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

Well my handyman friend came today with his truck and to load all the green garden waste on to his truck. Give this man a pair of secateurs and he cut away too much. He got into a vine that was growing over the side fence taking with it over thirty year’s growth with it. Now you can see the tree that was getting covered, if does grow again. I think so as it still has a lot of fresh branches there. It was a Calliandra haematocephala (common names powder puff or fairy duster or red pompom flower) that can grow up to over 5 metres (15 feet.).

All garden waste was put on the truck, then we were off to the garden waste dump as our council does give each household some vouchers for dumping fees, after you have used them up you have to paid a dumping fees. One voucher for every 100kg, I used 3 vouchers today or pay $12.50 dumping fee.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Soup & Toast Apple Coffee
DINNER Spaghetti Bolognese Coffee

Today’s Full price Tally $ 12.50
Today’s Savings - $ 12.50
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $7770.54

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

Today I spent time with my son this afternoon while he did mow his lawn and cleaned his swimming pool. All I did was sitting on a chair and played with his two dogs. I did buy a vanilla slice for afternoon tea.

This evening my friend arrived with an old doorknob & lock for my front door, which is plying up. He got this one to work and it’s over 30 year old too! Saving $30.00 for new one. Now I need to buy some more keys.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Soup & Toast Coffee Apple Coffee
DINNER 2 Egg Cheese Omelette and Pasta Sauce & Grilled Peppers Coffee
SNACK Vanilla Slice

Today’s Full price Tally $ 31.40
Today’s Savings - $ 30.00
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $ 7669.45

My handyman friend arrived this afternoon. He got a pick to the cardamom plant and finding it had a shallow root system but very matted. It will come out without much trouble. When he finishes work in a day or two he said he would come work on it for me. I am not that strong to take it out that way!

In all the years that I have had this plant in the garden I have saved the seeds for cooking.

It’s a large plant and it takes four years of growth before it will go into flower and make seeds. Then that part of the plant died with new growth is growing up all the time. I have cut away some that new growth and save it to give away. I will not be putting back in my garden as in ten years time I will not have the strength to do this again and replant again. My age is against me there!

BREAKFAST Baked Beans on Toast Coffee
LUNCH Soup & Toast Apple Coffee
DINNER Mushrooms & Chicken with Vegetables Coffee

Today’s Full price Tally $19.08
Today’s Savings - $4.00
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $7639.45

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

For the past nineteen years we have had a friend who has cancer a number of times three lots of breast cancer, bone cancer and now brain cancer. Now she has been put into hospital for the dying. I went to see her today, she had her fifty-ninth birthday just last Thursday. She herself never thought she would last this long and has live alone all this time too! I think she will last a little longer but will be in a coma soon! As a loner it’s hard when this time does come. I rang another friend and both of us went to visit her today as no one in her family was able to visit as they were packing up her Government Apartment so someone else could move in. Where would have been much as she is not a keeper of anything, just enough to get by. Well, she is lucky that has a good net work of ex-work friends who have stood by her all these years as she had give up work after the second lot of breast cancer. I will try to visit her twice a week from now on.

What did I spend today? Bus fare $2.00 off peck ticket saving $2.60. As we went to the city after visiting our friend, had lunch together, then went our separate ways.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk with LSA Prunes Coffee
LUNCH Chilli Tuna Salad & Crackers Apple Coffee
DINNER Two Chicken Kebabs with Garlic Focaccia Bread Yogurt & LSA Coffee

Today’s Full price Tally $ 11.40
Today’s Savings - $ 5.60
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $7576.76

Today it’s working in the garden day. First on the list is mowing my yard. By doing it myself I’m saving $35.00 here. Sweeping and raking the yard as well. I have a big project next week in the garden!

DF-M had the Waterwise plumber (Government -$20.00) at her house today too! This one did a better job than the one that came to my house. But her plumbing was bad, hopefully it will cut down the water use there. Some of her taps have not had new washers in since they were put in 35 years ago.

Helping looking after a second house as well my own can be draining at time. At least I don’t have to do any physical work, just all the phone calls and being there when the tradesmen call’s.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Grilled Cheese with Mustard Toasted Slices Apple Coffee
DINNER Spicy Lentil & Pumpkin with Basmati Rice Coffee

Today’s Full price Tally $35.00
Today’s Savings - $35.00
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $7572.00

It was DF-M yearly health assessment, all senior citizens over the age of 75 can have them FREE with our heath system. Along with other little services that you can get too! So far I have got DF-M someone to come to clean her house light duty only once every two weeks for $7.00 for two hours work, subsidy by the government for the balance. It’s better than paying $100 month out of her own pocket. Also I have had people to come make sure that her house is safe with rails etc. As I am 15 years younger than she is, I can’t get this service, it so that older generation can stay in their own homes longer. If they needing help then doctor can sign the forms for this kind of help. We have a very long waiting list for nursing homes here.

Afterward we went to the local supermarket for cat litter and biscuits.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Crackers & Blue Vein Cheese Fruit Coffee
DINNER Poach Fish & Salad Coffee

Today’s Full price Tally $8.55
Today’s Savings - $0.65
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $7537.00

A few weeks ago I got a raincheck for 2 L fruit drinks, so I got four bottles, and a few other things like 2 tubs Borax saving $2.94 alone, saving $5.90 overall.

As I had a $5.00 off voucher for a dress store, that I could spend at the shopping centre I was going to, I put this in my handbag, to see if they had any swimwear left in my size. I was lucky to be able get the size I wanted, but not the colour as I am using it in the family swimming pool it will not matter it’s still a colour that I can wear. Saving $5.00 off.

I had some lunch there too! Hot dog with mustard on a roll, and caramel skinny milk shake at Wendy ‘s it’s around $6.00 with milk shake. At Tina’s the lot was $ 2.45 saving $3.55

BREAKFAST Baked Beans on Toast Coffee
LUNCH lunch out *
DINNER Black Bean Beef with Noodles Mandarin Green Tea

Today’s Full price Tally $52.00*
Today’s Savings - $14.45
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $7536.35

I went to my DS home today, as he was having his dishwasher fixed. After lunch we drove to auto supply store a few suburbs over from where my DS lives. I bought a Battery charger and car paint for touch up paint for my car as some one took some paint off my car last week, small mark but it need some paint on it.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Soup & Toast Apple Coffee
DINNER Omelette with Cheese Coffee

Today’s Full price Tally $85.95
Today’s Savings - $ 0.00
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $7521.90

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

I walked up the street to pick up books on hold, more cookbooks to read. I read more than I cook.

That the moment I am collecting Australian Cookbooks coffee table kind with all the beautiful pictorial of Australia country before this drought. I think I have around five of these cookbooks now! I will not pay the price they are asking for them RRP $59.00 each, my price is under $5.00 each. Some don’t tell you where the pictures were taken. One sheep or cattle station looks like another after a time. I found this when I was travelling up North Queensland taking pictures of scene of cane fields in the end their all looked the same. The other cookbooks were two Gourmet Travellers’ magazines which I love to read and School Canteen book that had recipes in.

The Melbourne Cup was run today, both Japanese horses came in first Delta Blues & second was Pop Rock. Japanese was making a movie on this race, the scriptwriters couldn’t have written it any better.

Quote ~ “Delta Blues and Pop Rock, both trained by Katsuhiko Sumii, burst clear of the field down the final stretch with Delta Blues just holding on to win the 146th Melbourne Cup by a nose.

"I'm incredibly happy," sobbed jockey Yasunari Iwata after triumphing on the 18-1 shot. "It's my biggest win ever." “ Source: Reuters

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Crackers & Blue Vein Cheese Coffee
DINNER Lamb Chop & Vegetables Coffee

Today’s Full price Tally $83.85
Today’s Savings - $ 76.35
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $7358.86

Today was an expensive day as I did buy a new car battery. The battery on its last legs, I would keep on having trouble with it. A bit more expensive than I have paid before on the old car. It has a two year warranty and I have used that warranty before on the old car. Now I need to buy a battery charger for that type of car. My son & I went off to Car supply store to price them out.

2nd mail order parcel arrived today, I was thinking that it would never come. Some good buys in this parcel, 3 throw rugs for $15.00 saving $25.00, 2 Christmas Snow Globe Trains for $10.00 saving $40.00, 2 DVD for $5.00 each saving $30.00, a engraved pen set for $5.00 saving $25.00 and crystal angel ornaments as a free gift value $19.95. Total saving allowing for P&P $144.00.
I am happy that I got the crystal angel ornaments as I do have others crystal ornaments so I use them this year. One of the Christmas Snow Globe Trains is a gift for DIL. Refer to 'Car Service & Rust Proofing'post.*

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Crackers & Blue Vein Cheese Coffee
DINNER Salmon Patties and Vegetables Apple Coffee

Today’s Full price Tally $127.00
Today’s Savings - $144.00*
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $7282.51

As I was not up to walking up the street to the Chemist on Friday, so I went today. I bought DF-M & my own prescription medicines. Both of us are on a pension so get a medication subsidy. Paying only $4.70 on each script, instead of normal government subsidy that is available here. This is around $29.00 on each script.

I drop in to the bookshop and bought 2 books and put 4 others hold to buy next week.

My arm is much better, using the small soft exercise ball this method is working the best. It’s almost right, just a light pain now. All I am doing is putting it in my hand squeezing as much & as often as possible.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Italian Bean and Tuna Salad & green salad Coffee Apple Coffee
DINNER Hungarian Goulash with Rice Coffee

Today’s Full price Tally $44.00
Today’s Savings - $ 38.30
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $7138.51

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

I am in the process of making some new friends in a new group. We meet up at a local park for a picnic today, it’s a much younger group so this will be interesting process. Afterward one of the lasses drove me home which was nice of her.

When my DS dropped in today before I left for the picnic, he was to reset my car radio only to find it was dead. Car battery again, I will need to spend some money on this problem as I have had this happen with my old car too!

To-night I went shopping with DF-D, got a few things Saving $5.80 and another raincheck on fruit juice which is lucky as I don’t have a car to go to pick it up before this week’s sale ends.
After we returned to her place as I was getting to her car, I pulled my upper arm muscle which is now very sore I will heat pack tonight. It’s like I have a dead arm but it will be alright as I did pull a muscle. As I had broken this arm before I did carry to much with it, double what I normally can lift with it.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk with LSA Prunes Coffee
LUNCH Cheese & Mustard Pickle Sandwiches Apple Flavored Mineral Water
DINNER Two Chicken Kebabs with Garlic Focaccia Bread Coffee

Today’s Full price Tally $20.80
Today’s Savings - $ 5.80
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $6847.72

As he is again driving he picked me up today, for a day watching DVD ‘Da Vinci Code’. We both have seen it at the movies too! It was nice to just sit and watch it all again, and pause it to find Dan Brown cameo roll in the movie. There is only one scene that I don’t remember at all in this version. I have asked for the DVD - 2CD to be my Christmas present this year. (Fingers crossed)

After we went out to do some shopping and have lite lunch, half of what’s normal bought this time. Saving $1.90.* Then on to the vet’s to get some flea & worm stuff for my cats that worked last time, it’s expensive but it did do the job. Saving $34.69 and much more if I bought it single packs at a pet store.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH lunch out*
DINNER Lamb chop Egg, Onion & Tomatoes Coffee

Today’s Full price Tally $105.95
Today’s Savings - $ 36.69
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $6841.92

What a day, about mid morning my Sicilian friend (DF-M) and her DD & SIL arrived back from a weekend in the country. As they had left early for the 3 hours drive down, they need breakfast so as I was invited along for the afternoon outing. I ate with them too! Meze’s type of food which we bought on last Thursday shopping trip along fresh bread. Sun-dried tomatoes in oil, artichokes in oil, marinated mixed olives, two different cheese & meats. Very nice but rich!

Then it was off the crematory for a visit to the family crypt. DF-M wanted some chore done before her SIL flew home that night. So it was off that Mega Hardware store again. I got out with just a rubbish bin this time. Saving $7.18

After we arrived back home, we went different ways and meet up again for dinner.

Sicilian Green Salad and fillet steak cooked on the B-B-Q but marinated in garlic & olive oil with crusty bread and red wine or water. I do think, I will gain weight this week not lose it! After this DD & SIL left for the airport to return home to Sydney.

BREAKFAST Baked Beans on Toast Coffee
LUNCH Sicilian Brunch with DF-M family - (free)
DINNER Sicilian Dinner with DF-M family - (Free)

Today’s Full price Tally $17.18
Today’s Savings - $ 7.18
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $6802.23

My handyman friend arrived today to fix my tap & a blind that needed few holes drilled as it was falling down.

As he knows that I like vanilla slice as a cake, that he arrived today with six of them! I don't make them but I like eating them but its too messy to make for one. See a recipe for them below. These have the puff pastry on the bottom and top with that beautiful vanilla confectionery custard filling and iced with yummy passionfruit icing. They are the cheaper version and but gourmet version, with it's triple layers puff pastry, double layer creme patisserie with white water icing is a bit rich. Can't waste them as they cost $2.50 each at the cake shop for a small cake 2 1/2 inch square. Gourmet version coffee shop & restaurant only at $5.00 plus. 1 1/2 by 2 1/2 inches Rectangle.

My car had a flat battery as I left the boot light on. I hope that was all that was wrong with it! The car club's roadside service came and restarted it for me. It does pays to be a member.

Everyone has they own version of making Vanilla Slices so here two versions. One cup = 250 ml

Vanilla Slice Deluxe

1 500g package frozen puff pastry, thawed
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup custard powder
3/4 cup cornstarch
5 1/4 cups milk
1/4 cup butter
2 egg yolks
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Icing
1 cup confectioners/icing sugar
1 tablespoon milk (4 tsp.)
1 dash vanilla extract

1) Preheat the oven to 200 degrees C.
Unfold puff pastry sheets, and place flat onto baking sheets.
Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, or until lightly browned and puffed.
Set aside.

2) Combine the sugar, custard powder and cornstarch in a large saucepan.
Mix in just enough milk to form a paste, then gradually mix in the rest.
This will prevent lumps from forming. Add the butter.
Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently until thick.
You may need to use a whisk to ensure a smooth consistency.
When the mixture comes to a simmer, cook stirring constantly for 2 minutes.
Remove from the heat, and stir in the egg yolks and vanilla.

3) Line a 22cm baking dish with aluminum foil.
Place one of the baked pastry sheets in the bottom of the dish.
Spread the custard filling in an even layer over the pastry, and top with the other sheet.

4) Mix the confectioners' sugar with 1 tablespoon of milk, and a dash of vanilla to make an icing.
Spread over the top of the pastry.
Refrigerate until the custard layer is firm.
Remove from the pan and slice.

Chef: Geoff Lindsay ~ Pearl Restaurant

Vanilla Slice

Serves Makes 4

1 sheet puff pastry, cut into 4, 6 x 10cm rectangles
2 cups skim milk
1/4 cup caster sugar
1/3 cup custard powder
1 tsp. vanilla essence
icing / confectioners' sugar
Method:
Step 1
Preheat oven to hot 200 C.
Cut pastry into 4, 6 x 10cm rectangles.
Arrange on a baking tray.
Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until puffed.
Allow to cool.
Separate each into two layers.
Step 2
Prepare custard by bringing milk and sugar to the boil, stirring.
Whisk a little milk into the custard powder.
Whisk the custard powder mixture back into the milk.
Return to heat.
Cook, stirring until mixture boils and thickens.
Simmer, stirring for 3 minutes.
Cover the surface with plastic wrap to stop a skin from forming and allow to cool.
Step 3
Spread custard over 4 pastry halves.
Top with a second layer.
Dust with icing sugar.

Nutritional Information: Per serve: about 1265 kJ; 8.5 g fat; 4.9 g sat fat
Chef: Jennene Plummer ~ Food Editor, New Idea

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Ham Salad Vanilla Slice Coffee
DINNER Lamb chop Egg, Onion & Tomatoes Coffee

Today's Full price Tally $ 18.10
Today's Savings - $ 13.80
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $6795.05

My son called in on the way home from hospital. He does have heart disease, an enlarged heart, arteries high tension not good for a 35 year old. This is a very big wake up call for him & his wife. He is lucky that he has got a chance to right his lifestyle now. Funny you can tell them but they will not listen, its’ not that he has being going to the hospital when he has had chest pain for years now. But it was righting its self before the ECG was taken, so they would send him home again. This time it didn’t but did 12 hours later so doctors looked further this time.

After I went up the local shopping centre for a walk. I bought eggs and crackers that were on special so now I will have enough for a while. I went two thrift shops and bought some glass dishes one is the top of casserole that I use at times. And soup bowl that I can use for smaller serving of pasta when I have pasta now. I will be watching my diet more closely now too! I got a cookbook by one of my favorite author on beans & lentils. Saving $18.00 here.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Crackers & Blue Vein Cheese Coffee
DINNER Honey Mustard Chicken with Vegetables and Rice, Fruit, Coffee
Today’s Full price Tally $27.50
Today’s Savings - $ 21.60
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $6781.25

My DS was taken hospital last night. He had chest pains again, this time they did fine something a wrong with the ECG. So they are taking tests to find out what is wrong. Before he has being going the another hospital and they were not finding anything wrong by the time they got to see him. So they were sending him home. Cardiologists said they would find out what is wrong this time as he is too young. He is to have a number of tests and week off work as well! As his ECG went back to normal by morning as usual and all his blood test were normal too! Anyway, he does needs to loose some weight ASAP. This is a big wake up call for him. They did say that had they not found something wrong with first ECG and he keep going as he was, he would be dead from a stroke before 40th birthday. As I spent the day at the hospital buying food and drinks etc. My budget got knocked out a bit today, spent $13.85 on food and $1.10 fare home.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Lunch out*
DINNER Poached Fish with Salad

Today’s Full price Tally $14.95
Today’s Savings - $0
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $6759.65

Just a bit shopping today, some groceries saving $2.30 and multi-trip bus ticket saving $13.60 on full price single tickets as we get two free trips buying a multi-trip tickets plus I am getting concession one. Saving $2.20 over single trip ticket for concession.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Salad with Blue Vein Cheese Apple Coffee
DINNER Spicy Lentil & Pumpkin with Basmati Rice

Today’s Full price Tally $31.05
Today’s Savings - $ 15.90
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $6759.65

It’s a bus trip to the city to visit the Chiro, refund of $19.40 here. As I bought lunch yet again lunch today came to $5.95 saving $1.50 on my coffee with senior card. .

I also bought another book 2nd book by Shannon Lush & Jennifer Fleming ‘Speedcleaning’, I already have their first book ‘Spotless’ both published by ABC (radio) Books saving $5.10 off RRP price.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Lunch out*
DINNER 2 Egg Cheese Omelette and Pasta Sauce & Grilled Peppers
Today’s Full price Tally $27.40*
Today’s Savings - $26.00
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $6743.75

Today it was an ironing day for me. I got out my ironing press an ironed all my clothes from the last two wash days. this is the most time saving method that I have found, as I am sitting down for one thing and I can get two baskets of ironing done in under 50 minutes most times. I did buy this Elna ironing press 2nd hand in the first place, for $100.00 about two years ago now! Normal price new was at the time $599 so its has paid for it self in time. I bought it for ironing the men shirts but the material was not good for the press and found my own ironing was quicker using the press instead.

I went for a walk today too! Drop in to the supermarket down the hill from here. I got loaf of bread that was on markdown saving $2.89 and I bought some pink lady apples at another shop saving $2.98 on price that the supermarket was charging.

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

Today’s Full price Tally $10.12
Today’s Savings - $ 5.87
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $6717.17

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

I drove down to visit my Avon friend but I never put an order in this time. Afterward I walk up to Sizzler’s and had lunch there saving $4.74 and on the way home bought a plastic container for $1.00 saving $2.45 and a book for 50c saving $9.45. Not much else in the way of saving, another than using one of frozen meals at dinner time.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH lunch out*
DINNER Salmon Patties and Vegetables Coffee

Today’s Full price Tally $32.09
Today’s Savings - $ 16.64
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $6671.93

This morning I did heaps of gardening and finish repotting my small pots in the backyard. Geraniums, palm, angel butterfly plant etc. I cleaned up some what so that I could mow sometime this week as my back is now saying help I sore please stop. I will have a few days off as it’s my son days off soon! I always seem to have a break when people are away. This I did get some things done.

This afternoon to drove to pay my phone bill at the local newsagent. Funny I can do this over the net but I like to visualize myself paying it and it’s same with some of my other bills too! I am a very visual person knowing that if I can picture it doing the task then I know I have done it. After I when a bought Anzac biscuit saving $2.49 and some fruit buns saving $1.49 on these as well!

As gas was cheaper today I filled my tank up also. Saving 4c off a litre while I was at it. Saving 80c. Our gas is ranging from $1.01 to $1.55 per litre. So if you can get a few cents off it helps.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Grilled Cheese with Mustard Toasted Slices Apple Coffee
DINNER Honey Mustard Chicken with Vegetables and Rice, Fruit, Coffee

Today’s Full price Tally $25.58
Today’s Savings - $ 4.78
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $6655.29