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December 2011 Issue #004

Welcome to this month's issue.

1. A New Year
2. 2012 Finances
3. Frugal Tip of the month
4. Caramel Custard Pudding

New Beginnings

"The best thing one can do when it is raining is to let it rain." - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

New Year - New challenges.

I'm sure this year will bring with it its share of joy and perhaps a few "less joyful moments".

My advice to you when those "less joyful" moments arrive is to "let it rain". Sometimes you just can't change your situation but you can change your attitude.

Don't allow your circumstances to steal your joy from you.

Allow God to see you through. In the midst of the storm He is with you.

God never promised us a smooth ride but He promised to "never leave nor forsake" us (Hebrews 13 V 5) and to get us to the other side.

FINANCES

When it does remember before you increase your standard of living: Tithe a portion of it (after all who is your provider?) AND save most of what is left.

There is something exhilarating in the knowledge that you have a bit of money saved up somewhere.

It will come in handy for those unexpected expenses like:

a new car battery, Dentist appointment, or even a broken window.

Plan ahead by also putting money away for your retirement. Put it in a Retirement Annuity so that you can not access it before you reach retirement age.

Yes - I can hear you say "but I am only 27" or "I am only 34" - but experts will tell you that you need to put money towards your retirement early, so that you would be able to maintain your lifestyle when you are older.

Make 2012 the year when you take back control of your finances.

TIP OF THE MONTH

Someone will need it more than you do and when their birthday comes along then you can happily give it to them -

.....be careful to not give your gift to the person who originally gave it to you.....;-)

CARAMEL CUSTARD PUDDING

I needed to take a dessert to a "bring and share" lunch and made this delicious pudding with only what I had in my cupboards at the time.

Ingredients

• 1 pack of shortbread biscuits, crushed
• 2 cups of milk
• 2, 5 Tbsp custard powder
• 1/2 a cup of castor sugar
• 2 tsp Caramel essence
• 1 tbsp butter (optional)
• 3/4 cup buttermilk
• 1/2 cup (2 sachets) orley whip (non-dairy cream)

1. Bring the milk to a boil.
2. Mix the custard, sugar and caramel flavour with a small amount of milk to form a smooth paste and add it to the boiled milk.
3. Return the milk to the stove and stir it over low heat until the mixture starts to thicken (approx 5 minutes). Add the butter and buttermilk and let it cool slightly.
4. Layer the biscuits and custard in a glass bowl (starting and ending with the crushed biscuits). Place it in the fridge to chill for a few hours.
5. Whip the orley whip until stiff and spoon it over the dessert (fresh cream or another non-diary cream can be used). You can decorate it with chocolate sprinkles if you wish.
6. Keep it refrigerated until it is time to serve your delicious dessert. (You can also serve this with tinned peaches or mandarin oranges)

Serves 10

Enjoy!

" "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." 1 John 5 verse 4

Victorious 4 Today

Happy Frugal Living everyone and Merry Christmas!

Ray xx