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 drove down the shopping centre to pay my bills. Rates and phone bills $339.00 with seniors discount savings of $239 to be added for a full price amount in this challenge.

I went to Target to buy a gift card and birthday card for MIL. Spending $33.00 here.

While I was at the shopping centre, I went to the supermarket for DF-M to get her some plastic containers that she wanted. I had to get 10 x 1 Litre flat plastic containers costing $2.95 each. This all bought too at the supermarket!

BREAKFAST Boiled Eggs & Toast Coffee
LUNCH Chilli Tuna Salad & Crackers Apple Coffee
DINNER Thai Satay Chicken with Steamed Rice & Green Tea

Today’s Full price Tally $611
Today’s Savings - $ 239.00
2007 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $10877.46

~ 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

As only the brickwork was removed yesterday and extra bolts bought. Today we worked on removing the old window and the rest of the walls. No one could have broken in last night, as the original wall was still intact. This is one of the big days on this project as the plan was to have the new door lockable tonight. Which I am happy to say it’s the case.

My friend is a master builder, this the first time he has put a door in of this type and did work too!

I did set a bit of problem in making these doors, yes they are two doors but you wouldn’t know it by looking at it from outside. As it’s one standard door and half panel door in French door style, but we have made look like a standard door with a half panel. I did buy extra bolts so that the half door is bolts at all times but when you need to remove furniture you can unbolts this panel door. It even has a mock centre wooden butt screwed and glued to extra half door so that it looks like a half panel.

While this was going on I drove down to shopping centre and paid my bills so that I wouldn’t forget to do so next week, when we will be still working on this project. Saved $30.00 on my power. (senior discount). I bought a few groceries as I am feeding an extra person for next few days.

MMM I will be very lucky to have any no spending days this month, at the rate I’m going now!

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Salad & light Cream Cheese on Crackers Apple Coffee
DINNER Poached Fish with Salad Coffee

Today’s Full price Tally $238.10
Today’s Savings - $ 30.00
2007 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $10395.69

It’s that time of the month again lunch with my ex-work friends, there eight of us today. we went to Sizzlers again, I had the manager special as it was still on seafood for $3.95 plus salad bar & drinks*. Costing $15.10 saving $3.85 (senior card).

I paid my Household Insurance today, $658.50 and yet again paid my credit card off. I do have a debit bill on this card so need keep on top of it at all times.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Lunch out *
DINNER Curry Ground Beef & Rice with Sambal

Today’s Full price Tally $717.45
Today’s Savings - $ 3.85
2007 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $10,302.32

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

I had to recharge my pre-paid mobile today as it is soon due and I didn’t want to lose my credits if I forgot to re-charge it on the date due. Too much to lose, and I not talking about cents here. it’s annual pre-paid plan that I am on as I only use it for SMS & incoming calls. I will only use it for actual calls if I am in trouble or have lost the person I am with and need to find them. As we all have mobile phones in our family. My family bought this mobile phone about three years ago so that I could have on when I am driving back and forth from they place 20 minutes away on a freeway and they can find me if I am out. It’s when I do put my mobile on.

So back to the costing of this mobile phone, Ok I got it for FREE with $30.00 free calls on it. As I can’t hear it ring only see the lights when a message come in. I don’t use it much to talk on, as the calls on this annual plan are .60cent per minute. I have no voice mail, rarely call out, only SMS mainly. After first 2 months, I bought $50.00 recharge and put it on annual plan. At the end of the first year I had $49.00 left which rollover to next recharge which I put another $50.00 recharge on it and next year another $50 recharge. Because now, I have still $72.00 left to rollover this year I put only $20.00 on it this time which is the lowest I can get. This is not all I saved, as I got 15% off each of those recharges as well! So what’s the cost of my mobile phone to date. As the phone was free with $30.00 in call. I spent only $127.50 out of my pocket. In 3 years I had $200 of call credits now have $92.00 left. Using only $108.00 in this time. $108.00 call credits used on Mobile phone calls in 3 years with a phone that is in daily use. Can anyone else beat this?

Also I went shopping today, bought some groceries $3.85 saving $2.00 and had lunch out $2.95 and free coffee, saving $2.45 and I bought chocolates as I do have a sweet tooth. $3.88 saving .60 here

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Crackers & Marinated Feta Cheese with Marinated Peppers Fruit Coffee
DINNER Savoury Mince on Toast. Fruit Coffee

Today’s Full price Tally $33.10
Today’s Savings - $ 8.05
2007 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $ 9963.51

Today I made a special trip down to the place where I paid my bills as I am a bit old fashion and like to visualize that I paid a bill and hand over my cash or cards as the case may be. Well as I never pay many of my bills via credit card unless I am very short of money that week and I can be paid before next payment is due. What different about today’s phone bill it’s only a very bill and I can afford to pay it cash too! The phone bill is only $38.35 this month I do get a payment with my pension once every 3 months for a discount on my phone bill $20.30 so I better count that in my tally as I was paid it this week.

Different is that I have more than one credit card and this one hasn’t been use for a very long. While as I was talking to a cashier at another bank, I said need to make sure that I use it at a least once every few years so the bank knows that I still what it. The cashier did hear of a lady that had hers cancelled because she never used it. As I am going to the city in the morning and will have time to pay the credit card off again so it’s back to zero. I don’t have any fees on this card and it only there for a safety blanket, as I don’t qualify for any new cards so I need to keep them open even if I don’t use them. After tomorrow I will put it back in it home. This is one of the problems of having a very low income. Here you need an annual income of $25000 plus to qualify for one and my annual income is below $15000. Do any of you have this problem?

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Crackers & Marinated Feta Cheese with Marinated Peppers Fruit Coffee
DINNER 2 Sausage & Egg with Baked Beans

Today’s Full price Tally $58.65
Today’s Savings - $ 20.30
2007 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $9907.32

It was a busy day today at dawn I went and got gas for the car saving $1.93 off with shopper docket then extra as the price went up again a few hours later by 10c litre. Timing is the key with buying gas around here.

I had lunch again with my friends at Sizzlers ‘all you can eat salad bar’ place and I had the manager’s special of fried seafood @ 3.95 and salad bar costing $14.32 for both. Saving $8.58 as I get a senior discount here.

Today I paid my car annual insurance and zeroed my credit card yet again. I ‘m getting good at that one. This time of the year I have a lot of major bills coming in so I can’t go spending big at the Summer clothing sales with their big discounts. If I want to buy something next year I will have to save some extra money for clothes at this time period. I like to pay most of my bill annually as I save money by doing this it this way. Take my car insurance if paid monthly which I can do, I would be paying extra $77.56 per year that I would need to fine and on my budget that is not easy. I am saving here that amount plus over 55 discount and multi insurance on top. That’s around $180.28 for just my car insurance.

I did by some remnants at dressmaker store it’s call Lincraft’s, these were about 60% RRP saving $10.57.

When I came home later, and had a rest, I went shopping for cat food and a few groceries, saving $7.80 here.

So I had a very busy day.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Lunch out*
DINNER Grilled Cheese with Mustard Toasted Slices Fruit Coffee

Today’s Full price Tally $842.36
Today’s Savings - $ 209.87
2007 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $9842.53

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)

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)

Today is DF-M Grocery Shopping day and I’m the driver. So it was off to the bank and chemist when down to the shopping centre and I just paid my Rate bill. Pensioner & Homeowner Discounts on rates bill $209.77. I got given some cherries when she bought some for herself, as she has a set shopping plan and there is no way of change her mind when it made up to buy or do something. I try not to buy anything when I’m on this shopping trip as when I do, most times it get add to her shopping tally. Madding and it not the checkout staffs fault. No lunch today as we had frozen food this time.

Today’s Full price Tally $505.97
Today’s Savings - $215.12
2007 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $9519.03

It’s the day that I spend doing my budget, checking that I have paid my bills and balancing the figures and it’s so far so good on that front. There is enough money in Bill A/c to pay for all the bills for the next month. So everything is working out, as it should.

I had a look at my no spending days so far this year. I had 12 No Spend Day since the 1st January so far. I did say I was going to cut back a bit.

Early this morning at my favorite time of the day, which is dawn. I was cutting path edging in front garden with a pair of scissors so that I didn’t wake the neighbor’s. Saving money by not having to pay someone to cut it for me.

I did some more of my ironing project that about 2/3 done now and I have delivered what I have done too! My next large rate’s bill arrived today for just under $300 it will get paid next week sometime but I do have 3 weeks to pay it. I have no problem finding the money for this bill as it’s in my budget and on target too!

As needed to pay my phone bill $44.15 today. So I drove my car down to that shopping centre that I pay my bills. I could have walked but the supermarket did have a stationary special of display books that I wished to purchase in bulk, 24x 48c each instead $1.99 each. So I saved $36.24 here. Along with a loaf of multi- bread & tomatoes. After I went up to the local supermarket and I walked this time just for exercise. I bought 2x Yakut light drink 5pks markdown 99c instead of $3.88 ea. Which I froze Saving $ 5.78, Cos lettuce marked down 60c saving $1.68 some Christmas paper bowls 78c saving $1.70 and loaf of Raisin Bread $1.98 saving 70c so I had a good day with my bargains. Saving all up $46.10

Other than shopping, all I did today was working on the ironing pile. It will get done soon I still have another week to go when I have put MY deadline for it to be done. I am doing my own ironing as well!

Today’s Full price Tally $107.03
Today’s Savings - $46.10
2007 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $9139.55

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.

Challenge at 36th week.

Kitty’s Real Spending Total $8216.73
+ 2007 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $8886.27
= Full Price (RRP) Income Challenge $17103.00

Opening CC Balance $120.00
Kitty’s Opening Balance Rollover $95 ($0.00 Bill A/C)
$$$Money in - $1035.00
= Total Income Balance. $1130
Bills Total $378.10
Other Spending & Groceries $456.10
$$$ Money out = $834.51
Cash Banked in other A/C’s $40
Kitty’s Rollover Balance $255.49 ($94 Bill A/C)
CC Balance $0 (Zero)

My son arrived at 7.30am just after dropping DIL off at her business breakfast meeting to pick up the cheesecake. So we went off to breakfast together, as there was a special of two for one deal at local fast food outlet that I get my free coffee at, instead of dropping in to DF-M place this morning. My time with him is precious as don’t see him enough and it was only for any hour. The only catch was that I had to buy him his drink as he only had enough for his meal. My meal came to $3.95 plus 2 free cappuccino’s saving $4.90 and then paying a $1.95 for his drink. Oh well! He took the cheesecake in the DIL work after 8.30 then went home to sleep. As he had just had just finish work when drove his wife to work. The cheesecake was enjoyed by all at the morning tea.

After I went down to DF-M place to see her and her grandchildren who had stayed for the week. I don’t think she is up to minding young children of school age any more it’s not much fun for them, if she can’t see them they can’t go anywhere nor will she take them anywhere even if I go with them too! So it’s just watching TV or read a book or using the colour pencils that I gave them for Christmas as I do know how boring it can be when the minder doesn’t understand some of basics of schooling that we can do now days. I have to do all her reading and writing for her if the family is not around. Anyway she is going back today with her grandchildren as a family friend is going back to they hometown at lunchtime and taking them with them.

My Medibank debit payment is due today, I do pay it in six month installments. So I have tallied this in my expense total.

As you can see from precious posts that I have a Zero balance on Credit Card at this time of the year and I hope to keep it at that into the future.

Today’s Full price Tally $205.65
Today’s Savings - $ 4.90
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $8886.27

Well after 3 weeks into this year’s budget, I better work on want I have to live with for next 12 months. My projects for 2007 are over budget by around $5000. I will have to see where I can cut back, so some can get done.

My living expenses at moment are around $420 and bills $530 per 28 days with some over estimates on bills by 10%. This only leaves very little leftover for these projects. Three projects need to be done this year, each costing around $1800 each. On a gloss income of under $13500, I will have to cut fat big time.

As you know I am getting a water tank in the next few weeks, that’s $1540 there will be a rebate on it too! But will have to wait anything up to six months for it. So that rebate will go to one of the next projects on the list. My handyman friend wants to put an exit door and security screen door in my computer room, YES does need doing if there were a fire in this end of the house I can’t get out full stop! About $1200 for that job, as he is returning to New Zealand soon, it will be fixed before he goes. I had another person quote on this job but he has died since. The other project is buying a new computer, as this one is now too old to update any longer. I have about 10 months before I need a new one. I have to have my termite spray this year as well and will put it off as long a possible. That one is expensive and may have to come out of my capital savings if necessary. All other projects will be on unable to be fixed needs replacement list only. That’s will be only way they will be replaced in 2007.

So you may see a lot of no spending days in the future, as I go looking for the fat in this budget.

I will start with my grocery and eating out budgets, and see what can be done to cut back here.
Normally I annual budget is these amounts in these areas so I will keep them at these amounts and see if I can go under.

Grocery $1500 (last year $1160), target of $800 (I will live off bulk assets for a while.)

Eating out $400 (last year $520), target of $350 (As known spending is 4 birthday’s dinners and 18 lunch dates this year.) As I don’t budget for other’s eating at my place other than what on that week’s menu. I have to spend money to go with them to eat out as this is they lifestyle and we all go Dutch. I do keep a float $40 for this kind of spending so I am never notable to go. $$$ Another Strategy

Challenge at 32nd week.

Kitty’s Real Spending Total $7363.31
+ 2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $8304.36
= Full Price (RRP) Income Challenge $15667.67

Opening CC Balance $419.00
Kitty’s Opening Balance Rollover $283.69 ($0 Bill A/C)
$$$Money in - $1034
= Total Income Balance. $1317.69
Bills Total $236.60
Other Spending & Groceries $419 CC + 406.23
$$$ Money out = $1061.83
Cash Banked in other A/C’s $160
Kitty’s Rollover Balance $95.90 ($35.90 Bill A/C)
CC Balance $120.00 ….( Still in interest free period)

December / January 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 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.
~ Gardening Mowing & weed front garden & put water saving techniques in place.
~ Install the water tank, paid and apply for rebate.
~ Cleaning and painting garage before the tank is installed.
~ Cull & de-clutter computer files not in use.
~ Downsizing storage and clean these areas (zones 2, 4 & 5)

Review of the last two months.

October / November Goals & Planning Ahead

~ Have my credit card at Zero balance by end of the each month. ~ (No but not paying interest!)
~ Come under budget. ~ YES
~ Deposit into the online accounts. ~ Yes
~ Pay All Due Bills on pension days. ~ Yes
~ Chiro visit (one every 4 weeks)
~ Known outings to budget for in October / November lunch out 3 dinner 1
~ Live off my Bulk Food Assets ~ (On Going)
~ Make up another eight meals OAMC. Out of Bulk Food Assets. ~ Yes
~ Gardening Mowing & repotting all pot plants using water saving techniques. ~Yes
~ Cleaning and painting garage before the tank is installed. ~ On going
~ Downsizing storage and clean these areas (zones 1 & 3) ~ Yes

This morning I had appointment with skin specialist. For my skin tone and hair coloring with freckles I should be a candidate for skin cancer. I just don’t tan, I just go red then blister and go back to white again. Luckily, I did get badly burnt as a child that would not go out in the sun again when it’s hot. I was a very stubborn child where getting burnt was concern. This has saved me from having any skin cancer, just may be. I only had a new sore on my hand which was zapped by the skin specialist just in case. I am to go back in 4 years if I am not worried by any charges in my skin. Our state has the one of worse rates of skin cancer in the world. So that little visit cost $110.00 and refund $64.30. But a lot of peace of mind here.

Less than hour later, I had a appointment in the same street with optician for new glasses. I have a new one pair of glasses each year, as this is part of medical fund rebates, use it or lose it policy. So each 12 months, I can get a new pair of glasses and have my eyes tested. As I have four pairs of glasses which I use over the year. Sunglasses clear street glasses, computer glasses and old pair of clear glasses that I use around the house. I am getting computer glasses this time, as the charge in my eye test was there and I am mixing up them with my clear street glasses when driving too! They have a similar frame. Costing $265 all up, rebate $245, I will be out of pocket $20.00.

I went looking for some more hair dye at the same store that I bought the last lot at. $23.98 cost saving $36.00. I bought a few groceries items saving $3.60 and a DVD movie pack for $4.99 saving $10.00.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Soup & Rice Crackers Coffee
DINNER Fillet Steak, Egg, Onion & Tomatoes Coffee
SNACK Pancakes with Maple Syrup Whipped Cream

Today’s Full price Tally $461.45
Today’s Savings - $358.90
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $8129.44

Early this morning I got all the ironing done, using my ironing press which does saves time as I can do this part of my ironing in less than hour. That’s 21 days worth of washing too! I am saving energy by doing it this way too! This is another strategy that I use

It’s our shopping day today, so I have paid my power bill too! Saving $30.00 on my senior discount rebate. Bought some seasonal fruit today, green grapes and apricots. Both on special so I saved some money but still expensive saving $4.60 here. Soft drink cans were on special where we shopped today. 24 x 29c = $6.96 (RRP $1.25 each cold, saving $23.04. Groceries & Pet food were total $30.96 saving $14.20 overall.

I fill my gas tank up as well, surprise a few months ago now I wrote that I won a gas voucher for $20.00. I had spent some of it when I got it and thought I had spent most of it. I found it in my wallet this morning so used it, with gas at $1.04.9 to $1.25 litre around here. I was able with a 4c discount off docket and my voucher card, along with the lowest price day of the week get $23.87 worth of gas for $7.00. I still had $15.83 on my FREE gas voucher card.

As I got a new lock for my front door, and I have multi key sets. I will need to go and get new keys for each set. I better spend money on this than paid for a locksmith to let me in my house, because I have the wrong set with me. Costing $14.00 $$$ Another Strategy

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Macaroni & Cheese Apple Coffee
DINNER Lamb chop Egg, Onion & Tomatoes Coffee

Today’s Full price Tally $302.98
Today’s Savings - $ 88.59
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $7758.04

Challenge at 28th week.

Kitty’s Real Spending Total $6720.48
+ 2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $ 7521.90
= Full Price (RRP) Income Challenge $14242.38

Opening CC Balance $300.00
Kitty’s Opening Balance Rollover $ 241.54 ($0 Bill A/C)
$$$Money in - $1104.00
= Total Income Balance. $1345.54
Bills Total $819.00
Other Spending & Groceries $621.85
$$$ Money out = $1440.85 – $419 = $1021.85
Cash Banked in other A/C’s - $40
Kitty’s Rollover Balance $283.69 ($0 Bill A/C)
CC Balance $419.00 ….( Still in interest free period)

It’s a trip over the transport department at the another shopping centre near my home. It’s time to pay my registration for my car, I paying it for a full year this time. Saving $90.00 with my pension discount this time. While there I bought a few more books saving $25.00.

This afternoon I went down the hill to another supermarket to buy some pets food and other things. Saving $10.65 here. Our food price are going up here but the cat food that my cats will eat price went down too it’s price of six months ago this time for how long?

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Grilled Cheese with Mustard Toasted Slices Apple Coffee
DINNER Poach Fish & Salad Coffee

Today’s Full price Tally $593.26
Today’s Savings - $ 126.93
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $7521.90

Today it’s driving DF-M around, first to medical appointment then off to get blood tests.

After we dropped it at Hungry Jacks for Coffee & pancakes. The coffee was free saving $2.45 a cup with our senior cards.

Next stop bank, chemist & butchers in the nearest shopping area. Then home to drop off the meat bought at her favorite butcher, she bought meat for me too, some ½ kg fillet steak and 200g ham off the bone, around $20.00 worth.

After that stop, we went down to the supermarket and then on to another supermarket that she likes and had lunch together as she had not eaten much since last night. As her family is coming to stay for the weekend, she needed to buy food for another five people along with her monthly bulk shopping. I was very good with my shopping and spent only $2.00 saving $2.00. Paying my phone bill while I was at it!

I had to have my afternoon nap by the time we arrived home at 2.30pm, having started out 8am this morning. It was defiantly her day, I was just the driver today.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Ham Salad Roll & Orange Juice*
DINNER 2 Egg Ham Omelette and Salsa Apple Coffee

Today’s Full price Tally $78.00*
Today’s Savings - $ 35.80
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $7394.66

It’s that time of the month yet again. Lunch with my ex-work friends, this is away of getting out of the house and without having to do what others wishes me to do. When I do go out with DF-M & DF-D or DS it want they wish to do, when to go home or go where their wish to go. Today is my day I do as I please. I did need to buy a photo frame for DF-M but it was where I was going today anyway.

As I paid my visa card last week, so I was able to put my rates bill on it for this month it interest free. Savings on full rates bill with discounts of senior pensioner subsidy & discounts etc $209.80 this quarter. Lunch was at Sizzlers again, saving $2.79. I bought a box of 5 VHS saving $6.55 on single ones.
On the way home I stop in at thrift shop where I had put away a pair of sandals all most new that I can where for $6.50 RRP $39.95 saving $33.45.

My arm is very sore but I am still using Panadol. I will have a quite day to-morrow.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Lunch out*
DINNER Omelette and Mild Chilli Salsa Apple Coffee

Today’s Full price Tally $576.65
Today’s Savings - $ 252.59
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $7100.31

24th week’s Summary of $$$ Stretching challenge

Kitty’s Real Spending Total $5683.38
+ 2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $6645.21
= Full Price (RRP) Income Challenge $12329.09

Opening CC Balance $0
Kitty’s Opening Balance Rollover $384.40 ($111.50 Bill A/C)
$$$Money in - $1316.00
= Total Income Balance. $1700.40
Bills Total $784.90
Other Spending & Groceries $348.96
$$$ Money out = $1133.86
Cash Banked in other A/C’s $625
Kitty’s Rollover Balance $241.54 ($0 Bill A/C)
CC Balance $300

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