The little birds...

If you watch little birds you will see they are busy and happy! Using whatever they can find they create the most gorgeous little nest.
I would be the little bird with some glittery thread in her nest!
We can be like this. Happily working away with the things that are available to us to create a beautiful and happy home.
All the while with a little song in our heart.

Banner by Free Pretty Things for You.

Friday 17 January 2020

The Vicky Challenge, 2020.

Having just moved last year I found it too hard to do my normal Vicky Challenge.  But it is time to take it up again!

Some of you joined in during 2017 and 2018, some of you are still doing it.  For anyone who needs a refresher (and anyone new)  you will find the original starter posts here.   This challenge was started by Vicky when she explained some of her ways to me.  I thought it was a brilliant idea!

In a nutshell it is simply about tracking all the ways you save at home and adding the savings up each week.  I always stress that your presence in the home is about far more than the financial situation and the importance of running the house, caring for children and all you do is literally far above rubies.   This challenge factors in the actual money you are earning.   I say earring because saving and earning are so alike.   Money earned is taxed.   Money you save by doing things yourself will not be taxed.  You get to keep more of it.

Vicky adds her weekly savings up at the end of each week.  Then the month and finally the year.  To many of us this is very motivating.  When you see how much difference your efforts make to the household economy it is exciting!   Usually you will find this is easily a whole wage.  If you work full or part time you can do it too and count the ways you save in the hours you are at home.

If you are a stay home Mum or ever have been someone has probably said something along the lines of  "don't you FEEL you should be contributing financially?"

First things first.  I had this from someone I knew well one time  I asked her how much then did she contribute financially to her family?  She had two small children and was working.  She said what her wage was but that is not what I wanted to know.  I was asking how much profit did she make?  She said she had no idea.  So we worked it out.  Out came paper and pen. We sat and wrote out wages less tax.  We took out childcare.  We took out uniforms, hosiery, dry cleaning, transport and fuel.  We took at work parties presents and contributions and convenience foods as she was so short on time.   The long and short of it is she was earning about 50c an hour.
Now I am not saying all jobs equal this result.  But many do.  And I am not saying it was not her choice either.  I am just saying hey, with my home industry I am saving a lot more than 50c an hour thanks very much!
So really the truth of it may not be what it seems.

Then I get "aren't your bored at home?"  Well no.  I am so busy I don't have time to be bored.  There are not enough hours in the day.  So I cannot figure this one out at all.

It is up to you what savings you count.  I do not count housework.  But if you want you can count that and if you take up cleaning your own home over hiring a cleaner I certainly would count it.    I do count window cleaning as a number of times in the past I have paid a window cleaner.
I count my baking.   This week I made four dozen sausage rolls.  


I need to check our local bakery prices.  But lets say  full size sausage rolls are $5.  Then I made $240 worth of sausage rolls.   Now I will estimate my costs to be around $30 as I cheated and bought pastry!   So my savings are around $210.   Not bad for an afternoons work.
Further, the supply of quick tasty meals in the freezer means we basically never get take away.  I won't even bother to count that but I hear it is nothing for a lot of families to spend $2000 a year on takeaway!

I do my own hair.  In Adelaide I dropped into the three closest hair dressers for a price list.  To my surprise I was saving  $200+ a month.  I should now check our new local prices.  This week Chloe trimmed my hair for me.  I do my own colour and treatments.  It can't be too bad as I get compliments on my hair.  This is a savings of over $2400 a year.

When Andy was working in Adelaide I packed his coffees, lunch and snacks every day.  At that time I worked out this saved around $10 a day.  So that was another $50 a week or two and a half thousand dollars a year.

Even if you would do this challenge for a week you will be amazed!  It is worth doing!  It is certainly motivating.

Week one this year I had so many things to count.   By putting the word out about wanting to can and needing jars I came into over $1000 of free canning equipment and jars!

I count the amount I save on gifts by making them myself.
I count the savings on bargain priced items I find.
The amount saved on things we fix ourselves.
Sometimes I can't quite decide whether to count things or not!  For instance when we came here everyone expected me to want to rip out the kitchen and oven.  But I love all things farmhouse and I love the old oven!   I wonder what I saved there!?!

Savings Andy makes are also counted and this motivates him.   Many things he makes himself or fixes are big savings.

The other day I learned to make Meringues.


Lucy told me she saw a small bag of coloured meringues for $15!  So now I will adapt and make pretty little ones and colour them.  That is my next project!

Just now I have a Pavlova in the oven for Mums Birthday.  Since the eggs are from our chickens it is only costing me a tiny amount.  I will work out my savings and count those.

At Christmas I gave out homemade treats and worked out what I saved there over bought things.  Some of these savings are surprising!


I trying to keep up to date with the going rates for hand crafted goods.  I have found soap making a big saver.  I gave my son in law chunky and rustic homemade soaps.  Some he had were from Lush and they were around $14 a bar!   Mine were just as good or better and cost me so very little.



Making my own laundry detergent is a huge saver.  It worked out to be a savings of about $90 last time I made this up.



Each day there are just so many ways to save!  The possibilities are just endless.  
It is absolutely up to you how you do your own Vicky Challenge and how accurate you want to be.  I mainly to quick checks on retail prices or services, usually get a shock,  then record my approximate savings.   I do not spend too much time on it.  The main thing is I quickly jot things down so I will remember them! 

Tonight I am making pizzas.  I am using tomatoes and basil from the garden.  I will figure out my savings over buying pizza from the nearest place which is a local Tavern.

Apart from it being motivating I think knowing just how much difference you are making to the home economy is very uplifting.  It also gives you ammo when someone tries to tear you down.   Trust me, you may be contributing financially more than them.  Not that is is anyones business but that does not seem to stop negative comments!
At the end of the day you need to know your own worth.  Read Proverbs 31.  Study it.  The work you are doing might involve wiping snotty noses and endless washing but it is more than that.  Building a family and strong foundations, good nutrition, morals, charity, education and so much more are all things that will pay off long term.  The work you do WILL affect at least several generations.  
If you have no children at home then your work is still important.  Read Titus 2.  There is much work to do.  Coming along side a younger woman who needs encouragement, teaching how to save money, how to cook, garden, sew, make soap or whatever you can is helping someone else in their home.  
Many people are struggling and one pay check away from disaster.  The need to learn skills and encouragement are so needed. 

If you really want to save this year ,or just get ahead in any way, it can be helpful to work out what area to attack first.  If gift giving and Christmas are big expenses for you come over and join The Tuesday Afternoon Club, start now and make your gifts for next Christmas! 


I find a secret in crafting too.  I am CONTENT AT HOME.  In fact I would rather be home than anywhere else.  I can't think of anything worse than the mall.  I would rather have time to get some crochet done.  Or some card making.... (Oh the savings in card making!!)  A while ago I said I would rather be making jam than jetting around.  I am serious! 
When you are truly busy growing some veggies,  feeding the chooks,  making your yoghurt, sewing or mending,  baking and decorating and so much more you do not have time to be in the shops.  You are busy.  I say this because shopping is an addiction for many people.  Spending on things you do not need is a big problem for many families.

At one time Friday night pizza night cost us a lot of money.   So I just learned to make a good pizza base and began making my own.  Over time I have picked a lot of areas to see how I can save.   One of my best tips is just to take time to think over any purchase.  Many times a good idea will seem like a stupid idea after a few days.

Now with the money you save you have options.   But I would PLAN what you are going to do as your increase your savings.  It might be wise to pay down debt.  It is always wise to have a good emergency fund. 
Four years ago I gave up weekly coffee and cake and used that money to build up a pantry in my cellar (at our old house).  I saved $8 per week.  I chose half price items to use it on which gave me $16 worth of goods to add to my pantry every week.  Building up a pantry is a very good investment.

You might bank it. You might decide to invest in things that will further increase your savings.   Some of the things we invested in were chickens,  a bigger freezer,  I invested in a spinning wheel...   when I began making my own yoghurt I invested in a yoghurt maker.  If they are well planned they will give you new savings!   

This year my savings are going to be invested in doing up the cottage.  I could have a potential income from letting out the cottage or as a B and B.  To me this will pay me better dividends than the bank.  So that is where most of my savings are going for 2020. 

I hope you can see just how important your work is and how much potential there is to save. 
If you would like to join in you can do it privately or share each week your savings.  We can get so many ideas from each other!   

You are very welcome to ask for ideas and you are very welcome to share how you save.  I would love to hear of anything you have invested in that you feel has helped you save more.  Also any skills you learned that have helped with savings.  

Together we can make 2020 a year of getting ahead, even though it is a year in which we are expecting to see some pretty big food price rises. We are battling ever increasing electricity and water prices also.  But when things get tough the tough get going!  So be encouraged. xxx






70 comments:

  1. I’m really looking forward to joining in on this challenge Annabel, I just know it will be so motivating! As you have posted this on a Saturday I’m assuming our Vicki challenge week will run from Saturday until Friday the following week?

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    1. Hi Cheryl, Thank you! Well I posted this today just because I had time this afternoon. I better think fast about how to report in. I am planning to do posts to check in and compare notes with lots of savings tips. Thank you for joining in! With love Annabel.xxx

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  2. Love this! Last year I kept a journal daily of ways I saved or "made" money. Even a no spend day is a savings because staying home and doing around the house is money left in our pockets. My freezer is full and I get to do fun stuff like cook. I love to cook and try new things and plan and play. Take care.

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    1. Dear Crystal, No spend days are great. Also if we stay home we often have to be more inventive with what we have. It is a help!
      It is a great idea to record your savings in a journal. With love, Annabel.xxx

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  3. Yes, Ma’am, I have a major Vicky Challenge in focus, beginning this week!

    I am aiming for bringing in actual income, with my basic budget already in place.

    It’s called ‘stepping out’!

    Rachel

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    1. Dear Rachel,
      I am so glad to have you aboard! Yes some savings and some earnings, maybe some trading? All add up together very well! With love Annabel.xxx

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    2. Dear Annabel and Bluebirds!!

      I am reporting in on day one of my Vicky Challenge! Ha ha! ...... A pair of new boots has sold. That’s fifty Australian dollars. Thank you, Father!!!!!

      Rachel

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  4. Dear Annabel, Thankyou for this inspirational post to kick start 2020. Quite a while ago we were given the structure of a hothouse and were saving for hot house plastic. Last week the thought occurred to me that as it is so hot here - we don't need a hot house we need a cool house. We already had the structure standing, so within two days shade cloth was purchased and put up. It is a little miracle and was one of those moments when you think "why did we not do this before" The shade house has increased our potential to save and get ahead by helping us grow some more of our own food and as a bonus it has turned into a really pleasant little spot to be. I had an old mirror and was able to gather up a few whimsical bits and pieces from our yard and shed. Also, I have a thing for baskets which I collect at opp shops and was able to use four of them to hang in there planted with strawberries and lettuce. We have great soil here and everything grows well in the garden but then it frizzles in the summer sun. We went around the garden "rescuing" plants and transporting into the shadehouse, including a sorry looking crew of six tomato plants (only two of which I purchased, the other four had popped up randomly from compost), our poor bedraggled lemon tree and all my struggling potted geraniums. Within 24 hours everyplant was so much happier and looking healthier already. Now I have a place to plant my seeds and hopefully raise seedlings. I am excited for 2020. My next challenge is making yoghurt - I don't know why but I am scared of making yoghurt even though you say it is easy. I will study your yoghurt posts again and just try. Good luck for 2020 everyone. Every little thing we work towards really does help. This is a really great post Annabel, thanks again, love Clare

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    1. Dear Clare!

      I love your story about your hothouse cum cool house! Someone once told me that, if we wait long enough, the answer will come to us as to how to make do and make things work!
      I’m sure you’ll be happy once you’ve got the yoghurt working for you! Isn’t it funny - things can be so easy once we know how!

      Rachel

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  5. You are an inspiration! Like you I garden & craft, make homemade meals & bake. We are healthier for doing these things at home.
    Although it might not show up in the dollars saved, at the time, one needs to remember that home cooked food can be much healthier. Over time, the savings in medical expense could be huge! When you make your own, you make choices that fit you, where when you buy someone else decides. Not only does making your own save money it just might make you happier because what you make is exactly what you want & need. - Diane from northern Minnesota

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    1. Dear Diane!
      I know that you are correct in what you write!
      If we think only in terms of the quantities of refined sugar, refined oils, and refined salt in commercially prepared foods, we are already miles ahead in health if we prepare our food at home. Using basic wholesome ingredients, like fresh, cold process oils, can turn a life around.
      We have so much opportunity in our lives!

      Rachel
      P.S. I agree - Annabel is an inspiration!

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  6. I have followed Vicki's tracking with interest. And I struggle with it. I don't see doing what I do already, as money saved. We have always brown-bagged lunch. We have consistently made foods rather than buy. ID: did you before this, buy those sausage rolls? If not, you aren't saving money as you haven't cut an expense. And oh my, the hair? I pay $25 for a really nice cut every 6w. That is $216/year. I am appalled that an average price there is $85! And yes, I live in the city. My organic laundry detergent costs me $16.25/year. I can't buy the ingredients to make my own for less.

    I am following along with you both as I am intrigued how the savings get claimed and am trying to convince myself that the savings are real.

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    1. Dear Elle,
      You have to go by the prices in your area. To work out my hair savings I averaged the three closest salons out less the cost of my hair colour. You can pay the price or do it yourself it is totally your choice. We have to eat and it is cheaper for me to make the food than buy it. You have saved a wonderful amount of money by packing your own lunch! Well done! Imagine what it would have cost all those years to buy it daily! Many people do that!
      It is completely up to you what you count as savings. Each thing I learn to do myself that saves us is really exciting to me. I am thrilled for you that you have found such a good deal on laundry detergent. You could look at it this way and share it as a tip for others. Many are struggling with high prices... one bottle of laundry liquid can be over $20 here!
      So as I said we all have to go by our local prices and see where and how we can save. With love Annabel.xx

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    2. Elle,
      Sometimes habits can box in our way of thinking. Obviously you have been a good saver with brown bagging lunches and getting organic soap at a great price, but why do you do this if you don't consider it saving? Everyone's circumstances are different and each year is different so will be the savings as wants, needs and what we can use will be different for each of us. Some have a full house and some are empty nesters. And the difference in costs where we live is a factor too in what saves a household. Hair is $85 where Annabel is at, $25 for you and here you can get a nice cut for $10.
      XOXO
      Vicky

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    3. Vicky, I don't know how to answer your "why" to something I;ve always done. Routine lifelong habits are not savings IMO. I would have to cut expenses to consider that I had saved money. If I were going to consider my habits savings, I would need to compare to the higher prices in town? I've not paid those so it's not a savings.

      It's a matter of perspective I suppose.

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    4. Dear Elle!

      It sounds to me that you are ready to take your savings to a new level in your life! Really! ...... You could take on the Vicky Challenge with your own terms set at making only new savings, or new income, perhaps.
      I like to think of how well one can live for the least monetary expense. For example, I currently am not buying bread. Neither am I baking bread the way I was last year. Since I already own a wonderful electric grain mill, I grind my own whole wheat flour, and find that I can quickly design my own skillet pancakes that are nutritious, satisfying and tasty, with raw honey drizzled on top. The honey, itself, I found in the pantry, a gift from years ago. I save money, time, electricity, other ingredients, ...... and my life is richer for it! I use home eggs, home water and home ground wheat, and cook in store-bought butter.
      I look forward to reading of your savings projects! You are a treasure!

      Rachel

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  7. Hi Annabelle, I don't keep track of my savings but enjoy reading other hints. I would like to know where Elle gets her organic laundry detergent for $16.25 a year. We probably eat more homemade and healthier food than most old people. I am just delving into fermenting veggies and winter sowing. I buy my yogurt and I don't eat a lot so am wondering if I could just make a pint at a time in a yogurt maker? We are at the point health wise we hire a housecleaner once a month. A lady who cuts our hair only charges us $10 in her home and we give her a tip. I have always enjoyed reading how to save money! I need to learn how to make gluten free pizza crust. Chronic Fatigue slows me down but try to do what I can. Thank you for all you share. Nancy

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    1. Dear Nancy, A very easy GF pizza crust is to use GF flour mixed with greek yoghurt to make a dough. It needs to be done in a mix master in my opinion. When you have a soft dough line your pizza tray with non stick baking paper and press it out to make your crust. Bake it a little before topping. Alternatively buy a packet of GF bread mix and make up doughs to roll out. Freezing some bases is a good idea too. You can make small batches of yoghurt just check it will be cheaper for you. Chronic fatigue is a tough thing. It sounds like you are already wheat free, I found for my energy taking some vitamin D really helped. It is worth a try! With much love Annabel.xxx

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    2. Thank you for your advise. What proportions do you mix the GF flour and the greek yoghurt with? How much yeast? Any other ingredients? Do I leave the parchment paper under the dough in the pan when I bake it or is it just to roll it out easier? Does your GF flour have to have Xanthan gum in it? I really would like to learn how to do this just because it would be healthier. Thank you. Nancy

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    3. Cozy, I get my Ecos at Costco. I have a front load washing machine so it doesn't take much to do 3 loads/week.

      I hear great things about Cauliflower pizza crust-I haven't tried that yet.

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  8. I love, love, love your blog and your posts. I've been lurking so long I feel as if you are a friend. It is very possible I will be leaving the work force for good. I had a two month medical sabbatical last year and you know what? We had more money in the bank when I did not have a check than when I was actually working. I watched every penny we had and made most of our food myself rather than going through a drive-through on my way home from work. I need the encouragement I get from you each week on your posts. I thank you so much for taking time to post.

    Denise

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    1. Dear Denise, What you are saying is true for many people. So for you staying home was also healthier for you both too. Interesting point! I would do all the math as I did with my friend and find ways you can save greatly at home. The two are such different lifestyles! Thank you for your kind words! I will be really interested in your journey doing this! With love Annabel.xxx

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  9. Hi Annabel. I have been reading your blog for a long time and love everything you do. Could you tell me how you get your washing liquid to look so pretty?
    Sandy

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    1. Dear Sandy, To get the pink I use Pink Zote laundry bar which I grate. It is available in USA but not Australia. I like that it adds pink! If you do not use the soap on pure whites like me... I use it on the work clothes, towels, jeans etc... then you could add a few drops of food colouring. I love it to look pretty and smell beautiful! With love Annabel.xxx

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    2. Thanks. You must have somebody send it to you?
      Sandy

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    3. Sandy, Vickie has posted it to me. It is very inexpensive to buy and goes a really long way. I wonder if you could get it on Amazon? I would try there. xxx

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    4. Thanks Annabel. I'll give it a try.
      Sandy

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  10. I don keep track of my savings but I may post occasionally and I am cheering you all on.

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  11. I love this post and whilst "we" [homemakers] know we contribute financially working people [these days more so] think stay at home mothers are "on holidays" every day. Being on holidays from work and being a stay at home mother are completely different things and only after you do both yourself you realize this. Once your kids go to school it's assumed that you must get full time work because what else are you going to do at home all by yourself. umm..100's of things. Kids get 12 weeks a year school holidays and then add in 1-2 weeks throughout the year if they get sick so that's 13 or 14 weeks kids are at home. A full time working parent gets 4 weeks annual leave a year so if you are a single parent there is 10 weeks that have to be covered and if you have two working parents if each of them take their 4 weeks separately to cover school holidays that's 8 weeks out of the 14 weeks - still 6 weeks what happens to the kids. Kids need school holidays to sleep in, hang around and have pajama days and play in the backyard not be carted off at 6.30 am to school care. I know there are circumstances where there is no choice to have 2 parents working however at the end of the day there has to be a balance. I loved your post and I totally agree with everything you mentioned. I have been making my own laundry powder for years, I've made soap only two times however school lunches is one I have saved lots of money on. My kids have been in school for 17 years and I have made their lunches everyday with the exception of 2-3 "meal deal" special events at school a year in primary school. That's a lot of savings even if the average spend was $4 a day by 2 kids that's $8 per day x 5 days = $40 a week. 40 weeks a year x $40 = $1,600 a year x 17 years = $27,200 in that time. It all adds up over time.

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    1. Dear Kathy, I totally agree with you. When the girls were at school so many kids came to school so sick and spreading the germs around as they could not stay home and rest which I thought was awful. Oh boy I agree ... the girls in school holidays would grow so much because of all the big sleep ins and rest. By end of term they were so so tired. We had many pyjama days! It was beautiful. Then we would do so many crafts and cooking. I love you lunch calculations too! This is true and the savings are just massive. I thought being home when the kids came home from school was important and valuable. Many times they needed help with homework too. As you said many think being a full time homemaker means you are laying on the lounge watching Days of Our lIves but I was always so busy. They were wonderful years! With love Annabel.xxx

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  12. Ok, after giving this some serious consideration I think I will give it a go. Now my savings will be considerably lower than most because I live alone, on a very small income and am pretty frugal by nature, but, it looks likely that the government here in the UK will raise the retirement age, yet again, to 70! Now funnily enough I don't want to have to go out to work until I'm 70, so I plan on saving up as much money as I possibly can in the hopes that I can retire in 7 years time, instead of 14. I honestly don't know if I can do it, but I'm going to give it my very best shot and having a goal is always a good thing I think.

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    1. Dear Su, It is very interesting how in each country we face certain challenges. In Australia the retirement age went up and I see it going up again. If you can save now it certainly will help. I agree that having a goal helps so much! We can do big things with a goal! Good luck! Love Annabel.xxx

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    2. I think particularly for younger women with more of their life ahead of them, there's a valuable lesson here, being content with less means not being stuck on the eternal treadmill. I have never had a huge income or wanted much, but I wish I had been even more selective about how I spent what income I had.

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    3. Dear Su,

      I think we will all surprise ourselves when we get going, step by step!

      I find that my life is more satisfying, and richer, than if I live in someone else’s home, yet I live off the smell of an oily rag in comparison!

      Rachel

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  13. I do this in small ways but I don't do most of the things many of you do.

    By the way, does Vicky have a blog?

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    1. Hi Jenny, Every savings counts! Vicky doesnt have a blog but she writes here on Bluebirds and also on The Women Of Proverbs31 Facebook group. xxx

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  14. There are many opinions on saving and what is really saving and what isn't. There is a difference between saving and a savings account.
    First let us have a look at the a few of the definitions of this:
    saving- an economy of or reduction in money, time, or another resource.
    or- preventing waste of a particular resource.
    or- the money one has saved through a bank or investment

    We got started on our frugal journey years ago and keeping track of each dollar or cent we have saved doing various things is what has really worked for us. It has helped keep us accountable, it has helped us look for more ways to save, resist eating out or impulse shopping and seek the better bargains to get the most bang for our buck and do many DYI projects instead of paying someone. For some this can equal more in the savings account, extra to pay on a few bills, or to live better on the income they have.
    For clarification we have paid off our house so have no house payment, have no vehicle payment, no credit card debt it's all been paid off, when the well went out last year try as he might my husband couldn't get through the shale rock so we had to pay $3 thousand for drilling, but we had that in our savings.
    I tried the envelope system, but that just didn't work for me. I did do Dave Ramsey's snowball effect on the debt though.
    There are some things I've only counted once and that was at the time I got them. Example: I got 40 bottles dish soap free a few years ago. I only counted the savings on those that year. Not every month since then that I haven't had to buy any.
    I also have a few side hustles. Earning gift cards that I don't pay taxes on and I use them to purchase things so money doesn't come out of the bank when I use them. Example: I plan on getting $50 worth of groceries and I use gift cards instead my $50 grocery money is still in the bank to pay for something else. And it motivates my husband. He has researched and found where to get the parts he needs at a lower cost and expanded his skills as well and has become much better at shopping if he goes.
    And the thing is we live better and have more than when we both worked. I hope this helps.
    XOXO
    Vicky

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    1. Thank you Vicky and very helpful to clarify the different types of saving and how your family saves and classifies savings too :).

      It makes it clearer now.

      Sewingcreations15 (Lorna).

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    2. Dear Vicky!

      I appreciate your wisdom. You clearly speak from experience, and how you find ways of saving is a priceless skill in itself!

      Rachel

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  15. When you were doing the VC before the move, I was eager to read your reports each week. I often wondered how I would do. So this year I'm following your lead and am recording my savings as of now. I tried to think of what we've done so far this new year and with just what I can remember and the basics, I have recorded over $460.00!! The largest sums were from a credit card points cash-in ($125.00) and 2 Christmas gifts I returned. (I would not ever used those gifts and I don't need more stuff cluttering up the house. Another $100.00) Another shock was by just packing Farmer's lunches and morning snack and taking my coffee to work, we saved $125.00 for the past 2 weeks. Other savings, making my own "Runzas" (a little like your sausage rolls, only my dough is stuffed with a ground beef, cabbage & onion mixture) netted $40.00 Farmer fixed both a garden hose ($25.00) and my Salt Light ($35.00). And the final savings was today. We took advantage of our local farm store's "Bucket Sale". We got a free bucket ($4.00) and then 15% off anything we bought. We got garden seeds, gloves and other farm needs for a savings of almost $14.00. I can't wait to see the monthly and quarterly and finally the yearly totals.

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    1. Dear Kay,
      I love names like ‘Farmer’s lunches’, ‘Ploughman’s lunches’, ...... Your ‘runzas’ sound hearty, and tasty, together!!
      Your ‘bucket sale’ purchases sound fun!!
      Enjoy the great and famous Vicky Challenge!

      Rachel

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  16. I agree wholeheartedly Annabel that stay at home parents earn and contribute a lot in the family budget. Often Mums/Dads underestimate what they do contribute as if you add up things like hiring a cleaner, babysitter, money savings by careful shopping of specials etc and all of the other things it comes to a small fortune each year and can quite often be more than the other partners wage in most cases.

    We will be joining the Vicky Challenge indeed.

    Usually we put in all the things we used to pay for that we now do ourselves such as growing vegetables, building things, plumbing work and so on.

    Have a great week ahead :).

    Sewingcreations15 (Lorna).

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  17. I appreciate this post, and the encouragement, so very very much! I love being at home also, and am still homeschooling our youngest who is now a high school freshman. The close relationship I have with her, at 15 years old, is priceless! So many people downgrade teenagers these days, but my teenager is wonderful! One hobby she and I have recently learned how to do is home made soap making. We are having so much fun! We gave soap for many Christmas presents this year, and have even sold one bar so far! I would love to know how to color our soaps using natural ingredients. Could you possibly share how you made your soaps in this post that lovely pink color?

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    1. Dear Susan!

      Annabel wrote to Sandy, above, that she has used a Pink Zote laundry bar sent from the US to make her laundry liquid that lovely pink colour!
      It is a wonderful, natural achievement to homeschool your daughter, and I am glad you can share the excitement of soapmaking together! I helped homeschool my baby sister, and we got on really well! Be encouraged in your work!!

      Rachel

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  18. Dear Annabel,

    I like the sound of the Vicky challenge and I loved reading through this post about your savings and how we can do it too.

    I may participate, if I can stick at it. I know I will definitely enjoy reading everyone else's savings, and taking ideas from them.

    Lots of love,
    Tania xxx

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    1. Dear Tania, Even a week of working it out is enlightening and a shock! And yes so many ideas come from hearing what everyone is doing. I love it. It often makes me know how blessed I am too! With love Annabel.xxx

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  19. Dear Annabel,
    I think my first comment got lost in cyberspace. Please count me in for the Vicky Challenge. Like Vicky herself, we started our journey years and continue it today. Our house is paid off, our car is paid off and we have no credit card debt. Dave Ramsey's predecessor was Larry Burkett. We followed his book "Debt Free Living", and also Joe Domingez's book, "Your Money or Your Life." Both gave us a template to work from.
    Last year we needed a new roof, but found that if we waited until the "off season", which is the fall here, we would save $3,000. So that's what we did since the roof had not started leaking anywhere and $3,000 stayed in our pocket rather than full price on the roof. Have a good week. Cookie

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    1. Dear Cookie,
      I think I need to read these books. You did very well on the roof. That is a big investment and you saved such a lot. Next time you are in the shops take a look at greeting card prices as yours are much nicer. This alone is a huge saving per year. Thank you for joining Cookie! With love Annabel.xxx

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  20. Dear Annabel and Bluebirds
    Not sure if I will be able to fully do this challenge, we are still at 6's and 7's following our major extension/renovation last year.

    I have my ways of saving money that I have tried to continue with during this time period. Looking for the best prices for anything we need netted us just shy of $1000- in savings just for curtains for our new family room area and a new bedhead for our bed in the last couple of weeks.

    Meat has got so expensive as it was in 1983 so when I learnt of a good special on chicken breast fillets we picked up 5 kilos and popped them in the freezer. 1 does the two of us for a meal.

    We have items that we no longer need so they will be getting sold.

    These are all things that we have done for years - this year I want to set up some garden beds and grow some of our fruit and vegetables.

    I grew up in a much colder climate so need to learn a new way of gardening - had to pop a letter into our ex neighbour and it dawned on me that she use to have a really good garden so I will be picking her brains to help me with this project. I know that if I was to hire someone to help me it would cost a huge amount of money and I would rather put that into the garden.

    I think of the Vicky Challenge as being 'mindful'.

    Lynette

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    1. Dear Lynette,
      I know you have done so well with everything from building materials to furnishings. You are very resourceful. And a good researcher.
      The advice of anyone local who has gardened in the conditions there is the best advice. You might also find good thing stop fill your garden beds with locally. It will be very nice to be past renovations and be able to settle into normal life and savings! With love Annabel.xxx

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  21. I really love reading your blog and all the helpful info. I think that probably the most valuable thing you offer is to be mindful of each and every penny because they do add up.

    Not everything works for everyone but sometimes the reminder to think of ways you can be creative in your individual home is wonderful. Also because we are doing it every day we don't put as much value on it as we should. Writing it down really gives us time to pause and evaluate what we can or should be doing.

    Finally this month after thinking about it far too long I quit cable TV and had an antenna put up. Now it is nowhere near as good but I'll adjust and it is saving me $2,400 each year. That is great with me especially when you think of what you save in ten years time.

    One of the changes I made recently has really impressed me because of the savings. I use the pickup service at Walmart for groceries. I'm amazed at how much I save with no impulse purchases. WM cut something off my order a week ago so I had to go in to pick up a different size. I was there 20 minutes and spent $200 picking up things!!! As I was walking thru I didn't think it could possibly be that much! LOL But I won't be going back in there I can tell you. I used to spend about $500-600 in WM each month. Now because of pickup it is only about $150-200 because I only but exactly what I need. That is shocking to me that I've been wasting so much.

    Saving has become fun for me!

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    1. Dear Imsovintage, $2400 a year is a big saving in one action! It is very good you have been able to save on groceries. This is an area that our habits and choices really can make such a difference.
      Writing down things really helps me. I get a lot of motivating and a feeling of success! You see things are worth it, they really do add up! Many thanks, With love Annabel.xxx

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  22. The Vicki Challenge is on!!! Love all the helpful hints here and on the Tuesday Morning facebook page!! Thank you!

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  23. I sent you a comment earlier this evening asking you to remind me about this. Then I found this post. Thank you. I'm going to think back to the beginning of the year and see what I can remember. I used to write a post each week about the thrifty things I'd done at the cottage. I need to get back to that. Thank you for inspiring me. The Tuesday challenge and the 52 week sewing challenge are helping me get things done already.
    Blessings,
    Laura of Harvest Lane Cottage

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    1. Dear Laura,
      I used to read your thrifty posts! I do think keeping some kind of track gives us the sense of achievement. The 52 week sewing challenge is a great one! I am glad these challenges are helping you! Thanks so much! With love Annabel.xxx

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  24. This is a great idea and a timely one. I just purchased. Soy milk maker after much internal discussion. We currently have 4 of us living here and we are all vegan so we use quite a lot of soy and nut milks. I make my own nut milks, but prefer soy for many things and soy beans store better and are cheaper than nuts. To make one litre of organic soy milk costs me 41 cents, and I use the pulp to make a vegan meat substitute. There is also the added health benefit of having soy milk which has nothing added to it. It also allows me to purchase beans package free at my local bulk food shop rather than soy milk in cartons that cannot be recycled. I make heaps of our food from scratch (vegan cheese, sour dough, kombucha etc) to avoid packaging and additives. Now I wonder exactly what I am saving! (For the record I was paying $1.80 for a litre of non organic soy milk). Noni

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    1. Dear Noni,
      I think making your own nut milks is also much healthier. Your making things from scratch would be so good for you. Funnily I cannot eat soy, I begin to ache all over but I totally agree with you making things as you do for both economy and know what is in things. Well done! With love Annabel.xxx

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  25. Hi Annabel
    I often receive the comment Aren't you bored at home?' It flummoxes people when I say I don't know what bored is. What does it look like? How does it feel?
    I try not to pass comment on other people's life choices as I know how annoying it is when people do it to me!
    Great to see the Vicky challenge back.

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    1. Penny I feel the same. I dont get it. I always run out of day and I cant live long enough to get all my craft projects done! haha! I will get tired but that is different to bored. As kids we were not allowed to be bored we have plenty to do and if we didnt we were given jobs to do! Good training. Thank you! xxx

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  26. I've noticed most women seem to be jealous when they ask if we are bored, or comment "Must be nice". I do not consider myself a feminist or any other label, and I put my time in the working world - I am retired military and have spent many many years in the childcare field. I have also quit working AFTER my children have grown and took care of my home and my husband. I do what I need to do at the time, and so do many other women. We women are just trying to do our best and it's hard sometimes. We should all be supporting each other, as some women have to work to support their families for whatever reason. I say we do what works for our and our families and never feel the need to justify our choices (or lack of...). I love your blog Annabel and you are inspiring to all of us!

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    1. Dear Kathy, You have had a very interesting life! It is often funny to me that it can be women who are mean and place pressure on other women. Rather than supportive as you say. Thank you for your kind words! With love Annabel.xxx

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  27. I am often in awe of how much you all manage to get done. I work full-time and have a health condition too, which causes fatigue. However, I am saving up for my first home. If I get it my budget will be very tight but I hope to learn from you all and do lots of things for myself, including having a pretty, mostly edible garden. I can start in small ways now.

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    1. Dear Jodi!

      I love that there are younger people who love to find the richness and simplicity of the good old ways! You are doing your best in a difficult situation. Yet, small steps in areas that interest you can make a huge difference in making your life work. As Annabel says, a little organisation can make a huge benefit. Thank you for commenting!

      Rachel

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  28. Annabel,
    I am so very happy to join in on this challenge. I know we will all do things differently but we can learn from each other as we go.
    My husband takes care of picking up after our dog and he prefers to use the specialty little plastic bags for this purpose. I am just happy he does this chore. We were at the store this weekend and he put a package of those in the cart. I looked at the clearance and found double the amount of bags for less cost. Just a little savings but it all adds up.
    Another one is paper lunch bags- my husband and I prefer to use these for our work lunches each day. One store sold 50 paper bags for $4 and just down the street at another store I got 50 bags for $1. I know using cloth bags would be cheaper all together but for right now this is what we use and found a cheaper way. I might mention we often re-use our paper bags 3-4 times before grabbing a new one.
    We have a very small beach cabin for weekends but just the mandatory utilities costs us about $200 per month whether we are there or not.
    I would like to develop a side hustle or other source of income to cover these costs so if we retire we can afford to keep our little cabin. That will be my goal for this challenge.

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    1. Dear Bluebird!

      Your goal sounds wonderful, and very achievable! It is amazing what provisions we can find when we just do what we believe is right, and take even little steps towards meeting out goals!
      Even your bag requirements are working for you! We can appreciate these little things! It’s lovely to hear your story!

      Rachel

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  29. Dear Annabel,

    It's lovely to see the Vicky Challenge back again, and to have you re-describe it in your post. I've enjoyed reading all the comments...some wonderful ideas. It's a fun calculation and a real eye-opener. Thanks for the motivation!

    xx Jen in NS

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    1. Dear Jen!

      Here’s a little ‘hello’ from Down Under! I tried to reply to you a while back, but the signal wasn’t working!

      Yep, Annabel can be motivating and fun!! Ha ha!!

      Rachel

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  30. This sounds like an amazing idea. I'll try and participate when I can. Thanks for sharing. Andrea

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I really appreciate your comments thank you! The aim of my blog is the be a place of encouragement and happiness. Very rarely is anyone rude. Actually only twice so far! If you post a rude or aggressive comment I will read it but not publish it, thanks for understanding.xxx

Spam is never published... if you are advertising a product or selling website your comment wont be published. I am inundated with stuff about drugs, horses and weird things! I am not going to publish this stuff! Thank you.