Where does all the money go?

I am back! A bit worse for wear, but stronger and crazier than before. And I have a new challenge. Instead of lots and lots of little silly challenges, I now have only one big silly challenge!

To try and live on as little money as is possible. I am a natural spender, consumer, money-wasting, immediate gratification type of girl. The money comes in - I make damn sure it goes out!

I even find it difficult to say my challenge is to SAVE money. It is just so BLAH!!!!

But maybe blah is were I need to go, especially for the following reasons: (tick where appropriate for your own situation)
- trying to buy a property for old age (Maplotter Place)
- need to have help in the home and the garden (just cannot work all day then come home to do the garden, clean house, do washing, iron, feed chickens, cook for the dogs, etc. etc.) OK - I can but I do not want to.
- hubbie got very sick, and medical aid was not so much an aid as it was an obstacle - read lots and lots of medical bills and a few kilograms of medication per month.
- I have 7 dogs and I refuse to give even 1 up
- my only child is still living at home - 28 years of age (I cannot chase him away as he is one of the helpers I mentioned in second point above) AND I love him very much. AND he is a wonderful chef. AND he comes with Matthew who is a sweetie pie. AND he is in charge of the vegetable garden. AND he helps with hubbie when I am at work.
- we are a one-income household in a multiple-income world
- I have borrowed and begged for money that I now want to pay back - imagine living debt-free!!!
- having no money stresses me out big-time. Having lots of money also stresses me out but not as much as having NO money. I need to find a peaceful place between no money and lots of money.
- I do not have a real plan for my old age. Yes, there is a provident fund, a policy or two, but no secret hiding place that I can dig up and say - "Hoorah! This is my nest-egg for old age.". I do hope I can still dig when I am old, as I am planning to have quite a few secret treasure burried away within the next few years. (Paul Kruger - eat your heart out)
- we live beyond our means, struggling to make ends meet every month, living well for one week after pay day, then suffering for 3 weeks before teh next pay day.

So over the next few days, weeks, months - I am going to give it a try. I am going to be a 'tightwad', a 'frugal fairy', a 'scrooge'. and because I do not want to suffer alone, I will be sharing my experiences in this blog. I hope I can inspire you to try some of the ideas, test some of the recipes, laugh at the funny bits and cry during the sad parts.