Almost every week I make a trip into the city. While I’m there I usually have lunch at a Japanese udon restaurant. With good food, fast service and inexpensive the noodle place is busy with a queue of people lining up. At the till a woman quickly tallies up my bill and automatically presents me … More Have you got cash?
Home cooking is the most economical way to eat. Of course for special occasions many of us like to celebrate by eating out. And we can afford to eat out by eating in more often. I have come across interesting articles about how little home cooked meals can cost. Today I saw an article where … More Eat at home
While on holiday in Adelaide I paid a visit to my favourite recycle boutique, New to You. Full of pre-loved designer label clothes, I feel I’m on a treasure hunt and and wonder if I will strike gold. The joy is the searching especially when the shop is full of so many beautiful choices. The … More Do you really need that many clothes?
I need some money coming in; don’t we all! One day it struck me to see if I could teach a skill I had. OK, what skill? What can I do that many others can’t already do? Like everyone else I’m good at certain things, the things that everyone else seems good at as well. … More A skill to teach
Despite the poor condition and need for complete renovation I immediately accepted the offer of this chair from friends. I loved the style and cane work. The cane was grey, the metal frame was rusted and broken bits of cane strapping needed reattaching. But hey, I loved the shape, I had not seen a cane … More My cane chair rocks!
A couple of weeks ago on a Friday my credit card was cancelled. The bank immediately cancelled the card when it became apparent the card had been compromised by fraudulent transactions. There I was at the beginning of a weekend with no credit card and almost no cash. That single card was my credit card, … More Fraudsters strike
If I stand on the footpath outside my house I see the Indian Ocean. Offshore within sight is Carnac Island. Inhabited only by snakes, birdlife and sea lions. I’ve always wanted to visit this basically untouched island. To get to Carnac Island you either have your own boat or hire one. Though both options … More Carnac Island trip
Today I filed the paperwork for my annual car insurance renewal paid online. My heart sinks when I see the insurance invoice arrive in the letterbox. Often it takes a day or so for me to even open the envelope and adjust to the payment inevitability as these bills can be large. When I feel strong … More Insurance renewal dread
I got a free TV. This is what happened. I didn’t have a TV and I didn’t want to buy one; after all I live on a shoestring. My brother offered me a TV he didn’t need. This was good except my brother doesn’t live near me, not even in the same state! So I … More Ask around; you never know what will happen
Right now the price of petrol is really high. What can I do, besides sell my car? I do ask myself that question and so far the answer is ‘I need a car’. It’s never easy when the petrol price is so high. However the first thing I do to help is to buy petrol … More Ouch, the petrol price hurts!
Living well on a shoestring 