Out
soy milk 2.49
rice crackers 1.29

I was given a ticket for the Returned Services Choir. Great singing but the chairs were really uncomfotable, I got a backache.

Day 6 of fasting. 78 kilos. Feeling ok today. My body has switched to fat burning mode which is logical. The body stores up fat for times of famine so when you stop eating it uses those supplies. I walked into town and back with no more rests than normal and bought some groceries for when I break my fast Wednesday evening.
oranges .61
red peppers 3.00
bananas 2.49
popping corn 1.79
pasta .75
can tomatoes .70

I recieved an electricity bill for nzd57.93. It will come out automatically on the 29th.

Day 3 of fasting. I was rather sluggish and light headed on waking, but that's to be expected at this stage. Day 3 is always the most difficult for me. I wasn't physically hungry but mentally wanting to eat and thinking of chucking it in. Drank a lot of water. My weight is down to 81.5 kilos but that is water loss.

Payday nzd289.15. I only had to take out $20 because I am paying my checking account back from misc and not putting any more into medical. So I only needed $20 for food but I'll only be buying grape juice for communion.

I only spent 2.00 donation to Knit Squad. I saw a nice top in Orphans Aid but it was large size and I intend to get back to medium.

I paid for the plane tickets, nzd2,620.00.

I bought a new smart phone for nzd99.00. I'm on a prepaid plan.

Only 3 more weeks and I will be halfway done with my challenge. I'm taking 3 weeks off in January while I'm in India.

This morning was pouring rain so I took a taxi to meditation nzd11.50. After church we went to the Steep Cafe which is on the world's steepest street. Very touristy and priced accordingly, nzd4.00 for a long black, and it wasn't very good coffee. I had zero money left in my food envelope so took it from my necessities jar, but I'm trying to break the habit of borrowing from other categories. It's easy done when you're only accountable to yourself, but I need a new cellphone so must use the money from my checking and pay myself back nzd20.00 a week.

Left in my cash envelopes:
food 0
medical 335.00
mta vouchers 30.00
bus card 12.35
change dish 4.70

in my jars:
necessities 48.80
financial freedom 14.60
play 20 cents
education 14.60
gifts 30 cents
Trans Siberian 126.40

World Vegan Day was celebrated in the Octagon today. I spent nzd15.20 on food, which was more than I intended, but it was delicious.

Out: hummus $2.49, crackers 99 cents

There was an earthquake today, though I didn't feel it. Fortunately there are no reports of damage. So I checked my emergency supplies. I have water, canned goods and a torch, but need a first aid kit and a battery operated radio. I also need to put my essential meds and important documents where I can grab them easily.

The Scavengers Paradise craft store is closing but I didn't go. I'm planning to use what I have before buying more.

I bought peanut butter $1.99 and flour $1.59, booth on special so I saved 50 cents. My aim is to buy staples only when they are on special. I am running short of baking powder so I bought self rising flour as it was the same price as the plain. Normally it costs more.

Our church service was held at the nearby rest home this morning. After we went to the nearby cafe. There were no vegan options so I just had coffee and a couple pieces of fruit, $5.20. I then went to the supermarket and bought 2 packets of cookies for $4.50 which I devoured in 40 minutes. I feel sick from all the sugar and silly for wasting my money.

Left in my cash envelopes:
food $18
medical/dental $$320
change dish $3.50
mta vouchers $30
bus pass $16.19

in my misc jars:
neccessities $50
Financial Freedom $12
education $12
play $2
gifts $1

In: found 50 cents
Out: Marmite $5.50

Today for breakfast I had oatmeal with sultanas and cinnamon; lunch coconut pancakes with lemon juice and sugar; dinner pasta, potatoes, broccoli and chickpeas.

Someone gave me 4 bags of weaving singles. I knew it would take me ages to get round to using them, so I donated them to the annual craft sale.

I am not buying books and today I found in the Lilliput Library a book called Money Success and You by John Kehoe. It turned out to be one of those motivational books that tell you about other rich people. I don't need to be a multimillionaire and I don't want to be famous; I'm just looking for a basic how to on investing.

At Artsenta today they had free fruit. I took an apple and 2 mandarins. I am making pottery bowls and bead jewelry for Christmas gifts. After I went to the Rotary secondhand book sale and bought 3 books at a dollar each as gifts. (if your friends don't like recieving secondhand books get some new friends) I thought about buying a book a knitting patterns for myself, but there are loads of free patterns on the net.

I recieved a plumber's bill of $29.18 as my share of some work done for all our units. I paid it online right away as I don't like unpaid bills hanging round when I have the money to pay them. I like to know all the money in my account is mine to spend.

I paid $15 for a prescription.

The good news is I do not have bowel cancer and don't need another test for 2 years.

In: found 10 cents
Out: fruit and veg $6

There was a load of very good yarn in the thrift store this morning. I could have spent $32, but realised it's only 2 months to Christmas and I'm supposed to be setting money aside for it.

I finished the last of the popcorn.

I walked to Pak n Save and bought
sultanas $1.79
pasta 75 cents
lentils $2.15

I was too tired to walk back and it was starting to rain, so I caught the bus back $1.92.

For lunch I bought some bread rolls at New World from my Play jar $2.30. Have to wait until tomorrow for a whole $2 to spend on enjoying myself.

I was given some rhubarb, but had to buy sugar to cook it. $2.60.

In:
found $2

Out:
doctor $25
brunch with friend $7.90

I realised that if I put all $20 per week of my misc money into the T Harv Eker jars, I can do it with the suggested percentages. It makes sense to try the system the reccommended way when it works for a millionaire, before trying it my own less successful way.

So the reccommended percentages are:
Necessities 55%
Financial Freedom 10%
Long tern Savings for Spending 10%
Education 10%
Play 10%
Give 5%

In $289.13

Out:
flour $1.59
pasta 75 cents

I have been reading about the six jars method of handling your money by T Harv Eker. I'm always looking for more efficient ways to handle my money so will give it a try for the next 6 months. But with the system I'm already using, I can only put $5 aweek from my misc $20 into the jaars, plus my loose change.

I dickered with the amount going into the jars. There didn't seem much point in having a Neccesities jar when I'm already budgeting for that outside of the jars, whereas I really want to beef (oops I mean tofu) up my Financial Freedom jar. So my allocation is:
Financial Freedom 50%
Long Term Savings 25% this is going into my Trans Siberian fund
Education 10% I am saving for recorder lessons
Play 10%
Give 5%

At the moment I have a total of $14 in my jars.

Out:
2 cans chickpeas $2
trashsaks $17

I find I am saving more money using cash. I like having stacks of $20 bills in my envelopes and don't want to spend them.

Now that it is lighter longer I have started going to early morning meditation again. Afterwards the center gives us breakfast, so I just had marmelade on toast.

In: found 20 cents

Out:
bananas $2.11
bread roll 69 cents
coffee $2

left in my cash envelopes:
food $12
misc $110
medical $320
change dish $4.30
mta vouchers $30
bus card $20.03

Bought:
peanut butter $2.19
sultanas $1.79
pasta 75 cents
lentils $2.15

I ordered a copy of The Total Money Makeover for ds' Christmas present. $33.08 including shipping from the US. I am hoping it will inspire him to pay off his student loan. I don't agree with all Dave Ramsey's opinions, but ds is a radio buff so if he listens to the show the Debt Free Screams might encourage him to believe he can do it.

The Pet Rescue charity shop had wool for sale at $1 a ball. I restrained myself and only bought 6 balls.

With putting in little bits of money here and there, I now have $103.40 in my Trans Siberian fund. I keep thinking I should put it toward my EF, but I also want to save to reward myself for meeting my goals.

The thrift store had some foam rubber play mats so I grabbed them to use as blocking mats. Price $2.50 which is really good when the cost of them new is $30.

In: found 10 cents

Out: 5kg rice $6.70
1.5kg flour $1.80

One third of the challenge done. I bought a ring at the thrift store for $6. I didn't need it but it is pretty and I'll get years of wear from it.

I borrowed Jesse Mecham's You Need a Budget book from the library and had a look at the tutorial for the program. It seems a bit daunting, I think it would work well for accounting nerds and spreadsheet geeks. My finances are quite simple so the free EveryDollar and the cash envelopes work well for me. The app doesn't work in this country so no point paying for it.

I did like the idea of aging your money, building up cash reserves so you're not spending this month's paycheck this month. This is actually what I have been doing in my bill paying account. I did a quick calculation and realised I have enough in there to pay the bills for 3 months if the money stopped coming in. So I transferred the excess $181 to the EF, which is is there for disasters like the house burning down.

Payday. I stocked up on oats, $5.10, and potatoes, $7 for 10kg, as they were on sale. I also paid the Regional Council rates, $141.60.

I went to Pak n Save to buy a few things, but it took me ages because they have reorganised the layout and gotten rid of some lines. In the end I bought:
bread 4.00
soy milk 3.90
peanut butter 2.19
sultanas 1.79
pasta .70
hummus 2.69

On the way back I paased Toffs which was having a $2 an item sale. I didn't go in to see what they had. As a very successful businessman in our church is fond of saying, it's not a bargain at any price if you don't need it.

I bought another $6 bag of produce at the All Saints co-op: chard, carrots, a leek, apples oranges and kiwifruit.

In:
benefit $289.50

Out:
bananas $1.54

In:
found $1

Out:
bread roll 70 cents