1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:15,160 Speaker 1: My Frugal February results and why this changed everything. Hi everyone, 2 00:00:15,160 --> 00:00:17,840 Speaker 1: and welcome back to Sugar Mama's Fireplay. I'm your host's 3 00:00:17,880 --> 00:00:20,639 Speaker 1: financial planner, Canna Campbell, and today i'man to share with 4 00:00:20,680 --> 00:00:24,520 Speaker 1: you my results from doing my annual financial fast challenge 5 00:00:24,640 --> 00:00:28,319 Speaker 1: Frugal February. Now I need to confest something with you. 6 00:00:28,640 --> 00:00:31,920 Speaker 1: I have a love hate relationship with Frugal February. Every 7 00:00:31,960 --> 00:00:35,600 Speaker 1: year I commit, and every year I find myself questioning 8 00:00:35,920 --> 00:00:38,360 Speaker 1: halfway through it, and every year I'm reminded as to 9 00:00:38,600 --> 00:00:41,920 Speaker 1: why I do it. But this year was very different. 10 00:00:42,240 --> 00:00:46,240 Speaker 1: This year felt calmer, clearer, and way more intentional. And 11 00:00:46,280 --> 00:00:49,879 Speaker 1: I think that's because I actually really needed Frugal February. 12 00:00:49,960 --> 00:00:52,080 Speaker 1: We'd come off the back of Christmas, which was a 13 00:00:52,159 --> 00:00:55,040 Speaker 1: very expensive time the year, obviously, school holidays and all 14 00:00:55,080 --> 00:00:59,760 Speaker 1: those expensive school holiday activities to keep children active and outside, 15 00:01:00,160 --> 00:01:03,320 Speaker 1: ideally off screens. And of course we've got the continued 16 00:01:03,400 --> 00:01:07,360 Speaker 1: rising cost of living and the constant inflation pressures coming 17 00:01:07,400 --> 00:01:10,039 Speaker 1: like left, right and center. And even as a financial 18 00:01:10,040 --> 00:01:13,320 Speaker 1: planner with over twenty something years experience, I really did, 19 00:01:13,360 --> 00:01:17,000 Speaker 1: deep down need something that forced me to stop, or 20 00:01:17,040 --> 00:01:20,520 Speaker 1: at least slow down and look at our household living 21 00:01:20,640 --> 00:01:24,800 Speaker 1: expenses again, and my goal this year was to save 22 00:01:25,040 --> 00:01:28,120 Speaker 1: four hundred dollars. Now, I'll be honest, this was very 23 00:01:28,240 --> 00:01:31,360 Speaker 1: much will definitely felt like low hanging fruit for me, 24 00:01:31,440 --> 00:01:34,240 Speaker 1: because in previous years I've always aimed to try and 25 00:01:34,280 --> 00:01:37,959 Speaker 1: save like one thousand dollars. But the reality for us 26 00:01:38,280 --> 00:01:40,160 Speaker 1: is in my home, my family, and I think so 27 00:01:40,200 --> 00:01:43,080 Speaker 1: many other households too, is that we've all been living 28 00:01:43,080 --> 00:01:46,319 Speaker 1: in frugal mode for the last like fourmost five years. 29 00:01:46,560 --> 00:01:49,760 Speaker 1: So I genuinely didn't think i'd actually be able to 30 00:01:49,840 --> 00:01:52,800 Speaker 1: find much more than four hundred dollars. I even thought 31 00:01:52,840 --> 00:01:55,040 Speaker 1: four hundred dolls was a big stretch, because you know, 32 00:01:55,200 --> 00:01:59,200 Speaker 1: everything is so expensive already and we're already being incredibly tight. 33 00:01:59,360 --> 00:02:02,880 Speaker 1: But fortunately I was wrong, and I was so glad 34 00:02:02,920 --> 00:02:04,720 Speaker 1: I was wrong. So I want to share with you 35 00:02:04,840 --> 00:02:08,280 Speaker 1: exactly how much I saved, and where I found these savings, 36 00:02:08,440 --> 00:02:11,280 Speaker 1: what I'm doing with these savings, and what I recommend 37 00:02:11,400 --> 00:02:13,840 Speaker 1: for you if you need to look at your budget 38 00:02:13,960 --> 00:02:16,639 Speaker 1: and cash flow and work out where to redirect your 39 00:02:16,680 --> 00:02:19,720 Speaker 1: newfound savings. So let us begin, all right. So the 40 00:02:19,800 --> 00:02:23,160 Speaker 1: first thing I did was I went back to the basics. 41 00:02:23,240 --> 00:02:27,400 Speaker 1: I reviewed our family budget, but I cross referenced every 42 00:02:27,480 --> 00:02:31,040 Speaker 1: single expense against our transactions, so I knew that nothing 43 00:02:31,240 --> 00:02:34,760 Speaker 1: was missing. And because we run a joint family account, 44 00:02:34,760 --> 00:02:38,280 Speaker 1: which is something I strongly preach and teach inside the 45 00:02:38,320 --> 00:02:41,119 Speaker 1: Sugar Mamma Budget and cash Flow Academy, this actually made 46 00:02:41,120 --> 00:02:43,160 Speaker 1: it really quick and easy to do because it was 47 00:02:43,200 --> 00:02:45,080 Speaker 1: only one account that I needed to check. It was 48 00:02:45,160 --> 00:02:49,639 Speaker 1: like one snapshot and I had full visibility, and I 49 00:02:49,760 --> 00:02:53,520 Speaker 1: went through every single transaction and every single expense in 50 00:02:53,639 --> 00:02:57,000 Speaker 1: our budget. I questioned everything, No, could this be reduced? 51 00:02:57,040 --> 00:02:59,560 Speaker 1: Could this be reduced temporarily? Could this be reduced permanently? 52 00:02:59,600 --> 00:03:02,480 Speaker 1: Could this be completely remote and cut out? Is this 53 00:03:02,600 --> 00:03:04,920 Speaker 1: actually a line to our spending habits? Do we love 54 00:03:04,960 --> 00:03:08,200 Speaker 1: values and appreciate it? Now? I will admit at first 55 00:03:08,280 --> 00:03:12,080 Speaker 1: I felt so deflated and frustrated and even a little 56 00:03:12,080 --> 00:03:15,040 Speaker 1: bit like pissed off because there were so many expenses 57 00:03:15,120 --> 00:03:17,760 Speaker 1: in our budget that I'd already done this too and 58 00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:19,320 Speaker 1: brought them down as much as they could. And there 59 00:03:19,320 --> 00:03:21,240 Speaker 1: were a lot of fixed expenses that I had to 60 00:03:21,240 --> 00:03:24,120 Speaker 1: just accept that's what they are, like daycare and private 61 00:03:24,160 --> 00:03:26,440 Speaker 1: health insurance. And of course yes I could cut down 62 00:03:26,480 --> 00:03:28,400 Speaker 1: on private health insurance, but I didn't want to compromise 63 00:03:28,440 --> 00:03:30,680 Speaker 1: on the quality. And of course things like after school 64 00:03:30,680 --> 00:03:34,000 Speaker 1: care fees. No, they are non negotiables right now and 65 00:03:34,120 --> 00:03:36,640 Speaker 1: we can't budge their fixed And I think that's really 66 00:03:36,720 --> 00:03:41,000 Speaker 1: important to say that, because frugality isn't about cutting essentials. 67 00:03:41,320 --> 00:03:44,400 Speaker 1: It's about challenging the autopilot where we just you know, 68 00:03:44,440 --> 00:03:48,000 Speaker 1: sit there and accept certain things. But anyway, I kept pushing, 69 00:03:48,320 --> 00:03:52,320 Speaker 1: and my first real win was calling our gas and 70 00:03:52,440 --> 00:03:56,560 Speaker 1: electricity provider, Origin Energy. So I called them. I had 71 00:03:56,600 --> 00:03:59,240 Speaker 1: to sit on hold for twenty minutes, but just popped 72 00:03:59,280 --> 00:04:02,040 Speaker 1: my AirPods in and you sat there working at my desk, 73 00:04:02,080 --> 00:04:04,680 Speaker 1: so I wasn't wasting any time, and I'm glad I 74 00:04:04,720 --> 00:04:06,960 Speaker 1: did that. So I would be annoyed at myself. But 75 00:04:07,360 --> 00:04:10,680 Speaker 1: within about five minutes of talking to a human being 76 00:04:11,320 --> 00:04:15,040 Speaker 1: and calmly saying that I was reviewing my options thinking 77 00:04:15,120 --> 00:04:19,600 Speaker 1: of leaving, they offered me a sixteen percent discount off 78 00:04:19,600 --> 00:04:22,880 Speaker 1: my energy plan and eleven percent off my gas plan. 79 00:04:23,240 --> 00:04:26,039 Speaker 1: Like that was instantly applied on the spot, Like I 80 00:04:26,120 --> 00:04:28,800 Speaker 1: was sent the new contract within a minute of hanging up. 81 00:04:29,000 --> 00:04:31,880 Speaker 1: Now I worked out that would save us over ninety 82 00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:35,600 Speaker 1: dollars per month, so that one phone call created some 83 00:04:35,720 --> 00:04:40,160 Speaker 1: reoccurring savings beyond the wonderful joy of Frugal February. And 84 00:04:40,320 --> 00:04:43,960 Speaker 1: here's the powerful part. The moment I hung up the phone, 85 00:04:44,200 --> 00:04:49,000 Speaker 1: I transferred the equivalent amount to my Frugal February account 86 00:04:49,320 --> 00:04:52,200 Speaker 1: and I made sure I nicknamed that transaction so I 87 00:04:52,200 --> 00:04:54,040 Speaker 1: could review it the end of the month, as I'm 88 00:04:54,080 --> 00:04:55,840 Speaker 1: doing now to let you know. And it was really 89 00:04:55,839 --> 00:04:58,040 Speaker 1: insightful to be able to see all the different nicknames 90 00:04:58,160 --> 00:05:01,320 Speaker 1: where all my savings came from, both big and small. 91 00:05:01,400 --> 00:05:04,000 Speaker 1: But my point is I transferred that money immediately on 92 00:05:04,040 --> 00:05:05,960 Speaker 1: the spot, no waiting, No I'll do it at the 93 00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:07,440 Speaker 1: end of the day, I'll do it later when I 94 00:05:07,520 --> 00:05:09,039 Speaker 1: picked up the kids, or that I did it. I 95 00:05:09,040 --> 00:05:11,359 Speaker 1: stopped everything, picked up my phone and transferred it and 96 00:05:11,520 --> 00:05:15,560 Speaker 1: gave it a nickname in the transaction description. So that 97 00:05:15,800 --> 00:05:19,680 Speaker 1: instant transfer then changed everything because I could see the 98 00:05:19,720 --> 00:05:23,240 Speaker 1: birth of Frugal February like already kicking off. And this 99 00:05:23,400 --> 00:05:26,080 Speaker 1: got me really excited because when you can see the progress, 100 00:05:26,120 --> 00:05:28,800 Speaker 1: it makes it so much easier to stay committed. In fact, 101 00:05:28,839 --> 00:05:31,280 Speaker 1: it actually gamifies it and makes it addictive. And a 102 00:05:31,360 --> 00:05:33,040 Speaker 1: challenge where you want to just keep going, what else 103 00:05:33,080 --> 00:05:34,560 Speaker 1: can you do? What else can you do? And you 104 00:05:34,680 --> 00:05:37,719 Speaker 1: like leave literally no stone unturned. So of course I 105 00:05:37,760 --> 00:05:40,560 Speaker 1: didn't just stop there, and I moved on to the 106 00:05:40,600 --> 00:05:44,560 Speaker 1: next phone call, which was to my mortgage broker, Adam McCabe. 107 00:05:44,720 --> 00:05:46,719 Speaker 1: And you've had a home loan for a while, one 108 00:05:46,720 --> 00:05:50,480 Speaker 1: of the most powerful places to find savings is looking 109 00:05:50,520 --> 00:05:54,280 Speaker 1: at the interest rate, both negotiating a lower interest rate 110 00:05:54,320 --> 00:05:58,440 Speaker 1: with your resisting mortgage provider or possibly refinancing. And that's 111 00:05:58,440 --> 00:06:00,760 Speaker 1: why you really do need a great mortgage broker with 112 00:06:00,760 --> 00:06:02,320 Speaker 1: a huge amount of experience that can run all the 113 00:06:02,400 --> 00:06:04,320 Speaker 1: numbers and work out all the pros and cons few 114 00:06:04,360 --> 00:06:06,960 Speaker 1: and whether they're aligned to your goals. Now here's what 115 00:06:07,120 --> 00:06:09,280 Speaker 1: I love about working with a great mortgage broker. And 116 00:06:09,440 --> 00:06:12,080 Speaker 1: obviously my mortgage broker is Adam McKay from Blue Lantern. 117 00:06:12,279 --> 00:06:15,400 Speaker 1: When I called him, he was actually already on the case. 118 00:06:15,440 --> 00:06:17,560 Speaker 1: I didn't even need to ask him. Before I had 119 00:06:17,680 --> 00:06:20,840 Speaker 1: even spoken to him. He'd actually already been reviewing our 120 00:06:20,880 --> 00:06:24,520 Speaker 1: loans and looking at opportunities to restructure, in particular one 121 00:06:24,560 --> 00:06:27,520 Speaker 1: of our investment loans, and what he uncovered was this 122 00:06:27,960 --> 00:06:31,960 Speaker 1: by refinancing and restructuring one of our investment loans, that 123 00:06:32,120 --> 00:06:35,160 Speaker 1: is like aligning it more strategically with our long term 124 00:06:35,160 --> 00:06:38,200 Speaker 1: debt reduction plans, which includes the investment debt coming down. 125 00:06:38,640 --> 00:06:42,920 Speaker 1: We're going to save approximately two hundred dollars per month. Now, 126 00:06:43,120 --> 00:06:45,960 Speaker 1: admittedly this is going to take at least a month 127 00:06:46,000 --> 00:06:48,360 Speaker 1: to set up because it does involve going back through 128 00:06:48,400 --> 00:06:50,839 Speaker 1: the bank, so I haven't been able to include this 129 00:06:51,000 --> 00:06:54,720 Speaker 1: money in my frugal February savings. But that is potentially 130 00:06:55,040 --> 00:06:58,400 Speaker 1: another two hundred dollars per month savings on top of 131 00:06:58,440 --> 00:07:00,880 Speaker 1: the ninety dollars per month. And this is where people really 132 00:07:01,000 --> 00:07:05,479 Speaker 1: underestimate the power of refinancing and asking for a better deal. 133 00:07:05,640 --> 00:07:08,479 Speaker 1: This wasn't just actually about chasing a law rate. It 134 00:07:08,480 --> 00:07:12,560 Speaker 1: was actually about realigning our loan structure with our financial 135 00:07:12,600 --> 00:07:15,880 Speaker 1: strategy and our financial goals at the forefront of our mind. 136 00:07:15,960 --> 00:07:18,880 Speaker 1: So what a huge double blessing to come out of this. 137 00:07:19,000 --> 00:07:20,760 Speaker 1: And if you want Adam's details again, I'm going to 138 00:07:20,840 --> 00:07:22,640 Speaker 1: link them in the podcast notes that you can reach 139 00:07:22,640 --> 00:07:24,320 Speaker 1: out to him at any time and see how much 140 00:07:24,400 --> 00:07:27,240 Speaker 1: you could potentially save. So if you haven't reviewed your 141 00:07:27,280 --> 00:07:30,800 Speaker 1: mortgage in the last, say twelve months. Can I genuinely 142 00:07:30,920 --> 00:07:34,000 Speaker 1: encourage you to have a look on your loan provider's 143 00:07:34,000 --> 00:07:37,360 Speaker 1: website see what they're offering new customers, like the honeymoon 144 00:07:37,400 --> 00:07:39,680 Speaker 1: rate for new customers, and if it is lawer then 145 00:07:39,720 --> 00:07:42,000 Speaker 1: what you're currently paying, call them up and ask them 146 00:07:42,080 --> 00:07:44,320 Speaker 1: to match the rate or beat the rate, which would 147 00:07:44,320 --> 00:07:46,480 Speaker 1: be even better. And if you get a no, all right, 148 00:07:46,520 --> 00:07:49,360 Speaker 1: call a mortgage broker, call Adam, go and find a 149 00:07:49,400 --> 00:07:52,960 Speaker 1: better deal. Because loyalty tax is incredibly expensive and for will, 150 00:07:53,000 --> 00:07:56,040 Speaker 1: February's the perfect time to give this a great crack 151 00:07:56,200 --> 00:07:58,760 Speaker 1: and find some brilliant savings that you can then redirect 152 00:07:58,800 --> 00:08:01,920 Speaker 1: towards helping pay off your mortgage sooner. And even the 153 00:08:02,040 --> 00:08:05,760 Speaker 1: smallest change in reduction in interest rates makes a massive 154 00:08:05,760 --> 00:08:09,880 Speaker 1: difference over the long run. So combining our ninety dollars 155 00:08:09,880 --> 00:08:13,000 Speaker 1: per month savings from utilities and the two hundred dollars 156 00:08:13,040 --> 00:08:15,840 Speaker 1: from when we refinance and get that all set up correctly, 157 00:08:16,040 --> 00:08:19,160 Speaker 1: there's two hundred and ninety dollars per month in reoccurring savings. 158 00:08:19,240 --> 00:08:21,640 Speaker 1: That is powerful, That is compounding, and that is a 159 00:08:21,720 --> 00:08:25,040 Speaker 1: strategic frugality if you like now. Once I saw close 160 00:08:25,080 --> 00:08:28,120 Speaker 1: to three hundred dollars per month. Savings ignited something deep 161 00:08:28,160 --> 00:08:29,560 Speaker 1: with them in me. It was like it became a 162 00:08:29,600 --> 00:08:33,280 Speaker 1: whole new game. And I found for fifteen dollars of 163 00:08:33,360 --> 00:08:36,079 Speaker 1: the savings through rebels Sport because I am a loyal 164 00:08:36,120 --> 00:08:38,280 Speaker 1: customer of Rebel Sport and every time I shop there, 165 00:08:38,760 --> 00:08:41,600 Speaker 1: I quote my mobile phone number and it collects points 166 00:08:41,600 --> 00:08:44,240 Speaker 1: and I was able to tap into an additional discount 167 00:08:44,320 --> 00:08:46,640 Speaker 1: on school shoes, so again on the spot, it was 168 00:08:46,679 --> 00:08:50,920 Speaker 1: immediately transferred. I also used up our vouchers. We had 169 00:08:50,960 --> 00:08:53,719 Speaker 1: some gift vouchers yo Chi gift vouchers, so I use 170 00:08:53,760 --> 00:08:56,320 Speaker 1: those instead of spending cash, and that saved me during 171 00:08:56,360 --> 00:08:58,360 Speaker 1: the month because we do love going to Yochi. That 172 00:08:58,440 --> 00:09:01,560 Speaker 1: actually saved me sixty dollars during this month. And again 173 00:09:01,720 --> 00:09:04,920 Speaker 1: each time I saved money, I transferred the equivalent to 174 00:09:05,080 --> 00:09:08,360 Speaker 1: my frugal February account. Another thing happened where I decided 175 00:09:08,400 --> 00:09:11,720 Speaker 1: to drive to an event rather than catching an uber, 176 00:09:11,760 --> 00:09:13,520 Speaker 1: and yes I had to pay for parking, but I 177 00:09:13,640 --> 00:09:15,960 Speaker 1: saved about twenty dollars and doing that, and I also 178 00:09:16,080 --> 00:09:17,600 Speaker 1: opped my steps to the day because I had to 179 00:09:17,880 --> 00:09:20,760 Speaker 1: walk quite far to the event from the car park. Also, 180 00:09:20,760 --> 00:09:23,720 Speaker 1: I had another great win along the way. A daycare 181 00:09:23,760 --> 00:09:27,760 Speaker 1: event was canceled last minute, and I'd actually allocated about 182 00:09:27,760 --> 00:09:31,040 Speaker 1: eighty dollars to spend at food at this particular event. 183 00:09:31,440 --> 00:09:34,760 Speaker 1: So because that event was canceled, I transferred the money 184 00:09:34,960 --> 00:09:37,920 Speaker 1: into my Frugal February account. I also had a really 185 00:09:38,040 --> 00:09:40,520 Speaker 1: quiet weekend in this is when Tom was away, so 186 00:09:40,520 --> 00:09:42,800 Speaker 1: it actually made a lot easier and I just kept 187 00:09:42,800 --> 00:09:45,240 Speaker 1: it really nice and soulful and simple with the girls 188 00:09:45,320 --> 00:09:47,520 Speaker 1: and just hanging at the beach, going to the park, 189 00:09:47,640 --> 00:09:50,680 Speaker 1: doing play dates, just like hanging out and you know, 190 00:09:50,800 --> 00:09:53,000 Speaker 1: be doing arts and craft playing in the background, and 191 00:09:53,160 --> 00:09:55,840 Speaker 1: that whole entire weekend. I can't believe this. I only 192 00:09:55,880 --> 00:09:58,400 Speaker 1: spent fifty dollars which actually went to charity. So the 193 00:09:58,480 --> 00:10:01,360 Speaker 1: money that I had allocated from weekly spending out of 194 00:10:01,440 --> 00:10:04,120 Speaker 1: our budget, which again something I teach and preach in 195 00:10:04,160 --> 00:10:06,360 Speaker 1: the Sugar Mamma Budget and cash Flow Academy, I was 196 00:10:06,400 --> 00:10:10,280 Speaker 1: able to transfer to our Frugal February. So got to 197 00:10:10,360 --> 00:10:13,880 Speaker 1: love a quite slow weekend. It's also really good for 198 00:10:13,920 --> 00:10:17,679 Speaker 1: the soul. And so the very last week of Frugal February, 199 00:10:17,840 --> 00:10:20,840 Speaker 1: I kept on trying every week to cut our grocery 200 00:10:20,840 --> 00:10:23,640 Speaker 1: bill down and I just couldn't. Sometimes I even went over. 201 00:10:23,760 --> 00:10:25,960 Speaker 1: Then I'd just go under and level out all my 202 00:10:26,000 --> 00:10:28,800 Speaker 1: hard work. But in the last week of February, I 203 00:10:28,880 --> 00:10:33,040 Speaker 1: went aggressively and I pantry shopped, you could call it. 204 00:10:33,080 --> 00:10:35,360 Speaker 1: So I went through the freezer, I went through the fridge, 205 00:10:35,400 --> 00:10:39,120 Speaker 1: I went through the pantry. I prioritized slow hooker meals 206 00:10:39,160 --> 00:10:41,800 Speaker 1: and a Thermer mix which makes a delicious resort by 207 00:10:41,800 --> 00:10:45,400 Speaker 1: the way, with no meat. And I delayed our grocery shop, 208 00:10:45,440 --> 00:10:47,559 Speaker 1: which is our big grocery shop that I typically do 209 00:10:47,720 --> 00:10:50,280 Speaker 1: on a Sunday evening, and just by doing that a 210 00:10:50,320 --> 00:10:52,560 Speaker 1: loan I managed to, just in the nick of time, 211 00:10:52,760 --> 00:10:55,760 Speaker 1: save eighty dollars, so again I transferred that to the 212 00:10:55,840 --> 00:11:00,520 Speaker 1: frugal February acount. Now excluding the mortgage reduction saving which 213 00:11:00,600 --> 00:11:03,360 Speaker 1: is still in progress. Thanks to Adam, I have saved 214 00:11:03,400 --> 00:11:07,280 Speaker 1: proudly as an upfront amount three hundred and ninety five dollars, 215 00:11:07,360 --> 00:11:10,080 Speaker 1: so I almost hit my four hundred dollar goal. But 216 00:11:10,800 --> 00:11:14,240 Speaker 1: something really cool that was unexpected like happened out of 217 00:11:14,280 --> 00:11:17,800 Speaker 1: the blue. Our weekly cleaner had to go overseas last minute, 218 00:11:17,840 --> 00:11:21,040 Speaker 1: so instead of replacing her for two weeks, I cleaned 219 00:11:21,080 --> 00:11:24,360 Speaker 1: the house myself. Now, before you start rolling your eyes going, oh, 220 00:11:24,440 --> 00:11:27,120 Speaker 1: well done, Catna, let me just say this very very clearly. 221 00:11:27,480 --> 00:11:29,640 Speaker 1: I am incredibly grateful to be in the position to 222 00:11:29,679 --> 00:11:33,960 Speaker 1: afford help. And as a working parent of three young children, 223 00:11:34,320 --> 00:11:38,080 Speaker 1: three big dogs, and a husband who travels overseas fifty 224 00:11:38,120 --> 00:11:40,080 Speaker 1: percent of the time, and even when he is home, 225 00:11:40,120 --> 00:11:43,280 Speaker 1: he's working like a madman. I'm on my own a lot, 226 00:11:43,440 --> 00:11:46,760 Speaker 1: and the life admin is huge in our house. The laundry, 227 00:11:47,000 --> 00:11:51,400 Speaker 1: dog hair, the school life admin is insane. And I 228 00:11:51,400 --> 00:11:54,520 Speaker 1: don't have any family at all helping me whatsoever, and 229 00:11:54,600 --> 00:11:57,520 Speaker 1: not do I have, you know, a babysitter or nanny anymore. 230 00:11:57,640 --> 00:12:01,560 Speaker 1: So this type of support in domestick duties is an 231 00:12:01,559 --> 00:12:05,560 Speaker 1: investment in my mental health and I value this type 232 00:12:05,600 --> 00:12:09,959 Speaker 1: of help and are cleaner so deeply. But for two 233 00:12:10,040 --> 00:12:14,160 Speaker 1: weeks I cleaned our home. It was hard work. I 234 00:12:14,280 --> 00:12:18,280 Speaker 1: realized how and dirty we are. But I saved six 235 00:12:18,400 --> 00:12:22,600 Speaker 1: hundred dollars, and yes, it changed my weekends. My weekends 236 00:12:22,640 --> 00:12:26,480 Speaker 1: were a different type of workout. It was exhausting, and yes, 237 00:12:26,559 --> 00:12:29,840 Speaker 1: it made me appreciate her so much more. But that 238 00:12:29,960 --> 00:12:33,360 Speaker 1: six hundred dollars was too powerful amount to ignore, especially 239 00:12:33,440 --> 00:12:36,360 Speaker 1: during frugal February. And even if this happened again during 240 00:12:36,400 --> 00:12:39,040 Speaker 1: the year, despite it being not being frugal February, I 241 00:12:39,040 --> 00:12:41,840 Speaker 1: think I'll do it again. But again. Of course, what 242 00:12:41,880 --> 00:12:45,600 Speaker 1: I did was immediately transferred that savings six hundred dollars. 243 00:12:45,800 --> 00:12:48,680 Speaker 1: Seeing that number increased my bank balance of my frugal 244 00:12:48,679 --> 00:12:52,840 Speaker 1: Februar account, shifted something inside me, you know, seeing that number, 245 00:12:53,080 --> 00:12:56,400 Speaker 1: It's suddenly frugal February stopped feeling restrictive like it has 246 00:12:56,440 --> 00:13:00,520 Speaker 1: in the past. It felt powerful, it felt impactful. Now 247 00:13:00,559 --> 00:13:03,440 Speaker 1: I need to share with you the setbacks because obviously 248 00:13:03,480 --> 00:13:05,600 Speaker 1: I've saved a lot of money. I'm really proud of myself, 249 00:13:05,640 --> 00:13:10,800 Speaker 1: but this wasn't exactly perfect. Pablo are very cheeky chocolate 250 00:13:10,880 --> 00:13:13,520 Speaker 1: labord or puppy. If you ever had a larbort or puppy, 251 00:13:13,559 --> 00:13:15,280 Speaker 1: you'll know how mischievous they can be, and they could 252 00:13:15,280 --> 00:13:18,600 Speaker 1: be a wrecking ball. He chewed to get this through 253 00:13:18,800 --> 00:13:21,320 Speaker 1: my friend's tupper wear boxes, not just one type of 254 00:13:21,320 --> 00:13:24,720 Speaker 1: wear box, six tuper wear boxes. So of course, like 255 00:13:24,920 --> 00:13:27,400 Speaker 1: any good friend, I replaced it. I replaced it. I 256 00:13:27,440 --> 00:13:30,000 Speaker 1: made a bulk order on Amazon and they arrived, but 257 00:13:30,280 --> 00:13:33,160 Speaker 1: guess what happened. The Amazon box was delivered at my 258 00:13:33,240 --> 00:13:35,160 Speaker 1: front door. He got out of the house, got to 259 00:13:35,240 --> 00:13:37,760 Speaker 1: the box and chewed through the box, and then chewed 260 00:13:37,840 --> 00:13:42,080 Speaker 1: the replacement tupperware containers, so another loss. I had to 261 00:13:42,160 --> 00:13:45,520 Speaker 1: order them all over again. Also, during Frugal February, Rocco 262 00:13:45,679 --> 00:13:50,000 Speaker 1: needed basketball shoes. Now I had never bought basketball shoes before. 263 00:13:50,040 --> 00:13:51,440 Speaker 1: I was thinking, oh, you know, we'll just go and 264 00:13:51,480 --> 00:13:52,959 Speaker 1: get you know whatever, It'd be fine. I'd be like, 265 00:13:53,000 --> 00:13:55,320 Speaker 1: what one hundred dollars? I almost died when I realized 266 00:13:55,320 --> 00:13:59,720 Speaker 1: the average price of basketball shoes was two hundred and sixty. 267 00:14:00,679 --> 00:14:03,120 Speaker 1: It was just a horrified and I actually was a 268 00:14:03,120 --> 00:14:05,040 Speaker 1: good lesson for me to learn about boundaries because he 269 00:14:05,080 --> 00:14:07,640 Speaker 1: also needed new runners. But I actually said to him, 270 00:14:08,160 --> 00:14:09,640 Speaker 1: to him the budget and how we have to stick 271 00:14:09,640 --> 00:14:11,600 Speaker 1: to it and respect it, and I agreed that there 272 00:14:11,640 --> 00:14:13,400 Speaker 1: should be a boundary in place where that some of 273 00:14:13,440 --> 00:14:15,400 Speaker 1: that cost or the second pair of shoes can be 274 00:14:15,400 --> 00:14:18,280 Speaker 1: then funded by his father, which actually were less expensive 275 00:14:18,320 --> 00:14:20,400 Speaker 1: than the basketball shoes. But you know, we had another 276 00:14:20,480 --> 00:14:22,720 Speaker 1: incident as well during for a Girl February, where Rocco 277 00:14:22,880 --> 00:14:24,760 Speaker 1: has just started a new school and his new school 278 00:14:24,840 --> 00:14:26,880 Speaker 1: is quite a fair way away from our home and 279 00:14:26,960 --> 00:14:28,920 Speaker 1: he has to catch a special bus. There's only one 280 00:14:28,960 --> 00:14:31,280 Speaker 1: bus and if he misses that bus will take him 281 00:14:31,280 --> 00:14:33,080 Speaker 1: about two hours to get to school because of the 282 00:14:33,160 --> 00:14:36,120 Speaker 1: logistics of peak out traffic. Now he was running lad 283 00:14:36,160 --> 00:14:38,560 Speaker 1: it was his second week of this new school, new routine. 284 00:14:38,560 --> 00:14:40,560 Speaker 1: There was a lot of pressure and stress and he's 285 00:14:40,600 --> 00:14:43,360 Speaker 1: doing really well, but the poor thing slept in so 286 00:14:43,520 --> 00:14:46,280 Speaker 1: I had to get him an uber, pay for an 287 00:14:46,320 --> 00:14:48,480 Speaker 1: uber to get him to the bus stop on time. 288 00:14:48,600 --> 00:14:50,400 Speaker 1: Now I know that sounds a little bit ridiculous and 289 00:14:50,440 --> 00:14:52,600 Speaker 1: even a wasteful situation, but it was again one of 290 00:14:52,640 --> 00:14:54,960 Speaker 1: these situations where I was solo parenting and it was 291 00:14:55,000 --> 00:14:57,840 Speaker 1: six thirty in the morning and the two girls, Apple 292 00:14:57,920 --> 00:15:00,200 Speaker 1: and Tiger was still fast asleep, so I couldn't pull 293 00:15:00,200 --> 00:15:01,840 Speaker 1: them out of bed to get Roco to the bus 294 00:15:01,840 --> 00:15:04,280 Speaker 1: stop in time because you would normally get a bus 295 00:15:04,280 --> 00:15:07,080 Speaker 1: to catch the bus. So there was again twenty dollars wasted, 296 00:15:07,120 --> 00:15:10,240 Speaker 1: and then obviously that impacted my savings. So here's the 297 00:15:10,320 --> 00:15:13,960 Speaker 1: key savings happened during Frugal For every brilliant newfound savings 298 00:15:13,960 --> 00:15:16,800 Speaker 1: which I am so proud of, but there are also 299 00:15:16,880 --> 00:15:19,680 Speaker 1: were some slip ups, some mishaps where I was perhaps 300 00:15:19,760 --> 00:15:23,760 Speaker 1: a little bit disorganized, didn't plan correctly and didn't just 301 00:15:23,880 --> 00:15:27,960 Speaker 1: think about things safely logistically, like not letting Pablo out 302 00:15:28,000 --> 00:15:31,400 Speaker 1: to get to the Amazon delivery person. But each opportunity 303 00:15:31,440 --> 00:15:33,680 Speaker 1: is an opportunity to learn a lesson and get wiser. 304 00:15:33,760 --> 00:15:37,480 Speaker 1: But here's the key. These setbacks didn't actually derail me 305 00:15:37,600 --> 00:15:41,680 Speaker 1: in my progress and passion for Frugal February, just especially 306 00:15:41,720 --> 00:15:43,840 Speaker 1: as it had been reignited. And also it made me 307 00:15:43,880 --> 00:15:46,680 Speaker 1: really respect the financial float that we have as a family. 308 00:15:47,080 --> 00:15:49,880 Speaker 1: We have a everyday family account, which is where all 309 00:15:49,880 --> 00:15:53,840 Speaker 1: our salary gets deposited and our big expenses on a daily, weekly, 310 00:15:53,880 --> 00:15:55,880 Speaker 1: fortnoly monthly come out, and then we have something called 311 00:15:55,920 --> 00:15:57,880 Speaker 1: a financial float where we put money and every time 312 00:15:57,880 --> 00:16:00,600 Speaker 1: we get paid. And this is like a stock part system. 313 00:16:00,720 --> 00:16:03,600 Speaker 1: It's our cash flow system that helps us stick to 314 00:16:03,640 --> 00:16:07,640 Speaker 1: our budget but also helps build really safe, wise, intelligent, 315 00:16:07,800 --> 00:16:12,120 Speaker 1: proactive buffers when stressful things happen. But also the natural 316 00:16:12,120 --> 00:16:14,800 Speaker 1: ebbs and flows in life that come with irregular ad 317 00:16:14,840 --> 00:16:18,440 Speaker 1: hoc expenses like basketball shoes. So what I realized through 318 00:16:18,480 --> 00:16:21,760 Speaker 1: doing Frugal February and having to rely and lean on 319 00:16:21,880 --> 00:16:25,200 Speaker 1: my financial float account. Is that systems are really important 320 00:16:25,240 --> 00:16:27,240 Speaker 1: when it comes to sticking to a budget and finding 321 00:16:27,280 --> 00:16:31,040 Speaker 1: ways to intentionally save money. Frugality about a buffer is 322 00:16:31,080 --> 00:16:34,520 Speaker 1: always going to feel hectic, chaotic and stressful, but when 323 00:16:34,600 --> 00:16:38,040 Speaker 1: you have an operate in a frugal way with a system, 324 00:16:38,280 --> 00:16:41,440 Speaker 1: it actually feels really empowering. And I am so grateful 325 00:16:41,520 --> 00:16:44,080 Speaker 1: for this cash flow system that I follow and created 326 00:16:44,080 --> 00:16:46,880 Speaker 1: many many years ago, because I wouldn't have those savings 327 00:16:46,920 --> 00:16:49,040 Speaker 1: at all. In fact, I would have gone backwards if 328 00:16:49,080 --> 00:16:52,240 Speaker 1: I didn't have that financial float account. So what are 329 00:16:52,240 --> 00:16:55,080 Speaker 1: the big lessons behind all of this? Well, this month 330 00:16:55,120 --> 00:17:00,440 Speaker 1: taught me something important. Joyful frugality requires smart intelligence planning. 331 00:17:00,960 --> 00:17:07,600 Speaker 1: It requires clear upfront communication, It requires time getting organized 332 00:17:07,840 --> 00:17:10,760 Speaker 1: and planning in advance, and it does of course it 333 00:17:10,800 --> 00:17:14,119 Speaker 1: requires self control. No, Tom and I had to communicate 334 00:17:14,119 --> 00:17:16,480 Speaker 1: about frugal February. You know, there were moments where he 335 00:17:16,520 --> 00:17:18,840 Speaker 1: wanted to head out to the supermarket again because he 336 00:17:18,920 --> 00:17:20,399 Speaker 1: was in a mood and felt like cooking up an 337 00:17:20,440 --> 00:17:22,200 Speaker 1: expensive piece of meat. I had to remind him, no, 338 00:17:22,280 --> 00:17:24,200 Speaker 1: can we please do something a bit different. We're doing 339 00:17:24,200 --> 00:17:26,760 Speaker 1: frugal February. So we had to, you know, really make 340 00:17:26,800 --> 00:17:28,600 Speaker 1: sure that we were very clear with each other about 341 00:17:28,640 --> 00:17:31,560 Speaker 1: avoiding unnecessary top ups. I also had to speak to 342 00:17:31,600 --> 00:17:33,520 Speaker 1: the kids, you know, when Apple wanted to buy some 343 00:17:33,560 --> 00:17:35,919 Speaker 1: more books, I had to really gently reminder that we 344 00:17:36,000 --> 00:17:40,000 Speaker 1: have shelves of unread books. And also it's something really 345 00:17:40,040 --> 00:17:42,560 Speaker 1: special and nice about reconnecting with books that we have 346 00:17:42,640 --> 00:17:46,360 Speaker 1: already read together and absolutely loved. And interestingly, I connected 347 00:17:46,440 --> 00:17:49,600 Speaker 1: with my wardrobe too. I of course didn't buy any 348 00:17:49,680 --> 00:17:52,240 Speaker 1: clothes during this month, and that's not abnormal for me, 349 00:17:52,560 --> 00:17:55,919 Speaker 1: and I actually found myself intentionally wearing pieces that I 350 00:17:55,960 --> 00:17:59,760 Speaker 1: hadn't prioritized wearing in years, Like I found a playsuit 351 00:17:59,800 --> 00:18:02,000 Speaker 1: that I was I think about maybe twelve years old 352 00:18:02,440 --> 00:18:04,199 Speaker 1: that I put back on, and it felt like I 353 00:18:04,240 --> 00:18:06,480 Speaker 1: was reconnecting with an old friend. And it really did 354 00:18:06,520 --> 00:18:09,560 Speaker 1: remind me that most of us don't actually need anymore. 355 00:18:09,800 --> 00:18:13,320 Speaker 1: What we just sometimes need is more awareness. And for me, 356 00:18:13,480 --> 00:18:15,679 Speaker 1: that was powerful, That was beautiful, and it just, I 357 00:18:15,680 --> 00:18:19,480 Speaker 1: guess rekindled my connection with the frugality that I'm always 358 00:18:19,480 --> 00:18:24,520 Speaker 1: in denial about. So in a nutshell ups and downs, savings, 359 00:18:24,840 --> 00:18:27,440 Speaker 1: step backwards, step forward, stepped to the side. How much 360 00:18:27,480 --> 00:18:30,159 Speaker 1: did I really say, well, after the uber setback, it's 361 00:18:30,240 --> 00:18:33,399 Speaker 1: three hundred and seventy five dollars. If I included not 362 00:18:33,480 --> 00:18:37,119 Speaker 1: buying clothes four hundred and seventy five dollars, and if 363 00:18:37,160 --> 00:18:41,600 Speaker 1: I included the two weeks of no cleaning bills one 364 00:18:41,640 --> 00:18:45,920 Speaker 1: thousand and sixty five dollars. Now that money is proudly 365 00:18:46,200 --> 00:18:49,080 Speaker 1: and safely sitting in my frugal February account because I 366 00:18:49,080 --> 00:18:52,600 Speaker 1: immediately transferred those savings on the spot. And the two 367 00:18:52,640 --> 00:18:56,080 Speaker 1: hundred and ninety dollars in ongoing monthly savings, Oh my gosh, 368 00:18:56,080 --> 00:18:59,399 Speaker 1: you gotta listen to this. If I applied that two 369 00:18:59,520 --> 00:19:02,400 Speaker 1: hundred and nine dollars per month in savings towards an 370 00:19:02,520 --> 00:19:05,680 Speaker 1: the average Australian mortgage, which is six hundred and fifty 371 00:19:05,720 --> 00:19:08,200 Speaker 1: thousand dollars at an average interest rate of six point 372 00:19:08,240 --> 00:19:11,640 Speaker 1: five percent, which includes the recent interest rate rise over 373 00:19:11,680 --> 00:19:14,560 Speaker 1: a thirty year term, Guess how much that would save 374 00:19:14,600 --> 00:19:17,240 Speaker 1: me and potentially save you if you're in a similar 375 00:19:17,240 --> 00:19:20,480 Speaker 1: situation like this, it would save you over one hundred 376 00:19:20,520 --> 00:19:25,280 Speaker 1: and sixty three thousand dollars in interest and cut four 377 00:19:25,400 --> 00:19:31,240 Speaker 1: years and nine months off the loan term. Wow, just 378 00:19:31,400 --> 00:19:34,800 Speaker 1: from two hundred and ninety dollars. Now, that is the 379 00:19:34,840 --> 00:19:40,000 Speaker 1: power of reoccurring savings when they are planned and intentionally 380 00:19:40,200 --> 00:19:44,320 Speaker 1: redirected towards your financial goals, and of course backed by 381 00:19:44,480 --> 00:19:48,679 Speaker 1: financial education and advice. So the frugal Verebruary savings of 382 00:19:48,720 --> 00:19:50,959 Speaker 1: one thousand and sixty five dollars is not just going 383 00:19:51,040 --> 00:19:54,240 Speaker 1: to sit there doing nothing. It will be invested into 384 00:19:54,280 --> 00:19:56,280 Speaker 1: my one thousand dollar project. And for those of you 385 00:19:56,320 --> 00:19:58,439 Speaker 1: who don't know what one thousand dollar project is, this 386 00:19:58,560 --> 00:20:00,920 Speaker 1: portfolio is now worth three one hundred and sixty five 387 00:20:01,000 --> 00:20:03,639 Speaker 1: thousand dollars. It's a diversified share portfolio that I have 388 00:20:03,840 --> 00:20:07,159 Speaker 1: literally built one thousand dollars at a time, not in 389 00:20:07,200 --> 00:20:13,040 Speaker 1: one dramatic lump sum, but incrementally, consistently and methodically and frugal. 390 00:20:13,080 --> 00:20:16,439 Speaker 1: February Thank you has now just created another one thousand 391 00:20:16,440 --> 00:20:21,520 Speaker 1: dollars to this portfolio, which means more dividends, more compounding, 392 00:20:21,800 --> 00:20:25,600 Speaker 1: and more passive income. And that is why I really 393 00:20:25,720 --> 00:20:31,239 Speaker 1: do recommend that instant transfer. When you find savings, it 394 00:20:31,359 --> 00:20:34,080 Speaker 1: really does matter, and it really does make a big difference. 395 00:20:34,119 --> 00:20:38,639 Speaker 1: And when savings stay in your transaction account, they disappear. 396 00:20:38,880 --> 00:20:42,080 Speaker 1: As I say, often they evaporate, they get redirected somewhere else, 397 00:20:42,119 --> 00:20:44,720 Speaker 1: and they're still wasted and you never get to have 398 00:20:44,800 --> 00:20:49,160 Speaker 1: that dopamine, fun gamifying hit of those true frugal savings. 399 00:20:49,560 --> 00:20:53,240 Speaker 1: But when you can intentionally move them, redirect them, whether 400 00:20:53,240 --> 00:20:55,200 Speaker 1: it be into your super account, whether it be towards 401 00:20:55,200 --> 00:20:58,840 Speaker 1: your mortgage or like me, an investment account, they really 402 00:20:59,040 --> 00:21:02,560 Speaker 1: do grow. They grow for you. So am I proud 403 00:21:02,560 --> 00:21:07,000 Speaker 1: of myself this year? One hundred percent? Yes, I really 404 00:21:07,040 --> 00:21:11,600 Speaker 1: surprised myself. Not because I deprived myself, not because I 405 00:21:11,640 --> 00:21:14,600 Speaker 1: cut essentials, and not because I made everyone miserable like 406 00:21:14,640 --> 00:21:16,960 Speaker 1: I have in the past, but because I stayed intentional, 407 00:21:17,080 --> 00:21:20,720 Speaker 1: I stayed positive. Frugal February this year was not about punishment. 408 00:21:20,840 --> 00:21:23,320 Speaker 1: It was about awareness. It was about momentum. It was 409 00:21:23,359 --> 00:21:26,960 Speaker 1: about systems, my budget and cash flow system, and about 410 00:21:26,960 --> 00:21:29,119 Speaker 1: having clarity as to what that money was going to 411 00:21:29,359 --> 00:21:33,720 Speaker 1: and why, and watching all those small efforts compounding into 412 00:21:33,720 --> 00:21:37,239 Speaker 1: something really powerful. So if you're feeling a little bit 413 00:21:37,280 --> 00:21:40,879 Speaker 1: stretched right now financially, just pick up the phone. Start 414 00:21:40,920 --> 00:21:45,040 Speaker 1: with one phone call, one review, one transfer, because small 415 00:21:45,080 --> 00:21:51,520 Speaker 1: actions today become financial freedom for yourself tomorrow. All right, everyone, 416 00:21:51,560 --> 00:21:53,399 Speaker 1: thank you so much. For listening, and please let me 417 00:21:53,520 --> 00:21:57,120 Speaker 1: know how you went with Frugal February. I am dying 418 00:21:57,240 --> 00:22:09,119 Speaker 1: to hear s