I picked up this week's copy of That's Life magazine and thought I'd share some of their budgeting tips and some of my own I've acquired from other places.
1. Buy in BULK. For example buy beans and seeds in bulk. They recommend www.thebulkwarehouse.com.au for major brands for things like toilet paper but I also recommend santostrading.com.au/
2. Make things from SCRATCH. For example instead of buying spaghetti in a can... make it yourself!
3. Look out for SPECIALS. When the shop is trying to shift stuff out of the store and its something you regularly buy... buy lots but don't use it all at once!
4. Buy from the SOURCE. Go to the fruit and meat markets...
I know the one in Sydney is at Paddy's Market
http://www.paddysmarkets.com.au/opening_times.html
Also check out the farmers' markets in your area:
http://www.farmersmarkets.org.au/finder/nsw.jsp
http://www.organicfoodmarkets.com.au/Organic-Food-Markets.aspx
http://www.marketsandfairs.com.au/marketsnsw.html
5. GROW things yourself and share and preserve and share and sell the surplus. I've used Diggers Seeds and they worked a treat in a no dig garden. I used Esther Dean's methods and will do the same again.
6. Make a LIST of what you want to buy and stick to it. If you want something because you see it in the shop or catalogue. Write it down and think about it for at least 2 days. If you still want it then go ahead.
7. Leave you cards at home and pay for everything in CASH. This way you know where your money is going. Withdraw enough twice a month to cover the fortnight and a bit. This way you know you are surviving on $1000 a month or whatever you set your limit. Of course some things you have to buy online but limit these to electricity, mortgage, council rates and water.
8. Eat RAW FOOD and don't get sick. Being sick makes you less efficient, wastes time and is not nice! So eat well! Eat raw!
9. Make a Christmas and birthday list of gifts and cards you need ahead and buy ahead. Look for cheaper gifts for example a photo calendar, home-made gifts for children, photo jigsaw puzzles, a stationary set. Make a list of all the people you need to accommodate for Christmas and prewrite all their cards. Make a max spend for Christmas like $200 and stick to it. People want your time not your money you'll generally find.
10. Don't buy more STUFF! See if you can repair what you have, borrow from someone else, buy second-hand from a garage sale or make do with something else.
11. LOOK AFTER WHAT YOU HAVE. Maintain all your things so they don't go rusty and don't lose bits. Don't let the children play with more than three toys at once. Otherwise you'll find you're continuously losing pieces, things are getting left our in the rain or put in compartments of the car and forgotten about. Tidy everything up each night.
12. SHARE... if you have too many toys, clothes, furniture etc.... give it away on freecycle.org, share it with friends or through a network such as LETS, have a garage sale. Only throw it out if it is of no use to ANYONE! Don't contribute to landfill if you don't have to!
13. CLEAN CHEAPLY! You can clean just about everything with Vinegar, Eucalyptus oil, cloves, bicarb, and soap. For washing I just put a cap full of eucalyptus oil with the washing a few drops in the rinse so they all smell really nice and fresh. For washing the floor just use half a cup of vinegar. To clean all the bench tops and cupboards make up a spray bottle with vinegar and spray and wipe! To discourage roaches make a spray bottle with cloves that have been boiled with water and let cool. Clove oil is great to get rid of mildew smells.
14. Use you computer a cheap laminator. Make educational resources with your computer and a laminator. You can also make cards, keyring photos and many other things this way. Also, notices around the house to remind people how to save energy, menu plans, how to clean with earth friendly ingredients, and inspirational notes.
15. Research and ask for advice! Remember advice and information is generally FREE! Get advice first and you could save lots of money! This comes in handy when buying a car or house and also the best way to fix a blocked drain. Our drained blocked recently and not knowing much about plumbing with asked the next door neighbours first and discovered with just needed to take out the S-bend under the sink and get rid of all the gunk in there and reseal it with silicone and put it back. A ten dollar job if you do it yourself!
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