The Vicky Challenge. Mobilize the troops.

Last weeks Vicky Challenge was good for me. It was just one of those weeks that lots of random things added up!

This included washing my windows. It is an average of $100 for outside windows only here in Adelaide. I did insides too but I will count $100.

I pruned roses and a tree which took an afternoon. Going on what my neighbour pays that is at least another $100.

I had a free $30 grocery voucher and used that to stock my pantry.

I made three dozen sausage rolls. Going on bakery prices, less costs this saved me about $80.

Andy took all home packed lunches to work plus morning coffees etc saving $100.

Also I made over some tops for Harper. These tops cost me $5 each. The end result is worth a lot more!

We had fridge pizza and used up bits and pieces.

Hilde's lemons became lemon butter and gifts and deserts!

So all up I wrote  $470 in my savings book.

This weeks savings subject is getting help! I have been thinking about this because everyone has been so busy, so much is going on, the US ladies are harvesting and canning, others have been moving house, changing around the house, renovating and building pantries!
To get everything done at times like these can be daunting. And we are just one person with a list a mile long!

This is when I say mobilize the troops! If you have helpers get them helping. We like to think we are working as a team. When the girls were home we had the same idea. Before school went back we would have two whole days of cooking supplies for school lunch boxes! The girls loved this and it taught them a lot! As a family we always just incorporated the work that needed doing into a family thing. When I was young our family would take a picnic and we would spent the afternoon picking up firewood. It was fun! I still love gathering firewood!
I think if the family understands "this is what we are doing and this is why we are doing it" that overall kids benefit from being involved. They learn and feel important!

There are other helpers you can mobilize too, get your handmaidens working! (Crockpot, bread maker, washing machine etc) If you are having a busy day knowing your dinner is cooking away in the crockpot is a huge help!

Last week Vicky had so much to do! She has a whole heap of things going on as she is moving rooms around in her house to make a whole room into a pantry! She is also making over a cellar for all her canned goods. Like me she finds her cellar dark and scary so it was under used.
Meanwhile her garden is huge and she has it fully planted and now it is time to harvest and preserve things as well.
So much is happening and we are planning a future post to show you the new pantry and the cellar full of her preserves!  There are some great stories attached to these!
I was glad to hear that Vicky had all the troops mobilized and everyone was helping. Otherwise it would have been impossible!

Vicky's Mum has been a big help!

The current crop coming in has been the cucumbers.

Vicky's Mum has helped her harvest and slice.

Her son has been helping and babysitting the Grandchildren so Vicky can keep going on all of this! He also did the washing and hung the clothes out.

When it comes to harvesting and preserving you have a window of opportunity and you can't miss this! 

Since these pictures were taken they have harvested again and repeated the whole process!

Today Vicky's husband is adding shelves in the cellar for preserves. Also he uses some of the produce and preserves to barter with. This adds to the household income in all sorts of ways!  I am so glad Vicky has helpers.

So it is a team effort and so much more can be achieved.  Without a team effort like this the shelves would not be filled like they are being now!

Sometimes we have to be quite creative to manage and get help.  But if you can possibly delegate, share, barter etc you might end up with assistance and overall achieve a whole lot more. 

It also can take wisdom to know what must be done now and what can be left until another time or later. 

I always say make hay while the sun shines! Another one I heard was something like "the time to put on a new roof is when the sun is shining, not when it is raining!" (or something close to that!)  I thought about that and liked it! It means to me don't wait until it's too late do it now!

How was your week and how can you mobilize helpers when you need them?  I think this is an interesting subject as a lot of us like to do everything ourselves! (this can be me...) But if we get others helping we are doing them a favour. They are learning skills, feel a part of things, will pass this on to their own children and families, we can do so much more! 

Perfectionism is another enemy. We want things a certain way. But again letting others help is bigger than this. 

Have a great new week! The last week of July!  We have wind and hail! I am off to the shops and running errands. xxx

(Ps Mobilize is one of those words that can be spelt two ways like organisation! Depends on what country you come from. I got a ton of letters about organisation at one stage. English and US spelling are different. I pretty much tossed a coin on this one!)