Your Cheapskates Club Newsletter: 33:14 Bright ideas to save you money
1. Cath's Corner
2. In the Tip Store - Direct Debit Option Avoids Flight Booking Fees, Soak the Bugs Off, The Dilution Bible
3. Cheapskate's Winning Tip - Baby's Treasure Box
4. Submit Your Tip -!
5. On the Menu with Anne - Lemon Ginger Slice
6. The $300 a Month Food Challenge with Wendy - Morning tea on the Food Challenge
7. Cheapskates Buzz - Cheapskaters are talking in the Forum and on Cath's blog
8. Member's Featured Blog - Where's my Money Tree?
9. Last Week's Question - Cleaning up spilt nail polish
10. This Week's Question - Can I MOO hair gel?
11. Join the Cheapskates Club
12. Gift Memberships
13. Frequently Asked Questions
14. Contact Details
1. Cath's Corner
Thank you all for your get well wishes and emails, they've really made me feel better. I'm still coughing, spluttering and wheezing but getting better every day.
Now the school is back and most of us have finished our summer holidays you know what it means don't you - time for a spending freeze. We officially start No Spend February on Saturday, so if you think you need to put a hold on spending or would just like to save a little extra cash this month, please join us. Of course I'll put more info on this challenge in the February Journal (and it will be ready for you on Saturday, it's a huge Journal this month), but in the meantime you can find out more about our annual No Spend Challenge here.
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
Direct Debit Option Avoids Flight Booking Fees
Approximate $ Savings: $51
Recently we decided to stretch ourselves and book a flight to Hobart to visit family - this was a big decision for us as with two small children in the house and the equivalent of one low income. I found cheap flights advertised and went to book these on my phone only to find a $17 per person 'booking fee' applied when I went to pay for the flights. There weren't any available options to pay for the flights for free (except to join a company specific Mastercard which in itself had annual fees). We were in a real dilemma about whether to still go on our trip as it was going to cost us $51 just in booking fees (which was more than one flight cost). I decided to try and book the flights on the computer instead of my phone and there was the direct debit option available to pay for the flights free of charge. This simple action saved us $51 and for little effort. I'm not sure why the airline omits this payment option from their phone website and I suspect most people would just pay the booking fees without question.
Contributed by Sandra Anderson
Soak the Bugs Off
Approximate $ Savings: $40.00
When preparing to wash your car drape an old wet towel across the front of the car the night before to soften insects adhering to the front of the bonnet. This will make washing a lot easier the next day.
Contributed by Warren Goodrich
The Dilution Bible
I keep a little notebook in which I write all my ratios of dilutions that I do. I have a page for each kind of product that I dilute, and on that page are the different brands I've bought and what ratio I've diluted them to (as well as what I've diluted them with). That way, I can buy whatever is on special and make it stretch as far as it will go.
Contributed by Bels Alexis
There are more than 11,000 great tips in the Tip Store
3. Cheapskates Winning tip
This week's winning tip is from Emily Peters. Emily has won a one year Platinum Cheapskates Club membership for submitting her winning tip.
Baby's Treasure Box
Approximate $ Savings: $100
When looking for some toys for my (then) 5 month old, I was disappointed with the cost of toys that would probably only be age-appropriate for a few months. Then I came across the idea of 'treasure boxes'. These are boxes (or baskets, or whatever storage you have available) filled with everyday items that your baby can explore. The idea is to provide a range of items, different textures and colours, and let your baby play without showing them how to use anything 'properly'. I filled a basket with things from around my home- sponge, knitted glove, egg ring, silicone muffin case, various brushes (make-up, pastry, etc), different textured ribbons, small metal bucket, painted wooden egg shaker... The list goes on and on! I tried to really mix it up and have lots of colour, some shiny things, soft and hard things, a real variety. As long as everything is clean and safe (nothing small enough to fit inside a film canister), anything goes! My son loved his treasure basket from day 1, and still plays with it at almost 1 year old. It's full of things he can feel, shake, hit against different surfaces to make different sounds, and basically explore however he wants! So far all the items are in good condition so I can reclaim them when he's eventually finished with them. Best free 'toy' ever!
Congratulations Emily, 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. On the Menu with Anne
Lemon Ginger Slice
Cakes, biscuits and slices wouldn't last ten minutes in our house if they were left in the tin. Then the family would be looking for more.
While I love that my family enjoy my baking efforts, they don't need to devour those treats so quickly, they don't need to sugar and I don't really need the extra work.
These days as soon as the cake or biscuits or slice is cool it is cut into single portions, wrapped and put into the freezer. Then I take out three or four pieces each day and pop them in the cake or biscuit tin for snacks. Every second day I add a treat to lunchboxes. This stops empty cake tin syndrome, keeps everyone happy and leaves baking day just one day of the week.
Lemon Ginger Slice
Ingredients
3 tbsp butter
1 tablespoon golden syrup
1 cup self-raising flour
1½ teaspoons ground ginger
50g glace ginger, finely chopped
½ cup sugar
½ cup coconut
1 egg
Lemon Icing
1 cup icing sugar
1 tbsp butter
2 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp grated lemon rind
1 tsp hot water
Method:
Pre-heat oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Melt butter and syrup over low heat. Sift flour and ground ginger, combine with glace ginger, sugar, coconut and lightly beaten egg. Pour in melted butter and golden syrup. When well combined press into well-greased 28cm x 18cm (11in x 7in) lamington tin. Bake 30-35 minutes. When slice is cool, spread with Lemon Icing and cut into squares.
Lemon Icing: Sift icing sugar into bowl. Combine soft butter, lemon juice, grated lemon rind and hot water, stir until butter melts. Mix into icing sugar, beat until smooth.
This week we will be eating:
Friday: Sausages, mashed potato, beans, corn, carrots, onion gravy
Saturday: Toasted sandwiches
Sunday: Roast chicken, baked veggies and gravy
Monday: Rissoles, potato bake, carrots, beans
Tuesday: Chicken Tetrazzini and tossed salad (using leftover roast chicken)
Wednesday: Vegetable soup and toasted muffins
Thursday: Beef casserole, savoury rice
In the fruit bowl: apples, mandarins, bananas
In the cake tin: Scones, ANZAC slice, orange muffins
There are over 1,400 other great money saving meal ideas in the Recipe File
6. The $300 a Month Food Challenge with Wendy
Welcome to the $300 a month food challenge.
I quite often get asked if the $300 a month for groceries includes entertaining. Yes it does. Whilst we don't entertain every week, we do entertain the extended family for our birthdays and the girls have school friends over for a party. We also host my extended family's monthly gathering a couple of times a year.
Menus for these occasions are carefully planned out well ahead of time. Usually for an afternoon tea I can provide a variety of homemade items with ingredients I already have on hand from my well stocked pantry, fridge and freezers. Here are some of the yummies I make that don't stretch my food budget at all -
Honey Joys - Made with corn flakes, butter, honey and sugar.
Dip and pita chips - Made from natural yoghurt and french onion soup mix. We always have pita bread in the freezer to make pita chips.
Fruit platter - We usually have 5 - 6 different fruits in the fridge in summer.
Mini muffins - Made with basic baking ingredients that most kitchens have at all times.
Hoovers Doovers (recipe in the recipe file) - its bread with a topping made from eggs, cheese, tomato, ham and cooked in the oven.
Sausage rolls - We always have pastry in the freezer so I only need to buy the sausage meat for a few dollars.
A plate of sandwiches - We always have bread, eggs, lettuce, tomato and cheese. Curried egg sandwiches are a family favourite.
I also make a variety of slices like lemon slice, muesli bar slice, brownies as well as biscuits. They are all made from scratch.
If any ingredients need to be bought, I write it on my monthly shopping list ahead of time and I don't notice the extra expense - which is very little. Next time you are hosting a morning / afternoon tea, have a think about what you can make with ingredients you have on hand. You might be surprised and reminded of all the delicious things you can make for free.
What do you make for morning/afternoon teas?
Have a great week and BE ENCOURAGED!!!
The $300 a Month Food Challenge
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2587-300-a-month-food-challenge-11-08-14
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
Pantry Inventory and Cooking with Past Best Before Ingredients
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?795-Pantry-inventory-and-cooking-with-past-best-before-ingredients&highlight=yellowlyn
Shopping - Love it or Hate it!
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?651-Shopping-Love-it-or-hate-it!&highlight=yellowlyn
Spider Web Deterrent for Outside
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?772-Spider-web-deterrent-for-outside&highlight=yellowlyn
Most popular blog posts this week
What are Gel Bags?
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2013/09/what-are-gel-bags.html
Breakfast is Ready
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2010/04/breakfast-is-ready.html
Finding Time
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2012/11/finding-time.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 Jacksoncamp.
Where's my Money Tree?
Isn't it odd how some weeks, usually the ones where you have the least amount of cash, end up being the one where everyone seems to have a hand out wanting your money?
Last week from memory was our tightest yet due to power, visitors and water bills yet I had hands out everywhere wanting money for everything from study guides to tickets for classes, school trips to uniform extras; it all came out of nowhere.
When I added it up and mentioned to a friend that at $160.00 worth of extras I'd be forking out more than my meager grocery allowance of $130.00 a week she was horrified and instead of acting shocked at all the extras, she, as so many people on Cheapskates have mentioned, acted like my poor family would starve for this week!
Well they are doing just fine actually; beef stew, mash and cheesecake for tonight. Not really slumming it are we? It makes me wonder though, where does everyone find all this cash?
Did I miss out on my money tree somewhere?
Anyway I decided a lot of those things could wait or be done without so for now we are doing just fine, just interested in everyone else's view on this.
Login to read more Cheapskates Club member blogs
9. Last Week's Question
Last week's question was from Sandy who wrote
"While joyfully painting my little granddaughter's finger nails the other day I knocked the nail polish bottle and spilt nail polish, not on my vinyl flooring, oh no! but my lovely lounge room carpet. And just to make it more frustrating, I only have myself to blame! So...does anyone have a hint in regard to removing this red (yes of course, red!) nail polish splash from my carpet? I have tried nail polish remover and also my eucalyptus miracle cleaner."
Rebecca Leonard answered
My daughter got nail polish on my fabric couch while painting herself and the cat. I got it off by applying pure acetone with a cotton tip or ball and having white vinegar at the ready to slosh on using coot on ball straight after as acetone is very strong you need to use the white vinegar to remove and dilute it quickly after applying. It is quiet slow and I did have several gos at it before it was all gone but it did work.
Diana Hooper answered
What rotten luck to spill nail polish on your carpet as I also did last year. My solution was to get the local carpet layer to cut a square of carpet from under a piece of furniture and replace the ruined section with it. It. Wasn't too expensive and the result was undetectable. Carpet now looks good as new.
Jacqui Jaeger answered
Wet the stain with cold water. Spray 15-20 pumps of hair spray, followed by three to five small splashes of rubbing alcohol. Using a small scrub brush, scrub the nail polish stain directly for about a minute. While you’re scrubbing, keep pouring clean, cold water onto the stain throughout the process. Repeat this process until the nail polish stain is no longer visible.
Libby Smith answered
Sandy, My then 8 year old daughter did the same thing with neon green polish on beige carpet in an obvious area. The answer I found was glass cleaner! I had a can of glass cleaner that I just sprayed and then gently rubbed/blotted with a soft cloth. It came up a treat :-) Good luck!
Do you have a question that needs an answer?
Send us your question and receive the combined knowledge of your fellow Cheapskates to solve your problem!
Ask Your Question
10. This Week's Question
Linda writes
"Does anyone know how to make a hair gel, something with a strong hold for very curly hair? Thanks."
Do you have the answer?
If you have a suggestion or idea for Linda 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 - Direct Debit Option Avoids Flight Booking Fees, Soak the Bugs Off, The Dilution Bible
3. Cheapskate's Winning Tip - Baby's Treasure Box
4. Submit Your Tip -!
5. On the Menu with Anne - Lemon Ginger Slice
6. The $300 a Month Food Challenge with Wendy - Morning tea on the Food Challenge
7. Cheapskates Buzz - Cheapskaters are talking in the Forum and on Cath's blog
8. Member's Featured Blog - Where's my Money Tree?
9. Last Week's Question - Cleaning up spilt nail polish
10. This Week's Question - Can I MOO hair gel?
11. Join the Cheapskates Club
12. Gift Memberships
13. Frequently Asked Questions
14. Contact Details
1. Cath's Corner
Thank you all for your get well wishes and emails, they've really made me feel better. I'm still coughing, spluttering and wheezing but getting better every day.
Now the school is back and most of us have finished our summer holidays you know what it means don't you - time for a spending freeze. We officially start No Spend February on Saturday, so if you think you need to put a hold on spending or would just like to save a little extra cash this month, please join us. Of course I'll put more info on this challenge in the February Journal (and it will be ready for you on Saturday, it's a huge Journal this month), but in the meantime you can find out more about our annual No Spend Challenge here.
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
Direct Debit Option Avoids Flight Booking Fees
Approximate $ Savings: $51
Recently we decided to stretch ourselves and book a flight to Hobart to visit family - this was a big decision for us as with two small children in the house and the equivalent of one low income. I found cheap flights advertised and went to book these on my phone only to find a $17 per person 'booking fee' applied when I went to pay for the flights. There weren't any available options to pay for the flights for free (except to join a company specific Mastercard which in itself had annual fees). We were in a real dilemma about whether to still go on our trip as it was going to cost us $51 just in booking fees (which was more than one flight cost). I decided to try and book the flights on the computer instead of my phone and there was the direct debit option available to pay for the flights free of charge. This simple action saved us $51 and for little effort. I'm not sure why the airline omits this payment option from their phone website and I suspect most people would just pay the booking fees without question.
Contributed by Sandra Anderson
Soak the Bugs Off
Approximate $ Savings: $40.00
When preparing to wash your car drape an old wet towel across the front of the car the night before to soften insects adhering to the front of the bonnet. This will make washing a lot easier the next day.
Contributed by Warren Goodrich
The Dilution Bible
I keep a little notebook in which I write all my ratios of dilutions that I do. I have a page for each kind of product that I dilute, and on that page are the different brands I've bought and what ratio I've diluted them to (as well as what I've diluted them with). That way, I can buy whatever is on special and make it stretch as far as it will go.
Contributed by Bels Alexis
There are more than 11,000 great tips in the Tip Store
3. Cheapskates Winning tip
This week's winning tip is from Emily Peters. Emily has won a one year Platinum Cheapskates Club membership for submitting her winning tip.
Baby's Treasure Box
Approximate $ Savings: $100
When looking for some toys for my (then) 5 month old, I was disappointed with the cost of toys that would probably only be age-appropriate for a few months. Then I came across the idea of 'treasure boxes'. These are boxes (or baskets, or whatever storage you have available) filled with everyday items that your baby can explore. The idea is to provide a range of items, different textures and colours, and let your baby play without showing them how to use anything 'properly'. I filled a basket with things from around my home- sponge, knitted glove, egg ring, silicone muffin case, various brushes (make-up, pastry, etc), different textured ribbons, small metal bucket, painted wooden egg shaker... The list goes on and on! I tried to really mix it up and have lots of colour, some shiny things, soft and hard things, a real variety. As long as everything is clean and safe (nothing small enough to fit inside a film canister), anything goes! My son loved his treasure basket from day 1, and still plays with it at almost 1 year old. It's full of things he can feel, shake, hit against different surfaces to make different sounds, and basically explore however he wants! So far all the items are in good condition so I can reclaim them when he's eventually finished with them. Best free 'toy' ever!
Congratulations Emily, 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. On the Menu with Anne
Lemon Ginger Slice
Cakes, biscuits and slices wouldn't last ten minutes in our house if they were left in the tin. Then the family would be looking for more.
While I love that my family enjoy my baking efforts, they don't need to devour those treats so quickly, they don't need to sugar and I don't really need the extra work.
These days as soon as the cake or biscuits or slice is cool it is cut into single portions, wrapped and put into the freezer. Then I take out three or four pieces each day and pop them in the cake or biscuit tin for snacks. Every second day I add a treat to lunchboxes. This stops empty cake tin syndrome, keeps everyone happy and leaves baking day just one day of the week.
Lemon Ginger Slice
Ingredients
3 tbsp butter
1 tablespoon golden syrup
1 cup self-raising flour
1½ teaspoons ground ginger
50g glace ginger, finely chopped
½ cup sugar
½ cup coconut
1 egg
Lemon Icing
1 cup icing sugar
1 tbsp butter
2 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp grated lemon rind
1 tsp hot water
Method:
Pre-heat oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Melt butter and syrup over low heat. Sift flour and ground ginger, combine with glace ginger, sugar, coconut and lightly beaten egg. Pour in melted butter and golden syrup. When well combined press into well-greased 28cm x 18cm (11in x 7in) lamington tin. Bake 30-35 minutes. When slice is cool, spread with Lemon Icing and cut into squares.
Lemon Icing: Sift icing sugar into bowl. Combine soft butter, lemon juice, grated lemon rind and hot water, stir until butter melts. Mix into icing sugar, beat until smooth.
This week we will be eating:
Friday: Sausages, mashed potato, beans, corn, carrots, onion gravy
Saturday: Toasted sandwiches
Sunday: Roast chicken, baked veggies and gravy
Monday: Rissoles, potato bake, carrots, beans
Tuesday: Chicken Tetrazzini and tossed salad (using leftover roast chicken)
Wednesday: Vegetable soup and toasted muffins
Thursday: Beef casserole, savoury rice
In the fruit bowl: apples, mandarins, bananas
In the cake tin: Scones, ANZAC slice, orange muffins
There are over 1,400 other great money saving meal ideas in the Recipe File
6. The $300 a Month Food Challenge with Wendy
Welcome to the $300 a month food challenge.
I quite often get asked if the $300 a month for groceries includes entertaining. Yes it does. Whilst we don't entertain every week, we do entertain the extended family for our birthdays and the girls have school friends over for a party. We also host my extended family's monthly gathering a couple of times a year.
Menus for these occasions are carefully planned out well ahead of time. Usually for an afternoon tea I can provide a variety of homemade items with ingredients I already have on hand from my well stocked pantry, fridge and freezers. Here are some of the yummies I make that don't stretch my food budget at all -
Honey Joys - Made with corn flakes, butter, honey and sugar.
Dip and pita chips - Made from natural yoghurt and french onion soup mix. We always have pita bread in the freezer to make pita chips.
Fruit platter - We usually have 5 - 6 different fruits in the fridge in summer.
Mini muffins - Made with basic baking ingredients that most kitchens have at all times.
Hoovers Doovers (recipe in the recipe file) - its bread with a topping made from eggs, cheese, tomato, ham and cooked in the oven.
Sausage rolls - We always have pastry in the freezer so I only need to buy the sausage meat for a few dollars.
A plate of sandwiches - We always have bread, eggs, lettuce, tomato and cheese. Curried egg sandwiches are a family favourite.
I also make a variety of slices like lemon slice, muesli bar slice, brownies as well as biscuits. They are all made from scratch.
If any ingredients need to be bought, I write it on my monthly shopping list ahead of time and I don't notice the extra expense - which is very little. Next time you are hosting a morning / afternoon tea, have a think about what you can make with ingredients you have on hand. You might be surprised and reminded of all the delicious things you can make for free.
What do you make for morning/afternoon teas?
Have a great week and BE ENCOURAGED!!!
The $300 a Month Food Challenge
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2587-300-a-month-food-challenge-11-08-14
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
Pantry Inventory and Cooking with Past Best Before Ingredients
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?795-Pantry-inventory-and-cooking-with-past-best-before-ingredients&highlight=yellowlyn
Shopping - Love it or Hate it!
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?651-Shopping-Love-it-or-hate-it!&highlight=yellowlyn
Spider Web Deterrent for Outside
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?772-Spider-web-deterrent-for-outside&highlight=yellowlyn
Most popular blog posts this week
What are Gel Bags?
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2013/09/what-are-gel-bags.html
Breakfast is Ready
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2010/04/breakfast-is-ready.html
Finding Time
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2012/11/finding-time.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 Jacksoncamp.
Where's my Money Tree?
Isn't it odd how some weeks, usually the ones where you have the least amount of cash, end up being the one where everyone seems to have a hand out wanting your money?
Last week from memory was our tightest yet due to power, visitors and water bills yet I had hands out everywhere wanting money for everything from study guides to tickets for classes, school trips to uniform extras; it all came out of nowhere.
When I added it up and mentioned to a friend that at $160.00 worth of extras I'd be forking out more than my meager grocery allowance of $130.00 a week she was horrified and instead of acting shocked at all the extras, she, as so many people on Cheapskates have mentioned, acted like my poor family would starve for this week!
Well they are doing just fine actually; beef stew, mash and cheesecake for tonight. Not really slumming it are we? It makes me wonder though, where does everyone find all this cash?
Did I miss out on my money tree somewhere?
Anyway I decided a lot of those things could wait or be done without so for now we are doing just fine, just interested in everyone else's view on this.
Login to read more Cheapskates Club member blogs
9. Last Week's Question
Last week's question was from Sandy who wrote
"While joyfully painting my little granddaughter's finger nails the other day I knocked the nail polish bottle and spilt nail polish, not on my vinyl flooring, oh no! but my lovely lounge room carpet. And just to make it more frustrating, I only have myself to blame! So...does anyone have a hint in regard to removing this red (yes of course, red!) nail polish splash from my carpet? I have tried nail polish remover and also my eucalyptus miracle cleaner."
Rebecca Leonard answered
My daughter got nail polish on my fabric couch while painting herself and the cat. I got it off by applying pure acetone with a cotton tip or ball and having white vinegar at the ready to slosh on using coot on ball straight after as acetone is very strong you need to use the white vinegar to remove and dilute it quickly after applying. It is quiet slow and I did have several gos at it before it was all gone but it did work.
Diana Hooper answered
What rotten luck to spill nail polish on your carpet as I also did last year. My solution was to get the local carpet layer to cut a square of carpet from under a piece of furniture and replace the ruined section with it. It. Wasn't too expensive and the result was undetectable. Carpet now looks good as new.
Jacqui Jaeger answered
Wet the stain with cold water. Spray 15-20 pumps of hair spray, followed by three to five small splashes of rubbing alcohol. Using a small scrub brush, scrub the nail polish stain directly for about a minute. While you’re scrubbing, keep pouring clean, cold water onto the stain throughout the process. Repeat this process until the nail polish stain is no longer visible.
Libby Smith answered
Sandy, My then 8 year old daughter did the same thing with neon green polish on beige carpet in an obvious area. The answer I found was glass cleaner! I had a can of glass cleaner that I just sprayed and then gently rubbed/blotted with a soft cloth. It came up a treat :-) Good luck!
Do you have a question that needs an answer?
Send us your question and receive the combined knowledge of your fellow Cheapskates to solve your problem!
Ask Your Question
10. This Week's Question
Linda writes
"Does anyone know how to make a hair gel, something with a strong hold for very curly hair? Thanks."
Do you have the answer?
If you have a suggestion or idea for Linda 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