Rainy Day Fund

On my mission to save some pennies in the bank I feel like convenience has a way of tricking me into thinking I need it.

• convenience foods – a fast diner or snack on the run, that bottle of water/juice from the dairy.
• convenience shopping – multi buying , get a freebie or spending extra on a bus ride when it really could wait till I’m on that side of town (think fuel if you drive).
• convenience mind – the worst one of the three. This is not so much about saving but of pure laziness. I reek of it.

I can’t deny it, I am overall a couch potato but looking at me on the street your probably wouldn’t notice. I feel it though. Do you?

Do you feel like you’re un-healthy? Un-organised? Cluttered? Tiered all the time? I’ll put my hand up to all of these questions, and it’s time to change that.

 

• Health.

Keeping my mind Convenience free.

Time to kick the health into top gear, hey I’m no saint so if a cronut slips (accidentally) down my throat that’s alright – right? -Okay! I’ll try be good!

 

I started last week (check out my meal plan) by adding more healthier options into my diet, this will reflect on my body and mood! These foods included:

Salads (mixed variety types with vitamin value)

Spinach/Silver beet (frozen or fresh I choose what comes cheapest)

Salmon (great skin and brain power and hey it’s delish!)

Avocados

Nuts & Seeds (a healthy snack)

Upping the fruit intake (think dried fruit, frozen fruits for smoothies and specials in the fresh isle)

Spiralina (now I know it’ a bit costly to get a bottle of this but it is amazing!- I use the powdered variety and create a smoothie with almond milk or juice)

If you’re looking for some meal time help and inspiration I will be listing up some of my favourite books and sites so you can browse to your hearts content and trust me they make healthy and cheap look convenient!

 

Exercise and Drinking plenty of water is going to help me as well. Heck summer is almost here I better hop skip and jump to it!

 

 

• Beauty.

Lazy girl equals lazy skin.

Sometimes I look in the mirror and think – jeepers what’s happening here. I’m not saying I don’t like the way I look I just think “would you help yourself out a bit lady!”, so from this week (I’ve already started and noticed a huge change straight away!!) I’m going to be pushing my beauty ‘regime’ if you can call it that?:

 

3 Step Skin Care. Morning & Night.

This is Cleanser, (I brush my teeth while it sets in) , tonner (gets rid of dirt on face) then a light moisturiser if needed.

 

Exfoliating -I haven’t really done this for two years as a mum usually doesn’t get the time to even have a shower alone these days.

Nails & Hands – nail file and hand moisturiser by the bed!

Facial Exercises. – okay I’m a bit suspect about this but I got the book out and I’m going to see if their is a physical change within two weeks. a 15min face workout each day!

 

Why I have put this into my post about convenience is because a lot of women mainly think beauty needs to cost a second mortgage on your home, this is not the truth! I am going to add a section to the top of my list about Beauty and the tips tricks and hacks!

 

Starting a New Day.

I personally have to keep my computer and TV off when I get up otherwise I’m ‘sucked in’ as my partner and I call it! Now the first thing I do is put a washing load on. Open the curtains, then get breakfast going for my daughter and I. Dishes done and onto the day! That way I’m in a de-cluttered space which means a lot to the way I feel for the rest of the day and what I get done. Does it for you?

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On the topic of convenience foods and convenience shopping from the top up there. Oh yeah I remember that.

Convenience foods is a hard one, I have a sweet tooth so when out and about I love to stop and grab something but thinking into it I spend most of my spending money on food. I think if you hold out on Takeaways till the night before you go food shopping you can really make yourself last over the week too – remember takeaways can be healthy for a little more money.

When it comes to convenience shopping when you see something work out the actual price is of the item, look for a different brand offering the same thing is it worth the extra dollar? A dollar on five items is five dollars, so tell me that’s not worth it. Freebies, points, rewards this is where we can get a bit carried away in the frenzies, I want you to think back to Count down collector cards and tickets, New World mini collectables these are to enticed you to spend enough to receive this reward – you must spend $40 in store so you think “ill just add a chocolate bar or two in and stock up on this…” the truth is the shopping centre’s and shops that do this are more pricey and aren’t really offering you a reward they jus want you to spend more there with them.

Do we really need these things ?  Plain and simple tell me the answer  _______!

 

Signing Off,

 

 

 

 

 

 

Is your bank manager a “goodie” or a “baddy”?

Who would know right? How can we tell if you’re getting the best deal or if your bank is taking you for a ride.. Let me get through a few simple points about banking and how it should be working in your favour not theirs! Before reading this please don’t think changing banks will be a huge hassle – it will be a task but the end will be worth it. Try to tell your self you are in charge before you go into see your manager . Then before changing check out your other banks offers, sit down with your bank manager and ask them that your looking to change – they might like to keep you on and offer a sweet deal.

 

Picking the right Bank &/or Bank account.

I cant tell you what I think the best bank is because we all use our accounts and save differently so we all need a different types, some things might be more important to you than me. For example Fly buys points, if you love to add your points up fast for Christmas (or whatever occasion) try banking with BNZ.

A good way to see what you need from your account/bank is to check out your last month or two month worth of statements. Ask yourself these questions – Do you use ATMs a lot? What about your ATM fees per month? Are you taking nothing out of your savings or more than $10 per month? Do you use direct debits? Do you do everything online or do you still go into the bank? This should help you figure out what you’re being charged for and what you can cut down on if anything. You need the least fees & remember all banks are businesses – they hate to loose a customer.

 

Direct Debits – yay or nay.

This is a hard one, on one hand direct debits can hep you to manage your finances as the money goes in and out without you needing to do anything. On the other hand if you’re short on money one week it can be a struggle even after you have cancelled the debit (let me guess they charge you to cancel it for a week). I personally have one main direct debit which is my rent, I could add my savings in if wanted as they would be my main things I need to have done every week. I personally go on every day after my pay and move things over manually online – I can then lower some payments if I need money on something else sooner ( the power bill coming in well over its regular or that flat tyre on the car).

 

Online Banking.

I like to think of online banking as my ATM, I never check at ATMs –  I would rather tap into my phone or on he computer before I leave home as its cheaper than using another banks ATM (charges around $2.per atm usage)

 

Savings.

Their are a few different types of savers out there, which one are you?

1. The Hard-up Saver. They put money into savings acc then moves it back out to use on something they say they “need” later that week. (eg: food, drinks, extra gas)
2. The Non-saver. They don’t have a savings acc (or do but don’t use it) and use up what they have each week.
3. The Committed Saver. They have a standard savings acc and don’t take unless emergencies arise. (this is not you, you hard up savers!)
4. The Credit Building Saver. They save into one account to pay their credit (cards) at the end of each month. Therefore building credit.

 

Learning and admitting which saver you are is a task on its own. Here’s a few tips for each type of saver so they can push their savings to new limits.

1. The Hard-up Saver… Talk to your bank manager about opening a smarter savings account where you save for something in the future. Think Holiday, New Car, Wedding Day or even Xmas. You can have accounts now where you cant remove the funds until you reach your savings date. These are great for the hard-up saver because you cant use it unless its before then unless its a true emergency and you have to go through the trouble of visiting your bank manager with proof etc. Now, don’t place a large direct debit into this account each week! That’s the trick, the trick is to save in small amounts $5 to $20 per week is all you need to build a small nest egg without noticing where your money is going. You’ll still have money left for all the thinks you “need”.

2. The Non-saver… Its hard when you see a big pay come in not too go a bit nuts and blow it all on drinks for everyone in the bar I get it! But with a bit of help you can get away with saving every week. The best thing for The Non-saver is to either direct debit a little each week into your savings account and have the account only accessible online. That way you wont withdraw all your savings from an ATM, if you don’t have an savings account and don’t want to open one you can try the old fashioned money in the jar trick. Buy a money jar that cant be opened (can/tin ones are perfect) and place your loose change in there each night before bed, after a month or two you will be amazed and you probably didn’t even miss it!

3. The Committed Saver… Some banks offer higher interest and will give you a special deal if you don’t take out of your savings each month. If you want to be like this saver then please make sure first that you don’t fit The Hard-up Saver profile above or you may find your savings account dry by the time you come to use it for what you saved for.

4. The Credit Building Saver… Ok so your thinking “What??” It’s true, their are a few supersavers out their who build their credit ratings and get great points by doing this, if you want to know more than look below but THIS IS some hard-core saving stuff and is a live by the month type of saving. It’s remembering to buy only what you normally would and checking your savings account at the time to see if you can afford what your about to buy. But this also has serious rewards.

 

 

Building Credit? What is it and how do I join up??

It’s not that simple but it kind of is… In basic terms The Credit Building Saver is someone who pays everything they ‘buy’ on weekly basis with their credit card. By doing this they rack up one huge bill and pay it by the end of the month (with their savings-the real cash) before the interest jumps in and stumps them.

The rewards of doing this are the bonus points factors, for example flybys or flyer points (air points). The card you use must have a bonus factor like that so that when you use it so often and pay it off you receive your points and therefore gain free things (flybuys = free stuff, Flyer points = free Holliday) .

The trick is not to spend more than what you would if you did on a weekly basis. First Step: Check account balance each week and remember (or write down) your amount you have to spend that’s how much you can use on yoru card(s). Second Step: Pay off before end of month or before interest hits and/or after savings account gets interest added.

This is also a great way to build up a good/better credit rating. But please be aware this is a very hard savings strategy.

 

 

Well that was a lot of mambo-jumbo for one night! Whew! I hope I haven’t fried anyone’s brain too much and you all become better savers in the next few weeks, please check back for more tips, blog posts and lastly hit SUBSCRIBE now or be square and miss out up to you

Signing Off,

 

 

Here it is, my meal plan and Shopping list for the week. Please note things change, when I hit the supermarket their might be something on clearance or marked down so I can grab that and cross a meal off the list (move the Chicken a night forward most likely). I grab meat, pasta and rice for example when it is on special as well so if it’s missing from the shopping list I will have it in the cupboard/fridge/freezer (first place you look when you plan a meal plan week). Have a read and see it’s not all rice and potato’s but yes they’re sneaked in there!

 

This is a meal plan and shopping list for Two Adults and One Hungry Child (growing 3 y/o)

*Please not we normally have toast and a smoothie for breaky, if my daughter is still hungry she is allowed a bowl of cereal (cornflakes or ricies) 

Tuesday –

L (lunch): Sandwiches (ham, cheese, salad, leftovers or spread. remember you can pan fry!)

D (dinner): Poached Chicken Salad with fresh Aioli.

Wednesday –

L: Chicken Spinach and feta Filo’s.

D: Salmon with couscous and small side salad.

Thursday-

L: Salmon and Corn Chowder.

D: Lamb Shanks with Red wine sauce.

Friday-

L: Sandwiches

D: Pork and Udon Noodle Stir-fry

Saturday-

L: Sandwiches (most likely egg and the last of the ham for a change up)

D: Butter Chicken (reheat from earlier in the week)

Sunday-

L: Scones

D: Salmon and Corn Chowder (reheat from earlier in the week)

Monday-

L: Sandwiches.

D: Vegetarian Pasta (end of week pasta with what’s left)

 

Shopping List:

Bananas,

Salad Mix,

x1 stir-fry green (eg Bock Choy)

Mushrooms

Carrots

Potatoes

Pork

Full Chicken

Salmon

Milk

Shaved Ham

Feta

Juice

Canned Toms

Canned Corn

Eggs

Dish Liquid

Nappies

Wax

Frozen Veg

Frozen Spinach

Filo Pastry

Bread.

 

I haven’t included any of our sweet treats or snacks/junk food on our list as I hunt out the best deals when I’m in store and usually place around 4-5 items in the trolley (mainly for my daughter and partner for during the day) – but hey lets see how I go this week. I always try to keep it healthy and cheap so it becomes quite a task to stay under budget.

 

If you’re anything like me you will have scribbled on pieces of paper all over your house. Or perhaps you’re nothing like me and have never shopped with a list in your life. Today I’ve been doing my research and have found a few ways we can save some bucks before we even hit the grocery store!

List Writing. It’s a little more time consuming than you think but in the end it saves you time and money so… Why not?!

Before you even start a list you need to meal plan for the coming week, making sure to use up that open bag of raisins and tomato that’s going to go to “a better place” very soon. I prefer to just meal plan lunches (using leftovers usually) and Dinners. You can work out what ingredients will be needed for each meal and compile them on a list. Next step is to open your kitchen up and see what you’ve already got and cross it off. Boom there is your list, feel free to add your extras like milk, tea toast, chocolate I’m not that frugal!

Some great ideas is the classic roast Chicken. You don’t have to roast it, try poaching a full chicken and you can serve it for tea and pull off meat to save for tomorrow. The juice left in the pot is great to add the carcass (urrghhh I’m not a fan of that word) to create chicken stock -think soups, risotto and curries and YES, freeze that bad boy down!

Everything has a double use. You can make extra one night and freeze a single serve for your lunch tomorrow or freeze pasta sauce (tomato) to create into another dish another day. I have a few other great tips if you go check out the Shopping button on the bar at the top of the page.

That’s me for this week, thanks for sticking it out.

Signing Off,

 

PS: meal plan will be added next week.

 

It’s amazing how one day of reflection helps you in so many ways. Today I took the time to relax with my family and to reflect, one thing I chose to look at was about my decisions towards saving in the next three to four months. It’s going to be really hard work, but the result is an amazing car I’ve set myself the goal and now I have to extend myself to reach it.

Without sounding Cliché, people starve in Africa and low/no income families around the world eat only rice or potatoes for dinner. We can’t complain, roof over our heads, enough food going in the belly, warmth, love and support. What an amazing country New Zealand is! My strategy next week is to build a meal plan and shopping list to show you all that you can keep a budget down if you follow my shopping tips. It’s not all rice and potatoes either! Health is a very strong part of our household and to keep sickness out, not to mention those doctors bills!

I have to be harsh on myself to save, and I don’t mean shopping or beauty treatments! Social outings cripple your bank account without you noticing. Now I don’t mean shut up your house and hibernate for the next month to keep the social bills down, just budget out what you have. This week I was invited to a Childs birthday party, after adding up gift and transport it was another $30 I had to find in my budget. Thinking into it I had only gone to that child’s mothers birthday dinner less than a month ago and spend around $65.  Seeing I have only known her for a very short time also, I had to tell myself that we will miss this one but can catch up with her another time – for free.

Another thing I reflected on today was how easy it is when you’re a stay at home mum to extend yourself if you can make the time. I have recently signed up for a Business Certificate (flexi study from home). Hey what’s our motto this week??  –Why not?!  It is a free course and If you’re interested then check out EIT online or search up free home study courses on Grandfather Google. Or maybe take advantage of your neighbours fruit tree they keep offering you the fruit from, get creative or join the free kids groups around your area. It can help you build yourself into you rather than feeling like a “slave to the house” as we all do on occasion. Errr every day.

 

Please take inspiration everywhere you possibly can and remember that

‘Rich’ people are saving for their children’s future, the rest of us save for Friday Take Away Night.

Which one are you?

 

Signing Off,

I’m labelling this week the “Why not?!” Week.

this week I have loaded a few items up on trade me, I had a big clear out and found lots of things we no longer or never used and listed them up, I’m quite happy at the prospects of bringing in a few extra coins this week for the savings jar. What do you have around your house that could be listed? Put it up – Why not?!

I also took into account my fitness, motivation and sleep levels and started a little plan in actions. Okay I went a bit intense with the first work out in over a year and walked around my house like a monkey with a banana shoved up my rear end all day. On the other hand I have set alarms for getting up in the morning and when to go to bed. Lastly I’m turning the TV off during the day!! So much better to go out with my daughter or do something like hang the washing out. If you don’t know yet ‘The Washing’ is my arch nemesis and I will do anything to avoid him!

 

On a better subject I have just ordered seeds online for my potted garden endeavour. -please check out the garden tab for ideas on what to sow now) I’m pretty happy with the prices I paid.

Thyme,

Kale (for the smoothies!),

Tomato (smaller kind),

Parsley,

Carrots (baby finger ones!),

Spinach,

&Zucchini (if you don’t know these grow and produce ALOT over summer!)

 

The packets come with 50 seeds inside and are $1.50 each. Once tax and shipping is paid I paid a total of= $15.98

Thank you  The Seed Warehouse Ltd . They have great deals

 

Signing Off,

Please check out the Tips page up top and check out a few tips and tricks I have uploaded about making and saving money! -hey Why not?!

Here we go.

I’m talking directly to you. Yip you heard me right, you – the one rugged up in her “home clothes” hunched over the computer desk. Let me ask you something personal.

Are you one of those women who cant pass a shop window without thinking “that’s a good deal, I might just grab that”?

Are you the “it’s a pretty big job” woman who would rather have someone else do the hard work for you?

Lastly, are you the kind of woman who cant believe how her friends can afford the things they get without breaking the piggy bank!? Honestly, I’m a stay at home mum to one and cant even comprehend the things I watch people buy regularly. (yes mum…)

Well listen up, you can become a frugal mama just like me! What’s frugal you say??  Lets ask wise grandfather google real quick..

Slim ? Well who doesn’t like the sound of that? Ha!

But in all seriousness, give it a go or at least follow along for a bit to make sure I haven’t become a Chicken farmer somewhere near Gore.

Okay so I wont be going THAT far, but I have some amazing tips and ideas to help us get saving every penny without looking like a scrooge. Starting a Garden, Meals, Groceries under $100 and so on.

 

Signing Off,

PS. I’ve got a lot to save for in the next year, a Car, Holliday in Fiji (for a friends wedding) oh and did I forget MY wedding all from a low one wage household. If I don’t kick it up a notch I’ll be spending more going to her wedding than on my own.