One of the most inspiring things I heard was from a lady who appeared on the Oprah Winfrey show. She was previously poor and disillusioned and had transformed into a well adjusted person. It was a simple sentence “I cleaned my house”. To me that was a turning point. OK so I was not a rich person, but being poor didn’t mean I had to live like a pig. I de-cluttered and cleaned my house and let me tell you it felt great. Extra cash was made from the sale of my clutter and my home felt great to be in.

If you are not filthy rich it doesn’t mean you have to live “filthy” poor. There are a few tips that may help you to have a sense of wealth and pride.

• Act rich by ensuring that your hair is brushed and tidy, trim the ends yourself to save money.
• Keep your nails trimmed and clean and don’t forget your toenails!
• Polish your shoes and make sure they are well maintained
• Stand up straight and tall when walking – be confident in yourself
• Keep elbows off the table when dining – play the part and don’t be rude
• If you are time rich and cash poor then volunteer – try at wealthy events or charity shops. This will improve your social skills, create links that may help you reach your goals and keep you out of the shops spending money you don’t have.
• Never pay retail – always get the best price for what you need. Make friends with shops like Target, Big W and Aldi. Check the clearance sections and always check products for faults (keep receipts for returns if items are faulty)
• Buy the classics. A good cut pair of jeans, simple black dress, white t-shirts – you know the practical items that never date (too quickly anyway). Wear what you have in your closet also. We all tend to stick to our favourites, but you may be surprised what you have and had forgotten about.
• Keep your teeth clean. A beautiful smile is priceless. Don’t worry if your teeth are crooked that adds character, just ensure that you keep your gums healthy (brush them when brushing your teeth) and floss. A great mouth wash for improving gum health is 1 teaspoon of salt in half a glass of warm water, rinse this vigorously around your mouth and spit out.
• If you keep fit you will tend to have a better outlook on life, as with eating healthy and studying to learn new things and improve your skills. You don’t have to waste a fortune on food. My grocery bill has reduced dramatically since I have eliminated animal products from my diet and actively grow my own vegetables, fruit and herbs.
• Don’t keep your best for best. I love this one. I would keep crockery, outfits, even makeup for best occasions, and funnily enough they would sit there and never get used. Just use them for this is the best time right now.
• Take pride in your processions. Maintain them and keep them clean – they will last longer and look like a million dollars even if they only cost a little.

Money cannot buy your happiness. Only you can achieve that through keeping your mind and body healthy and filled with goodness. You may not get Money 4 Jam from this article, though I hope you can take something from it to improve your life.

I was asked by a friend at TAFE to write a post on money saving ideas and tips for surviving Christmas.

I survived last Christmas fairly well un-scared from the financial burden the silly season usually inflicts on me. Every year I would detest the actual day for the terrible strain it placed on my conscience and wallet, even to the state of making me completely ill and writing the whole day off, as was the case in 2007.

Last year was stress free. I had lunch at mums where a chef was arranged to cook for everyone. Presents were capped at $50 for kids (there are 5 that I had to buy for) and realising they all prefer money to gifts they don’t generally like, cash it was. Money was a fantastic option really, as even if we did set a limit for presents, I could in no way stick to it as I always wanted to get that little extra.

No presents were given to adults except for my mum and Robert, my boys and boyfriend Tony. The day was excellent – no stress and as I had been putting little gifts aside for the boys during the year – there was no great financial shocks. Secret Santa was the theme for Tony’s family, so we only had to buy 2 presents for them – capped at $20.

I only sent out about 10 Christmas cards – choosing only older relatives and loved, but not often seen, friends. I had purchased the cards at the sales 11 months earlier – quality cards at a discount price. (Same deal for wrapping paper).

My best tips for an easy and wonderful Christmas with a little leftover Money 4 Jam are:

Decorations, Wrapping and Cards:

• Don’t decorate with expensive things!!!
• Use your children’s artwork, or create your own on plain paper and use pretty (dollar shop) ribbons. No need to buy expensive ribbons and bows to decorate your packages, if you hunt around you can find the cheap stuff that will be just as pretty!
• Buy at the Boxing Day sales and store for next year
• Swap decorations with friends if you are sick of your old ones
• Cut up old Christmas cards to make wonderful gift tags
• Invest in a good quality artificial tree after Christmas – when they go on CLEARANCE SALE! Buy good quality because they will last many more years.
• Collect ornaments adding to your collection each year each ornament is more special because of it. Don’t try to get all your tree ornaments in one year.
• Decorate your house by bringing the outside in, using painted pinecones (gold and silver works a treat with matching bows). 
• Remember to pop in some family pictures for cards to grandparents and also phone them the night before Christmas to save stress on the day.

 Food:

I have a friend who religiously pays into a Christmas Hamper fund, and this works for her. Every year I tell myself that I will put aside just $10 per week and never have. This year I have managed to save $500 with the leftover money from my weekly budget. That has only been in the last few months too. Each Friday – my banking day – I clean my wallet out and what I have left over goes into different envelopes; one for Christmas, one for present buying and one for something special for me.

• Don’t go stupid on food buying. Sure it’s nice to have some special items, but left over puddings and cakes stored in the freezer for months gets pathetic. OK, I’ll throw them out.
• Stock up while non-perishables are on sale, just an extra can or box here and there.  If you end up with too many bargain buys, make up hampers for those who could really appreciate it. 
• I like the idea of everyone bringing a plate instead on one person having to do the lot

Entertainment:

• Hire Christmas DVDs – so much cheaper that going to the movies
• Take a drive around town, or another town nearby to see their Christmas lights.  It’s simply breathtaking some of them. I always love seeing the lights – so magical.
• Get out the board games or cards, the kids will love spending time with you and also beating you. 
• Go to the local carols and sing, sing, sing! 
• Have a family gathering to decorate the tree, wrap gifts, or bake treats
• Make a Christmas book about your own family! Include Christmas photos from previous years, traditions, holiday snaps and favourite recipes

Presents:

• Write your list, cut it back, start shopping early and always compare prices
• It such a short time till the “C” day, and if you can put aside $100 a week from now on (being November) that’s going to help
• I’m not a great fan of homemade gifts. Kids love to make gifts, so for them I would suggest they concentrate on wrapping paper, gift tags, cards, decorations and baking. They can also do a voucher book offering free services like foot massage, cleaning, car washing, babysitting etc. My son Jake gave me one and I didn’t want to rip the vouchers out as I loved the gesture so much.
• Easy gifts are movie tickets, shop cards, lottery tickets, wine, hampers, home grown produce, potted plants/herbs and homemade treats
• Don’t forget to get in early to arrange secret Santa, no presents for adults and price capping so friends and relatives are forewarned

The most important thing to remember for Christmas is be good to your folks and don’t be pressured into spending your money foolishly.

How easy is it for your spending to escalate out of control? We seem to live by the mentality of getting what we want when we want it – funds available or not.

Do you shop because you are bored? Do you love the social aspect of shopping? Do you shop because you are stressed? Does shopping make you feel good? I actually think I enjoyed shopping for the thrill of the bargain. How can you break the shopping cycle? For me it was easy – don’t use my credit card and write a blog on saving money. (Whatever works I say)

Now how can I help you? Follow these tips and see what happens:

• Use only cash when shopping and always check for the best price for the item you NEED
• Sale time is great, but do not buy anything you don’t NEED. Please don’t go there just to browse – way too dangerous
• Don’t go shopping if you are tired, hungry, stressed or emotional
• Do something else with your time. If you go shopping for a social outing with friends try something different like:
  • Have a cooking day and lunch at home – rotate between each other’s homes
  • Go for a walk (away from shops) or visit museums, open gardens, libraries, galleries and take a picnic to save a few dollars. I love exploring the nearby national parks and conservation areas.
  • Arrange swap days – each gather your clothes, shoes, jewellery, bags and accessories that don’t fit or you no longer want and trade them. Work out a system that is fair for all, but I do find that it is just great to get rid of stuff you don’t use anymore and help out mates at the same time
  • Take up a hobby that won’t cost the earth – sketching, painting, photography. What about planting a vegetable garden with your friends. Each can be responsible for providing different vegies or herbs. If you have a garden (even pots) at each place you can trade your harvests with each other.
  • Use your sporting equipment – meet for rollerblading, body boarding, squash days etc. Don’t forget the old pushy – check the tyres are ok and off you go.

If you have left over money at the end of the week why not save that (outside of your purse/wallet) until you have enough saved for something you really want. Don’t waste it on silly purchases – think about the bigger picture. Wouldn’t you love a holiday?

I love material possessions, but now I prefer to save for them. Don’t be fooled and associate saving with deprivation. Experience the joy of saving for something you want rather than putting it on credit card. Just try waiting. It gets easier the more you do it and it is so much more rewarding. Saving should be a weekly habit. It’s not hard – if I can do it than you can too.

It is not always easy to get Money 4 Jam, so remember before you shop, pay off your essentials first – food, bills, debts, petrol, transport, expenses – and then what’s left you can fritter away if you have to

What event you may ask has bought me to question my filing techniques, and how can being organised relate to “Money 4 Jam”. It was my front loader washing machine that made me appreciate what a sad and sorry state I was in. Returning home one afternoon and much to my horror my trusty Whirlpool was highlighting the fact that under no circumstances could it finish its pre-programmed job until I had cleaned the pump. Oh buggar! We all know the stories about whitegoods, and for that matter all electrical equipment, that they have a life span of 2 weeks past the warranty date.  After the panic dissipates I remember the manual. No problem, let me just find the manual and I will clean the pump and all will be well. Manual you say. Where is it?

After about 3 hours of searching, involving 2 people and copious amounts of swearing, the manual was located, the pump cleaned and everyone happy. Oh except for the fact that the paperwork still lay in turmoil. At least I saved the expense of having a “Washing Maching Man” come over to my house – to remove the nail – that my son Jake had in his pocket – that stopped my washing machine pump from working.

Where am I going with this story you may ask. Recently I picked up a book for $1 at the local school fete on how to be highly organised and stress free. The book is basically about containerising everything. “Everything in its place in a container”. It actually made sense. So I have decided to put things in boxes. All manuals and warranties in one box, all receipts for one year in another box, all banking in another, all large receipts in another. Simply put I feel that if you can organise your paperwork, belongings, your life for that matter, than you will save yourself time (knowing where everything is and goes), and most importantly money.

I don’t know about you, but my boys seem to be on holidays more than they are at school. They have just started another round of two weeks holidays, so this time I thought instead of letting the TV and computer be their choice of activity, I thought I would put together some ideas that cost little, yet will keep them happy. Hopefully there will be no more of “Mum I’m bored!!”

The following is a list of free things (or as close to) to do during the school holidays:

• Local libraries are great for activities during the holidays, especially for little ones
• Bike riding – exploring the neighbourhood – create a bike trail map and take some food and drink in a back pack. Don’t forget helmets and road rules!

• Check local council websites (or visit office) for free activities and schedules they have planned for the holidays
• Fishing – try to catch some free food for dinner
• Day at the beach/beach party – take the Frisbee. Build a giant sandcastle or sand sculpture.
• Dress up days/put on plays
• Skate parks
• Indoor play centres – around $10, but if you want a coffee with friends and a mini break these centres are terrific
• Meet with friends at a park. Have a picnic. (Feed the Birds or the Ducks – take some stale bread)

• Camping in the backyard – great for all ages. Combine with a barbeque for a real outdoor experience
• Craft days – one parent takes the kids for a few hours (rotational of course) – check out op shops for some cheap craft items, and put down a tarp or conduct it outside to save your sanity and let the kids go wild. Check out http://www.crafts.com/kids/indexs.html for some great craft ideas
• Have a movie afternoon – great for a rainy day. Rent a couple of good kid’s movies, make some popcorn and snuggle up with blankets and enjoy the movies.
• Local Olympic pool – generally cheap and great if you pack your own snacks
• National parks are terrific for exploring – take some great pictures (budding photographers) and wildlife spotting (binoculars are good for this).
• Create a Treasure hunt in the backyard – write out a list of things to find, and let them start hunting – make sure there is not threat of spiders or snakes in the search!
• Cook some special treats or family favourites like Gingerbread men letting the kids be involved in all aspects of the cooking process
• Organise a Kid Swap with friends – great if you work as they can take your kid/s one day during the week and you could have their kid/s on a Friday or Saturday night for a sleep over so they could have a night out – free of babysitting fees
• Browse through your local museum, great to show the kids how things use to be – and generally free to enter
• Take a Day trip to a historic town or a local attraction. Sometimes we never visit the attractions in our local area except when the rellies visit.
• Play dough is great – buy some or make your own and get out all the kitchen baking gadgets – cookie cutters, rolling pins etc
• Buy some cheap timber photo frames and get the kids to paint and decorate them for their rooms.
• Get in early for Christmas – paint pine cones – gold, silver, red, green. What about daisy chains, toilet rolls made into lanterns, old clothes pegs made into Santa’s etc
• Conduct some simple Science experiments
• Do a Jigsaw, set up a special area and let everyone help
• Make a Kite then take it outside on a windy day to fly it

• Catch local transport – take a ferry, train or bus ride around the city
• Encourage healthy habits by making juice – choose your favourite fruits and squeeze to make lovely fresh juice

Check out local Newspapers for activities and goings on in your area.

Older kids may be encouraged to make money during the holidays to help pay for special activities or a new game. Some suggestions are:

• Car wash – starting with yours, then family members and neighbours
• Homemade lemonade stand
• Garage sale – they can clean, price and sell unwanted items
• Home bake – chocolate dipped snakes in bags with ribbon ties are great, as are homemade cookies to sell to neighbours
• Do drawings to sell to neighbours
• Pet cleaning or grooming
• Lawn mowing, raking,  odd jobs
• Paper/pamphlet run

Encourage the kids to be involved in gardening. Yates has a great site where you can get free seeds for recommending friends to join the club to receive free newsletters.

For the younger kids check out some terrific websites such as “Sesame Street”, “Lego”, “Freddo” or simply type in their favourite show into Google (search engine) and see what their sites offer. Some competitions could be a great way for your kids to hone their typing/drawing/creative skills.

What about going away? If you can afford it – check out “Wotif” for last minute deals on accommodation. Generally you can get some great rates. I have found some great bargains at this site, but of course don’t forget caravan parks. They seem to be in the best locations and are so cheap.

Kids will always be looking for fun and interesting things to do. I had some help with this list from some great friends at TAFE (Audrey, Fiona and Pip). Please if you can add to the list just put in a comment and I will include it for everyone’s benefit.

Good news – I have found a great site. You simply enter in the details and it calculates your income and expenses, and also hopefully the leftovers, for either weekly, fortnightly, monthly or yearly calculations.

It’s great for lazy people like me who couldn’t be bothered using a paper based method – writing in the amount and using a calculator to try and work it all out. Truthfully, I don’t think that I have ever completed one of the paper based ones in my life. Tooooo hard!!!!!

Give this one a go. It is a terrific budget planner produced by the Wesley Mission, is free to use and oh so simple.

I was pretty shocked when I did mine and realised that I was spending more than I earned. It really helped me get on track, and literally stop wasting money on non-essential items and wants.

I have spent the last few months exploring ways to get stuff for free on the net. One site that is hugely popular is Craigs List (Australian Site). Many people use this site to exchange products and services.  Their motto is “Inspired by the spirit and culture of craigslist, our programs are designed to help strengthen communities and spark community engagement.” It is definitely worth checking out.

I have also joined a few websites that provide you with links to companies that offer free samples of their products. One great Australian website is Freestuff.com.au. This is a fantastic site that offers even more than the regular links to free samples. You can enter competitions, get free stuff, free trials and heaps more. It is a terrific site that is easy to navigate and use and of course it’s FREE to become a member.

The other site I have frequented is Freestuff.net. This is where I started on my quest for anything free. It is so exciting to check the post box for my goodies. This site is also free to become a member and it keeps you informed of what’s new with regular newsletters.

If you are into competitions then I would recommend you have a look at Shoppers Bonus for a comprehensive list of free competitions you can enter. As yet I have not won anything, and I have probably entered about 50 competitions. Guess I will have to brush up on my 25 words or less. Yes I know you have to be in it to win it.

Anyway I have had fun exploring the available options, hope you do too.

This a wonderful site that you can list your unused storage, parking or office space for those looking to rent in the area. If you have extra room in your home or business you can turn it into cash – literally Making Money out of Thin Air!!!

They offer FREE membership and FREE listings.

Check out their site by clicking on the link: Spaceout

Click on the link below: 

Simply enter your property name, suburb or postcode into the search box and click on the search button to provide a listing. Alternatively you can click on ‘Hotspot Listings’ in the top page tab and click on the relevant state of Australia. The majority may seem to be McDonalds restaurants, but make sure you go to the end of the search results to show all options.

The site also provides a ‘user-pay’ hotspots directory and defines them as ‘Paid’ in the search results.

• Don’t flush toilet for number 1s
• Don’t change clothes until someone mentions they smell like barbeque onions
• Never wash until a huge zit forms on the tip of their nose and I chuck a wobbly
• Brushing teeth – why bother (they quickly forget the $6000 you spent on braces)

Unfortunately though their wonderful saving ideas are thwarted with their beliefs that:

• Takeaway is necessary and essential to life
• Water is present in all soft drink and therefore necessary
• Best clothes –brand names only pleeease
• I need that new PS3 game or I will die….

Therefore I arrive at the topic of this post – why (my) teenagers should work.

Working is important for developing an understanding of finances at an early stage. When my eldest started work at 14, doing a couple of shifts a week at KFC, he spent his earnings just as quickly as they went in his bank account. After a couple of months though things changed and he started to save and be more cautious of where his hard earned money was going. He has learnt about using key cards and the associated cost involved with each transaction, and has started making goals to aim for with his savings.

It is now his brothers turn – he has just turned 14, and with seeing the benefits of having a regular wage, has an even greater ambition to work.

If you are in the position of your child wanting to work consider the options carefully of where you would like them to start their working career. My nephew Joel worked at Hungry Jacks for 2 years and had to give it away as he was working 8 hour shifts and up to 20 hours a week. There have since been new laws introduced that at 14 years of age you can only work 4 hours without a 1 hour break and up to 8 hours only a week. You would have to check this out in your area.

Now my niece Jemma is working for a bakery and it is just terrific. She gets some great shifts, and as a bonus gets to take home some bread etc for free. It is close to her home so she can walk to work, and believe me this is a huge bonus. My son rides his bike to work for day shifts, but I drive him for night shifts.

Don’t let your teenagers become lazy. By allowing them to work once they are of age, you are teaching them some important facts of life. They will ultimately learn to budget their money and it will save you money also.

If there are no paid jobs in your area consider volunteer work so that your children will learn responsibility and the value of money, and the real world won’t be so much of a shock for them. By doing volunteer work they will then appreciate the following years when they are actually getting a pay check!