Managing money to make life easier

[Clues_Of_Blue]

One of the big things that causes stress and sure kicks you about when you already have mental illness to play with is money. Whether you're in debt, just scraping by, or feel like you're working to much to maintain a lifestyle. Here is a place to talk about how to make your dollars go a bit further and take off some financial pressure.

I'll start with some basic pointers:

- Plan a little with food. Make work lunches, decide on meals for the week and stick to your shopping list. If you shop a bit later you're also likely to get a lot of fresh produce at a discount.

- Check regularly (every six months or so) on your utilities. Often there is a better plan out there to switch to. As customers, loyalty to a company usually just gets us a quietly growing bill instead of discounts or rewards. Vote with your feet.

- Same with your home loan, you can refinance to one with a better interest rate, just watch out for exit fees (and LMI if you still owe more than 80% of the house value)

If you have any tips or questions, feel free to share or ask.

[Clues_Of_Blue]

I like your faith in me, 🙂 I can certainly believe you were a landlady once (and will be again).

Great work getting all your finances in order after everything. It's certainly a good sign the bank is talking to you about a redraw facility now.

I'd certainly say don't borrow more if you don't have to - you already know that - but it's something to weigh against getting tenants in sooner. Careful thought and planning required, I don't doubt you will make a fully informed decision when the time comes.

Blue.

[ecomama]

Ofcourse I have faith in you Blue!

Look at what you (and your partner) are overcoming every single day!

Did you hear the Govt announcement about $100 for every adult for dining out? (or entertainment or something too??).

Lol... gosh, I've been out for dinner twice in almost 2 years lol.

Nice timing for my multiple children... they JUST turned 18yo lol.
I bet they have to be tax payers though... One son pays quite a bit of tax on his part time income, the others less but still get taxed.

Me, I get taxed to the hilt lol.

Hope everyone here can get these vouchers!

Love EM

[Clues_Of_Blue]

Well, thank you. (My bad, I thought I'd responded to this, ages ago.)

That's valid. It's good having income again after being off work two months past when my paid leave ran out...

Nope, didn't know about that. Is it only in certain states? I'm guessing they're making it a little known benefit.

I've had periods like that. Then the opposite whilst staying interstate without proper cooking facilities, which sucked just as much.

How did you go with that? Did they have to be tax payers?

I don't get hit too hard with tax, but it's certainly noticeable. Mind you, I get extra tax taken out as an added saving measure. I think we've discussed that.

I hope so too, gotta look into that.

Blue.

[ecomama]

Hey Blue!

I forgot all about the vouchers lol (got a real life object permanence issue here ugh!) and I saw that it's through the NSW Govt. Part of the "Out & About Scheme" to stimulate the economy.

They're available from January 1st.
Must be accessed through Services NSW app / website.

4 x $25 vouchers.
2 for food at venues.
2 for activities like cinemas / amusement parks.

It appears you DON'T have to be a Tax Payer.
But you DO have to be over 18yo to access them.

So I'm not sure what other states are doing, sorry!

EMxxxx

[Clues_Of_Blue]

Haha, I'm a bit less than amazing with object permanence, too. Brain full, can't hang onto objects not in view. Heck, not even objects in view sometimes!

SA has an accommodation voucher, they're opening up registration for it for a single day and it's first come first serve until they run out. Interesting system for something like that. I don't think it's worth the effort, after the lengthy time interstate I don't wanna use accommodation for a long time! I like the NSW vouchers better. Good luck remembering to get them.

Blue.

[ecomama]

Hey Blue

IDK why they're so different state to state, seems unfair to me.

Lol "good luck remembering to use them" omg I forgot all about them until I read back on this thread!
Then Googled them.

I'm going to have to put them in my phone Diary TO remember them.

I don't really like the accommodation idea nor the first in first served.... I can imagine a stampede!

But as I was reading about ours.... 🤔🤨.... you have to spend them with "participating facilities" ugh... so when you phone up you have to ASK them if they're in it and then book.
I already have difficulties phoning up places and have to do the whole psych stuff before making a phone call... most of the time with unknown ppl.

Anyway, I'm not kicking a gift horse in the mouth.
It's ALL good.

I'll take it lol. Actually we'll ALL take it. Can't believe all my multiple children just turned 18yo, so lucky there!

Love EM

[ecomama]

Hey peeps

Just bumping up this thread for another member AND I have a few things to add lol...

* I need to clean my washing machine bec I've been using super cheap laundry powder for way too long and the clothes are smelling awful (nah fabric softener just seemed to exaggerate the problem). The kid's work clothes are especially greasy, yuck, so here's what I'm going to try...
- 2 cups vinegar and 1/2 cup bicarb soda.
Run machine on full cycle and hope for the best lol!

* Also I'm going to have a try at making my own Lemon Balm essential oil for a foot soak for my very sore feet. I have my own lemon balm plant. I'm following directions online from other alchemists lol.
Apparently using Grape Seed Oil is the best oil to use. Got some of that. Here we go!

BUT what I found amazing from a lady who had Lilac growing in her garden, she said she makes Hand Wash, Fabric Softener, Moisturiser and IDK what else from the one batch of essential oil she makes from her garden (and bought Grape Seed oil).
Hmmmm.
I DON'T have Lilac but I have Lavender and Gardenias... food for thought!

Any other money saving thoughts?

EMxxxx

[Clues_Of_Blue]

Hey EM,

Thought I'd replied to this ages ago. Apparently not, oops.

How did the washing machine go? Also, how was the Lemon Balm essential oil? Interested to hear about it. Pretty cool what that lady could do with lilac. There are so many useful plants out there. I do have aloe vera growing, don't need to do much with that, just grab a chunk and rub it on sunburn or whatever if it needs soothing, so that's handy to have.

There's been a bit of talk of money management on some of the other threads of late, and even at lunch with my colleagues today, so I wanted to drop in and talk about it a bit.

*I've said it before, but want to reiterate how useful it is to revisit things like mortgages and utilities. Check these regularly, staying loyal to one company only ever gets you stuck on higher rates, the low ones are to pull in new customers. Just do your research before switching companies, see if they have a reputation for delivering the service you're paying for!

*A recent one for me - buy food that works with your lifestyle. I've just started getting some pre-cut veggies. Seems less economical than getting them as is, but throwing them out because I just can't manage the time/energy to chop them is a whole lot less economical. Frozen is an option, and is usually cheaper, but I enjoy fresh more and will get the self-care benefits of a meal I enjoy while I'm at it.

That's it for now.

Blue.

[ecomama]

Hey Blue and everyone

Oh that washing machine cleaning formula worked a TREAT! Only had to do it ONCE and it was all better then.

Didn't get to my Lemon Balm thing.... it rained and rained until the rain washed away my memory of it lol!

Absolutely revisiting all contracts is SO worthwhile. You can just change OR find out the better deal & present it to your current provider. I've done that so many times with electricity and am still with same Co. Lol.
Got a "20% discount" every year.
Then got solar panels.
<2y left to pay off the interest free loan.
Only paid $300 in elec for almost a year for this huge family, running the drier & air con almost all day every day now for months.

It was tough for the 1st 3 months paying elec and loan but then magic.

Love that short cut for prepped food Blue.
I went from growing & gathering all our own veg to some frozen veg and that was a great short cut when I worked FT.

It's worth keeping the good fresh food going into your belly than not.

Re-using and UPcycling
We're repurposing lots of furniture and UPcycling lots too.

The common things are prob not worth mentioning but in brushing a minimalising wand over my kitchen I found lots of coloured glass bottles and other things like a heart shaped wire basket and CHOOK I used to store eggs in.

I'm repurposing them for containers in my garden here and there.
The glass ones will grow a lovely climbing plant and I'm thinking succulents for the heart.

Don't want them in the house anymore but they'll look sweet in my garden.

I blatantly refuse to buy POTS for my plants, while I have a mortgage lol... I have some huge ones still to fill that a person gave me. I only kept the ones I loved.

Happy days!

Love EM

[Clues_Of_Blue]

Hey EM,

Neat, I'll take note of that when I need to clean my washing machine. It's fairly new, so doesn't need it yet.

Oops.

Yeah, poking your provider with comparative rates can work. Sometimes it doesn't. Admittedly I usually just change because it's quicker and less phone calls involved. Minimalist saving strategy, haha. Solar panels are still on the list. Refinance house first, then work slowly onward with the rest. I could sure do with smaller power bills.

Thanks. I'd never really thought about it before, seemed financially irresponsible, but now it looks like a good middle ground between cooking from scratch and frozen meals (which are always kinda watery and not very filling). Definitely gotta keep good food incoming.

Great work upcycling furniture. I did that with a coffee table years ago ($10 job from the Salvos I got when I first moved out of Mum's); sanded and stained it myself, looked pretty nice. Great work repurposing kitchen oddments for garden use.

Not much to report today, other than I hear phone companies have recently put out a bunch of cheaper new deals. Not long since I changed plans, but methinks I'll revisit it soon.

Blue.