This week has been a busy one for both Darren and I. I've had a few big cleaning jobs and we're in the process of selling a car.
AND - I bought a new car. !!! After 6 years of saving and 22 months of waiting for my car to be made and delivered, I'm now the proud owner of a brand new Toyota Corolla. This car is so new that when I test drove a Corolla 22 months ago I was told that I'd be getting the upgraded version. No photos were available, no specifics about the new features, no idea of the NEW price and, the new model has not been available to test drive since I ordered it in June 2022.
So on Tuesday I went in to pick up my car and also to test drive it. It has whiz bang features ( in my eyes ) some of which I'll never understand or work out how to use. But it does run smoothly and there's nothing like the new car feeling.
I'm now 54 and this is only the third car I've ever owned. My first car was 28 years old when I traded it in for $100( plus a bonus plasma tv ) and bought a new Camry in 2008. This car still runs fantastically so Darren will now be driving it.
I've never had a car loan. Darren and I just work out when we think we'll need a new car and start saving for it. It's been a part of our budget every month since 2012. Next month we'll start saving for when the Camry needs replacing.
Here are the few ways we saved money this week -
* I picked a handful of feijoas each day that had fallen from our tree. Feijoas would have to be my all time favourite fruit and a wonderful childhood memory of my grandparents growing them too.
* I baked wholemeal bread with extra goodness.
* I've written a menu plan for the next 5 weeks. I made sure to use some of the meals already cooked and frozen as well as other meats that need rotating in the freezer.
* I filled up our compost bucket every couple of days. Darren empties it into our compost bin outside.
* Saved water in the kitchen and used it to water our pot plants outside.
* I picked a handful of beans and lots of pears from our garden.
* I baked rolls for Darren's work lunches.
* We've been using up some hotel bottles of shampoo, conditioner and shower gel.
* I spent time online looking for the best deal on car insurance. I saved $100 on the offer Toyota gave me plus another $100 approx in grocery savings by taking out insurance with Woolworths.
A few weeks ago Darren and I went to the Melbourne Flower Show. I've included a few photos below of some of the gorgeous displays.