Tightwad Kitty's $$$ Stretching Blog

Not that it make much difference to me but a lot of other things are happening as well to make the cost of living higher around here.

For one our state government has had an 8 cents a litre state tax subsidy on fuel here for many years now but come the 1st July it will be gone. This will increase the cost of not only fuel but cost of most things too! As our State was the only one that did not have this extra tax on fuel, it will an eye opener to the others states if the transport and supermarkets in Australia were averaging their prices with our states fuel subsidy because at times our prices for fuel were still higher then some of the other states. Someone was making money on this subsidy and not our state motorist. I see it as putting all the states on a level playing fielding but others see it as a rip off by the our state government for taking it off. Time will tell as their say.

Another price rise will be electricity price will be going up so will need to watch my power consumption until I get solar power installed. I still dont know how much but will review my contract with my supplier when I get an idea of how much. If I can get a better deal then I can change suppliers.

Another expense that is coming in on 1st July will Cat Licence this will be a problem as my cats do not like collars at all.

With all the rises that are coming in like rates, water, fares and everyday cost of living with fuel subsidy coming off even I will need take stock of everything and find more money out of my pension to pay all of it. Luckily single pensioners are getting a pay rise in September but there will not be much leftover in the end.

Of late I have been doing a bit of stockpiling in some areas and making an inventory of what I do have already. This is so I dont go and buy things that I already own in abundance and dont need to buy again for along while if ever. When my parents were alive they had a habit of buying ahead, I do think I have taking on this habit also.

Now if you saw that large suitcase under my bed then you would know why I was shocked as when I go shopping with friends I do the feel the need to buy some little thing as well, so when I am in one store here I will buy underwear so 5 pairs of the one's that I buy when they are on special. Now it has got to the point I have no longer have the space in that suitcase to fit in any more.

I am trying to do one hour per day, working on my inventory as I am planning to do the whole house then use it before buying anymore. This is part of my challenge for this year and it's not just on food.

I hoping to use items that I have bought both in food and stuff around the house until its gets to a more comfortable level, any money saved will be banked for the future as I still need to stretch my dollars around here as the cost of living is rising faster than ever.

My menu for the week

Sausages and Vegetables
Grilled Streak, Onion, Poached Egg with vegetables
Fish Cakes & Vegetables with Poached Egg
Omelet with Grated Cheese & Ham
Pasta with Tuna Tomato Sauce
Spaghetti Bolognese
Potluck or a rice dish

It is time to review my daily living allowance for the next two months of my 2009 budget.

These are the categories for this challenge.

Items ==budget==spent

Eating out= $67==$144.70
Groceries=$271.00= = $128.30
Non-Food=$33.00= =$19.64
Clothes =$67.00==$0
Grooming=$25.00==$19.64
Gas=$50.00 ==$22.60
Pets= $98.00 ==$82.13
HH items=$83.00==$68.88
Fares= $17.00 == $0
Entrainments= $25.00 == $0
Garden =$17.00==$0
Gifts & Donations =$67.00= =$40
Medical Prescription =$30==$488.24
Misc =$17.00 ==$3
Personal Allowance =$168.00 ==$146.95

No Spending days over the 56 days = 33 days in total.

My eating out in this period included a few restaurant meals so its way over budget.

I did buy an oil heater for my computer room; if the weather gets much colder here as my air conditioner doesnt come that far.

Another big expense this period was my medical extras, these included dentist visits, eye specialist, and first aid kit update. These were out of pocket expenses after refunds.

In personal allowance area was a mail order of books and other book purchases; this was the bulk of this period expense. Other than paying bills which come out of my bill accounts areas I didnt have many other expenses over this period.

$1035 budget total and I spent a total $1163 this included a few unexpected expenses like eye specialist & dentist visits. So was over budget $128 which is cover by an emergency fund if I was short of money but I didnt need to dip into it at all. By cutting back on a few areas I was able to cover any extra expense over this period.

Now two weeks into my next period so I am doing well with some money in the bank to pay my way.

Oh dear! Is it so long since I last posted; I have been well so far this winter no flu or colds! Just a bit lazy with my time and doing some HP-Online Courses. I see that they are going to change they website address after 18th June I will change the link when I fine it.

I will get back to posting an update every soon!

Well its time that wrote here I do seem to never find the time these days!

My spending or non- spending is still on track but for one problem since I last wrote here.

I went up the street last week with only my shopping bag and my wallet instead my handbag that I lug almost everywhere. I only need to go to a few places. I past the Op shop on the way so popped in for a quick look. Bought a few books and some craft items put them in my bag and left. Next stop the hairdresser for a style cut. After I had my hair cut I went to paid and found that I didn't have my wallet that I was given for my birthday a few months before. Well I went into panic mode of course; I went back to the op shop no wallet there. Back to hairdresser to tell them I call back to pay later lucky that I know the owners. I had my house keys on me so that was not a problem so I went home to cancel my cards and get some money that I had at home. I do believe in having a float of a few dollars for such emergency but this is the first time I need it. I returned to the shopping strip after I had been to the police station to report the missing wallet. Payed the hairdresser for the haircut and rechecked the op shop in case had been found so I finished my shopping trip and return home.
Around 6 hours later I received a phone call from a man saying that had I lost my wallet when I said yes he when said when he return home he found my wallet in his mail box some streets away from me. All my cards were in tack but no money which was around $40 as I had counted it just before I went out that day. I was happy as the wallet it self was worth more then that. As for all cancelled cards not a problem as only money one in the wallet was reactivated 24 hour later. The other I can live without for a few weeks as my pension cards were still in the found wallet.

Moral of this tale: Do not change your habits if you can't remember to your put your things away. Next time I will stick to using my handbag in future I do have that routine down pat.

Well I went to a different kind of restaurant this week, Japanese Steakhouse on the Gold Coast for a Teppanyaki Banquet. There were 8 of us in our group at $45 per head with drinks & desserts extra. We had the Group Teppanyaki Bonsai Banquet menu with a personal sushi chef at each table as it was cooked at the table.

Menu - Onion Soup, House Salad, Hibachi Vegetables this was framing of cucumbers mushrooms & onions, Prawn Appetizer, Hibachi Steak, Hibachi Chicken, Hibachi Prawns & Hibachi Fried rice which was made into a heart and lighted birthday candle with happy birthday sung by all. Very filling too!

Some of our group order dessert too! This was fried ice cream made into a roll then cut into three pieces, it looked good but as we had to have a Chocolate mud cake for birthday cake this was to much for me. I had green tea and water which was free but the others had soft drinks at $4.50 a can plus wine etc. My bill just the $45 plus a birthday gift. This was budgeted for, in my annual budget.

There was no recession at this hotel that night as they had two weddings and engagement party and all restaurants were full so bookings only.

Found a local Church that has FREE Garage Sales now & then, so as I was never able to find anyone to buy my stuff that I had in the first place and to void the sign finds by the local council $300 @ sign. One of my neighbor keep putting up signs when you have a garage sale but as you are the one advertising it you are the one who will get the fines as he put up six signs. It can cost you $1800 to make $40 to $100 not worth it and the stuff is not modern enough for some now!

I have now decided to donate some of it to them when they have their next one. As they do give it away for free to the needy. Some of it will go to other places as I dont think some of the books will be right for them. By looking at their books on the boxes to go by!

Now that I have a place for my junk to go to I now can make it my winter project and what doesnt go to them will be sent to the local school fete this year. Both these places dont change the earth for second hand goods either. Other charity shops think, if not under two years old or new in it original packaging/price tag on it or antique then they think its no good and will send it to the dump or what they keep, will then change people almost the price new for it! My idea of all second goods should never sell for more than 40% of their original price when bought new. The other day I was looking at cookbook that I wanted for a set that I am making up, I only have 6 books to go, I found one of them but they wanted $6 for it, when I bought all others for under $2 each and they were around $2.99 each to start off with new. I left it there too!

I did pick up a cookbook & a glass pie plate at the free garage sale.

It was a no spending day too!

Well I thought I better start again with blog. It's back to basic for now.

Time to review my daily living allowance for the next two months of my 2009 budget.

First I would like to say that I dont work on a calendar months as my budget always starts a few weeks before Christmas as I am procrastinator if I dont do it then it will take months for me to getting done if at all. I am working on it.

I am hoping to cut over $1000 from it over the year on what I spent last year or better. Its all those little items included that mount up. As this the area that I do have some control over in my spending.

First number is what I have averaging amount budgeted for these two months; second figure is what I have spent. The figures in brackets are the area and amount spent with the stimulus package see below.

Eating out= $67==$80.46
Groceries=$271.00= = $94.56
Non-Food=$33.00= =$7.10
Clothes =$67.00==$181.93
Grooming=$25.00==$17
Gas=$50.00 ==$18.25
Pets= $98.00 ==$52.87
HH items=$83.00==$91.14
Fares= $17.00 == $25.00
Entrainments= $25.00 == $99
Garden =$17.00==$141.66
Gifts & Donations =$67.00= =$75
Medical Prescription =$30==$101.29
Misc =$17.00 ==$10.63
Personal Allowance =$168.00 ==$87.19

$1045 = $1045 to spend over this period, spent $1083.08 came over by $38.08. In this period I budgeted to spend a little more of my $1400 Stimulus package over these two months as I didn’t get any in the second around of Stimulus package that is being paid now. So what did I buy; a DVD player that I found for $99 saving of $30, Garden blower & cord $141 which was needed for my garden, some more clothes & shoes for next summer at the summer marked down sales $181.93== $421.93

Spending was as normal over this period but still cutting back on grocery & pet food over these months. My medical expenses are going up owing to a current medical condition.

I had 28 days of no spending days over this period.

Last Saturday the temperature in Victoria got to 46.4C in Melbourne, with 90km hot dry winds, with total fire ban. Then the country side became a fireball after 10 years of drought in Victoria. One fire controller said that normally fires are rated on 1 to 100 scale but this fire was 320 in scale.

I am been overwhelm with tragedy in country Victoria that I have been watching for days now. Today I made an effort to get the bank to make a deposit for these victims of these Bushfires. I also donated to the Queensland flood victims and some of them are planning to donate they hand outs (our government is giving one off payments to all natural disaster victims) to the Victoria Bushfires Appeal who think they need in more. Some flood victims have been flooded twice in one week may get flood again next week too!

You can link to stories via these links. Its changing daily and at times hourly.
Gallery of Victoria Killer fires

Resident records tragedy

Victorian bushfire survivor, Sam the koala, a global star

Victorian Bushfires Videos

Time to review my daily living allowance for the first two months of my 2009 budget.

First I would like to say that I dont work on a calendar months as my budget always starts a few weeks before Christmas as I am procrastinator if I dont do it then it will take months for me to getting done if at all. I am working on it.

I am hoping to cut over $1000 from it over the year on what I spent last year or better. Its all those little items included that mount up. As this the area that I do have some control over in my spending.

First number is what I have averaging amount budgeted for these two months; second figure is what I have spent. The figures in brackets are the area and amount spent with the stimulus package see below.

Eating out= $67==$91.59
Groceries=$271.00= = $94.56
Non-Food=$33.00= =$14.50
Clothes =$67.00==$116 (-$90)
Grooming=$25.00==$19
Gas=$50.00 ==$36.03
Pets= $98.00 ==$24.33
HH items=$83.00==$311.95 (- $260)
Fares= $17.00 == $0
Entrainments= $25.00 == $19
Garden =$17.00==$19
Gifts & Donations =$67.00= =$106.57
Medical Prescription =$10==$0
Misc =$17.00 ==$15.95
Personal Allowance =$168.00 ==$118.03

$1015 + $350 = $1365 to spend over this period, spent $986.51 came under by $378.49

The plan was to spend part of $1400 Stimulus package in these two months, I ended up spending on CD player $260 and on a watch $90 = $350 banking the balance. Spending was as normal over Christmas period but was cutting back on grocery & pet food over these months.

Today I went for a walk up the street for milk for DF-Maria, and drop in to the Charity Thrift shops on the way, I have to go past them, all five thrift shops to get to the supermarket. They are putting up their prices so I will not spend as much as I normally do but when they have a 50% off sale which two of them did today I stopped to look. I found a nice classic top cream & navy which will go with my basic navy pants in a style that will not go out of style for along while. RRP $19.95 for $4.00, German cookbook $1, like new baby picture frame RRP $20 for $1.50 and on Baby on Board car sign for .50c, this is for a gift in few months I making a baby Gift basket up. Bought the grandma some sewing patterns 4 @ $1, Year 12 text book on Home Economics $1 - RRP 29.95, my treat for the day Silver Plated Art Deco 1930 style milk jug & sugar bowl for $4.00 - (RRP $60) and bag of confectionary at supermarket when I got there on special $2.95 - RRP $4.50. If I had to buy all these things at full price in the thrift shop I most likely only bought the two books. Oh I did remember to buy the milk too!

I love it when I can spend money to keep the economy going and doing some good will at the same time.

I came home with approx. $172.80 worth of stuff costing only $15.95 including the candy bars. I would say its worth it to have these little spending sprees now and then.

It's not that hot here where I live just around the 30C but in the north of our state we have flooding but I feel sorry for my follow Australians in the southern states they are heading into day four of temperature of 43C plus bushfires in one state that 3 townships could be burnt out by morning. With the hot winds if these bushfires could get out of control they could be bad as one fire is under power lines which are melting. So lot of power failures with transformers burning out, train tracks melting, so little transports and no air-con.

My sister lives in one of these states, so I never visit her in summer as it very dry and can be very hot normally around high 30s C but at the moment its around 45C and she lives by the sea too!

I had a lovely lunch with my friends on New Year Eve and won $15 on the poker machines. As for the Post-Christmas sales I only bought a handbag paying $14.50 for a $69.00 for casual handbag.

I was looking at buying a new CD player as it will cost more to have my old 15 year old one fixed than replace it with new more update one. So this afternoon I went an bought one so ended up replacing what I had before but with 3 CD player instead of one including a record player and twin cassette player cost $260 saving $69 plus the 30% that all electrical goods go up on 5 January because of drop in the dollar. That is one reason that I bought it today. Now cost would have been to repair the old one was around $100 plus $90 in gift money for Christmas so with my twisted idea, Peter Paying Paul budget it work out that I'm out of pocket by $170 and will buy grocery with gift card.

Well I slept the New Year in as I went to sleep watching my favorite program for New Year.

So have a very Happy New Year everyone.

Christmas day - just driving to Christmas lunch - no spending
Boxing day - no spending day
Saturday - no spending day
Sunday - no spending day
Monday - no spending day
Tuesday - no spending day
But Tomorrow - is lunch with friends, driver licence renewal, bill paying, picking up new glasses and looking at Post-Christmas sales but I don't think I will buy to much as I don't need anything but I need to buy a gift with the money I have been given for Christmas.

As I always start my budget a few weeks before the New Year I have already started with this challenge. After finalizing my budget tallies for 2008 and setting out a new budget for 2009. I would say that this is one area I could find some saving in my budget. As it did have a few large amounts of over spending last year. I am hoping to cut over $1000 from it over the year on what I spent last year or better. Its all those little items included that mount up. As this the area that I do have some control over in my spending.

This is what I have allowed around each month or much less by averaging it over the whole year.

Eating out $33.50
Groceries $135.50
Non- Food $16.50
Clothes $33.50
Grooming $12.50
Gas $25
Pets $49
HH items $41.50
Fares $8.50
Entrainments $12.50
Garden $8.50
Gifts & Donations $33.50
Medical Prescription $5
Misc $8.50
Personal Allowance $84


Weekly Main Meals Menu

Sunday ~ Grilled Sausages, Onion, and Egg with Salad
Monday ~ Turkey & Roasted Vegetables
Tuesday ~ Omelet with Grated Cheese & Ham
Wednesday ~ Leftovers
Thursday ~ Pizza
Friday ~ Grilled Fish & Salad
Saturday ~ Sweet & Sour Chicken with Steamed Rice

Just dropped in to wish everyone Season Greetings

I had a very good Christmas day with family and friends.
I was spoilt rotten with some very nice gifts from my DS & DIL and her family.
I was able to afford some token gifts in return.
We will have to see what next year brings on the spending front for gift given.
I hope to be back posting soon!

I do have a few floats so that I have money if I ever need it. These are basic amounts to start with as I do have a credit card to pay any difference, with a plan to pay off the credit card ASAP if I ever have to use them. Starting with the float amount I have already haves saved. Floats - Emergency Fund -$1000, Car Repair Fund - $1000, Vet Fund - $300 so I would have some money in an emergency to start with plus my Bill Account starting Float - $1300.

These are my projected monthly figure for my Daily Living Budget and any thing not listed is to come out of my Personal Allowance or is covered in fixed budgeted Bill Account.

Eating out $33.50
Groceries $135.50
Non- Food $16.50
Clothes $33.50
Grooming $12.50
Gas $25
Pets $49
HH items $41.50
Fares $8.50
Entrainments $12.50
Garden $8.50
Gifts & Donations $33.50
Medical Prescription $5
Misc $8.50
Personal Allowance $84

Medications here are subsidized and as a pensioner pay only $5.00 per prescription most times. I am luck in that I have only one prescription each month to fill.

On comparing 2008 year budget with 2009 projected budget, I have managed to prune off over $285 so far. I am hoping to not to use all money that I have projected but to find saving where I can both in my bill budget and daily living allowance. As I do not pay rent but do have all the others bills that go with owing your own home then some. If I do saved any money next year then some luck painter will get a job to paint my house as this my next project to work on.

Having over projected on my Fixed Bill Account by 20- 40% in most cases, with floats in place for any emergency that comes along and my projected daily living budget with a low but fixed income in the form a single age pension. Which even our government members has said, they could not live on it at today prices. It is around 40% of basic wage here. My pension is only $1135.80 a month to live on. I do think I can survive a global recession.

Once I had my Excel budget set up for next 12 months using the templates that I had kept. It was easy to review my budget using 2008 figures as all was on the spreadsheets.

Looking at my Bill Estimates Tracker which is my best program, I could work how much I would need for next year bills & regular expenses. I did over estimate here by 20% in some cases as with so much natural disasters around the place and my friend house insurance coming up to over $1000 per year on her renewal I have allowed extra 40% on that one and same with my car. All our bills have gone up mostly likely never to come down again; if they do you will find new tax or cost to keep at that level or higher. Normally I add 10% on the each bill per year but with everything going up its best to add more I hope I can go back to my 10% for 2010.

Here a little idea on how it works.

As this Bill Estimates Tracker can be changes by just changing the figures in it. You can see what any changes has on your budget at any point in the year, it done monthly with input on the amount going in, adding to want is left from the previous month on next column, list of bills for that month and next column has the amount with a total of that months bill and in next column you have whats left for that month hopefully it doesnt have a minus in it.

Column 1 ~ Months
Column 2 ~ Bill money input for that month
Column 3 ~ Money input plus previous month leftover money total
Column 4 ~ Bills for that month in order of due dates
Column 5 ~ Amounts of bills (including total in last line of that month - this let you see outgoing total on monthly bases)
Column 6 ~ Different between Column 3 & Column 5, This now becomes previous month leftover money for next month.

Each month is worked as separate to each other but interwoven into each other. So that if you change one figure all will change in the spreadsheet giving you a good overview of any shortfalls in the months to come.

I have found since I use this spreadsheet I know how much money I will need as a float to keep it going without worry where the money will come for the next large bill month which I have about every 3 months which more than my income before any rent or food is bought and on a fixed income you need to know these things. This year my kick start float is $1300 so that I will not at anytime going into a minus for any month. Last year it was around $1000 but I have taken two items out of it and made floats which will be a back up to this bill account money. Emergency Fund and Vets float, I have save enough not to include any more money for now. My bill account is now at $275 per pay input which has to be classed as bill money to keep this system working and cant be spent in other areas of my budget. I have been doing this kind budget on this scale for a many years now I know that I will not spend it on others things. Any money leftover at end next year will be the kick start float for the next year and any money above amount that will go into the Emergency Fund float.

This spreadsheet is only part of a group of spreadsheets used.

Next day to day living budget soon!

My way of working a budget out is both with a notebooks & Excel cross checking them both it only takes about hour longer to do each month.

I firmly believe in tracking all money down to the last cent. This is done with a note book I keep by my computer and once a week I will make an entry in the Excel program too! Having done this method for over seven years now I have got it down pat.

Now the next thing I will need to do is set up my next year templates in Excel ready to go!

Yes the way to go is making templates if using Excel it makes life a lot easier, you can always change them if you find an easier method. If I can work out how to write an Excel budget anyone can. HP online classes were a great help for this mind exercise.

Having done all that now its down to business with working out my future spending and reviewing all my bills to see if any can be changed to a better deals when they are due to be renewed. This is one I will need to list these so I can act on them when they are due by adding extra column in the Excel. This will be a new list as I have contracts with some companies and cant remember when they are due to be off contract so will need to work out a Reminder Calendar to keep up to date on this one. I would think many people could have this problem too!

To be continued soon

Well I just did my 2nd last monthly tracking budget for this year, so its time to start making my next budget work for global recession. Being on an age pension put me in the poverty level but I am not there in the true sense of that word. I can still live on what I am getting but I do have to make choices on what I can and cant do with it. Over next few weeks I will be working on my next annual budget for these troubling times.

My first thoughts are to get all my last year bills and expenses and add about 20% on to them as we here will be hit with a carbon tax on everyone so everything will be going up in price I will be better off if allow a large amount than keep change the amount as I go along.

Why I think every bill will be hit with a carbon tax?
Each business will be charges a carbon tax at different rates then will past that carbon tax down the line in the end to the each consumer.

Then you have credit shortage.
On top of that as credit is short owing to global recession some businesses will fold and other will start adding extra charges to their bills to get money in quicker. Like some are doing now but on much larger scale, pay in X days you will get a discount or after so many days will start charging you interest of what is still owing even if they havent sent you your bill but still in the pipeline. Fees for using credit card or debit card payments but this is the only way you can pay that bill.

How to beat them at they own game!
So you have to read ALL the fine print on each bill and service so you do not end up spending more then you dont have too! You need to shop around for the best deals and if you can change then do so.

Well I didn't go to the city last week for my monthly lunch date as planned. But I needed to pay my credit card as it was due.

Instead of taking the car as usual with cost of gas the days, I took the bus and went into the city costing $2.20 for senior off peak day trip ticket.

The plan was to pay the credit card in full and take some cash of the bank and buy a pair of hosiery, but first as it was lunch time so I walked up the casino for lunch as at treat. The first thing was to play to machines for 5 minutes before I go to lunch. I like to play on one machine (1c only ones I play) if its not being used. I put my $2.00 in after 6 spins the jacket pot spin came up winning enough to play for 15 minute and a free lunch of Chicken Schnitzel with chips & salad, coming out even.

Later I went off to do my banking and the shopping for my friend.

My days outing cost $2.20 fare plus $60 on the credit card. Free a lunch and playing pokies, good walk down the Mall and three hours out of the house.

Remember your health and safety and that of your family is the most important at this time with so many people heading into a rough tough times ahead if they not in them already.

Here is my list of what steps that would need to be taken now.

1. Make or Redo your budget to stop any money leaking.

2. Spend only on needs not wants.

3. Learn to track your money- to make sure you know where you are spending your money.

4. Pay Off Debt - ASAP by snowballing if there is no other way.

5. Speak to your bank and get CC interest rates lowered or consolidated or swap to a 0% card. Shop around see what is available. Dont put anything else on your CC if its still got a balance on it. Pay it off ASAP.

6. Cut out or down on unnecessary expenses where possible, like your internet, phone, cable TV, DVD hires, Gym etc.

7. Stop buying little things like candy, magazines, newspapers, coffees and drinks when you're out.

8. Cancel memberships if they are costing you money, or dont renew when due.

9. Find a way of doing the same for FREE in some of the above in No 6, 7, 8.

10. Stop looking at and listening to advertising in any form. Now is not the time to be buying if you are short of cash but stretching your dollars is what counts.

11. Carpool, walk, use public transport or ride a bike instead of taking the car.

12. Multi task when you are out and about, planning the trip to save gas. Do as many tasks as possible dentist & doctors visits, taking children to school, shopping, banking and bill paying etc.

13. Cut back on extra after school activities so that you are not stretched to the limit. Try to limit one activity per child hopefully all the same one, this will save you in time, gas, stress & money.

14. Plan to stay home a bit more often.

15. Make up and plan your menu for the next week.

16. Make an inventory of what food you have in the pantry, fridge & freezer and work your menu around this so there is no need to go shopping.

17. Cook from scratch and get creative with your food.

18. Bulk food up with beans, vegetables, lentils, pasta etc.

19. Eat your leftovers, never waste food now is the time to take lunch to work and school if you are paying for it.

20. Plan to eat a few meatless meals each week.

21. Cut back big time on eating out and buying takeaway food and snacks.

22. Cut back on portions sizes, dont up size but downsize and your waist line will love you so will your pocket book.

23. Start a stockpile food and groceries - this is one the best thing you can do to prepare for tough times ahead. Buy rice, washing powder and toilet rolls and pet food in bulk.

24. Buy clothes at Thrift shops & Consignment stores or start swap group with other families.

25. Cut down and adapt clothes for younger children.

26. Learn to sew and repair clothes.

27 Do minor repairs around the house and any DIY jobs that you are capable of doing yourself.

28. Cut down on your consumption of your electricity and water by learning to read the meters and by turning off everything at the wall.

29. Reduce your heating & cooling costs by having your temperatures set at recommend level and wearing extra clothing if you still are cold.

30. Get your family involved by explaining to them about the current tough times ahead and see if they can work with the other members of family to cut back. Anyone over three years age can do they bit. Make it a game with children.

Well I got a funny offer for my house this week, it took me all of two seconds to think about it and not reply but just smile. I live in house which does have lowest value in the area as the saying goes the worst house in the street. But I do have lot a storage areas much more than the normal. I would have to change my lifestyle and sell my family antiques then sell up in a few years if I took this offer up too!

The young business man across the street has just built an eight apartment block behind his parent house; I would take it as a joke that he would swap one of his top apartments for my house and land. They are nice small two bedrooms and no storage at all, no garden, lot of stairs and no pets; I would never do that to my cats. Not just for a view of the city no way.

Weekly Main Meals Menu

Sunday ~ Devil Sausages with streamed potatoes
Monday ~ Spaghetti Bolognese
Tuesday ~ Sweet & Sour Chicken with Rice
Wednesday ~ Seafood Casserole with Rice
Thursday ~ Leftover night
Friday ~ Spaghetti with Tuna & Peas
Saturday ~ Omelet with salad

I have decided to start using my stockpile to make room for fresh stuff next year. So far I found in the back of my pantry 3 kg of sultanas all bought for the same thing, the morning cereal and making chutney. So I opened one kilo which was very sugary put it into water and soaked for few hours then drained. As I needed 2 ½ kilos of fruit I went looking in the freezer for the mangoes that were past they best. With sultanas, mangoes and 3 granny smiths I had enough for the making chutney along with 2 cups of cider vinegar and 2 cups brown sugar again found in the pantry.

While looking for the mangoes, I pulled out a tray of 16 small sausages and 500g ground beef along with 6 seafood sticks. Then went looking for what I had in the pantry for each meal.

## Seafood sticks diced , can asparagus soup,1/2 can of water or chicken stock, some frozen vegetables and dash of pepper. End up with servings 4 of Seafood Casserole. Serve with streamed potato, rice or pasta as a base.

## Ground beef, onions, 2 packets tomato & pepper sauce, 2 cans whole tomatoes & can of tomato soup, chicken stock. End up with 8 servings Spaghetti Bolognese. Serve with streamed potato, or pasta as a base

## Sausages, ½ cup cooked rice, 2 cups of chutney sauce (from making the chutney which I had drained off), ½ jar of Teriyaki Sauce, ½ cup sultanas, onions, chicken stock, and streamed cauliflower added at the end. End up with 5 servings of my version Devil Sausages. Serve with streamed potato, corn chips, toast or pasta as a base.

I didn’t need to go to the supermarket at all as I had enough in my pantry and freezer to make all of the above. All meals now are in the freezer to use over next few weeks and the chutney is in fridge to be used in the coming months, I got 7 jars and 2 cups of chutney sauce from that recipe which is posted here under Fruit Chutney.

Weekly Main Meals Menu

Sunday ~ Sweet & Sour Chicken with Rice
Monday ~ Devil Sausages with Streamed potatoes
Tuesday ~ Spaghetti Bolognese
Wednesday ~ Roasted Chicken & Vegetables
Thursday ~ Omelet with Salad
Friday ~ Pasta with Tuna & Tomato Sauce
Saturday ~ Leftover’s Night

It’s back to gardening here, the weather is good. I spend all Sunday working the garden weeding the lawn and getting it back up to scratch, it was full Bindii which were under other weeds so had to be done by hand then I mowed to lawn which by this time I was done and had to get a neighbor to start it for me and it a quick start mower too! It’s done now for a few weeks. My vegetable garden beds are still giving me plenty of broccoli, baby tomatoes & spinach, and the Chinese vegetables went to seed so I pulled them out now. The bird netting is working so will put it on the next bed that is planned for this month.

Weekly Main Meals Menu

Sunday ~ Sweet & Sour Chicken with Rice
Monday ~ Teriyaki Beef & Noodles
Tuesday ~ Mixture of Eggs, Bacon & Vegetable Scramble
Wednesday ~ Pasta with Tuna & Tomato Sauce
Thursday ~ Grilled Sausages with Onions & Grilled Tomato
Friday ~ Seafood Casserole with Rice
Saturday ~ Chili Beans with Corn Chips & Salad

My friend DF-M is elderly Italian lady who has difficulty with reading English & Italian but can read numbers ok!

Her phone broke down the other day and was replaced by her son. But it had no instruction booklet for it to be able use it and put speed dial on it for her. So I made a list of phone number charts for her of her most used numbers in large type then printed then I used my new laminator for the first time and making it easy for everyone but color coding the names. I was able find instructions to put the speed dial on for her putting color code there too!

I found the instructions for the phone on Google. As I had the brand & number of the phone I put that info plus manual in Google and found them in PDF file for free. One of the earlier links there were asking $8 each for each download I just kept looking and found and two as I had no instructions for my cell phone either.

How to find instructions
(Brand names, model number manual) look for PDF files but be prepared to look at more than 20 pages if your phone is old one. You may need to fine a picture of your phone with number if you don’t know it's model number.

Weekly Main Meals Menu

Sunday ~ Omelet with salad
Monday ~ Roast Chicken & Vegetables
Tuesday ~ Teriyaki Beef & Noodles
Wednesday ~ Leftover’s night
Thursday ~ Grilled Steak & Onions, Mashed Potatoes with Baked Beans
Friday ~ Pasta with Tuna & Tomato Sauce
Saturday ~ Grilled Sausages with Onions & Grilled Tomato

I did end up buying the massage machine. It’s great I have used it every day since, both my doctor and chiropractor was happy that it has worked. My visit to the chiropractor last week was the first time that I wasn’t tense up as my muscles have been for such a long time.

Now it’s time to get back into the garden and make my third vegetable garden plot for spring and summer here.

Casada Manual

Picture of Casada Deluxe Maxiwell Massager


Weekly Main Meals Menu

Sunday ~ Leftover’s night
Monday ~ Pasta with Tuna & Tomato Sauce
Tuesday ~ Chicken Schnitzel & Egg with Vegetables
Wednesday ~ Teriyaki Beef & Noodles
Thursday ~ Corn Beef & Vegetables
Friday ~ Seafood Casserole with Rice
Saturday Grilled Steak & Onions, Mashed Potatoes with Baked Beans

Well it time I looked in on this blog. I have been busy doing nothing major but just not enough time to do it all.

Budget wise I have been spending a little more than I should but not on major items. These things will keep me healthy and my storage a little more organized I hope. So far I have not gone over budget target but could if I keep it up. It’s time to pull in on spending after I get my next item on the list.

As you know I go to chiropractor each month and still do but between him and my doctor they haven’t been able to fix the pain when I’m walking that has been there for last 4 years. So as this week our show (Ekka) here, I have been once so far and tried a German massage machine there. 15 minutes on it and that pain has gone, and its 4 days now so I planning to buy one sometime this week, its expensive $390 cash (normal price $499) but it did work. Now I hope I will use it at least three times per week so I will get my money worth out it. I don’t plan on lending it out it’s for my use. If I had massage twice a month for this muscle only at $60 ago and I think it more than that. It would pay for itself in seven visits and then have it for the next 10 years or so. I will let you know if I do buy it as this one I don’t need anyone to help me use it like most I have tried.

Weekly Main Meals Menu

Sunday ~ Pasta with Tuna & Tomato Sauce
Monday ~ Leftovers night
Tuesday ~ Homemade Vegetables Soup with Chopped Chicken
Wednesday ~ Chicken Schnitzel & Egg with Vegetables
Thursday ~ Omelet with salad
Friday ~ Poached Fish and Vegetables
Saturday ~ Roast Chicken & Vegetables

I have been off online for a while now but I am back.

I have my vegetable garden up and running, I picked my first vegetable yesterday to cook an Asian green which is the fasts to grow in just little under 7 weeks. I have two beds so far just for vegetables and I am planning to add another one by the end of month. So far I have cabbages, broccoli, spinach, Asian greens, chilies, fennel, green onions, baby carrots and strawberries planted. Before I make the other bed, I will have to move my compost bins and cut a scrub down a bit as this is sunniest spot left to grow vegetables.

Weekly Main Meals Menu

Sunday ~ Hamburgers and Salad
Monday ~ Chili Beans on Toast
Tuesday Chicken Schnitzel & Egg with Vegetables
Wednesday ~ Pasta with Tuna & Tomato Sauce
Thursday ~ ~ Grilled Sausages with Onions & Grilled Tomato
Friday ~ poached fish and vegetables
Saturday ~ Omelet with salad