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
I’ve walked around my neighbourhood more frequently this week as my Council’s verge collection is on. Some amazing things are put out on the verge. Last year, only a few streets away, on the verge I found my sofa. I couldn’t believe it. What a perfect find, I didn’t have a sofa. When I spotted … More The verge collection
I won two free tickets to a film. I won the tickets by sending a return email and voila! A mailing list I subscribe to for people interested in film offered the free tickets so I knew the offer was authentic. I’m interested in film and joined the mailing list through making a couple of … More Free tickets!
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’m sitting here enjoying a piece of dark chocolate which I love. I don’t want to think of chocolate as a luxury but something I can still enjoy on my shoestring. Almost every day I have a piece of chocolate. I do try to be strong and have one piece of chocolate but here can … More Chocolate and me
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!
Well, I sold these plants from my garden on Gumtree. I didn’t know if my plants would sell as these succulents are not hard to grow. Who’d buy plants that are so easy to grow? Well, It turns out people don’t have time and want a quick fix at a good price – a deal! I … More Sell stuff
I love coffee and I’m not alone. I even photograph especially good coffees. I’m so interested in coffee that some time ago I did a weekend barista course at TAFE and had a really good time. My usual routine is to have a coffee out in a cafe almost every morning. Coffee is one thing … More Coffee and me
Living well on a shoestring 