wow this month has gone so fast. i cant believe i have only 3 days left of my month long $21 challenge. and I'm excited to say i did get the shopping in at just under $90 for 4 weeks shopping, not bad. mine you my freezer is extremely empty. i will be giving it a defrost and a clean for i restock it lol.
i have redone next months menu plan. and i have taken all the recipes out of the "symply too good to be true" recipe cook books. there all healthy low fat low sugar meals. I'm also going to keep a copy of the recipes in the folder with the menu plan and the shopping lists, to make it easier to find things.
I'm hoping to do a heap of baking to clear out my baking cupboard too. i want to try and start baking healthier snacks for the kids too. will post some more recipes when i do start baking them.
well i guess i should really go and do my house work, so i can free up some time to get back to making Christmas and birthday presents.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Home made all the way!!
Well Ive finally done it, Ive made some cloth pads, well 1 anyway lol, but now i know how to do them they wont be that hard to do. Ive posted some pics so you can see what it looks like. i love how it folds up.
ill post later on the instructions as to how to make them.
ill post later on the instructions as to how to make them.
now i just need to make a little bag to carry them in when I'm out.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Liquid Hand wash.
I made some Liquid soap the other day and i thought i would share it with you. the best part is i got 1.5 Litres of Liquid soap for free. i use a bar of soap i was given at a perfume party, and i used empty shampoo pump bottles. all it cost me was some time.
First of all, you need to grate up the bar of soap into a reasonable sized container.
after its blended you can put it into your dispensers. it will feel thick and slimy, but it works a treat, and smells lovely.
then add 6 cups of boiling water and stir.
once the soap has started to melt, and the mixture has started to cool, add your favorite essential oil. if you want to make anti bacterial soap, use tea tree oil.
make sure it is essential oil and not a fragrance oil.
after the solution cools down it will go to a solid mix. very thick and goopy. this is when you blend in the blender (you could also use a stick blender). it has to be totally cold when you do this.
after its blended you can put it into your dispensers. it will feel thick and slimy, but it works a treat, and smells lovely.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
$1000 down
well I'm excited to say that tonight i transfered $1000 to the Credit card. Yay!! so i now only have $4000 to find before Christmas. I am down for another shift this weekend, finger crossed i get one. and the following weekend i have a stall at a car boot sale. Kev also has someone coming to look at some car stuff which he has forsale, so hopefully combined we can come up with another $1000. will be very nice.
today i cooked up a bit of a storm. i made home made yoghurt, Anzac bickies, jelly, and marshmallows. most of which will be lucky to see the end of weekend lol.
Marshmallow
No cooking involved...making it very easy and quick.
Use electric beaters
6 tspn Gelatin
½ Cup Boiling Water
1 1/2 Cups Sugar
½ Cup Cold Water
1tspn Vanilla
Colouring as desired
Coconut
1. Lightly spray plastic container/mould with oil.
2. Dissolve gelatin in boiling water
3. Pour cold water and sugar into a large bowl. Beat for 1-2 minutes on high.
4. Add gelatin mix, vanilla and colouring.
5. Beat until thick, 9-10 mins. (Becomes thick quite suddenly)
6. Pour into prepared container.
7. Place in fridge to set.
8. When set use a wet knife to cut into squares. Roll in coconut.
9. Store in fridge
Anzac Biscuits
Ingredients
350g rolled oats
300g flour
550g sugar
175g coconut
1 tsp salt
350g margarine or butter
1/2 cup golden syrup
75ml boiling water
10g bicarb soda
Method
Combine flour, sugar, oats, coconut and salt. Melt margarine and golden syrup together and add to dry ingredients, then add boiling water and bicarb soda and mix well. With wet hands, roll mixture into balls, place on trays with room for spreading. Cook in moderate oven for 15 minutes or until golden brown. Let biscuits cool, then store in airtight container.
today i cooked up a bit of a storm. i made home made yoghurt, Anzac bickies, jelly, and marshmallows. most of which will be lucky to see the end of weekend lol.
Marshmallow
No cooking involved...making it very easy and quick.
Use electric beaters
6 tspn Gelatin
½ Cup Boiling Water
1 1/2 Cups Sugar
½ Cup Cold Water
1tspn Vanilla
Colouring as desired
Coconut
1. Lightly spray plastic container/mould with oil.
2. Dissolve gelatin in boiling water
3. Pour cold water and sugar into a large bowl. Beat for 1-2 minutes on high.
4. Add gelatin mix, vanilla and colouring.
5. Beat until thick, 9-10 mins. (Becomes thick quite suddenly)
6. Pour into prepared container.
7. Place in fridge to set.
8. When set use a wet knife to cut into squares. Roll in coconut.
9. Store in fridge
Anzac Biscuits
Ingredients
350g rolled oats
300g flour
550g sugar
175g coconut
1 tsp salt
350g margarine or butter
1/2 cup golden syrup
75ml boiling water
10g bicarb soda
Method
Combine flour, sugar, oats, coconut and salt. Melt margarine and golden syrup together and add to dry ingredients, then add boiling water and bicarb soda and mix well. With wet hands, roll mixture into balls, place on trays with room for spreading. Cook in moderate oven for 15 minutes or until golden brown. Let biscuits cool, then store in airtight container.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Week 2 $21 challenge
Wow its been a few days since i updated. Life has just been flying by. this week is week 2 of the $21 challenge.
The menu this week is
Monday - Sausages
Tuesday - toasted sandwiches
Wednesday - Macaroni Beef
Thursday - Steak and chips
Friday - Tuna pasta bake
Saturday - 2 min noodle quiche
Sunday - Hamburgers
Baking - Bickies, cakes, slices,
Shopping list
2 pkts pasta
ham
dishwasher tablets
marg
cream
tuna
milk powder
sliced cheese
10 kgs washed potatoes
2 kgs apples
1 leek
1/4 cabbage
celery
2 kgs tomatoes
1 kg carrots.
total $47.55
last week i spent $22.80
plus $47.55
total so far $70.35
goal for this month was $90
total left - $19.65 for the month.
Well I've been pushing pretty hard to get the last $5000 together that we need to pay off the credit card. I worked on Sunday night so that's about $300 added to the total, and i have some of the money I'm owed. plus the money i have saved from the shopping. total so far is around $1000. so $4000 left to find.
I'm going to a market in 2 weeks so i will try and sell as much as i can there. plus i am trying to do 1 shift a week. I have also got Kevin off his backside and starting to try and sell some of the cars and car parts he has. so i think if we both pull together we can do this.
Oh forgot to tell you, i made my first lot of icecream the other day. i made vanilla. it was so yummy, and so rich. took a little longer than i first thought but was worth it. although it only make 1 ltr at a time.
The menu this week is
Monday - Sausages
Tuesday - toasted sandwiches
Wednesday - Macaroni Beef
Thursday - Steak and chips
Friday - Tuna pasta bake
Saturday - 2 min noodle quiche
Sunday - Hamburgers
Baking - Bickies, cakes, slices,
Shopping list
2 pkts pasta
ham
dishwasher tablets
marg
cream
tuna
milk powder
sliced cheese
10 kgs washed potatoes
2 kgs apples
1 leek
1/4 cabbage
celery
2 kgs tomatoes
1 kg carrots.
total $47.55
last week i spent $22.80
plus $47.55
total so far $70.35
goal for this month was $90
total left - $19.65 for the month.
Well I've been pushing pretty hard to get the last $5000 together that we need to pay off the credit card. I worked on Sunday night so that's about $300 added to the total, and i have some of the money I'm owed. plus the money i have saved from the shopping. total so far is around $1000. so $4000 left to find.
I'm going to a market in 2 weeks so i will try and sell as much as i can there. plus i am trying to do 1 shift a week. I have also got Kevin off his backside and starting to try and sell some of the cars and car parts he has. so i think if we both pull together we can do this.
Oh forgot to tell you, i made my first lot of icecream the other day. i made vanilla. it was so yummy, and so rich. took a little longer than i first thought but was worth it. although it only make 1 ltr at a time.
Friday, October 8, 2010
I scream, you scream, we all scream for Ice Cream.
well yesturday we picked up the ice cream maker attachment to my kenwood. The kids are so excited. They wanted to try it then and there and were not happy when they were told it had to be put in the freezer for 24 hrs he he. I know it wasn't cheap, but even if we only use it once a week it will almost pay itself off by the time we start the challenge. Plus because its an attachment to my kenwood, i don't have and extra appliance to find room for. and it has given me an extra mixing bowl for my kenwood, so i can make more at the same time. which is really good.
I'm also starting to prepare my list of things i need to do or buy to be prepared for the challenge. i want rechargeable batteries, these will be used in anything that needs batteries. i also want battery operated fairy lights, to use in some rooms, to help cut out the need for using the lights.
i have to go through the kids clothes, and work out if they need anything from there. i don't think there's much there, but i will get rid of the stuff they have grown out of. the bonus is i don't think i even need to buy uniforms next year, which is a bonus. they don't even need school shoes. so my only school costs next yr are fees and books and excursions. oh i lie, i just realised Raymond will be going into grade 6 so i will have his grade 6 jumpers and shirts to get. bugger.
i will be spending a lot more time outside next yr, with friends and the kids. so for Christmas and my birthday which is very close to Christmas, for those that have asked what i want. i have asked if they could put in towards a nice outdoor setting for us all to use as a family, and if there's any left from that i will also like to get a porch swing. will do so nice sitting out on the swing with the kids, maybe reading a book, or watching them play on the tramp. see who needs to spend money to occupy the kids.
Well my veggie patch is up and going, so hopefully we can cut the food bills down even more by feeding ourselves from our own garden. will hopefully get more gardens beds done next yr. i want to try and grow as much as we can. i have a small green house, so will be growing my own seeds. i have my own compost, and will hopefully be making our own fertiliser soon too. (worms) I also have a heap of fruit trees, most are new but I'm hoping they will bare fruit this season. i also ready have plums growing on the established trees.
oh and one other thing i would like to source out before next yr is a Small 6x4 trailer. i want to be able to go and get things as i need them, instead of relying on other people to do it for me. but this needs to be cheap or free. so will keep my eye out.
well i better go and check on my veggies, and see whats growing.
I'm also starting to prepare my list of things i need to do or buy to be prepared for the challenge. i want rechargeable batteries, these will be used in anything that needs batteries. i also want battery operated fairy lights, to use in some rooms, to help cut out the need for using the lights.
i have to go through the kids clothes, and work out if they need anything from there. i don't think there's much there, but i will get rid of the stuff they have grown out of. the bonus is i don't think i even need to buy uniforms next year, which is a bonus. they don't even need school shoes. so my only school costs next yr are fees and books and excursions. oh i lie, i just realised Raymond will be going into grade 6 so i will have his grade 6 jumpers and shirts to get. bugger.
i will be spending a lot more time outside next yr, with friends and the kids. so for Christmas and my birthday which is very close to Christmas, for those that have asked what i want. i have asked if they could put in towards a nice outdoor setting for us all to use as a family, and if there's any left from that i will also like to get a porch swing. will do so nice sitting out on the swing with the kids, maybe reading a book, or watching them play on the tramp. see who needs to spend money to occupy the kids.
Well my veggie patch is up and going, so hopefully we can cut the food bills down even more by feeding ourselves from our own garden. will hopefully get more gardens beds done next yr. i want to try and grow as much as we can. i have a small green house, so will be growing my own seeds. i have my own compost, and will hopefully be making our own fertiliser soon too. (worms) I also have a heap of fruit trees, most are new but I'm hoping they will bare fruit this season. i also ready have plums growing on the established trees.
oh and one other thing i would like to source out before next yr is a Small 6x4 trailer. i want to be able to go and get things as i need them, instead of relying on other people to do it for me. but this needs to be cheap or free. so will keep my eye out.
well i better go and check on my veggies, and see whats growing.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
OAMC
It's been a couple of days since i posted. Had to have a tooth pulled out so haven't really been upto it. on the upside of it, it only cost me $24 to have it pulled out, at the community dentist. They were really nice, and tried to be as gentle as possible. Hopefully wont have any more dental problems during the no spend challenge.
Have been going really well, over the last few days. no one is starving, and i haven't spent anymore money. Today i cooked dinner, and made enough for tonight's dinner and have 2 more of the same meal in the freezer now. Doing this sort of thing makes it really easy, and is handy for nights your too tired, or not well. its a matter of taking it out of the freezer and reheating it.
In the past i have done a lot of this, and some months i will do a huge cook up on 1 or 2 days, and have nearly a months worth of dinners in the freezer. This is what we call once a month cooking (OAMC) i also do this with kids snacks, and school lunches. sometimes i will do a months worth of snacks and lunches and freeze them too. It makes it easy for me and the kids, and the kids can choose what they want.
were still working on getting that extra $5000 for the Credit card bill, so far we have $500 so were down to $4500. Kev was all for selling all that we can, but he still hasn't gotten off his backside to do anything about it. He wont like what i do if he doesn't he he. i will sell things he doesn't want sold lol. I have put in for some more work this weekend, so if that come through that will be more money towards the Credit card.
I worked out that to cover the $5000 we need to find or sell about $416 a week. at the moment were right on track. So if i keep this figure in mind, it will be a little easier to make up the money.
Have been going really well, over the last few days. no one is starving, and i haven't spent anymore money. Today i cooked dinner, and made enough for tonight's dinner and have 2 more of the same meal in the freezer now. Doing this sort of thing makes it really easy, and is handy for nights your too tired, or not well. its a matter of taking it out of the freezer and reheating it.
In the past i have done a lot of this, and some months i will do a huge cook up on 1 or 2 days, and have nearly a months worth of dinners in the freezer. This is what we call once a month cooking (OAMC) i also do this with kids snacks, and school lunches. sometimes i will do a months worth of snacks and lunches and freeze them too. It makes it easy for me and the kids, and the kids can choose what they want.
were still working on getting that extra $5000 for the Credit card bill, so far we have $500 so were down to $4500. Kev was all for selling all that we can, but he still hasn't gotten off his backside to do anything about it. He wont like what i do if he doesn't he he. i will sell things he doesn't want sold lol. I have put in for some more work this weekend, so if that come through that will be more money towards the Credit card.
I worked out that to cover the $5000 we need to find or sell about $416 a week. at the moment were right on track. So if i keep this figure in mind, it will be a little easier to make up the money.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Getting prepared
Well starting to get prepared for the no spend challenge next year. and as we've decided that we wont spend anything on shoes, i decided that we need to get some new ones. the kids were growing out of theirs, and they were broken, and i was about a year over due for a new pair myself.
so we went to a bata Factory outlet we found (in Carrum downs, Vic) and spend $137.00. that got us 6 pairs of shoes. 2 each for the boys, and 1 for Annalee, and 1 for myself. with the Raymond i got him one pair to fit now and one that's 1 size bigger to put away. James has just got new shoes for his birthday, so he got his 1 and 2 sizes bigger. so the bigger one will be put away. Raymond's shoes hes been wearing that hes growing out of will be put away for James too.
I still need to buy new School shoes for Annalee, as hers this year had to keep going back to be replaced because they were faulty. so the last time i took them back they gave us our money back. so still need to get her new ones. I would also like a pair of shoes for summer too, and that's all of us organised for shoes for the next year or more.
Will apdate later on with a full list of things i need to do to get organised.
so we went to a bata Factory outlet we found (in Carrum downs, Vic) and spend $137.00. that got us 6 pairs of shoes. 2 each for the boys, and 1 for Annalee, and 1 for myself. with the Raymond i got him one pair to fit now and one that's 1 size bigger to put away. James has just got new shoes for his birthday, so he got his 1 and 2 sizes bigger. so the bigger one will be put away. Raymond's shoes hes been wearing that hes growing out of will be put away for James too.
I still need to buy new School shoes for Annalee, as hers this year had to keep going back to be replaced because they were faulty. so the last time i took them back they gave us our money back. so still need to get her new ones. I would also like a pair of shoes for summer too, and that's all of us organised for shoes for the next year or more.
Will apdate later on with a full list of things i need to do to get organised.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Shopping Day
well went shopping today, after carefully looking at what we need. I spent a total of $22.80 so far. (i still need lettuce and strawberries) so shopping will come in under $30
So for this week the menu plan is (bare in mind im using up the dreggs from my freezer and that)
Monday - Sausages and veg
Tuesday - Pumpkin soup and damper
Wednesday - Macaroni beef bake
Thursday - Tinned spagetti on toast (cheat night)
Friday - Vegi and bacon pasta bake
Saturday - Kids - Pies, Adults - honey soy chicken and salad
Sunday - Roast chook.
Baking and school snacks - Bickies, cakes, yoghurt, donuts, muesli bars, slices, bread and damper. and what ever else i can make from the cupboard.
all i have to get from the shops was -
1 bag frozen vegi.
1 kg apples
2 tubs 500g marg
4 packets of jelly
1 can tom soup
1 600ml tub of cream
2 tins spagetti
1 kg pkt rice
500g pkt macaroni pasta
2 ltr vinegar
1l dishwashing liquid
1 pkt 16 toilet rolls.
still have to ge tthe lettuce and strawberries.
So for this week the menu plan is (bare in mind im using up the dreggs from my freezer and that)
Monday - Sausages and veg
Tuesday - Pumpkin soup and damper
Wednesday - Macaroni beef bake
Thursday - Tinned spagetti on toast (cheat night)
Friday - Vegi and bacon pasta bake
Saturday - Kids - Pies, Adults - honey soy chicken and salad
Sunday - Roast chook.
Baking and school snacks - Bickies, cakes, yoghurt, donuts, muesli bars, slices, bread and damper. and what ever else i can make from the cupboard.
all i have to get from the shops was -
1 bag frozen vegi.
1 kg apples
2 tubs 500g marg
4 packets of jelly
1 can tom soup
1 600ml tub of cream
2 tins spagetti
1 kg pkt rice
500g pkt macaroni pasta
2 ltr vinegar
1l dishwashing liquid
1 pkt 16 toilet rolls.
still have to ge tthe lettuce and strawberries.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
$21 challenge
Well i have decided to have a trial run of the no spend challenge now. i will allow spending to help get ready for next yr though. i have decided that i what to knock off the Credit card debt before Christmas. threes ruffly 12 weeks till Christmas and about $10,000 to pay off the card.
this sounds like an impossibility but its not. i have already budgeted for half this money, so its only about $5000 that i need to find.
so to start with I'm going to do a $21 Challenge. (that's just the name of the challenge) is basically about doing as little shopping as you can and living out of your pantry, freezer and fridge. The $21 was based on a family of 4, so i actually budget for $30.
so today i went through the freezer, pantry and fridge. and have made up a menu plan. i was shocked to discover that i actually have enough food in the house to do a whole month of challenges. so I'm going to try and stick to a monthly budget of $90. As my normal monthly shop is about $590 i will be able to put $500 away into the credit card. yay!!!.
So today i spent trying to get myself in order and my house, i took advantage of the lovely sun today and got 4 loads of washing done and dried. Yay no dryer needed. you see one of the tricks to pulling off these challenges is to get yourself organised, the rest just falls into place.
so tonight i have cooked a cake, a big batch of bickies and i have yogurt on the go in the yogurt maker. all these will be included in the kids school lunches.
I'm going to do some more baking tomorrow and this will be put in the freezer for the kids for lunches as well as after school snacks.
this sounds like an impossibility but its not. i have already budgeted for half this money, so its only about $5000 that i need to find.
so to start with I'm going to do a $21 Challenge. (that's just the name of the challenge) is basically about doing as little shopping as you can and living out of your pantry, freezer and fridge. The $21 was based on a family of 4, so i actually budget for $30.
so today i went through the freezer, pantry and fridge. and have made up a menu plan. i was shocked to discover that i actually have enough food in the house to do a whole month of challenges. so I'm going to try and stick to a monthly budget of $90. As my normal monthly shop is about $590 i will be able to put $500 away into the credit card. yay!!!.
So today i spent trying to get myself in order and my house, i took advantage of the lovely sun today and got 4 loads of washing done and dried. Yay no dryer needed. you see one of the tricks to pulling off these challenges is to get yourself organised, the rest just falls into place.
so tonight i have cooked a cake, a big batch of bickies and i have yogurt on the go in the yogurt maker. all these will be included in the kids school lunches.
I'm going to do some more baking tomorrow and this will be put in the freezer for the kids for lunches as well as after school snacks.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Get aways
with 3 kids its almost a need sometimes to get away. but on a no spend challenge its not allowed. or so i thought.
i have a massive tent in the shed, portable toilet, and other camping stuff. i also have the use of the scout trailer and other camping equipment. so i figure i might try and find some free camping sites. hopefully with running water, and a toilet would be a bonus. if in the weeks prior to going away i try to save as much fuel as i can, the money i would put into fuel can go into fuel to go away. then all i need is food, which i would have anyway. so it ends up being a free trip.
the kids and i would go for walks, maybe ride bikes, look out for wildlife. we can even work on badge work for scouts. one place i looked at even had a water fall, or we could go somewhere where there is a creek to swim in. Evenings we could sit and chat, play board games, play other games. and just enjoy the fresh air.
i hoping to get away in January, and maybe again in the Easter holidays.
i have a massive tent in the shed, portable toilet, and other camping stuff. i also have the use of the scout trailer and other camping equipment. so i figure i might try and find some free camping sites. hopefully with running water, and a toilet would be a bonus. if in the weeks prior to going away i try to save as much fuel as i can, the money i would put into fuel can go into fuel to go away. then all i need is food, which i would have anyway. so it ends up being a free trip.
the kids and i would go for walks, maybe ride bikes, look out for wildlife. we can even work on badge work for scouts. one place i looked at even had a water fall, or we could go somewhere where there is a creek to swim in. Evenings we could sit and chat, play board games, play other games. and just enjoy the fresh air.
i hoping to get away in January, and maybe again in the Easter holidays.
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