I saw a link to this video on Facebook yesterday. After watching it, I went food shopping and bought a price-reduced free-range chook ($11.60) and followed the instructions on this video. From one chook I made 6 cups of chicken stock, 2 large chicken breasts, 2 drumsticks, 2 thighs and 2 wings. Apart from the savings dollar wise, I'm also happy with the reduction in packaging that I would have had to throw away if I had bought these products separately. No stock packaging, no meat trays wrapped in plastic for the chicken portions, just one lot of plastic packaging that was wrapped around the chook to have to deal with.
So if you're looking to save money and packaging for chicken portions and stock, and don't mind spending a few minutes cutting them up yourself, give this a go. I chucked the backbone and any other bones and skin that I removed in my slow cooker with a carrot and onion and some parsley, with enough water to cover the carcass, for 4 hours on high. Put it in the fridge to cook and then skim the fat off before putting into containers to freeze.
Also, I put the chicken portions into reusable freezer safe containers and labelled them.
http://www.nytimes.com/video/dining/100000002155362/cutting-up-a-whole-chicken.html
Monday, October 19, 2015
Sunday, August 16, 2015
Gluten Free Fried Ice-Cream
Following a visit to a Naturopath, I've been cutting gluten out of my diet. On the weekend I wanted to make Chinese food. I have a Chinese cook book, but the recipes aren't gluten free. So...I just substituted ingredients containing gluten for the gluten-free alternatives.
The whole meal was a big hit, but the fried ice-cream was a big winner. So here's the recipe:
Ingredients:
2L full cream good quality ice cream.
gluten free flour
2 eggs
1/4 cup milk
rice bread crumbs (or you could use ordinary gluten free bread crumbs)
Oil for deep frying
Put a baking tray in the freezer until it is very cold.
Using an ice cream scoop, scoop the ice cream into balls and place on the baking tray. Place in the freezer until hard.
Take the ice cream balls out of the freezer and working quickly, coat the balls in the flour. Shake off excess flour, dip in combined beaten eggs and milk, then in breadcrumbs. Place back on the tray and back in the freezer until hard.
Repeat the egg/milk and breadcrumbing until you have a firm coating. Freeze until hard.
When it comes time to fry the ice cream balls, place ice cream balls two at a time in deep hot oil. Fry until golden, about 30 seconds. If you leave it too long, the ice cream will melt and disperse into the hot oil. Place on absorbent paper to drain the oil. Serve immediately.
I found the rice bread crumbs gave the finished product a super crispy coating and was delicious. The kids had chocolate sauce on theirs, but I loved mine with my home made lemon and lime curd, which was a surprisingly delicious combination with the fried ice cream.
Recipe adapted from The Australian Women's Weekly Home Library Chinese Cooking Class Cookbook, published 1995.
The whole meal was a big hit, but the fried ice-cream was a big winner. So here's the recipe:
Ingredients:
2L full cream good quality ice cream.
gluten free flour
2 eggs
1/4 cup milk
rice bread crumbs (or you could use ordinary gluten free bread crumbs)
Oil for deep frying
Put a baking tray in the freezer until it is very cold.
Using an ice cream scoop, scoop the ice cream into balls and place on the baking tray. Place in the freezer until hard.
Take the ice cream balls out of the freezer and working quickly, coat the balls in the flour. Shake off excess flour, dip in combined beaten eggs and milk, then in breadcrumbs. Place back on the tray and back in the freezer until hard.
Repeat the egg/milk and breadcrumbing until you have a firm coating. Freeze until hard.
When it comes time to fry the ice cream balls, place ice cream balls two at a time in deep hot oil. Fry until golden, about 30 seconds. If you leave it too long, the ice cream will melt and disperse into the hot oil. Place on absorbent paper to drain the oil. Serve immediately.
I found the rice bread crumbs gave the finished product a super crispy coating and was delicious. The kids had chocolate sauce on theirs, but I loved mine with my home made lemon and lime curd, which was a surprisingly delicious combination with the fried ice cream.
Recipe adapted from The Australian Women's Weekly Home Library Chinese Cooking Class Cookbook, published 1995.
Tuesday, June 9, 2015
Need some inspiration in life? Join the club.
I admit...I use Facebook. It started off as just a means to communicate with friends and relatives interstate, but now I'm connected to people I haven't met before but we have something in common. That is, we've joined a group.
I've joined a few groups recently and both are giving me some renewed enthusiasm in life. I have an interest in designing and building environmentally friendly homes, so have joined a group demonstrating and promoting building with straw bales. I haven't built one yet, but would love to give it a go one day. Another group I joined is called Aussies Living Simply, and some of the ideas on there match perfectly with what I am trying to achieve with this blog. If you're a follower of this blog, check out their Facebook page.
However one group that I've joined that I have been able to put into practice and amazed by the results is Slow Cooker Recipes 4 Families AUSTRALIA ONLY. I've learnt many more recipes and have been astounded by what can actually be done in a slow cooker! On the weekend I made pavlova in the slow cooker and would certainly do it again. Today I made cheese and vegemite scrolls and they were so simple and worked out well. Check out the recipe under the photos section of the groups Facebook page, however if you're not on Facebook and have a slow cooker, here's the recipe.
2 cups self raising flour
1 cup yoghurt.
Line slow cooker with baking paper. Knead ingredients together to form a dough. Roll out and spread with vegemite (or in my case, Dick Smith's Ozemite which tastes better - much like Vegemite was when I was a kid) and grated cheese. Roll up and slice. Lay slices on paper in slow cooker. Place a tea towel under the lid of the slow cooker to absorb the moisture (otherwise you might end up with soggy dough). Cook on High for 1.5 hours. Turn scrolls over for the last 15 mins to brown on top.
The advantages of using the slow cooker for me are: I have solar panels, so this uses the energy I produce rather than the gas oven. The slow cooker is up on the bench out of the reach of little hands that might get burnt, where my oven is down low. I could've put this recipe in the slow cooker, then go out and do something, like pick up kids from school or run an errand, where I wouldn't do that with the oven on. Admittedly, the instruction manual probably says not to leave it unattended, but many slow cooker owners do.
I'm planning to make a pie in the slow cooker tomorrow night after seeing it in a recipe book. Thanks to the group I joined, I'm trying new things with the kitchen equipment I've already got. Maybe I'll take a photo of it and upload it to their page with the recipe!
Oh, Pauline's Tips has a page on Facebook as well. Check it out and feel free to join and invite your friends to as well!
I've joined a few groups recently and both are giving me some renewed enthusiasm in life. I have an interest in designing and building environmentally friendly homes, so have joined a group demonstrating and promoting building with straw bales. I haven't built one yet, but would love to give it a go one day. Another group I joined is called Aussies Living Simply, and some of the ideas on there match perfectly with what I am trying to achieve with this blog. If you're a follower of this blog, check out their Facebook page.
However one group that I've joined that I have been able to put into practice and amazed by the results is Slow Cooker Recipes 4 Families AUSTRALIA ONLY. I've learnt many more recipes and have been astounded by what can actually be done in a slow cooker! On the weekend I made pavlova in the slow cooker and would certainly do it again. Today I made cheese and vegemite scrolls and they were so simple and worked out well. Check out the recipe under the photos section of the groups Facebook page, however if you're not on Facebook and have a slow cooker, here's the recipe.
2 cups self raising flour
1 cup yoghurt.
Line slow cooker with baking paper. Knead ingredients together to form a dough. Roll out and spread with vegemite (or in my case, Dick Smith's Ozemite which tastes better - much like Vegemite was when I was a kid) and grated cheese. Roll up and slice. Lay slices on paper in slow cooker. Place a tea towel under the lid of the slow cooker to absorb the moisture (otherwise you might end up with soggy dough). Cook on High for 1.5 hours. Turn scrolls over for the last 15 mins to brown on top.
The advantages of using the slow cooker for me are: I have solar panels, so this uses the energy I produce rather than the gas oven. The slow cooker is up on the bench out of the reach of little hands that might get burnt, where my oven is down low. I could've put this recipe in the slow cooker, then go out and do something, like pick up kids from school or run an errand, where I wouldn't do that with the oven on. Admittedly, the instruction manual probably says not to leave it unattended, but many slow cooker owners do.
I'm planning to make a pie in the slow cooker tomorrow night after seeing it in a recipe book. Thanks to the group I joined, I'm trying new things with the kitchen equipment I've already got. Maybe I'll take a photo of it and upload it to their page with the recipe!
Oh, Pauline's Tips has a page on Facebook as well. Check it out and feel free to join and invite your friends to as well!
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Macadamia Milk scones
I had some Macadamia Milk left over in the fridge from making my Feijoa and Macadamia Milk ice cream. So I decided to try it in some scones.
Ingredients:
2 cups self raising flour
1 cup Macadamia milk
approx 30g butter.
To be honest, I'm so used to making scones, I don't actually measure the butter out anymore. I just cut a bit off the block and think "that will do."
Preheat oven to 400C or 200F. Line a lamington tray or deep sided baking dish with baking paper or use a silicone baking sheet.
Sift flour. Rub in butter. Add milk. Using a knife, 'cut' through the ingredients in the bowl until they are blended enough that it is starting to look like a dough. Knead lightly. Don't do it too much or your scones will be tough instead of light and fluffy.
Roll out to desired thickness. Cut scone shapes using a cookie/scone cutter and lay in tray with scones gently touching each other. This way the scones will be forced to rise up instead of out. Place tray on top shelf as they need the hottest part of the oven.
Brush with some more of the Macadamia Milk and bake in oven for about 15 mins. Scones should sound hollow when tapped.
Once cooked, cool on a rack and separate the scones so they don't sweat.
These taste delicious on their own and stay quite moist.
Ingredients:
2 cups self raising flour
1 cup Macadamia milk
approx 30g butter.
To be honest, I'm so used to making scones, I don't actually measure the butter out anymore. I just cut a bit off the block and think "that will do."
Preheat oven to 400C or 200F. Line a lamington tray or deep sided baking dish with baking paper or use a silicone baking sheet.
Sift flour. Rub in butter. Add milk. Using a knife, 'cut' through the ingredients in the bowl until they are blended enough that it is starting to look like a dough. Knead lightly. Don't do it too much or your scones will be tough instead of light and fluffy.
Roll out to desired thickness. Cut scone shapes using a cookie/scone cutter and lay in tray with scones gently touching each other. This way the scones will be forced to rise up instead of out. Place tray on top shelf as they need the hottest part of the oven.
Brush with some more of the Macadamia Milk and bake in oven for about 15 mins. Scones should sound hollow when tapped.
Once cooked, cool on a rack and separate the scones so they don't sweat.
These taste delicious on their own and stay quite moist.
Feijoa and macadamia milk ice cream
A few months ago I saw Macadamia Milk in the UHT section of the supermarket. I had previously made a very yummy rice milk ice cream, so thought Macadamia Milk would be delicious in an ice cream.
Here's my Feijoa ice cream using Macadamia Milk. One day I'll get around to trying the dairy free version, the same way I make it with rice milk, and see how it turns out. If it's any good, I'll blog it.
Ingredients:
1.5 cups feijoa pulp
3/4 cup Macadamia Milk
2/3 cups caster sugar
1.5 cups cream
1.5 tsp vanilla essence
Blend the pulp until it is smooth. In another bowl, blend the milk and sugar until the sugar has dissolved. Add the cream, feijoa pulp and vanilla and blend until thoroughly mixed in.
Place into an icecream maker and follow manufacturers directions. I don't have an ice cream maker, so I put mine in a freezer safe plastic container with lid, and freeze for a few hours. Take out and beat until smooth. Put back into container and freeze again. Do this until you get the desired frequency.
My husband isn't a big fan of feijoas, but even he says this ice cream is delicious.
Here's my Feijoa ice cream using Macadamia Milk. One day I'll get around to trying the dairy free version, the same way I make it with rice milk, and see how it turns out. If it's any good, I'll blog it.
Ingredients:
1.5 cups feijoa pulp
3/4 cup Macadamia Milk
2/3 cups caster sugar
1.5 cups cream
1.5 tsp vanilla essence
Blend the pulp until it is smooth. In another bowl, blend the milk and sugar until the sugar has dissolved. Add the cream, feijoa pulp and vanilla and blend until thoroughly mixed in.
Place into an icecream maker and follow manufacturers directions. I don't have an ice cream maker, so I put mine in a freezer safe plastic container with lid, and freeze for a few hours. Take out and beat until smooth. Put back into container and freeze again. Do this until you get the desired frequency.
My husband isn't a big fan of feijoas, but even he says this ice cream is delicious.
Tuesday, May 5, 2015
How to stop biting your nails.
I've been a nail biter all my life. I have given up a number of times, and fallen off the wagon. I've tried all sorts of remedies for stopping. Last night I searched the web for "how to stop nail biting" and most of them, including the ones written by pyschologists, said the same thing.
So here's my tips on what has helped me stop biting before (and again this time, as I haven't bitten them for 3 months now since I started the routine again).
But first, a little bit of background. I'm the type of biter who bites the nails right down. When that happens, they are sore to pick things up, put my hands in the sink to wash dishes or to brush any product on them. I've read about people who like biting their nails, I'm not one of them. I'm embarrassed to show my hands, often hiding them away from sight. I get frustrated that I can't pick up sewing needles off the floor, or remove a splinter, or do anything else that nails with even a little bit of length would enable me to do. Plus, my husband says how nice my hands look when my nails have some length in them (but not too long).
Here has what has worked for me. Up front I'll let you know that I will be mentioning products by name, but I'm not sponsored by any company, although I am a Nutrimetics consultant.
Be ready to stop
There's been all sorts of research into why people bite their nails. Basically I bite when I'm bored or stressed, or my hands are idle. Adult nail biters have usually been doing it for so long that they will bite their nails without even realising they are doing it, and that's happened to me. I have family members who are nail biters, so maybe I picked it up very young. I certainly notice that when I bite my nails, my 5 year old son starts doing the same. When I stop, so does he.
The times that I have been successful at stopping the biting is when I have been ready to. There's not much point starting when you are feeling depressed, stressed, or whatever your trigger for nail biting is. Get your mind ready first. Some years ago I remember looking at my nails and rather calmly saying to myself 'I'm not going to bite them anymore' and I didn't bite them for 2 years. I tried replicating that when I fell off the wagon and failed. I realised that what I needed to do was be in the right mindset to stop. I had to want to stop, and not just to have nice nails for an upcoming social occassion.
I know when I'm in the right mindset now. It's when I can look at my hands and they look like they don't really belong to me....that the bitten unsightly nails don't match how I feel about myself. When I had post natal depression I was biting my nails. I didn't try to stop as my hands matched the way I felt about myself, so I knew that if I tried I would fail.
Be prepared to stop
Ok, here's where I mention some products. You need to look after your nail health as when your nails start to get some length in them they will probably be weakened by the nail biting habit. Concentrate on getting the nails strong before getting them long.
Two techniques using nail products that have worked for me.
No painting method: Years ago, before I joined Nutrimetics, my mum sent me some of their Hand and Nail treatment creme. I also bought some Mavala Scientifique nail hardener. What's so special about this nail hardener? It's the only one I found that actually soaks into the nail rather than just coating it. Most nail hardeners leave a coating on your nail when you brush it on, and after a few layers or days you are supposed to remove it. The Mavala one is applied to the tip of the nail only, and soaks in through the layers of nail, bonding them together and making them stronger. You apply it twice a week until the nails are strong, and then once a month or when needed after that to maintain the strength. It seems expensive for such a little bottle but one bottle lasts for years! I used to be able to buy it in chemists but now can only find it in on-line chemist shops.
After applying the nail hardener, I would rub the hand creme in, making sure to massage the cuticles. I would keep the nail hardener and hand creme by my bed and do it at night, that way I wouldn't forget to do it. I now have several family members using the nail hardener too!
Painting method: This is the one I am using at the moment. Once a week I remove the remnants of nail polish, clean my nails, buff, file, apply nail hardener, and then paint my nails. I used a bright red or pink at the start. It looks terrible on bitten nails, but served as a reminder when I would go to bite them.
This photo is of my nails taken a few weeks ago. My hands look terrible as I took the photo before using a scrub on my hands to remove dead skin cells.
I've tried false nails, but they didn't work for me. I know they work for some, but they didn't do any good for my nail health and my nails were weak when they came off.
Have emery boards everywhere!
Have one in the bedroom, one in the kitchen, one in your bag, one in the car...Many nail biting episodes have started for me by the presence of a broken nail without having an emery board handy.
Get your nails strong before getting them long
Avoid the temptation to get your nails long quickly. They will most likely be weak and break quickly, leaving you disappointed, and possibly biting again.
Replace one habit with another
Many websites about stopping biting mention this technique. Some suggest having a rubber band around your wrist that you can fling when you get the urge to bite, or clench your hands into a fist, or use one of those horrible tasting nail products (they've never worked for me, I've continued biting despite the bitter taste). I found I fiddle with my fingers a lot. My husband says he much prefers the fiddling to the biting, but it annoys the heck out of me! I just can't seem to keep my hands still! Maybe one day I'll find a replacement habit that doesn't annoy me so much!
Nail Biters Anonymous
I once remember hearing that there are no former alcoholics, only ones that have stopped drinking. I have had much more success with stopping biting my nails with this same mentality. In the past, whenever I thought 'I'm never going to bite my nails again' I haven't been able to keep at it for long. When I changed my thinking to 'I'm a nail biter who just isn't biting my nails' I have been able to stay with it for years.
The longest I have gone without biting is 2 years. I have had naturally long nails for my wedding, and the birth of both my children. Consequently, I wasn't hiding my nails for the photos in these events.
This photo shows my hand at the birth of my son. No nail polish, practical length, healthy nails and nice, clean, naturally white tips.
I hope this is of some help (and support) to those of you out there that are chronic nail biters.
So here's my tips on what has helped me stop biting before (and again this time, as I haven't bitten them for 3 months now since I started the routine again).
But first, a little bit of background. I'm the type of biter who bites the nails right down. When that happens, they are sore to pick things up, put my hands in the sink to wash dishes or to brush any product on them. I've read about people who like biting their nails, I'm not one of them. I'm embarrassed to show my hands, often hiding them away from sight. I get frustrated that I can't pick up sewing needles off the floor, or remove a splinter, or do anything else that nails with even a little bit of length would enable me to do. Plus, my husband says how nice my hands look when my nails have some length in them (but not too long).
Here has what has worked for me. Up front I'll let you know that I will be mentioning products by name, but I'm not sponsored by any company, although I am a Nutrimetics consultant.
Be ready to stop
There's been all sorts of research into why people bite their nails. Basically I bite when I'm bored or stressed, or my hands are idle. Adult nail biters have usually been doing it for so long that they will bite their nails without even realising they are doing it, and that's happened to me. I have family members who are nail biters, so maybe I picked it up very young. I certainly notice that when I bite my nails, my 5 year old son starts doing the same. When I stop, so does he.
The times that I have been successful at stopping the biting is when I have been ready to. There's not much point starting when you are feeling depressed, stressed, or whatever your trigger for nail biting is. Get your mind ready first. Some years ago I remember looking at my nails and rather calmly saying to myself 'I'm not going to bite them anymore' and I didn't bite them for 2 years. I tried replicating that when I fell off the wagon and failed. I realised that what I needed to do was be in the right mindset to stop. I had to want to stop, and not just to have nice nails for an upcoming social occassion.
I know when I'm in the right mindset now. It's when I can look at my hands and they look like they don't really belong to me....that the bitten unsightly nails don't match how I feel about myself. When I had post natal depression I was biting my nails. I didn't try to stop as my hands matched the way I felt about myself, so I knew that if I tried I would fail.
Be prepared to stop
Ok, here's where I mention some products. You need to look after your nail health as when your nails start to get some length in them they will probably be weakened by the nail biting habit. Concentrate on getting the nails strong before getting them long.
Two techniques using nail products that have worked for me.
No painting method: Years ago, before I joined Nutrimetics, my mum sent me some of their Hand and Nail treatment creme. I also bought some Mavala Scientifique nail hardener. What's so special about this nail hardener? It's the only one I found that actually soaks into the nail rather than just coating it. Most nail hardeners leave a coating on your nail when you brush it on, and after a few layers or days you are supposed to remove it. The Mavala one is applied to the tip of the nail only, and soaks in through the layers of nail, bonding them together and making them stronger. You apply it twice a week until the nails are strong, and then once a month or when needed after that to maintain the strength. It seems expensive for such a little bottle but one bottle lasts for years! I used to be able to buy it in chemists but now can only find it in on-line chemist shops.
After applying the nail hardener, I would rub the hand creme in, making sure to massage the cuticles. I would keep the nail hardener and hand creme by my bed and do it at night, that way I wouldn't forget to do it. I now have several family members using the nail hardener too!
Painting method: This is the one I am using at the moment. Once a week I remove the remnants of nail polish, clean my nails, buff, file, apply nail hardener, and then paint my nails. I used a bright red or pink at the start. It looks terrible on bitten nails, but served as a reminder when I would go to bite them.
This photo is of my nails taken a few weeks ago. My hands look terrible as I took the photo before using a scrub on my hands to remove dead skin cells.
I've tried false nails, but they didn't work for me. I know they work for some, but they didn't do any good for my nail health and my nails were weak when they came off.
Have emery boards everywhere!
Have one in the bedroom, one in the kitchen, one in your bag, one in the car...Many nail biting episodes have started for me by the presence of a broken nail without having an emery board handy.
Get your nails strong before getting them long
Avoid the temptation to get your nails long quickly. They will most likely be weak and break quickly, leaving you disappointed, and possibly biting again.
Replace one habit with another
Many websites about stopping biting mention this technique. Some suggest having a rubber band around your wrist that you can fling when you get the urge to bite, or clench your hands into a fist, or use one of those horrible tasting nail products (they've never worked for me, I've continued biting despite the bitter taste). I found I fiddle with my fingers a lot. My husband says he much prefers the fiddling to the biting, but it annoys the heck out of me! I just can't seem to keep my hands still! Maybe one day I'll find a replacement habit that doesn't annoy me so much!
Nail Biters Anonymous
I once remember hearing that there are no former alcoholics, only ones that have stopped drinking. I have had much more success with stopping biting my nails with this same mentality. In the past, whenever I thought 'I'm never going to bite my nails again' I haven't been able to keep at it for long. When I changed my thinking to 'I'm a nail biter who just isn't biting my nails' I have been able to stay with it for years.
The longest I have gone without biting is 2 years. I have had naturally long nails for my wedding, and the birth of both my children. Consequently, I wasn't hiding my nails for the photos in these events.
I hope this is of some help (and support) to those of you out there that are chronic nail biters.
Monday, April 27, 2015
Financial advice for new couples, or anyone considering buying a house or starting a family in the future.
My sister got married back in the '80's. I remember her telling me that she asked her friends "What do you do with two incomes coming in?" This is a question that I have heard many times, usually from people who have just moved in together/got married. When my sister asked her friends, below are the types of responses she got.
A. It's great having two incomes coming in, you can afford to go to a restaurant every week!
B. We pay the mortgage out of his income and the bills and food shopping out of mine
C. We pretend that his wage is the only one coming in, and we save mine.
Within a few short years, her friends started having babies. A pattern started to emerge. I've always believed that humans are creatures of habit, we get used to life being a certain way. You would expect that Couple A who thought two incomes coming in was great and went out to restaurants and overseas holidays would find it a shock to suddenly be on one wage while one of the parents takes some time off work to look after a baby. It's a big job getting used to the changes a baby brings, without also having to totally change your spending habits and mindset! I used to work in a bank and saw many Couple A's go from being happily married to coming into the bank arguing about money and who spends what.
Couple B also may find they have to change their spending habits, especially if the wage that was paying the mortgage was only just covering the mortgage repayments! Now on one wage, they have to pay the mortgage and bills and food shopping.
I have often seen friends who operate their finances separately (in other words, he has his money and she has hers) also arguing over money when a baby comes along, if they drop down to one wage. I remember hearing one work colleague complaining that her husband still spent his money the same way he did before baby came along (creature of habit), while she not only was not earning an income, but her savings quickly dwindled as she was still paying bills and food expenses out of her savings and buying stuff for the baby. After some harsh words, they reached a new agreement over who pays for what, but she still had to return to work earlier than she planned to as she ran out of money. I remember this colleague explaining how disheartening it was to not have money to go out for a coffee with friends, and her husband not being used to give her any for such a luxury, complaining about having to do so while he still spent money on his cars the way he had always done.
Couple C - Now I remember my sister saying at the time that they were about the only ones of her friends who weren't arguing about money! Surprise, surprise?!?! They were used to being on one wage. Couple C paid all the bills, food shopping, mortgage repayment and spending money out of the husbands wage. The wife's wage went into the mortgage as an extra repayment, helping to pay off their home sooner.
My sister followed the example of Couple C, as did my husband and I when we first moved in together. We had about 5 years together before we got married, and another 2 before children came along. In the meantime, we pretended my wage didn't exist. By the time we bought a house we had saved a considerable amount, meaning we didn't have to borrow much. And certainly by the time children came along, our financial habits had set and didn't have to change much. We still had to proceed with caution, as with me not working for the first two and half years and then only working part time since then, it's harder to save without that second income. We have followed the model of Couple C now for 15 years and have gotten used to it. We don't stress whenever there is a mortgage interest rate rise, and we don't argue about money.
I'm not a professional financial advisor, but I urge you to consider your own circumstances before following anything I have advised here. Think about your spending personalities and which approach would be compatible to you and your partner. Think long term - you might not be buying a house or starting a family now, but will you be in the future? Set your financial habits early in your relationship as they are harder to change later on. Not everyone will be happy following the model of Couple C, but from my experience, it works really well.
A. It's great having two incomes coming in, you can afford to go to a restaurant every week!
B. We pay the mortgage out of his income and the bills and food shopping out of mine
C. We pretend that his wage is the only one coming in, and we save mine.
Within a few short years, her friends started having babies. A pattern started to emerge. I've always believed that humans are creatures of habit, we get used to life being a certain way. You would expect that Couple A who thought two incomes coming in was great and went out to restaurants and overseas holidays would find it a shock to suddenly be on one wage while one of the parents takes some time off work to look after a baby. It's a big job getting used to the changes a baby brings, without also having to totally change your spending habits and mindset! I used to work in a bank and saw many Couple A's go from being happily married to coming into the bank arguing about money and who spends what.
Couple B also may find they have to change their spending habits, especially if the wage that was paying the mortgage was only just covering the mortgage repayments! Now on one wage, they have to pay the mortgage and bills and food shopping.
I have often seen friends who operate their finances separately (in other words, he has his money and she has hers) also arguing over money when a baby comes along, if they drop down to one wage. I remember hearing one work colleague complaining that her husband still spent his money the same way he did before baby came along (creature of habit), while she not only was not earning an income, but her savings quickly dwindled as she was still paying bills and food expenses out of her savings and buying stuff for the baby. After some harsh words, they reached a new agreement over who pays for what, but she still had to return to work earlier than she planned to as she ran out of money. I remember this colleague explaining how disheartening it was to not have money to go out for a coffee with friends, and her husband not being used to give her any for such a luxury, complaining about having to do so while he still spent money on his cars the way he had always done.
Couple C - Now I remember my sister saying at the time that they were about the only ones of her friends who weren't arguing about money! Surprise, surprise?!?! They were used to being on one wage. Couple C paid all the bills, food shopping, mortgage repayment and spending money out of the husbands wage. The wife's wage went into the mortgage as an extra repayment, helping to pay off their home sooner.
My sister followed the example of Couple C, as did my husband and I when we first moved in together. We had about 5 years together before we got married, and another 2 before children came along. In the meantime, we pretended my wage didn't exist. By the time we bought a house we had saved a considerable amount, meaning we didn't have to borrow much. And certainly by the time children came along, our financial habits had set and didn't have to change much. We still had to proceed with caution, as with me not working for the first two and half years and then only working part time since then, it's harder to save without that second income. We have followed the model of Couple C now for 15 years and have gotten used to it. We don't stress whenever there is a mortgage interest rate rise, and we don't argue about money.
I'm not a professional financial advisor, but I urge you to consider your own circumstances before following anything I have advised here. Think about your spending personalities and which approach would be compatible to you and your partner. Think long term - you might not be buying a house or starting a family now, but will you be in the future? Set your financial habits early in your relationship as they are harder to change later on. Not everyone will be happy following the model of Couple C, but from my experience, it works really well.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)