Tight As

I hate money... actually I quite like the stuff it gets you but I hate thinking about it or stressing about it. My lowest opinion is reserved for tight ungenerous people ... cant stand them.

Anyway what with not winning lotto and paying for two high schoolers at Siena and living our extravagant rock star lifestyle... money is somewhat thin on the ground at the moment.

After Christmas David and I did the soul destroying  awesome task of looking closely at our budget. We have always had and followed a budget but I realised this year that I was going to have to trim some areas to make up for other expenses. Grocery shopping, food buying, and clothing shopping for me all got the chop in some way.

These are my new rules and practises.

• I menu plan for 14 days and then buy to the menu.
• I grocery shop online ... its ALWAYS cheaper and we never miss the random stuff that ends up in the trolley when we shop in store.
• I try to come up with dinner ideas with the food I have in the pantry and fridge freezer (and google the ingredients to make something).
• I cleaned out all the bathroom cupboards and gathered together all the half empty shampoo and conditioner, mouse, gel, face creams etc etc that get shoved away when I buy a bright shiny new bottle. I haven't purchase a bathroom product (apart from toothpaste) for THREE months as we are using up what we have. 
• I am not buying any new clothes or shoes for me. I do not need them. I would also rather go to the movies with David or Vyc than buy another top (and its one OR the other this year).
• I have a list of clothes that David, Riley and Lucy need and that is all I am buying. Lucy needs a new school uniform winter jumper and David needs work socks. Riley needs everything because he has grown 3 sizes...
• I don't go shopping as a leisure activity  and if I do I always have a bit of a think about what I really NEED vs what looks shiny and new at the shops. 
• We don't go out to eat unless its for a special occasion.
• I have also taken on extra research work for a project at work to earn some $ for a trip to Darwin in the dry (this is still very much a work in progress).

I realise after reading these rules how pathetic it all seems but its working for me and that is the main thing. I am prepared to live a bit of a frugal life for the next two years (until Bear finishes High School) to make sure all the bills are paid and all our money is going on the stuff we need.

I also want to spend the dollars I save on things like camping, trips away with David and special dinners with the kids.

See ya
Ex