Aussie Frugal Living

So after ten to twenty five years of use it seems that most of my pairs of Holeproof Explorers are giving up on me. They're wearing out in such a manner that darning the spots isn't going to cut it anymore. I hear rumours that the company has changed hands and the modern versions just aren't the same quality.

So I'm up for 5-10 pairs of new socks. I hear good things about wool / merino, but buying anything online I'm sceptical of the actual quality once it gets to me. Even temu makes their products look appealing all the way until you open the package.

Given this group is still small and off the marketing radar, anyone got any brand name suggestions, or even stores I should visit, maybe I should be buying wool and a sock knitting machine.

Thanks for your thoughts.

I happened to notice the 'Coles Plus Saver' on the Coles site today.

For those unaware: it's $7 a month, and it gives you 10% off, up to $50, on one shop per calendar month. (It looks to be completely separate from 'Coles Plus', btw, which is $19 a month and makes all deliveries free.)

Obviously you've got to average $70 in orders per month to make it worthwhile, but is there any other catch?

How do they make money on it? Does it actually increase people's monthly spend with Coles? Or do they just rely on people forgetting about the discount or saving it for a bigger shop that they don't get around to?

One thing that might be a catch is that it looks like you've got to sign up for FlyBuys and link it to the account. I don't have a FlyBuys account, so I'm not aware of what exactly you're signing away with it, but I would have thought Coles would be getting all your data anyway just with online ordering. Does FlyBuys membership give them permission to sell your purchasing data to third parties, or otherwise use it differently?

Have you found a good bargain lately, made a repair, or figured out something that works for you?

This is also for any topic requests, suggestions, or tips that might not require their own thread.

I ended up learning how to do this and it worked well. Definitely practice first somewhere like a patch of your leg, upper lip, big toe, anywhere it doesn’t really matter about precision.

It’s much quicker than tweezing and can take off more than you intend so go slowly with short strokes and be very careful around arches. (I did my upper arches and between my eyebrows but left the bottom arches for when I get more confident.)

Do not do this for the first time before an important event!

I didn’t use any lotion but it still worked.

If your skin is sensitive it can get red bumps in the follicles afterwards. Keep everything as clean as possible during and after and perhaps use some Savlon.

(Early so I don’t forget)

Have you found a good bargain lately, made a repair, or figured out something that works for you?

This is also for any topic requests, suggestions, or tips that might not require their own thread.

The paper bags at the register tend to burst, and hooks/yarn can easily be found in op shops.

This pattern is a little fiddly for a learner but so far I’m managing alright.

Have you found a good bargain lately, made a repair, or figured out something that works for you?

This is also for any topic requests, suggestions, or tips that might not require their own thread.

I got eaten alive taking out the bins and there wasn’t any Stingose in my first aid box. I washed the bites clean with soapy water in the shower then dabbed the roll on over and let it dry.

It seemed to help a little. Temporarily. It’s absolutely not the right type of aluminium (Stingose contains aluminium sulfate) but it’s alright when you don’t have or can’t afford anything else.

I have sweet blood and an allergy to mozzie saliva so have now added a tube of Stingose gel to my usual shop.

Have you found a good bargain lately, made a repair, or figured out something that works for you?

This is also for any topic requests, suggestions, or tips that might not require their own thread.

cross-posted from: https://aussie.zone/post/15458542

I made a spreadsheet on info and pricing for every mobile plan in Australia (that I could find)

Made a spreadsheet of mobile plan data so people could compare providers and plans easily. I plan to update it either yearly or every 6 months. This was inspired by this spreadsheet on all the NBN plan pricing information: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1_wnaTFb_3QsdgZfKDrEO6D_Rpzt2clbB/edit?gid=1523306688#gid=1523306688

I have a few people to buy for this year and once again thinking how to do this frugally and sustainability (I get a bit sick when I see mountains of plastic crap in the shops). Any ideas?

Some things I have done in the past:

• Little plant cuttings in jars (got some on the go again this year)
• Op shops and second hand gifts - look for unusual things from the op shop. This works well for some but not unless they are a bit quirky themselves
• Buying a bunch of treats/snacks and doing my own hampers up.
• Baked goods - I always make a big batch of spice cookies and a couple of slices. I am crappy at packing them nicely tho, but I can cook.

I am not great at crafts but I will try anything!

Posting this a day early while I remember.

Have you found a good bargain lately, made a repair, or figured out something that works for you?

This is also for any topic requests, suggestions, or tips that might not require their own thread.

Another reminder for end of month

Seems like a free version of Gumtree or the online equivalent of kerbside hard rubbish.

It’s up to you whether you feel comfortable picking stuff up or having stuff picked up, but it might save some money on acquiring or getting rid of it.

I've been playing around with DIY cleaning at home and thought I'd share my current setup. Love to hear suggestions or other tips

Equipment

• I bought a couple of glass spray bottles from amazon but you could reuse old ones (mine had all broke)
• box of rags - I like microfibre but also old tshirts and tea towels (tea towels are great for drying off surfaces)
• old toothbrush for fiddly bits in the bathroom

Basic cleaner - option 1 : Grease / shiny things / tough surfaces

• fill up bottle with 3:1 white vinegar to water
• add a good bloop of dishwashing soap
• I add in a few drops of eucalyptus oil (optional)

I use this for most things. People caution against using it for stone top benches. I haven't had an issue but if you want to be cautious use this

Basic cleaner - option 2: Gentle and deodorising

• fill up bottle with 100% water
• add a good bloop of dish washing soap
• add a couple of teaspoons of bicarb
• I add in a few drops of eucalyptus oil (optional)

Don't mix the vinegar + bicarb. They will neutralise each other and add nothing.

If you are sensitive to smells etc - use option 2 for everything

In the bathroom

Not quite basic glass and metal cleaner and disinfectant

You can use the vinegar mix for this but I have a fair bit of glass so I bought a litre of isopropyl alcohol from amazon and mixed this in a separate bottle that lives in the bathroom:

• 70% Isopropyl alchohol
• 30% water (you want a 70% mix for disinfecting)
• Bloop of dish washing soap
• optional drops of oil - again I do eucalyptus or clove oil but doesn't matter

toilets and drains

• a tablespoon or two of bicarb in the drain or in the bowl and flush with water is simple gentle cleaner
• For the shower I have one of those squidgy glass wipers and a refillable dish cleaner wand thing for the shower - filled with dishwash soap and some drops of clove oil). I wipe down the excess water after every shower and once a week give it a scrub with the dish cleaner wand and dish soap.

I do still use a name brand toilet cleaner once a week and maybe once a month use some oxygen cleaner or bleach on the shower tiles but I'd like an alternative.

Hard floors

I've got a spray mop and am still working through a bulk by of some eco floor cleaner but I'm thinking i'll just use mix #2 (bicarb) above when that runs out - suggestions welcome

You wouldn’t download a Blåhaj…

I won’t link as it would be a very specific and incomplete list but check out what your local library offers.

The waiting list may be very long but it says here that there is usually no cost in a public hospital as it’s covered by Medicare. If you had been wanting it but money was the barrier.

This program launched 6 months ago but better late than never. There is apparently a questionnaire and the items are mailed to you so it’s not anonymous, but the source (Family Planning) seems legit.

I don’t have to tell you what the impact of unplanned pregnancy is on your career/finances or even just short term medical bills and time off work. Grab em if they’re free, and also hand them out to your mates.

For people over 30 and/or not in NSW the local family planning centres are likely to have these free as well.

It isn’t easy for me to get to a tool library so I don’t use one, and I understand any hygiene concerns about shared toys (especially now).

But if you need something you’re not likely to use regularly or your kids like variety these are a cost effective option.

Some tool libraries have a low annual membership fee and some have criteria (such as being over 18 and signing a safety waiver). I’m not sure what a toy library involves.

Pair of Adidas sneakers for 30 bucks. The adidas stuff aint bad, especially on sale. Still rocking a pair of thsese 2 years on.

I should’ve posted this later in the month but won’t remember.

Here is the image as it’s not wanting to show up