Change Jar

I have a beer mug from a university event I attended sitting on my kitchen windowsill. This is my change jar and whenever I have a build-up of change in my purse, I deposit it into this jar.

I don’t use a lot of cash (preferring to get the reward points on my credit card but ensuring I pay it off in full). As such, I don’t get to do this too often.

However, I counted it the other day and there is already $10 in there. Admittedly this isn’t very much, but that’s money that had I kept in my purse I probably would have spent on something silly.

And every dollar counts! Does anyone else try the change jar approach?

Why do I find blogging so hard?

The very first personal finance blog I read was The Simple Dollar. I loved it from the very start. This prompted me to find and read other PF blogs and eventually, to start my own.

Trent does an awful lot of blogging. He posts multiple articles a day, every day. While I understand that he no longer works full time and in fact has made blogging a part of his job, I am still struggling to understand how he makes it look so simple.

I cannot blog from work, not even on my lunch break, as my work has strict security guidelines on our computers. As such, I need to do my blogging at night or on weekends.

I have always loved writing. In high school, I used to write a lot of stories and really enjoyed it. So why, now that I actually have a blog, do I find it so hard to write when I get home?

I really want to keep this blog going and grow my readership. However, I just don't seem to have the energy or the motivation to keep it up. I am now closing the blog, but dear readers, does anyone have any suggestions as to how I can find that much needed motivation?

Scare

I apologise (again) for the lack of posts. We had a bit of a family health scare which has taken me away from the computer. As soon as my dad is given the all clear (hopefully today), I will resume regular posting.

Cutting Christmas Costs

I love Christmas. The only thing I don’t like about Australia is that we don’t have white Christmas’. However, with a large family (I’m one of four children) and extended family, it can definitely get expensive.

Even though it’s six months away, I think it’s never too early to start planning for Christmas. So here are some small tips for saving money at Christmas time!

- Secret Santa. My family tried this for the first time last year. It didn't save an enormous amount of money (we set a high limit) but it certainly can if you want it to. We also all made a list so we were getting gifts that we wanted. My list had a mixture of wants and needs, saving me money in the future.

- Start saving at New Years. Some banks have Christmas accounts. If yours doesn’t, all you need to do is start an online savings account and put money into it each week. It could be as little as $10 a week but come Christmas time, you will have a nice stash of cash to use for gifts, food and decorations.

- Buy gifts early. I like to buy my Christmas (and birthday for that matter) throughout the year, particularly when I see something on sale! I don’t like the stress of shopping right before Christmas, I prefer to do it slowly and pragmatically. And by either catching things on sale or lay buying them, I end up saving a lot of money.

- Make use of boxing day sales. If you’re not seeing family or friends until after Christmas, put their presents at the Boxing Day Sales. This can save you a lot of money.

Remember, even if you only save $50, that money is better in your pocket than someone else’s.

What are your tips for saving money at Christmas time?

Lending a Hand

I didn't keep to my new posting schedule this week because I was away on business. I thought I'd have a lot of free time but I was flat out. I shall return to my regular posting schedule this week :)

Yesterday I sat down with my older brother to discuss finances. He bought a house around five months ago and is having some trouble affording it. So we sat down and went through things. It seems that he bought more than he could comfortably afford. He is stripped down as bare as he can go so I decided it was now a matter of ensuring he spends wisely with the little money he does have.

I explained to him menu planning and a shopping lists. He was completely taken by it. My brother is very fit and active and thus has a huge appetite. Therefore, unless he is careful, he can end up spending an awful lot of money on food each week.

It was quite funny how excited he got upon hearing these ideas. He actually just called me to tell me what he had put on his menu plan. He's writing his list and then hitting the grocery store.

It actually feels really good to get someone else into frugality! That is what this blog is meant to do but I didn't anticipate the whole lack of readers thing. So this will do in the meantime :)

Money while on business

I am on a business trip this week. I usually come away from such trips having made money. This one will be no different.

Where many people go to the hotel restaurant and spend $20 0n breakfast every day, I buy milk and cereal from the supermarket for around $5 and it lasts me all week.

This trip will cost me a little more than usual, but I will still come out in front. I am on business in the city I went to university in so I have friends here who I'll be catching up with for one or two dinners out. But I will still be frugal in my choices and make the most of being away from home.

The Price of Health

I have recently been diagnosed with lactose intolerance. This is a mighty inconvenient condition to have, as dairy features in so much. Also, as I'm not used to it, I find I forget an awful lot of the time and accidentally eat something I shouldn't.

Australia recently had a price war on milk and we can now get out milk for $1 a litre, every day at the supermarket. Do you know how much lactose free milk is for one litre?

$2.54.

Needless to say, this is the part I am most annoyed with!