How to Make Smart Financial Decisions

Life is full of financial decisions. Whether you are deciding how much to spend on your holiday, how to finance your car purchase, which house to buy, or how to invest your nest egg, the consequences of your choices can have a lasting impact on your financial future.

Sometimes the way things work out is a matter of luck, but rather than leave your life to chance, here’s how to be smart with your financial decisions. …Read more

How to treat a jellyfish sting

Sometimes beaches that are popular swimming spots get invaded by jellyfish in the summer. The stings can be quite painful.  To deal with jellyfish stings:

1. Remove any remaining tentacles using a tea-towel or gloves (take care, you can still get stung by these).
2. Wash with salt water.
3. Use hot and cold compresses alternately by putting with ice cubes in a plastic bag (or a bag of frozen peas) for the cold and a wet hand towel or wash cloth warmed in the microwave for up to 2 minutes for the hot (take care when removing it from the microwave as it can become very hot)
4. Apply papaya cream or baking soda.
5. If symptoms persist contact, your doctor.

You can use this treatment for your dog as well if necessary.

An alternate to the hot compress is a wheat bag that you can make (try this method ) or buy (http://www.wheatbags.co.nz/Cotton-Wheatbags or http://www.wheatbags-by-silver-pear.co.nz/two-pocket-wheat-bag.html)

Condensed milk fruit cake

Rysnan had lost her recipe for a Most Marvellous Christmas Cake which had no eggs or sugar but involved boiling the  fruit in condensed milk.

Just when I had given up finding a similar recipe, I came across this recipe in an old recipe book my grandmother used.  Its long since lost its cover so I have no idea of the origin of the book or the recipe.  …Read more

Grow Rich Gratefully

One of the most important lessons learned by our forebears in the Great Depression was to be grateful for whatever you have. There is nothing like experiencing disastrous financial times to make us painfully aware of the potential for future hardships. …Read more

Food for Thought – The True Cost of Lunch

People who complain about not having enough money to enjoy life are often guilty of spending their money on things that aren’t important to them but which make them feel good for a few brief moments. The classic example of this is money spent on takeaway food and drink, especially lunches and coffee breaks at work.

If you spend $10 a day on lunch, that’s $50 a week. If you ‘brown bag’ your lunch and instead invest $50 a week …Read more