Money, Money,Money.........

 I'm going to open a great big can of worms here because there is so much information out there about saving money and being frugal...I watched a you tube from a Current Affair about a family who have a grocery bill of $270 per month and they have paid off their mortgage in 5 years on $40k total income per year.....I can appreciate their commitment and dedication to their lifestyle but for me the issue is LIFESTYLE.  I don't know how they have managed to do this...firstly I admit saving money is not my strong point.....but for me being reduced to budget meals that have travelled who knows how far with ingredients that contain  who knows what doesn't seem worth what appeared to be this manic need to avoid spending money.  I don't want to eat 2 minute noodles or have 50 cans of soup from Aldi in my pantry...I understand low income families have to make cost effective choices and low priced items become a necessity ...but this family appear to have chosen to work 3 days a week between them and have adjusted their spending accordingly I guess....  Along with many others I've made a conscious commitment to reduce my carbon footprint....eat organic food and ethically raised and treated animals...support local and community traders...avoid waste... we compost...we recycle...don't use chemicals in the home or on our bodies or in the garden........I don't want to waste money and have made a commitment to pay off our mortgage as soon as possible.....but not at the expense of our health and the planet..We live a fairly simple life but if we want to celebrate with friends by eating out occasionally we will, local businesses need our support....I am prepared to pay more for food that has been sourced ethically (fair trade) ...when I buy clothes or gifts I avoid items produced in sweatshops....I totally understand that low income families may not be able to make these choices but I would encourage even the most frugal out there to make decisions with their health and the environment at the base of their spending choices.


Poor Daisy was sick after her visit to the groomers....I think she reacts badly to the worming tablets.

Yesterday the girls had to be clipped and wormed and Daphne had to have her yearly heartworm and vaccination...all up cost $260 ....Yikes....but I have made a commitment to take care of my pets and it costs money... Keeping pets is not a frugal option , but I wouldn't be without them.


Daphne as always looks very nervous when I get the camera out....go figure



We've added 3 new garden beds to the vegie gardens ...garden boxes, soil and seedlings over $120...It still costs to grow your own.....could be done much cheaper I guess, but the boxes were on sale.

I certainly mean no offence to anyone out there who is struggling to make ends meet....I just think there is a lot to consider with regard to money....for me it is the root of all evil but unfortunately almost impossible to live without.....I want to enjoy the time I have on this earth while ensuring I take better care of it for the generations to come...My ramblings probably sound very naïve and may irritate those who have tight budgets...while every individual has the right to choose the path that best suits their finances and lifestyle.

Back from the Brink....

I've left the despair of the last few weeks behind me and am hopefully getting life back to normal...as normal as possible anyway.  Sunday saw us attending our monthly luncheon...a Sunday Solstice & Curry Munch !!  Hosts Jan and Al surprised us with a sumptuous range of dishes using curry sauces made from scratch...Beef Rendang , Chicken curry, curry Potato, lentil and eggplant dal....loads of goodies with rice and homemade pappadams...and raita !!  She excelled herself...also accompanied by a lovely shredded salad timbale with an amazing dressing supplied by the big K.   My offering was a Hummingbird cake to help celebrate a recent birthday....was asked to bring "The Sponge" but once again that was a dismal failure....go figure.

Smiles all round as we tucked into a Super Solstice Celebratory Curry Munch.

A variety of goodies on offer...all on my plate.

Forgot to take a photo of my cake until we had almost consumed it...it tasted pretty good if I do say so.

Monday saw me back to my usual routine...taking the G baby off to his sports morning...my Monday's with this little guy are so precious....he is our little ray of sunshine....the sport to learn this week was T Ball....he loved it...you can't see all of the other kids but there are about 8 of them in this class.


My G Baby all set for a big swing...he loves running around and always has a smile for the camera !!

Getting his achievement certificate for the end of term from teachers Jane and Helen.

Life is a bit upside down and turned around at the moment....but I've helped where I can ...done my best and will continue to support whenever and wherever I can.  I've sourced outside help for my dad to help him with his difficult journey ahead....fingers crossed he will be receptive to their efforts.  For now I will just keep smiling and getting on with my life....My man turns 60 next week and we have a large party booked at his Golf Club...need to turn my attention to that now.  Happy days ahead.

Lesson's from Life.......

Was it really only three weeks ago I was thinking how perfect my simple life had become....I should have known better than let the universe see my contentment....life since then has thrown some huge challenges my way...one of which was flying to Qld when my elderly father was hospitalised after driving himself and mum all the way from Melbourne towing a caravan....getting very sick along the way. ....Hospital advising him he was not fit to drive and I had to fly up and drive them both back home....Hervey Bay to Melbourne (2000km)  in 3 days....exhausting....poor dad is perhaps suffering some early dementia as well as poor health...it's heartbreaking to realise he isn't quite the same person he used to be.

Then one of those nearest and dearest to me experienced breakup, heartache and life changing decisions have been made...The lesson for me from all of this is I don't have the power to fix everything....I have to be a bystander as those around me suffer...I can only offer my heart and support...at the end of the day I am powerless, and just hope my love wraps its strength around them.

The sun still came up today....it's bright and crisp outside....I've cleaned up the chicken coop...the poor feathered girls have not had their usual attention, so spent some time with them this morning.  The vegies are growing...there is the beautiful smell of open fires permeating the breeze....it's so good to feel the magic that this lifestyle gives me is still here.