Our Frugal Lifestyle

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Passionate about eco-frugality. I used to party hard, clubbing my way from pay-packet to pay-packet. Never getting ahead, just getting by. Then came our much wanted baby with no savings in the bank - only an old car. Changes were made to our lifestyle and we didn't turn back. In the past 6yrs we purchased a flat, found employment, lived below our means, built an emergency fund, purchased a reliable car and saw the financial benefits of our frugal lifestyle. Our only debt is our mortgage. Our aim is to manage our cash flow wisely, pay off our home quickly and eventually work for pleasure, not necessity. Join us on our journey, share insights, tips and tricks to help us and others to get ahead while having a good time.

Monday, December 31, 2012

4 Minutes Until 2013

Hi Small Spenders,

As I write this it's four minutes until the New Year. Dolly is sleeping at Grandmas, The Rambling Expat is fast asleep as he is off fishing early tomorrow and I sit here enjoying blogs and sites I love. When I finish typing, it will be 2013 and uncertainty will increase as we move closer to my partners impending job loss and the increase in utilities on the 1st of January. When the clock strikes 12:00 the costs will rise by 30% for electricity, 40% for water and 25% for sewerage.

Me at 11:15pm on the 31 December 2012.


Happy New Year!!! - the Fire Works have gone off and I've heard people in far off parties counting down so I looked at my computer clock and yes it's now 2013 in my part of the world. Therefor using this computer is now costing me 30% more.... And that infuriates me!

Other from that - today was another frugalicious day. I decluttered a little more while The Rambling Expat took Dolly for a swim at the public pool. (I have a friend who takes his family to luxury hotels and slips in their crystal blue pools. I love the idea but don't have the guts to do that. I did as a teen but as an adult I fear being told off if caught - however I do love the rebellion of it.) After her swim Dolly had a friend over for a playdate so I helped them make chocolate chip cookies from scratch and sew pretty scented draw sachets with scrap fabric from old clothes and lavender I had sitting around taking up space.



So once again another day where I decluttered a little more, used stuff up and didn't spend much of my precious money which needs to go into the mortgage faster. I was itching to go and have a browse at my local op shop but put myself to work doing dishes and sorting papers until the want subsided and eventually was forgotten and then... BANG! I went and purchased TAKE AWAY for dinner. Why-why-why-why-why????.... Because I didn't have delicious precooked meals in the freezer for an evening like tonight. This is something I will need to work on now that it's 2013 as this happens much too often for my liking.

Happy New Year,

Stephanie @ Frugal Down Under.

10 comments:

  1. Happy New Year Stephanie and I hope everything works out for you all very soon in 2013 xx

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  2. That's so weird, it's still afternoon here! Time zones always amaze me, haha! HAPPY NEW YEAR! :)

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  3. Happy New Year x Its nearly 4 oclock in the afternoon here, another 8 hours for us to go in UK

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  4. Happy new year ,may it be rewarding and frugal
    xx

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  5. Thanks Karen, The end of 2012 has been very challenging and the beginning of 2013 will be tough. But I'm building the courage to fight and roar - For I Am Woman.

    Ms Academic - Bryallen, Time zones are so weirdly wonderful. I can hear drunken people partying, cheering, playing loud music and making their way home as it's 2013. Meanwhile in your part of the world people are still at work and starting to think what they might wear out tonight to send off 2012.

    Oh Miss Piggy, A full 8 hours!!! If only I could get that time back ;) I would be younger.

    Same to you Never Too Old - keep staying young in 2013.

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  6. Happy New Year to you and your family. I have my fingers crossed for your husbands job. Hope he dosen't loose it.
    You look stunning in that photo. Have you been loosing weight too?
    That is a heafty hike in price rises for your utility bills. Our's keep going up too.
    Carolx

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  7. Happy New Year! I haven't stopped by in a long time because I've been kind of out of the blogosphere and a little out of my mind. I used to be Mary Bailey but now I have a new blog if you want to visit me there. Haven't had a lot of time to look through your past posts, just wanted to say you look great! You seem to have lost weight and look very fit. Good going! I have lost a lot of weight recently, too, but am flabby, not fit, as I've been unable to start exercising. Anyway, hope we can be back in touch!

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  8. Happy New Year to you & yours.
    Thank you very much for the utube clip you sent me I wuved it.
    Caroline xo

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  9. Happy new Year to you and your family.Good luck with finding new strategies for dealing with the job cuts and price rises, love the fighting attitude :)

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  10. Hi Carol, Unfortunately my partner has lost his job but we are waiting on the official date and the options they offer. Utilities are hefty now and I don't know how single parents, the elderly, people with disabilities, big families and those bad with money are going to cope. If the increase is necessary then it should have been made with slow increases - not all at once. I might have lost weight - I don't have scales :) I just feel a bit better about myself.

    Caroline Mary Bailey :) welcome back to blogland. You haven't missed much from my blog as I have been away grooming my feathers, organising a school reunion and having an amazing dizzy social life with old friends from 1987. I've been acting like a teen again. And it's been deliciously fun. Just what I needed. I still have kilos and kilos of chocolate hugging my body. I eat like its the end of the world and love food way too much. LOL

    Caroline, Enjoy 2013 - 2012 has been tough for you so you deserve a break. I love that clip and when you blog called out for it I just had to point you in the right direction.

    Thanks Dreamer. I'm fighting with my lifestyle choices but I also want to stand up and ROAR. Unfortunately I'm semi gagged which makes it frustrating and scary. And it feels undemocratic.

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Thanks for commenting - I love getting feedback, sharing experiences and learning from you.