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Archive for February, 2007

Buying Gas & Lunch Out

February 28th, 2007 at 08:19 am

Today I filled my gas tank, as the price was right for a change and I had a voucher for 6c off a litre also. Saving $1.73 but last Sunday’s price was $1.10L but today I got it for around 93.9L. not bad.

While I was out I took myself off to Hungry Jack’s and had a chicken baguette and ice cream cone along with 2 free cappuccino @$2.90 each (senior discount). Saving $5.80*

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

Today’s Full price Tally $29.53
Today’s Savings - $ 7.53
2007 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $9993.67

My online books arrived today!

February 27th, 2007 at 09:41 am

I order some online cookbooks a week ago and they arrived today. As I don’t like using credit card online at all. I was bitten once. I only deal with a company that I can post a cheque/check too! I may pay a little more but my money is safe and I have peace of mind. The books that I bought were More with Less Cookbook by Doris Longacre & Frozen Assets Cookbook by Debi Taylor- Hough and they are very interesting to read. The money I spent was my birthday gift for my last birthday. I entered these in This "Mirror Image Challenge and balancing my budget" Post.

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

Buying bulk olive oil

February 26th, 2007 at 08:11 am

I did go shopping today to buy some olive oil for DF-M family in the country. 4x 4L cans of olive oil which was the cheapest that brand it has been for a while & I did get them some staff discount off it also, $116.00 worth of oil in fact. I bought only some groceries, game steak to try and very tender too! Cream Cheese spread 2x $2.49 –5% off = $4.73, saving $1.79 here & generic brand ice cream & some 2nd hand books $3.50 saving $12.00 on them. I did pretty well for shopping someone else in not getting to tempted to shop. 2 of the 3 items were on my list.

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 $28.75
Today’s Savings - $13.79
2007 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $9986.14

My Special Blend of Muesli Recipe

February 25th, 2007 at 08:48 am

I make a special blend of Muesli, which I found on a list of ingredient on packet a few years ago now! I only use a half a cup at a time. I did say that I would post recipe here.

It is quite expensive, as you had to buy it online. 500g of it was about $7.00AU and plus postage. I was given a sample of it. I took one look at the ingredients and went to the supermarket and found the main ingredients available there. I do buy all the stuff in bulk and on special if possible and kept it only for this cereal with NO NIBBLES. Living alone does help. I do pad it out with rolled oats, which the cheapest item. I have included my costing at the time in 2005 but the prices have gone up since then.

'Copycat of A High Protein Muesli'

4 cups (375g) Rolled Oats - generic
2 cups (120g) Vogel's Soy & Linseed Ultra Bran or All Bran (if you can't buy other.)
1 cup (110g) Oat bran - generic or very fine Oat bran from health food bulk store.
1/2 cup each of 70g of Sultanas, 40g of each Chopped Small Dried Apples & Dried Apricots (Best cut with kitchen scissors)1/2 cup (70g) of each Almond, Pepitas (Hulled Green Pumpkin Seeds), & Sunflower Kernels, all grounded if not you digesting nuts & seeds.

Mix well and store in airtight container.
All the above goes into Cereal Container including a 1/2 cup measuring cup.
1 serve = (1/2 Cup) 40-50g serves ~ 2 to 4 tablespoons Muesli with soymilk, almond milk and rice milk or oat milk, skim milk or protein powder.
You may add some chunk of fresh fruit if desired.
You may add one dessertspoon LSA and one teaspoon lecithin if desired.
Serves 18 per batch 900g

900g + @ $5.50 (reg: 500g @$7.25 + postage) this costing was in 2005 prices have gone up since then.

LSA
(Ratio 3:2:1)

2 cups linseeds
1 cup sunflower seeds
1/2 cup raw almonds

Grind all the above finely in a coffee grinder. Blend together.
Keep in the Freezer the bulk supply, and just keep out in the refrigerator enough for a few days, it's only takes a few minutes to thaw from the freezer as it's doesn't freeze solid.

Sprinkle it on your cereal, yoghurt, in bake goods, fruit salad or top of Hummus on Kavli Crispbread or bread.

Shopping list & Costing
Vogel's Soy & Linseed Ultra Bran 425g = 6 cups = 3 batches -(120g @ $1.14)
750g Rolled Oats Coles = 6- 8 cups (380g) @99c kg = 2 batches -(750g @. 99c)
Oat bran Coles 375g = 3 cups = 3 batches-(110g @ 40c)
Dried apples 200g = 5 batches-.(40g @ 50c)
Dried apricots 200g Coles or bulk Action = 5 batches-.(70g @ 53c)
Sultanas 1000g Farmland = 14 batches - (40g @ 40c)
Nuts and seeds can be bought loose
or in packs with enough for 3 - 6 batches
Pepitas 200g / 500g Mellow Yellow = 2 1/2 / 7 batches-(70g @ $1.15)
*Sunflower Seeds 500g Mellow Yellow = 7 batches-.. (70g @ 45c)
*Almonds 750g bulk = 10 batches- .(70g @ $1.05)
Pricing was done (2nd March 2005) Approx.1000g == Total $6.12

Note: The above list only would work if solely used for the above recipe. Allowing approx.12 - 20 dollars for first shopping stock up, then buying as required. Allowing, that the *extra almonds and sunflower seeds are bought a long with the shopping for the LSA mixture.
*Including the extra batches.
I have used Aldi Muesli at time as extra or filling. Mostly when I needed a little change.

BREAKFAST 2 Boiled Eggs Toast & Jam
LUNCH Turkish Bread with Hummus Lettuce Ham Marinated Feta with Marinated Peppers
DINNER Curry Ground Beef & Rice with Sambal



Self-taught Learning

February 24th, 2007 at 09:06 am

Today was a no spending day here. I just worked around the house doing different task like putting things away.

Saving money wise. I was putting thing the right place so that when I needed them, I would save both time & money. I may be repeating myself sorry if I do. I have a right place and hold it places in house. When the hold it places becomes full then De-clutter that area. If I no longer need it or it out of date then it’s trashed. If it has a home then it will put there.

Some things are for projects that I am working on, and then when that project is finished then all papers is recycled. I just keep the finish project and the files on my computer. Even at my age after sixty years of learning. I still want to learn new things and ask questions. I have done this all my life, as I am self-taught in many things, I just learn what I wish to know and leave other things to if I need know that I will learn it. I start this the day I finished my schooling as I started full time work at 15. I did kept notebooks when working on things I needed to remember if I didn’t use that often. If I ever found a problem and was told the answer, I would put in my notebook for that job. I became very good at minimizing instructions of which buttons to use on these ordering machines. The order sections used (these machines) and were hand held. Using visual ideas to put into a notebook & read in quick reference. Boxed word if it was the keypad and Capitals if it was found on the screen with normal words in the text as instruction. Just enough info to get to where you wanted to go. After a while you just looked at the Boxed words or the Capital words only as I had put them in the right order to work them. A little like a flow chart in early computer planning. When we had to learn to use early computer cash registers I did this often as some things only came up now and then. When I started in retail, all cash registers were manual some you had turn a handle or pull buttons down to the price to ring up too!

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Grilled Cheese with Mustard Toasted Slices Fruit Coffee
DINNER Roast Chicken & Steam Vegetables

Shopping at IGA

February 23rd, 2007 at 09:27 am

IGA is one of our independent store chains for Groceries here. When they have some specials on I will make the effort to drive over to buy the specials that are not available that week if I need too! This week no one had dry pet food for sale at the price I wished to pay for it but IGA, as a dollar in my pocket is better than their competitors. Well I think so anyway! So I got 2 bags of more expensive brand Cat Food for they treats. 3 boxes of Friskies Dry Cat Food all @ $2.99 each, saving $3.80 on cat food here. Can fruit was the lowest for a while so I bought 4 cans of can fruit @$1.99 saving $3.28 on them. I had a treat myself of Christmas chocolates for 99c saving $1.76 As I eat sunflower seeds in my cereal I’m able to buy these in bulk at this store and not in packets. So I had a good morning and it’s rained on the way home so I was able to wash my car also with rainwater!

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Mixed Salad & Hummus on Crackers Fruit Coffee
DINNER Pasta with Pasta Sauce & Tuna

Today’s Full price Tally $35.19
Today’s Savings - $8.84
2007 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $9972.35


Sago

February 22nd, 2007 at 10:18 am

Over the last few weeks I have been trying different, economical basic items in my quest to fine more ideas to use to keep my budget low if I need too! One of them was using Sago or Tapioca. I did find few recipes in old cookbook 'Off the Beaten Track' printed in 1916 and it's one those very early booklets with those WW1 soldier advertisements in it too!

So here a two of the recipes found.

Raisin Sago

2 tbsp. sago
2 tbsp. sugar
2 tbsp. raisin
4 tbsp. stale breadcrumbs
1/2 pint (10oz) milk
pinch salt

Wash sago and put to soak in milk for thirty minutes.
Add raisins, sugar, breadcrumbs and salt.
Mix thoroughly, turn into well-buttered mould and steam on hour.
Serve with cream or boiled custard.

Lemon Sago

2 tbsp. sago
2 tbsp. golden syrup
2 tsp. treacle
1 lemon
1 pint (20oz) water.

Wash sago; place in saucepan and pour over scant pint of water.
Cook till clear, remove from fire. (heat)
Add the grated rind and juice of juice of lemon, golden syrup and treacle; when cool, turn into glass dish.
Serve with cream or boiled custard.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Salad & light Cream Cheese on Crackers Apple Coffee
DINNER 2 Egg Cheese Omelette and Pasta Sauce & Grilled Peppers

A Little Bit of Housework with Simple Green

February 21st, 2007 at 11:31 am

Found time to try that Simple Green around the house. Cleaning to kitchen benches & bathroom and washing the floors. I got on my hands & knees to clean the bathroom floor and area that my cats eat in. The other areas I just washed as normal. I will do more later in the week.

I finished my ironing today so I am now up to date.

I went to DF-M for lunch because she was having a BBQ, when she cooks meat it always too much for two let alone for one. It was excellent meal and I didn’t need eat very much tonight.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Marinated Fillet Steak, Marinated Peppers, Green Salad - FREE
DINNER Crackers with Hummus Fruit Coffee

Computers

February 20th, 2007 at 09:17 am

My son & his wife arrived home this morning from oversea. They had a good trip and I was sent some very good pictures of they holiday via email as they had access to a computer while they were away.

So much, so that I needed to delete some of the emails, that I was keeping in my inbox folders.

So much for technology I will need to upgrade my computer very soon, as often when I am going on to some web sites now my computer just freeze up. I do think they have upgraded their websites, and that people running the early versions now are have problems. I do know that I can’t run the latest versions of some programs on my computer, as my RAMS are not high enough.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Crackers with Cream Cheese & Herbs Fruit Coffee
DINNER Chilli Con Carne with Corn Chips Coffee

Simple Green

February 19th, 2007 at 10:14 am

After reading about this Simple Green all purpose cleaner for so long. I did finally find it at Bunnings Warehouse, our large hardware chain in their cleaning supply aisle it was just by chance as I don’t normal go down that aisle. I did buy some to try also this will make up to 5 gallons. I went on to their

Text is Simple Green and Link is http://www.simplegreen.com
Simple Green website to find what I can do with it as well! I didn’t go the Bunnings to buy this item but for those rubbish bins that I went for a few weeks ago. I got one for myself and two for DF-M who this trip to the hardware store was for. It always cost me money to go to the hardware store. And I am being so good of late too, on cutting out the small stuff.

BREAKFAST Baked Beans on Toast Coffee
LUNCH Crackers with Hummus & Herbs Fruit Coffee
DINNER Pumpkin & Lentil Stew with Garlic Focaccia Bread

Today’s Full price Tally $19.96
Today’s Savings - $ 0.00
2007 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $9963.51

Working in my computer room

February 18th, 2007 at 12:18 pm

It’s another No Spending Day so I had very quite day at home, as my new door is going in the computer room. I do need to move a few things around and it’s taking much longer than I thought it would. Today I started moving some of other boxes that my cookbooks are stored in. I did get my floor vacuum cleaned also.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH French loaf with Low-Fat Cream Cheese & Tomato Coffee
DINNER Omelette with Chilli Sauce Coffee

Mobile phone prepaid recharge

February 17th, 2007 at 08:46 am

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

This Mirror Image Challenge and balancing my budget.

February 16th, 2007 at 08:38 am

The more I do this challenge more, I see that having the pension and claiming all benefit that you are in titled too, does save money over and above what I am saving with other areas of this challenge. I must give you a list of the things that I am getting with pension benefit and see if I can work out before the end of this challenge at the end of April. How much of this Challenge is pension related and how much frugal buying or DIY savings. I will need to review all my posts to date to do this.

Today is one the day’s that I balance my budget and check that I paid all my bills due. I do this at least twice per month. Once for my own balancing and once for this blog as they don’t run at the same time and are 2 week’s apart which does keep me on my toes. All is well with my budget to this point. So much so that I did order some books in online today, and went to get at check to pay for them, as I don’t use my credit card online if I can find away not too! The firm that I am buying from is Australia and does allow a cheque but it can take a little longer but in this case not as the books are not available until end of the month. Free postage is part of the saving at $7.90 per book that is a large saving here on top of saving of RRP $11.44 per here. I may have got it cheap if I bought from other online book companies but it’s the postage & handling charges that cost the money and my bank cheque /check are free because I my pension card. Saving $8.00 here.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Crackers & Marinated Feta Cheese with Marinated Peppers Fruit Coffee
DINNER Poached Fish with Salad

Today’s Full price Tally $78.88
Today’s Savings - $27.34
2007 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $9955.46

No spending days

February 15th, 2007 at 08:34 am

After reading …. Kylieb266 blog on only spent 52 days a year

She asks the question ~ Who else would be interested in trying this? Even if you have 1 no spend day a week to begin with, you will be better off financially. )

My reply to this
My goal at present is 3 to 5 no spending days per week. As I shop for and with other people as they driver, I can't limit it to one fix day per week. I do try to spend and pay my bills when I out & about on fix days like Wednesday when I go to the city for Social outings or Medical appointment. This does save money as I only paying one bus fare and not using my car just to pay a bill and making extra trips.

It’s washing day here for me so I never went out at all today. I work around the house or did reading I am reading a children book at the moment most of you would have read it as a child but it was not around when I was young as it wasn’t on our reading list. ‘Little House on the Prairie’ by Laura Ingralls Widler’ I’m still reading it.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Mixed Salad & light Cream Cheese on Crackers Fruit Coffee
DINNER Bean Patties with Salad Fruit Coffee

Pay that CC card off

February 14th, 2007 at 08:08 am

It’s my day to go to the city, and a visit my Chiro, I do this once every four weeks. As I can’t be fix with Chiro but it keeps me balanced and not falling and carrying most of my weight to one side like I use to do as this my way of not coming up for a hip replacement in the future. By the time I got an operation that I could afford I would no longer need it. I cost me around $25.00 per month for the treatment out of my pocket but it works for me. (Note :~ This amount was recorded early in a bulk payment) Refund $19.40 here

While in the city I paid that credit card off that I was telling you about yesterday. So I am back to Zero on all my credit cards yet again!

I also bought a snack today, as I didn’t want to buy any burgers to get a free coffee, I went to one of supermarket in the city and bought some snacks for my lunch, 2 bananas, 1 Texan Muffin, and 250ml of Ice Coffee Milk all this for $3.85 much cheaper than $5.25 the cheapest healthy meal with coffee, I could get. Next time I will just buy 1 banana, bread roll and drink this would be cheaper yet again about $ 2.30 this would stop me from being hungry until I got home.

BREAKFAST Baked Beans on Toast Coffee
LUNCH Muffin, Fruit, Coffee Ice Milk
DINNER Beans Patties with Mixed Salad & Hummus on Crackers Fruit Coffee

Today’s Full price Tally $5.25
Today’s Savings - $ 20.80
2007 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $9928.12

Paying phone bill with CC & WHY?

February 13th, 2007 at 08:20 am

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

Heirloom Recipes

February 12th, 2007 at 09:09 am

These are family heirloom recipes that I found in an old handwritten cookbook of my great aunt's. It's a good way of getting fibre into people who don't like cereals, and will eat slices and cakes. These were popular when I was growing up.

PEANUT BUTTER BLOCK
Cream -
4 oz Margarine
4 oz Raw sugar
8 tsp. peanut paste

Mix dry -
1/4 cup chopped peanuts
1/2 cup coconut
3 cups rolled oats

Combine and mix well and press into Swiss/jelly roll tin
Cook 300 F for 20-30 minutes.
When cool ice with Chocolate Icing or white icing

CHOCOLATE COCONUT SLICE
1 cup SR flour
4 tsp. cocoa
1 cup Cornflakes or Weetbix (3 cereal biscuits)
2 tsp. Golden Syrup
5 oz Butter
1 cup Coconut
1/2 cup Sugar
pinch of salt
1 tsp. vanilla

Mix sifted flour, cocoa and salt
Add Cornflakes sugar coconut
Melt Butter and golden syrup
Add Vanilla
Add to Dry Ingredients.
Press on to a Swiss/jelly roll tin.
Bake 25 minutes at 180 C (350F)
When cool ice with Chocolate Icing

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Grilled Cheese on Toast Fruit Coffee
DINNER Chilli Con Carne with Corn Chips Coffee

Moving a Bookcase

February 11th, 2007 at 08:07 am

I started to get to on with my major project, one of the minor jobs to be done before any work can be done on the widow that will become a door in the near future. So today job was to move all the books off the bookcase that in the in the way. I moved it the corner of the room, I may leave it there for now. It’s full of books on fugal living and cooking. I still have another bookcase to move but this will be going to another area of the house. At the moment it can stay where it is for now!

I went to buy a rubbish bin for DF-M but they didn’t have any so I will ring before go again. I did buy some waterless car wash that I may need at some time in the future as I will not be able to wash my car on the next water use level which is coming in a few weeks and I will not get fined for cleaning my car. I drop to the fruit shop on the away home and bought some milk & tomatoes.

BREAKFAST Baked Beans on Toast Coffee
LUNCH Mixed Salad & Hummus on Crackers Fruit Coffee
DINNER Omelette with Cheese

Today’s Full price Tally $16.80
Today’s Savings - $ 5.00
2007 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $9887.02

No spending day

February 10th, 2007 at 09:01 am

Well it’s another no spend day all I did today was the lawn again it did rain here a bit but it was no drought breaker though, and the weeds have grown. I mowed until the mower stopped then have up just a small part not mowed. It’s where my pumpkins are growing so I may leave it to them.

At lease the weeds are down around here and no seed that my main aim in mowing in a drought. I get dew each morning so may grassy weeds and some grass is a bit green in most parts some bare brown patches in parts too!

Today’s Full price Tally $35.00
Today’s Savings - $ 35.00
2007 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $ 9882.02

Going to the shops twice

February 9th, 2007 at 09:53 am

I had to make two trips to the shops today. Because I broke one of my own rules I didn’t check my docket before I left the shopping. When I got home and eating one of these treats with a coffee, and looked at the docket and found that they had charged me full price for it. So I got in the car and went back within the hour to check it out, as it was advertise line too! It was advertise for $3.29, I was charged $4.49 for it so I got it for free. I did buy anything else just walked out too!

I bought some grocery when I bought the treats too!

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Crackers with Hummus & Herbs Fruit Coffee
DINNER Pasta with Pasta Sauce & Tuna

Today’s Full price Tally $10.77
Today’s Savings - $ 4.49
2007 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $9847.02

Drive to Son's Place to say have a good trip.

February 8th, 2007 at 10:22 am

After breakfast I drove up to my DS &DIL house to say good bye, as I wasn’t going to the airport this time, as I can’t drive they car for a start. With their entire luggage there was no room for me to go for the trip to airport anyway as an extra passenger and DS-MIL was going just drop them off an go to work anyway. They will be home in a 12 days.

I when to the shops and got a phone card so I could save money on oversea phone calls we have found this is the best way of calling them or they calling us as you know what you are spending on the calls. As my DS has his mobile with him this time I can SMS him at anytime.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Crackers & Marinated Feta Cheese with Marinated Peppers Fruit Coffee
DINNER Pumpkin & Lentil Stew with Garlic Focaccia Bread

Today’s Full price Tally $10.00
Today’s Savings - $ 0.00
2007 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $9842.53

Paying bills & lunching with friends

February 7th, 2007 at 09:35 am

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

Shopping with son again

February 6th, 2007 at 09:28 am

My DS and DIL is going overseas yet again! today we went to large shopping centre to get some last minute items that he needed. While we were we both bought a CD each. I bought a very old one ‘16 Most Requested Songs by Harry Belafonte’ for $5.00, as I use to like listening to him many moon ago.

I have lunch with DS. I had a Subway Grilled Chicken roll on special for $3.95 saving $3.00 here

Other then the CD & lunch I didn’t spend much at all.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Lunch out
DINNER 2 Egg Cheese Omelette and Pasta Sauce & Grilled Peppers

Today’s Full price Tally $11.95
Today’s Savings - $ 3.00
2007 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $ 9632.66

Croque Monsieur

February 5th, 2007 at 10:10 am

I drove DF-M to the doctor but never bought anything today. So another no spending day.

In answer to the question on my Grilled Cheese on toast. 'When you prepare your grill cheese -- what KIND of cheese is your favorite, and do you use BUTTER when you grill?'

I just use sliced cheese that you would put on slice bread. You can use any cheese that will melt quickly. No I not put any butter or margarine but spread on mustard instead. Bread > mustard > slice of cheese> sprinkle on some paprika that it. I use to make Croque Monsieur my version that was made at Expo 88 that I bought at the French Pavilion for about $4.00 each back in 1988.

There are a lot of versions around but as I minimize much of what I make and I was putting on weight by eating to many of them. I finish up with what I liked with my grilled cheese on toast version.

This version was made for quick sale at fast food counter.

Two slices of buttered bread with mustard butter, Top one slice with 1 slices of ham and 1 slices of cheese. Place second slice of bread on top and put 1 slice of cheese on top and sprinkle a little paprika. Grilled until cheese had melted. You could place the remaining bread, buttered side down over the another slice cheese and use a sandwich maker.

Here are some other versions.

Text is Croque Monsieur and Link is http://frenchfood.about.com/od/frenchcuisinebasics/r/cmparis.htm
Croque Monsieur
Text is Croque Monsieur make ahead and Link is http://frenchfood.about.com/od/frenchcuisinebasics/r/cmahead.htm
Croque Monsieur make ahead

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Turkish Bread with Hummus, Cos Lettuce, Ham, Marinated Feta with Marinated Peppers
DINNER Bean Patties and Vegetables Apple Coffee

Gourmet Cafe Style Lunch Ideas

February 4th, 2007 at 09:38 am

As it's hot here, I will have cold salads & meze kind of lunches most days. While having coffee the other week in the city, I had a look at kind of lunches are being served in other food outlets. Here are some of my findings and my versions on them. Because you wouldn't go out to buy some of these ingredients if you on a strict budget like I am. I have put in some other alternatives, as you would use what you have got and not buy fancy stuff because it's in the ingredient list. I buy Focaccia & Turkish bread in single serves when they are marked down, so I bag them up and freeze them in single serves. Most times they are packed in bags of 4 so if I can I will buy 2 bags at a time. Using about 2 per week gives me month worth of them. Seeing that I can buy the rolls for around 50c each or less. I can make these recipes from home for under $2.00 each using what's in my fridge at the time. Seeing that I do make my own Hummus, Marinated Peppers, Marinated Feta & Pesto and bulk buy Sweet Chilli Sauce in a large bottle and decant into a smaller bottle, all saving money on the overall cost.

You can use any kind of rolls or bread but original ones were Focaccia rolls. These Fancy bread rolls sell for $5.95 each or more. As I have never bought them, I don't know if the chicken is cold or hot but it's grilled. They could have slice cheese on them, as they were call melts.

Chilli Chicken Tenderloin Melts
Garlic Focaccia Bread or Turkish bread buttered, put lettuce or rocket leaves, then with Chicken Tenderloins, Marinated Peppers, top with 2 avocado slices, sweet chilli sauce and sour cream and snow peas sprouts garnish.

Pesto Chicken Tenderloin Melts
Garlic Focaccia Bread or Turkish bread spread with Hummus or pesto, then rocket or lettuce, Chicken Tenderloins Marinated Peppers or few fresh pepper slices topped with 3 avocado slices or Marinated Feta and Mayo or pesto over the top.

Gourmet Salad Rolls
Focaccia Bread or Turkish Bread with Hummus Lettuce or Rocket, Tuna or Ham or Chicken slices, Marinated Feta with Marinated Peppers topped with Sweet Chilli Sauce.

BREAKFAST Baked Beans on Toast Coffee
LUNCH Macaroni & Cheese Fruit Coffee
DINNER Curry Ground Beef & Rice with Sambals



Joys of Polishing Old Furniture

February 3rd, 2007 at 09:31 am

Clearing a top of cupboard that need to be polished the joys of having old furniture that nearly 100 years old. This does keep me on my toes when it comes to housework. If you have old stuff then you do need to care for it. It’s one of pieces that came with the house as you can’t get it out of the house not that I would wont too! I am the keeper of the family heritage anyway. I do have many items that begin back memory of pasted members of the family. Like a cake decoration that I got when I visited my father’s parents at age of seven. Their had died by the time I was in my teen’s. It was a funny on that visit I was the first child to be allowed to be in the front parlor, as I slept there. I must have been quite child as my father told me that he (or his siblings as children) had never been allow into that room until that trip and he had left home some 25 year before hand. My father got a mirror (which is still hanging on my wall) that he looked into as a small boy at breakfast around 1914, he left home at 21. Now this little house cake decoration has a place in the China Cabinet along a tea set that my mother got for her 21st Birthday. I have very little from their house here. I could tell you much more about this trip as we drove to visit them across three states in a very small Ford in the early fifties, maybe another time.

BREAKFAST Frittata with Ham Steak & Marinated Peppers
LUNCH Grilled Cheese with Mustard Toasted Slices Fruit Coffee
DINNER Bean Patties with Salad Fruit Coffee

In the last 28 days I have

February 2nd, 2007 at 08:48 pm

In the last 28 days I have

Gone shopping or bought something. 11 times

Went to the city by bus 2 times

Drove my car only. 8 times

Had food bought or had for free away from home. 2 times

And had 17 No Spending Days.

Lets see what next 28 days tallies will be.

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

February 2nd, 2007 at 08:45 pm

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)

Off Shopping again.

February 2nd, 2007 at 08:58 am

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


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

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

Free Mangoes

February 1st, 2007 at 08:09 am

I was given some free homegrown mangoes and not just the common one that you would make mango chutney with, but R2Y2 mango I think it’s call, four of these RRP $2.50 each and 8 Kensington Pride mangoes RRP $1.00 each. Had a R2Y2 mango and it was beautiful and I gave one away too!

On my DIY varnishing job is on the 4th day, I have got into a pattern in the varnishing, you do need have a pattern so you know where you are painting. You must follow the grain of the wood and not put your hand on the one wet varnish too! I did turn the doors around so that I could varnish the other side of the doors, as they had to be standing against posts while I am painting them.

Today’s Full price Tally $ 18.00
Today’s Savings - $ 18.00
2007 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $9615.67