We've had a shocker of a week here. You know how in most cases, situations have the potential to go belly up, but only comes close?,,,,well this week every thing not only went belly up...it laid on it's back and wanted a scratch as well!!!!
We had the lot....these covered our home in Qld, tenants doing a runner, maintenance needed, tax bills, gardening problems, work related issues.....by the end of the week we were just laughing ( not in the good way) as the news kept rolling in and rolling in and rolling in......
What do you do when you have a really bad experience? Do you believe retail therapy is the cure? A good stiff drink...or many??
I fortunately have 2 lads at home to keep me in line.We have our special needs boy who keeps me on the straight and narrow and reminds me that we have run out of biscuits for his cup of tea, and another son has caught a cold and feels that soup will cure him. Then (to remind us he's still around) ...My eldest rings from Afghanistan and puts in a request for tea bags as all the fellows there drink coffee, and he hates coffee.
By this stage the weeks bad news has pretty much stopped flowing in, hubby and I are over our hysterical mad laughter and realize...there's nothing we can do about all the bad news that come in, except scratch it's belly and get on with life.
So I did what was needed....went shopping for teabags to be mailed to Afghanistan, biscuits for middle lad, and bought chicken carcases for chicken soup.
I woke up this morning and was quite surprised to see the sun really was still shining.
I pulled all the chicken meat off the chicken carcass and will begin chopping veggies shortly. While I was doing this 1/2 doz magpies decided to serenade me outside the kitchen window. Do you think they know something?
I've checked my seedlings in the back yard and they seem to be growing as well.
All still seems to be well with the world.
.
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Teaching old dogs new tricks
We have recently moved into a rented house after living in the same home for over 10 years. I had forgotten how hard it is to not just do what you want, when you want. In our previous house (back in Queensland) we started our last garden on a sparse house block and managed to turn it into an oasis that had fruit trees, veggie patches, bird loving flowers and trees.It had little nooks and crannies and was really coming along.
We now find ourselves (for the next couple of years) having to live in the opposite side of Australia in a climate so foreign to us, we may as well be in another country. We are accustomed to huge rainfall and the issues that arise from this. We know how to avoid tropical pests and know how to take precautionary measures when a cyclone crops up.
Now we are re-learning the gardening tricks of our parents as we live in a climate now that has 4 seasons (not just wet or dry), and having to learn about a soil that has no guts to it at all, and seems to require tonnes of manure and composting matter.
Now as this house is not ours we don't really have a choice as to where we can plant things, and raised beds are out of the question, so this will be the first crop of veggies I will be giving a go. I've managed to pull the grass out of one designated area and sectioned off a few squares that I can plant in. We've pulled up a few pavers that was designed for the rubbish bins and found dirt underneath ; this today became another veggie patch. A bit more plant and weed thinning in the garden and we will be able to pop in a few more tomatoes amongst the azaleas :o)
It doesn't really matter where you live. The opportunity to grow a few veggies or herbs can present itself in so many ways. If you really cant plant in the garden you have, then try pots. These come in all shapes and designs, if you don't want to go to that expense then just plain broccoli boxes will do the job. All you really need is one or two tomatoes and your favorite herb to whet your appetite and soon there will be no stopping you.
We now find ourselves (for the next couple of years) having to live in the opposite side of Australia in a climate so foreign to us, we may as well be in another country. We are accustomed to huge rainfall and the issues that arise from this. We know how to avoid tropical pests and know how to take precautionary measures when a cyclone crops up.
Now we are re-learning the gardening tricks of our parents as we live in a climate now that has 4 seasons (not just wet or dry), and having to learn about a soil that has no guts to it at all, and seems to require tonnes of manure and composting matter.
 |
| This was only 1/4 of weeds |
 |
| Finished reclaimed garden beds |
 |
| Discovering dirt under pavers |
 |
| 2 new garden beds on either sides of pavers |
 |
| Discovering soil under weeds |
It doesn't really matter where you live. The opportunity to grow a few veggies or herbs can present itself in so many ways. If you really cant plant in the garden you have, then try pots. These come in all shapes and designs, if you don't want to go to that expense then just plain broccoli boxes will do the job. All you really need is one or two tomatoes and your favorite herb to whet your appetite and soon there will be no stopping you.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Be like the hummingbird
Sometimes knowing that you need to go on a budget can make you feel completely overwhelmed.
There is a story from Africa about a hummingbird. There in the forest begins a fire. Soon this fire becomes bigger and bigger, The animals all run away to the river and watch transfixed as the forest begins to burn. They are so consumed with fear that they just watch and do nothing.The fire of course continues to grow as no one does anything, fear has rooted them to the spot. The fire is coming closer and closer.
Suddenly a little hummingbird bird say "I'm not going to sit here, I'm going to do something about it" So this little hummingbird goes to the water and picks up a drop of water in his tiny beak. flies over to the fire and drops it. He then does this again, and again. Flying back and forwards trying to put out the fire one drop at a time. The other animals just watch him fly back and forth.
The animals watching (that are very large and could do a lot by helping) said to him. "Why do you bother, with your little wings and your little beak and the tiny amount of water that that you are dropping. You are hardly doing any good".
The little hummingbird turns to them and says "I am doing the best I can do".
No matter what the "fire" is. In order to put it out you need to start. Even if it is only one drop at a time. If your fire is a budgeting plan, or if you want to reduce some of your expenses by growing your own veggies or baking your own bread, you just need to start .
We all need to be like the little hummingbird and just keep trying. Sooner or later the "fire" will be put out. How soon depends whether or not we get help from others standing around.The support of family friends and in some situations community is what is standing between you and the "fire".
Do you have any tips to get people started on a budget? If your on a budget, how did you start? Was it hard to begin? I'd love to hear how others are going.
There is a story from Africa about a hummingbird. There in the forest begins a fire. Soon this fire becomes bigger and bigger, The animals all run away to the river and watch transfixed as the forest begins to burn. They are so consumed with fear that they just watch and do nothing.The fire of course continues to grow as no one does anything, fear has rooted them to the spot. The fire is coming closer and closer.
Suddenly a little hummingbird bird say "I'm not going to sit here, I'm going to do something about it" So this little hummingbird goes to the water and picks up a drop of water in his tiny beak. flies over to the fire and drops it. He then does this again, and again. Flying back and forwards trying to put out the fire one drop at a time. The other animals just watch him fly back and forth.
The animals watching (that are very large and could do a lot by helping) said to him. "Why do you bother, with your little wings and your little beak and the tiny amount of water that that you are dropping. You are hardly doing any good".
The little hummingbird turns to them and says "I am doing the best I can do".
No matter what the "fire" is. In order to put it out you need to start. Even if it is only one drop at a time. If your fire is a budgeting plan, or if you want to reduce some of your expenses by growing your own veggies or baking your own bread, you just need to start .
We all need to be like the little hummingbird and just keep trying. Sooner or later the "fire" will be put out. How soon depends whether or not we get help from others standing around.The support of family friends and in some situations community is what is standing between you and the "fire".
Do you have any tips to get people started on a budget? If your on a budget, how did you start? Was it hard to begin? I'd love to hear how others are going.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Shop free week...or how to save thousands
How many times a week do you go shopping ?
Do you pop into the store just to pick up one item and walk out with ten?
If you do you are sooooo normal.This I must admit is my weakness . In order to combat a habit I know can be destructive to my spending habits, I do what suits me and I hide. Yep, I hide from shopping...
I've found over the years that if I just stay away from the shops then there is a high chance that I will not spend....and therefore I save. Sound nuts??? I realize hiding is not suitable to many, but what I suggest you try is at least one week a month, rather than doing your weekly big shop, do not buy anything except for the necesities like bread or milk.( This does not mean chocolate!!!!! even though I realize it could come under that catagory) but for one week you just dont spend. This is when you clean out your fridge and make a stew or casserole with the nearly spent veggies, raid the pantry for items you bought and never used, dig to the bottom of your freezer and cook that mystery meat.It's an opportunity to de-clutter the cupboards and freezer.
If you generally spend $200 to $300 a week for your groceries, then on your shop free week only take $30 (or $50 to start) in cash with you to buy the necessities. This equates to a possible savings of $2200 to $3500 for the year. Could you use this money to pay off that Credit card? Put it towards those jobs around the house that have been just to expensive. Put it towards something that will help reduce more bills else where eg solar panels, water saving drip systems around your home or replace your electric water heater with gas. The ideas are endless. All you have to do is cut back one week a month on your grocery bills.
Of course if your grocery bills are higher then you will really save some dollars.
Have a go at this shop free week and let me know how you go. It's a great feeling regaining control of your money. I have done it for years and I know it works.
Do you pop into the store just to pick up one item and walk out with ten?
If you do you are sooooo normal.This I must admit is my weakness . In order to combat a habit I know can be destructive to my spending habits, I do what suits me and I hide. Yep, I hide from shopping...
I've found over the years that if I just stay away from the shops then there is a high chance that I will not spend....and therefore I save. Sound nuts??? I realize hiding is not suitable to many, but what I suggest you try is at least one week a month, rather than doing your weekly big shop, do not buy anything except for the necesities like bread or milk.( This does not mean chocolate!!!!! even though I realize it could come under that catagory) but for one week you just dont spend. This is when you clean out your fridge and make a stew or casserole with the nearly spent veggies, raid the pantry for items you bought and never used, dig to the bottom of your freezer and cook that mystery meat.It's an opportunity to de-clutter the cupboards and freezer.
If you generally spend $200 to $300 a week for your groceries, then on your shop free week only take $30 (or $50 to start) in cash with you to buy the necessities. This equates to a possible savings of $2200 to $3500 for the year. Could you use this money to pay off that Credit card? Put it towards those jobs around the house that have been just to expensive. Put it towards something that will help reduce more bills else where eg solar panels, water saving drip systems around your home or replace your electric water heater with gas. The ideas are endless. All you have to do is cut back one week a month on your grocery bills.
Of course if your grocery bills are higher then you will really save some dollars.
Have a go at this shop free week and let me know how you go. It's a great feeling regaining control of your money. I have done it for years and I know it works.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Stop paying someone else to do what you can do yourself.
The importance of living well on a budget may seem like an oxymoron.However it is very easy to do. The first thing you need to know is that it requires a bit of effort in the kitchen, and a bit of forethought and imagination when you are shopping.
The first rule of budgeting (for me) is to stop paying someone else to do, what I can do myself.
This quite simply will almost halve your monthly grocery bill as you wont be paying the extra costs in preparation.
You also have to be prepared to experiment and try new things in the kitchen. If you have ever watched the early shows of Vicar of Dibley; you may remember there was an old woman Leticia who was cooking these weird concoctions. I'm not advocating you cook what she cooked (as most things were inedible!!!) what I'm trying to encourage is the idea that something that you are not familiar with has the potential to be a great meal.
When I was shopping last I picked up a piece of lambs liver/fry. Now I know my husband isn't to keen on the idea, but tonight he will be having a go at this. I generally cook this for myself and the boys when hubby is working away. When I was small, my Mum used to fry up sliced pieces of "soft steak", make a mound of fluffy white mashed potato and serve with a rich black gravy made from the cooking pan scrapings.This was absolutely delicious.I'm sure it will be tonight.
To top off the budgeting feel, the piece of lamb's fry I bought only cost me $2 and the bacon is just a small packet also only worth less than $2 Between 4 adults...not to bad.
Here's my recipe if you want to try this
Fry up the bacon in a med pan, then put aside.
Slice the liver into thin slices.(We alternate between palm size slices or strips, depending on who's eating it)
Dust with plain flour (I have been known to add some dried herbs at this stage)
Put pan on med to hot and fry quickly to brown( too long makes it tough)then take off heat and put aside
To make the gravy add some water or stock to pan and scrape of the crunchy bits Add a little salt and pepper, extra herbs and some garlic if you like. If your gravy is a bit thin, mix some cornflour and water together then pour into gravy and quickly stir in.
Pop the liver and bacon back into the gravy and leave the flavours to mix all together. Keep warm. Pop in the oven or on the stove on the lowest setting. Make your mashed potato and green veg of choice and serve.
This is a surprisingly cheap and tasty meal.
The first rule of budgeting (for me) is to stop paying someone else to do, what I can do myself.
This quite simply will almost halve your monthly grocery bill as you wont be paying the extra costs in preparation.
You also have to be prepared to experiment and try new things in the kitchen. If you have ever watched the early shows of Vicar of Dibley; you may remember there was an old woman Leticia who was cooking these weird concoctions. I'm not advocating you cook what she cooked (as most things were inedible!!!) what I'm trying to encourage is the idea that something that you are not familiar with has the potential to be a great meal.
When I was shopping last I picked up a piece of lambs liver/fry. Now I know my husband isn't to keen on the idea, but tonight he will be having a go at this. I generally cook this for myself and the boys when hubby is working away. When I was small, my Mum used to fry up sliced pieces of "soft steak", make a mound of fluffy white mashed potato and serve with a rich black gravy made from the cooking pan scrapings.This was absolutely delicious.I'm sure it will be tonight.
To top off the budgeting feel, the piece of lamb's fry I bought only cost me $2 and the bacon is just a small packet also only worth less than $2 Between 4 adults...not to bad.
Here's my recipe if you want to try this
Fry up the bacon in a med pan, then put aside.
Slice the liver into thin slices.(We alternate between palm size slices or strips, depending on who's eating it)
Dust with plain flour (I have been known to add some dried herbs at this stage)
Put pan on med to hot and fry quickly to brown( too long makes it tough)then take off heat and put aside
To make the gravy add some water or stock to pan and scrape of the crunchy bits Add a little salt and pepper, extra herbs and some garlic if you like. If your gravy is a bit thin, mix some cornflour and water together then pour into gravy and quickly stir in.
Pop the liver and bacon back into the gravy and leave the flavours to mix all together. Keep warm. Pop in the oven or on the stove on the lowest setting. Make your mashed potato and green veg of choice and serve.
This is a surprisingly cheap and tasty meal.
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