My mum raised 4 kids on a single parent pension. We always had meat and veg for dinner and she made sure that we had lunch (sandwiches) and fruit for recess. We didn't have the best of anything but we made do with what we had.

I am currently having #5 and we are starting our vegie patch and getting chooks. We do have a mortgage and some cc debt but not too much. I try to pay things like rates and water and electricity fortnightly as it is easier for us than a big bill at the end. I have just put in a solar hot water system and will get about $3000 back in the rebates.

I shop mainly at Aldi and can get most of everything we need there. If I can't get it there then Bilo is great and still cheaper than Woolies or Coles. Our local butcher has great specials on bulk meats and I can get heaps of meat in his $35 special and it will feed us for a week.

I will also check out savingmum. Having other saving hints is great.