Tightwad Kitty's $$$ Stretching Blog

I went to the bank for my DF-M for a cheque to send away. I also a banked a cheque that I got a few days ago. So I was able to pay my credit card off knowing that this cheque was coming in to it make up. While I was in that area, I went to the local supermarket. Spending $10.64 on groceries & pets. Saving $1.75 here.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Soup & Toast Fruit Coffee
DINNER Pasta with Pasta Sauce & Tuna

Today’s Full price Tally $12.39
Today’s Savings - $ 1.75
2007 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $10607.61

I did the mowing today that alone saved $35.00 DIY. It was mainly just weeds but it needed to be done as I would a lot of weeds to get rid of later on if I didn’t as they are going to seed. On of my strategy is to not let them go to seed or pick the flower off before they go to seed. This does cut down on the number of weeds in the lawn by doing this. Areas that I haven’t cut the weeds out are now I have a problem in.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Soup & Toast Fruit Coffee
DINNER Bean Patties with Salad Fruit Coffee

Today’s Full price Tally $35.00
Today’s Savings - $ 35.00
2007 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $10605.86

It was a busy day, first off I went shopping and got some very good meat markdowns today. 2 trays of sausages for $3.35 and two packets of 4x Turkish rolls for $4.00 saving $8.14 here.

I also went to the thrift shopping and bought some cookbooks one is a collector item. A long with some other books all for $5.00. saving over $45.95 on them all. One a hardcover copy ‘A Book of Mediterranean Food by Elisabeth David’ for $1.00. I priced new a paperback by her last week for $27.95. I do collect Elisabeth David cookbooks.

While I was out had morning tea at Hungry Jacks buying a single cone for 40c and got 2 cups of cappuccino for free, saving $4.90 here (Senior Card Discount.)

Later in the day, I went to help young couple move into their first home, shared with their parents first meal in their first home. I did watch this young man grow up from a new baby next door. It was lovely to share this moment in time.

BREAKFAST Boiled Eggs & Toast Coffee
LUNCH Chilli Tuna Salad & Crackers Apple Coffee
DINNER Thai Satay Chicken with Steamed Rice & Green Tea

Today’s Full price Tally $71.74
Today’s Savings - $ 58.99
2007 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $10570.86

On top of each blog there are four buttons.
from the left
My Blog
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Add to My Favorites

To change colors click on My Control Panel then click on Settings you will find that's where you can charge your colors. Follow instructions - Click the colored box next to each option and wait for a second for the color picker to open. Then pressing on the coloured boxes to get the colors (I used the named color section.) Just change a few colors at a time until you like the colors, you will need to type the number of the color next to area you are changing. Just delete the number and type in the new number. Once you have all colors numbers, you can then copy & paste the numbers into the areas you like.

To reset your colors back to the default, will take you back to the Blue (default) setting to what’s on the screens are now!
If someone can’t read your colors then they can use Blue (default) button to read it.

In Broken Arrow Blog has listed a couple of color tutorials:

Today was a no spending day as I worked in de-cluttering a work area downstairs for 3½ hours.

I found a few things that I had forgotten that I had like, two ‘The Illustrated London News’ 1948 & 1950 still in good condition so I will be reading these again one day, along with some Natural Geographic that are pre-WW11. I love old things. So I had a good day in my treasure hunt.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Salad & Light Cream Cheese on Crackers Apple Coffee
DINNER Beef Bourguignon with Basmati rice

As my DIL and her mother are oversea for the Easter and DS had to work so, as he was free time for lunch. I drove up to his place so we could go together in one car. We went off to Hog’s Breath Café for lunch today and I spent $14.50 today. Early this morning I went down, to DF-M place and gave Easter eggs to her young granddaughters, who are staying the week.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Lunch out
DINNER Fruit & Coffee

Today’s Full price Tally $14.50
Today’s Savings - $ 0.00
2007 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $10511.87

I do like this set up now!

What I like is - If you can't read someone else colors then you can go to Blue default to read them.

Love it!

Happy Easter everyone

I limited my chores to a little bit of gardening today. As we go into level 5 this coming Tuesday I charges some of my fence plants to drought loving succulents. As I like to have some plants on my brick wall so that they can’t be stolen so easily I have them in bricks with no bottoms if you move them off. I have lost plants before this a few years ago now! There were some ivy geraniums there but there were starting to look awful. Other than visiting s few neighbors this morning and saying Hi to others. I have had a very no spending day. Next week will be different I will be spending up then I hope!

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Turkish Bread with Hummus Lettuce Tuna Marinated Feta with Marinated Peppers
DINNER Poached Fish with Salad Coffee

I had a very quite day working around the house doing odd jobs. This evening I meet up with my DS & DIL and we went out to dinner at the new shopping centre around here. We ended up at a restaurant, I had crumbed Nile Perch & Salad with water. This cost almost half my weekly grocery budget $21.95 with a discount $5.00 off. I had an ice cream cone later in the evening for 50c, yes at the golden arches. Later I bought a loaf of Italian bread for $1.49 save $1.50 here.

BREAKFAST Frittata with Ham Steak & Marinated Peppers
LUNCH Grilled Cheese with Mustard Toasted Slices Fruit Coffee
DINNER dinner out*

Today’s Full price Tally $25.44
Today’s Savings - $ 6.50
2007 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $10511.87

It’s the day that I meet up with my friends for lunch. We went to Sizzlers again, an all you can eat salad bar*. Saving $3.94 here with my senior card.

I did pay off my credit card to the amount on it this month. It still has a small amount on it that was bought after the cut off date, which I will pay next bill period. When I use my credit card like this I can go over into next month without paying interest as I have 45 days no interest period. $$$Another strategy

I did go to the doctor’s today in the afternoon for my annual flu vaccine. I do get my vaccines at pensioner discount $4.90 saving about $25.00 here.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH lunch out*
DINNER Scrambled Eggs on toast

Today’s Full price Tally $50.50
Today’s Savings - $28.96
2007 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $10505.37

Today list of chores was washing and some ironing. This is saving money as I am saving every bit of water for my garden in the backyard. As some of you may have read that I do save first suds load to put back into the machine for the second load thus saving 80L of water each wash day to start with. I am saving as much recycle grey water that I can now we are at level 5.in a few days time. I am getting around 240L of grey water each washday. In doing so now I am saving the second suds load too! This is for plants that if I lost them it will not matter that much. So far I am able to water for two days with water and spot water the pot plant with tap water on the days that I am allowed to use potable water. I am hoping that my tank arrives soon & we get some rain so that I can fill it somewhat! We are coming into our dry season I do think it will have not much water to fill it before next spring. It’s over month that we in the city have had any rain here and almost 2 years in catchment area, now my grass is a just a lot of weeds and dry grass with dirt patches. I will still have to mow as the weeds are still flowering. That’s on the list for next week.

I did do some of my friend business shirts today also some of my own ironing that was still to be done. I did go for a walk around the block for some exercise today.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Macaroni & Cheese Fruit Coffee
DINNER Stewed Lentils & Tomato Sauce & coffee

Started de-cluttering the tables downstairs so that I can work on some of the boxes that I keep my stuff in. I have a bad habit, in that when I have visitors, I put all the clutter that is out in boxes then storing them downstairs. But I never get back to empty them for a while or years in some things. Found some old 35mm slides of my DS as a baby. He is now been married for 7 years. These were still in the slide viewer that is now not working. As I need to clear up most of this storage area. At the moment I am putting anything that is of value in the area that it should be in. So when I get to that area in the future it will get put together with things of the same. When you have a soooooooo large a storage area, and almost 70 years of stuff from four generations and my house is the keeper of this kind of things. Not that there is anything of great value but a lot of family memories, like my nana's shoe stretchers, washing board, old dressmaking odd 'n' ends, tennis racket's brace holder with wing nuts, and metal shoehorn that I now uses. I don't want to sell any of it for now but to keep it better and cull the trash, that is mixed in with it.
BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Grilled Cheese on Toast Fruit Coffee
DINNER Chilli Con Carne with Corn Chips Coffee

It's very hard on my eyes, I hope these colors are April fool joke. Green titles & pinkish writing. As I have to copy them at the moment to read them here now and I will not be reading any blogs including my own for awhile.

Early this morning it was time to do a bit watering in the garden. We have a limited time to water and only on certain days too! In a few days time we can only water two days per week, at the moment it’s three. Mine will be Sunday and Wednesday. This is what I have been doing along with a pot plants top up on Friday’s. I still doing it mostly with recycle water but I can use tap water on these days at curtain hours in early morning. Lucky I have lights that I can use, as it is still dark when you can water at 4am to 8am and first light in winter here is after 6am.

In went shopping today using my car and bought some fruit & vegetables and groceries that were on special. Saving $3.40 here.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Tuna and Cranberry Sauce Sandwich Apple Coffee
DINNER Beans Rissoles & Salad Coffee

Today’s Full price Tally $20.30
Today’s Savings - $ 3.40
2007 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $10476.41

~ 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 - lunch. 4
~ Chiro visit (one every 4 weeks)
~ Known outings to budget for in April / May - lunch out 2
~ Live off my Bulk Food Assets
~ Make up another eight meals OAMC. - Out of Bulk Food Assets.
~ De-cluttering Computer Room
~ Gardening Mowing & weed back garden & put water saving techniques in place
~ Cull & de-clutter computer files not in use. – (on going)
~ Downsizing storage and clean these areas (zones 6, 7 & 8)
~ Install the water tank, paid and apply for rebate.

Review of the last two months.

February / March Goals & Planning Ahead

~ Have my credit card at Zero balance by end of the each month. Yes
~ Come under budget. (Only if you don’t count major project)
~ Deposit into the online accounts. Yes
~ Pay All Due Bills on pension days or ahead of time. Yes
~ Chiro visit (one every 4 weeks) Yes
~ Known outings to budget for in February / March - lunch out 4 - more than this time
~ Live off my Bulk Food Assets ~ (On Going)
~ Make up another eight meals OAMC. - Out of Bulk Food Assets. Yes
~ De-cluttering Computer Room for door project. – Stage 1 done
~ Finish Door project - Done
~ Gardening Mowing & weed back garden & put water saving techniques in place - Done
~ Cull & de-clutter computer files not in use. – (on going) - no time
~ Downsizing storage and clean these areas (zones 6, 7 & 8) no time, worked on major project
~ Install the water tank, paid and apply for rebate. - Still waiting for deliver.

Started working on put some of my books back into order after 3 weeks at other end of the room.
I did get half of this project done today will need to find time to work on it more. Maybe cull a few books also. I will need to look at the filing in this room also. This will be put onto my future to do list and the same with the clothes that are stored in this room.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Macaroni & Cheese Fruit Coffee
DINNER Stewed Lentils & Tomato Sauce & coffee

Gone shopping or bought something 19 times

Went to the city by bus 5 times

Drove my car only. 2 times

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

And had 9 No Spending Days.

Lets see what next 28 days tallies will be.

Challenge at 48th week.

Kitty’s Real Spending Total $12389.43
+ 2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $10473.01
= Full Price (RRP) Income Challenge $22862.44

Opening CC Balance $0
Kitty’s Opening Balance Rollover $918.78 ($720 Bill A/C)
$$$Money in - $1141.06 + cash w/d $400
= Total Income Balance. $2459.84
Bills Total $818.50
Other Spending (& major project)& Groceries $1533.84
$$$ Money out = $2352.34
Cash Banked in other A/C’s $72
Kitty’s Rollover Balance $648.00 ($265 Bill A/C)
CC Balance $317.00
Major project bills still outstanding = $360

This morning all the painting is finished on the doors. It’s looks so good. After I did some housework before went out. As late last night after I posted here, I got a phone cal to say that my niece was flying in for the weekend, if I would like to meet up for a few hours today. As she wasn’t available after that as she is working all weekend and then flying home on Sunday.

I meet her at her hotel around 2pm and then we went to say Hi to my DIL who works just a few blocks away. Then it was shopping and a walk around city for a while, as she didn’t need to report in until the morning. We went off too the Friday Night Market’s at South Bank. We had something to eat while we were there. After walking around for hour or two we both went separate ways. This outing costing $10.65 with two free cups of coffee along the way. Saving $4.90 on these.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH fruit
DINNER take away

Today’s Full price Tally $15.55
Today’s Savings - $ 4.90
2007 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $10473.01

I did some varnishing today; this only took an hour to do. I will do one more coat of varnish on the doors themselves in the morning. I spent most of the day on the computer and resting for part of the day. I still get very tried when doing this kind of work for too long. So its another no spending day here.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Soup & Toast Fruit Coffee
DINNER Bean Patties with Salad Fruit Coffee

Early this morning before sunrise, I worked on getting my patio back in order. While working on the door project, I had to put what plants that were there, all in one corner so they had to be thinned out and rearrange so I could put back the patio setting that belong there too! I had saved some recycle water so that I could give it a quick wash down and water the plants while I was at it. It will be along while before that corner will be sweep again.

After breakfast using what paint that I had at hand I painted the white work it’s first coat. Then I when and put away all the tools that belong in the workshop and sweep up. Gee that feel good to have all that done.

I did go for a walk this afternoon but I never bought anything. So I did have No spend day after all!

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Chilli Tuna Salad & Crackers Apple Coffee
DINNER Curry Ground Beef & Rice with Sambal

I still have some more painting to do, this is about one hour per day, as I have to wait for each coat to dry and do one section first before the other. So it’s working on white paint then I will do the varnishing. I did do the undercoat and the restrained some of the wood as cement got on to it. This took about 75 minutes this morning.

After I took myself off to the hairdresser to get a trim that was long over due. Spending $14.00 saving $9.00 on a city salons. On the way back I dropped into one of the thrift shop that I rarely visit to look at a gift that was in the window but it was not up the standard for that person’s present. I did buy $5.00 worth of books, some cookbooks as my donation for the month. Value of these books on RRP $29.70 saving $24.70.

Now I am sitting here at my computer looking out the door that was just made smelling my gardenia that is just outside, listening to all the birds in the trees.

My handyman friend rang to say thathe is flying out on Thursday morning for New Zealand, which I have been trying for him to do for months. As he hasn’t been home to visit his sister in 15 years and both are not getting any younger. I dare say I will be happy when he arrives there.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Salad & Light Cream Cheese on Crackers Apple Coffee
DINNER Beef Bourguignon with Basmati rice

Today’s Full price Tally $52.70
Today’s Savings - $33.70
2007 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $10468.11

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

Well today I started work on my first topcoat of enamel on the security doors. Which took over two hours to paint. It’s looking good.

After I went off the supermarket to buy some cat food for the next few weeks while there I bought some fresh fish for us to eat to-night as my cats love fresh poach fish as a treat. Saving $12.88 on grocery.

My handyman friend went shopping today and spent another lot of money for another project he thought that I should have done also at the back of the house. So more money spent here $126.39.


BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Salad & Light Cream Cheese on Crackers Apple Coffee
DINNER Poached Nile Perch with Salad Coffee

My major project door spending to date. $1508.14

Today’s Full price Tally $176.96
Today’s Savings - $ 12.88
2007 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $10426.57

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

This morning my handyman friend arrived at 6.30am to finish off the security door section he was working on so I could start painting before he went off to do job for someone else. Before going we went to the locksmith to exchange & buy the new lock. Buying a right lock & refund $55.38 and spending another $163.20 for a better and stronger lock a deadlock this time.

After this I left him and walked to the city from the locksmith, as it was only about 2km across the Walk Bridge then though the gardens up to the city this took me about hour. I am going to meet a friend for lunch, we haven’t seen each other for around eight years as she lives interstate and is here for the week. As both of us are into spending for the sake of boredom. We went off to the State Registry Office so that she could apply for her Parents Marriage Certificate, when jump on a free bus for trip around the city so that she could see the charges to our city since lived here 40 years ago. When it was time to go to lunch, we used our senior cards here and saved $5.00 each on our meals.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Lunch out *
DINNER Grapes, Muesli & Milk Coffee

My major project door spending to date. $ 1305.25

Today’s Full price Tally $180.88
Today’s Savings - $5.00
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