Eeek its been a few days since I last blogged! I managed to hold out and go shopping today, so another 8 days between shops. Although its been easier since the Girl has been spending some time with her Daddy. I spent $46 at the supermarket and then $12 at the vege shop so a total of $58 this week. I also got a 4 cent off petrol voucher, it doesn't happen often as I rarely spend enough at one supermarket to qualify for one! I do however need to buy some washing powder and peppercorns. The peppercorns I will get from Bin In and the washing powder from the other local supermache. However it will put me a good $6 over budget but needs must, its not such a good look to go out in dirty clothes. (I find my homemade washing liquid is good for sheets and towels but not so good on clothes)

It was my birthday on Wednesday and I decided to take the Girl and I out to the local flash cafe for a treat. I had eggs benedict and a coffee and the Girl had fries and a fluffy, it wasn't cheap but I don't care! I was also spoilt rotten by my family and got given vouchers for underwear, haircut and itunes, some books on urban foraging, gardening and chicken keeping, a pair of jeans (just what I needed) a bag for Uni, a hideously kitch Jesus, Mary and Joesph snow globe, some cool tea light holders, an Irish linen table runner and a key chain charm. So that should keep me going for a while!

Unfortunately in addition to the breakfast out I also went out for tea last night with the girls, and will be again on Sunday night with family so the budget for this week is well and truly blown. Buts its ok as I have sold a few bits and pieces on Trade Me so that should cover it.

I have also been given lots of lovely fresh produce. I spend this afternoon dealing with it all. So the rhubarb has morphed into rhubarb cordial and the pulp is in the freezer to become rhubarb and white chocolate muffin. The silver beet has been shared between the chooks and my freezer. The currants are now black currant cordial and red currant cordial. And the dried beans are soaking ready to be planted in the garden tomorrow. A friend is giving away some plums from his tree so I am off over there tomorrow to collect them, not sure what they will end up as, plum gin (if they are small enough) and perhaps plum jam or possibly even plum sauce. So many options! I also have some apples which I may turn into cider (need to go get a bucket and source a reliable recipe) and some lemons. The lemons are being used in glasses of water and I'm not sure what else I can do with them, might go consult one of my new books.

I really must remember to take some pics and upload them on here.

Shopping was duly done yesterday. Once again I went to a few different shops namely two supermarkets, bin in and I will go down to the dairy when I need more milk. Doing well with the budget, this week I had to buy a battery for the smoke alarm and batteries for the heat pump remote. And I also bought some more wheat for the chooks. The grand total was $52.39. I also had to top my my Trade Me account this week, that was $10. So coming in under budget again, although I did spend $1.50 at the library for two cancelled books the Girl wanted but I am happy to buy those. My car also passed its warrant of fitness (woohoo) so that was $40 well spent.

I have sold the Girl's old unused cot on Trade Me so that money will go towards school fees and school stationary and new shoes, reading folder and perhaps a new drink bottle if the budget will stretch to that.

This week I aim to put more old clothes and toys on Trade me, to sew up my black cardigan and to sew some new hooks into an old sports bra and to make some homemade washing liquid to wash clothes, towels, sheets etc. I also want to do a through clean and tidy of my house and garden. A bit more decluttering wouldn't go amiss either!

Another good day

Another good day not spending much money today!

I went to a gym class first thing which I really enjoy and puts me in a great healthy frame of mind. I want to go to one tomorrow as well. Then after that I went to visit a friend, we had planned to go for a long walk to the library and a picnic by the river but sadly it has steadily rained all day long. So instead we had coffee and fudge cake (my contribution) at her place and then we wrapped up warm and walked to the library anyway. Jolly good exercise especially as I was lugging my giant sack of library books as well as myself and an umbrella! I got some books and magazines out and then a DVD. The DVD costs $2 to hire for a week so to make it more economical I choose a TV series that I enjoy but haven't seen before, Numb3rs Season 1. So I saved myself a good $28 by simply hiring it instead of buying it, watching it once and having it on my shelf.

After we had walked back to my friends house, we had another coffee and she mentioned she had some clothes she had to take to the op shop. Knowing she has quite good fashion sense I asked to go through the bag and I picked out a cute blue skirt (handmade) with a pink trim, it might be a bit big but that's ok as I can ask someone to take it in for me. I also scored a gorgeous black vintage woollen dress! Fingers crossed it fits me but even if it doesn't I don't care, I will sew it up myself if I have to!   

Then after that I went to a facebook friend's house who had found a bag of toy horses and offered them free to her friends so I collected a plastic toy horse in which all the joints move, it will be perfect for the Girls barbies and princesses!

I am still planning on doing my weekly food shop one day later than last week, so on Thursday but I am not sure how that's going to go! I have plenty of food but I am missing some vital ingredients for my main roster of meals. Its even harder as I am trying to low carb. Still only one more day to go, so essentially I need two possible meals, lunch and dinner. Clearly I will have to get creative!

Still going strong

I am still going strong! I went out to a friends for homemade pizza on Sat night. There was a slight babysitting hiccup so I only went for a few hours which probably helped the budget! And big thanks to my wonderful family who babysit for me and at short notice as well.

Meal planning really helps I find. I bought a frozen chicken and so far it has lasted three meals and hopefully lunch tomorrow (although that might be pushing it food safety wise). My Grandmama gave me some lemons from her tree so I made a lemon yogurt cake and I adapted it by reducing the sugar and swapping half the flour for almond meal to make a healthier low carb recipe. It was delicious and it went down well on Saturday night for desert after the amazing pizza. My mother also gave me two litres of raw milk so the Small One and I have been drinking a lot of smoothies and milkshakes and iced coffees as it has a yummy creamier taste compared to shop bought milk.

I have been doing a lot of gardening in the last few days (quite a feat in the 30 plus degree days we have been having) and I have also finally rebuilt my gate, now to get someone to assist me with getting it on the hinges properly. I am also on a HUGE declutter mission, today I have gone through our clothes and shoes, tomorrow I am officially taking on the toy room of doom. In addition I am dog sitting my mother's extremely neurotic epileptic dog, so lets all hope that he doesn't run away or have a seizure.

Successful grocery shop!

Today's goal was to buy the weekly groceries. This includes a trip to the vastly overpriced but local vege shop (will not be returning in the near future), the cheap but stressful supermarket, the bakery and dairy.

Supermarket - $33.24
Dairy - $6.00
Bakery - $1.60
Vege shop - $13.16

Total - $ 54.00

So I am six dollars under budget! Woohoo! A good start indeed. My Grandmother  also gave me some lemons when I visited her, so I have been having a squeeze of lemon juice in my glasses of water, most refreshing in the 30 degree heat! Tomorrow I am going to make a lemon yoghurt cake and I will try and adapt the recipe to make it lower carb than usual by substiting 1/2 a cup of flour for ground almond. I also have some leftovers to eat for lunch (chilli con carne and chicken curry) and the small person can have some cherry tomatoes from the garden and a toasted cheese sandwich. I also have some courgettes which are looking a bit sad so I shall grill them and then add some onion, garlic, mushroom, red pepper and bacon and a naughty creamy sauce and then bake for 30 mins. Easy cheap dinner which has a high vege content.

A busy day for me today. First I went to my gym class then I dug some new potatoes for a friend and put together a few other bits and pieces as her pantry is bare (the egg and corn were for our lunch of corn fritters), then home and some cleaning, created two more tyre gardens and planted some silver beet, lettuce, peas and beans, then watered everything, then cooked some potatoes for dinner (potato salad and grilled bacon), then made some biscuits, then I am off out to the movies to see Jack Reacher. Phew, it is nice to sit down briefly! Here is the pic of my tiny food parcel for my friend, its today's official Good Deed.

I have also decided to stretch out shopping day. I was initially planning on going food shopping tomorrow but instead I shall go on Wednesday and the following week on Thursday etc so making what I have go further so one week I will save my entire shopping money as I wont need to go! Well that's the aim anyway, reality may be different!

Chicken Houses and the Reality of the Budget

Well last night I did my budget and after all basic bills are paid (rates, mortgage, multiple insurances, car wof and rego, power, phone & internet, cellphone, food, petrol and my gym membership) I will have approx $22 per week for all spending child related items, doctor, dental and vet visits, presents for all occasions, treats and all other miscellaneous spending. Somewhat depressing I must admit. Oh well, better get some stuff on TM to build up a surplus. That will be tomorrow's goal.

Today my Mother and I built the chook house for my as yet unsexed chickens. I hope they are hens, if they are not they will be dinner although not at my table! The whole house cost $19.47 and that was the cost of the chicken wire. I used the laying box from the old house, the random wood and planks were lying around my shed and I already had the nails. A few hours of hard work in the 25 degree blinding hot sun and we were done. Voila!

New Year, New Goals

Happy New Year!

This year I have a few resolutions.

• Continue to parent my Darling to the best of my ability 
• Continue to do the best I can do at Uni and keep up my grades
• Continue to eat well and exercise
• Grow as much food as I can
• Live on a strict budget
• Volunteer somewhere, possibly with animals

With regards to the strict budget I want to see if I can refrain from buying any (unless obviously needed) new clothes and shoes for myself and other unnecessary items like home wares etc. I would of course still buy clothes and shoes and things for the Smallfry as needed. This will be a serious challenge for me! 
I also want to do a major declutter and sell off excess clothes, books and other clutter. I will either TradeMe these or possibly have a stall at a market.

Wish me luck!