Online Grocery Shopping: 7 ways it will help you save money

Do you prefer online grocery shopping or walking into the supermarket? I’m going to share 7 ways it will help you save money and I why I prefer it.

If only I had online grocery shopping when my children were very young. It would’ve been so much more convenient. No having to time shops in between feeds or naps. No lugging bags of groceries into the house while you’re trying to wrestle children. And then the packing away after an already hectic time.

Once online grocery shopping was introduced here in Australia, I was a convert. I tried the home delivery a couple of times but I couldn’t justify the extra cost and my supermarkets are literally around the corner. I can be there and back within 15 minutes using the click’n’collect service for no extra charge.

But will online grocery shopping save you money? Here are my 7 ways.

A running total of your order

What’s your grocery budget? Adding items to your grocery cart online you will instantly see a running total of your order and if you’re going to stick to your budget.

If you’re likely to go over, you have the opportunity to take out items you probably don’t need or it can wait until the next time you shop.

I bought bath soap today knowing I have one cake of soap left but I’m not likely to run out soap between now and my next shop. If I was going to go over budget, I could’ve easily taken this item off.

You stick to your list

Do you keep track of what you need each week? I keep a well stocked pantry and know when I need something. As soon as I run out, or am likely to run out very soon, I add the item to my magnetic whiteboard on the fridge.

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This helps with knowing what I’ll need for the week ahead for breakfasts, school lunches and evening meals. Also if I’ve run out of toiletries or other household items like laundry powder or dishwashing liquid, for example.

No impulse buys

Supermarkets are masters at putting impulse buys right before our eyes. At the end of each aisle, at eye height, at the checkouts and that markdown rack are all places supermarkets like to tempt us to buy extra.

I’m all for a good markdown but if it’s not on your list and you don’t need it, buying your groceries online will help you fall into their sticky traps.

Also, don’t fall for the online tricks either. They’ll suggest items you may have bought last time but not buying this time and the half price or online only specials are also there to tempt you.

Buy all means, check out the online specials to see if your favourites or items you’d like to try are there but only if they’re on your list.

Higher priced substitutions

I’ve never met a substitution I’ve never liked. The great thing about buying online is that the supermarket wants to keep you coming back and offers substitutions on the products you place in your order.

That is, if the item you ordered isn’t available at the time the order is filled, the order picker will pick as close as possible to your item but the same priced item or better.

I’ve received big named branded goods that I normally don’t buy (because of the price) because they can’t supply the item I ordered.

If anything, it gives you an opportunity to try a different brand to check for quality. Maybe that homebrand item you always buy isn’t so bad after all.

Costly convenience

It’s not only the dollar value of the order the cost of your time. We all know how busy we are lately, right? It’s not only the time you’re in the supermarket but the driving there, fighting for a car park, wrangling children (if you have them and avoiding the treats or bribes which all cost extra) the time to pack it all into the car and lug it into your house.

Depending if you get home delivery or click’n’collect, the cost of your time, fuel etc could be saved plus your peace of mind.

No other spending

Most supermarkets are within a bigger complex be it a shopping mall or smaller suburban shopping centre.

^{Image by mrsiraphol on Freepik}

There’s everything from coffee shops, bakeries, dollar stores and other stores that cater to everyone’s tastes.

When you grocery shop online you don’t have that temptation to purchase things you probably don’t need. Put that money towards a holiday, day out with the family or a special buy at the supermarket like fresh seafood or a big piece of roasting meat (which are all so expensive today).

24 hours per day

I thought I’d throw this one in as it costs me my sanity. There was a time when I religiously did the grocery shopping, in store, every Monday morning after school drop off. I guess it was my me time plus getting a good head start on the week ahead with a full pantry, fridge and freezer.

Now the children are grown up and I’ve been grocery shopping fortnightly for ages, I can shop at any time of the day.

When I went to bed last night at 11pm I had forgotten to place my online order. I quickly jumped online this morning at 6am and the order will be ready for pick up at 3pm this afternoon. It fits in well with whatever else I have going on for the day.

Conclusion

Whether you pay the extra for home delivery or use the supermarket’s click’n’collect service, online grocery shopping will definitely save you money in the long run.

It will help you get everything on your list, stick to your budget, have the convenience of someone else to pick your order saving you time and it will save your sanity being able to shop online any time of the day or week.

Do you love it as much as me?

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How To Find The Right Shoe When Everything Seems Confusing

How to find the right shoe when everything seems confusing. Shopping for new shoes can be a fun experience, and while many people can and do get deeply excited about the prospect of shopping for new shoes, many find this unavoidable task confusing and overwhelming.

Just think about the huge selection of shoes on the market. It’s easy to see how people struggle to know where to even start looking.

Each pair of shoes for sale that you will encounter in your journey will have been created with a specific task in mind. Many people wear athletic shoes recreationally, which is of course not a problem. But when it comes to very specific activities, like hiking, running or dancing, the original intent with which the shoe was created, starts to matter. Let’s figure out how to navigate this decision.

How to find the right shoe

Everyone likes to talk a stroll through the discount area of Nike sales area. Is there any bigger thrill than finding a great looking pair of shoes at a price you would never have thought would be possible?

Believe it or not, this is where the red flags start to go up. A great deal on a pair of shoes is a wonderful find for anyone, except if that means that you cheaply buy the wrong pair of shoes for the activity your enjoy, for the sake of saving money.

Ironically, the money you thought you saved, ends up being wasted when you buy in this way. The wrong shoe for the job will result in aches and pains, fatigue, unnecessary strain and even backache. The best price on earth is too high if you are not supported or protected for your chosen activity.

Which kind of shoe should I choose?

Bunions, ingrown toenails, corns and chafing are no fun, but if you insist on pushing through with the wrong pair of shoes, this could be what you’re in for. (Still considering just winging that hike in running shoes?).

If you do suffer from any form of existing foot health problems or injuries, a visit to a podiatrist or our doctor could go a long way in helping you find the right shoes to help mitigate your condition.

If it hurts to move in them, don’t buy them

Different footwear manufacturers design and manufacture their shoes in many different ways. Back to the earlier example of the Nike shoes sales: if it doesn’t fit right, or if it does, but is not compatible with what you intend to wear them for, you are wasting your money.

The money you save at a sale will be spent on pain killers, doctors or other health specialists and ultimately, on new shoes when you realise that you cannot continue in this way. To get past this problem, have a good look at your lifestyle, and see what activities you really enjoy, and spend time and money on. It is in this area that you should be investing in proper shoes.

Last Minute Mother's Day Gift Ideas

Last minute DIY Mother’s Day Gift Ideas? I’m not suggesting that Mother’s Day gift ideas should be a last minute idea. I still remember those gorgeous crafts and handmade cards my children gave me when they were younger. Now they’re teenagers, they barely remember that it is in fact Mother’s Day. That’s okay. I know they still love me. But if things have popped up and you haven’t had a chance to go to the store, these last minute DIY (or practical store bought gifts) will help you come up with an idea for a thoughtful gift for the mother in your life this Mother’s Day.

I can remember when my mother was alive, she always appreciated a handmade gift more so than a store bought one. What do you buy a woman who has everything? She appreciated a trip to the cafe, me bringing over a homemade cake or making lunch for her at her place. Often it’s the thought that counts to us mothers more so than an expensive gift.

Check out the following ideas for inspiraiton.

Beauty Products for Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

Treat your mother to a homemade beauty product. There are so many beauty and pamper products you can make from basic pantry items. Find an empty jam or spread jar, create a pretty label, spray paint the lid or cover in fabric and you’ve got a beauty product that cost next to nothing.

Coconut oil is an amazing product on it’s own. A jar of coconut oil from the supermarket with this print out of over 40 uses for coconut oil (instant download) will be much appreciated for less than $10.

If your mother wears makeup, there are a few suggestions here to make different make up products and moisturisers etc.

There are also a lot of online places like Groupon or Scoopon where you can buy online vouchers for massages and other beauty treatments. Just print out the coupon and pop it into a greeting card.

Homemade Baked Goods & Sweet Treats

My mother was a fantastic baker and taught me well. As she got older, she couldn’t be bothered baking much, just for herself so she always appreciated if I brought her something homemade.

Cakes, biscuits, homemade sweets, muffins or even a batch of pancakes always went down well. You can check out all my baked goods recipes here for inspiration or my homemade sweets ebook.

Failing that, take your mother out for a nice morning tea or high tea. Groupon and Scoopon usually have vouchers for those as well. They don’t have to be on Mother’s Day. (Always so much more expensive.) A good way to catch up with your mother at any old time.

Handmade Mother’s Day Cards

You can buy cheap greeting cards or expensive ones but often the handmade ones are best. I’ve always got a stash of card stock and could create a quick greeting card with a heart felt message for my mother.

There are 19 ideas here for handmade Mother’s Day cards that you can use for inspiration. If not, maybe your mother doesn’t like receiving greeting cards. Save the time and your money and don’t give one at all. Even a handwritten note with a special greeting in your own handwriting will be well received.

Plants & Gardening

My mother was an avid gardener and in fact, a huge orchid fan. I wouldn’t have a clue what orchid to buy her but I always took her to the gardening store if she needed to get supplies. A voucher to her favourite garden store or the hardware is a great gift and she can buy what she wants.

Photo by Lisa on Pexels.com

A cutting from one of your plants, repotted into a nice planter or repurposed planter makes a nice gift. Herb seedlings in a tea pot, old boots or shoes to hold a plant are all great ideas if you’re looking for something last minute.

The supermarket also has a small range of gardening tools, fertilisers and gardening gloves etc. Cut flowers or potted plants are also available from the supermarket.

Handmade Gift Wrap

I always have a roll of brown paper in the house. You can turn it into any design. Get the kids involved with some finger painting or hand prints.

You don’t even need paper. An unused or new tea towel, hand towel or even a piece of fabric makes wonderful gift wrap.

Last Minute Mother’s Day Gift Ideas from the Supermarket

There’s always the good old box of chocolates but look no further than the supermarket for a bunch of great ideas.

Fruit baskets with the freshest seasonal fruit, your mother’s favourite tea or coffee, jars of preserves, spreads, jams or unusual ingredients she doesn’t normally buy to spice up her meals all make great gifts.

Magazines, stationery and other reading material are all available from the supermarket. Toiletries they don’t think to buy for themselves, nail polish, manicure kits, body lotions etc all make great gifts.

Mother’s Day Gift Ideas – Conclusion

I hope this round up of last minute gift ideas gives you some inspiration. I’m sure your mother will be grateful for whatever she receives.

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Meat prices and how to save money on meat

Meat prices and how to save money on meat? I don’t need to remind you just how expensive meat is at the moment. I swear, I grew up with Mum and Dad buying a whole side of lamb which would last for ages. Now it’s like you need to sell an arm or a leg to buy a few lamb chops!

There was no such thing as just buying chicken breasts either when I was growing up. You bought the whole chicken and that was it. If you wanted the breasts, you cut them off yourself.

Supermarkets are capitilising on people wanting to save money on groceries and are making the cheaper cuts more expensive. I do sometimes buy my meat from a local butcher but I really don’t like shopping around. I want to order everything online, pick it up and pack it away.

How to save money buying meat

In a typical fortnight, I’ll buy one pack of 4 (there’s pretty much for in every pack) chicken breasts, one 1 kg beef mince, one 2kg pack sausages and one 1kg pack of frozen white fish fillets. (I do also buy ham, bacon and salami and tinned fish when the budget allows but I always like to have those in the freezer.) That does my family of four for more than two weeks.

Here are some more ways I save money on meat.

Use half or less of what’s in the recipe

If a recipe calls for a certain amount of meat, use at least half (or go even lower). I use one chicken breast for the four of us for stir fries, pasta bakes and have been even known to slice one large breast horizontally into four then flatten out for schnitzels.

I use a handful of beef mince in all pasta dishes. I very rarely add lentils, for example, to increase the protein. I believe the pasta sauce should be exactly that, a sauce.

Two fish fillets can easily feed a family of four (or more) by cutting them into smaller pieces for sweet and sour, a curry, or even crumbing or battering to have enough for everyone.

About 250gm of beef mince can be made into meatballs that have had soft or dry breadcrumbs added. Add grated or blitzed onion, herbs and an egg then roll into small balls. Hamburgers can be made the same.

Use cheaper cuts of meat

If you do feel like a roast, for example chicken, buy just the legs. My supermarket has 2kg of chicken drumsticks for about $6.50. They are also good in a Chicken Chasseur, Chicken Cacciatore, curry or any of your favourite sauces.

Shoulder cuts are often cheaper than legs for pork or lamb.

Whole blade roasts are also cheaper than some of the prime rib cuts.

Cut meat into small sizes

Four sausages is enough to feed a family of four if they are cut into small pieces for a curry, sweet and sour or sausage casserole. I like to portion two sausages per person but sometimes if we have a sausage sizzle dinner, there might be just two sausages left so I’ll make that up into a dish and cut the sausage into small pieces. There’s always enough for everyone.

Use deli style meats like bacon or ham

Don’t forget about bacon. A couple slices of bacon can be turned into fried rice as a meal, cooked and crumbled onto a baked potato for a meal, used in a Carbonara. I buy a kilo of bacon for $9 and it’s very lean and I can usually get four to six portions from a kilo. Same goes for using ham this way.

Tinned fish is an substitute for meat prices

A large 425gm can of homebrand tuna costs around $3 and it can be turned into anything. Pasta sauces, pasta bake, tuna patties, Tuna Casserole or Tuna Mornay. Canned salmon is a little more expensive but is a good way to get your protein for a lot cheaper than meat.

Eggs are a cost effective solution to meat prices

Eggs are a great substitute for meat. Frittatas, omelettes, quiche, and so many other dishes are a great alternative to meat. At around $5 for a dozen free range eggs is a great way to feed your family for less.

Vegetarian is always an option when trying to save money on meat

Dried or tins pulses like lentils and chickpeas are an excellent source of protein and can be added to a meat dish or served on their own. I know they’re not to everyone’s tastes but there are some excellent recipes on line. With the addition of fresh or dried herbs and spices, you can make some delicious vegetarian meals.

Even going meatless one day a week can certainly help reduce your grocery spend.

You can run around to all the stores or individual stores to find the best prices on meat. Or you can use some lower priced alternatives to ensure you are getting the protein you need.

How much are you spending on meat per week? Find our more ways to save money on all of your groceries here.

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Recipe Bases: What you should use instead

Recipes bases. Should you buy them? What you should use instead.

I guess I’m lucky, in a sense, that my mother and grandmothers were very much cook from scratch home cooks which is a tradition I followed into adulthood. I can remember in my early teens (around the 1970s) recipe bases were quite the thing and my mother brought a couple. You could definitely taste a difference in the food and one that I personally didn’t like. Lucky none of the family liked them as well and my mother stopped buy them.

It’s easy enough to make a product you might purchase regularly and learn how to make it from scratch at home for a lot cheaper with basic pantry staples.

You don’t know what goes into recipe bases

Correct me if I’m wrong but I’d need a science degree to know what half of the ingredients are in the above recipe base.

Sugar, corn starch, vegetable powders (tomato, onion), maltodextrin, natural flavours (contain wheat), salt, potato starch, milk powders (cream, skim milk), paprika, burnt sugar, yeast extract, natural colour (carotene), sunflower oil, garlic extract. Contains naturally occurring glutamates. Any Allergies? Contains wheat and milk. May contain soybeans, peanuts, tree nuts, egg, sesame, fish, crustacea and lupin.

Compared to if you make it from scratch yourself:

500 g beef stir-fry strips, 1 tbsp olive oil, 30 g butter, 1 small onion, chopped, 250 g button mushrooms, thinly sliced, ½ cup salt-reduced beef stock, 2 tbsp tomato paste, 250 ml carton of light sour cream (I would substitute with Greek yoghurt), 1 tsp cornflour, pasta to serve (optional).

I know which one I’d prefer. And what difference does it make to the speed or convenience of making the meal? Opening a packet to add the seasoning when you still have to slice the beef, chop the onions and mushrooms and add the other ingredients anyway. The recipe base is really unnecessary.

There are other ways to create convenience

I’m the first one to say that I love convenience grocery items. Not every fortnight but most fortnights I’ll buy grated cheese, packaged ham or canned pulses instead of buying them dried.

But I won’t ever sacrifice flavour over convenience and I don’t know whether it’s from a lifetime of having made from scratch food, that I just dislike flavoured meal bases let alone all of the ingredients in them that you wouldn’t have a clue what they were.

Looking at my local supermarket this week, they have Maggi Dry meal bases on sale for 2 for $3. If I was to buy 14 for my fortnight’s worth of meals, I would pay $21 on meal bases alone. I’ll choose those that my family might eat:

• Devilled Sausages (2)
• Beef Stroganoff
• Lamb Casserole (would make it with chicken)
• Satay Chicken
• Beef Goulash
• Cottage Pie (2)
• Apricot Chicken
• Chicken Chasseur (2)
• Chow Mein (2)
• Butter Chicken

What pantry staples to keep instead of buying recipe bases

With my current pantry staples, I could make all of those meals with my usual top up of meat and vegetables saving me $21 and knowing exactly what goes into my meals.

If you lack inspiration and need these meal bases, use them for inspiration but rather keep a good supply of the following to create the same, over and over again, for a lot cheaper:

• Plain flour and/or corn flour
• Stock powder (chicken, beef or vegetable – I use the Massels brand)
• Salt and pepper
• Tomato paste
• Soy sauce
• Crushed garlic and/or ginger (or ground ginger)
• BBQ and tomato sauce
• Greek yoghurt (to substitute sour cream)
• Peanut butter (for satay)
• Apricot jam (for Apricot Chicken)
• Spices: paprika, turmeric, curry powder
• Brown sugar
• Vinegar
• Tinned tomatoes

As you can see, most of us have these ingredients in our pantry already and those meals I chose could be recreated with these simple staples. That $21 I spent on recipe bases could be spent on more meat, a top up for my second week’s shopping or saved and put towards something else.

Do you buy recipe bases?

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The best party food ideas on a budget from pantry staples

Grazing boards are all the rage at the moment. These types of ‘platters’ were around since Adam was a boy but all it takes is something to go ‘viral’ these days on social media and every wants to get in on it. (Not that there’s anything wrong with that but if you’re trying to save money and you can’t afford to buy the ingredients for those types of grazing platters or, heaven forbid, pay someone to put one together for you, there are much better, economical alternatives out there.) Here are the best party food ideas on a budget for entertaining.

What you need to remember, always, is that food is food at the end of the day. You don’t need to follow food ‘trends’ to provide nice food to your guests. It can be the same things you buy and eat on a regular basis but presented or made up in different ways.

Here are a few budget ideas to help you.

Keep a can of reduced cream in the pantry

I used to keep a small can of reduced cream in the pantry at all times when I used to have a lot of parties or had people pop in unexpectedly for drinks.

I would add corned relish, gherkin pickles, a packet of French Onion soup mix (if I had it), diced ham/cheese/onion, avocado, smoked oysters or a small can of salmon and mix with the reduced cream.

Allow to set in the fridge for a quick dip if you’ve got a bit of time. Otherwise, spreadable cream cheese (which can be kept in the freezer), Greek yoghurt or sour cream can be used in the same way.

Another old fashioned dip my mother used to make for a party back in the 1970s was called Mock Chicken. It was basically cooked tomato, fresh breadcrumbs, egg and herbs and remarkably tastes like chicken (well sort of). You should have all of these ingredients in your pantry and fridge.

Alternatives for cracker biscuits or chips

If you don’t have cracker biscuits or chips, toast tortillas, bread rolls sliced and toasted, make Melba toast from sliced bread or if you have time, grissini sticks are easy to make from pantry staples.

Recipe

Even the Greek yoghurt/flour pizza base recipe makes for a quick flat bread that can be cooked on the stove top in a pan.

Add vegetables to your dip platter

Add vegetables to your dip platter. Broccoli or cauliflower florets, carrot sticks, zucchini, celery, capsicum, asparagus, snow peas or any other vegetables you have will make a colourful platter.

Frozen puff pastry for the best party food

Puff pastry in the freezer is your best friend for any unexpected emergencies. Make cheese straws by cutting puff into strips, brush with beaten egg, top with grated cheese of any kind or seeds/nuts, twist and bake until golden brown.

Image by Zozz_ from Pixabay

Sausage rolls using any kind of filling, vol au vents, palmiers, pull aparts, pigs in blankets, samosas, curry puffs, the list is endless on what you can use puff pastry for when entertaining.

Remember to use whatever fillings you have.

Make your own budget grazing board or platter

Make a platter with whatever you have. Sliced ham or other cold meats, olives, gherkins, fruit, chutney/pickles, normal cheddar cheese, pesto, crackers or breads (as above), chocolates, nuts.

Image by AquaSpiritLens from Pixabay

All you have to do is get a platter of some kind (it doesn’t have to be a block of wood) and start adding small piles of the food item. If you have sauces or wet ingredients, add them to small bowls and put them on the platter.

Party food on a stick

A toothpick or skewer is the perfect way to serve individual morsels of food at a party. There are so many creative people out there who have created a way to put just about anything on a stick.

For more Recipes

Instead of the old kabana, cheese, pickled onion and gherkin I grew up with, you can make mini cheese balls coated in nuts/seeds, meatballs (everyone has mince in the freezer I’m sure), Caprese or Greek salad, crumbed fish/potato bites shaped into balls, bites of cheese with whatever, a prune or smoked oyster wrapped in bacon.

Basically, whatever can be poked with a toothpick or skewer can be served at a party. Food like this is also easy to prepare ahead of time so you have time to relax and enjoy the party.

Pinwheels for party food

Using pastry, the Greek yoghurt pizza dough recipe, tortillas, wraps, or sliced bread that has been flatted with a rolling pin, spread with anything like cream cheese or any kind of spread, add any filling (keeping it to a minimum), roll up, and refrigerate until required. Slice and serve when the party is starting.

Fruit as a savoury option

Any kind of melon is good to use as a savoury option. It pairs well with smoked meats and strong cheeses. Cube and serve on a toothpick.

You can also use a melon baller for a cute effect. Cubed watermelon and feta cheese on a stick drizzled with balsamic vinegar is also very on trend but only if you have it on hand. Remember, we’re trying to stick to a budget and use whatever you have.

Eggs are a great party food option

Who doesn’t love a devilled egg? I can remember in my first job, I was responsible for helping with the catering for our work Christmas party. I think I must’ve boiled about 10 dozen eggs, cut them all in half and made about 6 different fillings.

Image by Gesegnetes Neues Jahr/ Blessed New Year/ Bendito Año Nuevo from Pixabay

Some included canned crab meat, curry powder, crispy bacon, relishes, pickles etc. They were a huge success. (Mind you it was 1980 but I reckon they’d still be a big hit today.)

Everybody loves a sandwich

Never underestimate the humble sandwich. I’ve seen grown men demolish plates full of freshly made, plain sandwiches of ham, cheese and tomato, egg and lettuce, salmon & onion etc etc before any of the other food is eaten. Remember all we’re trying to do is to save money, give our guests nice tasting food and use what we’ve got.

Cucumber slices as the base

Use cucumber as the base for a delicious snack. Top with any of the dip combinations mentioned above and decorate with any contrasting chopped vegetables or herbs etc.

Recipe

Always look at what you have before you run to the supermarket. The above is all made from common ingredients you would keep in your fridge, freezer or pantry and you’ll impress people with your ingenuity and good tasting food instead of trying to impress them with the latest trends plus you’ll save money.

Happy entertaining and saving money!

Air fresheners that are safe for your home

Supermarket air fresheners and candles can be cheaper than the handmade, boutique style you can buy but are they safe for your home and your family? Here are some ideas for air fresheners that are safe for your home.

Air Fresheners & Candles

How much do you spend on air fresheners and/or candles? Do you feel better that your house smells like the air freshener than if it didn’t?

This isn’t a criticism about how clean your house is or a lecture on the environment but just to raise your awareness to some facts and some alternatives.

I’m not a greenie but when I heard about how harmful the chemicals are in air fresheners for your home, I stopped buying them. If you’ve got a couple of toilets, you buy a can of air freshener for each or a scented candle for a few rooms of the house and it certainly adds up.

Air fresheners are harmful

Glen20 used to be one of my favourites, especially for killing germs. At $8.00 a can, it’s a hefty price but makes marvellous claims for killing germs in various situations in your home.

Glen 20, according to Material Safety Data Sheets is up to 60% Ethanol.

MSDS online says,

Ethanol is dangerous: The following should be worn whenever using ethanol: Respirator, Boots, Long rubber gloves, Industrial aprons, Overalls, Chemical safety goggles, Face shield. It’s really dangerous to breathe in Ethanol and Glen 20 is mostly Ethanol. The other major ingredients are at least as dangerous Propane up to 30% and Butane up to10%.

Via Reckitt Benckiser

Supermarket candles are harmful

At anywhere from $5 to $20 from the supermarket, they are always going to leave a big dent in the grocery budget. Not only that, if they are made from paraffin wax which is derived from petroleum, coal or shale oil they are very toxic.

When it’s burnt, paraffin wax releases toxic compounds into the air, including acetone, benzene, and toluene – all known carcinogens.

Paraffin candles also produce a fair bit of soot – the black stuff caused from flickering flames – and when the soot is airborne it can be inhaled.

When scented candles are burned, they give off tiny particles, so small that you could fit a thousand of them across a single human hair. The problem with particles this small is that they can get into the bloodstream, and they have been associated with both short- and long-term health problems, including asthma and cardiovascular disease.

What to do instead to make your home smell nice

I don’t know about you but I have wonderful memories of my grandmothers and mum’s houses smelling nice naturally. Freshly baked goods coming out of the oven, fresh fruit (my nanna’s house always smelled like pineapple) and a fresh, clean smell because they (or we as kids) cleaned the house.

Here are some tips:

• Dust smells. If you keep on top of the dust in your house, there’ll be less musty odours and a cleaner fresh smell. Sweep or vacuum floors regularly, wipe feet at the door on mats and wash the mats regularly, wash curtains, clean blinds and windows and dust furniture, light fittings and fans etc.
• Open your windows and let the fresh air in.
• Think of using odour neutralisers instead of artificially scenting your home. Plain bicarb soda is an excellent absorber of unwanted odours.
• Fresh scented flowers like roses, jasmine, jonquil and lavender are highly scented. Fresh or dried as pot pourri are a great natural scent.
• Essential oils mix with water (or alcohol) make an excellent room deodoriser, linen spray, air freshener, fabric furniture refresher.
• Diffusing essential oils are a natural way to not only add a fresh scent to your home but depending on the oil you diffuse, can set a calm relaxing tone in the house (lavender), or an energised tone (housework or homework) with peppermint.
• Make a stove top air freshener with citrus peel, cinnamon bark, cloves, peppercorns, rosemary, eucalyptus etc. Heat until boiling and then lower to a simmer for approx 30 mins.
• If you do use candles check very carefully that they are made from natural wax like beeswax and only essential oils added.

Keep it natural, keep on top of the dust and dirt in your home and open the windows in your home and your home will smell naturally fresh and you’ll not avoid harmful chemicals coming into your home, you’ll save a lot of money buying air fresheners and candles from the supermarket.

Cost Comparison: Make your own muesli bars from scratch

This is a cost comparison on how to make your own muesli bars from scratch to save money and know exactly what ingredients are going into them.

Muesli bars are something that are worth making from scratch compared to if you buy them from the supermarket.

Using very basic ingredients you keep on hand all the time, you can make these muesli bars in no time and you’ll know exactly what ingredients are in them.

MUESLI BARS & OTHER LUNCH BOX SNACKS

Don’t worry. I get it. We’re all very busy and grabbing a $5 box of 12 muesli bars to throw in your child’s lunch box is super convenient.

I’ve tasted those store bought muesli bars and I don’t think they compare in taste to anything you can bake at home. Muesli bars (or oat bars, flapjacks, etc etc) are such an easy thing to throw together while you’re getting dinner ready.

They’re so easy for the kids to make as well. It’s just melt and mix. All you need is rolled oats, a few other very basic pantry staples and then you can let your hair down and throw in whatever your child’s favourite things are.

Things like:

• chocolate chips
• nuts
• dried fruit
• or check out the supermarket aisle for recipe combination inspiration

My biggest problem is what’s in the supermarket muesli bars. Check this out for a popular brand of Chocolate Chip Muesli Bars.

INGREDIENTS:

Rolled Oats (34%), Glucose ( Wheat ), Whole Grain Wheat (11%), Compound Chocolate Chips (9%) [Sugar, Vegetable Oil, Milk Solids, Cocoa, Cocoa Mass, Emulsifiers (492, Soy Lecithin), Salt], Breakfast Cereal (Wholemeal Wheat Flour (5%), Wheat Starch, Sugar, Vitamin E), Chicory Root Fibre, Sunflower Oil ( Soy ), Sugar, Humectant (Glycerine), Modified Wheat Starch (1412), Invert Sugar, Coconut ( Sulphites ), Honey, Milk Powder, Emulsifier ( Soy Lecithin), Flavour, Salt, Preservative (223) ( Sulphites ) Contains Gluten Containing Ingredients, Milk, Soy and Sulphites. May Contain Lupin., Uncle Tobys Rolled Oats (34%), Glucose ( Wheat ), Whole Grain Wheat (11%), Compound Chocolate Chips (9%) [Sugar, Vegetable Oil, Milk Solids, Cocoa, Cocoa Mass, Emulsifiers (492, Soy Lecithin), Salt], Breakfast Cereal (Wholemeal Wheat Flour (5%), Wheat Starch, Sugar, Vitamin E), Chicory Root Fibre, Sunflower Oil ( Soy ), Sugar, Humectant (Glycerine), Modified Wheat Starch (1412), Invert Sugar, Coconut ( Sulphites ), Honey, Milk Powder, Emulsifier ( Soy Lecithin), Flavour, Salt, Preservative (223) ( Sulphites ) Contains Gluten Containing Ingredients, Milk, Soy and Sulphites. May Contain Lupin.

Seriously? You need a science degree to know what half of those things are!

THE RECIPE I USE FOR MAKING MUESLI BARS FROM SCRATCH

My recipe for Honey Oat Bars (from my high school Home Economics cook book “Day to Day Cookery” which I use as a base for my muesli bars) has these ingredients:

• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1/2 cup plain flour
• 1/2 cup coconut
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/8 cup honey
• 90gm butter
• 1/4 tsp bicarb soda
• 1/4 chocolate chips (optional)

That’s it! Other than the bicarb soda, everything is natural, they aren’t too sweet and this recipe produces about 18 ‘bars’.

COST COMPARISON OF MAKING THEM FROM SCRATCH

I did the exercise and costed out this recipe.

Compared to the 12 pack box of branded Chocolate Chips Muesli Bars at $5.00 ($0.60 each), the cost to make these yourself as above works out at a total of $1.46 for 18 bars or 9 cents each!

A SAVING OF $3.64 per BOX or $0.51 cents each.

If you bought a box per week, that would cost $260 for 624 bars in 12 months.

If you made a batch per week of 18 (or made a double batch and stored them in the freezer) at a cost of $1.46, it would cost you $75.92 for 936 bars!

That would be a saving of $184.08 over the course of the year.

Not only that, you’ll know exactly what’s going into the bars compared to that massive list of ingredients above.

THE COST COMPARISON & THE RECIPE

I’ve based the cost of the ingredients on current Coles Supermarket prices (as at October 2020) and used the homebrand ingredients and, in this case, I opted to use syrup instead of honey in this recipe because syrup is cheaper.

https://www.domesblissity.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/RecipeCostCalculation.pdf

If you ever want to calculate what it costs to make a recipe, this handy calculator is great.

It’s a bit fiddly because you need to find the cost of the total ingredient, how much a serving weighs (just Google it) and then enter into the calculator above. A good exercise and you’ll soon see how much you can actually save from making your food from scratch.

Benefits of not eating meat: Save money & the environment

What is the the true cost of eating red meat? I want to offer you some alternatives to eating red meat. Here are some benefits of not eating meat to save money and the environment.

Other sources of protein

Contrary to popular opinion, red meat (as in beef or lamb, for example) isn’t the highest source of iron in our food. Obviously yes, red meat or liver is high but so are sardines, eggs, canned salmon, chicken, duck etc.

And then there’s the plant protein options like legumes (lentils, chickpeas), tofu, nuts, wholegrain cereals and green leafy vegetables, for example. For more info on protein sources and how much you actually need, check out this article for more information.

I must admit, I do love a nice piece of steak but I honestly can’t remember the last time I had one, let alone lamb. When I did buy beef more regularly, I’d look for whole rumps on special for $10 per kg or less and the butcher would slice it.

Looking at Coles website recently, the price per kg of red meat is outrageous and that’s why I don’t buy it. Also I know I can get my protein and iron from other, less expensive resources. Check out these cost examples from Coles (as at September 2020):

• sliced rump steak @ $24.00/kg
• sliced eye fillet steak @ $44.00/kg
• sliced porterhouse steak @ $42.00/kg
• veal sizzle steak @ $30.00/kg
• lamb leg steak @ $28.00/kg
• lamb back strap @ $50.00/kg

Cost on the environment

When you start to look at the harm that is being done to the environment in order to farm beef, it’s truly eye watering and very sad. Some quick stats:

• Cows must consume over 7kg of vegetation to produce 500gm of meat.
• Producing just one hamburger uses enough fossil fuel to drive a small car 32km.
• A typical pig factory generates the same amount of raw waste as a city of 12,000 people.
• Of all agricultural land in the U.S., 87 percent is used to raise animals for food.
• In 2018 alone, NSW lost 60,800 hectares of woody vegetation – or about 200 times the size of Sydney’s CBD.

You can read more about the harmful effects on the environment by farming.

Alternatives to not eating meat to save money & the environment

So when you consider any or all of the above, it’s certainly a lot cheaper to eat other sources of protein which will help you reduce your grocery spend. Here are 5 quick tips:

1. Consider 2 serves of fish per week
2. Consider 2 serves of egg based dishes per week
3. Consider more plant based meals
4. Use lentils to replace mince/ground meat
5. Use poultry like chicken, duck or turkey

There are so many recipes on the internet. You only have to look at Indian recipes for beautiful vegetarian meals. Here are some links to inspire you:

11 ways to use chickpeas

13 Indian style salads & vegetable dishes

10 easy vegetarian meals

Can you live without red meat?

Top 5 key qualities of a good mattress

The mattress you use plays a significant role in your life because it affects the quality and duration of your sleep. A mattress that supports your sleeping position and comes with your preferred firmness will make it easy for you to sleep and maintain your overall health. But, with the number of mattresses for sale today, do you know which one to choose? Here are my top 5 key qualities of a good mattress.

The market is now saturated with businesses that sell different kinds of mattresses. The number of options you will have can be very overwhelming, especially if you’re buying one for the first time.

Should you prioritize the price of the mattress, or should you pay more attention to its durability?  Does the brand matter?  How about the warranty?

For you to come up with answers to these questions, make sure to look for the following key qualities if you want to end up using a good mattress:

Reasonable Price for a good mattress

Price is always an important deciding factor when buying new things. Choosing to buy items that exceed your budget can become the reason why you will experience financial stress and debt. When this happens, it’ll be hard for you to enjoy your investment. 

When buying a mattress, look for brands that offer high-quality yet reasonably priced options. You can search for options from reputable brands, such as iSense Mattress, and compare available options in your area.

Remember, when buying a mattress, do not immediately choose one that is cheap; instead, look for a mattress that provides value for money. 

Optimal comfort is a key quality

As mentioned, your mattress can affect your health and sleeping pattern. It’ll be very challenging to rest and sleep every night if your mattress doesn’t support your body’s pressure points or sleeping position. 

Another quality to consider when buying a good mattress is the comfort it provides. When visiting stores, try out some mattresses by laying down on them in your preferred sleeping position.

If you’re a back sleeper, look for a mattress that supports your spinal cord.

For side sleepers, a mattress that cradles their shoulders and hips in order to prevent stress and injury is a great option.

Stomach sleepers, on the other hand, should pick a firm mattress that doesn’t put pressure on their lower back and hips.

Durability in a good mattress

You will be using your mattress every single day for the next ten years or so, which is why you should always look for something that is durable.

Choosing the first mattress you come across without even checking the track record of the brand and durability of the product can result in stress and additional expenses.

A low-quality mattress can easily get damaged or broken, and will likely prompt you to pay for repairs or buy a new one. 

If you don’t want to experience this and maximize your investment for the longest time possible, pay attention to the quality of the materials used and how the mattress was constructed.

You should also look for a mattress with built-in features that can help with common sturdiness problems, such as sagging and stains. These features will help your mattress last longer, regardless if you’re using it every day. 

Appropriate size for a good mattress

The size of the mattress is also an important factor to consider when you’re buying one. How can you sleep in your preferred sleeping position if your mattress is too small for you to sleep on your back? 

Do you think you can sleep comfortably if your mattress doesn’t allow you to change position or use different pillows?

Different people have different preferences when it comes to the size of their mattresses. When choosing, make sure that you buy one that suits your needs.

If you sleep with your kids or partner, look for a mattress that is large enough to support more than one person. You will be able to sleep comfortably through the night if your kids or partner also sleeps well. 

Hypoallergenic Materials

Some people have highly sensitive skin, and being exposed to certain materials can trigger their allergies and other skin conditions. While some of these reactions are manageable, others can get too severe to the point where they can no longer do anything during the day. 

If you are prone to allergies, it might be best if you also check the materials used in the mattress you’re eyeing to buy.

Aside from making sure that these materials provide support to all the pressure points of your body, it’s also important to look for hypoallergenic ones. These materials will allow your skin to breathe and minimize the growth of bacteria in your mattresses. 

Choose a good mattress carefully

Your mattress is an important investment because aside from affecting your health, this purchase may cost you a significant amount of money. Use this article as your buying guide so you can easily narrow down your options and find a mattress that truly fits your needs and budget. 

How To Choose The Best Mattress For Your Children

A good night’s sleep is always paramount to your next day’s aspirations. In the long run, having good quality sleep doesn’t only affect your performance tomorrow, but creates an impact on your overall well-being. Ensure that you’re getting enough sleep and rest every day, particularly your children as well. Here’s how to choose the best mattress for your children.

Importance of Sleep In Children

Compared to adults, the importance of sleep needs more emphasis on children. An adequate amount of sleep is vital in their development in many aspects of cognitive health: behavior, attention, memory learning, overall mental health, and more importantly, physical health.

Sleep can also affect a child’s weight, growth, heart health, and immune system. A child with insufficient sleep is more susceptible to obesity, depression, and high blood pressure. 

To help children sleep better, parents must provide them with the best place to sleep soundly. Having an excellent choice of their bed mattress will directly impact their sleep.

If your child isn’t sleeping well and enough, it might be time to get them a new mattress as their old one doesn’t keep up well to their sleeping needs anymore.

When finding a mattress for your child, read what customers have to say to assist you in arriving at better decisions. Check mattress reviews, like this review of the Puffy Mattress, to give you a better idea of what to expect for your child’s sleep.

With this in mind, here are five tips on choosing the best mattress for your child to sleep on.

The Size Always Matters

Children’s ages are considered developmental periods, so their bodies don’t stop growing. To cope up with these needs, choosing the right size for your child’s mattress will influence their sleep in the following years.

When selecting a mattress’s size, consider two factors: your child’s height and how long they’re going to use it.

Most children only require twin mattresses, and they’re already big enough for most heights. However, if your child is between the ages of 8 and 12 and plans to keep the mattress until their teen years, then twin-sized, twin XL, and full-sized beds are your best options.

Also, the size of the mattress depends on how many children are going to sleep on it. Based on the number of your children, pick the right size where they will not only fit but allow extra space for them to move around while sleeping.

Prioritize Spinal Support

During sleep, a child’s spine continues to develop. Their neck and spine, when sleeping, should be in a comfortable and neutral position to reduce spinal stress and allow the bone structures to grow without any restrictions.

Since a child’s spine needs support and shape, consider a mattress that is soft enough for comfort, but simultaneously firm enough to stop them from sinking too much, especially if they stay in the same position for the whole night. The best example of this is an innerspring mattress.

A well-formed adult spine becomes flexible and adapted from daily stressors, but not allowing your child’s spine to develop appropriately during its crucial stages will make their spine susceptible to different spinal deformities.

Examine The Quality of Materials Used

Although natural isn’t always better, it goes the other way around in choosing the right mattress for your child.

Besides the size and support provided by a cushion, selecting the correct type of materials will allow your child to sleep more without any irritations. As much as possible, stick to natural and breathable materials rather than synthetic ones.

In fact, the same goes for adults or any age. A person’s quality of sleep will be better off natural fiber mattresses rather than petrochemical-derived, synthetic mattresses that are open to more skin irritations.

Many children with or without allergies find them irritating for the skin and can potentially cause respiratory problems.

Moreover, mattresses harnessed from natural materials, such as organic wool, silk, cotton, bamboo, and natural latex, possess naturally occurring anti-mite, anti-bacterial, and breathable properties. As much as you can, avoid synthetically made ones.

Make it a habit to read product descriptions before purchasing them. If you’re unsure of the mattress’s material composition, read the manufacturer’s specifications and see if these harmful materials exist:

• Memory foam and polyurethane foam
• Chemical flame retardants
• Synthetic latex
• Vinyl

Consider Your Child’s Sleep Position and Style

Children become accustomed to a specific sleeping position and style while sleeping, thus observe what kind of sleeper they are to pick a better mattress for this necessity.

The sleeping style is also an essential consideration in shopping for an adult mattress because your sleeping position is crucial to your sleeping comfort and spine and other bone support.

Depending on your sleeping style or position, listed below are some mattress recommendations:

• Side sleepers: Pressure relief is vital because of its curviness. Softer and thicker comfort layers about 3 inches thick are best for them.
• Back sleepers: They don’t require much comfort layer, thus choose a thinner top layer.
• Stomach sleepers: Sleeping puts too much pressure on their lumbar area so that a softer surface will hyperextend their stomach area. The last thing they’ll need is a soft and thick comfort layer. Firm and thin ones are better choices.

Conclusion

Children need more sleep than adults because their sleeping hours are the best time for their body to develop into a stable structure. When sleeping, the most critical factor that will affect your sleep is your bed mattress, and the room’s conditions will only be listed next.

With the help of these tips discussed above, ensure that you will only buy the best mattress for your child to keep them strong and help them to get ready for more development.