Happy New Year!! Week 1 of the 52 week Money Challenge

Happy New Year!! I hope have had a relaxing, safe and enjoyable Christmas and New Year with your loved ones.  I certainly did but now its time to get back into my routine of writing and blogging.  After a few weeks off and taking hardly any photos or writing a thing, I feel a bit like "What will I have to blog about now..." I feel a bit rusty and I'm hoping I haven't lost my mojo but I'm not putting too much pressure on myself to perform.  

Firstly, I'd like to share some photos of my New Years Eve Dinner I had with some old and new friends.  I'm hoping this becomes a new tradition as I love cooking for my loved ones and it really was a great way to see in the new year....lots of good food, good champers and company.  We started with some gorgeous cheeses and then had lots of little dishes as our main.  I find this the easiest way to feed 10 or more people as everyone can just load their own plate family style. As I'm a fussy entertainer, I started the day before prepping bits and pieces so its easier on the day.  I was lucky to have a wonderfully eager apprentice who was happy for me to bark out the orders! It went as smoothly as hoped.

This is my of my favourite combo's, blue cheese (this is a King Island), a good  drizzle of honey from Glenormiston and walnuts

Sorry not the best pic~pomegranate molasses chicken with rose petals and burghal 'tabouli' and chick pea & almond salad   

Whole roasted scotch fillet with rosemary salt on a bed of red onions which I used as an accompaniment.  Add water to the bottom and keep topping up for your jus~great way to feed a hungry crowd

Freshly dug boiled spuddies with butter and mixed herbs

Baby truss tomatoes with mint & basil

It was hard to take the photos with everyone eager to pounce. There was also a penne pasta salad with roasted pumpkin & pinenuts, spinach and Meredith Goats cheese feta, a Caesar salad and last but not least connoisseur vanilla icecream with Maggie Beer's salted brandy caramel sauce, heavenly!! I definately need a week at a health spa where you can only eat air and greens but my its been worth the Christmas bulge!!

Ok, lets get down to business. A few weeks ago I mentioned this money challenge.  For those who don't remember or didn't see the first post, here is a recap....

What if I told you by this time next year you could save more than $1,300? Would you be keen to try?  What if I also told you, you won't notice the amount you will need to commit to saving?  Here it is in black and white, the 52 week Money Challenge.

All you need is a large glass jar or go and get yourself a big money box.  I've brought myself one of those cheap ones from the $2 shop you can't get into unless you crack out the can opener.  I can't be trusted with a removable lid, the temptation would be too great!    You could also open an online account and transfer the money electronically each week.  Under NO circumstances are you to use this money!! comprendre!? 

Print off this sheet if you want to or mark each week on your calendar.  Of course, in the early weeks, you can put in more than say $2 for Week 2, you might do $5 instead especially if you feel you will struggle at the end of the challenge with the 40 and 50 week allotment, I'm definately doing this and have already started with a little kitty to get the ball rolling.  Keep a tally and you can minus that off those weeks as you go.  So if the first week of January you put in $21, put a line through week 50 and make it $30 instead, hope that makes sense.   You don't have to, just stick to the same amount of money as the week of the year and you will have a cool $1,378 at the end of the year to either make your emergency fund, pay down on any debt, pay school fees/uniforms/shoes or just for a rainy day.

Every week I will remind you, follow me on facebook or keep and eye out on the blog for reminders.  I'm so excited!! This to me seems so easy and painless with a lovely reward at the end of the year.  Who's in?

I'm looking forward to the new year ahead, I have a feeling its going to be a good one.  Have any of you made any resolutions? Do you do a list or just wing it? This year I've taken a break from my tradition of them being around weight and fitness, this year for me there is no list but I'm going to be all about whats best for my health, and focusing on being more mindful and grateful, letting things go more and not sweating the small stuff.  Easy words, harder to live but I'm willing to give it a try.  

Ciao, Jan