Why do people leave stuff with families that are renting, then they do a runner leaving no forwarding address after 6 months the owner need to move it as they are pulling the house down next week to build eight apartments, as they know I am bookworm they asked me if I would go though it for them. I did collect only the stuff I could use. I got a very nice saucepan & measuring jug that had been in the yard, yes all this stuff had been outside on a patio for six month. Some boxes of jewelry and number of books on history (I did leave the books that I would never use) and Lord of Rings game to paint. What I did take I will give some away to others. Stuff toys and children linen given too others. The person did have unusual interest in some things. I don’t know what will happen to the rest of the stuff, I could take the rest to the op shops but then I will need to carry it over to my place, there is far too much stuff to do that and they have a truck to take it but it will end up in the dump for all I know.

Today is the day I go to the city for lunch with friends. While showing this morning I hit the nail on my index finger on the shower tap and it was a bit sore with a black spot on it. My first appointment this morning was the doctor’s so I wasn’t too worried. As it was raining the bus just got to the city in time. After checking me for my annual medical check and writing up scripts for blood tests and medicines. He checked my finger I had a piece of metal in the nail so no gardening for a few days.

I did put more money on my pre-paid mobile plan for another year.

Mobile phone prepaid recharge
Taking this total too $149 for 4 years averaging 37.25 per year, very few calls, mainly text messages.

Paying my rates and water bills and I had only 9kL of water in last 92 days. So I am on track with my water targets that have been set by the government. Which is a goal of 140L per person mine is only 97.8K.

Meeting up with some of my ex-coworkers, at the casino, there is a deal going there for $10.00.

I had Fish & Chips with Salad (reg. price $13.50) and vanilla slice as usual (reg. price$5.90), posted in this blog October 29, 2006 in recipe section. Coffee (reg. price 2x $3.00) total = $25.30. I did play the 1c poker machines for just two dollars then left.

As for shopping I only bought some books again today spending $13.00 (reg. price value $175.65) on them.

So I spend money today
Total Money spent today $369.00
Savings $stretch $168.15

Going through some of the baskets of cookbooks & files, I didn’t find too many to chuck out but I put them back into better order than before. I have still got along way to go in this computer room and library. As I’m looking for a set of cookbooks for my next month’s menu. Not that finding them is a problem as I can always look on the internet if I have too! That’s what you get when have more than one bookcase of cookbooks. I want to do some OAMC cooking and single meals for one over the next month with new recipes with a few old ones if I don’t fine the missing cookbooks.

It’s another no spending day here.

I was sent a gift voucher from Jewelry store for $25.00. It expires at end of month.

So I went to a shopping centre to spend it. I got 4 photo frames 50% off for extra $5.25 out of my own pocket. They did have much marked down to choose from without spending too much, I need spend much more if I didn’t buy some things for my gift box. I did spend some money on a nice wallet for myself to use later. This was marked down to $4.95 from $19.95 so it was great buy. I did have lunch out today, just hamburger and soft cone with a free coffee all for $2.40.

So I spend money today
Total Money spent today $12.60 (my cash out lay)
Savings $tretch $51.45 + $25.00 gift voucher = $76.45

A few weeks ago I told you that my paper shredder died. Well in yesterday junk mail there was a better paper shredder for sale, as it’s a new model they had an introductory price for it saving over $50 on it as well the staff discount that I get. With all the gift cards that I got for Christmas & birthday this month for this new paper shredder as had said this want I wanted to get this year, my cost came to just over $4.74. Oh and I didn’t buy any this else even though they had some very good bargains this time of the year with Back to School Sale on, as I had the car out yesterday.

Years ago when I had finish with any papers that I did want I would burn them now that we can't light fire anymore in our area but for BBQ's, and at time not them either. $$$ Another Strategy letting it go

Having a paper shredder is the nearest too burning, a letting go of the past feeling that use to get back then.

Is a question that I’m thinking about at moment? I have two rooms that have mixed boxes in them. These are my junk rooms where I put any stuff that I don’t need there while I have visitors to stay. Well I did start today on one of the rooms, first that opened only had a few books on top then some coat hangers on the bottom. Another box has my OAMC cookware in it, so that 2 boxes down today.

I had my hair cut today costing $17.00 for a style cut. I did go shopping since I last wrote, buying pet supplies, my cats get a treat each day of more expensive dried cat food just a small handful when I have morning tea each day, O boy do they tell me if I forget to give it to them. They do get another dried cat food normally but they only like one kind of that brand. I am having trouble with their cat litter that they like as the company making it has had problem at the factory. We are being told it could up to six months before they can supply it. So now I need to try a new brand each time at double or triple the cost of the old cat litter, so spent $13.46 on them today. I’m not to happy with that one.

I did go to a Chinese restaurant for dinner we had a good time too! It was my birthday and I was given some very nice presents. We often go out to a restaurant for our birthdays the person who is having the birthday gets to pick the restaurant. What did we have as there were four of us, my son and I had Chinese banquet for two at $18.00 each plus drinks and the others had soup, Main meal & drinks.

Banquet had in it one Curried Puff & Spring Roll each, chicken & corn soup, one plate of each beef & chicken meals, fried rice for two and ice cream & fruit salad. I had green tea the other soft drinks.

Our main meals were King with Egg Noodles, Mongolian Lamb & Beef, Sweet & Sour Chicken, with streamed &fried rice. The bill came to $90.00 for four of us. I do find that a banquet is the best buy if you can get them here. Value of the banquet separately would have been around $28.00 one of the others paid $29.00 for what they had ordered. Lucky we don’t have too many of these feast each year, but most are in the first half of the year.

I had quite day today, I did go shopping and walk. Dropped into the 2nd hand Charity stores, I got temped and bought a very nice Pottery fired small fruit bowl for $1.50 value $15.00. I would think never used ideal for a gift of homemade goodies, plus two magazines one has some nice craft patterns in it at the other 2nd hand Charity store only $1.35 value $10.90 other than that I spent very little else only some cheese for lunch. I booked a hairdressing appointment for Thursday.

So I spend money today
Total Money spent today $4.75
Savings $stretch $25.15

My friend took me out to lunch today, as she had to go shopping at one shopping centres. I just was so good in my non- spending goal that all I did was walk around with her as she spent her money other than paying the balance money off my credit card. She even paid for our lunch which is nice of her, we both had Mediterranean salad and quiche with coffee. We did pick out a birthday present for later in the week and she bought her annual new watch 50% off at the jewelry sale there. Later we came home and we had tea & cake at her place on the back deck. It was definitely a girl’s day out.

I'm doing inventory of my pantry this week, so see what I have left that I had bought last year! It's good to know what you have to work with, as at times we keep on buying the same items over & over again but never using them all. I did put out four shelves today and checked dates and marked a date on it if I didn’t find date and write it down too! I manage to put back three shelves today but one of my cats decided to have a sleep on the bottom one while I worked. What did I find in my stockpile, that I rarely use 4 packets of sago, 14 packets of 2 minutes noodles, 2 bags of polenta, 3 bottles of apple concentrate and lot’s of sugar white, raw, brown, and caster I mainly use white sugar for chutney. It’s no good give it away as most is past they best before dates. I can use this lot if make something with them soon. Today I made Vanilla Sago Pudding and I got 5 serves from this as I use some latte mugs that I was given for Christmas to put them in.

Weekly Main Meal Menu

Sunday ~Sweet & Sour Pork w’ Rice , Vanilla Sago Pudding
Monday ~ Meat loaf & vegetable, Vanilla Sago Pudding
Tuesday ~ Dinner out
Wednesday ~ Sweet & Sour Pork w’ Rice, Vanilla Sago Pudding
Thursday ~ Omelet with Shredded Cheese and Salad, Vanilla Sago Pudding
Friday ~ Pasta with Tuna & Tomato Sauce Vanilla Sago Pudding
Saturday ~ Curried Sausages with Rice

It's a no spending day here

One of my friends had me drop off some dry cleaning during the week, so this morning I went to pick it up. It was very large lace quilt that was expensive to buy. It cost $30.00 to have it dry cleaned. I hand wash things like this and I do have the line space to dry it too! I don’t remember the last time I had anything dry cleaned.

I had to use my car to pick it up.

Found a tray of markdown chicken schnitzels saving $3.60 with 14 servings, along with a caramel mud cake markdown to $1.49 saving $3.00, and some fresh green seedless grapes for variety in my fruit intake. Along with some display books that were a faction of their true cost saving over $18.00 here. So in light of these saving I would have had to spend over $ 24.60 extra if I did pay normal regular price on all items I bought as some people do.

So I spend money today
Total Money spent today $18.62
Savings $stretch $24.60

If you have read some of my earlier blogs you’ll know that I do ironing for pin money. My friends don’t like ironing so they pay me some money to help me with a little extra bit of money. One hasn’t bought over any since long before Christmas it was a large pile of ironing. And other one given me her best garments to iron. Along with my own ironing I have over 3 hours of ironing to do. So this morning around 3.30am this morning I got up and started iron as this is the coolest time to iron in summer. I got most of it done now so I only got to do the best of the garments to iron then wash my own hand washing so I can iron them too!

Other than doing the ironing I didn’t do too much today. So it was a no spending day here.

Oh it’s hot here, not because temperatures are high but for the humidity that is around! The dams have risen 4% so far and one on the Gold Coast is overflowing.

I did go shopping today, first to get some items on special at one supermarket then off to other one to get cat food that it stocks. Oh fuss cats don’t you love them! Grocery shopping for my cats was up in the range of $35.00 and I still need to buy cat litter which was out of stock today. I will try again next time; I do buy a month supply at time so I still have one week’s supply left which is my backup supply. Fruit & vegetables are getting expensive around here , just bought cherry tomatoes, bananas, pears, oranges coming to $5.20. All other fruit & vegetables were too expensive this week; I will use what I still have left instead. I do have a good supply of can tomatoes so use these in cooking.

The total today was more than I normally spend but some items were for my survival kit project in the way of extra powdered milk as I do use this item so I bought 2 bags extra than I would this time. More 2 bags BBQ heat beads giving me about 5 bags now, I don’t use gas bottles for my BBQ’s and I have two different sizes ones. I went to the Two Dollars store and bought my first item for my car’s survival kit pack, it’s a whistle with a compress, key ring & thermometer called a 4-in-1 whistle. I did see other items that I may buy too! I had lunch at my favorite local food stall for a hot dog and milkshake, price $2.50 elsewhere it would be around $5.95.

So I spend money today
Total Money spent today $80.02
Savings $stretch $20.08

Well I had to get off the computer at lunchtime, as I heard thunder in the distance with means a summer storm is on it way. If I am home I always close down my computer at first sign as once we have lightening strike next door it was the first one for the day. I saw it strike too! Burnt the trees next door and they lost all appliances in the house. It just stopped raining a few minutes ago so I checked my rain gauge and we just 60 mm - about 2- inches. My tank is overflowing as we had more than 160mm -almost 6- inches since Boxing Day in my property. I hope this last storm started near the Dams as it came from that area. They may been a storm over the dam catchments in the past few hours. The areas that is notorious for flash flooding are up and overflowing around here. I'm lucky as I live on a hill even if polar ice caps melt by 14metres, I will high and dry. I have been working on my HP tutorials in the last few days just more lesson to go for this month. And new ones start on Monday. Have enrolled in about four courses for January classes, one is a repeat and another one is just two lessons so I will do those one first. Still storm clouds around so I will not stay long on the computer. Weekly Main Meal Menu Sunday ~ Spaghetti Bolognese Sauce on Baked Potato Monday ~ Honey Soy Stir Fry Beef with Rice Tuesday ~ Leftovers night Wednesday ~ Omelet with Shredded Cheese and Salad Thursday ~ Curried Sausages with Rice Friday ~ Steamed Fish and Salad Saturday ~ Pasta with Tuna & Tomato Sauce

I got my washing done today; last time that I washed was before Christmas as it was fine here today.
It’s been raining since Boxing Day has stopped but could start again around Wednesday.

It’s now flooding in next shire and northern New South Wales. But we still didn’t get much in way of rain in our Dams yet again. Some rain but not enough to take it up even 1% higher.

I didn’t go shopping today nor buy anything out of the nine catalogues that came in the last few days.
Oh there were few things that I could have bought, but part of my strategy for this year frugal challenge is to look what I have got that can be used instead of buying. Some things will be bought but I hope not as much as the last few years. An example in 3 catalogues from Avon, now remember I did a tidy up of toilettes and make up cupboard, only things that are in short supply are were perfume body spray that was on special in next 2 campaigns but could use the perfume instead and normal roll on so I don’t need that. Next was microfiber gym towel in pink but I have one in navy and could use a microfiber cloth if need an extra towel or normal towel for that matter which I have plenty off. As for make up & face creams I will live with what I have got and that plenty enough to supply the whole street only problem is it past the use by date, but I can live with that. As long I don’t get a skin reaction to it will be fine.

As for the other catalogues that come are from those mail order houses this year I thinking they will just junk mail. Just removing parts with my name on them and recycling the paper. Letter box junk mail is read then recycled. I only keep the grocery ones most time until the next lot arrives then crosscheck them so any items that I need this little trick can save heaps as we don’t have coupons in this part of the world. $$$ Another Strategy

Meeting up with some of my ex-coworkers, at the casino, there is a deal going there for $10.00, you get a choice of about 8 different meals and about a choice 8 cakes or cheesecakes or fruit salad as well coffee or tea. The only catch is that you need to be over 18 and a member also came in by public transport. As our group are do all these things so it’s no problem for any of us here.

I had Satay Chicken with peanuts on steamed rice (reg. price $12.40) and vanilla slice as usual (reg. price$5.90), posted in this blog October 29,2006 in recipe section. Coffee (reg. price 2x $3.00) total = $24.30
I did play the 1c poker machines for a few dollars then left.

As for shopping I only bought some books today spending $16.90 (reg. price value $63.85) on them. One I saw in the bookshop window over the holidays and as this store was closed until this morning, I need to be quick if wanted it as it was a secondhand copy too! The other book was on 1001 hints & tips from yesterday year and craft book this is my style of reading. Two out of three books were a need of that information category and time savers as I was using my internet time looking for this information and I need this information in printed form anyway.

So I spend money today
Total Money spent today $29.90
Savings $stretch $61.25

Note - Savings $stretch is the different between original regular price and money handed over. Coming under $tretch category

My DS call in today, as it was his day off work. He works a 4 days on and 3 days off each week but doing 12 hour shifts walking around a shopping centre all day & night as security guard. This is not good for his feet so every month or so he will call by to have me do his feet. Have been doing free pedicures for my family and friends for years. I only wish is that someone would do mine at some time.

Weekly Main Meal Menu

Sunday ~ Easy Tuna Dish
Monday ~ Spaghetti Bolognese
Tuesday ~ Omelet with Shredded Cheese and Salad
Wednesday ~ Lunch out
Thursday ~ Steak, Onions and Egg with Mushroom Sauce
Friday ~ Pasta with Tuna & Tomato Sauce & Stone Fruit
Saturday ~ Chicken Salad & Stone Fruit

Happy New Year everyone

I did venture out into the Christmas crowds this week, mainly to pay off my credit card and get a cheque (check) for DF-M and then post a bill for her. She gave me some money to buy myself a present which I must show her what I have bought it’s a mind game. There were some sandals on special this week at Kmart that I liked the look of, so I went there and bought 2 pair black sandals, 3 T-shirt night dresses kind and 6 pairs of white sport socks as they were on all special and on my To Buy List. You may ask why not wait until Boxing Day Sales; I just want keep out of them, I will spend less by doing that. The prices may be a little cheaper and but the sizes may not be there, as some of the size were already missing. Along with buying some store gift cards for the family as they like to shop the Boxing Day Sales. I only buy a few gifts each year as most of my gifts now are gift cards.

Shoes reg. price $29.95 each x2 =$59.90, sale price $15.00 each =$30.00
Night Dresses reg. price $10.99 x 3 = $32.97, sale price $8.80 each =$24.75
6 pairs of white sport socks reg. price $9.99, sale price $7.92
AAA batteries x10 +6 free pkt. = $13.30
Total $75.97 - less 5% for team members discount =$72.18

Being a very practical person so DF-M gift will be two T-shirt Night Dresses & six pairs of white sport socks. Also while shopping around I started picking up a gifts for next Christmas saving 40% off in my under $10.00 range.

While I was out I bought some 1L brandy custard on special $1.00 off and regular fruit cake both coming $4.95. I’m a bit like Jamie Oliver and refer bought thick custard.

Saved on purchases $44.98

Weekly Main Meal Menu

Sunday ~ Omelet with Shredded Cheese and Salad & Mango
Monday ~ Pasta with Tuna & Tomato Sauce & Stone Fruit
Tuesday ~ Christmas Dinner
Wednesday ~ Chicken Salad & Stone Fruit
Thursday ~ Steak & Vegetables
Friday ~ Steamed Fish and Salad
Saturday ~ Chicken Kebabs with Salad

As I start my new annual budget each year around now.
I am reviewing my past spending and goals before I start posting my goals and plans for 2008.

As you may have read, I had a spending spree this year.
New Front Door & Security Door, 3000L Tank, Water Hot Tank, New Mower, New Computer & Printer etc, Digital Camera plus extras, Holiday Interstate.
All bills paid on time throughout the year
And credit card at Zero balance at end of each month.
Best of all I’m still under my pension income and things are looking good for next year goals.

My goals & plans for next three months ~ December to February.

~ No Spending but for planned items. (If I have an item in the house or can borrow it, then I’m to use that first.)
~ I have only two gift vouchers for Christmas to buy as all other gifts have been bought.
~ Saving as much cash I can for a new stove & oven later in the year.
~ Have my credit card at Zero balance by end of the each month.
~ Come under budget. (Only if you don’t count major project)
~ Deposit into the online accounts.
~ Pay All Due Bills on pension days or ahead of time. (As my budget is now in Excel, I can see a working model of these figures. When due and approx amount needed for each month.)
~ Chiro visit (one every 4 weeks)
~ Known outings to budget for in December - February –dining out 5 times
~ Live off my Bulk Food Assets & Storage Assets
~ Gardening Mowing & weed back garden & put water saving techniques in place.
~ Cull & de-clutter computer files not in use.
~ Downsizing storage areas and clean these areas (zones 9, 10 & 11)
~ Lay a load wood chip that our neighbor hood (10 households) got for FREE, so far I have moved 30 Wheel borrows full for my garden. Still wheel borrows more to go.

Well I have been off learning to use my new computer and printer; I did fine some free online lessons so I have been doing these for the past two weeks.

HP -Online Tutorials

As for spending I went out and bought myself a new Kodak C763 Camera last week. Saving over $140 on RRP when not on special.

I will have to stop spending for now as I have some large bills due next month.

I will drop in at the end of this month.

Kitty

Well I have been busy looking at my next major project.

Unlike most people living on limited income, I believe in buying the best quality products for my money that I have to spend and not spending to save money by buying the cheapest I can get.

I’m updating my computer, printer, & programs this time. After checking out what was available for the price that I wanted to pay! I found one that I had made up to what I wanted. I was able to buy all branded parts just over my total budget $1500 cash only. On Programs Window Office 2007 & anti-virus programs, I saved $220 on top prices quoted. Printer I got one that I could print in black only, and refill the ink. Saved $20 as it went on special the day before I picked up the computer and USB data stick 2GB saved $13
HP Pavilion or Dell had for the same money only, had 512MB Ram and Memory 80G to 200G in $1000 to $1500 range with paying for expended warranty extra.

My computer has Ram 1G, Memory 250G with fast drive, 19 inch LP flat screen monitor including Window ® XP Home, floppy drive, optical keyboard & mouse,
DVD burner, safety power pack and temperature warning system plus five years labor warranty and including help to exchange data from old to new computer, loading all the programs.

On what I got included in one computer that I bought, saved about $900 on one with same standard components around $2000 mark.

Summery
Computer $1044 - saved $900
Programs $305 - saved $220
Printer $69 - saved $20
USB data stick $27- saved $13
Office 2007 book $27 -saved $13
Warranty - Free - saved $248
Safety power board- $149 - top of range
Total spent $1594 Total saved $1414
saving 47%
Over budget by $94

(If I had paid by credit card that would have been extra 3% charge of $37.29)

So now it’s back to saving for a holiday next.

Well it’s almost two week since I lasted posted here.

I have been to EKKA again this year, which is on now. I wrote about it in last year August 2006 blog. I spent around $40.00 this time and $20 was on books.

Today I went to the second hand bookstore near my home and bought all the back dated copies of Australian Gourmet Travellers, which I collect. I bought around 35 copies this time. 5 for $2.00 which is good buy as they are new $7.95 each.

I got a free coffee again today - saving $2.45

Today’s Senior Card Savings - $2.45
Add to total $20 Challenge $89.95
My Spending today $54.00

In the city today, paid my credit card off again in full and paid another bill too!

We went to the Sizzler’s again, just having the salad bar & drinks today $11.95 as they have put the price up again. Saving $2.80 with my senior card. Even though I went to five other places to buy things on my list not one had them anything I wanted so I just walked out again.

Lucky I did as when I left this morning, I was having trouble with hot water system, it over 13 year old so it a replacement job. The thermostat is gone I think, and the $200 to fix it for around 2 years is not worth it. As it only will cost about $600 –700 to replace it for next 10 years plus. Life span is around 10-15 years for an electric hot water system. It not economical for me, to buy solar hot water system at $4000 and only $1000 rebate with about same life span.

Why I know it needs to be replace is for the last few weeks it been just eating the kWh big time. I have been reading the meter every few days, have use 68 kWh since Saturday, and had NO hot water when I went to shower this morning and I used so little hot water in that time too! It took over 20 minutes to fill the tank until it overflowed, then I read it and check the meter box was on too! When I came home this afternoon I read it again I had use 13 kWh in 7 hours which means that thermostat is not turn off when hot and all I am getting is the laundry full of steam instead. I rang the energy company and found when the next power reading is and as I am 100kWh over now and still 4 weeks to ago before next reading. I spoke to a plumber, we will buy one and replace it on Saturday. In the meantime the power tariff that is on 24/7 used only 12 kWh in all this time since Saturday with 2 large refrigerators & chest freezer as well all the lights, TV’s & computer etc. So another Major project expense this week, lucky I bank that $1000 rebate a few weeks ago.

Today’s Senior Card Savings - $2.80
Add to total $20 Challenge $87.50

I went shopping this weekend, and bought heaps of fruit & vegetables as the Granny Smiths Apples, brown onions, sweet potatoes were only 79c kg. So I bought a lot of them as I have dehydrator with 10 trays so I will be over next few days, I took over 3 hours to cut and lay out seven trays today. I had to cut them up very finely for what I need them for, as I am making seasoning mixers. I have to do the onions on they own but the others can be done together. I also bought celery, peppers, & kiwi fruit. I will do the apples & kiwi fruit together then get around to them. Dried apple slices are 250g for $2.99. Before I went shopping, I went to Hungry Jack’s and got a free coffee and single cone 40c, with my senior card. Saving $2.45 here.

Weekly Main Meal Menu
Sunday ~ Ham Omelette with Tomato Salsa
Monday ~ Chilli Con Care & Corn Chips
Tuesday ~ Chicken Schnitzel with Tomato Salsa & Steamed Vegetables.
Wednesday ~ Pea & Ham Soup & Toast
Thursday ~ Spaghetti Bolognese
Friday ~ Poached Fish with Steamed Vegetables
Saturday ~ Thai Satay Chicken with Steamed Rice & Green tea

Adding Coins $20 challenge -$12.50
Today’s Senior Card Savings - $2.45
Add to total $20 Challenge $84.70
My Spending today $35.56
Any Savings today $12.45

I went to the city to have lunch with my ex-work friends today! We went to Sizzler’s as usual, I just had the salad bar. Saving $2.00 with my senior discount so that another $2.00 for $20 challenge.

I did pay my credit card balance off in full. But as my internet bill was not on this, I had to ring to fine out why and make sure that I wasn’t cut off at end of this month. They did as no I would be and I would be charged for last month & next month on the next bill. Not happy with that but it was they problem not mine!

I bought some markdown organic pasta 1kg saving $1.50 and bacon bones to make pea & ham soup to-morrow.

Yesterday it rained all day but only light showers, my tank is full again! I now have enough water to last for a few months if didn’t rain for a while. I will use only full recycle & tank water for the next month or so.

Today’s Senior Card Savings - $2.00
Add to total$20 Challenge $69.30
My Spending today $445.00
Any Savings today $3.50

I dropped into the antique store and had a look around and end up buying a $3.00 very old cookbook with lots of old style recipes in it. It's instruction book for a refrigerator in the 1950's.

While I was out, I walk up to Hungry Jack's and had a free coffee $2.45 that's add to $20 challenge. It not bad for a treat now & then for 40c for ice cream cone that I have with it.

Here one of my favorites that I still make. This recipe is from the booklet above.

Peach Melba
Open a can of cling stoned peaches halves.
Put a half peach in each glass dish.
Fill centre with a good ice cream, pour over some raspberry syrup toping, then pile whipped cream on top of all.
Garnish with a maraschino cherry.
Vary this by using fruit syrup (peach) from the can instead of raspberry syrup topping.

Weekly Main Meal Menu
Sunday ~ Homemade Hot Curry Chicken Soup & Toast
Monday ~ Spaghetti Bolognese
Tuesday ~ Spicy Pumpkin & Sweet Potato with Lentils
Wednesday ~ Scramble Eggs on Toast
Thursday ~ Garlic Chicken Schnitzel with Tomato Salsa & Steamed Vegetables
Friday ~ Poached Fish with Steamed Vegetables
Saturday ~ Curry Ground Beef & Rice with Sambal

Today's Senior Card Savings - $2.45
Adding to total $20 Challenge $67.30
My Spending today $3.40
Any Savings today $2.45

It’s very windy here but no rain. The temperature has dropped quite a lot too!
I am not going far from home at the moment. But today I did go out this afternoon and bought three packets of sweet & sour sauce, at 80c each instead of $2.40 each. Tin of chocolate milk shake flavouring for 99c, saving $2.00 here. Spaghetti 50c and 5kg of basmati rice $8.29 saving $2.63 here & a Milk for my friend 99c

I also went to my favorite clothes shop there and they had want I had on my shopping list 3 pairs of ¾ length pants on special at $9.95 each so I saved $30.00 here. My old pants are very worn so they need replacing for next summer. So my practice of downsizing my clothes will put these new ¾ pants on top of the list.

My Spending today $42.98
Any Savings today $39.43

I have been a bit lazy with this blog of lateas I have been watching the Big Brother program here, too much TV anyway. I will try get a little more with it and blog a bit more often and I will post a full update tonight.

On the rain front, we end up getting one & half days of good rain here. My tank & all the tanks that were in stalled are now full. But elsewhere in the country (NSW) have been in trouble with a low of the coast and flooding and tanker running a ground in the height of the storm. A whole family of five was washed away when a road gave way. Another couple lost their lives when a bridge gave way, such a lost too! Just before that we had train crash in Victoria with eleven people dead when a semi-trailer ran into a train at a level crossing.

Weekly Main Meal Menu

Sunday ~ Vegetable Soup with Toast
Monday ~ Chicken Mustard with Rice.
Tuesday ~ Devilled Sausages with Mashed Potato & Peas
Wednesday ~ Pasta with Pasta Sauce & Tuna
Thursday ~ Beans Rissoles & Salad
Friday ~ Poached Fish with Steamed Vegetables
Saturday ~ Garlic Chicken Schnitzel with Tomato Salsa & Steamed Vegetables.

For the last 24 hours it's been raining on and off all day & night. Still more to come for next two days.

This is enough rain to fill our new tanks up and enough soaking raining around the dams that any more rain will start to run into the dams. It's needs over 50mm of rain each time for this to happen at the moment as the ground is SO DRY. Some areas have had over 100mm, around here over 50mm so far.

I went out last night and was in the city when the rain started. No money spent but I had free food. In mall, I saw the down pipe working in full force. We have roof on one the covers there, that make a water fall when it rains. The pond at the bottom was empty last time I saw it now it full then drains into water tank. They have made a large storage water tank under this area so that it can be used to water the gardens in the Mall.