Checklist: 20 EASY ways to change you financial status NOW

1. Print your bank statements 
Keep all your receipts for a fortnight or month and find out what your money is really being spent on. Coffees, snacks, taxi fares you may be shocked how much is you could be saving if only you were a little bit more organised

2.Set up a table income vs expenditure 
Find out if you are actually saving or just making ends meet-or worse

3. Work out where you can save money.
Consider;
-The day you fill up your car
-Where you buy your food from
-Latest product offers available eg car insurance
-Interest rates and fees on credit card
-Bank fees for savings accounts
-Home loan comparisons
-Takeaway food
-Clothing
-Gifts
-Travel
-Phone
-Internet

4. Put the necessary changes in place and set yourself a budget. 
You might find it easier to deduct fixed automatic costs first such as mortgage/rent then calculate what is left to pay the rest of your living costs and work from there. eg Income $500 a week, rent $100 a week so $400 leftover in a budget each week to buy food, petrol etc.

5. Organise your wardrobe and pantry 
 If you can clearly see what you have you won't end up buying things that you do not need.

6. Regularly check your tyre pressure. 
Having properly inflated tyres will allow your car to run effectively, saving you on petrol and having to replace your tyres sooner than necessary.

7. Menu plans your meals from pay to pay. 
Write a list and stick to it so there is no food wastage or impulse buying.Try to get creative and see if you can have a no spend week where you are forced to use up whatever food is in your fridge or cupboard

8. Buy in bulk and freeze food. 
Get your groceries through wholesalers who deal in large portions and cut up into meal portions yourself and freeze. You'll save a tonne of money.

9. Familiarize yourself with discount buying sites 
Groupon or Scoopon are fantastic. You will save big on holidays, electrics and other big bargains. There are so many sites, just sign up to a newsletter via email and have daily deals sent to you.

10. Pay your bills on time.
 Most companies, particularly utilities such as gas and electricity, will offer a discount for accounts paid on time. Consider paying a bit each pay direct from your account so you don't have to find a lump sum at the end of the quarter

11. Find your money.
Lot's of people have unclaimed money in dividends and super. Do a search of your name on Money Smart to see if there is anything owing to you.

12. Re-evaluate your lifestyle. 
 Does your car serve its purpose? eg. You have a 4wd for driving to and from the city but never go off road? Would a more economical smaller car suit your lifestyle? How much alcohol and what type do you drink on the weekend? Would you benefit from joining a team sport for social interaction and better health?

13. When not in use turn all appliances off 
Switch off and unplug at the powerpoint.  It could save you up to $200 a year.

14. Get any leaking taps fixed.
 It may be a drip, but it all adds up at the end of the quarter

15.Smart savings 
If you have a home loan keep your savings in an offset account. It will help reduce the interest on your loan.

16. Where possible make extra repayments on your home loan.
 Even most fixed rates will allow a certain amount extra paid off over the year. Use the bank's online extra repayment calculators to help you work out how much you can save in interest and how many years you can knock off your loan. Check that you have a redraw facility with your bank so that if you fall into hard financial times you can get the money back without penalty.

17. Learn to say no. 
 It's often hard to save when you have offers of birthday parties, nights out on the town or you are desperate for a holiday. These are only short term problems and a week later will be forgotten about. There is nothing wrong with taking care of yourself. 

18. Share house. 
It's a daunting thought for some people but all in all it's hardly ever that bad provided you start out the right way. There are plenty of sites such as Gumtree or Easy Room Mate or Share Accommodation where you can set up a profile to dictate exactly what you are offering or looking for in a potential housemate. Make sure you are clear about it. Don't try and dodge people's feelings as it will only flare up later when tensions are already possibly high. I have done this many times over the years and only two flatmates (out of thirty odd) turned out to be not so wonderful.

19. Clear out your spare room or shed. 
Remember your trash could be someone else's treasure and earn you some extra dollars.

20.Change your credit card. 

If you have credit cards with balances, look into rolling them over on to another card as a balance transfer. You will be charged a dramatically reduced interest rate over a longer period of time and save a lot in interest charges. Do a comparison of cards over the net. Some are currently even doing a 0% interest balance transfer for 12 months. Just make sure you cut up the card you transfer it from to avoid further debt.

Inexpensive ways to make your life better

Life can drain us sometimes so it is important to do what we can just to make it that little bit better. Here are some inexpensive ways to perk up your day.

1. Burn oils or scented candles in your home. 
Try lavender for relaxation, rosemary for concentration or lemon and ylang ylang for a refreshing homely feel


2. Declutter your home  
One room at a time. Having clear space will allow you to relax better (and find things). As you begin to declutter keep a notepad handy to write down things you need to help you stay organised - eg a key hook for car keys, folder for tax documents and pen holder.


3. Indulge in homemade
Try a  homemade honey, cinnamon and nutmeg facial mask. Equal parts of each. 1 teaspoon per person. Rinse off and moisturise if needed. Make sure while the mask is on to wear a towel around your neck to catch any drips. Great also for clearing pimples or as an exfoliant.

4. Get outside. 
Take a walk and get the blood pumping. Exercise release the feel good hormones called endorphins and you can never get enough of those!

5. Play music.
 Just about any low mood can be lifted with favourite track. Combine it with exercise and you will be feeling doubly good.

6. Change your bedsheets. 
There is nothing better than hopping into a fresh clean bed. Invest in a good quality pillow to help you off to dreamland zzzzzz.

7.Surround yourself with colour.  
Colour inspires things in us. Blues and greens calm, bright red can evoke aggression, deep red passion. If you can't paint, use things such as plants, home decor or artwork to bring in colour.

8. Spend time with animals.
There is long standing evidence to suggest that having animals or pets increases our longevity and can also help to reduce stress levels so go take Fido to the local park or beach.

9.Re evaluate your finances. 
There is nothing worse than having no idea where your money is going and it can cause a lot of stress. Set a budget and shop around for the best deals on your household bills. What you have leftover could be used towards a holiday!

10. Phone or get together with a friend. Too often we rely on texts or social media to be updated on someone's situation. Get connected properly and see how much more fulfilled you both feel

11. Quit smoking. 
If you have already, well done, or if you never did, congratulations. But for those of you that haven't yet, consider why not. As soon as you stop smoking, within 20 minutes your health will begin improving as your body begins the work to reverse the effects. You will feel better, look better, smell better and probably have more money. What's not to like?

12. Get more sleep.
Turn off and unplug all electrical items and artificial light in your bedroom. Artificial light and the electrical currents have been known to interfere with getting restful sleep. Try reading before bedtime instead of watching TV. You could also try going to bed and getting up at the same time every day. It helps promote restful sleep.

13. Have a cold shower. 
After having your normal shower, just before you step out blast some cold water over your body. It will do two things; increase your circulation for good blood health and it will also make you feel warm when you step out.

14. Drink more water. 
Water has so many health properties for our bodies.The can help flush out toxins from our bodies, boost our metabolism and keep us hydrated. It is important to remember that once we feel thirsty we are already dehydrated. Also we often mistake hunger when in actual fact we are thirsty hence drinking more water can prevent us from overeating.

15. Get some sun. 
Being low in Vitamin D can affect our moods big time. Just remember to be sun smart.

16. Do something for someone else. 
It will help them feel better but it will always make you feel better. Everybody wins.

17. Stretch. 
Stretching releases tension, keeps you flexible, helps prevent muscle injuries and feels great. Why not?

18. Meditate for five minutes a day. 
Five minutes is basically a blip in your day, so just close your eyes, breathe deeply and try to not let your mind flit to other things. Try it and see the difference it makes.

19. Stop procrastinating. 
Face something head on that you have long been avoiding. Whether is be a tricky conversation, asking for a promotion or just tackling the jungle that is your backyard. Procrastination gets you nowhere and you will probably feel a lot better after getting it done.

20.Learn to say no. 
We often become tired and stressed trying to keep up appearances or make other people happy. Let me just say as a mother, you cannot help others without helping yourself. Take a break. It's okay to make yourself a priority every once in a while.

"Don't be so busy gardening you don't have time to smell the roses. "

Fast beauty fixes that are living in your cupboard

Does your medicine cabinet bulge with all the different potions and lotions, treatments and fancy pants make up products?

Mine did. Then I found some brilliant products that didn’t break the bank and most of them are in my pantry or fridge!

 

 

CINNAMON

Make a face mask with equal parts of cinnamon, nutmeg and honey. Powerful ingredients to draw gunk out of the skin and the nutmeg provides a great exfoliate while the honey moisturizers. Just make sure you take it off your face gently with a warm washcloth. Use approx. once a week

BI CARB

• Fix a greasy scalp get some bi carb and sprinkle in your hair. It soaks up and the grease and gets rid of any odour. Kind of like dry shampoo!
• Short term deodorant. Keeping a box of bi carb in your car can be incredibly useful. Not only will it help reduce odour in the car but its there when you need a bit of a freshen up! Dust lightly under arms

LEMON JUICE

• Get  rid of tan lines, especially on the hands, elbows and knees. Soak a cotton ball in fresh lemon juice and apply to the area you want to make less orange and the lemon juice will bleach it back saving you from a tanning disaster.
• Want to lighten your hair but don’t want the harsh chemicals? Well if you already have blondish hair, you can. Lemon Juice is nature’s bleach. Squeeze some lemons in to a bowl pour it in to a trigger spray and spray on dry hair.  Stand out in the sun for about ½ hour or longer depending on what result you want. Now it isn’t as obvious as bleach but it does brighten your locks right up!

 

VASELINE

• Make teeth shiny
• Use to prevent chafing by applying to the area that can become aggravated,
•  Lip balm or even to smooth over those unruly eyebrows.
• Mix it in with eyeshadow you can also create a liquid eyeshadow and help it bind better to the eyelid. Only mix a bit as you use it not the whole lot at once as it could go off or breed bacteria.

 

 

SORBELENE

• Moisturiser
• Make up remover
• After sun balm to prevent peeling
• Soap alternative

 

 

OLIVE OIL

• Treat feet by cleansing/ exfoliating first (can be done with cinnamon mask) smother feet in olive oil and wrap in glad wrap, pop on some socks are leave overnight. Nice soft tooties in the morning!
• Treatment for dry hair by leaving in overnight on the ends of the hair. Make sure you use HOT water to rinse out properly.
• Skin moisturiser
• Use it before a shower to prevent skin from getting dried out from the water
• Mix up some soft brown sugar with olive oil to make a great body exfoliant

 

BABY SOAP

• Helpful in getting rid of acne on an oily face. Wash face on a daily basis and use minimal moisturiser
• Bleeding nails can be stopped by putting a chunk of soap on the affected area. Same goes for shaving cuts

 

 

TEA TREE OIL

• Antiseptic for cuts and helps them heal
• Spot treatment for pimples
• Anti fungal to treat athletes foot
• Add to bath to help deal with body odour
• Use on scalp to help dread dandruff
• Relieve insect bites

 

 

HAIRSPRAY

• Help stop runs in stockings
• Fix hair in place
• Spray over foundation to make it set (this is entirely optional please consider the fumes)
• Help nail polish set

 

 

SANDPAPER

• Use fine sandpaper to file callouses off your feet
• Rub the soles of new sandals to get grip on them

So next time you have a beauty drama...... just look in the cupboard.

A Stay At Home Mum never clocks off- Organisational tips for the busy mum

A Stay At Home Mum never clocks off

Your hair is plastered across your face, toddler hanging off your leg and  your teenager is yelling at you for making them get off Facebook. Sound familiar?

You look though the kitchen window and see your husbands car pull up in the drive. He steps out of the car.

It's like a halo surrounds him, angels are singing.... you are finally going to get a break!

Ouch!!!!

That is reality hitting you in the face.

 

What really happens is  that he walks in the door, letting the dog barge in complete with dirty paws. He kicks off his shoes  and smelly socks and flops of the couch, remote in hand and begins to complain about how tired  and hungry he is.   You sigh to yourself. Sleep-ins, relaxation and quiet moments of reflection   are about as real as magical cleaning fairies and um... flying pigs.

Want some time to yourself?  Huh? What’s that? Oh Never mind….

Without giving your man a good kick up the bum (or having a nervous breakdown) here are some ways to help you lighten the load. Just remember NOT to share them with hubby should you ever go back to work. You will have a little bit of joy inside you watching him struggle when HE thought you had it easy. He he he

Gett your home as low maintenance and as organised as possible.

This means:-

HOME

• Pavers/Concrete/Potplants
• Less to weed, water or mow.
• Carpet (if no pets that drop a mountain of hair) or floorboards/tiles for easy vacuuming of the presents from your 4 legged cousin ITS.

CLEANING

• Storage tubs/ toy nets. The easy way to throw everything in and put it in a cupboard. Clutter? What clutter?
• Minimal horizontal surfaces means less dumping stations for others. Get rid of excess furniture, shelving and ornaments. Keep things only that have either beauty, value or serve a purpose in your home.
• Frames on walls rather than on surfaces etc.  Yay to  Less dusting!
• Fandangle vacuum cleaner so you don’t need to go over the same spot again and again and ….well again.
• Get that dishwasher you have always been wanting. Massive time saver
• Depending on the age of the child, a baby carrier. I personally love the Ergobaby. Whack it on your back with bubba in and off you go! Vaccuming, shopping, mowing…. Ok probably not mowing, I’m fairly sure grass isn’t on their list of vital nutrients.
• Also make the time on the weekend  to do a really big cleanout( or maybe a school day so the kids don’t realise you threw donated/sold half their toys and clothes.

WASHING

• Choosing and buying clothes for the family that require minimal ironing
• Make it clear clothes washing happens once a week only and that it won’t be washed if it doesn't make it to the basket on its own accord (might have to be a bit flexible with the kids)

MISCELLANEOUS STUFF

• Key Hooks with a shelf for the wallets, glasses etc right near the door ( some “everything has a home” training may be required)
• Ensure family has enough clothes to get them through a week without you washing
• Organiser tray for mail in, mail out, bills to pay, for filing
• Whiteboard and corkboard for children’s school notices, must remembers and well something to doodle on while you are hold to the phone company for an hour
• Calendar for all those doctors appointments, excursions etc
• Cash tin for last minute canteen lunches, bus money or casual day gold coin donations (or donations to the stressed out mum foundation)
• Get yourself some nice walking shoes. (Well if you can’t fit in the gym 3x a week you might as well have some nice shoes to run your errands in to burn those calories)

FOOD/COOKING

• Invest in a slow cooker and get your google on, finding recipes that you can pop in the cooker and walk away- yep all the way to the nail salon!
• Cook in bulk once a week and freeze so you can have a few re-heat nights. If you pull it out an hour or two before hubby gets home he will be none the wiser. Think lasagne, curry, bolognaise, apricot chicken, casseroles. You can also makes cakes/slices and freeze in cut portions for kids lunchboxes.
• Get your login for Coles and Woolworths and order your groceries online and pick them up or have them delivered to your door for roughly an extra $9.00

MUM’S TAXI

• Try car pooling with other mums for the soccer matches  or school pick ups
• Get the kids involved in  cleaning the car for pocket money ( or maybe if they would like to eat for the next 5-10 years)
• Fill up the car every time you see fuel cheap – the money you save can be spent on … well you. After all you deserve it supermum!

BILL PAYING

• Use internet banking and make full use of direct debiting. Even if you direct debit a chunk of money to your power bill each month you may have nothing left to dash to the post office to pay in the quarter.
• Most private health claims can be done online as can Centrelink queries

RUBBISH

• Get scented bin liners. That way if you haven’t had a chance to empty it yet at least hubby won’t be alerted by the bad smell
•  If you have a fireplace, stuff all your paperwork/tissues in it.  You’ll have your fire almost set to warm up the house and you won’t have to empty the bin as often. WINNING!

But if none of these work- I suggest:

•  Becoming a REALLY bad cook. If your food is inedible he might just get up off his bum and cook something himself.
• Let the kids scream through his favourite TV show and pretend you are in a coma, maybe he will put them to bed
• Cry. Lots of big drippy tears. Men hate that and will look for a way to get away from it. Maybe even go do the dishes???
• Hide his Jack Daniels and then use as a reward for good behavior. You might have to hide the keys too so he cant drive off to get more...

Deep breaths and good luck...

TOP TEN WAYS TO SAVE ON ELECTRICITY- That you probably haven't done yet!

1. Find out also what are your peak and off peak times and use what you can in off peak time.
2. Contact a electricity comparison company to ensure you are getting the best rate.
3. Install air-conditioner on shaded side of house so it doesn't have to work as hard to cool down
4. Purchase a electricity usage device from Bunnings to track what each appliance is using
5. Change filters on air-conditioners and exhaust fans regularly so that they are working effectively
6. Check your fridge seals to make sure fridge isn't working overtime to keep groceries cool
7. Double glaze the windows on the house. If you cant afford to do all windows, consider getting done the ones that face the summer sun.
8. Have your house  professionally checked for gaps that let air escape and consider getting them sealed for a big saving
9. Invest in a kettle with a warm setting so you are not reboiling water each time you make a coffee
10. Use power saver adaptors turn off the power at the source for standby  appliances such as tvs without affecting the use of the remote.

6 Ways to Make Some Extra Cash WITHOUT any special talent

1. Learner Driver Passenger

Got a bit of extra time and a full driver’s license? Use your time helping teens get their  driving  hours up for their logbooks. You could either get them to drive their car (or their parents) so you aren’t paying the insurance for under 25s or if you have the insurance, use your own. You aren’t acting as an instructor, rather just accompanying them like their parents would outside of professional lesson. Advertise on free sites like www.gumtree.com.au, Facebook or put flyers up in your local area.

2.Training buddy

Like to keep fit and work out? Lots of people want someone to train with someone so they stay motivated or are not as self conscious in a gym. Hiring a  pricey personal trainer for every session is always practical so consider renting  yourself out as  fitness buddy for regular gym workouts, spotting etc You get to train and get a small wage and may even make a lifelong friend.

3.Freelance Removalist

If you own a ute or trailer consider putting an add up to help people move house on the weekends or take away their rubbish for a fee. The amount of people that  also want to pick up second hand furniture but do not have the means or are unable to back a trailer is extremely common and if your rates are reasonable you are likely to get a lot of work. Advertise locally so you can manage your fuel costs better and keep your price down.

4. Sell Your Excess Fruit and Vegetables 

Do you have a veggie garden out the back that is overflowing with produce? Put them in freezer bags and  place a sign out the front of your house and sell cheaper than the supermarket. A packet of freezer bags is about 60 cents so if you sell your excess produce for a few dollars you just might do quite well! If it’s going to be a regular thing be sure to let the people who visit know and could  get their email address to let them know what you have excess of another time.

5.Census Collector

I did this last year in the NT counting the homeless. The first time it has ever been done. The money was good and the work was pretty simple. Just sitting down and assisting people to fill out the census form. Depending on the region you may just be required to drop off and pick up census forms. There is opportunity of travel to remote areas and a chance to get  a longer term of contract of work as they often need a few people to assist in planning meetings and data entry.

6. Nightclub photographer

You’ve’ seen the pictures on Facebook of plastered girls and guys with a wardrobe malfunction or  a gorgeous ‘selfie”  only to be destroyed by the idiot taking a whizz in the background. Why not offer a service to follow the girls around town and photograph their night for them? This is particularly good for significant birthdays such as 18ths, hens or bucks nights. All you really need is an iphone and a tolerance for drunks.

 

10 things we want to do help our kids financially while keeping them grounded

Before we decided to get pregnant my partner and I would talk in length about how we would raise our children and what we expected out of being parents. It was incredibly important to us that we didn’t raise “brats.”

We had seen so many people shower their children in presents, money, expensive technology and junk food only to have an expectation from the child for that was to be the norm and who were essentially, ungrateful.

Our lives were  fairly intense as far as responsibility went for our generation (GEN Y). I was helping around the house cooking and cleaning as part of my contributions from aged seven and  earned my allowance of  $20 for cleaning our larger than average house from top to bottom each week.  I was also responsible for taking care of my menagerie of animals.

My partner's childhood responsibilities were even tougher.He was working on his parents mango farm earning $10 a season for picking and also was going out hunting  to get dog meat from five years old. He used a  308 rifle to make his first kill at age thirteen. 

As you can imagine we don't want it quite this extreme for our own children. We want them to still very much be kids. So we discussed our feelings in length and came up with this list to strike our desired balance.

• Each time our children want something new, they must find two things in their collection that they are willing to part with to charity
• Each month, help them choose what charity they wish to donate a percentage of their allowance to 
•  Give them a piggy bank for spending money and bank account for saving money early on.
• Involve them in cooking early  and have responsibility for age appropriate household chores.
•  Teach them to budget, compare pricing and negotiate the final cost.
•  Encourage any entrepreneurial inspiration
• Match whatever contribution they make towards a savings goal up to a certain amount.
•  The opportunity to live at home as long as they need to, in order to save for their first home.  We will charge them board but put away a percentage into an account to  give them later to put towards their deposit. ( they will not be aware of this until it come time to purchase a house so that their motivation is theirs alone.)
• Provide them with experiences such as extra curricular activities and travel to expand their awareness of opportunities and to expose them to people in harder times than themselves
• Fill their lives with positive role models and share stories of the "underdogs" of personal and financial success.