Sometimes you have to make the tough choices

There has been a huge amount going on at GGM HQ lately with school camps, assignments, exams, sports carnivals and 3 weeks of illness. This has all taken it's toll on me and I am having to make some tough choices.

With my adrenal fatigue I cannot afford to let myself get rundown and with all of this going on I am really feeling it with poor sleep and daily exhaustion.

One of the first things I learned about treating and healing adrenal fatigue was to learn to say NO and that is what I am doing. 

I am saying No to unnecessary outings, I'm saying No to taking on extra activities and I am saying No to anything that drains me or makes me feel pressured and so I am taking a break from blogging for the next month.

I have a couple of scheduled posts that will go ahead and a couple of guest posts that I'll let you know about but other than that I will be on break until May 1st 2014.

I hope you all choose to support me in this decision and stick around to see what a rest can do.

Homemade Laundry Powder Recipe

I used to buy laundry liquid as I hated the way powder would sometimes cling to the clothes and decided to try making my own. It was economical but I wasn't a fan of the consistency of it. It would separate and become really gluggy. So when I got my new washing machine, I started using a front loader powder as I have the Fischer and Paykel Aquasmart which works like a top loader version of a front loader, but the cost was starting to add up for a family of 8.

I then started making my own powder, or rather extending the life of my powder. I read a tip somewhere about adding bicarb soda and stain soaker (like oxy or napisan) to your washing powder to make it last longer and that is what I've been doing for the past couple of years.

But I have decided to start making my own powder and I know it will be a bit of trial and error to get it exactly how I want it, but here goes with my first batch. I am only doing a small batch in case it doesn't work how I want.

GGM Homemade Laundry Powder

3 bars of natural soap (sunlight, fels naptha etc)

2 cups bicarb soda

1 cup borax

1 cup washing soda

1/2 cups stain soaker (oxiclean, napisan etc)

Great the soap finely using either a hand grater or the grating attachment on your food processor and combine with other ingredients in a  large bucket or container with lid. 

Place lid on container and shake until all is well combined.

And there you have it, homemade laundry powder for a fraction of the cost of store bought.

This post contains affiliate links, these links allow me to earn a small amount of money to help keep this blog running and to allow me to trial and test the great hints and tips that I provide.

All of your Organising needs in one super ebundle

I've something I want to share with you and it's coming Monday.

It will help you organize, freshen the house and your life and with Spring we're all looking for fresh starts.

Want a hint?

There's information over

• 
  

  Organizing

• 
  

  Working from Home

• 
  

  Schedules

• 
  

  Cleaning and

• 
  

  Moms

So come back Monday, March 24th at 8am.

6 Ways You Could Be Wasting Money

Far too many of us are wasting money that could go towards better things. Here are a few ways you could be throwing money away.

1. Paying too much for your home phone and internet. We don't use our home phone but since we live in an area where it is difficult to get wireless, satellite or naked internet at a decent price, we are required to have a land line in order to have internet. Some companies will bundle your services and offer you a discount or it may be cheaper to use two separate providers. But either way it is worth checking to make sure you are getting the best deal you can
2. Paying too much for your mobile (cell) phone or not being aware of what inclusions are a part of your plan. My current plan does not include 13 or 1800 numbers here in Australia, so I pay regular rate for these calls. The plan I am switching to includes them as a part of the basic plan.
3. Paying too much for your insurance because you just automatically renew each year with the same company without shopping around or asking them if they can give you a better deal. It's also a good idea to check your policy and make sure you are not paying to insure items you no longer own.
4. Not receiving any discounts you are entitled to. If you hold a pensioner or health care card you may be entitled to a discount on some of your household bills and travel costs. It's always a good idea to ask whether discounts are available and whether you are receiving them. You can also receive discounts on products and services through memberships, so be sure to check what you are entitled to.
5. Paying too much for your gas and electricity. Now that there are several providers available, these companies need to offer discounts in order to convince customers to sign with them. So with rising energy costs it's worth ringing around to see whether you are getting the best deal.
6. Paying late fee's because you forgot to return a DVD or library book, or because you were late paying a bill. Some companies even offer a discount if you pay your bills early or on time.

5 Ways to Save Money at the Supermarket

The grocery budget is often the only place you can cut back on your spending in times of need like an unexpected bill or other emergency, as most other expenses are fixed and can't be altered. So how can you trim back the budget without compromising on your families health?

1. Know Your Store - Each store has certain times of the day and week that it does markdowns on prices. So if you are aware of these you can often save yourself quite a few dollars on bakery, produce, deli, meat and dairy items. It's also good to know the layout of your store, as this can help you avoid those aisles that are a temptation to you.
   
2. Check Your Catalogue - It helps to know what is on sale, so you can adjust your menu plan to suit the specials and save some money.
   
3. Menu Plan - I know, I know this one isn't actually at the Supermarket, but having a menu plan can help you to stick to your budget. Work out what meals you need to provide for your shopping period (weekly, fortnightly, monthly etc) and then make a list of ingredients you will need to make them. You can then work out a rough estimate of the cost using the stores online shopping feature or online shopping list in Aldi's case. If the cost is above your budget, then rethink the meals you've chosen and opt for cheaper meals. Consider meals that allow you to use the leftovers for another night, like Spaghetti Bolognaise can be turned into Chilli or Savoury Mince.
   
4. Make a List and Stick To It - It's easy to undo all the hard work by not sticking to your list and buying other items. So avoid the temptations and just get what you really need.
   
5. Online Shopping - If grocery shopping really is too much of a temptation and you know you will blow your budget, then consider using the online shopping option if your store has it. It may cost you a little extra in delivery but will save you from blowing your budget on items that were not on your list.