Well I got another 12 plants repotted and planted Lemon Grass in the ground. While I was at the supermarket today, I saw mother-in-law tongues that I have just repotted today selling for $20.45 just for one plant in ceramic pot. I have around six or more, which is a weed if you grow them in the ground around here.

I went to the supermarket to get some more pet food and few groceries items on my list. Saving $5.30

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Crackers & Blue Vein Cheese Coffee
DINNER Salmon Patties and Vegetables Fruit coffee

Today’s Full price Tally $34.60
Today’s Savings - $ 5.30
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $6650.51

After working around house today. I needed a something sweet to eat. So I went up to the local shopping centre for a walk to by a packet of triple chocolate biscuit. I limit myself to only 2 biscuits per day so I get to eat them slowly. I bought a cake that was on special saving $1.70.
I also bought pet food that was on special. Saving $1.30

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Crackers with Cream Cheese & Herbs Fruit Coffee
DINNER Salmon Patties and Vegetable coffee

In this morning mail came credit card statement & my tax cheque refund $100, I am happy with that one. I don’t pay tax but I do have some shares which why I got a refund.

I checked my bank account to make sure that I had enough to pay the car service that order today as well as rust proofing on my car. I put my car in first thing this morning and pick it up at lunchtime today. Paying $103.95 for the service on my debit card and putting the rust proof on CC. Cost $595, which I will pay off before the end of October when the interest free days run out. This little job I did promised my self when I bought the car back in February. Bus fare of $1.10 saving $1.10 to go back to car dealer’s as they drove me home instead of waiting 3 hours for the car.

While I was out I went to the bank & supermarket nearby. I banked the Tax cheque and got another one for the another mail order that I am sending for this month costing $62.35 saving a lot (I will tally saving when it arrives.) Groceries & pet litter costing $11.40 saving $3.40.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Crackers with Cream Cheese & Herbs, Fruit Coffee
DINNER Devilled Sausages with Garlic Focaccia Bread

Today’s Full price Tally $772.70
Today’s Savings - $104.40
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $6359.26

Today is my shopping day. I am trying to do most of my car & shopping jobs on today.

I went into the thrift shop in the shopping centre and looked at they books, which are what I normally, do. Today I came across a Calligraphy Cookbook collector item for $3.00. The cover is by Donald Jackson and all the calligraphy inside too! The Book is in good condition too. ‘Entertaining with Cranks’ it’s a vegetarian cookbook and I do have another Cranks cookbook too! Part of my cookbook collection is these kinds of books. I did do calligraphy at one stage and had a class with Donald Jackson in 1985. I think this is why I am so happy. He was at the time of writing was the Queen’s Calligrapher in England. Save $13.50 on sale of 2nd book for sale at abebooks co uk today.

Then off to the supermarket that I get a discount from. To buy my potting mix as I have a rain check for this items saving $5.55, along some gardening items instead of buy groceries I buy gardening supplies. This is a pet shopping stock up for next 2 weeks or more. If I don’t buy pets items then I don’t go to the supermarket. Well they stuff up today twice in 7 days can you believe, not the same store but little old me. I bought & checked my docket just outside of the checkout, in this case I would have not been believed if I had left the area. The check out staff did a multi sale ring up on both lots of pet food cans. I wasn’t planning to spend that much so I was checking why, 15 cans & 13 cans of pet food I don’t think so. When I & the supervisor counted them, we only got 12 & 10 cans of each sort, so a refund $4.83 on that lot. So moral of this tale check your dockets please.

I had a snack at my favorite snack bar & cheapest in the area too! Hot dog on roll & milk shake for $2.40. If I bought the same at Wendy’s, it would have cost another $4.00 so saving there.

The price gas is going down from what it was, so I put more gas in the car. Just fill it up not much I haven’t used the car much ¼ of tank. Got 4c litre off .40c as I only put 10L in.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Macaroni & Cheese Apple Coffee
DINNER Beef Bourguignon, Ice Cream with Ginger Chocolate Sauce Coffee

Today’s Full price Tally $80.32
Today’s Savings - $22.95
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $6181.21

I did go and buy my cats they dry food as it was on special. Saving $3.00

Along with the balance of my grocery and other items shopping for next two weeks. Saving $19.90

I am trying to cut back the amount of grocery shopping that I do. They are little shops but it does add up to hoard of grocery line in my pantry. The only way I will stop buy is not going or limiting what I can buy. As I mainly go for cat food so I have bought enough for two weeks. I am limiting myself to eggs, fruit & vegetables, and gardening items. As I go with or take people shopping in my car this will be fun when I don’t buy when their shop!

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Crackers with Cottage Cheese Chutney & Herbs Fruit Coffee
DINNER Steak, Egg, Tomatoes, & Grilled Onions Coffee
SNACK Homemade Muesli Bar

Today’s Full price Tally $78.23
Today’s Savings - $22.90
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $4627.32

I tidy up the dining room table after dumping all my goodies from Ekka there. I did go through them and put the items suitable for the children under ten in their bags. Putting away the food items that I bought, as two of the bags were grocery show bags with cakes baking dishes included. A nice little hoard of luxury grocery lines for me to try.

I did go and buy my cats, their canned food as it was on special and it was finishing today. Saving $6.12. I bought some garden fertiliser along groceries that I needed for next week as they on special this week. Saving $4.75

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Soup & Toast Coffee apple
DINNER Black Beans Beef with Noodles Custard Tart Coffee

Today’s Full price Tally $ 25.88
Today’s Savings - $12.10
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $4604.42

Off to the doctor’s again with DF-M then off to do shopping at a larger shopping centre. We had lunch at Subway which cost DF-M around $7.90 all up after the I made a compliant over a coffee machine on go slow so FREE coffee and cookies for each of us. Along with senior card discount it was a saving of $10.70 all up. As my lunch was FREE, so saving me $9.30. I bought only pet food on this trip. Saving $1.20.

In the afternoon I went shopping with DF-D got a few bargains, special on jeans, 2 pair for $18.50 RRP per pair $39.95 saving $61.40 then bought some Copy Paper 5 realms for $24.00 saving $10.75 and having green tea at her place. All I need to do now is turn up the hems on the jeans.

BREAKFAST Oatmeal with Current & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Avocado & Cottage Cheese on Crackers Apple Coffee
DINNER Roast Turkey Dinner, Paddle Pop, Coffee

Today’s Full price Tally $123.95
Today’s Savings - $ 82.65
Bulk Food Replacement Fund - $192.30
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $3976.84

Out of cat food that they will eat. So it’s off to supermarket to get some for them as well batteries that I have run out of. I used the car, as I had to go to one down the hill to get them. I saved $11.86 on the batteries that I bought by buying a larger size pack. Special was on 4 pack AA$4.98 ($1.25ea) regular price $6.96 ($1.74ea) and I bought another brand and saved money. 16 for $15.98 (99c ea.) regular price $17.98 ($1.24 ea.) It does pay to have a calculator with you.

I have got rechargeable batteries but they are very old and only last a few hours before I need to replace them.

Watched TV for 5 hours tonight. Tonight watched Big Brother the last Sunday show (It finish’s to-morrow) then watch CSI which I don’t do most nights.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Soup & Crackers Muesli Bar Coffee
DINNER Honey Mustard Chicken with Vegetables and Rice, Fruit, Coffee

Today’s Full price Tally $43.67
Today’s Savings - $ 11.86
Bulk Food Replacement Fund - $182.80
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $3804.22

My tank needed some more gas put into it so as its at lowest today I will buy it now!

Needed to go to the bank today, so I made a trip of it while I was out.

Also got my next few week’s supply of cat litter while I had the car out too!

By buying gas today I am saving around 16c litre, as while I am writing this up gas is back up to that level and rising.

BREAKFAST - Oatmeal with Current & Milk Coffee
LUNCH - Pumpkin & Lentil Stew, Mandarin Coffee
DINNER – Devilled Sausages with Garlic Focaccia Bread Coffee

Today’s Full price Tally $79.87
Today’s Savings - $ 17.62
Bulk Food Replacement Fund - $ 140.15
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $2976.16

Restocking my basic groceries that I was low on today.

Groceries that were on special and some bulk items that I needed so that I need not shop for the week and canned pet food enough for a few weeks I hope!

BREAKFAST - Muesli & Milk Coffee 40c
LUNCH -– Soup & Toast Coffee Mandarin 45c
DINNER – Poach Fish & Salad Coffee $2.50

Today’s Full price Tally $39.65
Today’s Savings - $6.00
Bulk Food Replacement Fund - $133.30
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $2957.64

One of my cat’s will not eat the flavour that I got left so I needed to drive over to next suburb to the supermarket there that has his brand on special this week, I did say they are spoilt.

So I bought 4 packets of his dry cat food, if he doesn’t eat it TOUGH not buying anymore.

Why they'll eat something one week then I am feeding the free loaders with it another week. I have some free loaders that I feed with what they don’t eat. I only give them food that my two cats will not eat and have left on the floor for more than 12 hours.

So my list of free loaders are four cats, one large German Shepherd from next door, and family of crows and it’s first in best dress too!

When German Shepherd from next door comes over he eats all his favourite cat food that’s on the floor for my cats, which at times I have just put down too!

Shopping today came to $21.65 saving $4.10

BREAKFAST – Muesli & Milk Coffee 45c
LUNCH – Soup & Toast Coffee Apple 65c
DINNER –Steak & Onions Tomato Baked Beans Coffee $2.50

Today’s Full price Tally $25.75
Today’s Savings - $4.10
Bulk Food Replacement Fund - $127.00
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $2921.93

I put all the clothes that I decided to give away in the car this morning, and took them to a charity bin before I unpacked them again. I always give myself only 24 hours to get things out of the house if they are going. I started this when I found, that I had let DS leave things in his wardrobe after he left home. I had asked him to remove them, and always got, ‘I'll do it later’ remark, well one day I said enough was enough. So I just went in, only kept things of value, gave away clothes that were 6 sizes too small now, and papers from rentals he had lived in 8 years before. Some stuff had been in that wardrobe for 14 years. He had been married 5 years by then and left home 8 years before that! So the remark ‘ten years and waiting’ applies here! I do know that I keep things for a long time but I'm no longer keeping things for other people, for me to move around my house.

As I had to go to the shopping centre in the car, I did my cats groceries shopping too! Their dry cat food was on special and along with their regular cat food which went up yet again. Saving $1.50 I bought dairy markdowns, one my favourite health drink reg. $4.85 m/d $1.74, milk coffee 1L reg. $3.38 m/d $1.74 1L skim milk reg. $1.80 m/d 90c. Saving $5.65 2 jars of jam $1.99. Saving $2.86 I bought two books at the thrift shop $3.50 RRP $ 25.00 saving $21.50 and The Di Vinci Code shopping bag plus lotto tickets.

BREAKFAST Oatmeal & Currants with Milk Coffee 40c
LUNCH Crackers with Cheese & Mustard Pickle Relish Apple Coffee 40c
DINNER Honey Mustard Chicken with Vegetables and Rice, Fruit Coffee $2.20

Today’s Full price Tally $54.28
Today’s Savings - $31.51
Bulk Food Replacement Fund - $64.85
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $2473.90

Well we went to our local Target store to buy sleepwear for (DF-M) her young grandchildren that she is visiting this weekend. One of our other neighbors has a vineyard in the same town DF-M daughter lives. He will take her up for the weekend & bring her home again too!

So I took my car out today. DF-M bought lunch at the local Pizza Parlor at the shopping centre. ½ each only, I wouldn’t let her buy by two. As she only eats 2/3 of ½ then you have to eat all what’s left. Munch, Munch! I am watching my waistline too! I’m too skinny to her but my BMI read 29, her is 41. Oh well! Free lunch and gas money. Saving $6.50* on lunch.

I bought only needed items for the cats, so that I don’t need to take the car out to that shop until next month, only if I go the other supermarket. Spent $11.00 this trip saved $2.00 on a bucket for the garden that I priced before hand.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk with LSA Prunes Coffee 70c
LUNCH ½ Pizza (Lunch Out) Soft Drink – Free*
DINNER No Meal Coffee

Today’s Full price Tally $17.50
Today’s Savings - $8.50*
Bulk Food Replacement Fund - $50.40
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $1459.00

I can get mad times with them. One moment they like it then they don’t. They do have they favorites but the contents are charged and range has being deleted of they favorites and you are back to square one yet again. I own two cats, which in fact they started out as my son’s cat. Yes female who had kittens about 10 years ago. I finish up with 3 cats at first the one that I was to keep got bitten by a snake when she was about 18 months old. From that day on other two cats have never gone very far from home.

The area that I live in has many more cats now than in the past. So if they don’t like some thing now after 24 hours, I now put it out on the driveway for the other cats and they will eat it. I like to give my cats clean plates with each meal. So I am washing up four to 6 plates per day when they I don’t like this or that and wont eat it! I’m told off too! I have one very vocal male. He will not allow you to pick him up but you can brush & stroke him as much you will do. If I am lying down then he will get on the bed, talk in my ear to get what he wants and pawing me also!

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Toast & Jam Coffee 60c
LUNCH Pumpkin & Lentil Hotpot Crackers Coffee $1.00
DINNER Roasted Chicken & Tomato & Vegetable Medley $1.25

Bulk Food Replacement Fund - $28.40