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Archive for January, 2011

Two cyclones David and Goliath in size

January 30th, 2011 at 06:43 pm

Text is David and Goliath cyclones and Link is http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/environment/weather/david-and-goliath-cyclones-bear-down-on-queensland-20110130-1a9eb.html
David and Goliath cyclones

The smaller Cyclone Anthony crossed the coast near Bowen and is now a rain depression causing 300-400mm rain with wind and look like more flooding, south of Bowen at Mackay as this city is below sea level in parts and its river rising fast.

Now for the bigger Cyclone Yasi to see what it will do, with all the soaked ground around it take very little to start flooding again in parts.

Donated to animal shelter

January 30th, 2011 at 06:12 am

Today I did some shopping at a local shopping centre, I only made two stops one at the supermarket and the other at RSPCA stall, and donated $20.00 on top of what I had already donated in money and goods. I thought that animals should get a helping hand too! Their main headquarters went under just like in 1974. As they don’t get any help at all I thought I better put in something.

Text is RSPCA Fairfield and Link is http://www.facebook.com/RSPCAQueensland#!/notes/rspca-qld-inc/rspca-qlds-daily-wishlist-post-flood-shelter-recovery-project/10150167686190620
RSPCA Fairfield

Text is official webpage and Link is http://www.rspca.org.au/news/queensland-floods.html
official webpage

As I said in a comment in last post
Text is Two cyclones to hit Queensland and Link is http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/8203679/two-cyclones-to-hit-queensland-bligh
Two cyclones to hit Queensland

I will keep you posted on the aftermath or read link inside this article

Fruit and Vegetables Shopping

January 25th, 2011 at 07:45 am

At the moment our fruit & vegetables prices is set to rise around here. We are all trying to buy Australian grown so we keep our farmers in business that has something to sell. The quality of the fruit & vegetables is not as good before floods but what do you expect when you have 3 states with flooding and another one will go under in the next few weeks remember I said in an earlier post that South Australia will end up with most this water in the end.

So far I have bought seedless grapes, watermelon, bananas, oranges and mixed salad greens as tomatoes are to expensive to buy so are apples around $9.99KG (2.2lbs). Most have blemishes on them but are eatable all the same. Around Queensland milk is still short supply as our main supplier went under in the Brisbane flood same as last time in 1974.

Blackout and Microwave

January 22nd, 2011 at 05:17 am

While the floods were on and having a blackout because of the flooding when one of the substation when under in our area. I wasn’t affected in the floods but lost of power for 4 hours and all the traffic lights were out around us and the businesses were on half power or rolling blackouts. Places went under water only 200 metres down the hill from where I live and the shopping centre is out of action for a number of months as it went underwater to the roof around 30 shops and businesses.

My 22 year old microwave decided to stop working and I had go out an get a replacement which I did when the rain stopped and some of the roads were safe to drive on. So I went looking at a large shopping centre not affected by the flood to price out a new one. My budget for a replacement was around the $300.00 mark for the largest and best in that price range. I looked at a number of models started to cross check pricing between stores. As I wanted 34L model with large inside cooking area. Most I found didn’t have large inside cooking area. It was between two models of the same brand that I liked LG - 34L 1100W - 3446 or 3448 models the only problem was, that they didn’t have any in stock to buy. One place was selling them for $226 (3446 model) and another $219 but no stock for 2 weeks but with all the microwaves that will be sold in the next few weeks, it could be months. So I came home without one. Later in the afternoon my DF-D was going out to drop off some items for the flood victims so I went with her and afterwards we went shopping for my microwave in a different shopping centre. I end up getting the LG - 34L 1100W - 3446W one for $200.00 cash. So I saved $26 on that model and $100 less than I budgeted for.

Giving Birthday voucher amiss

January 19th, 2011 at 06:42 pm

Will not be using my birthday $25.00 voucher this year as they have charged the rules unless I buy a new watch or a piece of jewellery over $100 this year, I have download it but when I read this condition I think I don’t need a new watch or any more jewellery this year.

I did write about this voucher

Text is here and Link is http://tightwadkitty.savingadvice.com/2010/01/05/some-strategies-that-s-t-r-e-t-c-h-my-bu_56335/
here So I will save money by not buying anything and it will s-t-r-e-t-c-h my savings by minimum of $75.00, this will kick start my challenge as I will be including ‘Waste Not Want Not’ strategies by not buying but using what’s in storage.

Update Flooding

January 19th, 2011 at 06:28 am

If you have been checking the links in my other posts for more updates, you will know about, what a fantastic job done by the Mud Army and regular Army to get Brisbane and Ipswich cleared of all that mud and smelly rubbish.

We have now storms coming into flooded area that are re-flooding some of these areas again.

I came across this link

Waiting until it loads then move the black line across to see the before and after photos or click on larger map which will zoom in and move around to different areas.

Text is flood maps and Link is http://www.abc.net.au/news/infographics/qld-floods/beforeafter.htm
flood maps

Now Victoria is flooding but not as bad for now as Queensland but some this water has to end up in Murray River where these places are flooding now from monsoon rains that went as far down to Tasmania. So when the flood water from Queensland gets to Murray River as a lot of our rivers run south, I hope they are ready for it again. The whole of Australia is soaked but for small part of Western Australia, I would think and we still have more to come until May at least.

Clean up begins

January 15th, 2011 at 06:30 am

Clean up begins

The floodwater went down very quickly thank goodness, as we only about 20 kilometres from the Morton Bay. Most of the areas are now clear and thousands have come out to help. Our State government and local councils had master plans to deal with this crisis in place. Some of these videos will show you our state command centre. Everything is run from here when crisis develops in this state it was set up a few years ago. We were getting briefing every 2 hours whether good or bad. Our TV channels are all are covering the flooding crisis which is now covering five states but only Queensland flood crisis is covered by this command centre.

Text is Must read story and Link is http://news.ninemsn.com.au/yourfloodstories/?directTarget=6556||special3d||22#ancho
Must read story and more.

Text is more pictures of our oldest building, convict built wall gave way and Link is http://www.queenslandhistory.org.au/
more pictures of our oldest building, convict built wall gav...

Text is Floodmap of Flash flood path and Link is http://news.ninemsn.com.au/floodmap
Floodmap of Flash flood path


Text is Flood-hit residents return home to rooftop cow and Link is http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/floods/8197266/flood-hit-residents-return-home-to-rooftop-cow
Flood-hit residents return home to rooftop cow

Text is People’s Army and Link is http://news.ninemsn.com.au/video.aspx?videoid=8A28DB54-B95E-4ECA-A340-023426E12EAE
People’s Army


Some other videos to look at too!

RNA Evacuation Centre
Riverside Clean up
River Capsize Drama
Massive clean up efforts begins

Cities is now Flooding

January 11th, 2011 at 06:53 pm

I am a little worried that my son will try to go to work today, most of roads from his house to work are cut and his work place is going under as I write this. There is no way out if he does goes. Power has been cut to these areas now.

Text is Brisbane braces for the worst as record floodwaters loom and Link is http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/brisbane-braces-for-the-worst-as-record-floodwaters-loom/story-e6freon6-1225985939905
Brisbane braces for the worst as record floodwaters loom

Check out links in this story for more updates

I may lose power at some time so don’t panic if you don’t hear from me for a few days.

Do remember that each 1 metre = 39 inches or 3.15 feet

Simply just too much water (Flooding in Queensland)

January 10th, 2011 at 11:29 am

Half our State is now under water in most areas with 358mm in overnight in some places.

Now this city Toowoomba on top on mountain range had 60mm in hour this is what happen, it was hit by flash flooding

Text is link and Link is http://www.abc.net.au/news/video/2011/01/10/3109884.htm
link

Now towns and cities in the valley below including Brisbane are heading for more flooding.
Two links to other stories
Text is Floods return to Dalby, as Gympie goes under and Link is http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/01/10/3109385.htm
Floods return to Dalby, as Gympie goes under

Text is 1974 comes flooding back as Brisbane on alert and Link is http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/01/10/3109759.htm
1974 comes flooding back as Brisbane on alert

Weather here is getting very bad I am safe up on my ridge but my grass is now water logged and the lowest part of my garden has some water and is rising but it is getting away between rain periods. I thinking I need to pack a bag and get ready to move if I am told too! It’s not likely to where I live for now as I am high above the 1974 mark.

This crisis could go on for months until all the water goes to where its headed for. We have three directions all this water is heading for, South or out to the sea. Now going south it has one of two water course it can travel, one flood area will end in South Australia down the Murray & Darling Rivers flooding some part of NSW as it goes. The area we are not hearing about as much at the moment is Gulf Rivers and Cooper Creek basin heading for Lake Eyre for the third time in as many years. Again pasting though NSW on way down to Lake Eyre in South Australia.

We could have another 12 days of rain to come yet! Don’t you love multiple Rain Depressions it would a Cyclones if was in the Coral Sea.

Text is Pictures here and Link is http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/gallery-e6frer9f-1225979450055?page=1
Pictures here


Text is more pictures of Toowomba and Link is http://www.thechronicle.com.au/photos/galleries/flooding-hits-toowoomba-101/#num=11&id=flooding-hits-toowoomba-101
more pictures of Toowomba

four dead so far

Final monthly financial summery for 2010

January 10th, 2011 at 04:53 am

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=====$75.85
Groceries===$135.50 ==== $118.70
Non-Food===$17.00=====$11.61
Clothes ====$35.00=====$47.74
Grooming===$15.00=====$20.00
Gas======$25.00=====$25.70
Pets====== $50.00=== ==$36.47
HH items===$42.50
Fares== ====$9.00 ======$20.00
Entrainments= $12.00
Garden =====$10.00
Gifts & Donations =$35.00=== $153.00
Medical =====$15.00=====$59.90
Misc ======$9.00
Personal Allowance =$85.00 ==$55.13
Note only one amount is no spend

Budgeted for this period $530 spent $624.10
No Spending days over the 28 days =14 days in total.

Personal allowance covers confectionery, lotto, books, stamps, craft & hobby supplies, and stationary. I got strung on buying Christmas stamps now I have enough for next few years. I also had a blow out on confectionery /candy buying some Christmas candy and box of chocolates for myself. I did donate some money for our floods as well buy some gift cards for the family. Eating out included my input into the Christmas dinner this year. As for medical this is the extra out of pockets amounts that came up this month. My credit cards are still paid in full each month.

I do keep my bill money separated from this summery. This year I will be budgeting around $630 per period month to cover all my bills. I have started to bank each month out of this amount $180 to cover my medical & hospital cover so that I will have it available at the end of the year. These funds do cover all my fixed bills for the year if I can stick to this schedule as I have done for the past ten years or so. This budget will be tight but just doable. If any changes to my spending habits will need to come out of my daily living allowance categories of my budget as my bill categories are very tight now.

Strategy: - Track your daily spending down to the cent by writing it down daily.

Looking at My Strategies in 2011

January 6th, 2011 at 08:14 pm

So far in my challenge to reduce spending in 2011, I have changed my

Text is
internet & phone plan and Link is http://tightwadkitty.savingadvice.com/2010/11/30/cutting-my-internet-phone-bill_63915/

internet & phone plan
and topped up my mobile plan for the year by $20.00, with the credit on it plus very limited use this amount will be almost all I will pay until December.

As for transport, as I limit the amount of driving that I do to planned trips with multi jobs, I can almost do without a car if I didn’t need it to travel across suburbs that don’t link up without a two hours bus trip one way then same trip back again or pay $60 each way in taxi fares to get there. We have a very large city so travel is on set routes but if you live or wish to travel outside these routes it can be a problem. Want can take 30 minutes around trip by car can take up to 4 hours and then you need catch multi buses to catch. So much about transport at least I do get cheaper fares with Senior discounts so that all helps.

My car with all it services, insurances and gas along with tolls does cost money that I could cut if things ever got out of hand. At the moment it’s my one luxury that I will live with for now. I do use the buses if I am heading for areas that I need to pay for parking as it works out a lot cheaper to do so.

Strategies
I don’t pay for parking unless I have no choice (unless e.g. hospital car parks or airports.)
I don’t use toll way unless I have no choice
I don’t drive in water across roads (my car is too low)

Oh Dear just not thinking

January 4th, 2011 at 06:52 am

I broke two of my own strategies in the past two days. My mind was thinking a long the lines of this

Strategy - If you will use it and cheap enough then have a treat now and then!

When I got home I found that I was charged one at the special markdown price and same second item at full price. It may have been two packets of pikelets but to pay full price no way.

As I didn’t use my other Strategy - Check your dockets and ask for a refund so I went back this morning for a refund of $3.00 and bought another treat for myself of some Christmas candy. Now I have 24 pikelets and 1 kilo (2.2lb) candy for less than price that I was charged.

While I was shopping I remember that I was out of paper towels in the kitchen but forget to check my stockpile area for them. So bought a pack of three on special it wont hurt to buy one packet of them WRONG, I already got six rolls in storage. That will teach me not to look next time.

So the Strategy - Do remember what you have stored before you go and buy more of the same.

Now remember not to buy any toothpaste, shampoo & conditioner, toilet paper, soap, liquid soap, makeup or creams, paper towels, detergent, washing powder or pre-soakers for a while.

Frugal Living Challenge - Revisited

January 2nd, 2011 at 09:01 pm

I will be combining most of it not all my challenges of the past years under this challenge.

I just got to reduce my spending for now!

I don’t have any personal debts at this time, only regular ones that normally come to everyone who own a house.

I do have some major jobs on the house over the next few years starting with painting the outside. A new kitchen and updating the bathroom are next one’s to save for, yes I only will have the jobs done when the money is there to pay in cash for them. Also a new washing machine and microwave as well upgrade on my computer system in next few years.

So my motto will stand for another year or two.

Its real hard to come up with $1000 but its easy to find 1000 ways to save a dollar or two!

So lets go and find those 1000 ways to save a dollar challenge and see what’s amount is at the end of 12 months.


I'm planning a frugal living year for 2011 so it's to spend wisely and only on needs, planned purchases and emergency replacements, so if I can do without it I will. This is because a few changes are around the corner and I have decided to go with the hospital cover and just make myself afford it after I had that fall last week.

So planning a very minimum frugal year by using what in the house or can be borrowed. This includes some food items, laundry & toilet paper, toiletries, linen, household goods, cookware, books, clothes & underwear etc, (buying only if I change sizes too much in clothing).

~ No Spending but for planned items. (If I have an item in the house or can borrow it, then I'm to use that first.)
~ Find ways to make my own grocery & cleaning items instead of buying them.
~ Repairing anything that can be fixed.
~ Two items that will be replaced if the breakdown are Washing machine and Microwave money has been put aside for these if I need them. (Microwave now replaced $200)
~ Have my credit card at Zero balance by end of the each month.
~ Come under budget each month and deposit into the online accounts any leftover amounts.
~ Pay All Due Bills on pension days or ahead of time. (As my budget is now in Excel, I can see a working model of these figures. When due and approx amount needed for each month.)
~ Chiro visit (one every 4 weeks)
~ Known outings are budgeted for, as social events.
~ Making and setting up emergency survival kit & resources.
~ Saving as much cash I can for my next project.

On a pension with limited funds I need to come up with little challenges to make them happen.

Note – Savings $stretch is the different between original regular price and money handed over. Coming under $stretch category

Annual Summary Daily Living Allowance parts of my budget for 2010

January 1st, 2011 at 09:08 am

Eating out ----------$709.95--------over target by $289.95
Groceries -----------$1029.78--------under target by $596.13
Non -Food ----------$108.21---------under target by $95.79
Clothes -------------$510.54.--------over target by $90.54
Grooming -----------$169.80--------under target by $10.20
Gas -----------------$272.09--------under target by $72.91
Pets ----------------$612.40--------over target by $12.40
HH items ------------$578.33--------over target by $74.33
Fares ---------------$151.60----------over target by $43.60
Entrainment----------$330.25--------over target by $186.25
Garden---------------$145.70--------over target by $25.70
Gift & Donations------$426.77---------over target by $6.77
Medical --------------$173.85-------under target by $6.15
Misc -----------------$30.68--------under target by $77.32
Personal Allowance----$785.30--------under target by $234.70

Daily Living Allowance allotted amount for 2010 was $6354 and I spent total $5990.34--under target by $636.66
Even with being over in nine categories, I still just manage to come under my budget allotment for 2010.

This does give me the idea that I am subconsciously set myself amount to spend then holding back on some things if I think that I have to cut on my spending because I spend a lot one area that was needed like the medical.

By viewing

Text is last year's Chart and Link is http://tightwadkitty.savingadvice.com/2010/01/03/annual-summary-daily-living-allowance-pa_56272/
last year's Chart with this year’s one I am defiantly a subconscious budgeter.

Ok this Daily Living Allowance is the area that I will be working on to stretch and find any extra money I can. I also be looking at cutting back other on bills where I can. With utilities going up triple over next few years and with all these floods and storms, we have been having of late. My state is awash with flooding.