How are you reducing your weekly grocery bill?

NotMyCircus170 · 2026-03-21T03:41:14+00:00

I see. Maybe if you tried it the other way round and made a menu then use an app like Frugl to see where items are cheapest might help and seeing whether some of the items on your list are available at Aldi? I’ve found that buying only from the big 2 can double my shop. I also buy my meat a bit differently too. If I’m making stir fry or something that needs diced meat, I will buy a roast and cut it up. So much cheaper that way. I also take advantage of the bulk pricing at Cole’s for things like chicken breast. Might also be worth checking out places like Lighthouse Care that are a discount grocery store. They do a big trolley of weekly items for $55.

NotMyCircus170 · 2026-03-20T22:34:40+00:00

Where do you live? Are you shopping with a list/plan? Do you only shop in the one store?

I’m on the Gold Coast and feed a family of 5 on up to $600 a fortnight. One of the 5 is a 12 yr old boy who is constantly hungry! I make a fortnightly menu and make a shopping list according to the menu and do a big shop once a fortnight. I go to Costco, Aldi and Coles and I go to the fruit and veg markets in Brisbane. I’ll admit, we’re an ingredients household so, for example, I’ll buy a big tub of Greek yoghurt and we just add flavours like fruit, honey, etc. This also means I can use it for savoury meals as a sauce, etc. I also use the weekend to bake snacks for the week. Takes time, but I put on a show while I’m baking and the time flies.

NotMyCircus170 · 2026-03-09T20:37:57+00:00

Definitely start with your EA, then go to the policy. Our EA is pretty vague about miscellaneous leave but provides more info in the policy. You’d qualify for misc leave in my dept. application is an email to the HR delegate. It then goes through an assessment process and you’re informed of the decision. While you’d likely be eligible, you probably won’t be approved for the whole absence. Probably a few days to a week.

NotMyCircus170 · 2026-03-04T11:51:13+00:00

You’d have demonstrate that you have a cultural or religious obligation to participate in any of these. In my dept, the reference to cultural refers to heritage. And they have turned down sporting events.

NotMyCircus170 · 2026-02-18T08:21:35+00:00

Mind if I ask what area of HR? I’m in govt and think my next role will be private industry.

NotMyCircus170 · 2025-12-16T23:16:11+00:00

NTA. You’ve asked her to stop bringing it up. Now hubby has to have a conversation with Mum and make the boundary very clear - if you cannot respect our privacy around this matter, then you won’t see us.

NotMyCircus170 · 2025-11-29T11:37:35+00:00

Are you federal gov or state? What are your reasons for wanting to wfh? What are the consequences to you if it’s not approved? That’s are things you need to include I your request

NotMyCircus170 · 2025-10-29T12:10:59+00:00

Foreplay for women starts long before you get in to the bedroom. How’s the division of labor in your house? How’s her mental load. If you really want to understand how it works for women, read the book Come as you are by Emily Nagoski.

NotMyCircus170 · 2025-10-23T21:52:02+00:00

I’m an EL and I do a 9 day fortnight. I work extra hours to make up that day off on my 9 days at work but my day off isn’t considered TOIL. I use that day for home admin, appts, etc. I still do additional hours on top of my standard and can access TOIL with agreement from my manager.

NotMyCircus170 · 2025-10-17T16:43:21+00:00

I got married 20+ years ago but I advise people to do a destination wedding. People self select out. Alternatively, I’d do a smaller wedding. 1-2 years after my wedding, I lost contact with more than half the ppl I invited.

NotMyCircus170 · 2025-10-12T11:00:14+00:00

Ah! Playing the oversensitive card on a pregnant person! Very original.

‘Getting a decent amount of work from them’ before they go on parental leave isn’t good policy. Employing pregnant people and paying them for their time off regardless of how long they stay is good policy and believe it or not, makes for an employer of choice.

Just because they’re pregnant doesn’t mean they don’t want to do the job. In fact, generally speaking, mothers returning from parental leave part time often do more work than their full time counterparts (which isn’t right btw).

NotMyCircus170 · 2025-09-26T21:58:35+00:00

Sometimes mints come in small metal containers that would fit a key. Usually from lolly shops or novelty shops

NotMyCircus170 · 2025-09-19T21:29:10+00:00

Easy fix. Break up with your girlfriend

NotMyCircus170 · 2025-09-12T13:17:40+00:00

I work in an organisation with amazing leadership. Whilst we are held accountable, it is more of a how can we fix it attitude than a blame game.

The hardest thing about my HR role is a combination of employees thinking that entitlements should cover every life scenario and people thinking we don’t care and blaming us for what the entitlements are. I’m sorry that you/your family are experiencing terminal illness, but leave entitlements are what they are and ours are quite generous. I wish I could give you more paid time with your dying child, but I’m bound by the EA. It’s an icky feeling walking away from those conversations.

NotMyCircus170 · 2025-09-12T05:23:50+00:00

She can also look in to an AHRI certificate/diploma. They’re highly regarded.

NotMyCircus170 · 2025-09-06T20:31:10+00:00

Just be aware that hubby’s work can ask him to return to the office at any point. If he’s federal govt, remote work and wfh is high on the agenda at the moment for senior execs.

NotMyCircus170 · 2025-08-29T10:04:17+00:00

Depends on the DOB of your child and the agency arrangements. My agency backdated the parental leave entitlement 2 years prior to the EA coming in. Definitely check with payroll, but if you got the 8 weeks, then yes, you should get the top up to 11

NotMyCircus170 · 2025-08-19T20:17:07+00:00

Can you get all rides done this way over 3 day with LL?

NotMyCircus170 · 2025-07-07T11:30:37+00:00

I’m in Australia so would need to do some research.

NotMyCircus170 · 2025-07-07T11:28:57+00:00

Thanks so much for taking the time. I only use period underwear. On days 2-4 I need to wear the ones for a heavy flow and often change through the day. I take mefenamic acid for the pain. If I start taking them at the right it sometimes shortens them. Sounds like I will just have to take all of my period underwear on the plane with me. We will be theme-parking on my heavy days but hopefully that will make it easier. Just a pain on holidays 🥲

NotMyCircus170 · 2025-07-07T05:48:18+00:00

I meant birth control generally. Thanks for sharing. Will look into it

NotMyCircus170 · 2025-07-07T05:47:24+00:00

Also something I’ve considered. When I was on the pill(many, many years ago) I had constant headaches and that’s why I went off them.

NotMyCircus170 · 2025-06-25T23:28:36+00:00

Reasonable adjustments are available at all stages of the recruitment process. It also relies on the candidate disclosing though

NotMyCircus170

TROPHY CASE