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Archive for July, 2018

Day 65 - 300 days to go

July 31st, 2018 at 10:13 am

I bought some B12 today, from my medical envelope as it is essential to vegan health. I can't get B12 in the supermarket so went to the pharmacy. 100 tablets for $22. I don't know why vitamins are so expensive here, but I have heard the cheap ones don't always contain the amount they should.

Also I put another $20 on my bus card. With the frost and drizzle we've been having I've been catching the bus more than usual. Roll on spring so I can walk in the sunshine.

And I got given some linen blend yarn. Think I'll make a lacy scarf for summer.

Day 64

July 30th, 2018 at 10:16 am

I got given some rhubarb today, but I'm running short of sugar. I bought a kilo of brown sugar for $1.99, and also a loaf of bread for $1, which I've half eaten already. 30 cents left in my change dish to last me till Wednesday.

The dentist sent me an appointment for a checkup, but I don't have quite enough in my medical envelope, so I cancelled it. I should be able to go in September.

Day 63 - 43 weeks to go

July 29th, 2018 at 10:04 am

$9.70 spent on food this week. Remaining in my cash envelopes:
food $0
misc $97
medical $140
change dish $3.30
go card $3.49
mta vouchers $80

Day 62

July 28th, 2018 at 10:14 am

I have finished one of the cabbages. I lasted 2 weeks. For a change I dug in the back of the cupboard and found a can of asparagus, which I had with macaroni.

Day 61 - 10 months to go

July 27th, 2018 at 10:07 am

Today I took some money from my change dish and bought
sultanas 1.79
lentils 2.15
tomato paste .79
I knew saving change would come in handy.

I also bought a Film Festival ticket for $12.50. There are several movies I'd like to see, but I narrowed it down to one: an Australian documentary about an aboriginal choir.

And I weighed myself. I am down to 79 kilos. I'd like to lose weight a little faster, but they say if you lose slowly it's more likely to stay off.

Day 60

July 26th, 2018 at 10:06 am

I wanted somethng dfferent from apples so bought 4 bananas for $1.36. I also bought some oats for $1.69 and peanut butter for $1.99.

I have received some free yarn. 4 balls of crochet cotton and 12 balls of fun fur. Not the sort of yarn I usually knit with, but at least it's vegan.

Day 59

July 25th, 2018 at 10:16 am

Payday. I picked up my prescription, $15.

I want to change my broadband plan but can't ring the 0800 number from my cellphone. Today I got to a landline but forgot to bring my account no with me. They couldn't find me under my name or cellphone no, and their system doesn't search for addresses. So I'll have to ring back next time I get to a landlne.

When I pay bills I enter the amount rounded up to the nearest dollar n my checkng register, for ease of math. This morning I balanced the account and realised I have $28.86 more than I budgeted. Think I'll leave it in there as a buffer.

Day 58

July 24th, 2018 at 10:22 am

Another big box of apples for the taking at Artsenta today. It's a good thng I like them.

Day 57

July 23rd, 2018 at 10:15 am

My friend gave me the knitting needle, so I gave her the $6. There go my hopes of a no spend week. But since it was ordered last week I guess you could call it deferred spending.

And I found a half dollar by a parking meter.

Day 56 - 44 weeks to go

July 22nd, 2018 at 10:10 am

Zero dollars spent on food this week, I lived out of my pantry and fridge. Left in my cash envelopes:
food $4
misc $100
medical $135
go card $11.17
mta vouchers $80

Doing pretty well so far, I think. I'm looking at rewarding myself with a trip to the Film Festival next month.

Day 55

July 21st, 2018 at 10:05 am

Meals today the same as the last 3 days:
breakfast: porridge, apples
lunch: tortilla with chutney
dinner: rice, lentils, cabbage, potatoes

The sugar and oil are getting low but I think they'll last till Friday.

Day 54

July 20th, 2018 at 10:11 am

I forgot I had to renew a prescrption this week, so I spent $25 from my medical envelope to pick up a script from the doctor. I will drop in the pharmacy on Monday, when it will cost me $15.

Day 53

July 19th, 2018 at 10:05 am

Icouldn't sleep last night so watched YouTube videos on how to make perfect tortillas. Mine always turn out too thick.

And I'm out of peanut butter. Never mind, I can do without it for the next 6 days.

Day 52

July 18th, 2018 at 09:51 am

Payday. One seventh through my year challenge. Also DS's birthday. I offered to take him out to lunch but he spent most of the day snoozng. Hard to believe 35 years ago I pushed out a 9 pound pumpkin. The memory of the pain fades; the joy remains.

My goal for this week is to have 7 NSDs. That's right, a complete no spend week. I passed a couple of op shops today: one was advertising a dollar of everything, the other offered 2 tops for $2. I didn't go in. I already have 65 tops - ok, some of them don't fit but I'll lose weight I promise.


I still have lots of oats, rice, canned beans, cabbage and potatoes. Looks like I'll be eating the same thing everyday but that's ok.

Day 51

July 17th, 2018 at 09:34 am

The only thing bought today is toilet paper. Normally I buy 12 rolls for $3, instead I bought 24 for $5.90. A saving of 10 cents!

Day 50

July 16th, 2018 at 09:24 am

Found another 10 cents today: a total of $8.30 in my Trans Siberian fund.

Day 49 - 45 weeks to go

July 15th, 2018 at 09:45 am

Spent $8 on food this week. In my cash envelopes:
food $4
misc $88
medical $140
mta vouchers $80
change dish $8.40
house maintenance a/c $2,765

Day 48

July 14th, 2018 at 10:02 am

Today is Bastille Day so DS invited me to share his baguette. He had his grilled with chicken and cheese, and I had mine with marmite and a cup of cocoa.

Day 47

July 13th, 2018 at 09:28 am

Lucky Friday 13th for me. I was given a book of knitting patterns, plus I found 10 cents. Also I was intending to buy a 5.5mm circular needle which costs $9.90 at KnitWorld. I mentioned it to a friend and she found one listed on TradeMe for $3 plus $3 p&p. So she has put a hold on it for me until it closes next Wed, and if she gets it I will give her the money. Wish I could save $3.90 on everything I buy.

Day 46

July 12th, 2018 at 10:21 am

I have been looking at this website

Text is https://www.thriftylesley.com/meal-plans/ and Link is
https://www.thriftylesley.com/meal-plans/, which is meal plans to live on one pound sterling a day. Not sure how the British prices will translate to New Zealand but the recipes are simple and quick, right up my alley. Needs more greens, tho, and less onions.

Day 45

July 11th, 2018 at 09:36 am

Payday. A whole $289.61 into my account. The electrician's bill finally arrived so I paid it right away, $222.63. Still left with well over $2,000 in the House maintenance a/c.
I had almost $500 in my check a/c so transferred $400 to my FFEF. I now have $2.082 in there.
I went to Knit Squad this afternoon and made a gold coin donation. I also put a dollar from my misc money into my Trans Siberian trip money tin. If I put a dollar in there every week I'll get there in a hundred years! But if I don't start saving something I'll never get there.
And I bought another cabbage and 4 cans of beans at a dollar each. It's a good job I like cabbage, and it can be cooked in so many ways.

Day 44

July 10th, 2018 at 09:28 am

New World had whole cabbages at $1.99 which is the cheapest I've seen in years. I bought one and I think I'll get another one, as it lasts for ages.

Day 43

July 9th, 2018 at 10:25 am

I put $20 on my bus card and spent $3.84 on bus fares, apart from that it was a no spend day.

Day 42 - 46 weeks to go

July 8th, 2018 at 09:54 am

Today was the monthly vegan pot luck, but as we were having a combined church service I thought I should go to that. It turned out there was nothing for me to eat, but they were giving away - yes! more apples.


So at the end of week 6 the financial situation is $16.70 spent on food and in my cash envelopes:
food $12
misc $90
medical $120
change dish $8.40
mta vouchers $80

Day 41

July 7th, 2018 at 09:54 am

My name is Tina and I am a breadaholic. I bought 2 loaves on Wed and finished them in 3 days, bought another one today and it is already 3/4 gone. I love pbj sandwiches, no wonder I have difficulty losing weight.

Day 40

July 6th, 2018 at 09:39 am

I was born on this day 60 years ago, but owing to the number of birthdays I have missed celebrating I am really only 39. Artsenta put on a morning tea for me. The cake probably had some eggs and milk in it, but since they'd gone to so much trouble I had a small piece. Sometimes not hurting people's feelings is more important than an ostentatious display of principle.

I bought some carrots at Veggie Boys for 70 cents.

Day 39

July 5th, 2018 at 10:51 am

"Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and the necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control."

United Nations, Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 40.

New Zealand is a signatory to this declaration.

Day 38

July 4th, 2018 at 10:17 am

For the months of July, August and September I am recieving an extra $20.45 a week to cover increased heating costs. I have the heat pump on pretty much permanently in winter, it is bad for me to be cold.

I went to the Caltex gas station today and bought bread and pasta for $8.60. I paid with one of my vouchers and got $1.40 in change. I will buy carrots with some of my cash on Sat, apart from that I don't need anything.

And I found 50 cents on the way home. I now have $5.20 towards travelling the Trans Siberian.

For lunch I made a batter with peaflour and curry powder and added the struggling bean sprouts to make vege pancakes.

Day 37

July 3rd, 2018 at 09:24 am

I had a look around a couple of service stations today and found some food I can buy. Not much and it costs more than the supermarket, but if I spend $20 in vouchers there for the next 5 weeks, I can put $100 of food money into my FFEF. So that's what I'll do.
This means I have $80 in vouchers and $17.80 cash to last me to the end of the month. Hopefully I'll get some change from my voucher purchases (not all the stations give change)

Day 36

July 2nd, 2018 at 10:16 am

It was raining this morning so I caught the bus into town, $1.92. I could have stayed at home and saved the money but I don't intend to be a rich hermit. Part of the reason for having money is to enjoy spending it. The extreme belt tightening is only till my FFEF is built up again.
There was another whole box of apples at Artsenta today so I took some to make applesauce.


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