Saving - not Spending

SmallBoy enjoying a winter swim... 

We are finally back on the no/low spend trail ~ aiming to not spend anything until the end of the month. This is the fourth day with no spending. Of course there are things that are best described as 'required' spending. Things like the electricity or gas bill, the rent or mortgage, those types of expenses are always needed.  However, we don't need to use the car - we can (and do) walk to school, walk up to the fruit & veg shop, walk to the doctors. We don't need to use the home phone - the mobile has calls and text included in the monthly charge, we can sent an email or pop over to someone's home for a chat. 

We don't need to go shopping - there is enough in the pantry, the freezer and fridge. A regular shop is often a habit which only brings you to the supermarket by force of habit. This is another reason why menu planning helps keep the costs down.  The only 'required' spends are $50 on electricity, $3 for school sports, $3 for milk over the weekend, maybe a few dollars on some veggies and fruit.

But that should be IT.

I am doing up our new budget now that we are settling in to a bit of a routine in our house-sit in Bundaberg. Restocking the pantry and fridge/freezer has been a bit of an expense but we have kept it to a minimum and put 'wants' on the shopping list and wait to find them on special. We've got all the essentials, its sufficient for now.

A big 'no spend' goal for the next 12 months is that of no new clothes. Seriously ~ having culled thousands of items to hundreds, left a few boxes in the shed in Ballarat and brought a suitcase (or three) here to Bundaberg which I cannot hang or store anywhere, if I buy one item ~ be it op shop, co-op, or some discount superstore ~ I will donate it AND three additional pieces to charity. Seriously, I have three times the amount of clothing than the boys combined. 

Husband is not really going to need anything either - perhaps shoes but probably not even them. SmallBoy will require new clothes over the year ~ strangely enough he keeps growing (or his clothes keep shrinking) and there will be new school uniform requirements in the new year.  

Clothes no longer possessed... *sobs*

This alone will make a huge dent in the outgoings ~ although I did see a really nice dress advertised for $15 today (stop it *smack* bad Mands). 

Today was actually a great day, involving no spending or money at all! The house is tidy, all benches and tables are wiped (with fresh lemon juice in the water too boot!), all dishes done & laundry away. The garden was watered, weeded and a trashy novel got read out in the sunshine. I went to school in the afternoon to walk home with the SmallBoy ~ thus meeting up with a fellow gardener/mum on the main road (who I met on Freecycle a few weeks ago), met her mum from Melbourne, checked out the vegetables growing and got an invitation to dinner on Saturday. Bonus! You can't buy a day like today *grins*

The veggies are starting to grow *yummo*

Time just flies...

When you are making a new house into a home *grins*

Big apologies for the lack of updates this past week. Life is busy and semi-active and by the end of the day, I am in agony ~ a bundle of oww's and ohhh's. The new pain meds are a wee bit strong (considering I was off them 2-3 months ago) but I am getting a decent sleep. 

It's taking a little time, but house-sitting a fully furnished place takes a little longer to set up and make into your own. Especially when you are going to be living in it for about five years! So why have we decided to house-sit.

Back in 1997, Hubby and I agreed we would move interstate within 5-10 years to enjoy warmer weather and fulfil our dreams. The location was not determined at that time - he wanted to be in the Coffs Harbour region, I wanted to be in the Sunshine Coast or higher. Neither of us were insistent on either location, we just knew we were looking for a place warm with oceans and/or mountains to provide us with a true sea/tree change.

When SmallBoy came along in 1999, we'd made the move to Ballarat ~ close enough to family to be some distance away. In a nice way. *grins*  We had mountains, wildlife, bushland - but could still get to family within an hour or two, and have them visit if they chose. While this was not too often (aside from Hubby's mum on regular welcomed occasions) - we were fortunate to rent a farm house with an acre to ourselves for $120pw - a pittance in any climate. This allowed us to save for a home, more when we both worked but cope when neither were employed.

Bought the house mid 2006, and less that a year later I was off work - and discovering there were fractures in my spine from a car accident a decade earlier. Oh the joys! Had to wait a year but had a spinal fusion, laminectomy and bone grafting. Sadly the graft failed - but the rest has been progressing exactly in the time frame the surgeon advised. Add in a blot clot, some severe depression and anxiety, its amazing things have progressed on track.  

There were a few who felt they knew more that the Head of Orthopaedics at RMH which did nothing for my mental health ~ imagine being told you're wallowing in a disability which isn't there. Personally I think a little encouragement, some helpful phone calls and lots of cheers at milestones would have done me 100 times more good boosting my depressed, loss state of mind than pathetic put downs. I learnt who my true, honest friends are through this experience ~ the result surprised me. Those who have helped me through - especially with spiritual, helpful friends in those first months post op and the caring, motivational friends during the last six/eight months - you have been so special to me and always will be regardless of the distance. I have even gained weight and in twelve months have put on twelve kilos - from 45kg to 57kgs - gee I am so please and proud of me (and grateful for support of friends).

There's been ups and downs, rights and wrongs but overall - our little family unit is so strong and happy together, we knew we could and would cope with the decision to move to an area we knew no-one, with a campervan and the idea we would be able to get long term, low/no cost accommodation in return for work or caring for someone. We decided so long as it was between Buderim and Cairns (our choice of area since around 2004), it would work. We thought Gin Gin to Maryborough would be best, having looked at a few properties in Tin Can Bay, Kia Ora and Childers over the years.

And here we are ~ house-sitting a three bedroom place in the Bundaberg area for the next three-five years while the retired owners embark on their around Australia adventure. With our only expenses being electricity and communications, we hope to reduce our debt by half this year and then start saving for our own Queensland piece of paradise. 

More importantly for the short term is building a social/friendship base in the area. SmallBoy has settled into school brilliantly ~ proving to be quite popular with his classmates and even developing tanned legs. This we discovered when out on the weekend and his 'tan' was highlighted by the white 'socks' on his bare ankles. *chuckles* He has been put up a year academically and is coping with the extra workload and subjects. We are considering a tutor just to ensure no gaps in his learning will make things difficult in upper high school. 

Finally my therapies are set in place and I'll be starting hydrotherapy next week. I've got the homoeopathic work scheduled plus I am working with weights, magnets and yoga to get more movement into my right side (which is considerably weaker than the left side). Costs a damn fortune - seriously half our income is on therapy at the moment so I will have to cut back. Scarily, there is some bone spur and nerve blockage going on in my neck (nice to know I wasn't making that up either!) and it looks like my hips are not aligned, but this last issue should self correct as I strengthen my core muscles again. Being in tune with my body is helping and will be a lot easier once this run on pain relief has ended and the pain management clinic sessions start.

So ~ a little history, goals and plans. Much more interesting than hearing how we have unpacked suitcases, set up bedrooms and worked out where things are stored in a 'strange' house. Oh, but we have built our raised vegetable bed and hope to be enjoying lettuces and asian greens in the next few weeks. Can't wait.

This Week's Menu 

Sunday: Beef Stroganoff with beans

Monday: Pumpkin Soup and Pide bread

Tuesday: Nachos and salad

Wednesday: Chicken schnitzel and salad

Thursday: Spinach and ricotta pasta

Friday: Tuna Patties and chips

Saturday: home-made KFC

Sunday: Pork chops and veggies

Baking/Making: Pumpkin scones; Ham and cheese scrolls; Lemon meringue; home-made 'Savoury Shapes' 

Gosh I am loving life at the moment ~ for all the crap, I ain't dead yet and hope to be out in the ocean in summer and riding a pushbike again by the start of next year. The scars are fading (but I am so proud of the big one) but the mental scars are still healing. Its a journey. Thanks for sharing it.

Time flies when you don't know what you're doing...

Do I sound flustered?

I think I am starting to panic - but almost for the sake of panicking! Not because things are moving along ~ they are and as we still have two working weeks before we head off, all should be done by the end of next weekend.

This is the goal ~ allowing Monday for mopping and dusting, Tuesday to do those last touch-ups and wipe outs (including the oven) and for the fridge, freezer, washing machine and mattresses to be collected by their new owners, Wednesday for carpet steam cleaning, Wednesday night for going out to dinner, Thursday for everything that is left to be done and Friday for leaving.

And that's next week...

This week is all about packing the garage and locking it for storage, getting the suspension, bushes and front end of the car repaired (don't ask - stress), insurances and tenants (when you think you've got that under control be prepared for the last minute *slap* of let-downs)

Our big rubbish skip will be picked up tomorrow some time ~ its had everything from doors to flooring thrown in. Every broken toy accumulated over the past 10-15years is gone, all the baby gear is gone, heck even kids books are off to new homes.

Today was one of those amazing days you can't really believe. Oh my ~ those selling vibes worked a treat. I had a little mantra going last night, and today - and I've just sold the fridge/freezer, the second fridge/freezer, the little upright freezer, the washing machine, the good queen mattress, the 'ok' queen mattress and reaped the $600 needed for petrol! 

Holy guacamole!! Only the TV, the Nintendo (and games) and lounge to go! Tho' I think I'll give the lounge to the Salvos. Gave away the double mattress as well - its in top condition but better used by someone who needs it than paying $25 to the tip for destruction!

Heck I feel relieved.

Of course we've had our solar panel contract cancelled/withdrawn ~ and they are now advising they have the right to sue us for the whole amount. So please put those vibes that the 'panel' will not only agree our cancellation is extenuating circumstances, not a purposeful breach and (and this is the BIG and) they will refund our deposit.

Had a brickie come and fix up about 30 bricks which had spalling due to being second hand and from a chimney - not an uncommon outcome with second=hand bricks. He and his apprentice ground out the bricks, replaced them and cleaned up the job. 3 hours outside in icy Ballarat and he wanted $60. Gave him $75 to get a few beers. It was a terrific job and so worth more than $60.

Car is the only 'blow out' - but safety first so there wont be any more blow outs there . . . will there!?!!!

Oi vie - it has been a weird 48 hours...

My body is screaming, there is so much to be finished, but wow things are finally happening with 11 days to go.  Actually it's one of the first times in a long time I feel the restrictions of the back operation and the physical limitations. I hurt and ache like the blazes. It's one time I feel 'disabled' ~ I can't go what I would like to do and what I would feel like I could do. My arms, neck and back have been pushed a bit too far.

Packing the van (finally!) - that is a real step in the right direction.

Rambling now - so tired after a mighty effort this long weekend.

Each day brings something new...

And its never cheap!

So the car has had its roadworthy ~ the new engine and installation came in at $1100, almost $2000 less than the reconditioned price AND removal/installation. Now we need to get the roadworthy done to find what other incidentals are needed to have the car registered again ~ oh please please angels, fairies, gods, let only small incidentals be required. If we can have the car ready to register for under $2000 we can afford the 3/4 pop top caravan. 

If not, we are looking at a few of those canvas cover fold out caravan/trailer type combos ~ you know ~ the ones where the beds poke out both sides and the camper stove, fridge and table are in the centre. No cupboard space, but floor level storage. So long as we can get our queen mattress in and up to QLD, the rest can be limited to what we get in the back of the station wagon. 

Well ~ so you know we are about to embark on a life changing sea change.

We have had some great support, awesome cheers from friends urging us forward - to live our dream. Many call us so courageous but its not just about getting the courage to do it ~ trust me. I reckon every morning these past few days I have woken with the most amazing urge to be violently ill in panic and fear (and the fluttering of excitement!). I've woken at sparrow's fart and hidden under the covers, avoiding getting up to start going through the motions of packing up (or is that scaling down) Ok ~ maybe the courage is in continuing forward and not just saying 'this is too hard and scary, lets not...' *gulps*

But I do agree with one comment dear MillieBug said: ~ its so been a case of 'don't die wondering' which prompted us to review what we wanted to do, what was keeping us from doing and what needed to be done to achieve it. There are so many things we all 'wanna do', activities we are 'gonna do' or items we hope to get 'if we win the Lotto'. We are leaving our friends here, placing our home in the hands of agents, fixing our car on the cheap, buying a canvas caravan for as little as possible, bunking with friends all the way along the coast with an oily rag in our pocket to fuel the car, going to a place we know not a soul AND to a house we have never seen owned by people we've never met. Plus we'll have about $1000 to see in the first few weeks. Oi bloody vie!!!

And yet ~ we are actually doing it. The big dump bin arrives Monday, two weeks to clear crap and the garage. Two weeks to get items of (sort of) value sold, things to keep in storage sorted, the bare necessities chosen. Then its talking to agents about tenants, insurances, schools, services for MudGuts and a trillion zillion other things we will need to do before putting the last of our house in the garage, locking it all up and leaving!! Hence the panic and feelings of fear. It is so very real ~ who would have thought reclaiming the spare room would result in moving to QLD??

How often do we get 'the itch' - be it the travel bug, changing jobs, a new career, a tree/sea change, yet we talk about, and scratch for so many years that when we 'get to the doctor' its so bad and such a mess we need to stay and be treated! Metaphorically speaking. That leap can be so hard, so confronting, so easy to ignore and put on hold until the opportunity has gone.

The whole 'there is nothing truly keeping us here' was the realisation which made the decision to move come about. There are schools in every state, there are jobs all over the country, there are more opportunities to be found afar than only looking on your back door step...

I challenge every one to take the plunge and make a change ~ throw out things you've been 'gonna get rid of', build the bit you've 'wanna had done for ages', or travel somewhere you've always dreamed of going. Changes don't have to be life threatening, but don't wait until its too late... again!

Yes Verruca ~ it's the bank's fault...

Don't you just love waking up early ~ to sunshine :D

No spending or bill paying required today. A good thing too ~ poor old NAB is having 'technical issues' and no pension has been paid into the account. Heard a lot of bitching about how terrible it is salaries have not gone in, wages have not transferred out, automatic transactions have not occurred ~ do people with incomes really put themselves that close to the wire without a little 'secret stash' for emergencies??   Just asking...

Now I can hear the swearing and cussing of 'who does she think she is', 'where does she get off' and thinking how can I be making such generalised statements. Believe me when I say, we used to live pay to pay, enjoying dinners out, weekends away, takeaway and such without putting anything away and wondering where it all went week in week out. Pay the rent, buy the groceries, buy CDs, go out every Friday, Saturday, use a taxi and whinge about how little we were paid for the work we did. Been there OK?!

I am a NAB customer whose disability pension did not get paid into the account as scheduled. Am I left stranded? No. Am I going to starve? No. Am I inconvenienced to the point of mayhem, agony and financial crisis? No. Can we manage for a day, or two? Or three even?  Yes we can.  Why?? Because even on a pension with a mortgage, children, hubby on carer payments and (now) $26,000 of debt to pay off, we 'squirrel' an emergency buffer of $10pf - 10% of our income - away for emergencies and unexpected events (like broken talus bones) to ensure we have enough to carry us for about a month.

Each time that buffer becomes a month buffer - one full payment of approximately $600 can be paid into our Line of Credit, or onto our (NAB) VISA card.  It's a habit we had while earning a regular wage and one we have maintained in $5-$10 increments every single week. Sure - panic might set in from time to time because having an 'emergency stash' of $300-$600 can be scary - but no where near as scary as having a $zero emergency fall back. 

As seems to be the case this weekend with so many screaming they are in trouble, inconvenienced with the none receipt of their weekly, fortnightly and monthly pay cheque. Come on grown-up peoples - get your personal finances and butt coverage in order. If only in a small way...

Yes - the NAB's services are substandard - especially as society expects - no, demands an instant fix or 100% timeliness in the banking, telecommunication and insurance industries' business practices.  Yes - I agree business offering a service should provide, especially when charging fees for the privilege of simply using that particular business over any others (sadly I have to include Hellstra's stranglehold on landlines in that statement) but sometimes things go wrong and, regardless of whose fault it may be or what technology failed to perform to ones expectation (including that of the relevant service provider) - cover your own behinds people and pre-empt the unexpected but not totally unavoidable with some sensible saving practices.

Has there problems with banks and technology in the past? Yes. Did people not learn anything when this happened a few months back? Especially those who were customers of NAB and previously affected. Was there nothing that suggested individuals should be a little more prepared for the 'just in case'??  Mind you - when the Commonwealth automatic teller machines went on the Fritz and issued more cash from the whole than requested - heaps took the 'chance' to access extra funds than their entitlements. Sure ~ just about everyone was asked to repay after being tracked down via personal identification numbers entered into the ATMs ~ and the Commonwealth had to do the tracking for weeks of those unwilling to advise the bank of the overpayments.

I didn't plan to break my spine and reduce our two incomes to one within a year of acquiring a mortgage.  We didn't plan on a global financial crisis to reduce that one income by 20%. We didn't plan to fall dependent on benefits for a period of time (be assured, this is not going to be case within the next 6-12months). It was never the plan to spend four years as a single income family with a newly obtained mortgage.

But we did plan to live within our means, have the capacity to fulfil our financial obligations on one income, adjust it to fit that dictated by the GFC and to save 10% of our income(s) when there in whatever capacity. We did plan to be able to cover our obligations on a single income and not rely on two full time wages. This is how we had around $7000 when I first became incapacitated in 2007. This is how we were able to have an additional year paid onto our mortgage without dipping into those savings. 

These savings paid for medications, doctors, surgical appointments, scans, therapies and transportation before disability support payments (and the all important pension card with its medical and pharmacy discount entitlements) were granted. Which all aided our request for a period without mortgage repayments while we adjusted to a weekly drop of 50% on that single income to benefit payments only in August last year. 

So really ~ what are people complaining about a 24 hour delay when we used to have manual payments. We are a society of Verruca Salt's and we "want it now" ~ when we can't we have a tantrum, expect 'Daddy' to fix it or we will grab and scream until we get it, only appeased until the next 'thing' comes along.

Just saying...

I stalk some people...

But only those staff in the supermarket holding the price gun in their hand!!

I won't deny it is much more appealing to buy fruit, vegetables, meat and other foods in perfect, pristine condition, but I have definitely found it pays to buy foods marked down to a reduced price or day old rack. In some cases, these can be the sweetest, tastiest pieces for eating. I hunt for those tickets saying 'reduced' or 'But I'm still good'.

Going into the supermarket the other day, the grocery department had two staff out with a trolley full of 'bits and pieces' fruit, vegetables and herbs for customers to bag themselves at discount. Chatting to them, as I do, the most common reason this produce could not be sold at full price as there had been a rotten piece in the bag making all remaining contents unable to be returned to the shelf as loose stock in case mould had spread or because the bag was now underweight. 

Buying reduced price tomatoes works better than buying the fresh, firm tomatoes, especially if you are planning to make sauces or salsa for use in winter when tomatoes are more expensive and less flavoursome. The softer, overripe tomatoes provide a sweeter, tastier sauce, and are usually a fraction of the price. 

If you're intending to make pickles or chutney, buy the limp cucumbers, crushed capsicum or the sad looking squash and zucchini. Get the scungy looking onions. Grab the bruised fruit if you make up a stewed fruits. Bottling up pears using the soft, fully ripened fruit or the plump, soft plums. *sobs* I missed the plums. Low cost, squashed and bruised produce can really be a winner - both in flavour and savings. 

If you're planning on making soup, virtually any veggie that has been reduced in price for becoming a sad, sorry looking shade of its former crisp self will work fine. Making soup at this time of the year - or during summer - means you've got some home-made wholesome rich winter meals ready for quick heating and avoiding the urge to splurge on fast foods.

Bakeries also have day old shelves or racks, where yesterdays bread, pastries and goodies are sold at  reduced prices. If you don't bake your own bread, you can save half price on many items. I'll admit - I've not mastered the art of bread-making. However, I never use packet crumbs or croutons - I use the food processor to crumb those last few slices of the sandwich loaf, preferring the grainy type over white bread. Thick slices of bread drizzled with oil, garlic and herbs before toasting or pan frying and cut makes the most delicious croutons.

The results of a successful stalk...

Remember tho', bakery items need to be eaten up, cooked, or frozen immediately. If made without preservatives, they will go stale and off a lot quicker than some of the supermarket breads and then there is no saving to be made - only waste. 

Local butchers often have a "seconds" shelf or section, where the chicken and meat coming up a few days old is sold at great discount. I regularly walk into the butcher, ask if there is any mark down produce and buy it - it tasted just as good, freezes well but has a much gentler hit to the purse. Same with supermarket meats. Seriously, I have been known to stalk the staff with the price gun - often asking if they are going to be marking down meat.

~ SO ~ : Do you buy from the marked down part of the supermarket? What will you buy at reduced cost? Do you find shopping by 'reduced stickers' worthwhile?  Or are there foods you just won't buy unless its in tip-top condition?

Another delicious dinner! 

A little more than the usual $1-$2 per head. Tonight I used three pieces of steak ($4.50), pate (79c), one and half sheets of pastry (50c?), broccoli (free), peas and honeyed carrots (50c?) to make individual beef wellingtons ~ an extravagant $3 per person meal *chuckles*  SmallBoy was feeling a little flat and everything tastes better when wrapped in pastry. It was going to be a stir fry with left overs for lunch but hey - it was a delicious splurge which brought a smile to everyone's face!

GIVE AWAY GIVEAWAY  click here

Don't forget to pop back to the GiveAway post with your entry to win a Bosisto's Eucalyptus Pack designed especially for readers of Mands On A Mission. You could be one of three winners receiving the new Bosisto's washing powder, oil and spray freshener. As a lover and user of the oil for many years, the washing powder is a great new addition to our cleaning cupboard!!

OK ~ it is bed time. The SmallBoy is asleep ~ MRI scheduled on Thursday, but we see the support services people tomorrow to ensure he is not suffering any panic or stress about having surgery and then how studies will be covered for the next term as, operation or not, he's off his foot for 8-12 weeks and it must be elevated. It's great they do this type of thing for children ~ all we keep hearing from medical professionals is that being such an unusual fracture, especially in a child, no chances can be taken with its care. 

Thursday Thinking about

I think too much.
And I probably try to put too much into every post.

But at least I am actually doing things as well. Today SmallBoy and I peeled a heap of apples and pears together, then I cooked them up so we will have some yummy desserts and toppings on porridge or cereal. It is so easy to do. Plus we had a lot of fun talking and doing something so simple together. . There are still about a dozen apples left - many will go into the lunch box and SmallBoy has decided he is going to make the 'stuffed' apples made on camp. That was how he got a sliced finger from the apple corer while on camp. We don't have an apple corer - that would be me with a knife. I'm excited to see him interested in cooking too.

I have been given an award and I am chuffed!!
Scather - from the blog Scathing Weekly nominated Mands On A Mission for "One Lovely Blog Award". I think for all the certificates and such received over the years, this award was one to value because it was given to me by someone who has enjoyed what we are doing without seeking something in return.

The requirements of accepting this award are as follows:

1. Link back to the blogger who gave you the award.
2. I have to tell you seven facts about me you might not know.
3. Pass the awards along to as many as fifteen blogs you have found recently.
4. Notify the bloggers of their awards.

The link back to Scathers blog is above, and here are the seven facts about me:

1. I wrote for international magazines while still at school
2. I can pick up mice, snakes, crickets, worms and lizards but not spiders
3. I have never left Australia
4. It's taken 30yrs, but I like mashed potatoes
5. I write songs, sing and play piano
6. I played pool with bands like U2, The Cure and 
7. I gave it all up for my son

Now, here are ten lovely blogs that I have found - there are heaps more but I could be here for hours:
Man vs Debt : That's Serendipity : Bad Mummy : The Happiness Institute : The Serendipity Cafe : Reinventing Rosemary  : GoodGoog  : Woogs World  :  The Simple Dollar  : A Dose of Dannie


Just Stuff

I don't write political well. It does feel to me, the little person in the bush in a teeny continent away from the rest of world, for all the technologies and advancements - we not really doing so good on the whole are we? I just can't see where we are going as a race - humans in 'control' seem to have no idea. Watch the ABC's coverage of Question Time with our government and you will wonder what is really going on with our country. I'm not a greenie, I'm not overtly materialistic, I'm not into brand name stuff at the prices attached...

No matter how hard I am trying, what I am writing here right now is not what I really mean. It's like if you're not doing a zillion things with oodles of groups and earning or multitasking to the point of exhaustion - there is something wrong with you. Nah - still not getting the right message out - so here it is in a bit of a song.

Is This Really It?

We started out on hands and knees

Learning to walk, our life was free

Took a bat and hit a ball

Back then the grass it seemed so tall

Lit a fire to keep us warm

Built a shelter from the storm

Traded food with friend and foe

Then we watched things start to grow

Made a tower that touched the sky

Found a way to make us fly

They set up rules to keep us safe

Now the world's a dangerous place

Why burn it - when there's no air left to breath

Why use it - there's no life left here to see

You fight it - but its the children left to pay

Doesn't matter - when we're all dead any way

Picked an apple from a tree

Threw a rod out to the sea

Some thought it smart to use a net

There are a few fish left to get

Stripped the coal out from the earth

Won't use the sun for what its worth

Why burn it - when there's no air left to breath

Why use it - there's no life left here to see

You fight it - but its the children left to pay

Doesn't matter - when we're all dead any way

Turned to blaming, then to war

You'd think we'd learned that one before

No more talking face to face

Its all FaceBook or MySpace

But we leave it all to be

Do you say It won't affect me

Why burn it - when there's no air left to breath

Why use it - there's no life left here to see

You fight it - but its the children left to pay

Doesn't matter - when we're all dead any way

Fight the farmers for their crops

To make no profit is their lot

That's for business not for man

Business holds the upper hand

See a chance to make a buck

Create a fine to charge - that sucks

It is time to stand together

To push for change whatever

There's more to life than work and pain

What have our children learnt to gain

For whatever life you choose

You've lost the right - you lose

Why burn it - when there's no air left to breath

Why use it - there's no life left here to see

You fight it - but its the children left to pay

Doesn't matter - when we're all dead any way

Tomorrow is a future we won't have to play

Who cares really any way...?

Still not quite right - but it will do. *sighs*

Back to the debt tomorrow ~ yes, regular blogging will resume and we can move on from this feeling society is going down the toilet ~ Oh and another give away. This time there will be three winners so you need to get your cleaning gloves on and aim for the laundry or the kitchen and bring out your hints and tips.  More tomorrow...

The Bounty of Barter

Hello chickens ~ sorry for being quiet.

I have been so busy after a super week of bartering, scuppering and trading - now stewing, freezing and bottling the 'fruits' of my adventures.  Oh - and eating them!  And I thought we were going to struggle not being able to budget for any food shopping this week. Heck - we had enough to go and get the chookies some grain today! $20 for 30kg of grain and 5kg of grit to help keep us in eggs to barter with! 

Because we have not had to spend (say) $50 on the fruit and veggies we've received, we free'd up cash to spend on items we can't trade through a retailer. And put money on the VISA to bring that monkey down even further. Along with the marked down meat and staples I've been buying, I've worked out we are feeding ourselves on about $1 per head per day and it's not 2-minute noodles! We've enjoyed eggs on toast (funny that!), a Chorizo, Zucchini strudel, Banana Bread, Apple and Rhubarb crumble and will have Chow Mien, Tuna Mornay and Pepper Steak as part of this weeks menu. Here are some of the yummy scrummy good food we have enjoyed, along with an approximate costing of the entire dish.

The Zucchini-Chorizo Strudel

Serves 4 - cost us $2.50

1/2 a whopper zucchini - Free 

(or 3 supermarket zucchs)

1 onion, chopped/diced - Free

2 gloves garlic, finely chopped - free

1/3 cup brown rice (makes one cup cooked) - 40c

1 cup grated cheese (I used 2/3 tasty cheddar, 1/3 parmesan) - $1ish

1/3 cup chopped chives - Free

3-4 chorizo sausages, cooked and sliced - $1.51 (or 100g pkt slices)

3 hard boiled eggs, halved - Free

1 egg, beaten - Free

Poppy or sesame seeds to sprinkle on top

2 sheets shortcrust pastry - 50c

Oven at 200C or 180C fan-forced

Greased, lined baking tray

Grate zucchini and squeeze out all excess liquid.

Heat pan with a little oil, soften onion and garlic

Add zucchini, cook and soften/wilt

Take off heat and stand to cool - drain off excess liquid

Add cooked rice, cheese and chives

Combine and add salt/pepper if required

Put the pastry sheets on the tray, over lapping by 2-3cms for length

Place sliced chorizo down the centre of the pastry - leave an 8cm border all around

Spread half the zucchini mix over the sausages

Lay the boiled eggs down the centre of the mix

Cover with remaining zucchini mix

Bring pastry up to cover - a bit like a strudel or sausage roll

If going for fancy, first cut the pastry at 2-3cm gaps on each long side

Fold the ends up over the mix and then criss-cross the side pieces over the mix to enclose it

Brush the pastry with beaten egg

Bake in the pre-heated oven for 30mins, or until golden brown

Stand for a few minutes, slice and serve

The Apple and Rhubarb crumble

Served 4 - cost us about 90c

Crumble ingredients

1/2 cup plain flour - 50c

1/3 cup brown sugar - 50c

1/2 cup oats - 50c

1/2 cup coconut - 50c

50g butter - 25c

Combine the first four ingredients

Rub through butter until like bread crumbs

Store in container in refrigerator for use

Will be enough for 4 x 4 servings of crumble

Stewed Rhubarb and Apples

2-3 apples, peeled and chopped - Free

3-5 rhubarb stalks, cut in 2cm pieces (NO leaves) - Free

1/4 cup brown sugar - 35c

1/2 cup juice (squeezed an orange) - free

splash of vanilla - 10c

sprinkle of cinnamon - 10c

Put it all in the pot, bring to boil and simmer until the fruit is mushy

Pour the fruit mix into a baking tin - I just used a loaf tin

Top with crumble mix (not all of it - about a quarter of the mix)

Bake in a med/hot oven for 15-20mins

Serve with cream, ice cream or custard

I've put the Banana Bread recipe on Facebook - just to share the love - but this is what it looked like. We had it for dessert one night, after school munchies, take to school munchies and I had a breakfast or two with this and a shake or coffee. All up - we got about 12 big slices. And I had requests to make it again!

A little about ME

I must say I do feel a little better than I have the past few days. Pain levels are definitely higher than I've felt for a while, but its not controlling me for once, the brain is a little clearer today and holding thoughts is a little easier. Sort of ~ I think I am out of practice on that side of things *laughs* I have a new found understanding, tolerance and admiration even for those on narcotic recreation drugs who choose to stop using ~ prescribed narcotic and opiates as pain killers are not much different and the withdrawal experience is really crap.

In the days of old, I would have been prescribed a pain medication called heroin. Because of its addictive properties and adverse effects, heroin stopped being used for medicinal pain relief. When I was in hospital post op, tripping off my nut on ketamine - often referred to as horse tranquiliser - the nursing staff commented a few times how much easier it would be if I could have heroin for a few days instead of other chemicals. Regardless, it was not available, and now I am experiencing the same type of withdrawal and hating every moment. Too often I have just wanted to say bugger this, put a patch back on, pop a few pills and relax in the foggy bliss ~ I can see why this is so hard.

My very clever friends have been reiterating to me just how strong they believe I am - how hard this must be to go through on top of other life struggles and today I think I can believe them. I am truly blessed to have the support and care and understanding of such people ~ no 'pseudo-professional' know-it-alls bringing me down, no-one making me guilty for focusing on me, suffering injustices through jealousy and making it all about them any more. Some losses hurt more than the back pain, but this too may heal - in time.

A good friend, Haych, sent me a little note saying: "You're stronger than what you think you are." In the past, I would have pooh pooh-ed that ~ today I reckon she's right. Thanks Luff - you rock!

And now I shall scoot and get dinner underway ~ peppered steak, steamed broccoli, honey'd carrots and something with silverbeet! Feeding friends tonight - should be about $6-$7 for the four of us. Beat that Mickey Dees - four for less than the price of a McValue Meal!!

Chat soon xx

Stuff n saving

Today we spent...

Diddly squat ~ $3 for milk and put the petrol off for another day. As only the school run was required, with a detour to the stoopermarket for milk, it seemed pointless travelling into town to the servo today (with the 4c off coupon) when I need to be in town for an appointment tomorrow morning. Of course, if we run out of fuel with tomorrow's school drop off before getting into town, it will just be a case of poor estimation! *chuckles* Nah ~ it's not THAT low - yet! 

Dinner changed (again) but still came in under $2 per head. We had the most delicious sausages - pork and sage. These were marked down to $2.81 for 8 snags, then Husband made mashed potatoes - something he does so so well. Until I met him, the one food type I despised was mashed potato. Blah blergh, hated it with a passion. However he makes it with a little milk, a little butter, a spoonful of sour cream and an egg and it is the creamiest, tastiest potato mash you can ever have - nom nom - ate a plateful! He and I also had some fried onion because onions are always great with sausages!! All up I doubt that made $1.50 per head - even counting the frozen honey yoghurt we had for dessert.

Plus I saved $150 redeeming points on the credit card for a 'cash payment' onto the credit card and went a little insane trying to explain this could not be considered the monthly repayment, even thought it means we have repaid more than we had to pay. I see it as a bonus!

This leads into a few 'rules' we seem to have developed while on Our Mission to reduce debt. If you don't have debt, these are ideal ways to build up savings for a holiday, a new car or a house deposit. Using these 'rules' has allowed us to have spare money to redirect onto the debt and not simply keep on top of the expenses we have each month.

Always got eggs!!

The 'Know What We've Got' Rule.

It's common sense to say if you only spend what you have you will always be on top of your finances, right? We have a sheet on the wall showing exactly what money comes in every fortnight and what amount, at maximum, must be paid out per fortnight - even if the bill is monthly or quarterly. 

Our water bill tends to be around $120-$160 per quarter. Using the higher amount as the 'guesstimate', we put aside $25 per fortnight to pay the account when it comes in. When the account arrives every 12-13 weeks, and is $140, we already have $150-$175 at hand to pay it. The balance then goes onto (say) the VISA or could be savings.

Some people use an envelope system and take the required amount out each pay-day, place it in the envelope until the account becomes due. We transfer the amount to an online banking account to accumulate a higher interest over the month (some online banking accounts, like ING or Rabo, have bonus payments for regular deposits) and either BPay or transfer the funds to a linked account, fee-free, for payment. Online banks usually allow for BPay transactions without fees.

The same goes for what is available in the cupboards ~ food, cleaners, wrapping paper, clothes ~ knowing there is a box with wrapping paper means there is no need to go out and get more for presents, especially at Christmas. If worse comes to worse, plain paper jazzed up with pictures, stickers or ribbon works a treat ~ especially for children who tend to just rip paper off to get inside. Newspaper can work if need be ~ and does for pot plants or flowers. Save the posters from the Sunday Paper of the footy teams, the movie releases, the teen sensation of the day ~ these all save spending $5 on a sheet of glossy wrap which is going to end up in the bin.

The 'One more day' Rule.

Do you really need to wash that blouse you wore for half the day or can it be aired on the line and rehung to wear again? Same with the jeans, trousers or towels used after the morning shower? Every day you get one more use from clothes, linen or even washing your hair is one extra saving of the detergents needed to do that job. Unless you're excessively sweaty or grotty (and smelly) is anyone going to know you didn't wash the trousers you wore to work on Monday when you wear them again on Friday?

If you were starting a new exercise regime, you wouldn't try to run a marathon on the very first day. You probably wouldn't try to run 5kms either. But you could run from one street light to the next, then aim for two street poles the next day, three the following day, then the bus stops - and actually succeed! Not rushing off to the shop to buy items because you are running low or on empty and substituting or pushing the purchase out for 'One More Day' also means your money sits earning interest for one more day - or saves you the interest on a credit card purchase by one less day!

At the change of seasons, put off turning the heating on by one more day and add another jumper over your top, or pop a beanie on your head like you do with a baby. Can you leave the mowing for one more day (well, be assured Husband can, but not always to extend the use of petrol!) or make the bar of chocolate last for one more day?

Can you put off buying vegetable oil for one more day because there is still some in the bottle, its not on special yet and if needed you could use a little butter in the pan? Then when you intend to purchase it (the next day) can you go another day without buying to see if it is on special elsewhere - or next week?? So you've run out of carrots - can you make do with the broccoli? There are no chips in the freezer, how about using the potatoes in the pantry? 

Except on movie returns or bill payments ~ never ever wait one more day! 

A household budget can be tight enough without having to come up with extra for late fees, extra interest or fines. Always return them on time - set a reminder for the day before the return/due date on your phone if this is something you're experiencing!! 

Just a little wine...

The 'Take Off 10%' Rule.

Most people know the saving rule of putting 10% of your income into a separate account to build up a nest egg for unexpected expenses or as part of a savings plan. "They" say you don't miss 10% as a rule. But when you've only got $300 a week available after the mortgage, $30 can be the food shop or petrol for the week. Saving 10% does not just mean cash.

• Washing Powder: I've never used the required amount of washing powder in the clothes wash ~ usually I put 25%-50% less than recommended and never use conditioners on towels or linen. Towels with conditioner never seem to dry the body as well as those washed without.
• Dish washer tablets: Cutting a dishwasher tablet in half often does just as good a job as the full tablet ~ epseically if you rinse your dishes before the machine wash. Putting less powder in can give you more than 10% extra washes than advised on the packet.
• Shampoo: Do you follow the instructions of 'rinse and repeat'? Why?? Unless your hair is filthy and excessively greasy, one wash is all you need. I was told this line was a marketing ploy to have repeat purchases made in a quicker time and honestly, I reckon that is the truth. After a week camping it may be necessary but if you wash your hair daily or weekly, you may just find it an unnecessary step.
• Sauces, juice, milk: Ask my kids, after the first use (eg, the first glass of juice) I add a glass or two of water to the bottle. Often I do this again as it empties. I also add water to that first glass.  I'll use the cooled water from the kettle and add water into the sauce bottle while close to full and thoroughly shake it in. I'll also add water into the bottle at the end to thin out the dregs for use - although usually not for pouring onto snags. *grins*
• Glad wrap/Al foil: Generally, I use each piece twice and do the same with zip lock bags, unless used for raw meats to avoid food poisoning! Commercially, this may be a no-no but in my home I have no problem with this. While more often I use a plastic/Tupperware container which can be washed, I have been known to use the bread bags for lunches - washing them out and reusing several times. 

Though we wont be buying much this year anything that we do buy we will haggle to get at least 10% off the marked price. More if possible. Always ask for a discount ~ the worst that can happen is you get a no. The best can be as high as 30% off the marked price without really negotiating. Pick the end of the month for better deals as sales quotas may not have been met by staff.

And before you say this can't be done at the supermarket ~ just look at how I buy the meat, dairy and bakery when I shop. It's rare for me to select the item marked down by 10% ~ I usually aim for 33% or more! Plus looking on the higher or lower shelves for products often gets a bargain. 

'The Vinnie Rat' needed a jumper...

The 'I Don't Care What Other People Think' rule.

With suggestions like using the bread bag to wrap sandwiches, or using the footy poster from the paper to wrap a present, you can probably tell I don't really care what other people think. It's not entirely true, but if you can put an environmental, economical or practical slant on your actions, you will find it easier to adopt this rule and often more accepted by others you choose to tell.

So you've been using samples of shampoo you got from the chemist instead of bottle from the store - who cares? Who knows unless you tell them?? And the kids are wearing their pyjamas all day when it rains all Sunday to avoid a load of washing you cant dry without running the heaters or clothes dryer ~ who cares?

Or you bought the birthday present of Bionicles Lego when it was in the 50% off sale - last year - or the year before. Who cares?? If you care or feel this is embarrassing, cheapskate or just plain scummy ~ friends and family will only know if you tell them. They don't know that the $20 iTunes voucher only cost you $10 because you bought them as part of a special three-pack for $30 - all they see is $20 to spend on iTunes items. 

Or if the wedding present of a new bread maker came from redeeming the points on your credit card.  How about using FlyBuy points to get magazine subscriptions or presents for the family at Christmas time - or better still, buy gifts when they are on sale throughout the year. Husband and I give our siblings a token gift of a Christmas decoration every year. These usually have a value of $7-$15 each, however getting them the week or two after Christmas when these ornaments are $1 or $2 saves us over $100 in Christmas gift spending - I have 6 siblings, separated parents; Husband has 1 sibling and his mum, plus we both have the aunty who isn't related just is part of the family. $12-$20 is much easier to cope with than $120+

Using a two for one voucher might make you feel 'funny' initially, but when you can tell your friends you've been to that flash place for dinner on a recent dinner date with your spouse without the kids, do they know or care? So - why should you, especially if you really enjoyed yourselves! It is pointless trying to keep up with 'the Jones' if it is only going to put you further into debt. What you might not know is that 'the Jones' are so broke they just got a new credit card with a higher limit to cover themselves!!  

Might leave it there or it will become way too long for reading in one sitting. It probably already is. 

As always, any donations into our Savings Jar or the Treasure Chest at the top of the page are gratefully accepted. We hope to get this debt down ourselves, but with a little help - even just $1 - from readers who enjoy our Mission's achievements or benefit from our stories - well, it will be an enormous help and appreciated greatly! 

Until next time...

Monday's Money Matters

We escaped this weekend...

Husband has been down helping his mum get her home ready to be put on the market. As the computer was playing up, SmallBoy and I had the chooks locked in with a well stocked run, the cats fed  and left with a full dry food dispenser, hung out washing, packed an over-night bag and drove down to have dinner, stay the night with 'Nanny' and enjoy a Sunday afternoon BBQ birthday party with a friend's 4yo twins. It's been almost a 20year friendship, one which has got stronger over time and distance. 

I'd got the girls' gifts months ago, when the $18 pendants were marked down to $2.99 at clearance time. I needed two and $6 is much more budgetable than almost $40 ~ its not being cheap, its planning ahead and getting a bargain. I take huge pride and get a sense of achievement knowing I am giving someone (say) a $20 dollar gift value which I may have bought for 50% or less - its almost a game to see if I can get an item for 70% or less by waiting. I've already got some of the token gifts for Christmas, knowing I paid 90% less than the original rrp because I got it after Christmas - retail might call it 'old stock' or 'out of season' but Christmas is Christmas and that season comes around every year with the same ol, same old. I just got it 'earlier' for less...

Any way - this weekend, we bought a bottle of bubbles, a few beers and bottle of juice - and it felt so so naughty to spend money on drinks! However, we had reason enough to 'deserve' a few drinks and enjoy time with friends ~ six months into Our Mission to bring down our debt and we have  a 'dent' in the Line of Credit, a dent in the Credit Card, a paid in full NI-Visa Account, the next two payments for the mortgage are in redraw waiting to be 'swiped', own the hired refrigerator, cleared one of the power bills, in credit on the water bill, land line account, up to date with the mobiles, Internet and VOIP phone. 

Plus the fridge is full of dairy, fruit and vegetables; the freezers are choked with steak, snags, mince, chicken, turkey, pork, lamb, frozen veg, chippies, home made frozen yoghurt and icecream; the pantry is stocked with all basics, some marinades, tuna, cous cous and more ~ we won't be starving!

Knowing we are not merely surviving on $600 a week but actually managing both current obligations and those in arrears is surely a champagne and beer celebratory moment. Sharing it with friends and halving the costs makes it even more appropriate. My GF had another two bottles of bubbles we shared, there were pizzas made and enjoyed with the least fuss and eventually a good of little girls and SmallBoy were in bed for the night as we nattered on into the late evening. Being over a period of 10-12hours, we all woke fine, a little more tired than when in our 20s, 30s even, but without the 'thump' of the morning after in our 20s, 30s even *grins*

And the Winner Is:...

Congratulations Dali for your barking comment to our comp - your owner Joni L mentioned she's not only following, she reads the Coles Magazine as well!! But it was the ticket with your name Dali which was drawn out of the box by SmallBoy! 

Hey Dali ~ Can you get your owner Joni to drop me a line via the blog?  Please send me a note with your address details and Coles' Marketing Team will have the Coles "We Love Pets" pack on its way to your house. These contact details will not be made public and will not be retained by me ~ just aint gonna happen *cheers*

Fast, Frugal and Figures

Briefly, we have $279 surplus 'cash' for this week, which will cover a lot of the expenses budgeted through until Friday 18th ~ but will be needed for two therapy appointments for me and a dental appointment for Husband. Other than those two 'expenses' I anticipate $10 last this week for milk, fruit and/or veg, perhaps the same mid next week. Any amount available Thursday night will be transferred over onto the credit card debt. 

Tonight's dinner works out to about $8 for five serves of Beef Stroganoff ~ because there are only three eating tonight, the left over serve will give Husband and I lunch on toast tomorrow. I used two eye fillet steak ($13.90) I got for $5.01; 500g of slice fresh mushrooms ($3.98) marked to .99c; a scoop of sour cream, a handful of the sliced onion ($3.98) marked to .79c; some plain flour, stock, butter and a handful of frozen peas and beans, half a packet of pasta spirals to serve - I'm calling that under $2 per head. Seriously as good as, if not better, than it looks!

The week's menu plan is as follows:

Monday ~ Beef Stroganoff with spiral pasta

Tuesday ~ Marinade Steak ($2.31 was $6.99) with fried onion (.50c) and steamed broccoli ($1) 

Wednesday ~ Roast chicken pie (using 1/3 of roast chook, $2.50) and frozen veg (.50c)

Thursday ~ left over roast chicken and veg pie filling on pasta (.69c), extra sour cream and cheese added

Friday ~ Hot lamb turkish rolls with salad and tahztiki 

Saturday ~ Eating out ~ card night at friends

Sunday ~ Roast lamb shanks ($6) with vegetables

Feeling very proud of the fact our mortgage is at $166k, considering we should be at $171k with the 'stay' we had on our mortgage payments. The arrangement allowed us to not pay the mortgage without risking default while we got our budget back in control and provided some financial relief. We kept up with the minimum payments in a very haphazard way knowing we didn't need to have X amount in by Y date and miss a payment. We've actually ended up ahead and not accrued a higher repayment figure to 'catch up'. I hope that makes sense...

On top of that we have taken $1022 from the VISA debt bringing us into the $5000 range - just *chuckles*; we've brought the Line of Credit down by $2500 and back from being maxed out. There is no arrears on the electricity, the water bill is in credit, the fridge is ours outright, the electricity is coming down (and our power usage has reduced), the petrol tank is full and the NI-Visa is paid in full. Oh, the living breathing financial plan is working! 

Here's to a wonderful week ~ hoping you are enjoying the journey of Our Mission ~ its definitely working well for us and we appreciate all your comments. So - is there anything you'd like to know? Feel free to leave your questions and we will start explaining how we manage to cope on $600pw.