We all know that Israel is expensive! Here you’ll find ways to save, important announcements, and frugal food ideas. (Please note: ALL posts may contain affiliate links)
Once again, it seems that people in Israel sometimes don't see the forest for the trees. The cottage cheese uprising - which I didn't participate in, mainly because during the time of the cottage cheese boycott a local store kept cottage cheese on sale for about 4 shekels/container (now it's well over 6, and sadly, I hardly buy cottage cheese anymore) - was supposed to be the start of major changes for those of us not in the top echelon of society. But it really didn't do anything. Cottage Cheese is even more expensive now than it was when the boycott happened! And the other issues? Cost of housing, utilities, cars, gas, insurance? I haven't seen anything go down (please correct me if I'm wrong). Now, the talk of the day is about White Cheese. It seems the price of White Cheese has risen a ridiculous 56% since 1999, and the public wasn't happy about it, so now it will go back into the "basket" of price controlled foods. Okay. Now really, they tell me the price will go down by about 20%. I expect this means that instead of spending 20 shekels a month on White Cheese (I'm sure some spend more, some less), I will now spend 16 shekels a month on it. Is that 4 shekels a month going to make a DENT in my electric bills (the rates keep going up)? Is that going to offset the kitzbat yeladim reduction?
Is it going to change my life? I think not. I don't have the answers, but I'm pretty sure we need some more fundamental changes than controlling the price of White Cheese. Maybe the electric company should lower their rates to something reasonable?
Or the water company?
Maybe VAT shouldn't apply to basic food items? Just a thought.
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This post contains affiliate links, as do many of my posts. I appreciate your support when you click on my links! :-)
In the past, I've mentioned that some groceries, uncluding certain types of breads, eggs, cheeses, butter, and salt, have maximum sale prices set by the government. This week, the powers that be decided to add 2 more products to the price controlled food list: White Cheese (Gevinah Levana), 5% fat and Heavy Cream (Shamenet Metukah, I think), 38% fat
We are told to expect to see the prices of these two products go down by about 20%.
By the way, these two products were chosen because market studies showed that the profit margin on these two products was astronomical - so consumers were being completely ripped off.
We are slowly getting more settled in our house. Each day we empty a few more boxes... unpacking is a VERY difficult task for me, as I need to ORGANIZE our things as they come out of boxes, and to be honest, I am organizationally challenged...
But Shabbat is coming so we get a break from all that! And this week it's just me and the kids (see why here), so I would really appreciate a low-stress Shabbat! Here's the plan: Homemade whole wheat and flaxseed challot Spicy Roast Chicken Roast vegetables - each in its own pan: summer squash a.k.a kishuim, beets, butternut squash, and potatoes (maybe rice) Israeli salad Watermelon for dessert I also made banana coconut oatmeal breakfast cake. Seudah shlishit is pot-luck at the shul, to welcome new families (I guess that's us, among others). I plan to bring something... not sure yet what...
Just a friendly reminder about the negative income tax for 2012. This is basically a tax refund for working families. There are various qualifications to meet - basically someone who works and is age 23+ with children under the age of 18, or age 55+, even without children. The deadline to file based upon your 2012 earnings is September 30, 2013.
It's easy. Just go into the post office (not all post offices do all tasks, please verify which branch to use),
with your Teudat Zehut and your bank account information (take a check,
everything they need is on there, or get a letter from your bank, the
banker will have a form to fill out and stamp if you don't have a check.
Just knowing your account # and branch # isn't enough, it needs to be
"official".). Let the clerk know that you want to apply for "mas
shleelee". Answer a few questions, and then go home. Your approval may
take a few weeks, and you'll be given instructions for checking the
status online.
This program is open to people who earned, on average, no less than 2041
shekels per month and no more than 6645 shekels per month (the exact amount that will qualify you depends upon various factors). Even if some
months you earned more, if you were unemployed or under-employed for
part of the time, you may qualify. In some cases, people who are
(legally) self-employed qualify as well... If you were employed by a
relative, you are not allowed to claim this benefit.
If you have questions about this program, please call the tax authority at *4954. Check it out and see if you qualify! Some people will get a nice big "refund" and others will just get a token amount. Still many others will not qualify, because they are decently employed.
B'hatzlacha.
UPDATE: The deadline for the 2012 tax year has been extended to November 30, 2013!
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Ok, so a trip overseas is not exactly the least expensive activity I can think of...
But sometimes you just have to go. Whether it's for work or a family obligation, there are times you just have to go. And it's expensive. I know, because we recently bought a ticket for my husband to go to New York and it cost us a LOT of money. Way more than I care to think about. But if you know you need to go to New York or Toronto this winter, now's your chance to grab a ticket on El Al (yes, you can be patriotic to Israel's national airline) for less than $1000. It'll cost you $949, to be precise. Yes, that's a non-stop flight to N. America for less than a thousand dollars... So go ahead, check if your date still has cheap seats available. This fare is valid for departures from Tel Aviv between November 1, 2013 and March 15, 2014. And have a safe and fulfilling trip - and come back and tell me all about it!
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Do you ever try to shop for groceries online? I've done it on rare occasion, but depending upon where you live, your options are extremely limited, and usually there is a HUGE markup for this convenience service...
So I figured you should all hear the news! Online shopping in Israel is CHANGING!
The Victory chain of supermarkets is opening an online store. You'll be able to find it at MySupermarket. For now, their delivery area is limited to a small area of the merkaz, but they plan to eventually expand to include more southern areas (as far as Be'er Sheva) and more northern areas (as far as the Krayot). For now, they are promising that their online prices will be lower than their in-store prices! That sounds great! Now, can someone get them to expand their delivery area to include the Golan, too?
Probably most of the eggs affected in the latest recall have already been used up because they were sent to market so long ago - the recall affects Tnuva eggs that have a sell by date of Aug 21-24, which likely came on the market about a month before that.
However here's the information you need, just in case you have some old eggs in your possession! The eggs are being recalled due to "chemical abnormalities" Check your eggs for the following codes and expiration dates: Production code 1269, sell by date 21.8 (refrigerated 20.9)
Production code 1269, sell by date 22.8 (refrigerated 21.9)
Production code 1988, sell by date 24.8 (refrigerated 23.9) Production code 1997, sell by date 23.8 (refrigerated 22.9) Production code 1997, sell by date 24.8 (refrigerated 23.9)
Tnuva is asking customers not to consume these eggs, despite the fact that they do not present a public health issue. Consumers with questions should call Tnuva at 1-800-25-24-24
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Deep Breaths. It's our THIRD Shabbat in our new home, and we're nowhere near unpacked, but the kitchen is functioning! So we're having a quiet family Shabbat this week, which I hope is good for all of us. Tensions have been running a bit high around here and the kids need to re-set a bit. Also our 8 yr old daughter is running a fever, so eating out or having guests is completely not an option. It's so sad when kids are sick. Here's my easy menu - the goal is not to cook on the stovetop if it's not 100% necessary! I have no idea how much gas is left in my gas balloons! Watch - it will be just my luck to discover they are empty on erev Chag or something! Roast chicken Oven-rice Butternut squash Roasted veggies - whatever we have (I think it'll be onion, garlic, summer squash, and red peppers. Maybe some carrots) Make your own salad Melon and grapes for dessert Seudah 3 will be sandwiches and cut veggies. Maybe some hard boiled eggs?
How are you handling this late summer heat? Is it driving you out of the kitchen as well?
Right now, you can get a coupon for Laline Hand Cream (looks like travel size) for 2.99 shekels! You'll have to click thru this link, and enter your T.Z. # and cellphone #. You'll be given a choice of a mobile coupon or the printable version (smartphone users, you can choose the mobile version!). As far as I can tell, each coupon is individually generated. This coupon is valid thru August 26. Happy savings!
Now, the talk of the day is about White Cheese. It seems the price of White Cheese has risen a ridiculous 56% since 1999, and the public wasn't happy about it, so now it will go back into the "basket" of price controlled foods.
