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11th Monthly Financial Summery for 2013

December 21st, 2013 at 09:51 am

11th Monthly Financial Summery for 2013
Here is my Financial Summery for November period.

I have updated my Excel so here are the figures for last month.

This for period of 28 days each as I work on 28 day cycles, my dates may be out to calendar months so here are the figures that will bring it up to date as its very near the end of next 28 day cycle.

Reviewing my monthly daily living allowance

This is my review for last month's budget.
These are the categories for this challenge.

Items === Approx. Budget===Spent

Eating out===$35=====$27.40
Groceries===$125=== =$176.51
Non-Food===$15=====$10.00
Clothes ====$35
Grooming===$20
Gas======$20=======$72.55
HH items===$40=======$8.00
Fares== ====$15 ======$10.00
Entrainments== $15
Garden =====$15 =====$9.50
Gifts & Donations ==$35 ===$11.50
Medical & Diabetes Expenses ===$70====$1268.10
Misc ======$10
Personal Allowance =$90 ===$83.38

Note only one amount is a No Spend

No Spending Days 10 of 28 days

Budgeted for this period $550 spent ($1667.44-$1260) under by $142.56 on general spending.

My dentist bill was an out of pocket expense of $1260 which I had been saving for a while.

Personal allowance covers health drinks, lotto, books, stamps, craft and hobby supplies.

Eating out including meals out with family and friends, we all go Dutch.

My credit cards are still paid in full each month; it was $1685.00 this period.

Grocery allotment $125 for each period it was over by $51.51 this period .

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

10th Monthly Financial Summery for 2013

December 21st, 2013 at 09:48 am

Here is my Financial Summery for October period.

I have updated my Excel so here are the figures for last month.

This for period of 28 days each as I work on 28 day cycles, my dates may be out to calendar months so here are the figures that will bring it up to date as its very near the end of next 28 day cycle.

Reviewing my monthly daily living allowance

This is my review for last month's budget.
These are the categories for this challenge.

Items === Approx. Budget===Spent

Eating out===$35=====$37.00
Groceries===$125=== =$66.22
Non-Food===$15
Clothes ====$35=====$8.00
Grooming===$20
Gas======$20
HH items===$40=======$35.00
Fares== ====$15 ======$10.00
Entrainments== $15
Garden =====$15 =====$9.50
Gifts & Donations ==$35 ===$24.20
Medical & Diabetes Expenses ===$70====$5.90
Misc ======$10===========$2.00
Personal Allowance =$90 ===$118.70

Note only one amount is a No Spend

Budgeted for this period $550 spent $316.52 under by $290.41

No Spending Days 11 of 28 days

Personal allowance covers health drinks , lotto, books, stamps, craft and hobby supplies.

** 3 year subscription to Diabetic living $87.00 - 39%off @ $4.83 per copy (RRP $7.95 x 18 copies)

Eating out including meals out with family and friends, we all go Dutch.

My credit cards are still paid in full each month, it was $2053.00 this period.

Grocery allotment $125 for each period it was under by $58.78 this period.

You can see that I am saving for something! A dentist bill that is will show up in period 11.

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

Ninth Monthly Financial Summery for 2013

October 21st, 2013 at 09:55 am

Here is my Financial Summery for August-Sept period.

I have updated my Excel so here are the figures for last month.

This for period of 28 days each as I work on 28 day cycles, my dates may be out to calendar months so here are the figures that will bring it up to date as its very near the end of next 28 day cycle.

Reviewing my monthly daily living allowance

This is my review for last month's budget.
These are the categories for this challenge.

Items === Approx. Budget===Spent

Eating out===$35=====$36.30
Groceries===$125=== =$86.37
Non-Food===$15====$19.95
Clothes ====$35
Grooming===$20
Gas======$20
HH items===$40=======$59.30
Fares== ====$15
Entrainments== $15
Garden =====$15 =====$2.00
Gifts & Donations ==$35 ===$5.50
Medical & Diabetes Expenses ===$70====$42.34
Misc ======$10
Personal Allowance =$90 ===$38.65

Note only one amount is a No Spend

Budgeted for this period $550 spent $290.41 under by $259.59

No Spending Days 14 of 28 days

Personal allowance covers health drinks , lotto, books, stamps, craft and hobby supplies.

Eating out including meals out with family and friends, we all go Dutch.

My credit cards are still paid in full each month, it was $85.00 this period.
Grocery allotment $125 for each period under by $38.63 this period
You can see that I am saving for something! A dentist bill that is will show up in period 11.
Strategy - Do remember what you have stored before you go and buy more of the same.

Eight Monthly Financial Summery for 2013

September 7th, 2013 at 09:12 am

Here is my Financial Summery for July -August period.

I have updated my Excel so here are the figures for last month.

This for period of 28 days each as I work on 28 day cycles, my dates may be out to calendar months so here are the figures that will bring it up to date as its very near the end of next 28 day cycle.

Reviewing my monthly daily living allowance

This is my first review for last month's budget.
These are the categories for this challenge.

Items === Approx. Budget===Spent

Eating out===$35=====$32.09
Groceries===$125=== =$152.79
Non-Food===$15====$4.00
Clothes ====$35
Grooming===$20=====$19.00
Gas======$20=======$36.95
HH items===$40=======$8.00
Fares== ====$15 ====$40
Entrainments== $15 ====$50.00
Garden =====$15 =====$14.00
Gifts & Donations ==$35 ===$13.00
Medical & Diabetes Expenses ===$70====$146.60
Misc ======$10
Personal Allowance =$90 ===$32.36

Note only one amount is a No Spend

Budgeted for this period $550 spent $525.19 under by $24.81

No Spending Days 13 of 28 days

Personal allowance covers health drinks , lotto, books, stamps, craft and hobby supplies.

Eating out including meals out with family and friends, we all go Dutch.

My credit cards are still paid in full each month, it was $33.00
Grocery allotment $125 for each period over by $27.79 this period
This period we had our EKKA show and I went for one day only this year plus a visit to the eye specialist and now need to see him yearly.

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

Seventh Monthly Financial Summery for 2013

August 26th, 2013 at 09:50 am

Here is my Financial Summery for June - July period.

I have updated my Excel so here are the figures for last month.

This for period of 28 days each as I work on 28 day cycles, my dates may be out to calendar months so here are the figures that will bring it up to date as its very near the end of next 28 day cycle.

Reviewing my monthly daily living allowance

This is my first review for last month's budget.
These are the categories for this challenge.

Items === Approx. Budget===Spent

Eating out===$35=====$34.05
Groceries===$125=== =$105.74
Non-Food===$15 ====$4.60
Clothes ====$35=====$2.00
Grooming===$20
Gas======$20
HH items===$40=======$3.00
Fares== ====$15 ====$10
Entrainments== $15
Garden =====$15
Gifts & Donations ==$35 ====$2.00
Medical & Diabetes Expenses ===$70====$146.60
Misc ======$10
Personal Allowance =$90 ===$63.95

Note only one amount is a No Spend

Budgeted for this period $550 spent $371.74 under by $178.26

No Spending Days 13 of 28 days

Personal allowance covers health drinks , lotto, books, stamps, craft and hobby supplies.

Eating out including meals out with family and friends, we all go Dutch.

My credit cards are still paid in full each month, it was $480.00
Grocery allotment $125 for each period under by $19.26 this period

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

More FREE food and tomato relish with a kick.

May 12th, 2013 at 09:10 pm

I have been living off my Greek food for most of the week but I couldn't eat the Easter bread fast enough so I had to bin it. Most of it I froze as I was given more spinach pie I now will have lunch for a few weeks. I have been putting on my new relish them.

I made tomato relish this week and will give away some of that as it's too much for me to eat within the time frame, as I can't eat a lot of it. 3 tablespoons of one lot had me going for ECG. As I took a turn going to the doctor's app. for annual check-up. Looking back it was the tomato relish as my blood pressure and ECG were ok! I had a feast on the tomato relish for 3 days and one has all the things I was food indolence (allergies) years ago. Tomatoes, onions, capsicum, and chilli since I haven't had any for the rest of the week I am ok. No weakness in limbs, chest pains, muscles pains, tiredness, back in pain and neck. I only had tomato sauce last night ok today.

So I will go back to my 5 day rotation of these foods again, see if I am off colour again next time, I eat it.

Here is the recipe.
Tomato Relish with Chilli
1lb ripe skinned tomatoes and chopped
1lb onions - finely chopped
1/2 red Capsicum - deseed and diced
1 long red chilli - deseed and diced or 1 tsp chilli powder or to taste
1 cup sugar
1 cup vinegar - malt vinegar used
2 tsp salt
4 tsp yellow mustard seeds or mustard powder
4 tsp curry powder
6 heaped tsp of tomato paste (optional)*
4 tsp Cornflour (for thickening) and little vinegar or plain flour and little water
Method
Chop tomatoes, onions capsicum and chilli.
Put all ingredients in saucepan and boil for 30 minutes or until texture looks right and you can smell the spices.

*Add tomato paste when you can smell the spices and cook for few minute longer then add cornflour.
Thicken with 4 teaspoons cornflour blended with a little vinegar.
Into a Sterilise Bottles and keep airtight.
3-4 small jars

'Favourite Recipes' Old Charity Cookbook circa - pre 1982- AUS Pre-metric recipe

As we are 4 teaspoons to 1 tablespoon here, I will make the whole recipe into teaspoons. In cups use 8oz cup (227.28ml) - Our cups now are 250ml.

Third Monthly Financial Summery for 2013

April 10th, 2013 at 04:51 pm

As I am behind in my posting here is my Financial Summery for March - April period

I have updated my Excel so here are the figures for last month.

This for period of 28 days each as I looks like I missed one somewhere. As I work on 28 day cycles, my dates may be out to calendar months so here are the figures that will bring it up to date as its every near the end of next 28 day cycle.

Reviewing my monthly daily living allowance

This is my first review for last month�s budget.
These are the categories for this challenge.

Items === Approx. Budget===Spent

Eating out===$35=====$4.00
Groceries===$125=== =$176.17
Non-Food===$15=====$23.12
Clothes ====$35
Grooming===$20
Gas======$20=======$18.80
HH items===$40
Fares== ====$15 ====$12
Entrainments== $15
Garden =====$15========$65.00
Gifts & Donations ==$35
Medical & Diabetes Expenses ===$70====$125.00
Misc ======$10
Personal Allowance =$90 ===$41.21

Note only one amount is a No Spend

Budgeted for this period $550 spent $467.70 under by $82.30

No Spending Days 14 of 28 days

Personal allowance covers confectionery, lotto, books, stamps, craft and hobby supplies.

Eating out including meals out with family and friends, we all go Dutch.

As for Medical and Diabetes Expenses - this is the extra out of pockets amounts that came up over this period just on medicine that is not covered be refund claims.

My credit cards are still paid in full each month, it was $32.00

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

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

Second Monthly Financial Summery for 2013

April 7th, 2013 at 07:35 am

It’s time that I posted, this Financial Summery as I almost ready to post my third one.

I have updated my Excel so here are the figures for February - March period.

This for period of 28 days each as I looks like I missed one somewhere. As I work on 28 day cycles, my dates may be out to calendar months so here are the figures that will bring it up to date as its every near the end of next 28 day cycle.

Reviewing my monthly daily living allowance

This is my second review for last month’s budget.
These are the categories for this challenge.

Items === Approx. Budget===Spent

Eating out===$35=====$21.55
Groceries===$125=== =$79.78
Non-Food===$15=====$7.96
Clothes ====$35
Grooming===$20=====$22.00
Gas======$20
HH items===$40=======$4.95
Fares== ====$15 ====$4.76
Entrainments== $15
Garden =====$15
Gifts and Donations ==$35
Medical & Diabetes Expenses ===$70====$38.50
Misc ======$10
Personal Allowance =$90 ===$54.15

Note only one amount is a No Spend

Budgeted for this period $550 spent $ 233.65 under by $316.35

No Spending Days 12 of 28 days

Personal allowance covers confectionery, lotto, books, stamps, craft and hobby supplies.

Eating out including meals out with family and friends, we all go Dutch.

As for Medical and Diabetes Expenses - this is the extra out of pockets amounts that came up over this period just on medicine that is not covered be refund claims.

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

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

Quite weekend here

March 29th, 2013 at 10:27 am

Its Easter weekend and we have two days with most things closed shops included. Today was one of them not that I mind as I not planning to do anything much in the way of going out. I visited two of my neighbours and had a visit from a lady who is a near neighbour asking could she have some greenery from my garden for her floral arrangements for the family gathering on Saturday it Hangi they are New Zealand Maori. I didn’t mind as I am pruning my garden and some of what she was asking for is going soon!

I am not going to Adelaide in May now! With family problems down that way at the moment so it better to go at another time.

I got my tests done so far cost $535.00, it will cost more if I need to pay doctors gap charge, so I will now wait and see. $500 of that money was my excess was for hospital cover. I need to go back in 5 years’ time. All was well but for small hiatus hernia so I just need change the way I do things at times and the new teeth will help too!

So happy Easter everyone!

Medical Expenses and more tests

March 15th, 2013 at 08:43 am

I did pay my annual Chiro bill the other day and it was the same as last year $540.00 for 12 visits. The normal pensioner/ student price per visit is $50.00 so I'm saving $5.00 per visit now as I get a refund $19.40 from health fund whether I pay $50 or $45.00 per visit. That’s a saving of $60 per year or 10% off which no bank interest can match anywhere. So save money by paying early.

I had my heart value check again this year had to pay for specialist visit, ECG and Echo test. Total came to $337.00 of which Medicare (GOV) refund came to $252.90 and out of pocket cost $84.50. As there was no change in heart value and the doctor thinks I could have been born with this defect or have had it for a very long time. So I will need to budget for these tests each year to see if there is any change. So same time next year appointments have been made. More tests in a few weeks for something my mother died from. It's a test that I don't like having. Plus I have to see my eye specialist this year too! So more money to the medical sector is in the pipeline.

It's lucky that I can afford to do these tests but then I will pay kept myself healthy as I possibly can. Some pensioners here can't afford do them and are playing the price in pain and stress and years of waiting for free tests and operations.

Strategy - Ask about any discounts and don’t worry if you forgot to ask about it, worse they can say is NO if you go back and ask.

Answers on utility and health insurance costs

February 25th, 2013 at 10:19 am

I will try to answer these questions to my understanding of them.

Do ‘Our governments have ultimate control of utility and health insurance costs?’

Answer to this question NO to ultimate control and YES to some say in control of utility and health insurance costs?

We have three levels of government here. The Federal, State and Local councils as Federal government has input into these utility and health in some way by owing or rebates. They do have some say and can veto price rises but do allow some price rises once per year April for health and July for power. If there no request for higher price rise then does rise by level with the CPI which is around 3%. Of late each group is asking for higher price rises so governments have make the call as they do put money into these areas with rebates and owing the grids and power stations etc. It’s the same with water too!

Power grid in some States that they let the power stations rundown that money had to be found so Federal Government step in but has to be paid back.

The state government’s own the power stations and grids but the suppliers buy it off the governments sell it to us. Once it was all own by the state governments but sold it off now they fix the lines if broken with all these weather events and bush fires it’s costing a fortune. So 50% of the price rise is government inter-structure costs and they set the prices so each power retailers can work out pricing for next year. At first they wanted to up to 500% within five years.

Electric here costs slightly over .09 kWh, what is the rate there?

As for our tariffs we pay much more than you do. Most likely a different system, these prices are off the last bill and not the new ones which come due in July 2013.

Service to property charge (No days) 88 days @ 28.91c , anytime power 26.71c per kWh, off peck rate 22c per kWh (hot water power use to run it), solar power rebate 44c per kWh which is credit off bill.

On top of this I get a pension rebate from state government around $50.51 each quarter. Plus a 9% discount if I pay my bill before the due date. With interest rates at below 3.5% for the best online ones it better to pay before every time.

My usage and costs paid after all discount and rebates for last year

Bill for Dec $52.18 - Days 88 - Anytime 506 kWh - Off peak 9 kWh - Solar rebate 125 kWh
Bill for Sep $84.78 – Days 86 - Anytime 551 kWh - Off peak 95 kWh - Solar rebate 59 kWh
Bill for Jun $68.17 - Days 92 - Anytime 635 kWh - Off peak 16 kWh - Solar rebate 92 kWh
Bill for Dec $71.14 - Days 90 - Anytime 672 kWh - Off peak 5 kWh - Solar rebate 102 kWh

So if I allow around $30 per quarter I should have money left over for surprises.

Only in winter or wet weather do my solar panels cost charges hot water higher and power lower. I do only have one kWh x 6 panels unit and 2 panels x 400L hot water unit.

‘Is your chiro not included under the other health cover?’

Health Chiro costs is covered by health insurance but only to $232.80 per year. I paid annual fee for 12 visits at pensioner rates get 10% off the single fee charged for doing so but only can claim single rebate after each visit. Now you can’t get that interest from any bank for 10% so as I budget for it so I pay in advance. Only down side would be if I had to stop going then I would need to pay a cancelation fee.

My idea is to s-t-r-e-t-c-h my money so by paying early where I can to get rebates and discount or not incurring fines for paying late then I am saving on the overall costs in the end.

It’s better off in your pocket than theirs.

First Monthly Financial Summery for 2013

February 11th, 2013 at 09:12 am

It’s time that I posted, this Financial Summery for 2013.

I have updated my Excel so here are the figures for past month.

This for period of 28 days each as I looks like I missed one somewhere. As I work on 28 day cycles, my dates may be out to calendar months so here are the figures that will bring it up to date as its every near the end of next 28 day cycle.

Reviewing my monthly daily living allowance

This is my first review for last month’s budget.
These are the categories for this challenge.

Items === Approx. Budget===Spent

Eating out===$35=====$35.20
Groceries===$125=== =$50.67
Non-Food===$15=====$2.00
Clothes ====$35
Grooming===$20
Gas======$20
HH items===$40=======$203
Fares== ====$15 ====$10
Entrainments== $15
Garden =====$15========$9.00
Gifts & Donations ==$35
Medical & Diabetes Expenses ===$70====$44.14
Misc ======$10
Personal Allowance =$90 ===$72.26

Note only one amount is a No Spend

Budgeted for this period $550 spent $ 426.27 under by $123.73

No Spending Days 14 of 28 days

Personal allowance covers confectionery, lotto, books, stamps, craft & hobby supplies.

Eating out including meals out with family and friends, we all go Dutch.

As for Medical & Diabetes Expenses - this is the extra out of pockets amounts that came up over this period just on medicine that is not covered be refund claims.

My credit cards are still paid in full each month, it was $240

The high cost in the Household was for an electrician to fix my solar hot water element. $203

I do keep my bill money separated from this summery. This year I will be budgeting around $750 per period month to cover all my bills and bills for this period it came to $1313.47 part of this was Car major service$ 254.00

My grocery bill came in under budget for this period.
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. I was very tight in some areas of this daily living allowance over this period but I did work out in the end.

Still need to work on a Grocery category and personal allowance as I got to stop spending money on books, I think this is my biggest downfall most of my personal spending is spent on books as half of it was spent on books.

How am I going with my finances in 2013, up and down once I get over paying all my major bills for this half year, I have about little over $1000 for next month then it’s back to saving for next few month until I need to pay these annual bills again.

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

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


Last Two Days

January 10th, 2013 at 09:23 am

The trip to the dentist end up being a bit of a drama as I couldn’t get my car to start, I had a flat battery, and had to get the car membership club to come and jump start it for me. I had rung the dentist to let them know that I wouldn’t be able to keep my appointment that morning so they made it for the afternoon. After mechanic came I had to drive the car for a long drive without turning off the engine for over 40 minutes. So I took the car off for a good drive instead of going to the dentist. I had nowhere in mind to drive too, but just took off down one highway that went the back way heading for the Gold Coast and drove for 20 km along then took next return off and headed down another cross country road heading for area I thought would take me near my son’s suburb well it did but I found a sign saying City so I took that one. It end up on a new road heading for the road that I would got back onto if I went via my son’s place. They have been doing a lot of road works in this area over the past two years so I am not surprise at finding it.

I did around trip of 42 km in all and got home 60 minutes later. Then I had lunch and a bit of rest and went to the Dentist in afternoon another drive into same area but one road over from the one I took in the morning. I paid the balance on my dentist bill which came to out of pocket $540.00. I didn’t spend on any else that day. At the end of the day after the engine cooled down, I put the battery charger on so I could recharge it overnight.

Today I went to the Chiro for my monthly appointment, and then just bought a Dan Brown book ‘Symbols’ it the picture one and some tissues as I was low on them. Also I went to find out about my house insurance but still they will not say how much it will be for next year as I have to wait until the end of the month. I know that it’s gone up a lot that why I am worried about it. Somewhere between 30% and 500% which I can’t afford if it’s the later then I will only have days to find someone else as I may be unable to look owing to another commitment around this time. I keep you posted on this

No spending days here !

January 7th, 2013 at 10:36 am

Three out of the last four days have been no spending days, I did go up the street to the shopping area today and into the one shop but never bought anything at all just checked prices so that I can buy my diabetic lancets at the best price which I will need by next pay day. These are only thing that I have to buy at full price as I got the Diabetic Blood Glucose Meter for free after cash back deal and test strips via National Health Scheme for around $1.70 instead of about $16.00. I am will have to pay about $18.69 (this is $2.00 RRP now) or below that for the box 100 lancets. I have a number of discount chemists around this area so will be checking out them all their prices before I buy them.

Vandals smashed the bus stop glass panels this morning what a mess, glass everywhere. I don’t like this sort of thing at any time. Its school holidays here so the teenagers are bored.

Tomorrow I go to the dentist so it will be a spending day again.

Annual Budget Report for 2012

January 1st, 2013 at 04:18 pm

Annual Summary Daily Living Allowance parts of my budget for 2012

Here are my final totals for last year.

Eating out- $455---------- $441.95---------under target by $13.05
Groceries -$1655-----------$1368.82--------under target by $256.18
Non-Food -$195------------ $200.41---------over target by $5.41
Clothes -$400---------------$250.28.--------under target by $149.20
Grooming -$260-------------$339.05--------over target by $79.05
Gas -$200------------------- $122.71------- -under target by $77.29
Pets -$200--(5 months)-----$274.52--------over target by $74.52
HH items -$520-------------- $468.29--------under target by $51.71
Fares -$380-------------------$360.75 ------- under target by $19.25
Entrainment -$520-----------$658.58-------- over target by $138.58
Garden-$100------------------$7.00-----------under target by $93.00
Gift & Donations -$455-------$584.73---------over target by $219.95
Medical & Diabetic-$910------$1045.22 -------over target by $135.22
Misc. -$75--------------------$29.00----------under target by $46.00
Personal Allowance-$1170----$1004.28--------under target by $165.72

Daily Living Allowance allotted amount for 2012 was $7495 and I spent total $7155.59 under target by $339.41

Even with being over in six categories, I still manage to come under my budget allotment for 2012.
I did buy new Camera and had interstate holiday that has been included in the above totals.

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.

One thing this summery proves that averaging out over whole year is better than worry if you go over month as you can try to cut on other months.

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 am looking at cutting back other on bills where I can. We will have a very large hike in household insurances this coming year as I haven’t received the bill, I don’t know how much it will be as yet!

I know that my medical out of pocket costs will much higher for 2013 so some this need to be add to bills section as I already am over by $1000 and the first month isn’t over yet! I will set aside $3500 for this one next year. This is for just out of pocket costs.

I know that my medical out of pocket costs will much higher for 2013 so I need to up my bill budget by known cost. Dentist, 2 specialists with op so will add these bills there. So I will just track medicine and vitamins, glasses and diabetic section in this section of Daily Living Allowance. Allowing around $1250 for these items in next year tallies.

No Spending Days 154 of 365 days

Strategy - Review your bills every six months that you are still saving money with your changes that you made since renewed or changed bill companies. Change your habits if you can’t change the company.

Final Monthly Financial Summery for 2012

December 31st, 2012 at 09:05 am

I's time that I posted, this Financial Summery for the year.

I have updated my Excel so here are the figures for past month.

This for period of 28 days each as I looks like I missed one somewhere. As I work on 28 day cycles, my dates may be out to calendar months so here are the figures that will bring it up to date as its every near the end of next 28 day cycle.

Reviewing my monthly daily living allowance
These are the categories for this challenge.

Items === Approx. Budget===Spent
Eating out===$35=====$86
Groceries===$125=== =$147.05
Non-Food===$15=====$12.27
Clothes ====$35
Grooming===$20=====$7.49
Gas======$20=======$35.56
HH items===$40
Fares== ====$15 ====$10
Entrainments== $15
Garden =====$15
Gifts & Donations ==$35===$62.10
Medical & Diabetes Expenses ===$70====$66.49
Misc ======$10
Personal Allowance =$90 ===$43.20

Note only one amount is a No Spend

Budgeted for this period $550 spent $ 471.16 under by $78.84

No Spending Days 14 of 28 days

Personal allowance covers confectionery, lotto, books, stamps, craft & hobby supplies.

Eating out including meals out with family and friends, we all go Dutch.

As for Medical & Diabetes Expenses - this is the extra out of pockets amounts that came up over this period just on medicine that is not covered be refund claims.

My credit cards are still paid in full each month, it was $710

I do keep my bill money separated from this summery. This year I will be budgeting around $650 per period month to cover all my bills and bills for this period it came to $637

My grocery bill came in over budget for this period.
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. I was very tight in some areas of this daily living allowance over this period but I did work out in the end.

Still need to work on a Grocery category and personal allowance as I got to stop spending money on books, I think this is my biggest downfall most of my personal spending is spent on books.

Strategy - Do remember what you have stored before you go and buy more of the same.
Strategy: - Track your daily spending down to the cent by writing it down daily.

Strategy for my annual pair of glasses

December 19th, 2012 at 09:36 pm

I have order them and paid for them then will pick them up in the New Year.

As I may have to get a new pair when I see the Eye Specialist next year!

I always allow 11 months for emergency replacement glasses then get replacement pair that I fancy having in last month each year. You can only do this with Health cover that has one new pair each year and you can afford the difference. This year cost was $179 glasses and will out of pocket cost just $44 as these will be basic ones around the house pair.

New Glasses and Christmas Shopping

December 5th, 2012 at 10:35 am

I had a spending spree of sorts today I had to order some new glasses at certain shopping centre as my optical store closed down and the staff move elsewhere. I paid for them via cash and medical benefit refund they cost $179, I will pick them up in the New Year as I am in no hurry for them. I get a new pair each year so I have enough pairs around the house. I handed in 5 old pairs of glasses so they can be recycled for those who can’t afford them in poorer counties. It’s a system that optical store do here.

While I was out I posted a Christmas parcel then did my grocery shopping for the things that were on special that I wanted for December. After having Subway sub and coffee I went to find some Christmas ideas and presents for last few on my list. I got a comfort and toiletries gift for one person which I thought I was paying full price for but it was on special as was the other gift that I bought for the other person which was grocery hamper and both of them had 20% off, I was happy about that!

Also I bought tins of biscuits and candy for other gifts as shocking fillers or extra gifts.

I had a very long walk today so my exercise of walking took hours today. Medical research is now telling us ‘we are sitting too long now these days and this not good for our health’. Well I walked and stood for over 5 hours around this shopping centre today. I struck at it until I got all on my list finished so I wouldn’t have to go again to the shops as the school children finish up this Friday for their annual summer holidays. No parking or very little park in shopping centres after this date or at least none in the shade at 39 degrees C. I was very tried by the time I got back to car to drive home.

I will only shop locally from now on until they go back to school.

Refund arrived

June 10th, 2012 at 08:58 am

As I have posted before I have bought a blood glucose meter, which was normally priced $59.99 but was on special for $39.99 at the time. This included a refund voucher that was applied for and I now received that refund for $40.00. So this item came out FREE but for the ongoing costs of test strips and lancets. The test strips are normally around $15.90 for 100 here but you can get them for $1.20 for 100 on a pension discounts scheme. As for the lancets there isn’t any discount but you need to shop around for the cheapest price ranging from $32.95 to $17.95 at discount chemists. So I will need to do some leg work when I need to buy my next box of lancets.

I am still monitoring my blood glucose levels and still on diet controlled.

Update on My Monthly Financial Summery for 2012

May 17th, 2012 at 08:43 pm

It’s time that I posted, before others things did get in the away again.

I only just updated my Excel so here are the figures for past months not posted so far.

This for Two periods of 28 days each as I looks like I missed one somewhere. As I work on 28 day cycles, my dates may be out to calendar months so here are the figures that will bring it up to date as its every near the end of next 28 day cycle.

Reviewing my monthly daily living allowance

These are the categories for this challenge.

Items === Approx. Budget===Spent
Eating out===$70.00=====$22.95
Groceries===$271.00=== =$229.28
Non-Food===$30.00=====$21.43
Clothes ====$70.00====$7.18
Grooming===$30.00===$20.00
Gas======$50.00
Pets====== $100.00=== $171.25
HH items===$80.00====$11.94
Fares== ====$30.00
Entrainments== $30.00
Garden =====$30.00
Gifts & Donations ==$70.00===$42
Medical & Diabetes Expenses ===$140==$377.06
Misc ======$20.00
Personal Allowance =$180.00 ===$120.38

Note only one amount is a no spend in that category

Budgeted for this period $1200 spent $1023.52 so under budget by $176.48

No spending days22 of 56 days

Personal allowance covers confectionery, lotto, books, stamps, craft & hobby supplies.

Eating out including meals out with family and friends, we all go Dutch.

As for Medical & Diabetes Expenses - this is the extra out of pockets amounts that came up over this period just on medicine that is not covered be refund claims.

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 $650 per period month to cover all my bills for these two periods it came to $2867.85

My grocery bill came in under budget for these periods.

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.

I was very tight in some areas of this daily living allowance over these period but I did work out in the end.

Still need to work on a Grocery category.

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

Diabetic 'educator/nurse' visit

May 7th, 2012 at 07:29 pm

I have started using a blood glucose meter for my diabetes; my doctor didn’t think I needed one as I am on diet control alone and my reading is good. I went to a Diabetic 'educator/nurse' for some help in understanding and a bit of guide for this condition. I do get some phone help and I have a 24/7 hour nurse line help run by my private health insurance.

She lent me a blood glucose meter for test that I had to do for her and did this a few days before I saw her for the second time. I didn’t start off too well with a flat battery then unable to use the pen right.

I got there in the end with help from the chemist. I checked the sale catalogues of chemists around here and found are deal on the one had on loan from Diabetic 'educator/nurse'. Normal price here is $59.99 but on special for $39.99 with a $40.00 refund by the company, which now I have applied for.

After the test I have been told I now need to do a test 3 times per week twice per day seeing that I have my own BG meter now. The BG meter picks are expensive but as I now don’t have the cats any more I will use some of that money to cover them.

It’s thought that I am eating too much in the way of fruit and having too much coffee. I will need to revisit some of diet again and focus on my diabetes for now on.

It’s about time for a new electric toothbrush!

March 26th, 2012 at 10:15 pm

Last week I had a shopping spree as I had go and buy a new electric toothbrush as recharge battery had died that was on it so it had to be replaced, I found one on special after doing a price check at a few place before I went the supermarket where I found one $10.00 off but $15.00 of one the place I did the price check at. Some were up to $200.00 each all have the same replacement heads and as I have a few left I stayed with the same brand Oral-B Braun. The one I bought was only $29.99 so I will have money to replace it when I need too sooner if need be. The last electric toothbrush lasted almost 8 years and cost about that price back then too!

Since using these electric toothbrushes I have had very little fillings in my teeth so the cost over the time is worth it in less dental bills alone!

Update on my health

March 22nd, 2012 at 06:39 pm

My health is a little better in the past weeks and the cardiologist report came back, that I have just aortic value problem which will be monitored yearly and almost no cholesterol in my arteries but one small area. My medication is being stopped for now to see how things go as I have been on them too long.
As for my blood pressure it’s at normal reading for now and will need to have it read on the opposite arm from now on as that one read higher.

I am feeling much better now, so I hope to keep on improving over the next few months.

I have not been on my computer as much lately, so have been not posting as much.

Bills, Bills, and More Bills

March 13th, 2012 at 08:59 am

Money wise this has been an expensive 4 weeks with all the bills and medical expenses that I have laid out. Medical bills were over $1075 less any refunds over time about half that amount. Car and house insurances were paid along with power bill so the bills out goings were around $3500 before anything else but budgeting the way that I do the money is always there. So now I need just stop spending to save a little more to cover the medical costs.

Cardiologist Visit

February 24th, 2012 at 05:42 pm

My visit to the Cardiologist on Friday, confirmed what I knew that there is something wrong with my blood pressure going by that article below. I have to have more scans done next week and see the Cardiologist the following week again.

The next step along this path is finding whether I have high or low blood pressure. One arm is reading low to normal blood pressure and another is reading high pressure. As I have always had reading low to normal blood pressure as this the arm all doctors read. The Cardiologist got a difference of more 20 points when she read both arms too!

Cost of today visit $278 out of pocket gap fee $126.

Next lot of scans will be paid by Medicare bulk billing as I am a pensioner.

Text is Blood pressure 'should be measured in both arms' and Link is http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-16739682
Blood pressure 'should be measured in both arms'

Update on my medical problem

February 22nd, 2012 at 03:39 pm


Sorry that I have taken so long in posting this.
I see a heart specialist on Friday but as it’s private visit I will be paying a gap fee of over $100 and all other visits will have a gap fee of $75 or there bouts. They found a problem with dilated aortic boot with traces of regurgitation. So this problem would have never been checked if not for the unusual readings that I got with my blood pressure and this article.

Text is Blood pressure 'should be measured in both arms' and Link is http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-16739682
Blood pressure 'should be measured in both arms'

Bills and some medical news

February 11th, 2012 at 08:48 am


Car insurance $552 .00 is paid for another year and I got the cost of my house insurance that is to be paid early next month. Which is good for the flooding we had last year, some have got up by 500% I think mine one has only gone up by 18% but then I wasn’t flooded. There is an increase in the amount insured too!

This insurer does cover for all flooding and before Christmas had all last year’s insurance flood claims back in their homes, all 42000 of them. A lot of policies were not covered for flood with other insurers.

I have been getting chest pains on and off for a while now! Told that it was muscular pain and have x-ray to say that too! Here we are getting news that doctors should be checking both arms for blood pressure and not just same one each time if they are not doing this then ask for it to be done.

Text is Blood pressure 'should be measured in both arms' and Link is http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-16739682
Blood pressure 'should be measured in both arms'


There can be a difference in the reading which could prove that there is something wrong and needs to be checked out. I have a wrist blood pressure machine which I check myself if I don’t feel too well.

As I can’t tell I am having a heart pains or just muscular pains in the chest. Taking my blood pressure on same arm that the doctor’s always use my blood pressure is normal to low most of the time. Last weekend I tried both arm tests to see if there was difference in readings. I did it twice once at rest and once after walking around and sitting on the bed. The difference was over 30 points between both readings so I planned a visit to the doctor as soon as possible but first getting my blood test done as I had the form to do that. The blood tests came out normal and diabetic lower than last time. But my blood pressure reading on both arms was 10 points difference between both arm and 10 points is the start point for something amiss.

Doctor sent me for a Stress Test Echo and result came out that I have clear heart arteries but a problem with part of aorta tube which leaking back into the heart and need to be watched. So much for muscular chest pains.

So $599 later less a refund which I will get later in the week that I will have out of pocket expense for about $260, I will now have to make up from somewhere.

It’s luck that I can afford to paid these bills out of floats and bill account without need to worry and Daily Living Allowance which I do monitor here. The money I need to save is too put back the float in my medical float.

So a stretching that dollar again until it the target of $2000 float so that I have extra there as I will need more of these echo sound tests done in the future.

Another City Trip and Problem with Glasses

January 4th, 2012 at 07:55 pm

Today I had to go to the city again, which is want I didn’t what to do this week!

Well I must sense some things when I wrote “Today I went to the city again for my annual eye test and new glasses. This pair will cost some money around $185 extra as I am getting the works done on it.
Bifocals, transitions lens etc. as well a new frame. I should have them by end of the month if I am lucky, as last time something went wrong and had to be done again. I have pick out next year’s frame that I like so they put the code on my file.”
in

Text is This & That. and Link is http://tightwadkitty.savingadvice.com/2011/11/14/this-that-_85215/
This & That.

On Christmas day I drove my car to my son’s place and felt that I was driving a little to the left for my liking, and the same when I was walk I had to keep myself aware of this but could see why only that I had my new glasses on. I do know that I have extra sensitive eye site and certain part of my glasses can’t be changed. There is nothing wrong the subscription as this hasn’t changed in the last 5 years.

Same with transitions lens, and bifocals, but the degree of centring of the bifocals on the left eye was out by 3 degrees enough to cause the problem like double vision of streets and the ground coming up at you when you walk as I have this before and more than once over many decades I knew what I was. All this was a lesser degree that before so I tried to work with for a while, so last Monday I went for a walk at different time of day, and I could look up at the streets around the places found that I couldn’t see signs 5 metres that I could with the other pair that I own. Oh I could make out want written but in double. I was still walking to the left. In the afternoon I wore the pair that these new were replacing the ones I got in 2007, now I could see 200 metres down the road to the second lot of street lights even being able read the ambulance at the distance. Now I knew that something was wrong with the other part and not to wear then again.

So after a phone call Tuesday and went to the city to see what was wrong with them. I always go the same place as they know how I am a problem with my eyes. Yes the glasses are out 3 degrees on the left lens and would have to replaced I did take a number of old pairs with me. So I have wait for them to be fix. This will be about the eighth time that this has happen, once it was 3 months and three goes at it before I got then the glasses fell off my face at 100km hour on the highway. I often wonder how many car accidents is cause with faulty pair of glasses on the driver. I was lucky that time as I was able to catch them and put them back on before fell the floor of the car. By the way I can’t see past the steering wheel with no glasses on.

Any way I can say, I only bought my local paper for the TV program week. $1.10

I did walk around some stores but didn’t buy anything other than paper not even any food or a drink I just went home for lunch.

Nursing Home Fire & Another trip to the city this week!

November 18th, 2011 at 09:38 am

I had appointments with my chiropractor and podiatrist yesterday. Both appointments went well!

I bought 2 sushi rolls and took my own drinks to the city. With Diabetic 2, I need make sure that I do drink when I am thirsty and as I don’t like paying over $3.00 a bottle for water or a soft drink. Coffee ends up costing arm and leg when you need to buy unnecessary snack to go with it at $3.50 to $4.50. I can buy 6x popper drinks @$2.20 in supermarkets if I remember to take one or two with me when I go out. I found a cute little food bag that fits two of these in plus a small brick if I need one!

I find time to top up my Go Card (local public transport pass) as we do get our fares cheaper if you use these cards. As a pensioner I only have to use it twice in the same day and all other trips that day are free! I normal put $20.00 on it when I top up this card.

I did remember to bank some change that I had counted the other day.

On the computer front I am learning to use the ribbon in the window picture gallery this will be a long task as I did delete around 13500 photos out my download out of 24500 photos and all filed under the same title. I did remember to empty my recycle bin that how I know many there were!

We had a very bad Nursing home fire in Sydney today. Four residents were killed and another 31 are in number hospitals over 100 residents lived there.

Text is Nursing Home Fire and Link is http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8376007
Nursing Home Fire

My views on the sock monster & over coming it

August 22nd, 2011 at 12:02 pm

I once was paid by a neighbour to sort laundry basket of socks out. Having 3 males in their household most of the socks were odd, I only found 18 pairs of wearable socks in the whole basket.

The balance was odd or with holes that were unable to be mended if you still mend sock these days.

Some remarked the other day that they came home from they overseas holiday with no socks but took 10 pairs with them and sock monster ate their socks.

After thinking about this problem after first instance, I watch my own habits more closely and came up with this conclusion.

The monster sock eater is ourselves I found, I have a habit of wearing my socks to bed then they come off during the night and either left in the bed or under the bed. Now if you are travelling and doing this you’ll have a great loss of socks or sock is left behind in each hotel will soon add up. At $15.00 a pair for diabetic socks that a lot of money to loose.

To overcome this habit I have now made it a habit to put the pair of socks with my shoes or together before I leave the room each morning, since doing this I have never loss a pair of sock to the sock monster.

Another thing I found is buying as many pairs the same in style & colour as possible and on special minimum of 25% off that means multiple pairs at the same time to maximum benefit. I did on the last special and got 3 pairs of diabetic socks for $18.48 by buying multiple packs and buying on special.

Saving money and keeping it in my bank is my main aim so I can
s-t-r-e-t-c-h every cent out as much as possible. With a pair of ankle sock around $5.00 and a pair of diabetic sock $15.00. The longer a pair stays together the better.


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