More Side Hustles That Earn Extra Money

 Following on from the article I wrote a few weeks ago, I have more side hustles to share.    Earning this extra money has really helped us when areas of our budget were really tight.  Gift giving and holidays are two areas that quite often benefit from my side hustles.   

*  I dig up raspberry plant runners from our garden and sell them in Spring / Summer.  I sell them for $8 but their retail value is $15.  I also give some as presents and the money I've allocated for that present  is put into other areas of our budget.

*  I've been hired for serving food at functions.  I have a cleaning client who has quite a few family occasions.  She hires me to makes sausage rolls,  slices and other treats and also pays me to serve and clean up afterwards.

*  I've done babysitting for friends.  This isn't something I've done often,  but it has paid well.

*  Mending can be a great way to earn good money and isn't too time consuming.  I've hemmed jeans,  curtains and school dresses for friends.

*  There can be a real market for home baked goods.  One of my cleaning client asks for homemade muffins a few times a year.  She has them for her morning teas and gives some to visiting grandchildren.  Occasionally she asks for mini quiches and sausage rolls too.

*  I've sold bottles of Miracle Spray to a few people.

*  I sell lots of handmade items.  These include hand knitted dish cloths,  microfibre / flannelette cleaning cloths,  Christmas decorations,  beaded angels,  bath bombs,  bookmarks,  hanging hand towels ( lots and lots of these over the years ),  decorated hand towels,  gift tags and fridge magnet pegs.

*  I've run craft afternoons showing people how to make the beaded angels.  At these afternoons I also sell the kits.

*  Darren regularly mowed the lawn of a friend many years ago.  

*  Darren has completed online surveys years ago to earn a little extra pocket money.

 LINKS -

Earn Extra Money With Side Hustles 

Hand knitted dish cloths

Mini quiches for a friend

Hand towel and soap gift sets

Homemade relish

Beaded angels.

Do you have any side hustles that earn you a little money ?

My Menu Plan For Oct / Nov 2024

 After the latest round of media stories,  I thought it was time I shared our latest menu plan.  Many people on social media thought we didn't eat meat.  Others thought we had a high carb diet or didn't eat at all.  It was quite hilarious to read so many assumptions.

We eat meat most nights of the week and while there's not a lot of meat in the meals,  it's still there,  we can taste it and see it.

It's hard to explain everything in our menu plan,  the cost of each item,  when I bought it and how much I use,  but I will explain a few things.

*  Legs of lamb were bought earlier this year from Tasman Meats.  They were $7.99kg and I think I bought 3 or 4 legs.  The butcher was quite happy to cut them in half for me and wrap them up.  I cook legs of lamb in the slow cooker and a full leg won't fit in.  I used leftover grocery money I'd been saving for a sale like this.  It's called my grocery slush fund.

*  Chicken drumsticks were also bought from Tasman Meats when they had them for $1.99kg last month.  I bought 10 kilos and portioned them up into meal sizes and froze them.  

*  The chicken dump bags are drumsticks in a snap lock bag with diced veggies,  liquid chicken stock,  sauces and seasonings. I did these meals in bulk when I bought the drumsticks.   I defrost the meal in the fridge then ' dump ' it all into a casserole dish and cook it in the oven.

*  The fish we eat is Woolworths Basa fillets.  The current price is $8 for 1 kilo.  I coat them in seasoned flour then pan fry in a tiny bit of oil.  I also cook them in the oven in foil with seasonings.

* Tuna casserole,  tuna pasta bake and Massaman beef curry are the only meals that use tinned soup,  ready made pasta sauce ( I mix it with a tin of tomatoes to stretch it out ) or a packet of seasoning.  I buy these items because that's the recipe,  it tastes better or it works out cheaper.   Everything else is completely made from scratch.

*  Many of the meals are made in bulk,  portioned out and frozen for future menu plans.  For example,  lasagne costs about $20 to make.  I get 12 serves from my big dish.  Even more if I use TVP and add extra veggies to the sauce.  I only need to make lasagne twice a year and I always have the ingredients on hand.  I don't go out and buy it all in one hit when it's on the menu and we don't eat it day after day until it's gone. 

*  We grow many of our veggies and freeze excess.  We eat in season too.

*  " Get Your Own " on the menu means we can eat whatever is in the house.  That might be leftovers,  bits and pieces from the freezer or something simple like pancakes,  toasted sandwiches,  soup,  eggs on toast or ' wing wong for a goose's bridle " as my mother in law would say.

*  Sometimes we move the meals around if our plans change.  If food has been defrosted in the fridge it's safe to keep for another day.

All the recipes for these meals are in the recipe section.

Some of our garden produce

Some of the fruit we grow

The latest menu plan

Some of the meals we eat

We eat chunky,  hearty soups.

Tuna pasta bake before adding cheese

Chop suey

Slow cooked lamb with silverbeet and mash

The big 12 serve lasagne

How I serve lasagne

Roast beef ( a rare treat now ) with lots of veg

Do you write out and use a menu plan ?

Earn Extra Money With Side Hustles

 Over on the Cheapskates Club YouTube channel a couple of weeks ago,  Cath spoke about side hustles you can do to boost the family budget.  Many of these side hustles Cath has done herself when money was tight.  Even today I know she has many little income steams that helps keep her budget on track.

Over the years Darren and I have faced many financial hardships due to insufficient work hours,  low pay rates and our choice to be a single income family while I stayed home to raise our girls.

Having a few little side hustles meant we could save for holidays,  have enough money for groceries,  buy gifts,  replace our ' make do ' furniture for quality items and purchase cars with cash.

Here are some of the side hustles I've personally used to bring in a little extra cash.  Some of these hustles I still do to this day.

*  I polished silverware for a friend who was hosting Christmas at her place.  The silverware was family heirlooms that she wanted to use and display for the occasion. 

*  Some of my cleaning clients needed their ironing done.  This was additional work on top of my cleaning hours so I treated the extra money as a bonus.  Some of these clients enjoyed my ironing so much that it became a regular part of my cleaning visit.

*  Speaking of cleaning,  my cleaning work first started because we were living below the poverty line.  We desperately needed extra money to make ends meet but I didn't want to put our daughter in day care so I could work.  Somehow I managed to fit in a couple of regular clients when Darren had a day off and my work has snowballed from there.  When our girls were school aged,  I would clean during school hours.  When the school holidays came around,  the girls would come to the cleaning jobs with me.

*  I make jam from the fruit we grow.  Most of the jam is put away for our personal use.  I sell a few jars here and there which more than covers the cost of the sugar and gas used in the cooking.  I also give some as presents which frees up some of the gift budget.  This money is then put into other areas of our budget.

*  During the long lockdowns of 2020,  I made and sold many,  many face masks.  This was an unexpected side hustle that kept money coming into our home when I wasn't allowed to work.

*  Making my own greeting cards started out as a money saver for our budget.  The price of greeting cards had gone up from 4 for $2 to a minimum of $1 each in the discount shops. With the basic supplies I had on hand,  I started making very simple cards to put with presents.  Then I helped form a card making group and it turned into a hobby that earns me a little bit of money when I sell them on Facebook. 

*  I sell unwanted items on Marketplace.  Darren and I have always been wise with our purchases so we've never really had much to sell.  Still,  I've managed to sell DVD cases,  spare yoghurt makers, pet items,  a snow suit from my teens,  small electrical appliances,  Tupperware and pieces of furniture.

Jam has been a good seller

Some of the cards I've sold over the years -
   

                                                 

                                            

                                       

What side hustles have you done to earn a little extra money ?

Our Frugal Night Time Routine

 Money saving tips can be as simple as turning off a light.  Here are all the frugal things we do at night to save a little extra money -

*  After dinner and when we are ready to settle into the loungeroom we bring the solar lanterns inside ( after charging all day ).  They are placed around the loungeroom and the lamp is turned off.  If the lanterns have been fully charged,  we get 4 - 6 hours of good light from them.

*  We turn off lights in the rooms not being used.  Both Darren and I grew up with this being a common practice in our families.  Lamps are never left on in the hope that someone might go into that room.

*  Before bed we turn off the standby lights on the tv and double check that other appliances haven't been left on.

*  A soon as it's dusk we close the curtains and pull down the blinds in the laundry.  On hot days we keep the blinds down in the bathrooms too.

*  If the washing has been outside on clothes horses,  we bring them inside and place them over the ducted heating vents.  

*  We use battery operated lights hidden under the overhead bathroom cupboards.  These are also great in case the power goes off.

*  Darren prepares his lunch,  snacks,  water bottle and lunchbox ready for work the next day.  He also brings his own tea,  coffee mug and cutlery so these are always restocked and cleaned.  If I've got a cleaning job the next day,  I fill my water bottle and have a morning tea snack packed ready to go.

*  If it's cold or windy,  we make sure the draught stoppers are on the external doors.

*  Blankets are used when we watch tv at night in the colder weather.  Our ducted heating automatically turns off at 9pm.  By having the blankets handy,  we are not tempted to turn the heating back on.

*  The overnight ducted heating temperature is set at 15.5 degrees Celsius.

*  In Winter we put a blanket on our bed.

*  Meat is taken from the freezer and placed on a tray in the fridge for dinner the next day.  This helps us avoid the takeaway temptation.

*  All dinner leftovers are portioned out into containers and put in the fridge.  If I remember,  I then label and put them in the freezer.  This avoids picking / nibbling at what could be a proper dinner serve.

Lots of blankets in our home

A programable ducted heating controller

Using draught stoppers

Do you have a frugal night time routine ?

Our Frugal Morning Routine

 Being frugal doesn't take up a lot of our time.  Our days can be as busy as the next person with work,  running our home,  working in the garden and for me writing this blog. 

By completing a few simple tasks each day,  we can see a real difference in our utility bills.   We don't suffer from bill shock.  Yes our gas bill is a little higher in Winter due to heating our home but it's nothing extreme.  

Here are a few simple things we do each morning before we start the day or leave for work -

*  I take the solar lanterns from the loungeroom and place them outside in the sun.

*  The shower warm up water bucket is taken outside and a quite a few plants are watered.  Before I had a front loading washing machine,  I would pour the water into the machine.

*  I double check that all electronics not being used are turned off at the wall.

*  I charge phones,  laptops,  shavers and the 2 in 1stick vacuum if needed and only if the sun is shining on our solar panels.

*  Check the weather to see if it's going to be suitable for hanging washing outside on the line.  If not,  the washing is hung on clothes horses either over a ducted heating vent or outside on our covered deck.

*  Darren fills our thermos with boiling water for cuppas throughout the day.  Each day this can save  boiling the kettle 2 - 3 more times.

*  We have a breakfast of toast made from my homemade bread,  homemade jam and a cup of tea.  There are no expensive cereals or cooked breakfasts.  The toast has lots of fibre and keeps us full for at least a few hours.

*  The kitchen water bucket is also emptied on a few plants outside.

*  I open the curtains is the sun is shining.  If it's overcast and cold I only open them a little.  Just enough to see where I'm going.

Do you have a morning routine that saves you money ?

Cost Of Living Crisis Series - Budget Celebration Food

Whether you are facing mortgage stress,  job loses,  budget restraints or any other financial pressures,  celebrations can be a way of bringing joy into your life and those around you.  How you celebrate depends on how much money you want to spend.  It doesn't have to be anything big and lavish.  Even putting a few plates of special food on a well laid out table can be just as enjoyable.  

Following on from last week's post about hosting a celebration,  I though I'd share some of the food I've serve for afternoon tea gatherings over the years.  If you do any scratch cooking or baking then you'll most likely have many of the ingredients on hand.

Here are the links to foods that are easy to make,  cheap and fill up a plate for just a few dollars -

Scones  These can be made ahead of time and frozen.  If you don't have the budget for jam and cream,  just serve with butter and jam.

Lunchbox Chocolate Choc Chip Muffins  The flavour doesn't have to be chocolate.  Add any fruit,  fresh or frozen for a different flavour.

 Pita Chips  Pita bread is cheapest bought from a market.  If you are buying from the supermarket,  get the cheapest brand.  One packet of pita bread makes heaps of chips.  Add a $3 dip,  carrot sticks and celery sticks and you have an impressive plate.

Easy Coconut Slice  This recipe uses very basic ingredients.  It can be made and frozen ahead of time.

Apple Rose Pastries  These pastries can be served as a dessert too.  For an afternoon tea,  just make them a little smaller.

Choc Chip Bickies ( Cookies )  This recipe only has 5 ingredients and makes 50 - 60 biscuits.   Maybe halve the recipe or freeze all the leftover dough.

Other budget foods I've served at afternoon teas,  but I don't have links for are -

Curried egg and lettuce sandwiches.  Even using one egg will make 2 rounds ( 8 points ) of sandwiches.

Honey joys.  This is the corn flake,  honey and butter  mounds you serve in patty cases.

Custard tarts.  These are just puff pastry cases I've cooked then filled with thick custard and topped with a little lolly.

Seasonal fruit platter.  I serve watermelon,  grapes and cantaloupe ( if it's cheap enough ).  While berries are lovely to eat,  they can be quite expensive.

There are plenty of other foods I've served when I had a bigger budget.  These can be found in the recipe section.  I've served Hoovers  Doovers,  Sausage Rolls,  ANZAC Biscuits,  Chocolate Truffles,  Whole Orange Cake,  Pumpkin Scones and Chocolate Brownies.

A simple afternoon tea

Getting out the pretties

What budget friendly foods do you serve at an afternoon tea gatherings ?

Cost Of Living Crisis Series - Cleaning Your Home For Under $1 A Year

 Are you spending too much money on cleaning products ?  Do you have a cupboard full of assorted cleaning sprays and potions ?  Do cleaning products give you a headache ?

If you answered yes to any of the questions above then please keep reading.  Keeping your home clean doesn't need to cost a fortune.  It also doesn't need to smell of chemicals either.  Most of you know that I'm a cleaner and have been cleaning other people's homes for over 25 years.  I've used almost every product released during that time including some of the well known,  expensive eco friendly ones.   My experience tells me these cleaning products are not needed and there is a much cheaper way to keep a clean home.

Over 12 months from July 2022 to June 2023,  I thought I'd try cleaning my home only using dishwashing liquid and keep track of how much it cost.  From the windows to the floors and everything in between I used less than $1 of dishwashing liquid to clean everything.  Infact,  that $1 included cleaning my client's homes as well.

Here's a list of a few simple items I used to clean my home that I already had on hand.  You probably have these items in your cupboards too. -

*  1 x bottle of the cheapest Aldi dishwashing liquid.  Originally I paid $1 per bottle ( but used about 1/2 for my home ).  Now the dishwashing liquid costs $1.49.

*  2 x recycled spray bottles saved from when I once used cleaning products.  I never throw out a spray bottle.  I've even used bottles from hairspray ( the pump ones ),  conditioning sprays and body sprays.

*  Discarded toothbrushes.

*  Old face washers,  handtowels,  cloth nappies,  knitted dish cloths,

*  Old non scratch kitchen scourers. 

*  1 x microfibre mirror / glass cloth,  generic branded Chux cloths and 2 x microfibre cloths for general cleaning.  If used correctly,  all these cloths can last for years.

FOR THE WINDOWS -  I wipe down the windows with a wet cloth first and use a spray bottle that contains a dash of dishwashing liquid.  Then I use a clean damp cloth to wipe again and buff the window with a dry rag / towel.

FOR THE SHOWERS -  I clean our shower once or twice a week to avoid soap scum building up.  I use dishwashing liquid and water in a small squirty bottle ( Morning Fresh bottle ) at a ratio of 50 : 50.  A small squirt on a non scratch kitchen scourer ( of any sort ) gets rid of soap scum quite easily.  The old toothbrushes come in handy for grouting,  door seals / joints and the drain.

FOR MIRRORS AND TVs -  I just dampen a  glass / mirror microfibre cloth with water.   No chemicals are needed.  Infact,  chemicals leave a residue that makes glass look slightly cloudy.

FOR THE TOILETS - I spray the toilet inside and out with a spray bottle of dishwashing liquid and water.  The Chux cloths are used to wipe over all surfaces including the bowl on the inside.  They are then soaked in a bucket before being washed with other cleaning cloths.

FOR SINKS - I used a microfibre cloth either dampened with water or use the spray bottle of dishwashing liquid and water.  Toothbrushes are used for around the taps and plughole.

FOR THE KITCHEN -  I use a spray bottle of water and dishwashing liquid with a microfibre cloth on all surfaces including the sink,  cupboards,  benches and a greasy stove .  I also use old knitted dish cloths and face washers to wipe out the oven on a regular basis.

FOR THE WALLS -  I use water and a microfibre cloth.    

FOR DUSTING -  I use a damp microfibre cloth on everything.

FOR CARPET STAINS -  I use a damp microfibre cloth and a little dishwashing liquid.

FOR HARD FLOORS -  I use a small squirt of dishwashing liquid in hot water in the mop bucket.  This works better than any floor cleaning product I've ever used.  It cuts through dirt without leaving a residue.

Aldi dishwashing liquid and a squirty bottle.

Assorted cleaning cloths and a non scratch scrourer.

How do you keep your home clean on the cheap ?

Could you try cleaning your home for $1

Cost Of Living Crisis Series - Have Your Say.

 Quite often I get messages from people asking about how the cost of living crisis is affecting us.  I've also had others asking how do we keep our costs so low.

So I thought I'd do a series with a new topic each week.  So far,  here are the topics I thought I could  write about -

*  How to do laundry cheaply.

*  How to make clothes last longer.

*  Cleaning your home for under $1 a year.

*  Buying petrol as cheap as possible.

*  Budget busting gifts.

*  My frugal grocery shopping list.

Are there any areas of your budget you need to tighten ?

What topics would you like me to write about ?

How has the cost of living crisis affected you ?

10 Ways To Turn Power Off In Your Home - Part 2

Darren and I just received our latest electricity bill the other day.  Thankfully we didn't experience bill shock and our provider said we are using 6% less than the same time last year.  Compared to other similar household in our area,  we are using far less than a household of one person.  That's pretty good considering we have 2 people living here and family that visits a couple of times a week.

Following on from last week,  here are another 10 items you can turn off at the power point -

1.  Turn off your electric doorbell.  How likely are you to have someone knocking at your door ?  It's even better if you don't know there's a pesky salesperson is at your door.  I only turn our doorbell on when I'm expecting visitors.

2.  Turn your electric toothbrushes off when not charging.  From memory they only need an hour to  recharge.

3.  Turn off your electric reclining chairs.  That function doesn't need to be available 24 / 7 unless you are sitting in the chair.

4.  Turn off your floor lamps,  table lamps and bedside lamps when not in use.  While they might not have a standby light,  it's just good practice to turn things off at the wall when you don't need them.

5.  Turn off your toaster oven at the wall to eliminate any standby lights.  The reality is,  you'll only use it at meal times.

6.  Turn off your heated towel rail.  Usually towels dry naturally in between uses.  If you have a ducted heating vent in your bathroom,  just close the door and let the vent do all the work.

7.  Turn off your outdoor porch lights / security lights.  They are great for night time use if you really need them especially when navigating steps and locks on the doors.  We have many neighbours who have their outdoor lights turned on during the day for no reason.  It's such a waste of electricity and I'm sure they have no idea they are on.

8.  Turn your gaming consoles off at the wall.  Those little standby lights don't need to be on 24 / 7 when the family might only use them for an hour or so.

9.  Turn your bar fridge / drink fridge / garage fridge off at the wall if they are empty.  If you only have a couple of bottles / cans being chilled,  perhaps move them to the main fridge.

10.  Turn off your robot ( automatic ) vacuum at the wall.  You might only use them once or twice a week for an hour yet I've seen many turned on just waiting for someone to need them.

Has this list been a timely reminder for you ?

Have you tried to decrease your electricity usage ?

10 Inflation Beating Tips

We are all very aware than increasing inflation around the world is making it hard for people to pay for for their basic living needs.  Salary increases ( if you get one ) are not keeping up with the rate of inflation and many people are forced to choose between eating or heating. 

These 10 inflation beating tips could help you to pay the next bill or lesson the impact of rising prices on your family's budget. 

*  Ring around or do an internet search for a better deal on all your insurances.  We've found that it doesn't pay to be loyal to the same company year in,  year out.   Increase your excess to reduce the premium but please make sure you have that excess amount set aside in an emergency account in case you need it. 

*  Visit your local op shop for clothes,  homewares,  bedding,  toys and gifts.  Find out if your local op shop has a concession / seniors / student discount day,  sale day or offers discount vouchers when you donate.  Over the last 5+ years I've helped both my girls fit out their kitchens with casserole dishes,  coffee mugs,  baking items,  cutlery,  tea pots,  pasta bowls,  utensils and containers at bargain prices.  Most items were new or near new and a classic look so they won't date.

*  Grow a veggie garden.  With floods,  wars,  illness and petrol prices increasing food prices and reducing availability,  it has never been more important to grow your own.  Everyone can grow something and if space is an issue,  even a few herbs or lettuce in  a pot on a ledge,  windowsill or balcony will save you money.  

*  Use up what you already have.  We all have wardrobes full of clothes,  bathroom cupboards with half used makeup / toiletries and a pantry with forgotten about food fads.  Resist the urge to buy more until you use these things up.

*  Mend your clothes.  Sewing on a button or mending  a split seam is quite simple and doesn't require any great skill.  You could save big dollars by threading a needle and making a few stitches.

* Repair your furniture if it needs it.  A screw or nail added in the right place could mean the difference between keeping or replacing.  Does your piece of furniture look out of date ?  Then maybe a coat of paint could be the answer.    Have a look on Marketplace or local Zero Waste Freebie Facebook pages if you really need something. 

*  Ditch the takeaways / meal subscriptions /  home deliveries.    They are luxuries that should be eliminated from your budget especially if you are struggling to make ends meet.   If you have trouble getting food on the table at night then dig out your slow cooker in the morning and throw some frozen veggies,  cut up meat ( or not ),  seasonings and a liquid.  Simple.  We all have the same 24 hours in a day and taking 10 minutes in the morning to put the slow cooker on is all you need.

*  Swap excess items for something you do need.  Maybe you are having a bumper crop in your veggie garden.  Swap this for other foods,  household items,  more plants or a service like a simple home repair.  Ask around your friends and family or put an ad on Facebook Buy,  Swap,  Sell.  I did this when I needed glass coffee jars for my pantry.  I swapped them for handmade greeting cards and had many offers.  I even had a return ' customer '.

*  Don't look at what other people have.  Fads come and go and in the end,  op shops will be flooded with unwanted items.   I see bread machines,  waffle makers,  chocolate fountains and Tupperware in abundance at my local op shops on a VERY regular basis.  Be happy with what you have and more importantly,  use that saved money to pay a bill or put extra food in your pantry.

*  Keep a healthy food,  cleaning and toiletry stockpile at all times.  For example,  buying 4 bottles of dishwashing liquid at 99 cents a bottle is far better than paying $1,  $1.10,  $1.20 and $1.30 each time you run out.  Use this trick for every item you buy to save a substantial amount of money.  Also,  when certain items are out of stock on the supermarket shelves,  use your stockpile until the item is available again.   Then replenish what you used.

   

Op shopping is awesome

Coffee jars received from a swap.

Coffee jars turned into kitchen cannisters

Marketplace find for $40

My makeover

Op shop buys for my girl's kitchens.

What are your best inflation beating tips ?

10 Different Ways To Use Kitchen Detergent

I've been a domestic cleaner ( as a job ) for over 24 years and used just about every cleaning product available in the supermarket.  Usually they don't live up to the hype and leave me with a whopping headache from the fumes.

Quite a few years ago I ditched the cleaning sprays and products full of nasty chemicals and fumes.  I opted to use the humble detergent for about 95% of my cleaning needs for our kitchen,  bathroom,  laundry and general household cleaning with amazing results.

I've used branded kitchen detergent as well as the Aldi 1 litre 99 cent bottle ( price might have increased recently ) and had good results from both. 

Here are 10 ways I use kitchen detergent to clean -

*  Clean the toilet.  There's no need for fancy cleaners.  Use dishwashing liquid heavily diluted with water in a spray bottle.

*  Clean stains from carpet.  Add a few drops to a damp microfibre cloth or old ( but clean ) rag.  Gently work on the stain in circular motions.  Blot dry.

*  Mopping floors.  Add a small squirt of dishwashing liquid to a bucket of hot water.  This works on many hard floor surfaces.  For high gloss floors,  straight hot water might be the best option 

*  Clean kitchen benches and stove tops.  I use dishwashing liquid diluted in a spray bottle.  For benches I just spray and wipe. Stove tops should be sprayed with the diluted dishwashing liquid and left for a few minutes to soak into spills.  Wipe with a clean cloth and buff dry.

*  Remove sticky residue with a few drops of dishwashing liquid on a scourer.  If the residue persists then add a few drops of eucalyptus oil.

*  Clean the showers.  Dishwashing liquid cuts through soap scum quite easily.  Add a squirt to a scourer ( non scratch or heavy duty ) with water and clean in circular motions.

*  Clothes stain remover.  Often stains can be treated with a few drops of dishwashing liquid and a small scrub of a toothbrush.

*  Clean windows.  Add a small squirt of dishwashing liquid and vinegar to a bucket of hot water. Wash the windows with any cloth and buff dry.  Drying the windows reduces streaks left by the water.

*  Clean your jewellery.  Soak jewellery in a bowl of warm soapy water for a few minutes.  Use a toothbrush to loosen any dirt.

*  Degreasing appliances.  Grease and grime can build up on appliances,  especially in the kitchen.  Either add a few drops of dishwashing liquid to a cloth or spray the appliance with detergent diluted with water in a spray bottle.  

So save yourself some money,  breathe a little easier and give kitchen detergent a go. 

10 Slightly Unusual Ways To Save On Electricity - Part 2

 Saving money on electricity does take a little time and effort.  Thankfully none of the tips I written about need a huge sacrifice on your part.    Have a look around your home to see what's plugged in.  Do you need it ?

Here are another 10 tips to help lower your electricity bill - 

*  Turn off your Google Nest or other smart home displays.  You know you don't use them too often.  We turn ours on when we want to play music.

*  Turn off your Wii,  xbox and other gaming consoles at the power point when not in use.

*  Defrost food in the fridge over night instead of using the microwave.

*  Close ducted heating vents in Summer and cooling vents in Winter.  If they can't be closed,  see if you can slip in a piece of cardboard.

*  Close heating / cooling vents in rooms not being used.

*  Use blankets,  doonas or sleeping bags over windows to keep heat in a home at night and heat out in Summer.  Before we had evap cooling I pegged all spare blankets and sleeping bags over our lounge and dining room windows during heatwaves in Summer.  It really did make a big difference.

*  Match your saucepan to the right sized cooking element on your stove top.

*  Don't use delay start functions on your washing machine,  dishwasher,  dryer and other appliances like slow cookers and all in one pots.  Fill up the washing machine when you get up and if need be,  turn it on when you get home.  

*  Turn off your pool / spa lighting when not in use.  There's no point in impressing your garden with a light display.

*  In Winter ( especially ) eat dinner at the kitchen bench if you can and utilise the kitchen lighting you have on .  This is instead of turning the dining room lights on too.  

Close vents when not in use

Use the sized right pot and cooking element

Have you used any of these savings tips ?

Here are more electricity savings tips I wrote about in 2016

Cutting The Electricity Bill

10 Slightly Unusual Ways To Save On Electricity.

 The cost of living is going up everywhere and it feels like we are being squeezed from all directions.  Residents in the UK are facing electricity increases of 54% with people choosing to heat or eat.

Here are 10 slightly unusual ways you can save a little bit more on your electricity bill

*  Cook with lids on your saucepans.  If you do this you might not need to use the exhaust fan.  I've tried this and it works.

*  Ditch the electric clock radio and use a battery operated one.  If you need an alarm,  use your phone for this function.

*  Use solar garden lights as night lights,  to light a dinner table or to give enough light to safely move around a room.

*  Use a timer to cook rice and pasta.  Don't rely on your memory.  You might get side tracked with other cooking tasks.

*  Wash your clothes on the quick cycle function on the washing machine.  Generally this is only for small loads but sometimes you can't wait until the machine is full ( especially if the clothes are wet or smelly ).  The quick wash on my machine is 20 minutes.  The next quickest cycle is 47 minutes.  Some loads go for 1 hour and 20 minutes.

*  Use the quick wash cycle on your dishwasher.  Mine goes for 30 minutes and washes the dishes really well.  If you do have baked on food then either soak before washing or handwash.

*  Don't leave your front porch light on automatic ( or on at all if you are not expecting anyone ).  It uses power even when it's idle and trees blowing in the wind can also activate it.

*  Unplug the drinks fridge.  Give your regular fridge a good clean out and store your drinks in there.  If you have too many drinks on hand,  only refrigerate a few at a time.

*  Unplug / turn off your doorbell at night.  No one wants to be disturbed when sleeping.

*  When going on holidays,  turn off everything at the wall except the fridge and freezer.  I go around our home and systematically turn everything off in each room.

Old school clocks

Use the quick wash cycle

Have you used any of these tips ?

 Here are links to a few articles I wrote about saving on heating bills. -

Saving on heating bills part 1

Saving on heating bills part 2

Saving on heating bills part 3

20 Groceries We Don't Buy And The Cheap / Free Alternatives - Part 2

 The supermarket is filled with brightly colored packaging,  designed to catch your eye.  Before you know it that grocery item is in your trolley and you wondered how you ever lived without it.   Chances are your parents and grandparents managed just fine without it .

The next time you go shopping,  have a look at what you are buying.  Are you buying mostly whole foods or processed foods ?  Are you working long hours to pay for your expensive grocery bill ?

Here are another 20 grocery items we DON'T buy and how to save money on them -

Microwave rice pouches -  They are so expensive compared to buying a bag of rice.  Some are flavoured but I don't need flavoured rice when the rest of the meal is tasty.  I cook extra rice and freeze.

Creamy pasta packets - I've make my own with pasta,  milk,  butter,  flour and seasonings.

Marinated meat.-  It never tastes as good as it looks. I use ingredients like soy,  honey,  garlic and herbs.

Herbs and spices in little jars - I buy in bulk from a herb and spice wholesaler.  Extremely cheap.

Sweetened condensed milk - I make my own from butter,  sugar,  water and milk powder.  The recipe I use makes 2 tins worth for less than the price of one.

Evaporated milk - I don't have recipes that use it.  If I did I'd make it from milk powder and water.

Fresh herbs in plant form or pastes -  I use dried or grow a few.

Iced tea - If I wanted it I would make it from a teabag,  water,  sugar and a squeeze of fruit.

Porridge sachets - I make porridge from quick oats.  If I need flavour I can add cinnamon,  brown sugar,  maple syrup or dried / tinned fruit.

Avocado / grapeseed / almond / peanut / coconut oil etc etc - I use rice bran oil for cooking and baking.  It's cheap compared to the fancy oils.

Bread flour - I use plain generic flour.

Salad dressings - I only buy balsamic glaze.  A little bit goes a long,  long way.

Tinned veggies - I only buy corn ( for soup ),  tomatoes ( in case my harvest is poor ) and beetroot.  Fresh is cheaper for other veggies

Salad kits -  We grow some of our own salad ingredients and buy the rest as whole foods and make the salad ourselves.    Cheaper and fresher.

Serviettes -  We just don't eat sloppy food to need serviettes ( except for hamburgers with dripping sauce or tacos ).  The rare times we do eat takeaway we are always given too many serviettes.  Those that are not used are brought home for when we do need them.  It seems like a waste to throw them out.

Pancake shakers -  I make pancakes from scratch using milk,  eggs and flour.  How easy and cheap is that?  I think we've only bought them once or twice as a treat when the girls were little and we were on holidays.

Meal kits - They are just too expensive and you still need to add meat and veg.   Just use the herbs and spices you already have and add your own ingredients.

Rice cream in tins - I make creamed rice with rice,  sugar and milk.  My recipe would make four times the amount in a tin for the same price.

Meals in a can -  If we were camping people we might buy them.  I remember doing a tv story years ago where the husband liked spag bol meat sauce in a tin.  I didn't even know you could buy it in a tin.  I showed the family how to make a big pot of meat sauce for the same price.  All you need is mince,  tinned tomatoes,  Italian herbs and tomato paste

Frozen potato chips -  I never understood their appeal.  I think they have an artificial taste about them and I've been served a variety of brands over the years.  I have a Nicer Dicer and a chip machine ( present ) that makes chips in just a minute or two including seasoning.  Since buying an air fryer this is how we cook them.   They are a healthier option too.

 

I buy herbs / spices in bulk and fill my own jars

homemade pancakes

Picking our own lettuce

Do you  make and bake from scratch as much as possible ?

How many of these items do you make cheaper ?

20 Groceries We Don't Buy And The Cheap / Free Alternatives - Part 1

 We are all battling rising grocery prices right now.  In recent years it's never been tougher to feed our families and still keep control of the food budget.

Sometimes we buy certain groceries just because we always have.  Maybe we didn't know we could make them from multipurpose ingredients.

Below are 20 groceries we don't buy either because we don't need them or make them from scratch.  This saves us so much money each month yet we still eat well and don't feel like we are missing out.

Brown sugar - I make my own with white sugar and molasses

Castor sugar - I grind white sugar in the food processor

Bread crumbs - I make my own using bread crusts.  FREE.

Jam - I make my own from fruit we grow.

Recipe bases - I make my own from basic ingredients ( I do buy Massaman beef curry base )

Muffin / cake / biscuit packet mixes - I make my own from flour,  sugar,  milk,  butter,  eggs etc.

Ready made cakes / biscuits / muffins -  Same as above

Grated cheese / slices - I grate and slice my own.  I add corn flour to grated cheese to prevent sticking.

Yoghurt - I make my own in an Easiyo maker.  I do buy natural yoghurt as a starter to portion and freeze.

Custard in box / packet / tub - I make my own from eggs,  milk,  corn flour and sugar or use custard powder.

Cordial - I make my own 50 / 50 cordial in Summer from lemons we grow and oranges bought cheap in Winter and froze.

Soft drink - We just don't need it and drink tea or water

Pasta salad / potato salad - I make my own for a fraction of the price.

Chunky tinned soups -  I make my own.  Here's the recipe   SOUP

Liquid stock - I make my own in the slow cooker with bones.  FREE

Fancy meat rubs / salts - I use the herbs and spices I already have.

Freezer meals - I freeze my own leftovers.

Bottled water - Our tap water is one of the best in the world.  We bottle it ourselves pretty much for free.

Pasta sauce - I use a tin of tomatoes ( the cheapest ) and add my own seasonings and tomato paste.

Chicken sauces like honey mustard etc- I make my own from scratch.  Here's the recipe CHICKEN 

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Blueberry muffins

Homemade hot cross buns

choc chip biscuits

Freezer meals ( leftovers )

Making yoghurt

How many of these groceries can you do without or make yourself ?