It’s been a hard year for all our finances. My budget is not quite meeting around the middle (a bit like my clothes after all that ’Xmas eating) and it is time to take action. My New Year’s resolution is budget, budget, budget.
Looking around for some help I tried the catalogue and found lots of books to help me.
- Budget wise, dollar rich : how to get everything you want– and more hmm… am I that ambitious?
- Living off the smell of an oily rag in New Zealand – nope, don’t want to go that far.
- Becoming money wise is mainly aimed at financial literacy for the under 30s – sadly not me.
- Live well, spend less says it “incorporates tips, suggestions and serious strategies but with a light hearted, easy to apply, honest approach”; and
- Survive the crunch! includes “how to set financial goals, how to budget, how to increase your income, how to reduce your outgoings”.
The last two look as though they might suit.
- I might even try the alternative sounding The mindfulness budget : using mindfulness techniques to improve your financial health.
A bit of low-budget cookery might help things along too.
- I could take The giant $7 a meal cookbook : 701 inexpensive meals the whole family will love home, but I’m not often cooking for a family.
- I think I’ll leave the Destitute gourmet : stunning food from small change for more enthusiastic cooks.
- The $21 challenge : we show you how to feed your family for a week on just 21 dollars! The catalogues shows all copies are out. I wonder why?
- Robyn Martin’s easy budget recipes for crockpots & slow cookers looks more like me.
Of course if I was really onto it I’d try a bit of op-shopping or turn my lawn into a vege garden. However for the former I’d need a bit of fashion flair, and for the latter I’m afraid I’d need a book entitled Gardening for the neglectful gardener.
More help on personal finance from our website.
