Welcome Sam!

I gave birth to a healthy baby boy last Monday. We named him Sam. We thank God for him!

He was born by c-section, weighing 3.36 KG and 50 cm long.

He is a little screamer!!! :)

Minimising Food Wastage

I can't believe it has taken me 33 years to find this out. And in the 33 years, 10 years of Managing my Own Kitchen.

The light bulb went on the other day when I read this tip online.

Write a list of leftovers left in the fridge.

I can never remember what is in the fridge. I have a big fridge. Unless I spend a few minutes rummaging I don't know what's in there.

My husband added a good idea: Date it.

Sweet!!

Make-Do

I'm going in for a C-Section on Monday (4 days to go!!!!!).

So this blog might be a little bit quiet for a few days...or maybe I'll get a burst of energy at 4 AM while breastfeeding? zzzzz

I was thinking I might buy some magazines for the hospital stay. I never buy them but thought it would be nice to relax at the hospital for a few days after the birth. Treat myself.

But you know what?

I'm going to Make-Do and take the magazines I already have at home. If I was a real, proper Minimalist they would have already been donated to a friend's surgery...but they're still here.

So I will use them!!

A few "Inside Out" interior magazines and a Donna Hay one.

Stripey Shirts: a small collection

I'm finding it hard to minimise these: striped black & white shirts.

I don't know why I like them so much, but I just do. A lot!

I now have six. Trying to get down to seven tops for summer and seven tops for winter...and owning six striped B&W tops...I need to do the Maths.

Everyone is allowed one foible, right? :)

Minimising Buying Stuff

As they say, "It's easier to stop it from Coming In, than trying to sort it out once it's in the house" or something like that. I think there's a more succinct way of saying it, but I can't think what it is...

One of the best tips I have been given is this.

Write down what you need to buy. So on your fridge, you've got your normal Shopping List. And another List. Purchase List/Buy List/Want List.

Shopping List:
Obviously you write down stuff you need next week. Milk, eggs, bread, chicken thigh, grapes, soy sauce, seaweed etc

Buy List:
Write down stuff that you THINK you need. Now, the trick here is to wait 30 days. And see if you still need it after that period of time. You still need it? Go right ahead! Buy it.

But you will be surprised after 30 days at what you've just Made-Do. Or decide you don't need anymore. Or just use what you already own.

Currently, on my Buy List is Cloth Nappies.

I will wait it out. I will probably get some as presents. Or I will find that I can't do cloth nappies for the first three months. Or that I can just use what I already own (16).

We are trained from a young age to Just Buy Things. And I want to break away from this habit. It shouldn't be the default mode. I want to learn to Make-Do, to be creative, to be frugal.

Be Minimalist.

New Rule: One In Two Out

One In Two Out.

I think this will help me speed up my "Minimising Crap in my Home" process.

Over Christmas, I got lazy and on holiday mode, didn't adhere much to my old rule, "One In One Out". Now that January is already gone, it's back to business...

I am about to pop out No. 3. In nine days in fact.

It's very exciting. But also a bit daunting. I have forgotten all about sleepless nights...and newborn baby cries...and pooey nappies...

We didn't find out the gender. So currently, we have both sets of girls and boys clothing. And I'm sure we will be given stacks more by very generous friends and family. I'm in a way looking forward to sorting everything out once baby comes.

I'm going to grab a big bag and put everything BOY in it...my bet is that it's a Girl. It feels like a Girl. But then again, I've been wrong on All occasions. ;)

Anyway, back to this rule. It's a great rule. And Like for Like. Bring in two new toys...I donate four toys. Similar size, weight, volume...

50 Tips for Frugal Living: from zenhabits

This article is written by Leo Babauta from zenhabits and mnmlist blogs. He is a famous Minimalist blogger.

Confession time: I’m a cheapskate. Some would say frugal, which sounds much more positive, but in reality I can be a real cheapskate.

I am fairly frugal (though not always), but sometimes I take it too far: I have T-shirts with holes in them, I never buy new clothes, we’re shopping for a new couch because our current one has holes in it, and I ran my current pair of running shoes until the soles fell off.

However, I have gradually learned to be frugal in many ways that I would recommend to others. I don’t think you should have holes in your couch, and you should definitely replace your running shoes more often than I do, but there are many ways to cut back on spending and live a more frugal lifestyle.

Why live frugally? First, because it allows you to spend less than you earn, and use the difference to pay off debt, save or invest. Or all three. Second, because the less you spend, the less you need to earn. And that means you can choose to work less, or work more but retire early. Or take mini retirements. You have more options with a frugal lifestyle.

I know what I’m going to hear in the comments, because it’s been done repeatedly with my other frugal articles: I have no life. This is boring. I might as well live in a box. You have to enjoy life sometimes.

All of which you might believe, but I believe I do have a life. A great one. One where I spend time with my family, where I have conversations and read and get outside and do things that are fun and exercise and focus on what’s important and spend my free time the way I want. This is a good life. Read this article for more.

So, if you’d like some tips on frugal living, here are just a few, from a cheapskate. I should note that I do most, but not all, of these tips.

Go with one car.
Many families have two or more cars. Besides your house, your car is probably your most expensive item. If you can do with one, you should. My wife and I both work, and we have six kids, and yet we have learned to manage with one car.

Go with a smaller house.
Just because you can afford a larger house, doesn’t mean you should live in one. Live in as small a house as you can and still be comfortable. I don’t mean you should live in a one-room apartment with a family of four … you know what I mean. You can save thousands a year with a smaller house. Many times, if you get rid of a lot of clutter, you don’t need a large house.

Go with a smaller car.
Again, you can save thousands by going with a smaller car. A car instead of an SUV, for example, is a big savings. Be comfortable, but don’t overdo it. You’ll save a lot on gas this way too.

Rent rather than own.
This will probably spark a huge debate, as it always does. The thing is, just don’t assume that buying is the better investment. If you calculate the interest you pay on a mortgage, the cost of insurance and maintenance, buying is often much more costly than renting … and if you rent, save money, and then invest the difference, you can actually end up well ahead in the long run. Now, it’s not a given, so do a comparison, factoring in all expenses.

Look for used first.
If you need something — I mean really need it, not just want it — see if someone you know has one that they don’t use or need anymore. Send out an email to family or friends, or just ask around. You might be surprised. I was about to buy a printer, and then found out my mom just bought a laser printer and didn’t need her old inkjet … saving me close to 100 smackeroos. If no one you know owns one, try freecycle.org or craigslist.org. Then look to buy used, at garage sales or thrift shops. You can find a bargain if you look around.

Eat out less.
One of the biggest expenses in our daily lives is eating out — the average person spends well over $2,000 a year on eating out. Restaurants are expensive, including fast-food (not to mention the health hazards). It’s much cheaper to cook your own food. Our family creates a weekly menu, then we buy the groceries, and cook dinner (and lunch) each evening. Lately I’ve even been prepping it in the morning, so it’s a snap when we get home.

Brown bag it to work.
Instead of eating out for lunch, bring your lunch.

Adopt a minimalist wardrobe.
This tip won’t be for everybody, but I try for a minimalist wardrobe. I generally wear jeans or casual pants, a T-shirt or Polo-type shirt, and sandals or shoes. Plain, solid colors are my favorite. Everything goes with everything else, and I don’t have too many clothes. This saves me the stress of picking out an outfit, and I don’t need as many clothes.

Stop online impulse buys.
This was a problem for me before I canceled my credit card. I used to buy online a couple of times a week. Now I buy maybe once every couple of months, using PayPal or someone else’s credit card. I’m not saying you have to go to this extreme, but realize that online buying can be way too easy (you don’t even have to go to a store) and therefore, we make too many impulse buys. Buy online if you really need something and it’ll save you money, but beware the impulse buy.

Don’t shop.
Don’t go to the mall or other shopping area or department store to look around and shop. Go to a store if you know what you need, and then get out. Many times people go shopping, with a vague idea of what they want, and get caught up buying much more. Or they go just for fun, as a form of entertainment. That ends up costing a lot. It can really add up. Instead, stay away from shopping areas and find other ways to have fun.

Use a 30-day list.
To curb impulse buys, create a 30-day list. When you want to buy something, other than a true necessity (medicine or food, for example), put it on this list, with the date you added it to the list. And make it a rule that you can’t buy anything for at least 30 days after you put it on the list. And stick to it. You’ll find that you buy a lot less with this system.

Cut out cable.
I’ve talked about how I cut out cable before. It saves me money every month (in my area, about $60, or more than $700 a year), and also forces me to do things like read and have conversations and go outside. Win win.

Use the library.
Instead of buying books, check them out. The library often also has a great selection of DVDs (depending on your area), saving you even more. Now who needs cable?

Find free entertainment.
Find cheap ways to have fun. Entertainment often ends up costing a lot of money, if you go to the movies, buy concessions, or go out at night, go to the bar, etc. The average person spends about $1,800 a year on entertainment (not including eating out). Now, I’m not saying you shouldn’t have fun … but there are cheaper ways to do it.

Frugal exercise.
Exercise is important, but it doesn’t have to cost a lot of money.

Stay healthy.
Easier said than done, I know, but staying healthy can save you tons of money on doctor’s visits, hospital bills, and medicine over the long run. An ounce of prevention, and all that. Eat healthily, and exercise. Simple and effective.

Commute by bike.
Even if you own a car, commuting by bike will save you gas, and get you in shape at the same time. I highly recommend it.

Carpool or ride the bus.
OK, you don’t want to bike it. So find a friend or neighbor who works near you, and arrange a carpool. Or take public transportation. Simple advice, but something a lot of people ignore.

Walk.
Often we drive to the corner store, or to a school that’s less than a mile away. Leave a few minutes early, walk, burn some calories, and save gas.

Sell your clutter.
This is not so much saving money as making it, but the frugal, simplifying cheapskate, like myself, will want to declutter and make a few bucks doing it. Hold a garage sale or sell it on eBay. It’s amazing what some people will buy.

Frugal gifting.
Gifts can cost a lot of money over the course of a year. Look for ways to do it cheaply. Make a gift, or give a consummable. My family enjoys getting and giving cookies, for example.

Quit smoking.
Not the easiest way to save, I know. It’s hard. But I did it, and so have many, many others. Not only will you save on cigarettes (which are expensive over the long run), but also associated costs (I used to buy a soda or beer to go with my cigarettes) … and of course the huge, long-term medical costs. In less than 2 years of not smoking, I’ve saved well more than $3,000.

Alcohol in moderation.
If you drink one beer or a few beers a day, that adds up to big money each month. Some drink even more than that. It’s expensive. If you can cut your drinking to the occasional party, and once in awhile with friends (not all the time), you’ll save tons.

Sweets in moderation.
Desserts and sweet snacks give us lots of calories with no nutrition. And we pay a premium price for that, in dollars and in our deteriorating health. Cut back on sweets (don’t eliminate them entirely of course) to save money and cut calories.

Drink water.
Often we drink lots of calories through sodas, coffee, alcohol, juices, tea, etc. And that costs a lot too. Drink water, save money, save calories.

Batch your errands.
Instead of running an errand or two every day, batch them into one errand day, and plan your most efficient route, to save gas and time. Also do as much bill-paying online as possible, to eliminate some errands.

Stay home.
Becoming a homebody might not sound like a lot of fun, but it really can be. I love staying home with my family. We can do all kinds of fun things at home. Or I can spend a day alone, if the family is at school, and really enjoy it. It’s quiet and peaceful, I can read or watch a good movie or respond to comments on my blog or write. Staying home can save tons, in eating out expenses, shopping expenses, gas, and incidentals.

Stop using credit cards.
Credit cards are not evil. And before you flame me, once again, I realize that they can be used to good purpose. If that’s how you use them, then that’s good, skip this tip. For others, credit cards make buying too easy, and end up making them buy too much.Not only that, but if you don’t pay your bill in full each month, they will cost you a lot in interest. The average American with at least 1 credit card has more than $8,500 in credit card debt. Don’t make that mistake.

Cancel subscriptions.
With the wealth of information and entertainment online, do you really need magazine subscriptions? With all the news online, do you really need a newspaper subscription? If you can get DVDs for free or cheap, do you really need a Netflix subscription? Don’t flame me if you think you do need any of these — I’m just asking you to consider whether they’re really essential — the answer might be yes. Also consider other subscriptions you might be paying for — I’m not saying you should cancel everything, but seriously consider whether they can be canceled without much loss of value.

Make your own.
I won’t go into all the possibilities here, but many times we buy things when really, we could make them ourselves for much cheaper if we get a little creative. Now, this might take a little more time and effort, but it can be fun, especially if you make it a family project. We recently made our own (very simple) bookshelves with only a couple of pieces of lumber, instead of buying them. If you don’t know how to make something, search for it online. You’ll most likely find some instructions.

Do it yourself.
Instead of hiring someone to do something, try doing it yourself. Sure, it takes some time and effort, but it’s satisfying, and of course cheaper. It’s also educational, if you don’t know how to do it — again, do an online search, read up on it, and give it a go. Frugality freaks are DIYers.

Stop paying interest.
I mentioned the interest of credit cards, and auto loans, and mortgages. I consider them a waste of money. I’ve talked about how to live without credit before, and I recommend it for a frugal lifestyle. Consider any other accounts or loans where you pay interest, and see if you can eventually eliminate as much of these as possible.

Reduce convenience foods.
Frozen foods, microwaveable stuff, junk food … anything that’s packaged and prepared for our convenience is not only more expensive than something you cook yourself, but also most likely less healthy. I’m not saying to eliminate these completely, but reduce consumption.

Travel frugally.
I actually don’t travel (or haven’t for years), but if you do have to travel, some advance planning can save you money. Airfare is most expensive, usually, so look to buy your ticket in advance, and look for deals. Also consider train travel. Shop around for car rental rates, as they can vary greatly (or use public transportation). Look for cheaper accommodations, or stay with a friend or relative. Just a note: I do plan to travel, but not until I finally eliminate all of my debt.

Cut the cell phone.
This will not be a popular suggestion either. If you don’t like it, move on to the next one. It’s not for everybody. But think about this: 20 years ago, most people didn’t have cell phones. And miraculously, they survived. A cell phone is not a necessity. It’s a convenience. When people needed to make a call, 20 years ago, they either waited until they got to a destination (wait to make a phone call?! omg!), or pulled over and used a pay phone or a phone in a business establishment.

Cut your own hair.
Again, this one isn’t for everybody. Personally, I use electric clippers to shave my head. It’s easy, it’s cheap, it’s minimalist, it’s care-free. I don’t worry about my hair getting messed up, or having to fix it in the morning. However, I’m not saying you should shave your head. Many people cut their own hair, in many simple but nice hairstyles, long or short. Saves money, and time.

Maintain stuff.
This is a no-brainer, but we don’t often think about it: if you take care of what you have, it will last longer. You’ll then spend less on buying new stuff. When you buy something worth maintaining, take a few minutes to read the maintenance manual, and create a maintenance checklist that you can attach to the item. For important things like your car’s oil changes or tune-ups, put them in your calendar.

Save energy.
There are little things we can do to lower our power bill. I don’t use a dryer or hot water heater, although those are a little extreme.

Save gas.
With the rising price of gas (and no end in sight), fuel has become a major monthly expense for many people. Small things can add up to big savings.

Only buy bargain clothing (when you need clothes).
OK, so you’re a cheapskate like me who only buys clothes when the old clothes have too many arm or leg holes. But now you need new clothing. I mean really need it. So instead of buying new, look for thrift shops with good clothes. Or buy new, but only buy the stuff that’s 50% off. Look for the bargains, and you’ll save a ton.

Telecommute.
Telecommuting doesn’t necessarily give you your dream job, but it’s definitely a step in the right direction. But in addition to allowing you to work in your underwear (and who doesn’t have that dream?), telecommuting saves money on gas, on eating out (if you eat lunch at a restaurant), and on buying expensive work clothes (all you need to buy is underwear, right? And no, don’t buy used underwear).

Plan ahead.
Sure, easy to say, hard to implement. But if you make it a habit to think ahead to things that are coming up in your life, you can save a lot of money. For example, if you think about where you’re going to get your meals when you go out to do errands, you can pack a lunch or dinner instead of eating out. If you pack a big container of iced water, you don’t need to buy expensive bottled water. If you know that a birthday is coming up, you can buy a gift on sale instead of spending more at the last minute.

Cook ahead.
If you have one free day a week (or even a month), cook food in big batches and freeze in dinner-sized portions. I don’t do this all the time, but I have done it and it saves money (buying big can often save) as well as time. You have to plan it out a bit, coming up with a menu and shopping, cooking enough meals for a week or a month. But once you’re done, your meals each night (and for lunch if you like) are quick and easy. This saves you from eating out or eating convenience food when you’re hungry but too tired to cook.

Wash clothes less.
Some people wear clothes and then wash them, but I’ve gotten into the habit of wearing my clothes more than once if they’re not really dirty. I use my nose as a test — I don’t want to wear clothes that smell, but most times the clothes are still perfectly clean. This saves on washing.

Sun-dry clothes.
When my parents were young, everyone used a clothesline to dry clothes. Now dryers are ubiquitous, because they’re fast. But if you don’t wash a ton of clothes, it’s not that hard to take a few minutes to hang them up. You’ll save a lot in electricity, plus your clothes last longer.

Eat less meat.
I’m not saying you have to become a vegetarian (although you could always give it a try), but once in awhile, eat meatless dishes. Pasta, vegetarian chili, vegetarian Indian or Thai dishes, falafels with hummus and pitas and tomatoes and lettuce … there are plenty of tasty dishes without meat. And as meat is expensive (well, the fresh kind is … Spam is cheap), you’ll save money on meatless dishes. Again, I’m assuming you cook with fresh meat, not canned.

Save on groceries.
For my family of eight, groceries is a major expense. With some simple habits, we’ve been able to save a lot of money.

Frugal Christmas.
Christmas is expensive, especially in America (if you live in an area that doesn’t celebrate Christmas with a huge amount of buying, or doesn’t celebrate it at all, skip this tip). People go on crazy shopping gorges. It’s insane. While it makes the retailers and manufacturers happy, it doesn’t make our bank accounts happy. Break out of the cycle and find cheaper ways to celebrate Christmas.

A Rainy Week

I found myself being quite cranky with the kids this week...as they made their way around the house, making a mess here, and then moving onto another spot, making a mess there...

Of course, they are only 6 and 3, and trying to teach them to "Tidy Up Before You Move Onto Your next set of toys" will take time. Lots of time. And patience...

I find myself wanting to donate 80% of what they own.

But for some reason, I can't bring myself to give them just four small containers (like Bea, the admirable but crazy lady on Zero Waste Home blog). The best I can do right now is to apply "One In One Out" rule. Which they are quite happily complying with. Bless them.

I also can't bring myself to donate the kids books. Bea has donated all of her books and borrows all of their reading material from the local library. But I'm a little bit sentimental, and I want to keep some of their favourites.

After two weeks of solid rain, and being cooped up in the house, I can clearly see the benefits of having only a few (borrowed) books and four containers of toys.

Frugal Fish Cakes

This recipe I got from $120 Food Challenge, a great blog! I've modified it a bit because for some reason, when I follow her recipe, it becomes quite soft and soggy.

It's a nice way to pad out a fish. I usually have to buy 2 or 3 packets when feeding 8. But with this recipe, I can pad out one packet (800g of fish) to feed 8.

INGREDIENTS

2 large potatoes (about 500g)
2 spring onions, chopped (or onion)
¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
zest of 1 lemon
juice of ½ lemon
2 garlic cloves, crushed
sea salt & freshly ground black pepper
500g firm white fish (I use Basa)
1 egg, lightly beaten
4 tbsp plain flour
2 tbsp Rice Bran Oil (to lightly fry)

METHOD

Peel and cut potatoes in half. Place in saucepan of boiling salted water, cover and cook potatoes until tender, about 15 minutes; drain. Push through a potato ricer or mash until the potato is as smooth as possible. Set aside.

Heat a saucepan of water that comes to a depth of about 8cm and bring to a simmer. Place the fish fillets in water and poach gently for 5 minutes or until just cooked through. Remove the fish, cool a little and remove skin and any bones, then flake with a fork.

Add to the potatoes with the rest of the ingredients.

Form 2 tablespoons of mixture into a pattie and pan fry on both sides for about 3 minutes on each side until golden and heated through. If you want to, you can cook them, then cover them with clingwrap and store for up to 24 hours, then reheat them for about 6 minutes in a preheated 190°C oven.

Delicious!!!