Tripping through Tuesday

No ~ I didn't fall over...

I'd like to say there was no spending today but it is more realistic to say there was no unnecessary spending. Anything purchased was necessary. Petrol was an urgent requirement ~ $10 in the tank to ensure we get SmallBoy to and from school for the week. It's a 20km trip each way and unfortunately not connected to any bus route. Ce la vie ~ it is how it is.

With the start of the new school term there have been some expenses which needed to be finalised today. The biggest one was for the required NetBook ~ $130. Egad is the second word that came to mind - the first is not fit to print *grins*  As much as we had hoped to stall this payment, SmallBoy needs to using his NetBook from tomorrow and this cannot occur without payment. That ol' rock and hard place ~ so we 'borrowed' from the rates money and will replace it from the family payment on Friday. Also required was $55 for the Grade Six bomber jacket. If we had not ordered it last year, this would not be due. However, obviously as it was ordered it needs to be paid. Boy am I glad we got the rest of his uniform for under $40 at the car boot sale last year ~ saved over $180 getting everything for summer and winter, aside from the winter jacket. Hence the need for the Bomber Jacket.


Cheap Eats  

Tonight's dinner was scheduled to be baked potatoes but we've only got enough spuds for two meals. I've been a little 'creative' and using frozen sweet potato wedges - a free packet from McCains. On top I've used one serve of spaghetti bolognese and added kidney beans, cumin, a little chilli and made chilli con carne. A dollop of sour cream and its a yummy scratch dinner with left overs for toasted/Breville sandwiches tomorrow. Sadly, we are out of sour cream but delicious regardless.

SmallBoy is not one for new tastes, so with eyes closed Husband asked him to take a bite of the McCain's Sweet Potato Chips and guess what it was. First guess was carrot ~ said with a wrinkled up nose (because he doesn't like cooked carrot) ~ and when told no, he took another bite. This guess was pumpkin ~ another dislike. He was surprised it was not pumpkin either and said he did actually like the chips. So we said it was sweet potato and eating the chilli con carne with sweet potato chips was no struggle at all. Ahh McCains ~ you've done it again!!

The chilli con corne was easy to make ~ and uses a basic mince used for spaghetti bolognese or savoury mince.  Once every month or two Husband or I make up a big bulk mince using 1.5-2kg of mine, 2 onions, 4 cloves garlic, 800g tin of tin tomatoes, two scoops of tomato paste, beef stock, 6+ bay leaves, a heap of herbs and, once cooked, this divides into three or four portions for the same number of meals for 3-4 people.

1 portion basic mince
1 tin of kidney beans (drained)
1 tsp cumin powder

1-2 tsp fresh chilli (jar or two fresh chilli pieces)

I like to add a few spoonfuls of hot salsa to get the extra chilli kick, but while we acclimatise SmallBoy to the joy of hot, spicy foods, this version is mild enough for SmallBoy. This mix is yum over potatoes, leaving enough over to have on toast for lunch.

Other bits 

There's been heaps of night-crawlie activity with the up and down weather. It seems the rain, then heat, more rain and warm humid conditions has created a perfect environment for all sorts of bugs. I've no problem being inundated by crickets, bright green flying bugs, even the daddy-long-legs haven't sent this arachnophobic into a tizz. But the mosquitos are giving me the irates!!

With all the mozzie repellents on the market you'd think there was something on the shelf to allow a good night sleep and deter the buzzing torpedoes from falling from the ceiling to hoe into our poor tender flesh...  No so far!  We've used Rid, Avon and good ol' Areoguard and still we wake up eaten. Poor SmallBoy seems to be the mozzies favourite fare.

Simple Savings - my source of all things cheap, effective and less impacting on the environment - has suggested items like the Dettol Anticeptic no-water hand wash to deter the biting bandits. But at $6 a bottle on special, I looked at the ingredients and have made up a solution which really works a treat for half the cost. 

Using an old deodorant pump bottle, mix 50ml of sweet almond oil or another light nut oil, 10ml of dettol type antiseptic, 10ml of eucalyptus oil and the same amount of citronella oil and shake well. It doesn't stain clothes or the bed linen, is light on your skin and has kept bugs away for the entire night. Brilliant!!

Give it a go and if you find it a success, a little donation into the Spare Change Jar would be a wonderful thank you *grins* Oh we chip, chip and sweet potato chip away at debt bit by bit!!

Holy Guacamole

Hubby could not believe the increase in 24hrs...

And Barney Banana...

The flow on effect * pardon the pun* of the QLD floods and tropical cyclones has already impacted the price of fruit and vegetables ~ and I don't think it is going to get any better. In the space of a day, bananas have gone from $1.99pkg to $5.95pkg! I heard that bananas were going to be limited, held back from the shelves but these were the same bananas which were on the shelf the day before, just a little less green. Should have bought more during the week like I usually do, especially if they are green. I was reading the Liberal's blog ~ no idea why but I was ~ and it said fruit will be rising by 14% and vegetables by 21% this year. If only!! I see the current rise as about 200% and would assume this is going to effect capsicums, eggplant, mangos, sugar and other produce as well. No brainer really...

No Shopping for a Fortnight
Down to the last of the cereal ~ SmallBoy has enough WeetBix to have tomorrow and then we will use porridge for breakfast. I love porridge! Nothing better in the morning than oats with a milk moat and some brown sugar sprinkled on top. We've got two bags of no-name oats to use so there is no need to worry about ducking to the shops to spend. I've got muesli, but the menfolk aren't that keen unless it can be put into yoghurt and eaten like a crunchy mix. No yoghurt so that's off the menu at the moment.

The roast was delicious. The gravy it made was scrumptious so tonight's pie is going to be a treat. I'll use the last of the fresh veggies (because they all look a little sad and wilted but you don't see that in a pie). It's going to be yum. No spending is going well ~ nothing has been bought since Thursday, and most of that was for the cats.

Left over lamb roast pie

Left over lamb roast
1 cup left over gravy
1 cup Broccoli and cauli
1/4 packet of frozen veg
2 sheets of frozen puff pastry
Wholemeal plain flour
25g butter
* Note that all amounts are approximate

Chop the fresh veg into teeny pieces, not floret size - smaller
Boil the kettle and put the fresh veg into a microwaveable container with about a cup of boiling water. Do not discard the water. Cook the veggies for about 2mins on high.
Remove container and add frozen veg into the container to defrost (and add flavour to the veggie water)
Cut the cooked lamb roast into little pieces, 1cm or smaller, and put into a pot on the stove.
Drain the water into a large cup and add veggies to the pot
Add butter to the pot and turn the heat on med-high to melt
Cover vegetables and meat with wholemeal flour, mix to combine
Put some hot vegetable water in with the left over gravy, mix through and add to the pot
Add the remaining vegetable water (half first) until the mix is thickened
Defrost the pastry and line a pie dish with one sheet
Fill with pie mix and cover with the second sheet of pastry
Cook in the oven, around 200C until pastry is golden

I try to use the minimal amount of dishes and utensils because I hate washing up. This uses a pot, a microwave container, a pie dish and a mug. Oh, and a knife and mixing spoon. You can grind the meat in a food processor if cutting it up is too fiddly. Cutting the veggies up really small means every slice will contain lots of everything - if you use large chunks be prepared to cut them when eating. The water used to par-cook the vegetables is full of flavour. You've got it - use it. A little mint sauce or seed mustard goes well in a lamb roast pie. There is no need to add salt and pepper if you use left over gravy which is seasoned enough - especially if you made it using the roast meat the night before. If you brush milk or water over the pastry before baking it makes it extra golden and crisp.

A few fresh strawberries from the garden for dessert will go down a treat ~ the bush is going nuts due to the rain and heat, so many rosy red berries and they are so sweet. With a scoop of Weiss berry ice-cream and that's a divine finish.

Dishes in the washer and that's it for the evening ~ SmallBoy is in bed, grumbling because its still light out ~ its time to sit with a Baileys and rustle up some chocolate. There must be something chocolate in the pantry ~ there is always some in there, somewhere...

Guess who just popped past??

Ho Ho Ho

Yes ~ Father Christmas (also known as Santa, St Nick and many other alias') has been down our chimney, delivered the goodies and is now heading over to Western Australia for deliveries.  How do we know this?  

Aside from helping him unload a plethora of gifts from that mighty sleigh of his, we were watching his journey using the wonderful Norad Santa Tracker which now used Google Earth (but make sure you use the free app ~ there are some up expecting payment ~ spoilsports!)  Plus we know for sure the roof is going to need some work if we plan to put up solar panels!

Thanks to Father Christmas using the chimney ~ we will not require a sweep out when winter rolls in next year. For such a big bloke, he sure can squeeze down skinny flues!  Can you tell we enjoyed a natter and some Christmas spirit?!!  Oi vie it is late and so not how this year was 'planned'.  Lost a few days with this annoying cough, cold, flu, virus lurgy. Much better now ~ thanks for asking ~ and more thanks to those who sent the much needed 'get well' vibes!

Should get about 6hours sleep before the kids decide to wake us up and start the merriment. Hopefully the Christmas spirits will carry us through *grins* Actually ~ I've only been drinking ginger cordial. Very yummy and helping kick this bug!

My horoscope has had me giggle ~ couldn't be more suitable for this particular time. I am really looking forward to the family all together for lunch ~ who would have thought!:

SCORPIO (24 December US/Canada/UK/Europe - 25 December NZ/Australia) 
Despite the fact that your mind is likely to be on other things and to your horror you can’t seem to take your professional hat off, this is one Christmas that is likely to be very special, with a lot of love, pleasure and joy. That’s because for the first time since 2007 Venus, planet of love is spending Christmas in your sign, reminding you that at the end of the day it’s all about love, listening to your heart and focusing on the things you’re able to celebrate.

Salads are made, ready for the esky. Breakfast is sorted - home made chocolate croissants amongst other yummies. So now Husband and I shall hit the hay and be ready to have a very special and happy day. There are going to be some big smiles when it is daylight and the wrappings start to come off. *grins*

Wishing you all a very merry Christmas and a joyous day. 

Remembering the non-commercial aspect, show love and care to those who need it ~ and those who don't ~ today is one day we can all be friendly, forgiving, sharing and caring.

Bring out a little of your God (or Goddess) and smile like you mean it.

Love & Light; Power & Might

Namaste

Friday is for foodies...

We need to eat 

And it is always better if we can eat well. It's expensive living in a world of packaged pre-shredded pizza blend cheese, it's so fast and furious in this world sometimes we all take short cuts ~ short cuts can end up being expensive too. I know it's 'only' $2.99, $3 with rounding up, for those scrumptious Aldi biscuit pastry twists with Gruyere cheese *drools* but to buy two packets to share with visitors this weekend is moving to $5, which is milk and fruit.

So rather than going over what I hope would be an under $30 weekend smorgasbord, making our own twists to add to the Gruyere twists *drools* is a better option. We'll probably get double the amount and its a cheats version, using pastry sheets because I am also making little brownie muffins. Why should our Mission be overly difficult and deprive us of all niceties? There are some simple pleasures, or pricey ones you can do yourself for a heck of a lot less. The cheesy twists are easy. All you need is to:

Heat the oven to 200c, line two oven trays with a baking sheet or paper.

2 Sheets ready-rolled puff pastry, thawed

1 egg, beaten lightly

1 cup grated cheese (tasty, pizza, parmesan, cheddar)

1/2 cup powdered parmesan cheese

Sea salt (ground)

Garlic salt

other seasonings (eg Sumac, Italian Herbs, Moroccan spices, poppy seeds)

Then:

• Brush one pastry sheet using egg; grind over sea salt, sprinkle garlic salt, herbs of choice, grated cheese
• Place the second sheet on top pastry sheet; pressing firmly
• Brush the top with egg yolk. Sprinkle with powdered parmesan cheese
• Cut pastry stack in half width way; then length ways about 1-2cm wide to get 30-40 pieces
• Separate and twist each strip, pinching ends to seal and place on the lined trays
• Bake, uncovered, about 10 minutes or until browned lightly
• Cool and store (or eat - or hide to be eaten later)

These should be appreciated by all - they are very yummy, be assured. I ate one *grins*

Along with salads, turkish bread, dips, cheeses - those last two were in marked down - and something chocolate for dessert, we should be well covered. Oh I am getting excited.  Dinner for 8 out for under $20. *thinks* Well, um, not if you count the concert tickets - then its under $100 per head for dinner and a show! Actually, that falls under an expensive night - but it has been saved, paid and woo hoo we are going!!

All food and drinks have been planned for the weekend. What do you think about this for a weekend's menu?  We get together late afternoon - with dips, twists, biscuits and drinks.  Dinner will be some type of debacle in the gardens at Powderfinger but we are taking BBQ chicken (or home made KFC pieces, not sure yet); a salad of cos lettuce, 'real' baby roma tomatoes, capsicum, carrot, salad onion and cucumber; another salad of butter lettuce, basil leaves, coriander, feta, semi-dried roma tomatoes, chives; rolls and Turkish bread; a creamy dressing and a vinegar/oil dressing. Back home for some cheeses, fruit, Ferrero Rochers using the recipe we found on 365 Tupperware Recipes. We'll use my silicone 'nipples' and almonds for these. Oh, and champagne, Baileys - alas no vodka slammers like the days of old... *naughty*

Because our girlfriend and her hubby are staying at Wyndham Ballarat, its their 10th anniversary so we found somewhere nice, those here that rise before 10am can check out the pantry or manage on coffee, tea or milo. Otherwise, we are having a pancake brunch with toppings such as lemon and sugar, maple syrup, vanilla sugar, jams or strawberries and cream.  Mmmm - and costs bugger all. My sister needs to shoot off, as you do when child-free for a weekend, and head back the other side of the state while we hope the Slatey Chick and her hubby can loiter through a lunch of left over dinner in sandwiches. If there are no left overs, we have enough for a pull-together lunch of salad, meats, breads.  All up this will cost $24.50 from the grocery shopping yesterday - that's including flour for the pancakes you know.

The de-cluttering has dropped back, right at a point I would really like several items removed, however Husband did level 2 First Aid course these past two days, one spot left until February next year with a week's notice so he took it without thinking about the shortness of time. Excitement of the opportunity of availability? In reality the 'rush' probably was not required, however now it is done and he has his level 2 renewed and current. These courses are available through a carers programme and help save lives as well as dollars!

Lastly, our first eBay item has been sold, paid for and sent off in the mail!  It was a mighty fine feeling too. I'm putting a few kids clothes up this weekend and hope to start putting up Tupperware, Salt&Pepper, Disney items before next weekend. Nothing in the Treasure Chest just yet ~ hopefully once others see what we are managing on our Mission, a coffee memory or support will be warranted. *grins* That was the Plug.

No knocks on the door this week from anyone burly or scary, or just plain mean and looking for payments. We certainly are not expecting any at this moment, but sometimes that's just enough to put on the mockers and make it happen. We really don't think anything is at the point at this moment tho'. *phew*

The Daily Update

Today is payment day.  Payment comes in, payments go out.  We've listed everything now paid and those which will be over the week using this weeks payment. We come out with about 86c, give or take *grins* There is a little fine tuning, but we hope you see how we are going in our Mission to get the debt down.

~ Welcome to the Front Page ~

Hi there – my name is Mands and I am hoping you can help get me and my family out of a bind with debt.  Yes, we are asking total strangers for the gift of few dollars, even a few cents to help pay off our debt, stop the interest accruing, building and getting further out of control.

This debt did not come about due to lavish spending, over-indulging or financial mismanagement. Most was incurred due to medical expenses, assisted living charges, travel costs while I waited for and now rehabilitating from spinal surgery at the same time the single incoming wage under went restructure, reductions due to the financial crisis' impact on Husband's employer.

We are not asking for you to pay it for us ~ rather help contribute to pay it down with us.

*smiles*

Please... 

Back in 1997, after my first and only attempt at aerobic fitness, I was in this almighty car accident – another driver decided to cut across a six lane highway and collected me along the way (and a few poles, signage, a fence and a letterbox).  Watching the world through the windows of a spinning car is quite surreal ~ more so when the darn thing catches on fire while rain buckets down.  Luckily, I didn’t seem to be too badly injured.

A knight in a long brown dri-as-a-bone coat stopped, donned his akubra hat to keep his head dry before taking his trusty fire extinguisher from the back of his Jeep, kicking up the bonnet of my still running vehicle and slather it with white foam.   Sure did the trick on the fire, although the motor kept running without keys in the ignition.  She was a fighter to the end.

My BushMan knight hero hung his extinguisher back on his Jeep, tipped his hat to the small gathering of sopping, shaken survivors, jumped in his vehicle and drove off into the torrential storm, leaving me with a smouldering car and an excellent tale to tell.  There's more about this in Meanderings here.

The next day at work, my poor body went into shock and spasm thus starting the long journey to find for a decade I'd got about with spinal fractures.  I'd soldiered on to the point of no more with pain and leg numbness ~ 2007 started with a series of events heading a down hill slope.  More on that, starting with reference to 'that' MRI is here in Meanderings.

Unable to sit, barely able to walk and not remembering what it was like to stand up straight – that was the end of work for me.  An operation in September 2008 had the surgeon declare it was a ‘real dog’s breakfast’ in there but pins, screws, plates and all things gory were inserted for the slow road to recovery to begin.   The surgeon wasn’t wrong when he said to expect nothing for the first year, some improvement in the second year but plan on taking the next 5 years off.  You can read a little about the op here, I'll see if I've got some 'back' shots for those who just must have evidence this is real

Three months ago, my husband ceased paid employment to be my full time carer, reducing our income by $550 a week.  It ends 25years in a single industry with business relationships as strong at the end as the start. The gaining the time previously spent away from home working, we have productive home time, reliable help and physical changes for the better - physically, mentally and aesthetically.  No longer feeling we were doing it alone, now we enjoy a simple(!!) life on $628 a week from government payments.  Why no compensation you ask?  Because the other driver’s husband was a solicitor and the knight in dri-as-a-bone drove off into the night. The court awarded 50/50 no fault; TAC covered 13wks income in 1997, blah blah, legal stuff and that was that - all over red rover.  Darn it!!  Life goes on...

Today, October 6 2010, I sat down 
Actually I lay down - with the budget ~ and worked out what we have, what we owe and boy, we are on such a tight deal. Our mortgage is $276pw and we've not missed a payment.  This is not going to help clear our current debt if we still plan to eat, stay warm, put petrol in the car to get SmallBoy to school (not that he would be complaining). The repayment rates increase with the interest rate rises, the interest accrues ~ oh why can't we put all the interest/revenue raising/life expense increases on hold for a year or so and let us catch up, get things back to zero!?!?!

So, thinking outside the square and hoping to make this as entertaining as it is rewarding.  Be warned from the on-set : I tend to waffle, change thought mid-way, discuss our options 'aloud' to see how it looks. I will try to keep that process on ~Mands Meanderings. It's my personal blog, started while waiting for surgery. Please forgive me in advance for over-flow...

On a Mission to Find Change      

Aside from the mortgage, which is not part of the mounting debt we want to clear, we owe the following:

The VISA credit card (drastic plastic) ~ $5,836.33  (was $18k in 2005)

Outstanding Bills ~ $3,930.63 so far – sadly there may be more

Personal Loan (Wyndham) ~ $4,057.94 (was $11k in 2008)

Line of Credit (attached to the mortgage ~ $21,764.21 (was $16k with $7k available end 2008)

Frighteningly Scary GRAND TOTAL : $ 35,369.49

Hold on a tick ~ just need to scoop my stomach up off the floor and put my poor heart back in place.

I guess that's $1 from 35,370 people with $1 to gift to us ~ if you can't make the dollar, perhaps the 49cents then??

We've included where accounts were at the maximums and looking at the reductions already made - we think we have done a terrific job bringing that down on the reduced single income (plus ridiculous transport costs due to distance) Husband earned.  The personal loan is less than 2years old and we'd almost got that cleared. With some outstanding monies paid and Husband's tax sorted, this could be gone – completely – finalised. Or perhaps it is best in the LOC to keep interest down while keeping the mortgage paid with our benefits. While we are no longer using the drastic plastic VISA credit card ~ we reduce the limit each time we get $2000 down and plan to have it with a $3000 limit within 18mths with your help... 

Some of our debt has already had no interest applied, or been reduced down and bill repayment amounts are arranged or in the process of being so.  Our home line was averaging $45 per month, most in line rental fees – we had this lowered to $20 and use the mobile phone on contract for out-going calls, or email, or text. I'm about to find out if the home line be reduced if we make it an incoming only line. My mobile is incoming and will go onto recharge and not account now the contract is up. Husband is locked in for another 12 months.  Internet is under $50 and with more family and friends doing the Skype thing, we'll look at getting into that perhaps.

Had we not had income low enough to meet the threshold to receive government payments for the next 6-12 months, this shout-out probably would never have come to fruition.  I don't think we would have thought to ask for help through the kindness of strangers, especially when others might see as a crass grab for cash ~ but be assured the intention is not to have kind people pay all our debt for us.  Not at all ~ you can help by throwing your spare change our way; purchasing from the eBay shop or 'treating us' to a cafe latte  ~ and feel good knowing you have helped the Mission maintain momentum!!

We are hoping to achieve a few things while on our Mission:

• Clear the clutter we have gathered over the past 10 years 
• Provide new homes for items by selling on eBay 
• Stop wasteful spending on chemical cleaners, fancy footwear and pre-package pantry delights - - this might have to include chocolate *sobs*
• Simplify life so it is not such a stressful, unstable roller-coaster ride
• Show and explain what we do to reduce debt, make-do, become less wasteful, lower financial stresses, find happiness *blissful sigh* We can make something wonderful happen! 
• Encourage others to organise themselves so they never become 'that poor family you heard about who...' personally! 
• Become frugal with money and aim for our goal of semi self-sufficiency and environmentally friendly living

And primarily; reduce the debt to zero and maintain a lifestyle fitting within our means.

Thus ~ the journey begins.