Need a budget.

We'll hear whether it's yay or nay on the car loan this afternoon, I now know why I've never personally gone for loan before, they make you jump through hoops. This will be our first brand spanking new car, in the past we have had second-hand ones but that's a gamble buying someone else's problems. We found out one car had to have under water at one stage. Our last car was almost new - it was a demo, was a few months old but only test driven, we had the cash to buy that at the time. But now 10 years later it's becoming a money drain, as soon as we have money saved, something goes wrong with it and we are forking out to fix it and then find that the worst problem hasn't been fixed.

We both need better paying jobs, I especially need one with reliable hours and less travelling time.

As well as working out a budget, we need to change how we grocery shop. At the moment my husband does much of it, he started when I was pregnant with our second child and found he enjoyed it. But I have a problem with how much junk he buys and then I usually have to head out to buy what I consider as esstentials. Got home yesterday to find there were chocolates, individual packs of biscuits and packaged popcorn in the pantry. This is after I told him not to buy them anymore because I will be baking more in future, he thinks they are essential for the kid's snacks. I had baked Snowballs the night before just for that reason. We waste food here left, right and centre and often buy takeaway. I've been pulling the reins in on the takeaways for myself lately - no more buying lunch from the expensive and only cafe near work and finding quick meals to cook up when I'm in a hurry. The main problem I have is when the kids and I head to the shops, as soon as we are through the door one of them mentions they are hungry. Then it's the husband, he goes out to soccer on Wednesday and Fridays, brings himself home burgers afterwards.

We both spend too much on non food related items, husband mostly spends on DVD, computer related, Cds and other recreational items. I spend on things I just have to have, craft items. I've started reining in on my purchases, I'll put those have to have items back, to think about for a while, either I'll not purchase or find it much cheaper elsewhere. Recently I picked up a beautiful tablecloth marked down to $24, didn't want it as a tablecloth but for the fabric. I carried it around the shop wondering what to use the fabric for, but eventually got tired of carrying it so put it back thinking I could just get it before leaving. I ended up purposely leaving without it and even though I have thought about it since but have decided against it.

The next Spring cleaning catagory has been announced at Beautiful 2 God, it's the master bath - WOO HOO, I already did mine as part of the master bedroom. I can relax this week or get started elsewhere. But I will be diligent about keeping the rooms already done up to scratch.

Snowballs recipe.
This is very much like Macroons but without the work and only has 2 ingredients. They would be great treat for those with egg allergies and intolorance.

3 cups desicated coconut
1 tin of condensed milk (395 ml)

Mix coconut and milk together, place on to baking trays in tablespoon sized heaps (smaller if you wish) and bake in a moderate oven for 10-12 minutes until golden.

They are delicious still warm from the oven, the outside is crisp and the inside moist. They do loose their crispness in storage but it is replaced by a lovely chewy texture.