After breakfast coffee with DF-M, I had breakfast with DS at Hungry Jack’s. It was two for one deal so we shared the deal. Each gets our own drinks. Can you guess what I had? Saving $4.45

A light bulb idea hit my DS, he normally just buy want he want then eats it all in around 5 minutes. Well today we just bought the deal and just sat and talked. When it got to 20 minutes I asked him if was going to buy his pancakes, he said no I am full. Funny, if you just buy all that stuff in the drive thru you will eat it. But sit an eat it and talk for a while then buy more if you are still hungry, you find that you are not hungry. I have been saying this for a while but he would never listen. If he just does this then he may just lose some weight that he need to lose.

After we when over a shopping centre so that I could pay a bill and bought a few items that were on special at K-Mart too! Saving $3.80

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Bacon & Egg Roll* Coffee
LUNCH Soup & Toast Coffee apple
DINNER Poach Fish & Salad Coffee

Today’s Full price Tally $85.60*
Today’s Savings - $ 8.25
Bulk Food Replacement Fund - $195.20
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $3985.09

Off to the doctor’s again with DF-M then off to do shopping at a larger shopping centre. We had lunch at Subway which cost DF-M around $7.90 all up after the I made a compliant over a coffee machine on go slow so FREE coffee and cookies for each of us. Along with senior card discount it was a saving of $10.70 all up. As my lunch was FREE, so saving me $9.30. I bought only pet food on this trip. Saving $1.20.

In the afternoon I went shopping with DF-D got a few bargains, special on jeans, 2 pair for $18.50 RRP per pair $39.95 saving $61.40 then bought some Copy Paper 5 realms for $24.00 saving $10.75 and having green tea at her place. All I need to do now is turn up the hems on the jeans.

BREAKFAST Oatmeal with Current & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Avocado & Cottage Cheese on Crackers Apple Coffee
DINNER Roast Turkey Dinner, Paddle Pop, Coffee

Today’s Full price Tally $123.95
Today’s Savings - $ 82.65
Bulk Food Replacement Fund - $192.30
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $3976.84

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.

Today I had early appointment with my Chiro, I told him that I wouldn’t have another massage unless I was so stiff that I needed it. I am still limping after it. I got my refund and banked this back into my bill account.

Also I got Medicare refund for DF-M and put it into a separate wallet so that I would not spend it by accident.

Went looking for the smoke detector that’s on my shopping list, still not available. It's good, I have some to look for out, I don’t need to buy another thing there. Just say 'You are out of stock' and just walk out. Years ago I had to buy some little thing if I went into a store as I felt just so guilty if I didn’t buy thing. I have now got over this some what and now just watch other people spend their money. I am biting my tongue at times too! I could now save a lot of money for them.

I had lunch with my friends from my old job. Saving $9.70 because of my senior card 20% off deal and the way I order it.

After I went to get a missing file for my tax, from my bank.

BREAKFAST 2 Boiled Eggs Toast & Jam
LUNCH lunch out*
DINNER Soup & Toast Coffee

Today’s Full price Tally $27.35
Today’s Savings - $ 9.70
Bulk Food Replacement Fund - $187.80
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $3893.92

Had my termite inspection & pest control done today, as I had termites a few years ago!

I’m in the clear for another year as it’s still under guarantee for another year then I will need to think about redoing barrier again.

BREAKFAST Oatmeal with Current & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Soup & Crackers with Cottage Cheese & Herbs Coffee
DINNER French Onion Chicken with Toast, Chocolate Cake Coffee

Today’s Full price Tally $ 330
Today’s Savings - $ 80.00
Bulk Food Replacement Fund - $184.80
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $3884.22