Four days out from Christmas Eve . . .

And I think we have got almost everything under control.

As one of the chookie gerls has decided it is time to be broody (and bloody hell, she's got a good beak on her! Hurts through gloves) and Fred has been hanging out to 'grow' chickens, we've left a message for George the birdman and hope he can help.

Big thanks to Roy from Pails for Scales ~ we didn't know where to look so, thinking outside the square and knowing people buy chicks and pinkies for snake food ~ rang and Roy suggested George the birdman.

Have a look at www.pailsforscales.com.au and if you've got the time have a look at their videos ~ absolutely cool (no spiders or creepy crawlies thank goodness!!) :0

If anyone does have a few fertilised chicken eggs they are willing to pass on ~ let me know.

This post is a little boring, more a commitment to get here at least every second day, even if there is little to say - at least to share. The progress post op is slow. Much of the bone grafting did not take, has not started to calcify.

So we will be budgeting, trying to do whatever we need to, smile and enjoy our selves. Getting back in the garden.

Ending on a high note ~ won a Telstra competition, the use and enter your name for $300 daily prize. And I did. So that is $300 into the emergency/secret account and toward the flights to QLD next year.

Chat soon

The Card Door ~ how paper can make you cry with joy . . .

Trying to describe an operation without being gory is difficult ~ so I am not going to go into that first up! This is the time for recovery and moving forward after so long stuck in a rut and unable to do much about it!

The first thing I need to do is give a might loud "Hey Ho - Hip Hip Hooray" to Kimmie from Splendour Palace for being the insigator of the most amazing thing that I think has ever happened to me ~ for me. Kimmie started a post on the Simple Savings forum, suggesting members send cards to help me stay positive ~ a huge help with recovery.

And here it is:~ The Wall of Wellness and Warm Wishes

I've already had the joy of looking through my cards again ~ Kimmie you are a national treasure . . . an international treasure! Thank you for the card drive ~ the words of care and encouragement are such a beautiful and beneficial way to start my day.



First and foremost can I say ~ everyone's support and love has been the most amazing experience I have every known and there is absolutely no way I can articulate just how much it means to me ~ how much it has really helped me stay in high spirits, especially those days when I felt so low ~ there is no way I can explain what you all did to help keep me up, drive me forward and get me home!

Honestly!

I admit ~ initially I think I was embarrassed, humbled and overwhelmed ~ I do feel honoured, dare I say special!? *grins*

THANK YOU so much for your cards, the flowers, the Glowie's fruit basket (seriously, the nurses tried to run off with that ~ I had to request one nurse not attend the room because she was adamant it would go off before I left. Hello ~ aside from the strawberries, some apples and bananas ~ the fruit went home and into the fridge!!), the notes and letters ~ and I confidently say I did know each and every person - explaining to MyMan who you were, what had happened/our chats.

A four leaf clover got quite a teary greeting; home made cards were admired by everyone and a handwritten note given to me in Radiology from a SSer's hubby was stuck onto the end of my bed declaring the SS community's wishes to see every day (with the little smilie face in the corner) was just SO SO uplifting.

The support, friendship, discussions, everythings from my friends helped me get to surgery - you kept me sane, made me laugh, let me be a part of your lives as much as mine. And you know what? I cannot wait to get back and play!! *really big grin*

There are many memorable moments I want to share with you. Things that happened.

MyMan and Fred took photos at the hospital ~ and in typical little boy style, there are plenty of toilet and bathroom shots, along with many others! I want to share the 'Greys Anatomy' moments I experienced - RMH is a teaching hospital and that in itself was wonderful, not at all a bad thing because I probably learnt more about what actually happened.

They had me standing within 24hrs, walking in less than 48hrs, walking up stairs in under a week!! I asked questions, got answers ~ I had the opportunity to have the students take 'control' and the qualified OT, Doctor, pharmacist and pain m'ment stepped back and supervised. But not a zoo feeling . . .

From my perspective ~ the operation was a success!
While I have pain from the graft and op sites in my back and hip and a fair bit of muscle & nerve aches (according to my surgeon it was a 'bit of a dog's breakfast in there'), that constant, persistent, throbbing pain has gone. I am standing upright - no curving trying to eleveate pressure. My shoulders are lower and I don't hunch/slouch/twist. If I could get two feet off the ground at once, I might even go a weeny bounce ~ but no, not for a while!!

SO - Thank you ALL again ~ loud or soft ~ your words, messages and thoughts were - and still are - so very very appreciated and received with so much love and thankfulness. Richard too feels blessed - and passes his thanks on too.


(¯`♥´¯)
.`*.¸.*´ with much love and thanks

Oh boy, oh boy ~~ September . . .

Life just goes too fast sometimes ~ even with a fractured spine!


It has been a hard slog, but September always holds some great events for the humble inhabitants of the Bungalow. Fathers' Day is important and we joined the 20th Century with our first video camera. A combined Fathers' Day / brithday ~ because MyMan's birthday is on 16th.

The 23rd is MudGuts birthday ~ very important this year as he turned 18. How the hell did I become the proud owner of a 6'9" lean, lanky adult? September also has my sister's 35th; a new addition to the family on 12th (I think it was the 12th, a hell of a lot has happened this month!); school holidays and a sojourn into hospital for me!

Finally I have had my surgery . . .

Right at the start of the month I said to MyMan, quite confidently, we'd know more about this surgery waiting list thing. Boy, was I right. At the start of the month we were called down to Melbourne for a pre-admin to surgery appointment - taking quite a few hours (and that all important urine and bloods they are so keen to remove).

All things explained, I certainly felt comfortable, and the date was made: Tuesday 16 September ~ MyMan's birthday. In for up to 10 days ~ some OT while in RMH and then rehab at home as MyMan was offered paid time off for a few weeks. Excellent.

Was the longest two weeks ~ and probably the most painful. I swear the ol' bod decided it did not need to hold out any longer, and just didn't.


Now I've been home a week, still getting on top of a heck of a lot of sleeping ~ so I hope you don't mind if I say good night for now and fill you in tomorrow.

I must show you a few gifts I received ~ from those very special Glow girls, a most appropriate fruit basket was sent. I don't know about you - but hospital food is not the most wonderful and I was stuck on a soft and light diet for most of my stay and supplemented my lack of meals with bananas, grapes and the biggest strawberries I have ever seen in my life.

MyMans' employer also sent a gorgeous bunch of orchids ~ one of my favourite flowers. They looked stunning and are still looking quite beautiful today!

To hold the suspense - I won't show you a pic of the tulips. We'll start my hospital journey tomorrow and Fred took heaps of pictures - of everything including the toilet seat...

Robbing Peter to save Paul . . .

Sometimes the month just gets away from me.

Other times so much happens, it is impossible to believe another month is over.

That was July ~ it was immensely productive, mundane to a degree, but a heap of things happened, were planned and discussed and implemented ~ and I am accepting all the help offered and available to utilise.

Oh why did I not get home help earlier in the piece!?! While not a lot of an entitlement - only 1.5hrs a fortnight ~ it is just so terribly wonderful having the floors mopped, vacc'd, swept, the bathroom done and the kitchen given the once over properly. To walk on floors mopped by 'Vicki', compared to those done by MudGuts, is an absolute dream.

Started doing hydro - therapy that is! Been having fun with that one. When I worked at emergency services and the wear on my back started becoming evident, a few of the medics would recommend hydro - not of the water therapy variety. Well, not sure if that is where I want to play again - knowing that the pain relief would be significant, temporarily! Any how - the water therapy is great, challenging and at times leaving me a little sore. Note to self - when the pool is extra warm - remember it will effect the 'patch' 8o) Bit trippy one time! Funny a little, lucky no driving required most of the day.

Did the budget - again. Tax refunds have been a godsend. Only in as much that this has enabled us to be on target rather than behind which we seem to be at the start of the month when all the mortgage, credit sweeps go through . . . and payday is still 15 days away. Every month we had the funds for all the mortgage transfers - just not always at the time they were need or due.

Must say thanks to Simple Savings (again) for providing the insight to negotiating with utilities and debtors. With the knowledge gained, we are now almost up to date with every single bill - and those with a debt have had a budget payment plan negotiated and in place. Heating is going to be HUGE this winter as with fractures in the spine the cold is really quite intolerable and we have found keeping the temperature at 'normal QLD' has been working well. :o)
Funny that, eh?!

But also a big thank you to all the utilities that did help out ease the stress and burden. Every month now, regardless of the amount used, gas is $60, electricity is $120, and it will be looked at in 12 months to see how it is going. Funnily enough, the only company who wont come to the party is good old Telstra. How odd (not!) Never mind - I have got the tax refund through, it will be paid in full today! Wonderful.

Over the weekend we covered the budget, how the refunds are being used (oh, we have grown up when a whizz bang fandangled 'toy' did not factor once), declutter, things to do in the veggie garden and more. But it was fun, not a chore. I am sure I have said that before. I recently started with the closets and have been handing on clothes to people I know. Few dollars here and there, especially when posting 3kgs of clothes!! Might even use a courier to QLD as it is cheaper!

Financially speaking

Interesting month really ~ we have been following interest, listening to the doom and gloom and taking things on board. Anyway - July ended, August commenced = here is how we look:

July 30
Morty (our mortgage : 2005-$190k) : $169,212.63
LOC (our life : max $21k) : $16,926.76
CeeCee (our credit card : current max: $7k : 2004-$21k) : $5,722.82
All bills paid and up to date.

And Friday, interest was applied . . . so now we look like this for the start of August :

Morty (our mortgage : 2005-$190k) : $170,542.01 (interest $1329.38) : $70 in redraw
LOC (our life : max $21k) : $16,741.53
CeeCee (our credit card : current max: $7k : 2004-$21k) : $5,241.80


Mortgage Extra Payments
July: $90 ~ interest saved: $1,306 *~* Time reduced: 1 month
August: extra paid: $20 ~ interest saved: $287 *~* Time reduced:
Interest saved to date: $1592

$10 each Monday and Friday to Morty
$10 each Wednesday to ING Savings Maximiser (shall we call that Max!?) Current Balance : $59.15

Yes, the tax cheques do make it look a little healthier ~ hubby's is in, mine is clearing. I was a little disappointed in DH's return - but doing regular office role as opposed to his prior ad hoc, all hours / no hours, overtime I guess the claimables do change in PPE especially.
MyMan is into the whole 'add in what we didnt spend that we usually would' approach to the credit card and he has backed of CeeCee since the purchasing of monthly travel - that alone give CeeCee an extra $400 a month. *CeeCee leans back and sees the slimming effects*

Getting better at staying under budget, just the timing has been stressful - robbing peter to pay paul before payday. We both agree with the tax refund in the LOC the stress will be gone. It is up to us to maintain that surplus and keep increasing it now. We've looked for other 'slimming' methods and buying bulk, online are part of that.

Might take a break - back is aching and I am sitting not laying at the moment (naughty me, I know ~ so smack me! Please?) Time for cereal, a few juicy prunes (yeah for codiene, not), check for eggs and do my Harper Collins book review ~ really enjoyed the book! Will pop a link in if the review is published!

To quote a 12 year old girl . . .

This was posted on Simple Savings today.

Please take just 5 minutes of your time to watch what she says at the ONU. She speaks for me and my children so very well ~ do remember what you were thinking about when you were 12. Here is a very brutal reality check.

Thank you.

Prenez 5 minutes de votre temps pour visionner l'intervention d'une enfant de 12 ans à la tribune de l'ONU. Merci.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JvVf1piHXg

Happy new financial year . . .

. . . and may it be a good one for you. We’ve reassessed (again!) and hope that the first pay of this new tax system means more in the bank. Regardless, I am only going to count on what I know we have ~ anything else can be counted as a bonus (and swiftly be placed on the credit card). Tipping MyMan would like to salary sacrifice any extra on a new mobile phone ~ because I know he does *winks*

I don’t really know how this post came to be. I don’t like talking dollars and cents to the specific ~ but many people I know just do not seem to believe that
a) our shopping bill is less than $100 per week
b) our energy bills are down low (and in credit with water)
c) we have been shopping at $10 per head per week for the last 6-8 weeks.

I certainly am an expensive little creature. *preens* What’s more ~ that which we do spend on me is not all it should be. I should be seeing the osteopath every week – that is financially infeasible. I should be seeing the acupuncturist every week – again – infeasible. But it works out fine if I alternate which one I see which week and get by. This from someone about to get their pain meds up’d and hopefully on oxycodone in higher mgs. HA!!


I have also let the counselling slide a little *gulp* – my proffered excuse is the outlay has been a bit difficult to manage with the playing catch up with bills (although most utilities have had provisions to enable delay payment without disconnection). Yes, you can get the ‘free’ sessions through Medicare ~ you need to pay the bill first THEN get a rebate. We were still always $40 out of pocket. I know, I know – it is important and I think I would like to re-address that. Next week . . .

At least we were ‘intelligent’ enough to have only taken out a mortgage we could sustain. Sitting currently around 1/3 of take home pay. We took a mortgage out on two incomes, factoring we could manage it to the level of 50% of one income. Mind you - definitely no massive mortgage on a Mansion!!

So far this has turned out to be a good strategy seeing as two years in to our first mortgage I had to stop work (one full year without pay for me so far, hopefully only another 2 before I can be working again!!).

So there is me. While I might be a costly wench, I am a heck of a lot cheaper now I have the pension card granted – and that is $86pf that gets put away for rates, rego and ‘savings’ ~ I used to need over $500 a month JUST for medications. Three meds were $70-$90 ea and two were needed twice a month. Adds up. Now my meds are $45 a month, and as I am about at the threshold, they will be free!! THAT will be a break and $45 a month up the sleeve. 2hrs work ‘earned’ – or 3 hours if I take a pay cut!

OK ~ time for the breaking down of the budget . . .

It goes without saying ~ we are on an OK income, but not a big one. *grins* It was a heck of a lot better before I had to stop working. Let’s just say, from the $100-$120k bracket, we are now half that. And we’d only had that for a few years, squirreled for the mortgage, zero’d and rid ourselves of one CC and reduced the other by 2/3 – so there was no frivolous spending.
It’s a huge drop ~ but here is the management!

• Monthly in : $ 4294 (this includes my $412pm in disability pension and family allowance)
• Monthly Meds : Osteo - $110; Acupuncture - $140; Hydro - $45; Meds - $30 (mind you – pre PCCard this was $544pm!!); counselling - $80 (after rebates - $220 up front). So that’s : $405pm
• Monthly Majors : Morty - $1380; Fare - $490 ($600 if hubby travelled daily – so he stays in Melbourne if he cant be in on the train by 7pm – no buses after then); Fuel - $250; Fred’s counselling - $45 (after rebate); Credit Card - $300 : That’s $2465pm
• Monthly Musts : Home phone - $60; My Mobile - $49; MyMan’s mobile - $89; Electricity - $120; Gas - $80; Firewood - $95; Internet - $69; Insurances - $161; Fred’s Guitar lessons - $132, Overdue bill payment - $40. That’s $935pm

Food is around $300 per month. Adding that to the rest – we have $4105 going out and $4294 coming in. The 'surplus' is used for those accounts we need to pay in full and claim rebates ~ we collect the account for rebates and cash in for Christmas, birthdays, rates and rego! It works as the money is not spent – and this way we’ve kept track of the paperwork for the last few years ~ never been so good at doing that for ourselves!!

SO ~ ~ the head stays up – how?

Oh – how often do I ask myself that question! By my understanding, now that our taxes are up to date, our Centrelink debt will cease to exist and there may be a little windfall in a higher rate of payment. Using the centrelink rate calculator and over estimating MyMan’s income by $10k – as you do – that should be an extra $100 or so a fortnight. And the debt we have with the overdue account payment plan should be almost finished – October I believe.

Of course, optimistic rose-tinted me has faith in the Victorian Public Health system and anticipates that surgery will hopefully occur within the next 3 months = as per a category 2 patient would anticipate (and it has already been close to 4 months waiting…). This way rehabilitation and recuperation can be underway before the year’s end – hopefully resulting in some income earning capacity by the start of the next financial year?!

Always planning . . .
Always positive . . .

I prefer my glass half full

Feeding the Family for $10 per head / per week . . . On Track

Who would have thought that this was possible. I am on track for feeding four people for $10 a head per week. $40 per week - and the gerls aren't laying so we had to BUY eggs! Only got lettuce in the veggie bed. What is with that???

Any way . . .

We have all been doing the $21 Pantry Challenge with Simple Savings - and we set the bar to see what we could do. There is a post at the end of last month and a little more at the start of this month - and the side bar is the menu plan so you can see what we are eating. I might put the relevant info in a post too.

So having done one of the smallest BIG shop ever - $112ish / $300ish - we are going to aim for $21 Challenge through to payday - 15th July, showing that this was done without having done a stockup before we started.

Doing The Math

Feeding four people, NOT rabbit food.
$10 per person per week = $40 per week
$40 per week for six weeks =

== $240 Food Budget ==


Week 1:
1st - 7th : Had $21 ~ spent $3.20 (saved: $18.80)
Week 2:
8th - 14th : Had $21 ~ spent $16.35 ~ remaining: $4.65
Week 3:
15th - 21st : Had $100 ~ spent $112.80 ~~ $12.80 over
Week 4:
22nd - 28th : Have $21
Week 5:
29th - 5th : Have $21
Week 6:
6th - 12th : Have $50
Week 7:
13th - 19th - Pay week

Food, Animal & General Shopping Budget $240.00
Current spending : $132.35

Meals to end week 3

Thurs
- breakfast - muesli / cereal
- lunch - DH leftovers / DS lavash meat & salad / me & DS17 lavash toasted with chicken
- dinner - tuna and rice
Fri
- breakfast - muesli / cereal
- lunch - DH leftovers / DS8 salad lunch box / me soup and toast
- dinner - homemade pizza
Sat
- breakfast - muesli / cereal
- lunch - Pies / toasted sambos
- dinner - chilli con carne
Sun
- breakfast - Pancakes
- lunch - savoury muffins
- dinner - Roast Chook

"Will you go and kiss the toilet..."

Thing was that was not what I meant.

What I had meant was ~ oh dear husband, please under take you fatherly duties and kiss your precious son good night.

I just that there was something wrong with the sentence - just not quite sure what. Dang blast medication that makes my brain all messy and unable to find the write word to use, in context, in time. Aaerrghh - I hate my brain is a thesaurus. If only 'ugh' was a universally accepted answer.

As, MyMan was heading up to Fred's room to say good night it must have been

OOOooohhh ~ I remember . . .

I had already kissed Fred goodnight. The stalling tactic of 'I need to go to the toilet' was played. As he did what he needed to do (and finish) he called down the hall to let me in on the news of completion. I was subsequently call to MyMan to come say goodnight.

Hence : "Will you go and kiss the toilet..." :D

Scary after thought ~ : ~ My husband understood me . . .

Got a plan for tomorrow :

Dishwasher wash / away
Kitchen bench cleared and wiped - totally cleared.
Spider webs and dust through the hall (although very pretty in these sunsets)
On top stove hood
On top fan blades (see - 6'10" son's DO have a use!!)
Dust Dust Dust (supposed to clear and crisp - good day to dust and air out)
And the Pearler : Scrap clear back brickwork (another great thing about son's that love their mums is that they WILL clear away the chook poop with a spade - and compost it!!)

Then Thursday - closer to the ground with vacuuming, mopping and sweeping.

It's a plan.

Pride and Proud : two different and I am . .

We got ourselves into a financial pickle recently ~ not through over spending - just through the circumstances of incapacitation bringing a halving to the income, a change in income structure and a few additional essential but not normal expenses...

Had we had ayear to plan, we would have been better off but unfortunately fractured spines only hold up for a limited time before the 'no more' is called ~ and it is a non-negotiable and rather unexpected arrangement. I mean, one day you are carrying filing to archive - the next, you can't get out of bed!

The first backhanded THANKYOU . . .

The Salvos/UnitedCare and such do not look at you as such - more your circumstances - I have recently got assistance through the Salvos - a few Coles food vouchers, bill assistance and food from their 'shop'. I've also taken down pumpkin, carrots and lettuce to give to others, and taken bread, pasta and corn - little like bartering! But I digressed - I am married, mortgaged, working hubby, incapacitated myself, income dropped, change structure - we were struggling.

I could show I'd shaved the phone, gas, electricity, petrol, fuel consumptions - we had just accumulated a bit. Only a few $00's, but enough to incur these stu[id $40 overdraw fees or late payment fees. Still - the water is in credit - and it give us interest for being so!

So in asking the Salvos to help, by providing assistance with food, phone and electricity - we had the mortgage, gas, electricity & phone balance or put on payment plan. Some things which needed $80pf to stay on top of the debt only, we have negotiated to $40pm, so the debt doesn't go too ott - and I put extra in as I can. No charge or fees - like a private credit arrangement.

Like the electricity - they were owed about $800. We usually don't use that much in a year, but in a cold climate with a cronic back condition - I was SO feeling the cold and it set in and hurt. My acupuncturist Peter asked how I was coping. Any way, even $80 a fortnight wasn't going to cut it as the next bill was almost $300. So the Salvos contributed $150, I put in $100 and set up a plan to pay $40 a month while we clear a few bills. As they drop away, more goes to the rest . . .

Water is in credit. Excellent. Electricity has $830 owing - and the max going in between bills will be $200 - but they know what is happening, so I feel more secure. Gas is $230. Will pay $80 and arrange same for a month later. Will fall overdue - but paid as next comes in.

Not sure how to takle the car fines. I had a fine which I wanted to fight in court but life got in the way and it just summons'ed out. Another $600 odd to clear. We have cleared all of Mr Speed Racers, I mean hubby's - so having dropped from $160 pm, to $80pm, to $50pm now $40pm ~~ See how talking on the phone and discussing can work ~~ we are looking at clamping the car tyres for 6 months. Suits me - I have the little car for school runs, hubby has the bus and train. Hardly need two cars only the road. Just a little more reinforced. Definitely good inconvenience/enforced punishment appropriate for the balance...

And now the budget . . .

Not the federal one - ours for the month. Remember, monthly pay. So payday is 15th. In - we have, wait for it : $3988 ~ will need $1800 for Morty to be covered. Let's just say we have $2000 for the next 30 days - to 15 July.

OK - food. We have been doing the $21 very successfully for the past 14 days - $3.20 only for the first 10 days - up to $24.80 at the moment. This is usually BIG Shop - the $300 shop. I am going in with $100. Cat food is on special at safeway - will get 11 cans for $10. Fruit & veg - aim for $25worth - I've got broc, pots, onion, carrot, lettuce, pumpkin (lots actually). Really only fresh fruit. Cereal needed, milk always. Still have two loaves. Lemonade and Buderims Ginger needed (must call and see if they will supply some bulk for less).

Will come back and report how I spent $100 for 2-3 weeks feeding! And I will aim for less - see how low I can go. If I could, I'd dumpster dive!

How to cheat - fairly . . .

How to cheat at $21 Challenge weeks . . .

Make sure all the family are ill.
Sick enough to be semi-self reliant, sick enough to not have a huge appetite and prefer soup / plain food. Voila!! No 'tasty' food required - only tissues (well, we are using hankies) and with the little time on our hands, but the inability to stare at a 'screen' for long lest end up with a headache from eye-strain . . .

Hand over one grater and a block of washing soap and then enjoy a chat while grating the soap for the dishwasher and the washing machine cleaner. Yup - I've gone a darker shade of 'green' and trying home made. See, found two log bars of sunlight soap and thought rather than buying another box of dish tabs - lets try this, all the ingredients are here - what's a month trial going to do other than save about $8 in dish tabs. But if it works a treat - I;ve enough here that I could cover us for 10 months easy - that's $80. So, guess what we are doing for the next month.

So far - clean dishes. Next for the liquid soap and clothes washing detergent. That would be nice in rose? Musk? Might try orange even for the clothes. Better than the powders - I get such a headache if other people wash the boys clothes in their wash - smell lasts for weeks. I used to like it - fresh and clean. Now I hate it - its chemically and offensive. OOohhhh - greenie weirdo ~Mands!! :D

More to come - just thought I'd say that.

Oh - and HI LEA

She was passing, dropped in. Miss you terribly but what a surprise bonus to see you a whole year early!! Love to you and yours (birthday boy!! - have a good one!)

JUNE - $21 Challenge Month (and a budget stocktake)

Well, I am back...

Many months back, I was on top of the credit card, the mortgage and the finances with gusto. But ~ as it does ~ life got in the way of everything and I faded into the background . . . hiding in the flood of interest rates and such. Somehow we have just been fuddling through. Poor ol' Morty has been getting a little extra - we've been on top of many of the interest rate rises ~~ the loss of my income has been significant. More so has the change from weekly to monthly pay at hubby's end.

The No Spend Challenge really brought it back home ~ just how much we were ONLY covering the essential. The LOC is always up at the max for the two weeks between the 1st to 15th of the month. CeeCee is still under its max - well, not really - because we have lowered the amount we can access.

OH - BUT WE WERE WINNERS - and GRINNERS!!

After WINNING an acknowledgement reward in the Simple Savings 'No Spend Challenge', we knew we were on the right track - but as much as we were doing the challenge we had the kerfuffle with MudGuts, the increased medications for my back pain and lots of negotiations with MrCentrelink to PROVE that a fractured spine should be included as a disability requiring some support (even the pension card to lower meds from $88 a pop to the concession). It happened and now it is June and even WITH the concessions we have reached and passed the threshold for the Medicare gap. What that actually means, I do not know - but will find out within the next few weeks when I next get meds and claim rebates.

If I can, this month I simply wish to list what we owe - what we pay and get that all in line. We only have the one credit card - The Pure credit card was paid out and cancelled completely during NSC - so that monkey has gone. Nice to know one is out of the picture. Feb, March and April were spent changing habits - sorting out life. May was a realisation that things had to change - especially as we were told my surgery is highly unlikely to happen this year.

So, its been 15 months since I last worked. It has been 6 months since MyMan went to monthly pay. BOY it has been hard. I miss being in the garden. I miss working and having an income (although I am writing again, feeling inspired and looking outside the proverbial square to better use what we have and what I can contribute). Sounds a contradiction - but I am keeping to the thought that I am NOT disabled per se, I AM incapacitated.

ANYONE GOT A LAZY $50,000???

I would be happy to take it off your hands! :o)
Honest - no hassle... OK - enough dreaming and hoping! Back off my butt / back and into the real world again.


The plan for this month is to not spend our usual $350 on groceries and master the $21 Challenge. Down the side bar is our menu plan. So far so good. Three days in and we've only spent $3.20 on milk. Today I was sensible (hahaha) and instead of buying a new bottle of juice to replace the finished on, I squeezed oranges from the fridge, added the cherry juice from the choc/cherry cake MyMan made and it was delicious!!

It is getting late - and I have vowed to be in bed each day before pumpkin o'clock. So I shall update the side bar and catch you tomorrow. Posts will be short and sweet (well, for me they will be - still a mini ~Mands! novella) but lets see how life treats us this month. An extra $300 on the mortgage, or even the credit card would be an awesome achievement for a family living on an income deemed $45 above the poverty level!! How ridiculous is that!!!! and one more for good luck !

Moments from May . . .

Well, yes ~ another ‘slack tart’ month when it has come to Meanderings…

But we have been busy. June is National $21 Challenge week ~ but, using my favourite word ~ we will be barstardising the challenge and making it for a month because we don’t shop every week anyway! The mission is to aim to feed your family on a meagre $21 for an entire week.

In the past, we’d head to the supermarket to buy the same old things week after week, regardless of whether we actually needed to or not? But we were spending $300 odd a week. We changed that to $300 each fortnight and now, with practice, planning and this new monthly pay, we do a big shop once a month of around $300 and a $50-$100 shop at the end of the month.

This June, when payday rolls in – we are not going shopping! Each week, I will put $21 into my wallet for food and, ideally, we won’t need to use it on anything other than milk, maybe eggs (if the gerls are still not laying) and fresh fruit. You'd have to make the best use of what you've got - and that's what the $21 Challenge is all about.

And NO – it will not be 2 minute noodles. We cant have those here anyway – what with MudGuts reactions to colours, flavours and preservatives. And Fred HATES the taste of the Interconternetal Pasta Saucy Rices packet things. Too spoilt – he will only eat ‘real’ food. We don’t even buy pizza any more – last time, too cheesy, too plasticy, too oily, too yucky! There weren’t even enough toppings ~~ compared to the old home made ones! Only take 10mins to ‘dress’ and 10 mins in the oven! Eating in under half an hour – it would take longer than that for the delivery!!

SO:

Here is the stocktake :

Freezer:
6r Bacon
12 Bananas
1kg Beans
1 Beef sirloin
1 Bread - grain
7 Bread - rolls
1/2 Bread - white
1/2kg Broccoli
2 Butter
1kg Carrots
3sv Cauliflower
4 Chicken breast fillets
1 Chuck / stewing steak
8 Corn cob
12 Drumsticks
4 fillets (frozen)
1kg Frozen beans
2pkt Frozen Chips
1kg Frozen corn kernals
2 Frozen Pastry
bit Frozen Peas
300g Ham
4 Lamb chops
2 Leeks
1 Mango
4 Maryland / pieces
6 Meat Pies (BigBen Orange x 6)
200g Mince Beef
655g Mince Lamb
680g Mince Veal
6 Minis - milkybar, calipo, choc
bit Mozzarella cheese
250g Pizza Ham
3 Porterhouse steak
20 prawns
2 Roast Chicken
1 Roast LAMB
1 Roast PORK
2 Rump Steak
bit Salami
2 Thighs
1L Weis - boysendberry cream
1L Weis - macadamia/mango
1kg Wings & niblets (marinated)

Fridge:
3 Apples
2 Avocado
1kg Broccoli
1/2' Cabbage
1/2 Cantaloupe
2kg Carrots
jar Coriander
3 Corn cob
2 Cream
6 Eggs
100g Fetta
1 Lemon juice
1 Milk (3L)
200g Mozzarella cheese
20 Oranges
bit parmesan cheese
1 Pears
2 Philadelphia Cheese
1 Pumpkin
jar Semi Dried Toms
1/2 Sesame oil (bottle)
Snow peas
250g Sour Cream
3 Straz / Devon / Smiley
1kg tasty Cheese
1 Tomatoes


Pantry:
All spice
1 Aloe Vera gel
3 Apples
1 Apricot nectar
Aspirin/Disprin
Baking Powder
Bandaids
Basil
Bi-Carb Soda
4 Bread - turkish
1kg Brown sugar
Cannelloni shells (pkt)
Caraway seeds
1kg Castor Sugar
Cayenne Pepper
Cereal - cornflks /rice bub
2 Cereal - Muesli
2 Cereal - nutragrain
500g Cereal - Oats/porridge
1 Cereal - weetbix
4 Chicken noodle soup (pkt - cupasoup)
2 Chips (multi packs)
chocolate / Milky Bars
2 Coca Cola
Cocoa
250g Coffee
1 Condensed milk (tin)
4 Cooking Chocolate
Cumin
2 Evaporated milk (tin)
1 Fettuccini
4 pk Gelatine (125g)
Golden Syrup
Ground Almond
Ground Cinnamon
Honey
Horseradish
Ibuprofen
1kg Icing Sugar
Insect repellent
Italian Herbs
Jam
4 Japanese curry noodles
4 Juice 3l
2pkt Lasagne sheets
Leggos Pasta Sauce
2 Lemonade
2L Milk UHT
1 Milo
Mixed Herbs
Mixed Spice
1 Morning Juice
MtFranklin Water
Mustard (jar)
mustard powder
mustard seed
yes Olive oil tin
8 Onion - Brown
1 Onion - Red
Panadeine
Paprika
2 parmisan cheese
Paw Paw
Peanut butter
Peppercorns
2 Pineapple pieces
2kg Plain Flour
20 Potatoes
1 quik - banana
1 quik - choc
1kg Raw Sugar
21kg Rice
Rosemary
sea salt (crystals)
2kg Self-Raising Flour
200ml Soy Sauce
4 Spag / Baked Beans
1 Spaghetti pasta
3 Spiral pasta
Stock - Massel cubes
3 Sunscreen
1 sustegen / Malt
1 Sweet Chilli Sauce
1 Taco Mince Mix (pkt)
Tea bags (50)
thyme (pkt)
8 Tin Tomatoes
2 Tinned Tuna in brine (425g)
8 Tomato Paste
2 Tomato Salsa (jar)
1L Tomato Sauce
6 Trident noodle bricks
1 Trident Udon Noodles
Turmeric
2 Vanilla Essence - natural
Vegemite
Vinegar - apple cider
Vinegar - balsamic
Vinegar - cider
Vinegar - malt
1L vinegar - white
yes Walnuts
5kg White Sugar
50ml Worcestershire Sauce

Tins
1 Apples
2 Apricots
1 Champignons
1 Chinese Vegs
1 Coconut cream
6 Fruit salad
2 Mango
2 Peachs
3 Pears
1 Plums
1 Tinned chickpeas
1 Tinned Corn
2 Two fruit


Still plowing through – there is more…
The laundry, the baking cupboard, the bathroom


Then the meal planning ~ so I will have to come back. I will edit this only up until the stocktake and meal planning is typed out (I have it scrawled through notebooks, along with the notes to buy Buderim Ginger cordial and sea salt) and hoping not to cheat and stock up. Aside from those two, I cant think of anything else that is desperately needed . . . oh, yes I can. Dry cat food.

BBL – with pics of the pantry, fridge and freezer so I am not cheating!!!

Thinking outside the square:

It shall, no doubt, commence as waffle and build. We've got most of the bills up to date but a week after payday (monthly) already on the cash poor side; not entirely ~ but . . .

So where can we reduce - main outgoings are phone and power (electricity, gas, wood) ~ have haggled the phones recently and cannot compare as yet. I shall focus on power.


It is getting cooler - yes we have money at hand for wood. If we get 5m of red gum, that is about $450 - and needs to last for 2-3 months. Change the bills to quarterly - next bill will be July. Guesstimate $200 on gas & 320 on electricity. Put $150 in elect and $80 in gas each month to build up credit ahead of bills. So aim for less than questimate.

We've got these great blankets that you stick your feet into a pocket and tuck around yourself ~ we're trying to reduced the electricity & gas bills, so we'll need to start saying to ourselves: garments, not gas; blankets not bills.

All have slippers, sox & dressing gowns for winter!!

*~* That's the plan, savings on the bills and reductions of our 'black balloons' to the environment! *~*



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information transfer . . . information transfer . . . information transfer

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This is the April - No Spend summary from the side bar

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PAYDAY: Yeah! Monthly pay schedule

In Account: $3855 (includes pension/family payments through to mid month next)

April 15:
Purchases: Fares into town and Fares to work (in da big smoke) ~ necessities: $65
Change in Habit: Didn't buy takeaway pizza ($25); made ourselves ($10); ~ didn't spend $20

Meals: Cereal breakfasts, sandwiches (hubby meal provided on work site); pasta carbonara; icypoles from freezer


April 16:
Purchases: Fares ($41.40); electricity bill ($150), phone bill ($120), Fine ($50); school photos ($24)
Change in habit: only bought basic photos (saved $9), used return env ($1)

Meals: Cereal breakfasts, lunch sandwichs; Roast chicken and veg for dinner; Milky Bar minis for dessert.


April 17:
Purchases: Fares ($41.40), Acupuncture ($58), meds ($5)
Change in habit: Well, acupuncture is a new thing!! Needles, not injections - big difference...
Hubby took lunch to 'breville' tomorrow ~ didn't spend: $22.50

Meals: Cereal breakfasts; brevilles & toasties for lunch; Baked potatoes with salsa, cheese, sour cream, ham, avocado, etc for dinner, frozen bananas dipped in chocolate sauce dessert


April 18:
Purchases: Fares ($41.40)
Change in habit: Took time to go to see Freds project presentation at school. Hubby took lunch, no lunch purchase ($10); Fred8 didn't use canteen ($5), ~ didn't spend: $15

Meals: Cereal breakfasts; sandwiches for lunch (cous cous for me); home made Chicken pie dinner; choc drops for dessert


April 19 - the Weekend:
Purchases: Paper ($2), Meds ($10)
Change in habit: Jiggled a few things, to tomorrow ~ didn't spend: $35 (but will tomorrow on chook feed)

Meals: Cereal breakfasts; toasted cheese tandwishes, steak,eggs & chips - icypoles for dessert.


April 20:
Purchases: Will have chook food & fuel...

Change in habit: Wont have fares for Hubby until Wed even / Thurs pm, depending....

Meals:


April 21:
Purchases: poss lunch / snack with SSers from Melb

Change in habit: Hubby staying melb longer time than usual.
Meals: will be for two only...

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I will do a weekly wrap up post
Summarising the week, review where we didn't spend money considered 'essential' but not really. Remember the items we put back on the shelf. The good bits and bad bits... How we reduced usage, wastage and our global foot print. I think we will be surprising ourselves enormously when we do reflect back over just this first week.

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And that was March...

I've just copied this straight from my Simple Savings post. I hope that is OK, personally it is very frank - and more will come. But it is a record of the moment, and right now - I don't know how else to say it. I did disappear from the SS world, and I may have to again - but nothing really makes sense - so that is that.


So - the infamous disappearance. I shall keep it as brief as poss, coz it wasn't very nice and has a loooong involved background. And it will waffle twist and turn - but it will be a real long 'brief' report. I also dont feel this is the best forum for such a discussion; and DS17 is a 'special' lad - but that is no excuse. As mentioned, he had been beaten by the ferals and had his fingers broken and was in a cast. We knew he would have trouble dealing with it - he had never really been beaten before and we felt that he would not take it on board as a 17 yo would, more the 'thats not fair' as an 8 yo may be inclined to think.

Anyways, he reacted in a way never done before ~ and the usual "ds17" action plan did not work. He physically lashed out at me, king-hitting me in the head with his casted hand, threw me across a room a few times (he is 6'8", I am about 5'6" and under 50kg), kicked me, punched me, beat me quite savagely, twisted my wrists and arm and more - then effectively held DS8 'hostage' as a means firstly that he couldn't be made to leave the house, then tried to drag DS8 out the door with him. So, understandably, it was a very frightening & painful expereince - involved the police, hospital, psych, court, an intervention order and his removal from the house. I guess it is a case of you hurt the ones you love because they love you - but there was no support for him and I will not accept that behaviour from anyone, especially not in my family home.

While I could understand people who do not know DS17, us and the history of his behaviours and disorders saying drop him, leave him, forget about him; and I will not have him in the house without an adult male on the property, I was not about to leave him to fend for himself - because realisitically he could not. Emotionally, this is an 8yo. When he 'calmed' down, all he wanted to do was play Lego with his brother and did not understand why he had to sit outside. It has taken several weeks of beaurocratic BS but I did daily have to 'take on' child & family services to have him in safeish accommodation while we found a suitable private rental. And furniture, food, money/income...

Obviously there is a lot more involved; and I personally will be lobbying for changes to crisis support services as the reoccuring reasons for cafs etc being unable to assist was he did not fit neatly into a category. He was not an abusive father; he was not a mother with childrent fleeing violence. And apparantly this is not an isolated type of situation, in most cases, cafs 'force' the parents to take the child back home through guilt or pity. Forgive & forget. He still feels that is should be ok for him to come over/come home because 'it will never happen again' but that is not the point.

DS8 has had counselling now, school were in the loop and provided support, WRISC was involved and certainly helped beyond its own guidelines, as did Community Health and other agencies - but the one legislatively bound and funded to assist would not as all the boxes did not cross they way they had to; nor did he fit into the categories they had and it was too hard to think outside the square.

So - that is it in a real short version. I am still very robotic, shocked and 'administrative' mode on this - but have had several phone counselling sessions, but right now, today ~ just too tired, mentally and physically to work out what needs to happen next. I do have to have him charged, best now as a minor too. He seems to acknowledge certain parts of the 'incident' but cannot understand why it is deemed so bad. Especially when he has seen no action taken on his behalf when he was beaten. Nor was action taken when he was beaten by his 'original' father (DH is his Dad, ask him).

I konw you will understand when I say I am sick and tired of revisiting it ~ I have barely had time to process the impact on me yet. Too busy keeping both boys safe - and yes, I do still love my DS17, and I am helping him with independent living skills, job readiness and applying for work - but he himself is having trouble understanding and sometimes I don't want to be near him.

I will diarise on my blog - just not this week, and probably not next week. There is still so much to finalise. I am seeking some personal respite opportunities and trying to get DH to undertake some counselling as he is just so angry and that too is understandable as he was not home to protect us; and he is as gob-smacked at how little support there is for special needs young people. I have lost two people I thought were friends, my choice, because they insist the only option is to drop DS17 like a hot potato; bagging me, berating me for even speaking to him - and one friend has known him and the problems he has/behaviour traits for almost 10 years. That upset me plenty. One girlfriend in my life who has more right than others to walk away and call me a fool as been so very supportive, empathetic and at beck and call when needed. DS17 needs some serious help, re-teaching and re-training with life skills. And hopefully you too see that I am not condoning his behaviour, because I do not and will not.

My VBGF said, as have DH and I, we knew something 'tragic' would come one day, we just did not expect the violence, the entrapment and the physical line it travelled. She wishes she was here to help - not just me, but DS17 as well. THAT is a true friend and someone who knows DS since birth. There is more, and I have certainly said it better previously to others, but hopefully that gives you some insight as to why I could not 'play' over the last few weeks!

You guys have been my sanity, my normality, my rock. There are a few who know a lot more details, others who will be reading more than I have said to them previously through email or facebook or msn. But hey - there are lots of 'bright sides' to this ~ but here is not the medium, nor the time for me to go into the whole story.

Well, pick your jaws up off the floor. Smile, because I am! I can say, while this is ONE of the worst things that has ever happened to me, it is not the worst, but is up there in the Top5! Bruising is all but gone now - just left with some of the mental anguish! I cant really vent in the SS forum more than what I have here and now and, honestly, I don't want to. DS17 is still my sweet loving giant of a son, he is just so screwed up and feels so let down by everyone, including himself. And I don't care what anyone elses opinion or thoughts are - I am still going to be there to help him, support him and guide him into adulthood as best I can - and many people just would not 'get' that.

These things are sent to test us - that's line I've heard over and over for so many of the 'tests' my life has been given. Surely I have passed! But somehow, I think me - a ballsy strong willed woman - will have many more tests to face. Hopefully, although doubtfully, they will get easier ~ but I am still here, still smiling and still of a truely, honestly positive mindset that positive change and outcomes will alway occur to balance the negatives!

Personally, I fear I have said too much and will happily edit, delete if required. But this type of incident is happening all around the country and socially / communally we need to take blinkers off, or at least be aware that this story is not unique (unfortunately).

So - there you have it! Not much more I can or will say. Hope you understand. But I am back, a little more in the back seat for a while, but I am back.


Oh - and in for April!! Definately still in the No Spend mode - at least through all of this with the barrage of expenses incurred (and being repaid) No Spend certainly made life a little more smooth as there was cash at hand for emergency moments and bonds, rents and food for two households!

Thanks guys, hope no one is too distressed or upset in hearing all that - not the intention; but the youth of today need so much more help than before becuase games, screens and materialism seems to have brought a reduction to respect, good role models and many boundaries that used to be the norm.

Love to all (and thanks again for listening, and your care and support)

Feb 2008: ~ Mands! Meanderings, mumblings and memoirs...

eh hem, squeeze me!!

Must say ~ lots of fussin' over valentines day ... and it has taken until about an hour ago to work out Vday and VD meant valentines day! (doh! Where has my head been??) but I am so very glad it was not what I initially thought, nor is there such a thing as Victory Day at this time - the only other thing I could think of for VD.

Personally, here in the Bungalow, we don’t need a special day once a year to celebrate ~ every night my hubby spends away through work and combining it as a little save, smaller footprint and chance to spend time with his mum, well my heart goes a-flutter just seeing him after that night away, so always a special day when he is home. As for weekends.... well! ;D

Thought I’d make note that its taken 4 rate increases but, next month we will need to put more funds aside for Morty!! We've always paid a little more and it has covered the increases, but not this last lot! Poop! And rounding it up to $10 is only a few cents, so more this time...

But we are definitely on track, even with the sudden single income. This NO Spend challenge really came at the right time to make us more savvy with what we have and do with it ~ like, that Darling Hubby is seriously asking me to look for a pushie for him (as low $ as poss - what is that?? I can get something stiff and requiring paint & get a gonky helmet for nix - but would he be happy with that? I'd cope with one like that ~ we only ever got a new bike if it were paid by the insurance of someone else, after knocking us off the bike usually! Just how 'low cost' is he prepared to go...) ~ let's just say not even a the 'several hundred dollar, brand good new' would have been tempting in the past - not even the whole 'bike/exercise' concept... So proud am I!!

SO No ~ valentines is one day we don't celebrate so no savings there - I'd actually probably be cross if he bought flowers. Pick one, ok - means he was thinking about it, no spend! Last year he said ~ just checking but we don't "DO" the whole valentines thing do we?" - thought - good question, and, you're learning (hee hee)

While I think of it:

Here’s a quick dinner – usually you’ll have everything on hand and you can dress it up, down – whatever: A little variation, but this is one I do all the time - this feeds 3 normal servings and one hippopertamic serve for my gianormous son! Occasionally ~ very occasionally ~ we have leftovers available for lunch.

QUICK PASTA CARBONARA

2-3 eggs, lightly beaten with a fork, 2-3 heaped soup spoons of sour cream – heavy or light works, salt, pepper, garlic powder, herbs (or just chives), nice handful of cheese (I use parmesan &/or tasty) and mix together.

Boil pasta to just before al dente - still a little firm - drain, pop back in the pot, add a knob of butter (plus shredded ham or quick cook some chopped bacon in the butter while draining the pasta), stir through the egg and sour cream mix over a low/med heat. Keep stirring through until it looks cooked - about 5 mins does it.

You could leave out the egg, or just use one and add another scoop of sour cream - or play to taste. We used to do this with cream but had no cream and used the sour cream ~ all of us prefer the ‘tang’ sour cream adds to the flavour of it.

So how has life been treating y’all?? I am finding it frustrating ‘feeling’ like I can do things, and knowing that there are chores I can do – but the pain and associated whinging and moaning and less sleep just isn’t worth it. Yet I cannot bring myself to home help – there are others who do need it more. Here it is really just the clutter. I could use the mop, dust & vac part - Clutter eh? Yup, plenty of that!! Hate it but cant get through it all. And I know it drags everything down, but sometimes it just must wait. Washing is in there – but the cluttered corners and walls…

Only this has now been waiting months ~ years in some corners ~ and those are the ones I really cant do, especially when you add the 8-legged creatures that might very possibly likely be in there. Ahhh – that, I can’t fob off without guilt to anyone other than family. That goes for Most corners actually ;D

~This weeks goal is to get the clothes into some semblance of order, been a little flu-ey and procrastinate-y the last few days, headache that just hangs around ~ but helped DS17 do resumes and applications that were handed in or sent today. He is on a youth committee and I hope he does well, excels and builds his self image and esteem.

Rather proactive this week ~ just slow. Looking forward to this weeks back appointment - very much in need of some neck assistance. I've got the back coming along, hurting like the buggery, but I think it is buildling. Just the neck seems a lot awkward and painful so hopefully MrMichael can play on that. End of next week and then it is my specialist appt - getting a little nervous, but so looking forward to finding out where the problems & pain are stemming from...

But if I were to ask for anyone who uses the powers of angels, spirits – the force even - anything it is send all sources powerful and calming to DS17 ~ using a stronger homeopathic remedy which is definitely showing a different 'something' emotive/thought pattern, and could do with some soothing, gentle, calmative power flows. Amongst the clutter and meds - I cant think straight. Physically been a slow, limited process.

Feeling more the half cup full of late ~ but I know that has come from shedding some of the baggage and 'learning' to relax and not see work/employment as the be all; and my health as a priority. Novel - but getting there. Looking forward to managing the mind and pain so I can enjoy a lovely red and French champagne DH has been gifted. Still some perks ~ just not the overtime, but we'll look flash when we open those two bottles for dinner!!

No – not Valentines – told you my views, and then there are those meds… Would not be enjoyed as much – the girlie drink I had when BIL & family were over from NZ hit me so not in a good way, don’t like that feeling. Popping in a few pics in from two Queensland trips – my birthday and the new year. VeryBestGF is coming to visit mid year – so so so excited. She has not seen the house – was back for our wedding!!

Fred had his finger jammed in the gym door today ~ said he cried but only had it in cold water : “ because they didn’t have icepacks when there were cavemen “ : and then went and did high jump. As you do. Played with a bunch of kids in the sandpit today, by the sounds of it. I am glad he enjoys school ~ MudGuts didn’t have such good experiences as Fred seems to. Then again, they are totally and utterly different. The proverbial chalk and cheese…

The no spend has made me change a few things to ensure we still do it without weakening. On the Simple Savings forum I notice many a flagging or ‘having a few treats’ because they have ‘been so good and deserve it’. Tonight, Hubby was still in the office and would ultimately end up home after 930pm, taxi home ~ only being no spend we discussed the value of the $45 to be spent, the need to leave around 5am to return. He had food from home in the work freezer to cover dinner and lunch tomorrow ~ so he will stay down an extra night. I guess it will be another Valentines’ night at the Bungalow! But digression aside, if it is not a preplanned/pre-existing bill or expense, then we are being of the mindset that we have no money too spend on anything because we have been ‘good’, not even a magazine... Gee, don’t know how many times they have been picked up and put back! The reward is financially yes we will be ahead, but it is then there to bring CeeCee and Morty down, provide a tank for water for the garden to produce food more easily and reduce our costs and environmental footprint ~ to barter when needed and provide excess for fowls, friends and family – probably in that order…

‘Puter wants to reboot – I hear abnimbals jumping in the laundry. I shall return.

Feel free to wander aimlessly – I do!

Later:

You know I was thinking (yes, yes ~ can still smell the smoke) but how does one go about seeking finaicial compensation or retribution from Telstra or the council? When MudGuts fell down the manhole pit - it is almost like it is no one's fault.

Now, I don't really want it to come across as a money grabbing exercise, but when mum tripped under a broken light on a pavement crack - that was somewhere around $30k... Where's moine? I had to drive all around, listen to the moans, inspect a butt crack for bruising (not pleasant!!, funny butt!!), give pain relief to both him and me - and what if there is something down the track, I mean it is his scaphoid and his trauma ~ translates to ours also?

Anyone know? Just thinking out loud... I know what I would do with $30k - and let me tell you there would be no new car in the equation - or holidays or motorbikes ~ Morty, CeeCee and house repairs from MudGuts' temper flares would be first...

February 2008: Monthly Budget Report ~ Family Budget ‘08

** this is a bit like a finanical diary ~ on a weekly basis, updated and edited as a go ~ full of my crap and waffle as I think of it. The pictures will come - and may have absolutely no relevance other than I took it, or Hubby did and it looks awesome

You need a little back ground ~ back being the ‘operative’ word. There is a post in 2007 ~~

Mine is cactus – stuffed, fractured and oh, so very painful. When our former PM uttered: “Life wasn’t meant to be easy”, little did I realise he was referring to mine specifically! Scheesh! It’s been an interesting, jam-packed, never-a-dull-moment kinda life at times…

In February 07, I did not get a promotion applied for; was made redundant in a business restructure (offered and accepted positions ~ it’s all in a previous post) and my 97yo grand mother died ~ all on the one day. That, strangely enough, can bring a person down ~ in a big way. Thus began what was soon to be a very painful, trying and , well you will see over time…

So, started 2007 both working full time – good almost 6 figures combines. Mid year ~ single income – ballpark $35-$40k, full price meds & docs. Then in December hubby’s role changes weekly pay to monthly. We coped, amazingly so! Ok, we did increase the credit card limit by a few zeros but more as butt coverage if something happened medically. And it was relazing, entertaining ~ albeit restrictive and rather disjointed as meds muddled memories and merged a few things. I know there is one week out there I will never get back, and cannot remember. Kiddadles have coped remarkably well to the switch in the ‘importance’ levels – screens and new are not a factor. They have had holidays with Nannys' and friends.

Thankfully some family did visit, others were better prepared and sent their pressies. We have almost wrapped them all and hope to send some Monday ~ finally. We should be slapped – as we we’re woosy and have only emailed… But financially non-local calls were restricted, as were mobiles – centrelink, doctors and pain relief induced sleep took up most of the days.

Actually, getting the PCC at the start of this month was the biggest relief – some appointments want cash up front, then I go get the rebate ~ but I can actually to do that. Wonderful feeling.

OK ~ back on track…

Thursday 7th February ~ end of week one.

So the challenge was to not spend on any non essential items. Bills existing and falling due, regular payment requirements are essential – such as rates, costs for transport to work/school – essential as time, location, age and inability to walk means Fred cant walk to school from here, but Mudguts can ride a pushbike to town (until he broke his wrist – that’s another story). Hubby has cut the commute so not travelling everyday ~ Now I’ve been reporting that down the side column, also listing what we eat – so you know it is not just 2 min noodles, tinned beans…

While our outgoing for the week were $1201, including Morty payment, extra on CeeCee; petrol tank fill; medical costs ~ the items we declined, put back or rethought and refrained was a total of $273 ~ no magazines, no chippies, no Big Ms… Work meals around what we have at hand, in the garden, the ability to make without needing 'extra'.

And the meals were lovely – just had the most beautiful fish and chips ~ more your restaurant quality than in the paper type. Got the fish fillets, lightly dusted them in seasoned herbed flour, bit of citric acid, cracked salt & pepper, fried in butter and served with a lime & coriander sauce (had no tartare) and deep fried chips with chicken salt , salsa & sour cream. That’s not how we used to do Fish on Fridays during lent!!

Frozen banana chunks on corn cob skewers; with golden syrup drizzled (it freezes and goes caramel-y) or chocolate dipping sauces (add frozen strawberries, blackberries, cantaloupe, mango and fresh apples in the fruit combinations) ~ quick easy delicious dessert! Mash frozen berries over plain icecream. A row of chocolate is enough for dessert too ~ you don’t always need to have something huge ~ heck had popcorn with icing sugar watching a DVD one night!

And you should see what we’ve got planned for next week’s menu ~ have had to arrange meals around the Melbourne overnight stay night choice to ensure Hubby is home for some in particular.


Saturday 9th February

Hubby did the groceries with a 'need now' list, a 'will need during the week' list and an 'if on special' component. This could have been much more damaging that it was...

OK - he did splurge, but everything was 'justified' ~ the chocolate because it was a mighty $1.96 off and he only got 2 blocks, not 4-5 as tempted ~ and one block, with one row for dessert per night, that’s 3 nights quick sweets for the boys. The pate – well, aside from it being something nice to sit and share, it can also be used on the steak planned for dinner next week – cover it in pate, cook in pastry ~ I think that is beef Wellington? So I know too that what I am saying is being heard and considered ~ I have everything needed, this will be an embellishment of sorts.

The paper towels, but the cheapest not the softest; 10kg rice @$9.49 - $1.21 off; bacon rashers (on special and rolled up & put in freezer for 'ron) but not the pizza ham, bit ex-y; Golden Circle Pineapple juice – ok, usually pricey even on special, which it was, but definitely Golden Circle has the best pineapple juice – so that passed scrutiny also. This pineapple was grown by my very best girlfriend. We saw it 06/07 and it was little. In Nov when I was back ~ we ate it!! It was delicious - I am jealous...

Hubby didn't get coke because he knew there was still 4 x 2L in the pantry from on special..! But he did get some Dolmio chilli tomato sauces that were on special, because great for nachos, tacos and quick dip for guests. Oh, and crumpet toast because he really doesn’t want to make pancakes, picklets for brunch and wants home made gourmet pizzas for lunch ~ and was a little over cereal.

So ~ there are a few habits he has changed there. Thus giving me license to a bit more ruthlessness - I've been using UHT & powdered milk on the sly for cooking, watering down the juice and adding mung beans and other padding out foods; will now trim a few other with some SS tricks.

I’ve also put on a little weight with the recording of everything. Over the 50kg mark again ~ yeah!! And I do believe my DearHusband may have lost a little in taking lunches and not stopping for donuts, chocolate bars or coke. Oh that was one justification ~ he bought two giant MiloBars ~ on special at the stupermarket so only 84c each; not $1.80 and if he had them at work, no temptation for the $2 snack machine. Well . . . as the machine had not been used this week ~ I can see where he is coming from as a way to have his ‘treat’, yet maintain the ‘spend less’ aspect. Now to get sox and jocks IN to the dirty clothes basket ~ not beside…!!

Dinner was stir-fry ~ and can I say as good, if not better than from the restaurant. We used our bok choy, spinach, cabbage, carrot and garlic; from the pantry were sprouts, water chestnuts, bamboo shoots, rice, onion & hoi sin sauce and from the fridge came the broccoli. Dessert was a row of chocolate ~ been a good month since we had big blocks of chocolate in the house ~ $4.21 a block is just too much nowadays.

Now where’s my ice-cream & chocolate….?

Things we are looking for:
Electric beaters – one of the two whisk hand held type
Whiskers on special ~ fussy cats – although we have got dry to the cheaper no name and the wet food can be no name 69c casserole varieties, so long as it is mooshed a bit more before serving… Like I said, fussy cats.
Jaffle iron ^^ good clean soil ^^ the courage to walk into Brumby's at 5pm and ask for end of day bread ^^ ditto to the supermarket/grocer for chook scraps ^^ mower repair

Just adding to the end the side bar record of the first two weeks of the no spend challenge - will possibly look like a dog's breakfast, but it is a record!!


Feb 1:
Purchases: Meds, Fares into town and Fares to work (in da big smoke) ~ necessities: $65
Change in Habit: Didn't buy takeaway pizza ($25); made ourselves ($10); No Canteen for Fred8 ($5) ~ didn't spend $20

Meals: Cereal breakfasts, sandwiches (hubby meal provided on work site); home made pizza; icypoles from freezer


Feb 2:
Purchases: Saturday paper ~ MudGuts is job searching ~ necessities: $1.60
Change in habit: No "Saturday Walk Home" Ice Coffee Big M ~ didn't spend: $3.50

Meals: Cereal breakfasts, lunch pancakes/hotcakes; Roast chicken and veg for dinner; last of the Milky Bar minis for dessert.


Feb 3:
Purchases: Off peak train fare to da big smoke for work (evening function; 4th - site survey & office), sleep @ MIL ~ necessities: $10
Change in habit: Would usually travel Mon morn peak - ($20.70); Sunday paper ~ flicked through internet ($1.80); no shopping. Plus ~ Hubby took lunch to 'breville' tomorrow ~ didn't spend: $22.50

Meals: Cereal breakfasts; brevilles & toasties for lunch; Pasta Carbonara for dinner, frozen bananas dipped in chocolate sauce dessert


Feb 4:
Purchases: Trains and buses home for hubby ($20.70)
Change in habit: Hubby took lunch, no lunch purchase ($10); Fred8 didn't use canteen ($5), Hubby had stayed in da big smoke so only one way trip, no morning coffee ($5); PTrans not taxi home: ($20) ~ didn't spend: $40

Meals: Cereal breakfasts; sandwiches for lunch (cous cous for me); home made Chicken pie dinner; choc drops for dessert


Feb 5:
Purchases: Train and buses to/from work for hubby ($41.40)
Change in habit: Hubby took lunch ($10); no 'after swimming' reward from swimshop ($1, got a tantrum but!), no taxi home ($20) ~ didn't spend: $31

Meals: Cereal breakfasts; sandwiches/l'over Pasta lunches; tuna mornay on rice dinner; vanilla icecream with crushed frozen berries and white choc drops dessert.


Feb 6:
Purchases: Train and buses to/from work for hubby ($20.70); milk, bread & rice ($12.50); Petrol, full tank @ 1.24cpl ($51), BusFare for Mudguts ($1.80)
No non-essential purchases again!!
Change in habit: Hubby took lunch ($10); no drink or mag at Shell ($7), no extras on the shop ($10) ~ didn't spend: $27

Meals: Cereal breakfasts; sandwiches/toasties lunches; chow mein; vanilla icecream with crushed frozen berries and white choc drops dessert.


Feb 7:
Purchases: Mortgage ~ fortnightly payment ($600); Meds ~ pcc ($10); Back appt ~ ok, must do my neck exercises ($66); CreditCard ~ min $34 ($300)
No non-essential purchases again – that’s why CeeCee’s getting extra!!
Change in habit: Hubby stayed overnight ($41.40) and took lunch ($10); no knick-nak at chemist ($10), new PCC created huge drop in meds costs ($78 less); no extras on the shop ($10) ~ didn't spend: $27

Meals: Cereal breakfasts; sandwiches/brevilles/noodle lunches; spaghetti bolgnase dinner; frozen bananas and golden syrup sauce dessert. Lots of fruit & yoghurt snacks.

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I will do a weekly wrap up post
Summarising the week, review where we didn't spend money considered 'essential' but not really. Remember the items we put back on the shelf. The good bits and bad bits... How we reduced usage, wastage and our global foot print. I think we will be surprising ourselves enormously when we do reflect back over just this first week.

+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+

Feb 8:
Purchases: Counselling appt ($110), Hubby train fare home ($10)
No non-essential purchases again – added $25 to Morty!!
Change in habit: Hubby stayed over night ($20.70) and took lunch ($10); and ran to catch last off-peak service home ($8.10); I put down Take 5, Thats Life & Better Homes & Gardens ($12), No canteen again for Fred ($5); and no 'Friday on the way home' treat ($2); picked up DH so no cab ($18) ~ didn't spend: $75

Meals: Cereal breakfasts; sandwiches/brevilles/noodle lunches; Fish fillets, lightly tossed in seasoned flour, pan-fried in butter & herbs, served with a lime & corriander sauce (no tartare) and salt & vinegar chips, optional tomato salsa & sour cream.


Feb 9
Purchases: Saturday paper, Groceries: $77.27
Non-essential purchases: Groceries (well chocolate, icecream and some other bitties discussed in the post) $19.32!!
Change in habit: All non-essential purchases were cheapest option available; no Coke purchased; all 'on special' ~ didn't spend: $100 (it is currently $200 big shop week)

Meals: Cereal breakfasts; noodles / toasties lunch; Hoi Sin Beef & asian greens stir fry on steamed rice dinner; Row of chocolate dessert

Feb 10
Purchases: Nothing - thats it: $0.00
Non-essential purchases: Again - nothing!! $0.00
Change in habit: You can read the paper online you know...

Meals: Cereal breakfasts; noodles / eggs & toast lunch; Spag Bolgonse dinner; frozen fruit & berry sorbet thingy for dessert

Feb 11
Purchases: Fare ($41.40)
Non-essential purchases: No - nothing in there again.
Change in habit: No canteen - had handful of jubes & popcorn from home.

Meals: Cereal breakfasts; noodles / toasties lunch; Roast Chicken and veg dinner (also pie & lunches? leftover); Row of chocolate dessert

Feb 12
Purchases: Fare ~ one way: $20.70
Non-essential purchases: Nothing required, purchased nada!!
Change in habit: Planned stay in town, had double lunch to store 'back up' in case.

Meals: Cereal breakfasts; sandwiches / brevilles lunch; Pasta Carbonara; Row of chocolate dessert

Feb 13
Purchases: Well, Hubby in town, so nil: $0.00
Non-essential purchases: Nothing ~ oh ah, did it again!!
Change in habit: We weighed up the time/expense value of hubby coming home having still been in the office at 630pm ~ not when that means getting up @ 500am to go back... Had 'back up' for dinner

Meals: Cereal breakfasts; sandwichs/ l'over stirfry/ toasties lunch; Chicken & veg pie (+3 x lunch portions), tuna mornay dinner; Row of chocolate dessert

Feb 2008: Best of our Homes and Gardens ~ chicken adventures

Let me introduce you to some important members of the Bungalow. So important ~ they have had their own 'Taj Mahal' built. While there are definately more flamboyant ones on the market, we made it ourselves, using as much existing materials as possible, more as time as progressed and probably only spent about $50 (excluding it lovely lady occupiers - they've paid for themselves already ~ and their food/bedding along the way!)

Knowing a new house needed time to get to know, we agreed ~ plan on paper, get a feel, no new pets, 'toys', modifications for 12 months. Chickens were always up there with the vegetable gardens, so I would have started asking around June/July 06 for say birthday / fathers day / christmas ~ justification of expense

~ although eventually the asking, pleading and begging did become a nag, bitch and tantie or 10 to get us to a final delivery date of May 2007. Why such a long time before we got chickens??

Because first, we needed a place for any chicken to live. And it had to be built ~ add two anal Virgo's and a Scorpio prone to fits of MWP and you can probably get a good idea...

There was an old aviary in the yard – decent sized. There were a few pine posts, used previously for a dog-yard fence, and it came with wire and other things I constitute as a semi-made wall frame – complete with door and padlock.

It was an all male affair – and progressed well when I stepped in, nagged or was pre-menstrual. Ahhh ~ release the screaming, sobbing bitch! At least I am consistent and on time for pre-preparation. I don’t get PMT ~ ask DearHubby! I suffer from MWP ~ Mad Woman Possessed.

But as usual, I digress…

Using an old wardrobe, bits of wood, laminate, and old pallet and other things scavenged from around the property; we built the laying boxes. I think there was a rule of thumb that said one box each, but we figured we would get 6-8 ladies and 4 nesting boxes partitioned in the wardrobe would be enough. I think that has worked well for us.

Built an area and used the tree for shade and stuff

It was good to see the boys work as a team ~ although some of the ‘discussions’ and negotiations were of language more colourful than the rainbow.

Fred probably got into it all more than MudGuts who has already well and truly outgrown the ability to get into the roosting area and can’t comfortably collect eggs. Darn handy for repairs and raking, ‘tho. If only he would...
Then the feeder – initially it was the old metal trough; but that became a bit rusty for my liking and has recently been changed to a 15L water bottle cut in half with a brick inside it.

Thus came the time to forget about buying a carton of eggs ever again ~ Hell man ~ we were buying the factory!!

So we got six ladies in May (for mother's day). Paid $10 from a known bird man, would you look at the grass – not there now ;o) We've since got another 3 (@ $3ea) real free rangers who are lovely but no pics ~ yet!

The eggs are glorious - only one was laying in the beginning but over by July/August they'd cranked it up to 3-5 eggs a day. The first week of July we had more eggs in one week than for all of June. That’s when friends started getting eggs and requests for cartons. I think November we had 122 for the month. Been a little slower of late - but they are also molting and we found a flea invasion - treated them and hoping that will clear up ~ Hubby's work mates want eggs. Yup ~ really are glorious eggs. Had a few double yolkers too ~ lordy, glad I don't have to push one out!

The poop is not so glorious. Especially if you nip out to grab a piece of wood for the fire in sox or bare feet and step in a blob - eewww. And they produce pleeenty of it!! Can't follow my own instruction of shoes on outside ~ always!!

Great punishment chore though - nothing better than assigning chook poop scooping from the patio and path for 30 minutes!! Unfortunately – odd things appear in chook poop, requiring investigation and analysis.
Somehow, this has become my job (as well) ~ probably as I am the only one who doesn’t need to hold their hand over their mouth…

We have two cats. The chooks have demonstrated they are the top of the pecking order in the backyard - I've watched our cats leap in fright when encountering chooks!!
And for as much bravado as he has, TeddyCat will surrender the stolen cucumber, although we had got as far as a growl but 2 chooks vs one scaredee TeddyCat and the chooks will win.
He also sits in the next nesting box when a chook is in there, rolls and ‘dust bathes’ with them and comes in to inspect the scraps.

Chooks peck each other too, and they seem to have hierarchy - You can't make chickens be friends! And they won't share (much to my Fred's disgust). In fact they fly over the top and peck each other at times.

And the hierarchy can change as we found when we added a few more to the Taj MahChook in early Jan this year. Excluding the fact I am No #1 always ~ at least with the gerls, as you can see!

Dogs are a problem, so our gates are locked and fences high enough to stop incoming / outgoing animals. No clipped wings required.

We were told no onions, no potatoes (especially no skins unless cooked and, like, who is going to do that), no citrus. Anything else goes. If they don’t like it – they wont eat it – so you learn what works. Before Christmas we were so bombarded with eggs, Hubby was taking them to work ~ $2 for 1/2 doz ~ we didn't have enough cartons (plenty of eggs). Since the fleas came in to the roosting area, we've gone from 4-5 a day, to 1-2 a day this week. So must clean & scrub it out this weekend. And flea dust. Need lots more googies now we are one income ~ 3 doz a week is a day's fare for Hubby. Or their monthly feed and wellbeing.

And they are lovely, scrummy sunny eggs. Now, if you are wondering have they got names ~ well sort of! We all know which is which but have variations on names ~ I tend to have my "Sweet", the new girls, little blackgerl; tan buff beauty; poor chookie; the white boofy thing ~ the boys have a variation on that again and hubby just calls them the chickens - affectionately. Considering we've had one fertilising the lemon tree (that's Keiv, named so in death by others ~ I preferred Parmagiana) ~ no names as such works well...