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

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

It’s that time of the month again lunch with my ex-work friends, there eight of us today. we went to Sizzlers again, I had the manager special as it was still on seafood for $3.95 plus salad bar & drinks*. Costing $15.10 saving $3.85 (senior card).

I paid my Household Insurance today, $658.50 and yet again paid my credit card off. I do have a debit bill on this card so need keep on top of it at all times.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Lunch out *
DINNER Curry Ground Beef & Rice with Sambal

Today’s Full price Tally $717.45
Today’s Savings - $ 3.85
2007 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $10,302.32

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

I did go shopping today to buy some olive oil for DF-M family in the country. 4x 4L cans of olive oil which was the cheapest that brand it has been for a while & I did get them some staff discount off it also, $116.00 worth of oil in fact. I bought only some groceries, game steak to try and very tender too! Cream Cheese spread 2x $2.49 –5% off = $4.73, saving $1.79 here & generic brand ice cream & some 2nd hand books $3.50 saving $12.00 on them. I did pretty well for shopping someone else in not getting to tempted to shop. 2 of the 3 items were on my list.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Crackers & Marinated Feta Cheese with Marinated Peppers Fruit Coffee
DINNER Savoury Mince on Toast. Fruit Coffee

Today’s Full price Tally $28.75
Today’s Savings - $13.79
2007 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $9986.14

Found time to try that Simple Green around the house. Cleaning to kitchen benches & bathroom and washing the floors. I got on my hands & knees to clean the bathroom floor and area that my cats eat in. The other areas I just washed as normal. I will do more later in the week.

I finished my ironing today so I am now up to date.

I went to DF-M for lunch because she was having a BBQ, when she cooks meat it always too much for two let alone for one. It was excellent meal and I didn’t need eat very much tonight.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Marinated Fillet Steak, Marinated Peppers, Green Salad - FREE
DINNER Crackers with Hummus Fruit Coffee

My son & his wife arrived home this morning from oversea. They had a good trip and I was sent some very good pictures of they holiday via email as they had access to a computer while they were away.

So much, so that I needed to delete some of the emails, that I was keeping in my inbox folders.

So much for technology I will need to upgrade my computer very soon, as often when I am going on to some web sites now my computer just freeze up. I do think they have upgraded their websites, and that people running the early versions now are have problems. I do know that I can’t run the latest versions of some programs on my computer, as my RAMS are not high enough.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Crackers with Cream Cheese & Herbs Fruit Coffee
DINNER Chilli Con Carne with Corn Chips Coffee

After reading about this Simple Green all purpose cleaner for so long. I did finally find it at Bunnings Warehouse, our large hardware chain in their cleaning supply aisle it was just by chance as I don’t normal go down that aisle. I did buy some to try also this will make up to 5 gallons. I went on to their

These are family heirloom recipes that I found in an old handwritten cookbook of my great aunt's. It's a good way of getting fibre into people who don't like cereals, and will eat slices and cakes. These were popular when I was growing up.

PEANUT BUTTER BLOCK
Cream -
4 oz Margarine
4 oz Raw sugar
8 tsp. peanut paste

Mix dry -
1/4 cup chopped peanuts
1/2 cup coconut
3 cups rolled oats

Combine and mix well and press into Swiss/jelly roll tin
Cook 300 F for 20-30 minutes.
When cool ice with Chocolate Icing or white icing

CHOCOLATE COCONUT SLICE
1 cup SR flour
4 tsp. cocoa
1 cup Cornflakes or Weetbix (3 cereal biscuits)
2 tsp. Golden Syrup
5 oz Butter
1 cup Coconut
1/2 cup Sugar
pinch of salt
1 tsp. vanilla

Mix sifted flour, cocoa and salt
Add Cornflakes sugar coconut
Melt Butter and golden syrup
Add Vanilla
Add to Dry Ingredients.
Press on to a Swiss/jelly roll tin.
Bake 25 minutes at 180 C (350F)
When cool ice with Chocolate Icing

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Grilled Cheese on Toast Fruit Coffee
DINNER Chilli Con Carne with Corn Chips Coffee

I started to get to on with my major project, one of the minor jobs to be done before any work can be done on the widow that will become a door in the near future. So today job was to move all the books off the bookcase that in the in the way. I moved it the corner of the room, I may leave it there for now. It’s full of books on fugal living and cooking. I still have another bookcase to move but this will be going to another area of the house. At the moment it can stay where it is for now!

I went to buy a rubbish bin for DF-M but they didn’t have any so I will ring before go again. I did buy some waterless car wash that I may need at some time in the future as I will not be able to wash my car on the next water use level which is coming in a few weeks and I will not get fined for cleaning my car. I drop to the fruit shop on the away home and bought some milk & tomatoes.

BREAKFAST Baked Beans on Toast Coffee
LUNCH Mixed Salad & Hummus on Crackers Fruit Coffee
DINNER Omelette with Cheese

Today’s Full price Tally $16.80
Today’s Savings - $ 5.00
2007 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $9887.02

After breakfast I drove up to my DS &DIL house to say good bye, as I wasn’t going to the airport this time, as I can’t drive they car for a start. With their entire luggage there was no room for me to go for the trip to airport anyway as an extra passenger and DS-MIL was going just drop them off an go to work anyway. They will be home in a 12 days.

I when to the shops and got a phone card so I could save money on oversea phone calls we have found this is the best way of calling them or they calling us as you know what you are spending on the calls. As my DS has his mobile with him this time I can SMS him at anytime.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Crackers & Marinated Feta Cheese with Marinated Peppers Fruit Coffee
DINNER Pumpkin & Lentil Stew with Garlic Focaccia Bread

Today’s Full price Tally $10.00
Today’s Savings - $ 0.00
2007 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $9842.53

It was a busy day today at dawn I went and got gas for the car saving $1.93 off with shopper docket then extra as the price went up again a few hours later by 10c litre. Timing is the key with buying gas around here.

I had lunch again with my friends at Sizzlers ‘all you can eat salad bar’ place and I had the manager’s special of fried seafood @ 3.95 and salad bar costing $14.32 for both. Saving $8.58 as I get a senior discount here.

Today I paid my car annual insurance and zeroed my credit card yet again. I ‘m getting good at that one. This time of the year I have a lot of major bills coming in so I can’t go spending big at the Summer clothing sales with their big discounts. If I want to buy something next year I will have to save some extra money for clothes at this time period. I like to pay most of my bill annually as I save money by doing this it this way. Take my car insurance if paid monthly which I can do, I would be paying extra $77.56 per year that I would need to fine and on my budget that is not easy. I am saving here that amount plus over 55 discount and multi insurance on top. That’s around $180.28 for just my car insurance.

I did by some remnants at dressmaker store it’s call Lincraft’s, these were about 60% RRP saving $10.57.

When I came home later, and had a rest, I went shopping for cat food and a few groceries, saving $7.80 here.

So I had a very busy day.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Lunch out*
DINNER Grilled Cheese with Mustard Toasted Slices Fruit Coffee

Today’s Full price Tally $842.36
Today’s Savings - $ 209.87
2007 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $9842.53

My DS and DIL is going overseas yet again! today we went to large shopping centre to get some last minute items that he needed. While we were we both bought a CD each. I bought a very old one ‘16 Most Requested Songs by Harry Belafonte’ for $5.00, as I use to like listening to him many moon ago.

I have lunch with DS. I had a Subway Grilled Chicken roll on special for $3.95 saving $3.00 here

Other then the CD & lunch I didn’t spend much at all.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Lunch out
DINNER 2 Egg Cheese Omelette and Pasta Sauce & Grilled Peppers

Today’s Full price Tally $11.95
Today’s Savings - $ 3.00
2007 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $ 9632.66

I drove DF-M to the doctor but never bought anything today. So another no spending day.

In answer to the question on my Grilled Cheese on toast. 'When you prepare your grill cheese -- what KIND of cheese is your favorite, and do you use BUTTER when you grill?'

I just use sliced cheese that you would put on slice bread. You can use any cheese that will melt quickly. No I not put any butter or margarine but spread on mustard instead. Bread > mustard > slice of cheese> sprinkle on some paprika that it. I use to make Croque Monsieur my version that was made at Expo 88 that I bought at the French Pavilion for about $4.00 each back in 1988.

There are a lot of versions around but as I minimize much of what I make and I was putting on weight by eating to many of them. I finish up with what I liked with my grilled cheese on toast version.

This version was made for quick sale at fast food counter.

Two slices of buttered bread with mustard butter, Top one slice with 1 slices of ham and 1 slices of cheese. Place second slice of bread on top and put 1 slice of cheese on top and sprinkle a little paprika. Grilled until cheese had melted. You could place the remaining bread, buttered side down over the another slice cheese and use a sandwich maker.

Here are some other versions.

Clearing a top of cupboard that need to be polished the joys of having old furniture that nearly 100 years old. This does keep me on my toes when it comes to housework. If you have old stuff then you do need to care for it. It’s one of pieces that came with the house as you can’t get it out of the house not that I would wont too! I am the keeper of the family heritage anyway. I do have many items that begin back memory of pasted members of the family. Like a cake decoration that I got when I visited my father’s parents at age of seven. Their had died by the time I was in my teen’s. It was a funny on that visit I was the first child to be allowed to be in the front parlor, as I slept there. I must have been quite child as my father told me that he (or his siblings as children) had never been allow into that room until that trip and he had left home some 25 year before hand. My father got a mirror (which is still hanging on my wall) that he looked into as a small boy at breakfast around 1914, he left home at 21. Now this little house cake decoration has a place in the China Cabinet along a tea set that my mother got for her 21st Birthday. I have very little from their house here. I could tell you much more about this trip as we drove to visit them across three states in a very small Ford in the early fifties, maybe another time.

BREAKFAST Frittata with Ham Steak & Marinated Peppers
LUNCH Grilled Cheese with Mustard Toasted Slices Fruit Coffee
DINNER Bean Patties with Salad Fruit Coffee

In the last 28 days I have

Gone shopping or bought something. 11 times

Went to the city by bus 2 times

Drove my car only. 8 times

Had food bought or had for free away from home. 2 times

And had 17 No Spending Days.

Lets see what next 28 days tallies will be.

I was given some free homegrown mangoes and not just the common one that you would make mango chutney with, but R2Y2 mango I think it’s call, four of these RRP $2.50 each and 8 Kensington Pride mangoes RRP $1.00 each. Had a R2Y2 mango and it was beautiful and I gave one away too!

On my DIY varnishing job is on the 4th day, I have got into a pattern in the varnishing, you do need have a pattern so you know where you are painting. You must follow the grain of the wood and not put your hand on the one wet varnish too! I did turn the doors around so that I could varnish the other side of the doors, as they had to be standing against posts while I am painting them.

Today’s Full price Tally $ 18.00
Today’s Savings - $ 18.00
2007 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $9615.67

I 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

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

Today is DF-M Grocery Shopping day and I’m the driver. So it was off to the bank and chemist when down to the shopping centre and I just paid my Rate bill. Pensioner & Homeowner Discounts on rates bill $209.77. I got given some cherries when she bought some for herself, as she has a set shopping plan and there is no way of change her mind when it made up to buy or do something. I try not to buy anything when I’m on this shopping trip as when I do, most times it get add to her shopping tally. Madding and it not the checkout staffs fault. No lunch today as we had frozen food this time.

Today’s Full price Tally $505.97
Today’s Savings - $215.12
2007 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $9519.03

For my Birthday I got a FREE store gift voucher from a jewellery store here, to the value of $25.00. You just need to have your email address with them and you get a discount card plus this gift card for use in your birthday month. Only I didn’t need anything from there so I did make a trip with DF-M today. Just so that I could use gift voucher, they were having a 50% off Sale too! So we just bought photo frames for my gift box. My out lay was just $5.00 in cash for three photo frames. $$$ Another Strategy DF-M bought one frame for $5.00 too!

We went to another store for some underwear for her, which was on special also saving her $11.65 so she had a good shopping day too! We then went off to Aldi down the road to shop. Spending $13.05 and saving $2.54 here.

Today’s Full price Tally $73.05
Today’s Savings - $57.54
2007 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $9306.91

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

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

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

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

My son arrived at 7.30am just after dropping DIL off at her business breakfast meeting to pick up the cheesecake. So we went off to breakfast together, as there was a special of two for one deal at local fast food outlet that I get my free coffee at, instead of dropping in to DF-M place this morning. My time with him is precious as don’t see him enough and it was only for any hour. The only catch was that I had to buy him his drink as he only had enough for his meal. My meal came to $3.95 plus 2 free cappuccino’s saving $4.90 and then paying a $1.95 for his drink. Oh well! He took the cheesecake in the DIL work after 8.30 then went home to sleep. As he had just had just finish work when drove his wife to work. The cheesecake was enjoyed by all at the morning tea.

After I went down to DF-M place to see her and her grandchildren who had stayed for the week. I don’t think she is up to minding young children of school age any more it’s not much fun for them, if she can’t see them they can’t go anywhere nor will she take them anywhere even if I go with them too! So it’s just watching TV or read a book or using the colour pencils that I gave them for Christmas as I do know how boring it can be when the minder doesn’t understand some of basics of schooling that we can do now days. I have to do all her reading and writing for her if the family is not around. Anyway she is going back today with her grandchildren as a family friend is going back to they hometown at lunchtime and taking them with them.

My Medibank debit payment is due today, I do pay it in six month installments. So I have tallied this in my expense total.

As you can see from precious posts that I have a Zero balance on Credit Card at this time of the year and I hope to keep it at that into the future.

Today’s Full price Tally $205.65
Today’s Savings - $ 4.90
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $8886.27

After having my morning coffee & toast with DF-M. I went home for an hour then was asked over to my Greek neighbor’s house for coffee and chat. Coming home with a plate of Greek goodies too!

Later I went shopping for DF-M to buy bread and I spent $5.47 saving $6.21
Gift packs x 4 @ 40c saving $ 3.40 on RRP price.
1L milk x2 @ .59c saving $2.42 as their were markdown, I froze one.
Some Organic Shaved Ham $2.69 saving 50c

Later in the evening my handyman friend arrived with belated Christmas gifts, one was Full size Gourmet Café Cheesecake (RRP $40.00 & 15000 calories worth). I had just one half slice and paid the price for that piece. Now find a home for it. oh my liveeeeeeer!

Will not count it in the tally, as I will have to give it away. I will ring my DIL to see if she can pick it up to take to work in the morning. It need’s a large group to eat that one and they are having a morning tea party at her work tomorrow. My DS will call in to pick up.

Today’s Full price Tally $11.68
Today’s Savings - $ 6.21
2007 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $8881.37

Lunch out today we again went to Sizzlers which is much better then what we had last month.

Today I had the manager’s special of firecracker prawns & (chips which I gave to young lad who was with one of the others) along with salad bar & dessert & drinks costing $13.65 saving $3.80 with my senior card.

I paid my visa card off yet again so it’s now back to Zero. That’s right I never put anything on Credit Card for Christmas, and haven’t put anything on in the post Christmas sales.

I spent more on my gift card today buying a special cookbook that was on my shopping list saving $5.75. I found some Lock n Lock Cereal Containers @ 50% off I bought x2 plus a smaller one 1L size, saving $23.00 here.

Today’s Full price Tally $85.40
Today’s Savings - $ 32.55
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $8875.16

Note.
What happen to the white backgrounds? As I can no longer read it for long periods. If does goes any darker it will be not reading it at all.

Well after 3 weeks into this year’s budget, I better work on want I have to live with for next 12 months. My projects for 2007 are over budget by around $5000. I will have to see where I can cut back, so some can get done.

My living expenses at moment are around $420 and bills $530 per 28 days with some over estimates on bills by 10%. This only leaves very little leftover for these projects. Three projects need to be done this year, each costing around $1800 each. On a gloss income of under $13500, I will have to cut fat big time.

As you know I am getting a water tank in the next few weeks, that’s $1540 there will be a rebate on it too! But will have to wait anything up to six months for it. So that rebate will go to one of the next projects on the list. My handyman friend wants to put an exit door and security screen door in my computer room, YES does need doing if there were a fire in this end of the house I can’t get out full stop! About $1200 for that job, as he is returning to New Zealand soon, it will be fixed before he goes. I had another person quote on this job but he has died since. The other project is buying a new computer, as this one is now too old to update any longer. I have about 10 months before I need a new one. I have to have my termite spray this year as well and will put it off as long a possible. That one is expensive and may have to come out of my capital savings if necessary. All other projects will be on unable to be fixed needs replacement list only. That’s will be only way they will be replaced in 2007.

So you may see a lot of no spending days in the future, as I go looking for the fat in this budget.

I will start with my grocery and eating out budgets, and see what can be done to cut back here.
Normally I annual budget is these amounts in these areas so I will keep them at these amounts and see if I can go under.

Grocery $1500 (last year $1160), target of $800 (I will live off bulk assets for a while.)

Eating out $400 (last year $520), target of $350 (As known spending is 4 birthday’s dinners and 18 lunch dates this year.) As I don’t budget for other’s eating at my place other than what on that week’s menu. I have to spend money to go with them to eat out as this is they lifestyle and we all go Dutch. I do keep a float $40 for this kind of spending so I am never notable to go. $$$ Another Strategy