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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

I thought I would just go to the shops for eggs and few things that were on special at price book best buys. I needed more, dry cat food and that was on special this week. Saving $1.06 and while I was at it I bought my regular tin cat food that they will eat! It was Heinz Baked beans that I needed to stock up on this time. I bought 12 tins @75c with my staff discount as well! Saving $6.96. I found some mark down package meats that I could freeze if I did that start away. 2 x Ham Steaks (4 in pack) RRP $3.56 @ .95c, 2 x Spanish Choriza 15slices pack RRP $3.29 @ .50c so I saved $10.80 on these. 100’s Display Folder Refills $3.99 save $1.00 and I will need them before the year is over. I did spend money today but I did make some good savings as well.
I will work the deli meats in my next weeks or two menus. I did pack them so I could just remove the numbers slices that I would require for that meal.

Today’s Full Price Tally $62.37
Today’s Savings - $ 19.82
2007 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $9597.67

I had to made a trip to the hardware store as DF-M wanted a rubbish bin for her recycle water. It was easier to go and get it than give her one of mine. We use these to put our grey water in until we need to water our garden. As we both wash a random and not when we need to water our gardens. I went before they were open today so had to sit and read for 30 minutes, I have a book on nutrition 1962 very interesting to read when I get a free moment. A lot said in this book has now come out true. Funny that! I can read it at random as some the information is not available today so it makes very informative reading.

I bought a few items as usual, something that I did see in a mail order catalogue late last year. tool- Pick up and reaching - 1 metre long . That you can reach some thing of a shelf, it was $14.95 plus $7.90 postage. & $1.50 insurance so that $23.45 but I got it for $4.89 saving $19.46 so it pays to shop around if you see something these catalogues. I would have save if I bought more items on postage & insurance. I did buy paint tray and roller set that was on special $4.48 saving around $5.00.

When I came back I did my washing that two loads and some hand washing. After I had done that I got into doing the coat of varnishing on the doors.

While I was delivering the rubbish bin. DF-M asks if would like some prunes as I thought she say so I said yes that I would use them. Next minute she is giving me 2/3 of the prawns that she bought on Friday. At $24.95 kg so I was given about $14.50 worth of prawns, I told her next time just ask for the number of prawns and don’t buy them by the kilo in future. I had six of them for lunch on crackers with marinated feta and my evening meal I just peeled prawns and seafood sauce and just dipped. They had to be used by today.

Today’s Full price Tally $33.33
Today’s Savings - $38.96 (including free prawns)
2007 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $9577.85

Early this morning I did full up my car with gas. Costing $30.39 this includes my motor mower gas as well. As I don’t use my as much as some people do. Saving $1.13

I did go to the city again today to visit the Chiro. Refund $19.40. I did some shopping for some things while I was the city. Including some 75% off Christmas lines, one was Cranberry Sauce for $2.95 saving $8.00 and some coffee at the right price RRP $39.30 saving $$16.50, all up I spent $49.55 saving over $39.99.

Today’s Full price Tally $ 121.06
Today’s Savings - $ 60.52
2007 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $9214.37

I got phone call from my son on Saturday evening to say that I was to drive up to his place and we all shall go for a drive to-morrow. Well there were five of us going to mountain behind the Gold Coast to the markets or so I thought but first a detour to a shopping centre at the Gold Coast. Last night they were at one of my DIL sister’s place. When she joking said the she would like a Beagle puppy she seen in the pet shop that day as she had lost her beagle of 11 years two week’s before and still was very upset about it. We went to see it and if it was still in the pet shop, Yep so her mother bought for her, then we had go and give it to her. I will not tell the price but more than I would pay. He is just six-week-old and so cute too! Guess where I spent my birthday, as they got the puppy, the sister went and bought lunch for all of us. So we had roast chicken and Coleslaw and Potato salad and chocolate almond cake for my birthday. This was fun just to see the reactions of everyone about getting the puppy and much more memorable than a day walking around a wet markets anyway. I don’t have any other family than my son here so my DIL family is my family too!

I spent the grand total of $8.20 for the day. When we went back to the shopping centre late in the afternoon. On Bananas I bought 8 of them and gave away half. Bananas are a luxury around here and at times was paying up to $16.99kg, today they were $1.99kg and still in some places $6.99kg. When they get back down to around under $1.00 they will be back on the daily menu.

Today’s Full price Tally $8.20
Today’s Savings - $ 3.00
2007 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $9153.85

It’s one of my strategies to wait for next week catalogues to arrive before I buy some items that I will need next week, if they are in this week catalogues. Well as I have run out of dried cats I will need to buy more and it’s on special at another supermarket this week but not as I hoped next week. So it’s drive the car over to this store one suburb away from mine, so not far. I bought 4 packets of dried cat food, one was just for treats as I don’t give them thing different in the way of treat but for this one brand which is a lot dearer than the other one and half the size too! All were 3.19 saving $2.70 here. So lean ground beef was markdown so I bought 2 small trays saving $2.00 here. Some Christmas gift-wrap 50% off that I could use 2 of the roll for birthday wrap so I bought 2 x2 packs saving $4.00 here. I did buy a magazine that I like for a change so I spent $2.60 on that. Groceries that I did buy were cheaper here than I price in other stores so I stock up them or bought a one to try, to see if I like it. Saving $2.60 here.

Today’s Full price Tally $44.63
Today’s Savings - $ 11.30
2007 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $9150.85

Its Mediterranean style way serve a light lunch or meal. Mezze or meze is little bits of tasty treats to please the palate. All served on separate plate so that you can take a much or as little as you want.

Almost anything that is small and tasty qualifies as a mezze dish. Mezze can include miniature versions of main dishes.

Meze - Mezze cuisine is collections of tasty dishes that be can served as appetizers, a light lunch, a main meal or select a combination of dishes and serve as a meze or feast.

Recipes cover a range of appetizers, dips, sauces, salads, sweets, meat and vegetable dishes served with bread.

Here is what I may put on my platters. I just put out enough food out per person serving plus one extra serve for the table.

Little dishes with nuts - mixed and dried fruits Dried apricots and almonds: Stuff each apricot with a whole almond. Or Sultana raisins and nuts: Combine equal parts of whole walnuts, peanuts, almonds or hazelnuts with sultana (golden seedless) raisins and serve in bowls.

Serve bowls of fresh fruits in season & Sliced can pineapple as it's Summer here.

Bowls of marinated olive, pepper, feta cheese, or pickled cucumbers.

Plate of sliced tomatoes, sprinkled with Italian herbs.

Dips of Hummus, Red Lentil Dip or Lite Cream Cheese Spread or Labni - Fresh Cheese made from Yogurt (if have no feta and I have fresh yogurt made.)

Salad greens, red onions or shallots that I have in my garden.

Platters of can tuna or sliced ham what ever in the fridge at the time.

Can asparagus or artichokes whichever that I have in the pantry.

Pita, Lavash Turkish Pide Bread or Crackers if I have none of the others.

Sweets - Turkish Delight or Greek shortbread

Some Recipes

Greek Village Salad

Serve 6-8
6 tomatoes, cut into thin wedges
1 red onion, cut into rings
2 Lebanese cucumbers, sliced
185g kalamata olives
200g feta
1/2 cup olive oil
dried oregano, to garnish

Combine the tomato, onion, cucumber and olives in a bowl.
Season to taste.
Break the feta into large pieces and scatter over the top.
Top with olive and oregano.
Calories 235, fat 20g

Tunisian Tuna Salad

1 chopped onion
1 large fresh tomato
1 can of tuna
Salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup olive oil
5-10 olives (pitted)
1 boiled egg

Mix chopped onion, peppers and tomatoes and put them in a bowl.
Season the tuna with salt, pepper and olive oil.
Mix all ingredients and garnish with the olives and rounded pieces of the boiled egg.

Marinated Peppers - Pipperies
I usually use green bell peppers to make this recipe because they're so easy to find, but it's delicious and colorful made with a range of colors. The recipe is very simple and the peppers keep in the refrigerator for weeks, so if you love them, make a large batch to keep on hand for a tasty and unusual last minute salad or appetizer.

bell peppers (any color or mixed)
red wine vinegar
salt
olive oil
Wash peppers and trim stems (do not remove entirely), and cut into quarters from top to bottom. Do not remove seeds.
Bring enough water to cover peppers to a boil, add peppers, and cook for 5-6 minutes, until partially softened.
Drain in a colander, sprinkle with salt, and allow to cool for 20 minutes.
Place in a ceramic or glass container and cover with red wine vinegar.
Cover and refrigerate.
Peppers are ready to use after 1 hour, and will keep for weeks.
When ready to use, take pieces of pepper from the container and shake off excess vinegar.
Serve marinated peppers as an appetizer or side salad:
Cut marinated peppers into thin slices or smaller pieces and drizzle with olive oil to taste.

Labni - Fresh Cheese made from Yogurt
2 cups yogurt
1/2 t. salt
Need:
Muslin sack or several layers of cheesecloth made into a bag
Large bowl

Combine yogurt and salt.
Pour into a muslin sack, tie up, and suspend over a large bowl. Let drain overnight.
The bowl will catch the dripping liquid.
In the morning, discard the water.
Unwrap the cheese and use as a spread on pita or form into small balls.
Serve with olive oil and chopped fresh mint or with black olives.
Makes 1/2 cup

From "Mediterranean Cooking" by Paula Wolfert

Mahammara Labni - Fresh Yogurt Cheese with Dill and Pimento
1/2 cup labni - fresh yogurt cheese (refer recipe for Labni)
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1 T. chopped fresh dill
1 roasted pimento, chopped
Sweet paprika
8 melba toasts or crackers

Combine labni, salt, pepper, dill and pimento, mixing well.
Spread on melba toasts and sprinkle with paprika.

From "Mediterranean Cooking" by Paula Wolfert

Hummus bi Tahina - Chickpea and Sesame Dip
125 g (4 oz) chickpeas, soaked for a few hours
juice of 2 lemons
3 Tbs. tahina
2 garlic cloves, crushed
salt

Garnish
1 Tbs. olive oil
1 tsp. paprika
a few sprigs of parsley, finely chopped

Drain the chickpeas and simmer in fresh water for about an hour or until tender.
Reserve the cooking water.
Process the chickpeas in a blender (or food processor) with the lemon juice, tahina, garlic, salt and enough of the cooking liquid to obtain a soft creamy consistency.
Serve on a flat plate, garnished with a dribble of olive oil, a dusting of paprika (this is usually done in the shape of a cross) and a little parsley.
Serve with warm pita bread for dipping. Serves 4-6.
Note: I only put garnish on when I am serving. I do freeze this in small containers. Put out to thaw the night before.

From "Mediterranean Cookery" by Claudia Roden

Have a look at these links for more information

As needed to pay my phone bill $44.15 today. So I drove my car down to that shopping centre that I pay my bills. I could have walked but the supermarket did have a stationary special of display books that I wished to purchase in bulk, 24x 48c each instead $1.99 each. So I saved $36.24 here. Along with a loaf of multi- bread & tomatoes. After I went up to the local supermarket and I walked this time just for exercise. I bought 2x Yakut light drink 5pks markdown 99c instead of $3.88 ea. Which I froze Saving $ 5.78, Cos lettuce marked down 60c saving $1.68 some Christmas paper bowls 78c saving $1.70 and loaf of Raisin Bread $1.98 saving 70c so I had a good day with my bargains. Saving all up $46.10

Other than shopping, all I did today was working on the ironing pile. It will get done soon I still have another week to go when I have put MY deadline for it to be done. I am doing my own ironing as well!

Today’s Full price Tally $107.03
Today’s Savings - $46.10
2007 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $9139.55

This morning I did my housework before my handyman friend arrived today.

We had lunch together another one of Mezze platters with crackers. I have fridge full of unusual and salad ingredients that can be used for mezze, as well olives, Hummus and feta cheese.

Together we put up the bird-net and pegged any openings that were left after it was tried up.

My dripping tap got fixed, it had worn felt and it was reset and new felt & washer replaced, this tap was done in October too!

After buy the trading post and looking at want was on offer for French doors 2nd-hand. Well! Not much and price was from $195 to $700 and none saying if it was for outside use. So we went off to check the prices for new doors and what was available. It was place that sold only doors and they were having a Sale as well. As it’s odd size door opening 1390mm wide so I can only have a normal door and half door panel that will fit. After looking at all the half doors side from $299 each then the buy a door on top it would cost around $700 for both plus fittings.

We looked around and found some doors on sale full solid wood door RRP $211 each. Looking at it, an idea came into my head why couldn’t we buy two doors and cut one to make a mock side panel that is a half opening door bolted to look like a half side panel that is in fact a door. I bought two full doors that I will need to varnish after one is cut to size. We bought also the doorknob and hinges for both doors only bolts will need to be bought for this part of this project. Costing $340 all up (RRP price $531) saving $191. My friend was a tradesman so was able get a better price than I would have had bought them on my own. Best price I would have got was $427 for the same things. I have budget around $1200 for this job, so I will be able now to put the rest towards the security door and bolts etc. I still got $860 earmark for this project but I don’t need to spend it all!

Today’s Full price Tally $ 531
Today’s Savings - $ 191
2007 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $9093.45

It’s a case of going to the supermarket for more cat food. Before going I made a list of their lost leaders this week that I use. While there I bought only fours lines only but in multiply buys.

John West Tempers Tuna 95g x 10 @ 79c RRP $1.59 ea. … saving $8.00
Just Juice Orange Juice 2L x 4 @ $1.39 RRP $2.73 ea. ……saving $5.54
Praise Salad Dressing 330ml x 1 @$2.29 RRP $2.99 … saving .70c
Cat Food generic x 10 @ .69c reg. price at the momen, it was 75c each, two months ago it’s the only item that has come down in price around here..
As I get a 5% off the total docket saving here $1.09

I did have a milk shake while I was out saving $1.55 than buying it at Wendy's.

Today’s Full price Tally $39.44
Today’s Savings - $16.18
2007 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $8902.45

Well it’s time that start tiding up some of my bookshelves. I have a corner that need a good tidy up and put some of the books back in order, as well cull some of them. I do have a lot of books, most shelved in categories all over the house. When I go looking for a subject I need to look in some of these categories as well the other ones. The information may by in some of these books as they are on multi topics as a lot of these books are like ‘Mother Earth’ magazine that I do have one old copy of. But I have many copies of the Australian ‘Grass Roots’, I like reading these books but can never picture myself living that kind of lifestyle. I have been always a city girl, but a very much ‘Make Do, Use It Up’ person from the old school of thought. I do get a lot of my ideas and a lateral thinking from these books. One bookcase done and ten other’s to go.

In the last 28 days I have

Gone shopping or bought something 21 times

Went to the city by bus 7 times

Drove my car only 10 times

Had food bought or had for free away from home 10 times

And had 7 No Spending Days.

Lets see what next 28 days tallies will be.

Oh! You can tell it’s Pre & Post Christmas Sales here and I never once used my credit card.