Productivity

Good morning,

The last few days I have not been too well but I am feeling so much better today, probably because it is Saturday.

I love the productivity from the vegetable garden at this time of the year. Although it has been very hot, I have been picking many vegetables and they keep coming. Just this morning I have picked tomatoes and capsicums, which I proudly paraded in front of my family. There are still so much more to come.

Last night I decided to do my grocery shopping after I ate dinner. I needed to buy lots of meat and several other items (tandoor paste, rice wine vinegar etc) as I have planned out my menu for the next two weeks. I was really surprised how little it costed for so much food as I always budget $210 per week for food (I have two teenagers in the house, both boys). For the all the groceries I got it only have cost me $210 so in theory I have another $210 left over and I am sure I won't use that much for the essentials (bread, milk etc).

As it is much cooler here in Canberra today, I plan to do so much cooking so that there is food in the freezer and I can get it out in the morning and don't need to do much when I get home.

As this is the year for me to really curb my spending, I am tweaking my budget really. Come February, I will really look hard at what I am spending my money on and what I have been saving. With the $50 per week for my spending on lunches, I didn't use any of it this week except another colleague had her baby (I have three more colleagues due in the next two months) so I gave $5 towards some flowers. I think I have $81.50 left in the kitty, I haven't checked.

Will post photos of my lovely overgrown vegetable garden very soon.

Have a great day.

xxx

Fruits of Labour

Hi everyone, especially the ones that have come from Rhonda's blog,

This morning I have been outside picking carrots, squash, capsicums and tomatoes before it gets too hot  (around 37 degrees). I plan to make a pasta sauce out of the tomatoes and capsicums, not too sure what to make with the squashes, any ideas? My garden is getting so overgrown, I really need to make another garden bed for more yummy vegetables.

My biggest problem in my garden are earwigs.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/34/Earwig_on_white_background.jpg

I put scrunched up newspapers every night and each morning I put the newspaper into a bucket of soapy water. I do get some earwigs but not too many. If anyone has a great idea how to get rid of them I would be grateful. I really don't like them.

With my $50 a week challenge, I only spent $13.50, one day I bought my lunch for $8.50 (I didn't make lunch the night before and was running late the next morning) and I put $5 towards some flowers/gift for a colleague who just had a baby. I am now left with $36.50.

The reason I why I am challenging myself is I would just go to the atm and get $20 nearly everyday. I know it was wasting money but I am changing these habits. Yes, my friends would understand if I didn't go to lunch with them however, my biggest problem is I have many friends who are not in the same group therefore lunchtime is usually very busy for me. I am hoping that within two months I have really settled down to bringing lunch in and are saving heaps.

I hope everyone is ok and keeping well.

Keep cool (for those in the hot weather).

love

Pauline
xxx

Challenges and budgets

Today I read a wonderful, Rhonda's, her wise words and helpful hints really helps me with my desire to be more self-sufficent. This is why I have decided to really stick to a budget as well as challenging myself with saving more money. Rhonda's blog, Down to Earth can be found here: http://down---to---earth.blogspot.com.au

Brad and I have decided to save his wage and live off mine. OK, he does earn over double what I earn however being a contractor he could be out of a job tomorrow. If we can live off my wage, I know that we would be ok.

With my fortnightly pay, I have decided to have $200 to be transferred to another bank account as savings. I am hoping that eventually I can increase this savings but at the moment I am erring on the side of caution. Also, we need to learn to live on one wage.

http://resources2.news.com.au/images/2011/03/14/1226021/379598-pay-packet.jpg

I have decided to challenge myself by only giving me $50 for lunches.

http://currencyguide.eu/aud-en/aud50front.jpg

Yes, I know that is $10 per working day and it seems a lot but sometimes I go for lunch with friends and it can cost me $20. Sometimes I go out two or three times a week. I am starting to take lunch with me on a regular basis and will save what I have left over at the end of the week. Hopefully I will be able to save more money this way.

Have a great day and please have a look at Rhonda's blog, it is an amazing blog.

xxx

Fires

Hoping everyone is safe where there are fires. Thinking of you.

The wind is very strong here and we have small fires which were quickly put out.

Take care.

xxx

2013

Take two (or three)

Happy New Year everyone. I have tried at least three times to post this post but something has happened to my computer.

I hope you all had a great Christmas and are enjoying the new year.

My Christmas was very quiet, friends came to visit on Christmas eve with some of their boys. Christmas day was good, I had to wake the three boys to open their presents. Breakfast was the usual affair, then lunch and then went to other friends home for Christmas afternoon. Was very nice.

New year eve was also very quiet, DS1 went out (being 19 he went to a friend's house to bring in the New Year). The rest of us spent it at home, DS2 in his bedroom, DH playing a video game and me just watching TV. We did watch the fireworks together.

I had a few extra days off over the Christmas/New Year period, only went back to work today. I did go to Jervis Bay to visits some amazing people. Really enjoyed it.

That is enough for today. Will come back to write about what my plans are for this year.