I've worked out how much my bills are fortnightly and I pay that amount every fortnight so it covers them for the year. All the payments come straight out of my bank account so whatever is left is mine to 'play' with - after buying food.

As for food shopping, I go to Coles or Safeway and pretty much buy whatever meat is marked down then freeze it as soon as I get home. I buy fruit and veg from my local green grocer as their pricesare cheaper and the quality is better. Go shopping once a fortnight - NO MORE than that -unless it's to get bread and milk etc. I have a 'when it's gone it's gone' policy for my kids with food, which means if they eat it all in 1 dy there's no more until I go shopping next. At first they hated it and ate the whole lot but after that they realised I was serious and space out what they eat now.