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

Ways to make your home more comfortable

As a homeowner, you will want your house to be as comfortable as possible.

It’s ok to spend money on updating your home to make it more comfortable. After all, you come home and want to spend time there relaxing. Hence, if it is comfortable, you can do that.

An all-inclusive guide to eco-friendly interior design

Over 100 countries have enforced policies on sustainable consumption and production according to the 2018 UN Sustainable Development Goals Report. Although the sustainability buzz has been prevalent for just under 30 years, the need for sustainability in a person’s everyday life is more recent. Interior design is one area where sustainability is becoming particularly important. […]

35 Things I no longer buy (now that we have a Thermomix)

Now that we have a Thermomix, I don’t need to buy as many different types of food and ingredients. This reduces our grocery shop saving us money. It also keeps our pantry a little more minimal. I feel more self-sufficient. I love not having to race to the store to buy ingredients. Those that we […]

How Thermomix can help with food allergies

With food allergies, intolerances and dietary restrictions on the rise, can a Thermomix help? It’s a question worth asking. In Australia, allergies are estimated to affect around 1 in 10 babies, 1 in 20 teens and 1 in 50 adults. We all have to be more careful with the food that we buy and prepare. Catering for friends and family […]

How to create space within a family household

As your family household grows, the space that you once found spacious for you and your partner, has now become a little more limited. Whether you’re living in an apartment, a townhouse, or a larger property, as you add more to your family household, things can start to get cramped. With that being said, it’s […]

What is VACSWIM?

VACSWIM is South Australia’s summer holiday swimming program. Since the 1950s, VACSWIM has played an integral part in teaching swimming skills and water safety to children.

Australians spend a lot of time by the pool, river and beach. It is a wonderful part of our lifestyle. Sadly, drowning accounted for 339 deaths nationwide in the 2021/2022 financial year. VACSWIM seeks to change these statistics.

Their program gives our children the knowledge and skills to be competent in and around water. It is endorsed and subsidised by the SA Government.

Why MomCo might be just what you need as a mum

Have you heard of MomCo? Although motherhood is a privilege, it is also really hard. We can feel lonely and isolated. We can feel judged for our parenting choices. Lack of sleep and time for ourselves affects every part of our being. Motherhood puts a strain on our careers, finances, relationships and marriage. It’s hard […]

Why Philip Lowe’s Comments Have Angered So Many

Last week, the comments by RBA’s Philip Lowe caused widespread anger. The head of the Reserve Bank of Australia announced the twelfth interest rate rise in thirteen months before answering questions from the media.

One journalist asked how much further interest rates will rise before we see mortgage arrears or house sales. To this, Philip Lowe responded that people should “cut back spending” and “find additional hours of work.”

This comment was met with utter frustration and backlash. The public was outraged and rightly so.

Why has there been such an outpouring of anger?

Although the advice given by Lowe is not unreasonable in itself, it is hard to swallow. There are three key reasons for this:

How I took on a scammer and won

With scam messages on the rise, I decided that it was time to take one of them on for myself.
Here is the conversation that took place just before Christmas last year. Enjoy.

How to afford a Thermomix

After recently purchasing a Thermomix after years of indecision, I look back and wish I hadn’t taken so dang long. It has gotten me thinking. A product costing just over AU $2300 is not accessible to everybody. In fact, it is just out of reach for some people.
If you are struggling with the rising cost of living at the moment, you’ll know that every dollar counts. Groceries can hard to keep under budget. I know that I am finding it extra difficult. Investing in an appliance like a Thermomix might cost more upfront but can save money in the long term. Here are four ways to afford a Thermomix:

7 Days with a Thermomix: The Verdict is in

After much indecision, we finally bought a Thermomix. Twelve years ago, we went to a demo party and were impressed with what we saw. We loved how quickly it blitzed veggies and how it could perform so many functions. The food was delicious. My husband was sold. He loves gadgets and rather enjoys cooking. He […]

On International women’s day

March 8 marks International Women’s Day. People around the world take time to reflect on what the past looked like for women, what it looks like now and what we hope to see in the future. It is about education. It is about coming together. It is about action. It is about change. Women deserve […]

It’s okay to spend money

I have always prided myself on getting a bargain. I love the thrill of finding things on sale. I love seeing my money go further.

More recently though, I have realised that I need to shop smarter. I have changed the way that I spend money.

Lessons we have learned after 10 years of marriage

After recently celebrating our tenth wedding anniversary, I have been reflecting on what we have learnt during this time. Here are some thoughts I’d like to share with you:

Author: thesavvymamma

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