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Another Shopping Trip again

October 31st, 2010 at 10:23 am

Yesterday I took my elderly neighbour to the hardware store the largest in our area, as she had to buy some plastic ground sheeting to cover her garden where she is not growing anything this year in it as she is going interstate for a few months this summer. Now the one she uses is a builder black plastic and you buy it by the roll, 20m $54.95, some cord to tie things up in the garden and around the house, you could buy this by the metre but no she wanted a roll of it $25.75. Another large plastic container $16.95, some garden supplies, odd and ends $48.35 worth so hardware trip costed about $146.00.

After I packed up the car it was off to the supermarket for just a few things and quick look at the new upgrade at this one or so I thought. She like the new upgrade and $66.00 later including a tray of 12 mangos @$3.48 each for her family she is visiting today. We are off the Chemist, bakers and the butcher at another shopping area closer to home. She picked up medicine, along with the 5 bread rolls that she likes. At butcher’s cooked chicken ham and egg all up around another $74.00. Now I wanted to go home but first I had to take her home then unpack the car with all her stuff that she bought before I could. I got given half the chicken for lunch and 2 slice of ham. So 3 hours later after we started out I got home and again I had a NO Spend Day.

I do know that she has to pay for taxis if she goes anywhere alike this on her own and where we live to and from the hardware store would have been around $40 each way. If I want to buy anything its best I go on my own that way I can fit it in the car.

Until next time!

Another Shopping Trip again

October 31st, 2010 at 10:21 am

Yesterday I took my elderly neighbour to the hardware store the largest in our area, as she had to buy some plastic ground sheeting to cover her garden where she is not growing anything this year in it as she is going interstate for a few months this summer. Now the one she uses is a builder black plastic and you buy it by the roll, 20m $54.95, some cord to tie things up in the garden and around the house, you could buy this by the metre but no she wanted a roll of it $25.75. Another large plastic container $16.95, some garden supplies, odd and ends $48.35 worth so hardware trip costed about $146.00.

After I packed up the car it was off to the supermarket for just a few things and quick look at the new upgrade at this one or so I thought. She like the new upgrade and $66.00 later including a tray of 12 mangos @$3.48 each for her family she is visiting today. We are off the Chemist, bakers and the butcher at another shopping area closer to home. She picked up medicine, along with the 5 bread rolls that she likes. At butcher’s cooked chicken ham and egg all up around another $74.00. Now I wanted to go home but first I had to take her home then unpack the car with all her stuff that she bought before I could. I got given half the chicken for lunch and 2 slice of ham. So 3 hours later after we started out I got home and again I had a NO Spend Day.

I do know that she has to pay for taxis if she goes anywhere alike this on her own and where we live to and from the hardware store would have been around $40 each way. If I want to buy anything its best I go on my own that way I can fit it in the car.

Until next time!

More links on Beans and Rice Recipes

October 30th, 2010 at 08:16 am

This is my final blog in this series as I could find many more recipes if I looked hard enough, but any full recipes that I have found in my recipes collection. I will be posting in the My Pages section on the left here. Here the link

Text is Beans and Rice Challenge Recipes and Link is http://tightwadkitty.savingadvice.com/beans-and-rice-challenge-recipes.html
Beans and Rice Challenge Recipes

Now it's time to make a file for myself for personal use on all these recipes, so if anytime in the future that I may need them they can be found without another full search on this topic. I hope many of you will do the same and then you will have at your finger tips many different recipes for Beans and Rice in the future. May your debts be few and you're saving great in the future. There are many more recipes on internet these are just sample of what's out there.

More links to recipes
Text is Tortilla & Rice Soup and Link is http://www.usdrybeans.com/2010/08/tortilla-rice-soup/
Tortilla & Rice Soup
Text is Bean & Shrimp Risotto and Link is http://www.usdrybeans.com/2010/08/bean-shrimp-risotto/
Bean & Shrimp Risotto
Text is Asian Bean & Rice Rolls and Link is http://www.usdrybeans.com/2010/08/asian-bean-rice-rolls/
Asian Bean & Rice Rolls
Text is Jamaican Red beans and rice and Link is http://www.usdrybeans.com/2010/08/jamaican-red-beans-rice/
Jamaican Red beans and rice
Text is Kidney Bean and Cheesy Rice Casserole and Link is http://www.usdrybeans.com/2010/08/kidney-bean-cheesy-rice-casserole/
Kidney Bean and Cheesy Rice Casserole
Text is Red beans and rice and Link is http://www.abc.net.au/local/recipes/2009/06/11/2595671.htm
Red beans and rice
Text is Rice and Beans 5 Ways and Link is http://www.nomeatathlete.com/rice-and-beans/
Rice and Beans 5 Ways
Text is Hawaiian Beans and Rice and Link is http://www.nomeatathlete.com/hawaiian-rice-and-beans/
Hawaiian Beans and Rice
Text is Beans and Rice Recipes and Link is http://vegetablewithmore.allrecipes.com/Search/Quick.aspx?remoteQuery=beans+and+rice&x=14&y=11
Beans and Rice Recipes

More beans recipes on the
Text is US Dry Beans Council and Link is www.usdrybeans.com/recipes/
US Dry Beans Council website

Complete Protein Myth

October 29th, 2010 at 12:46 pm

This question came up in the last blog - I could be wrong but I thought in order to get the complete protein that you had to eat the rice and beans at the same time. ~Aleta

I did a bit of research today on this topic, this is what I did find so do have look at the first four links then just pick any of the others that takes you interest to view. This theory was initially promoted in Frances Moore Lappe, 1971 bestseller Diet for a Small Planet. In which she in her later edition did changed her position on protein combining. In the 1981 edition of Diet for a Small Planet view text in this article

Text is Protein combining and Link is http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protein_combining
Protein combining

Text is "Complete" Proteins? and Link is http://www.vegsource.com/attwood/complete_protein.htm
"Complete" Proteins?
Text is Eating Beans and Rice and Link is http://www.meadows.pair.com/beandinners.html
Eating Beans and Rice with recipes
Text is Complementary Protein Myth Won't Go Away! and Link is http://www.diseaseproof.com/archives/diet-myths-complementary-protein-myth-wont-go-away.html
Complementary Protein Myth Won't Go Away!
Text is The Protein Myth and Link is http://sustainhealthandwellness.com/the-protein-myth/
The Protein Myth

Text is Do beans need to be combined with rice to make a protein? and Link is http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071110140215AAAN5kZ
Do beans need to be combined with rice to make a protein?
Text is Vegetarians: Pondering Protein? and Link is http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/id/QAA142995
Vegetarians: Pondering Protein?
What alternative proteins are there for vegetarians and how much protein should a healthy vegetarian main course meal provide?

Text is What's Complete Protein -Inquiring Vegetarians Want Know and Link is http://www.fitsugar.com/Whats-Complete-Protein-Inquiring-Vegetarians-Want-Know-165298
What's Complete Protein -Inquiring Vegetarians Want Know
Text is Human Protein Requirements and Link is http://www.vegsource.com/articles/ProteinRequie.htm
Human Protein Requirements
Text is Food for Thought and Link is http://www.bodyforlife2.com/incompletprotein.htm
Food for Thought

More on Beans and Rice Challenge

October 28th, 2010 at 10:49 am

I have been looking into this topic to find out more about it. I can't find anything written by Dave Ramsey on the topic that I can get into for FREE. Some blogs that I have read go as far back as 2006 are saying that his followers are taking it literally that you must eat them at every meal. I can't find out that if this is the case but I would fine it very boring but if I had too because I didn't have other foods then so be it.

Economically it a good idea if you had very little money for the week or two. To buy just rice and beans can be expensive if go about it the wrong way, both in health wise and moneywise.

Buying rice can be expensive if you buy fancy pre-cook ones or one minute packets that cook for one meal. This challenge calls for the bulk purchase of rice, the larger the better. Long grain, Basmati or brown rice is better choice. Brown rice will spoil quicker than white rice so buy less of this but it's the best choice. So do, do your maths on this one, unit price per pound of the value each bag of rice. No good buy 50lbs bag of rice if you haven't the place to store it or you need that money in another area of your budget. I'm thinking in small amounts but larger than just enough for the next meal. (I personally buy in 2 to 5 kilo lots of Long grain or Basmati.) With this challenge you can't afford to buy all the fancy kinds of rice, just one or two varieties only and be creative with it.

Buying beans can be expensive too! If you are in the habit of buying only canned beans and not taking the time to learn to cook them from scratch. So try buying DRIED Beans in larger quantity where you can. I buy them in 1 kilo or 2.2lbs of each at a time and having a number of varieties in the pantry so I don't tire of eating the same kind.

Is there another way of putting variety into this challenge, yes I think so. First off you will need to take stock of what in your pantry, freezer and refrigerator. Make a list of what's there and try to use this food you have already paid for, by incorporating it into the Beans and Rice Diet Challenge.

Start with a meal plan for the next week using as much food that you found without going the supermarket but still having at least one meal per day of beans and rice. As for only having beans and rice combined which does make

Text is complete protein and Link is http://www.self.com/fooddiet/blogs/nutritiondata/2008/06/on-beans-rice-and-everything-y.html
complete protein, you still could have meal made with just rice base and having the beans at another meal that day. Still you will get your protein for that day.

One can of beans equal about 2 cup of cooked beans after you rinse and drain them.
As for cooking the beans it's best that you cook and freeze beans if possible so that you can use the many recipes that have can beans as an ingredient. It best that you freeze beans in serving sizes (I personally freeze in 2 cups lots.)

How to Use Dried Beans
Links
Text is Bean Prep & Recipe Tips and Link is http://www.usdrybeans.com/facts/prep/
Bean Prep & Recipe Tips
Text is New American Plate and Link is http://www.usdrybeans.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/NewAmericanPlate-CancerBeans-AICR.pdf
New American Plate
Text is Nutrition & Health FAQ and Link is http://www.usdrybeans.com/facts/nutrition/
Nutrition & Health FAQ


More to come soon!

Bean & Rice Recipes Links

October 25th, 2010 at 02:25 am

Text is Beans and Rice Diet Challenge - Inspired by Dave Ramsey and Link is http://direction-not-speed.savingadvice.com/2010/10/24/beans-and-rice-diet-challenge-inspired-b_62923/
Beans and Rice Diet Challenge - Inspired by Dave Ramsey

This blog has inspired me to look into my recipe collection for more recipes.
I found these few just doing a search on the internet.

Check out these links then look at the recipes that are linked in the articles.

Text is How to Live Well on Rice and Beans and Link is http://www.ehow.com/how_5050710_live-well-rice-beans.html
How to Live Well on Rice and Beans

Text is The Beans and Rice Way to Better Health and More Wealth and Link is http://www.paylessforfood.com/cooking-for-less/the-beans-and-rice-way-to-better-health-and-more-wealth/
The Beans and Rice Way to Better Health and More Wealth

Some of the recipes found in these links and more.

Text is Caribbean Red Beans and Rice and Link is http://vegetarian.about.com/od/ricedishes/r/carribeanbeans.htm
Caribbean Red Beans and Rice
Text is Cajun Red Beans and Rice and Link is http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/recs/486/Aunt-Lizzies-Cajun-Red-Beans-80801.shtml
Cajun Red Beans and Rice
Text is Creole Black-Eyed Peas and Rice and Link is http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Creole-Black-Eyed-Peas-and-Rice/Detail.aspx
Creole Black-Eyed Peas and Rice
Text is Creole Red Beans and Rice and Link is http://www.food.com/recipe/creole-red-beans-and-rice-29387
Creole Red Beans and Rice
Text is Black Beans and Rice and Link is http://mexican.food.com/recipe/black-beans-and-rice-284186
Black Beans and Rice
Text is Black Beans & Rice and Link is http://www.ivu.org/recipes/latinam/black.html
Black Beans & Rice
Text is Brazilian Style Black Beans and Rice and Link is http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/recs/486/BrazilianStyle_Black_Beans_and_Rice40995.shtml
Brazilian Style Black Beans and Rice
Text is Zesty Red Beans and rice (Rajma Chawal) and Link is http://desipes.blogspot.com/2008/12/zesty-red-beans-and-rice-rajma-chawal.html
Zesty Red Beans and rice (Rajma Chawal)
Text is Khichadi and Link is http://desipes.blogspot.com/2009/06/khichdi.html
Khichadi

Text is more beans and rice recipes and Link is http://vegweb.com/index.php?board=168.0
more beans and rice recipes

One recipe if you get bored with beans & rice.
Text is Garbanzo Tacos and Link is http://vegweb.com/index.php?topic=5911.0
Garbanzo Tacos this is a must try one!

My Day Shopping

October 22nd, 2010 at 08:06 am

Today I went shopping with my elderly Italian neighbour, the one I have breakfast with each morning. First off it’s a trip to the doctor’s then off to a big shopping centre, I am the driver. Trying to tell her that the two winter nightgowns that were to big for her will not returned at full price was impossible without a docket so instead of getting $29 each for them you only can get the refund on the last price registered in the store so she got a refund slip of $19.57 for both. Off to the sleepwear department no winter nightgowns only summer ones. She bought three them and had to pay an extra $33 for them after the refund slip.

Next stop, looking at drinking glasses that were 25% off we found nice ones for $50 less 25% =$37.50 for six. Not good enough I like crystal ones so off we go to the major department store. Found the ones that she liked @$32.95 EACH. Oh she wanted to buy SIX of them, help I wanted to go home. So we went looking for the item that we went in there for but they didn’t stock it. Then we go back to look at the crystal glasses again after being told it would cost her almost $200 she decided not to buy them but buy the other ones instead later. Her glasses get broken often and I think she has too many anyway but that’s another story.

Next stop to buy the cleaning product she asked me to buy yesterday. I thought that is all she wanted but no she did a full shop and we are here to buy bulk stuff at the last store near the car, help I want to go home. So $140 later we exited the supermarket. Then I had to take the grocery to the car as with a walking stick and elderly neighbour I couldn’t handle a second trolley too!

Next stop to buy the Glasses we first saw for $37.50 for six, not happy with just six but eighteen of them. So $112 later, we are off to get the stuff we came for large box of laundry powder on special, two trigger hose nozzles, and 81L plastic container now I am worried that I will not get it all in my small 2 door car. So $88 later we are out of there. I got it in by putting the groceries on the back seat and box and glasses etc in the boot. I had a good NO SPEND DAY as I was just the driver there was no room for anything that I would have bought anyway.

Old and New Power Bills

October 21st, 2010 at 08:17 am

While I was cleaning out some papers today, I found some old power bills from my parent’s time in this house. They pasted way in the early 1990’s so I do know they are their old bills as dates match that time.

My current power bills with 1kW Solar panels and solar hot water system are lower than that time by $60 and cost has risen somewhat. Same amount of power to run this house as then pre-solar.

I don’t use as much power now as then with solar and as there are not as many people in the house now. Four adult’s then and now only one adult.

Here are some samples
Winter - 1989 … 97 days … 2197KW cost $169.66
Summer - 1989-90 … 90 days … 1587KW cost $120.71

I haven’t got any bills since when the solar Hot water was installed.
Pre solar hot water bills
Winter - 2010 ….. 90 days … 898kW … solar rebate 42kW - cost $109.50
Summer - 2009-10 ….93 days … 1027kW… solar rebate 127 kW - cost $68.98

Rate now are very different to then. They now charge for service to property and as rates for anytime usage and off peak HW usage as well a solar rebate. These go up each year too!
Rates now around 20c kW and off peak 11.66c kW + service daily 24.55c then less solar rebate 44c kW

In 1990 it was about 11.51c kW and off peak HW 6.11c kW and no service charge.
(I have added them together here above) Both lots of bills do have Senior% in them.

Then you have now a Community Ambulance Cover at rate 30c daily per power bill in our state.
It’s good in one way we don’t need to pay for Ambulance if you need one. Just don’t own multiple properties in this state that all, pensioners are exempt from this charge.

A day out with friends

October 20th, 2010 at 06:31 am

Yesterday I went out with a friend and her Asian student to the local sport club. I had to pay my annual membership again. All of two dollars but it does have a lot of discounts that you can get too!

First up we had lunch as it was pension day, with a special menu for pensioners @ $6.90

Roasted Beef or Pork with Vegetables
Fried Fish, Chips and Salad
Spaghetti Bolognese
All served with a Steam Ginger Bread Pudding and Custard

I had Roasted Pork & Vegetables and dessert

If you weren’t a pensioner you paid $10.90 + $5.90 for the dessert but you do have more choices.
So I saved $9.90 with senior %.

Afterwards we went to coffee shop there and had coffee and muffin or raisin toast for $5.50 instead of $7.50 with our membership cards, it looks like with a member card you can pick up a lot of deals but it can be expensive if you are not careful as they have poker machines there.

$2 membership, $5.00 pokers, $12.40 food, I spent in total $19.40 and saved $11.90 by having the right cards.

All these come out of daily living part of my budget. So along we don’t do this to often my budget will still work.

Country Drive to see the Dam Spillway

October 18th, 2010 at 07:54 am

On the weekend DS took me to see the Dam spillway of our largest dam here are some of the pictures.


The drive into the spillway along fire trail as the main loop road in and out was used for the way out only and walkers, it took 45 minutes to get in.


Flow of flood water along side of the fire trail


Spillway

Driving over the spillway


1. Spillway from top of dam wall


2. Looking back at flooded area


Dam from the picnic area

Financial summery of the past month

October 16th, 2010 at 08:12 pm

As I work on 28 day cycles, my dates may be out to a calendar months so here are the figures for my last period.

It’s time to start again on reviewing my monthly daily living allowance.

These are the categories for this challenge.

Items === Approx Budget===Spent

Eating out===$35.00=====$42.60
Groceries===$135.50 ==== $82.48
Non-Food===$17.00= ====$34.66
Clothes ====$35.00
Grooming===$15.00=====$21.03
Gas======$25.00======$30.00
Pets====== $50.00=== ==$58.30
HH items===$42.50======$35.67
Fares== ====$9.00
Entrainments= $12.00
Garden =====$10.00=====$30.85
Gifts & Donations =$35.00=== $22.92
Medical =====$15.00=====$5.40
Misc ======$9.00
Personal Allowance =$85.00 ==$114.91
Note only one amount is no spend

Budgeted for this period $530 spent $478.82

No Spending days over the 28 days = 13 days in total.

I have been spending a little more on some books, stationery and gardening over the last month. Some of these are covered in my personal allowance in which I got a few books at good discount price that were on my buy list and along with bulk computer paper which was at very good price so I bought a box of 5 reams instead just a ream enough until this time next year or longer. So this is now off to buy list until I am down the last 2 reams as I have some other reams in storage also.

My credit cards are still paid in full each month. I am still under my budgeted allowance so I am on track.

Solar Hot Water rebate

October 15th, 2010 at 09:29 pm

I finely was able to pay my last payment on the Solar Hot Water as when I went to my online bank site I found that the Aus. Government rebate had come through and I could pay the state government for their outlay in this project. I was happy to get it over and done with; I went to the bank and had them transfer the money over to their account. My part of the project is now finish, the problem is if people spend the money before it paid over like mortgage payment. They never sent any email or mail that the rebate has paid, as you sign the right for the State government to take the money out of your account after 7 days.

Text is Update on my Solar Hot Water
and Link is http://tightwadkitty.savingadvice.com/2010/07/27/update-on-my-solar-hot-water_60831/#comments
Update on my Solar Hot Water

Well it has been raining here

October 14th, 2010 at 10:31 pm

Our dams that were around 16% full 3 years ago are now overflowing and causing minor flooding as they can’t top up the only other dam that’s not full (25%) quickly enough but they can top it up so that part is good but they need to pump it up a mountain range. All our dams here now can fill each other I think.

The infrastructure was put in place to do this because of the long drought we had, now all four dams have all their gates open allowing water to run free into the rivers as we are having more rain in the coming days and weeks, yesterday was a fine day but more rain today.

The only thing I think should have happen is that they should have started filling the lowest dam when it got to 97% on the biggest dam as the flood plane is where they are worried about now. All four dams are over 100% full.

Text is Water Leaks and Link is http://tightwadkitty.savingadvice.com/2010/09/30/water-leaks_62415/
Water Leaks

Text is Watering the garden at Level 5 and Link is http://tightwadkitty.savingadvice.com/2007/04/15/watering-the-garden-at-level-5_24897/
Watering the garden at Level 5

Moving Forward

October 13th, 2010 at 09:51 pm

It’s time to start removing some of the papers around here, I just picked up a file in the filing cabinet at random and it just had old flyers for school supplies for 2004. Now why did I keep them it’s time to move forward I think? I am still working on the very old print outs, as I do have quite of number of folders to go though. If they don’t make any sense then they are going, I don’t think I will ever finish this task any time soon.

De-cluttering Old Computer Printouts

October 6th, 2010 at 07:36 pm

When I first got my computer & printer, I didn’t connect to the internet for a few years as I was still learning about computers & printers. I didn’t know much about downloading so I printed off the net when first got it. Now it’s time to go though some of these old printouts that I had made then. This was when money was very short and I became very interested in frugal living or ways of cutting costs big time. Some of these printouts are no longer available on the net or very hard to fine as these websites have been revamped or closed down years ago. Anything of interest now I will keep and get rid of the rest as most are more than 10 years old. The only one that I still can get online is

Text is Dollar Stretcher and Link is http://www.stretcher.com/index.cfm
Dollar Stretcher all the others have gone or no longer have this information.

Some of it makes very interested reading now and I can see how these did shape my ideas over time but its time to let go.