As expected, a hideously expensive week. Both cars needed filled with fuel and we also bought lots of fruit and veggies. I expected to spend around $150 but spent a whopping $202.04. Yipes.
This week will be much less expensive as we'll only need some fresh salad veggies and fruit.
Everyone was feeling much better but as we were all back at work and school, lots of early nights and no sitting at the computer until late evening was the rule for last week.
I think we may just wring two weeks out of the WISH cards we have left. Will all depend on how much we need to spend on fuel. Cross your fingers for luck!
No movement in the stockpile fund.
Week ten, day seven
Gift cards $147.81
Stockpile $237.50
Spent so far $1752.19
Average spend: $175.22 per week
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Sunday, July 11, 2010
WISH card challenge end of week nine
Another week completed.
Everyone in the house shared a virus, with a bonus ear infection for me thrown in. It meant that we've stayed close to home for the week and have only spent on some petrol and fresh fruit.
Any money saved through no shopping was spent on doctor visits and prescriptions this week. It's also meant no posts from me as I have stayed away from the computer.
I expect that a massive shop will be needed this week. We're pretty much out of all fruit and veg. We have an onion, two carrots, three apples, some mandarins and kiwi fruit left.
The freezer was a godsend this week as we had a number of ready meals in there and it meant that GuitarMan could heat something up if I didn't feel up to cooking. Thanks to my freezer inventory I knew exactly what we had and where to find it.
Our spending was $83.79 this week as we only bought some petrol plus fruit. I expect to spend at least $150 this week. I'm dtermined to stretch what's left of the WISH cards to the end of twelve weeks. Should make for some interesting meals!
Nothing spent from the stockpile money, but haven't added to it as there's enough in there at the moment. Will have to do a shop for some of my stockpile soon as I'm almost out of a number of our staples.
Week nine, day seven
Gift cards $349.85
Stockpile $237.50
Spent so far $1550.15
Average spend: $172.23 per week
Everyone in the house shared a virus, with a bonus ear infection for me thrown in. It meant that we've stayed close to home for the week and have only spent on some petrol and fresh fruit.
Any money saved through no shopping was spent on doctor visits and prescriptions this week. It's also meant no posts from me as I have stayed away from the computer.
I expect that a massive shop will be needed this week. We're pretty much out of all fruit and veg. We have an onion, two carrots, three apples, some mandarins and kiwi fruit left.
The freezer was a godsend this week as we had a number of ready meals in there and it meant that GuitarMan could heat something up if I didn't feel up to cooking. Thanks to my freezer inventory I knew exactly what we had and where to find it.
Our spending was $83.79 this week as we only bought some petrol plus fruit. I expect to spend at least $150 this week. I'm dtermined to stretch what's left of the WISH cards to the end of twelve weeks. Should make for some interesting meals!
Nothing spent from the stockpile money, but haven't added to it as there's enough in there at the moment. Will have to do a shop for some of my stockpile soon as I'm almost out of a number of our staples.
Week nine, day seven
Gift cards $349.85
Stockpile $237.50
Spent so far $1550.15
Average spend: $172.23 per week
Sunday, July 4, 2010
WISH card challenge end of week eight
Well the eight weeks I had originally hoped to complete on this challenge have ended.
I can easily keep going for another two weeks. Although it will be challenging, I'll squeeze the most out of every single dollar for the coming month. Maybe we can complete 12 weeks!
Thanks to our freezer inventory and full fuel tanks our spending was just $66.40 this week.
Still nothing spent from the stockpile money, but I plan to make a trip to Costco tomorrow as we'll be in the area. Will stock up on some things using my credit card (to get some frequent flyer points) and then transfer money from the $237 in the stockpile fund.
Week eight, day seven
Gift cards $433.64
Stockpile $237.50
Spent so far $1466.36
Average spend: $183.29 per week
I can easily keep going for another two weeks. Although it will be challenging, I'll squeeze the most out of every single dollar for the coming month. Maybe we can complete 12 weeks!
Thanks to our freezer inventory and full fuel tanks our spending was just $66.40 this week.
Still nothing spent from the stockpile money, but I plan to make a trip to Costco tomorrow as we'll be in the area. Will stock up on some things using my credit card (to get some frequent flyer points) and then transfer money from the $237 in the stockpile fund.
Week eight, day seven
Gift cards $433.64
Stockpile $237.50
Spent so far $1466.36
Average spend: $183.29 per week
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
School holiday spending
Well, it's Day 2 of winter school holidays.
I thought it would be interesting to post what we have planned and the cost of school holidays when we are at home. Over the years I expect that while cheap right now, school holidays will become more expensive with each year and as TootToot becomes a teenager and is less satisfied with free (or inexpensive) activities and entertainment.
TootToot was sick last week and not at school for the whole week. Instead of being happy and content for the first week of school holidays almost immediately she gave the usual school holiday war cry of "I'm bored". The weather hasn't been co-operative and it's been so cold and miserable that outside play hasn't been an option. Is this boredom because she was sick or is it because she's getting older and getting her grumpy pants ready to wear for adolescence?
Now, how do we entertain an already sick of being at home, bored eight year old without blowing the budget?
We allow TootToot to choose one special activity each school holidays and she can take a friend to do it with if she wants. This time she chose to go bowling with GuitarMan. Just her and Dad and that's nice.
We are extremely lucky that Nan (my Mum) is able to look after TootToot for two days each week and that certainly cuts our school holiday costs in half. We're also fortunate to have kids a similar age to ours living on either side, and TootToot will play with them on holidays and weekends as well.
Here's our rough plan. I haven't included weekends as we'll do the usual stuff like horse riding.
Week One:
Monday - Day with Nan
Tuesday - hanging with GuitarMan. Two games of ten-pin bowling in the morning, a hot dog each, a drink and $5 of game tokens. $35
Wednesday - spend day with Nan. Collect a free Wednesday movie from the OOVIE Kiosk to watch
Thursday - Day with Mum. Go to a birthday party at lunchtime. Present is in 'present box' so nothing to be spent. TootToot's friend Rapunzel will arrive at dinner and stay over until Friday afternoon.
Friday - If weather is still horrid, will do one of the craft activities we have lying around. I think I might get the girls to carve some apple people which they can decorate at Rapunzel's house next week. If weather not too bad we'll head off to the Botanic Gardens with a packed lunch and do a school holiday activity for $3.30 for each girl.
Total cost for week $41.60
WeekTwo:
Monday - Day with Nan
Tuesday - Day with Mum. Girls Day. We usually choose to stay in our PJs all day and just chill. Eat some chocolate and watch one of TootToot's DVDs and snuggle in my bed. GuitarMan often comes home on Girls Days to find us fast asleep in our bed.
Wednesday - Day at Nan's
Thursday - TootToot will spend the day at Rapunzel's. I think Rapunzel's Mum has promised to take them to see Shrek. I'll send along $20 for popcorn and a drink for the girls.
Friday - Day with Mum. We'll visit cousins in the morning and after lunch spend some time at the library.
Total cost for week $20
I'll post an update at the end of school holidays and compare how we really did compared with our plan.
I thought it would be interesting to post what we have planned and the cost of school holidays when we are at home. Over the years I expect that while cheap right now, school holidays will become more expensive with each year and as TootToot becomes a teenager and is less satisfied with free (or inexpensive) activities and entertainment.
TootToot was sick last week and not at school for the whole week. Instead of being happy and content for the first week of school holidays almost immediately she gave the usual school holiday war cry of "I'm bored". The weather hasn't been co-operative and it's been so cold and miserable that outside play hasn't been an option. Is this boredom because she was sick or is it because she's getting older and getting her grumpy pants ready to wear for adolescence?
Now, how do we entertain an already sick of being at home, bored eight year old without blowing the budget?
We allow TootToot to choose one special activity each school holidays and she can take a friend to do it with if she wants. This time she chose to go bowling with GuitarMan. Just her and Dad and that's nice.
We are extremely lucky that Nan (my Mum) is able to look after TootToot for two days each week and that certainly cuts our school holiday costs in half. We're also fortunate to have kids a similar age to ours living on either side, and TootToot will play with them on holidays and weekends as well.
Here's our rough plan. I haven't included weekends as we'll do the usual stuff like horse riding.
Week One:
Monday - Day with Nan
Tuesday - hanging with GuitarMan. Two games of ten-pin bowling in the morning, a hot dog each, a drink and $5 of game tokens. $35
Wednesday - spend day with Nan. Collect a free Wednesday movie from the OOVIE Kiosk to watch
Thursday - Day with Mum. Go to a birthday party at lunchtime. Present is in 'present box' so nothing to be spent. TootToot's friend Rapunzel will arrive at dinner and stay over until Friday afternoon.
Friday - If weather is still horrid, will do one of the craft activities we have lying around. I think I might get the girls to carve some apple people which they can decorate at Rapunzel's house next week. If weather not too bad we'll head off to the Botanic Gardens with a packed lunch and do a school holiday activity for $3.30 for each girl.
Total cost for week $41.60
WeekTwo:
Monday - Day with Nan
Tuesday - Day with Mum. Girls Day. We usually choose to stay in our PJs all day and just chill. Eat some chocolate and watch one of TootToot's DVDs and snuggle in my bed. GuitarMan often comes home on Girls Days to find us fast asleep in our bed.
Wednesday - Day at Nan's
Thursday - TootToot will spend the day at Rapunzel's. I think Rapunzel's Mum has promised to take them to see Shrek. I'll send along $20 for popcorn and a drink for the girls.
Friday - Day with Mum. We'll visit cousins in the morning and after lunch spend some time at the library.
Total cost for week $20
I'll post an update at the end of school holidays and compare how we really did compared with our plan.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
WISH card challenge end of week seven and still rolling
Seven weeks of the challenge are over and a very good week it turned out to be. Our average spending for both food and fuel has made it under $200 per week, only by 1 cent but under none the less.
There was an article in the Sunday Herald Sun last week which quoted current Australian Bureau of Statistics cost of living figures with an average of $250 per week spent on food and $100 on transport. We are averaging only 57% of that amount.
This was definitely our most successful week so far on this challenge. Doing an inventory of the freezers and pantry has really helped me plan and reduce costs. The total spending for this week was $114.91 for fuel and food.
I expect that I won't buy much more than basic staples such as fruit, vegetables, bread and milk this week. Spending for this week should stay well below $200.
No spending from my general stockpile money and have enough funds in that at the moment. So the 'spare' $40 will be spent on school holiday fun in the coming week.
Week seven, day seven
Gift cards $500.04
Stockpile $197.50
Spent so far $1399.96
Average spend: $199.99 per week
There was an article in the Sunday Herald Sun last week which quoted current Australian Bureau of Statistics cost of living figures with an average of $250 per week spent on food and $100 on transport. We are averaging only 57% of that amount.
This was definitely our most successful week so far on this challenge. Doing an inventory of the freezers and pantry has really helped me plan and reduce costs. The total spending for this week was $114.91 for fuel and food.
I expect that I won't buy much more than basic staples such as fruit, vegetables, bread and milk this week. Spending for this week should stay well below $200.
No spending from my general stockpile money and have enough funds in that at the moment. So the 'spare' $40 will be spent on school holiday fun in the coming week.
Week seven, day seven
Gift cards $500.04
Stockpile $197.50
Spent so far $1399.96
Average spend: $199.99 per week
Sunday, June 20, 2010
WISH card challenge end of week six
Six weeks successfully completed. I've managed to keep the combined fuel and grocery spend to just over $200 again. Fuel accounted for $70 of this weeks spend, so $130 this week at Woolworths.
I found the last three marked down bags of Purina dog food on Monday and bought those. As the saving is $5 per bag they were too good a buy to pass up even though they cost $60 and almost doubled this weeks Woolies spending. I won't be buying any dog food for at least three months now.
Still nothing spent from my general stockpile money so another $40 added to that.
I'm doing a stocktake of the freezers, pantry and stockpile today.With some careful meal planning, I hope to extend this challenge beyond the eight weeks by living from the freezers a fair bit.
Week six, day seven
Gift cards $614.95
Stockpile $197.50
Spent so far $1285.05
Average spend: $214.18 per week
I found the last three marked down bags of Purina dog food on Monday and bought those. As the saving is $5 per bag they were too good a buy to pass up even though they cost $60 and almost doubled this weeks Woolies spending. I won't be buying any dog food for at least three months now.
Still nothing spent from my general stockpile money so another $40 added to that.
I'm doing a stocktake of the freezers, pantry and stockpile today.With some careful meal planning, I hope to extend this challenge beyond the eight weeks by living from the freezers a fair bit.
Week six, day seven
Gift cards $614.95
Stockpile $197.50
Spent so far $1285.05
Average spend: $214.18 per week
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Pantry Magic
At the same time as the WISH Card Challenge, I've been taking the opportunity to organise my pantry, freezers and stockpile. It's meant that I've uncovered some finds that quite frankly nobody wants to claim.
The finds have not been anything to be excited about - usually something that has been pushed to the back of the pantry because nobody wants to look at it never mind eat it. The exception are the surviving chocolate bunnies from Easter. Said bunnies are now living on borrowed time now that TootToot has remembered they are there.
One particularly unpleasant find was the discovery of a container of a muesli type cereal which had been lurking at the back of the middle pantry shelf since February. The picture on the box had promised us a feast of dried fruits, wholegrain flakes, oats and slivered almonds. At home and with the box opened up it both resembled and tasted like horse chaff or sawdust.
Could frugal knowledge and cooking from scratch skills allow me to turn something that was truly inedible garbage into a tasty treat?
Muesli bars were thought of and swiftly discounted. TootToot has braces and really chewy sticky foods are not on the menu. GuitarMan asked if it could be used in cookies. Brilliant!
I grabbed my $21 Challenge Book and made a half quantity of the basic biscuit mixture on page 176 and added a few additional ingredients. Here's the result.
1/2 quantity of bulk cookie mix (you can view the basic recipe and method via the link above)
To this I added
2 Cups Muesli Cereal
5 Tablespoons Maple Syrup
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
These may not be the best looking cookies you ever saw but they're tasty and will make good lunchbox treats in coming weeks. I got 65 cookies from this batch and I'll freeze them to grab later when making up lunches.
You know, when I think of the amount of food we previously threw out I cringe. When we were still firmly in our spendthrift ways, the cereal would have gone straight into the garbage with never another thought. Now I view things differently, challenging ingredients are an opportunity to work some pantry magic.
The finds have not been anything to be excited about - usually something that has been pushed to the back of the pantry because nobody wants to look at it never mind eat it. The exception are the surviving chocolate bunnies from Easter. Said bunnies are now living on borrowed time now that TootToot has remembered they are there.
One particularly unpleasant find was the discovery of a container of a muesli type cereal which had been lurking at the back of the middle pantry shelf since February. The picture on the box had promised us a feast of dried fruits, wholegrain flakes, oats and slivered almonds. At home and with the box opened up it both resembled and tasted like horse chaff or sawdust.
Could frugal knowledge and cooking from scratch skills allow me to turn something that was truly inedible garbage into a tasty treat?
Muesli bars were thought of and swiftly discounted. TootToot has braces and really chewy sticky foods are not on the menu. GuitarMan asked if it could be used in cookies. Brilliant!
I grabbed my $21 Challenge Book and made a half quantity of the basic biscuit mixture on page 176 and added a few additional ingredients. Here's the result.
Muesli Cookies
1/2 quantity of bulk cookie mix (you can view the basic recipe and method via the link above)
To this I added
2 Cups Muesli Cereal
5 Tablespoons Maple Syrup
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
These may not be the best looking cookies you ever saw but they're tasty and will make good lunchbox treats in coming weeks. I got 65 cookies from this batch and I'll freeze them to grab later when making up lunches.
You know, when I think of the amount of food we previously threw out I cringe. When we were still firmly in our spendthrift ways, the cereal would have gone straight into the garbage with never another thought. Now I view things differently, challenging ingredients are an opportunity to work some pantry magic.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
How funny is this?
After dinner I make my usual cup of coffee which I enjoy while GuitarMan listens to TootToot read. Tonight was a little bit different.
After much laughter from Jane, GuitarMan, TootToot and one photo later - here's tonight's result to share with you.
Sometimes these silly end of day moments provide a terrific end to the day and set you up so well for tomorrow. Hope it brought a smile to your day too.
After much laughter from Jane, GuitarMan, TootToot and one photo later - here's tonight's result to share with you.
Sometimes these silly end of day moments provide a terrific end to the day and set you up so well for tomorrow. Hope it brought a smile to your day too.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Where did those WISH cards come from? (making frequent flyer points and my credit card work for me)
When I posted Extra money for little effort, GoGoGoanna asked how I came to have $1900 in WISH cards for my challenge. A very good question, and here's how.
Our family loves to travel. I think it has something to do with living on the world's biggest island combined with my need to explore what's on the other side of the horizon. Having the funds and the time to travel is one of our biggest motivators in life.
Wanting both enough money and time to make our trips happen has led us to become increasingly frugal with our time, energy and money in areas of life we are not so passionate about. GuitarMan is happy anywhere in the world as long as the two ladies he loves are with him and he gets to indulge his passion for music along the way. We've been travelling with TootToot within Australia and around the world since she was 15 months old.
The $1900 of WISH cards for my challenge were obtained from Qantas when I redeemed frequent flyer points , but this could just as easily be another major airline or via a credit card reward scheme. You have to be very disciplined about your credit card use though and I certainly wouldn't recommend getting a credit card just to try this out. If you are fundamentally opposed to credit cards then this probably isn't for you.
Earning Frequent Flyer Points
Planning our spending and maximising the points we can get from multiple sources has really ramped up how quickly we can accrue points. The next step was working out how best to spend them.
Our family loves to travel. I think it has something to do with living on the world's biggest island combined with my need to explore what's on the other side of the horizon. Having the funds and the time to travel is one of our biggest motivators in life.
Wanting both enough money and time to make our trips happen has led us to become increasingly frugal with our time, energy and money in areas of life we are not so passionate about. GuitarMan is happy anywhere in the world as long as the two ladies he loves are with him and he gets to indulge his passion for music along the way. We've been travelling with TootToot within Australia and around the world since she was 15 months old.
The $1900 of WISH cards for my challenge were obtained from Qantas when I redeemed frequent flyer points , but this could just as easily be another major airline or via a credit card reward scheme. You have to be very disciplined about your credit card use though and I certainly wouldn't recommend getting a credit card just to try this out. If you are fundamentally opposed to credit cards then this probably isn't for you.
Earning Frequent Flyer Points
- All three of us are frequent flyers with multiple airline programs. Any travel booking for flights, hotels etc will give us miles with one airline or another. We redeem these miles for hotel stays, vouchers etc. Of the points we redeemed, 47,538 were earned on one overseas trip last year.
- Qantas frequent flyer accounts allow you to transfer points between family members once every 12 months.
- I have a credit card which is linked to our Qantas frequent flyer account. I pay for everything using the credit card. I park the money in our mortgage offset account and then transfer the money when the bill is due. When I wasn't so disciplined about credit card debt, I would transfer the money each day.
- I have no annual fee on the credit card as it is part of our home loan package. The annual fee for my package is more than saved by having no transaction fees for banking plus a considerable reduction on the variable interest rate for investments.
- I have paid for renovations, a car, plus deposits on land and an investment property using my credit card. Most businesses are happy for you to do this in a number of smaller payments over a few days as long as they know what you're doing. We are just about to build an investment property and will use the same strategy again.
- If we're considering any purchases, going to dinner, concert tickets we will see if the item or service is offered by a Qantas partner and accrue points that way plus on my credit card. We'll only use the partner if the price is right. Woolworths Everyday Rewards card is probably the partner most people would use. The WISH card challenge is in fact giving me frequent flyer points as I use them up thanks to my Everyday Rewards Card.
- I don't ever fall in the trap of spending to accrue extra points and pretty much ignore 'bonus point' specials or weekends unless I was planning to buy that item/spend that weekend anyway. The promotion of 'bonus points' has become a major strategy for both major supermarket chains in Australia and the benefits are generally not for the consumer.
Planning our spending and maximising the points we can get from multiple sources has really ramped up how quickly we can accrue points. The next step was working out how best to spend them.
- Experience has taught me that redeeming points for flights isn't effective as you have to pay the fees and charges associated with the flight. For example a return trip from Melbourne to Los Angeles on special costs $1100 buying via the web. If you redeem frequent flyer points you'll have to pay taxes of $455 plus redeem 96,000 frequent flyer points. The cost for the non-tax part of the flight is equivalent to 148 points per $1.
- Unless you plan your trip twelve months in advance, you are stuck with the flights that nobody really wants. I usually don't want them either as they involve multiple connections or I can't travel on the dates I want.
- Redeeming points for WISH gift cards, you can get a $500 gift card for 72,500 frequent flyer points. This is a cost of 145 points per $1. When you use your WISH cards you can also use your Woolies Everyday Rewards card to accrue further frequent flyer points. Transferring Guitarman and TootToot's points to my account gave me a total of 275,500 points to spend on $1900 worth of WISH cards.
- You can also redeem for vouchers from specialist retailers at a slightly better rate of 135 points per $1. This wasn't an option that was good for us as we generally don't shop at those retailers anyway, so why start now?
Sunday, June 13, 2010
WISH Card challenge end of week five
Five weeks are up. My original aim was to have the gift cards last for eight weeks for groceries and fuel. I am well on the way to achieving that. As we get closer to the end of the eight weeks, I'll move that date as far as I think it can be stretched.
Most of this weeks spending was on fuel for both cars. Normally we prefer to use only one car wherever we can but various appointments and conflicting schedules made that impossible this week.
Nothing spent from my stockpile money so another $40 more added to that.
I'm not really happy about the average spend per week, but being restricted to only one major supermarket chain it's proving very difficult to get below $200. I'm sure this is mainly due to the high cost of fruit and vegetables at Woolies as I know I wouldn't pay anywhere near their prices where I normally shop.
Still I know that our spending is still well below the amount an average family of three with two cars in Melbourne's outer burbs would consider 'normal' so overall our habits haven't changed too much.
Week five, day seven
Gift cards $818.84
Stockpile $157.50
Spent so far $1081.16
Average spend: $216.23 per week
Most of this weeks spending was on fuel for both cars. Normally we prefer to use only one car wherever we can but various appointments and conflicting schedules made that impossible this week.
Nothing spent from my stockpile money so another $40 more added to that.
I'm not really happy about the average spend per week, but being restricted to only one major supermarket chain it's proving very difficult to get below $200. I'm sure this is mainly due to the high cost of fruit and vegetables at Woolies as I know I wouldn't pay anywhere near their prices where I normally shop.
Still I know that our spending is still well below the amount an average family of three with two cars in Melbourne's outer burbs would consider 'normal' so overall our habits haven't changed too much.
Week five, day seven
Gift cards $818.84
Stockpile $157.50
Spent so far $1081.16
Average spend: $216.23 per week
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Extra money for little effort
I'm always looking out for ways to increase my income or get free stuff without too much effort on my part. I'm talking about $5 or $20 at a time not massive windfalls, but the amounts can sure add up quickly. "Can't be done" you say. Yes it can be done and here's how.
Over the last few years, I have joined various survey and market research companies. If they're particularly worthwhile, then GuitarMan joins them too. Not everyone's partner is going to spend a few minutes each day completing surveys, so I'm lucky that he indulges me that way.
Now GuitarMan was sceptical at first that there was any benefit in signing up for market research but once the vouchers and cash started coming in he has ever so slowly changed his mind. I've found that the longer I have been doing surveys for each company, I have started receiving higher paid surveys and product tests. Although the website blurbs don't say so, it appears your effort, time and loyalty are sometimes rewarded with better assignments.
I'm not going to guarantee the hourly rate will be fantastic but I like completing surveys and I like trying out products I probably wouldn't buy so it works for me. I also like that the only investment required from me is my time and I can undertake the surveys at a time of my choosing.
For the month of June so far, here's how GuitarMan and I are going. I've written the company in brackets in case you want to check them out for yourself.
On the way but not yet arrived:
Focus groups are something new for me and I'll need to do a few before I decide whether they are right for me. I registered for two companies this week and immediately got contacted by both. Although the money is good, I've yet to decide if the convenience factor makes it worthwhile for me.
Anyway, off to lunch at Mum's for my brother's birthday. No money spent and an afternoon with family. Lovely. TootToot has a friend staying for the weekend so there won't be much money spent in this household.
Over the last few years, I have joined various survey and market research companies. If they're particularly worthwhile, then GuitarMan joins them too. Not everyone's partner is going to spend a few minutes each day completing surveys, so I'm lucky that he indulges me that way.
Now GuitarMan was sceptical at first that there was any benefit in signing up for market research but once the vouchers and cash started coming in he has ever so slowly changed his mind. I've found that the longer I have been doing surveys for each company, I have started receiving higher paid surveys and product tests. Although the website blurbs don't say so, it appears your effort, time and loyalty are sometimes rewarded with better assignments.
I'm not going to guarantee the hourly rate will be fantastic but I like completing surveys and I like trying out products I probably wouldn't buy so it works for me. I also like that the only investment required from me is my time and I can undertake the surveys at a time of my choosing.
For the month of June so far, here's how GuitarMan and I are going. I've written the company in brackets in case you want to check them out for yourself.
- $50 Coles Myer Voucher (Opinions Paid)
- $5 cash (Lightspeed Panel)
- $20 Bunnings voucher (Valued Opinions)
- Another $20 Bunnings voucher (Valued Opinions)
- 4 x Adult Movie Tickets (Nielsen)
- 2 x Free Tickets to see The Losers on 21 June (Contagious Network)
- 2x Oral B toothbrush heads for our rechargeable toothbrushes (Vibe Village)
- 4x travel tubes of Pronamel toothpaste (Vibe Village)
- $60 cash for attending a focus group (Read Research)
On the way but not yet arrived:
- $75 cash (Pureprofile)
- Yet another $20 Bunnings voucher (WDYT)
- Bertolli Pasta Sauce (Contagious Network)
- $50 USD (Global Test Market)
- Masterfoods Spices (Vibe Village)
Focus groups are something new for me and I'll need to do a few before I decide whether they are right for me. I registered for two companies this week and immediately got contacted by both. Although the money is good, I've yet to decide if the convenience factor makes it worthwhile for me.
Anyway, off to lunch at Mum's for my brother's birthday. No money spent and an afternoon with family. Lovely. TootToot has a friend staying for the weekend so there won't be much money spent in this household.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Coffee anyone?
Australia loves coffee, no doubt about it. Not for us drip filtered or instant coffee, we are in love with strong European espresso style coffee and it's milky cousins.
GuitarMan and I both love coffee and so we took the step a couple of years ago of purchasing a high end DeLonghi coffee machine. The DeLonghi coffee machine grinds the beans, makes all varieties of coffee at the touch of a button and all requiring absolutely no skill on our part. GuitarMan bought the DeLonghi (on special of course) for $1600. I can almost hear you cry "What $1600 for a coffee machine!"
Here's why the decision to buy a coffee machine was a frugal one for us.
GuitarMan and I both love our coffee. I drink one a day as I generally prefer tea. GuitarMan however is a fan of espresso so strong it pulls your cheeks in when you drink it. GuitarMan averages four cups a day. At $3 each our average coffee cost during a working week was $75. We'd usually have another couple each while out on weekends so lets say $90 each and every week just for coffee. That's a whopping $4680 each year or $9360 in two years.
The DeLonghi coffee machine cost us $1600. We spend around $25 each month on coffee beans and say another $20 for power, water, milk etc. Over a two year period, making espresso and cappuccino at home has cost us $1080 and even when we add in the $1600 purchase price of the coffee machine we have saved a whopping $6,680.
I have been reading about The Latte Factor on David Bach's website and how by recognising your Latte Factor, you can change your spending habits and turn your finances around. Interesting reading and certainly something I hope will help stop those $2 coins disappearing from my wallet.
I wonder what David has to say about buying books and musical instruments?
GuitarMan and I both love coffee and so we took the step a couple of years ago of purchasing a high end DeLonghi coffee machine. The DeLonghi coffee machine grinds the beans, makes all varieties of coffee at the touch of a button and all requiring absolutely no skill on our part. GuitarMan bought the DeLonghi (on special of course) for $1600. I can almost hear you cry "What $1600 for a coffee machine!"
Here's why the decision to buy a coffee machine was a frugal one for us.
GuitarMan and I both love our coffee. I drink one a day as I generally prefer tea. GuitarMan however is a fan of espresso so strong it pulls your cheeks in when you drink it. GuitarMan averages four cups a day. At $3 each our average coffee cost during a working week was $75. We'd usually have another couple each while out on weekends so lets say $90 each and every week just for coffee. That's a whopping $4680 each year or $9360 in two years.
The DeLonghi coffee machine cost us $1600. We spend around $25 each month on coffee beans and say another $20 for power, water, milk etc. Over a two year period, making espresso and cappuccino at home has cost us $1080 and even when we add in the $1600 purchase price of the coffee machine we have saved a whopping $6,680.
I have been reading about The Latte Factor on David Bach's website and how by recognising your Latte Factor, you can change your spending habits and turn your finances around. Interesting reading and certainly something I hope will help stop those $2 coins disappearing from my wallet.
I wonder what David has to say about buying books and musical instruments?
Saturday, June 5, 2010
WISH card challenge end of week four
One month of the WISH card challenge completed this week.
Spending was up this week as Woolies had some great specials and so I stocked up on some really expensive items. It made for a big spend but as you can read below, the savings were worth it.
First of the expensive buys was $100 on Purina dog food. This was reduced by $5 per bag, so by spending $100 we got 5 x 8kg bags instead of the usual four. This will last the dogs for a couple of months.
Next was $39.98 on 2 x1.5kg bags of coffee beans. These are normally $29.99 each, so another $20 saving.
Then there were the baked beans for $1 a can. I bought enough to save $8 on the usual price. These will probably last for the rest of the year as we only use them to shove in a toastie on the weekend.
Lastly, there were the Kidney Beans for 69c a can, saved roughly 30c a can. Restrained myself and only bought six cans but should have bought more I think.
Added to these bulk buys was the usual fortnightly grocery spend of around $105 plus fuel for my car ($51.25). Total spending for the week $313.03
Oh, but nothing spent from my 'official' stockpile money this week so $40 more added to that. I expect this week to spend around $50 on a top of fresh produce and $50 for fuel for Guitarman's car.
Week three, day seven
Gift cards $1068.94
Stockpile $117.50
Spent so far $831.06
Average spend: $207.76 per week
Spending was up this week as Woolies had some great specials and so I stocked up on some really expensive items. It made for a big spend but as you can read below, the savings were worth it.
First of the expensive buys was $100 on Purina dog food. This was reduced by $5 per bag, so by spending $100 we got 5 x 8kg bags instead of the usual four. This will last the dogs for a couple of months.
Next was $39.98 on 2 x1.5kg bags of coffee beans. These are normally $29.99 each, so another $20 saving.
Then there were the baked beans for $1 a can. I bought enough to save $8 on the usual price. These will probably last for the rest of the year as we only use them to shove in a toastie on the weekend.
Lastly, there were the Kidney Beans for 69c a can, saved roughly 30c a can. Restrained myself and only bought six cans but should have bought more I think.
Added to these bulk buys was the usual fortnightly grocery spend of around $105 plus fuel for my car ($51.25). Total spending for the week $313.03
Oh, but nothing spent from my 'official' stockpile money this week so $40 more added to that. I expect this week to spend around $50 on a top of fresh produce and $50 for fuel for Guitarman's car.
Week three, day seven
Gift cards $1068.94
Stockpile $117.50
Spent so far $831.06
Average spend: $207.76 per week
Sunday, May 30, 2010
WISH Card Challenge end of week three
WISH card challenge went very well this week.
Our spending was much better and came to a grand total of $108.03 for both groceries and fuel. Another $2.50 was spent getting apples at the fruit shop, leaving $37.50 to go towards the stockpile funds this week.
Nobody has gone hungry. There has been plenty of fresh fruit and vegies plus home made treats. We had dinner guests on two nights and had enough for Guitarman to take leftovers for lunch.
I'm very happy with this week's spending as it brings our average closer to the $150 per week I usually achieve.
Week three, day seven
Gift cards $1381.97
Stockpile $77.50
Spent so far $518.03 (total taken from card balances as I've lost one receipt)
Average spend: $172.41 per week
Our spending was much better and came to a grand total of $108.03 for both groceries and fuel. Another $2.50 was spent getting apples at the fruit shop, leaving $37.50 to go towards the stockpile funds this week.
Nobody has gone hungry. There has been plenty of fresh fruit and vegies plus home made treats. We had dinner guests on two nights and had enough for Guitarman to take leftovers for lunch.
I'm very happy with this week's spending as it brings our average closer to the $150 per week I usually achieve.
Week three, day seven
Gift cards $1381.97
Stockpile $77.50
Spent so far $518.03 (total taken from card balances as I've lost one receipt)
Average spend: $172.41 per week
Sunday, May 23, 2010
The Cupboard's Bare Vegie Korma
Two posts in one day - but I wanted to share this before I forget.
Yesterday we got home at about 5pm and nothing was organised for dinner. GuitarMan was in the mood for Indian - he offered to go and buy takeaway which he'd pay for. I offered to make Vegie Korma and GuitarMan's wallet stayed safely in his pocket for another day. Another $20 saved!
This recipe is one of our old standbys for nights when we get home and there's nothing organised for dinner or when we have vegies to use up. You can use fresh, frozen or a combo. Just make sure you cook your harder vegetables for longer. The recipe makes four huge serves or six smaller serves. We keep the leftovers for lunch. Yum.
We like to serve our Korma up with Basmati Rice with Peas and pappadams. Both recipes are a hit with kids as they contain no heat at all, but are still tasty if you leave out the chilli. If you don't like peas just have plain rice.
No photos as it got eaten too quickly. Enjoy.
The Cupboard's Bare Vegie Korma
1 medium brown onion, halved and sliced
1 teaspoon turmeric
1 tablespoon garam masala
pinch chilli powder (I leave out when serving for kids)
2 teaspoons minced garlic
2 peeled carrots, sliced thickly
1 cup water
1/2 medium butternut pumpkin peeled and cut into chunks
2 cups frozen green beans
1 medium potato, peeled and cut into large dice
1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1 can coconut milk
Fry onion over a very low heat in 1 tablespoon oil for a few minutes until soft. Increase heat and add spices and garlic. Stir for 1 minute.
Add carrots and water and stir well. Bring to boil and then reduce heat back to low. Cook, covered for 5 minutes.
Add everything else and cook until vegies are soft but not mushy. Serve with rice.
Basmati Rice with Peas
1 1/2 cups of Basmati Rice, rinsed
1 cup frozen peas
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon (or 1 cube) chicken stock powder
3 cups water
Put all ingredients in a rice cooker and cook as normal.
If you don't have a rice cooker. Place all ingredients in frypan with a lid. Bring to boil then reduce heat to low. Cook for around 15 mins until water is absorbed. Check after 10 mins and some boiling water if you need to.
Makes approx 3 cups.
Yesterday we got home at about 5pm and nothing was organised for dinner. GuitarMan was in the mood for Indian - he offered to go and buy takeaway which he'd pay for. I offered to make Vegie Korma and GuitarMan's wallet stayed safely in his pocket for another day. Another $20 saved!
This recipe is one of our old standbys for nights when we get home and there's nothing organised for dinner or when we have vegies to use up. You can use fresh, frozen or a combo. Just make sure you cook your harder vegetables for longer. The recipe makes four huge serves or six smaller serves. We keep the leftovers for lunch. Yum.
We like to serve our Korma up with Basmati Rice with Peas and pappadams. Both recipes are a hit with kids as they contain no heat at all, but are still tasty if you leave out the chilli. If you don't like peas just have plain rice.
No photos as it got eaten too quickly. Enjoy.
The Cupboard's Bare Vegie Korma
1 medium brown onion, halved and sliced
1 teaspoon turmeric
1 tablespoon garam masala
pinch chilli powder (I leave out when serving for kids)
2 teaspoons minced garlic
2 peeled carrots, sliced thickly
1 cup water
1/2 medium butternut pumpkin peeled and cut into chunks
2 cups frozen green beans
1 medium potato, peeled and cut into large dice
1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1 can coconut milk
Fry onion over a very low heat in 1 tablespoon oil for a few minutes until soft. Increase heat and add spices and garlic. Stir for 1 minute.
Add carrots and water and stir well. Bring to boil and then reduce heat back to low. Cook, covered for 5 minutes.
Add everything else and cook until vegies are soft but not mushy. Serve with rice.
Basmati Rice with Peas
1 1/2 cups of Basmati Rice, rinsed
1 cup frozen peas
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon (or 1 cube) chicken stock powder
3 cups water
Put all ingredients in a rice cooker and cook as normal.
If you don't have a rice cooker. Place all ingredients in frypan with a lid. Bring to boil then reduce heat to low. Cook for around 15 mins until water is absorbed. Check after 10 mins and some boiling water if you need to.
Makes approx 3 cups.
WISH card challenge end of week two
As I expected, we spent much more this week. A bit demotivating but this weeks expenses just couldn't be helped.
Our increased spending was partly because we needed to get fuel for both cars which were pretty much empty. We drove around Melbourne to appointments a fair bit in the last week and spent just under $150 on fuel. This week our fuel costs should be considerably less and around the $60-70 mark.
I am definitely noticing a big difference between shopping around and buying everything in the one store. My local Woolies is fairly small and I've been unable to get some of the cheaper alternatives because they just don't stock them. Having to rely on more expensive brands really adds up.
Here's where we stand at the end of week two. The spending looks horrendous because of the fuel we used but I expect to only do a top up shop for fruit, veg and milk this week.
From this week, I'll also start shopping at the Woolies near work because it's much bigger and stocks inexpensive options for products. That store also has to compete with Coles, ALDI and the local fruit and veg market for customers. The fresh produce quality is always good and they usually match market prices.
Week two, day seven
Gift cards $1490.81
Stockpile $40.00
Spent so far $409.19
Average spend: $204.60 per week
Our increased spending was partly because we needed to get fuel for both cars which were pretty much empty. We drove around Melbourne to appointments a fair bit in the last week and spent just under $150 on fuel. This week our fuel costs should be considerably less and around the $60-70 mark.
I am definitely noticing a big difference between shopping around and buying everything in the one store. My local Woolies is fairly small and I've been unable to get some of the cheaper alternatives because they just don't stock them. Having to rely on more expensive brands really adds up.
Here's where we stand at the end of week two. The spending looks horrendous because of the fuel we used but I expect to only do a top up shop for fruit, veg and milk this week.
From this week, I'll also start shopping at the Woolies near work because it's much bigger and stocks inexpensive options for products. That store also has to compete with Coles, ALDI and the local fruit and veg market for customers. The fresh produce quality is always good and they usually match market prices.
Week two, day seven
Gift cards $1490.81
Stockpile $40.00
Spent so far $409.19
Average spend: $204.60 per week
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Keeping your grocery spend low
Anyone who has shopped at a supermarket in the last twelve months will probably tell you that grocery prices have gone up. A lot.
The major supermarket chains tell a different story and have 'shelf price reduced' stickers all over the store and will happily tell us that over a hundred items have had the shelf price permanently reduced.
So, who do we believe? Both are actually correct but there are ways to stretch your grocery dollar further. We manage to keep our overall grocery spend for two adults, one child and numerous pets to an average of $125 a week.
GuitarMan and I both work and saving time is often as important as saving money. I have a rough rule of thumb that each hour I spend on reducing our spending should give me a decent sort of return for my time investment. On that basis there are things that I have done to save money in the past that I don't bother to do now as my time with my family is important to me.
Things I (almost) always do to reduce my grocery spending
The major supermarket chains tell a different story and have 'shelf price reduced' stickers all over the store and will happily tell us that over a hundred items have had the shelf price permanently reduced.
So, who do we believe? Both are actually correct but there are ways to stretch your grocery dollar further. We manage to keep our overall grocery spend for two adults, one child and numerous pets to an average of $125 a week.
GuitarMan and I both work and saving time is often as important as saving money. I have a rough rule of thumb that each hour I spend on reducing our spending should give me a decent sort of return for my time investment. On that basis there are things that I have done to save money in the past that I don't bother to do now as my time with my family is important to me.
Things I (almost) always do to reduce my grocery spending
- Shop around. Don't buy everything in the one store.
- Have a weekly budget set aside for stockpiling bargains or bulk items.
- Shop with a list
- Don't shop when I am in a rush e.g. I have to pick up TootToot or be somewhere in half an hour
- Never spend more to achieve fly buys, reward points or fuel dockets
- I have the ugliest trolley in the supermarket and I'm prepared to buy generic or store brand. No pretty labels for me.
- If I try a generic or store brand and nobody likes it or the quality isn't as good then I'm happy to buy the brand name.
- Compare the unit cost or cost per kilo. Sometimes a brand name on special can be cheaper.
- Take advantage of manufacturers cash back offers. You can get some great one's for new product lines.
- Never buy prepared cooking sauces etc. I buy basic ingredients and cook from scratch.
- Bake cakes, biscuits and savoury snacks at home.
- Consider more vegetarian meals. Pulses are cheap when compared with meat, chicken and fish.
- Buy marked down, meat, bread etc if I am at the store anyway and if it's something I want. We will not eat lamb's fry no matter how cheaply I can buy it.
- If I only need one or two items, I think about what can be substituted from items I already have. Every day I can delay that grocery shop saves money.
- Shop outside the supermarkets. I buy fruit and veg from the local market, meat from a wholesale butcher and pulses from an Indian grocery store.
- Go to the store at the time they will be marking down produce. My local supermarket is across the road from the primary school. The meat and bakery items are marked down just before school lets out for the day. It's like the first day of the post-Christmas sales and if you can get any reduced items it takes 15 minutes to get through the checkout. Not for me thank you.
- Buy five of an item on special only to discover we don't like it or have no real use for it.
- Drive distances to buy a bargain. There are certain places e.g. COSTCO that I know are cheaper for me but I will only shop there if in the area anyway. When you add the cost of fuel in sometimes there are no real savings in going too far from home.
- Buy from factory outlets. Love it but I'm generally at work when they are open.
- Make my own bread all the time. We still enjoy home baked but for everyday, we will buy a loaf at the supermarket for our toast.
- Grow some fruit, vegetables and herbs. We are planning to start this again in the spring.
- Maintaining a Price Book. You can read about them on most frugal living websites but for me personally it was an absolute drudge and a complete waste of time.
- Preserving foods. I just have no knack for this at all even though I'd like to.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Raspberry and White Chocolate Muffins
For Mothers Day I was lucky enough to get a red Kitchenaid mixer. Well Mothers Day was just the excuse. I'm not Guitarman's mother but he knew I needed a new mixer as our 25 year old hand mixer had mixed its last batch of muffins. I expect that this new mixer will see me through the rest of my baking days and it is so lovely to use.
Wherever I can I cook from scratch. By cooking from scratch I know exactly what my famly are eating and we take time to sit down together and eat as part of connecting with each other at the end of the day. I read a blog post today from overamillionorbust about her daughter's milk intolerance. That post reminded me that I started cooking pretty much everything from scratch when TootToot was a baby.
TootToot was a premmie and she couldn't tolerate cows milk in any form before she was two. A lot of commercially prepared foods contain some form of milk solid, never mind all the sugar and salt. Eight years on TootToot has very diverse tastes and none of the pickiness around food that other kids her age do - and she's a healthy weight because her diet is varied.
The other effect of cooking from scratch is that you can eat really good quality food for a hell of a lot less money. I'll post a favourite recipe each week.
This week's recipe is Raspberry and White Chocolate Muffins. I picked this up while in the US from a Ghirardelli chocolate packet. The mix makes twelve standard size muffins and would probably make around eight Texas style muffins.
Warning: don't even think about counting the calories in these. Enjoy!
100g butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1 cup milk ( I use milk powder and water)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon baking powder
2 cups flour
225g of chopped white chocolate
1/2 cup fresh or frozen raspberries
Method:
Wherever I can I cook from scratch. By cooking from scratch I know exactly what my famly are eating and we take time to sit down together and eat as part of connecting with each other at the end of the day. I read a blog post today from overamillionorbust about her daughter's milk intolerance. That post reminded me that I started cooking pretty much everything from scratch when TootToot was a baby.
TootToot was a premmie and she couldn't tolerate cows milk in any form before she was two. A lot of commercially prepared foods contain some form of milk solid, never mind all the sugar and salt. Eight years on TootToot has very diverse tastes and none of the pickiness around food that other kids her age do - and she's a healthy weight because her diet is varied.
The other effect of cooking from scratch is that you can eat really good quality food for a hell of a lot less money. I'll post a favourite recipe each week.
This week's recipe is Raspberry and White Chocolate Muffins. I picked this up while in the US from a Ghirardelli chocolate packet. The mix makes twelve standard size muffins and would probably make around eight Texas style muffins.
Warning: don't even think about counting the calories in these. Enjoy!
Raspberry and White Chocolate Muffins
100g butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1 cup milk ( I use milk powder and water)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon baking powder
2 cups flour
225g of chopped white chocolate
1/2 cup fresh or frozen raspberries
Method:
- Preheat oven to 180 C
- Grease muffin cups or line with papers. I use silicone and don't need to grease or use papers.
- Cream the butter and sugar until smooth
- Add egg, milk and vanilla. Mix until well blended.
- Combine the baking powder and flour. Add to mix along with chocolate. If you don't have white chocolate you can also use milk or dark but won't be as nice. I've even used leftover Easter eggs.
- Mix until just combined.
- Gently fold in your raspberries.
- Divide between muffin cups.
- Cook for twenty minutes (may need slightly longer if your oven isn't fan forced)
- Cool in tin for ten minutes before turning out. This is very important - the muffins will disintegrate if you take them out of the tin too soon.
- Dust with icing sugar.
- Equally yummy served warm or cold.
- Can be served warm as a dessert with ice cream.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
WISH card challenge end of week one
Well today marks the end of the first week of our WISH gift card challenge. A further $9.65 was spent at Woolies last night.
We also shopped at COSTCO to purchase some things for our stockpile and spent all but a few cents of the stockpile money. Some items are really inexpensive at COSTCO for example canned tomatoes work out at 66c per can, but you have to know your prices and be prepared to buy in bulk.
We will do a bigger supermarket shop tomorrow and also get some fuel for both cars. I expect that our week two spending will be bigger.
So here's the tally for the end of week one.
Week one, day seven
Gift cards $1819.94
Stockpile $0.00
Spent so far $80.06
We also shopped at COSTCO to purchase some things for our stockpile and spent all but a few cents of the stockpile money. Some items are really inexpensive at COSTCO for example canned tomatoes work out at 66c per can, but you have to know your prices and be prepared to buy in bulk.
We will do a bigger supermarket shop tomorrow and also get some fuel for both cars. I expect that our week two spending will be bigger.
So here's the tally for the end of week one.
Week one, day seven
Gift cards $1819.94
Stockpile $0.00
Spent so far $80.06
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Meet The Poopers
Sometimes the right choices in life don't seem frugal a first. That certainly seemed the case when we purchased "The Poopers" back in February.
We certainly weren't in the market for another dog, let alone two. We already had Meg our 10 year old Jack Russell and Lucy a 3 year old Miniature Schnauzer. We went in to the store "Just for a look" and came home with two of the most adorable fluff balls you ever saw. They are Cairn Terrier crossed with Bichon Frise and litter brothers.
How easily these little guys slotted into our family. TootToot now spends more time away from the Wii and playing outside. Every time we see their two little faces pop out from the Lilly Pilly hedge we giggle and try to catch it on camera. How can you price being more active and happy?
They are learning to tolerate if not love TootToot dressing them up. Stewie is on the left and Toby is on the right. Stewie is the silent type, half the size of his brother and makes very little noise. Toby is a thug and makes Scooby Doo noises when he wants fed.
Maybe not terribly frugal but terribly cute - don't you think?
We certainly weren't in the market for another dog, let alone two. We already had Meg our 10 year old Jack Russell and Lucy a 3 year old Miniature Schnauzer. We went in to the store "Just for a look" and came home with two of the most adorable fluff balls you ever saw. They are Cairn Terrier crossed with Bichon Frise and litter brothers.
How easily these little guys slotted into our family. TootToot now spends more time away from the Wii and playing outside. Every time we see their two little faces pop out from the Lilly Pilly hedge we giggle and try to catch it on camera. How can you price being more active and happy?
They are learning to tolerate if not love TootToot dressing them up. Stewie is on the left and Toby is on the right. Stewie is the silent type, half the size of his brother and makes very little noise. Toby is a thug and makes Scooby Doo noises when he wants fed.
Maybe not terribly frugal but terribly cute - don't you think?
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
The hidden cost when you don't shop around?
Well, the first of the WISH cards has been dragged out of my wallet.
Purchased fuel for GuitarMan's car on the way home from work as Tuesday is the cheapest day to buy. Total $31.71
Next stop Woolworths for a few groceries.
Even though it is for this challenge, I have become so accustomed to shopping around for the best price that the price of groceries in Woolies annoyed me . I went along to purchase a small amount of fruit and veg to last through the week, I really could have used more but wasn't impressed with the quality on offer.
As a special treat, TootToot got her mint choc chip ice cream - it's the only treat I buy mean mummy that I am. Also bought some dog biscuits for our 5 month old pups "The Poopers". How easy it could be to slip into my old spending habits and pick up those couple of extras each week that we don't need.
The whole lot could be squashed into one green bag and cost $38.70. I can normally fill my Nana Trolley with top quality fruit, and veg for that price (and wouldn't be tempted to buy ice cream).
One thing that will become obvious during this challenge is the 'real' cost of only shopping in supermarkets for a family of three.
Have decided to keep all receipts and look back at the end of the challenge to see if our purchasing habits changed in response to all the pretty boxes and jars on offer. Is there a hidden cost when you don't shop around?
Week one, day two
Gift cards $1829.59
Stockpile $40
Spent so far $70.41
Purchased fuel for GuitarMan's car on the way home from work as Tuesday is the cheapest day to buy. Total $31.71
Next stop Woolworths for a few groceries.
Even though it is for this challenge, I have become so accustomed to shopping around for the best price that the price of groceries in Woolies annoyed me . I went along to purchase a small amount of fruit and veg to last through the week, I really could have used more but wasn't impressed with the quality on offer.
As a special treat, TootToot got her mint choc chip ice cream - it's the only treat I buy mean mummy that I am. Also bought some dog biscuits for our 5 month old pups "The Poopers". How easy it could be to slip into my old spending habits and pick up those couple of extras each week that we don't need.
The whole lot could be squashed into one green bag and cost $38.70. I can normally fill my Nana Trolley with top quality fruit, and veg for that price (and wouldn't be tempted to buy ice cream).
One thing that will become obvious during this challenge is the 'real' cost of only shopping in supermarkets for a family of three.
Have decided to keep all receipts and look back at the end of the challenge to see if our purchasing habits changed in response to all the pretty boxes and jars on offer. Is there a hidden cost when you don't shop around?
Week one, day two
Gift cards $1829.59
Stockpile $40
Spent so far $70.41
Monday, May 10, 2010
Our new savings challenge
About two years ago, I joined a savings website called simple savings and that action has in part fueled our family journey towards increasingly frugal living.
I had read an article about simple savings in Money Magazine and thought I'll have a look. After joining up for the free newsletter, I noticed that there is a guaranteed refund within the first three months. "What the heck" I thought signing up.
I was in a word hooked. Until then, my thrifty ways had been viewed by my family and friends with amused tolerance and sometimes complete horror. What delight to find myself among a group of like minded souls with such diverse backgrounds, goals and opinions. I had at last found my niche.
One of the things that binds simple savers together is the idea and love of challenges. How long can you go without spending, living off the contents of your freezer etc. A much anticipated event is the annual $21 challenge month where for one week (or longer) you live off your supplies for all your meals and spend no more than $21 on groceries each week. If you're interested in learning more about $21 challenges,check out this clip You Tube $21 challenge for more info.
We as a family have started our own savings challenge today. Let me explain.
We were planning a family holiday overseas in June. For health reasons we have had to postpone that holiday. We ended up with a lot of Qantas Frequent Flyer points which would expire before I could use them. I've redeemed those frequent flyer points for $1900 worth of WISH gift cards to be used at all Woolworths Group stores and Woolworths/Caltex service stations.
Our challenge is how far our $1900 of WISH gift cards can be stretched before spending any of our family funds on groceries and fuel.
The only exception to using the gift cards is a $40 a week budget to allow for purchase of additional fruit and veg at the local fruit shop and for stockpiling of any bargains I come across. Any of the $40 not spent will be accounted for and carried forward into the next week.
In total, we are aiming for twelve weeks on this challenge, but who knows how far we can push it?
Week one, Day 1:
Gift cards $1900
Stockpile $40
Spent so far $0.00
I had read an article about simple savings in Money Magazine and thought I'll have a look. After joining up for the free newsletter, I noticed that there is a guaranteed refund within the first three months. "What the heck" I thought signing up.
I was in a word hooked. Until then, my thrifty ways had been viewed by my family and friends with amused tolerance and sometimes complete horror. What delight to find myself among a group of like minded souls with such diverse backgrounds, goals and opinions. I had at last found my niche.
One of the things that binds simple savers together is the idea and love of challenges. How long can you go without spending, living off the contents of your freezer etc. A much anticipated event is the annual $21 challenge month where for one week (or longer) you live off your supplies for all your meals and spend no more than $21 on groceries each week. If you're interested in learning more about $21 challenges,check out this clip You Tube $21 challenge for more info.
We as a family have started our own savings challenge today. Let me explain.
We were planning a family holiday overseas in June. For health reasons we have had to postpone that holiday. We ended up with a lot of Qantas Frequent Flyer points which would expire before I could use them. I've redeemed those frequent flyer points for $1900 worth of WISH gift cards to be used at all Woolworths Group stores and Woolworths/Caltex service stations.
Our challenge is how far our $1900 of WISH gift cards can be stretched before spending any of our family funds on groceries and fuel.
The only exception to using the gift cards is a $40 a week budget to allow for purchase of additional fruit and veg at the local fruit shop and for stockpiling of any bargains I come across. Any of the $40 not spent will be accounted for and carried forward into the next week.
In total, we are aiming for twelve weeks on this challenge, but who knows how far we can push it?
Week one, Day 1:
Gift cards $1900
Stockpile $40
Spent so far $0.00
Saturday, May 8, 2010
TootToot super saver ...
Toot Toot received a letter addressed to her yesterday - the first bank statement all of her own.
Toot Toot "what are debits?" - I explained that is where any money you have borrowed is shown on your bank statement.
TootToot thinks for a moment and replies "I'm the best saver in the family then because I have no debits and I don't pay interest." and marches off to share this fact with GuitarMan.
TootToot and I have talked before about how the bank will pay you interest to 'rent' your money while it's in the account. She loves the idea of making money without doing extra chores so is happy to leave her money there.
TootToot has been accessing Coinland https://coinland.com.au/ as well as her chats with me. It's a great site that teaches kids about money and saving and you don't have to be a bank customer to access it.
I wasn't sure TootToot understood that if you borrow money, such as when you buy a house then you have to pay interest until you pay it back.
Seems my TootToot understands all too well... I wonder what else she can teach me
Toot Toot "what are debits?" - I explained that is where any money you have borrowed is shown on your bank statement.
TootToot thinks for a moment and replies "I'm the best saver in the family then because I have no debits and I don't pay interest." and marches off to share this fact with GuitarMan.
TootToot and I have talked before about how the bank will pay you interest to 'rent' your money while it's in the account. She loves the idea of making money without doing extra chores so is happy to leave her money there.
TootToot has been accessing Coinland https://coinland.com.au/ as well as her chats with me. It's a great site that teaches kids about money and saving and you don't have to be a bank customer to access it.
I wasn't sure TootToot understood that if you borrow money, such as when you buy a house then you have to pay interest until you pay it back.
Seems my TootToot understands all too well... I wonder what else she can teach me
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Getting the best price
Sales are so tempting aren't they? We all love a bargain, and that feeling of victory because we've somehow walked out with something so cheap it was almost free.
I rarely pay full price for any major purchase and that includes travel, cars, major appliances or furniture and real estate. How do I manage that? Well, I almost never buy items when they are on sale and I don't read junk mail.
I've found from experience that you will rarely gain any major discount on an advertised 'special' or 'sale'. The salespersons view seems to generally be that the price is already discounted and they are less inclined to go much lower.
Here's my tips for getting the best price?
I rarely pay full price for any major purchase and that includes travel, cars, major appliances or furniture and real estate. How do I manage that? Well, I almost never buy items when they are on sale and I don't read junk mail.
I've found from experience that you will rarely gain any major discount on an advertised 'special' or 'sale'. The salespersons view seems to generally be that the price is already discounted and they are less inclined to go much lower.
Here's my tips for getting the best price?
- Do your research on line and then follow up by calling around stores and visiting only those where you're likely to get a good deal. For example some stores say they will price match but then when you read the fine print it's only on items in stock and that's no good if item you want has to be ordered in.
- Do your call around and store visits in the last week of the month or quarter.We saved $9,500 off the list price of GuitarMans car because the salesman wanted the sale before the end of financial year. We paid for the car on 30 June!
- Consider smaller retailers and not just the bigger chains. Suprisingly they will often have more flexibility as its their business and they have direct relationships with wholesalers and distributors.
- When you go into a store, travel agent or real estate agent always dress appropriately. Sales people will respond better and be more open to doing 'business' if you are dressed in a similar manner to them.
- Always ask "is that your best price you can offer me today" or at the very least "will you include free delivery please". Please remember to be polite, you'll be more likely to get that free something included if you are pleasant. Sales people are there to make a living and you don't need to demean them just so you can save a buck.
- I know it sounds old fashioned but thank the sales person and shake their hand. Trust me they'll remember you and you'll get an even better deal next time you go back. We saved several hundred dollars on a dining table and chairs because the salesman remembered we had bought a bed ensemble from him four years earlier.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
So what is frugal anyway?
Now that's probably a multi-million dollar question. If only I was armed with the answer in my teens when my working life started.
One of the reasons for this blog is to be a record for my daughter TootToot (her name of choice when she was two). May TootToot be armed with the knowledge it's taken her parents 40 plus years to find.
The dictionary definition of frugal is
1.economical in use or expenditure; prudently saving or sparing; not wasteful: a frugal manager.
2.entailing little expense; requiring few resources; meager; scanty: a frugal meal.
Another way to describe our life choices would be thrifty
1.practicing thrift or economical management; frugal: a thrifty shopper.
2.thriving, prosperous, or successful.
3.thriving physically; growing vigorously.
Please note dear TootToot that nowhere is there mention of being tight, cheap or mean. Remember that GuitarMan and I are none of those things. You are so kind, giving and generous of heart that I expect you won't be either.
One of the reasons for this blog is to be a record for my daughter TootToot (her name of choice when she was two). May TootToot be armed with the knowledge it's taken her parents 40 plus years to find.
The dictionary definition of frugal is
1.economical in use or expenditure; prudently saving or sparing; not wasteful: a frugal manager.
2.entailing little expense; requiring few resources; meager; scanty: a frugal meal.
Another way to describe our life choices would be thrifty
1.practicing thrift or economical management; frugal: a thrifty shopper.
2.thriving, prosperous, or successful.
3.thriving physically; growing vigorously.
Please note dear TootToot that nowhere is there mention of being tight, cheap or mean. Remember that GuitarMan and I are none of those things. You are so kind, giving and generous of heart that I expect you won't be either.
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