how did you/how would you do it or any tips/suggestions

[Rainbow_Mumma]

exactly m2osb i have to start somewhere and thats what i thought having a goal was.

i didnt mean to come across snappy before but all i was asking for was saving help and i do (i really do!) appreciate all your advice and this is why we arent running into it straight away and want to save as much as we can first but you have to start somewhere dont you, why cant i start here?

the house we saw was a LOT more expensive that most houses in the area the median house prices are around 100,000 cheaper so this was based on the maximum we would have to pay stamp duty all included i believe to own a home and get a deposit you have to have a goal and this was our goal we were working towards yes things change we may not get it in 3 years we may get it in 10 by then we will have a LOT saved.
In around 5 years when we are going tp hopefully buy all the kids will either be at school or very nearly at school so we can both work full time. I really do appreciate your advice everyone I just like to think we can do it and work towards being able to do it if we have lots of downers in our goals how will we get the motivation to see it through?
Of course we are going to look at the whats ifs etc like i said that was the most expensive senario for a house that doesnt need any work doing to it inside or out most houses around here a mortgage is what we pay in rent now hence why the old tenants here moved out they pay less now with only 10% deposit than they did rent

Olive you must have posted whilst i was typing yep the plan is a few years time as i said in my OP i wont be working until the twins are 6 months old and yes i do have guarenteed work for then i thought the way i worded it, it didnt sound like right now or soon but the joys of being behind a screen lol

[briggsy's girl]

i just read back your first post in case i misinterpretted - i don't read it as a long term thing - the angst about your rental makes it seem that it is very pressing to move, that your partner doesn't look to have any sort of steady employment, you'll be the only bread winner apart from seasonal work for your DH, and i guess many of us have replied from that perspective.

there is nothing wrong with aspiring to something - it's an admirable thing to do - i think we're all just concerned about the reality - some of us have BTDT and it's not always easy, especially if your circumstances change for the negative unexpectedly.

FWIW - if you're looking at savings

cut out all non-essentials
- make your mobiles pre paid - it's amazing how much credit you can accumulate over a few months on prepaid! we're paying less each month and getting more value - bank the difference for your savings
- ditch pay tv - if you're NEEDING to keep it, cut it back to bare basics and bank the rest of the money you'd normally spend. if you cut it off completely, give yourselves an "entertainment" budget for DVD hire etc
- borrow/swap DVD with friends if you can.
- cook from scratch - i know it can be hard when you're pregnant to find the motivation to cook from scratch, but it will save you heaps once you have the staples in the cupboard. make a plan to cook something snacky a couple of times a week to give you yummy snacks for work/school etc
- create a vegie patch - grow more than necessary during the nicer weather and freeze/preserve for winter
- use seasonal veg if you have to buy
- buy and cook in bulk - pad meals out with extra vegies rather than meat, and freeze in family or individual sized meals

mostly, don't have unrealistic expectations on your savings - dont' say "we can theoretically save 400 a fn so we WILL save it. there will always be unexpected expenses and you need to be able to face them both while saving and then once you make your move. EVERY dollar saved is a dollar closer to your goal. if you can't save 400 this fortnight, but can account for why, then it's ok. if you deprive yourselves of EVERYTHING, you will end up doing stupid things and splurging (bit like a dieter going ballistic on chocolate because they have deprived themselves of everything kwim?)

set yourself mini targets, and when you achieve them, recognise those targets. if you can, when you get a certain amount in savings, put them into managed accounts for high interest and keep adding and rolling over so you don't have access to the main part of your money

[Rainbow_Mumma]

I love the mini goals idea BG it makes a lot of sense, and i see where you are coming from yes my angst about this rental is very high and IF i had the money to id move tomorrow but I know thats not realistic or sensible.

Things we have done so far to help save:

* Change jar which is getting quite heavy!
* Growing our own veg
* We have our own livestock which will soon be artificially inseminated and keeps a regular cycle going for our meat (although this is only our 1st cycle so have bought meat in bulk until this lot have there babies and they are old enough to live without mum)
* energy saving globes
* Saving account where $20 a fortnight (minimum) goes into and doesn't get drawn out
* Gone to pre paid internet which saves us a fortune
Im sure theres more

Things to do very soon:
Get rid of pay tv just have to buy a set top box first
Downgrade my phone plan (it actually works out cheaper than the exit costs for the plan although they still charge $300 just to change plan) Lloyds already pre paid