My Best Friend and I often used to mull over how much we inevitably spent on one thing or another. She was much better than I and far more controlled not allowing herself to spend just for the sake of it. On the other hand I was a bit of a nut when it came to going anywhere near a store. I would see something even the most trivial of things and convince myself ( and quite easily too) that I wanted it. I know there are many of us out there who are the same and you often wonder what the devil you were thinking when you decided to make that purchase. Mostly I don't ever suffer from buyers remorse quite to the contrary I suffer from "buyers not enough".
My most irritated moments come from times when I have not spent anything on any useless and un needed item and all my money has gone to food and what not. ARGH!!
But I am slowly getting away from that being home for the last 6 months has cleared my head and helped me get to the middle of my game(not close to the top yet).
So as promised I am continuing on my quest to save myself rich ( or as close to rich as I can get) so money saving tips will follow in the next few blogs and I will list them in various ways so that you can have items with pictures as reference and the "how to's" that go with them.
Just going to make some coffee and we will start with the pretty stuff first :)
xoxo
DG
Monday, October 26, 2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
Christmas Cakes
Having Christmas the old fashioned way doesn't have to be all musty and out of date.
Christmas the way it used to be is all about home made cakes, good cooking, family and friends ( even the ones you can't stand). It's about the joy and peace you supposed to have at that time of year.
I like to make a fuss around Christmas it's what I do. LOL Yeah I am guessing you all know it's my thing.
So here are a few pictures of some cakes I made and of course you are more than welcome to order some at nisha.page@windowslive.com
Counting down to Christmas
xoxo
DG
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Saving money the obvious way
Gifts!!!!!
The complete and total reason that most people go through the trauma of Christmas. Children make lists, family members add pressure, society expects, advertising entice and we like idiots follow...
I am probably one of the most guilty of all for this unnecessary manner of stress during what should be a peaceful and wonderful period of the year. I go off and find out ( throughout the year I might add) what would be the perfect gift for each one. Then I plan, plot and spend every dollar and dime I have and more to ensure each person has all that they want. Not to mention how I go about the task of perfect wrapping and colour co-ordination.
Unlike many others I start early which I believe is my only saving grace but never enough to give me complete peace of mind and rest during this time of year.
So this year the plan is such.
I bought ( yes bought) the most basic of things for each child ( NO ADULTS) saving myself a huge amount of money! I also chose to buy when there was a fantastic toy sale on at my favourite store and guess what I put these items on lay bye ( yeah I know a really old fashioned way) but it meant I had no credit card debt, I had to pay it off during a set period of time, and because I chose the gifts before I went to the store, I took only what I needed and then had a clear amount in my head to stick to my budget.
Calculating the savings it was over $300 on the regular price ( have many kids to buy for) and it took away the stress and cost of last minute shopping. DO NOT EVER go and shop at the last minute. You end up taking what you can get at an insane amount of money because you don't have a choice or believe you don't have a choice.
You always have a choice!!!!
The other thing about gifts at this time of year is that kids receive so many that none have the full impact of enjoyment that they should have. Everyone rounds up and wrapping gets torn while they excitedly pull open the gift to find the treasure inside. Without delay they are on to the next one and the previous is forgotten at least for the next few minutes.
What does that mean? Why do we do it then? Self satisfaction? Pride? Forget all that and harness yourself against this detrimental behaviour!!
Children will love a pencil that has a fancy little bell if you give it to them correctly!
Wrapping is a perfect way to make something exciting and build up the fabulous way children receive gifts.
STOP spoiling your children and others with items JUST BECAUSE you think it will be nice and you don't want to be the only one at the family Christmas who has spent "too little" STOP STOP STOP!!!
Now particularly with the prefect excuse of a recession is the time to discuss with other family adults and friends what you think the best amount is to spend on each child.
Try adding dollars together and buying something the child really wants more than anything else and saying it comes from everyone. Whats wrong with getting 1 or 2 perfect gifts?
Make a maximum spend, forbid others if you must on how much they spend, that way you do not need to feel guilty when you buy or make something that costs less.
If your not crafty get someone to help.... there is always a crafty one in the bunch. Buy it off them if you must, pay your own friend or family member for their time spent. Keep it in the circle its the best way to save money and to bring in enough to spend on others.
Smiggle is the new craze a frightlyfully expenisive stationery trend that has taken NZ/AUS to the next tween chaos level.
I refuse!! I purchased 10 smiggle note books ( nice and pretty) in white at $2.50 each ( when they were on sale) each multi coloured ink pen cost $1.90 Total purchase for those were $44.00
At Spotlight I purchased from the 50c box 4 sheets of paper ( pretty as I could find) 4 packs of stickers and 1 pack of sparklies Total purchase for those $4.50.
Not calculating my time in a monetary value I then cut strips of paper and pasted it on the ends or sides of each cover. decorated with sparkles and stickers and used a vivid to write the name of each child. I used the left over stickers and sparklies to add to the pens.
Purchase price of a sparkly pen at another store $10.00 each, purchase price of a hand covered or fancy notebook $24.00 each. Total price per set $34.00
Total price for a set made by me with love and care $4.85
Saving a wopping $29.15 each ($291, 50 people)
Think of ways to do this, think of things you can do, think of others who can help you make them, have parties that come with a "bring a platter and drink" and get those sparkly things out, pull together bits of ribbon, paper, books, pens, crafts and get SAVING ladies get saving..
will continue to keep you posted.....
xoxo
DG
The complete and total reason that most people go through the trauma of Christmas. Children make lists, family members add pressure, society expects, advertising entice and we like idiots follow...
I am probably one of the most guilty of all for this unnecessary manner of stress during what should be a peaceful and wonderful period of the year. I go off and find out ( throughout the year I might add) what would be the perfect gift for each one. Then I plan, plot and spend every dollar and dime I have and more to ensure each person has all that they want. Not to mention how I go about the task of perfect wrapping and colour co-ordination.
Unlike many others I start early which I believe is my only saving grace but never enough to give me complete peace of mind and rest during this time of year.
So this year the plan is such.
I bought ( yes bought) the most basic of things for each child ( NO ADULTS) saving myself a huge amount of money! I also chose to buy when there was a fantastic toy sale on at my favourite store and guess what I put these items on lay bye ( yeah I know a really old fashioned way) but it meant I had no credit card debt, I had to pay it off during a set period of time, and because I chose the gifts before I went to the store, I took only what I needed and then had a clear amount in my head to stick to my budget.
Calculating the savings it was over $300 on the regular price ( have many kids to buy for) and it took away the stress and cost of last minute shopping. DO NOT EVER go and shop at the last minute. You end up taking what you can get at an insane amount of money because you don't have a choice or believe you don't have a choice.
You always have a choice!!!!
The other thing about gifts at this time of year is that kids receive so many that none have the full impact of enjoyment that they should have. Everyone rounds up and wrapping gets torn while they excitedly pull open the gift to find the treasure inside. Without delay they are on to the next one and the previous is forgotten at least for the next few minutes.
What does that mean? Why do we do it then? Self satisfaction? Pride? Forget all that and harness yourself against this detrimental behaviour!!
Children will love a pencil that has a fancy little bell if you give it to them correctly!
Wrapping is a perfect way to make something exciting and build up the fabulous way children receive gifts.
STOP spoiling your children and others with items JUST BECAUSE you think it will be nice and you don't want to be the only one at the family Christmas who has spent "too little" STOP STOP STOP!!!
Now particularly with the prefect excuse of a recession is the time to discuss with other family adults and friends what you think the best amount is to spend on each child.
Try adding dollars together and buying something the child really wants more than anything else and saying it comes from everyone. Whats wrong with getting 1 or 2 perfect gifts?
Make a maximum spend, forbid others if you must on how much they spend, that way you do not need to feel guilty when you buy or make something that costs less.
If your not crafty get someone to help.... there is always a crafty one in the bunch. Buy it off them if you must, pay your own friend or family member for their time spent. Keep it in the circle its the best way to save money and to bring in enough to spend on others.
Smiggle is the new craze a frightlyfully expenisive stationery trend that has taken NZ/AUS to the next tween chaos level.
I refuse!! I purchased 10 smiggle note books ( nice and pretty) in white at $2.50 each ( when they were on sale) each multi coloured ink pen cost $1.90 Total purchase for those were $44.00
At Spotlight I purchased from the 50c box 4 sheets of paper ( pretty as I could find) 4 packs of stickers and 1 pack of sparklies Total purchase for those $4.50.
Not calculating my time in a monetary value I then cut strips of paper and pasted it on the ends or sides of each cover. decorated with sparkles and stickers and used a vivid to write the name of each child. I used the left over stickers and sparklies to add to the pens.
Purchase price of a sparkly pen at another store $10.00 each, purchase price of a hand covered or fancy notebook $24.00 each. Total price per set $34.00
Total price for a set made by me with love and care $4.85
Saving a wopping $29.15 each ($291, 50 people)
Think of ways to do this, think of things you can do, think of others who can help you make them, have parties that come with a "bring a platter and drink" and get those sparkly things out, pull together bits of ribbon, paper, books, pens, crafts and get SAVING ladies get saving..
will continue to keep you posted.....
xoxo
DG
Dealing with .......
So many things to deal with isn't there? Money (or lack thereof), eating right, saving the planet, conflict, weight, family, relashionships, children, work, staying home, washing, ironing, world peace, etc, etc.....
I guess women don't really start out thinking they will need to deal with that many issues in a day ( conscious or unconscious) but of course we do. Mornings are the worste for me I think, it is the time I take to be alone, to reflect and to prepare myself for the day. I try hard to remain positive (this does of course not always work but I try anyway) I have much to be grateful for so this is a little easier I think than most things but back to dealing with..
Lets tackle these one at a time shall we? big one MONEY and the lack thereof. Most of us at some stage or another have this problem, some ongoing, some recently due to the economic changes and some anticipate this to be the case if things don't change soon.
Money is often the root of all evil (as the saying goes) LOL and quite true I believe. When you don't have money little else gets done. They ( don't really know who they are!!) but They say money can't buy happiness but that's not true money can buy the path to happiness and smooth it out and deck it with good stuff so that you enjoy the path and find what you looking for easier because many will be along the way to help you. I know others will say not true but I am truly happy with my family etc and enjoy life for the most part (except when my tumble dryer doesn't work!) but mostly I enjoy things so what do I need from money? Well with money you get to give your children the obvious things they require like school trips and the occassional goodie because they did well or encouragement to learn to save by doing things that will either earn them rewards in social credits or monetary credits. It also allows you not to sweat the small stuff like bread and milk and eating healthy (because we all know organic veggies and gluten free is far more expensive that McD!!!)
And then of course there is comfort, like a house with heating so you don't freeze and your kids are healthier cause they don't have colds and what about medical insurance? Do you get to have that when you don't have any money? No you don't so when everyone is ill over winter because you now have to fight off supper bugs ( and don't have the money to buy vitamins etc) as well as the freezing cold you hardly able to take them to some rip off doc who will charge you $60 to tell you they have a virus and need some pain relief if they need it and just get rest ARGH!!! So back to money....
Over the next few weeks I hope to bring you a few tips ( practical ones not pie in the sky) on how to make your dollar stretch and have a comfortable and fabulous Christmas.
xoxo
DG
I guess women don't really start out thinking they will need to deal with that many issues in a day ( conscious or unconscious) but of course we do. Mornings are the worste for me I think, it is the time I take to be alone, to reflect and to prepare myself for the day. I try hard to remain positive (this does of course not always work but I try anyway) I have much to be grateful for so this is a little easier I think than most things but back to dealing with..
Lets tackle these one at a time shall we? big one MONEY and the lack thereof. Most of us at some stage or another have this problem, some ongoing, some recently due to the economic changes and some anticipate this to be the case if things don't change soon.
Money is often the root of all evil (as the saying goes) LOL and quite true I believe. When you don't have money little else gets done. They ( don't really know who they are!!) but They say money can't buy happiness but that's not true money can buy the path to happiness and smooth it out and deck it with good stuff so that you enjoy the path and find what you looking for easier because many will be along the way to help you. I know others will say not true but I am truly happy with my family etc and enjoy life for the most part (except when my tumble dryer doesn't work!) but mostly I enjoy things so what do I need from money? Well with money you get to give your children the obvious things they require like school trips and the occassional goodie because they did well or encouragement to learn to save by doing things that will either earn them rewards in social credits or monetary credits. It also allows you not to sweat the small stuff like bread and milk and eating healthy (because we all know organic veggies and gluten free is far more expensive that McD!!!)
And then of course there is comfort, like a house with heating so you don't freeze and your kids are healthier cause they don't have colds and what about medical insurance? Do you get to have that when you don't have any money? No you don't so when everyone is ill over winter because you now have to fight off supper bugs ( and don't have the money to buy vitamins etc) as well as the freezing cold you hardly able to take them to some rip off doc who will charge you $60 to tell you they have a virus and need some pain relief if they need it and just get rest ARGH!!! So back to money....
Over the next few weeks I hope to bring you a few tips ( practical ones not pie in the sky) on how to make your dollar stretch and have a comfortable and fabulous Christmas.
xoxo
DG
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Santa Letter Writing - Kid's at Play
You know the saying " you haven't really played till you played at my house"
Well thats what the kids did today and it was great!
10 littlies 3 - 13 came over to write letters to Santa, make biscuits, colour pictures, make crackers filled with lollies and glitter, sparkle and smile. We had Great fun!
Much will happen in the next 84 days to Christmas and I hope that those of you who follow will find our sharing interesting and fun.
Keeping you posted
xoxo
DG
The summer of......
You know every woman has a summer she will never forget mine was the summers of 2000 and 2001 the best summers I ever had. It taught me that everything I do in life is worth while and all that I am is in my hands. I am the creator of my destiny and that no one but I can ever be responsible for my choices.
Those summers I made some pretty fine choices, ones that left me breathless and in wonder of all that life had to offer.
Of course like all things it came to an abrupt halt when I grew gravely ill and developed a serious kidney failure to which I struggled to recover. Pending all this was the background movement of leaving SA to explore the shores of NZ.
Long moments of silence and suffering followed and the only things that kept me going was the thought of new beginnings and the fabulous memories of the past.
Hard choices were made some regrettable, others just right... all of them a shaping and molding of the path I would later choose.
That path was hard and long and 6 years later it has put me in this spot. This one where I am the keeper of my happiness and the master of my destiny. This one where I sit in the comfort of my beautiful home surrounded by a loving family and children who adore me.
My days are filled with laughter and joy and no job, no career and no amount of money could ever fill or replace what I experience every day.
True success is the love of your family, the respect of your friends, the enjoyment of life and above all the admiration of children.
I am now truly successful.
xoxo
DG
Those summers I made some pretty fine choices, ones that left me breathless and in wonder of all that life had to offer.
Of course like all things it came to an abrupt halt when I grew gravely ill and developed a serious kidney failure to which I struggled to recover. Pending all this was the background movement of leaving SA to explore the shores of NZ.
Long moments of silence and suffering followed and the only things that kept me going was the thought of new beginnings and the fabulous memories of the past.
Hard choices were made some regrettable, others just right... all of them a shaping and molding of the path I would later choose.
That path was hard and long and 6 years later it has put me in this spot. This one where I am the keeper of my happiness and the master of my destiny. This one where I sit in the comfort of my beautiful home surrounded by a loving family and children who adore me.
My days are filled with laughter and joy and no job, no career and no amount of money could ever fill or replace what I experience every day.
True success is the love of your family, the respect of your friends, the enjoyment of life and above all the admiration of children.
I am now truly successful.
xoxo
DG
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