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Friday 26 April 2013

Budget baby - How and where to save on setting up for the new little addition to your family





So many expectant mums and dads run out to the shops the moment they find out about their new little addition. But its time to get real about what a baby REALLY needs

Once you have been informed here are some ways you can save setting up for your new little bundle of joy. PS Congratulations. Welcome to the most amazing (and sleep deprived) time of your life!

First things first. Baby does not need:

  • A state of the art stroller that weighs so much you get a slipped disk pulling it out the back of the car
  • Brand name/Designer clothing. Chances are they will wear it for 5 minutes and spew on it and then need something else anyway.
  • Designer furniture. Just make sure that whatever you buy be it a cot, cradle bassinet etc that it meets safety standard requirements and doesn't contain a paint with a heavy lead content

Now down to the bargain hunting.

Some of the big tips here are:
  • Shop online
  • Shop big department stores the are not exclusively baby stores
  • Read junk mail for sales or join all the baby store online newsletters to be notified of sales and upcoming specials
  • Accept donations from friends and family
  • Second hand does not mean second best
  • Find discount or scratch and dent stores in your area that sell baby goods at a lower price
  • Facebook is your friend
  • Check out local community services

SHOP ONLINE
Getting time to browse the internet thoroughly can not be on the top of our to do list but it can save you a lot of money. If you like a particular product get the name of it written down and do a google search. Eg. “Mothers choice Snap and go stroller compare prices” You can then get an idea of where you should buy your product from and what is the best price you can get it for. Also if you don't want to drive to another area to get it you can go to your local store where it is stocked and ask them to price match the product. Make sure you have proof of being able to purchase it for that price elsewhere.


BIG DEPARTMENT STORES THAT ARE NOT BABY EXCLUSIVE
Big department stores such as Target, Big W and Kmart all have more than adequate baby sections with reasonable pricing. If you are still wanting to purchase things new but cant justify a big shopping spree these are really good places to start. For instance your big ticket items such as a cot could cost you $200 less that what you would pay in a store like Babys R us just because they are targeted at middle class families. The product does the same job so why not? And seriously how many people are going to be walking in to your nursery to see your brand of furniture anyway?

JUNK MAIL/NEWSLETTERS
Junk mail is fantastic. Its like the internet but friendlier as it comes in your mailbox and you can compare things without switching pages. Plus you can write on them , tear them out etc to take to other stores to price match. Signing up to newletters of different stores will help you work out when the best time is to buy the things you need as an email will be sent to your with upcoming sales and specials, saving you a tonne of money from not just going into a store and impulse buying.


DONATIONS/PRESENTS FROM FRIENDS AND FAMILY
This will save you so much money. Hold a baby shower, invite all your friends and family. If people ask what kind of things you need be sure to say the word PRACTICAL. The last thing you need is a whole heap of toys and stuffed animals that you need to find room to store for a few months until your baby is ready to play with them when you could have had an extra box of nappies.
If you have friends with children be happy to accept all the offerings of clothes their children have grown out of. When clothes are free you can never have enough! Same goes for most baby things.

SECOND HAND DOES NOT MEAN SECOND BEST
Think that everything in the op shop is going to be the ugly scratchy beanie that someones nanna knitted their child and they ditched? Think again. There is some gold to be found in op shops and more and more people and working it out! You can pick up amazing (and even some designer) baby clothes for a couple of bucks and no one would know except you. Babies grow so fast they might get to wear the outfit a few times and then its too small. Their loss is your gain.

DISCOUNT/SCRATCH AND DENT
These are treasure troves for people on a budget. A gorgeous product can be marked down significantly because of a mark or scratch on it. If you are a bit of a handy person you could potentially sand, fix or fill the mark yourself or if you can't just face the damaged side to the wall and no one is the wiser! Not to mention the fact you just saved some decent dollars to go and spend on something else you need. Sometimes as well you can ask for a discount if something you want is floor stock, discontinued product or a demo model.

FACEBOOK IS YOUR FRIEND
There are so many buy, swap and sell sites on facebook now you are bound to find nearly anything and everything you could possibly need. Most people tend to sell their baby clothes gear in bundles sorted by size or boy or girl and its always way cheaper than what they bought it for. If you are not sure what to search for try typing keywords such as mothers groups, stay at home mums, mummy meetings, buy sell swap, garage sale or the closest capital city to you. Eg Adelaide mums, Adelaide Garage sale, Adelaide Buy sell swap.. you get the point. You can also check out websites like gumtree for similar bargains.

COMMUNITY SERVICES AND CHARITIES
Places like these will often offering services such as financial counselling that can help you work out what you are going to do financially. They also are able to offer emergency relief and food but another great things is places like Red Cross also have a capsule hire service. You can hire a capsule and have it professionally fitted in your car by them for around $100-$120 for six months of hire. This is fantastic because it means that you can save around $200 from not having to purchase one. The capsules only last about six months and from there you will need to get a car seat but you may be in a better financial position when your baby is six months anyway so why spend the extra money if you don't have to?


 Questions to ask yourself.

What are you buying the product  for? 

Have you any injuries/ surgery to prevent you from lifting heavy , not to mention awkward items from your car boot?

How many children do you have/planning to have in the near future?

These are some basic questions to help you work out your needs. Getting on local Facebook mum groups is a great way to get real time reviews on baby products and services. If you have narrowed it down to say 3-4 products put a post on the site asking for mothers feedback. It will more than likely help you decide what you want to purchase.

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I am pregnant, what on earth do I do next?




Oh my goodness. You are pregnant.      Congratulations!

Whether your new addition is planned or not it can often be daunting on what the next steps are in ensuring you able to keep afloat once the baby arrives. Not to mention all the costs of scans and blood test before hand and if you decide to go with a private doctor there's another few grand to kiss good bye to.

Now really, it doesn't have to cost a whole lot to have a baby in the public system. Providing you do your research there is a pretty good chance you could have an experience just as positive as if you had chosen a private obstetrician.

So lets nut out some of the pros and cons of both

PRIVATE

PROS
You get to choose your own obstetrician.
You get a private room at the hospital rather than be in a ward
You get to know the midwives assisting in delivery way before you give birth
Certain medications throughout your pregnancy may be claimable
You may feel “safer” being in a private hospital
You have a higher chance of your partner being able to stay with you at the hospital
You can chat in more detail with doctor and midwives and have more of a birth plan
You are unlikely to be sent home if you are in early labour

CONS
You pay a whole lot more (out of pocket is usually around $2000-$3000 once you have claimed)
You are not guaranteed to have your obstetrician at the birth
Private hospitals often have a higher rate of c sections and assisted births
Most private obstetricians often do stints in the public hospitals too


PUBLIC

PROS

Way cheaper! Other than the costs of your scans and your visits for care during pregnancy which are partially claimable on medicare you pay basically nothing especially in the obstetrician or GP bulk bills.

Opportunity for a student midwife. With this if you are nervous about this pregnancy try to get a student nurse early on so they can come to your appointments with you and really get to know you before the birth. It could end up being a lasting friendship.

Get to meet other new mums on the ward
Still get great treatment with great doctors and midwives
Midwife is more likely to deliver baby than an obstetrician so higher chance of female staff during delivery. Remember midwives are trained for delivering and they do a fantastic job.

CONS
No choice of doctor
Partner may be unable to stay the night depending on the hospital
May not have a private room

SO.... once you have made that choice its on to the rest!

If you are on a budget don't go out feeling like you have to spend a million bucks to get the nursery “just so.”

Chances are that this little baby will be in your room for the first few months anyway so don't stress too much about paint colours and trimmings for nurseries.

Baby needs are basic.
They need:

A car seat that meets Australian Safety standards and is suitable for a newborn. You can get capsules that last them up to approximately six months or you can get a carseat that is adjustable from newborn all the way through to 4 years of age in one seat.

Clothing. Singlets, summer onesies, winter onesies (depending on the season the are born) beanies, mittens, bibs. You will probably need about 5 of each clothing item apart from beanies and mittens which you can probably get away with two of each. General rule of thumb is dress baby as you would yourself and add one layer. Lots of people make the mistake of heavily layering their baby and making them too hot.

Bed: Some like the idea of co-sleeping and others want the baby to have their own bed. Either way choose something that is safe for baby. Eg if you want to co-sleep there are special beds called tetra beds and a few other varieties, that allow baby to be next to you in bed but enough barrier to help prevent you rolling on them. None however claim to stop you rolling on them it it JUST a preventative measure so think carefully about this decision. Whatever bed, cot etc make sure you get a good quality mattress for it to support baby's back.

Bedding: Baby wraps are a godsend with newborns as they make the baby feel secure and sleep better and also reduce the risk of SIDS. ( Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) A couple of decent soft blankets make sure that they are big enough to be tucked in to the edges of the cot so they don't ride up and suffocate baby. Sheets for cot or bassinet. For babies that get collick (most will around the one month mark) having a grow bag which is like a sleeping bag that they wear will help keep them warm even if they thrash around a bit from the tummy pain.

Food: Chances are that you will be breastfeeding, however if you choose not to or are unable to for whatever reason you will need bottles and sterilisers. Bottles for a newborn do not need to be big. Babies are only going to have maybe 100mls of milk/formula at a time if that depending on their birth weight. You will need at least two to three bottles to make sure you have clean or sterilised one at all times. Bottles can be sterilised in fancy sterilisers from the baby shop or boiled in a saucepan with a steriliser tablet. You will also need to find a formula that is suitable for your baby. Keep in mind that whatever formula you choose will be the one you need to continue using. Switching formulas can make babies ill so pick one and stick with it. The only reasons that would justify changing was that if your baby was having a bad reaction. An example of this could be reflux, lactose intolerance or constipation. For all these you will still need to consult a pharmacist or GP. All water used in bottles should be cooled boiled water. Having a supply stored in a bigger bottle will help you stay organised.

Nappies. Yes, you will use a LOT of these but that doesn't mean you should rush out and buy them in bulk. Depending on the size of your baby, newborn nappies may be to small or too big. They are the ones you should probably start with unless your baby is premature to which you will need prem nappies from a specialist baby shop like Baby Junction. Just buy one box to start with as there are usually 90 or so nappies and that should last you at LEAST a week or two and then if you know bubs is going to fit in them for a while get someone to run out and get some more. An endless supply of baby wipes will be needed so don't skimp on them or the nappy rash cream. If you can afford it go with a product such as Sudocrem and trust me your baby will rarely if at all, get nappy rash. I like to go by the rule of “baby bum war paint” meaning the bum should be white and covered by the cream. Nappy bags are optional.

Miscellaneous
Obviously you will need somewhere to bath your bub but a sink can do the job as well as a baby bath while they are small. It is possibly better for your back too. You will need some cleaning items such as a facewasher, babywash, hairwash and a soft towel. After bathing baby it is a good time to clip their nails while they are soft so get yourself some baby nail scissors/clippers. 
Newborns don't do a lot for a while so toys are not a major requirement. Maybe have things like playmats for tummy time with bright colours but hold back on the soft toys and blocks for now. You will also definitely need some cloths suitable for burping babies. Don't mess around with the handkerchief size ones, get something that is no less that an A4 size of paper. Generally I would get some extra wraps or cloth nappies to use especially in case the baby goes through a really bad reflux stage which can be quite common. A thermometre is very important for checking fevers and have some baby Panadol on hand.

Pram: Newborns must be flat on their backs to ensure proper spine and neck support so choose a pram that has a bassinet or that can be folded completely flat for the baby to lie down. Choosing one with a large hood is good for rain protection but also if you are out and about to help cut down on noise and light to allow baby to sleep while you do the shopping.

OK now as a mum you will need lots of stuff too. It's not that exciting or great to talk about but regardless- you will need them.

FOR THE BIRTH
Your own pillow. It can make all the difference for you to be comfortable as hospital pillows are not always the softest

Clothing you can take off or open up for skin to skin contact when baby is born

Lots of pairs of underwear. When your water breaks you will be given pads to help soak it up but hospital ones are not that amazing so you will probably go through a few pairs of undies.

Tennis ball. Regardless of getting an epidural or whatever pain relief you choose, it may not completely block out all pain. Having a tennis ball to rub/roll into the areas where you feel pain will be a massive relief. Massage oil for back rubs are also good.

Essential oils, candles etc. Be aware though that you need permission from your midwife/ hospital for these. Your midwife/obstetrician could be pregnant herself and there are certain oils and scents that can be dangerous to her own pregnancy.

Music and music player. Not all hospitals provide CD players or radios so its best to find out before you get there. An ipod is nice and small and means that no one else needs to listen to your music for the five, ten, twenty plus hours you are in labour.

Birth plan. It is important to have it written down and discuss with your birth partner what is and isn't ok. For instance if you do not wish to have a c- section unless in an absolute emergency they need to know that. While you are probably going to be able to make the decision yourself, labour can get very tiring and sometimes it is difficult to get your point across or explain something when you are exhausted or in extreme pain. You cannot however expect everything on your birth plan to go to schedule as babies do not care about shedules. They come when they want and sometimes you won't have time to do things the way you wanted or it may not be safe so it is vital that you are flexible with your plan.




POST BIRTH

Breast pads. When your milk comes in, chances are you will not be able to go out in public without these little things. We don't like to think about it but yes, your breasts will probably leak and you want to have them covered!

Maternity pads. Sounds wonderful right? But after birth you will bleed, possibly up to six weeks so its better to be prepared ahead of time. You don't want to go out to the shops if you don't have to when you are tired as you are going to be.

Maternity bras. You may or may not choose to use these. Often women just wear sports bras or “miracle bras” that are stretchy and can comfortable be pulled down for breastfeeding.

Supportive well fitted undies. If you have a c section you will probably prefer a low cut undie so that the band does not put pressure on or irritate the scar from the surgery. Either way your tummy will begin shrinking after birth so having supportive undies can make you that little bit more comfortable.

Water bottles EVERYWHERE. If you are breastfeeding you will be thirsty ALL THE TIME. Make sure you have easily accessible water bottles around the house so that you have it to hand, especially when feeding.

Flexible clothing. You won't walk out the hospital with a flat tummy. It takes time for your uterus to contract to get your belly down. While breast feeding helps speed up this process it is still important to make sure you have clothes that you are comfortable in and can move with your body. Also comfy footwear like ugboots are great because you can wear them out without looking too bad.

Pain relief. Natural or otherwise it is up to you, A wheatbag is a good thing to have around for little aches and pains but for the stronger pain have something such as panadol in the house.

Record book. Could be a whiteboard, notepad or a specially designed book but its a good idea to have one. This is to put in when baby fed, how long, which breast, how long they slept and if they passed waste. This kind of record is especially important if your baby becomes sick or loses weight as it can help a doctor pinpoint what might be wrong if they have an idea of the behaviour of the baby up until they were sick.

Emergency number list. Keep it on your fridge and programmed in to your phone as a back up. Have the nurses hotline, the hospital you had your baby at, local GP, etc. While you would hope never to have to use them often we do and its best to have them nearby. Having it on the fridge means that your partner/ helper can immediately find them and call on your behalf if you are dealing with the child.

This is in a nutshell of what you are going to need. As far as designer prams, furniture and clothing, that is entirely your choice but none of it is necessary. There are plenty of ways to get your baby stuff on the cheap and save money.

They don't need:
A state of the art stroller that weighs so much you get a slipped disk pulling it out the back of the car
Brand name/Designer clothing. Chances are they will wear it for 5 minutes and spew on it and then need something else anyway.
Designer furniture. Just make sure that whatever you buy be it a cot, cradle bassinet etc that it meets safety standard requirements and doesn't contain a paint with a heavy lead content

So all the best on your journey to parenthood. May it be a stress free, healthy and happy time for you!

Sunday 21 April 2013

Dear Husband

My hubby is a good man-Most days. He works very hard and is still supportive of all I do. But on those days when he can see it's been a bit of a challenge for me ???You better recognize!!!

Written on one of my more "challenging" days.


Dear Husband,


You know what?


I love being a stay at home mum and wife, I really do! But some days i would really love just five or ten minutes to myself to breath and clear my mind.


This is what happened yesterday.


You arrive home from work, acknowledge our son and proceed to flop on the couch. Meanwhile I am running around doing a range of tasks from feeding the dogs, preparing your lunch for tomorrow or serving up dinner.


The baby cries and you sit there on the couch and turn the volume up on the TV to drown out the noise. I look at you in disbelief. " Are you not going to pick him up? You can see I am busy."


Instead, you roll your eyes. You say, "Babe, I've been at work all day I just want to chill out."


Really? You want to play THAT card?

I swear because I am at home all day you must have thought that I have been "chilling out" all day myself!

I mean, can you see all the laundry I've done?No you can not because it is all folded and put away in your cupboard ready for you to wear.


I'm sorry, did you see all the dishes in the kitchen from all the cooking I did today? No probably not because the sparkling tiles and sink must have blinded you!


Now I am all for being the stay at home mum child raiser in my apron and hair curlers. Actually make that sweat pants and a pony tail, but the job title STAY AT HOME MUM does not just justify what I do.


You do not understand that I am at work 24/7.


 I take care of our house and baby (not hard) but I also manage three dogs, a facebook page, a blogging site and I also write articles from another website. Did I also mention I sell Avon?


Driven? Yes 

A little bit on the nutty side? Possibly
But we have had a hard run financially since I left work for us to start a family and I was not about to put all the pressure on you to bring in all the money and work extra shifts to pay the bills.

You think I am on the internet facebooking, but really I am comparing the interest rates of the banks to see if we can get a better deal on our loan. I am re-evaluating our monthly budget, peering through bloodshot eyes which are beautifully offset by the dark circles under them from getting three hours of sleep because of a teething baby.


I am always biting my tongue as the agreement between us was made before our son was born. I am the stepford wife (minus the rollers and pretty dress) and you are the breadwinner that slogs it out to support us.


Don't get me wrong. I LOVE that I am not forced to go back to the real world of bosses and deadlines and am thrilled to be fortunate enough to be able to watch our son grown into the delightful little monster he is.


But truly, just spare me ten minutes of your time so that I can breathe and relax uninterrupted , without having to think. To "chill" because unlike you, I am going to do all the same things tomorrow and while my conversation buddy is adorable , he has the vocabulary of a parrot and after twelve hours of parrot talk mixed in with a few sleep fighting episodes, one can feel a LITTLE zombie like.


Also consider this. Once you go to bed to get your eight to nine hours sleep, I will still be up doing the dishes, restocking the change table , bagging my avon books, writing a shopping list and updating my various online jobs. 


I will then proceed to bed only to wake up two hours later to a restless baby, wrenching myself out of sleep to do yet another nappy change and  feed. If he is having a mischievously minded moment it will probably result in night time block playing session so his " I don't want to go to sleep" screams do not disturb your coma.


So next time you feel like telling me how tired you are, just remember how glamorous and dazzling my days are.....and shut your mouth.


Love you!


Friday 19 April 2013

Save a tonne of cash on your weekly shop!

1.Set a budget. It is so important to know what you have to spend. Try going to the supermarket with CASH. That way if you cant pay for it with what you planned to spend-you don't get it. This will possibly force you to look harder for  cheaper options or alternatives. It takes practice, but practice WILL make perfect!

2. Menu plan. If you know what you are going to eat for the next week and buy all the ingredients for them, you won't overspend, impulse buy or have to waste time and money going back to the shops to get things you forgot. Another bonus? No wasted food. Try to choose recipes that you can make in bulk and freeze or use leftover ingredients to create another dish. Eg Buy a whole chicken and roast it for one night and use the left over chicken for sandwiches or a chicken soup for lunch the next day.



3.Write a shopping list and stick to it. No impulse buying!

4. Impulsive buyers, try to shop on line and have groceries delivered to prevent buying things you don't need.


5.Buy/use foods that are in season-they will be cheaper. 


6. Grow your own fruit and vegetables. You don't have to do this on a big scale. Having hanging pots of cherry tomatoes on your balcony or herbs on your kitchen window. At least you are saving $$$ with not buying them at the supermarket each time.

8. Try "no frills" brands. They will generally be cheaper than the fancy packaged brands and taste pretty much the same. The only ones I have come across that definitely are not the same quality are usually things like chocolate and tuna cans often have more liquid than tuna to meet the weight on the label.


9.Shop around for the best deals-read your junk mail. Junk mail is a great tool in making sure you get your moneys worth. Most things on special are usually perishables and not always the healthiest stuff but say bananas come on special, buy some and get baking. banana bread, muffins, banana split, snack as the fruit. So if an item comes on special google some recipes and see how you can make the most of it. You don't have to eat them all at once. muffins etc can be frozen and eating over the weeks/ months to come but you always have snacks ready to go in the freezer and you save money!

10. Utilize local fresh produce markets, butchers and bakeries. They will always have deals of the day or week. My local often puts beef mince on special if you buy two kilos you get it for $8.00! Now that's cheaper than the local supermarket.

11. Learn to cook and get creative, you may surprise yourself. There are so many free recipes online  like coles "feed your family under $10" other sites where you can try to make do with what is left in the cupboard.

12. Aquire a spice rack and add to it. you can do a lot of variations in your dishes when you have them. My family favourite is morrocan seasoning. I use it for roast chicken or add to beef/lamb with chilli or even apricot chicken for a slightly different but rich flavour.

13. Buying frozen vegetables if they are cheaper is not a bad option. Often these frozen veggies have a higher nutritional content anyway as they are frozen the moment they are picked and not sent on a truck interstate then hang out in your supermarket for a week. Often the frozen stuff lasts longer and usually pre cut meaning you can just chuck them in your stir fry or curry etc and cut down time on preparation at meal time! I find that I eat more veggies this way and there is nothing going funky in the crisper draw of my fridge.


13. Sugar and fat is not food. Buy things that are going to make you full and give you long term energy. If you don't you will end up buying more food anyway as you will be hungry. Always check the nutritional information on the backs of foods. Diet/Lite does not mean healthy. It can merely being "light in colour" or " low fat" Keep in mind while something is "low fat" it is often VERY high in sugar. A food product should be no more than 10% sugar. You are better off eating full fat food instead of high sugar food.

For more ways to beat the money blues  and obtain financial freedom check out my facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pimpmycash?fref=ts

Thursday 11 April 2013

15 amazing uses for bi-carb soda

One of the best things you can have in your cupboard is a box or two of bicarbonate of soda, which for the purposes of this article I will call BOS for short.



All of us are struggling one way or another. Trying to make each dollar go further and further. Having BOS in your supplies will help you do just that. Considering it is $2.35 or less depending on the brand you choose it will end up being one of the cheapest most versatile products you could ever use. The other great thing about it is that it makes a great alternative to most expensive household chemicals and is safe to use around children and pets



I have included a list things that BOS can be used for:

1. Reduce acidity in some recipes. For those that have an intolerance to acids in their foods eg pasta tomato sauce, adding a bit of BOS will help reduce some of that acid

2. Fluff up your omelettes by adding ½ teaspoon of BOS to every three eggs

3. Adding BOS to baked beans will significantly reduce its the amount of gas produced after eating

4. Clear a blocked drain using equal parts vinegar and BOS and heating. Pour down the drain.

5. Put a container without a lid of BOS in your fridge to soak up any bad smells and odour.



6. Keep bin smells at bay by washing the bin with a damp sponge with a sprinkling of BOS on it and also adding a sprinkle to the bottom of the bin before you put the new liner in.



7. Clean the loo without chemicals by dropping half a box of BOS into bowl and leave overnight and then flush a few times in the morning. Your toilet bowl will be clean , odourless and chemical free.



8. Deodorise fake lawn that have had pets on it. Use a icing sugar duster to sprinkle the area of grass. Then hose it in using a shower setting on the hose. It will do an even better job if you use a high pressure hose. We used this technique in a boarding kennel I used to work in and customers always commented on how despite the amount of dogs we had there was no doggy smell.

9. Make water colour paints for the kids by mixing 3 tablespoons each of BOS, cornflour and vinegar with 1 ½ teaspoons of light corn syrup. Divide the mixture into small cups or drink bottle lids and add a about 8 drops of food colouring to it and voila! You can use them instantly or wait for them to harden and use with a wet brush. 

10. Keep BOS handy if you have a chucky baby. Wiping the vomit of the item of clothing and then dabbing with BOS on a damp sponge removes the stain and odour instantly.

11. Nappy rash is also helped by mixing a few tablespoons into their bath water.

12. Use to cool sunburn by mixing 4 tablespoons of BOS to one cup and soak some cotton pads and apply to skin.

13. Stop itchiness in a plaster cast by using a hairdryer to blow BOS down into the cast

14. Use as a deodorant. Yes we are all creatures of habit to some degree but there are those days when you run out of your favourite deodorant and are unable to get to the shops in time. Use BOS under your arms to assist with odour control.

15. Add half a cup of BOS to your washing machine along with your usual detergent. It will make your clothes whiter and brighter.



Of course there are so many more uses for this amazing product get on [I]Google[/I] and see what else you can find. Just with the list I have provided here we have replaced aloe- vera gel, many cleaning products, air deodorisers and potentially the cost of a plumber. While saving money it is also important to say that using a product like Bicarbonate of Soda, we are also helping the environment by not flushing toxic chemicals into our drains or risking our own health inhaling it into our lungs.

BOS is only one of many cheap natural products you can use in the home. Other basic products include vinegar, various essential oils and newspaper. There really is no need to buy anything that contains harsh chemicals.

Happy googling. 

Inexpensive ways to make your life better

Life can drain us sometimes so it is important to do what we can just to make it that little bit better. Here are some inexpensive ways to perk up your day.

1. Burn oils or scented candles in your home. Try lavender for relaxation, rosemary for concentration or lemon and ylang ylang for a refreshing homely feel.





2. Declutter your home one room at a time. Having clear space will allow you to relax better (and find things). As you begin to declutter keep a notepad handy to write down things you need to help you stay organised - eg a key hook for car keys, folder for tax documents and pen holder.



3. Indulge in homemade honey, cinnamon and nutmeg facial mask. Equal parts of each. 1 teaspoon per person. Rinse off and moisturise if needed. Make sure while the mask is on to wear a towel around your neck to catch any drips. Great also for clearing pimples or as an exfoliant.


4. Get outside. Take a walk and get the blood pumping. Exercise release the feel good hormones called endorphins and you can never get enough of those!



5. Play music. Just about any low mood can be lifted with favourite track. Combine it with exercise and you will be feeling doubly good.

6. Change your bedsheets. There is nothing better than hopping into a fresh clean bed. Invest in a good quality pillow to help you off to dreamland zzzzzz.

7.Surround yourself with colour. Colour inspires things in us. Blues and greens calm, bright red can evoke aggression, deep red passion. If you can't paint, use things such as plants, home decor or artwork to bring in colour.

8. Spend time with animals.There is long standing evidence to suggest that having animals or pets increases our longevity and can also help to reduce stress levels so go take Fido to the local park or beach.



9.Re evaluate your finances. There is nothing worse than having no idea where your money is going and it can cause a lot of stress. Set a budget and shop around for the best deals on your household bills. What you have leftover could be used towards a holiday!

10. Phone or get together with a friend. Too often we rely on texts or social media to be updated on someone's situation. Get connected properly and see how much more fulfilled you both feel
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11. Quit smoking. if you have already, well done, or if you never did, congratulations. But for those of you that haven't yet, consider why not. As soon as you stop smoking, within 20 minutes your health will begin improving as your body begins the work to reverse the effects. You will feel better, look better, smell better and probably have more money. What's not to like?

12. Turn off and unplug all electrical items and artificial light in your bedroom. Artificial light and the electrical currents have been known to interfere with getting restful sleep. 

13. Have a cold shower. After having your normal shower, just before you step out blast some cold water over your body. It will do two things; increase your circulation for good blood health and it will also make you feel warm when you step out.

14. Drink more water. Water has so many health properties for our bodies.The can help flush out toxins from our bodies, boost our metabolism and keep us hydrated. It is important to remember that once we feel thirsty we are already dehydrated. Also we often mistake hunger when in actual fact we are thirsty hence drinking more water can prevent us from overeating.

15. Get some sun. Being low in Vitamin D can affect our moods big time. Just remember to be sun smart.

16. Do something for someone else. It will always make you feel better.

17. Stretch. Stretching releases tension, keeps you flexible, helps prevent muscle injuries and feels great. Why not?

18. Meditate for five minutes a day. Five minutes is basically a blip in your day, so just close your eyes, breathe deeply and try to not let your mind flit to other things. Try it and see the difference it makes.

19. Face something head on that you have long been avoiding. Whether is be a tricky conversation, asking for a promotion or just tackling the jungle that is your backyard. Procrastination gets you nowhere and you will probably feel a lot better after getting it done.

20. Say no. We often become tired and stressed trying to keep up appearances or make other people happy. Let me just say as a mother, you cannot help others without helping yourself. Take a break. It's okay to make yourself a priority every once in a while.

"Don't be so busy gardening you don't have time to smell the roses. "