this, folks, has turned into a no hold barred pro wrestling match. In the black corner is tina, ably seconded by her Efund. In the red corner, the villain of the piece, Murphy.

And Murphy has just attempted a low blow. After knocking out tina's tooth last week, he proceeded to infect the empty socket this week. However, the dentist treated it and made no charge!!!Murphy came back almost immediately with another kinghit - a tax demand from the regional council that has gone up over 20%! Tina is now sitting down and writing out her request for a rates rebate. Stay tuned for the ref's decision on this one.

Well, it's been a disaster of a weekend. In the last 48 hours the washing machine stopped functioning (I'm guessing a blocked pump); then an element on the stove top stopped functioning ( as it is a very old stove I'm expecting to be told it's not repairable so will have to buy a new stove); finally the electric kettle stopped functioning ( I went to KMart today to buy a cheapie replacement, but all the jugs they had were fancy schmancy stainless steel and cost too much, so I'm temporarily boiling water in a pan)

All this and I'm still smiling. I have over nz$3000 in my EF fund to deal with these setbacks. Murphy - you're out!

I was working in the shop this afternoon. It's interesting that most people chose to make even small purchases with thier debit card. I guess they just don't carry cash any more. I only made $47 in cash sales, all the rest was electronic transfer of funds. Wonder if they'll do away with cash one day. Hooray - no more balancing the cash register at the end of the day.

my tooth. Goshdarn grit in an apple. Because I have previously had a root canal on that particular tooth there was no pain, but it was past saving. The dentist neatly extracted it, along with nz$245 from my savings account. This, she says with a gap toothed smile, is what emergency savings are for.

As I was waiting for the bus I noticed a 20 cent coin on the street. I waited for a gap in the traffic so I could go over and pick it up, but no traffic gap before my bus came, so I had to leave it. Sob! I want my free money!

Today was a good day for saving money. I hung the laundry out on the line, opened all the windows to let the natural air conditioning thru, enjoyed some free vitamin D on my skin and thanked God he doesn't charge us for universal power.

I often pick up fruit and veges at a little Asian store not far from me. They are cheap but you have to use them quickly as they sell them near their best by date.

I had some pumpkin in the fridge I was meaning to get round to using. I delayed too long and it turned all soft and slimy. Ugh, I had to throw it away. 99 cents wasted. Maybe I should start doing like grandma and buy my greens every day.

In the meantime, a note to self. When you buy something and don't use it you are throwing money away. Remember that dress you thought you would wear to a party some time and never did? nz$120 thrown away (actually a donation to the Sally Army that time) Always, always, always ask yourself before purchasing whether you are going to truly use it or you just want it. You are going to have to save up $200 now to generate that $1 pumpkin income in retirement.

Thankfully it was only a 24 hour bug, so I'm back on my feet again. I am eating some chocolate which is a cure for all human ailments of body, mind and soul.

Ugh, I'm coming down with a nasty bug; runny nose, sore eyes, upset tummy and aching joints. I got some Vitamin C and if I'm not better tomorrow I'll go to the dr.

Now's the time of year when I normally go into whirling dervish mode, pulling contents out of cupboards, cleaning them and then often as not, donating them all to the Sally Army, only to buy a fresh load of stuff to fill up the spaces. The sight of all the new stuff in the shops makes me think my stuff is old and tired and needs to be replaced, when in fact it will last for years with care. I don't really need new summer clothes and curtains, it's the advertisers who make me feel discontented. I firmly remind myself of Dave Ramsey's mantra; live like nobody else now and later on you can live like nobody else.

The weather has been so warm the last few days I didn't need to have the heater on. Yay for coming summer and lower power bills.

If I go back 20 years, new roof on house, nz$3,600 and first ever computer nz$1400. Since then various house repairs, replacing hot water cylinder and kitchen floorboards, and most recently putting in the heat pump. All in all, necessary purchases. The only other thing I spent $3000 on was going to India. Even my last car was only $800 (if I add in repairs to it it probably comes to over $2000 spent on it total)

I'm saving up money for a trip to Britain to see ds, probably nz$5,000, apart from taht there's nothing I really think is worth spending one grand on.

Yes I'm on a bare bones budget this month, but I'm not so hard up I can't afford to post a pair of handknitted sox to my dad. nz$4.50 I could have written a poem and paid just .50 cents postage, but he has dementia and I think he will appreciate the sox.

Last month was a bit spendy so September calls for belt tightening, with my shop hours going down to Saturdays only. Food, power, medical expenses and transport are all that are allowed. I'll be interested to see what it costs me to live on a bare bones budget.