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LtN site upgrade coming soon. We’re excited!

 

The info you need, faster

 

We’ve been working hard on a LtN site upgrade & it’s nearly ready!

Cue happy dance…

 

The idea is to make it super-easy to get the info you want to find, plus make it easier for you to use it.  

 

 

What works for you (or doesn’t…sniff)?

 

Got something to say? We love to hear what you think!

Why not leave feedback in the comments, below?

 

  • Is there something else you’d like added to LtN?
  • Is there something LtN can do better?
  • What do you love about LtN?

 

Feel free to have your say.

 

4 Easy Cheap Fish Recipes

 fish burger

Easy cheap fish recipes

 

Uh oh! Forgot to plan for Good Friday??

 

If you’re thinking about eating seafood (yep, I said, thinking about, but even non-Christians sometimes go meat-free on Good Friday. Ok, vegetarians will have to leave out the fish…), you can knock up a mornay dish or creamy pasta with just a few everyday ingredients.

Or if you’re really skint, zoom down to the servo & grab a can of tuna or salmon, bit of cheese &/or or tub of cream if you can be bothered  (yep, they’re usually open, & last minute slackers can get a few bits & pieces from most).

Half an hour or so & voila! Fish on the table.

Easy. Cheap. Simple.

 

Make do with a can of tuna & some pasta, rice or bread plus these tips to flash it up like a pro.

 

Tuna mornay

 

A creamy comfort food favourite, & it’s super easy. 

 

tuna mornay

 

Ingredients

  • 1 cup rice or pasta (like penne, spirals or bows)
  • 2 tbsn butter
  • 2 tblsp plain flour
  • 2 cups milk
  • drained can of tuna (largish, about 400g)
  • 1 cup grated cheese
  • salt & pepper

Optional:

  • 1 cup mixed frozen vegetables
  • small tin of creamed corn
  • bit of mustard

Method

  • Preheat oven to moderate (180C/ 350F)
  • Put the rice or pasta on to boil.
  • Melt butter in a pan, then take off heat & stir in flour. Put back on heat, stirring for 2 mins (don’t burn it).
  • Take off heat & add milk gradually, stirring constantly until a bit thicker. Add cheese. Add tuna. If using, add the creamed corn.
  • Season. If using, add frozen veggies to almost cooked rice or pasta.
  • Cook a few more minutes until rice or pasta & veggies are cooked, then rinse them & put into an oven dish.
  • Spread the tuna mix over the top. Sprinkle with grated cheese & bread crumbs if using and bake a half hour or so until browned.

 

 Salmon pasta

 

Moreish, creamy, decadent, easy, fast. What’s not to love???

 

salmon pasta

 

Ingredients

  • 2 cups pasta
  • 1 1⁄2 cups cream
  • 1 (largish) can salmon, preferably red & skinless/boneless
  • 1⁄4 cup grated or flaked parmesan or tasty cheese
  • salt and pepper
  • chopped spring onions or chives if you have them

Method

  • Cook pasta then drain well.
  • Bring cream to the boil in a big pot until thickened a bit (about 3 mins).
  • Stir in drained can of salmon , cheese and pasta.
  • Season and toss.
  • Sprinkle with chives or spring onions and serve with extra cheese.

 

 Fish cakes or burgers

 

Easy patties to serve with sauce or whack into a burger. Mmmm. Burgers.

 

fish burger

 

 Ingredients

  • 2 medium-large potatoes, peeled and halved
  • about 450g or so chopped fresh fish fillets, or canned fish, or leftover cooked fish
  • Tbspn butter
  • Tblspn grated onion
  • 1 egg
  • oil for frying
  • chopped fresh herbs if you have them

Method

  • Boil potatoes in a pot of water until almost cooked.
  • If using fresh fish, add the fish and cook until they are both soft, then drain. If using cooked or canned fish, add it after the potatoes are cooked.
  • Add butter, onion, egg  & herbs if using & mash it all together.
  • Shape the mixture into patties.
  • Heat oil in a frypan over medium heat then fry the patties on both sides until golden brown.
  • Serve with sweet chilli or lemon juice or whatevs, or in bread or buns, with salad and mayo. Yummo.

Thai option:

  • If you have them, you could add a little fish sauce (tspn or so), red curry paste (2-3 Tbspns), lime juice (Tbspn or so), bit of garlic or fresh chopped coriander to spice things up.
  • Stir together some peanut butter, coconut milk or cream, soy sauce, lime juice & sweet, hot or chopped fresh chilli over a medium heat until blended for a tasty sauce.

 

Crumbed fish

 

Lucky enough to have actual fish fillets? Here’s a classic easy way to serve them.

 

fish closeup

 

Ingredients

  • Fish fillets (no skin)
  • lemon juice if you have it
  • salt & pepper
  • plain flour
  • eggs (beaten)
  • breadcrumbs (cut & crumble up some leftover bread finely)
  • oil for frying

Method

  • Squeeze lemon juice over fish if using
  • Put flour in a shallow bowl, put the beaten eggs in another one, and the breadcrumbs (seasoned with salt & pepper) in another.
  • Dunk both sides of the fish in flour, then egg, then breadcrumbs.
  • Heat the olive oil in a frying pan over a medium heat and shallow fry the fish for about 2 minutes each side until cooked through (check the fish flakes away from your knife).
  • If you’re cooking a fair bit, keep the fish warm in a low oven while you cook the rest.

Enjoy!

 

18 Tips To Cut Phone Bills

2 thumbs up

 

Easy ways to cut phone bills

 

If you’re looking at new phone and internet plans for a new house, getting a new mobile plan, or maybe you’ve already signed up, got the bill, then freaked out when you can’t pay (yep, been there, done that), there are things you can do to cut your phone bills. And they’re not hard to do.

Check out these simple ways to either keep your phone costs lower from the start, or cut phone bills that are too high to handle.

 

Starting a plan from scratch?

 

Low-budget options

 

check The cheapest option with phones is a landline phone (set to local calls only) and/or a pre-paid mobile, so you only spend what you have.

check You can use the free wifi at your local library, place of study, Maccas or other takeaway food store with freebie wifi.

check Or you could just pay as you go at an internet café, so you don’t rack up a massive wifi bill until you figure out how much extra cash you’ll have to spend.

 

Think twice before rushing into a long phone contract.

Paying month-to-month or prepaying your mobile gives you flexibility, plus won’t cost more than you can afford.

 

If you have more to spend

 

More cash means more choices, but you’ll need to know which services you want and the way you plan to use them to find the best plan.

 

check Work out what you can actually afford to spend.

check Write a list of each service you want (like home phone, mobile, broadband or whatever).

check Then think about what you are going to mainly use them for and write that down too.

 

 

List stuff like:

  • Will the home phone be mainly local or calls to mobiles?
  • Will your mobile be mainly calls or texts?
  • What internet connection do you want and what will you mostly use it for?
  • Do you want pay tv or anything else packaged in?

 

check Next, check out some phone and internet comparison websites to compare bundled options.

check Be picky and compare a few sites, as comparison plan sites often work with retailers so mightn’t actually choose the best value plan for you.

 

New sites are springing up all the time, so try searching for phone comparison plans in your area. 

 

Some places to start?

 

For Aussies:

www.youcompare.com.au or www.phonechoice.com.au for help comparing phone and internet plans and packages, or www.ozcompare.com.au or www.phonesandplans.com.au for mobile phones and plans.

US-based site www.whistleout.com (this also has links to sites for other countries).

 

Don’t sign what you don’t understand!

 

check Once you’ve found a plan you’re interested in, ask the company for a Critical Information Summary (CIS), which can help you understand (in fairly simple terms) what you’re actually signing up for.

This is a free document and has to be provided to you on request by service providers.

check Ask someone with more experience to help you read the contract before you sign up. Don’t sign up until you understand it.

check Check the cooling off period in the contract. This is how long you get to change your mind.

 

Beware extra charges!

 

check Watch for extra charges on things like internet download limits or movies-on-demand, and stick to the amounts you’ve signed up for, or you’ll get a nasty shock at bill time.

 

Going overseas? Plan ahead! 

 

check Turn off anything that regularly updates, like game apps.

check Be super careful if you plan to use your phone overseas (you might actually be better to get a cheap pre-paid one when you get there), otherwise your next bill could cost a mint.

 

Taking calls from other people when you’re out of the country, or even listening to other people’s voicemails, can cost you a fortune. 

 

Chop your mobile bill

 

check Go paperless with your bills as it’s sometimes cheaper.

check Check your bill for extra charges – sometimes what you thought was a one-off may recur.

check Text instead of call where possible, and watch any internet charges (try to use free internet available in some public places).

check Delete your voicemails straight away as you usually have to pay to listen to them.

 

Got a complaint?

 

Phone and internet service providers need to provide a minimum level of service, or you don’t have to continue with the contract.

So if you have regular problems, like bad mobile reception, for example, you can ask to terminate your plan.

In most places, you can contact a government official, like your state or territory’s telecommunications industry ombudsman in Australia, for problems with phone and/or internet services.

 

4 Quizzes: Is Your Mental Health Ok?

mental health

Need to get help with mental health?

It’s pretty common to have problems dealing with stuff sometimes, especially if something big is going on in your life, like moving house, a break-up or someone dying.

And it doesn’t even need to be a big horrible event to trigger a mental health problem, even everyday stress can get hard to handle.

 

You might need to help to get back on track

 

The good thing is that when life is hard, there’s help you can get, depending what your issues are.

Check out 28 tips for cruisy mental health, including where to get help for depression, anxiety and eating disorders.

 

Not sure if you have a problem? These quizzes can help work it out!

 

If you answer yes to more than one question it’s probably best to book into the doctor for a chat about it. Take your answers along and tell them how you feel.

 

QUIZ: Do I have a drug or alcohol problem?

 

#leavingthenest

 

Getting wasted can help you forget for a bit, but the problems just get worse after. Best bite the bullet & sort your shit out instead.

 

  1. Do you feel bad about using alcohol or drugs, or think you need to cut down?
  2. Have you tried to stop using but couldn’t?
  3. Do you lie to people about how much or often you do it?
  4. Has it caused problems with your partner, friends or family?
  5. Have you blacked out or done something while using that you regret?
  6. Have you been in trouble at work or with the law because of using?

 

See the posts on Alcohol or on Smoking Stuff & Party drugs for info & where to get help.

 

 Quiz: Am I depressed?

 

Feeling down & blue for weeks on end? Can’t seem to get going or enjoy yourself? Don’t suffer in silence. Get help.

 

  1. Do you feel kind of hopeless, helpless, guilty or worthless a lot of the time?
  2. Have you generally lost interest in things and/or do you have less energy?
  3. Are you sleeping badly? Eating more or less than usual?
  4. Is it hard for you to concentrate?
  5. Is it hard to feel happy and enjoy things?
  6. Are you angry, in pain, or being more reckless than usual?

 

Quiz: Do I have an anxiety disorder?

 

Feeling anxious or panicky? Sometimes our brains can freak out & do a fight or flight response without cause. No biggie if you Get help.

 

  1. Do you feel worried, jumpy or on edge a lot of the time?
  2. Does your heart race or you feel short of breath for no reason?
  3. Do you sometimes get nauseous, shake, feel dizzy or break into a sweat for no reason?
  4. Are your muscles often tense or do you get headaches a lot?
  5. Is it hard for you to concentrate?
  6. Are you sleeping badly? Eating more or less than usual?

 

 Do I have an eating disorder?

 

Get help for eating disorders early if possible & don’t let food run, or ruin, your life.

 

food

 

  1. Do you worry about your weight a lot?
  2. Are you strict about what foods you eat?
  3. Have you lost or gained a lot of weight?
  4. Have your periods stopped or become irregular?
  5. Do you vomit after meals or regularly take laxatives?
  6. Do you eat a lot when you are by yourself then feel guilty?

7 Cheap Easy Treats To Make

cupcakes no icing
Get your bake on, cheap & easy!

Cheap easy treats to make. Yum!

 

Keep it simple stupid recipes anyone can do.

 

Here’s a bunch of easy cheap treats to make at home out of stuff you’re likely to have lying around (mmm…2 ingredient banana pancakes anyone?).

Use up your leftovers (mmm bread & butter pud…comfort food for cold nights), or raid the pantry (pancakes, cupcakes, cookies…).

Why waste effort, time or money on sweet treats when it can be easy, cheap & yummy?

Yep. Get your sugar rush on & go crazy.

 

Popcorn

 

All you need is a bag of popcorn, a little oil & a saucepan with a lid & your movie night’s set.

 

check Heat a quarter cup of oil in a big saucepan with a good fitting lid on medium high heat (when it’s hot enough the grain of corn is meant to spin slowly, you don’t want the oil smoking ).

check Add half a cup or so of popcorn grains and cover with the lid.

check Lift up the saucepan every little while (maybe 20 seconds or so, I do it pretty often or get paranoid about them burning) and gently shake it to turn the grains.

check Keep going until the popping slows down (to a couple of pops in a few seconds). Serve with salt and butter.

 

Update: Caramel popcorn

 

OMG. Who doesn’t love caramel corn? Cheap easy treats to make don’t get much yummier!

 

check Take the half cup of corn you’ve popped and put it in a big bowl.

check Stir half a cup of butter, three quarters of a cup of sugar and a big spoonful of honey in a saucepan for about 5 minutes until dissolved.

check Bring it to a gentle boil and leave it to simmer for 5 more minutes.

check Mix it through the corn, then eat it, or cool and break it up first.

 

Pancakes

 

Sunday brunch…Easy dinner…Tasty snack…Whatever…

 

check Mix C flour, 2 eggs and about 1 ½ C milk until smooth.

check Fry a large spoonful or two into a non-stick pan (or pour some in to thinly coat the bottom) and cook gently until golden on each side, turning over when bubbly on top and set.

check Top with honey, syrup, lemon juice and sugar or whatever you feel like.

 

Update: Banana pancakes

 

Paleo. Healthy. Low-carb. Low-fat. But mainly just plain more-ish!

 

check Use around one large mashed banana to 2 beaten eggs and mix it up really well (optional: you can add cinnamon if you have it, or some peanut butter or other nut butter to the batter).

check Cook smallish-sized rounds a few minutes each side until browned (not too big because they’ll be too hard to turn, and only a low to medium heat so they cook through without burning). Voila.

check Awesome plain or with something yummy on top like nutella or maple syrup or icecream.

 

Note: if you’re using an oven to make your snack, preheat it first while you make the mixture.

 

Bread and butter pudding (stale bread made tasty)

 

Yep, it’s one of the old school easy cheap treats to make, plus it uses up stale bread and makes it deeeelish!

 

check Spread sliced stale bread and/or fruit bread with butter (and jam or honey or whatever).

check Whisk up a custard mix (use about 4 eggs, 1½C milk or non-dairy alternative and 2 Tsp sugar per 6 slices of bread).

check Halve bread slices and layer in a greased ovenproof dish, pouring egg mixture over layers.

check Bake at 180˚C (350˚F) about 45 minutes until golden brown and set. Serve plain or with icecream or cream if you have them.

 

Update: Add Liqueur

 

My tip? Kahlua is mind-blowing. Ahhhh.

 

check Simply splash in some sweet liqueur if you have some, I drizzle it on the custard (& add a bit to the custard if there’s enough).

 

Cupcakes

 

cupcakes
It’s amazing how good butter, sugar & sprinkles can taste…

 

Who doesn’t love a cupcake? Even us big kids! & they’re super easy cheap treats to make at home.

 

check Half a cup soft butter, 2/3 C sugar, 3 eggs, 1½ C SR flour (or of plain flour plus 1½ cups baking powder) and ¼C milk (add a teaspoon of vanilla extract if you have it, or some thinly grated lemon rind or zest)

checkMix until smooth then spoon into patty cases (don’t fill right up) or a greased cupcake pan.

check Bake on 180˚C (350˚F) about 20 minutes until golden.

check If you can wait…cool them completely, then ice them (if you don’t wait until they’re cold, the icing will melt off). If you can’t wait, whack on some nutella or jam, lemon juice & sugar or something else yummy.

 

Icing

 

Put this on something, like your cupcakes, or a biscuit, or your tongue…

 

check Mix well: Half a cup of soft butter with 2 cups icing sugar mixture & 2 tablespoons of milk.

check Colour or flavour (vanilla, maple syrup, cocoa, coconut) if you like.

 

Cookies

 

Good for granny visits. Good for the munchies. Another of the easy cheap treats to make with not much stuff.

 

check Mix half a cup each of soft butter and sugar, beat in an egg (and tsp vanilla extract if you have it), add a cup each of plain flour and SR flour (or 2 cups plain plus a tea spoon of baking powder) and a tablespoon of milk, and mix until smooth.

check Put heaped spoon-fulls on a greased (or lined with baking paper if you have it) baking tray and flatter them a little (leave space between each one).

check Bake at 180˚C (350˚F) about 15 minutes.

 

Update: stuff to add

 

checkChoc-chips or chopped up nuts

check &/or you can swap out a bit of the flour for some cocoa or desiccated coconut

 

 

11 Ways To Cut Costs!

cheap stuff you need
Why pay more than you have to??

 

Ways to cut costs

check Use less of things, or, if you can, use them at non-peak times when it’s cheaper (usually 10pm to 6am weekdays, and on weekends).

check Turn the lights off when you leave the room.

check Turn appliances off at the wall. Stand-by power is when something is turned off but still switched on at the power point – it adds up to as much as 10% of your power bill.

check Put a jumper on or use blankets instead of using heaters or air-con. Duh.

check Take shorter showers (or shower with a friend…).

check Don’t leave the tap running while you brush your teeth or wash your face.

check Get dripping taps or running toilets fixed straight away.

check Don’t waste cash on interest. Pay off credit cards on time or cut them up and use a debit card.

 

#thinkrich #makethebigbucks #saveyourpennies
Save your pennies & they soon add up to something…hopefully something fun!

 

Credit card debt. Yuk. You don’t need it.

Transfer your balance to a zero-interest account if you can pay it off, or keep transferring it to other zero interest accounts until it’s paid off.

 

Can’t control your spending?

I hear you! Try freezing your card in a ziplock bag in water – by the time it defrosts you can work out if you really need to spend the cash (but that won’t help you with PayPal…uh oh.)

 

Even more ways to cut costs

check Bulk-buy for public transport and other costs, like discount movie passes. Same with non-perishable household stuff, like laundry powder, rice, oil etc. If you can splash out more you can usually save in the long run (but work it out to make sure you ARE getting a discount).

check Get deals online or from newspapers or coupons for things like meals and entertainment, but don’t buy stuff just because it’s cheap – it’s not a bargain if you don’t need it (note to self…).

check Search “coupon” or “promo code” and the website before you hit the checkout online.

28 Tips For Cruisy Mental Health

#stayingsane #mentalhealthinfo #healthymind
Cruise through life’s rough patches with these tips for a healthy mind

 

  1. Healthy mental health
  2. Simple…yet effective
  3. Get your shit done
  4. Ways to relax
  5. Don’t self medicate
  6. Mental illness myths debunked
  7. What to do in a crisis
  8. Don’t make it the end of your world
  9. When and where to get help

 

Healthy mental health

 

Just like your body, your mind needs care, and can get sick. Get help early and it’s usually easier to fix.

 

Hopefully you’re cruising along enjoying the ride in your new place. But, if something crops up, like illness or even just trouble coping with stuff in general, you might need help.

Whatever the problem, it can get better with time. Seriously.

 

No matter what your problem, just take a deep breath, do something nice for yourself, take small steps to fix the issue, and get help if you need it.

 

And if you ARE up shit creek mentally, here’s the paddle, with info on when to ask for help, where to get it from, plus other useful tips and techniques to make life easier.

 

Feel free to contact us or post in the comments if you need to have a chat with someone.

 

Simple…yet effective

 

Yes, it’s a cliché. And it sounds stupidly simple, but eating well, sleeping well and exercising staves off a lot of problems – physical AND mental.

 

 

check Sure, you can hook into junk food, as long as you mostly eat well.

check Stay up till sunrise sometimes, but get a good sleep most of the time.

check Can’t be bothered to sweat it out in a gym? A walk is fine if it gets your heart rate up, and it doesn’t have to be all in one go – three short walks are as good as one long one.

check Also spend some time with friends, hanging out, having fun and talking.

 

Believe me, you’ll manage life’s stresses much better if you try to keep your lifestyle fairly good in general (plus not enough sleep can make you put on weight – true story).

 

Keep your routine pretty healthy and you’ll cope better if something goes wrong.

 

Get your shit done

 

Do stuff on time

 

check Whatever responsibilities you have – whether they’re uni or work related, paying bills, or whatever – try not to put them off (no matter how tempting the surf, partying, tv, sleeping etc.).

check Start early; get it done; stress less. It’s time management 101, not brain surgery (but why couldn’t I ever process that??? Oh well, do as I say, not as I do.).

 

Ways to relax (healthy…mkay)

 

Relaxation techniques are a healthy way to wind down rather than getting trashed and passing out

 

check Try muscle relaxation

  • Lie down, close your eyes and start with your toes
  • Tense them then relax and let them flop, move to your knees and tense then relax, ditto, all the way up to your eyes and the top of your head
  • Chill out for a few minutes then gradually move things bit by bit – wiggle your toes, knees, fingers, etc. then open your eyes

check The ideal pre-bed routine for good sleep 

  • Drink a cup of something relaxing (like chamomile tea or warm milk, not rum and coke)
  • Have a warm bath
  • Do a bit of reading – or share a bit of rumpy-pumpy with someone close ;-)

check Keep your bedroom for sleep and sex if possible so your mind switches off faster when you get into bed.

 

Screen time (ipad, computer, even tv) = bad before bed because it doesn’t let your brain wind down; ditto caffeine or too much alcohol or drugs – your sleep quality suffers. 

 

Don’t self-medicate

 

 Drugs or alcohol really helped me deal with my breakup. Said no one, ever.

 

check If you’re stressing out or having trouble coping it’s tempting to have a few more drinks to relax, or a joint, or five bucket bongs, or whatever it is you do to unwind. Don’t.

Seriously, getting wasted will only make problems worse. Shit doesn’t get sorted by starting an addiction.

If you’ve already been using something a fair bit and aren’t sure if you have a problem or not, keep your eye out for the upcoming QUIZ: Do I have a drug or alcohol problem?– “yes” answers can mean you need help to get things under control.

 

If you need help, start with your doctor, and if they aren’t helpful try another one

 

You need someone you can talk to honestly (remember, what you say to your doctor is confidential unless there’s a serious risk of harm to yourself or someone else).

Once you’ve got a good doctor, they can help you work out what you need, like counselling, a support group, medication, rehabilitation or even just a friendly ear to discuss stuff – but catch a problem early and it’s usually easier to fix.

 

Natural remedies: There are plenty of rubbish and fake products along with the good natural treatments and remedies. Check out if there’s any proof or someone’s just trying to make a buck before you shell out your money. If you need help working it out, contact me and I’ll try to help.

 

Some proven herbal remedies? St John’s wort (mild to moderate depression), valerian (sleep problems), cranberry (mild UTIs), plus lots of products that get used in pharmaceuticals.

Remember, just because it’s natural doesn’t mean it’s safe though – the hemlock plant is a deadly poison that grows wild, for example.

And make sure you tell your doctor if you’re taking any natural remedies, as herbals can interact with pharmaceuticals.

 

Mental illness myths debunked

 

There’s a lot of ideas floating around about mental illness that are just plain wrong

 

  1. It’s not common: Actually it is – around 1 in 5 adults have a mental disorder (higher in young adults).
  2. People get violent: Not usually – people with a mental illness are no more violent than the general population (except to themselves).
  3. It’s all in your head: No it’s not – mental illness has physical symptoms like sleep and appetite changes, panic attacks and hallucinations.
  4. You need to be zonked out on pills: No you don’t – not all treatment needs medication. Things like relaxation techniques, exercise and talk therapy may be enough, and there are different medication and community support options. Discuss with your doctor.
  5. It’s a life sentence: No matter WHAT the mental illness, most people fully recover; others may have occasional episodes with years in between and a MINORITY of severe cases need medication and management long-term.

 

What to do in a crisis

 

If a crisis happens to you or someone you know and you’re frightened for your safety, contact emergency (911 or 000) for police help.

 

Otherwise, in many places you can call your local area health service for free, 24/7 to ask for help (web-search it under mental health service in your area) – they can advise you or may organise a crisis team or other response.

Check out Useful websites: mental health, for more links to help services.

 

Warning: Drugs like marijuana, LSD, ecstasy and others can trigger mental illness – it’s best to avoid them, especially if you’ve a family history of mental illness.

 

Don’t make it the end of your world

 

Tomorrow’s always a new day…

 

Sometimes just being an adult is overwhelming (there’s a lot of stuff to learn!) but it can get especially hard if there are added issues (like some kind of crisis, for example, or substance abuse, eating disorders or mental illness).

Don’t compare your problems to others’: we all have our own struggles.

No matter what – whether you’ve lost someone, been dumped, you’re failing uni, are addicted to something – you CAN deal with it – bit by bit, step by step. Even when it’s hard to see past what’s happening, to how to fix things, believe it or not, it will get better. Time does heal.

Don’t do something you’ll regret. Wait the trouble out.

 

If everything’s falling apart… If it feels like your world is a disaster, STOP FOR A MINUTE! It can mean the difference between getting help in a rough patch and not coping.

 

check Make a cup of tea (or whatever is soothing for you, preferable not hard liquor though). Go sit outside. Feel the sun on your skin. Sip.

check THIS TIME WILL PASS – think past it. Realise you’re lucky to be alive. You’ll get to do fun things and get to see special things in the future.

check Remember, everything is manageable with time (ok, maybe not so manageable if you’re a fledgling serial killer…). But, seriously, time WILL help, and help IS available to get on track.

check Make the choice to nurture yourself – it’s better than doing something destructive.

check When you’re ready, take things step by step, in little nibbles. Don’t try to fix everything straight away then freak out.

 

When and where to get help

 

If you feel you’re having trouble coping you probably need some help – often, things like depression creep up on you.

 

check Make an appointment to discuss things with your GP, university counsellor or book in with a psychologist

check Plus there are a lot of resources available online you can check out – watch out for our upcoming post for info and help links.

 

If you’re not sure whether you have a problem, watch for our upcoming post with 4 quizzes to help work it out, like the QUIZ: Am I depressed or QUIZ: Do I have an anxiety disorder? Make sure you sign up or like us on social media to get it.

Useful Websites: Mental Health

Reach out for help

Your local doctor is a good starting point to find out what services are available and best for you. Other helpful resources are listed below.

 

Need to talk to someone?

 

check In Australia and NZ, you can call lifeline 24 hours a day on 131114 (Oz) or 0800 543 354 (NZ) to talk.

check In the USA and Canada call suicide prevention lifeline on 1-800-273-8255.

check In the UK and Ireland call Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90 (UK) or 1850 60 90 90 (ROI) or see www.papyrus.uk.org.

check For non-urgent situations, you could see your GP, or look up information online.

 

Places to get mental health info

 

Australia

 

www.sane.org
www.headspace.org.au
www.beyondblue.org.au

 

The US

 

In the USA, www.helpguide.org/mental has help links and info on mental illness including eating disorders.

 

The UK

 

In the UK, see www.nhs.uk for health info and support services.

 

People to call for help

 

Call for emergency police help if you’re scared for your or someone else’s safety

Phone your emergency line, e.g. ‘000’ or ‘911’ and ask for the police

 

In Australia, you can also call your local area health service 24 hr mental health free call (just websearch it, look it up in the phonebook or call directory assistance). They can organise a crisis response team if you need one.

Elsewhere there will be different services available, depending on where you live.

 

If your problem is related to drugs or alcohol

 

Go to Useful websites: Drugs or alcohol for contact info for help for yourself or for a friend or family member.

Checklist: Make A Budget (Easy & Free)

#getrichquick #makethebigbucks #cutcosts
Where does the money go? A budget shows you.

 

Counting costs & budgeting

You need a budget to keep track of how much money you have coming in versus how much your expenses are (or are likely to be).

A budget helps you work out what you can actually afford to spend, plus how much you need to save to avoid nasty surprises when the bills arrive. This helps you plan ahead so you don’t end up in debt.

So, ok, you’ll need  to make a budget, and some good financial habits like saving and paying things on time wouldn’t hurt.

To be honest, this would kinda be a case of do as I say, not as I do, though…but I’m trying…

 

Don’t forget to factor in fun stuff in your budget (within reason), or you probably won’t stick to it.

 

How to make a budget

check First, make a list of what you spend money on.

check Add in any new costs, such as rent, and don’t forget to factor in something for bills (look at a friend’s bills or your parents’ to get a rough estimate or just put aside an amount each week, until you figure your costs out).

check Most bills, such as rent, utilities and credit cards are paid pretty often, but other bills, like insurance, get paid less often – don’t forget to put an amount in for them.

check Subtract the total amount of expenses from how much money you’ll have coming in from work and anything else.

 

Easy, printable budget checklist.

Check out the printable Basic budget checklist for a simple way to work out what your budget needs to cover.

 

#save #makeabudget #easyfinancialplanning

 

Do you have enough money? If you don’t have enough to cover your basic expenses and you can’t reduce them, you might have to try and get some extra work to make up the difference.

Remember, some things are not actually essential…like Saturday ciggies, that Thai place on Thursday, Sunday arvo beers (oh, ok, it’s happy hour) or new red shoes, but budget for them and it’s all good.

 

alcohol, wine, spirits, hangover, overdose, #leavingthenest
Nope, not essential, even if it IS fruit…

 

Don’t pay too much!

Get the best plans available for you. See Get connected & manage your bills for how to do this with utilities.

 

Look out for the upcoming LtN post on keeping your phone bills down. Also watch out for our upcoming post with 12 ways to cut your costs that everyone can do to start saving dollars straight away!

Sign up on the homepage or Like us on social media to stay informed.

 

8 Tips for Getting Along with Housemates…

I think the champers has made my head fuzzy
I think the champers has made my head fuzzy

How to keep things cruisy with housemates

Some problems break up share-houses time and time again. Read on to learn how to avoid them!

These kinds of common conflicts can even destroy really great friendships. But if you go in with your eyes open and head off trouble, hopefully you can keep things cruisy at home.

Hint: See Getting along with housemates for more tips, plus advice on what to do if things do go awry.

 

Five common problem triggers

These are situations that could have a significant effect on your new living arrangements, but handled properly will make your new life hassle-free.

 

Potential Problem #1 – Moving in with friends


 
Getting a house with buddies can add a whole new level of extra fun. Nothing’s as cool as finding your team then hanging at home together. BUT it will only work if you start off with a good understanding of what to expect, and you have clear boundaries.

check Tip #1: Boundaries are super-important for friends who move in together.

check Tip #2: Living together is about more than getting along – you have to be fairly compatible in habits (is he a slob but you’re a neat freak? Uh oh!), plus not live in each other’s pockets or you’ll get sick of each other.

check Tip #3: Ideally, if you’re moving in with friends, make sure you keep your own life and some of your own friends.

 

#besties #leavingthenest #housematefromhell
We’re 2 peas in a pod, what could possibly go wrong?

 

Case study: Housemate from hell

Busting to move out of home, Dizzy (yep, not her real name) found a place with a former school friend. At first it was heaps of fun – decorating with beanbags and candles and enjoying the freedom to stay out late drinking vodka and raspberry. But soon cracks started appearing.

  • Dizzy made new friends and was less available. She started getting cranky phone calls from her housemate.
  • Then she noticed her toothbrush was wet each day as though used. She started carting a new one around.
  • Next, clean clothes in the cupboard turned up smelling of smoke and BO – obviously worn then put back. Then her underwear started disappearing.
  • Finally, when she woke up to her friend in bed staring at her, that was it – she asked to break the lease, and, luckily, in her case, the landlord agreed.

Of course, not everyone will fixate on their flatmate and turn into the psycho from “Single White Female” (a pretty cool movie, actually), but moving out is a huge emotional change, and anyone will get irrational, angry or upset at times. It can be trickier to manage boundaries if you’re friends first, then housemates.

That’s not to say it can’t be awesome if you give each other some space. Remember the famous saying? Absence makes the heart grow fonder. Make sure you get some.

 

Potential Problem #2 – Sex can be trouble


 
check Tip #4: Be tolerant of your flatmate. 

Many a household has fallen apart when mates live together, especially if one hooks up and the other stays solo. You might get annoyed by the lovey-dovey kissy-kissy, or even miss your old buddy. Try to grin and bear it, who knows, in a month or two it could be you acting crazy pathetic.

Worst case, you could even have a fling with your bestie’s partner. Yes, that old clichéd love triangle is a cliché for a reason. When people spend heaps of time together, one thing can (and often does) lead to another; wink, wink. But shagging a friend’s partner? Bye bye friendship. Hello, freaky talk show topic.

Remember that even if you get on really well, seem made for each other, have had too much to drink etc., each decision you make WILL, sadly, be with you for life…and possibly on facebook. Plus it’s never as exciting in the cold, hard light of day. Just like having an affair, the grass isn’t often greener in the end.

check Tip #5: If in doubt, don’t do it.

 

Potential Problem #3 – Moving in with partners


 
It can be a problem if things go pear-shaped and you’re stuck with each other and a lease you can’t get out of. No matter how hunky-dory it is now, it’s always a risk (seen the divorce rate lately?). At least go in with your eyes open and be clear on who owns what and whose name everything is in.

check Tip #6: Make sure you’re protected, just in case.

 

Starts off gr8, but who knows when things might turn frosty?
Starts off gr8, but who knows when things might turn frosty?

Variety is the spice of life

Differences make life interesting as long as you respect them – they can make for a really fun experience, and you can learn heaps of new stuff.

You might think you’d struggle to get along with someone seriously different to yourself, but scratch the surface and we’re not that different – we all eat, drink, sleep and shit, after all.
 

Potential Problem #4 – Everyone has different tastes


 
check Tip #7: People’s culinary likes and dislikes vary a lot but would it kill you to try something new? You’ll never know if you don’t try.

Of course, if some foods are out due to allergies or religion, make this clear at the start. Or if you’ve got a fussy nose and strong smells like curry, salt fish, stinky cheeses, seafood etc. make you gag, tell your prospective housemates.

You never know, though, try it and you might like it – didn’t you ever read ‘Green Eggs and Ham’ ?
 

Case study: What the hell is that smell?

Darla searched high and low for the cat poo she could smell in the room. Her flatmate kept watching tv, eating steadily.

“Hey Darla, try this”, she said.

“Sorry Pip, can’t you smell that the cat’s done a crap?”

Finally, it turned out the rancid smell was actually the stinky snack Pip was eating. Durian cake — looks bad, literally smells like shit (and tastes gross too…). But that’s just my opinion. And I like anchovies. Different strokes and all.

 

Potential Problem #5 – Dress codes


 
If you’re used to modest dress and you’ll be disturbed if someone flashes the flesh, ask about it. If people wander around half naked it’s unlikely to be the place for you. And if you’re anal about hygiene, you’re unlikely to like your flatmate’s hairy butt on your clean couch, or any other parts, anywhere, probably.

Ditto if you’re a casual flesh-flasher looking to move into a conservative environment.

check Tip #8: My advice? Check the general vibe of the place before you strip off and waltz naked to the bathroom.

 

Hilarious reading alert!


 
For heaps of funny stories about flatmates from hell, read ‘He died with a felafel in his hand’ by John Birmingham. It’s hysterical, and pretty informative. I actually recognised a few of my former flatmates.