Happy Motoring!

We may not know a whole lot about cars, but we all need one. From school runs to running errands, to commuting to work, we spend hours every day in our cars. Car manufactures have even come up with some lovely examples of “Mommy mobiles” such as the mini van and the SUV, which are great for larger families or those of you who actually do bring the entire soccer team to the game. If, however, you do not fall into either one of these categories and are looking at getting a new vehicle this year, why not think outside the box and try something different. Before you start shopping around, consider what you need your car for. Where will you drive it, how many miles will you be driving each day, how many people will be in the car, what or who will you be transporting, what kind of roads will you be driving on?

A little over a year ago I started to have massive problems with my car which required constant trips to the garage and excessive bills which I hadn't budgeted for. It became obvious that it would be cheaper to get a new car than fix the one I had and I decided that the best options would be to either buy a brand new car with a full warranty or an old car I could work on myself. As I didn't have the means to buy a brand new anything at the time, I opted for a vintage car. I'm not a mechanic, but with basic tools, a little bit of common sense and a repair manual, you have the ability to fix anything or diagnose the problem at the very least. I shopped around and found the one that spoke to me on donedeal.ie. I fell in love with and bought a beautiful 1970 Wolseley. How is this the frugal option you may ask...well, here's the money I spent:

Car price €1,900

Import Tax/Duty €50

Vintage Car Tax per year €48

NCT (Emissions Test) N/A

Owner's Repair Manual €20

My insurance was also reduced by more than €200 per year and the parts are easy enough to get and can be purchased on the internet. Impressing your mechanic and strangers alike with your “I can do it” attitude and new found automotive knowledge is absolutely priceless!!! The coolest thing about driving around in a vintage car is the amount of people waving and smiling at me and my passengers as I tend to my daily affairs. It's just one of those cars that I can't help but smile and feel instantly happy when I sit into the driver's seat; she's comfortable, easy to drive, an all around unique car to motor around in.

This may not be the practical option for everyone, but it should prove to you that you don't need to spend a fortune on your next car.

Happy Motoring!

Throw out your television and your phone!

Like most people nowadays, I use my computer for everything; shopping, news & weather updates, banking, research, downloading films & music, watching my favourite television shows, making appointments, running my business, and staying in touch with family and friends on the other side of the world using Skype. So why are you still wasting money on a television, cable or sky, television license, or phone line?

Take a fresh look at how much you're spending on your phone and television and consider if you can get rid of one or both of these items from your house. I have gone more than 5 years without a land-line (I use my mobile phone for quick calls and texts and use Skype for everything else) and 4 years without a television (I can watch films and TV shows online or use my computer to watch DVDs) so it can be done! Give it a shot; plug out your TV and phone for a week and see what happens!

A $300 House?

I picked up the recent edition of “The Economist” as one of the cover stories caught y attention; The $300 House. The article outlined the concept of the project and suggested that this $300 house be multi purpose house; from providing alternative safe housing to the world's poorest population living in haphazard shelters to providing effective emergency housing to disaster victims. As I read the article, I was under the impression that the project was already well under way. I pulled up their blog and website only to find that after almost a year, this amazingly brilliant $300 house conceptional project is just that...still a concept.

They are however, looking for idea submissions and are holding an Open Design challenge (closing date: 31 May 2011) with prizes for the winning designs. There is a massive buzz surrounding this story at the moment so you will have no shortage of blogs and forums to browse through!

So what do you think? Do you have any ideas on how to functionally house a family in a small space? If you were in need of emergency housing after a disaster, what do yo think you would need to survive? Check it out, give it some thought and submit your idea on www.300house.com.

who knows, yours may be THE IDEA that improves the very way of life for an impoverished family on the other side of the world!

Happy Holidays!

The holidays are finally here, and as the New Year approaches, this is the perfect time to reflect on what you have accomplished so far and make some plans and resolutions for the coming year. From taking that trip, going back to school, getting in shape or moving house, you may very well have an extensive “to-do” list.  Now there is no absolute guide to running a house or budgeting your your money, and I am by no means a financial expert, but as a single mom who knows how to stretch a buck, I have learned a few tips and tricks along the way! I set up this blog to share my thrifty tips, life experiences, and somewhat random experiments with you. Please feel free to share your own experiences, ask questions or comment on my posts. I look forward to hearing from you!