My DS was taken hospital last night. He had chest pains again, this time they did fine something a wrong with the ECG. So they are taking tests to find out what is wrong. Before he has being going the another hospital and they were not finding anything wrong by the time they got to see him. So they were sending him home. Cardiologists said they would find out what is wrong this time as he is too young. He is to have a number of tests and week off work as well! As his ECG went back to normal by morning as usual and all his blood test were normal too! Anyway, he does needs to loose some weight ASAP. This is a big wake up call for him. They did say that had they not found something wrong with first ECG and he keep going as he was, he would be dead from a stroke before 40th birthday. As I spent the day at the hospital buying food and drinks etc. My budget got knocked out a bit today, spent $13.85 on food and $1.10 fare home.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Lunch out*
DINNER Poached Fish with Salad

Today’s Full price Tally $14.95
Today’s Savings - $0
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $6759.65

Just a bit shopping today, some groceries saving $2.30 and multi-trip bus ticket saving $13.60 on full price single tickets as we get two free trips buying a multi-trip tickets plus I am getting concession one. Saving $2.20 over single trip ticket for concession.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Salad with Blue Vein Cheese Apple Coffee
DINNER Spicy Lentil & Pumpkin with Basmati Rice

Today’s Full price Tally $31.05
Today’s Savings - $ 15.90
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $6759.65

It’s a bus trip to the city to visit the Chiro, refund of $19.40 here. As I bought lunch yet again lunch today came to $5.95 saving $1.50 on my coffee with senior card. .

I also bought another book 2nd book by Shannon Lush & Jennifer Fleming ‘Speedcleaning’, I already have their first book ‘Spotless’ both published by ABC (radio) Books saving $5.10 off RRP price.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Lunch out*
DINNER 2 Egg Cheese Omelette and Pasta Sauce & Grilled Peppers
Today’s Full price Tally $27.40*
Today’s Savings - $26.00
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $6743.75

Italian Bean and Tuna Salad

1 can (185g) Tuna in springwater
1 can (420g) butter beans or 3 bean mix, drained.
1/2 small onion, thinly sliced
Lemon juice to taste
Italian Dressing, (Fat-Free) to taste (optional)
Freshly ground black pepper
2 tsp. grated gingerroot fresh (optional)
Small red pepper finely chopped (optional)

Drain tuna and beans.
Break up chunks of tuna with a fork
Mix tuna with the beans.
Add onion, pepper and lemon juice and or Italian Fat-Free Dressing to taste.
Add ginger and red pepper if you are using.
Serve with Cos lettuce & sliced tomato or green salad.
Serves 2 as main meal or 4 as side

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Italian Bean and Tuna Salad & green salad Coffee Apple Coffee
DINNER Hungarian Goulash with Rice Coffee

All I did was water the garden, I had some recycle water left from when I last did the washing so I used that today. I do try to use it up as soon as I can, it’s not wise leave a long time in storage tanks. My friend & handyman called as well! He is trying to fix my front water tap which playing up. Well it didn’t get fix this time. I made a lite lunch for both of us. Saving money by using what I have in the house and not going out to buy anything, just because I have a visitor.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Salad with Blue Vein Cheese Apple Coffee
DINNER Pasta with Pasta Sauce & Tuna

I have just finished the repotting garden all but the large pots, which I will need someone too help me lift them. I am still to weed the garden but this can wait a bit longer as my next project is get ready for the tank and painting the garage which the tank will be going behind as the water will be coming off it’s roof.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Bread with Tomato & Blue Vein Cheese Carrot Cake Coffee
DINNER Black Bean Beef with Noodles Mandarin Green Tea
SNACK Pancakes with Maple Syrup Whipped Cream

Today I got out my old Mower and mowed the grass, its not a lawn but mixed grasses with weeds in it but it green. This chore took around hour to do. I have 20 perches of land, so it’s not that large to do around the house on just three sides. I did get into weeds specially the bindi-eye with a knife. The knife handle broke but being a hoarder and a tightwad, I just went to the can that I keep some wine bottle corks in, got one out then work the knife blade into it. Now I got a few more years out that knife I think. On the subject of hoarding, I have large coffee cans that I put things in when these are full then I stop collecting that item. I find these in the street at times, or I just ask the neighbors for some as I don’t drink wine any more.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Crackers & Blue Vein Cheese Coffee
DINNER Omelette with Cheese Coffee

Today it was an ironing day for me. I got out my ironing press an ironed all my clothes from the last two wash days. this is the most time saving method that I have found, as I am sitting down for one thing and I can get two baskets of ironing done in under 50 minutes most times. I did buy this Elna ironing press 2nd hand in the first place, for $100.00 about two years ago now! Normal price new was at the time $599 so its has paid for it self in time. I bought it for ironing the men shirts but the material was not good for the press and found my own ironing was quicker using the press instead.

I went for a walk today too! Drop in to the supermarket down the hill from here. I got loaf of bread that was on markdown saving $2.89 and I bought some pink lady apples at another shop saving $2.98 on price that the supermarket was charging.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Soup & Toast Apple Coffee
DINNER Beef Bourguignon with Basmati Rice Coffee

Today’s Full price Tally $10.12
Today’s Savings - $ 5.87
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $6717.17

I went to my son place again, to help him clean up the floors as he is having the carpet cleaners in to-morrow and we needed to make sure that they didn’t need to pick-up everything first as they have a lot of things on the floor to start with. I folded the clothes and got my son to put it away. An organized him into doing the washing that was backing up too! They have no lines so it all goes into the dryer. By the time we left in the late afternoon we had all the chores done included all but one load of washing. You couldn’t walk in that laundry for clothes to start with. I just got him to stop what he was doing, a charge the loads over to the dryer and put next load on. It just took about 5-10 minutes each time. I folded the clothes as they came out of the dryer too! $$$ Another Strategy
We did have lunch out again, saving $2.05. He gave me they exercise bike that they are not using so now I have an exercise bike in my small lounge room to use.
When I returned home one of the parcels that I am waiting on arrived an was sitting on my front porch for me. Everything was there too. I got two free gifts in the parcel. 3 savory trays value $29.95 and multi-tool value $7.95. I will now giveaway some of my savory trays and just keep these as I don’t go out much now days.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH lunch out*
DINNER Fillet Steak, Egg, Onion & Tomatoes Coffee

Today’s Full price Tally $ 45.40
Today’s Savings - $ 39.95
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $6711.88

I drove down to visit my Avon friend but I never put an order in this time. Afterward I walk up to Sizzler’s and had lunch there saving $4.74 and on the way home bought a plastic container for $1.00 saving $2.45 and a book for 50c saving $9.45. Not much else in the way of saving, another than using one of frozen meals at dinner time.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH lunch out*
DINNER Salmon Patties and Vegetables Coffee

Today’s Full price Tally $32.09
Today’s Savings - $ 16.64
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $6671.93

This morning I did heaps of gardening and finish repotting my small pots in the backyard. Geraniums, palm, angel butterfly plant etc. I cleaned up some what so that I could mow sometime this week as my back is now saying help I sore please stop. I will have a few days off as it’s my son days off soon! I always seem to have a break when people are away. This I did get some things done.

This afternoon to drove to pay my phone bill at the local newsagent. Funny I can do this over the net but I like to visualize myself paying it and it’s same with some of my other bills too! I am a very visual person knowing that if I can picture it doing the task then I know I have done it. After I when a bought Anzac biscuit saving $2.49 and some fruit buns saving $1.49 on these as well!

As gas was cheaper today I filled my tank up also. Saving 4c off a litre while I was at it. Saving 80c. Our gas is ranging from $1.01 to $1.55 per litre. So if you can get a few cents off it helps.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Grilled Cheese with Mustard Toasted Slices Apple Coffee
DINNER Honey Mustard Chicken with Vegetables and Rice, Fruit, Coffee

Today’s Full price Tally $25.58
Today’s Savings - $ 4.78
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $6655.29

I needed to clean the pot plant area before I do much more so that it will clear and tidy to return the pots once potted. This job took over 1½ hours to do. I did cleared it out and put another bag of bark over the ground too! I did manage to get around 10 pots repotted as well! This will save me a lot of water when things get bad. I am using a cheap potting mix but adding a lots of fertilizers and Wetta ® soil products too! As I will be using mostly recycle grey water, I also adding a bit of gypsum to help with any salt in the washing grey water. I also have clay in my soil so with any run off, this will help the general ground soil as well! This is a tip I read a few months back so I am trying it out as my plants are not any nursery bought plants, they all died years ago.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Crackers & Blue Vein Cheese Coffee
DINNER Pasta with Pasta Sauce & Tuna Coffee

Well I got another 12 plants repotted and planted Lemon Grass in the ground. While I was at the supermarket today, I saw mother-in-law tongues that I have just repotted today selling for $20.45 just for one plant in ceramic pot. I have around six or more, which is a weed if you grow them in the ground around here.

I went to the supermarket to get some more pet food and few groceries items on my list. Saving $5.30

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Crackers & Blue Vein Cheese Coffee
DINNER Salmon Patties and Vegetables Fruit coffee

Today’s Full price Tally $34.60
Today’s Savings - $ 5.30
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $6650.51

Today I started to repot all my pot plants. The first I had too clean to my entry floor, which is tiled. I keep a few of my plants in this area, which I repotted today! I am trying to do about 10 to 15 per day until done, or until I run out of energy to do any more. I bought all the garden supplies over last few weeks. So its time start using it to save water, as most was for water saving and for repotting. I hope get a lot done this week as everyone is away at the moment and my son is working this weekend, and will have days off during the week instead. As he works four days straight 12 hours shifts and then has three days off, starts all over again. That is why he is at home during the week as times.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Garlic Bread & Blue Vein Cheese Fruit Coffee
DINNER Omelette with Cheese

In the last 28 days I have

Gone shopping or bought something other than food out. 15 times

Went to the city by bus 4 times

Drove my car only. 8 times

Had food bought or had for free away from home. 8 times

And had 8 No Spending Days.

Lets see what next 28 days tallies will be.

It’s off to the Italian Deli Warehouse to buy Cheese as DF-M is going off to the country to visit her daughter this weekend. As the families there wanted some cheese a full blocks cost over around $100 each. She is getting a ride up to her daughter’s with our neighbor. While we were there a Rep came in and gave us some FREE Blue Vein Cheese 16 x 125g packets, I got 6 packs. Value at $5.35 each. I froze 3 packets as due date is next week. saving $32.10 on my share. I spent $10.00 at the deli saving $2.00 on pasta.

After I took DF-M home I went off to another supermarket that I visit rarely. It had meat on special that I thought would be charge from what I have being eating of late. As I like variety in my diet and for heath reason, I must not eat the same food every day if possible.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Crackers & Blue Vein Cheese Coffee
DINNER Lamb chop & vegetables Fruit Coffee

Today’s Full price Tally $85.54
Today’s Savings - $ 38.90
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $6513.71

Bulk Food Replacement on 9/24($200.00) Fund - $177.22 - 19.00 =$158.22

Today he dropped by to pick up my ladder, as he plan to cut his front fig trees down. As his would not take me and the ladder, I drove up my self to help and watch take he doesn’t has an accident or so I could get help if did. Doing these kinds of jobs alone is not a good idea. We start around 9 am and by 11.30am we had all the trees cut down with a two small handsaws. We then went off to get a trailer to hire. I bought lunch at subway and we had this before we started to load the trailer for it first load to the dump. We have vouchers for the first 500kg each year for each household with our local council or its $7.50 per 100kg or part of. We didn’t know if we had enough vouchers so I came back home to pick up my vouchers and some pots to put over the trees stumps while DS took the first load to the dump 10km away. The load was 200kg so we still had vouchers left for next load. We got all rest of the trees on next loads, which came up to 300kg, and return the trailer with hour to spare on the hire time. They are hired in 4 hours lots.

He saved $350 by just hiring the trailer over the quote he got from the tree lopper and they were four small trees too! I got away with cost of lunch & gas, this time saving $2.30 on lunch with my senior card.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH lunch out*
DINNER Omelette with Cheese
SNACK Yoghurt & LSA

Today’s Full price Tally $7.85*
Today’s Savings - $ 2.30
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $6474.81

Why is it when I spend a day with him, I spend. Today was no different!

He just got a NEW car and it had to go in for its first service. My car was needed to pick him up for the morning. Then he wanted to go the Big Hardware store that I went to on Sunday but one near his place. So I got the sugar cane mulch and Zero weed killer applicator that I was looking for on Sunday. Saving $5.00 as the sugar cane mulch was on special.

After we went to his place so he could mower his lawn and clean his backyard up. I clean his tile floor area while I was there. Then his Labrador dog came over with mulberry juice all over him. His mulberry tree has ripe fruit, so I picked what I could of them. As he plan to cut it down to-morrow if his wife would let him. So FREE fruit.

Then it was back to the car service to pick his car up but we had to got McDonald’s for lunch on the way. Saving $1.50 on coffee senior discount.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH lunch out*
DINNER Beef Bourguignon with Basmati Rice Fruit Coffee

Today’s Full price Tally $49.21*
Today’s Savings - $ 6.50
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $6472.51

It’s wash day at my house so it’s also watering the garden backyard day as I do use my washing water to water my garden.

Not much else in the way of saving money or spending money today for that mater!

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Crackers with Cream Cheese & Herbs Fruit Coffee
DINNER Fillet Steak, Egg, Onion & Tomatoes Coffee
SNACK Pancakes with Maple Syrup Whipped Cream

This morning I went to the hardware store for some gardening supplies as I am starting next weekend and don’t what to go when I start. Just do it! I bought some orchid mix for my orchid. As I can’t use a hose now, I had to buy weed n feed lawn fertilizer in pellet form and a lot of water saving cones & wetting agents. I had a cappuccino & slice of cheese saving $1.00.

While I was there I went to DIY class on compost making & worn farm very interesting but a little expensive. I do have compost maker but I don’t have a worm farm. I may look in to it at a later date.

Fruit & Vegetable shopping in the afternoon, saving $4.40 on supermarket prices.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Grilled Cheese with Mustard Toasted Slices Apple Coffee
DINNER Fillet Steak, Egg, Onion & Tomatoes Coffee

Today’s Full price Tally $98.00
Today’s Savings - $ 11.61
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $6466.01

After working around house today. I needed a something sweet to eat. So I went up to the local shopping centre for a walk to by a packet of triple chocolate biscuit. I limit myself to only 2 biscuits per day so I get to eat them slowly. I bought a cake that was on special saving $1.70.
I also bought pet food that was on special. Saving $1.30

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Crackers with Cream Cheese & Herbs Fruit Coffee
DINNER Salmon Patties and Vegetable coffee

Today DF-M wanted to Groceries shopping at the shopping centre a Target store. so we had to go in didn’t we. When I go shopping with other I try not to buy much as both my friend are big shoppers when they do shop. Anyway I had a look a underwear that she wished to buy and got 3 pair. When she decided to have a look at shoes while we were there. I don’t carry a large range of flat heel shoes but as we looked, I notices that the shoes were 20% off and along with my extra 5% off would be a good buy if I found a pair. I wear a special type of sandal if I can find them I will buy them at anytime as I can go for a number of years between buy’s too! I did find a pair in the right size and DF-M bought a pair as well. We saved over $9.60 each on them.

I bought only 3 items at the supermarket that we that where were heading in the first place. All the items were on my shopping list to buy at next shop. Saved only .30 c this time and DF-M bill over $200.00. She bought a pizza for lunch so saved me $5.00 on my lunch and gave me gas money as well!

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH ½ pizza (Free) *Fruit Coffee
DINNER Poached Fish with Salad coffee

Today’s Full price Tally $54.55
Today’s Savings - $ 14.90
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $6454.40

It’s my cousin birthday today as she lives alone 40 minutes away but can get to my place via a train, she came to dinner to–night and I pick her up at the train station. Instead of going out to dinner, I pulled two single dinners form the freezer and used these. She bought the dessert too!

I gave her a small gift from hoard of gifts that I have bought over the years. I have a suitcase full plus a cupboard with these kinds of items. I shop my own cupboards first then only buy if I don’t have the item that I need. Working in retail over the years, you do learn to pick out very good bargains by knowing the (RRP) prices of all kinds of lines. A few years ago I stop buying these items, and now I am using them as gifts to the right people.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Soup & Toast Coffee Apple Coffee
DINNER Beef Bourguignon with Basmati rice & vegetables

I had a full schedule this morning with going the doctor for results on my blood test that I had last Friday. All is OK on that front. I had to catch the bus early this morning.

After I went to the bank so that I could pay half my car bill off my visa card so $350 off that bill and the same next month. Then I will pay no interest on the credit card at all. I am within the interest free time limit. The other amount is my debit bills on that CC. You may ask ‘Why do I still have Credit cards?’ Well it’s so that I can use them at time like this and carry no cash on me. I can’t close these cards and get new ones, as I am no longer in the workforce my income amount doesn’t allow me to reapply for any, if I do.

I went to lunch with ex-work friend at our usual restaurant, as it’s school holidays we had two of grandkids with us today. I saved $2.79 on my meal today. I only other item I bought today nail files at $2 store. I paid $2.00 for 4 metal nail files, the same nail files cost $4.95 each at the department store so saving $18.00 here.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH lunch out *
DINNER Omelette with Cheese Yogurt & LSA Coffee 40

Today’s Full price Tally $387.63
Today’s Savings - $ 20.79
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $6439.50

This morning the man came to measure and check if I could put in a water tank. He said yes, his firm could get a tank over the garage roof no problem at all! So I am getting one installed a 3000 litre size with best pump, road base and all work done by them too! I didn’t get another quote as I have seen they work before and all paper the work has come thorough, which is the most important part of getting the water tank as the REBATES are almost the full cost of the tanks. Mine will set me back six months of NO interest and $40.00 out of my own pocket when finished. The waiting time is around 12-14 weeks so it will be around January before anything happens with this project. I will factor in costs and saving when I hand over the cheque.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Macaroni & Cheese Apple Coffee
DINNER Devilled Sausages with Garlic Focaccia Bread

I went to get my hair cut today, the price has gone up again by dollar each time that I go, or so it seams. Saving $9.00 on city prices. I dyed my own hair too! Saving $25.00

Went to the local supermarket while I was out bought a few things. Bought more 2nd books saving $22.00 on these.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Crackers with Cream Cheese & Herbs Fruit Coffee
DINNER Fillet Steak, Egg, Onion & Tomato Coffee

Today’s Full price Tally $81.90
Today’s Savings - $ 56.00
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $6418.71

Today was my ironing catch up day. I iron for pin money and all those business shirts arrived yesterday to be ironed. So it was an ironing day, as my next lot of ironing of my own ironing would be need to be done too! I make it a rule that I can never go more than two wash days without ironing before the next one. If I do then I would need more clothes. I take only 45 minutes to iron with my ironing press so it’s not a problem to do! I much refer to be on the computer. Within 2½ hours I had all the ironing done for both household.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Grilled Cheese on Toast Apple Coffee
DINNER BBQ Soy Beef with Vegetables & Rice Green Tea Orange

A Free lunch at DF-M place, she is having a BBQ lunch and has invited me down to it. Just the two of us. Fillet steak and Italian salad with broad beans salad as well. Very nice!

Balancing the budget as I check my budget every 2 weeks bring it up to date. Keeping me on my toes with what’s happening with my money and keeping me focus on this challenge too! All money transfers are done at these times too!

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH BBQ steak & salad *
DINNER Thai Satay Chicken with Steamed Rice & Green Tea
SNACK Yogurt & LSA

Today was a quite day up until DF-D rang asked if I would like to go shopping with her. Going shopping with other people does have its perks and drawbacks too! I always end up buying something when I do go with shopping with them! Today I bought a few things today was no different biscuits, oat bran, tub of yogurt, & wool wash that was on special, saving $3.45. I got my pin money again too! When we came home DF-D invited me to have dinner with them. It was leftover come again chicken & rice dish baked with white sauce topping and a salad. My friend is very inventive and never cooks anything the same twice.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Crackers with Cream Cheese & Herbs Fruit Coffee
DINNER (Visiting eating out dining on Leftovers)

Today’s Full price Tally $8.93
Today’s Savings - $ 3.45
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $6362.71

In this morning mail came credit card statement & my tax cheque refund $100, I am happy with that one. I don’t pay tax but I do have some shares which why I got a refund.

I checked my bank account to make sure that I had enough to pay the car service that order today as well as rust proofing on my car. I put my car in first thing this morning and pick it up at lunchtime today. Paying $103.95 for the service on my debit card and putting the rust proof on CC. Cost $595, which I will pay off before the end of October when the interest free days run out. This little job I did promised my self when I bought the car back in February. Bus fare of $1.10 saving $1.10 to go back to car dealer’s as they drove me home instead of waiting 3 hours for the car.

While I was out I went to the bank & supermarket nearby. I banked the Tax cheque and got another one for the another mail order that I am sending for this month costing $62.35 saving a lot (I will tally saving when it arrives.) Groceries & pet litter costing $11.40 saving $3.40.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Crackers with Cream Cheese & Herbs, Fruit Coffee
DINNER Devilled Sausages with Garlic Focaccia Bread

Today’s Full price Tally $772.70
Today’s Savings - $104.40
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $6359.26