Author: thesavvymamma

Hi, I'm Melanie. Most people call me Mel. I'm married to my best friend. I'm grateful to have him by my side. We love each other despite our flaws and bring out the best in each other. He cooks me dinner and I mow the lawn and this makes me so happy. I am a mum of three boys. They are energetic and noisy, super sweet and fun. Life is busy. We are almost sleeping through the night. Almost. I am a primary school teacher in Adelaide. I love working with children and helping them become the best that they can be. I like learning with them and learning from them. As a relief teacher, I know that I can make a difference in the lives of young people, even just for the day. I try to bring calm and consistency for them, helping to reduce anxiety. I’m passionate about empowering women of all ages to manage their money well and become financially independent, regardless of their household income. I'm not trained in finance so not able to give advice. I enjoy sharing about side hustle ideas, savvy tips and doing the best you can with what you have. I’m embracing a minimalist lifestyle and strive to live with less clutter in my home and schedule. I'm far from perfect and my house isn't either. I still have too much stuff and am a work in progress. I hope that being real, I am relatable. I am growing and learning and trying to do a little better each day. I write about my journey through motherhood and navigating this stage of life. I don't sugarcoat the tough stuff. Parenting is hard. I love seeing mothers thrive in their season, share the highs and lows, laugh together and offer support when times are tough. I am passionate about getting outside with my children and encouraging other families to do the same. I am happiest when I am moving my body and outdoors in nature. This has always been important to me but even more so now that I am a mother. Parenting boys is different to girls. Being inside all day is not fun for everybody. They need to move their bodies and have space to run, jump and explore. I started an Instagram page a few years back under the name moneysavvymamma. I thought we were doing okay with money. A friend suggested I share some tips. Before long, I realised that there were so many people doing way better than us. I felt insecure, embarrassed even. I felt like I had nothing to contribute that would be of much use. I was encouraged to keep on going. I posted about a range of things from a range of topics. I tried to set up different pages but that seemed like too much work. I couldn't commit. I decided to continue posting about a broad range of topics on the one page. It's not advised to do this. You're supposed to find a niche and hone in on this. I just can't do that. I like variety. My brain likes variety. I don't want to be restricted to a topic. I don't want to write within the lines. Give me free space, a blank page to scribble on and I thrive. After much consideration, I changed my handle to 'SavvyMamma.' It's not perfect but I needed the 'money' part gone. I needed a name to better reflect who I am and what I do. I don't always write about savvy tips nor am I the most savvy person around. I just strive to do better, to be better. Thanks for swinging by. This site is a work in progress. I have plenty of ideas filling dozens of notebooks, hundreds of draft articles, and thousands of notes in my phone. Ideas are not my problem. I aspire for bigger things, to write for a bigger audience. To become a published author. To encourage women and mothers and families. To inspire teachers. To entertain children. Pregnancy and mothering young children has consumed my energy and time. As I look to enter a new season of schooling and sleep, I hope to write more, finish what I start and drink my coffee hot. I can't wait to connect with you. Mel xx

Simple ways for mums to grow their money

Parenting can be expensive. As every dollar counts and every moment offers opportunities, smart mums know that growing money is more than a necessity, it’s an art. Below are some effective strategies to help mothers not only save some cash but transform them into flourishing financial gardens.

Whether it’s managing household budgets stealthily or saving more for future dreams, here’s how you can turn financial dreams into realities.

What is cashback and how does it work?

Have you heard of cashback? These sites can seem too good to be true. How you get money for shopping? How does it even work? Rest assured that cashback is not a scam. When used correctly, cashback sites can take you from a smart shopper to a savvy shopper. What Is Cashback? Cashback sites seek […]

Is it ever okay to comment on someone’s grocery shop?

I was recently doing a grocery shop at Aldi. This in itself, is not all that exciting. It’s one of those boring tasks that we need to get done. Something happened that made me feel defensive. It was unhelpful. It was not welcomed. It made me hate grocery shopping more than I normally do. Shopping […]

3 reasons why a hospital stay can feel like a break for mums

I recently had a hospital stay for a minor scheduled surgery. It was a long time coming. I needed to have the procedure. A few days beforehand, my husband asked how I was feeling about it. “Honestly? Excited to have a break!” I admitted. My husband laughed. He reminded me that it was indeed surgery. […]

Bringing to life a minimalist, low-maintenance garden that ls lush like no other

If you are unsure how to create a garden that is both welcoming and easy to maintain, minimalism may be the answer you’ve been looking for. A minimalist design for your lawn, yard, or garden space is a great option to add all the lifestyle and security features you need, practise your gardening skills, and […]

How to listen to audiobooks for free

Wanting to listen to audiobooks but can’t justify the cost? This is where the library apps come in. These are fabulous and free. My husband stumbled across them one day. He was trying to find a savvy way of listening to audiobooks. He didn’t need to buy them, simply wanted to borrow.He discovered two apps that he could download for free, to listen to audiobooks for free. It wasn’t just audiobooks. He could borrow eBooks and magazines too.

3 external areas to concentrate on home improvements

You spend a lot of time in the four walls of your home. So much so that when it comes to planning any home improvement projects, you tend to concentrate on the ones you’re going to do inside instead of planning any improvements outside. While it makes sense to prioritise the inside because that’s where […]

Getting your garden ready for sale

When you are selling your home, chances are you spend a whole lot of time getting the interior of the property into good shape by giving it a fresh lick of paint and moving out some of the less desirable clutter, for example. What about the garden? Yes, you might mow the lawn and trim […]

How is home design becoming more sustainable?

In recent years, there’s been a huge shift towards sustainable living, and this goes as far as the actual designs of homes that are being created. More homeowners and builders are recognising the importance of using eco friendly materials to reduce environmental impact and create healthier living spaces, and overall designs that use less energy and help us to reduce out carbon footprint.

Unsponsored Thermomix Review

So you’re thinking about buying a Thermomix. You do some searching online and find a bunch of amazing reviews. You see influencers chatting about their Thermomix and raving about how great it is. You see social media pages and vlogs from consultants who assure you that it’s a purchase that you won’t regret.
It puts your mind at ease. You can see that it’s an amazing machine. After all, if everyone is saying that, it must be true, right?
This is where reviews can be tricky. How do you know which ones are legit? Which ones are unbiased?

Unlocking success in vacation home rentals

Are you ready to dive into the thrilling world of vacation home rentals? You’re in for an exhilarating adventure! With the escalation of travel and the constant quest for unique accommodations, there has never been a better time to plunge into this profitable market.

Equal pay, equal play? It’s time for equality in tennis

Is it time we had true equality for tennis? At this time of year, I love watching the Australian Open. It’s part of our summer tradition. As someone who didn’t grow up playing tennis, I watch on in admiration as they play. They are highly talented sportspeople. I can’t help but feel inspired. I love […]

6 ways of keeping yourself entertained for a weekend at home

Spending a weekend at home doesn’t have to be boring. In fact, it can be a perfect opportunity to unwind, indulge in hobbies, and recharge for the upcoming week. Here are six engaging ways to keep yourself entertained and make the most of your weekend at home. Plan a Movie Marathon One of the most […]

Get your home back in shape: your guide to sprucing up your space

Are you looking at your living space and thinking it could use a bit of a facelift? You’re not alone! Sprucing up your home can be a fun and rewarding project. From the living room to the backyard, let’s walk through some easy yet effective ways to get your home back in shape. And guess what? You don’t need to be a DIY guru to make it happen!

Author: thesavvymamma

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