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.

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.

$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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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

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

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.