A trip the city by bus today as it’s the day for my visit to the Chiro. Refund of $19.40 on my Chiro. Paid my Credit card off so it’s back to zero again.

While I was in the city, I visited a discount store to have a look at their hair dyes as I am down to my last two containers. Now is the time to start looking for replacement stock as last lot was bought over two years ago so I needed to increase my bottom line by $2.00. On my first stop I found what I am looking for, in the right color range in these discontinue line red tones are one of few regular colors available which make my job easy, as I am natural redhead. The last time I bought some I got it between $4.50 to $4.99 so adding my new bottom line increase, any thing under $7.00 will be a bargain. I got 4 x $5.99 normal (RRP) price $14.95 each saving $36.00. When I go to the city again I will look if they have more left and buy a few more. I went to the Hungry Jack’s today and got a free coffee with my senior card, saving $2.45

BREAKFAST Baked Beans on Toast Coffee
LUNCH Cream Cheese & Tomato Apple Coffee
DINNER Fillet Steak, Egg, Onion & Tomatoes Coffee

Today’s Full price Tally $62.25
Today’s Savings - $ 57.85
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $7635.45

It’s wet day so I spent the time reorganizing my pantry & my hold it all cupboard, it’s a cupboard that every modern house needs but doesn’t have. It next to pantry cupboard all overflows goes into this cupboard. The original owner was a dressmaker and this was her sewing room. Its now my sitting room and is just off my kitchen area with two large build-in cupboards. One thing by doing this, I am reviewing what I keep in these cupboards, grouping same things together. Party paper goods for future functions or taking to my son place when they have a party etc. My overflow of cookware that I use at times, along some gifts cards & wrapping paper that I collected over the years. Just a few of the things in this cupboard.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Crackers & Blue Vein Cheese Coffee
DINNER Pumpkin & Lentil Stew with Garlic Focaccia Bread

Today I got out my old Mower and mowed the grass, its not a lawn but mixed grasses with weeds in it but it green. This chore took around hour to do. I have 20 perches of land, so it’s not that large to do around the house on just three sides. I did get into weeds specially the bindi-eye with a knife. The knife handle broke but being a hoarder and a tightwad, I just went to the can that I keep some wine bottle corks in, got one out then work the knife blade into it. Now I got a few more years out that knife I think. On the subject of hoarding, I have large coffee cans that I put things in when these are full then I stop collecting that item. I find these in the street at times, or I just ask the neighbors for some as I don’t drink wine any more.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Crackers & Blue Vein Cheese Coffee
DINNER Omelette with Cheese Coffee

I went to my son place again, to help him clean up the floors as he is having the carpet cleaners in to-morrow and we needed to make sure that they didn’t need to pick-up everything first as they have a lot of things on the floor to start with. I folded the clothes and got my son to put it away. An organized him into doing the washing that was backing up too! They have no lines so it all goes into the dryer. By the time we left in the late afternoon we had all the chores done included all but one load of washing. You couldn’t walk in that laundry for clothes to start with. I just got him to stop what he was doing, a charge the loads over to the dryer and put next load on. It just took about 5-10 minutes each time. I folded the clothes as they came out of the dryer too! $$$ Another Strategy
We did have lunch out again, saving $2.05. He gave me they exercise bike that they are not using so now I have an exercise bike in my small lounge room to use.
When I returned home one of the parcels that I am waiting on arrived an was sitting on my front porch for me. Everything was there too. I got two free gifts in the parcel. 3 savory trays value $29.95 and multi-tool value $7.95. I will now giveaway some of my savory trays and just keep these as I don’t go out much now days.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH lunch out*
DINNER Fillet Steak, Egg, Onion & Tomatoes Coffee

Today’s Full price Tally $ 45.40
Today’s Savings - $ 39.95
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $6711.88

It’s my cousin birthday today as she lives alone 40 minutes away but can get to my place via a train, she came to dinner to–night and I pick her up at the train station. Instead of going out to dinner, I pulled two single dinners form the freezer and used these. She bought the dessert too!

I gave her a small gift from hoard of gifts that I have bought over the years. I have a suitcase full plus a cupboard with these kinds of items. I shop my own cupboards first then only buy if I don’t have the item that I need. Working in retail over the years, you do learn to pick out very good bargains by knowing the (RRP) prices of all kinds of lines. A few years ago I stop buying these items, and now I am using them as gifts to the right people.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Soup & Toast Coffee Apple Coffee
DINNER Beef Bourguignon with Basmati rice & vegetables

I had a full schedule this morning with going the doctor for results on my blood test that I had last Friday. All is OK on that front. I had to catch the bus early this morning.

After I went to the bank so that I could pay half my car bill off my visa card so $350 off that bill and the same next month. Then I will pay no interest on the credit card at all. I am within the interest free time limit. The other amount is my debit bills on that CC. You may ask ‘Why do I still have Credit cards?’ Well it’s so that I can use them at time like this and carry no cash on me. I can’t close these cards and get new ones, as I am no longer in the workforce my income amount doesn’t allow me to reapply for any, if I do.

I went to lunch with ex-work friend at our usual restaurant, as it’s school holidays we had two of grandkids with us today. I saved $2.79 on my meal today. I only other item I bought today nail files at $2 store. I paid $2.00 for 4 metal nail files, the same nail files cost $4.95 each at the department store so saving $18.00 here.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH lunch out *
DINNER Omelette with Cheese Yogurt & LSA Coffee 40

Today’s Full price Tally $387.63
Today’s Savings - $ 20.79
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $6439.50

Today was my ironing catch up day. I iron for pin money and all those business shirts arrived yesterday to be ironed. So it was an ironing day, as my next lot of ironing of my own ironing would be need to be done too! I make it a rule that I can never go more than two wash days without ironing before the next one. If I do then I would need more clothes. I take only 45 minutes to iron with my ironing press so it’s not a problem to do! I much refer to be on the computer. Within 2½ hours I had all the ironing done for both household.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Grilled Cheese on Toast Apple Coffee
DINNER BBQ Soy Beef with Vegetables & Rice Green Tea Orange

A Free lunch at DF-M place, she is having a BBQ lunch and has invited me down to it. Just the two of us. Fillet steak and Italian salad with broad beans salad as well. Very nice!

Balancing the budget as I check my budget every 2 weeks bring it up to date. Keeping me on my toes with what’s happening with my money and keeping me focus on this challenge too! All money transfers are done at these times too!

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH BBQ steak & salad *
DINNER Thai Satay Chicken with Steamed Rice & Green Tea
SNACK Yogurt & LSA

As it’s been raining in the last few weeks not enough to fill the dams etc! But enough to make the grass grow and a light water on the garden. The water saved may have put back the next level of water restriction by a few days.

I had a lot of weed flowers in my lawn when mowed so I couldn’t recycle it in my compost bin. I fill two rubbish bins full of grass and weeds today. It does look nice when it’s done. Saving here $35.00 on DIY job. As I am not mowing so much I may not need to buy a new lawn mower before next year. I am also looking into pricing a water tank etc so will need to keep fund for that job, if I go ahead with a water tank. I will get a refund but the pay back time is very long winded over 6 months when you are talking $1000’s here my cash flow is not that great.

I need to go up the street to the local supermarket in the afternoon for DF-M. I did buy something as well! I had an extra key cut so that I could get into my back door if the front door lock failed at any time. It’s very unreliable at times. I am planning to get a new lock soon! It would cost me over $100 if lock failed so I think I am saving money here around $96.00, by doing this strategy. I bought some Zero spray twin pack to kill some of those lawn weeds, saving $1.50

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Crackers with Low-Fat Cream Cheese & Tomato Coffee
DINNER Pumpkin & Lentil Stew with Garlic Focaccia Bread
SNACK Toasted Raisin Bread

Today’s Full price Tally $48.55
Today’s Savings - $36.50
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $6158.26

I was getting housebound. I went to three op shops plus the bookshop along with supermarket. As well going over to fruit shop later in the day. Want did I buy? Well a mixed lot this time, as it has been rain this week I notice that I was getting water in my letterbox after it rained. So went looking for a cake rack/baking tray that would fit inside my letterbox, I got a perfect size one baking tray for 1.00. saving $4.00 No more wet mail. I found 2 cup steel vacuum flask for $5.00 (value $35.00) but it didn’t keep things hot but will do nicely for cold drinks in summer. I had one many years ago the brand was ‘Thermos’ and I had the same problem I will never learn. I have a Décor one and it stay hot for 24 hours. I bought some cookbooks for $3.50 the RRP $ 26.00 saving around $23.00. On the Groceries plus Fruit & Vegetable shopping as I bought some black olives for 50c packet (saving $23.50 kg) saving $5.20 on them.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Grilled Cheese with Mustard Toasted Slices Apple Coffee
DINNER Devilled Sausages with Garlic Focaccia Bread Coffee

Today’s Full price Tally $79.00
Today’s Savings - $60.70
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $ 5782.61

I went for a drive with my DS over to his MIL business so she could go out for a half- hour or so. I went around to the Op Shop near by but it was closed today. So I went off to the newsagent and bought Calligraphy Set for $2.95. Value around $12.95 mark as it was a introductory offer. I have enough calligraphy items to sink the yacht. I don’t need anymore. So I will not be buying this set over 100 books and stuff in it etc. each book set will cost $7.95 each. Around $800.00 mark and counting. It’s not a good buy, don’t fall for such offers just buy the first one introductory offer only then stop. Buy only want you need to start and a simple textbook on the subject and you will come out better off. (Do the Maths Strategy)

I had appointment with my Financial Advisors I have two. Lucky me, as one is close to retirement so the another one is taking over smaller clients for now! All is well for the time being in that area. I look after my day to day stuff and they look after my Super, which is not a lot of money but it’s all that I will have. I went to the supermarket near by and bought some garlic bread that was markdown. Saving $2.50.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Salad Cheese with Crackers Apple Coffee
DINNER Pasta with Chilli Tuna Sauce
SNACK Pancakes with Maple Syrup Whipped Cream

Today’s Full price Tally $17.45
Today’s Savings - $12.50
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $5721.91

Did I need another cookbook the answer to that one is NO. But if I bought a Kraft mini cream cheese along with a tub of another Kraft cream cheese I would get a free cookbook, as there were on sale as a multi buy, so I bought that as the shelf life on all packets were until January 2007. $3.49 each but two for $4.00 + mini pack $2.35 = $6.35. Saving $2.98 + cookbook $15.00 = $17.98

I paid my power bill while I was at it too! $146.80 for the quarter. Saving $30.00 on pensioner discount.

I bought some more fertiliser at the other supermarket as I needed more potting mix and as it was the last day of the sale on it, its likelihood of there being some was slim. I plan to ask for a rain check for 5 bags. I got my rain check too! Saving $2.10 on fertiliser. Other groceries came to $5.65 saving $3.00

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Corn & Chicken Soup Toast Orange Coffee
DINNER French Onion Chicken with Toast

Today’s Full price Tally $217.88
Today’s Savings - $53.08
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $5670.41

When I have visitors or guests to stay, I serve a lunch, where I put out in divided dishes enough food for all of us in controlled portions plus one extra serve. It’s most times, mix your own salad, only thing I make is one of the following mixed beans salad, rice salad or pasta salad. I serve enough of other things to make a meal. Mixed salad green, olives, sliced tomatoes, pickled onions, bread & butter cucumbers, asparagus, fresh shallots & herbs, cheese, eggs, ham, tuna or sardines, Chutneys, relishes, lemon juice and two salad dressings and a long with crackers & bread. What is left in the dishes is used to make a meal later in the week. I never had anyone say I don’t eat this stuff, very little is left too! If put out full containers of each for two or three people they take a lot of one thing and don’t try any of others. e.g. olives serving is 4 so I put out 12 for two people. Cheese is 30g each. If it’s a luxury item then I only put out enough per serving only.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Soup & Toast Apple Coffee
DINNER French Onion Chicken with Toast Fruit Coffee

Taking DF-M to hospital for a check up after she had being in hospital last month.

As I was just an escort for DF-M she paid for the bus fare. Saving $2.20 she was unable to walk that distance to the hospital.

With free car parking is just three streets from our homes. It saved around $9.00 by going by bus over paid parking in the visitor car park or $280 on towing fees, if I had parked in the shopping centre across the street and got caught parking there. You have to stay within the shopping centre or just go to the post office and back or they will tow you! Many have been caught too! It’s only five blocks too! It will get worse next year when two-hour parking comes in for the whole area including where we live too! Use Public Transport Strategy

Had all slacks fitted so that I can take up my hems that my next project to do! Seven pairs of slacks to take the hems up on. Oh well! I will get them done one day.

Quite day at home after had long afternoon nap.

BREAKFAST Baked Beans on Toast Coffee
LUNCH Crackers with Avocado & Herbs Fruit
DINNER Pasta with Pasta Sauce & Tuna Coffee

Today’s Full price Tally $2.20
Today’s Savings - $2.20
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $4426.11

This ‘Year Long Mirror Image Challenge’ has made me stop think and ask myself a lot of questions.

Why I do, what I do whom I meet, where I go and how I feel about all parts of living, spending and saving money. Learning along the way.

Now I need to stop think, how much I would have paid if I paid full price for everything. As this my challenge.

I put this question “What is the true value of my lifestyle now that I am living on a pension?” to myself in April. And this what I wished to find out the difference, than that of someone single paying full price for everything and what I am doing now!

My pension is around $13000 per year before tax, what is minimum income of someone single paying full price for everything paying, doing the same things and lifestyle? Mirror Image Challenge

Last week I found my original Saved Money Journal that I started early in January 2004 with very similar ideas.

This is what I wrote as an outline then.

Saved Money is there difference in Money spent and what I would have paid if I bought it differently.

Lists of areas to look at too save money in.
1. Paid someone to do the job.
2. Paid full price RRP without discounts or buying 2nd hand.
3. Bought it at another outlet
4. Bought it at different time of year when it’s more expensive.
5. Bought it at regular price and not on sale.
6. Something that was given to me that had a cash value.

My tank needed some more gas put into it so as its at lowest today I will buy it now!

Needed to go to the bank today, so I made a trip of it while I was out.

Also got my next few week’s supply of cat litter while I had the car out too!

By buying gas today I am saving around 16c litre, as while I am writing this up gas is back up to that level and rising.

BREAKFAST - Oatmeal with Current & Milk Coffee
LUNCH - Pumpkin & Lentil Stew, Mandarin Coffee
DINNER – Devilled Sausages with Garlic Focaccia Bread Coffee

Today’s Full price Tally $79.87
Today’s Savings - $ 17.62
Bulk Food Replacement Fund - $ 140.15
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $2976.16

Today I cashed the coins at fruit shop as they are always looking for charges.
While I was buying my 2 week’s supply of fruit & vegetables.

When I next went online I transferred $35.00 over into my online line account.
I put cash into my coin purse, so now I don’t need to take money out of my everyday account for spending.

Still looking for one missing tax paper. Will phone to see if I can get a copy if I don’t find it by the end of the month.

BREAKFAST - Oatmeal with Current & Milk Coffee
LUNCH - Corn Beef Salad Mandarin Coffee
DINNER - French Onion Chicken with Toast Coffee

Today’s Full price Tally $9.95
Today’s Savings - $0
Bulk Food Replacement Fund - $136.65
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $2957.64

Today task was to make room in my storage area downstairs to make room for more STUFF that needs to be move out of upstairs.

As I have the habit of re-buying the same items again and again if don’t keep them. I no longer part with them only move them into storage. I do have the storage too!

My aim is to put this goal into practice. Goal: To just leave out what projects & topic, I am working on this week, all other projects are to be returned to it’s own storage area. MMMMM!

I do work on a value system, so I don’t keep everything. If I can replace it at little cost & no longer need it now then it goes in the bin or given away. But if it cost a bit of money to replace it in the future then I will keep it. I have been known to go back too projects years later.

With this plan, I will be able to keep my house in some form of order, even it’s not just tidy as a picture perfect house.

BREAKFAST Oatmeal & Milk with LSA Pancakes & Maple Syrup with Whipped Cream 80c
LUNCH Crackers with Chutney, Home-cooked Corn Beef & Salad Coffee $1.00
DINNER Devilled Sausages Orange $1.00

Bulk Food Replacement Fund - $97.45

I had to drive to the hardware superstore today. The nearest one is about 6km away.

As we went into level 3 water restrictions last week, I needed to buy more buckets and Bunnings one’s are more sturdier than the cheaper buckets but half the price more. ($1.50 to 89c) these are for my grey water in my laundry. Also bought a 42L rubber large Tuff bucket to fill so that I am not standing holding it up everytime to fill up. I do have a bad back to start with so I have to find ways around this problem. I got my 2 hose reels and fitting to put my hoses away too! They were a little expensive, I bought them for safety as this comes before money on my list. I would have to look after myself if I had an accident. I got a new rake for $2.65 also I was charged twice which I found out when I arrived home. Plus some other items. $$$Another Strategy ~ safety first

It may be a small amount of $2.65, but if everyone didn’t go back for a refund then they win!

I rang them up so that 20c off the refund to start. Yes, they did remember me. So I will not to wait to run a security camera check on the sale. “They run a security camera at each register and then view footage before a give a refund if there is any doubt!” (Yes, this is what she said on the phone.) They had a run of people taking other peoples dockets at some stage, then duplicating what was on it, when returning to a store for part refunds later! Another friend had her docket stolen while she was getting the charges from her sale. You need a docket the leave the store with any goods. This little exercise costs $58.74 less $2.65 when I get it. I will go back to-morrow as the girl who served me is on duty then!
$$$Another Strategy ~ check dockets & get your refunds if wrong.

As it was lunch time and I need to go grocery shopping on the way home. (Multi task trip here.)

I had lunch of a hot dog & mustard roll and milkshake at our Cheapest Snack Bar locality. It’s a one off snack bar. They serve a very limited menu, hot dogs, doughnuts and gingerbread men & drinks but they prices are cheaper by more than half what you pay at other places like Wendy’s. Cost $2.45* saving $4.55 if I bought at café in the hardware store. I nearly did too! I bought Pet Food & Grocery needed at supermarket cost $13.75 only saving 65c on Retire Staff Discount Card.

BREAKFAST Oatmeal & Currants with Milk Coffee 35c
LUNCH hot dog & milk shake *
DINNER Devilled Sausages Yogurt & LSA Coffee 75c
Bulk Food Replacement Fund - $1.10

Today’s Full price Tally $79.49*
Today’s Savings - $5.20
Bulk Food Replacement Fund - $92.65
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $2842.21

I went for a walk today to the shopping centre where I pay my phone bill. The newsagent that I go to the pay my phone bill was having a big problem with their Bpay machine but in the end got it to work (about hour.) Phone bill $46.03, it’s higher this month because of phoning overseas and interstate as well more local calls. If I didn’t pay it then it would have been over due.

At supermarket there, I just bought a fruit loaf markdown $1.30 saving $1.30

BREAKFAST Oatmeal & Currants 2 Toast & Jam Coffee 35c
LUNCH 2 Slices of Toast with Mustard Spread, Melted Cheese & Topped Paprika Coffee 50c
DINNER 2 Egg Cheese Omelette and Pasta Sauce & Grilled Peppers - 50c

Today’s Full price Tally $48.63
Today’s Savings - $1.30
Bulk Food Replacement Fund - $88.15
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $2837.01

I put all the clothes that I decided to give away in the car this morning, and took them to a charity bin before I unpacked them again. I always give myself only 24 hours to get things out of the house if they are going. I started this when I found, that I had let DS leave things in his wardrobe after he left home. I had asked him to remove them, and always got, ‘I'll do it later’ remark, well one day I said enough was enough. So I just went in, only kept things of value, gave away clothes that were 6 sizes too small now, and papers from rentals he had lived in 8 years before. Some stuff had been in that wardrobe for 14 years. He had been married 5 years by then and left home 8 years before that! So the remark ‘ten years and waiting’ applies here! I do know that I keep things for a long time but I'm no longer keeping things for other people, for me to move around my house.

As I had to go to the shopping centre in the car, I did my cats groceries shopping too! Their dry cat food was on special and along with their regular cat food which went up yet again. Saving $1.50 I bought dairy markdowns, one my favourite health drink reg. $4.85 m/d $1.74, milk coffee 1L reg. $3.38 m/d $1.74 1L skim milk reg. $1.80 m/d 90c. Saving $5.65 2 jars of jam $1.99. Saving $2.86 I bought two books at the thrift shop $3.50 RRP $ 25.00 saving $21.50 and The Di Vinci Code shopping bag plus lotto tickets.

BREAKFAST Oatmeal & Currants with Milk Coffee 40c
LUNCH Crackers with Cheese & Mustard Pickle Relish Apple Coffee 40c
DINNER Honey Mustard Chicken with Vegetables and Rice, Fruit Coffee $2.20

Today’s Full price Tally $54.28
Today’s Savings - $31.51
Bulk Food Replacement Fund - $64.85
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $2473.90

As you read in the last post that I did end up at Thrift’s Shop ‘Fill a Bag’ Sale for $2.50 bag.

I bought 3 bags for $7.50.

28 garments in all RRP value between $12.00 for Undergarment Vest to Designer Label Jumper around $125.00. That’s under a 27c per garment. All designs are of last two years fashions. 6 pieces were Designer Labels (DL)

5 Jackets (2 DL) - $60 –125
6 Jumpers (2 DL) - $40 – 125
8 Tops (2 DL) - $25 – 75
2 Pants Casual - $15.00 each
5 Summer Tops $25 – 35 each
2 T-Shirts $25.00 (one new a Hard Rock Café London)
Value Around $950. Saving $942.50

Lucky that I have neutral color pants and skirts that will tone in with what I have bought.

Now I will have to wash & iron them and go through my own wardrobe and cull around 30 garments that I don’t look great in. (Something In & Something Out Strategy)

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk with LSA Coffee 60c
LUNCH Baked Beans on Toast Mandarin Coffee 90c
DINNER Apricot Chicken & Vegetables 2 Chocolate Biscuits Coffee 2.00

Today’s Full price Tally $950
Today’s Savings - $942.50
Bulk Food Replacement Fund - $ 53.90
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $2401.50

You never seen such a site, all the clothes were mixed up just as they came out of the bales (they were the size of wool bales) about 25 of them. There was one mirror at the back of the shop but no fitting room. The clothes were waist high all over the floor of the shop, you had to climb on top and walk over all the clothes & just pull out what took your fancy, then put it into the red bag that you were given. If you rolled the items up tight you got a lot more into the bag. There was no room for widow shoppers. It was hard to find kids clothes if you found any you called out anyone want kid’s is or that. The bales were all mixed items of summer & winter with men’s, women, teenagers, children & infants together and to hard find anything in the one spot.

I went early and got some of good bargains. I looked for colour, texture, style then size if looked near my size. When I had a bag full then, I went and looked in the mirror to see if I liked it and if may fit. If it didn’t like it or didn’t fit across my chest, it was tossed back into the pile. I was luck that all I bought did fit.

As I live alone all prices are for one person and everything is at cost.

You need to remember what you are paying for things, this skill I learnt when I was working.

Rule of thumb: Cost of items or recipe divide by number of serving.

Breakfast
example: updated 2006
Cost of Economical Breakfast ~
2 weet-bix 11c
1/4 cup skim milk 5c
3 prunes 5c
1 toast 4c
Black Coffee or Tea 5c
Hot Water 0 = 30 cents

Cost of Economical Breakfast ~
1/3c Quick Oats 4c
1/4 cup skim milk 5c
1 tbsp. sultanas 5c
1 tsp. Honey 3c
1 toast 4c
Black Coffee or Tea 5c
Hot Water 3/4 c 0 = 26 cents
Note: If you have Jam & Butter on your toast adds 30c
Vegemite add 2c

The Muesli that I have is homemade and very expensive to start off to make. Now I have got it too around 40c serve. I make enough for 21 days at a time and costing now is under $6.00.

The first time that I made it cost over $21.00 to make. I did a costing chart for it. Now I buy in bulk and on special if I can get the ingredients cheaper. Storing most of the items in the 2nd fridge.

Milk is mostly bought as 1kg bag of skim milk powder made up by the 1/2 cup dried and 600ml (1 pint) of water. This lasts around 4 days for my cereal only. If I can get fancy milk products at a markdown price then I will buy them for variety. Milk on cereal would be around 5c a day.

Lunch per serve

2 slice of bread or 3 crackers (broken into 6 small crackers) @ 10c
Chutney or relishes @ 5c
Cheese is bought when on special @ 20c
Salads around @ 60c
Pasta and 1/2 cup pasta sauce with 1/2 cup vegetables @ 60c
Just a few items here.

Dinner
Take Steak Dinner with Canned Mushrooms, Egg, Grilled Onions and Grilled Tomatoes @ $2.20
Based on $1.20 per Steak, Onion 20c, Tomato 20c, Mushrooms 40c, and Egg 20c

I only buy steak at its lowest price that I can find. Last time I bought steak, I got 3 trays @ $1.14 each, a steak at its regular price here is $21.99 kg at the moment. When buying meat tray markdowns buy the cheapest and the lowest price you can find. Look at the weight before you choose which tray to take if you are not taking all of them. But in truth if I want too, I could only post value of the bulk items in this case it would be Steak $1.20 & Mushrooms 40c @ $1.60.

Meals made from Chicken To-Night Sauce on special $1.50 to $1.99 range, @50c serve, 300g Chicken Breast diced (@ $10.00 kg), 3 serves of chicken for 4 meal. @ .75 serve, vegetables 500g $1.50 @ 38c allowing $1.65 meal serving.

As I am repeating recipes and meals on a regular bases. I can estimate costs, as I am writing in my Blog at times.

Well! If you call doing the washing and having all the ironing up to date.

After I had done those chores, it was a day for working on the files on my computer. Clearing out files, downloading what I need to take off & out of emails files. Deleting the junk out of my email addresses boxes. As I have multi –email addresses so I need to do this once month to all of them.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk with LSA Prunes, 4 Honey Puffs, Coffee 70c
LUNCH Chilli Tuna Salad & Crackers Apple Coffee 60c
DINNER Two Chicken Kebabs with Garlic Focaccia Bread, Yogurt & LSA Coffee $1.50

Bulk Food Replacement Fund - $44.20

Boy! I got a lot of groceries in my two pantries; I have a storage cupboard downstairs for the overflow, along with my Toilet Paper and cleaning items. One of my freezer/refrigerator is there too! I have a very large storage area under my house. It can’t be made into living areas, as only one area is legal height but just a good height for me to walk around. If you are over 5 feet 5 inches then you will hit your head on the beams as you walk around.

I think I will have enough Grocery items to last until I run out of the proteins meats in about two to three months. Too many items of some things and very little of salad items left which I like to add to my salad in the way of Bread & Butter Pickles which will be on my list in a few weeks. Here you can have salads all year around. I think I will cut back on my bulk asset stock by 50% just buy enough for 3 months not six months supply like I have been doing. I will use up want I have got before I replace it too! I have got a small Gourmet Deli corner in my pantry as DIL loves to buy Gourmet Christmas Hampers in the ‘After Christmas Sales’ but doesn’t like all the food so I end up with it. MMMMMM. YUM!

Did do some cooking in the slow cooker today, ‘French Onion Chicken’. I used the two trays of chicken thigh I bought yesterday along with half can French Onion Soup and two cans small crushed tomatoes. I portioned the chicken into soup ladle meal sizes and I plan to add it to pasta or rice. I will get another nine meals doing this for 80c a serve.

BREAKFAST - Oatmeal & Currants with Milk, 2 Pancakes & Maple Syrup with Whipped Cream. Coffee. 60c
LUNCH French Onion Soup French Bread & Hummus Apple Coffee + Health LSA Bar (That I won. $3.95 ea.) 50c
DINNER French Onion Chicken Chocolate Paddle Pop Coffee $1.25

Today’s Full price Tally $3.95
Today’s Savings - $3.95
Bulk Food Replacement Fund - $34.55
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $1350.69

Weight Control: Portion Control for Solo Cooking

My Motto:
Portion control of servings is the key to weight control and weight loss plus exercise. No second helpings, Thank you. Eat unflavored popcorn if hungry and to save money.


I have lost 9 kilos in the past year on portion control and with low-fat choices with losing 250-500g at a time. It’s the same way that I put on the weight so I am taking it off that way too! Want I was doing was eating the same 4 portions as if it was 2-3 portions.

How to get around this is by serving up the extra portions along with meals then put them straight into the refrigerator or freezer before you eat, is best way of not have extra around when cooking 4 servings in single person household.

Look at the serving size then divide by that or more. If the recipe says 500g meat put in 300g then add more vegetables or filler. You may get an extra serve as well!

If the can of buttered Mushrooms serve 4 then divide it up into 4 then freeze the extra servings. I would have bought the smaller can of mushroom then eat the lot! All 2 servings. Oh these little tricks that we learn.

My Mother once asked, “How do you get enough for lunch next day out of roasted chicken.” The reply was “I serve it up first or as if it’s another serving!”

We once put out 2kg of ham for eight people along with table full food. One person had the lot! He said “I like ham off the bone.” Guess who didn’t bring a plate along?

Got out some meat to defrost for next two days. One lot is just ready to heat up, other lot I will make a dish up for 4 meals plus a lunch for tomorrow. (Thinking Ahead Strategy)

One of my cookbooks with a menu planner for 14 days had this system in it. Menu & recipes planned for the whole 14 days and steps of what you need to do the day before. (Printed about the 1980.) I never did use the recipes but I have taken a liking to the ideas and strategies used in it. Once I even thought making a personal cookbook for one using the same ideas, then I found OAMC method and how to do this for singles.

Which is to cook for 4 then divide into 4 portions and freeze, normally I eat one portion then I would freeze other three portions. You need to make sure that you make the portions out to the right amount when you are serving them up or you will find that you only getting enough for three or two servings only and your waistline is getting bigger. If there isn’t enough of the main meal to you liking then you eat a piece of fruit as well or have one of your serving of bread with it or adding extra 1 serve of the filling with.

Cutting back on the meat in meat meals, is another method I use too! If recipe says 1 pound (500g) then I will use ¾ pound or 300g, mainly I cut back to three serves meat serve for four and add extra 1 cup vegetables to mixture or TVP if using ground beef.

Once every two weeks I may have a piece of steak if I can find a markdown ones. My favorite is steak with grill tomato, grill onions and egg, if I have some in the pantry can buttered mushrooms, as I live alone I now buy the 400g tins and portion then out in 3 serves and freeze want I don’t use for later.

I made up some menus for both summer & winter so that I would use up the frozen dinners that I have put aside & so that they are spaced out over two months or less. I am posting these menus and notes in “what is your menu for the week?” in Food & Recipes in the Saving Advice Forum. I have also posted some recipes in ‘I need cheap meals ideas’ in Food & Recipes.

As you can see, I do use portion control as a strategy to save money and stop gaining weight.

BREAKFAST 2 Boiled Eggs Toast & Jam Coffee 60c
LUNCH Crackers with Hummus & Chilli Tuna Apple Coffee 50c
DINNER Devilled Sausages Yogurt & LSA Coffee 75c

Bulk Food Replacement Fund - $25.55

Today, I just finished the mowing the lawn it take me twice along to do it now but I get some exercise doing it and save money as well! In fact $35.00 each time. I am putting this money in my new mower fund and very soon I will have enough to buy new one. I am lucky that this one is still going. I had the motor recondition a few years back but other things are breaking so I will get a new one when I need to pay any money out on it. The fund is now at $280 so I can afford to buy new one any time now! The goal price is around $450. I will get a new one for next summer if it doesn’t breakdown before hand.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Pancakes & Maple Syrup with Whipped Cream 80c
LUNCH Crackers with Chutney, Home-cooked Corn Beef & Salad Coffee $1.00
DINNER Devilled Sausages Orange $1.00

Today’s Full price Tally $35.00
Today’s Savings - $35.00
Bulk Food Replacement Fund - $21.25
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $1180.84

Today I charged over my seasons in my wardrobes. Taking out my winter clothes and put away my summer clothes that I will not wear again until October here or later. It’s still in the twenties in the middle of the day but it’s getting cooler in evenings. But sleeveless tops are no longer needed and any items that you can’t wear a vest under it.

I also refilled my moth ball holders in each wardrobe as they were empty. I buy extra loose mothballs and refill the hanging holders ones, you can get them from Chinese supermarket here, if you know want you are looking for. Hanging holder cost $2.00 for 2, but once you bought them you have got them for many years. But the supermarkets would like us to buy the hangers only. I found that the bottoms do come off, you need to use a knife to open it. Then you can put the refill in & close it again. I almost can get two full refills out of one bag for around $1.50 bag. I keep the mothballs in an old coffee tin that is well labeled so that they are airtight until next time. I has have four sets of these hangers so I am paying $8.00 for original outlay + $1.50. So each time I replace them I saving $7.25 by using ‘Refill It Strategy’. With using around 1.5 bags per year. That’s $21.75 saving per year on mothball hangers.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk 2 slices Toast & Jam - 75c
LUNCH Cheese Salad Orange Coffee .60c
DINNER 2 Egg Cheese Omelette and Pasta Sauce & Grilled Peppers - 50c

Today’s Full price Tally $8.00
Today’s Savings - $7.25
Bulk Food Replacement Fund - $18.45
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $1145.84