July savings: $4045.74
Month savings: $4045.74
Total savings so far: $17,059.89
THERE have been some real ups and downs this month so we weren’t really sure what to expect until today.
We have had a few windfalls this month which have helped to boost the bottom line.
Jim’s tax return came back, I received some dollars for a small consulting job and a friend and I sold all the remaining items we had from a small side business.
None of these amounts were huge, but the old adage every little bit helps really rang true.
In the past where we had a windfall we always took that as permission to spend more, which we did. With great gusto, I might add.
One of the downs, that had us questioning what the bottom line would be, was an after hours call out to the vet, followed by some dental surgery for one of our dogs. Needless to say that we didn’t come away with much change from $1000, but we accept it’s one of the commitments to pet ownership. Still….Ouch on multiple levels!
Needless to say that we didn’t come away with much change from $1000, but we accept it’s one of the commitments to pet ownership. Still….Ouch on multiple levels!
Still ... ouch on multiple levels!
Shopping and gifts
We continue to really work hard at the thoughts behind the gifts we give.
Another child’s party and another trip to Blockbuster for a pre owned kids DVD for around $10. Tintin saved the day in so many ways.
I finally completed my nephew’s cross-stitch. So, it was definitely late, by a month or so, but I worked really hard at it and it came up surprisingly well.
I know it’s something that his mother can hold onto now and, hopefully, he will treasure as a gift from his aunty when he gets older.
I also made a gift for my sister’s birthday. I borrowed both my grandmothers recipe books and selected a few favourite recipes, including a couple from my great grandmothers, and, using a website, I created a beautiful printed, personalised recipe book. I even dragged out some old photos to include. I am really pleased with the finished product. I know my sister will love it and I certainly could not have bought it from a shop. It’s given me ideas for even more that I could create for other people.
I borrowed both my grandmothers recipe books and selected a few favourite recipes, including a couple from my great grandmothers, and, using a website, I created a beautiful printed, personalised recipe book. I even dragged out some old photos to include. I am really pleased with the finished product. I know my sister will love it and I certainly could not have bought it from a shop. It’s given me ideas for even more that I could create for other people.
I even dragged out some old photos to include. I am really pleased with the finished product. I know my sister will love it and I certainly could not have bought it from a shop. It’s given me ideas for even more that I could create for other people.
The website, If you feel inspired is: http://au.blurb.com
A very dear friend has an engagement party coming up soon so I had to give some thought as to what to do here. Without giving anything away (because I know she’s a fan ) let’s just say antiques provide me with endless sources of gifts. They are not new and don’t have to cost the earth. Once I got to searching the options I found a beautiful engagement present and my sister’s Christmas present.
Without giving anything away (because I know she’s a fan) let’s just say antiques provide me with endless sources of gifts.
They are not new and don’t have to cost the earth. Once I got to searching the options I found a beautiful engagement present and my sister’s Christmas present.
Even with all that shopping – we still managed to save money.
The Thrifty Family
We continue to try and be conscious of our spending on a day to day basis.
In the last week I have sewed up holes in socks and made minor repairs to Oscar’s school uniform. Unheard of in my past life, let me tell you.
The vegetable gardens are looking fabulous! At the moment we have broccolini, baby spinach, bok choy, beetroot, leeks, red onions, peas, garlic and carrots growing beautifully in the garden. We are all really looking forward to the day where we can walk out to the backyard and pick our own vegetables for dinner. Let’s not forget the olive trees either.
We are all really looking forward to the day where we can walk out to the backyard and pick our own vegetables for dinner. Let’s not forget the olive trees either.
Let’s not forget the olive trees either.
We are looking to put some new garden beds in around the backyard. Jim is intending on building these himself and we intend to plant them out with recycled rose bushes from my Nan’s garden. Even the plants won’t be new!
So what about the pool?
I have been asked by many people about the swimming pool and how the planning is going. I have to come clean. Now that we have come this far and have saved this much our thinking has changed. We don’t think we want a swimming pool!
I have to come clean. Now that we have come this far and have saved this much our thinking has changed. We don’t think we want a swimming pool!
Not only for the fact that Ballarat’s climate is probably not very conducive to an outdoor pool, but also the fact that there are significant ongoing costs associated with a pool. After all this hard work we just don’t know that we want to commit our hard earned and saved money on a hole full of water.
After all this hard work we just don’t know that we want to commit our hard earned and saved money on a hole full of water.
We just keep thinking of the endless possibilities of what we could do with that sort of money – great family holidays, landscaping, solar panels, the list goes on.
I think it’s fair to end this month’s blog by addressing some criticism that I have received, and I am sure is shared by retailers. I was reminded by a friend of mine recently that in a climate where people are losing their jobs and industries such as retail are finding things tough is it fair that I sit here encouraging people not to spend their money. Fair call.
I was reminded by a friend of mine recently that in a climate where people are losing their jobs and industries such as retail are finding things tough is it fair that I sit here encouraging people not to spend their money. Fair call.
As I said to him, I am not suggesting that people never buy anything or even never buy anything new. I think what we are doing as a family is to stop and think about where and how often we spend our money.
If the messages I get from others reading this blog are anything to go by I would suggest that even what we are doing is ‘not new’. Many are thinking of exactly the same things.
I also find myself having to remind people that businesses that deal in secondhand clothes, furniture, antiques, seedlings and video stores are local businesses too. We are STILL supporting our local retailers and businesses.
I cannot help but wonder that if we all did a little more thinking about what we really need and how often we spend money that, in reality, probably belongs to a bank wouldn’t we all be better off ? Just a thought….
S