Your Cheapskates Club Newsletter: 18:15 Bright ideas to save you money
. Cath's Corner
2. In the Tip Store - Cut out the Pre-prepared Foods and Slash Your Grocery Bill, With Sleep Life is Sweet
3. Cheapskate's Workshops - 1 Day Art of Living the Cheapskates Way Workshop
4. Submit Your Tip - You have to be in it to win it!
5. On the Menu with Anne - Lemon Chicken
6. The $300 a Month Food Challenge with Wendy - Homemade Pizza
7. Cheapskates Buzz - Cheapskaters are talking in the Forum and on Cath's blog
8. Member's Featured Blog - What I've been up to :)
9. Last Week's Question - Too tired to cook for one, what can I do?
10. This Week's Question - I need a good bed for my dog, can you help?
11. Join the Cheapskates Club
12. Gift Memberships
13. Frequently Asked Questions
14. Contact Details
1. Cath's Corner
Hello Cheapskaters,
I hope you've all had a fantastically frugal week. Mine certainly has been. So far $13 on milk and fruit and that's it! I haven't even had to buy petrol! The garden is still producing enough veg to keep us going and with full freezers and a meal plan we are set for food. We don’t need any clothes or shoes, the cleaning cupboard is stocked with the Super Six, the bathroom cupboards are full of essential toiletries. I don’t even need a haircut!
I've been busy working on a series of frugal crafts for Mother's Day. It starts tomorrow, the first of May and will run through until Sunday 10th, which is Mother's Day. They are all simple and inexpensive luxuries any Mum would love to receive and anyone, even littlies (with a little assistance) can make. Check the blog or our Facebook page each day to see what's new.
The new Journal will be available tomorrow, so don't forget to log in and have a read, I have really enjoyed putting it together for you.
One of the highlights of my day is reading your emails. They always put a smile on my face and I get so excited when I read about your successes and how you live the Cheapskates way. Here are just a few I've received over the last few weeks.
Hi Cath, I just wanted to let you know - mum and I have been working hard at slashing our grocery bill for 3 people. We've put the unused money in the offset account and we now have enough that we're going for a weekend in the snow this year. Thank you!!! I've never seen snow before and it's only through your tips and tricks that we've achieved it. Emma Seabrook
Cath--Just wanted you to know I love your website and have used many of your ideas to cut costs. We were lucky enough to live in Australia for 7 years and love the country. We returned to the US (our visa ran out) and have found your tips and newsletter of value here. I especially like the fact that you have included your segment on A Current Affair and the segment done by Wendy Gower. Have watched both segments numerous times. I find Australians willing to roll up their sleeves and garden, cook from scratch, and have chooks to save money without feeling deprived. I have found Americans resistant to these measures. Keep up the encouragement for us--you do give us hope. Thanks, Trudy Cordes
Since joining this group recently, my shopping has changed dramatically (Thanks Cath!). I have made my own dishwasher powder, use vinegar as a rinse aid, use the MOO washing powder, made breadcrumbs, try to shop at Aldi, have purchased 35 meal portions (family of 3 adults) for $81 from Tasman meats and discovered a great and cheap meat and fruit and veg place in Forest Hill (Strawberry Point), plus I am so much more aware of the price of things.......now it would be wonderful to work out how to MOO "Milo". My shopping list is prepared for Friday - I plan to MOO "packet cup a soup" and cordial next. I am so inspired and my wallet is so much better off. Thanks so much - I love trawling through the website and finding hints and tips. Feebee2520
Hi Cath, Just wanted to say thanks for a great newsletter. I always look forward to reading the weekly newsletter but this week's one was a bumper edition. Thanks also for including the segment from ACA; I've read about your story on the website but seeing you talk about it and the way you and your family adapted your lifestyle was inspiring. I work 3 days a week and the other days I'm at home with my 2 young kids; so I MOO a bit but you've encouraged me to try more. I think your advice is very down to earth and accessible, and very much like the way my mum stretched the family budget. So fortunately my family budget isn't so tight but your website is a reminder that we can all save money in so many ways. Keep up the good work. Cecily Nicholls
Have a great week everyone and happy Cheapskating!
PS: Love our site? We love referrals! Send a note to your favourite newspapers, magazines, radio stations, TV stations, friends and relatives, and tell them about us!
PPS: You can read this newsletter and past copies on the website in the Newsletter Archive.
2. From The Tip Store
Cut Out the Pre-prepared Foods and Slash Your Grocery Bill
Approximate $ Savings: $100
I have managed to save $100/fortnight on my shopping bill by cutting out buying packet foods and pre-prepared foods. I only buy fresh fruit and vegetables now with the exception of frozen peas! I also go shopping with my children! I have read a lot of people saying that you shouldn't go shopping with your children because they want everything etc. Well I find that if I have my children with me that it makes me shop faster and I only get what's written on the list. My daughter (she is 2.5) likes to "help" push the trolley whilst my son (he is 13 months) sits in the seat. We make it a little bit of a race and see how quickly we can get around the supermarket. I also have started buying a monthly "food" magazine from Woolworths called "Good Taste". I sit down once a fortnight with my little pile of magazines and plan my menu around recipes from there and basically only put on the list things that I need to add to the recipes. We are eating much healthier meals that are always different and are so easy and cheap to cook. They even have in the magazine the approximate cost per serve so you can work out roughly how much it will cost.
Contributed by Emma, Waverley
With Sleep Life is Sweet
Approximate $ Savings: $25 per day
I have found that the best way for me to save is to make sure that I get enough sleep. I know that this sounds crazy but the other day I worked out that when I am tired I:
• Won't make lunches so everyone gets tuckshop or bought lunch,
• Crave junk food and will drive (uneconomically) to get it and will spend more on other comforts while there,
• Shop without doing a menu planner or having a shopping list,
• Eat take-out at night,
• Won't notice the light/s that have been left on all day,
• Will use the dryer instead of hanging out the washing,
• Won't notice the kids DVD that has been on loop for the past 4 hours without anyone in the room,
• Will use the dishwasher even if not full,
• Won't try and drive economically.
To sum it all up.... With enough sleep I don't do any of these costly things and life is sweet.
Contributed by Tracey Deveraux
There are more than 11,000 great tips in the Tip Store
3. Cheapskates Workshops
The Art of Living the Cheapskates Way 1 Day Workshop
Join us on the 16th May for a day full of Cheapskating fun. You'll spend the day with like-minded people, learning the secrets to living life debt free, cashed up and laughing. This is a full day workshop - you'll cover all four Cheapskates workshops in one day and come away with the information and tools you need to starting living like a champion Cheapskate.
Sessions include:
The Art of Living the Cheapskates Way
Creating a $300 a Month Meal Plan and the Shopping List to Go With It
Sustainable Cheapskating
Let's All MOO!
During the day we'll discuss the art of living the Cheapskates way and share favourite Cheapskating tips and tricks for saving money, time and energy on your journey to living life debt free, cashed up and laughing.
When: Saturday 16th May
Where: Orana Neighbourhood House, 62 Coleman Rd, Wantirna South
Time: 10am - 4pm
Investment: $135 per person
Click here for more details and to book your spot at this exciting workshop
4. Submit your tip
The Cheapskate's Club website is over 3,000 pages of money saving hints, tips and ideas. Let's get together and make the Cheapskates Club Australia's largest online hint, tip and idea library. Share your favourite money saving, time saving or energy saving hint and be in the running to win a one-year membership to The Cheapskate Club. We publish a Winning Tip each Thursday, so enter your great money, time or energy saving idea now.
Share your favourite hint or tip that saves money, time and energy and be in the running to win a one-year subscription to The Cheapskate Journal.
Remember, you have to be in it to win it!
Submit your tip
5. On the Menu with Anne
One of my favourite Chinese dishes is lemon chicken but I had never tried to make it at home until I came across this recipe in the Chicken Recipe File, sent in by Kellie. It has made getting my lemon chicken fix not only easy but cheap too, and I can have it whenever I feel like it.
Lemon Chicken
Ingredients:
4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves
4 teaspoons lemon juice
4 cloves garlic, pressed
1 tbsp brown sugar
2 tsp low sodium soy sauce
2 tbsp vegetable oil
Baking paper
Sauce:
2 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp lime juice
1-1/2 tsp rice vinegar
2 tbsp brown sugar
1 clove garlic, pressed
1 tsp chili paste (more or less to taste)
Method:
Place chicken between two sheets of greaseproof or baking paper and flatten them to about 1/2 inch thick with a rolling pin or mallet.
Combine lemon juice, garlic, sugar and soy sauce. Place chicken in a bowl and pour marinade over chicken; flip to coat both sides. Cook chicken in oil, in a large frying pan, over medium-high heat for about 5 minutes per side.
To make the sauce combine soy sauce, lime juice, vinegar, sugar, garlic and chili garlic paste in a small bowl. To serve place chicken on plate with a small dish of sauce on the side for dipping.
This week we will be eating:
Friday: Lamb curry with rice and naan
Saturday: Fish'n'wedges with salad
Sunday: Roast beef, baked vegetables
Monday: Rissoles, mashed sweet potato, beans, corn and mushroom gravy
Tuesday: Spaghetti bolognaise
Wednesday: Lemon chicken over Singapore noodles
Thursday: Haystacks
In the fruit bowl: kiwi fruit, apples, mandarins
In the cake tin: Whole Orange Cake, honey oat muffins
There are over 1,500 other great money saving meal ideas in the Recipe File
6. The $300 a Month Food Challenge with Wendy
Homemade Pizza
There is nothing like the taste of homemade pizza. The smell, the crispy base and the delicious toppings. Yum, yum. Yes, I've had many pizzas over the years. Darren's first job after we were married was as a delivery driver for a well-known pizza chain. He was there for five years eventually becoming a store manager.
As you can imagine, we went off pizza for many years. We'd just eaten too many during those five years. When we tried the takeaway pizzas again about two years ago, we were disappointed. The topping were scarce, you now pay extra for pineapple and no matter how quickly you pick them up, they are lukewarm by the time you eat them.
We started off making our own pizzas years ago using pita bread as the base. They are cheap and readymade. As our girls got older we needed something more filling. I went to a demonstration class at a local bakeware shop where I learnt to make bread, rolls, hot cross buns and pizza bases from scratch. Here's the recipe I was given -
Ingredients:
2 tsp dry yeast
450g unbleached bread flour - I use no name plain flour
2 tsp of bread improver
1-1/2 teaspoons of salt
1 tsp sugar
300 - 310 mls of warm water
2 tsp olive oil.
Method:
Mix all dry ingredients together in a bowl or with a mixer.
Add the warm water and oil and mix until combined.
Tip the dough onto a floured bench / board and knead for 30 seconds to a minute.
Place back into a bowl and cover with a plastic bag.
Put the bowl in a warm place until it has risen and doubled in size.
While the dough is rising, prepare the toppings.
Tip the dough onto a floured surface and divide into two.
Roll out into a circle keeping it floured and place onto a lightly greased pizza tray. Press the dough out to the edges of the tray.
Put your sauce and toppings on.
Cook for approximately 20 minutes at 220 degrees Celsius until brown underneath.
NOTES -
*I make two double batches of the dough which gives me dough for eight pizzas. Six are frozen for future use
*Dough can be frozen after the first rising. Cool the dough down first then wrap in cling wrap and freeze
*My girls and I like a mixture of tomato and bbq sauce on the base with mixed herbs, cooked chicken, cheese, tomato, pineapple and cheese. Darren likes capsicum, chilies, mushrooms, chicken and cheese.
*When we see ham at a cheap price, we freeze into 300 gram lots in snap lock bags.
*Pizza trays with lots of holes in the base are excellent for a crispy base.
Do you make your own pizzas?
What are your favourite toppings?
Have a great week and BE ENCOURAGED!!!!
The $300 a Month Food Challenge
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?24-Take-up-the-challenge-!!!!
The Post that Started it All
http://www.cheapskates.com.au/pages/default.cfm?page_id=44265
7. Cheapskates Buzz
This week's hot forum topics
Every Cent Counts
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?1970-Every-cent-counts
I know we are Cheapskates but this goes Way to Far
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2735-I-know-we-are-cheapskates-but-this-goes-way-to-far
Holes in Clothes near the Bottom
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2061-Holes-in-clothes-near-the-bottom
Most popular blog posts this week
The Great Chocolate Pudding Experiment
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2011/05/great-chocolate-pudding-experiment.html
Laundry Savers
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2009/10/tip-of-day-8-october-2009.html
Cleaning out the Margarine Container
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2010/02/cleaning-out-margarine-container.html
8. Member's Featured Blog
Platinum Cheapskates Club members have their very own Cheapskating blogs, and they are wonderful and inspirational and encouraging and even funny. This week's featured blog is written by KarenE.
What I've been Up To
Hi everyone, well I’ve had a pretty busy time this last week or so, cleaning at home, playing with crafts, started my new job, while I really love it I had to finish up there today as I’ve only worked 71/2 hours total for the whole 2 weeks, it’s not a really busy place, I did love it though and was just starting to learn how to cook Sri Lankan food, yum. Anyway the reason I finished was that I was offered a job in an aged care facility (housekeeping) and I’ve jumped at it. Sat and Sun for now but the money is excellent so I’m happy and I should also be able to pick up some more shifts during the week, It’s a brand new facility so it’s gorgeous and clean and I’m looking forward to starting this week. Pay day is fortnightly so I guess now is the time that I need to learn how to shop fortnightly to and I’m determined to master that. I’m sitting down tonight with my price book and adding in my receipts and I think I’ve done ok this month so far but I really have to do a lot better.
I’ve been playing in my craft room a lot to and re-discovered papier Mache, I’d forgotten how much I love playing with that stuff. I’ve made my DIL (well the new baby) a love cloud, don’t laugh but they’re adorable. Lucky I had so much raw fleece (bags and bags) hanging around so playing with papier Mache hasn’t cost me a cent and I’m having a ball. I’m even upcycling a spare shoe with it, the pair to this one got mosaicked so I needed to find something to do with its mate, also upcycling empty tins into planters for my fence, pencil holders for the bench and enjoying finding lots of thing to do for zero dollars.
I’ll upload my love cloud and tins, the cloud looks so much better in person, light and fluffy.
So it’s onwards and upwards from now on and back to catch up on what’s been happening.
Login to read more Cheapskates Club member blogs
9. Last Week's Question
Last week's question was from Sue who wrote
"I'm living on my own now mum is in a nursing home. Too tired to cook when I get home, I tend to buy frozen dinners. Any hints for this lazy bones please? Doing menu for one etc., just need a prod!! Thanks."
Emma Seabrook answered
Set aside some time on the weekend (Sunday afternoon is good) to cook for the week. Then cook 3 or 4 dishes at half the amount the recipe recommends; separate into portions for one and freeze. Then, when you come home, put in in the microwave and enjoy your 'takeaway' dinner. Example: Shepherd's pie mix feeds 4 - halve it to get two meals. If you do this for 3 or 4 recipes, you have a whole week of dinners. Don't forget to treat yourself once in a while - maybe have a takeout dinner once a month.
Samantha B. answered
Bulk cooking is a good idea when you are on your own. Then freeze in individual serving containers. These containers are available in the supermarkets and even go on special. I was using these to pass meals onto my mum until she went into care. Another idea is to use frozen veg, it's good in meals like fried rice. Maybe try a rice cooker with a steamer basket. You can have a healthy meal in 15 minutes.
Caterina Millard answered
To start with, workout what sort of meals you would like to eat for one week. Write your shopping list for it. Then it's time to shop. Plan ahead, you never feel like cooking on shopping days. Allocate one day to cook up a storm of your weeks' worth of meals. Divide it all up into take away containers into single servings, label what the meal is - in permanent marker and date it for the day you made it and froze it...freeze them. Over time you will be able to plan ahead more and make up more of a variety for a longer time, working your way up to a month. You will also have more energy for eating healthier too. Also, you can re-use your containers, just get some eucalyptus oil on tissue and rub the permanent marker off the lid and wash smell of oil off lid properly ready to use for next batch of cooking.
Margaret McLaughlin answered
A common complaint from people who live alone is they can't have their much loved baked dinners. If you prepare the usual baked dinner or meal of choice then served up as many meals from the cook up as you can, eat one now and freeze the remaining meals. Over a period of time you will have a collection of meals frozen and will only have to cook one full meal a week because you use the other meals from you freezer. This method will allow you to have variety in your meals as well as save you money on cooking costs.
Ask Your Question
10. This Week's Question
Susan writes
"Hi, just wondering if you have any tips on dog beds. We have a 4 year old beagle and every bed we have ever bought has been torn to bits by him."
Do you have the answer?
If you have a suggestion or idea for Susan let us know. We'll enter your answer into our Tip of the Week competition, with a one-year membership to the Cheapskates Club as the prize too.
Send your answer
11. Join the Cheapskates Club
For just 10 cents a day you can join the Cheapskates Club and get exclusive access to the Cheapskate Journal, the monthly e-journal that shows you how to cut the costs of everyday living and still have fun.
Joining the Cheapskates Club gives you 24/7 access to the Members Centre with 1000's of money saving tips and articles.
Click here to join the Cheapskates Club today!
http://www.cheapskates.com.au/members/join_form.cfm?item_id=2271
12. Gift Memberships
Your family and friends will thank you for a whole year when you give them a Platinum Cheapskates Club membership as a gift.
It's so simple: just select the number of gift memberships required, click the Buy Now button and complete the Gift Membership order form (you must use this form to order gift memberships) and we'll get in touch with you to confirm the gift subscriptions.
Click here to order a gift membership right now!
13. Frequently Asked Questions
How do I change my email address?
This one is easy. Members can update their email address or any other details by clicking on "Edit Profile" directly under their membership number after they have logged in to the Member's Centre. Subscribers to our free newsletter can use the Change Your Address form (under Customer Service in the menu) and fill it out. Once you've filled it in click the send button and we'll do the rest. Please remember to include your old email address so we can find it in the list as well as the new one.
How do I know when my membership should be renewed?
When you login to the Member's Centre you will be told how many days of membership you have left once you have 30 days left. Just click on the link to renew and your membership will just continue on, uninterrupted.
What will you do with my email address?
We never rent, trade or sell our email list to anyone for any reason whatsoever. You'll never get an unsolicited email from a stranger as a result of joining this list.
Read our privacy policy
How Did You Get on Our List?
You signed up to receive our Free Newsletter at our Cheapskates Club Web site or are a Platinum Cheapskates Club member
14. Contact Details
The Cheapskates Club -
Showing you how to live life
debt free, cashed up and laughing!
PO Box 5077 Studfield Vic 3152
www.cheapskates.com.au
info@cheapskates.com.au
2. In the Tip Store - Cut out the Pre-prepared Foods and Slash Your Grocery Bill, With Sleep Life is Sweet
3. Cheapskate's Workshops - 1 Day Art of Living the Cheapskates Way Workshop
4. Submit Your Tip - You have to be in it to win it!
5. On the Menu with Anne - Lemon Chicken
6. The $300 a Month Food Challenge with Wendy - Homemade Pizza
7. Cheapskates Buzz - Cheapskaters are talking in the Forum and on Cath's blog
8. Member's Featured Blog - What I've been up to :)
9. Last Week's Question - Too tired to cook for one, what can I do?
10. This Week's Question - I need a good bed for my dog, can you help?
11. Join the Cheapskates Club
12. Gift Memberships
13. Frequently Asked Questions
14. Contact Details
1. Cath's Corner
Hello Cheapskaters,
I hope you've all had a fantastically frugal week. Mine certainly has been. So far $13 on milk and fruit and that's it! I haven't even had to buy petrol! The garden is still producing enough veg to keep us going and with full freezers and a meal plan we are set for food. We don’t need any clothes or shoes, the cleaning cupboard is stocked with the Super Six, the bathroom cupboards are full of essential toiletries. I don’t even need a haircut!
I've been busy working on a series of frugal crafts for Mother's Day. It starts tomorrow, the first of May and will run through until Sunday 10th, which is Mother's Day. They are all simple and inexpensive luxuries any Mum would love to receive and anyone, even littlies (with a little assistance) can make. Check the blog or our Facebook page each day to see what's new.
The new Journal will be available tomorrow, so don't forget to log in and have a read, I have really enjoyed putting it together for you.
One of the highlights of my day is reading your emails. They always put a smile on my face and I get so excited when I read about your successes and how you live the Cheapskates way. Here are just a few I've received over the last few weeks.
Hi Cath, I just wanted to let you know - mum and I have been working hard at slashing our grocery bill for 3 people. We've put the unused money in the offset account and we now have enough that we're going for a weekend in the snow this year. Thank you!!! I've never seen snow before and it's only through your tips and tricks that we've achieved it. Emma Seabrook
Cath--Just wanted you to know I love your website and have used many of your ideas to cut costs. We were lucky enough to live in Australia for 7 years and love the country. We returned to the US (our visa ran out) and have found your tips and newsletter of value here. I especially like the fact that you have included your segment on A Current Affair and the segment done by Wendy Gower. Have watched both segments numerous times. I find Australians willing to roll up their sleeves and garden, cook from scratch, and have chooks to save money without feeling deprived. I have found Americans resistant to these measures. Keep up the encouragement for us--you do give us hope. Thanks, Trudy Cordes
Since joining this group recently, my shopping has changed dramatically (Thanks Cath!). I have made my own dishwasher powder, use vinegar as a rinse aid, use the MOO washing powder, made breadcrumbs, try to shop at Aldi, have purchased 35 meal portions (family of 3 adults) for $81 from Tasman meats and discovered a great and cheap meat and fruit and veg place in Forest Hill (Strawberry Point), plus I am so much more aware of the price of things.......now it would be wonderful to work out how to MOO "Milo". My shopping list is prepared for Friday - I plan to MOO "packet cup a soup" and cordial next. I am so inspired and my wallet is so much better off. Thanks so much - I love trawling through the website and finding hints and tips. Feebee2520
Hi Cath, Just wanted to say thanks for a great newsletter. I always look forward to reading the weekly newsletter but this week's one was a bumper edition. Thanks also for including the segment from ACA; I've read about your story on the website but seeing you talk about it and the way you and your family adapted your lifestyle was inspiring. I work 3 days a week and the other days I'm at home with my 2 young kids; so I MOO a bit but you've encouraged me to try more. I think your advice is very down to earth and accessible, and very much like the way my mum stretched the family budget. So fortunately my family budget isn't so tight but your website is a reminder that we can all save money in so many ways. Keep up the good work. Cecily Nicholls
Have a great week everyone and happy Cheapskating!
PS: Love our site? We love referrals! Send a note to your favourite newspapers, magazines, radio stations, TV stations, friends and relatives, and tell them about us!
PPS: You can read this newsletter and past copies on the website in the Newsletter Archive.
2. From The Tip Store
Cut Out the Pre-prepared Foods and Slash Your Grocery Bill
Approximate $ Savings: $100
I have managed to save $100/fortnight on my shopping bill by cutting out buying packet foods and pre-prepared foods. I only buy fresh fruit and vegetables now with the exception of frozen peas! I also go shopping with my children! I have read a lot of people saying that you shouldn't go shopping with your children because they want everything etc. Well I find that if I have my children with me that it makes me shop faster and I only get what's written on the list. My daughter (she is 2.5) likes to "help" push the trolley whilst my son (he is 13 months) sits in the seat. We make it a little bit of a race and see how quickly we can get around the supermarket. I also have started buying a monthly "food" magazine from Woolworths called "Good Taste". I sit down once a fortnight with my little pile of magazines and plan my menu around recipes from there and basically only put on the list things that I need to add to the recipes. We are eating much healthier meals that are always different and are so easy and cheap to cook. They even have in the magazine the approximate cost per serve so you can work out roughly how much it will cost.
Contributed by Emma, Waverley
With Sleep Life is Sweet
Approximate $ Savings: $25 per day
I have found that the best way for me to save is to make sure that I get enough sleep. I know that this sounds crazy but the other day I worked out that when I am tired I:
• Won't make lunches so everyone gets tuckshop or bought lunch,
• Crave junk food and will drive (uneconomically) to get it and will spend more on other comforts while there,
• Shop without doing a menu planner or having a shopping list,
• Eat take-out at night,
• Won't notice the light/s that have been left on all day,
• Will use the dryer instead of hanging out the washing,
• Won't notice the kids DVD that has been on loop for the past 4 hours without anyone in the room,
• Will use the dishwasher even if not full,
• Won't try and drive economically.
To sum it all up.... With enough sleep I don't do any of these costly things and life is sweet.
Contributed by Tracey Deveraux
There are more than 11,000 great tips in the Tip Store
3. Cheapskates Workshops
The Art of Living the Cheapskates Way 1 Day Workshop
Join us on the 16th May for a day full of Cheapskating fun. You'll spend the day with like-minded people, learning the secrets to living life debt free, cashed up and laughing. This is a full day workshop - you'll cover all four Cheapskates workshops in one day and come away with the information and tools you need to starting living like a champion Cheapskate.
Sessions include:
The Art of Living the Cheapskates Way
Creating a $300 a Month Meal Plan and the Shopping List to Go With It
Sustainable Cheapskating
Let's All MOO!
During the day we'll discuss the art of living the Cheapskates way and share favourite Cheapskating tips and tricks for saving money, time and energy on your journey to living life debt free, cashed up and laughing.
When: Saturday 16th May
Where: Orana Neighbourhood House, 62 Coleman Rd, Wantirna South
Time: 10am - 4pm
Investment: $135 per person
Click here for more details and to book your spot at this exciting workshop
4. Submit your tip
The Cheapskate's Club website is over 3,000 pages of money saving hints, tips and ideas. Let's get together and make the Cheapskates Club Australia's largest online hint, tip and idea library. Share your favourite money saving, time saving or energy saving hint and be in the running to win a one-year membership to The Cheapskate Club. We publish a Winning Tip each Thursday, so enter your great money, time or energy saving idea now.
Share your favourite hint or tip that saves money, time and energy and be in the running to win a one-year subscription to The Cheapskate Journal.
Remember, you have to be in it to win it!
Submit your tip
5. On the Menu with Anne
One of my favourite Chinese dishes is lemon chicken but I had never tried to make it at home until I came across this recipe in the Chicken Recipe File, sent in by Kellie. It has made getting my lemon chicken fix not only easy but cheap too, and I can have it whenever I feel like it.
Lemon Chicken
Ingredients:
4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves
4 teaspoons lemon juice
4 cloves garlic, pressed
1 tbsp brown sugar
2 tsp low sodium soy sauce
2 tbsp vegetable oil
Baking paper
Sauce:
2 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp lime juice
1-1/2 tsp rice vinegar
2 tbsp brown sugar
1 clove garlic, pressed
1 tsp chili paste (more or less to taste)
Method:
Place chicken between two sheets of greaseproof or baking paper and flatten them to about 1/2 inch thick with a rolling pin or mallet.
Combine lemon juice, garlic, sugar and soy sauce. Place chicken in a bowl and pour marinade over chicken; flip to coat both sides. Cook chicken in oil, in a large frying pan, over medium-high heat for about 5 minutes per side.
To make the sauce combine soy sauce, lime juice, vinegar, sugar, garlic and chili garlic paste in a small bowl. To serve place chicken on plate with a small dish of sauce on the side for dipping.
This week we will be eating:
Friday: Lamb curry with rice and naan
Saturday: Fish'n'wedges with salad
Sunday: Roast beef, baked vegetables
Monday: Rissoles, mashed sweet potato, beans, corn and mushroom gravy
Tuesday: Spaghetti bolognaise
Wednesday: Lemon chicken over Singapore noodles
Thursday: Haystacks
In the fruit bowl: kiwi fruit, apples, mandarins
In the cake tin: Whole Orange Cake, honey oat muffins
There are over 1,500 other great money saving meal ideas in the Recipe File
6. The $300 a Month Food Challenge with Wendy
Homemade Pizza
There is nothing like the taste of homemade pizza. The smell, the crispy base and the delicious toppings. Yum, yum. Yes, I've had many pizzas over the years. Darren's first job after we were married was as a delivery driver for a well-known pizza chain. He was there for five years eventually becoming a store manager.
As you can imagine, we went off pizza for many years. We'd just eaten too many during those five years. When we tried the takeaway pizzas again about two years ago, we were disappointed. The topping were scarce, you now pay extra for pineapple and no matter how quickly you pick them up, they are lukewarm by the time you eat them.
We started off making our own pizzas years ago using pita bread as the base. They are cheap and readymade. As our girls got older we needed something more filling. I went to a demonstration class at a local bakeware shop where I learnt to make bread, rolls, hot cross buns and pizza bases from scratch. Here's the recipe I was given -
Ingredients:
2 tsp dry yeast
450g unbleached bread flour - I use no name plain flour
2 tsp of bread improver
1-1/2 teaspoons of salt
1 tsp sugar
300 - 310 mls of warm water
2 tsp olive oil.
Method:
Mix all dry ingredients together in a bowl or with a mixer.
Add the warm water and oil and mix until combined.
Tip the dough onto a floured bench / board and knead for 30 seconds to a minute.
Place back into a bowl and cover with a plastic bag.
Put the bowl in a warm place until it has risen and doubled in size.
While the dough is rising, prepare the toppings.
Tip the dough onto a floured surface and divide into two.
Roll out into a circle keeping it floured and place onto a lightly greased pizza tray. Press the dough out to the edges of the tray.
Put your sauce and toppings on.
Cook for approximately 20 minutes at 220 degrees Celsius until brown underneath.
NOTES -
*I make two double batches of the dough which gives me dough for eight pizzas. Six are frozen for future use
*Dough can be frozen after the first rising. Cool the dough down first then wrap in cling wrap and freeze
*My girls and I like a mixture of tomato and bbq sauce on the base with mixed herbs, cooked chicken, cheese, tomato, pineapple and cheese. Darren likes capsicum, chilies, mushrooms, chicken and cheese.
*When we see ham at a cheap price, we freeze into 300 gram lots in snap lock bags.
*Pizza trays with lots of holes in the base are excellent for a crispy base.
Do you make your own pizzas?
What are your favourite toppings?
Have a great week and BE ENCOURAGED!!!!
The $300 a Month Food Challenge
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?24-Take-up-the-challenge-!!!!
The Post that Started it All
http://www.cheapskates.com.au/pages/default.cfm?page_id=44265
7. Cheapskates Buzz
This week's hot forum topics
Every Cent Counts
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?1970-Every-cent-counts
I know we are Cheapskates but this goes Way to Far
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2735-I-know-we-are-cheapskates-but-this-goes-way-to-far
Holes in Clothes near the Bottom
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2061-Holes-in-clothes-near-the-bottom
Most popular blog posts this week
The Great Chocolate Pudding Experiment
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2011/05/great-chocolate-pudding-experiment.html
Laundry Savers
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2009/10/tip-of-day-8-october-2009.html
Cleaning out the Margarine Container
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2010/02/cleaning-out-margarine-container.html
8. Member's Featured Blog
Platinum Cheapskates Club members have their very own Cheapskating blogs, and they are wonderful and inspirational and encouraging and even funny. This week's featured blog is written by KarenE.
What I've been Up To
Hi everyone, well I’ve had a pretty busy time this last week or so, cleaning at home, playing with crafts, started my new job, while I really love it I had to finish up there today as I’ve only worked 71/2 hours total for the whole 2 weeks, it’s not a really busy place, I did love it though and was just starting to learn how to cook Sri Lankan food, yum. Anyway the reason I finished was that I was offered a job in an aged care facility (housekeeping) and I’ve jumped at it. Sat and Sun for now but the money is excellent so I’m happy and I should also be able to pick up some more shifts during the week, It’s a brand new facility so it’s gorgeous and clean and I’m looking forward to starting this week. Pay day is fortnightly so I guess now is the time that I need to learn how to shop fortnightly to and I’m determined to master that. I’m sitting down tonight with my price book and adding in my receipts and I think I’ve done ok this month so far but I really have to do a lot better.
I’ve been playing in my craft room a lot to and re-discovered papier Mache, I’d forgotten how much I love playing with that stuff. I’ve made my DIL (well the new baby) a love cloud, don’t laugh but they’re adorable. Lucky I had so much raw fleece (bags and bags) hanging around so playing with papier Mache hasn’t cost me a cent and I’m having a ball. I’m even upcycling a spare shoe with it, the pair to this one got mosaicked so I needed to find something to do with its mate, also upcycling empty tins into planters for my fence, pencil holders for the bench and enjoying finding lots of thing to do for zero dollars.
I’ll upload my love cloud and tins, the cloud looks so much better in person, light and fluffy.
So it’s onwards and upwards from now on and back to catch up on what’s been happening.
Login to read more Cheapskates Club member blogs
9. Last Week's Question
Last week's question was from Sue who wrote
"I'm living on my own now mum is in a nursing home. Too tired to cook when I get home, I tend to buy frozen dinners. Any hints for this lazy bones please? Doing menu for one etc., just need a prod!! Thanks."
Emma Seabrook answered
Set aside some time on the weekend (Sunday afternoon is good) to cook for the week. Then cook 3 or 4 dishes at half the amount the recipe recommends; separate into portions for one and freeze. Then, when you come home, put in in the microwave and enjoy your 'takeaway' dinner. Example: Shepherd's pie mix feeds 4 - halve it to get two meals. If you do this for 3 or 4 recipes, you have a whole week of dinners. Don't forget to treat yourself once in a while - maybe have a takeout dinner once a month.
Samantha B. answered
Bulk cooking is a good idea when you are on your own. Then freeze in individual serving containers. These containers are available in the supermarkets and even go on special. I was using these to pass meals onto my mum until she went into care. Another idea is to use frozen veg, it's good in meals like fried rice. Maybe try a rice cooker with a steamer basket. You can have a healthy meal in 15 minutes.
Caterina Millard answered
To start with, workout what sort of meals you would like to eat for one week. Write your shopping list for it. Then it's time to shop. Plan ahead, you never feel like cooking on shopping days. Allocate one day to cook up a storm of your weeks' worth of meals. Divide it all up into take away containers into single servings, label what the meal is - in permanent marker and date it for the day you made it and froze it...freeze them. Over time you will be able to plan ahead more and make up more of a variety for a longer time, working your way up to a month. You will also have more energy for eating healthier too. Also, you can re-use your containers, just get some eucalyptus oil on tissue and rub the permanent marker off the lid and wash smell of oil off lid properly ready to use for next batch of cooking.
Margaret McLaughlin answered
A common complaint from people who live alone is they can't have their much loved baked dinners. If you prepare the usual baked dinner or meal of choice then served up as many meals from the cook up as you can, eat one now and freeze the remaining meals. Over a period of time you will have a collection of meals frozen and will only have to cook one full meal a week because you use the other meals from you freezer. This method will allow you to have variety in your meals as well as save you money on cooking costs.
Ask Your Question
10. This Week's Question
Susan writes
"Hi, just wondering if you have any tips on dog beds. We have a 4 year old beagle and every bed we have ever bought has been torn to bits by him."
Do you have the answer?
If you have a suggestion or idea for Susan let us know. We'll enter your answer into our Tip of the Week competition, with a one-year membership to the Cheapskates Club as the prize too.
Send your answer
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14. Contact Details
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www.cheapskates.com.au
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