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

28 simple ways to improve your finances

Not having enough finances can be super stressful. It’s not something we tend to talk about. Money is still a taboo topic for many and off-limits during conversations. It’s time to change that.

Christmas is coming

Christmas can be a magical time of year. There is a buzz in the air. Children are excited for Christmas concerts, Carols by Candlelight, Christmas lights and of course presents. Most of us look forward to some well-deserved time off. It is a chance to celebrate the end of year and spend time with family […]

‘Twas two days after Christmas

Christmas is a lot. When I went over to England for a year, I realised that it’s extra busy for us in Australia in this season. Our school year goes from January to December so we have end-of-year concerts, report cards, Christmas parties, assemblies, staff dinners, Carols by Candlelight, gingerbread nights, thank-you presents etc. It’s […]

Toothpaste on the mirror: memories amongst the mess

Motherhood is messy. Parenting young children is a blessing but the exhaustion is real. The chaos is real.
It can be hard to have perspective when you’re living in the thick of it.
The saying is true: the days are long and the years are short.

It’s time to reconsider posting the back to school photo

First-day photos are milestone moments that many parents relish sharing. We can’t believe that time has gone this fast. We are so proud of what they are accomplishing, and also grieving that they are growing up. Like other parents, I’m very proud of my children. I love taking these special photos. Here’s the thing though- […]

Looking back at 1000 hours outside

As I looked back at our previous twelve months, I reflected on our time spent outside. Inspired by Ginny and her 1000 hours outside movement, I’ve made a conscious effort to get outside with my boys. It’s often not easy. It’s also not easy staying home. In this season of young children, nothing is easy. […]

Why you don’t have Tt set goals in January: permission to start slow.

I want to start off by saying that I love seeing people make goals. It can be really inspiring. Making New Year’s Resolutions is a way to stay focused and intentional. i I guess I’m just not there yet. The year has only just finished. I need some time to process what was before I […]

12 useful gift ideas for teachers

Finding the right present for your child’s teacher can be tricky. As parents, we often approach the end of the school year with exhaustion. Having the mental energy to make decisions about what to get for whom can feel overwhelming, let alone finding time to get to the shops kid-free.

With a little bit of consideration and planning in advance, you can take the pressure off during the last few weeks of school and reduce having to spend more money than you need to.

Are you frugal or are you cheap? Why the difference matters.

We all know someone in our lives who likes to skimp out on paying their fair share of the meal or skimps on putting money towards a present. They don’t own a car to save on forking out the bills but expect you to pick them up and drive them places. They might cry poor but you know they earn just as much as you, if not more. It’s stingy behaviour. It’s not cool.

So what exactly is the difference between being frugal and being cheap?

Reflections in Spring Part 2

October and November seemed to have disappeared in a flash. I’ve decided to combine these months together. I honestly can’t believe that it is December already. It has been a positive few months and I hope it has been good for you too. What has been hard? Sleep has still been difficult. We often have […]

Reflections in Spring Part 1

This month, I’ve decided to try something a little different. Teaching Brave posts monthly diary entries to her site which has inspired me to give it a go myself. Be sure to check out her wonderful pages for education, parenting and money matters content.

Like all months, September has been filled with ups and downs. There have been challenges and wins. I have been reflecting and learning. I am a work in progress, though I guess, aren’t we all?

How to reel in a buyer on marketplace

Finding a buyer on Facebook Marketplace can feel a bit like fishing. It can be a frustrating process that doesn’t seem to catch you anything, and other times can seem wonderfully easy.

The best marriage advice we ever received

Our very wise pastor and friend gave us some quality advice. He told us to live on one wage from the start of our marriage.

How to do book week on a budget

Looking for a way to save money on Book Week costumes? You’ve come to the right place. The Children’s Book Council of Australia has been celebrating Book Week since 1945. It is a great way to showcase the importance of reading. It is a chance to shine a spotlight on authors and illustrators. It provides […]

Author: thesavvymamma

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