I glad that I sold my shares when I did last October, I had only a few hundred shares and they were being taking over by other company back then, since been taken over. At the time the value of that company was around $47.00 per share now around $31 and lost 97c today on the stock market. Many years ago I read a book that said to buy in bear market and sell in a bull market. I sold my shares at top of the bull market for my shares. Now I am a pension I will not be able to buy shares again. But most of my superannuation is mostly in balanced fund so all I can do is to ride it out now.

It’s a no spending day here.

During the last week my last refund for my tank arrived, $500. Bring the total to $1500, therefore the water tank cost $90 out of my own pocket, and it’s full with rainwater as we had rain in the last few weeks.

I have been saving money with my medical bills also, as I have been to a number of different specialists and have had a number scans. So far as I’m on a pension and most but not all doctors do charge a different rate. It has just cost so far $105 out of my pocket, but without these rebates & Medicare on these services would have cost over $1000.

I will have to get back to writing more regularly as then I will keep to being on track a lot better.

I walked up to the shops today, and went first to Hungry Jack’s and got a cappuccino & a cone 40c spent here, as I got my cappuccino for free Senior Card Discount so that another $2.45 for $20 challenge. I drop into the supermarket and check the price on the eggs $2.85 so different of 56c between price for the same packaging & same company supermarket that I bought the other day. While I was there, that I had a look at the bargain bin, and found some spice markdown here our supermarkets are downsizing they stock so that they put in their own brand copying Aldi. You never know what they will be cutting out next at 60% off for items with a long shelf life I will not say NO, to thing that I can use. I bought Hoyt’s brand Cajun Spice Mix 125g @ $1.60, Oregano Leaves 60g @ $1.14 Hot Dried Chillies Crushed 100g @ $1.62, all normally priced in the $3.00 & over range. It looks like you will be only able to buy the 14g packets in future if they don’t cut them out too! They have bought a range of herbs & spices in they up market range store brand Select at over $2.00 -15g per bottle. I will be looking at Asian, Indian & Italian deli’s around the place. If I am to make my own mixer, I still need to base spices and some herbs that I don’t grow. So I will need to look outside the normal supermarkets for these. I saved around $5.00 here.

I did drop into the thrift shops on the away home. I pick up some more Gourmet Traveller magazines 5 for $2.00 and a Woman’s Weekly cookbook for $2.00. Along with some Tupperware containers 3 for $3.00, one was a large serving container with a lid, that is not in their normal range and two spice containers. Saving heaps here, all in good condition. Spending $7.00. RRP for this lot books $52.70 & add about $35.00 for Tupperware, you are looking $88.00 for $7.00. So not a bad day at the office.

I did go on line to today, banked some money in ING, I have started to bank some of my $20 challenge money. $120.00 of which $40 is $20 challenge.

Today’s Senior Card Savings - $2.45
Add to total $20 Challenge $34.85
My Spending today $11.76
Savings today $88.45

Challenge at 52nd week and end of this $$$ Stretching challenge.

Kitty’s Real Spending Total $12968.04
+ 2007 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $11469.07
= Full Price (RRP) Income Challenge $24149.11

Opening CC Balance $317.00 (In % free days period)
Kitty’s Opening Balance Rollover $648.00 ($265 Bill A/C)
$$$Money in - $1212.00
= Total Income Balance. $1860.00
Bills Total $339.00 + 262.00 CC = $601.00
Other Spending & Groceries $239.61
$$$ Money out = $840.61
Cash Banked in other A/C’s $138.00
Kitty’s Rollover Balance $ 881.39 ($400 Bill A/C*)
CC Balance $55.00 (No % free days period & to be paid next shopping day)
Major project bills outstanding = $360*

* (To be paid when my friend returns from a NZ holiday.)

I went to the bank for my DF-M for a cheque to send away. I also a banked a cheque that I got a few days ago. So I was able to pay my credit card off knowing that this cheque was coming in to it make up. While I was in that area, I went to the local supermarket. Spending $10.64 on groceries & pets. Saving $1.75 here.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Soup & Toast Fruit Coffee
DINNER Pasta with Pasta Sauce & Tuna

Today’s Full price Tally $12.39
Today’s Savings - $ 1.75
2007 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $10607.61

~ Have my credit card at Zero balance by end of the each month.
~ Come under budget.
~ Deposit into the online accounts.
~ Pay All Due Bills on pension days or ahead of time.
~ Chiro visit (one every 4 weeks)
~ Known outings to budget for in - lunch. 4
~ Chiro visit (one every 4 weeks)
~ Known outings to budget for in April / May - lunch out 2
~ Live off my Bulk Food Assets
~ Make up another eight meals OAMC. - Out of Bulk Food Assets.
~ De-cluttering Computer Room
~ Gardening Mowing & weed back garden & put water saving techniques in place
~ Cull & de-clutter computer files not in use. – (on going)
~ Downsizing storage and clean these areas (zones 6, 7 & 8)
~ Install the water tank, paid and apply for rebate.

Review of the last two months.

February / March Goals & Planning Ahead

~ Have my credit card at Zero balance by end of the each month. Yes
~ Come under budget. (Only if you don’t count major project)
~ Deposit into the online accounts. Yes
~ Pay All Due Bills on pension days or ahead of time. Yes
~ Chiro visit (one every 4 weeks) Yes
~ Known outings to budget for in February / March - lunch out 4 - more than this time
~ Live off my Bulk Food Assets ~ (On Going)
~ Make up another eight meals OAMC. - Out of Bulk Food Assets. Yes
~ De-cluttering Computer Room for door project. – Stage 1 done
~ Finish Door project - Done
~ Gardening Mowing & weed back garden & put water saving techniques in place - Done
~ Cull & de-clutter computer files not in use. – (on going) - no time
~ Downsizing storage and clean these areas (zones 6, 7 & 8) no time, worked on major project
~ Install the water tank, paid and apply for rebate. - Still waiting for deliver.

Challenge at 48th week.

Kitty’s Real Spending Total $12389.43
+ 2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $10473.01
= Full Price (RRP) Income Challenge $22862.44

Opening CC Balance $0
Kitty’s Opening Balance Rollover $918.78 ($720 Bill A/C)
$$$Money in - $1141.06 + cash w/d $400
= Total Income Balance. $2459.84
Bills Total $818.50
Other Spending (& major project)& Groceries $1533.84
$$$ Money out = $2352.34
Cash Banked in other A/C’s $72
Kitty’s Rollover Balance $648.00 ($265 Bill A/C)
CC Balance $317.00
Major project bills still outstanding = $360

Challenge at 44th week.

Kitty’s Real Spending Total $10,037.09
+ 2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $10,018.97
= Full Price (RRP) Income Challenge $20,056.87

Opening CC Balance $$49.15
Kitty’s Opening Balance Rollover $315.18 ($190 Bill A/C)
$$$Money in - $1506.28
= Total Income Balance. $1821.46
Bills Total $635.70
Other Spending & Groceries $266.98
$$$ Money out = $902.68
Cash Banked in other A/C’s $0.00
Kitty’s Rollover Balance $918.78 ($720 Bill A/C)
CC Balance $0

40th Week’s Summary of $$$ Stretching challenge

Challenge at 40th week.

Kitty’s Real Spending Total $9134.41
+ 2006/7 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $9629.66
= Full Price (RRP) Income Challenge $18761.70

Opening CC Balance $0
Kitty’s Opening Balance Rollover $255.49 ($94 Bill A/C)
$$$Money in - $1057.20
= Total Income Balance. $1312.69
Bills Total $340.35
Other Spending & Groceries $557.71
$$$ Money out = $898.06
Cash Banked in other A/c’s $140.00
Kitty’s Rollover Balance $315.18 ($190 Bill A/C)
CC Balance $49.15 (No % period)

Taking DF-M to the butchers and the bank again today. I didn't buy anything when I was with her today but I got given 250g Ham off the bone. I don’t think I can stop her but then I am on 24/7 call when she is at home. After I went to the post office I bought some stamps there and then on to my bank for a cheque for her as I do get free one’s with my account& banked some charges as well! I did do some shopping while I was there. Asian Stir-Fry Vegetables on RRP $3.96 markdown $1.99 saving $1.97. A fresh chicken $9.22 markdown $4.60 saving $4.62. I bought some sauce mix that buy one get another one free so 4 sauces @ $1.37 saving $2.74.


BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Tuna and Cranberry Sauce Roll Apple Coffee
DINNER Beans Rissoles & Salad Coffee

Today’s Full price Tally $ 30.71
Today’s Savings - $13.99
2007 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $9629.66

February / March Goals & Planning Ahead

~ Have my credit card at Zero balance by end of the each month.
~ Come under budget.
~ Deposit into the online accounts.
~ Pay All Due Bills on pension days or ahead of time.
~ Chiro visit (one every 4 weeks)
~ Known outings to budget for in February / March - lunch out 2
~ Live off my Bulk Food Assets ~ (On Going)
~ Make up another eight meals OAMC. - Out of Bulk Food Assets.
~ De-cluttering Computer Room for door project.
~ Finish Door project
~ Gardening Mowing & weed back garden & put water saving techniques in place
~ Cull & de-clutter computer files not in use. – (on going)
~ Downsizing storage and clean these areas (zones 6 , 7 & 8)
~ Install the water tank, paid and apply for rebate.

Review of the last two months.

December / January Goals & Planning Ahead

~ Have my credit card at Zero balance by end of the each month. - Yes
~ Come under budget. - Yes
~ Deposit into the online accounts. – Yes
~ Pay All Due Bills on pension days or ahead of time. -Yes
~ Chiro visit (one every 4 weeks) –Yes
~ Known outings to budget for in December / January lunch out 4 dinner 2
~ Live off my Bulk Food Assets ~ (On Going)
~ Make up another eight meals OAMC. Out of Bulk Food Assets. -Yes
~ Gardening Mowing & weed front garden & put water saving techniques in place. - done
~ Install the water tank, pay and apply for rebate. – still waiting
~ Cleaning and painting garage before the tank is installed. – done
~ Cull & de-clutter computer files not in use. – still to do some
~ Downsizing storage and clean these areas (zones 2, 4 & 5)

So that you can see what I am saving money wise. I added a extra few categories in. Money Banked, Major Projects & Cut Small Stuff have been added of late.

As I am a hoarder big time and I have a house full of Stuff of all kinds of things. This is what I will be using instead of buying to much more stuff, so I can find the money to pay for the Major Projects.

I will target what I will be buying and stop buying what I don't need and could live without. Last year I saved over $2000 cash and only took money out of my capital fund to buy a very good 2nd car under 2 years old.

Yes I can live off my pension and save.

This is my 300th post to date.

In this morning mail came credit card statement & my tax cheque refund $100, I am happy with that one. I don’t pay tax but I do have some shares which why I got a refund.

I checked my bank account to make sure that I had enough to pay the car service that order today as well as rust proofing on my car. I put my car in first thing this morning and pick it up at lunchtime today. Paying $103.95 for the service on my debit card and putting the rust proof on CC. Cost $595, which I will pay off before the end of October when the interest free days run out. This little job I did promised my self when I bought the car back in February. Bus fare of $1.10 saving $1.10 to go back to car dealer’s as they drove me home instead of waiting 3 hours for the car.

While I was out I went to the bank & supermarket nearby. I banked the Tax cheque and got another one for the another mail order that I am sending for this month costing $62.35 saving a lot (I will tally saving when it arrives.) Groceries & pet litter costing $11.40 saving $3.40.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Crackers with Cream Cheese & Herbs, Fruit Coffee
DINNER Devilled Sausages with Garlic Focaccia Bread

Today’s Full price Tally $772.70
Today’s Savings - $104.40
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $6359.26

It’s time to see how much I still got left on that account. My shares dividend was deposited $124 that will need to transfer that over to the other account before I spend it. After transferring dividend I still have $340 left in my pension account. I will rollover this until I have paid all my bills due for next three pays and what’s is left then I will bank for future large bills at end of the year. $340 is not bad when I only had $85 in it to start off last pay. I only get $500 every two weeks. It’s has have been this way for years. I know that I am stretching my money as much as I can and I have saved money as well as the other bank account balance was down to $400 only 18 months ago. Now it looking more healthy that I will need to phone in my balance to Government pension office soon!

BREAKFAST Bacon, Egg, Steamed Mushrooms, & Tomatoes Coffee $1.00
Snacks Only ~ 5 Greek Honey Puffs (Free), 1 Slice Pagnotta Bread & Mortadella (Free), Yogurt & Tropical Fruits Salad, Coffee 60c (Eaten over 4 hours, snacks at neighbors houses)
DINNER ¼ roast chicken (free) & vegetables coffee 2 pancakes & whipped cream with maple syrup $1.00

Bulk Food Replacement Fund - $37.15