Your Cheapskates Club Newsletter: 28:14 Bright ideas to save you money
1. Cath's Corner
2. In the Tip Store - Dog Food Savings, Grow Your Own and Pull Together with Others, Sick of Wasting Salsa
3. Cheapskate's Winning Tip - MOO MOO MOO
4. Submit Your Tip - Submit your best tip for a chance to win!
5. Living Green in 2014 - 3 Ways Cardboard can Keep Your Home Warmer this winter
6. On the Menu with Anne - This week it's MOO, MOO, MOO
7. The $300 a Month Food Challenge with Wendy - No time? Get out your slow cooker!
8. Cheapskates Buzz - Cheapskaters are talking in the Forum and on Cath's blog
9. Member's Featured Blog - Belief, Trust, Willingness, Change & Adventure by KarenE
10. This Week's Question - How do I MOO scented drawer liners?
11. Join the Cheapskates Club
12. Gift Memberships
13. Frequently Asked Questions
14. Contact Details
1. Cath's Corner
It's good to be back. I bet some of you didn't even know I'd been away! I have, for almost 7 weeks! Hannah has done an amazing job of keeping things running smoothly while I've been off and I am hoping she'll decide to stay on part-time so we can make Cheapskates bigger and better for all us.
While I was away Wendy, the moderator of our $300 a Month Food Challenge, was on A Current Affair. And boy was she good. She always is. Wendy was able to share how she is currently feeding her family on just $270 a month (that's not a typo, she really is, and it's not rubbish food either). If you missed the segment you can see it on the A Current Affair website.
I also had some lovely conversations with people we met (usually starting in the laundry when I was using my washing powder) who were just fascinated by the concept of MOOing. I realised that I talk about MOOing all the time but I don't really explain it. And then I noticed that this week's winning tip is about just that, MOOing.
As a dyed-in-the-wool Cheapskate, and proud to be one, MOOing has become second nature. When my family needs or wants something its habit to look at how we can Make Our Own (MOO) before we buy. This isn't just for food, although we love made from scratch meals and treats, but gifts, clothes, toiletries, make-up, haircuts, gift cards, wrapping paper, furniture, garden tools - just about anything we need.
When we make our own we not only save heaps of money, we hone skills that very few people have or use, we do our bit towards helping our environment and we take back control over how we spend the money we work hard to earn. We say no to the consumer culture that dictates spending, for even the simple things (washing powder and jam spring to mind - two things quickly, easily and cheaply MOOed). We say no to the supermarket plan to dictate what we buy, when we buy and how much we buy and let them know we're not stupid or gullible and we can't be conned into thinking we are too useless to make things for ourselves.
Anne is a great one for MOOing. When she shares her meal plan each week it is all planned to be MOOed. She doesn't buy ready-made meals or pre-prepared side dishes, desserts, snacks or even condiments. This week in On the Menu every meal for her family will be a MOO meal, made from scratch with real ingredients, right in her own kitchen. And all the recipes are in the Recipe File.
Tomorrow I'll be MOOing Miracle Spray and of course our breakfast, lunch and dinner. And if the rain holds off I'll get into the shed and MOO some fertiliser for the veggie patch.
What do you MOO? Let me know (cath@cheapskates.com.au) with the recipe or instructions if you can, and you may see it in an upcoming newsletter.
Have a great week everyone.
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
Dog Food Savings
I have two beautiful little Maltese and Maltese cross dogs called Bella and Scruffy. In the past I have spent a fortune on dog food both canned and dry. I now buy 3kg cheap mince, pop it is a very large pot to two, and then add any veg that are in the fridge on their last legs. I also visit a local fruit market that has a specials table. This may hold odds and sods of many types of vegetables that may be close to being unusable for 30 or 40 cents for packages containing four or five depending on what is available for example carrots, zucchini, bok choy cauliflower, sweet potato, cabbage, peppers, broccoli home it comes to be put through the food processor. I also put in potato and when it comes to the boil add rice, pasta (several types) lentils. Also add some stock cubes or Vegeta and if the mixture needs thickening I use home brand gravy mix. This makes 20 large plastic containers, like the ones from the Chinese shop. These are frozen and are washed and reused till they fall apart. We recently had six weeks overseas and our dogs still had food when we got home. We sometimes give them a little chopped lamb heart as a treat on top. Dogs are happy, healthy and not at all overweight and my pocket is also healthier!
Contributed by Marylyn Curry
Grow Your Own and Pull Together with Others
I live in a very remote town in WA with only one shop as well, we have similar problems, I have found that I grow quite a few of my own vegies in an aquaponics system - which also gives me fresh fish (it was a little expensive to set up due to delivery costs, but it's fairly self-sustaining once you get it started). I also talk to a lot of the locals about fresh meat – share fruit/eggs with others in town (the local council has hens, as do the lions club etc.), and sometimes there is fresh meat from the local farms otherwise there are groups that go fishing, drive to other towns or trucks that come up every few weeks to deliver fresh meat so I use these. I also do a lot of my own baking for this reason. It is hard but most people are willing to help and you get to know your community in the process.
Contributed by Jacinta Fawcett
Sick of Wasting Salsa
Approximate $ Savings: $ 5 - $10
Every week I was wasting a nearly full jar of salsa for burritos. I was the only one eating it and would use 1-2 tablespoons from the jar and put it back in the fridge (for later). Unfortunately by the time later came it was so old that I didn't want to reuse it, so threw it in the bin. I looked everywhere for smaller retail serves but they just were not available. Then I had an idea to make my own smaller retail serves. I took the small snaplock bags (from Aldi) and placed 2-3 spoonsful of salsa from the jar into each bag, until the jar was empty. Then popped them into the freezer. The result is 6 weeks of salsa serves from one jar and no more waste. They defrost quickly and are very convenient. Got to be happy with that.
Contributed by Annette Harrington
There are more than 11,000 great tips in the Tip Store
3. Cheapskates Winning tip
This week's winning tip is from Lisa Hampton. Lisa has won a one year Platinum Cheapskates Club membership for submitting her winning tip.
MOO MOO MOO
Before doing my groceries I sat with the (overly) long receipts from my last shop and highlighted anything I know I could've made myself in yellow and then anything I can try and make myself in pink. I deducted all of those things in yellow from my total and added the cost of the ingredients to Moo those items; huge light bulb moment! I knew I could save by mooing but I didn't realise how much: $60 + on one shop! I work full time so time is a bit of an issue to mooing absolutely everything but I will be doing as much as I can. I would suggest everyone check your dockets to see what you can make yourself, I'm sure this isn't news to a lot of Cheapskates but I'm sure there are a few time poor people out there who like me thought the extra 50c or $1 isn't an issue but boy oh boy it adds up so fast!
Congratulations Lisa I hope you enjoy your Cheapskates Club membership.
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. Living Green in 2014
Three Ways Cardboard can Keep Your Home Warmer this Winter
This winter has been windy and cold. The wind of course drops the temperature considerably, urging us to turn up the heat, throw another log or two on the fire and rug up like Eskimos. All this has reminded me to look yet again for simple, low- or no-cost Cheapskates style insulation.
The humble cardboard box wins hands down. Cardboard, especially corrugated cardboard used in larger boxes, is great insulation. And for most of us it is absolutely free. If we don't already have boxes in the recycle bin they are easy to pick up from the back of stores free of charge.
How can you use them for a warmer winter?
1. Windows - tape a layer of cardboard to your windows about 2cm from the glass. This will create enough of a gap so any condensation won't dampen the cardboard. Make the sheets of cardboard removable so you can take them down in the morning to let the winter sun warm your rooms, putting them back up in the early evening when the sun has gone.
2. Around doors - instead of using sausages, which can be a tripping hazard, tape a length of cardboard to the bottom edge of your door, making sure it hangs low enough to cover the gap between the door and the doorstep. Then, if you get drafts around the doorframe, cut strips of cardboard and tape them along the inside of the door frame to keep those cold drafts outside.
3. Vents - either air-conditioning vents or heating vents in unused rooms can draw drafts into your home. Cut a piece of cardboard the size of the vent and slip it between the cover and the vent. Drafts will be blocked and your heating bill will go down.
6. On the Menu with Anne
MOOing All I Can
I love MOOing. When I can make something we need from scratch and cross it off my shopping list I get such a thrill. Cheesy I know, but boy I love not buying things at the supermarket.
Some of the things I don't buy are yoghurt, cottage cheese, cream cheese, ricotta cheese, smoked chicken fillets, pastrami, ham, naan bread, pita bread, pasta, jams, tomato sauce, semi-dried tomatoes, chutney, pickles, ice-cream, taco seasoning, mayonnaise, salad dressings, flavoured coffees, hot chocolate powder, muesli, biscuits, cakes, slices, pies, pasties, sausage rolls, toffee, caramels, marshmallows, soup, stock, bread rolls, pastry and the list goes on.
It's not often something pre-made finds its way into my shopping trolley. I'm the mad woman with the 10 kilos of flour, 4 kilos of sugar, 2 kilos of sultanas, 500g yeast, 5 litres vinegar, 6 kilos of butter, 12 litres of milk and 2 boxes laundry soap in the trolley, struggling to turn it around the corner. I buy ingredients. I use those ingredients to prepare our meals, bake our snacks and make the cleaning products I use in our home. I MOO. And I'm proud of it.
Everything on my meal plan this week will be MOOed. And all the recipes, including the gravy recipe, are in the Recipe File.
If you haven't started MOOing yet, try something simple like the Cheapskates Washing Powder (yes, it works and yes it is safe to use) or yoghurt. They are both easy, great for beginners and both budget conscious.
This week we will be eating:
Friday: Sausage casserole, mashed sweet potato, broccoli, corn
Saturday: Toasted sandwiches
Sunday: Roast chicken, baked vegetables, gravy
Monday: Saturday Night Sour Cream Pasta Bake
Tuesday: Chicken casserole, mash, cauliflower, carrot
Wednesday: Swiss steak, steamed potato, broccoli, pumpkin
Thursday: MOO Pizza
In the fruit bowl: apples, bananas, oranges, kiwi fruit
In the cake tin: 5 Minute Choc Chip Cookies, Afghans, 4 Minute Cupcakes, Apple Cake
There are over 1,300 other great money saving meal ideas in the Recipe File
7. The $300 a Month Food Challenge with Wendy
Welcome to all Cheapskaters.
I've had many discussions with people over the years that tell me they don't have time to cook a meal for their family at night. We all have times when life gets way too busy for our liking and takeaway seems to be the quicker option. Or is it? I have lots of friends who have the latest whizz bang $2,000 kitchen appliance that seems to do and cook everything. There's just one problem. You still need to have time at the end of the day to use it.
The slow cooker is an excellent option for busy people. They are very cheap with a starting price of $25 for a small 3 litre one which is suitable for 4 - 6 people. The bigger 5 - 6 litre slow cookers retail for about $60 - $80. This size is great if you have a big family or you'd like to do some bulk cooking for the freezer.
I had a slow cooker that sat unused in my kitchen cupboard for nine years. I didn't know what to cook in it as it didn't come with any recipes. I couldn't think of anything to cook in it that I couldn't cook in a saucepan or in the oven. I soon discovered that the Internet was a great place to look for recipes. A slow cooker is also called a crock pot in some countries so it's worth looking up both names.
After doing some Internet research I soon discovered a current theme to the recipes. You need meat or veg and some liquid to cook them in. You also need approximately 6 - 8 hours to cook a main meal. It's hard to go wrong if you stick to these rules. Perfect for working families. I get up 15 minutes earlier in the morning to get everything into the slow cooker. Then I don't need to think about it for the rest of the day. BLISS!!!! Here are some other tips I've learnt along the way -
* Prep the meat and veg the night before if you can and store in the fridge.
* Turn the slow cooker on before you load it up with food. This speeds up the time it takes for the food to reach cooking point.
* Spray the inner cooking pot with cooking spray. It helps with clean up at the end of the day.
* Place the meat down the bottom of the pot. It cooks faster and will always stay under the liquid giving you very tender meat.
* If you are putting potato in the slow cooker, place it on top of the meat. Then add the vegetables. This prevents the potato floating to the top and going hard.
* If the recipe requires some water, use boiling water from the kettle. It speeds up the cooking time and temperature of the slow cooker.
* Keep the lid on. Every time you lift the lid heat escapes and the cooking time increases.
* Only stir the contents towards the end of the cooking time.
Here is a simple recipe to try -
1 lamb chop per person
1 tin of crushed tomatoes
1 tin of boiling water
1 cup of frozen/fresh beans
1 large carrot peeled and sliced
1/2 packet of French onion soup mix
1 teaspoon of curry powder
Salt, pepper and other seasonings to taste.
2 tablespoons of corn flour and a little water
Turn the slow cooker on first. Place the chops in the bottom of a greased slow cooker. Add all other ingredients and stir the top slightly. Add more water if needed until everything is just covered with liquid. Cook on high for 6 - 10 hours. Thicken with a little corn flour and water. Serve with mash.
Any other vegetables can be added or deleted. You could use Italian seasonings if preferred.
Have a great week and BE ENCOURAGED!!!!
The $300 a Month Food Challenge
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2528-300-a-month-food-challenge-7-07-14
The Post that Started it All
http://www.cheapskates.com.au/pages/default.cfm?page_id=44265
8.Cheapskates Buzz
This week's hot forum topics
Any Advice for a New Single Mum
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?931-Any-Advice-for-a-new-single-Mum&highlight=cutegroomz
Emergency Stores
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?683-Emergency-Stores&highlight=cutegroomz
$150k is the new Battling??
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?492-150k-is-the-new-Battling&highlight=cutegroomz
Most popular blog posts this week
Get a Grip on Ironing
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2011/12/get-grip-on-ironing.html
The Perfect Roast Potato
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2011/12/perfect-roast-potato.html
Start Living below Your Means
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2011/08/start-living-below-your-means.html
9. 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.
Belief, Trust, Willingness, Change & Adventure
First of all I'm so happy to be part of this revolution, I can't tell you. Before starting this I was thinking at the start of the year what my new year's resolution would be but then I decided that was pointless as I never stick to one anyway. Instead I decided on a Word that I could use for the whole year, and every time I think of doing or not doing something I'm already remembering my word to myself.
While I was trying to decide on my word, it had to be something that I could set my scene with for the whole year and I came up with 5 words first:
Belief, Trust, Willingness, Change and Adventure
I spent the last half of the year or more being kind of suspended. I had a bit to deal with and I felt stuck on almost every level. I was still not really believing that I have what it takes do what I need to do. I had no trust in myself either, but after searching for the right word I realised that if I only had the willingness to change my way of thinking, I can do anything.
So my word is Willingness and no matter what I try, my Willingness to learn and focus will be foremost in my mind and my work. I guess I could have chosen any one of those five words as they all have a meaning for me, but without the Willingness to Believe, Trust and Change then I’ll have no Adventure at all and I don't want another last year.
So now having said all that I found the first lesson in this revolution quite confronting but at least I had the Willingness to start and finish it, and I was already feeling better. I then cleaned out my bag and purse and OMG that was a mess, now it feels so good to have a neat and tidy bag, I no longer go to the shop and have everything fall out of my purse as I'm trying to pay for something. Yes it was bad; I also have my cash containers organised and any and all change is being deposited into each one.
Right now I'm tracking my spending and writing everything down, eye opener (yes). I'm about to attack my office/craft area and looking at that like I'm a stranger (I like that idea) and I think it will allow me to get stuck in and clean out what shouldn't be in there, sort out my filing cabinet, put away receipts and get my tray better organised for bill paying etc.. This one is going to take a while as it is my craft area as well and I've been working on some projects. I'm about to slash and burn so I can finally enjoy coming into this room.
So thank you Cath for starting this, I'm taking this on as a Willing Project to get our finances (among other things) in full working order and making this year a superbly Adventurous Year.
Login to read more Cheapskates Club member blogs
10. This Week's Question
Cass writes
"I'd love to MOO scented drawer liners, like the paper ones you can buy. Does anyone have any tips on the paper to use and how to fragrance it?"
Do you have the answer?
If you have a suggestion or idea for Cass 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 - Dog Food Savings, Grow Your Own and Pull Together with Others, Sick of Wasting Salsa
3. Cheapskate's Winning Tip - MOO MOO MOO
4. Submit Your Tip - Submit your best tip for a chance to win!
5. Living Green in 2014 - 3 Ways Cardboard can Keep Your Home Warmer this winter
6. On the Menu with Anne - This week it's MOO, MOO, MOO
7. The $300 a Month Food Challenge with Wendy - No time? Get out your slow cooker!
8. Cheapskates Buzz - Cheapskaters are talking in the Forum and on Cath's blog
9. Member's Featured Blog - Belief, Trust, Willingness, Change & Adventure by KarenE
10. This Week's Question - How do I MOO scented drawer liners?
11. Join the Cheapskates Club
12. Gift Memberships
13. Frequently Asked Questions
14. Contact Details
1. Cath's Corner
It's good to be back. I bet some of you didn't even know I'd been away! I have, for almost 7 weeks! Hannah has done an amazing job of keeping things running smoothly while I've been off and I am hoping she'll decide to stay on part-time so we can make Cheapskates bigger and better for all us.
While I was away Wendy, the moderator of our $300 a Month Food Challenge, was on A Current Affair. And boy was she good. She always is. Wendy was able to share how she is currently feeding her family on just $270 a month (that's not a typo, she really is, and it's not rubbish food either). If you missed the segment you can see it on the A Current Affair website.
I also had some lovely conversations with people we met (usually starting in the laundry when I was using my washing powder) who were just fascinated by the concept of MOOing. I realised that I talk about MOOing all the time but I don't really explain it. And then I noticed that this week's winning tip is about just that, MOOing.
As a dyed-in-the-wool Cheapskate, and proud to be one, MOOing has become second nature. When my family needs or wants something its habit to look at how we can Make Our Own (MOO) before we buy. This isn't just for food, although we love made from scratch meals and treats, but gifts, clothes, toiletries, make-up, haircuts, gift cards, wrapping paper, furniture, garden tools - just about anything we need.
When we make our own we not only save heaps of money, we hone skills that very few people have or use, we do our bit towards helping our environment and we take back control over how we spend the money we work hard to earn. We say no to the consumer culture that dictates spending, for even the simple things (washing powder and jam spring to mind - two things quickly, easily and cheaply MOOed). We say no to the supermarket plan to dictate what we buy, when we buy and how much we buy and let them know we're not stupid or gullible and we can't be conned into thinking we are too useless to make things for ourselves.
Anne is a great one for MOOing. When she shares her meal plan each week it is all planned to be MOOed. She doesn't buy ready-made meals or pre-prepared side dishes, desserts, snacks or even condiments. This week in On the Menu every meal for her family will be a MOO meal, made from scratch with real ingredients, right in her own kitchen. And all the recipes are in the Recipe File.
Tomorrow I'll be MOOing Miracle Spray and of course our breakfast, lunch and dinner. And if the rain holds off I'll get into the shed and MOO some fertiliser for the veggie patch.
What do you MOO? Let me know (cath@cheapskates.com.au) with the recipe or instructions if you can, and you may see it in an upcoming newsletter.
Have a great week everyone.
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
Dog Food Savings
I have two beautiful little Maltese and Maltese cross dogs called Bella and Scruffy. In the past I have spent a fortune on dog food both canned and dry. I now buy 3kg cheap mince, pop it is a very large pot to two, and then add any veg that are in the fridge on their last legs. I also visit a local fruit market that has a specials table. This may hold odds and sods of many types of vegetables that may be close to being unusable for 30 or 40 cents for packages containing four or five depending on what is available for example carrots, zucchini, bok choy cauliflower, sweet potato, cabbage, peppers, broccoli home it comes to be put through the food processor. I also put in potato and when it comes to the boil add rice, pasta (several types) lentils. Also add some stock cubes or Vegeta and if the mixture needs thickening I use home brand gravy mix. This makes 20 large plastic containers, like the ones from the Chinese shop. These are frozen and are washed and reused till they fall apart. We recently had six weeks overseas and our dogs still had food when we got home. We sometimes give them a little chopped lamb heart as a treat on top. Dogs are happy, healthy and not at all overweight and my pocket is also healthier!
Contributed by Marylyn Curry
Grow Your Own and Pull Together with Others
I live in a very remote town in WA with only one shop as well, we have similar problems, I have found that I grow quite a few of my own vegies in an aquaponics system - which also gives me fresh fish (it was a little expensive to set up due to delivery costs, but it's fairly self-sustaining once you get it started). I also talk to a lot of the locals about fresh meat – share fruit/eggs with others in town (the local council has hens, as do the lions club etc.), and sometimes there is fresh meat from the local farms otherwise there are groups that go fishing, drive to other towns or trucks that come up every few weeks to deliver fresh meat so I use these. I also do a lot of my own baking for this reason. It is hard but most people are willing to help and you get to know your community in the process.
Contributed by Jacinta Fawcett
Sick of Wasting Salsa
Approximate $ Savings: $ 5 - $10
Every week I was wasting a nearly full jar of salsa for burritos. I was the only one eating it and would use 1-2 tablespoons from the jar and put it back in the fridge (for later). Unfortunately by the time later came it was so old that I didn't want to reuse it, so threw it in the bin. I looked everywhere for smaller retail serves but they just were not available. Then I had an idea to make my own smaller retail serves. I took the small snaplock bags (from Aldi) and placed 2-3 spoonsful of salsa from the jar into each bag, until the jar was empty. Then popped them into the freezer. The result is 6 weeks of salsa serves from one jar and no more waste. They defrost quickly and are very convenient. Got to be happy with that.
Contributed by Annette Harrington
There are more than 11,000 great tips in the Tip Store
3. Cheapskates Winning tip
This week's winning tip is from Lisa Hampton. Lisa has won a one year Platinum Cheapskates Club membership for submitting her winning tip.
MOO MOO MOO
Before doing my groceries I sat with the (overly) long receipts from my last shop and highlighted anything I know I could've made myself in yellow and then anything I can try and make myself in pink. I deducted all of those things in yellow from my total and added the cost of the ingredients to Moo those items; huge light bulb moment! I knew I could save by mooing but I didn't realise how much: $60 + on one shop! I work full time so time is a bit of an issue to mooing absolutely everything but I will be doing as much as I can. I would suggest everyone check your dockets to see what you can make yourself, I'm sure this isn't news to a lot of Cheapskates but I'm sure there are a few time poor people out there who like me thought the extra 50c or $1 isn't an issue but boy oh boy it adds up so fast!
Congratulations Lisa I hope you enjoy your Cheapskates Club membership.
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. Living Green in 2014
Three Ways Cardboard can Keep Your Home Warmer this Winter
This winter has been windy and cold. The wind of course drops the temperature considerably, urging us to turn up the heat, throw another log or two on the fire and rug up like Eskimos. All this has reminded me to look yet again for simple, low- or no-cost Cheapskates style insulation.
The humble cardboard box wins hands down. Cardboard, especially corrugated cardboard used in larger boxes, is great insulation. And for most of us it is absolutely free. If we don't already have boxes in the recycle bin they are easy to pick up from the back of stores free of charge.
How can you use them for a warmer winter?
1. Windows - tape a layer of cardboard to your windows about 2cm from the glass. This will create enough of a gap so any condensation won't dampen the cardboard. Make the sheets of cardboard removable so you can take them down in the morning to let the winter sun warm your rooms, putting them back up in the early evening when the sun has gone.
2. Around doors - instead of using sausages, which can be a tripping hazard, tape a length of cardboard to the bottom edge of your door, making sure it hangs low enough to cover the gap between the door and the doorstep. Then, if you get drafts around the doorframe, cut strips of cardboard and tape them along the inside of the door frame to keep those cold drafts outside.
3. Vents - either air-conditioning vents or heating vents in unused rooms can draw drafts into your home. Cut a piece of cardboard the size of the vent and slip it between the cover and the vent. Drafts will be blocked and your heating bill will go down.
6. On the Menu with Anne
MOOing All I Can
I love MOOing. When I can make something we need from scratch and cross it off my shopping list I get such a thrill. Cheesy I know, but boy I love not buying things at the supermarket.
Some of the things I don't buy are yoghurt, cottage cheese, cream cheese, ricotta cheese, smoked chicken fillets, pastrami, ham, naan bread, pita bread, pasta, jams, tomato sauce, semi-dried tomatoes, chutney, pickles, ice-cream, taco seasoning, mayonnaise, salad dressings, flavoured coffees, hot chocolate powder, muesli, biscuits, cakes, slices, pies, pasties, sausage rolls, toffee, caramels, marshmallows, soup, stock, bread rolls, pastry and the list goes on.
It's not often something pre-made finds its way into my shopping trolley. I'm the mad woman with the 10 kilos of flour, 4 kilos of sugar, 2 kilos of sultanas, 500g yeast, 5 litres vinegar, 6 kilos of butter, 12 litres of milk and 2 boxes laundry soap in the trolley, struggling to turn it around the corner. I buy ingredients. I use those ingredients to prepare our meals, bake our snacks and make the cleaning products I use in our home. I MOO. And I'm proud of it.
Everything on my meal plan this week will be MOOed. And all the recipes, including the gravy recipe, are in the Recipe File.
If you haven't started MOOing yet, try something simple like the Cheapskates Washing Powder (yes, it works and yes it is safe to use) or yoghurt. They are both easy, great for beginners and both budget conscious.
This week we will be eating:
Friday: Sausage casserole, mashed sweet potato, broccoli, corn
Saturday: Toasted sandwiches
Sunday: Roast chicken, baked vegetables, gravy
Monday: Saturday Night Sour Cream Pasta Bake
Tuesday: Chicken casserole, mash, cauliflower, carrot
Wednesday: Swiss steak, steamed potato, broccoli, pumpkin
Thursday: MOO Pizza
In the fruit bowl: apples, bananas, oranges, kiwi fruit
In the cake tin: 5 Minute Choc Chip Cookies, Afghans, 4 Minute Cupcakes, Apple Cake
There are over 1,300 other great money saving meal ideas in the Recipe File
7. The $300 a Month Food Challenge with Wendy
Welcome to all Cheapskaters.
I've had many discussions with people over the years that tell me they don't have time to cook a meal for their family at night. We all have times when life gets way too busy for our liking and takeaway seems to be the quicker option. Or is it? I have lots of friends who have the latest whizz bang $2,000 kitchen appliance that seems to do and cook everything. There's just one problem. You still need to have time at the end of the day to use it.
The slow cooker is an excellent option for busy people. They are very cheap with a starting price of $25 for a small 3 litre one which is suitable for 4 - 6 people. The bigger 5 - 6 litre slow cookers retail for about $60 - $80. This size is great if you have a big family or you'd like to do some bulk cooking for the freezer.
I had a slow cooker that sat unused in my kitchen cupboard for nine years. I didn't know what to cook in it as it didn't come with any recipes. I couldn't think of anything to cook in it that I couldn't cook in a saucepan or in the oven. I soon discovered that the Internet was a great place to look for recipes. A slow cooker is also called a crock pot in some countries so it's worth looking up both names.
After doing some Internet research I soon discovered a current theme to the recipes. You need meat or veg and some liquid to cook them in. You also need approximately 6 - 8 hours to cook a main meal. It's hard to go wrong if you stick to these rules. Perfect for working families. I get up 15 minutes earlier in the morning to get everything into the slow cooker. Then I don't need to think about it for the rest of the day. BLISS!!!! Here are some other tips I've learnt along the way -
* Prep the meat and veg the night before if you can and store in the fridge.
* Turn the slow cooker on before you load it up with food. This speeds up the time it takes for the food to reach cooking point.
* Spray the inner cooking pot with cooking spray. It helps with clean up at the end of the day.
* Place the meat down the bottom of the pot. It cooks faster and will always stay under the liquid giving you very tender meat.
* If you are putting potato in the slow cooker, place it on top of the meat. Then add the vegetables. This prevents the potato floating to the top and going hard.
* If the recipe requires some water, use boiling water from the kettle. It speeds up the cooking time and temperature of the slow cooker.
* Keep the lid on. Every time you lift the lid heat escapes and the cooking time increases.
* Only stir the contents towards the end of the cooking time.
Here is a simple recipe to try -
1 lamb chop per person
1 tin of crushed tomatoes
1 tin of boiling water
1 cup of frozen/fresh beans
1 large carrot peeled and sliced
1/2 packet of French onion soup mix
1 teaspoon of curry powder
Salt, pepper and other seasonings to taste.
2 tablespoons of corn flour and a little water
Turn the slow cooker on first. Place the chops in the bottom of a greased slow cooker. Add all other ingredients and stir the top slightly. Add more water if needed until everything is just covered with liquid. Cook on high for 6 - 10 hours. Thicken with a little corn flour and water. Serve with mash.
Any other vegetables can be added or deleted. You could use Italian seasonings if preferred.
Have a great week and BE ENCOURAGED!!!!
The $300 a Month Food Challenge
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2528-300-a-month-food-challenge-7-07-14
The Post that Started it All
http://www.cheapskates.com.au/pages/default.cfm?page_id=44265
8.Cheapskates Buzz
This week's hot forum topics
Any Advice for a New Single Mum
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?931-Any-Advice-for-a-new-single-Mum&highlight=cutegroomz
Emergency Stores
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?683-Emergency-Stores&highlight=cutegroomz
$150k is the new Battling??
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?492-150k-is-the-new-Battling&highlight=cutegroomz
Most popular blog posts this week
Get a Grip on Ironing
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2011/12/get-grip-on-ironing.html
The Perfect Roast Potato
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2011/12/perfect-roast-potato.html
Start Living below Your Means
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2011/08/start-living-below-your-means.html
9. 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.
Belief, Trust, Willingness, Change & Adventure
First of all I'm so happy to be part of this revolution, I can't tell you. Before starting this I was thinking at the start of the year what my new year's resolution would be but then I decided that was pointless as I never stick to one anyway. Instead I decided on a Word that I could use for the whole year, and every time I think of doing or not doing something I'm already remembering my word to myself.
While I was trying to decide on my word, it had to be something that I could set my scene with for the whole year and I came up with 5 words first:
Belief, Trust, Willingness, Change and Adventure
I spent the last half of the year or more being kind of suspended. I had a bit to deal with and I felt stuck on almost every level. I was still not really believing that I have what it takes do what I need to do. I had no trust in myself either, but after searching for the right word I realised that if I only had the willingness to change my way of thinking, I can do anything.
So my word is Willingness and no matter what I try, my Willingness to learn and focus will be foremost in my mind and my work. I guess I could have chosen any one of those five words as they all have a meaning for me, but without the Willingness to Believe, Trust and Change then I’ll have no Adventure at all and I don't want another last year.
So now having said all that I found the first lesson in this revolution quite confronting but at least I had the Willingness to start and finish it, and I was already feeling better. I then cleaned out my bag and purse and OMG that was a mess, now it feels so good to have a neat and tidy bag, I no longer go to the shop and have everything fall out of my purse as I'm trying to pay for something. Yes it was bad; I also have my cash containers organised and any and all change is being deposited into each one.
Right now I'm tracking my spending and writing everything down, eye opener (yes). I'm about to attack my office/craft area and looking at that like I'm a stranger (I like that idea) and I think it will allow me to get stuck in and clean out what shouldn't be in there, sort out my filing cabinet, put away receipts and get my tray better organised for bill paying etc.. This one is going to take a while as it is my craft area as well and I've been working on some projects. I'm about to slash and burn so I can finally enjoy coming into this room.
So thank you Cath for starting this, I'm taking this on as a Willing Project to get our finances (among other things) in full working order and making this year a superbly Adventurous Year.
Login to read more Cheapskates Club member blogs
10. This Week's Question
Cass writes
"I'd love to MOO scented drawer liners, like the paper ones you can buy. Does anyone have any tips on the paper to use and how to fragrance it?"
Do you have the answer?
If you have a suggestion or idea for Cass 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.
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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.
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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