cupcakes or small round cakes for treats that cost less than $2.00.

In summer, provide a cool treat for guests by freezing juice or mixing up a packet of pudding or jelly or cordial in ice cube trays with ice-block sticks inserted into each tray. Or simply use regular ice-block trays. These make fun icy treats for kids and adults alike.

Salsa and chips is a nice little treat. Make your own chips with thinly sliced potatoes or carrots or kale, then either fry in oil on the stove top or in the oven. You can even make your own salsa and can in small jars so once opened they don't spoil before you use them up.

Contributed by: Beth

Quick and delicious mushroom pate

This home-made mushroom pate is great for serving guests with crackers or toast. It freezes well too. You need:

250g mushrooms, finely chopped (or you can use frozen ones)
1 finely chopped onion or 1 clove garlic, crushed
100g butter
90g cream cheese
A few drops of Worcestershire sauce

Melt the butter in a small saucepan and add onion/garlic and mushrooms. Simmer gently for four minutes until just tender then blend with remaining ingredients - I use a stick blender. Refrigerate or freeze in small containers. If heated it also makes a lovely sauce for pasta or steak!

Contributed by: Sam

Impressive yet easy snack options

When it comes to finding low-cost nibbles to feed unexpected guests, my two stand-bys never fail to please! The first is puff pastry, salsa dip and grated cheese. Just cut the sheets of pastry into eight sections, defrost slightly, then press into a muffin or small cake pan. Add about a quarter to half a teaspoon of salsa dip and sprinkle with a little grated cheese. Cook for 10 minutes at 180C.

Second is a long bread roll, grated onion, salami, tomato paste and grated cheese. For quickness I cut the bread roll on the diagonal when fresh, then place in a plastic bag and keep in the freezer. I also do the same with the salami. When guests come, I just take the bread out and lightly cover with some tomato paste, then sprinkle over the grated onion, top with the salami and then the grated cheese. Place under the grill and cook until the cheese melts - quick and easy!

Contributed by: Lesley

Feed guests in a minute with freezer scones

I make my own delicious scones using just four ingredients. I always keep a batch in the freezer for a cheap, quick and tasty solution when unexpected guests arrive. A minute in the microwave and you have food on the table!

My recipe is:

2 cups self raising flour
1 cup icing sugar
1 cup cream
1/4 cup milk

Mix all the ingredients together but don't knead or over mix. Pat the dough into a flat square and cut out your scones. Bake in a moderate oven for about 10 minutes or until 'done' and golden brown on top. Leave to cool, then pop in the freezer and use as needed.

Contributed by: Robyne

11. This Month's Help Request: Caravanning in Comfort

Gabriel has emailed asking for some help! She writes:

"We are taking our family (three kids) away in a caravan for the first time in the Christmas holidays. We haven't done this before but I want to make it a great holiday for my family. Can you ask your readers to share their tips on caravanning, cooking, storage, cramped living and keeping kids entertained at night/during bad weather or any other clever ideas they have? Thank you."

If you have any pearls of wisdom you'd like to share with Gabriel, please send them in to us here.

12. Goodbye For Now!

Well, that's your Simple Savings Newsletter for November and we hope you get out into your community and spread some 'local love'! Please let us know what hidden gems you find in your neighbourhood.

Our members are hugely important to us and we love hearing from you all! So, next time you're on the website, why don't you get in touch and say 'G'day'! Let us know what you would like to see more of in our newsletter or any suggestions you have for something new to try. We love receiving your clever ideas!

Till next time...

All the best,
Fiona

November 2017 - Simple Savings Newsletter

Simple Savings Newsletter - November 2017

This issue includes:

Return of Hint of the Week
What is the Savings Vault?
New Site Coming Soon
2018 Simple Savings Calendar
Funky, Affordable T-Shirts
Christmas Gift Ideas
Thank You

Hi,

How are you going? I hope you have been well.

I'm sorry we have been a bit quiet of late. I hope I can make it up to you in 2018.

Thank you for sticking by us and supporting Simple Savings.

Merry Christmas!
Fiona

1. Return of Hint of the Week

Our popular Hint of the Week is back!

Here's your chance to win a 12-month membership (valued at $27) by sharing your best money saving idea with us. Each week we'll be awarding one membership to the Savings Vault for the best hint.

Our tips for writing a prize winning hint are:- Make it helpful, interesting and unique. Include things like how much money you saved, how you saved it, what you did and how much you paid.

Click here to enter your hint. (This will take you to the submission page.)

Our first winner is Shazdove. Shazdove has won a 12-month subscription to the Savings Vault for sharing her tasty tip!

Save $15 With Offcuts From The Deli

I will save approximately $15 per fortnight on cold meats by buying offcuts. I was in Foodland's deli shopping for some ham when I noticed a tray with 'offcuts' for $4.99 per kilo. I purchased a kilo thinking I may be able to use it for pizza topping. When I opened it up I discovered a lovely variety of freshly sliced meats. I made and froze two loaves of sandwiches and still had enough for pizzas. It's a great saving.

2. What is the Savings Vault?

The Savings Vault is the premium area of Simple Savings and includes our 18,608 edited and carefully categorised money saving hints, our fantastic Forum, and premium Downloads. A Savings Vault membership gives you 12 months of access to all of this, and more! Click here if you would like to buy a membership.

3. New Site Coming Soon!

This year Matt has been rebuilding the Simple Savings website from the inside out. With 18,608 hints, 4,038,057 posts in the Forum and 15 years of code to re-write it has been a massive and exciting task.

Matt is almost complete - we hope. ;-) If you happen to have any spare prayers or chocolate, send them his way...

(At this stage he doesn't need anymore t-shirts. You will understand why as you get further down the newsletter.)

4. 2018 Simple Savings Calendar

We want your 2018 to be a happy, healthy and wealthy year, so the Simple Savings Calendar is back, and it's chock full of inspiration. It's free to download here.

5. Funky, Affordable T-Shirts

Cool t-shirts are a great gift, but finding them for a good price is next to impossible. I found I can make funny shirts with an inkjet printer, Adobe Creative Cloud, t-shirt transfer paper and an iron for $5-$10 per shirt.

Since not everyone has Adobe Creative Cloud access, or can make their own graphic to put on a shirt, we have started making them for you.

Below is a sample of the transfers we have made for you to use. (Click on the image to get the transfer.) There are many more on the site, here.

To see the rest of the transfers click here.

Here are some of the finished shirts:-

6. Christmas Gift Ideas

If you don't want to make people t-shirts this year we have also put together a list of quick, frugal gift ideas to get you thinking.

Headlamp
Chocolate
Outdoor game
Badminton
Totem tennis
Twister
Jenga
Wooden puzzle
Kite
Soccer ball
Totem soccer
Bubble bath
Water fight balloons
iTunes card
Board game
Ball
Torch
Bath bomb
Pool toys
Skipping rope
Chocolate skipping rope
Books
Colouring book with pencils/crayons
Favourite tea
Nice coffee
Choc dipped everything (cherries, teaspoons)
T-shirts (just in case you hadn't thought of that one)
Potpourri
Hankies
Lollies
Beach towel
Online game voucher
Balloons
Paper
Pencils
Textas
Craft supplies
Socks
Chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate
Underwear
Spotify account
Novelty erasers
Water pistol
Basket of fruit
T-shirt :-)
Movie ticket
Hair elastics
Ribbons
Nerf gun
Nerf gun pellets

7. Thank you

In closing, I'd like to say a big, heartfelt thank you from our family to yours. Simple Savings is now 15 years young and has grown into the wonderful, caring, loyal community we have today. Thank you for being part of something special.

We look forward to more exciting developments coming up.

See you next month!
Fiona Lippey

October 2011 - Simple Savings Newsletter

"Secrets to Saving Money in Australia" Free Newsletter - October 2011

This issue includes:-

Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: No Jacket Required?
November is Nude Food Month!
Great Aussie Street Party
Hidden Gems Competition Winner
Best Members' Blog: This Month's Winner
Lin's Garden Diary
Best of the Vault: The 3 R's
Best of the Forum: Nude Food is Just the Beginning!
Cooking with Mimi: Berry Yummy Muesli Balls and Nude Lasagne
Penny's Blog: A Song to Get Me Home
From Last Month: Help Me Conquer My Shopping Bag Mountain!
This Month's Help Request: Unique Christmas Gifts
Savings Story: Satisfaction Guaranteed!
So Long, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, Goodbye :-D

Hello,

Guess what? We have good news. The $21 Challenge book is being released in America this month! It is both really exciting and really scary. I hope they like it. It is already on sale at Amazon. Here is the link. If you have five minutes spare can you please review the book on Amazon? It looks so lonely without any reviews.

Your comments such as the ones below are so encouraging to $21 Challenge newbies. I hope the people in America find the Challenge just as helpful and enjoyable as these families have!

"I bought your book last week and I just love it. I always thought I was good with money, but seriously, your book is the best idea giver I have seen. I feel like a part of a special group and reading all the stuff on the Internet is so good too. I was nearly thinking I wish I was one of those families that spent $300 a week on shopping so I could see what a massive difference it could make, but really, saving what I did this week is huge. More importantly, it has given me the confidence in knowing that even after losing my job, I can feed my kids and pay the bills and still laugh at the end of the day. That is something you can't put a price on. Thanks so much you guys." (Katherine B)

"Just wanted to let you know how fantastic your site is. I started the $21 Challenge on the weekend and I have had a fantastic weekend with kids cooking up a storm. I will never buy pizza bases again, mine are too yummy. OK, it takes a little extra time and planning but boy is it worth it! I felt a sense of achievement and empowered. I just hope the rest of the week goes as well. If all goes well, I plan to attempt the $21 Challenge every three months and with the savings plan a holiday for the family." (Gabrielle Hayes)

"The $21 Challenge book has been awesome, we have used it a lot over the past few weeks as we are packing and moving and trying to cut costs everywhere. We have a family of seven and have spent just $40 on food each week, for the past three weeks!" (Colleen Ross)

"Thank you so much for your site. It took me a long time to bite the bullet and subscribe. In two days, you have saved me $300! Thank you so very much, I am sure that it won't be long and I'll have another huge saving." (Amanda R)

Thank you everyone for your terrific feedback! We really appreciate every single tip we receive every week too, so keep sending them in. As well as helping other members to save money, you could also win yourself a free 12 month Vault membership (value $47) in our weekly Hint of the Week Competition!

P.S. Thank you to everyone who asked when the 2012 calendar will be ready. Rest assured it's on its way!

P.P.S. If you would like to order your friends a copy of the $21 Challenge book for Christmas, you will need to order it before the 30th November. The Lippeys are going on holiday in early December.

1. Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: No Jacket Required?

"Hello, Love, how was your meeting?" smiled Pete. "Great! We had a lot of fun," grinned Sally. "Oh - and I've got an invitation from Hanna. She wants us all to go nude together this month." "She - she does?" Pete narrowly avoided spilling his coffee all down his shirt. "Well that's a surprise; I would never have thought she was the type!" "Oh yes, Hanna and John have been nudists for years!" Sally told him earnestly.

"They have? I can't believe John hasn't mentioned it before! Honestly, you think you know a bloke and then they go and surprise you like that," Pete shook his head in wonder. "Well I don't know, Sal, how do you feel about it? I mean, it's a pretty big step." "Oh come on Pete, the whole Savings Group is going nude - we can't be the only ones. It'll be fun!" Sally insisted.

"Well, if you're sure," Pete sighed. "So where are we going nude then, some sort of camp? At least we won't need to pack much I suppose!" he chortled. "Camp? No, of course not!" Sally said, bemused. "We'll all be doing it in our own homes, for the whole month." "A whole MONTH? Sally we can't! What if the neighbours see? And the kids - what will they think?" Pete babbled. Suddenly the penny dropped and Sally burst into hysterical laughter. "Oh, Pete don't tell me - you didn't seriously think - you haven't seen the calendar have you? It's Nude FOOD month!"

2. November is Nude Food Month!

The Nude Food Challenge is one of the favourite months in the Lippey household. It gives Fiona an excuse to eat yummier food than usual. It gives her an excuse to bake extra batches of fresh cookies, buy extra fresh fish from the markets and plant extra vegies in their yard. When we first ran it in 2007 the Lippeys loved it so much it became a way of life. Plastic wrap became a thing of the past and Fiona hasn't needed to buy any since. Unfortunately old habits die hard and she ended up with four rolls of the stuff before she worked out that she didn't need it on her shopping list anymore!

The reason why Fiona loves nude food so much is best explained in this article she wrote back in 2007. We rarely repeat articles but in the case of this one it's a must-read:

"Many people would describe modern packaging as a massive leap forward for mankind - but I'm not so sure. While all our technological advancements have made cooking easier (I love my oven and blender), when it comes to the quality of the food I think we have gone backwards. The introduction of disposable packaging means that instead of eating fresh food from the yard, our food is now several days, weeks or even months old by the time it gets to us. My favourite example is vacuum packed meat. It might look lovely and fresh in its fancy plastic bag but thanks to that bag the meat can be three months old and full of amines - yet sold to us as 'fresh'!

Once upon a time all our food was rudie nude. That is, food with very little clothing. No disposable plastic, no pretty labels, no sneaky tricks, just fantastic 'fresh' food. The wonderful thing about nude food is that it is fresher, tastier, cheaper and more nutritious than its heavily packaged counterparts.

Nude food is wonderful because it is cheaper. It costs money to package food; they need processing plants, transportation, petrol and all these costs add up and are passed on to us, 'the consumer'. So this month set yourself a goal to stop paying premium prices for earth vandalising, expensive packages by making the effort to learn how to grow some of your own food. This month prepare yourself a patch of soil, buy some sturdy food plants and give growing your own food a go. After all, food you grow yourself is virtually free.

Nude food is fresher. The whole point of packaging is to extend the shelf life of a product. That's jargon for making sure the food rots slowly. Well to be frank I don't want to eat rotting food, even if it is only partly decomposed. I love my food fresh! Biscuits taste the best snatched from the baking tray after they have come out of the oven, not from a throwaway plastic tray taken from a throwaway plastic wrapper. So this month set yourself a goal to bake everything yourself. Don't buy anything you can easily bake at home.

Nude food is tastier. The most delicious meal I have ever eaten was completely nude. It was 13 years ago in Thailand. We were travelling down a river in tropical heat without a fridge. So instead of bringing chicken fillets, our guides brought the whole 'live' chook. At tea time it was discreetly dispatched, plucked and barbecued on an open fire. No seasonings, no herbs, just fresh cooked meat. It was divine! Even nine years later I still salivate just thinking about it. That chicken made me realise how much we have lost. The older the food is the less natural flavour it has and the more things we need to do to it so it tastes nice. All the seasonings and flavours we add are just trying to cover the fact that the food we are eating is old. I really want to eat fresh food - but I can't bring myself to kill a chicken! So instead I'm going to go to the local wharf once a week this month and buy the morning's catch, right next to the trawler. If you live inland, get some freshly slaughtered livestock. Let's see if we can all eat one really fresh meal a week this month.

Nude food is healthier. Nude food is so delicious and fresh. It doesn't need preservatives or chicken salt to give it flavour. It tastes divine just the way it is. When it comes to fruit juice, it's the phytonutrients in plants that contain most of the flavour and a lot of the health benefits. Once a plant is juiced it oxidises very quickly and the phytonutrients are lost. So even though buying orange juice at the supermarket is convenient, getting out the juicer is much better for you. So this month avoid store bought juice, instead treat your taste buds and squeeze yourself something nude. Then taste the difference!"

Since the above article was written progress of sorts has been made. We now have many nude lunches and that's a fantastic place to start but nude food isn't just about having a healthy lunch box; it's about much more. It's about growing your own food. It's about getting high quality meat for little money. It's about cooking from scratch, because it is the best, healthiest and cheapest way to live.

So this month have a competition with yourself or your neighbours to see how many nude meals you can make from scratch. How many batches of biscuits can you cook? How many scrummy cakes can you bake? Can you eat one meal each week that is really fresh? Fish fresh from the wharf? Meat fresh from the butcher? Who can get the best, freshest food? Come on, join the rudie revolution and go nude with us this month!

3. Great Aussie Street Party!

The date for the Great Aussie Street Party is only a month away! Have you got your invites out yet? If not, get them printed and in your neighbours' mail boxes quick as not only will you be bringing your neighbourhood together but you could be in with a chance to win a fantastic cash prize!

That's Life! magazine have once again got behind our Great Aussie Street Party and are running a fantastic competition. To enter, you must hold a street party on either Saturday 3rd December or Sunday 4th December 2011. Then tell That's Life! in 500 words or less all about your party and send in your story with an entry form and at least one photograph. Easy - not to mention a lot of fun! You can download your entry form, as well as invitations from www.thatslife.com.au or you can find it in Issues 45 and 46 of That's Life! magazine. There is a prize of $1000 cash for the first prize winner and five $100 runners-up prizes. Entries close January 5th 2012. Visit www.thatslife.com.au for full terms and conditions. Have a fantastic street party and good luck in the competition!

4. Hidden Gems Competition Winner

Our Hidden Gems directory is designed to help members find it easier to source the best deals in their area. Whenever you come across a real gem of a store, enter it in our Hidden Gems directory and you could be in to win our monthly prize of $100 cash! This is our way of saying thank you for helping other members save by sharing your knowledge. The more information you can give us, the better your chance of winning. This month's winner is Treasure Market Caboolture as nominated by HappyHappyJoyJoy. Recycling markets like these are great and who knows, you may have a treasure trove just like this one hiding near you! Be sure to tell us about it if you do! Here's what makes this one such a great example of a Hidden Gem.

Treasure Market Caboolture

51 McNaught Road (via Pasturage Road) Off Bribie Island Road, Caboolture, Queensland, Australia

Do you love to hunt down a bargain? Are you into recycling? Or are you just looking for somewhere different to mosey around on the weekend?

Then head on out to the Treasure Market at Caboolture. It's the recycling area right next door to the landfill/rubbish dump. Don't let that put you off though! Instead consider the things that people throw away - furniture, outdoor furniture including sun loungers, exercise equipment, gardening tools including pots and stands, outdoor play equipment, books, clothes, electrical goods - all it needs is some TLC and you have yourself a real bargain! The adage of one man's trash is another man's treasure is 100% true!

It's fun for the whole family. Need a new doghouse for Rosie? For around $10, you can get one here. We will always remember a family of three little girls with their mum and dad and the way the kids yelled when they found a 'house for Rosie'.

Looking for deck chairs for the summer? There's a separate area for these, $5.00 each. Yes, you read it right! $5.00 each. And, sun loungers? $10 each. Outdoor tables from $5 to $20, and that's for the big, 'seats eight humans at once' size tables!

Hoping for a new dining room table with chairs? I saw a lady buy a complete set in pristine condition for less than $100 and that included six matching chairs. I've even seen a fabulous 'Fred Flintstone' lounge suite with matching full length mirror, snapped up for a bargain price.

All this and more at the Treasure Market at Caboolture.

Fabulous finds I've gotten myself: matching surround sound speakers for my PC $10 (and yes, they work!) and for hubby: a fabulous La-Z-Boy armchair for $20. It needed a good brush down and vacuum, and now it takes pride of place in our sitting room. We both cannot believe that someone would toss out such a comfy lazy boy chair in such good condition. Maybe someone was moving house and ran out of time in terms of listing it to sell? Maybe someone updated their lounge and the chair didn't match? Whatever the reason, we're overjoyed to have picked up something we otherwise would not have been able to afford. My latest project is two bedside tables - I'm repainting them cream - and they cost me $5.00, and I'm recovering a barstool I bought for $3.00.

Those in the know turn up bright and early to get the best stuff. Take your trailer with you. The one time we didn't take the trailer I spied an outdoor bamboo bar with two matching bar stools. Couldn't fit them in the car, so someone else snapped up a bargain!

They are open Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 8am-1pm except Good Friday, Anzac Day & Christmas Day.

Tip #1: To get the best deals, be there early! The Treasure Market opens at 8am and the staff transfers over all the 'new' finds first thing in the morning. We arrived at 9am one Sunday and watched with sad eyes as someone else trotted by with two gorgeous, large size lounge rugs. If only we'd been there sooner! *great wailing and gnashing of teeth*

Tip #2: The money the Treasure Market makes goes directly to paying the wages of the three staff. So they're not there to rip you off. They work hard, they're decent, friendly people and moving stuff through the market is their job. So no worries on getting a good price. Everything is a good price!

Tip #3: Take your trailer. First in, first served. There is no holding area for goodies bought, so if you want something, you will need to take it with you on the day. True, I've seen couples pay for a dining room set, and then the wife sat on one of the chairs whilst hubby went home to get their trailer. But unless there are two of you, definitely consider taking your trailer, especially if you live locally.

Congratulations on being this month's winner and a huge pat on the back to the Treasure Market for providing consistently outstanding customer service and value for money! You can enter your own Hidden Gems into our monthly competition here. Thank you and good luck!

5. Best Member's Blog: This Month's Winner

This month's winner is Rob for this extract from his blog Picture of the Day. A perfect choice for Nude Food month we're sure you'll agree!

Silverbeet Pesto

Taken from this Forum thread
Original version by Elizabeth Thompson.

We have an abundance of Mangel leaves at the moment and have been eyeing this recipe off for a while on the Forum so gave it a whirl last night...
It was changed a bit from the original so here is my version...

10 large silverbeet stems and leaves chopped then steamed with a little water in bottom of a pan until softened then drain... (I only used 3 with about 15 Mangelwurzel leaves as they are smaller...)

10 small cloves of garlic
1/8 cup Rice bran oil or whatever oil you prefer
1/8 cup Balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup Black Spanish Olives
1/4 cup Basil, I used Purple Opal Basil
1/2 cup of Romano or Parmesan Cheese

Add all the above ingredients except for the cheese into a food processor & blend until smooth while the Silverbeet is still hot.
Leave to cool then blend the cheese through well...
We had it on Rib Eye steak topped with Pan fried mushrooms.. The sides were a Home grown Kohlrabi Coleslaw with a Bean & Corn salad... Was going to be potato salad but I changed my mind...

Congratulations Rob, what a fantastic achievement! To read more from him or any of our other members' blogs, click here

6. Lin's Garden Diary

What a fantastic start to our new vegie garden! In just four weeks we have gone from seeds to fabulous looking plants! The kids and I are so proud of our new collection of greenery - all we require now is the vegie garden! I know, I know - I said I had set out on a mission to create this fantastic new vegie garden and haven't even got one yet! It's OK though; my wonderful hubby Lee assures me he will help build it this week - yay! You see I have a very good excuse - we are about to start building a new house and couldn't even place the vegie garden until we had confirmation from the council as to the house's location.

I have learned a lot over the past few weeks - one thing is that having a 'garden diary' is definitely the key to success. It allows me to keep an accurate record of when my seeds were planted, type of weather, when harvesting is due and so on but I just know it will be a Godsend over the next few months or even years to come, to be able to refer back to. If you are anything like me I easily forget and this allows nothing to be missed!

I have also learned that having a 'gardening mentor' is extremely valuable and is providing me with more and more confidence in the garden! All you need is someone who has a healthy looking vegie garden - then pick their brains, and voila, you too can have one just like them!

The other thing is it's not such a good idea to drink wine and plant your seeds, as I found out when my new neighbour decided to introduce himself with a bottle of wine. Check out this blog post.

Oh and one last thing - myself and the kids have had an absolute ball doing this together. Sebastian can now tell the difference between a tomato plant, lettuce, radish, carrot and coriander. He was really tested last weekend when I had a brainwave! Because of my wine effort when planting, I had an abundance of tomato plants, lettuces and beetroot, so I thought the kids could sell them! It was our rubbish recycling day and our neighbours had a heap of large Coke and lemonade bottles. I cut the bottoms off, poked in some holes, filled each one with potting mix, wrapped newspaper around each one to hide the ugly looking container, then finished it with a raw piece of string wrapped around to make it look pretty and wrote the type of plant on the front. The kids dragged their small table from the kitchen to the front of the section, Seb made a STOP sign and we sat there for just over an hour selling plants! Every time a car came past Seb would hold up his stop sign and Zoe would wave frantically. Not everyone stopped, but a heap did and the kids made $14. They then divided their earnings between them, putting half in their saving money box and the other half in their wallets to spend. I was so proud of Seb telling people what plants they were!

'Lasagne gardening' for the lazy gardener!

I have engrossed myself in lots of gardening books and came across this which my 'gardening mentor' also recommended and agreed would work for me (the lazy gardener!). The thought of having to pick up a spade on a regular basis to turn my compost or remember to go and grab some kind of horse poo and straw to add is all in the too hard basket for me! So this lasagne layering technique sounds awesome! I also read a fantastic hint recently on the Forum saying you can do this in smaller pots too, then plant a herb on the top. When the herb is finished or you need more compost simply transfer the herb and use the compost in the bottom to add to your garden.

Lasagne gardening (also known as a 'no dig' garden)

Find a spot to plant out a new vegie garden. There is no need to dig it over, simply follow these instructions.
Place layers of newspaper or cardboard over the grass area, overlapping them slightly. You could go to your local newsagent and get leftover papers. Make sure you remove all the glossy printed ones.
Saturate the paper and/or cardboard.
Add a thin layer (approximately one inch) of horse manure on top of newspaper (go to your local horse stable and see if you can collect horse manure - they will most likely give it to you for free).
Next, add a thin layer of hay.
Add compost

Now repeat the layering. Newspaper (then water), manure, hay or leaves, compost. Repeat this two to three, even four times, then add a good quality soil to the top

This no dig gardening on top of existing ground is very easy, cheap on materials and has all the nutrients to grow healthy vegetables.

There are many good reasons to grow your own food; your vegies will be free of toxins and herbicides, they are picked fresh, taste better, have a higher nutritional value and less expense!

So join me in this month's Nude Food Challenge and create your own vegie garden!

PS: Just wanted to share with you one last thing that happened whilst eating my salad at dinner tonight. I said to Seb and Zoe, 'You know what? Very soon we will be able to pick all these vegies from our new garden!' To which Zoe replied, 'We can even pick our own cheese!' Don't you just love what comes out of kids' mouths? I will update you next week with a blog and photo of the new vegie patch!

I will continue to blog my gardening journey here between newsletters and would love any savvy tips from members. Happy gardening everyone!

7. Best of the Vault: The 3 R's

This month, we want you to contribute as little as possible to landfill. Say 'no' to plastic wrap and Styrofoam and 'yes' to Nude Food! Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Remember to first 'reduce' (do I really need to buy this item with all its packaging?), then 'reuse' (where else in my home can I put this item to use?), and finally 'recycle' (where can I donate this item so someone else can use it?). Whatever is left over you can 'compost'! Imagine the money saved just by doing the 3 R's! Here are some terrific tips from the Vault to get you started.

Re-sealable bags and lunches

This tip for reducing the costs of children's school lunches works on the principle that you pay less for volume and more for packaging. Instead of buying single-serve sized chips, drinks, fruit cups and so on, buy the larger (and cheaper) packets and divide them up between the children. You can use re-sealable bags (which are reusable) or small plastic containers. Not only will you save mountains of money, you will reduce your amount of rubbish.

Contributed by: Joe Butler

Compost for small gardens

This idea is for those who live in a home with a garden that is too small to have a compost bin. I use an empty garden pot and cut a square of one of those net bags oranges come in to cover the hole of the pot. Put in a layer of old potting soil (from a pot where the plants have had their day). Each day save your fruit and vegetable scraps in a container. Place in a layer of scraps, then cover with another layer of old soil. Repeat layer by layer until the pot is nearly full, ending with a layer of soil (water as you go).

Then, while the compost is breaking down and baking, plant some seasonal seedlings on top and in no time you will have potted colour and compost underneath, not only feeding your seedlings but ready for the garden when the flowers are spent at the end of the season. I sometimes benefit from crops of vegetables germinated from the seeds in the compost such as tomatoes, cucumbers, capsicum and butternut pumpkin.

This is a multi-recycling exercise using unwanted orange bags, unused pots, old soil and fruit and vegetable scraps and, of course, it is a great medium for the latest seedlings. Instead of flowers on top you could plant your favourite herbs while the compost is baking.

Contributed by: Marlene Tribbeck

Don't bottle out! Recycle your water containers!

I have found a great way of storing foods such as pasta, lentils, spaghetti and rice, by reusing the five litre plastic containers our bottled water comes in. If you have to buy bottled water then why not try a little clever recycling? Simply dry off the bottle afterwards and use it to store your main kitchen staples. Need convincing? Here are a few reasons why it's such a great idea:

They are a handy storage size, transparent and can be stored easily on or under shelves. The labels are easily removed and, with easy-to-grab handles, they are very accessible in your pantry. They are easy to top up, the contents are easy to pour and they are sturdy for long-term use. Using these bottles not only saves a lot of plastic waste, but saves money on more expensive glass storage, which is usually smaller. They also look attractive full, and can save a lot of money by having staple food easily available at low cost. Now there's NO excuse! Go on; give your water bottles a new lease of life!

Contributed by: Marie

Recycle margarine tubs for seed raising

Instead of throwing away plastic butter and margarine tubs, which are not recyclable in all areas, I use them as seed raising trays for herbs and vegetables. I punch holes in the bottom for drainage, fill them with seed raising mix or good potting mix and place the lid underneath as a saucer. Since they are small, they can be placed on a windowsill or kitchen bench where the light is good. As the seedlings grow, they can be planted out in the garden or potted up if you have a container garden. Surplus plants can be sold at fetes or given to friends and family. A simple and economical way of growing your own herbs and vegies and saving nasty plastics from going into the landfill!

Contributed by: Carol Phillips

Bonus extras for Vault members

Being a Simple Savings member offers so many benefits to help you save money. Having access to all the amazing hints and tips in the Vault can really get you saving some serious money. To reward our members, here is a small sample of the pearls of wisdom you can find locked away in the Vault.

Recycled containers for pantry storage Contributed by: Helen Muscat

Recycle roast potatoes Contributed by: Amanda W

Recycle Pringles lids for tinned food covers Contributed by: Michelle Warrener

Recycle expensive chocolate boxes for handy containers Contributed by: Annette Tinsley

8. Best of the Forum: Nude Food is Just the Beginning!

Saving money and saving the planet really do go hand in hand. Why splash your cash on something new when you can reinvent what you need from existing 'junk' you already own? Our money-conscious members will inspire you with these eco-friendly Forum threads!

The BIG swap party - recycling week November 2011

Donna is getting the party started by encouraging us all to get involved in the Planet Ark National Recycling Week. Why not host a swap party in your neighbourhood?
read more...

No need for re-sealable bags with bottle-top bags!

This is another ingenious way to recycle plastic bottles whilst reducing the need to buy resealable bags. Conscious consuming at its best!
read more...

Banning plastic is fantastic

This thread shows how easy it is to do the full nudie by banning pesky plastics from your life forever. Be inspired by our clever members!
read more...

Cling Wrap

And here are yet more industrious ideas to keep your food nude!
read more...

9. Cooking with Mimi: Berry Yummy Muesli Balls & Nude Lasagne

Now let me get one thing out of the way straight away. The Nude Food Challenge has nothing to do with eating in the buff. So you can all stop worrying. Your wibbles and wobbles are safe from scrutiny and the neighbours won't be talking about you. The Nude Food Challenge just means we want to try to prepare as much of our food this month from ingredients without packaging.

Now far from being boring as my lot predicted, with cries of 'what about Weis Bars and Magnums?' it's actually a really great way of increasing variety in your family menu. It really makes you think out of the box (pardon the pun) and reassess why you use the ingredients you do, day in, day out.

This month's offerings include a super delectable lunch box, breakfast or dessert treat and a scrummy new twist on lasagne.

Berry Yummy Muesli Balls

For one serve

Now you need to start this one a few hours ahead of when you want it. The muesli needs to soften up a bit in the yoghurt before you roll it into little balls. Make sure there's a space in your fridge for this one. In fact, put a 'reserved' sign on that space. You'll be making these often!

Equipment:

Small mixing bowl
Saucer
Fork
Tablespoon
Covered container for storage (make sure it's deep enough to store a walnut sized ball)

Ingredients:

4 tbsp of your favourite muesli
2 tbsp of your favourite thick yoghurt
2 tbsp softer berries like blackberries, mulberries or raspberries
1 cup desiccated coconut

Now you just:

Put your muesli and yoghurt into your small mixing bowl.

Place the soft, squishy berries on the saucer and use the fork to mash them up a bit. Sometimes it helps to cut them in halves or quarters first. Once they're mashed, add them to the muesli and yoghurt.

In the interests of following our nude theme, don't cover your bowl with cling wrap. Just pop a saucer over your bowl and into the fridge it goes.

Check your mixture after a couple of hours. It should be nice and firm and ready to roll into balls. If it's a bit sloppy add another dessertspoon of muesli and let it sit another hour or so. Sometimes this can happen if your yoghurt is the thin kind. No drama, this will still work, it's just getting those ratios of muesli and yoghurt at a happy medium.

Once it's about the consistency of biscuit dough you're ready to roll.

Put half of your desiccated coconut into the container you're going to use to store these little morsels. Then take your tablespoon and scoop up some of the mixture. Roll into a little ball about the size of a walnut. Drop into the coconut-lined container and repeat until the mixture is all used. You should end up with five or six yummy balls.

Take the other half of the desiccated coconut and sprinkle liberally over your muesli balls. Now gently roll and toss them until they are thoroughly coated with your coconut.

Your yummy little morsels are now ready to eat if you like, but I actually prefer to allow them to chill again so they're nice and firm.

I keep these cool in lunch boxes sitting them next to a little bottle of water that I've frozen. You could use ice packs too.

These are so addictive that you'll be hiding your share at the back of the fridge with a note on them that says 'cabbage soup' so no one else goes looking! Yum!

Nude Lasagne

Now how about a healthy, nude food, new way to serve lasagne?

It's hard to imagine lasagne as anything but sheets of pasta, oozing with cheese, bolognaise and béchamel sauce.

This whole nude food idea gave me cause to reassess the way I serve lasagne and challenged my ideas on using anything out of a packet. That's a jolly tough call. There's the pasta, the tinned tomatoes, the cheese... well, you get the idea.

So I've come up with a completely different idea. In this recipe my sliced and roasted vegies replace the pasta and a flavoursome herbed ricotta sits in place of both bolognaise and béchamel sauce. It's healthy, light, gluten-free and scrumptious and can be served hot or cold. Let's call it a Nude Summer Lasagne.

Equipment required:

Loaf tin greased with oil from the sun-dried tomatoes, and lined with non-stick baking paper
Non-stick frying pan or ridged griddle pan
3 large mixing bowls
Large microwave-safe bowl or container
Sharp knife or mandolin slicer
Vegetable peeler
Measuring cups
Kitchen tongs
Pastry brush
Foil
Large glass or coffee cup

Ingredients:

500g fresh ricotta (available at deli section of supermarket)
2 eggs
12 sun-dried tomatoes in oil, diced finely
1 tsp each dried basil, thyme, oregano and onion flakes
1/2 tsp dried garlic or one fresh clove garlic, crushed
Ground black pepper
Salt (optional)
20 leaves (1 large bunch) silverbeet
1 large sweet potato
1 large zucchini
1/4 cup water
Oil from the sun-dried tomatoes

You're going to need about 30-45 minutes for preparation of your nude lasagne, so clear the decks, take the phone off the hook and pop on your favourite music. Michael Buble, Pavarotti or Dean Martin seems very lasagne-ish to me!

Preheat your oven to 180C.

Now you can use any ricotta you like, including home-made or out of a tub. In the interests of being 'nude', I've suggested trying the one from the deli. It usually sits near the antipasto selection and looks a bit like a big round white pudding.

Plop your ricotta into one of your mixing bowls and crack the eggs over it. You're already feeling that creative vibe, aren't you? Add the basil, thyme, oregano, onion flakes, slivers of sun-dried tomato and garlic and give it all a good stir. Grind some black pepper over it while you sing 'Dat's Amore' to no one in particular. Set it aside.

Remove the spine from your silverbeet leaves and shred the leaves into large sections with your fingers. Use the silverbeet spines for another meal, like a stir-fry if you like. Scrunch the silverbeet leaves into your microwave-safe container and add a drizzle of water - about 1/4 cup is right. Pop a cover on the bowl and microwave for about four minutes on high. Remove and immediately run cold water over the leaves to freshen and cool them. With clean hands, take handfuls of the leaves and squeeze as much moisture from them as possible and drop them into your second mixing bowl. Discard the liquid. Set aside the cooked leaves.

Peel your sweet potato and slice as thinly as possible. I like to do mine lengthwise as this will help 'bind' your lasagne together more effectively for serving. This is easy if you have a mandolin slicer. Be very careful and keep your hands well away from the blade. I bought my mandolin slicer at Woolworths for just $10. Set the slices aside for a minute.

Top and tail your zucchini and slice it lengthwise into nice long wide ribbons with your mandolin slicer or sharp knife. Watch your fingers or you'll be hitting those high notes with Pavarotti!

Now put your frying pan or griddle pan over a hotplate heated to high. Use the pastry brush to lightly grease the pan with your oil from the sun-dried tomatoes.

Pan-fry each slice of sweet potato and zucchini for just a minute until golden on each side, flipping them carefully with your kitchen tongs. You want them softened, but not limp. Set them aside in your third bowl.

Now you're ready to assemble your fabulous gluten-free, nude, roasted vegetable summer lasagne.

Put your lined loaf tin on the bench in front of you and line up all the other bowls ready to go.

First do a layer of herbed ricotta. Divide the ricotta into three equal portions, separated in your mixing bowl. Spread one portion evenly in the bottom of your loaf tin.

Now take the cooked and drained silverbeet and layer that over the ricotta.

Follow with another layer of the ricotta.

Next, layer the roasted zucchini slices... yum.

Follow with another portion of ricotta.

Finally, layer your pan-fried sweet potato slices all over the top.

Use the base of your glass or coffee cup to compact the lasagne well. Just press gently all along the surface of the loaf in your tin, to make sure the layers are nicely compressed.

Pop into your oven and bake for about 45-60 minutes. Ovens vary and loaf tin sizes do too. So if your tin is larger, cook for longer.

Your lasagne is cooked when a skewer inserted into the middle goes in and comes out easily.

Remove from your oven, cover with foil and allow to sit for about 20 minutes.

Run a knife around the edges of your lasagne and very carefully, with a plate on top of the tin, invert it. Remove the baking paper and cut into thick slices to serve. If you have an electric knife, this is an easy task. Otherwise use a very sharp knife to get a nice clean slice.

Once you've done this the first time, you'll feel confident enough to vary the type and amount of vegies and ricotta to suit your own tastes.

We love eating nude. Especially with some nice Italian inspired music on the iPod. Cheeky? Nah. Healthy? You betcha!

10. Penny's Blog: A Song to Get Me Home

November 1st

Well, I did it. This humble blogger is now a marathon runner! And not a bad one as it turns out. Forgive me for writing more about raising money than saving it in the last two posts but I promise from now on things will go back to normal. Just as soon as I get off Cloud 9 that is. Forgive me also for doubling up as the following post comes from my 'Legging it for Louis' blog but I couldn't have described the experience any better and I really wanted to share it with you. So here goes! I wrote this last night, the day after the marathon:

"One of my children's all time favourite movies when they were little was 'Thunderpants'. The lead character, Patrick Smash would end each instalment of his life with 'that was the best day of my life - ever'. I hope Patrick doesn't mind too much but I'm going to pinch his catchphrase because yesterday was the best day of MY life - ever. I hope I don't bore you too much in my efforts to recall it but I want to remember as much as I can while it's fresh in my memory.

I learned a heck of a lot yesterday! The first thing I learned was that Takapuna on a Saturday night is a very noisy place. I went to bed around 9.30pm but couldn't get to sleep until around 1.00am and woke up raring to go at 3.00am. Fortunately we had to get up at 4.00am anyway and Noel made me an awesome breakfast of sausages, eggs and bagels. I've learned from experience now that this is the perfect long distance running breakfast, it works for me every time. Before I knew it we were out the door and on the way to catch the bus to Devonport. Now don't laugh but this part for me was the most traumatic. You see, ever since a school bus smashed into my car in 2005 with the kids and I all in it I have had a phobia about buses. I don't care who the driver is, I don't trust them! Especially at 5.00 in the morning when it's still dark and I'm taking a bus route which is fraught with hills and roundabouts. So, crazy as it sounds I was a lot more relaxed about running 42km than I was about the bus ride there!

I arrived at Devonport and texted Noel to say I had survived the bus trip (naturally he was surprised and relieved) and from then on time flew. Next thing I knew, 3265 marathon wannabe's were crammed behind the starting line and we were off. The next thing I learned was that the North Shore is full of hills. FULL of them - which was a bit disconcerting to someone who had had absolutely no hill training whatsoever! But either I was fitter than I thought or the hills weren't too bad. It also helped that by chance early on I bumped into Greg and Tara's brother-in-law Steven, who was also running to raise money for a friend of his. He was feeling about as confident as I was about completing the mission at hand (as in, not at all) and for the next 40km I had a familiar face and an ally. That's the great thing about something like a marathon. You're all in the same boat. You smile, you joke, you encourage, you hi-five, you hug. Even if they're total strangers. It doesn't matter, you're in it together and you help each other to get through.

Even at 6 o'clock in the morning people were making themselves comfortable outside their houses, dragging couches and chairs outside, cheering us on and waving placards. Just as I was REALLY starting to get sick of those pesky Auckland hills they abruptly came to an end and I found myself setting foot on the Harbour Bridge. Everyone I have ever spoken to who has done the marathon says they loved this part and I was no exception. The sun was shining, the view was beautiful and I had great fun taking blurry pot shots on my phone. We wound our way around the marina and headed into the city and in no time at all I was half way through at the 21km mark. Which is right about when the pain started to set in. Still, I wasn't worried, I had run further than this before!

The next half of the race was the part everyone had warned me about. A scenic run around the bays from Westhaven to St Heliers sounds positively idyllic but this is where other runners told me you become really drained; not just physically but mentally because you can see exactly how far you have to run and you feel like it will take forever to reach your destination. But you know what? Contrary to popular opinion I actually enjoyed it! The scenery was beautiful and the weather conditions were perfect. In addition once we hit halfway the wonderful drinks people started serving us up flat Coke as well as water and Powerade. Ohh, how I grew to love that stuff for the next 21km!

From 25km on I was having a ball. In fact, I was singing! Which made everybody smile, I'm not sure whether that was because I looked like I was having fun or because I sounded absolutely dreadful but I sang. It really helped to pass the time and I knew I was making good time because all of a sudden I hit 32km and I only had 10km to go! And that was when the proverbial hit the fan. I'm not sure how or why it happened but I went from happily cruising along to just managing to put one foot in front of the other. On the positive side, everyone else around me was in the same boat - what a sad, painful convoy we must have looked! For the next 8km it totally SUCKED. The only thing which kept me going through this time was the drink stops - oh how I love thee flat Coke - and my phone. My sticky, Powerade-covered phone. My lifeline.

Because that's when the texts really started. I'd been enjoying steady messages of support since - well, since before I woke up. But thanks to my dear friend - me ol' china plate and Louis's mum Tara - they just started multiplying. She started telling all her friends to text me words of support and they did - from as far away as England. Honestly, my phone started going CRAZY. And that's when I started crying. And that's when I remembered once again that you can't run and cry at the same time because it's really hard to breathe. So I stopped crying and kept running - but I received 66 text messages during that marathon and would like to send a heartfelt thank you to every one of you who took the time to drop me a line. I can't begin to tell you how much you helped.

This post also wouldn't be complete without mentioning Louis's dad Greg's lovely family - sister Kaaren and her gorgeous children who yelled support at Mission Bay both there and back, as well as his parents Robyn and Jim, who, even though I missed them screaming at me the first time round at Kohimarama because I was too busy looking at the woman on the other side of the road handing out jelly beans, waited for me to come back again to run out into the road and give me a hug. It's things like that you never forget.

Many texts and many flat Cokes later I reached the 40km mark. And something in me changed, just like that. I had 2km to go - two poxy kilometres - and people waiting for me at the finish line and I vowed I wasn't going to keep them waiting any more. The marathon gods of music magically decided to fill my ears with my favourite running songs, one after the other and I don't know how or why but the pain disappeared and I just CRANKED it. Those last 2km were truly magical and for more reasons than one. One chap and I had been passing each other back and forth for a long time and I could tell he was really struggling. 'Come on mate, we can do this. I reckon we're almost there!' I told him. It was just him and me pretty much, with the odd person sitting on the pavement as we made our way back into the city. We turned a corner and as we did so, a man wearing a black shirt moved off the pavement towards us and started clapping and yelling 'Come on, you can do it! Well done!' It was Dan Carter. Dan Carter was cheering ME on! I admit it, I shamelessly ogled my way past. 'Did you see that? That was Dan Carter!' I told my running buddy, gobsmacked. 'I'm so glad you saw him too, I thought I was hallucinating!' came the awestruck reply.

And that was when the last song started. I've mentioned it before in my blog and I could hardly believe the timing - it was 'Walk' by the Foo Fighters. It was the perfect song and the perfect end to the perfect marathon. I raced towards the finish line (and no, I'm not just saying it, I actually did!) and that was it. I had finished the Auckland Marathon. I was sore as hell but I had no chafing and when I had plucked up courage to take my shoes off I was amazed to discover that I had just ONE blister. None of the dreaded blackened, missing toenails, that was it. As I crossed the line I spotted Noel and posed in a suitably victorious manner before carrying on to be met by a joyfully yelling Holland family, waving posters and bearing hugs. And that was the best day of my life, ever.

I completed the marathon in 4 hours 47 minutes and nobody was more surprised than me. I honestly thought with my track record that I would have been lucky to finish it in six hours! Just ahead of me was Auckland Blues captain Pat Lam. I had been close to him and his crew almost the entire time and I have never seen such a bad case of chafed nipples in my entire life. And to add insult to injury the poor guy had no sooner crossed the finish line after running 42km, he then had to answer a barrage of TV questions about Sonny Bill Williams!

As for me though, my mission was finally complete. I revelled in the achievement and soaked up the atmosphere for a while with Tara, Greg, Louis, Maia and their extended family before waddling slowly to the car and making our way home.

I have many, many people to thank for their part in my journey over the past five months and rest assured you all will be. But for now I would simply like to thank the following for the special part they all played in helping me get through yesterday:

Belinda Lee, Meredith McRobbie, Morven, Kaaren and family, Jim and Robyn Holland, Claire Holt, Kim Prigmore, my lovely mum, my adorable sons Liam and Alistair, their friends Lalit, Jimmy, Gibby and Bradley, Tara 'Queen of Cellphone Self Portraits' Holland, Greg Holland, Louis Holland, Maia Holland and last but by no means least my biggest supporter, chef, shoulder, sounding board, training buddy, physician and pretty much everything else you can possibly think of - my husband Noel. My love and thanks go to you all, and the best news is, I want to do it all again! But, not just yet..."

October 2011

11. From Last Month: Help Me Conquer My Shopping Bag Mountain!

Last month Laura asked:

"I've just arrived home from a trip to the supermarket. I opened my cupboard where my plastic shopping bags are usually stashed, and was horrified when they all tumbled out to meet me! I do use eco bags where possible but the pesky things just keep on mounting up! I don't want to contribute them to landfill and feel there must be a better way to use my enormous collection. I remember as a child my nanna would sit for hours crocheting plastic bags into tougher, funky looking shopping bags. Alas she is no longer with us but I would love to hear how other members manage their plastic bag mountains. Can you help?"

We sure can! We received a MASSIVE number of emails full of terrific ideas on what can be done with all those pesky plastic bags we inevitably seem to end up with. Thank you to everyone who took the time to write in with suggestions for Laura. Here is a list of the most popular:

Drop them into your local op shop or second hand shop. They are almost always grateful for more bags. Or, ask market stallholders if they would like them.
Take them back to the supermarket. Supermarkets often have a bin in front of their store where you can recycle your bags.
Shoe covers! Great for putting over the kids' feet when coming home from the beach or the garden.
Seat protectors. Try using one in the car after swimming so the wet towel doesn't make the seat wet.
Lining your kitchen bin and other rubbish bins.
Keep plastic bags in the car at all times - you'll be surprised how often they come in handy!
Take them to your local kindergarten or child care centre. Child care places love these for nappies, wet/dirty clothes and 'take home' bags.
Nappy bags for disposing soiled nappies. Much cheaper than buying them from the baby aisle!
Doggy doo bags for when you're out and about with Fido. Much cheaper than the pet shop version and does exactly the same job! Don't forget the cats too; plastic bags make excellent free kitty litter tray liners.
Bean bag stuffers! Keep your bean bags full and comfy by popping your unwanted bags inside.

Or, how about these ideas for getting creative with your plastic bags?

Crochet bags or hats

Try cutting the bags in a spiral pattern into long strips of 'yarn'. You can then knit or crochet them into mats to use at the front door or in the garden to kneel on. You could also knit or crochet bags or hats out of them.

Contributed by: Kathleen Hughes

I've got a 'plarn!'

Look up 'plarn' and how to make it on Google. Basically it is strips of plastic bags tied/looped together. You can then knit or crochet them together to make anything, absolutely ANYTHING. I have just made some baskets and am planning on making some shopping bags and outside picnic blankets!

Contributed by: Sharon Marriott

Take crocheted bags a step further

You can do more with the crochet technique than you think by laying the crochet between baking paper sheets and ironing it; it will melt together and stiffen, then bend or cut into any shape you need. You can make lamp shades, place mats, plant shelters over frames, tissue box covers and bags, not to mention knitting or plaiting for ropes. The possibilities are endless and the kids can make stuff too; a great recycling project for holiday fun.

Here is one website example

blog.craftzine.com/archive/2007/08/plastic_bag_crafts.html

Contributed by: Jo Bodey

Make a Christmas Wreath

Use your unwanted bags to make something festive for Christmas! All you need is a coat hanger shaped in a circle, a mountain of plastic bags (cut into equal lengths, for example, 2cm x 8cm) and old tree decorations or tinsel (small bits that always break off are good). Tie the plastic bags around the coat hanger until it is covered, then ruffle them up, add a hanging decoration in the middle and use the hook to hang on your door.

Contributed by: Stacey Macdonald

Make a bowl from recycled bags!

I love doing art and craft projects so this is what I did with my mountain of bags. I made some bowls using the age old technique of papier mache. I was actually short on money for a present to a friend, so I made it for her. First I chopped bags into strips. Then I got old newspapers, made the flour paste mix as usual and layered it all on a balloon. You just stick plastic pieces on top of paper pieces and layer as you normally would with papier mache. It looked great and one, it gets rid of the bags, and two, it makes the object stronger! You can make any shape or object this way, just make sure your last layer is paper so you can colour it.

Contributed by: Sanela Sinikovic

Make strong fabric from fused bags

Turn disposable bags into a 'fabric' bag. I have recently stumbled upon a couple of websites with hints on recycling plastic shopping bags by fusing them into a stronger 'fabric'. Yesterday I made a very strong shopping tote bag from 20 flimsy grocery bags. It only took me a couple of hours to do and it was immensely satisfying. When you become proficient at that, you can get more creative with colours and designs to make all sorts of things like make-up bags and pencil cases or anything else your imagination can come up with. Here is a very good instructional link on how to do it:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Fusing-Plastic-Bags-the-eclipse-way/?ALLSTEPS

You can also use the same technique to make place mats, baby bibs, baby change mats, waterproof aprons; the only limit is your imagination!

Contributed by: Gloria Kelly

12. This Month's Help Request: Unique Christmas Gifts

This month Maryann asks:

"I would REALLY love some suggestions for different gifts for Christmas this year. I love to give home-made gifts and have done gifts in a jar and all kinds of hampers thanks to the brilliant suggestions on Simple Savings. They are always a big hit but this year I am struggling to come up with something really unusual. Time is ticking on so I would love to know if your members have any ideas, either home-made or bought that I will be able to get organised in time for Christmas!"

We're sure they do, Maryann! If you have any tips or suggestions which can help, please send them in to us here.

13. Savings Story: Satisfaction Guaranteed!

I have learned it definitely pays to shop around for a good mechanic. I just wish I had found mine earlier! After my husband decided we wouldn't be getting a new car, I requested the air con to be fixed in mine as winter is too cold and summer too hot for our small children. On the way to getting a quote, however, my diesel pump broke so I ended up having to pay double to fix both. I wasn't happy with this but it had to be done.

My husband picked up the car from the mechanic three days later and noticed the handbrake light stayed on despite the handbrake being off. Another three days later and my car was being towed back to the same mechanic due to more repairs being needed. He didn't charge me which I thought was nice. My husband didn't trust him but I thought he was so genuine.

Three months later my brakes were still not working properly and my car was going through oil (something it had never done) and blowing lots of black smoke but by this time we had saved enough to fix it. After calling a few mechanics and asking their opinions and researching the Internet, it was decided we would start with cleaning the fuel injectors (at worst having to replace them) and the brakes booster. We were looking at over $1000 to fix my car once again - despite paying over $1300 three months prior.

This time instead of the previous mechanic we took it to Automotive Satisfaction in Oxenford, QLD. The mechanic there discovered a small simple hose wasn't attached to the brake booster. He put that back on, my handbrake light went off, my brakes worked properly and it didn't blow any smoke. He saved me $1000 just because he checked what I asked the other mechanic to check! He didn't charge me anything and it took him all of two minutes to fix my car. I was so grateful to him and if my car ever needs fixing I'll be going back there without hesitation. I have recommended them to anyone who asks so I hope they have gotten more business from me. They definitely deserve it!

Contributed by: Anita Holland

14. So Long, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, Goodbye :-D

Wow! Didn't we manage to cram a whole bunch of money saving ideas into this month's newsletter? I hope you really enjoyed it and have been inspired to try something new.

I am always keen to receive your feedback about the kinds of things you want to see more of in the newsletter and those things you would rather we leave off. Drop me a line next time you're on our website. If you have enjoyed this month's newsletter, why not forward it to your friends to help them save money too? Or tell them about us on Facebook by clicking the 'like' button on our Simple Savings Facebook page.

Best of luck with your Nude Food Challenge. See you next month!

All the best,
Fiona

May 2011 - Simple Savings Newsletter

"Secrets to Saving Money in Australia" Free Newsletter - May 2011

This issue includes:-

Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: No Dinner Zone?
June is Double Dinners Month
Do-do-do the Double Dinner!
Competition: The Dog Ate My Dinner...
Hidden Gems Competition Winner
Best Member's Blog: This Month's Winner
Best of the Forum: Quick Frozen Delights
Best of the Vault: Dinner Lifesavers
$21 Challenge Update
Cooking with Mimi: Kitchen Magic
Penny's Blog: My Indulgence For Today
Homeopathy Corner: Autism
From Last Month: Sweet Treats for Diabetics
This Month's Help Request: Home Made Dairy Products
Savings Story: Priceless Baby Nursery for $1.25
So Long, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, Goodbye :-D

Hello,

How are you going? Phew, it's been another busy month! We recently had the pleasure of working with A Current Affair on a couple of features. If you missed the segments you can watch them here:

$21 Challenge

http://aca.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8253031

Two very different families put the $21 Challenge to the test (and so do I!)

Taste Test Challenge

http://aca.ninemsn.com.au/retail/8251218/taste-test-challenge

All supermarket brands are not equal! See how they measure up for taste, quality and value in this blind taste test. Prepare to be surprised!

"I saw ACA last week and nearly fell out of my chair to see Fiona talking about the value of generic brands. I use them as my basic pantry items, so I can afford better meat bought on special. I am a multiple-disability Pensioner, so have had to learn how to get the most meals from a minimum of cash. I'm legally blind, have Cerebal Palsy (balance problems), severe Asthma and Osteoporosis. A kind friend bought me the $21 Challenge book (and a big trolley full of freezer, fridge and pantry items to set me up). I've been able to show her how to use generic products and menu planning to keep more money for the things you really want." (Elizabeth Sims)

"Saw you on the TV. I am glad I am not so sad with the savings and have the ability to 'cut my coat according to my cloth'. I was retrenched last year and people are asking how I have coped! Thanks SS" (Deborah)

"I have enjoyed reading the various articles and am now trying the $21 Challenge, starting today. I went to ALDI and only spent $4.80. My husband made the comment 'We would have always spent more as we would have bought chocolate, crumpets and various other non essentials'. Big thanks!" (Linda Walker)

Thank you for your fantastic feedback. It means a lot to me and all the Simple Savings team. We recently sent out a Hint of the Week entitled 'Old Fashioned Price Tags Keep Budget on Track', contributed by Sally Mcquillan. This was a fantastic tip and proved a huge hit with members!

"I just wanted to say that I think this week's tip is a real winner." (Ann Reynolds)

"I like this hint... think I might try it... not so much for my benefit, but for those in the house that have no idea how much anything at the supermarket costs but just keep adding to the never-ending list!!" (Lynda Perkins)

"Just want to say that Sally's tip is AWESOME! That's a new tip that's just pure genius!" (Vicky Lau)

We really appreciate every single tip we receive every week, so keep sending them in. As well as helping other members to save money, you could also win yourself a free 12 month Vault membership (value $47) in our weekly Hint of the Week competition!

1. Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: No Dinner Zone?

Pete walked in from work and immediately felt something was wrong. For starters the place was too quiet. Stranger still, the kitchen was spotless. Pete checked his watch - it was ten past six, just as he thought. So where was Sally? Normally at this time the kitchen was a hive of activity! Sal would be rushing about like a mad thing, banging and crashing pots and pans, chopping this and stirring that - but not tonight.

He walked into the lounge - nobody in there either! Pete racked his brains, had Sally said anything about going out? He looked around - there was no note. Pete shrugged; maybe the bus was just late? He wondered in a brief moment of panic if there had been an accident and raced back to the kitchen. With a sigh of relief he saw Sally's bag hanging in its usual place. Thank goodness! But where on earth WAS she then? There was only one place left to check - the bedroom. Slowly he pushed the door open...

To his amazement he saw Sally lying on the bed in her pyjamas, wearing a face mask and calmly reading a book. "What's up love? Are you not feeling well?" he asked, concerned. "No! I feel terrific!" Sally grinned through her face mask. "It's Double Dinners Month, remember? I don't have to cook tonight! Everyone's dinner's in the microwave, just heat it up when you're ready. You know what dear? I think Hanna's right! Saving money IS super easy!"

2. June is Double Dinners Month!

Sally has earned her time off and she is going to enjoy every minute of it. Cooking food in bulk is a fantastic way to save time, money and make your life easier. Just a few minutes extra effort is all it takes and the results are SO worth it.

You save time because for starters, you're already in the kitchen cooking dinner! You simply make twice the usual amount. I have got into an easy routine of cooking in bulk a couple of days a week when I get home from fruit and vegie shopping. It only takes five minutes more to chop a few extra vegetables and cut up some extra meat but I can earn myself a whole night off cooking next time I want or need one.

You save money because when you cook Double Dinners you are protected from the takeaway trap. Fast food is a huge budget hole and so tempting when I am tired and hungry. Some days I want dinner to just magically appear while I'm hiding in the bedroom with my feet up like Sally - and with Double Dinners I can! No mess, no fuss, no driving, no queuing, no processed junk; just good food ready and waiting at home. It is a simple fact that dinner tastes better when I don't have to cook it - and it is even yummier if it isn't bundled up in a big pile of 'heck - I stuffed up' takeaway guilt!

It makes your life easier because cooking this way gives you peace of mind. It means if I'm having a bad day and can't be bothered cooking, or am just having too much fun on the site or with the kids, I can keep going because I've already taken care of dinner. So next time you have one of those days when life goes pear shaped, the kids jam a finger in the door and you end up making a mad dash to the emergency clinic - you may end up with a child with a broken bone but at least you've got DINNER!

3. Do-do-do the Double Dinner!

The real effort in cooking is the thinking, the getting organised, the finding the time. It's a bit like going for a jog! Some days you find it hard to get moving but once you start you're away and before you know it you're getting ahead. To those who haven't tried it, cooking in bulk sounds a lot harder than it actually is. However in reality, a few extra minutes in the kitchen while you're already preparing your regular meal is all it takes.

This is how you do it:

Choose a one pot recipe.
Multiply the ingredients by two.
Don't add any of the herbs or spices the recipe asks for yet (herbs taste strange when you freeze them).
Cook the meal in a big pot.
Scoop out half the mixture into containers with lids and leave on the bench to cool.
Add half of the herbs into the pot and put the other half in a safe place for later.
Enjoy your freshly cooked meal!

Now, when you are clearing up after dinner, put the other containers of food in the freezer. Then, next time you want a 'no brainer' night, simply grab your container from the freezer, defrost in a bowl in the microwave, grab those herbs you saved from before and add them, stir, heat and serve. How easy is that!

There are heaps of great recipes in the Vault and Forum to get you started. If you are not currently a Vault member and would like access to our recipes section so you can enjoy Bulk Chicken Curry and other yummy dishes for your Double Dinner challenge, you can join today here.

Or you can check out our Newsletter Archive for inspiration and yummy recipes. You can even watch us making our terrific bulk Pumpkin and Vegetable Soup here on YouTube. Go on, give Double Dinners a go this month - once you try it you'll never go back!

4. Competition: The Dog Ate My Dinner...

Some days getting dinner on the table seems like an impossible mission. We've all been there - and this month we want you to share your tales of woe in our fun competition! We want to know - what gets in the way of you making dinner? What makes you throw your hands up in despair and go and get takeaway? What makes it all just too hard? Send in your best excuse for NOT cooking dinner (real experiences, not hypothetical ones please) and be in to win! There are cash prizes up for grabs with $100 for the grand winner and five prizes of $50 for the runners-up. Enter the competition here - we can't wait to read your excuses!

5. Hidden Gems Competition Winner

Our Hidden Gems directory is designed to help members find it easier to source the best deals in their area. Whenever you come across a real gem of a store, enter it in our Hidden Gems directory and you could be in to win our monthly prize of $100 cash! This is our way of saying thank you for helping other members save by sharing your knowledge. The more information you can give us, the better your chance of winning. This month's winner is The Reading Bug as nominated by Lisa McKenzie. Read her entry to see what makes them such a great example of a Hidden Gem.

The Reading Bug

140 Colombo Street, Beckenham, Christchurch, NZ

"My family and I absolutely LOVE shopping at The Reading Bug! The owners designed the store to be just what their daughters would love. It's bright, colourful, and has special little nooks and reading corners for kids to tuck themselves up into.

"The staff are so friendly and helpful, and actually make a point of getting to know you personally, so each time we go in we have meaningful conversations!

"When I spoke to the owner about why they price their books so cheap in comparison to other book stores, they said they did that as they knew they wouldn't be able to compete with the sales the chain stores had, so they just mark them much lower all the time! Excellent!

"As well as this, they have a reward card, which you get stamped each time you make a book purchase, and after 10 stamps they give you a book of your choice up to the value of $20! That is way better than most reward cards that just give you a discount on your next purchase!

"And finally, something to make the trip breezy for us busy parents... they have a child-friendly toilet! With fun posters on the wall, and even a stepstool for the kids to reach the taps, this place is well thought out and very family friendly! We love it here!

"I always try to use my reward card, as that adds up quickly! Especially as there is no minimum price on the book purchase (even if the full ticket cost is $5 it still counts!) Brilliant!"

Congratulations on being this month's winner Lisa and a huge pat on the back to The Reading Bug for providing consistently outstanding customer service and value for money! You can enter your own Hidden Gems into our monthly competition here. Thank you and good luck!

6. Best Member's Blog: This Month's Winner

This month's winner is Mona for this extract from her blog 'Today's Planning Paves Tomorrow's Reality':

Marketing Tricks Not Working On Me

Today I did my bulk pet food shop and I was astounded at the marketing ploys and just downright sneaky tricks employed by food manufacturers and supermarkets. Here are a few I just noticed today:

I bulk buy my dry cat food (Whiskas) in 6.5 kilo bags at Big W. Three weeks ago I bought a bag at $18.96, it has been this price for months. Today there was no price tag but I picked up two bags and when I got home realised the price has snuck up by $3 per bag in three weeks.

At Foodland I was buying cheese. In small boxes they were selling 5 slices of cheese and 5 crackers for $2.56 What?? Are you joking me? One block of 400g vintage cheese was $3.99 on special and the rice crackers were on special for $1.09 a packet. So in fact the 50g of cheese and five crackers would only cost you 53c! Seriously you could easily cut up cheese and store it in the fridge in reusable containers ready to pop into your bag same for the crackers.

Another huge rip off are the small individual containers of flavoured cream cheese. How hard is it to just mix dried apricots cut up into a small amount of cream cheese, or gherkin relish or corn relish or pickles. Please, you would save two thirds of the price and have a larger variety to choose from. Now nobody can be that time poor.

I bought half a kilo of shredded ham for $5, one red capsicum for $1.25 and a large can of tinned pineapple pieces in syrup. I will make three batches of pizza dough and with that make ham and pineapple scrolls, pizza scrolls using the capsicum tomato ham and onion and savoury twists with the left over puff pastry in the freezer. I managed to buy chicken legs for $2.99 per kilo and will crumb and bake these and huge bags of pumpkin off the roadside for $6 to make soup. Will also make grained savoury breads. Here for very little cost I have school lunches and after school snacks for a month. Adding the fruit for a song from the local sellers and four packets of rice crackers for $1.09 each as well as what is left over in the fridge/pantry, the girls have treats as well for very little overall cost.

So what is needed to make these savings? TIME. I know we all think we need to work work work, Mothers working to supplement the family income but truly what is work COSTING you? If I worked any more (and I have an unlimited opportunity for more work hours) I would indeed earn a lot but then I would never have time to bake and reduce the cost of our groceries. In fact if I worked any more it would cost me money when taking petrol into account and other work related expenses. Also with my extra time I can patrol the op shops looking for clothing and being large it isn't always easy for me to buy clothes second hand. Often I will look into six op shops per week when I pass them (I rarely go out of my way to find one) and sometimes buy nothing but in the past two weeks I have bought 5 shirts for me at $1 each, 1 shirt for me at $3 (good church top), a pair of black work pants for me at $4, 23 cotton handkerchiefs for under $8, fabric to make two gifts $2, two scarves for my girls at $1 each and wool enough to make two scarves and two beanies for me at $2. The buy of the week was $1 for a great condition summer school uniform for DD11.

Now in having the time I have just about outfitted me for under $15 for winter. I also got the girls great outfits off Freecycle as well as a heater and a bag of figs, a large number of books, computer games and sheets.

Now really, when you take this into account I am much better off in not working more.

How about you?

Congratulations Mona! To read more from her, or any of our other members' blogs, click here

7. Best of the Forum: Quick Frozen Delights

Have you ever wondered, 'can I freeze this type of leftover?' You're not alone and the do's and don'ts of freezing different types of food to provide easy, no-brainer dinners has provided some really interesting threads in the Forum.

Things you never knew you could freeze

Fantastic ideas for using your freezer to prolong the life of many unusual types of ingredients. Slices of lime? Boccocini? Thanks for posing the question Grace!
read more...

Freezing apple crumble

Yummy hot apple crumble for dessert. Perfect now the nights are getting cooler! But is it better to freeze it before or after cooking?
read more...

Homemade mushroom sauce

Jarah shares her creamy mushroom sauce recipe with us. Great in the Hungarian crepe dish, Hortobágyi palacsinta and fantastic for freezing to use on another night!
read more...

Once a Month Cookup

Double dinners done to the extreme! Inspirational ways to cook up a storm and fill the freezer for easy, reheat and eat evenings.
read more...

8. Best of the Vault: Dinner Lifesavers

The Vault is full of fantastic recipes and suggestions for when time, money and food is in short supply. These brilliant suggestions will ensure full tummies and smiling faces in next to no time!

14 meals from one chicken!

Imagine getting 14 meals out of a single cooked chicken! It's my biggest food saving and this is how I do it. Buy a whole chicken (on special of course)! Get a large pot. Place chicken in it and add chunky chopped carrot, onion, celery and mixed herbs (I grow my own so save more money here)!

Boil until the meat is starting to fall off the bone (I have a wood heater so I cook on that, saving gas in winter). Take the meat and vegetables out, reserving the liquid. Serve some of the meat and all the vegetables with mashed potato and white sauce.

With leftover meat, make up some chicken sandwiches and freeze them for quick lunches. Use the rest in curries or whatever other suitable recipes you have.

Back to the liquid. Add a little more water, chop up whatever soup vegetables you have or add lots of lentils, a dash of paprika and salt and slowly simmer to make a few meals of wonderful thick soup. This way, I feed two of us 14 meals out of the one chicken! Not only is it cheap, it is good for you and has helped the purse strings through many tight times over the years.

Contributed by: Caroline Casey

Basic bolognaise sauce sees through flood crisis

My husband and I are getting through what we call our 'Bog Depression' (the flood financial crisis) with good old bolognaise sauce. Recently all we could afford to buy was 2kg of mince, two cans of diced tomatoes, one bag of Home Brand mixed frozen vegetables and two jars of Home Brand sauce. I made enough from this for two to three weeks worth of evening meals, especially using my trick to make the sauce go further. I simply add water and cornflour to the sauce jar and give it a good shake to mix. When it cooks it thickens up the base which means we use less per meal. We eat our bolognaise sauce with whatever we have in the pantry (pasta, toast, mashed potato) which helps to add variety.

Contributed by: Miss Trina

Bulk cook two-in-one stir fry is a saver

I save heaps on takeaway lunch and dinner with this two-in-one bulk cook stir-fry idea. The basic idea is to cook up a huge chicken and vegetable stir fry, add in the rice, noodles or pasta you will have it with, then separate it into two different bowls just before adding the sauce. I then add a different flavour sauce to each bowl (I use the Kantong sauces) then freeze the two stir fries in single portions. As a single person, one stir fry using three chicken breast fillets, a stem of broccoli, a handful of snow peas, some capsicum, a handful of beans and three carrots is enough to make around eight meals of two different varieties. If you were cooking for more people you could increase the ingredients and split it into three or four bowls. As I have been doing this every weekend, I have a big stockpile in my freezer and I am no longer tempted to buy takeaway on the nights I get home late. I also no longer need to buy takeaway lunch because if I am running late and don't have time to make it, I can grab something from my freezer.

Contributed by: Erin J

Bean there, saved that

Every now and then, I go to the Indian grocer to buy chick peas, white beans, black eyed peas and any other beans that I like. I then go home, soak them over night, and cook them the next day. I put them in small containers and freeze them.

Every time I make a soup, spaghetti bolognese, or any other dish where I can add beans or chick peas in, I do! This saves us a lot of money, adds flavour, and bulks up the meals so there is always plenty leftover for lunches.

Contributed by: Anja Lenner

9. $21 Challenge Update

This month has been a great one for the $21 Challenge. Not only do we now have the latest reprint in stock complete with brand spanking new cover, but we've received some fantastic TV coverage courtesy of 'A Current Affair'. It was great to see the families in action on the show, using the book to help them save. However it's even better for all the viewers who until now haven't understood the $21 Challenge to see how it works, rather than judging it before they've even given it a go.

Thanks to coverage like this we are able to help people take a good look at their shopping and cooking habits and break the cycle, rather than being a victim to the supermarket. Once you give it a go, you never know what you might find - as Jennifer recently discovered!

"Dear Fiona,

I went through my fridge, freezer and pantry and I was so embarrassed. I think I have enough food for four weeks! There are only two of us but I can't get away from spending for a family of five - and my children have been gone for 10 years! Here is my list:

Freezer

2 packets of puff pastry

550g cubed beef

1 packet green beans

1 1/2 packets chicken nuggets (for grandchildren)

1 packet mixed vegetables

688g mince

24 fish fingers

Half a packet of carrots, corn, peas

750g chicken breast

1 packet blueberries

10 pieces of glazed chicken

5 schnitzels

3 pieces of Lebanese bread

3 lamb chops

3kg chicken tenderloins

3 fillets eye steak

1 packet of bacon

2 bass fillets

1 packet spinach

1 packet chopped bacon

1 packet tortillas

Pantry

5 (yes FIVE) jars honey

Olive oil

2 bottles sesame oil

1 can oil spray

1 1/2 bottles oyster sauce

3/4 bottle of Worcestershire sauce

3 bottles mustard sauce

1 bottle of kecap manis sauce

1/4 bottle of soy sauce

1 large bottle BBQ sauce

1 large bottle tomato sauce

1 bottle Verjuice

1/4 white wine vinegar

1 bottle plum sauce

3/4 bottle chocolate sauce

3/4 bottle red wine vinegar

1 bottle Hoisin sauce

1/2 bottle balsamic vinegar

3/4 jar of molasses

Sweet chilli sauce

Hot chilli sauce

2 1/2 packets of pasta

16 coffee sachets

2 Chai latte sachets

2kg white sugar

2kg castor sugar

500g raw sugar

500g brown sugar

1 1/2 jars peanut butter

1 jar pickle

1/2 jar corn relish

1 1/2 jars marmalade

1/2 jar blueberry jam

1 small packet of spaghetti

3/4 packet cornflakes

3 different gravies

Vege stock in tin

2 packets Dianne sauce

1 packet pikelet mix

4 packets Cup-a-Soup

1 large bread and butter cucumbers

1 can coconut cream

1 tin of apricot nectar

1 tin of peaches

1 tin of apricots

4 tins baked beans

2 tins of brown lentils

2 tins salmon

1 tin kidney beans

1 tin peas

1 tin mixed veges

1 tin water chestnuts

1 tin condensed milk

1 tin tomatoes

2 packets gluten free pasta

1 packet Alfredo pasta

1 packet chilli con carne mix

3 packets cream of chicken soup

French onion soup

Taco seasoning

Burrito seasoning (getting a bit tired writing this!)

Packet cheese sauce

2kg SR flour

2kg plain flour

Corn flour

Custard powder

Coconut

Corn chips

1 packet marshmallows

1 packet icing sugar

1 packet jelly

1 packet custard

2 bars white chocolate

2 bars milk chocolate

2 bars dark chocolate

3 packets chocolate melts

3 packets sprinkles

2 500g packets of milk powder

Fridge

1 jar mayonnaise

1 jar tartare sauce

3 litres milk

1 jar green curry paste

1 jar horseradish

2 jars mustard

1kg grated cheese

12 slices of cheese

1 packet cream cheese

1 long life cream

Unsalted butter

Almost two dozen eggs

1 1/2 packets walnuts

Packet of pickled ginger

1 packet of pine nuts (those suckers are dear too!)

3/4 tube of garlic

1 tube Italian herbs

1 1/2 packets carrots

1 packet of fresh beans

1 packet mixed salad

4 potatoes

1 packet onions

2 zucchini

1/2 a pumpkin

Load of garlic

6 pears

11 oranges

3 apples

1 piece of ginger

3 lemons

3 soft sticks of celery

That's it! I am going to print this off now and have cleaned out the fridge and pantry while doing this stock take. What do you reckon? Do I have enough for 4 weeks?"

We think you might just be right Jennifer! Best of luck in your Challenge. We would love to hear how long you can survive without the shops!

The $21 Challenge book is chock-full of recipes to help you use up just about every ingredient you can think of. If you would like a copy of your own, you can order one here.

10. Cooking with Mimi: Kitchen Magic

It's Double Dinners month and that means more time for me! If I can square away two meals for every one I cook, I gain 15 spare evenings this month. That's 15 evenings to pamper myself from my list of 50c Indulgences, see a friend, play cards with my daughter or spend time with the rest of my family.

I reckon though, that cooking two meals from one means more than just serving the same meal twice. It means getting a bit creative and not just treating the second meal as leftovers. It means - cue tinkly bell music - a bit of Kitchen Magic!

Here's one of my favourite Magical Winter Meals. Soft caramelised potato chunks, with crispy bacon bits and an aromatic dressing made from the still-warm roasting pan... Mmmm... then transformed the second night into crunchy, flaky filo pastries with a delectable, melt in the mouth filling.

Dinner No.1: Warm Roasted Sweet Potato and Bacon Salad

serves 4

Equipment required:

Vegetable peeler
2 x roasting pans
Baking paper
Large spoon
Large mixing bowl
Sharp knife
Non stick frypan
Serving bowls

Ingredients:

2 kg sweet potato (kumara)
4 rashers bacon
2 teaspoons dried thyme
3 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 cup olive oil
Salt and pepper
Salad leaves of your choice. About a handful per person.

Method:

Preheat your oven to 200C. Line your baking trays with baking paper.

Peel your sweet potato and dice it into 5cm chunks. Put the chunks into your large mixing bowl.

Add your oil, herbs and seasoning. Toss your sweet potato well, until each chunk is glistening in oil, herbs and salt and pepper.

Tip your sweet potato mixture into your baking trays and spread it into one even layer in each pan. Set your bowl aside for re-use once your sweet potato and bacon is cooked.

Roast for 45-50 minutes until a skewer inserted into a piece of sweet potato pierces it easily, and your sweet potato is soft and brown at the edges.

While the sweet potato is cooking, dice the bacon finely, Heat the non-stick frypan on your hotplate over full heat, and add the bacon pieces. Fry, stirring occasionally for 2-3 minutes until the little squishy pieces of bacon are crisp and brown around the edges. Transfer to your mixing bowl, ready to be mixed with your yummy, sticky roasted sweet potato.

Once your sweet potato is cooked, remove it from the oven, and immediately tip it into the mixing bowl with the bacon. Scrape any oil and herbs into the bowl from the roasting pan. You want all of those yummy crunchy bits that get stuck to the baking paper, in the bowl with the other ingredients.

Toss well, and reserve half for your second recipe, keeping it chilled or frozen, in a covered container for future use.

Put your salad leaves into your bowls, and serve the warm, sticky roasted sweet potato and crispy, crunchy bacon over them.

Now, here's the fun part. How do you convince the family to eat the same food on another night, not too far far away? You turn it into something that looks and tastes just as enticing as it did the first time round, with smoke and mirrors and a magician's hat. You also need a fluffy white bunny... oh no sorry, wrong recipe! But seriously, there's not much to it. Ingredients such as filo and puff pastry, and appliances like ovens and pie makers are made for this kind of magic. So here we go - Abracadabra!

Dinner No.2: Sweet Potato, Bacon and Pine Nut Filo Parcels

Equipment required:

Baking tray
Baking paper
Potato masher
Tablespoon
Damp tea towel
Egg spatula for serving

Ingredients:

Leftover portion of sweet potato and bacon salad, defrosted if you froze it
4 tablespoons of pine nuts
4 sheets filo pastry
Cooking oil spray

Method:

Preheat your oven to 180C. Line your baking tray with baking paper.

Roughly mash your remaining sweet potato salad with the potato masher. It doesn't have to be perfectly smooth, just squashed. Add your pine nuts - I love these, and they add such a distinctive flavour, yummy-yummy!

Open your packet of filo pastry. It will be rolled up in a fat cylinder. Unroll it carefully and cover it with your pre-dampened tea towel to prevent it drying out. When you're finished with your filo pastry, do not freeze it. Filo pastry should be stored in the refrigerator to keep it pliable for further feats of kitchen wizardry.

Take one sheet of filo pastry, and fold it in half, then in half again to create a smaller square. Put a tablespoon of your sweet potato mixture into the centre of your filo pastry and gather the edges up like a parcel, so you end up with all the ends gathered into the middle like a little topknot. Squeeze and twist the pastry at the base of the little topknot, to keep it in place. Spray it liberally with your cooking spray and place it on your lined tray. Repeat until all if your sweet potato mixture is used up.

Bake your magical parcels for 20-35 minutes until golden brown.

To serve, wave your wand and point in the general direction of your family's dinner plates. Alternatively, lift from the tray carefully with the egg spatula onto their plates. Serve with steamed vegetables, couscous or rice. Et voila!

11. Penny's Blog: My Indulgence For Today

May 2nd

50c Indulgence Month may have only just started but I know what my indulgence is for today. It doesn't cost a cent but is the most precious thing in the world to me and is a treat I will never take for granted.

Excuse the grainy-ness of this photo but it's one Noel took on my phone two nights ago and it's my absolute favourite photo at the moment. It makes me very proud that even though they are almost 13 and 15 they're still not too 'cool' or grown up to snuggle up on the couch with their mum - even though there's not much room for all three of us anymore! When I look at this photo I feel like the luckiest mum in the world - but never more so than today. As I write this my heart is breaking for a mum who will never get to hug her son again. Because yesterday at just 15 he took his own life, leaving behind two parents, four siblings and a whole school and a community who loved him. This kid was a gem. He honestly was the last person we would ever have dreamed of choosing to leave this world. Popular, funny, smart, polite, good looking, hard working - he had everything going for him. But all the questions and all the wishing in the world won't bring him back. Liam and Ali are both too shell-shocked to talk about it yet. It's hard enough for adults to deal with but almost impossible for a child to comprehend. So today my indulgence is to pamper my boys. Cherish them, appreciate them and listen - REALLY listen to every word they have to say. This morning they went off to school with an enormous cooked breakfast in their tummies and I drove them to school rather than send them out on their bikes in the rain. This afternoon when they come home there will be a cosy fire waiting for them, a big comforting batch of Mimi's Home Made 'Better Than Tinned' Spaghetti on the stove and their favourite blankets to snuggle up in. Cost = nothing. Happiness factor = priceless. Rest in peace Logan x

May 2011

12. Homeopathy Corner: Autism

Fran is world renowned for her work with homeopathy and autism, having treated hundreds of children with autism at her clinic. Recently, Fran put out a call asking those who had benefited from homeopathy to write a letter to the National Health and Medical Research Council to let them know what homeopathy had done for them. If you'd like to see to read some of the stories of people who's lives were changed by homeopathic remedies, click on the link below.

To read Fran's article go to:- homeopathyplus.com.au/reversing-autism-zanes-story

13. From Last Month: Sweet Treats for Diabetics

Last month Carol asked:

"I am in my 40's and have recently been diagnosed with diabetes. I have two young girls who love cookies and cakes and I am desperate for recipes with sugar substitutes and almond flour and coconut as it means I can also eat the cookies and cakes that I bake for them. Please can you help with low carb recipes of any kind, but especially baked goodies?"

Thank you to everyone who sent in their helpful tips and recipes. We hope Carol and other diabetics enjoy tucking into some of these!

Get a taste for diabetes-friendly recipes

For the best and easiest diabetes friendly recipes ever, head to the 'Taste' website. They look good and are simple to make but best of all they taste fabulous, are free to access and can be easily printed for future reference. Here is the link: http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/collections/diabetes+friendly

Contributed by: Mrs Bug

Stevia and cinnamon are diabetic wonder foods

Diabetes isn't fun but there are plenty of things you can do to make life easier. I use stevia to replace sugar at around 1 small teaspoon of stevia to one cup of sugar. Also, if you use wholemeal flour, or add bran, or fruit or nuts it makes the baking lower GI because the digestion time is longer. If you use stevia in a drink, dip the teaspoon in the stevia and tap the spoon back into the jar; the residue on the teaspoon is enough to sweeten a cuppa. Cinnamon is great for blood sugar too. I buy cinnamon bark at Asian shops, rather than expensive quills, and just pop a 'quill' into a cup of tea or coffee. It tastes lovely and I re-use the same 'quill' again and again. Anything you can put cinnamon into or onto makes for much steadier blood sugar. Pop it in those cookies!

Contributed by: Adrienne Mcenaney

Diabetic Living is an invaluable read

The magazine Diabetic Living comes out every two months and has heaps of recipes for sweet treats plus lots of meal ideas, menu planner articles and so on. Also if you are in Australia there is DIAL where you can talk to dietitians and get advice, recipes and more. If you have not heard of DIAL, ask your GP or nurse for information.

Contributed by: Gloria Cashman

Turn regular recipes into diabetic recipes

If you want to turn a regular recipe into a diabetes-friendly one, simply use a sugar substitute, such as Equal or Splenda. Splenda is my favourite as I feel it has the most similar consistency and taste as regular sugar. Other brands you may have to experiment with to get the required sweetness - most are much sweeter than sugar in smaller quantities. They are available from most regular grocery shops and health food stores.

Contributed by: Kirsten-Lee Elcoate

Diabetic baking needn't be a drag

I have always enjoyed baking for fun, as well as the cost savings and the fact you know what you are eating. Then my 12 year old son was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes two years ago. At first it was so challenging as clearly most home baking recipes are chock-full of sugar but I refuse to use artificial sweeteners. I have been experimenting for a couple of years now and have discovered that you can often drastically reduce the amount of sugar in the recipe for many cakes and biscuits with no adverse effects on the end product. If you need a bit of extra bulk try adding some almond meal or desiccated coconut in place of the sugar. I often reduce the sugar from one cup to one quarter of a cup with no problems. I have also recently experimented with coconut flour which is available from good health food shops. Also use wholemeal flours instead of white or blend the two to make the recipes lower GI so it doesn't have such a drastic effect on blood sugar. Highly recommended reading is the glucose revolution (low GI) books which you should be able to borrow from your local library. Here are some of my favorite recipes:

Healthy Low GI cookies

1 cup wholemeal plain flour
1/2 cup rolled oats
1 cup desiccated coconut
Pinch salt
Mixed spice
125g melted butter
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg
Handful of sultanas or chocolate chips, possibly add some nuts or seeds of choice.

Mix together and bake at 180C for 10 minutes

Chocolate Zucchini Cake

185g butter
1 1/2 cups wholemeal self-raising flour
1/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups grated zucchini
1/4 cup cocoa
3/4 cup milk

Cream butter and sugar, add eggs then other ingredients. Bake at 200C for 50 minutes.

Flourless Chocolate Cake

1 cup almond meal
1/2 cup sugar
200g butter
6 eggs
1 tbsp baking powder
1 tbsp cocoa

Line and grease a cake tin, and preheat your oven to 160C. Mix sugar, eggs, baking powder, cocoa then almond meal. Bake for one hour. ENJOY!

Contributed by: Kim Deans

Symply delicious recipes for diabetics

For simple, tasty diabetic recipes I can highly recommend a series of cookbooks called "Symply Too Good to be True" by Annette Sym. All her recipes are approved by Diabetes Australia. The website www.symplytoogood.com.au contains a wealth of online recipes for free and each recipe comes with a dietary breakdown also. Most of the sweet things substitute apple sauce for sugar however the ones with sugar list facts to assist those with diabetes in balancing their nutrition.

Contributed by: Cate S

Bonus hints for Vault members:

Baking secrets for diabetics Contributed by: The Smiths

Low sugar apple slice Contributed by: Heather M

Take the hassle out of searching for recipes Contributed by: dannie

Low carb biscuits perfect for diabetics Contributed by: Scott C

14. This Month's Help Request: Home Made Dairy Products

This month Wendy asks:

"We have a house cow. I am interested in discovering any recipes for yoghurt, butter, ice cream and milk soap that people may have. Would your members be able to help or point me in the right direction?"

If you have any tips which can help Wendy, please send them in to us here.

15. Savings Story: Priceless Baby Nursery for $1.25

Our first baby is due to arrive any day and we are so proud of the gorgeous nursery we have created. Not only does it look beautiful, it cost us a grand total of $1.25! How? Through careful planning and taking up opportunities as they presented themselves.

Major items such as the cot and change table were sourced from 'Freecycle' so didn't cost a cent. The cot came with a new mattress which was a lovely bonus. The change table was completely plastic so didn't require anything more than a good clean with disinfectant. The pram, baby clothes and blankets were hand-me-downs from friends. Most newborns don't stay in the same sized clothes very long so there is a lot of wear in them.

All of the above items were given to us within the first few months. This gave us plenty of time to sit down and create a 'Boxed Up' account (www.boxedup.com) of things we still needed to buy, such as carriers, nappies and so on. Bit by bit, as people wanted to give us a gift, they reserved and bought items off the Boxed Up list. The great thing about this is that it isn't a registry at an over-expensive baby store and allows people to shop around. We found that most guests chose a number of things off the list as they were able to buy several things from Target for the same price as one item from Baby Kingdom and other specialist stores.

In the meantime I became a little proactive in writing letters to various baby companies for samples of products. We now have a basket of samples of creams, wipes, oils, shampoos and all sorts of other goodies! In addition a friend held a baby shower last weekend. She handed out our Boxed Up address to the guests and the remainder of the items were given to us then - including packets and packets of nappies! People added to necessities with cute outfits and toys.

Our little girl will be coming home to a beautiful set-up nursery that isn't all entirely pre-loved. But we haven't ended up with a whole host of 'doubles' or unnecessary things that are 'cute' but not practical. Even the decorations are craft items I had in my sewing box, with flowers and butterflies that are recycled Christmas ornaments sewn onto the curtains.

I could go on and on about all the little savings we made, but I think the total price for a complete set up nursery for an only child says it all. Oh - and in case you're wondering what the $1.25 was for? A light bulb for a beautiful butterfly lamp we were given!

Contributed by: Cate Scobar

16. So Long, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, Goodbye :-D

Congratulations on making it this far through the newsletter! I hope you have really enjoyed it. If you have any suggestions for things you would like us to include or exclude from future newsletters, please drop us a line. Good or bad, it doesn't matter. I love feedback and your input helps us to keep improving. If you have enjoyed this month's newsletter, why not forward it to your friends to help them save money too? Or tell them about us on Facebook by clicking the 'like' button on our Simple Savings Facebook page?

Best of luck with your Double Dinners Challenge. See you next month, if I don't bump into you on the Forum first!

All the best
Fiona Lippey

May 2013 - Simple Savings Newsletter

"Secrets to Saving Money in Australia" Free Newsletter - May 2013

This issue includes:-

Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: Twisting by the Torch!
May: The Big Turn-Off
Penny Wise: Better Late Than Never
Best of the Vault: Small Things Matter
Best of the Forum: The Three R's
Best Members' Blog: A Simple Savings Mother's Day
Hidden Gems: The Loft Cafe
Cooking with Mimi: Campfire Cooking... Easiest Ever Dinner!
Claire's Corner: Beat the Winter Power Bill Blues
50c Indulgences: Photo Frames and Orange Java Scrub
Rob Bob's Gardening Blog: Tomato Power!
From Last Month: Don't Let Clutter Get the Best of You
This Month's Help Request: Funeral Plans
Goodbye for now!

Hello,

How are you going? I hope you have had a lovely month. Things have been busy in Simple Savings land. We were flat out this month helping look gorgeous for very little money with the beautiful cosmetic grade macadamia oil. If you missed the story on ACA earlier this month here is a link to it.

We love receiving your emails and Facebook messages. Here are some of this month's favourites:

"I allowed my membership of Simple Savings to lapse, thought I didn't need it anymore. But having just received my newsletter, I realised how much I miss being able to log in. Having taken on a mortgage again at the age of 61 (plans in hand to pay this out on my retirement) plus paying for home improvements I thought I really need to be on top of our expenditure. So I'm back!" (Christine)

"Thank you for sending me Simple Savings... I read every word here in sunny British Columbia, Canada!" (Johanna)

"I just wanted to say thank you so much for your amazing books and website. I have totally changed my life and my attitude from last January! I found Simple Savings after realising that I had -$51.50 in my bank account and no savings. Your website has given me so many simple tips and has changed the way I think about spending money. My favourite quote is from the movie fight club: 'We work jobs we hate to buy stuff we don't need.' I am so aware of this now and my financial goals and attitude have changed forever! THANK YOU!" (Chelsea)

"I was thinking about not renewing my Vault membership this year as we have started cutting out all the 'little extras' we buy. However, after calculating how much the Savings Vault has saved me this year on just one hint, I stopped calculating the savings and paid my renewal fee! (The hint was lemon juice and sunshine to remove rust on my son's brand new white school shirts, a saving of $152 on shirts I would have had to replace!) Thank you Simple Savings!" (Jane)

Have a great month!
All the best,
Fiona Lippey

1. Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: Twisting by the Torch!

"Just a tick!" Chloe heard Sally's voice from inside as she stood on the door step. Seconds later the door opened, "Oh hi Chlo! This is a nice surprise, what can we do for you?" Sally stood in the doorway, holding a torch. Her hair was all over the place and her face was as red as a tomato. "Good grief. Sally always looks immaculate, she must really be sick! Lucky I came over!" Chloe thought to herself.

Out loud she said, "Well actually I came to check that you guys are all OK. Your lights have been switched off at night all week and I was worried you were sick. Is everything alright?" "That's sweet of you," Sally chuckled, "but everything is great! We're just switching off the lights for a week to save power." "Oh Sal, why didn't you say?" Chloe asked, concerned. "You know, if you're having trouble paying the bills I'll always help you out if you need a bit extra."

"That really is lovely of you," Sally smiled, touched. "But we're doing it for fun as well as saving money! Every night we switch off all the lights and screens and do something together as a family. Last night we played Monopoly." "Isn't that a bit extreme?" Chloe looked confused. "Why don't you just play Xbox or watch a DVD?"

Sally laughed and dragged Chloe inside. "Trust me; this is better than anything you're going to see on a TV screen tonight. Wait till you see Pete - we're playing Twister and he wants to win so badly he doesn't care HOW ridiculous he looks!"

2. May: The Big Turn-Off

Good on ya Sally! Saving power IS fun if we do it together - but reducing power is not just about saving money; it's about helping our planet. When it comes to global warming every little switch counts. Last week, my kids asked me about global warming. Answering their questions such as, "Why can't we stop it?" was very difficult. I wanted to tell them the truth, "Well unfortunately MY generation is really selfish. We like our cars and our lights and fridges and dryers so much that we don't mind if the sea level rises and wipes out the crops and your future some time in YOUR lifetime." But who wants to tell their kids that?

The best thing we can do right now for our children, their children and future generations to come is to make a conscious effort to really cut back on the resources we are currently using. Have you ever wondered why the slogan goes 'reduce, reuse and recycle' in that order? It is because the most important thing of those three things for us to do is to REDUCE. We need to reduce the amount of power we use. We need to reduce the amount of plastics we consume. We need to reduce the amount of clutter we buy. There is a great deal of focus placed on recycling because councils make money from us this way. But the most important thing we can do for the planet and our wallets is to reduce everything we can.

So this month, reduce and re-think the utilities and commodities you take for granted. STOP before turning on the aircon or TV. THINK how you could do things differently. SAVE money, energy and the environment. Try turning off all the lights except one and hanging out as a family in one room. Our family did this last year and it was fantastic. Make a conscious effort not to use your dryer - string up an extra clothes line under shelter if you can. Or you can go the whole hog like Sally and turn all the lights AND screens off and play Monopoly. Every little thing you do to reduce the amount of power you use counts - and you get to bring everyone together as a bonus!

3. Penny Wise: Better Late Than Never

"What are we going to do?" Liam asked yesterday, Mother's Day. It was mid-afternoon and the three of us had gone round and round in circles trying to decide what to do together to mark the occasion. The weather couldn't have been more glorious and there were plenty of free things we could have done - more than anything we wanted to go tramping - but the main obstacle was that my car's petrol tank was on empty and we couldn't afford to put any petrol in it. "See? Just goes to show that money does bring happiness," Liam said sagely. "Not necessarily!" I quickly told him. "You can have nothing and still be happy - and you can have everything and still be miserable." "True I guess," he pondered. "But even just ENOUGH would be nice!" I had to agree with him there. I mean, after all it WAS Mother's Day. I had made it plain to the boys that I didn't want any fuss, no presents; they needed to save their money. "It was my choice to become a mother; you don't have to thank me for it!" I told them firmly. But when the morning came around I have to admit I felt a little sad. The boys were feeling bad too - it just didn't feel right not celebrating the day together, especially now when we were more of a team than ever!

So round and round we went, until around 4pm when the sun was beginning to depart and the evening chill began to set in. And we finally agreed on a plan. It was Mother's Day, therefore I should do some mothering and teach my children something valuable. It's been decades since I learned how to roast a chicken but a few days ago I saw the Free Range Cook, Annabel Langbein making 'Easy Roast Chicken' on TV and the way she did it just made my mouth water so I thought it would be a great opportunity for the boys and I to give it a go. "Once you know how to cook a roast you'll always be able to feed yourself!" I smiled at Liam. "Yeah - as long as I don't mind waiting a couple of hours!" came back the reply. Even so, the boys got stuck in and the recipe was as easy as its name suggested. Before we knew it, the chook was in the oven and the most delicious smells began wafting from the oven.

While dinner cooked, we decided we would risk the empty petrol tank in the hope it would get us two minutes up the road to the video shop. It did and after much deliberating we used our bonus points to pick up a free movie - 'Life of Pi'. Fortunately the car also made it back home and as one son chopped a basket of kindling and the other filled up the wood basket, we lit a cosy fire and settled in for the evening. The chicken was a resounding success, so delicious and succulent, with golden brown skin crisped to perfection, just like Annabel said. Carving the blasted thing was not quite so perfect. I think the boys have quite given up on their mother in that department, but it did make for much hilarity!

Dinner over with, we sat down to watch 'Life of Pi'. What an amazing movie - I don't think I have ever seen Liam so mesmerised by a film, he was literally on the edge of his seat, eyes full of wonder. You don't see that much in your average 16-year-old boy these days. His enjoyment was almost as wonderful to watch as the cinematography! "Good movie, Mum!" he said as the credits rolled. Coming from Liam, that is praise indeed!

We may have started our Mother's Day late but we certainly made up for it before the end of the day. It was my first Mother's Day with no presents, flashy lunches or home-made cards. In fact, Ali even forgot to say "Happy Mother's Day" at all! But it didn't matter because my boys gave me what was more important - their time. We had heaps of fun, we didn't spend a cent and I was one very happy, contented mother. In fact I think it was quite possibly my best Mother's Day ever. Although thanks to 'Life of Pi' I'm not quite sure how long the enthusiastic yelling of 'RICHARD PARKERRRR!' around the house from both boys is going to last. I have a feeling it may be some time...

May 2013

4. Best of the Vault: Small Things Matter

Sometimes we are so busy chasing big savings that we can forget the small ones. We can save money by reducing, re-using and recycling simply by changing some of our small, everyday habits that we often aren't even aware of! It's time to look at how we do things. Here are some great ideas from the Vault to help!

15 minutes less heat = 60 hours power saved

I am saving around 60 hours' worth of electricity every year since I changed one small habit! Every morning, I switch the heater on while I get ready for the day, so the heater is on for about ninety minutes. Just before leaving the house for work I would turn the heater off. Until one day the penny dropped - I was leaving the house nice and cosy for the cat! Now the heater gets switched off about 15 minutes before I leave the house. Much better for the power bill and my pocket!

Contributed by: Brenda (Otago)

Get out of hot water and save!

Save on hot water costs with this simple idea. We often use hot water out of habit when cold water would do just fine. But a plastic tumbler placed over the hot tap can help remind everyone to use the cold water instead. It's easy enough to remove if the hot water is really needed, but a great way to break an expensive habit!

Contributed by: Kerrie Brown

Reduce the yeast for bread baking

You can eliminate using yeast when making bread by keeping an egg-sized amount of dough from your previous effort. Mix it with the water from your new lot and then carry on as usual. This replaces the yeast you would have needed. I have even frozen the 'yeast ball' and used it once it has defrosted, all with no problems.

Contributed by: Leeps

Turn one shirt into three

As my children's t-shirts get smaller, I cut the sleeves out of them and make muscle shirts and singlets. In summer the kids wear the muscle shirts and in winter they wear them under their shirts and pyjamas.

So technically we get three uses out of one item - a t-shirt, a muscle shirt in summer and a singlet in winter. Then of course when you are finished with them as shirts and you have passed them down to within an inch of their lives, you can use them as rags. We have shirts that have been passed down through seven children. I haven't bought singlets for some years now which is a big saving!

Contributed by: Harmoniously Geeked

Reduce your Internet usage each month

Don't use up all your monthly Internet allowance just by sending emails! It pays to check. Some of the emails that I receive these days now are videos and contain around four megabytes. This means that if you then send these emails with high megabyte content to 10 people, you are actually sending 40 mb each time. Think carefully to whom you are sending them to and whether they really appreciate receiving them. If they do not, don't send them at all and you will notice a remarkable reduction in your usage each month!

Contributed by: Barry Rowe

Reduce the rinse

To save electricity, time and water, reduce the cycle of your washing machine to include only one rinse. Over a year you will be surprised how much time, energy and water you will save, and your washing will be just as clean.

Contributed by: Lois Kearns

Here are a few more ideas for our valued Vault members:

Refill pens with food colouring Contributed by: Robin Simpson

Recycle old boots Contributed by: Bron Dillon

Reuse and Recycle Contributed by: Zannatul Akter

Cheap 'recyclable' pet beds Contributed by: Sandra D

5. Best of the Forum: The Three R's

Yes, you know them - Reduce, Recycle, Re-use! They're good for our wallets, our environment and our homes. There are some fantastic ideas in the Forum:

Wanting to buy a metal soap saver

Everything old is new again - but twice as expensive! Here are some great reducing and recycling ideas that even your nana would be impressed with!
read more...

Help please... trying to find info on vintage bags/totes made from laminated pictures

This thread is a little RRRipper! You can reduce your gift-giving budget, recycle printed matter and re-use these little beauties again and again.
read more...

What to do with old CD storage?

This thread just shows us the number of ways something can be re-purposed - what are you about to throw out that could be reborn into something useful again?
read more...

Ideas for garage sales - clothes

You may have turned heads when you wore it in the 80's, but it might just be time to say goodbye to your beloved yellow pantsuit! Garage sales are a fantastic way to reduce your clutter and make a few dollars in the process.
read more...

6. Best Members' Blog: A Simple Savings Mother's Day

This month's winner is Beth W. for her first blog AND her first Simple Savings Mother's Day. Keep up the great work, Beth!

Hello friends! I am a newbie to Simple Savings and this is my first ever blog. I have had a fabulous Mother's Day and just had to share with like-minded people. Let me tell you a little bit of background: I am a mum of four beautiful children aged seven, four, two and six months. In between maternity leaves I have worked for a supermarket in different roles to boost our household income. Over the years I have got better at budgeting, shopping and running a household but have not gone on a holiday for five years, bought any new furniture or had a savings account. Two weeks ago a dear friend gave me 'The $21 Challenge'. This led me to the Simple Savings website and I've been addicted ever since!

I have started making changes to my life but the biggest change is to my thinking. I am excited and positive about the changes to my family. Back to Mother's Day. Here I am doing the $21 Challenge and making some great changes from the brilliant tips from the Vault but what was I going to do about Mother's Day? I usually spend $50-$100 on a present for Mum and I was hosting lunch for seven adults and five children. I started thinking negatively... "A very cheap Mother's Day". I started cooking and freezing the week before (recipes from $21 Challenges). By Wednesday I had scones, slice and sausage rolls. I was worried there still wasn't enough food, so I messaged everyone and asked them to bring a small thing each. They were happy to. On Thursday and Friday I made a memory jar (tip from the Vault, thank you dear member!). I bought a $4 jar and on colourful paper wrote memories I have of Mum. On Saturday the kids and I made Mum a 'bunch of flowers'. We used patty pans and our craft box. I then stuck them to a wooden skewer using sticky tape. I got an old pot of playdough and pulled the label off and squished all the playdough down so it sat firmly in the bottom. We then arranged all the flowers in the pot. They looked amazing!

How did the Mother's Day go? Great! Fabulous! Amazing! Mum was so happy with the present she actually cried (happy tears)! The food was delicious and all home-made. We ate, chatted and laughed. So I started the week thinking "Cheap Mother's Day"... well I am changing that to "A very thoughtful Mother's Day"! It has reminded me what these events are about - being together and laughing and remembering times past.

In conclusion, I had a great day, spent about $200 less than I normally would and I have completely changed the way I feel about these special occasions. Now my brain is ticking, "What can I come up with for Christmas?" :-)

To read any of our members' blogs, click here

7. Hidden Gems: The Loft Cafe

Our Hidden Gems directory is designed to help members source the best deals in their area. This month's Hidden Gem is The Loft Cafe as nominated by Dee.

Although it's called "The Loft Cafe", this little cafe is on the ground floor and there is not a loft in sight! The food, service and prices are all delightful. The staff is very friendly and are only too happy to accommodate people like me with various food intolerances and/or allergies. The cuisine is (really tasty) Thai as well as a selection of quiches, cottage pies, pasties, salad rolls, muffins and so on. The Thai fare is all cooked to order and is fresh and delicious - Pad Thai, Tom Yum and so on. The cost of these meals is only $9.95 each which is cheap dining in W.A., especially the tourist mecca of Fremantle. All meals can be takeaway as well.

They also serve coffee and have 'Happy Hour' coffees from 8am till 11am for $2.95 each - and the coffee is excellent! There is also free 30 minute parking just outside which is a real bonus in Fremantle. I took my husband recently and when we left he said, "What a find, Dee!" - I'm sure you'll think so too.

Where: 60 Adelaide Street, Fremantle, WA
When: Breakfast/lunch (call for opening hours/days).
Contact: (08) 9335 3524

Well done, Dee on locating such a fantastic Hidden Gem and thanks so much for sharing.

8. Cooking with Mimi: Campfire Cooking... Easiest Ever Dinner!

Pasta and tasty herbed veg in foil parcels!

Campfire style cooking... yummmmm... turns this...

into this...

...and it's so easy, you'll forget that that strange square box in the kitchen is an implement for cooking!

We love this recipe so much. It's quick and easy, super tasty, costs next to nothing and even kids and guests lap up stuff in foil straight out of a campfire, fireplace or oven.

Best of all... no washing up, a great opportunity for conversation and a saving on your energy bills!

For each serve you need:

2 squares of foil about 30cm x 30cm
A handful of cooked rice noodles or cooked pasta
2 cups winter vegetables, diced into large pieces
A drizzle of oil
Salt and pepper to taste
Fresh or dried herbs for flavour

Then you just:

Lay one square of foil per person along your kitchen bench or outdoor table.

To each square, add a handful of cooked noodles or pasta, your desired vegies, spices and seasoning and a drizzle of oil.

Lay the second square of foil over the lot and pull it up a bit in the centre so it forms a sort of pouch effect to trap the steam and infuse your packaged noodles and veg with all that steamy flavour. Then crimp the edges all the way around, gathering the bottom sheet of foil into the upper one and turning over so it looks like a foil pie.

Pop this in a foil baking tray to protect it from the direct heat a little and into your hot coals, fireplace or oven heated to 200C if you lack access to a cozy fire. Let it steam away for between 20 and 35 minutes. Move it around occasionally so the bottom doesn't scorch if it's in the fire.

Gather the troops around with tea towels on laps to protect them from the heat, forks in hand, and distribute your parcels.

Enjoy the silence as everyone slurps and enjoys.

You can discover more of Mimi's creations in our Members' Blog section:

May 2013

9. Claire's Corner: Beat the Winter Power Bill Blues

Last night at my Weight Watcher's meeting (ah hem, 5.6kg lost since you're asking!), I got chatting to another member about how jolly cold it's getting here in Auckland (especially when you're wearing a lightweight t-shirt and cotton pants for your weigh-in!). After thoroughly bemoaning the increased cost of keeping a household running over winter, she told me her power bill was a whopping... wait for it... $170! Whoa, I nearly fell off my chair. Seriously? That's positively eensy compared to our average winter fork out of $350 a month. She has the same family size as me, yet half the power bill? Something wasn't adding up here. I began the interrogation!

Okay, first up she had a fire burner, so there was a definite saving there over our hodge-podge of outdated electric heaters. Aside from that, she told me she was a stickler about switching off lights and appliances. It got me thinking. Especially when I arrived home and found every single light (yep, every one!) in the house blazing away. I could smell the money burning! After stomping through the house flicking switches and hollering down the hallway to the family about their evil money-wasting ways (ok, so I have been known to leave the stereo going to keep the dog company... I accept my portion of the blame!), like a bolt out of the blue (of the low-watt, energy saving variety), I came up with a cunning plan.

It was time for a family confab. First, I dug out two power bills. One from summer ($120) and one from last winter ($380 - ech!) so the kids could see just how much we're spending. We then brainstormed ideas on how to cut costs and delved into the Vault to check out even more brillo ideas. Actually, the kids had quite a few good ideas including using a timer in the shower to keep hot water costs down (especially good for our youngest who will shower for as long as she can get away with!), reusing their towels, and switching off the hallway light at night time (in favour of a small low-watt night light for DD's room).

In addition, I've told them that every time I find a light left on in their room (or TV, computer or other power-sucking device), I'd be fining them! Our two daughters get a small weekly allowance, so they've been told that for every misdemeanour, they'd be fined $0.50c from their next pay, and for our 19-year-old, his board would be duly increased. Well, that got their attention! I've never seen such a flurry of light flicking!

We're also toying with the idea of making the leap from electric heaters to a heat pump. Our house is soooo cold over winter (wooden floors, large windows!). After doing a bit of research and speaking to a few heat pumped-friends and family, I think the investment will pay off. Firstly, it will be more economical to run; we can dry off lightweight clothes on a rack while it's being used. It will also help keep condensation at bay and it has a timer so we can set it to come on only at certain times. But I'd be keen to hear from others who have one - do you think they're worth the investment?

One thing's for sure, saving power is most definitely a family effort. There's no point in conscientiously switching off lights only to find your teenage son is using the dryer to warm up his underpants.

I'll be interested to see how we go this winter! What's your best tip to encourage the family to switch off?

You can read more of Claire's warm and wonderful words in our Members' Blog section here.

10. 50c Indulgences: Photo Frames and Orange Java Scrub

Beautiful jar frames

This month has been about 'Choosing Joy' with the 50 Cent Indulgence thread and one of the things that brings joy to all our hearts is beautiful photos of family, friends and fondly remembered places. Annabel sent me photos of her garden which are just glorious! I wanted to display them nicely and this was a FREE indulgence. It simply meant washing out a couple of empty jars and then slipping the photos into them. I then just tied a ribbon on top that had come on a parcel recently. Other additions are tying some string around the top, scraps of velvet or lace or rusty stars if your taste is country. It makes a great display and you can do special groupings of weddings, family members or places that you have visited. Have fun creating beautiful table-scapes for your home!

Orange java body scrub

Do you ever have a hard time waking up in the morning? I know I do! But sometimes, fun little things like this orange java body scrub really help me get up and get going!

This simple scrub is one of my favourites. I LOVE using it in the shower after skin brushing. It rejuvenates me and puts an extra kick in my step!

Ingredients

1/2 cup coffee grounds
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup hot water
1/4 cup macadamia oil, sweet almond oil or olive oil
20 drops orange essential oil (more or less to desired preference)

Instructions

Combine coffee grounds and sugar in a small bowl.
Add hot water and allow to sit for 10 minutes.
After mixture has sat and formed a paste add the sweet macadamia oil and orange essential oil.
Mix well with a spoon. Adjust oils until desired texture and scent are achieved.

Notes

Try this recipe with fresh coffee grounds instead of used. The fresh grounds will contain more antioxidants and more caffeine than used coffee grounds which will increase the effectiveness of the scrub.

Any type of sugar will work in this recipe. I just use organic cane sugar, but you could use white or brown sugar.

You can use extra virgin olive oil instead of the sweet almond oil. It just has a much stronger scent than the almond oil, but if that is all that you have available don't let that stop you from trying this recipe! Olive oil is a great moisturiser and the body scrub will still work great

Why use this java body scrub?

The sugar and coffee grounds work to exfoliate your skin.

The macadamia oil does a wonderful job at moisturising your skin.

The caffeine in the coffee stimulates the blood by dilating the blood vessels. This will tone and tighten your skin and help with the appearance of cellulite!

The caffeine will also help to increase circulation and reduce water retention.

The antioxidants in the coffee help your skin to get rid of toxins.

Bonus reasons!

It smells a-maz-ing!

It makes a great gift! Simply paint a salsa jar lid with spray paint and attach a label!

You can drop in and join Helen, Annabel and the Under 50c Army here:

Choosing joy, set the temperature to 'warm'

11. Rob Bob's Gardening Blog: Tomato Power!

Saving tomato seeds

Thanks to the cooler weather and dwindling fruit fly numbers, we are coming into our best tomato growing time of the year. I have been caught by surprise with the only plants ready to go out being some gifted tigerella tomato seedlings. The only fruiting plants we have are a few volunteer yellow cherry plants growing wild in the patch and the KY1 bush tomatoes that are about to be pulled out. I am going to sneak in some late starts so decided to save some seeds from the KY1 tomatoes this week. I am saving the seeds using two different methods this time.

The first method I used was to ferment the gel from the seeds. It is a very easy method that some people swear by as it helps to remove the gel coating from the seeds that contain the germination inhibitors. It is as easy as adding the seeds to a jar with a few centimetres of water covering them.

The seeds are then left for two to four days (can be up to a week when it's cooler) so the fermentation process can 'dissolve' the gel that surrounds the seeds. You can normally tell they are ready by a small growth of mould on top of the water and/or a funky fermenting smell. The contents of the jar are then washed in a sieve under a tap until only the clean seeds are left. The seeds are then left on some baking paper to dry, then packed up and stored in a cool dark dry place until they are needed. This method does leave you with a very clean looking seed and is the preferred one used by a few of the more experienced seeds sharers I have spoken to.

The second method I used was to remove the seeds from the fruit, wash off and remove any flesh and leave them to dry on some baking paper.

Another variation of this method is to let the seeds dry out on some paper towel. Once the seeds are dry you can cut up the towel with a few seeds on each which makes them a bit easier to sow out when the time comes. Store them in a cool dark dry place until they are needed. While this method leaves the germination inhibitors around the seeds, I have never had a problem growing plants from seeds saved this way. I will be doing a germination test between the two different saving techniques as well as planting out some seeds squeezed straight from some fruit just to see if there is much of a difference. I will show the results in a follow up post.

Tomato powder

I have been really interested in trying to make tomato powder after seeing it on a few websites. It is a great way to store tomatoes that doesn't take up much space at all and really isn't that difficult to do.

The first step is to dehydrate some tomatoes. For this we have been using the KY1 tomatoes that we have been harvesting over the past few weeks. These tomatoes are a sweet fleshy variety that are full of flavour. They are a determinant variety which means that these plants will normally grow one to two flushes of fruit before the plant dies. This also means that the plant provides you with a load of ripe fruit all at once which is great if you want to preserve them.

The first step in the dehydrating process is to slice up the tomatoes about 1cm thick and evenly space them on the tray and fire up the dehydrator.

This being our first batch of dehydrated tomatoes I was quite surprised about how much weight was dried out of these fruit. I didn't weigh them before adding them into the machine but I would think it would have been over two kilograms.

The dried weight of all those tomatoes was only 98g which just goes to show how much water is locked up in them. The next step is to add the dried tomato pieces into a food processor/blender and process until the dried pieces are turned into a powder.

It is then stored in an airtight container until needed. When it comes time to make up your tomato sauce or paste all you need to do is add some to hot water, stir and let it sit until the water has been absorbed into the tomato.

It will slowly thicken further if heat is added. I am thinking of taking advantage of any cheap tasty tomatoes I can find to make up some more as I think this will be the best way to store tomatoes for later use.

Well that's it for now. Hope you all get a chance to get out into the garden and get some dirt under your nails... : )»

You can read more of Rob Bob's gardening adventures in our Members' Blog section here:

May 2013

12. From Last Month: Don't Let Clutter Get the Best of You

Last month Denise Partridge emailed us about ideas to help her declutter:

"I would like some hints on decluttering. It is too easy to buy things cheaply and collect far more than we need. I'd like some ideas on decluttering and limiting waste so I can spend more time on what I want to do."

We got some fantastic ideas - thank you for sharing your wisdom! Here are some of our favourite replies:

Why we have clutter and how to clear it

If you find yourself with too much household clutter, it may help to think about the reasons behind it. Typical reasons include (and I am probably guilty of a few of these):

Things never break so don't get thrown out. But as new stuff is needed (for many reasons - growing kids, changing needs and so on) we just get more stuff!
Poor storage turns even the best and most useful things into clutter.
We can't bear to part with things because of the memories attached (even if they are sometimes broken).
We get given stuff that has no real use.
Not being able to find what you need, and it's cheap enough to just buy another.

Here's a few tips to help clear your clutter:

Focus on one area at a time. When one small target area or room is clean it will feel great and give momentum and encouragement to keep going.
Throw out junk mail immediately and stop shopping for non-essentials for a month.
If you want to buy something, wait 24 hours before going back to buy it - that can often stop impulse buys.
Store things properly. If space is limited think about what is needed to be kept at hand. We each have two sets of active sheets and three towels in the linen cupboard - the rest are stored in a less accessible and intrusive cupboard.
Label boxes or cupboards for the things you need and make sure things go back in there.

Contributed by: Coop

Questions to ask before decluttering

Decluttering can be so much fun and the benefits are many! Increased space, extra cash, greater pride in the possessions you cherish, and a feeling of being in control of your surroundings. Here's how I do it:

Go room to room and assess everything in the room. Ask these questions about each item, big or small:

Do I use it? Do I like it? Does it have special meaning to me? Does it add to my life? If you answer 'yes' about an item, then keep it. But it must have a real reason you can justify.
If a guest came in here, what would I want to change? If you imagine seeing your house through someone else's eyes, it can be very illuminating!

When you start sorting through things, put them in to one of four separate piles:

Sell: For things that have some resale value.
Charity: If it's in good condition but unlikely to be sellable, give it away.
Recycle: For paper, glass and so on.
Rubbish: For anything broken or unusable.

What you should be left with are the useful, wanted things. Once these things are less cluttered by the "junk" you'll find you can appreciate them so much more. In fact, if you discover things you hadn't seen, worn, read or played with for some time, it can really feel like Christmas! And if you manage to sell unwanted items, you get extra cash as a bonus.

Contributed by: Rebecca D

Keep only things that make you smile

Here's my simple philosophy to keep your home free of clutter: If it doesn't make you smile, get rid of it! I used to hold on to gifts, awards, and so on as I felt obliged to keep them, even though the items didn't have positive memories attached to them. But I now feel lighter removing such items from my environment!

Contributed by: KarenC

Five steps to less clutter

Here is my 'five step program' for clearing your household clutter:

First, walk around your house and write down everything that is bothering you. Don't be overwhelmed if the list is huge!
Next, sit down (with a cup of tea) and rewrite your list. Put it in order from what is bothering you the most to the least. Rewriting it also helps get your head around it all.
Be sure to write very specific tasks. If you just write 'organise wardrobe' it can feel like a vague task that can be overwhelming and too hard. It's better to break it up into lots of small tasks, for example, 'organise underwear drawer, tidy shelves, sort out hanging clothes'.
Put your list somewhere you'll see it, so that it keeps you motivated.
Work through your list one task at a time. When you finish the list, celebrate!

You'll feel fabulous as each task is ticked off the list and being organised will save you money and time!

Contributed by: Beth W

Clear the clutter in 15 minutes a day

The Home Storage Solutions website offers excellent support and tips on how to de-clutter your home in 15 minutes a day! It also includes a monthly plan to help you stay focused. The site is www.home-storage-solutions-101.com/declutter-your-home.html

Contributed by: Nina Vine

Tackle clutter one room per month

De-cluttering can be overwhelming, so my tip is to tackle just one room per month. I spend a few hours "spring cleaning" and tidying just one room and then next month do another room. That way each room gets a thorough clean each year and, as we tend to keep it neat once we spend time on it, it stays de-cluttered longer.

Another tip to help you avoid clutter is to ask yourself how long you had to work (if you are in paid employment) to cover the cost of the item you are thinking about buying... it makes you think twice about needing it!

Contributed by: Kylee R

Get rid of one thing per day

If you need to get rid of clutter, check out www.365lessthings.com! This is an excellent website that helps you de-clutter by getting rid of one thing each day. The writers of this blog are very much in tune with the SS mentality. There are also links to other great blogs about minimalism that come every Friday as part of the newsletter. It's well worth signing up for, or just check in on Fridays. Colleen makes the process simple and enjoyable and there is a good supportive community.

Contributed by: urbanpeasant

Three steps to less clutter

If you need to declutter, here are my three steps to make it easy!

ONE: STOP buying! Avoid the shops unless you have a specific item in mind, resist the urge to browse! If you are going to purchase something ask yourself "Do I already have one? Do I own anything that will do the same job?"

TWO: If you have a lot of clutter and are overwhelmed, start small. For example, tackle one drawer at a time. It may also help to get a trusted friend who will be firm with you to help you get rid of things.

THREE: Sort your clutter into three piles: The first is the 'KEEP' pile - for things you need and have a place for. The second is the 'DONATE/GIVE AWAY' pile - for things that can be given to charities or secondhand shops. The third is the 'THROW AWAY' pile - for things that are broken and unusable.

A few extra tips:

If Great Auntie Mabel gave it to you and you don't have a need for it, give it away! It was a gift and now belongs to you for you to do with as you wish.
If the donate/give away pile has any value, have a garage sale to recoup some expenditure. But do it soon and don't let the stuff back in the house! This takes energy, time and willpower so if you are lacking in any of these, just give the things away!
If it has sentimental value but no use, take a photo and get rid of it.
Take a hard look at what you have kept, and think again about whether you really need.
Surround yourself only with things that give you joy!

Contributed by: hylda33

13. This Month's Help Request: Funeral Plans

Helene G. has emailed asking for some help! She writes:

"I am currently researching funeral plans and I am confused by the price differences. What I should do?"

If you have any pearls of wisdom you'd like to share with Helene, please send them in to us here.

14. Goodbye for now!

Well, that's your Simple Savings Newsletter for May 2013 and we hope you have enjoyed it. Don't forget to think about the Big Turn-off this month and how you are going to do something in your home - and then let us know!

Till next time...

All the best,
Fiona

May 2015 - Simple Savings Newsletter

"Secrets to Saving Money" Free Newsletter - May 2015

This issue includes:-

Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: Hide the Evidence!
May: Bake and Feel Good!
Best of the Vault: Baking Beats Bought Every Time!
Best of the Forum: Home Baking Takes the Cake
Best Members' Blog: Time Flies
Cooking with Mimi: Tough Times Meal Ingredients
Rob Bob's Gardening Blog: Mini Urban Farm Update
From Last Month: Let's Get Saucy!

Hello,

How are you going? I hope you have had a lovely month. I have been having fun playing on the Simple Savers Facebook Group this month. If you have five seconds free, come and pop in. We love hearing from you - here are our favourite emails and favourite posts this month:

"I just wanted to post a big THANK YOU to everyone on this page...you guys have inspired me nearly every post...because of your influence I now know where every cent is and can account for every $ spent...we have hit a bump in our road called life but I'm seeing the positives as it as taught me a lot. I can see a light at the end of the tunnel! THANK YOU ALL!" (Louise, Facebook Simple Saver)

"I did three $21 Challenges in April and only ended up spending $150 on my groceries for the month. And to think I used to be a $21 skeptic!" (Riley)

"Thank you, Simple Savings for showing me so many ways to save money. More importantly, you've given me the motivation and encouragement to do it." (Helena)

Have a great month!
All the best,
Fiona Lippey

P.S. Come and join the Simple Savers Facebook Group for hints, tips and giggles.

1. Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: Hide the Evidence!

"Good morning, Sal!" sang Hanna as she hurried into the office. "Sorry I'm late again. I just can't seem to get going in the morning," she sighed. Sal looked up, chewing, "It's OK Hanna," she took another bite of her muesli bar and sipped at her coffee, "Besides, I'm just having breakfast myself."

"Ooooo, that looks like one of those breakfast bars - can I get the recipe?" Hanna asked. Sal swallowed and went a bit red, "Um, yes, um, breakfast bar... recipe? It's at home. I'll... um... email it to you tonight." "Sounds delicious, Sal, I'm so proud of you! There was a time when you would have bought breakfast." Sal swallowed even harder and changed the subject.

"The boss was looking for you before, Hanna. I think she is in the lunch room." "Really? Thanks, Sal," Hanna smiled as she went searching for her. Once she left the room Sally breathed out "Phew! I thought she would never leave... now how am I going to hide this wrapper?!"

2. May: Bake and Feel Good!

Sally isn't the only one who buys breakfast bars or muesli bars because she can't be bothered making them. We all do it sometimes but it is important that we only do it sometimes because shop-bought baked goods cost a fortune and it is so much smarter to make them yourself.

This month we want you to set yourself the goal to not buy anything you could bake yourself (except bread, unless of course you want to bake your own bread!). So, let's start with Sally's breakfast bars and find how baking them at home would have saved her money and been better for her. We know the shop-bought ones are handy and convenient - but they cost between $17 and $85 per kilogram. Instead, you can make them yourself for $5.40 a kilo with this super, slack, nutritious, budget friendly recipe:

2 cups trail mix
5 cups oats
1 tin sweetened condensed milk
Vanilla essence
60 minutes

Pre-heat oven to 160 degrees (fan forced). Line baking tray with grease proof paper.

Lightly chop one and a half cups of the trail mix (leave half a cup aside). Add chopped trail mix, oats, condensed milk and vanilla essence to bowl. Mix together with hands. Press mixture into baking tray. Sprinkle remaining half cup of trail mix on top and press in place. Bake for one hour. Let cool for ten minutes, then slice into breakfast bars.

This will give you 1.2 kilos of muesli/breakfast bars and costs $5.40 per kilo.

In comparison:

Uncle Toby's Muesli Bars cost $13.30 - $23.70 per kilo.
Coles Variety cost $11.20 - $13 per kilo.
Coles Smart Buy $10.40 per kilo.
Nature Valley $23.50 - $25.10 per kilo.
Be Natural $22.90 - $28.90 per kilo.
Carman's $19.90 - $29.70 per kilo.
Weight Watchers $33.20 per kilo.
Cadbury Brunch $21 per kilo.
Meganuts $18.39 per kilo.
Nature Valley $35.10 per kilo.
Freedom Foods $22.10 per kilo.
Thankyou $9.20 - $9.60 per kilo.
Celebrity Slim $85.80 per kilo

We've used rolled oats in this recipe because most muesli has over 20% sugar. We have used condensed milk because it's quick and easy but you can also try other binding ingredients such as butter, honey, syrup or eggs. This one is a balance of cost, nutrition and simplicity to help get you started!

Now, keep going! Think about your most recent shopping trip and make a list of those muffins, cakes, pikelets, slices and so on that you would normally buy. Your goal this month is to try and cook a batch for 'now' and a batch to freeze for 'later' when you might need it but feel too tired to cook. Lunch boxes, visitors, late night nibbles, desserts - all taken care of by YOU!

We want you to enjoy baking, to appreciate those wonderful aromas wafting around your home and the feeling of satisfaction of a job well done! Share it with your friends and family - nothing says 'I'm thinking of you' like home-baked goodies. Go on, get baking - it can be as healthy and as easy as you want it to be. Please let us know how you go, and share your triumphs and photos with us on the Simple Savers Facebook Group or the Simple Savings Forum

3. Best of the Vault: Baking Beats Bought Every Time!

Nothing beats the smell of home baking, and it's usually cheaper and healthier than store-bought as well. With the help of some great tips from the Vault, you'll quickly have a freezer full of home baked goodies!

Bake, don't buy rule saves $88 per month

I am $88 better off this month thanks to my new rule about buying bakery treats. The rule is if I can bake it I can't buy it. Having a baby made me determined to save and my main spending vice was buying snacks while out. Now I dig out recipes and make my own. In the past month I've made banana and passionfruit muffins (with passionfruit from our own vine), cupcake cheesecakes and pizza scrolls. These would have cost me $114 to buy but cost just $26 to make!

Contributed by: Kochanski

$21 Challenge focaccia/pizza

Here's a yummy (and forgiving!) recipe for pizza or focaccia; it's great for lunches and dinners!

Ingredients:

1 ½ cups self-raising flour
½ tsp salt
1 tbsp butter
1 cup shredded or mashed vegies
2 tbsp tomato paste
½ cup grated cheese

Method:

Rub the butter into flour and salt then add vegies. I use grated zucchini, shredded silverbeet or whatever is left in the fridge! If the mixture is too dry, add a splash or two of milk until you have dough. Press the dough onto a baking pan; I make it as large as needed to accommodate the toppings I have. Next, spread on some tomato paste (I have also used dips such as olive or hummus, just use what you have!). Finally, add your toppings and sprinkle with cheese. Bake at 160 for about 15 minutes and enjoy.

Contributed by: Hound Girl

Two-ingredient chocolate cake

Here's the easiest, most economical chocolate cake you'll ever make! All you need is three eggs and 160g of chocolate!

Preheat your oven to 160 degrees. Grease and flour a 10cm cake tin. Next, separate the egg yolks from the whites. Melt the chocolate in a bowl over simmering water, mix in the egg yolks and set aside. Beat the egg whites until stiff peaks appear. Fold the egg whites, a spoonful at a time, into the chocolate mixture. Pour the mixture into your cake tin and lightly tap tin against the bench to release any air bubbles. Bake for 30 minutes (cake does sink slightly when cooling).

Contributed by: L P

Weigh your eggs for the perfect sponge

My mum always used this recipe for making sponge-style cakes. It is easy to remember and it's great for when you want to make something but only have one or two eggs left. Depending on the size of cake you want (or how many eggs you have left), use one, two, three or more eggs. Weigh the eggs together in their shells and use the same weight of each of the following:

Butter (or margarine)
Sugar
SR flour

Cream the butter and sugar, add eggs one at a time and beat in to the mixture (put a spoonful of the flour in with each egg, to stop the mixture from curdling). Fold the flour in with a metal spoon. Add a little milk or water if the mixture is a bit thick. You can use this mixture to make any of the following:

Patty cakes - cook at 180C for 10-15 minutes (small cases) or 15-20 minutes (large cases).

Baked sponge - put jam, stewed apple or tinned fruit in a Pyrex dish and put the sponge mixture on top. Cook at 180C for 30-40 minutes or until cooked.

Microwave 'steamed' sponge - prepare as per baked sponge but cook in microwave on full power for about 10 minutes until the centre is cooked. (It may need longer if it is a larger amount.) With this method there may be a thin layer of moist sponge left on top but the sponge underneath should be cooked through.

As you can see, this is a very versatile recipe! You can add your favourite flavours, such as mashed banana or chocolate chips or take out some of the flour and replace it with cocoa. I have also used one of the other ingredients as the 'weight' if I have been short on something or want to use something up that is close to the use-by date.

Contributed by: Lesley Smith

4. Best of the Forum: Home Baking Takes the Cake!

So you don't have enough time to bake something? Well, ten minutes is usually enough time to get something in the oven - a cake, biscuits or a slice. And then all you have to do is sit back and wait for the mouth-watering results. Here are some ideas from the Forum to get you started!

Pizza scrolls

Quick, easy and versatile, who doesn't love a home-made pizza scroll!
read more...

Easy, never fail pav

Perfect for BBQs, dessert or afternoon tea - and you can freeze them too.
read more...

Really easy and delicious brownie recipe

Nom nom... we'd love to... nom nom... tell you how good this recipe is... but we'd have to stop eating it first!
read more...

Copycat McDonald's apple pies

5. Best Members' Blog: Time Flies

One of the many benefits of being a Vault member is that you can win $100 cash each month for your Simple Savings blog! Starting your own blog on the site is easy. All you have to do is log into the Vault, click on 'My Desk' at the top left, then 'Your Blog'. Then get writing! We love reading all your money saving trials and tribulations and really appreciate the effort that goes into each one.

This month's Blog winner is Paula who writes about her midnight gardening exploits!

"I have made some more progress and thought it was time to post again. It's very uplifting to see people have read what I've written so far, so thank you to those who have. :) Thank you for the encouragement and advice too. I hope I can offer the same to others once I figure some stuff out.

As to the progress... Granny told me that the Warehouse had punnets of vegies for good prices, so I went in the other day. (Who am I kidding? It was night. Working until 5:30, then feeding my son at my sister's, then buying potatoes and eggs THEN buying plants meant it was definitely night.) One punnet for $3.19. I got home after traffic delays at about 7:30, cooked tea for everybody, put my son to bed and then went out into the garden. No, auto-correct, did not make that up.

Gloves on, trowel out and planting in the dark.

I had read that it's better to plant at night so the plants have a better chance of bedding in (or something), so that's what I did. There were other contributing factors to this night-time green-fingered-ry, one of which was that I have a horrible tendency to just let the plants die in their punnets. This sounds wasteful but our gardens aren't actually big enough to hold all the broccoli, cauliflower and silver beet that my husband decided to purchase. (Bless him. He built the garden beds and wanted to fill them...) I'm not entirely sure the small nation that all those plants could feed would actually have enough land mass to bear that many plants, but there we go. (Although there are those vertical gardens that they do in Guatemala...) I digress. Frequently. Wait, one more: pet peeve - why do they sell you six tomato plants in a punnet? Is that to compensate for a supposed plant mortality rate, or is it for the obviously-more-dense-than-I-realised Italian population in Whangarei, that will be making mama's passata by the barrel-full come harvest time? And not just tomatoes. Who needs six heads of broccoli at once? Or THAT MUCH SILVERBEET? *breathe*

Where was I? Ah yes, planting in the dark. Another reason for this was that it hadn't rained for quite some time (days, you understand, this is Whangarei after all), and I didn't want the poor things (two broccoli, two cauliflower and two cabbage) to wither up and die. So planted, watered and slug baited beyond reasonable doubt, I left my little darlings to it and went to bed.

In the morning (who am I kidding. It was night...) When it finally got light enough to see next day...I looked out my kitchen window, was momentarily confused by all the green (did I mention the slug-bait?) and the plants WERE STILL THERE. This may not sound amazing, but given that the last lot of lettuces I planted literally disappeared overnight (picture me standing by my garden bed, looking confusedly at six empty spaces, hoping desperately that a dose of baby-brain hadn't caused me to IMAGINE planting lettuces...) The subsequent mass-murder of the local snail and slug population was regrettable, but also quite satisfying. Anyway, now you understand my excessive use of slug bait. The point is, so far, so good. And it rained. Kinda hasn't stopped really. Not such good news on the washing front, but my plants are happy. Including the self-seeded tomato that I have put a support-framey-thingy up around, even though I know it's not the right season, because frankly, it looks good there, in my half weeded, half planted garden bed.

What else have I done? The rose garden (it's as much an 'old iron wood stove' garden as a rose garden, but 'rose' is easier to type), has been (mostly) weeded. I did request that the latest lot of lawn clippings be put on it to keep the weeds down, but some people need their instructions one-at-a-time, at-the-time, so it didn't happen. Gives me a chance to get rid of the bark and weed mat and throw on some banana peelings before the next mow, though, so: 'positive thoughts'

Must go. Have chocolate mousse to test, (dairy-free, gluten-free), vegies to roast and a (Dad's) birthday dinner to get ready for.

Have a good week (or so) everybody."

Well done, Paula - we look forward to following the rest of your adventures!

You can read more of our members' blogs here.

6. Cooking with Mimi: Tough Times Meal Ingredients

We're now moving into the slow time of the year for our seasonal business, so I'm scouring the fruit market for bargains to turn into yummy meals. I'm adding to my pantry stores, so that we've got a bit of a stash of loo paper, toiletries and dog food. We're trying to follow the Michelle Bridges' plan too, so this is an additional challenge! We've also saved long and hard to go on a cruise later in the year, so making sure we have spending money and a well-stocked pantry and freezer to return home to, is a priority.

This week I found a whole range of 'ugly produce' at my local fruit market, which was all priced at just $0.99c a kilo or thereabouts. I snapped up four kilos of Roma tomatoes, three kilos of plums, a kilo of limes, two kilos of beans, four kilos of sweet potato and some beetroot. Then I spent one entire morning peeling and preparing it all, to make it easy and accessible. This really is key with cheap fruit and veg and also with less expensive cuts of meat. It keeps better, looks more appetising and, with correct storage, will last as long as the 'perfect' stuff that's twice, three or four times the price. Also if it's all ready to go, then simple delicious meals or snacks are as available, tasty and fast as the more traditional and far less healthy snack foods or fast foods. So there's another saving on not having to include those things in the grocery budget.

First up was roasting the Roma tomatoes. I lined three baking trays with baking paper, sliced the tomatoes lengthwise, getting four or five slices from each one, and lined them up closely on the trays. A sprinkle of balsamic and a grind of pepper and into the oven they all went, for around an hour to an hour and a quarter, at 160C fan forced for the first 45 minutes, then at 190C fan forced for the last 15-30 minutes. This ensures that the tomatoes dry slightly, then caramelise without shriveling up to nothing.

Keep an eye on them for the last 30 minutes though so they don't burn black. As they're done, you remove the trays from the oven and use tongs to pick them up and transfer them to a sealable container to refrigerate.

I did this three times... yes... nine trays of roasted tomatoes...but they do shrink down so it's not as hard to store them as you might imagine. I just put mine in a shallow rectangular container with a lid and into the fridge they went. So far, we've eaten them as:

Snacks:

Corn thins with smooth ricotta and roasted tomatoes.
As a topping on toast.
On plain rice crackers instead of cheese.

Lunches:

With gluten-free macaroni, a little Parmesan and some fresh basil.
Tossed through a rocket and spinach salad.
Chopped and baked with an egg and some seasoning into ricotta to make a loaf to slice and have on toast, over a salad or on crackers.

Dinners:

On turkey mince burgers (really yummy).
On top of fish fillets which I then wrapped in foil and baked... delish.
As a stuffing for chicken breast fillets with a little cubed feta... just cut a pocket in the chicken breast and push the filling in, then bake.
Stirred through risotto.
Sandwiched in between sweet potato hash browns with a bit of ricotta and baby spinach leaves.

So four dollars' worth of tomatoes and a bit of effort has formed the basis of three snack ideas, three lunches and five dinners for us this week. There are three lonely slices left now, and I'm hoarding them for my breakfast tomorrow. :) They were so yummy that I'm hoping I can score a similar bargain this week.

The plums were eaten as is, chopped into home-made yoghurt for breakfasts, poached to have as a healthy dessert or snack, and some frozen for later. I zested and squeezed a couple of the limes for meals on the menu for the week and candied the rest, adding the candied limes to trail mix for DD and DH. The beans were a little tedious, but I topped and tailed them all, discarding a very few, put them into resealable bags and put them in the crisper to blanch as healthy snacks, additions to salads or sides for meals. I peeled all of the sweet potatoes, diced some and froze them, cut some into lengths and roasted them for a roasted vegie bake and grated some to make the sweet potato hash browns. The beets I just baked whole in foil, then peeled and quartered and we eat them like fruit. Yummy.

What bargains have you found and how have you made them stretch into a meal or several meals?

You can get updates on Mimi's new blogs on the Simple Savings Facebook page

or in our Members' Blog section.

7. Rob Bob's Gardening Blog: Mini Urban Farm Update

Hi there folks. A bit has happened since the last blog post here on SS so thought I'd give you all a bit of a short tour through the patch to catch you up.

Aquaponics

A month and a half ago we managed to harvest a couple of very nice sized fish from the aquaponic system.

The largest of the Jade perch was around 1.5kg/3.3lb and the smaller one was around the 800g/1.75lb mark.

We cooked up the largest fish, dressed in a paste made with home grown turmeric, galangal and shallots. It went down really well with a side of home grown salad.

A few days later I had a very large mishap with the system. I was showing some folks our large two plus year old Jade perch and turned off the water flow into the tank so they could get a better look. I got distracted and moved onto another part of the garden, forgetting to turn the water back on. The next morning I came out to 10 x 1kg+ fish all dead in the tank.

I must say that I was truly upset with myself for making such a basic mistake but it is one I'll never make again. On the up side, after the fish were buried under a future garden and the tank was scrubbed out, around half the fish from the aquaculture/fish farm were moved into the aquaponic system. I was very pleased with the size of a few of the fish that were weighed.

graphics4

One of the goals I had when this system was built was to raise a plate-sized fish (500g/1lb) in 12 months. While the majority of the fish were under that there were quite a few that were over the 500g mark.

The rest of the aquaponic system is powering along. It has been supplying us with loads of Okinawan spinach, sorrel, flat leafed parsley and kang kong (Chinese water spinach). Since the last blog I've also added some collards, rice paddy herb, carrots, upland cress, beetroot and some Malabar spinach and mushroom plant, that were given to us by a couple of very generous visitors who came to check out the system and patch (thanks again Darren and Neil).

The ginger in the aquaponics is also going great guns.

I think it will give us slightly more than the plants out in the soil beds by the look of it. Seeing how well it's performed so far, it has got me thinking I might set a few barrels like these aside just for ginger and galangal production next season.

Dad and I just finished a new stand for a fourth media grow bed that will be home to some celery and other greens.

graphics7

I was hoping to have it finished by Sunday (today) to show a local Permaculture group coming to have a look at the aquaponic system but ran out of time unfortunately.

It was great to have more folks come through to check out the system. I do tend to get caught up in the technicalities at times so I hope I haven't scared any of them off the idea of having a go at raising their own fresh fish and produce. ;-)

Walk around the soil patch

The carrots that were just sown out in the previous blog are doing marvelously at the moment.

These were the mix of saved seeds and some that were sent to me by a mate from up north. So far I've been very impressed with how well Kira's have gone and am really looking forward to using them in a few meals. Not all the other seedlings from the last blog fared as well as the carrots. We have been hit fairly hard by grasshoppers this season and lost a number of the seedlings to them unfortunately. I did manage to save the collards, upland cress, okra, most of the cauliflower, broccoli and perpetual spinach but lost the squash, angled luffa and miners lettuce.

I managed to pick up some more cauliflower and broccoli to fill the gaps so not all was lost, with four of the broccoli making it to a wicking bed in the front yard.

I have started to get a bit of cabbage butterfly caterpillar damage on a few of the brassicas so I sprayed them with some BT 'organic' caterpillar mix, and it looks to have kept them at bay for now. I hope to have the insect netting repaired and in place over the main beds by next weekend. I'm also sowing out some more American upland cress' as a bait crop to attract and knock off the cabbage butterfly caterpillars that may decide to feast on the brassicas out the front.

The dwarf tomatoes that were planted out in the soil patch were only wee babies when the last blog was posted but have shot up well.

None are fruiting yet unlike their sisters in the aquaponics but they have started to set a few flowers.

For those who are interested, at the end of the clip below there is a comparison between the growth of two lots of tomatoes that were planted out in the soil and aquaponic beds at the same time.

The plants in the aquaponics now have a few fruit set with more flowers appearing regularly.

Around 50 cloves of garlic have been planted out into the patch this season.

I have popped in five of our 'volunteer' Glen Large garlic from last season along with some Red Creole and Silver Skin varieties. The five Glen Large went into a bed in the main patch with the two other varieties going into wicking barrels. As we live in a warmer climate I like to chill down (vernalise) the cloves for three to four weeks before they go into the ground. This process tricks them into thinking they have been through a cold winter and I've found they perform a lot better, grow more vigorously and give us larger bulbs/cloves come harvest time.

The Tahitian lime tree has been a great producer for us over summer.

At the moment we're taking around 10 fruit off the tree a week. Many have made it into juices with a few going into Bianca's work as giveaways.

While walking the patch today Bianca came across a praying mantis egg sack, or ootheca, on the lime tree.

I have seen a huge increase in the amount of praying mantis over the warmer months so am hoping these little fellers will help keep a few pests at bay. I have found a few on the other citrus like the Kaffir lime in the picture above.

Seven pouches of potatoes have been planted out up the side of the house this week. Luckily here in subtropical SE Queensland we are able to plant out spuds twice a year; spring and autumn. This position was chosen as it faces north and will receive the winter sun.

This time round I've used ten store-bought potatoes in five pouches and six of our own home-grown purple Congo potatoes in another two pouches. I know many folks suggest you should use certified seed potatoes as there is a chance you could be introducing diseases into your soil with store-bought produce. As I only grow in containers and not the garden beds I'm not too concerned about this. If you're concerned about introducing diseases into your patch you'd be better off sticking to certified disease-free seed potatoes from reputable suppliers I think.

These spuds were left to 'chit' or sprout in the pantry for about eight weeks to give them a bit of a head start before planting out.

All but the strongest looking eyes were removed from the potatoes and they were popped on top of 150mm/6" of compost with the growth points facing up. The pouches were then filled until the sprouts were covered with 50mm/2" of compost. Once the greenery gets to be about 200mm/8" high more compost will be added to encourage spuds to form along the stem.

Some folks like to cut up their seed potatoes so that they have an 'eye' or growth point on each piece to increase the number of plants they grow from a single potato. Once cut into sections, they are left for a while until the wounds have healed before planting out. I've found that method doesn't work well for us here, I'm not sure if it's due to our warmer climate or something I'm doing wrong. ;-)

Hopefully we'll get a half decent amount of spuds from these by the end of winter.

The poor old banana plant got battered in a storm and the 'branch' with the fruit ended up lying down.

I didn't do the best job at propping it up and think I killed off the stem completely.

The bananas had to be cut from the plant a bit early and I don't think they had developed fully and were a tad small.

The bunch was hung up under the house for eight days before the first fruit started to look ready. Surprisingly though, the rest of the hands started to colour up overnight and it didn't take long for the majority of them to be consumed. I did leave one hand aside to see how long they would still be edible and was rather surprised that while the skin looked black on the outside the fruit itself was still very tasty after another week and a half, much longer than store-bought fruit. I'm unsure though if this is due to the variety or the fact that the fruit was harvested prematurely from the plant.

Another harvest we've had from the front patch was the sweet corn.

While the corn hasn't done fantastically well for us here this season we have enjoyed the small harvests. This lot was left on the plants a week too long I think by the look of the slightly dimpled kernels but still tasted great when cooked up.

So there you go, folks, there's a bit of a brief update on how things are going in the patch mid-way through autumn. I hope you enjoyed the wander through the garden and are having fun tending your own no matter how large or small it is.

Have a great one,

Rob : )»

You can get updates on Rob Bob's new gardening adventure blogs on the Simple Savings Facebook page

or in our Members' Blog section.

8. From Last Month: Let's Get Saucy!

Last month Teena emailed us asking for Simple Savers' favourite sauce recipes:

"My family loves sauce with their meals, all sorts of sauces! It occurred to me recently that I could be making my own for a fraction of the cost and they'd probably be tastier and have less sugar. So I'd love to ask fellow Simple Savers to 'get saucy' and share their favourite sauce, gravy and even chutney recipes - mint, tomato, BBQ, black sauce and so on. I'd love some tried and true recipes."

We got some fantastic ideas for Teena! Here are some of our favourite replies:

Lazza's capsicum sauce (or soup!)

One of my recipes that everyone in the house loves (especially the little kids - amazing!) is a super one and very simple!

Get a lot of capsicums at the time of year when they are ridiculously cheap (red, orange and yellow taste best). Remove the pith, de-seed them and slice into halves or thirds length-wise. Grill skin side up under quite high heat and moderately close to the flame/heat source. When skin is burnt black, flip over to cook flesh until soft.

Once cooked, put into ice-cold water and peel off the skins. Chop strips and put in blender to blend for either a chunkier sauce or a finer soup. Simmer in a pot on medium heat - now you're ready for either pasta sauce or soup.

For a pasta sauce, you can add for taste: tomatoes (tinned/fresh), garlic, onion, oregano, salt, pepper, sugar and a small amount of stock. As the sauce cooks it will get sweeter as the tomatoes, garlic and capsicum break down. I use the sauce over some beautiful artisan pasta, but of course you can use cheap pasta or make your own. It goes really well with chopped chicken breast and can be served over a breaded chicken fillet like chicken Parmesan. I also like a bit of a sharp cheese sprinkled on top as well.

For soup, add cream and more stock (preferably chicken). You can also add carrots or celery and serve with a bit of Parmesan cheese on top and crusty bread.

Generally the serving size per person is half a capsicum for sauce, one capsicum for soup.

The beautiful part of this recipe is that you can freeze into quantities as you go along - grilled capsicum, capsicum puree, sauce or soup. Nothing like a beautiful capsicum pasta when capsicums are costing $5.00 each and you bought yours at just $0.50c each!

Contributed by: L Barr

Easy tomato and zucchini relish

Easy tomato and zucchini (or red capsicum) relish

6 tins diced tomatoes
2 medium zucchini, grated (or 1 medium red capsicum, finely diced)
2 large onions, finely diced
2 tsp each of paprika, mixed spice, curry powder and salt
1 tsp each of crushed garlic and white pepper or chilli flakes
2 cups white sugar
2 1/2 cups vinegar (white, brown, apple cider or spiced white)
2 heaped tbsp arrowroot or cornflour mixed to a paste with a little vinegar

Mix arrowroot or cornflour and extra vinegar in a small jug and set aside.

Put remaining ingredients into a large pot, stir well till sugar is dissolved and bring to the boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally and skimming foam from the top.

Meanwhile, wash and rinse 10 x 375ml jars and lids in hot water and put in an oven on 100 deg celcius to sterlilse.

After cooking time, add enough arrowroot or cornflour paste to mixture to thicken then bottle and seal whilst hot. When cold, label and date then store in a cupboard. Refrigerate once opened and enjoy. Makes about 10 jars. Lasts at least 12 months.

Contributed by: Linda P

Hearty and healthy vegetable sauce

I make this sauce for the vegans that stay at the camp I work at. (All I have to buy is an egg plant as I don't grow these).

Vegetable sauce

2 large green capsicums, thinly sliced
6 tomatoes, skinned and sliced
2 zucchini, thinly sliced
1 eggplant, cubed
1 cup celery
3 onions, diced (I only use two and grate them)
2 tbsp oil

Cook the onions till golden. Add the rest of the ingredients and simmer for about one hour. Serve over pasta or rice.

I make this when the vegetables are in season and freeze it.

Contributed by: Robyne N

9. Goodbye, Goodbye!

Well, that's your Simple Savings Newsletter for May and we hope you have enjoyed it. We hope you enjoy your baking challenge this month and we can't wait to hear all about it!

Till next time...

All the best,
Fiona

May 2018 - Simple Savings Newsletter

Simple Savings Newsletter - May 2018

Congratulations, Facebook Volunteers
$21 Challenge Applause
What Could You Do With A Spare 3,796 Hours?
Calendar Challenge Reminder: Screens Off
How To Switch Off The Screens
Hint Of The Week Competition: Screens Off
New Competition: Screen Tantrums
Competitions: March Winners!

Hi,

Welcome to the May 2018 edition of your Simple Savings newsletter.

At Simple Savings we believe in all types of saving. This month we are saving time. May is ‘Screens Off’ month. This is your month for regaining control of your time and household by switching off the screens, big and small. It doesn't matter if you are at the Beginner, Intermediate or Expert level at taming the screen; the article below has lots of specifics to help and challenge you.

Screens Off month for me is going to be cruel. No computer games. No Candy Crush. No Clash Royale. No watching 30 Rock (I'll miss you Liz Lemon). No Audio books. And no hanging out in non-work-related Facebook groups. This is going to be tough.

There are two competitions open this month. Firstly, the hint of the week competition is calling for entries about saving time by turning off the screens. Second, this month’s new competition is a chance to share your funny story about hitting the wall with screens and declaring "Enough is enough!" Read on below for more information about both of these contests.

To encourage you to send us your stories we are giving away $200 in prizes. As always, entry to the competitions is open to everyone and completely free.

Happy saving,
Fiona

1. Congratulations, Facebook Volunteers

We have great news! Our Simple Savers Facebook group grew to 100,000 members this month and it is all due to the incredible work of our fantastic Facebook Volunteers Sandra, Jan, Mark, Bec, Danen, Vanessa, Bev, Melissa, Taylor, Meg, Jules, Tameka, Kirsty, Kate and Victoria. Thank you for all your work! Many Australians can now pay the bills and have food on the table thanks to your tireless generosity. Thank you for your selfless work.

2. $21 Challenge Applause

Please give an extra special round of applause for Judy M. In April, Judy spent only $3.46 on food. Well done Judy!! Here is Judy's tale:

I started out in April with one hope - to succeed at the $21 Challenge, but to do it 'Extreme'. My wish was to spend no more than $10 for the whole thirty days of April. There are two in our house and we often have friends over for coffee or a meal. When I took stock of everything in the pantry and freezer I was amazed by how much food was there ready and in reserve. I thought maybe we needed some powdered milk to get through the month so I spent $3.46 on milk.

After I set myself the 'Extreme' $21 Challenge I made sure to keep the freezer at full capacity. Each time I took something out of the freezer I restocked with more food from the garden. I froze fruit, veggies etc. so there would always be something on hand. The pantry was full too. I made scones and baked other treats for morning tea. We had Impossible Pie and soup for lunch. We even enjoyed a roast for dinner.

We had 10 people for lunch one day. Then visitors came for dinner that same night to help eat the leftovers. Even after those two big meals, with guests, there was still heaps of food left. I had stored extra food in March as we had visitors staying. But even with that, and visitors staying in May, the only extra thing I will have to buy is milk.

By the end of April, all I'd spent was $3.46 on milk. That was my entire food spend for the whole month. It is amazing what you can do with what you have. The money saved from our $21 Challenge 'Extreme' is going to be bonus spending money when we take a holiday later in the year.

3. What Could You Do With A Spare 3,796 Hours?

How many times have you heard someone say, "...but I don't have time" ?

I would love to go to the gym, but I don't have time
I would love to start a Certificate course, but I don't have time
I would love to lose weight, but I don't have time
I would love to write a menu plan, but I don't have time
I would love to renovate, but I don't have time
I would love a clean home, but I don't have time
I would love to save money, but I don't have time

I hear these phrases so often and I wonder, where has all the time gone? Where was it spent?

Then I notice my children, at home, jumping from screen to screen. They skip from one screen to another to another. Flicking from Overwatch to YouTube and back again. Seeing this, it is easy to figure out where all the times goes: It is spent staring at screens.

In fact, the average Australian spends 2 hours and 27 minutes per day watching screens. And, a staggering 10 hours and 24 minutes per day engaging with internet connected devices.

That works out as 899 hours (equivalent to 23.7 working weeks) staring at a screens and 3,796 hours (yes, nearly a hundred 38 hour work weeks) on internet connected devices per year.

I want to repeat that last calculation: 3,796 hours, every year, spent on internet connected devices.

The good news is that reclaiming your time is simple. All you have to do is to set yourself some boundaries, and now is the month to do it because May is 'Screens Off' month. Now is the time to regain control of your household by switching off the screens. These are my four boundaries:-

I will not watch 30 Rock all month
I will not play any games including Candy Crush and Clash Royale all month
I will not spend time on Facebook unless it's related to Simple Savings
I will not listen to BorrowBox (audio books) or podcasts all month

What will your boundaries be?

Please drop into our forum and share your journey with us in Claire's thread:

2018 May - Screens Off - SS Calendar Challenge

(The forum is part of our paid members area. If you would like a membership click here)

4. Calendar Challenge Reminder: Screens Off

Time is a precious resource. We all have a finite amount. Save time and regain control of your household with the Simple Savings Calendar Challenge for May: Screens Off. There are three levels of the Challenge to choose from, Beginner, Moderate and Hard Core.

Which one will you do this month?

Beginner: All screens off for one day a week
Moderate: One week screen-free
Hard Core: The whole month screen-free

Please write in and tell us what you are planning and how it is going. I love getting your emails. They make me smile.

5. How To Switch Off The Screens

I was chatting with my kids about writing this month's newsletter. "I've told everyone, in writing, that I'm not playing Candy Crush or watching 30 Rock this month." I said.

"Can you write in the newsletter," asked Jacqui, my 14 year old, "that when you told us you were giving up Candy Crush and 30 Rock, we snorted with laughter?" Jacqui smiled and emphasised, "SNORTED with laughter..."

She doesn't think I can survive without Candy Crush, or Liz Lemon. Nonetheless, the kids have chosen to support me by switching off their screens as well. All of May will be a Screens Off month in the Lippey household.

The kids have chosen to not play games, to not watch online streaming, and to not listen to audio books. They will only use constructive and creative computer programs, such as Adobe Photoshop and Open Office. (Minecraft is off-limits).

Jacqui and Sam negotiated some concessions. Jacqui still gets to watch 30 Rock on iView and Sam is allowed to chat to his friends and look at funny memes.

If you would love to do a Screens Off month but have never done one before, below are some tips to get you started:

Tip 1: Give advance notice - Some kids need time to come to the party on new ideas. Several days before you begin, alert them that you are planning a Screens Off day/week/month.
Tip 2: Pretend you are camping - When you go camping you are without electricity. Usually by the second day of a trip all the devices are dead and everyone finds other things to do. A Screens Off month is like camping but without dirty feet and sand in your bed.
Tip 3: Screens Off Sunday - If a Screens Off month or week is too difficult start with Screens Off Sunday. We love Screens Off Sunday and do it most weeks.
Tip 4: Swap screens for other things - What if the kids find entertaining themselves for a whole month too hard? Compromise by allowing them to listen to audio books while they are exercising or doing chores. You could say, "Let's listen to Rangers Apprentice on Borrowbox while we fold clothes."
Tip 5: Arrange activities - At first, when kids go without screens they are lost. You can prepare activities for them until they have re-learned how to entertain themselves. Some of our activites are: playing UNO, playing Dixit, making up stories, colouring in, painting, baking cakes, cooking and inventing new recipes, word games, playing guitar, playing piano, walking and playing with the dogs, cleaning races (the first one to pick up ten items, etc), trampolineing, pool noodle battles, role-playing computer games (instead of playing the games, they pretend they are the characters and imagine they are in the game).
Tip 6: Write detailed rules - It is important that everyone understands the rules. The best way to do this is to write the rules down and stick them to the fridge. Rules can include (a) the length of time you plan to be screen free, and (b) what 'screen free' means for individual family members
Tip 7: Sliding scale - There is an old saying that states, if you need to cut off someone's foot, tell them you are taking the whole leg. Once they see only their foot is gone, they will be grateful. This means if you are planning a Screens Off week, manage expectations by telling your children you would like a Screens Off month and allow them to negotiate you down to a week.
Tip 8: Minor hurdles - Often one or two families members are so addicted to their screens they will try everything to avoid giving it up. (A bit like your Minor Hurdles on the $21 Challenge) They will come up with every excuse possible. In this case, do your best. Negotiate, negotiate, negotiate. But, whatever you do, don't let their negativity hold you back.

Pushing the buttons for screen time

Our family has found the perfect way to get the kids excited about saving money AND it has helped us save a bundle! I wanted to find a way of rewarding my children for completing their chores on time but didn't have money to pay them for every job they do. So, we set up a 'button currency' in our house. It is a fairly simple system but it allows us to teach them about income, budgeting and debt. Plus, it really motivates them to do work.

It goes like this; each button is worth 10 minutes of screen-time. A button is earned by completing a job but we can also give 'bonus' buttons for exceptional behaviour or negotiated extra work. At the end of the week they can trade up to five buttons for $5.00 allowance, some of which is to be saved. We also introduced 'red' buttons that are a way of borrowing screen-time. The kids can ask to borrow a button and we give them a red button and a black button. The black button can be spent as normal and the red one has to be paid back with two black ones. They can't have any buttons 'owing' if they want to collect pocket money.

As back to school time grew nearer, we told the kids that for every item on the school stationery list that they could find at home, they would earn a button. Yay! Recycling! The kids went running off to find bits of stationery that could be reused for the next school year. We saved approximately $200. We are busily saving for a house and this is one way we are choosing to get the kids 'excited' about our austerity measures.

Contributed by: Asher

6. Hint Of The Week Competition: Screens Off

What are your tips for reducing screen time in your household? Please send them in to our Hint of the Week competition.

Write in and share what you have found that works. We are all in the same boat and can learn from each other.

7. New Competition: Screen Tantrums

Have you ever reached the point where you wanted to throw every screen out the window? I have. And I'm sure many other people share this experience. This month we are asking you to write in and tell us about a time when you said, "Enough is enough!"

The winning entry will be judged the most entertaining and informative story. We are giving away a $100 main prize and two $50 prizes for runners up.

To enter, send in your story by May 20th. Email your entries to: competitions@simplesavings.com.au

8. Competitions: March Winners!

There were hundreds of inspiring entries in last month's competitions. We called for stories about how the $21 Challenge has affected your life and what has been your best moment on the Challenge. We also asked for stories about the strangest thing you’ve ever eaten on the $21 Challenge. A big congratulations to everyone in the $21 Challenge team and here's to continued success in the future! The winners of last month's competitions are: Robyn M, Sophie, Melanie, and Ingrid. Here are their entries:

How has the $21 Challenge affected my life? Story Winner: Robyn M

I was introduced to the $21 Challenge in February 2010. My husband and I were both in our fifties and working. I purchased the Challenge book at a Mount Isa bookstore when we were on a 6-week caravanning holiday. I bought the book to read for relaxation while on vacation. Although we both consider ourselves thrifty and practical when it comes to spending, this book changed the way we looked at things. After we returned home from our trip, several weeks passed before we started back at work. There was no pay coming in because we were both employed on casual rates. I began to take stock of everything left in my cupboards, fridge and freezer. And so our Challenge began! Eight years later, we have both retired and our 'Challenge' continues. These are some of the strategies we use on an aged pension and superannuation:

I get my husband to do as much shopping as possible when our local supermarket offers a 5% pensioners discount on full-price items.
If I want a particular item that is not on special, I ask myself if I really need it. Can I substitute with something else?
I plan for the specials. If bananas are a good price one week then I plan to buy apples next week because they will probably be on special. Most supermarkets rotate their specials from one week to another.
I have learnt to substitute well! We like curries and sometimes substitute dates for sultanas to avoid going out and buying sultanas.
When I bring refrigerated items home I put the already opened items at the front of the fridge where I can see it and use it first. The same goes for the freezer. New items go to the back of the freezer. I use the oldest item first. And in the pantry too - bring old stock to the front and use things close to their 'best before' date.
My crockpot is my biggest friend during winter. I cook double quantities and freeze the extra.
I make products from scratch. I make my own French onion soup mix and ricotta cheese; so easy and tastes better. I also grow my own sprouts in a jar (look up how online) and I recycle the water onto my lawn.
When cooking, I regularly substitute a quantity of meat ingredients for legumes, e.g. I use 250g of mince and a 400g tin of strained legumes.
I make my own eucalyptus laundry liquid. It takes very little time and costs 7 cents a wash (look up how online).
I've given the $21 Challenge book to all my children and their friends as birthday presents.
My husband brews his own ginger beer and beer. He gives bottles of them as Christmas and birthday presents.
I love making Easter eggs and chocolates for the grandchildren at Easter - so easy, tastier and cheaper.
On Christmas day I collect all wrapping paper, ribbons, bows etc. and carefully restore and re-use for next year.
I have a pod coffee machine, given to me as a present. Whenever I am tempted to stop for a coffee at the local shops, my husband reminds me that our coffee at home is nicer.

How has the $21 Challenge affected my life? Plus my best moment. Story Winner: Sophie, Sydney

The $21 Challenge has turned the impossible into the possible.

I started out worried that my meals in the Challenge would be a big flop. I didn't think my family would eat them as they would probably taste and look different to what they were used to. How wrong I was! In the past, I was well known for quick trips to the shops to buy an ingredient or two. I always bought what I 'needed' plus a few unnecessary extras. The most valuable skill I learnt on the Challenge was the art of substituting ingredients. With this skill, taste and appearance can stay the same. The Challenge has taught me new skills, saved on travel, and kept money in my pocket.

The best $21 Challenge moment was having family members, who used to refuse to eat any seafood, devour Jackie's salmon quiche (page 133 in The $21 Challenge book). I'm thrilled to say this 'moment' has no end! They continue to enjoy the quiche and, for many years now, are none the wiser.

Strangest Thing Ever Eaten on the $21 Challenge Winner: Melanie Fisher

When it's just me to cater for, this is a $21 Challenge favourite - a delicious creation of baked beans, grated cheese, cubed bread and butter, and peanuts or potato chips. I mix and gently warm the first 3 ingredients in a saucepan until the cheese has melted and the beans are hot. I stir in a small handful of peanuts or chips just before serving. Absolutely delicious eaten straight from the saucepan. Don't knock it 'til you've tried it!

Strangest Thing Ever Eaten on the $21 Challenge Winner: Ingrid

Pineapple & Passionfruit Zucchini!

Summer has me saying, 'How many ways can you eat a zucchini?'. Usually the answers are of a savory variety but I found a way to make zucchini taste like fruit.

Peel and cube raw zucchini to resemble pineapple chunks.
Gently simmer the cubes in pineapple/orange cordial mixed as per the instructions.
Cook until soft and slightly transparent.
Splash in some (homemade) passionfruit pulp syrup.

There you have it! Extraordinary Pineapple & Passionfruit Zucchini.

Who needs to buy tins of fruit-salad when you have zucchinis coming out your ears?

Till We Meet Again...

It is time for me to go. I'm really looking forward to your tips and hearing about how you conquer the screens and save time. Goodbye for now.

All the best,
Fiona

May 2021 - Simple Savings Newsletter

Hi,

How are you going? I hope you are having a great month. In Simple Savings land we are having a “Chuck it out Frenzy” where we are cleaning out the 'odds and sods' and 'Bonus Ingredients' that have been cluttering up the pantry. You know the ingredients I am talking about. Things 'left over from a fancy recipe', 'bought when hungry', 'too busy to use', 'not a staple cooking supply', 'don't know what to do with', 'everyone is scared to eat' or 'bought at the start of Covid'.

This month we are asking people to get together and help each other use up the 'what can I do with this?' ingredients by diving into your pantry, picking up something that has been sitting there for a while and then asking others for cooking suggestions and/or recipes.

To get the ball rolling below are some weird items from my fridge and freezer. I have also posted these items in Claire's 'Chuck it Out Frenzy' in the forum and in our Facebook group.

It is going to be a great month.

Many grins,

Fiona

PS. Our Leg Up program is where we give away a membership for every membership purchased. Click here if you would like a Leg Up Membership and here if you would like a paid membership.

Cooking suggestions, please?

Can you please help me clean out my fridge and pantry this month? It is full of really weird items that I don't know what to do with and am having trouble eating.

Before you ask, why on earth did you buy those things in the first place? It is because I love cooking and tasting weird food. The stranger it is, the more likely I am to want it. And, every birthday/Christmas/Mother's Day my kids get me the weirdest gluten-free/dairy-free food they can find.

Here are some of the things, I don't know what to do with:-

Agar Agar: It is supposed to be like gelatine. But, each time I've tried to use it the jelly never sets. I have tried following online recipes, but it has been one fail after another fail. Do you have any suggestions for Agar Agar?

Seasoned Banana Chips: Do you have any suggestions for what I can do with these? Should I blend them into a flour or put them in the kids lunches? The ingredients are: banana, oil, black pepper, kali mirch, dried mango powder, cumin, mint, ginger, coriander, asafoetida, chilli, cassava leaves, stone flower, triphala, clove, black salt, common salt. If you had these banana chips in your pantry, what would you do with them?

Buckwheat: Using up buckwheat shouldn't be hard. But, I keep looking at it, deciding it is too hard and closing the pantry door. If you had a pile of buckwheat, what would you do with it?

Chia Seeds: Chia seeds are healthy and can be really tasty. But, I can never bring myself to cook with them. If you had a container of Chia seeds what would you do with them?

Marinated Baby Figs: These should be easy to use up. But, I haven't even opened the jar. All suggestions welcome :-)

Fish Crackers: The package says they are 'tasty n crunchy', but I'm finding opening the bag and tasting them a bit difficult. What do you think they are going to taste like and do you have suggestions for eating them?

Kimchi: Is supposed to be tasty and really healthy, but what do I do with it? This has been sitting in my fridge for a year. If you had to use up a jar of Kimchi, what would you do with it?

Lime Pickle: This Lime Pickle came from the Indian grocery store. Is it a dip, a sauce, a curry ingredient? And, why do I enjoy buying up random ingredients I have never seen before?

Liquid Smoke: This is supposed to be really tasty, but it has been sitting in my fridge waiting to be used for six months. The reason I am not using it is because I'm a bit scared of it and keep forgetting it is in the fridge. Have you ever used Liquid Smoke? If so, what did you do with it? Does it taste like preservatives?

Mung Bean Seeds: This is a lot of Mung Bean seeds. Do you have any suggestions other than sprouting them? Can they be added to bolognese?

Thai Crispy Rolls: These were a birthday present from the kids. Have you ever tried them and do you have any suggestions on what to do with them?

These are the 'odds and sods' from my cupboards. What do you have in cupboard and would you like help using them up? If so, post a picture in our private forum or Facebook group where you can great suggestions and wonderful tips for using ingredients that may have ended up in landfill. And, if you have any suggestions on how I can use up some of my weird ingredients. I want to hear from you.

Competition: Best contributors, 5 x $20 prizes

This month we are going to give away five $20 prizes for the best contributors in the forum and/or Facebook. This could be people who are the most helpful, most popular post or weirdest food ingredient between now and midnight May 25th.

All winners will be announced in next month's newsletter.

Best of Facebook

Here is the best from our SS facebook group. What a great idea!

Best of the Forum

These threads are from the best of the Simple Savings forum -

If you are a single person household, you might like to join the ladies over in the Simple Savings forum. They have a great new thread called 'One-person Households chat and support.' It is over here at

/fora/4374660

In the '2021 - The $30K Club - # Easter Eggs and long weekend thread'

Katie has posted pictures of her fantastic 'Knitting for Brisbane's needy' efforts all packaged up and ready to deliver. She also shows how she 'debt busts' while volunteering. Well done Katie! And to all the other ladies on that thread who are paying down their mortgages and or investing. You are all amazing.

Here is the link /fora/4373038

NOTE: Reminder you need to be a current member and logged into the Savings Vault to read the forum. You can become a member by applying to our Leg Up program. Which is where we give away a membership for every membership purchased. Click here if you would like a Leg Up Membership and here if you would like a paid membership.

Gorgeous Emails

This month we received another fantastic email filled with tips from Margaret S to share with you.

Margaret says “other things I am frugal with”

“I cut my Christmas cards so I just have the front picture and use it as a gift tag with plenty of room on the back to give a nice Christmas message.

I knit rugs for charity, so often only small pieces of yarn are left over from another project.

I thread these together and knit them continuously to make a colourful rug.

When I use the full size oven I do a big bake up, all other times I just use the half oven.

I save all of the A4 paper that has only been printed on one side, then use this for printing drafts, or emails for my husband to read etc.

I very rarely have leftover cooked veggies as we only cook what we require for the two of us, but did the same when the family was still home.”

Sandra's 'Chuck it Out' Tips

This month we are having a chuck out frenzy. It is time to give our hardly used items a new lease of life in a different house. Most people had a pretty good clean out at some stage during COVID.

But if you have now accumulated more unused or unwanted belongings, then feel free to join in with us, to pass those unwanted things on. Or if you cleaned up and the things are still sitting there, then it's time to move them on.

I think it is important to psyche ourselves up for this challenge. We really need to take a good look at every single thing with fresh and objective eyes if we truly want to make a change.

Being honest with ourselves about - do I use this? Have I used it? Will I ever use it?

If the answer is no, then move it on and find it a better home.

Pass on items such as 'taking up space' handbags, kids toys and playground equipment you may never use, to people or friends or to your local charity shop.

I know a young lady who was absolutely thrilled to pick up a good leather handbag from an op shop. She was as pleased as anything. It was so lovely to see!

I also know of another mum of three little ones who very happily picks up second hand toys for her little boys. They were eyeing off a particular expensive brand of trampoline and managed to get the exact thing, almost brand new for free, because someone no longer wanted the hassle of cleaning leaves and things off it...so please pass things on if they are just sitting there!

Sandra's Recipes

Welcome to this month's recipe corner. Sandra has made some great recipes to turn leftovers into a tasty burger sauce and delicious muffins.

Sandra's Burger Sauce

Here's a great BURGER SAUCE recipe which will use up those sauce dribs and drabs.

And YES, we here at Simple Savings are those people who turn our bottles upside down to get the last bits out of them.

Ingredients

½ cup of Mayonnaise

¼ cup of Tomato Sauce

2 teaspoons of sweet pickle relish (or any relish)

2 teaspoons of sugar

2 teaspoons of white vinegar

1 teaspoon of ground black pepper.

Method

Mix all of the ingredients well together and store in a jar in the fridge.

This sauce can be used on sandwiches or burgers.

Sandra's Savoury Muffin recipe

Ingredients

1 cup of buttermilk.

Note - You can make your own buttermilk, by pouring out 1 cup of milk into a jug and adding a dash of vinegar or lemon juice to it and stirring it and setting it aside for a few minutes.

⅓ of a cup of oil

⅓ cup of grated cheese

2 eggs

1 ½ cups of plain flour

3 teaspoons of baking powder

1 finely chopped capsicum

½ cup of basil leaves

Salt and black pepper

Extra grated cheese.

Method

Preheat the oven to 200⁰C. Prepare a baking tray.

In a large bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, oil, grated cheese and eggs.

In a separate large bowl, combine the flour and baking powder with the capsicum and basil. Mix well.

Add the buttermilk mixture into the flour mixture and mix until JUST combined. (Overmixed muffins will be tough!)

Spoon the mixture into paper muffins cases or into a very well greased muffin tin.

Add extra grated cheese to the tops of the muffins.

Bake in the hot oven for 20 minutes or until golden brown.

Tip

Use an ice cream scoop to put equal measures of muffin mixture into the paper cases or muffin tin holes.

November 2011 - Simple Savings Newsletter

"Secrets to Saving Money in Australia" Free Newsletter - November 2011

This issue includes:-

Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: Santa's Little Helper
December is Old Fashioned Fun Month!
Great Aussie Street Party!
$21 Challenge: Order Quick for Christmas!
Best Members' Blog: This Month's Winner
Lin's Garden Diary
Best of the Vault: Funds-Free Fun
Best of the Forum: The Good Old Days
Cooking with Mimi: Stamped Salt Dough Ornaments & Microwave Celebration Toffee
Penny's Blog: Real Life, Real Fun
Homeopathy Corner: Rheumatoid Arthritis - Lauren's Story
From Last Month: Unique Christmas Gifts
This Month's Help Request: An Overabundance of Hankies
So Long, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, Goodbye :-D

Ho, ho, hello,

Happy Christmas! Thank you for all your wonderful support this year. We really appreciate your help and couldn't do it without you! To show our appreciation we have been hard at work preparing your 2012 free Simple Savings calendar entitled "The NEW, Clever YOU!" We are almost finished and will have it ready for you early next week. How exciting!

I am really looking forward to some time relaxing with my family this festive season. I hope you get lots of time to do the things you love most, with the people you love most!

Thanks for all the wonderful emails you send in. Reading your success stories really makes my day!

"Our household is celebrating today! After 11 years we paid off our mortgage. During this time we almost went broke, recovered ourselves and went on to buy an investment property as well as paying off a $260,000 house mortgage.

"We are so thrilled and I wanted to share my excitement with someone who understands the buzz of debt reduction. I also wanted to testify that our membership to Simple Savings has really made a big difference in our attitude towards our money and spending habits." (Caroline Taylor)

"I just wanted to say a massive thank you for your Simple Savings site. That site has made the biggest turnaround in my household finances, to the point that I have been able to be a stay at home mum for a couple of years. Those years have provided my family with memories that money simply can't ever buy. So thank you and thank you again." (Kate Havas)

"Great work you guys. So many people would be so much better off if they just opened their eyes and minds to what's around them. You guys have made this possible for so many and I know we all really appreciate it. Simple Savings to the rescue!" (Cheryl McKay)

"I really love your $21 Challenge book. We spend more than that on milk and bread each week, so we tried the slightly modified version for one adult and four kids. I find many of the recipes in there quite useful. My kids are fussy and so I find most cook books to be unsuitable, but even my kids will eat quite a few of the recipes. To be honest, I didn't think I had enough food in the house to create good meals but when I followed the instructions in the book and did the freezer and pantry inventory, I discovered that I could possibly have fed half of the starving population of Haiti! I used to always buy generic brand products because our budget was so tight that we didn't have a choice. When I started working, I enjoyed having a choice to be able to purchase some branded items but I discovered that I had stopped purchasing ANY generic items. I also found that I wasn't organised and started grabbing whatever was quick and easy - and usually expensive - from the supermarket at the last minute.

"Since reading The $21 Challenge I have had a re-think about what I put into my trolley. I don't buy everything generic, but I am now at least buying some again and also buying 'differently'. I am also making better use of my freezer and pantry overflow. Since doing the $21 Challenge, not only did I save $250 that week, I am now also saving $100 in my shopping EVERY week, just by being a little bit organised and having a different, but more tasty and nutritious menu. Thank you so much for your book." (Heather Elliott)

Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We really appreciate every single tip we receive every week too, so keep sending them in. As well as helping other members to save money, you could also win yourself a free 12 month Vault membership (value $47) in our weekly Hint of the Week competition!

Merry Christmas!!
All the best,
Fiona

P.S. We have slashed the price of Vault memberships to $27 until 31st December. We are getting into the festive season by cutting the cost of Vault memberships from $47 to $27 until 9PM on the 31st December. Order here.

1. Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: Santa's Little Helper

"This is great, isn't it?" Sally smiled, as she looked around. "Look Pete - our whole street is here!" "I'm not surprised," Pete grinned. "Last year's was so much fun nobody would have wanted to miss out this year! Well done, Love, I'm really proud of you for getting our neighbourhood together. It's a really good thing you're doing - although I think you might have landed yourself with an annual job!"

"Well it's a nice job to have," Sally replied happily. "Especially now I have Linda to help me. She's been terrific at coming up with all the old fashioned games, I have to admit I'd forgotten half of them!" "Me too! I can't remember the last time I ran an egg and spoon race!" laughed Pete. "And don't think I didn't notice how you just happened to pair Linda up with our new neighbour for the three-legged race!"

"I don't know what you mean!" Sally giggled. "But they ARE getting on very well aren't they? Tom is such a nice chap too. Look how he is helping her. And look at how she is smiling!" "Well, that's what street parties are all about isn't it? Good, old fashioned, fun," Pete winked. "And, by the look of those two, I reckon we might end up with a new couple in our street!"

2. December is Old Fashioned Fun Month!

I love my computer! My computer gives me access to so many things. For starters there is Google, Youtube, Simple Savings and Skype. It is great. But, it also has me sitting on my rapidly growing bottom for way too many hours a day. It is time for that to change; it is time for my bottom to stop growing. So this month, I'm swapping the screens for good old fashioned, bottom-shrinking FUN!

I want to have a great month this month, by getting our bodies up and active. Modern entertainment is fun, but it only exercises our brain and our eyes. The rest of the body needs a workout too.

When you get moving your body switches its happiness endorphins on. So you'll experience good old fashioned joy.

Getting your mind and body moving together will also strengthen you up.

In the Lippey household we are really getting into the swing of things for Old Fashioned Fun month and going camping for three weeks of swimming, playing and laughing. It is going to be so much fun!

So let's get to it. This month, make an effort. Each day, do something from the following list to help make a happier, healthier, stronger you:

Sing in the shower
TELL a friend a joke; don't just email it to them
Bake a cake and take it next door
Try a new recipe
Make some Christmas decorations
Teach yourself a craft
Call an old friend you haven't heard from in a while
Teach your kids a card game
Make some Christmas cards
Prepare some joke presents for Christmas Day
Listen to some great music
Go for a walk
Go Christmas caroling
Make candy
Give someone a hug
Break the TV *wink*
Challenge your friend to some tongue twisters

The list goes on and on, see how many more you can think of. Give it a go this month - and make sure you report in to the Forum or our Facebook page and tell us how much fun you are having in Old Fashioned Fun month!

3. Great Aussie Street Party!

That's Life! magazine have once again got behind our Great Aussie Street Party and are running a fantastic competition. To enter, you must hold a street party on either Saturday 3rd December or Sunday 4th December 2011. Then, tell That's Life! in 500 words or less all about your party and send in your story with an entry form and at least one photograph. Easy - not to mention a lot of fun! You can download your entry form from www.thatslife.com.au or you can find it in Issues 45 and 46 of That's Life! magazine. There is a prize of $1000 cash for the first prize winner and 5 x $100 runners-up prizes. Entries close January 5th 2012. Visit www.thatslife.com.au for full terms and conditions. Have a fantastic street party and good luck in the competition!

4. $21 Challenge: Order Quick for Christmas!

As mentioned above we are going away for some old fashioned fun, so if you would like to order some $21 Challenge books for Christmas, you must do so before 6th December. Any orders you place after that will be sent in January. Here is a link to the Australian order page.

You will still be able to order NZ books until 17th December from here.

You will also be able to order American books until the 17th December from here.

We have a five star rating on Amazon!

Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU to the fantastic 16 people who went to our Amazon page last month and left glowing reviews for the $21 Challenge book. The reviews were so gorgeous. I read every single one of them out loud to Jackie Gower on the telephone. If you would like to read them here is the link.

5. Best Members' Blog: This Month's Winner

This month's winner is Sam for this extract from her blog 'Trying to Save'. In this post, Sam gives us a glimpse of what life is like for a Simple Saver living in Christchurch after February's devastating earthquake:

Shaken to the Core

Going through four major earthquakes in the past 14 months has really shaken us literally, along with the 7000+ aftershocks. Life chugs along nicely then WHAM something really upsets the apple cart. No power or water for a week is pretty bad too.

Hey, but there is a silver lining. If we hadn't had September's first big shake more people would have died in February.

How so?

Several buildings collapsed or got badly damaged in September but being at 4.35am no one was killed. Take our Railway Clock Tower. In September that got damaged with large cracks through it. So they wrapped it in ply to stabilise it. When February's quake hit the tower stayed up. Had that not had the support of the wood around it, it would have also come down. Underneath that tower is an arcade, cinema complex and a science expo.

Buildings that were damaged were surrounded by containers to keep people away. Those containers did exactly what they were meant to do. They contained the rubble when more of the buildings came down in February. Experts believe there could have been another 300+ extra people killed in February if we hadn't had September first.

The problem for Christchurch is that we're still on edge. It's always in the back of our minds that it could happen again. There are faults running right under the city they didn't know about.

What's all this to do with saving? Well quite a bit in a way.

We learned to live with what we had in the fridge and freezer. They had to be cooked straight away.

We learned to cope without power. The problem is we're not talking just dark, we're talking pitch black. My nine- and six-year-olds were terrified. During the nights came aftershocks. You could hear them but you couldn't see anything. First would come the rumble, then the windows would rattle, then the bookcase, then the house and it would rumble away again.

They put a curfew up. It's eerie lying there and not hearing trucks. Knowing that the rumble is an aftershock, NOT a truck on the main road. Because it was so quiet you could hear them coming several seconds before they hit. It was a bittersweet sound. It was sometimes easier if you heard them because then you knew but also you would be tensed for longer whereas the sudden ones you usually didn't do more than jump.

In February for the first time in my life I was a hysterical mess. I was standing on the deck sobbing, hanging on to my eight week old baby like a lifeline. One neighbour looked over, took one look and was at our house in seconds. His wife came out later and took the baby so I could get my older two. My son didn't talk for nearly an hour. My daughter was scared for a bit then got over it pretty quickly.

Life will never be the same in Christchurch. We joke about it, smile, make funny sentences but deep inside it's hit us all in some way.

I was talking on the phone to the Earthquake Commission a couple of weeks ago and she asked us how we were. I said we were pretty good and not as bad as some people.

She said she was amazed at the Canterbury spirit. Everyone she'd talked to had said the same thing. 'We're not as bad as some people.'

I said that's probably because in Christchurch pretty much EVERYONE knows someone worse off than them.

My mum and grandfather lost their house. BUT they're safe, they're stuff was salvageable and their cat came home. There are families who not only lost their homes but everything in them, people who lost their livelihoods, their loved ones. Yes, we're very lucky. I don't know personally anyone who was killed but I know of them. On Tuesdays I'm normally wandering around the local shopping mall but that day I hadn't gone as I had an appointment.

The only thing that did not come down in our room was the heavy clock above our eight week old baby's bassinet. The one she was fast asleep in at 12.51pm February 22. It is no longer on the wall and will never go back up.

In both the February 22 and June 13 quakes it was lunch time for the kids. They were still outside playing. My daughter's classroom was severely damaged in February and is still fenced off today.

You know you're from Christchurch when...

Your baby gets rocked to sleep and you're not in the same room.

Your kids ask for a milkshake so you take them for a drive.

Your son no longer asks for a skateboard ramp.

You finally get the speed humps in your street - but the road crews didn't put them there.

No life will ever be the same but it's a relief to hear your nine year old say 'Did you feel the earthquake last night Mummy? It was only a little one though and didn't scare me'.

I think that's probably one of the nicest sounds in the world. Especially in Christchurch.

Wow. Thank you for sharing your story with us, Sam. To read more from Sam, or any of our other members' blogs, click here

6. Lin's Garden Diary

It's been nine weeks since the kids and I planted our seeds. We have cared for them, watered them and fed them, and they now they sit happily in their new 'potager' garden. It has been a wonderful learning experience, watching them grow, seeing what works and what doesn't, learning what and how to feed them, when to water and what soil to plant them in etc. How naive of me to think they just needed some dirt and a lot of watering! **blushing**

I have watched closely as the plants go through different stages. I noticed one week some of them were getting lighter coloured leaves, so I fed them with worm wees and voila within two days they returned to their healthy dark green leafy colour! I had watered the plants most days, however, there were a few times where I didn't and panicked that they would have wilted, but they were still standing tall and proud and when I put my finger into the soil I was surprised to feel it was still damp. I have since found out that plants prefer to have a good dose of water a few times a week rather than a sprinkling of water daily.

Let me share with you what I've learnt about feeding over the past few months. I've tried them all and my garden is going great guns!

Worm wee - With the set up cost of our potager garden I am holding off getting a worm farm for the moment. But this is definitely a long term goal as the 'worm wee' has been a valuable feed in our garden. Zoe's kindergarten has a worm farm and they just ask for a gold coin donation in exchange for 1 litre of concentrated worm wee. We came home excited to pour some over the garden, but it didn't go far. I found out the next day that you add one part worm wee to five parts water! Oops, thank golly my worm wee concentrate didn't kill my plants! Note: A litre of worm wee concentrate actually goes a long way!

Seaweed - Zoe and I have been to the beach several times now to collect seaweed. Seaweed is full of nitrogen and breaks down quickly. You can use it in many ways: We added it to the lasagne garden, using our layering technique as this provides the plants with lots of nutrients.

Check out how to build your own lasagne garden from my blog, click here

To make up a liquid feed, simply wash the sand off first and then pile into a big bucket. Fill to the top with water. Once a week we dip in our watering can and water around the base of the plants. We simply top up the bucket of water for next week's feed and by doing this it allows it to dilute and not burn your plants!

Using another bucket, fill it with seaweed, put a lid on top and leave it for 3-4 months. Once it has broken down, you can mix it in and around your garden - it will love you for it. I have spoken to many keen gardeners around here and they all swear by it!

Sheep poo - Golly it's all about poos and wees! Sheep poo is great for the garden. The kids added sprinkles of it to the lasagne layering. Like the seaweed you can also make up a liquid feed. Just one quarter fill a bucket with sheep pellets and top it up with water. Dip your watering can in and water over plants every other fortnight.

We finally built our potager garden! Plants were transplanted at six weeks old.

Picture taken today, nine weeks after the seeds were planted, and just three weeks after the picture above!

Look at our healthy cos lettuce and beetroot plants - delicious!

Zoe collecting seaweed from the beach.

Bucket full of seaweed and water, liquid feed.

Mixing 'worm wee' and water.

I will continue to blog my gardening journey here between newsletters and would love any savvy tips from members. Happy gardening everyone!

7. Best of the Vault: Funds-Free Fun

One of the best things about old fashioned fun is that it is low-cost and often no-cost! Check out some of these terrific ideas from the Vault to get you started.

Cheap family entertainment ideas Suggestion Box

Our family keeps happily entertained and active and usually for free, thanks to our very own Suggestion Box! I have two young adult boys still at home with me. They both have girlfriends and other mates and both work part time while putting themselves through TAFE and uni. They are both also always on the lookout for fun, cheap or free activities to keep boredom at bay! So I came up with a 'Suggestion Box' where we can write ideas on pieces of paper and 'post' them. Any time they are sitting around at home with nothing to do, they can now just take a dip and pull out a suggestion! Some examples are:

Regularly checking council websites for festivals, markets, movies, concerts and events.
Going to a free Sunday movie at Brisbane City Library.
Watching a free outdoor movie at South Bank. These are held on a regular basis in a really comfortable atmosphere right beside the river. We take a picnic dinner, a nice drink and a rug and pillow.
Have a picnic dinner at South Bank and then join in the cafe footpath dancing if you feel inclined.
Make some popcorn and some drinks and invite a group of friends over for movie nights.
Games around the table - sometimes we will play games like 'how many musical sounds can you make with your mouth, nose, hands?' and so on. Or one person will start a story and everyone has to then add a bit - can get very interesting!
Spend time at the museum, art gallery or library.
Organise a BYO barbecue or pot luck dinner. Just add some good music and friends.
A game of paper wasps or water pistols.
Drives to the beach or mountains.
Volunteering time at big music festivals.

Skating, swimming, star gazing, sunsets, football, soccer - you get the idea. The list is endless and the boys' Suggestion Box is working so well, I often find myself dipping into it too!

Contributed by: Angela Schlecth

Online audio stories are cool this Christmas

I found a great alternative to buying expensive traditional tales for my son when I discovered a free online audio equivalent. My son loves traditional stories and requested a few of them for Christmas. However, after discovering they were expensive to buy new and hard to source second hand, I looked online to find an alternative. In no time I had come across an awesome website that contained a huge range of children's stories, all of which come with free audio downloads and the words to go along with it. It's fabulous because it allows you to create your own read-along books which are something all children enjoy.

www.storynory.com

Contributed by: bungle

Playground Finder locates fun playgrounds

I recently found a website to help release some of my son's energy and relieve the boredom, without spending money! www.playgroundfinder.com is a user-contributed directory of playgrounds in Australia with photographs, reviews, available facilities, a five star rating system and map links. Now when I go out, I can look for a playground in that area and my son can enjoy a variety of equipment.

Contributed by: Mistralan

Cycle your way to free family fun

Our family is having some great fun together while getting exercise too! Most children just seem to like the idea of cycling whether they are going anywhere in particular or not! Recently we picked up a free folding exercise bike at our church Freecycle. We thought the whole family could have fun on it, and we were right! The youngest child had a bit of a job to get her feet to reach all the way down to the pedals as it is meant for adults but somehow that just increases the fun of it. Even 'Tyler' the dog was interested and a very patient spectator. Of course the children are getting the exercise they need as well as fun without even realising. It is great when good things can just happen naturally for the children without having to bribe them to get up and move, or get off the computer chair and actively live life!

Contributed by: Simply Blessed

Free ebooks for all ages

www.free-ebooks.net is an excellent website that lets you download free ebooks from a wide range of categories including fiction, food, health and beauty, parenting and travel.

Budding authors can even submit their own ebooks to the site, so this website is perfect for readers AND writers!

Contributed by: Carole Bennett

8. Best of the Forum: The Good Old Days

The best festive memories are made of people, not presents! Remember the good old days, when a game of backyard cricket was the highlight of any family gathering? For a dose of good old fashioned fun, look no further than our Forum.

I love Christmas!

This thread is a fabulous reminder of the good old days when Christmas was more about spending time with the special people in our lives and less about splashing the cash. What do you love about Christmas?
read more...

Use it or lose - enjoy what you have challenge

This thread is a timely reminder to stop endlessly buying things and instead put what you already have to good use.
read more...

Today, I give thanks for...

Our members will warm your heart with their lists of things to be thankful for. Goodwill to all this festive season.
read more...

Free camping in Victoria with kids

Share your favourite spots in the great outdoors with other members and let's all soak up some good old fashioned camping fun!
read more...

I love free Xmas entertainment

This time of year see councils and communities everywhere providing free entertainment for young and old. Like our members, head on out and discover what's on in your neighbourhood.
read more...

9. Cooking with Mimi: Stamped Salt Dough Ornaments & Microwave Celebration Toffee

Christmas is almost upon us. If you, like many others, have just realised that you've forgotten teacher gifts, Aunty Mabel and Uncle Herman gifts or that the pickings are looking a little slim all round this year, then these recipes are just for you.

For the first time though, I feel it's only fair to warn you that one of these recipes is totally inedible. Yes, totally. No, I haven't lost the plot, I've found a gorgeous new way to decorate the tree, label the gifts and use up that ton of cooking salt I bought a while back when I thought I was going to dye all of my clothes purple.

Here's my Stamped Salt Dough Ornaments, and this recipe will make between a dozen and eighteen rustic looking ornaments or really unique little gift tags.

Stamped Salt Dough Ornaments

Equipment required:

Food processor with knife blade or large mixing bowl and your clean hands
Baking paper
Baking tray
Measuring cups
Rolling pin
Office stamp pad
Craft stamps
Bickie cutters or scone cutters
Spatula
Skewer
Cotton cooking twine

Ingredients required:

1/4 cup cooking salt
1/4 cup plain flour
1/2 cup water
Extra flour for dusting the bench and the rolling pin

Turn your oven on to 100C.

Gather the family together because the kids are going to have a ball with this!

Line the baking tray with baking paper.

Dust a clean section of your kitchen bench or dining table with flour. Place all of the bickie and scone cutters, craft stamps and stamping pad nearby.

Put the ingredients into the bowl of your food processor, cover and pulse it all until combined, about 20 seconds. Alternatively plop it all into your mixing bowl and squish it around with clean hands until it congeals into a nice ball of goopy stuff.

Flip the goop onto your floured bench or table, dust your hands with a little more flour and knead it, pushing it away and turning it a quarter turn ten or twelve times until it's nice and smooth.

Grab your rolling pin and after giving the children a lesson in 'a rolling pin is not an instrument to get your own way when it's not your turn', let them roll away. Keep the rolling pin well dusted with flour. Your dough needs to be about the thickness of a 50c coin.

Now, don't get carried away and start cutting things out just yet. It's actually a lot easier to stamp your designs first and then cut out around them. So, doing one at a time, get creative. Press your craft stamp into the inked stamp pad and press firmly onto your waiting dough. There's a fine line between pressing hard enough for the entire picture to appear and pressing so hard that you get the edges of the stamp too, but it all adds to the lovely rustic look of your ornaments.

Now, choose the shape you want the ornament to be. Scone cutters give a lovely traditional round ornament, while bickie cutters are great for hearts, stars or anything else that takes your fancy.

Cut out your ornament, lift it with the spatula and place it onto your waiting lined tray. Now use your skewer to pierce a hole in the middle of what will be the top of your ornament. You'll be threading your kitchen twine or ribbon through this, and the hole will shrink as your ornament dries, so make your hole large enough to allow for that.

Continue until you've cut out enough shapes from your sheet of dough that you only have the dough edges left, then gather the scraps, roll it out again and have another go. You should be able to do this three or four times.

Once all of your chic new ornaments are done, pop them into your oven and leave them there for about four hours, turning once. Alternatively, you can just leave them out on the bench to dry naturally.

Once dry, thread with twine, raffia or ribbon and they're ready to go. If you find the back of the hole has shrunk a little, just carefully use the skewer to release some of the dried dough around it to enable you to thread them with twine.

Tie them to your tree or write on them with a felt tipped pen to use them as gift tags. These look gorgeous used on a twig style tree, or as tags on gifts wrapped with brown paper or butchers paper. Who needs all that posh stuff they're trying to flog in the shops?

Rustic and home-made is always in style!

Microwave Celebration Toffee

Foodie gifts are the sanctuary of the cash poor. That would apply to just about all of us wouldn't it? This quick toffee is so posh, no one will believe you actually made it with your own two hands. They're all going to think you've gone crazy at some uber trendy deli and spent mega bucks stocking up on the latest thing from some far flung foodie paradise. That's a good thing though, right... *wink*?

Equipment required:

Large microwave-safe glass bowl
2 spoons
Measuring cups
Baking tray
Baking paper
Box or cellophane for packaging
Tea towel or oven mitts
Smoothing spatula or large knife

Ingredients:

1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup glucose syrup
Cooking spray
1 cup roasted and salted peanuts
1 tsp butter or margarine
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking soda
150g chocolate, broken into small pieces

Method:

Line your baking tray with your baking paper and set aside.

In your microwave-safe bowl stir together the sugar and peanuts.

Pop the glucose syrup in to the microwave and zap it on high for about 25 seconds to liquefy it slightly because this stuff is darned sticky!

Spray your measuring cup with some cooking spray and measure your glucose syrup into it. The cooking spray will help it slide right out and into your bowl.

Give it all a good stir and accept that your spoon is going to look like it has an alien growth on it. Don't worry about it. Scrape off as much as you can into the bowl with your other spoon. Like I said, that glucose syrup is sticky stuff!

Microwave on high for six minutes. It will bubble and froth and generally look like it's alive, but that's good.

At this point it should be anything from light amber to dark brown in some patches, so carefully remove it from the microwave with oven mitts or a tea towel and place it on the bench. Add the butter and vanilla and tip the bowl around a bit to swirl it through the mixture. Don't stir it yet.

Add the baking soda and stir carefully until it's well combined, frothy and lighter in colour.

Pour the mixture on to the lined baking tray and spread it out. It won't completely cover the tray but try to spread it to about 2.5 centimetres thick.

Sprinkle the chopped chocolate on top and allow it to sit for a few minutes. The chocolate will soften and melt. After a minute or two, grab your smoothing spatula or large knife and smooth the warmed and melting chocolate into a topping covering the toffee.

Pop it into the fridge for an hour or so to allow it to cool and harden.

When the chocolate is hardened and the toffee is cooled, it's ready to package. No knife needed, just break it into lovely huge chunks and place in a paper-lined box or wrap in a cellophane bundle.

This could become YOUR Christmas speciality. Promise!

10. Penny's Blog: Real Life, Real Fun

Here is a rare photo of my boys as you don't usually see them. For starters they're not fighting which is unusual and Ali isn't pulling a crazy face which is a real rarity but this was taken recently on an evening hunting trip, deep in the heart of the King Country. Ali is a seasoned hunter and bushman but for Liam this was his first night walking out of the bush in the dark, not to mention carrying a deer on his back. I've mentioned before how Liam has changed since living in Whangamata. Gone is the shy, anxious boy with no self esteem. He's been replaced by a happy go lucky young man who is no longer scared to give things a go. To say his dad and I are pleased is an understatement.

So what's brought about the change? It's simple really - he no longer spends most of his waking hours glued to video games and TV. Instead of rarely leaving the house, he's never home! He makes the most of each day. He goes and finds things to do, just like we had to when we were young. Mind you, there is a lot to do in Whangamata and the great thing is most of it is free. Another thing I love about living where we do (and I apologise if I have also said this before) is that it's a little like going back in time, 20 or 30 years or so. Just like some of the Simple Savings newsletters, where Fiona reminisces about the days when people would chat over the fence and everybody knew all the local kids and where they were and what they were doing, our little town is like that.

Ali has always been a 'do-er'. He's never been able to keep still and crams as much as he possibly can into each day. If he wants to do something, whether it be swimming, surfing or whatever he'll jump on his bike and go and visit his friends one by one until he finds someone to do it with. He has a Playstation in his room and it hasn't been switched on since we moved house over a year ago. Liam on the other hand couldn't have been more different. It seemed that days would simply pass him by in a blur of Ratchet and Clank or Modern Warfare - whatever his latest game obsession was. I admit, Noel and I clashed a lot about it. Where Noel was seriously concerned about how much of Liam's life was being wasted this way, I was far more relaxed. 'He's just a teenager, doing what teenagers do. Give the kid a break!' After all, his friends were all doing it too. Where was the harm in it? I used to cringe every time Noel would go stomping upstairs and throw Liam and his mates outside, telling them to stop being a 'bunch of girls' and get out in the sunshine.

In the end, the change came about from Liam himself, triggered by another boy he knows. This boy is a talented sportsman but doesn't play sports. Instead he plays video games. All day, every day. It affects his schooling, it affects his relationships, it affects his health and it affects his sleep. Liam and his friends used to go round and call for him but they gave up when he started locking the door so nobody could interrupt his gaming. Sad, terribly sad, but true. All of a sudden, video games didn't seem so cool to Liam any more. 'I don't want to turn out like that!' he said. And that was that. The games got switched off and are now only played when it's raining or when a group of them are staying over and want to play. The rest of the time he's swimming, surfing, running, biking, walking the dog - anything really. I had to chuckle the other day when he arrived home after a day out and told me he and some friends had pooled their coins together and hired a couple of tandem bikes and spent a whole hilarious afternoon riding around. 'We must have biked over 20km!' he said proudly.

If there's one thing both Noel and I have been delighted with it's the range of activities available at the boys' school. They are ALWAYS doing something, it's brilliant! Just last week Liam spent four days away at camp with his whole year level, white water rafting and water skiing at Blue Lake, near Rotorua and had an absolute ball. An absolute stipulation of these camps is that there are no cell phones, no iPods and no 'gadgets' of any kind. It's a sad sign of the times that these days school camps are as much about getting kids away from technology and out into the real world than simply offering the opportunity to do something different and bonding with their fellow students. Sadder still, however, is that the boy I mentioned in the previous paragraph chose not to go on camp and stay at home for the week instead. Liam, however, came home full of even more energy and no one was more amazed than Noel and I when he came bounding downstairs on Saturday morning and asked 'Dad, can we go clay target shooting?' The great thing is, this attitude is now rubbing off on his friends and more and more of them are asking Noel to take them fishing and bushwalking. Hooray for old fashioned fun!

So I stand corrected. I would much rather see my boys the way they are now; happy, healthy and making the most of each day rather than sitting inside playing shooting games with complete strangers on the other side of the world while real life and real fun passes them by. Making the change to his lifestyle has given Liam confidence, knowledge, skills, good health and energy. We no longer have to nag him to get outside - in fact, we have more trouble keeping him in! Although even the most active boys run out of steam eventually. Here are the boys after their hunting trip, fast asleep in their chairs. Both nights they were too exhausted to even make it to bed and spent the whole night in their chairs! Shh, don't tell them I showed you!

November 2011

11. Homeopathy Corner: Rheumatoid Arthritis - Lauren's Story

This month Fran is sharing with us the story of Lauren, a young woman who has treated her rheumatoid arthritis with both homeopathic and conventional medicine. Not only did the homeopathic medicine work better, it was also significantly cheaper; whereas the cost of the mainstream medicine was phenomenal. To listen to Lauren's story or discuss Fran's article, click here: homeopathyplus.com.au/homeopathy-helped-me-live-a-normal-life

12. From Last Month: Unique Christmas Gifts

Last month Maryann asked:

Don't worry Maryann, it's not too late! We have received some fantastic ideas as you can see here. Thank you to everyone who responded to Maryann's request, unfortunately we received so many we are unable to print them all here but we are sure this selection will inspire you to get crafty for Christmas!

Give home-made soap

I would suggest soap for your gift giving dilemma. You still have time to make your own! You could make it totally from scratch like I do; render the fat from the butcher, add lye and water and pour in a fun plastic mould or some round PVC pipe - whatever your creative mind can think of. I bought fun beach sets from the dollar store and used the sand moulding forms to make soaps! I have sets of giant seashells, fish, turtles and crabs. The seashells really are wonderful as they don't have little parts that break off like the fish tails, turtle legs and crab claws, which are kind of fragile. Home-made or crafted soaps are so cool and definitely as creative and unusual as you are. If you don't want to give home-made soaps you could give soap making kits!

Contributed by: Vickie Smith

Make a tea wreath

For a festive looking gift with a difference, how about a 'tea wreath?' Check out this website link - they look fantastic. I'm going to have a go at making one myself!

http://kojodesigns.blogspot.com/2010/03/kojotutorial-tea-tea-tea-kitchen-wreath.html

Contributed by: Maria White

Personalised notelet set

For a nice, 'girly' gift, make a set of notelets. Cut some card into smaller than usual cards and stamp with pretty craft stamps. You can also stamp matching envelopes so they are part of the 'set'. Wrap in a pretty ribbon and there you have it!

Contributed by: Trina Bergmann

Give a family 'bouquet'

For the person who has everything, make them a 'family faces' bunch of flowers! Make a flower template with enough room in the middle for a smiling face to be inserted. Use your template to cut flowers out of bright cardboard, then get your photos and cut them into round centres to glue into the middle of each flower. You can then use pipe cleaners as stems and cut cardboard leaves to twist on. Make many of these and then tie them together with a big bow for your loved one. They can then see everyone's smiling face whenever they walk by!

Contributed by: Kama Stephen

Boozy strawberry syrup

This delicious strawberry syrup makes an ideal festive gift for sipping and slurping! It's so easy and only takes a week until it's ready. All you need are strawberries, sugar, vodka and a clean jar.

Put fresh strawberries into elegant jar or bottle.
Drizzle with white sugar until jar is filled.
Fill with vodka.
Turn daily for a week to dissolve sugar.
Decorate jar with ribbon and/or festive tag.

Use as drink with lemonade or over crepes, ice cream or strawberries. Yum!

Contributed by: Kathy Lowry

Make a summer holiday pack

For a great Christmas present for someone who loves to read, go to the second hand stores or school fairs/galas and buy up four or five books in good condition, in the genre the recipient loves (romance, thrillers and so on, or a mixture of them all). They should only be around $2.00 each (often less at the fairs) and the kids' books are often really cheap, such as five for $1.00. Stack them up and wrap in pretty ribbon, add a mix of sweets or lollipops (buy in bulk and split them up into your own ziplock or cellophane bags). Now you have a great cheap present for someone to while away their summer holiday time. You could do a version for the kids too, with a stack of colouring or maze books, pencils and sweets.

Contributed by: Karen Gordon-Lewis

Make peppermint bark for Christmas

For a delicious, low-cost Christmas treat, make peppermint bark! Simply melt dark chocolate and spread it over a large piece of baking paper. Next, smash two or three candy canes (peppermint flavour works best, but you can vary it if you like) and sprinkle this over the dark chocolate. Leave to set in the fridge. Melt some white chocolate and pour this over the top and return to the fridge. When cool use a knife to break into pieces, put into a plastic bag or pretty mug and tie the top with a nice ribbon.

Contributed by: Trudie Best

Give a home-made board game

Board games make a wonderful gift and are even more special if they are home-made! Here are some kids' games I have made in the past:

Snakes and ladders: Using a piece of 3mm MDF (you could use stiff cardboard) I divided the board into 25 squares and, using pencils and Texta, coloured in the board. When finished I covered the whole thing in contact. I bought counters and dice from a game shop. You could make as many squares as is suitable for the age of the child.

Fishing game: I got a piece of board and cut it into a circle (again cardboard would be just as good). I then cut out fish shapes from an old calendar and laminated them and fixed on paper clips. I made fishing rods out of dowel, string and magnets.

Memory game: I printed up cards on the printer and then had them laminated. On the back of the cards I printed the child's name to make them individual. You could use shapes, family member's photo, dinosaurs or whatever the child is interested in.

Contributed by: Claire Wallder

Bonus extras for Vault members -

Hot dish carry bag makes useful gift Contributed by: Shirley M

Give the gift of time with tobacco tin clocks Contributed by: Grace Mcpherson

Cute as a button gifts for girls Contributed by: SusieQ

Shell windchimes make beautiful gifts Contributed by: Deborah K

Go nuts with these home made nibbles Contributed by: Janeen M

13. This Month's Help Request: An Overabundance of Hankies

This month Delma asks:

"Over the past two years I have lost a mother and mother-in-law. These two women were real 'ladies' and I have been left with boxes and boxes of beautiful packaged handkerchiefs - has anyone any suggestions on how I could use these individually? Incidentally they both did use hankies but there were way too many for them! We travel in our caravan and I was wondering whether I could incorporate these in an appreciation gift? We often have someone do a kindness for us and like to repay them with a thank you gift. I am quite handy with a sewing machine and would love some ideas."

If you have any tips or suggestions which can help Delma, please send them in to us here.

14. So Long, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, Goodbye :-D

Tadahh! You've finally read right down to the bottom of this month's newsletter. Did we mention that taking some quiet time to read an interesting newsletter is a form of old fashioned fun? And didn't we have fun! I hope you really enjoyed the newsletter and have been inspired to try something new in your savings journey.

Don't be a stranger - drop me an email. I love receiving your feedback and suggestions. If you have enjoyed this month's newsletter, why not forward it on to your friends to help them save money too? Or tell them about us on Facebook by clicking the 'like' button on our Simple Savings Facebook page? Spread the love and the savings.

I hope you have heaps of old fashioned fun this month. Our family certainly will. Merry Christmas and best wishes for a family fun, festive season. Enjoy!

All the best,
Fiona

November 2013 - Simple Savings Newsletter

"Secrets to Saving Money" Free Newsletter - November 2013

This issue includes:-

Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: Chaos Rules!
November: Happy Homes!
PowerCooking: Why Didn't I Think of That?
Ye Olde Shoppe: Easy Christmas Shopping!
Penny Wise: Getting Down and Dirty!
Best of the Vault: There's No Place Like Home
Best of the Forum: Spit and Polish!
Best Members' Blog: A New Kitchen for Claire!
Hidden Gem: Kuraby Farmers Market
Cooking with Mimi: Treat Night - Black Forest Trifle
Rob Bob's Gardening Blog: Free Plants and Booming Vegies
From Last Month: How to Cut Down Costs of Hospital Visits?
This Month's Help Request: Digital Dilemma!

Hello,

How are you going? We've been feeling all Christmassy following the October newsletter and decided to unwrap a Christmas present early - a new look Forum! We're moving everything over from the old Forum to our lovely crisp, new one and talking with our members to see what they think. Change can be hard but we needed to update our rather tired looking Forum and give it back a bit of sparkle! If you haven't seen it yet, do pop in and have a look. We haven't finished but it's looking good - watch this space!

We love receiving all your wonderful emails and Facebook messages - here is our favourite this month:

"As I made pumpkin soup the other day using leftover mashed potatoes from dinner the night before, it made me notice all of the things I do differently having come across The $21 Challenge book and reading the Vault tips and Forum. I have learned to place a much higher value on my time, and if I have taken the time to make someone a gift, I no longer feel the need to add something I bought as well.

"Last year I set our family a goal to pay off around $25,000 above our regular mortgage payments for the year 2013. We are on one income and have four children. To date we have paid off about $18,000 and I feel really good about it. It has made us look at what our children need and what we want them to value, and money certainly isn't everything in that regard.

"I just really wanted to write and tell you that I have found your site and basically your whole mentality, well, a bit life-changing I guess. I was feeling really good about how much we have paid off this year and I wanted to let you know as your site and its members inspired it all in the first place. Thank you so much for genuinely trying to help people in a way they can actually achieve. It really is brilliant." (Jen)

Well done Jen, what a fantastic effort!

Have a great month!
All the best,
Fiona Lippey

1. Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: Chaos Rules!

"Quick, there's no time to lose!" Sally dashed in looking panicked. "Good day love?" Pete raised an eyebrow. Sal grimaced at him, "Meg from work is popping in to borrow a book. She'll be here in 15 minutes, oh good heavens look at the place!" Sally told him as she flew around. "Calm down Sal, she's coming to borrow a book, not to do a household inventory!" Pete chuckled, setting aside his paper.

"Peter don't leave that there! Put it in the recycling please - and can you take the rubbish out while you're at it? Kids, don't just sit there! Pick up those toys RIGHT NOW - I mean PROPERLY, don't just put them in a pile! Give me strength!" Sally continued her whirlwind through the house, squashing some things into cupboards and flinging others into rooms and slamming the doors.

"Out of sight, out of mind, eh love?" Pete grinned as she finally paused for breath. "Oh Pete, I'm so tired of living in chaos! I want our house to be tidy and lovely ALL the time so I don't feel uncomfortable when friends drop in. Things have to change! Ooh heck, that will be Meg!" she jumped at the sound of the door. "What a lovely home you have Sally!" Meg said, looking around. "Oh, how nice of you to say!" Sally forced a dazzling smile. "So sorry I didn't know you were coming earlier or we would have tidied up first!"

2. November: Happy Homes!

Wouldn't it be wonderful if our homes looked just the way we wanted ALL the time? If we could just relax in our own surroundings knowing everything was in order, rather than looking around at a seemingly endless list of 'to do' jobs, or getting into a fluster like Sally every time the doorbell rings? With Christmas just around the corner, this month's 'Happy Home' challenge has been perfectly timed to help you get everything under control NOW, so everyone can enjoy a relaxing festive season.

Most of us have at least half a dozen different jobs which need doing around the home and garden but just never seem to get done. Why is this, do you think? For many of us it's any one or all of the following:

Too busy
Too expensive to fix or get someone else to fix
Fear of getting it wrong
Physically unable/don't have the knowledge
Weather (too windy, too rainy, too hot, too cold!)
Can't drag ourselves away from Facebook or the TV
It's boring! Weekends are for fun!

A friend of Fiona's recently confessed that she turned her iPad off for three days and her house had never been cleaner! Whatever it is that's been stopping you, now is the time to assess and address all those pesky little jobs once and for all. We could have called this challenge the 'DIY Challenge' or the 'Fix-It Challenge' or any number or things, but we have named it the 'Happy Home' challenge because getting on top of all those nagging tasks really WILL make you feel happy! Give it a go and you'll see what we mean.

First things first, we need to make a plan, so grab a pen and paper and take a tour of your home and garden, taking note of all those jobs that need doing. Who in the household is going to be responsible for which job? Try to involve everyone. Then think about how you are going to achieve them. Which need the most time and preparation? Which will cost the most to do? Will you need a professional to do some tasks or can you do it yourself if you put your mind to it? (Tip - YouTube is a wonderful thing, before you go calling someone in to do a job, search it up on www.youtube.com and look at the millions of simple instructional videos on every subject you can think of. You may well find you CAN do it yourself and add a new skill to your repertoire!)

Once you have finished your list, put the list up in a prominent place so you can tick off those jobs as they get done and see your achievements. Then get to it and enjoy a relaxed and happy home this Christmas!

3. PowerCooking: Why Didn't I Think of That?

When Fiona and Kate first developed PowerCooking, they wanted to make cooking as easy and simple as possible. Part of the magic of PowerCooking are Kate's wonderful hints and tips - even the most clever cooks can learn something from this resourceful foodie! For example, did you know that by 'cutting' a container of rice in half before you freeze it means you can easily defrost just half the rice at a time? Clever hey!

To read lots more tips and hints, grab yourself a free membership and visit PowerCooking here

4. Ye Olde Shoppe: Easy Christmas Shopping!

Ye Olde Shoppe is a great place to pick up a bargain, as well as some fantastic money saving goodies you just won't find anywhere else! There's still plenty of time to get some Christmas shopping done in Ye Olde Shoppe. Our Eezee Freezee iceblocks are the perfect gift for summertime fun and are light and easy to send in the mail as well. Don't forget you can buy a gift membership for the Simple Savings Vault at a brilliant low price for that special someone too! Find these and more ideas here:

Ye Olde Shoppe

5. Penny Wise: Getting Down and Dirty!

Being both Mum AND Dad in our house is proving to be pretty hard work! Don't get me wrong, the boys already have a perfectly good dad - but in my own place, the buck now stops totally with me. For the first time in my life I'm responsible for EVERYTHING and that means taking care of a lot of the blokey stuff Noel used to do because if there's one thing I've learned, it sure doesn't get done by itself. It's only now that I really appreciate and value all the things he used to do to keep our place looking nice. I'll be honest, it never really interested me before. I could never understand why he spent so much time faffing around outside on weekends, mowing the lawn, weeding the garden, spraying edges and so on when there were a million other much more fun things he could be doing, especially when you live at the beach!

But now I know why he did it. Because it's important. Who doesn't want to live in a nice place? I love my little house to bits and the inside has always been my domain. It's so teeny and cosy that it doesn't take much to keep it looking nice and clean - but the outside is a different story. The outside is BIG and after three months it was really starting to get away on me. The young family who owned the place before me were fanatical gardeners and kept the place pristine. I loved trotting down to the vegie patch and picking things for dinner but somehow I always found something else to do instead of weeding or spraying. And as it turns out, weeds have a rather inconvenient habit of growing and multiplying and before I knew it, the nice, orderly vegie patch which had greeted me in July was now looking like this:

graphics1

Not surprisingly I wasn't feeling good about it. I was embarrassed - how could I have let it get to that stage? But it wasn't just the vegie garden that was bothering me. My large expanse of gravel driveway was also covered in weeds, a big tree had blown down in recent storms and was lying prone down one side of the house and the lawn was growing a stunning crop of daisies and dandelions. Every time I went outside it got me down. Aghh, why did I buy such a big place? This yard was going to keep me busy and drain my finances forever!

I know what you're thinking, you've got two big strapping lads, why weren't they helping? By all means they were willing but unfortunately they are two big strapping and very sporty lads who have literally no time after school or on weekends due to sports and other commitments - and thanks to the time it takes to get them there and back, neither do I. With all the holiday homes in Whangamata, lawn mowing and garden care is a roaring trade and on several occasions I really did consider getting someone in to tidy the place up. But for one thing I didn't have the money to pay anyone and for another, my pride stood in the way. Other people managed to do it themselves, I should be able to do it too! I didn't know the first thing about gardening but I was darn well going to find out.

At last an opportunity arose - an entire long weekend without cricket! It was time to take action. First to go was the fallen tree. It wasn't huge wood-wise but it was VERY leafy. So I trotted off to Bunnings and bought myself a Penny-sized pruning saw. My first blokey purchase, I was so excited! As soon as the boys saw me outside sawing away they couldn't wait to help (all good manly stuff you see). We kept the bigger bits for firewood, loaded up the boot of Liam's car with branches and two trips to the dump and $1.50 later the tree was done and dusted. I wonder how much it would have cost had I paid someone to do the same thing!

Next I dug out my trusty weed spraying backpack from our farming days. Years ago I used to spend half my life scouring paddocks for weeds but over the years I had forgotten how to mix up spray and so on. Still, I found a bottle in the shed with just enough spray to take care of the weeds in the driveway and had a great old time blasting the pesky blighters. To my amazement I went out the next morning and found they were already curling up! I never imagined it would have been so quick and easy, I wish I had zapped them ages ago!

With those jobs out of the way I could put off tackling the vegie garden no longer. My vegie patch is huge; more than twice the size of the one at our previous house, maybe even three times and there I was sitting in amongst the dirt, plastered in sweat as the sun beat down. It felt great! I found all sorts of treasures as I went too - a bush loaded with currants, two potato plants (I was so excited to see those I just about threw a party!) and the mother of all cauliflowers hiding in what I had mistakenly thought was a cabbage! It took me almost two full days of pulling weeds and digging earth over but I had a ball and eventually it ended up looking like this:

graphics2

It's not perfect but it's a start! I planted some tomatoes, chives and basil too - and you see those blue things down at the end?

graphics3

They're the boys' old bunk bed frames, perfect for growing beans up! Ali helped me put them in and together we hunted for things which would do as stakes and he wielded the sledgehammer to knock them into the ground while I nervously tried to hold them still. My first bean seed had come up just two days later and my mum has given me heaps more plants and seeds which I can't wait to get growing.

I'm no Rob Bob and don't think I ever will reach that stage (although I would so love to grow my own fish, amazing!) but I never dreamed gardening could be such fun or so rewarding. I'm so grateful to the people who owned the house previously for leaving me with so many different fruit and vegetables, it has been an absolute lifesaver these past few months. Ali is currently snacking on strawberries every day:

graphics4

And you could have knocked me sideways when I got up one morning and found these!

graphics5

I don't think I'm going to have to buy bananas for a very long time! It's great to look out of the window each morning and see the results of your hard work. Every day I excitedly trot down to the vegie patch at least once to see how things are progressing. I know that growing my own food is going to save us so much money and it's nice to feel capable and that I'm being a good provider for my boys and I but it's more than that. I guess you could say it's helping to fill a bit of a gap in my life. My self-esteem hasn't exactly been sky-high and gardening is such a wholesome, earthy thing to do (no pun intended, really!) that you just can't help but feel good about yourself and what you're doing. Not only that, aching muscles aside, since I've been getting out in the garden I've been sleeping like a log!

You can get updates on Penny's new blogs on the Simple Savings Facebook page

or in our Members' Blog section.

6. Best of the Vault: There's No Place Like Home

You know that sinking feeling you get when you walk around your house and are reminded of everything you need to do? This month it's time to put that to an end! The Vault is a huge source of ideas, experience, time-savers and budget-busters to turn your house into your haven!

Ask for mis-tints at paint shop

A great way to save money when decorating is to go to your local paint shop and ask for mistints. These are usually sold for around $2.00 per litre on average.

If you're looking for a certain colour but the exact shade is not available they will tint them for you. I bought a 15 litre tin of pink acrylic for the walls and had it tinted to a lovely peppermint green and all it cost me was $30 - a saving of nearly $100.

Most paint shops are only too pleased to sell you their mistints - you just have to ask for them.

Contributed by: Jan Peake

Avoid tradespeople costs with working bee

Our small group of friends saves a bundle on home and garden maintenance with our weekly working bee! The three of us get together each Friday. We rotate weekly round each other's property and that person gets a well overdue job done in exchange for a delicious home-made lunch. Not only do we save on the cost of getting in a tradesman to do the jobs we achieve, but we learn new skills, undertake a variety of different jobs, get heaps of work done, eat a wonderful meal together and generally enjoy and treasure the valuable time together!

Contributed by: Donna Grundy

The three P's of renovating

To give your home a cheap and easy makeover, I recommend you paint, plant and polish!

Paint - covers a multitude of sins and brightens things up quickly.

Plant - a bit of hard yakka in the garden, getting rid of rubbish, trimming back, and reorganising plants takes time and not necessarily lots of money. Ask friends and neighbours for cuttings and be willing to give cuttings of what you have.

Polish - become fastidiously neat with your home. Clean everything and you'll be surprised at how your surroundings just don't seem so bad anymore!

Contributed by: Tania Rantala

The power of 'sparkle'

My husband and I have undertaken many home renovations (and added thousands of dollars in value to our properties) and are happy to share a few of our best money-makers!

Cheap plants ALWAYS add more value than they cost. We bought three-foot high palms for $17 each from IKEA. They look amazing, have created a very effective screen, and have added thousands of dollars in value to our property. Otherwise, growing your own cuttings from friend's and family's plants is free! $2 potted flowers are always a winner. Buy a cheap pot from IKEA or a variety store, put in $10 of plants and you'll brighten up your front porch.
Cheap, pretty-coloured glass bottles from variety stores can really transform your bathroom into a luxurious retreat (and cost next to nothing). IKEA has very cheap mirrors, as do local auction houses - check newspapers for details.
Floor mats and rugs - try Payless for carpets, liquidator sales and so on.
Try Spotlight for cheap curtains that are made-to-measure.
eBay and auction houses are ideal for picking up cheap furniture, otherwise try your local markets or Woolworths Metro for cheap sofa covers or throw rugs.
Fake flowers are often on sale at variety stores. Gerberas are particularly realistic, cost about $1.00 each, never need watering and will never die! Put them in a nice vase and they look great!
Use what you have. Paint old kitchen doors with a bright new colour. If you have a 1970's bathroom - go with it! Add to the 'kitsch' factor. Ours had a purple bath and loo. We added green towels, a new mirror ($40 from IKEA), arranged some decorative soaps and goodies into baskets we'd saved from gift hampers we'd been given over the years - and it looks amazing! Make your own rainbow coloured bath salts - clear glass bottles can be filled with salt and bi-carb soda and a few drops of food colouring.
Paint the front fence - paint costs next to nothing and makes a HUGE difference to the property's value.
A nice letterbox is a cheap, yet very effective touch. Even nice house numbers make a surprising difference to the outward appearance of a home.
A name plaque for the house is relatively inexpensive, adds instant appeal and character, and also adds enormous value - it gives the house a sense of identity and history.
Oldies but goodies for inside - paint the walls (you can even do this to some types of wallpaper!), rip up the carpet and polish the floorboards. Doing this yourself will save you literally thousands while adding tens of thousands in value, even if you do have to pay tradespeople do it. According to our agent, a $29 tub of paint in our spare toilet increased the property value by approximately $10,000!
Don't putty or render internal cracks - gyprock over them. Settlement cracks in walls will probably return, but gyprock will expand and move with the house and therefore won't crack. It's also relatively cheap and makes the house look well maintained. If you can't afford to fix cracks, put furniture or pictures in strategic places.
Put a decent welcome mat at the front door.
Never under-estimate the power of 'sparkle'. Keeping outdoor windows clean and dust-free makes a huge difference to the outward appearance (and critically important first impressions) of a property.

Contributed by: Tracey Posa

7. Best of the Forum: Spit and Polish!

Our Forum members have some fantastic ideas to help you tidy up, declutter and get your home organised. There are also some wonderful threads to help get you started and keep you on track with helpful advice and support.

Toy storage ideas

For anyone with children, or small visitors, here are some great ideas to keep toys out of the way.
read more...

Springtime decluttering, money-making and savings

Decluttering with friends can only give you more motivation - what are you waiting for!
read more...

Making drawers/cupboards smell nice

Sometimes the 'small' things make all the difference.
read more...

No clutter, no cry... November decluttering challenge

Jump in and get started clearing the clutter with this wonderful group of supportive members!
read more...

Keeping on top of children's artwork

Find a way to keep those precious memories safe!
read more...

8. Best Members' Blog: A New Kitchen for Claire!

In keeping with the November Newsletter theme of 'Happy Homes', this month's winner is our wonderful Claire M. Claire is one of our longest standing members and puts so much time and effort into helping other members, it really gave the SS team a buzz to read of her success. Congratulations Claire, we're so proud of you!

"Last Saturday I took the plunge and ordered a new kitchen for $10,000, after saving on a pension for the last 15 years. I'll also be saving at least $1500 on discounts and freebies!

"I will have to pay someone to remove the old kitchen and dump it, plus other jobs like tiling. I will be saving money by doing a lot myself - like painting - and leaving the floor coverings until I have saved enough money to do two other rooms at the same time. I am keeping as much as possible and revamping my storage areas after the kitchen is completed. The professional designer I used, who is also a chef, designed the kitchen for me rather than for re-sale.

"Before the revamp I need to paint both windows and white work, re-varnish the table and four chairs and wash and scrub the floors. I'll also need to find room in my storage areas for all the kitchen/pantry items, and find boxes and containers to store it in. Fun!"

Well done Claire - we can't wait to see the 'after' photo!

You can read more of our members' blogs here.

9. Hidden Gem: Kuraby Farmers Market

This month's Hidden Gem is Kuraby Farmers Market as nominated by Brooke S.

The Kuraby Farmers Markets are amazing! We can fill our fridge with fruit and veg that will last our family for two weeks for $35. They also have a fabulous butcher, fisho (with very cheap but beautiful seafood), bakery goods and so on. If you're buying in bulk, ask for a discount - they will probably offer you one anyway. You'll also get discounts if you shop close to closing time.

Where: 1342 Beenleigh Road, Kuraby, Brisbane (next to Kuraby train station)

When: Saturday, 6am to 9am

Information: www.kurabymarkets.com.au

Well done Brooke on locating such a fantastic hidden gem and thanks so much for sharing.

10. Cooking with Mimi: Treat Night - Black Forest Trifle

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What can I say? Potential Christmas dessert? Something to impress the guests? Or Friday night treat for the family?

I give up. All I can say is, it's easy and you have to try it!

To make six small or three disgustingly large Black Forest Trifles you'll need:

About half a bought or baked chocolate cake or 3 chocolate muffins, broken into walnut sized pieces
1 jar pitted Morello cherries, drained, juice reserved
3-4 tbsp chocolate chips or grated chocolate or cacao nibs
2-3 cups plain sweetened Greek yoghurt
3 tbsp cocoa

Then just:

Beat the yoghurt and cocoa together in a small bowl till smooth and combined. If you can't get the plain sweetened Greek yoghurt, then feel free to add a bit of sugar to normal thick Greek yoghurt. I use my own EasiYo Greek yoghurt and add a bit of sugar when I'm making it up.

Divide half of the chocolate cake between the wine glasses or water glasses.

Drizzle about a dessertspoon of cherry juice over that.

Sprinkle with a pinch of chocolate chips and layer about half a dozen cherries in each glass.

Add three dessertspoons full of chocolate yoghurt.

Repeat layers and drizzling of juice, finishing with a blob of yoghurt and some crumbled mini Flake or more choc chips or cacao nibs.

Yummmmmm!

You can get updates on Mimi's new blogs on the Simple Savings Facebook page

or in our Members' Blog section.

11. Rob Bob's Gardening Blog: Free Plants and Booming Vegies

Feral/volunteer vegies

Everyone likes a freebie and gardeners are no different! Many of us love it when spring rolls around, along with what we here like to call the compost lottery ;)

It always surprises me how well the feral/volunteer plants take off and quite often they end up being better producers than the plants we have intentionally planted out. Most people will have had the ever present tomato, pumpkin or melon sprout from the compost/worm castings and provide them with some very tasty unexpected harvests. Then there are the plants that will sprout from fruit that has dropped the previous season.
The two stand out volunteers for us this spring would have to be the snake beans and a pumpkin that has popped up in one of the yacon beds out the front.

Over the past few seasons I have found that the volunteer bean plants will nearly always be the healthiest plants and end up yielding more beans than the ones we intentionally planted as seeds. Last season we had a few snake bean pods that we left to ripen and dry out on the plant for future seed saving.

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It was no surprise to me that some snake beans germinated in the bed from pods that had dropped a few seeds before I got a chance to harvest them. Snake beans are a great plant to grow and there are a few reasons why we love to grow them. They are a climbing plant that loves to climb up trellises and fences so are great in smaller gardens where you may not have a lot of ground space. They will even do well on an apartment balcony and can double as a screen or shade. The size of the bean is another great reason. The beans themselves can grow 40-50cm in length and we find that six or so of these crisp long beans are enough for a meal for our family of four. They have a very 'fresh' flavour when eaten raw so most of ours end up in salads. We also like to add them to stir-fries and they are very nice lightly steamed, which preserves the 'crunch'. They also make a great snack when out in the patch doing odd jobs.

We have found that volunteer pumpkins have always been the best producers for us. The vines always grow faster and provide more fruit than any we have intentionally grown.
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This year's stunner sprouted out of some worm castings that we placed under a yacon plant in a vegie bed in the front yard. The growth on this plant has been most impressive and it already has several swelling fruit on the vine. Unfortunately as they are volunteers, they do not always grow where you want them to. Ours generally tend to pop up in rather inconvenient spots and proceed to take over the area. But as we get a lot of pumpkins from these type of plants we have to just put up with it. I am having to 'manicure' this plant already - otherwise at the rate it is growing it could take over the yard in no time flat. I am thinking I will let 6-8 fruit mature on the plant and remove all the new leaders as they sprout from the vine. This way the plant should put all its energy into the fruit rather than front yard domination.

Growth around the patch

I have been busy planting out more seedlings and seeds over the past few weeks along with a few other little jobbies.

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The water chestnut/Kang Kong bath/bed has finally been set up. We really love using these crunchy little delicacies in many of our meals and I am very eager to start cooking with them again come next autumn. The Kang Kong is a very versatile leafy green that loves growing in very moist conditions so I thought this was probably one of the best places to plant it. However, I had to plant it in a separate pot and bury in the bathtub as the plant has a habit of spreading very quickly if you don't keep on top of it.

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The Aztec corn out the front has put on some amazing growth. I really think they like the wicking beds :) Last week some advanced sweet corn seedlings were planted out at the request of our youngest along with some Glass Gem corn seeds. The plan is to have the sweet corn 'flower' before the Glass Gem so the two varieties won't cross pollinate, making the seed viable for saving and sharing. If you're interested in more information on the Glass Gem corn or to see why it is called that, click here:
http://www.nativeseeds.org/community/199-the-story-of-glass-gem-corn-beauty-history-and-hope
This corn looks simply amazing.

I put the final touches on the shade house for the summer garden.

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The tomatoes and capsicum suffered from sunburn last year so I sprung for some 30% shade cloth just to take a bit of the sting out of the sun. It also makes a great place to have a quiet drink and rest after a hard day's work or just trying to hide from the kids for five minutes :D :/

Hope you all get a chance to play in the patch over the coming week.

Cheers,
Rob : )»

You can get updates on Rob Bob's new gardening adventure blogs on the Simple Savings Facebook page

or in our Members' Blog section.

12. From Last Month: How to Cut Down Costs of Hospital Visits?

Last month Penny emailed us asking for help in managing costs while her baby is in hospital for an extended time:

"We are expecting our first baby in December. We have been told he will be in hospital between two and six months due to CDH. I'd love some ideas on how we can cut costs during this time. For example, parking at the hospital is $24 a day and it is unlikely we will get reduced rate as it is a privately owned car park. So if you have any ideas on how we can get through this time and spend our money wisely, I'd love to know."

We got some fantastic ideas - in fact, we were absolutely overwhelmed with ideas, advice, encouragement and support for Penny! Thank you everyone for your thoughtful and caring responses. Here are some of the ones we received:

Keep food and parking costs down during your stay

When visiting hospital long term, the following tips could help you to keep costs down:

With parking, see if you can reduce the cost by asking for a discount, even through a private car park. Another alternative is to see if there is a church or school nearby and explain your situation. You may be able to get free parking, or park in exchange for a small fee for the time your little one is hospitalised.

With regard to food while you are there, if you contact the hospital social work department, they may be able to help with free or subsidised meal vouchers for some or all of your stay. There is also likely to be a patient kitchen or care centre you can utilise, or if not, see if you can bring in either a kettle and plug it in (they will need to check the electrics) or a Thermos flask to save on the cost of cuppas. Best wishes for the coming weeks; you are being thought of.

Contributed by: BJ

Ronald McDonald house worth its weight in gold

My daughter and I are often at hospital for her medical conditions and treatment. Ronald McDonald House is a fantastic place to stay. You get:

Accommodation support mostly covered by PTSS (you only pay for electricity contribution)
Your own private room with self-contained bathroom and shower
Support from other parents who 'understand' what you are going through but never overwhelm or patronise you
Staff who truly make your stay as comfortable and pressure-free as possible
Assistance with provision of staple food needs (fridge stocked with milk, margarine)

Also provided to assist in stretching your already-stretched budget are charitable donations provided to the House - things like bread, buns (including sweet buns), cereals, tea, coffee, Milo, cooking ingredients - items vary depending on donations. When we were there, once a week a 'group' from outside would come and cook a meal for everyone. I remember the CWA ladies, the Bendigo Staff - having a 'healthy' meal with others (and cooked by someone else) was so appreciated! Another charity would donate frozen meals which parents could help themselves to (communal freezer) without needing to 'ask permission' or 'sign' for it - this provided so much dignity through difficult times!

Another thing you may not have thought of is laundry and how to keep on top of it all. During my daughter's initial transfer from central QLD to Brisbane for urgent medical intervention I didn't know about the availability of a free washing machine and dryer on one of the children's wards for 'parents use' (we were in another ward nearby). Because we were limited in what we could take on the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) transfer between hospitals, I was told to pack only enough for three days. However, we were there two weeks! New friends offered to take me out shopping whilst my daughter was in surgery (for more clothes and other things we needed, meaning I used up money that was allocated to urgent car costs) and they also took our dirty laundry home to wash. However, it was only during a subsequent visit did I learn of the on site parents room with laundry in one of the wards! What a relief to discover it!

Contributed by: L

Save your money and your sanity

Something to keep in mind during lengthy hospital stays is how to save money on keeping yourself occupied through all the hours and days of sitting around. The following tips could help beat the boredom without breaking the budget!

For you during your stay; if you don't have one, borrow a laptop! You can do Christmas shopping, read about parenting, find new recipes and review more Simple Savings tips! Try and have a different theme each day to keep things fresh.

Borrow library books, then get your partner to return them. He can either surprise you with new ones or you can reserve ones off your borrowed laptop. If you have books at home that you haven't read, now is the time to bring them.

Take a phone so you can call people and they can call you. Take an iPod or MP3 player and listen to music. Take DVDs to watch off the laptop - ask friends if they have any you can borrow.

Finally, tell everyone you are there. Any visitors will brighten your day!

Contributed by: LJH

Parking website and rebate saved us hundreds

If you're looking for cheap parking, I can highly recommend checking out a website which really helped us. We had an extended hospital visit earlier this year in Brisbane and found a cheaper car park at findacarpark.com.au. It was at an apartment building mostly used by overseas students (who don't own cars) so parking turned out a lot cheaper than the hospital and was only around the corner. We also had to travel from interstate, so we were entitled to a rebate through our local hospital/community health centre - this covered a per kilometre cost, some of our accommodation costs and public transport costs while in the city. I think you are entitled to this if you cannot get the service at your nearest hospital and have to travel over a certain distance. This amounted to over $800 for our three week stay so, well worth the effort!

Contributed by: Lucy

Ask those in the know for available support

Before having your baby, speak with a NICU Social Worker. They will know about all the different types of supports available to those in your position, financial and otherwise. Hospitals will usually provide meals for parents, or at least breastfeeding/expressing mothers, when you're spending time there with your baby. Many will also provide access to basic kitchen facilities with a microwave, toaster, kettle and so on - so you can take your own food. Good luck with your new baby! Hope it's not such a long traumatic stay.

Contributed by: Sarah Y

Ask about a parking pass

If you are going to be visiting hospital for a long period of time, ask about a parking pass. Some hospitals offer special parking passes/codes to parents who have children in hospital for long periods and it is well worth asking. My son was born premature, and we were given the code to get out of the parking bay for free each time we visited.

To save on food during this time, cook bulk meals and freeze them where possible, so that if you are too tired to cook, you won't buy takeaway. In addition freeze sandwiches and rolls that you can take as snacks while you are there, so that you don't need to buy anything from the shop or canteen at the hospital. Take bottled water with you too, to save on drinks as they soon add up!

Contributed by: Wishful Thinking

Pack a bag full of basics

When a long hospital stay is on the cards, planning ahead will really help you out. Try contacting Centrelink and asking if they can help or refer you onto a social service organisation that may be able to help out with the cost. As for meals, if you are able to pre-make them there are always kitchen facilities where you can reheat them but even buying frozen meals from the supermarket would be cheaper in general than the cafeteria. Prepare a bag with your basics, for example, tea, coffee, UHT milk and biscuits and take it with you; this will be a big money saver. Most importantly though, do talk to the hospital and the social workers there, be certain of what they can help you with because you will be surprised at what they ARE allowed to fund sometimes.

Contributed by: Helen

Hospital staff are there to help

I spent some time in hospital when my twins were born prematurely and used the following ways to save through this time. I did not have a car; I left it at home for my husband to use. If I needed to go somewhere he came and picked me up - or family and friends did. Otherwise I just stayed put. Most large hospitals have services that meet your basic needs - and some shops are usually walking distance away. If you park blocks away from the hospital and walk you don't need to use their parking. I stayed in the hospital's accommodation and imagine this will also be available to you. If you live a certain distance from the hospital there is a government allowance that you may be eligible for. It used to be more than 200km in NSW. This may have changed - but the hospital staff will have information. In general, the hospital staff will be able to help you with all these questions - costs, accommodation, food, parking, services available, and so on, so I can recommend asking them first. In my experience they are very helpful. Once you are there, other patients are a good source of information also. Also - there may be societies who can help you with information and tips - in my case it was the Multiple Birth Association. Hopefully there is one who can help you too. Good luck!

Contributed by: Paula

Park away from the hospital for exercise and 'me' time

Parking a short distance away from the hospital can not only save you money, but also your sanity! My daughter was born premature and while she was in special care nursery I parked a little while away from the hospital. This saved me money but the best benefit was that the short walk to and from the hospital each time gave me some needed time to process all the emotions we were going through. On the way to the hospital, I would focus on keeping calm and remind myself not to stress too much if, when I got in the ward, my little one hadn't progressed, had a setback and so on. On the walk back from the hospital to my car, I used that time to try and decompress and switch gears, as I was heading home to another little one who needed me.

Contributed by: Mum2Cutie

Easier to save on food than parking

My daughter has spent more of her three years in hospital than out and during this time I have found it is easier to save costs on food than parking. However, if your child will be in for a long while, ask to speak to the hospital social worker; they can give you vouchers for discounted parking while your child is an in-patient. Other ways to save I have found include asking all our specialists to schedule appointments on the same day; this way I am only paying for one full day of parking but seeing all four doctors on the same day. I also have friends who buy me petrol vouchers for birthday, Christmas and so on, which while it's not very exciting for me, they know this is what I need so is very helpful. Most children's wards have a parents' room where you can prepare instant soups, noodles and other meals which all only need hot water. If you also have access to a microwave for reheating, this can be a Godsend for those late night meals when everywhere is closed or money is super low. One tip which works well for me is adding dry rice and vegies to a Thermos. Simply fill with water and leave for the day, then at dinner time your rice will have absorbed and be cooked and ready to eat!

Contributed by: Selsbels

13. This Month's Help Request: Digital Dilemma!

Megan has emailed asking for some help! She writes:

"I really need some ideas on how to organise my digital photos! I have hundreds and hundreds on my camera, on my laptop and on my phone and I am very concerned about losing them. How do other people organise their digital photo collection? I really feel overwhelmed."

If you have any pearls of wisdom you'd like to share with Megan, please send them in to us here.

14. Goodbye for Now

Well, that's your Simple Savings Newsletter for November 2013 and we hope you have enjoyed it. We hope you can find some ways to make your home and heart happier, please let us know how you go!

Till next time...

All the best,
Fiona

November 2015 - Simple Savings Newsletter

"Secrets to Saving Money" Free Newsletter - November 2015

This issue includes:-

Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: How Green Does Your Garden Grow!
November: Food Mileage
Best of the Vault: Save and Buy Close to Home!
Best of the Forum: Shop Your Neighbourhood
Best Members' Blog: A Goal Without a Plan is Just a Wish
Cooking with Mimi: Jewelled Eton Mess in a Cone - Nice, Easy, Truly Awesome Dessert
Rob Bob's Gardening Blog: New Additions, Sowing Corn and Helping Out the Bees

Hello,

How are you going?

We love hearing from you - here are our favourite emails this month:

"I want to say thanks to everyone else for contributing to this site. I've been a member on and off for about six years and all of your stories really give me hope that we can live in a better, fairer and less money-driven world." (Pia)

"We are currently away from home house sitting and the only book I have with me is the Simple Savings book I made up from the great recipes you have all put together. A pat on the back for all of you, especially in these hard fiscal times." (Patricia)

"I got your newsletter and I sat and read it immediately. There was a great hint about making vegetable slices so I got to use the leftovers in the fridge - thank you!" (Betty)

Have a great month!
All the best,
Fiona Lippey

1. Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: How Green Does Your Garden Grow!

Sally took the lid off her lunchbox and sighed dramatically, "Look at all these tomatoes! We've grown sooo many tomatoes, I tell you Hanna, it's a curse having SUCH a green thumb!" Hanna smiled, "Great work Sally, they're beautiful! You've done well!"

"Look, we have buckets of them!" Sal said, proudly showing Hanna a picture on her phone. "I guess I could bring some in for you and the rest of the office couldn't I? That would be a way to share our ENORMOUS harvest!"

"You could do that, Sal, but do you really want to bring all those tomatoes in on the bus? I have a much better idea - you could sell them online! I found a great website called ripenear.me where I have been getting $12 per kilo for our cherry tomatoes this month, and last month I got the same for mulberries. Can you believe it?" Sally thought for a moment and said to Hanna, "Hmmm, you're right; the tomatoes might get damaged on the bus..."

2. November: Food Mileage

We'd all love to buy food locally rather than produce that has travelled miles, perhaps even continents to get to us, but it just seems too hard. Or is it? A clever couple from Adelaide has found a way to share local produce, and we want you to check it out! It's called RipeNearMe:

http://www.ripenear.me/ (for both Australia and New Zealand)
https://www.facebook.com/ripenearme

We think it's a brilliant concept where people who have surplus fruit and vegies can list them for others to buy! So, for example, someone's chooks have far more eggs than they can use, they can advertise them for someone else to buy. Or perhaps they have tonnes of bananas and are happy to give them away to others. Maybe it's cherry tomatoes or coffee beans or avocados. We love the idea of connecting those who have a surplus with those who would love to buy fresh and local food. It's the ultimate in Neighbourhood Waste-Watch! You can even set up email notifications for particular produce in your area if you're hankering after something in particular.

And we just don't want YOU to check it out, we want you to tell others - the more people who know about it, the more fresh produce will become available in your area. We think RipeNearMe is on to something very special - and we can help them out! Go and have a look at what's available near you.

3. Best of the Vault: Save and Buy Close to Home!

Buying close to home is great for your budget AND your community. There are some great ways to cut down your grocery mileage - just check out some of these tips!

Better, cheaper fruit from local orchard

In the last six months, I have saved 75% on supermarket fruit prices, by buying in-season fruit from a local orchard, recommended by a friend.

Most orchards sell 'firsts' and 'seconds'. 'Firsts' are the better looking fruit (few blemishes and so on) and 'seconds' are still good looking fruit but may have a few blemishes on the skin that rarely effects the flesh of the fruit.

At the Yeoman family orchard (near Invergowrie, look in the Yellow Pages for your nearest orchard) they usually sell 'firsts' for $2.00 a kilo and 'seconds' for $1.00 a kilo, but it can differ.

I thought this was an excellent find, but realised just how good it was when I checked it against the supermarket prices.

1kg of Fujis is usually worth $4.00 or more at the supermarket, and $1.00 or $2.00 at an orchard, depending on if you buy 'firsts' or 'seconds'.

It's a similar story with nashis, pears, plums, apricots, nectarines, peaches and others.

If saving money isn't enough, you are also eating fruit that is better for you. Rather than eating fruit that isn't in season and may have been stored in fridges which delay the ripening process for up to six months, you'll be eating fruit that has been picked ripe off the tree and sold to you within a week of it being picked!

Contributed by: Dominique Creek

Beef lovers go halves in bulk meat

We've just gone halves with our good friends in a cow - so if you're a beef lover this one's for you.

We invested in a side of beef each - our mate arranged for the beast to be taken to our local butcher. The butcher then got us to fill in a sheet detailing what cuts we wanted (corned beef, roasts, stir fry, mince, sausages, plus all the great steaks - T-bone, rump, eye fillet). What a bargain - the side cost us $320 and the butcher charged $110 to cut it up. Sound expensive? Not when you end up with 105kg of meat - that's just over $4.00 per kilogram! Considering that you can't get a rump here for less than $15 a kilo, we think we are on a good wicket! Even allowing for some Home Brand freezer bags to pack the meat into doesn't make a real difference (about $3.00 worth of bags). Medium size is sufficient.

Approach your local butcher if you don't have friends who can organise this sort of thing and see if he can pair you up with someone - it's well worth it. We figure we have $800 worth of meat at least and enough to last us for about six months or even more.

Contributed by: Tammy Kerle

Roast your own coffee beans and save

We love our morning coffees and enjoy top quality coffee without the cafe price tag. We grind our own beans. I used to drive 15 minutes to purchase a 250g bag of roasted beans for $11. This would last us a week or two, depending on visitors. However, I now purchase green beans on the Internet and have them delivered as $4.00 delivery is cheaper than my petrol costs to pick them up! I buy 2kg of green beans (they last stored for a year) and roast my own each fortnight.

Paying $32 for 2kg including delivery as opposed to purchasing ready roasted beans saves me $56. You can purchase smaller amounts but the courier is the same price and they can be stored anyway.

To roast your own beans, purchase green whole beans of your choice. Turn on the extractor fan and open the windows (as they roast the smell is like burnt toast!). Use your largest frying pan with a lid. Heat it up.

Pour your beans in so that the bottom of the pan is covered. You can weigh them first if you want. Put the lid on, but keep the beans moving in the pan constantly. They will start to pop and the husks will come off. Depending on how long you cook them, this will create a medium-dense roast in around 12 minutes. They continue to cook for another 10 minutes once off the heat so allow for further browning.

Take the pan outside and blow off the husks. Tip the beans into a metal colander and leave outside or somewhere to cool. Once cooled, store in a dark, airtight container.

Beans are best left for 24 hours before use so cook well before you run out.

There are other methods on the Internet using popcorn machines and so on but most of us have a frying pan and a bit of arm muscle. Enjoy!

Contributed by: Rhonda

Family market day

We have a local fresh fruit and vegetable market that operates every Sunday. As an extended family we got together and decided to go to the market each alternative Sunday to buy for both families. We email the other family to let them know what we need. We then get together to divide up the purchases. Some weeks, when vegetables such as tomatoes are cheap, we join in the making of pasta sauce. This method of buying has saved us heaps of money and encouraged family gatherings. We are also eating healthy and cheap fruit and vegetables.

Contributed by: Katherine

4. Best of the Forum: Shop Your Neighbourhood

Sometimes it takes a bit of courage to start doing things differently; even when we know we'll save money and get better produce. The best thing about our Forum is the encouragement and support our wonderful members give each other. Here are just a few examples:

Hunting for meat - game meat recipes

Some good ideas here for those who don't have to rely on a butcher for meat!
read more...

Looking for yummy, different, healthy salad ideas

Join Doofy and our Forum members in finding that perfect summer salad for all your fresh locally-grown vegies!
read more...

Storage of lemons

No point finding great bargains if you don't know how to make them last!
read more...

5. Best Members' Blog: A Goal Without a Plan is Just a Wish

One of the many benefits of being a Vault member is that you can win $100 cash each month for your Simple Savings blog! Starting your own blog on the site is easy. All you have to do is log into the Vault, click on 'My Desk' at the top left, then 'Your Blog'. Then get writing! We love reading all your money saving trials and tribulations and really appreciate the effort that goes into each one.

This month's Blog winner is Ebony C for her blog on how she is planning her family's grand adventure!

I recently read a quote online and loved it - "A goal without a plan is just a wish."

I think that it's great and I'm now using that to plan out what I want to gain and how to get there. My goal is family travel. I love reading about other families who have managed to travel to numerous places as a family and how they have seen fantastic places and spent quality time together. A lot of them recommend savings beforehand and beginning to live a life with less (less clutter, more basics).

Here is my plan:

Remove the excess clutter in my life. What is clutter? Books, clothes, papers, general junk (old bills, unnecessary paperwork) old children's toys that can be used for other children, linen that's not used.
- I began with clothes and linen. Our son's preschool has a fundraiser twice a year called a closet cleanout. They raise money by donating our clothes, shoes and linen which get passed onto charity through a company. I managed to sort through my clothes, DS's clothes, and got DH on board to sort out his, as well as our linen cupboard. We managed to collect eight large garbage bags of clothes and linen for preschool. It took a bit of ruthlessness on our behalf and actually looking at what we wear and asking ourselves "Do we really need six blankets for winter as well as the three doonas we have for our beds?" The answer was no.
- Books - we don't read them all. I have heaps of cookbooks that I don't use. Maybe someone else will. These are in the process of going on eBay and Buy, Swap, Sell sites on Facebook.
- Papers have been shredded and removed. General rubbish has gone into the bin (three large garbage bags full!).
- Children's toys - still have to go through these with our son. He helps to decide what he uses and what should go to children who don't have toys.
Savings are needed.
- We have recently opened a high interest ING direct account. We transfer a minimum amount each pay cycle when we both get paid. Any extra money gets transferred over as well when we can. Our PayPal (from eBay sales) is linked so it can be transferred into here as well.
Meals. I used to meal plan and it drifted away from me. Now I'm looking at it again.
- I made a list of the meals we enjoy often. I came up with about 25. I made a 3-week rotating menu, sorting out so that the beef, chicken and vegetarian meals were spread out across the week. I also made a list of optional extras (curried sausages or devilled sausages) that could be traded off so that we don't feel too bored. I have an additional list of meals that are freezable and can be used as alternative. I had made Fridays as a Free Choice Friday or Freezer Friday.
- I have set aside this weekend to go through my fridge, freezer and pantry to use what I've got and build from there.
- I have also looked at doing more $21 Challenge weeks, because I'm sure that I have heaps here, but I just don't see it yet.
- Shop at Aldi first and shop with a list.
Ensure the family is on board.
- Talk about saving and what we want to achieve. Look at free family activities that we can visit and have family time.
- Talk about how we can save.

Fingers crossed we can do it. I think that, by breaking it down, we have a better chance of achieving our goal!

Well done Ebony, we can't wait to hear about your holiday plans!

You can read more of our members' blogs here.

6. Cooking with Mimi: Jewelled Eton Mess in a Cone - Nice, Easy, Truly Awesome Dessert

I was inspired to serve our Eton mess in a cone, by the old cream horns that were once available at local patisseries and cake shops. A cornet of puff pastry, filled with whipped cream and raspberry jam, all dusted with icing sugar. Absolutely scrumptious, if a bit sinful. In todays 'eat healthy' world, cream horns are not seen so much anymore. And of course with waffle cones readily available, why would you go to all that fuss and bother with puff pastry anyway!

The inspiration for the jelly jewels came about when I discovered that the berries I had bought to recreate this had been eaten by a certain someone in this house, not me. The culprit is not owning up. So, I had three different pink jellies, and thought... well, why not! Clearly, these are not for everyday eating. But as an occasional treat or dessert for a special celebration, they are unbeatable. Quick, easy and impressive.

You'll need:

Waffle cones
1 carton whipping cream
Several meringues, crushed lightly so you have some crumbs and some chunks
Berries, either fresh ones lightly macerated with a little sugar and left to chill for an hour or so, or frozen ones, thawed and drained OR pink or red jelly crystals.

Then just:

If using the jelly jewel idea, make the jelly up with just one quarter of the recommended amount of water, pour into a small container from which you can easily release the set jelly, and chill until firm. This will take about 45 minutes in the freezer, or up to two hours in the refrigerator, so do this ahead of time.

Once set, remove the jelly from its container and cut into tiny cubes. Set aside on a platter in the refrigerator.

Whip the cream till stiff peaks form.

Lightly fold in the berries and/or some of the jelly jewels and crushed meringues.

Scoop into the cream and berry/jelly jewel mixture into waffle cones, top with a couple more jelly jewels or a berry, and serve.

That's it!

I love an easy treat. :)

Note: We use gluten-free waffle cones which are available in the health food aisle in many supermarkets.

You can get updates on Mimi's new blogs on the Simple Savings Facebook page or in our Members' Blog section.

7. Rob Bob's Gardening Blog: New Additions, Sowing Corn and Helping Out the Bees

A few new victims for the patch

I'm trying a few different crops out in the patch this summer that I've wanted to grow for a while now. Most of these are well suited to our subtropical climate and will hopefully give us some great warm weather yields.

I'm growing taro as a possible replacement for potato as they're one crop I haven't been able to grow with consistent results. I've seen some very lush-looking taro being grown in a few different spots around the western suburbs of Brisbane so I know that it does very well in our climate but have never really thought to try it until now. They are grown mainly for their tuberous root which can be boiled, mashed, turned into chips or baked. It is thought to have originated in South East Asia and is a staple in many Pacific cultures.

I purchased some purple flecked "Bun-long" taro from Green Harvest and was very fortunate to also receive a load of white-fleshed taro (along with some other goodies I'll mention in a tick) from a mate I started chatting to through YouTube a while back. Cheers Ben!

Taro likes moist, well drained conditions and partial shade. One lot of each variety have been planted out in the wicking barrel system behind the lime tree bed, another lot of the white variety in a sheltered wicking bed in the front yard and two small white-fleshed plants in an aquaponic bed under the mango tree.

We also got some Queensland Arrowroot (Canna Edulis) root sections from Ben. We've grown the arrowroot before but haven't used much in the kitchen until we were gifted some by a friend a while back. Maya used it in a casserole-style meal in the past and I think it would go well in a Thai-style Massaman curry.

It likes moist soil but we have also grown it in a fairly dry position in a rental property where it did OK but I wouldn't say it thrived. Queensland Arrowroot makes a nice ornamental plant as well - it produces small, delicate red flowers which contrast nicely against the lush green foliage. I have seen it used as a border plant in gardens with smaller flowering plants and herbs planted at its feet. The height of the arrowroot helps to shelter the smaller plants from the hot afternoon sun and wind, as well as give them a nice backdrop at the same time.

The leaves of the plant also make great 'chop and drop' mulch as well as being a fantastic nitrogen source for the compost pile. This is one plant that we'll be growing a lot of once we have more rootstock to help in compost production.

Sweetleaf** or Katuk (Sauropus Androgynus) is one plant that I've only read snippets on until Ben dropped off a couple of cuttings. Katuk is a bush/shrub that grows in the warmer tropical regions of South East Asia but can also be grown in a warmer temperate, although it isn't as productive from what I've read. The young leaves are used as a green in salads as well as cooked dishes but I haven't seen anyone comment about the small edible fruits they produce. I only nibbled on a few leaves so I haven't had a chance to experience the full flavour of the greens but I've been told it has a sweet nutty flavour. It has high protein content (around 50%) and is also rich in vitamins and minerals. Ben pointed out that it is much better tasting than the moringa so it might end up replacing our sad looking moringa tree. ;-)

I was unsure of where to plant them out due to the upcoming (next year some time) redesign of the yard so today I popped one in a wicking bed out the front and another in a bed in the hoop house for the time being. They propagate very easily from cuttings so I will be able to start off new plants as needed to help fill out the patch in the future as needed.

**Stevia (Stevia Rebaudiana) also goes by this name but is not related to Katuk/Sauropus Androgynous.

Longevity spinach or Sambung in Filipino according to Ben, (Gynura Procumbens) was also in the goody bag we got.

It's a close relative to Okinawan spinach and looks almost identical except for the lighter colour of the leaves, but the taste is almost identical. I have popped the cuttings I got into the aquaponics but will be keeping an eye on them as I think they are likely to take over the bed just like the Okinawan variety.

Sowing coloured Aztec and glass bead corn

Last week I sowed a mixture of the Coloured Aztec and Glass Bead corn varieties out in a bed in the front yard vegie patch so that they can cross-pollinate each other. I'm doing this mainly to see what colour the kernels will look like and I think it will be interesting to see what sort of corn they will grow next season.

To help improve the germination rates I soaked the kernels in some water for about eight hours before sowing them and it looks to have done the trick. Before the seeds were sown out, the self-watering wicking bed was fed up well with some home-made compost and worm castings I got from a local worm farmer. I sowed the seeds out in 15cm/6" deep trenches to try and get their roots set more securely into the bed as I have had a few issues with the tall stalks falling over in the past. The 1x1m square/3x3 foot square bed ended up having 40 seeds sown out into it in four rows. One seed of each variety went into holes spaced 20cm/8" apart.

The first crop of Aztec I grew was grown in the same bed with about 46 plants so I am not worried about overcrowding but did find I had to top up the reservoir every day through the hottest weeks to keep the plants happy. ;-)

I was very happy to see that there was a 100% germination rate which is something I have never had with corn before. I will post updates on these fellas as the season progresses.

Helping the zucchinis to fruit

"Why are my small zucchini/squash/pumpkin fruit rotting and dropping off the vine?" is one question I've seen pop up in online gardening groups quite often at this time of year. There can be a few reasons for this. Sometimes excessive heat prevents the fruit from setting, sometimes there may be no male flowers to provide pollen to fertilise the female flowers at the same time they are open. One of the main reasons we have poor pollination rates here at certain times of year is the lack of pollinators in the patch. Zucchini (like all heirloom cucurbits) have 'imperfect flowers' meaning they have both male and female flowers.

The female flower is very easy to spot as it has a small fruit behind the flower, while the male is just a bloom on a stem. Plants such as tomatoes have what's called 'perfect flowers' meaning that they have both male and female sex organs in one flower. Plants with perfect flowers can be pollinated by being bumped or moved around by the wind or by insects moving pollen from the anthers to the stigma of the flower.

Cucurbits, with their imperfect flowers, need the pollen transported from the male to the female flower. This job is normally carried out by insects like bees and ants in our patch but at times they may not be present when needed or don't travel to every female flower to make a pollen deposit. If this happens to your plants and you notice a few of the fruit dropping off you can pick up the slack and improve the yield by taking matters into your own hands, or in some cases, paintbrushes, and pollinate the female flowers yourself. The way I like to go about pollinating the female flowers is very basic.

I remove the male flower, strip the petals off and dust the pollen onto the stigma on the female flower then repeat the process on any other female flowers that are open. It is a very easy process that takes only a few minutes. A paintbrush or a cotton bud can also be used but I find it just as easy to use the male flower. It is a good idea to put the bee suit on and pollinate the flowers early in the day (before 9am here) as the flowers do start to close once the day heats up. I posted a clip to our YouTube channel the other day for those who are interested in a bit of a closer look at the process.

Well there's a little bit of what I've been up to in the patch over the past few weeks.

Hope you've enjoyed the quick catch-up and that your gardens are filling out with some tasty home-grown produce.

Cheers all & have a great one,
Rob.

You can get updates on Rob Bob's new gardening adventure blogs on the Simple Savings Facebook page or in our Members' Blog section.

8. Goodbye For Now

Well, that's your Simple Savings Newsletter for November 2015 and we hope you have enjoyed it. We hope you get to know your neighbourhood a bit better and find some savings along the way!

Till next time...

All the best,
Fiona

October 2010 - Simple Savings Newsletter

"Secrets to Saving Money in Australia" Free Newsletter - October 2010

This issue includes:-

Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: Knock Knock, Who's There?
November is 1950's Month!
Aussie Street Party Update!
Best Member's Blog: This Month's Winner
Best of the Forum: The Good Old Days
Best of the Vault: Simple Living
Cooking with Mimi
Penny's Blog: Proud
Homeopathy Corner: Anxiety and Panic Attacks
From Last Month: Make-up for Teens
This Month's Help Request: First Time Kitchen
Savings Story: The Biggest Loser Wins!

Hello,

How are you going? It's Jackie here! I'm filling in for Fiona this month as she has had her hands extremely full looking after 13-month-old Elora, who has been ill. I'm pleased to say she is now on the mend but the family is having a well earned break until Elora makes a full recovery. Unfortunately Elora's illness meant Fiona was unable to attend the Simple Savings Picnic Celebration, held recently at Lane Cove National Park but Matt and Kirstin from the SS team were there and had a wonderful time meeting members and putting faces to names. The wind blew but this didn't stop everyone from having a terrific weekend! Thanks to all of you who made the trip to Sydney; here's hoping we will ALL be able to make the next one!

A big thank you also to everyone who has sent in wonderful letters like these this month; it's fantastic for Fiona and Matt to read them and know that Simple Savings continues to help and inspire people, no matter what life throws at them!

"I have been using your Bill Payment System for the past two years to pay off a few debts and can say that, using your system, it is much easier to keep my creditors happy and also save at the same time. Thank you!" (Charles)

"I have read the $21 Challenge book from cover to cover (just love it), done my shopping for the Challenge ($20) and planned my meals for the week. I have no doubt I will complete it no problem. An added bonus is I cleaned out my pantry and used up all those Tupperware-type containers to label and store ingredients. By the end of the Challenge I will have saved $230 which I will pay against my credit card, saving interest. It's a win-win situation. I will do the Challenge once a month from now on. Thanks Simple Savings, you're the best!" (Elizabeth Eyb)

"After never being able to afford anything I have just made an amazing discovery. Simply by reading what I could from your newsletters I have been able to save my family $2518 per year on visits to the hairdresser! There are four members in my family; two male and two female. We all have haircuts every six weeks and in addition my daughter and I go the whole hog, colouring our hair several times a year and having our eyebrows waxed every three weeks. I was astounded when I worked it all out that this was costing us $2993 per year as a family! After a discussion at my son's school I learned that one of the mums is a hairdresser that works from home. I figured I had nothing to lose so gave her a go. As it turns out I am far happier with the result from her than I had been at my regular salon for a long time! My whole family now has their hair cuts and various other treatments done by her and it now costs us just $475 per year! Thank you so much for the inspiration - I think I may finally be able to afford a membership now!" (Tara-Louise Wong)

All the best,
Jackie

PS: The closing date for entering our Street Party competition has been extended! More information in this newsletter.

PPS: Coming soon - your FREE 2011 Simple Savings Calendar!

1. Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: Knock Knock, Who's There?

"It's alright, you can stop laughing now," Sally glared at Hanna across her desk. "I'm sorry Sal - but it's just so funny!" Hanna burst into giggles again as she caught sight of Sally's huge pile of mail "I mean - you and Linda are as bad as each other! I can't believe you've been living there all this time and neither of you know ANY of your neighbours!"

"Oh yes, well it's alright for you - you've been living in the same street forever!" Sally huffed. "Swapping vegies and borrowing ladders and all that nice neighbourly stuff is fine when you KNOW everyone. Sorry Hanna but it's not like that for most of us in the real world any more. The good old neighbourhood street party is a thing of the past."

"So bring it back!" grinned Hanna. "You already know Linda - now go and introduce yourself to the rest!" "I couldn't possibly go around knocking on people's doors!" Sally looked shocked. "They'd probably think I wanted to sell them air conditioning or something - or they might think I'm one of those religious callers!" "Then they'll get a very nice surprise when you give them a party invite, won't they?" Hanna winked. "Go on Sal, I dare you!"

2. November is 1950's Month!

Sally is right, times have changed - and not all for the better. Do you have happy memories of your neighbours when you were growing up? Back then we thought nothing of popping round to see them. It didn't matter whether you needed to borrow a cup of sugar, or if you simply felt like a chat; everyone's doors were always open.

But over the years the friendly, open homes which used to make up our neighbourhoods have turned into protective bubbles. Television and the Internet have made us scared to open our front doors. The awful images and scenarios we are subjected to are not actually happening in our backyard - but when we see them on a giant screen we feel as though they are.

It has even made us stop interacting with each other. People are so busy collecting virtual friends on Facebook or watching pretend neighbours on TV that they have lost contact with their real ones. This is a huge shame because real neighbours are incredibly valuable. Real neighbours will call the police if someone suspicious has a truck outside your home. Pretend neighbours on TV will not. Real neighbours will collect your mail, water your garden or feed your cat while you're away. Facebook neighbours or characters on TV will not. Real neighbours will care about you. Pretend neighbours will not. You see what we are getting at? We are isolating ourselves in our own neighbourhoods and this is leaving us vulnerable, lonely and sad.

When we were growing up, our neighbourhoods were safe because there was an unofficial parent co-op. All the parents were tag teaming. The children thought they were roaming free but you could always rely on someone to keep watch. Mums all over the neighbourhood had their own network of backyard fence broadband.

Now technology has taken over and chatting over the fence has been replaced by posting on Facebook and 'tweeting' on Twitter. Instead of sharing, we are buying - and that sucks. We've let money replace friendship and it is costing us much more than just the money. Sure it may seem easier to drive to the shop and buy a bag of sugar instead of borrowing one but it is SO much more fun to get it from your neighbour!

Knowing your neighbours provides you with a sense of security nothing else in this world can provide; that feeling of being comfortable in your own space and place. So this month I want you to go back to the old times. The frugal times, the fun times! This month, choose your real friends over your imaginary 'friends' on TV or cyber friends and 'followers' on Facebook and Twitter. Make the effort to get to know your neighbours. Enter our Street Party competition (below) and bring your neighbourhood closer. Together, we can bring the good times BACK!

3. Aussie Street Party update!

We have had a fabulous response to our Street Party competition so far! Everyone seems to really love the street party idea - including That's Life! magazine. We're delighted to announce that they have come on board with us and will be promoting the Aussie Street Party event and announcing prize winners in their magazine over the coming weeks.

PLUS! You now have a greater chance of winning a cash prize for holding your party! Simple Savings and That's Life! are giving away $1000 as a thank you for helping us bring back the good old days. One lucky winner will win $500 cash, with five runner up prizes of $100 up for grabs. But wait, there's more *grin*! We have also extended the closing date for entries to January 7th to give everyone plenty of time to get their stories and photos in after the Christmas rush.

If you haven't got around to organising your street party yet, don't be shy! Here's what Fiona discovered when she and the children went delivering invites in their neighbourhood recently:

"Before we started I was kind of scared and I thought knocking on strangers' doors would be horrible. But it wasn't scary, it was hilarious! The kids and I were trudging around the street like missionaries so when most people came to greet us at their front door they had their 'go away' armour on. I swear every person had their shoulders back and were steeling themselves to politely tell me to leave them alone. But, the moment I said we were organising a street party everything changed. Their shoulders dropped, they took a breath and smiled. It was so predictable that by the last invite I was struggling to keep a straight face. The only bit which was embarrassing was giving my neighbours the official Simple Savings invite with the cartoon of Jackie and I on the front. That part was very strange! I wish we had drawn Sally and Hanna on the invite instead!"

What Fiona experienced is a classic sign of the times. Nobody trusts anybody any more. When she knocked on her neighbours' doors every one of them thought that she must want something from them. This is what we have all become accustomed to over the years. If someone knocks on your door, they must want to sell you something, right? The realisation that Fiona and the kids weren't trying to sell them a space age vacuum cleaner or convert them to another religion but just wanted to get everyone together and have fun for the pure joy of it was so refreshing and is one of the exact reasons having a Street Party is so important.

If Fiona and the kids can do it, so can you! Join us in our street party celebration on Sunday December 5th. Everything you need to get started and enter our competition is available here. You will even find we have made free printable invites for you to hand out to your neighbours.

If you're worried about the potential cost of holding your street party, don't panic! Our specially made invites are designed to request that every household contributes something. As for suitable party food, the Vault is full of fantastic tips and low cost recipes for feeding people of all ages. It has an entire section on parties too! Becoming a Vault member is super easy. Simply click here to join up and take advantage of our 365 day money back guarantee.

So what are you waiting for? Join us and bring back the fun in your neighbourhood!

4. Best Member's Blog: This Month's Winner

Did you know that when you become a Vault member you get to write your very own Savings Blog? We love reading our members' experiences and tips to save money and really appreciate the time and effort that goes into sharing them with other members. As a special thank you, we are now giving away a prize of $100 to the writer of our favourite blog post each month. This month's winners are Rob and B, who have been delighting readers with their beautifully photographed posts of how their garden is growing and all the yummy ways they've been enjoying the freshly picked produce! You can read all their posts here.

Here is this month's winning blog:

Zucchini & Vanilla anyone ??

Thought I would spend the afternoon in the kitchen today.....

Made up a large batch of vegetable sauce to be used in a few different dishes....

I blitz it with the stick blender to use as a Bolognese base, warmed as a chunky sauce for sausages or steak, mixed through some pasta then topped with cheese/bread crumb mix as a pasta bake, & B's Favourite, a sauce for a Chicken Parmigiana using this recipe for the Chicken.

Was a good way to use up all the Zucchinis we picked yesterday....

Dinner was the last of the large Zucchini's 'stuffed' with veg, mince, bacon & topped with cheese...

Very lush even if I do say so myself....

Made up a batch of Vanilla Sweetener as a gift for someone who needs a bit of a pick me up.... Being locked in a house with 5 children & a partner with Chicken Pox for 3 weeks can't be fun me thinks...

Threw in a few beans as well so she can play around...

Coffee anyone ???

Have a great one all......

**: )»**

Congratulations Rob and B! If you haven't started writing your own blog yet, get typing to be in with a chance to win! Vault members can get started by logging in and going to the 'My Desk' area. If you are not a Vault member yet and would like to start your own savings blog, you can become a Vault member here. Happy blogging!

5. Best of the Forum: The Good Old Days

Remember when Christmas was about the simpler things in life, rather than shopping 'til we drop? Our members are keen to bring back the good old days with Forum threads like these. Take a peek and learn how you can make Christmas fun, simple and stress-free this year!

Your best Christmas memory

The best Christmas memories are ones made of people, not presents. This thread is a lovely reminder of what we should be enjoying this year.
read more...

Friendship and community a cure for shopping

You are only as good as your support team! Rebecca has a fantastic remedy for impulse shopping and gathering support in your community.
read more...

Neighbourhood normality?

A great reminder to what neighbourhoods 'should' be like. Even more reason to get to know your neighbours this Christmas!
read more...

Frugal tips from the pioneers

Using your grandmother's recipe books from the 1950s will have you serving up a feast and feeling like Wonderwoman!
read more...

Oldie but a goodie

Don't throw out that old appliance your grandmother handed down to you, put it to use.
read more...

6. Best of the Vault: Simple Living

Life was pretty good back in the 1950's. More leisure time was spent with family and there was less financial stress. There were no credit cards and borrowing money was avoided except when a loan was required to purchase a home. Refrigerators, furniture and even cars were usually saved up for and paid for in cash. If you couldn't afford to pay cash for a new fridge or lounge chair you simply did without or bought a second hand one. This month, turn back time with these savvy tips from the Saving Vault!

Luxury 'fast' a fun way to speed up saving

An annual luxury 'fast' is a great way to save money and remind us not to take things for granted.

My family has been doing this since I was a child, and I have such fond memories of the fun we had that I have carried the tradition on with my children. For two weeks each year we would live on a ration of basic ingredients and limit other 'luxuries' such as the television, Barbie dolls, and one year even the lights! It really brought to life the situation of many families living in poverty around the world and made us appreciate what we had, plus our bills were much lower for those two weeks. At the end of the fast, all the families would get together and cook up a feast with whatever food was left. What a wonderful way to save money and bond with the family.

Contributed by: Kallie

A fair trade saves a fair amount

Who says you need money to get what you want?

I had an arrangement with a neighbour, who gave me a dozen free range eggs whenever I gave him a pile of egg cartons. I work in a nursing home and when the kitchen staff learned that I collected egg cartons, they started saving them for me. I soon had more cartons than my neighbour could use so I needed to find new markets for my egg cartons!

I posted notes on online forums and community notice boards, stating that I had egg cartons to give away in return for six free-range eggs. I found that everyone is happy to give away eggs in return for egg cartons. I collect between 30 and 50 cartons per week, so I can supply quite a few customers. I save about $6.00 a week and the quality of the eggs is priceless.

This hint is a great example of how you can trade what you have for something you need. It's free and easy to set up with no on-going cost, and the quality of home produce is usually far higher than anything you can buy.

Contributed by: Michelle Baker

Create your own community

I have found that the best way to save money is to stop thinking about what I don't have, and think about the wealth that has been given to me. For instance, while driving to the mall and looking at houses and redecorated front lawns and wishing I could do the same, I say 'I have a FANTASTIC house and am SO thankful we can afford a house of our own'. This works especially well on my way to the mall as then I put myself in a good mindset for what I NEED, not what I see everyone else has but I don't (which leads to impulse buys).

The other thing I think saves the most money is doing your best to create a community around you. Families do not live in the same cities, neighbours don't talk to each other let alone DO things for each other anymore, so break the trend! I have made many new friends with motherhood, many of who do not have family in town. So we baby-sit for each other at no charge, when one has a baby we make dinners for each other in the first month and so on. The husbands let each other know what tools the other has and we borrow rather than buy. When I found out a neighbour wasn't around because he'd died of cancer, I threw a street party so I could get to know my neighbours. We now party twice a year and have even gone to each other's place for dinner.

The best way to save is to turn your negatives into positives, GIVE instead of wanting to get this and that and you'll find very soon you'll have an abundance of things coming back at you!

Contributed by: Bindi Brien

Banning plastic is fantastic

Banning plastic from our home is saving us money and helping the environment. After learning about the harmful chemicals found in some plastics, I decided to stop bringing plastic in to the house. We gave up the regular visits to the $1 shop in favour of fewer quality wooden toys that can be handed down; and we no longer buy bottled drinks carrying our own water bottles wherever we go instead. Plastic bags and containers are also banned. Not only has this saved money but we have decluttered our home too. An all round win.

Contributed by: Emma Perry

Find a frugal friend to save with

My budget is looking better than ever since I found a like-minded friend to keep me on track! One subject we have never usually discussed with friends is money, but last year this changed for me. A good friend and I were putting together a school fund raiser for the PTA and as we spent a lot of time together, the chat came round to finances. We found we had a lot in common with our money worries and also found we had a lot of ideas to share. We now meet fortnightly to bounce ideas off each other and to check how each other is doing. We each now have someone to confide in and to perk us up if we are having a bad week. Our friendship has really benefited and so have our bank balances!

Contributed by: Debra

Love thy neighbour, love the savings

My neighbours and I are trying to cut the cost of pest control in our homes by getting our whole complex sprayed at the same time. I had a problem with cockroaches and learned that my neighbour did too. As we are due to get our whole complex termite inspected she suggested we put it to the vote for the whole complex to be sprayed for cockroaches at the same time. This would dramatically reduce the cost of each house being treated individually. Communicating with your neighbours can save money in other ways too, for example, getting air conditioning installed in several properties at the same time by the same company, then splitting the cost.

Contributed by: Danielle

Ban the gadgets and get your kids back!

I have saved on electricity and restored some balance in our house by banning the electrical gadgets! The habitual scene in our house when the kids came home from school was becoming a concern to us. As soon as they'd dropped their school bags the kids plugged themselves into the TV, computer, stereo or iPods, conversation died and activity was nil! So I took control back and put a ban on anything electrical being turned on within 15 minutes of returning from school. Wow! By the time 15 minutes was up, they were reading books, outside playing or helping me in the kitchen and had all but forgotten about the electrical items. I am not sure exactly how much we have saved, but the kids have definitely benefited from this. Being outside running around, sharing books or playing games together has made for a much, happier household and conversation is back! I look forward to seeing our next electricity bill because I know, even if it is just a little bit smaller, we are all richer.

Contributed by: Sharee Breed

7. Cooking with Mimi

Party recipes have to be one of the most fun things to make! Bring your party or neighbourhood gathering to life with Mimi's inspirational treats.

Beetroot Lime and Honey Dip

(Makes 465g or around the same amount as 3-4 bought dips)

This dip is pretty to look at and divine with plain crackers or crudites. Chill it well before serving. The hint of honey and lime is seductive and beguiling; a wonderful summer dip! This one keeps well for 3 - 4 days.

Equipment:

Food processor
Scales (optional... a guesstimate is fine for this one!)
Tablespoon measure
Serving bowls
Storage containers

Ingredients:

200g beetroot after draining
100g lite sour cream
150g lite cream cheese
3 tbsp bottled lime juice or equivalent fresh
1 tbsp honey

Place all ingredients in the food processor or blender and process until smooth... that's it!

Pina Colada Dip

Sunshine in a bowl; that's what this one should be called. Reminiscent of languid summer days on holiday, this pina colada dip will have everyone begging for the recipe. Delicious served as a sweet dip with meringues, cubes of madeira cake, or chunks of fruit, or try it as a dessert. Layer it with jelly and madeira cake soaked in juice for a tropical tiramisu, or serve in pretty little dishes with biscotti on the side for a sunshiny after-dinner treat.

Makes the equivalent of approximately six bought dips!

Equipment:

Large mixing bowl
Large whisk
Frypan for toasting coconut
Serving bowls

Ingredients:

1 tin crushed pineapple
1 tin coconut cream
150g lite cream cheese
2 tsp vanilla essence
2 tsp coconut essence
3 tbsp instant vanilla pudding mix
1-2 tbsp shredded or desiccated coconut plus 1-2 tsp extra for garnish
Meringues, biscotti, fruit chunks for serving

In a large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients well with a whisk.

Heat a medium frypan over a medium-high temperature. Add the coconut to the pan, and toss well, until browned. Fold the coconut through the dip and spoon into serving bowl or dishes.

Garnish with extra toasted coconut.

Chill well before serving.

For an 'adults only' treat, add a teaspoon of rum essence or a tablespoon of white rum for authentic Pina Colada flavour.

Home-made Custard

Put your hand up if you buy custard...

... well after seeing how easy it is to make your own, you'll never buy it again. The home-made version tastes better and is much less expensive. You don't even need custard powder! Take a look at the ingredients panel of any bought custard and you'll see it's pretty simple stuff. Milk, starch, vanilla... and so on. As for the different types, we're really just talking different proportions or types of ingredients.

Here's my basic recipe:

These instructions are for one litre of custard. Double, triple or quadruple quantities of ingredients as required.

Equipment:

Saucepan or microwave-safe jug or bowl
Whisk
Small bowl or cup
Storage container

Ingredients:

1 litre milk
1 tbsp cornflour
1 tsp vanilla bean paste, vanilla extract or vanilla essence
3 tbsp caster sugar
3 drops yellow food colouring (optional)

Mix the cornflour in a cup with enough of the milk to make a runny paste.

Bring the other ingredients to the boil in a medium saucepan, stirring constantly, or microwave on high in a microwave-safe jug or bowl, until steaming.

Add the paste, continuing to stir with a whisk. Simmer or microwave for 1-2 minutes, stirring frequently until thickened.

Refrigerate until required.

Once chilled, this is just like store-bought pouring custard.

To make thick custard, double the amount of cornflour.

To make gourmet custard use half cream and half milk or even all cream - decadent!

To make chocolate or brandy-flavoured custard, add cocoa powder or brandy essence to taste. Add a little at a time. You can always add more, but you can't take it out once added!

For skim milk custard use skim milk in place of full cream milk.

This is also great made with any powdered milk and you can't taste the difference!

Chicken, Camembert and Cranberry Bon-Bons

This is a real crowd pleaser. Make tiny ones for cocktail servings or make them larger for a special lunch or dinner. You'll outdo the chicken specialty stores with this home-made Christmas version of a family favourite.

Note: These are a little labour intensive, but well worth it. They can be made ahead and popped into the oven whenever required. They'll freeze well for at least a month.

Makes 12-16 cocktail size or 6-8 meal size bon-bons

Equipment:

Large bowl
Spoon for mixing
Baking trays
Scissors
Baking paper
Pastry brush

Ingredients:

500g chicken mince
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup fine breadcrumbs
1 tbsp almond meal, almond flakes or almond slivers
(Please note: If you have a food processor, you can use 2 chicken breasts, one slice of bread and the almonds, processing until minced)
1 jar cranberry sauce
1- 2 rounds Camembert cheese
Filo pastry
1-2 tbsp butter, melted
Cooking spray
Salt and pepper
Shallots
4 tbsp plum jam (optional)

Bring the camembert cheese to room temperature and remove the soft cheese from the rind. If you have a food processor you can process the whole cheese until smooth. Place in a small bowl and combine with the cranberry sauce. If only using one cheese then halve the amount of cranberry sauce.

In a large bowl, combine the chicken mince, breadcrumbs, egg and seasoning.

With a dessertspoon (for cocktail sized servings) or a tablespoon (2-3 tablespoons of mixture for meal sized servings), place a scant spoonful of the chicken mince mixture into the palm of your hand. Form a little ball, and poke a hole into the middle of it. Place 1/2 teaspoon of the camembert and cranberry mixture into the hole and form the mince around it, enclosing it completely. Gently form into a sausage shape. Continue until all the mince is used.

Chill the mince shapes for 30 minutes.

While the mince is chilling, preheat the oven to 175C fan forced or 180C normal. Line two baking trays with baking paper.

Take the shallots and cut them where the stem turns from green to white. With a sharp pair of kitchen scissors, slice each shallot from top to bottom to give you two long strips. Cut these in smaller strips to yield 8-10 thin strips from each shallot. You'll find that if you snip at one end and gently tear, that the shallot will come away into thin strips on its own, just like gift ribbon. Immerse the strips into a bowl of hot water. They will curl up within a few minutes. These will be used as ties on either end of the cooked bon-bons.

Remove the filo pastry from the packaging and cover with a damp tea towel.

Form a production line with the mince balls, filo pastry, cooking spray and baking sheets.

For cocktail bon-bons:

Carefully remove one sheet of filo pastry from the pile, covering the remainder with a damp tea towel to prevent it drying out. Don't worry if it tears or has little holes as you pull it away as you will fold it in four and it won't matter. Spray the sheet of pastry with cooking spray or brush with melted butter. Fold in half, and half again to form a small rectangle. Place one small mince shape in the centre of one short side of the pastry sheet, leaving a space either end of the little sausage, and roll it up. Place seam side down onto a lined baking tray, and pinch the empty side bits in from the edge, forming a little bon-bon shape. Once cooked, you will tie strips of shallot around these to make them look really festive.

Repeat with mince and pastry until the mince shapes are all used.

For meal sized bon-bons:

Use two sheets of filo pastry for each bon-bon, spraying between sheets. Fold in half and fill as detailed above, using 3-4 tablespoons of the mince mixture.

Brush each bon-bon with a little melted butter to enhance browning.

Bake the bon-bons at 180C until golden brown. This will take 30-50 minutes depending upon your oven, the size of the bon-bons and whether they are being cooked from frozen or thawed.

Remove from oven and tie with strips of shallot at either end. Serve warm or cold.

8. Penny's Blog: Proud

11th October 2010

It's 5.00am and I've been awake for at least three hours, just the same as every night for the last week or two. I can't help it, my head is spinning and my brain won't stop! For those of you who haven't seen the Forum thread - we have sold! Even more exciting, we leave for Whangamata in just FOUR days' time! I can't believe it's finally happening but it is. In the end we accepted a big drop on our house price but we met the market and as far as we were concerned it was worth it. Besides - we still sold the property for almost twice the price we paid for it in 2003. Not bad for seven years' work!

At first everyone thought we were mad to accept such a low price - even our agent! But I think in the end she really respected us for following our dream. The way the market has been in our area the past 12 months, the average property has been selling for an average of $100,000 below the asking price, so it's really not that unusual. Sure - we could have held on for more money. We could have said no and still been sitting here in 12 months' time waiting for a buyer to come along. And who knows? We could have ended up selling the place for even less! Nope, we know in our hearts that we did the right thing. The couple who have bought our home came to visit yesterday and it was like talking to another version of me. The wife is even English like me! What I loved, however, was when she said that she knew she wanted the place as soon as she walked in because it had such a warm and homely vibe. That's exactly how I felt when I first walked in seven years ago! They can't wait to get into the vegie garden and begin raising their own sheep, beef and pigs. I hope they will be just as happy here as we have been!

Of course, we wouldn't have been able to accept the buyers' price if we hadn't been able to. It's going to bring some new challenges in the coming months. For starters, our teensy wee mortgage is now going to be almost double! It's still not going to be huge by many people's standards but it's going to take some sensible money management on our part. We're going to have to find an extra $900 a month, which is no small achievement but you know what? We can do it. We KNOW we can do it. If we weren't Simple Savers I honestly don't think that we could but knowing what we know now, we're confident that we will get by just fine.

Even our new bank manager in Whangamata reckons we will be amazed by how much we can save there and I'm really looking forward to getting started! One of the first things I want to do is see how many days in a row I can go without using my car. For the first time, everything we need will be within walking distance - the school, the shops - and of course, the beach! This alone should save me between $60 and $120 a week on petrol! Another bonus is there are no fast food chains for miles, so we will all be healthier and better off in that department too! As anyone who has spent time in Whangamata will know, if you're shopping for non-essentials you pay Whangmata tourist prices, which are top whack and right up there with the big cities, so anything beyond the bare basics will have to be purchased elsewhere. With the next main town at least half an hour away over a winding coastal road, I can't envisage me making that journey too often! We will just have to content ourselves with all the free fun available in our new location. I have a feeling we will be far from deprived!

Over the moon as we all are; it's a time of mixed emotions. For the past two weeks our house has seen a never ending stream of teenage boys, all keen to spend as much time as possible with Liam and Ali. It's been noisy, great fun and also very expensive to feed them all! I don't think we've ever had to do a supermarket shop twice in one week before! But what the heck; memories are priceless and it's a great way to empty the freezer and pantry before we go! This week has also been tinged with a fair amount of sadness as we have had to say goodbye to not one, but two of our dogs. Ella, our soppy old Lab has been living on borrowed time for quite a while. She has suffered from joint problems for years as many Labs do but has been rapidly getting worse and we knew that she would not be making the move with us. It has been a heartbreaking decision to put her to sleep but when the quality of life is gone and you see nothing but struggle and distress in our beautiful girl's eyes every time she moves, all you want to do is end her pain.

We've known for some time that Ella's eleven years with us would soon have to come to an end but we didn't know we would also be saying goodbye to another little old lady (in dog years!) You may remember me mentioning a while back that we were going to have to find a new loving home for 12 year old Nushka, the mini Jack Russell we rescued three years ago. We were fortunate to find a lovely couple who couldn't wait to take care of her in her old age and provide her with all the comforts she was accustomed to. Sadly, however, fate stepped in when we found a large lump under Nushka's jaw just a few days before she was due to go to her new home. The vet's examination showed she had a blocked salivary gland. This was no small problem; it was going to mean a major operation for our tiny girl from which she would take months to recover. It was going to mean a great deal of stress for both her and her new owners but even harder to cope with was the cost of the operation. Removing the gland was going to cost between $1000 and $2000! We just couldn't afford it and neither could her new owners. On top of that, there was no guarantee that the operation would be successful and the gland on the other side was also starting to show signs of swelling. There was also a very good chance that Nushka would not even survive the operation, due to her age. So once again we had to make the very difficult decision to put our wee girl to sleep. The boys took it very hard as none of us had seen it coming and hadn't been prepared to say goodbye. We brought Nushie home and she is now at peace in a sunny spot in the orchard under a Loquat tree, next to Dudley, Tui and Percy; the other beloved pets we have lost during our time here.

So this Friday we will be making the big trip over the hill; with Hubble and Minnie, our three cats and two tanks full of tropical fish in tow. At least half a dozen times a day I look around our home and our land and think "how on earth can we bring ourselves to give this all up?' The space, the views, the peace. But we're not really going to lose out. We're simply exchanging one love for another. Our work at "Shambles' is done and we're ready to move on. Our dear little beach house is waiting for us and we can't wait. As a reminder of our years of happiness and hard yakka transforming our little patch of paradise, we made a slide show video, showing what it was like the day we moved in and how we cleared the chaos bit by bit. Accompanied by one of our favourite songs, you can watch our 'Farewell to Penny's World' video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1blR_KPpv5c. I have to admit it makes us feel a bit emotional watching it; especially when we look back and realise just how much we have achieved during our time here but it also makes us feel very proud. We also feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to live in not one, but two beautiful places. It's time to swap our lake view for a sea view. I'm going to be offline for a few days while we madly pack but I'll look forward to catching up with you next week - from our new home!

20th - A new patch of paradise

27th - Small house, happy life

9. Homeopathy Corner: Anxiety and Panic Attacks

Anxiety affects everyone at one time or another. For some it is nothing more than mild anticipatory anxiety while others are paralysed with fear or feel as if their heart will stop. The good news is homeopathy can help! In this article, Fran Sheffield shares some of the most effective remedies for calming the nerves and putting an end to crippling panic attacks.

To read Fran's article go here:

http://homeopathyplus.com.au/anxiety-and-panic-attacks-tamed-by-homeopathy/

10. From Last Month: Make-up for Teens

Last month Kelly asked:

"I'm interested to know what other mums do when your 14 year old daughter suddenly develops an interest in make-up and skin products. I use cheap make-up products from the supermarket but she has quite sensitive skin and I'm not keen on buying really expensive make-up products which might not be any good. What do other teenagers use, or what do you buy your teenager and how do you cope with the cost of this added expense? What would you recommend that is not too harsh on the skin, as well as the wallet?"

Thanks to the many members who have shared their excellent tips for making teens look beautiful on a budget! Here are some of our favourites:

Less is more savings on teenage make-up

Help your teenagers save money on make-up by telling them that they are already beautiful without it and that less is more. That way you limit what they spend and the make-up they do buy will last longer. Most of us end up with too much make-up we don't use, so teach your teenager early on that all she really needs is a basic foundation, a small palette of the colours she likes, mascara and lip gloss.

Contributed by: Shane Hayes

Cheap supermarket lipstick better for your health

Buying supermarket lipstick that doesn't last as long is cheaper and better for your health! Lipsticks that are 'long lasting' contain arsenic so I buy cheap supermarket lipsticks that don't last long. You have to apply them more regularly and they finish sooner, but it means you can buy new colours more often.

Contributed by: Helen Ward

Make-up a wish list and buy on special

I save money on make-up for my teenage daughters by keeping a list of suitable products and snapping them up on eBay or from supermarkets and chemists when they are on special. When my daughters first got into make-up, we trekked off to various chemists and Myer and tried different brands of skin care and make-up, picking up samples wherever we could. This gave me a 'wish list' which I refer to when buying presents. This saves me a lot of money and keeps my daughters happy too!

Contributed by: Sandra Latter

Yes for BYS cosmetics

BYS is an excellent range of make-up which offers the most up to date colours at affordable prices. Check out www.bys.com.au for the full range and for your nearest stockist. I'm a professional make-up artist and find it a good range with most items priced between $3.00 and $10. Most products last a long time and those that don't, such as lip gloss, can be replaced for $3.00 a tube. I find that most brands are okay on most skins as long as you buy the right colours for your skin tone. Make-up is so much fun for teenagers; it would be worth your daughter looking up some make-up styles for teenagers to give her ideas and inspiration for her own look.

Contributed by: Rachael Campbell

'Nude' foundation offers clear value

'Nude by Nature' which you can buy from Myer is a good quality, value-for-money foundation for sensitive skin. A $30 tub easily lasts three months when used every day. You'll need a kabuki brush to apply it with and although they are around $20 each, one brush will last many years. For blush and eye shadows I find Maybelline is okay for quality and affordable. You can get it in most chemists. With mascara you are better off paying $20 to $30 for a good quality brand (I use MAC PlushLash from Myer) because it will not clump, it will wash off easily with soap and water and will last much longer than cheaper brands.

Contributed by: Harmony Steel

Mix up brands to suit your skin and budget

The trick to saving money on make-up is to mix expensive brands with affordable ones. There are some things you can't skimp on (like concealer and foundation), so once you have found one that suits your skin type and tone stick to it. I find that Body Shop tinted moisturiser is good as a foundation and although mineral powder foundations are expensive, a little goes a long way. Spending on these key items can be balanced with cheaper items to fill the rest of your make-up bag. Some Avon products such as eyeliner and mascara are cheap but effective.

Contributed by: Peter Welford

Make-up by the book helps you wise up and save

For an insight into the best cosmetic and skin care brands read 'Don't go to the cosmetics counter without me', by Paula Begoun. She reviews most of the well known brands and gives recommendations for the best products within different price ranges. She has changed my views about the expensive moisturiser I've been using and will certainly buy something different when the current bottle is finished, so this book has been a definite money-saver for me! I found a copy at my local library.

Contributed by: Joanne Corbell

Be a belle on a budget with Bellaboo Contributed by: Ann Sayer

Free mineral make-up trial kits Contributed by: Joanne Barnes

Australis kind to eczema-prone skin Contributed by: Christobel Say

Two-weeks of free samples from Body Shop Contributed by: Tania Schmock

Ask make-up manufacturers for free samples Contributed by: Helen Beez

11. This Month's Help Request: First Time Kitchen

This month Tegan asks:

If anyone has any suggestions which could help Tegan, please send them in to us here.

12. Savings Story: The Biggest Loser Wins!

I have shaved a whopping eight years off my mortgage! As a Simple Saver I am determined to save as much money as possible every week to put towards my mortgage. My good friend is just as dedicated as I am to achieving the same goals, so every year we take note of the amount we owe on our respective mortgages and we begin our 'biggest loser competition'!

We aim to see who can take off the biggest percentage of their loan throughout the course of the year. It doesn't matter that our mortgages are not the same size because it works on the PERCENTAGE of money paid off the outstanding amount, not the dollar value. Every week we motivate each other with tales of how we have paid off a tiny bit more of our mortgage and what percentage that is. The exciting thing is that it really does add up! Since we started this I have paid off an additional 7% of my mortgage, which amounts to an unbelievable EIGHT years of mortgage repayments! At the end of the year the winner gets a $25 gift card from 'the loser' to spend at a shop of their choice - but the real prize is the amazing savings we've been able to achieve. Who wouldn't like the opportunity to live in their home for eight years for free?!

Contributed by: Joanne McManus

October 2012 - Simple Savings Newsletter

"Secrets to Saving Money in Australia" Free Newsletter - October 2012

This issue includes:-

Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: A Tale of Two Lasagnes
November - Nude Food!
Hidden Gems Competition Winner: Dapto Community Farm
Best Members' Blog: This Month's Winner
Best of the Forum: Clued up on Nude Food
Best of the Vault: You Mean I Can Make That Myself?
Cooking with Mimi: Nude Food... Dessert Sushi with Dipping Sauce
Claire's Corner: Waste Not, Want Not
50c Indulgences: Making it for Less
Rob Bob's Garden Blog: Creepy Crawlies and Getting Nude with Food
From Last Month: Self-Employment Help
This Month's Help Request: Adjusting to Retirement
Savings Story: Thank You SS!
Goodbye For Now!

Hello,

How are you? Great I hope. We have had a fantastic month at Simple Savings celebrating our 10th birthday. That is right - 10 years of Simple Savings! Can you believe it - wow. Thank you for your help and your support throughout the years and cheers to many more!

When we first started Simple Savings, we only had one child, Sam, and he was one year old. Now we have four and Sam just turned 11!

And the chaos continues!

Thank you for your support throughout the years and your fantastic emails - they make a huge difference. Here are some of this month's favourites:

"I was a member of Simple Savings three years ago - I guess I figured I had learnt everything your site could offer. I continued to receive emails and they convinced me to renew my membership within the last few months. I am so glad I did renew! Simple Savings has so much helpful information. Thank you for all the effort you and your team go to." (Sharon)

"Think of how many lives you've changed and continue to change - what a great family Simple Savings has become." (Kathlene Sheen)

"I love you Simple Savings. You have changed my life for the better in so many ways and you make saving money fun. I'm always thinking, 'What would the SS girls do?' My next step is to buy the $21 challenge book. Thank you so very much." (Elise Henrickson)

Have a great month!
All the best,
Fiona Lippey

P.S. Ye Olde Shoppe update - the BluApples and Groovee Grunge-free sponges are both back in stock. YEH!! Click here to order.

1. Sad Sally, Happy Hanna: A Tale of Two Lasagnes

"Thanks Hanna, that was great to get everyone together - even if we both made lasagne!" Chloe giggled as the three of them cleared the table. "That's OK, everyone always loves lasagne," laughed Hanna. "Hmm, looks like they loved yours more than mine though," pouted Chloe. "Look - all yours is gone but there's still half of mine left. You'll have to tell me your secret."

"Oh, there's no secret," smiled Hanna. "I just sauté the onion and garlic with the meat, throw in the tomatoes, mushrooms, basil, oregano, a good sprinkling of Parmesan cheese and then some..." she trailed off as she caught sight of Chloe staring at her in open-mouthed amazement. "What - you put all that in yourself? You didn't use a jar? I'd never thought of doing that! I just use one jar for the meat, another jar for the cheese sauce. You have to give me your recipe."

"Here it is," grinned Sally. "I knew you were about to ask." Chloe laughed, "Thanks. But, I am a bit afraid of making it. I have never made anything from scratch before."

2. November - Nude Food!

Chloe is still learning how to cook and didn't realise how delicious food made from scratch is until she tasted the difference - and the difference is huge. Sure, nobody is ever going to say "Yuk, this is horrible, it's out of a jar!" when you serve up a slopped-together lasagne but the simple fact is you can't beat cooking from scratch. When you make things such as pasta sauce yourself, you can be happy in the knowledge that:

It's cheaper;
It's better for you;
You know exactly what is in it;
You have a valuable skill which will always keep you well fed and save you money; and
It tastes SO much better!

Cooking from scratch can sometimes take a little more time and effort but don't let that put you off. The results are so well worth it. Apart from the fantastic taste and overall quality, making delicious dishes yourself is so much more rewarding. You can watch the wonderful colours, flavours and aromas develop with the addition of each ingredient and enjoy the feeling of accomplishment with every meal you create. Let's face it; you don't get the same feeling of satisfaction from plonking a jar of ready-made sauce on top of your mince, do you? Then there's the small matter of knowing what is actually in that ready-made sauce. If you knew what went into most of those jars, you wouldn't want to eat it! As a small test, try reading the list of ingredients on the label and see how many you recognise.

The real test, however, is in the taste. Just like Chloe, once you experience real home cooking, you'll never want to go back to jars and this month we want to prove it. See if you can learn to cook four new dishes this month - that's just one per week, made completely from scratch. To get you started, here are two fantastic recipes which you will love - a home-cooked lasagne just like Hanna's and the perennial family favourite spag bol. Try them and we guarantee you will never want to go back to using jars again! Once you have the skill of cooking from scratch it is yours and can never be taken away from you. So embrace the joys of real cooking this month - and be sure to let us know how you and your family enjoy the results.

Buon appetito!

Nancy's Lasagne

Nancy was a caring mum who wanted her bachelor son to cook and eat well. She gave many wonderful recipes to her son, including this one which he passed onto us. Nancy, bless her heart, has long since passed away but I will always be grateful for the recipes she handed down. This recipe makes a big lasagne and is great reheated for lunches. You can halve the meat sauce cooking time if you are in a hurry but it's well worth it if you simmer it for the full hour as the mince becomes so fine and absorbs the flavour better. Everyone who tries it says it's the best lasagne they've ever had - oh, and thanks to this recipe I learned how to make cheese sauce from scratch too!

Serves 8

Ingredients:

225g lasagne sheets
½ cup grated cheese (for the top)

Meat sauce

1 tbsp oil
1 clove garlic
500g minced beef
2 x 400g tins tomatoes
1 small onion, chopped
125g mushrooms, chopped
1 tsp oregano
¼ tsp basil
¼ tsp rosemary
1 tsp salt

Cheese sauce

60g butter
4 tbsp flour
500ml milk
1 cup grated cheese
Pinch nutmeg
Salt and pepper to taste

Method:

First, make the meat sauce as this part takes longest. Heat your oil in a large saucepan over a medium-high heat, then add your mince. Stir constantly until the meat is brown all over, then add both tins of tomatoes along with your onion, mushrooms, garlic and herbs. Bring to the boil, stirring, then reduce the heat to low and simmer uncovered for 60 minutes, stirring occasionally.

While the meat sauce is cooking, make your cheese sauce so it is ready to go when the meat is done. Melt the butter in a medium sized saucepan. Once it's sizzling, add your flour and stir constantly for one minute. Slowly add your two cups of milk (it does sound a lot but you need to make a lot of sauce!). Keep stirring all the time until all the milk is added and the sauce boils and thickens. Remove from heat, add nutmeg, salt and pepper and stir in the grated cheese until melted and smooth.

Turn your oven on to 180C. Grease a large rectangular ovenproof dish and place a third of your lasagne sheets in the bottom. Spread with half the meat sauce, then gently spread half your cheese sauce across the top of the meat. Repeat the layers, then sprinkle your half a cup of grated cheese on the top. Pop into the oven and bake for 25 minutes until golden. Delicious served with salad and crusty bread!

Spaghetti Bolognese

This recipe may take a little more time and effort than simply pouring a jar over some mince but boy is it worth it! As with the lasagne you can cut the time in half but the longer you cook it, the better it will be. Quite simply, this is the best spag bol you will ever taste. Once you try it, you'll never go back!

Serves 4-6

Ingredients:

500g spaghetti
Grated cheese to serve (or Parmesan if you have it)
1 medium onion, chopped
1 large carrot, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
3 tbsp olive oil
500g minced beef
1 tbsp butter
2 cloves garlic
2 x 400g tins tomatoes
2 bay leaves
200ml chicken or vegetable stock
250ml milk (yes, milk!)
Salt and pepper

Put the olive oil in a large pan over a high heat so it gets really good and hot. Add your meat and stir it around (don't worry if it sticks, those are the good bits which add flavour to your sauce!). Once your meat is browned all over, use a slotted spoon to remove it and set aside in another dish.

Turn the heat down. Add your butter to the pan you just took the meat out of and melt until sizzling. Add your onion, carrot and celery and a good sprinkle of salt and mix all together well. Cover with a lid and cook your vegetables for 10 minutes over a very low heat, stirring occasionally.

Add your garlic to the pan and cook for a minute or two, then add the tomatoes, bay leaves and a good pinch of black pepper. Return the meat to the pan and stir in the stock and the milk (the milk will make it look a bit funny to begin with but trust me, it will turn out fine!) Bring the mixture to the boil, then cover and cook over a very low heat so it cooks gently. Let it bubble away for at least an hour, preferably two to allow the flavour and texture to really develop.

Cook your pasta according to directions and serve with your delicious, authentic, made-from-scratch pasta sauce and a generous sprinkling of grated cheese.

3. Hidden Gems Competition Winner: Dapto Community Farm

Our Hidden Gems directory helps members source the best deals in their area. Whenever you come across a real gem of a business, enter it in our Hidden Gems directory and you could be in the draw to win our monthly prize of $100 cash! This is our way of saying thank you for sharing your knowledge and helping other members save.

This month's winner is Dapto Community Farm as nominated by Dianne Boulton.

The Dapto Community Farm is a not for profit community farm. To fund their organisation they sell boxes of organic fruit and vegies for $29. Some are grown at the farm and some are sourced from nearby growers or the markets. They are very helpful and you can order by phone or SMS the day before. Pick up is from Tuesday till Friday from 2pm. The price is definitely cheaper than anywhere else I've seen and the vegies are really fresh. They also allow you to omit certain vegies/fruit from your selection if you don't like them.

They are situated on an old flower farm and have over a hundred garden beds you can hire to grow your own vegies. They charge a monthly fee for rental of the plot and ask only that you use organic methods. The people involved are really friendly and helpful with gardening advice as well as ideas for how to use any unfamiliar produce.

Dapto Community Farm is at 29 Darkes Road, Dapto, NSW. Call (02) 4262 8733, email daptocommunityfarm@hotmail.com or visit www.daptocommunityfarm.org.au.

Well done Dianne on locating such a fantastic hidden gem and thanks so much for sharing.

If you know somewhere special you'd like to recommend, please write in and tell us. Send in your hidden gem here and you could be the next winner scooping the prize money. Thank you to everyone who entered and good luck for next time!

4. Best Members' Blog: This Month's Winner

This month's winner is HappyHomeMaker for her inspiring blog,"Reflections on owning a house - one year in".

It is close to one year after moving into my house and I thought I would share my thoughts.

So what has been the reality of day to day mortgage repayments? In all truthfulness, it is not unlike saving for the deposit. At the moment, I've paid about $15,000 in principal off the mortgage - not hugely impressive, but it's OK. I have a small inheritance coming through in the next week, and the majority of that will be put in my offset account.

It is funny looking back and I actually have accomplished things. I have felt broke, but not in any way resentful of the mortgage repayments if that makes sense? I would like to really start breaking the back of my mortgage in the coming year. I feel like the inheritance has put a bit of wind in my sails, and I can't wait to get further stuck into it.

I need to keep thinking:

A dollar I pay off in principal is a dollar that I will never pay interest on.
Every dollar I pay off is an increase in my net worth.
Every dollar I pay off is a step closer to financial independence.

When I got the place I wrote up an enormous list of things to do on the house. I haven't done even half of them, actually, possibly not even a quarter. :-( I still want to upgrade my fridge, put floorboards down, put new curtains up and buy a BBQ and an outdoor setting. In good time I guess. Other things I would like to do are to get a bathroom cabinet as there is no storage in the bathroom and also to change my power points (they are cream and I've painted the house white). Oh, and I need paintings for the wall. It is kind of amazing what you can live without! I still don't have a microwave and I went nearly six months without a TV until Mum bought me one!

The reality of bills. I've put aside money for mortgage repayments and all of my bills. I've paid them, it's been OK. I stupidly, stupidly, stupidly decided to get an interest free credit card for six months. And of course at the end of the six months there was $5000 more owing on my credit card than there was sitting in my offset account. Epic fail. I've frittered away quite a bit of money on house stuff, but I'm pretty much at the end of the cheap things I can buy.

I've struggled with having an offset account, which I put all of my bill and mortgage money into. The balance jumps around so much that it is hard to get a handle on where I'm at with saving for bits and pieces. Also, to make matters worse I have a keycard for this account and occasionally dip into it. Oops! But when I get my inheritance I'm going to put a bit of money in my day to day account and leave my keycard for my offset at home.

I have to say that having my own place is a good life. I'm only about a 10-15 minute drive to work and can walk in about 35-40 minutes. My area in the inner west of Sydney is gorgeous. I love looking out on the old terrace houses across the street. It still feels like an incredibly surreal adventure at times. I love having friends come to stay and having a myriad of bars to choose from just up the road. But it is also surprising at how often I stay home. After trying to break the habit of going out so often to save money for my place, it is hard to get back into the habit.

Having the shops so close is terrible. I love book stores and I walk past four on my way home! I've at least gotten better and write down the names on my mobile and look up the prices on booko.com.au when I get home. I have been doing a fair bit of walking and I can walk to the markets to get my fruit and veg, which I love.

I love my bedroom; I put down charcoal carpet and painted the walls white and the doors a light aqua colour. A close friend gave me some gorgeous aqua towels as a housewarming present and I remember the first time hopping out of the shower and seeing the fluffy aqua bath mat and the new carpet in the bedroom. I almost wanted to squeal - I felt like I was in a 5 star hotel! :-)

I must say I do feel a bit lost without a goal anymore as saving for the house deposit was all-consuming for such a long time! All in all, having my own place is excellent. I am incredibly proud of this accomplishment. Life is good. I'm looking forward to continuing to pay off my mortgage and to doing things up. :-)

Congratulations HappyHomeMaker on your special anniversary and thank you for sharing your thoughts! To read any of our members' blogs, click here

5. Best of the Forum: Clued up on Nude Food

Nude Food is all about going natural! What is more 'natural' than cooking with fresh nutritious ingredients and using as few processed items as possible? You'll throw away less packaging, eat fewer chemicals and pay fewer dollars. Here are some great ideas from the Forum about cooking from scratch, clever recycling and putting you in the mood for some Nude Food!

How many ways can you serve eggs for dinner?

Surely the ultimate nude food and all 'round' good guy - the humble egg.
read more...

Clean eating

Find out about eating as naturally as possible in this thread about 'clean eating'.
read more...

Making staples to try and starve Woolworths

This long-running thread is a firm Forum favourite - member Paula first wrote two years ago about trying to make something at home from her shopping list each week. Now you can browse this behemoth of a list for your own favourites - taco seasoning, crumpets, ice magic, Up & Go drink and so on...
read more...

What fermented foods do you make?

Learn about kefir, sourdough starters and other fermented favourites in this thread.
read more...

6. Best of the Vault: You Mean I Can Make That Myself?

Enjoying nude food means cooking from scratch and using as little processed food and packaging as possible. Leftovers, making your own pre-mixes and learning to cook some of your favourite staples are a great way to 'go natural'! Here are some great ideas from the Vault for making your own nude food:

Bonnie recipe for lunch meat

To save money on lunch meat, I use this variation on a recipe for Aberdeen Sausage.

Ingredients

250g bacon (although I used two ham steaks in the freezer)
500g topside steak mince (I used pork mince on special)
1 cup breadcrumbs (I used bread crusts)
1 tbsp tomato sauce
1 tbsp chopped parsley (I used mixed dried herbs from the pantry)
Pepper to taste
1 tsp salt
1 egg
Extra breadcrumbs for rolling

Method: Mince the bacon in a food processor, then mix with all other ingredients except the extra breadcrumbs. Make into a sausage shape. A traditional recipe calls for this sausage to be floured well and rolled in a scalded floured cloth; however, I wrap it in a layer of cling film, roll it up well in an old clean tea towel and tie with string. Place this package in a pot of boiling water and boil for two hours. Once this is done, unwrap the boiled meat and roll it in the extra breadcrumbs. Bake in a slow oven for 15 minutes. Let it cool completely and slice.

Contributed by: H20

Cook dried beans in crockpot

We all know that dried beans save money. A packet of dried beans costs roughly the same as a 400g tin but produces the equivalent of around five 400g tins. However, beans take a long time to cook from scratch - all that soaking and boiling, while a tin is ready and waiting whenever you fancy a bean salad or tacos for dinner. I have recently discovered that the crockpot cooks beans easily without pre-soaking. Simply throw a packet of beans into the crockpot with about five cups of hot water, set to 'high' and cook for two to three hours (check after two hours). This works for any type of beans except kidney beans, which contain an enzyme that can only be destroyed by boiling. Boil kidney beans for around 15 minutes before placing them in the crockpot, then proceed as usual. Once the beans are cooked, drain and cool and then pack into resealable bags and freeze. Into each bag, pack the amount that you would normally use for a meal. I find that half a cup (packed into the smallest size zip bag) is just enough for a salad or soup for one. I make up a new batch every couple of weeks or so, varying the types of beans so that I can grab a few different bags from the freezer and create instant three-bean mix!

Contributed by: Msspam

Baked potatoes great for leftovers

Here's a hint to help you use up those dribs and drabs of leftovers in a way that makes them really quite appealing!

It came about on the last day of our recent holiday in a friend's farmhouse. We'd been there nearly two weeks and had a fridge full of leftovers. These included bits of dips, bolognaise sauce, taco sauce, small portions of cheese, baked beans, tuna mornay, sour cream and assorted others. None of them were sufficient to make a meal out of, and lots of them didn't really go together.

Then I remembered in the UK that baked potatoes with various toppings were a great hit when I was there many years ago. So I decided to create something similar. I bought a large bag of huge potatoes from the local farmers' market for $3.00, put them in the oven for a couple of hours to bake them in their jackets, and then set out all of the leftover bits and pieces in separate dishes with a spoon in each, and invited the hordes to make their topping selection. It was really popular and used up just about all of the leftovers, which meant much less waste and cleaning up when we went home!

Contributed by: Troglodyte

Recipe for pre-mixed patty cakes

By making my own baking 'packet mixes', I'm saving between $230 and $520 per year! I love baking but sometimes feel pressed for time and am tempted to buy packet mixes for patty cakes. These cost up to $6.00 each and I have noticed the supermarkets no longer stock the cheaper plain ones in their store brand (which I used to buy for as little as $0.69c each!).

Recently I began making my own pre-mixes and storing them in the cupboard ready to go whenever I want to bake! I spend about 10 minutes a month making the base up for eight mixes. All I have to do is pour out 220g of the mix, add the wet ingredients, mix well and bake. Too easy! Here's my recipe for chocolate patty cakes (makes eight batches):

6 cups plain flour
2 cups cocoa
4 cups caster sugar
16 tsp baking powder

Sift all these ingredients and ensure they are well combined before storing them in an air tight container.

When you're ready to bake, simply measure out 220g of dry mixture and add:

1/2 tsp vanilla essence
80g softened butter
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk

Beat well until combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and beat for another two minutes. Pour into patty pans (makes 12 large or 24 minis).

Contributed by: Dragonfly

Trendy home-made snacks for teenagers

If you have teenagers who are resisting the tight food budget and moaning about wanting expensive, instant snack foods, try some of these simple methods to 'trick' them for a while before they start to realise they're better off!

Use the small appliances you have to keep their tummies full of nutritious snacks. Try making bagels, focaccia and pull-apart breads with your breadmaker; cheese and tomato toasties or bacon and eggs in the George Foreman grill; banana and berry smoothies in the blender or popcorn with a little butter and curry powder in the popcorn maker. Kids love using gadgets and my teenagers are now really happy with home-made versions of 'trendy' food. These appliances can be found on special throughout the year or are perfect for Christmas and birthday wish lists if you don't already have them.

Another trick I use is to make takeaway-style food for Friday nights. Again I get my appliances working for me! I whizz up home-made burgers in the food processor and add all the trimmings, make pizza dough in the breadmaker with yummy toppings or crumbed fish with oven fries. All home-made of course but easy as long as you plan in advance! The real benefit is that after a while, they start to prefer home-made and it's great for boosting those fragile teen egos when they learn to make it themselves!

Contributed by: Sarah Gilmore

Here are some more ideas on 'going natural' for our valued Vault members:

Clever tip for making iced coffee Contributed by: chilliNchick ( living on the smell of an oily rag)

Stop wasting food with a 'penalty tin' Contributed by: Lee M

Easy peasy sweet n' sour stir fry Contributed by: Xiau Fan

Super-easy breadmaker loaves Contributed by: Kerry Mundt

Homemade pocket bread - $0.60c for 12! Contributed by: Simone Wright

7. Cooking with Mimi: Nude Food... Dessert Sushi with Dipping Sauce

Despite my nagging about eating 'nude' this month, and fruit being the natural nude choice, said fruit is not usually at the top of this family's list of 'things I really want to eat'. Usually the list of 'things I really want to eat' is headed by chocolate and ends with pizza and chips. Funnily enough though, sushi is right up there too. Even Husband will eat good sushi.

So you can imagine their faces when I said we were having sushi for dessert. I know what you're thinking. Off her rocker this time. I mean, who eats something savoury for dessert? Well, there is cheese ya know. Quite the done thing in some circles. But the sushi I'm making is creamy, lightly sweetened coconut rice, wrapped around fruity pieces and served with a honey vanilla yoghurt dipping sauce. Seriously good stuff.

Start this one the night before you want it or at least several hours before. It's easier to cut and will hold together better after several hours of chilling.

Dessert Sushi

Serves six (or one very greedy person)

To make this you need:

Cling wrap
Room in the fridge for storage
Medium-sized microwave-safe dish
Spoon
Measuring cups
Sharp knives... one or two for slicing fruit, and a nice, thin straight edged one for slicing the 'sushi'
Tall glass full of hot water to clean your knife, and a clean cloth to dry it between slicing

Plus these ingredients:

1 cup rice. Sushi rice is best, but even normal long grain rice will do.
1 cup milk
1 tin coconut milk
1 heaped dsp sugar (optional)
Fruit, cut into slivers e.g. strawberries, melon, pear, mandarin, halved blueberries
1/4 cup natural Greek yoghurt
1 tsp honey
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Tip your rice and milk into the microwave-safe dish and give it a stir. Add the sugar and half of the coconut milk and stir again. Pop it into the microwave and zap it for six minutes on 'high'. Give it a stir. Now depending upon the type of rice you've used, you'll probably need at least another 1/4 cup of coconut milk added, and another nuke for six minutes. It should be like slush, and the grains should be tender. If necessary, add the remainder of the coconut milk and microwave again, just for three minutes this time. It should now be perfect.

Set it aside for an hour or so to cool. Once it's cooled to room temperature, it's ready to handle.

While the rice is cooling, prepare your sheets of cling wrap. These are going to act like the bamboo mat in traditional sushi making and hold your sushi together neatly while it chills and sets. So you'll need three 45cm long sheets of cling wrap, doubled back on themselves. This gives you three bamboo mat sized sheets, of double thickness, with which to roll your sushi.

If you haven't already drafted help from the ranks, now's the time to arm those old and savvy enough with knives to assist with cutting the fruit into neat little slivers. This is a bit labour and time intensive so it's a case of all hands on deck. Little, round ended pate` knives are safe enough for even little hands, and do a reasonable job of cutting up softer fruit like strawberries, kiwi fruit and grapes. I think it's important to involve the rest of the family, so they come to realise that the food doesn't arrive on the table, straight from the market or supermarket ready-made. We mums do all the good stuff!

Divide your coconut rice equally between the three sheets of cling wrap and flatten it out with clean hands. Then, as you would for normal sushi, spread your slivers of fruit horizontally, along the edge closest to you. Then using the cling wrap as a guide, flip the rice over on itself, encasing your fruit slivers, and covering it with cling wrap, tug it towards you to firm up the 'roll'. Continue rolling then enclose firmly in the cling wrap, twisting the ends to seal. Refrigerate for several hours or overnight.

When you're ready to eat dessert, make up your dipping sauce by simply mixing the honey, yoghurt and vanilla together and popping into a teeny dish.

Remove your sushi from the refrigerator and carefully undo the cling wrap, then, using a very thin, sharp knife, cut the roll in half, then in half again to yield four rounds. Make sure you clean the knife carefully between slices for the neatest cut.

Line them up, all pretty on a serving platter, and let the hordes loose. And you know that egg platter that you inherited from Aunty Mabel that you never could find a use for? Well, it's perfect for serving your dessert sushi... who knew?

Sushi for dessert could become a regular on the menu for you as it is for us. Our personal favourite is slivers of Lindt Strawberry Intense chocolate, with fresh strawberry slivers, and honeyed Greek yoghurt for dipping... shhhh.

Toodle-oo, as my mum used to say. I'm off for a loooooong walk. That dessert sushi needs to be worked off!

Read more of Mimi's wonderful ideas and recipes in our Members' Blog area.

8. Claire's Corner: Waste Not, Want Not

As much as I enjoy having time with the kids over the school holidays, it's always nice to get back to the trusted daily routine. Hubby is also back at work having had knee surgery earlier this year, although he's still having pain and swelling, so I'm preparing for the fact that it may not be permanent - which would be a huge shame because after spending six months at home, he was starting to go a bit loopy and is thrilled to be back at work.

And the really good news... our eldest has joined the ranks of the employed! Yep, I reckon the most wonderful words parents with school-leavers can hear are... "I got a job" And that's exactly what my 18-year-old came home and declared recently! It was a wonderful moment - I'm sure I heard the angels singing, "Hallelujah!" as my heart burst with happiness! Just a few weeks after returning home from his intensive LSV course, he managed to get an interview with a fence building business and score the job. It's a HUGE relief to us for so many reasons. Firstly, it means he'll be paying us board (which will help cover his immense eating costs), he'll also be busy all day instead of drifting around with nothing to do, and he can buy himself stuff! He still plans to join the army or air force next year, which will be even better for him, but until then, he's a working class man! Hurrah!

So this morning, the 'lunch assembly line' was in full swing... bread rolls, ham, salad, fruit, snacky bits... all lined up and ready for distribution in to lunch boxes. But this term, I've decided to do things just a little differently. Our youngest daughter's primary school is encouraging parents to provide 'rubbish free lunches'. No cling film, no chippie bags, no yoghurt cartons... you get the idea. Yep, this term's lunches were going to be completely nude!

So over the weekend, I made a mission of clearing out the container cupboard. It boggles my mind that no matter how often I sort out all the mis-matches, the next time I do the clean out there are more stray lids, odd-bod containers and a general hodge podge of unusable containers! However, I did manage to locate two perfect sandwich containers, several 'just right for fruit and nuts' containers and a pile of EasiYo pots that all had their lids! (Which also served as the perfect reminder to make up a container of yoghurt in time for today - my current favourite is plain vanilla with a small handful of dried cranberries added - yum!)

I had to curse myself quietly, however, when I realised that, despite having the containers all lined up and ready to be filled, I had already packaged two rolls into cling film without even realising it! It seems I forgot to disengage my lunch-making auto pilot before starting! Hmmm... as I write this, I'm thinking it might be a good idea to put the cling film away somewhere so I don't do it again tomorrow! I'll go do that right now...

I'm aiming to make it through the entire term 'rubbish free' so here are a few ways I'm going to rid myself of wrappers!

No more multi-pack chips. I'll buy the occasional big bag and divide it up into airtight containers.
Sammies and rolls fit nicely into the containers I already have.
EasiYo yoghurts instead of store-bought pots! So much cheaper and nicer! Check out the Vault for great tips on how to make your sachets last twice as long!

I'm breaking the 'wrap every little thing' habit. As long as the lunch box is clean and closes properly, you can probably get away without wrapping most things.

I'll be trying to extend our rubbish-free practices around the home too. We certainly have plenty of containers - with perfectly matched lids - just waiting to be used! I can see that it's going to be a great reason to stop buying a lot of the junk that fills the kitchen cupboards too!

Surprisingly enough, I found the perfect quote to finish off my 'rubbish-free' blog - written in 1959 no less!

"If civilization has risen from the Stone Age, it can rise again from the Wastepaper Age."
- Jacques Barzun, The House of Intellect, 1959

Read more of Claire's Corner in our Members' Blog area.

9. 50c Indulgences: Making it for Less

Welcome everyone to another busy and fruitful month of indulgences at the Under 50 cent thread. This month we thought about our wish lists and whether it was possible to find an alternative that we could make and still satisfy the material girl in us! There were heaps of ideas that included beauty, clothing, home decor, gift giving and more.

Here are a few things that have been keeping me busy for the last week or two:

A red vintage typewriter! I saw a photo online where one was used as a charming Christmas addition. When I looked at how much they were on eBay, I was shocked to discover there would be no change out of $400! The most expensive I saw was $1300! So I Googled and found I could actually paint a typewriter myself as they are metal. With a bit of hunting this one was found locally, and my husband was enlisted with a $7.50 can of red spray paint. As you can see the results are stunning, and with a free print out of a vintage Christmas card I now have a treasure that we will use for years.

I have discovered Pottery Barn and I know that many of you love this American store. They have a delightful Christmas stocking cushion which retails for $60. I found myself adding this to my wish list for Christmas. I Googled knock-off tutorials - and found one - and ended up making it for less than $5.00! The Christmas stockings are baby socks from Pumpkin Patch, the seeded calico is from the remnants bin at Spotlight and I already had the buttons and yarn. I can add small chocolates or little treats for my son (whose room it is in) as the socks all open at the top.

Here is a vintage Christmas decoration that is free! I saw a similar image online and as I studied it, I realised that I had all the items needed. The books are vintage favourites from our library, the burgundy cross grain ribbon is from a Christmas gift last year, and the clip-on velvet poinsettias were purchased at the after Christmas sales last year at 3 for $1.00. Five minutes later, a Christmas decoration that reflects our love of reading!

Please join us in November as we explore Home Comforts and all the delights of Everyday Grace - come and say hello at </fora/2882131>

Helen

10. Rob Bob's Garden Blog: Creepy Crawlies and Getting Nude with Food

Breeding crawlies

Yesterday we made another step closer to becoming more self-sufficient with animal feed by setting up a small Black Solider Fly larvae farm. The larvae make a very protein-rich feed (40%+ protein content) for fowl and fish alike. I had a friend from the community garden come around yesterday and we made up a couple of the farms. A few different ideas from the Internet were gleaned and then used to help make them up. On the lid of the farm there is a pipe assembly that allows the female flies to come in and deposit their eggs. We decided to follow the recommendations of experienced BSF farmers and wrap corrugated cardboard around the pipe entering the lid.

The eggs hatch very quickly (about four days) then fall onto the food and start feeding straight away. They can grow to maturity in about two weeks during the warmer months but it can take a few months to 'mature' when it is cooler.

I think the best thing about these little crawlers is that they clean themselves off then climb up a ramp in an attempt find somewhere dry and clean to pupate.

This makes them easy to harvest as they crawl up a pipe then fall down another into a container filled with some dry bedding material like wood shavings or coconut coir/peat. They stay here until collected to be fed to the fish or chooks. I think a few modifications will be needed. I will show these on a clip once the whole farm is finished and the first larvae have been harvested.

Nude up for November

Bianca suggests that you avert your eyes about now as we are heading into Nude Food month and we have a back yard full of it.**Blushes**

A relatively new phenomena that I really don't understand is the wrapping of vegies like zucchini, beetroot, beans and snow peas onto foam trays. The waste that is involved with this is rather disturbing to me... I am one of those crazy people who refuse to place 'naturally wrapped' bananas into plastic bags and would prefer to check my beans and snow peas to see if they are as floppy as a defrosted squid. It was recently suggested to me that if bags are required for vegie purchases to grab and use the brown paper mushroom bags as they can easily be composted or fed to worms. Just make sure that the person at that counter doesn't charge you the mushroom price for your beans...

Weekly harvest

We got to pick the first of the beetroot from the barrel this week as well as the first of the White Vienna Kohlrabi and Gold Rush Zucchini. The kohlrabi, beetroot and carrots were all chopped finely in the food processor to make a wonderful raw Nude Food salad. We also harvested the second barrel of garlic.

While it didn't grow as large as the bulbs from the first barrel that we harvested a few weeks back (right), it was still a decent crop I think and much better than last year's. The silverbeet has been growing great guns at the moment.

This lot was added to feta, olives, sun-dried tomatoes and our own garlic and then made into pastries. The chooks have also been enjoying it and some has also been blanched and frozen for later use.

That's it for this week. Have a great one all.
**: )»**

Read more of Rob Bob's garden blogs in our Members' Blog area.

11. From Last Month: Self-Employment Help

Last month Verna asked:

"Are there any hints on Simple Savings about self-employment - the pros and cons, and any problems encountered? I have been offered work in home care (nursing, companionship, palliative) as a sub-contractor and have sought advice from my accountant; a big fat no! I'm just wondering if any other Simple Savers are involved in this growing field and would like to share their experiences."

Thanks so much to everyone who wrote in to share their wisdom with Verna. Here are some of our favourites!

Pros and cons of working from home

If you're planning to venture into self-employment, my first piece of advice is to look for an accountant who specialises in small business. I have always worked for myself (as a private teacher) and couldn't imagine having a job. My husband has worked as a sub-contractor for the past seven years also. But there are pros and cons of course!

Pros:

Flexibility of work hours. We can work in the evenings if necessary, or swap one day for another which is great for short illnesses or child care.
We have better working conditions in our home offices.
We feel in control of our own destinies. If one source of income dries up, we cultivate another.
Our accountant estimates that we would have to earn a quarter more if we worked for a wage.

The Cons are:

We have to be more disciplined with spending as our income can change from month to month.
We ALWAYS have to put aside money for any tax, Super and Workcover we expect to owe in a separate account and NEVER borrow from it. My husband is very disciplined in this area.
There is always something more to do and you can't get away from it in a small house.
The temptation to check your emails before bed - don't do it!

It is so important to have the right accountant. Some of them think saving $50 is not worth the effort. Ask your hairdresser, butcher, plumber and anyone who is in small business for referrals and then interview them. With good advice and a lot of financial prudence, being in business for yourself is a freedom and a joy!

Contributed by: musicalsay

The basics of self-employment

I've worked from home for a long time now and if it's something you're considering, here are a few basic tips that can help:

Be organised - use a diary to keep a track of bookings so you don't get double booked and can easily see where you have free time.
Be prepared - depending on the work, make sure you have what you need, not want, to operate with. It's too easy when seeking the tools we need to see other things and think 'maybe I'll need that!' But the chances are that impulse buys will just sit there and not be as useful as you thought. Also, keep a journal to log any expenses incurred and be sure to keep all receipts.
Be dedicated - if working from home, make sure you don't get caught up in housework and such. Make time each day to do the necessaries around the house, but also set hours that are for work only. The biggest problem I have found is time-wasting. It is so easy to get distracted. Unless you get strict with yourself, time passes and before you know it the business isn't progressing. You need to make sure you're firm when it comes to telling others that you are working.

Contributed by: Bronia Gaujenieks

Cautious words on self-employment

Hi Verna, I was a self-employed contractor (as a sales representative) on a part-time basis for 18 months and for the most part I enjoyed it as the contract was fair and I was sufficiently insured and compensated. If you have not been self-employed before, talk to as many people as you can with business experience that you trust. Also, speak with people in the home care industry to find out the pros and cons specific to this industry. Your local union representative may have some good advice. You may also like to consider talking to a lawyer to ensure the contract is fair and reasonable. Certainly, err on the side of caution.

The thing that would concern me most with this type of self-employment would be having sufficient insurance coverage should an incident occur on the job. Additionally, I would check that your payment is sufficient to cover all your expenses. I understand the job market is incredibly tight everywhere at the moment and it is easy to take on a bad deal out of desperation to not rely on welfare. Unfortunately, there are many business owners who use contractors as a way of paying less than people are entitled to, and these operators do not tend to care about your personal safety either. I have seen many more bad deals in this area than good, and have not taken on opportunities for this reason. Personally, I would not want to be self-employed in the home care area as I think the risks outweigh the benefits.

Contributed by: Lara d

Self-employment works for my family

I am self-employed as a primary school tutor and although teaching is my passion, self-employment has many pros and cons. Here are a few that I have experienced:

Pros: You get to work around your family when you choose to and are available. I love this and for me it is the only way I can work at the moment as I have a child with a disability. The tax deductions are great, I am able to show less earnings and therefore able to keep more of my family benefits. In ten years' time my husband may work with me. Our kids will be grown up by then and I will have established a good business. It takes time!

Cons: It's a learning curve when it comes to knowing how much to charge, and it is not always as profitable as people think. As a general rule of thumb, you need to charge at least double to triple what you actually want to earn. Realise too that you don't get paid for sick leave, holidays, workers comp, super and so on. People also cancel on you so you need to take all this into account.

It takes time to build up your business so you need to consider whether you can afford to earn less to start with. Worksafe-wise there is very little danger of injury in my occupation and this is something that needs to be looked at too. The home care industry could have a high percentage of injury in the long term. This may be why they want to sub-contract this type of work out.

Contributed by: Elizabeth Blyth

Great benefits to self-employment

Hi Verna,

My first tip would be to see another accountant! With a little bit of organisation and a good accountant it is very simple to operate under your own business name. We have done this for several years in a few different fields and there are a lot of benefits. Firstly, set yourself up a separate, no-cost bank account for the business only. Use this to deposit income and make sure all business expenses are taken from here. Don't forget the little things such as travel expenses, office items (to manage your book-keeping) and time spent on the computer and telephone in pursuit of the business.

You need to be a bit daring with it all, and yes you will have to report tax at every quarter end, but with a good book-keeping system in place this is easy to manage. Good luck!

Contributed by: Cass Nicholas

12. This Month's Help Request: Adjusting to Retirement

Dianne has sent in this cry for help:

"How do I adjust to retirement?"

If you have any pearls of wisdom you'd like to share with Dianne, please send them in to us here.

13. Savings Story: Thank You SS!

We are sharing these wonderful words with the kind permission of Em, one of our Forum members - thanks Em!

Over the last 18 months I have had a lot of ups and downs. During this time I have realised just how much I have relied on SS to help me through these times and I wanted to publicly thank everyone who has helped me - I started to list names, but honestly I was so scared I would forget someone that I have decided not to, but I think you all know who you are. Thank you!

I was thinking about how SS is so much more than a site about saving money and how fortunate I am to have such an amazing community around me and, as odd as it sounds, I feel like people on SS are my true friends. I love that the partial anonymity allows me to be who I really am, talk about my hopes, dreams, fears, problems and share my ups and downs and through all of that all I get is support, compassion and advice and I rarely feel judged. Out here in the 'real world' my 'friends' don't know who I really am... They have no idea if I am sad, angry or frustrated because I always put on a happy face and I am the person who seems to never have problems because I never confide in anyone - in the 'real world' I am very good at helping with other people's problems but I can never share my own.

I remember reading in books about being successful, that you should surround yourself with like-minded people who inspire you and you aspire to be like, and I feel like SS is the only place where I am surrounded by people who fit this bill. Even my closest friends are so different in their values, beliefs and ambitions that, at times, it is just difficult to relate to them. A great example is that a friend of mine was bragging about spending $10,000 in a bar last Saturday night - that was for five people... Me, I just can't get my head around that, I wouldn't spend $100 in a bar! I love them, but they just don't 'get' me.

I know that we talk a lot about the savings we make from reading hints and tips in the Vault and on the Forum, but I know that I truly underestimated the true savings (and value) that I got from my membership and specifically the Forum. For me the biggest savings are not the $10 I save per week by buying generic instead of branded items or the $15 per week I save by baking more and not buying packet items... The biggest savings are; the hundreds I have saved by not ruining dinner by asking a quick question (substitutes, cooking time and so on), the thousands I have saved on phone calls, drinks, dinner, entertainment, fuel and so on by not having to leave my computer to chat to friends and ask for support, the thousands I have saved on not having to make dozens of psych appointments to deal with the life challenges I have faced over the years I have been a member, the thousands I have saved on educating myself on saving and investing, the 'opportunity cost' savings I have made by getting advice on a product or service that otherwise would have taken me hours to research, the hundreds I have saved on nutritionists by reading allergy and diet tips, the thousands I have saved on personal trainers by being encouraged with fitness, the hundreds I have saved on travel agent fees by getting travel hints and tips, the thousands I have saved in interest on my mortgage by having the encouragement and motivation to pay it off faster... I have saved what my membership has cost me thousands of times over, mainly because of YOU!

So thank YOU for supporting me, motivating me, 'getting' me, being my accountability partner and helping me save. YOU have all made me a better, stronger, smarter person and I don't think you can put a price tag on that.

14. Goodbye For Now!

Phew! Well, that's a wrap on another Simple Savings newsletter. We hope you have enjoyed it and have been inspired by all the money saving tips. Our members are hugely important to us and we love hearing from you all! So next time you're on the website, why don't you get in touch and say, 'G'day'! Let us know what you would like to see more of in our newsletter or any suggestions you have for something new to try. We love receiving your clever ideas!

Don't forget to spread the love around to your family and friends by forwarding them our newsletter or letting them know about our website. Help make their lives easier and save them money too! Or tell them about us on Facebook by clicking the 'like' button on our Simple Savings Facebook page.

We hope you have a wonderful month learning some nude food recipes - we'd love to know what recipes you have mastered!

Till next time...

All the best,
Fiona