My handyman friend arrive this afternoon to finish the final job for him on the doors. So we had lunch then off the buy the insect mesh for the doors and the rubber F/S spline that used join it to the frame. This cost $52.68 so the cost of just putting a fly screen on was $140 alone. But as the whole house is flyscreen so it had to be done.

All I have to do now is the finishing touch too inside surround of the door and it’s all done and now too paying for all of it. I have paid more than half of it already. My handyman friend paid for two-thirds of the total bill and I am to pay him back over next two months. I have found some money to pay him two-thirds of what I owe him and the balance will be paid in the near future. Overall I paid all but $600.00 of whole bill. This is between what I owe him and what I put on my credit card. As he did the labor for free, saving a large amount here! He was doing this job between jobs and when he had a little free time. One rule here is I pay for all material used. He broke a few drill bits so I did add some in when I was at the hardware store. I do have a very good workshop with some very old tools in it, it was a case of he could use some of my tools as well of his own which was more specialized.

Buying meat on special that was markdown, I will be able to make 2 x 4 serving meals plus 4 grills or stir-fry meals with the amount I bought. Saving $5.84 on markdown price. I bought some lettuce leaves for my salad next week, as this was the best option for me this week. I don’t normally pay supermarket price for fruit & vegetables unless extra cheap price. But as I would have bought unnecessary items that I could have done without. Non washed small fancy lettuce was $1.95 and my normal baby Cos lettuce was $2.95 this week. I paid $1.98 for 100g fancy lettuce pieces washed. Years ago I worked out this strategy as I worked in a store that was like K-mart is today but Deli & small grocery store included. It was too expensive to buy a full grocery order or carry it home and paying for delivery with out of the question

I found a chemist selling a handle strap for my walking stick as I keep on dropping it. Costing $3.95 saving $2.00 here.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Crackers & Cheese with Mustard Pickles Apple Coffee
DINNER Fillet Steak, Egg, Onion & Tomatoes Coffee

My major project door spending spree = $1608.75

Today’s Full price Tally $75.11
Today’s Savings - $ 7.84
2007 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $10434.41

Hanging the security doors & final touch up on white paint was what got done today. So the security doors are at lock up stage. Now making and adding the flyscreen when all the painting is dry. Fixing another small problem that came up and buying the screws for the flyscreen. Costing all up $25.50 Only a few more days and all will be back to normal.

I was given some Roasted Peppers still hot and charred to make into charred grilled roasted peppers this will be enough for a week as garnishes with my meals. I do like getting these little treats that my neighbors send my way.

BREAKFAST Ham steak & Egg with Baked Beans Coffee
LUNCH Chicken & Tomato Sandwich Coffee
DINNER Ham Steak & Scrambled Eggs with Roasted Peppers & Grilled Tomatoes.

My major project door spending to date. $1533.64

Today’s Full price Tally $25.50
Today’s Savings - $ 0.00
2007 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $10426.57

I worked on the second coat of security door, which took a few hours and did a little bit of housework. Washing and doing the floors.

While my handyman friend worked on doing finishing other parts on the door. Tiling and finishing off. I didn’t have to pay for the tiles, as they were leftover off cuts from another job. Guess what, no money was spent today. So it’s no spend day after all.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Turkish Bread with Hummus Lettuce Tuna Marinated Feta with Marinated Peppers
DINNER 2 Egg Cheese Omelette and Pasta Sauce & Grilled Peppers

My major project door spending to date. $1508.14

Finally started painting the metal primer on security doors this morning, they are a bit heavy so I did need some help to turn them over to paint the other side. I plan to do two coats of white enamel then let dry for a day or so if I am allowed too! Then touch up if I need too, when hang.

Did any money with my name on it go out today? Yes as we had order the flyscreen frame parts did come in, so it was off to get them this afternoon when my friend arrived. Costing $76.50, which I did put on my credit card.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Turkish bread with ham salad Fruit Coffee
DINNER Fillet Steak, Egg, Onion & Tomatoes Coffee

My major project door spending to date. $1381.75

Today’s Full price Tally $76.50
Today’s Savings - $ 0.00
2007 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $10413.69

We went for a drive to get more tools today and pick up the slide that was order yesterday no price so far as this was put on to his account. Also bought the steel for inner steel bars $31.70
I bought some flyscreen mesh to replace the screens in my other doors when I get around to it paying $28.00.

He started welding the security doors today and made the frame up and started putting the in the bars. So I will be able to start painting. While looking at the door he had another look at the security door slide that the locksmith sold us it’s too small for the thickness of the steel, he is using. We will need to return it and buy a more expensive one. This is another task for the morning.

I did go and buy some more food today, as I’m not use to having some for lunch & dinner on daily bases. So I bought chicken slices for our lunches and also bought chocolate blocks on special saving $3.50 here.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Salad & Light Cream Cheese on Crackers Apple Coffee
DINNER Chilli Con Carne with Corn Chips Coffee

My major project door spending to date. $1197.73

Today’s Full price Tally $77.02
Today’s Savings - $ 3.50
2007 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $10408.69

The major part of security door was bought & arrived today. These doors are to be made on sight. As they are custom made to my unusual size & design of these doors. Normally he does makes commercial type security doors with hinges. This door is the first one he is making that is sliding. You will never be able to take it down once it has been put up. You will take the brick wall too! This part costs $105.00. We went off to the hardware yet again for some more Dyn-bolts costing $17.50. As he is designing this door as he goes and working out what will work and what won’t work! The price is going up. I have put in cost supplying welding gear into this costing also, as this door is a full welding job. We are asking each other what is the weakest link and then working fixing that part a little more. His first idea on the bottom slide was too weak so extra work was needed there. The top slide has to be closed in and fixed so it can’t be slipped off the bottom slide. So the top slide was order today and bottom slide is in place. I didn’t spend any other money today.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Turkish Bread with Chicken Salad Fruit Coffee
DINNER Curry Ground Beef & Rice with Sambal

My major project door spending to date. $1166.03

Today’s Full price Tally $122.50
Today’s Savings - $ 0.00
2007 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $10405.19

As soon as the hardware store was open, we were off the buy edging trim and gap foam for the door. So that cementing and finishing off the inside could done. I will not be able to paint this area until he goes as he is keeping his tools and odd & ends around this area at night or when he is finish for the day and it’s never empty.

He put some old brick rabble and the gap foam to finish the trim on the wall were the brick came out of. The plan is to use old recycle off cuts to finish off this area. These do tone with the colour of the brickwork when it will be finish. This is a very slow job if I wasn’t getting a very good discount on his labor this job would never got off the ground.

Today’s cost for materials were $31.45 & $95.77 for parts of security door. This security door is a commercial standard one using much thicker steel than normal.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Turkish bread with ham salad Fruit Coffee
DINNER Fillet Steak, Egg, Onion & Tomatoes Coffee

My major project door spending to date. $1042.53
Today’s Full price Tally $127.22
Today’s Savings - $ 0.00
2007 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $10405.19

This morning we put on the door handle & deadlocks. Then drove down to the his storage area to pick up some more tools then off to the locksmith to buy the locks and patio bolts for the security screen doors, we did get trade discount on these. Spending $116.33 but if it’s not right we will return them for a more expensive one.

While we were out, we went to Yatala pie shop yet again. I think this his favorite eatery. Meat Pie & Custard Tart and Coffee and this treat food not everyday. *

BREAKFAST Bacon & Egg Baked Beans Toast Coffee
LUNCH lunch free *
DINNER Scrambled Eggs on toast

My major project door spending to date. $915.31
Today’s Full price Tally $116.33
Today’s Savings - $9.50*
2007 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $10405.19

As only the brickwork was removed yesterday and extra bolts bought. Today we worked on removing the old window and the rest of the walls. No one could have broken in last night, as the original wall was still intact. This is one of the big days on this project as the plan was to have the new door lockable tonight. Which I am happy to say it’s the case.

My friend is a master builder, this the first time he has put a door in of this type and did work too!

I did set a bit of problem in making these doors, yes they are two doors but you wouldn’t know it by looking at it from outside. As it’s one standard door and half panel door in French door style, but we have made look like a standard door with a half panel. I did buy extra bolts so that the half door is bolts at all times but when you need to remove furniture you can unbolts this panel door. It even has a mock centre wooden butt screwed and glued to extra half door so that it looks like a half panel.

While this was going on I drove down to shopping centre and paid my bills so that I wouldn’t forget to do so next week, when we will be still working on this project. Saved $30.00 on my power. (senior discount). I bought a few groceries as I am feeding an extra person for next few days.

MMM I will be very lucky to have any no spending days this month, at the rate I’m going now!

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Salad & light Cream Cheese on Crackers Apple Coffee
DINNER Poached Fish with Salad Coffee

Today’s Full price Tally $238.10
Today’s Savings - $ 30.00
2007 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $10395.69

We went for a drive to buy deadlocks & patio bolts for my wooden doors, I will buy the ones for security doors later when we start on that door. As I’m taking Amy Dacyczyn Strategy on this project and buying the best that I can afford. I am working with brass fittings for this door. Spending today $143.98 so far.

As we start this project this morning and had to hire a diamond cutter machine to cutting the brick wall where this door is going. Costing $146.00 but saving a full day work on this project. It’s was returned within 2 hours.


On return we went on a pick up run for other jobs that my handyman friend is doing.

We went to the Yatala Pie Shop for an early lunch and then on the local supermarket to buy a few things before returning home.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Lunch out free
DINNER Fillet Steak, Egg, Onion & Tomatoes Coffee

My major project door spending to date. $798.98
Today’s Full price Tally $303.23
Today’s Savings - $2.37
2007 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $10365.69

I was at it again today putting another coat of varnish on the door surrounds, which I will do another coat then finish off when it’s all up. Tones do match so I did picked the right colour.

After I finished I when up the street for a walk and bought some crackers that were on special this week. Saving $3.00 on these.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Mixed Salad & Hummus on Crackers Fruit Coffee
DINNER Thai Satay Chicken with Steamed Rice & Green Tea

Today’s Full price Tally $7.50
Today’s Savings - $ 3.00
2007 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $10333.87

Buying wood strain for my major project, a few other odd bits too! On the Turps alone I bought a 4 litres bottle for $7.85 instead of 1L bottle for $3.50, saving $6.10. As the recycle timber that we bought last week is different wood tones and different woods grains. I needed to find a light wood strain to blend in with them all also the doors so opted for a teak. I plan to use full strength on the light coloured wood and 60: 40 ratio on rest of the wood as these have red tone in them. I think some could be a cedar and some are Australian hard woods. I plan to wash down the wood tonight after my handyman friend has dressed the wood so that I can paint it. Painting and vanishing is my part of this project. I do fine very relaxing pastime and a great challenge that I can do something as good or better than some other folk.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Turkish Bread with Hummus Lettuce Tuna Marinated Feta with Marinated Peppers
DINNER 2 Egg Cheese Omelette and Pasta Sauce & Grilled Peppers

Today’s Full price Tally $36.04
Today’s Savings - $6.10
2007 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $10330.87

Well I mowed my lawn today to cut down on my weed flowers. Saving $35.00 on DIY.
After towards I had to have a good rest as it was very hot mowing here temp in the 30C.
My power & phone bill arrived today will need to pay them next pay. So I didn’t get much done today after all!

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Crackers with Cream Cheese & Herbs Fruit Coffee
DINNER 2 Egg Cheese Omelette and Pasta Sauce & Grilled Peppers Fruit Coffee

Today’s Full price Tally $35.00
Today’s Savings - $ 35.00
2007 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $10,298.47

My handyman friend drove me down the coast to a place to buy some recycle timber for my door, he had go down that way today. It’s was across the border, he has been working in that area for awhile now. We got five nice pieces of timber with a few nail holes in them but I can live with that. I am not doing any jobs around my house so it can be good for the next person that buy this house but just repairing and doing it up for me to live in. I have one of the few houses in my area that can be pulled down to use the land to rebuild here in this area. I live in Heritage area zone my house was build after the cut off date. I don’t wish to overvalue my house as it’s at the bottom end of the market as it is, I plan to be here along while yet and I don’t have the money to do it up for resale. So it will only ever be sold as a fixer upper.

We had a great day and we went visit a lady that his next client to fix up her kitchen next week. After on the way back we drove up to a local land mark here the Yatala Pie Shop for lunch. Meat pie, custard tart and soft drink as it was hot. Then we went on to pick up some supplies that he had to get in that area when on to do some business elsewhere. We got back to my place around 3pm, I tell driving doe’s make you tried. My recycle timber cost $90.00 saving around $144 off buy new, along with a free lunch. Value $9.50*

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Lunch out*
DINNER Bean Patties with Salad Fruit Coffee

Today’s Full price Tally $243.50
Today’s Savings - $ 153.50
2007 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $10,264.47

For 2 years now, I have had a very noisy garden tap, no matter what was done with it. It still had the problem. So today we worked on it and put new screws into the wall that was holding on the tap. You guess it that was the problem the screws were to small and pulling out of the brickwork all the time. Longer screws and the problem are now solved. Over 30 man-hours to find out this and the water meter reading problem is still to be solved as this tap upset the water meter also!

He bought some new fluo light tubes for me costing $7.00.

I went up to get the handbag for DF-M and bought a novel and another cookbook for a set of cookbook that I am making up. They are 20 in this set so far I have been able to buy 2nd hand eleven of them. I do carry a list of the one’s I have got in my wallet. Saving $5.00 here.
$$$ Another Strategy.

Today’s Full price Tally $13.50
Today’s Savings - $ 5.00
2007 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $ 10,018.97
$$$ Another Strategy

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 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

3rd coat of varnish has been done on one side one now I will do the last coat when it hung up. I will need to turn them over and do the other side, I will leave it an extra few hours before I sand the other side and do the 25:75 varnish first up.

Visit from my handyman was not needed to move doors. Free Lunch then he was off again. He liked the doors colour and seems to think it’s a cedar color. I asked him about the other parts of the door so I could paint them too!

Another three days then I can stop until he comes with others pieces and cut one of the doors in half then I will need to seal that too! Focusing on that project and baby steps is the only way I will get this all done!

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

I have set myself 10 days to do this painting job. At lease my part of it. The timber doorframe I still haven’t got the wood to paint as of yet. This may need to be painted before hand or after it put in place. I have two doors to paint as they are taller than I am and I can’t move them they need to be standing to paint (Cats) so I have them in my carport at the moment doing one side with three coats then turning to do the other sides. So today is the first coat of 25% Mineral Turps & 75% Clear Varnish Mix. This allows the varnish to soak into the timber. After that it will be 100% varnish each coat. Taking off the plastic cover and sanding down before hand both doors took about 90 minutes and then 50 minutes to paint them. So I’m looking at about 75 minutes per day. As it can only be coated once per day and you need 4 coats each side minimum. The tone is multi colored of wood that’s allowing natural wood grains to be highlighted. They are solid wooden doors.

My handyman friend came by so we went off to buy the paint for the door project. It’s my job to do all the painting which I like doing. So the doors are new and have never been painted before I will just varnish them and let the natural wood show through no straining before hand. This look does take me back to my childhood days. Why does wood needs to be strained so you have a fake wood colour of another wood? As I do like to have the best paint I can afford when I do paint and good brushes etc. This is an area I don’t try to cut back on. I did get a 10% discount off with a voucher on total of the docket. Saving $4.83.

My friend had taken my Free wheel borrows, wheel away a few months ago to fix it and return it today. So that job is now done. As he wouldn’t take any money for it so saving $15.00 on that cost. Now I have 3 wheel borrows but one is for cementing jobs only as I can’t move it when full so I had to buy a new one 15 years ago that I could move. Now I have a 2nd one that I can use in the garden. If I had to wait for someone to come over to move it the jobs would never get done. So everything that I buy, I must be able to use and not have to wait for someone else to do it for me! $$$ Another Strategy

Today’s Full price Tally $ 48.35
Today’s Savings - $ 19.83
2007 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $9538.86

It’s a DIY day in that I mowed my own lawn today saving myself $35.00 on hiring someone to do this job. But I think the price has gone up around here some are charging now $50.00 each time. so if you can do your own mowing if worth it as you can buy a new lawn mower for around $300 to $500 but the better to buy a better quality on in the first place. When I do replace my lawn mower I will be going for one $400.00 plus range. It’s around $498 but when on it’s on special it can get down to lower price around $425.
Saving $35.00 DIY

Today’s Full price Tally $ 0.00
Today’s Savings - $ 35.00
2007 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $9249.37

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

I did a rack of ironing today, that was the business shirts for my neighbor’s son so I am ahead on time. As this was only thing required before his mother comes home in eight weeks time but I am planning to have it all done and out of my house before he comes home in two week’s time.

My other project for the day was to get the bird netting repaired & the extra piece added to it. There is a trick to put it together too! First you do needed to repair any holes from the last time it was used. I did this by laying out the bird net on the ground then getting some clothes pins/pegs and putting them, where the hole is so I could fix all the holes at the same time.

So here is my steps for this project.

Step1 Find the hole, tag with clothespin then look for more until all found.

Step 2 Get a safety pin or bobbin using a thick NYLON string (50m roll I had bought last time I fixed it at $2.00 store). Thread the nylon string around the holes one row past hole making a circle then pulling the thread tight & tie off that hole with a knot. As so on until all holes are done. My bird net had about 15 holes to fix this time.

Step 3 Using the same nylon string, I sat in the backyard on a stool looped & knotted every 2 inches, the extra 4 x 4 metres on the old bird net. Making it now over 8x5m long with the other piece added to it.

Step 4 Now I need to get it back over my Persimmon fruit tree, which by the way is now over 6 metres tall. I do have a special long pole that I recycled a few year’s ago. That I use to lift the bird net over this tree. The Flying Foxes (Bats) to still can get at the fruit but only the ones nearest to the net. We have a large 100,000 Bat colony near where I live. $$$ Another Strategy

I had two projects today but got a third one as well. I work better if I think in projects than just job tasks. So I make a goal to do so many projects each week as on some days I am doing too much of other things to do any. At the start of the day my goals were to do the washing & uninstall & reload the Anti-virus program with a new key code.

Finishing my neighbor’s washing so that it’s all done before New Year. See Painting Brick Walls in December 2006 archives about this project. Next challenge is to Iron it all before the son arrives back in three weeks. I do get Pin Money for doing it. See Pin Money for odd jobs in April 2006 archives.

Today is the day that I must update my anti-virus on my computer. It’s one job do I get very nervous about doing. I will keep putting it off until the last minute. It’s due around the New Year but I like to upgrade when I know that the IT help staff are working if I have a problem, they are there to help on the spot. This year I did need them twice before it came good. As I was to use a special programs & files this time. But in the end all is well for another year. Next year in 2007 budget will have in it a NEW Computer and programs figured into it. So I better get saving more money. If I am to pay cash for it or finance it myself with my credit card if have too! It’s cheaper for me to pay annual fee with my credit card than to take out a loan. As I do paid it off FAST. My water tank payment is the problem that I can’t buy anything for the moment. As it will eat into my emergency fund if I do.

I had to go shopping for my DF-M again. To get Milk & bread and a new mop which was broken. Having said that I was able to take home the broken mop and try to fix it for her. The mop head had come off but being a new Micro-fibre design @ $20.00 too! It was difficult to fix, I was able to work how the mop was put together and as she had all the parts and hammer I was able to fix it for now. Even if she use it just to clean the rubbish bins in the future. I will not try to fix it again.

I did buy something in the way of shopping while shopping for her. I bought three items and saved $4.60 today.

Today’s Full price Tally $13.66
Today’s Savings - $ 4.60
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $8792.15

Early this morning 4.30am in fact, I started painting my part of the garage walls. The first coat is now done and another coat of paint later. It’s starting to look good.

DF-D & family flew out this morning for London with Christmas in Paris is planned. I got the job of finishing off any washing left behind and doing the ironing before their son returns in a month. DF-D and her husband are staying until March, her husband is taking a year off work to travel and working from home with rethinking his lifestyle. I don’t have to water her garden as someone else is doing that and feeding and walking the animals.

I did my washing today as well! I have five loads of washing of DF-D to do over next few weeks.

Early this morning I washed the brick walls for painting that had not been cemented in anyway then this afternoon I washed down the parts that were cemented ready to be painted in the morning.

Having done that I got ready to go out to morning tea with friends. One of my friends came to my place so then I drove up to the area that my son lives, as I know the area. We all meet at a coffee shop for a chat and coffee. After we all went shopping separately. A few of us went to the local thrift shop and raided it of any bargains. I bought more books about $9.50 worth (RRP $52.00) saving $42.50 here.

I bought lunch at local Chinese Restaurant, they a lunch special for $9.50 saving $4.10 on same single items price. I am getting tried of roast chicken bread rolls so I had a change today.

Then it was shopping buying Cranberry Sauce for Christmas Dinner as part of my offering for this meal. Saving .60c on two jars. Went to another store an bought some Christmas gifts saving $3.20 here as it was Dollar type store even if all of the prices are lot more than a dollar now.

I went Aldi as well and bought some groceries and Christmas gift and biscuits. Saving $4.20

Today’s Full price Tally $116.44
Today’s Savings - $ 54.00
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $8551.73

I have my handyman friend visiting on his day off. He is a workaholic, getting him to stop working is a problem so we talk and drink tea and do small jobs around the place that I can’t do!

We are working on the water tank project, fixing up the brickwork that is cracked around the garage and plan to paint it as well! So we are cementing all the cracks and taking out the broken mortar so he can put new mortar in, I am fixing the large cracks between the brickwork and laid cement from 30 years ago. You can put a thumb down in parts. One area needs just cement & sand mix then pushed down into the cracks and the larger cracks will need gravel & cement mix then push this down these cracks, it took a 20 L bucket of gravel to fill this crack as it was 4 large bricks deep down to the foundations in parts. Then he fixed the mortar between the bricks on the outside of the building. This all took about 2 hours, I had all the stuff needed to do the job, from my last project when I paid him to do some work around the house like re-stumping some broken stumps etc.

After lunch we started washing & painting the walls around the garage. The plan is that he will do the high parts & I will do the lower parts and paint the brickwork when it dried on Tuesday . I was painting last year so I have all paint bought as well! 10L of main color Cream (dark side) & trim is a Heritage Green (dark green), the job will take about 4 – 5L of paint to do the job properly! It will take a few days to do, but I am happy that it will be finished before the tank arrives.

As he is going home to New Zealand in a few months, I will not be able do all my small jobs before he goes. I do pay for all the material used, and provide him free meals when he comes. Today I am cooking a roast chicken dinner for lunch.

December / January Goals & Planning Ahead

~ Have my credit card at Zero balance by end of the each month.
~ Come under budget.
~ Deposit into the online accounts.
~ Pay All Due Bills on pension days or ahead of time.
~ Chiro visit (one every 4 weeks)
~ Known outings to budget for in December / January lunch out 4 dinner 2
~ Live off my Bulk Food Assets ~ (On Going)
~ Make up another eight meals OAMC. Out of Bulk Food Assets.
~ Gardening Mowing & weed front garden & put water saving techniques in place.
~ Install the water tank, paid and apply for rebate.
~ Cleaning and painting garage before the tank is installed.
~ Cull & de-clutter computer files not in use.
~ Downsizing storage and clean these areas (zones 2, 4 & 5)

Review of the last two months.

October / November Goals & Planning Ahead

~ Have my credit card at Zero balance by end of the each month. ~ (No but not paying interest!)
~ Come under budget. ~ YES
~ Deposit into the online accounts. ~ Yes
~ Pay All Due Bills on pension days. ~ Yes
~ Chiro visit (one every 4 weeks)
~ Known outings to budget for in October / November lunch out 3 dinner 1
~ Live off my Bulk Food Assets ~ (On Going)
~ Make up another eight meals OAMC. Out of Bulk Food Assets. ~ Yes
~ Gardening Mowing & repotting all pot plants using water saving techniques. ~Yes
~ Cleaning and painting garage before the tank is installed. ~ On going
~ Downsizing storage and clean these areas (zones 1 & 3) ~ Yes

My DS turned up today, so it was off to car sale yard to a get a light bulb for my car. They have service area, it’s a one stop car yard. DS ask about the newer model sedan so we had a test drive in the newest model of my car too! Not buying.

Off too hardware superstore again at last. Yes I did get my refund & I was remembered too! As I was only person who bought a large Tuff Yellow Bucket.

DS cracked my toilet seat some month’s back. Said I would buy a new one when he was ready to install it so he went off to find it so $29.90 later we were off again. I did get it put in TOO!

We went for a drive to my DS - MIL business, for coffee then we drove home.

BREAKFAST Oatmeal & Currants Coffee 2 Toast & Jam, Coffee 60c
LUNCH Crackers with Cheese & Chutney, Mandarin Coffee 65c
DINNER Omelette with Cheese, Sweet Chilli Sauce Apple Coffee. 75c

Today’s Full price Tally $29.90 – refund $2.65 = $27.25
Today’s Savings - $ nil
Bulk Food Replacement Fund - $94.65
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $2826.02