You can never have enough...

[Venetian1]

What a wet, wet day - again!   

PnS still has some good deals - apples at 99c a kilo great for just eating or stewing and making into a variety of dishes. Chicken drumsticks for $4.99 a kilo - makes really satisfying soup - had some for lunch and really delicious and full of meat. Also have made casseroles for the freezer. 

Quite a few years ago when work was becoming intolerable I decided to see if I could live on the pension and as I like a challenge i┬ákept a record of everything that I spent for several months. ┬áIt wasnÔÇÖt the big items that added up but small amounts, usually under $20,┬áand were often things I didnÔÇÖt really need and could live happily without. IÔÇÖve got used to checking unit prices and see what is value for money and saying to myself can I put off buying that until next week and often when next week comes it no longer seems important to have- prevents impulse buying while still able to get things which are important to me.

It made me more aware of how easy it is to fritter away money and what I want to prioritise. Fortunately I donÔÇÖt like cafe coffee as way too strong for me and chippies, sweets etc just done appeal (that doesnÔÇÖt include your seed crackers Mica I think IÔÇÖm getting addicted to them they are so good)┬á ┬á

While still having a good lifestyle┬áIÔÇÖve been able to put away┬ásome for unexpected things as being a rather independent person IÔÇÖd have to be very desperate to rely on others.┬á
I have also been able to have a couple of overseas trips and am well on the way to another trip. 

Those who are struggling with money might find a similar exercise interesting to do and see if they really need the ÔÇ£smallÔÇØ purchases after all┬á

Interesting you say that now Venetian - I've just done exactly that, comparing prices on TM with those in local Whitcoulls & deciding that next time I'm there its a good bit cheaper to get children's books for Xmas there rather than TM. 


While I was quite tempted by their children's books, once I compared the prices it became easier to resist.

But then I've become extremely good at stretching every last $ over the years; DIL calls me 'the budgeter to beat all budgeters'. I think its probably due to having mostly Scots ancestry & a drop of Yorkshire - they're apparently well known for being frugal, too which is no bad thig in times like these.  

But according  to budget advice people, many of those struggling just don't have sufficient income now to cover everything.

Yes I have Scottish ancestors too and grew up in a big family where it was necessary to watch every penny (pre decimal)