VENT: Food & petrol prices

One of the benefits of living in Palmy and having a diesel vehicle. Even though its a big 4wd its still way cheaper to run than a petrol car even with road user charges

I find doing our finances very depressing but at least we have children to show for it. I have friends and family that are struggling financially and they don't even have children yet or mortgages. I really feel for them.

Money used to be so important to me, but now just seeing DS smiley face everyday is much more important.

Mortgages are tough, in this economy one partner basically works to pay the mortgage, so it's so difficult for a mother to stop working altogether to have children. Houses are so darn expensive and what you get for your money isn't much. Renting can sometimes be just as expensive. Especially in the main centres. I suppose it makes me feel a bit better, that everyone else seems to be in the same boat ;-)

I think some of the financials comes down to your lifestyle.

DH's income pays for it all and I'm managing to put away quite a bit into savings every pay. But I have a great budget.

Our meals are cheap but tasty and we buy where its cheapest. Theres a dairy in town that has alot of spices in it as theres an indian couple that own it. We get all our herbs and spices from there for about 1/10th of the price in the supermarket because its in bulk. We buy very very little crap and eat really healthy and even with formula, nappies and protein powder for me (thats $35 a tin) we only spend $320 a fortnight on groceries all up which isn't bad for a family of 4 with those expensive extras.

Daniel and I do baking 1-2 times a week, usually muffins. I have a healthy muffins cookbook and we make those and its pretty cheap, no butter and uses 1/4 cup of oil instead which makes it cheaper and those get eaten for morning/afternoon tea and lunches. They are full of fruit etc and are yum and I freeze them so theres always a selection in the freezer.

When I need to go into town I think do I need this right now? If the answer is no, I save up all those things and do it all in one trip later in the week.

We do tons of free/extremely cheap activities.

I've made some pants for Alex. Merino and fully lined. $2 a pop in total. Beats the hell out of paying what between $20-40 depending on the brand and most aren't even lined.