Your Cheapskates Club Newsletter: 35:14 Bright ideas to save you money
1. Cath's Corner
2. In the Tip Store - Great Prices on Men's Underwear, No Stir Porridge, Defrost Your Freezer Easily
3. Cheapskate's Winning Tip - Show Bag Creates Perfect Birthday Present
4. Submit Your Tip - Share your favourite money, time or energy saving idea here
5. Living Green in 2014 - Weird Looking Heirloom Vegetables
6. On the Menu with Anne - Beef and Bean Burritos with Spanish Rice
7. The $300 a Month Food Challenge with Wendy - A Clean House on the $300 a Month Food Challenge
8. Cheapskates Buzz - Cheapskaters are talking in the Forum and on Cath's blog
9. Member's Featured Blog - Great Depression Meals by Coates76
10. Last Week's Question - I'd love a recipe for a MOO cat spray
11. This Week's Question - Where do I begin?
12. Join the Cheapskates Club
13. Gift Memberships
14. Frequently Asked Questions
15. Contact Details
1. Cath's Corner
Birthday month is almost over. It's been a huge celebration, with lots of new Cheapskaters joining the saving revolution, aiming for a debt free, cashed up life. To end the celebration I have a brand new ebook for you.
Cheapskates Secret Super Savers is full of places, secret places, to save you money. Some are regular retail stores, some are factory outlets. The thing they have in common is the savings: up to 85% off retail prices. You'll find savings on everything from eggs to spices to towels to clothes to saucepans to outdoor furniture and dozens of other everyday items in between. And it's yours to download completely free as a birthday gift from me to you. You can click here to get your copy.
And if you have time tonight, switch over to A Current Affair on Channel 9 at 7pm to see some of the super secret saver outlets in the Secret Saver ebook. I had a wonderful day visiting my favourite outlets here in Melbourne to show just how cheap they really are.
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
Great Prices on Men's Underwear
My partner actually came across the website - they sell men’s underwear online from Sydney. Each month they send out a discount code, last month was 50% - I received men’s boxer shorts (100% cotton) for $7.00. Delivered free might I add. Sometimes the discounts are 40%, then sometimes 42%. I was sick and tired of spending $19 - $30 on men’s boxer shorts at David Jones and other department stores; I think I have managed to find a great savings measures for us fellas. The company is called Frank and Beans Underwear or www.frankandbeans.com.au.
Contributed by Ray Dyson
Website: www.frankandbeans.com.au
No Stir Porridge
We are a family of 7, with 5 children under 7. Needless to say time in the morning is at a premium, so standing and stirring porridge is not very practical. Many mornings I have stirred, walked away, stirred, walked away, and often it has stuck on the bottom of the pan as I have been distracted. I have tried slow cooker porridge in the past and woken up to a burnt waste of food as my slow cooker is too efficient and waking up at midnight to turn it on is just not practical. Then I had a brainwave - the rice cooker! I can put the oats just as I normally would make them in the pot, straight into the rice cooker and walk away guilt free! Hooray! This works best with rolled oats and makes the best, creamiest porridge I have had. So win, win, yummy porridge and time saved. :-)
Contributed by Ashleigh Holmes
Defrost Your Freezer Easily
After reading Wendy's freezer defrosting story I was reminded of a tip from the days when Mum had a freezer that needed to be manually defrosted. When your freezer is next defrosted, before re-loading the items into the freezer, wipe over the walls and shelves with glycerin. Next time it is defrosted, the ice will come away in sheets. No need for bowls of warm water or waiting for ice to melt. Don't forget to re-do the glycerin each time it is defrosted.
Contributed by Kerry Rowles
There are more than 11,000 great tips in the Tip Store
3. Cheapskates Winning tip
This week's winning tip is from Bella Richardson. Bella has won a one year Platinum Cheapskates Club membership for submitting her winning tip.
Show Bag Creates Perfect Birthday Present
Approximate $ Savings: $70
My daughter loves Peppa Pig, and as her 2nd birthday is coming up, I was considering various Peppa pig toys. After a trip to the ABC shop, I realised the cost of the particular things I was considering would blow the budget. (Approximately $100) Back to the drawing board. Alternatives? Cheaper sources? In the end, while looking online, I came across a website where you can buy Ekka Showbags (www.showbags.com.au) It turns out that they sell a Peppa Pig show bag, which contains a Peppa Pig Backpack, Plate and Bowl Set, Tumbler, Sunglasses, Inflatable Wand, Garden Set, Play Ball and Hair Clips. The bag is $25. I am combining postage with another bag. Total Postage is about $7, making postage for one bag about $3.50. So for $28.50 and I have eight birthday presents sorted. For a two year old, this is perfect. And knowing her, she will be over the moon with all of them.
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
Weird-Looking Heirloom Vegetables
Green cauliflower. Purple carrots. Striped beetroot. If you’ve ever been to a farmer’s market, no doubt you’ve come across vegetables labelled as “heirloom.” Heirloom is such an elegant words and it refers to something valuable passed down from generation to generation.
But if heirloom vegetables are so valuable, why do they look so darned weird?
Simply put, heirloom vegetables are a specific variety vegetable that has been grown for many years and is open –pollinated. This is in contrast to hybrid and GM (genetically modified) vegetables. Heirlooms themselves are not necessarily organic, but when you grow them using organic techniques, they most definitely are.
Because they aren’t modified or cross-pollinated to produce new desirable traits, they may not look as pretty as the produce we’ve come to expect at the grocery store. But the good news is they are usually quite delicious. They are also often selected for their ability to withstand extreme weather and produce high yields.
You can buy heirloom seeds and heirloom seedlings from your local nursery and get started with your heirloom vegetable garden. From a Cheapskate's point of view heirlooms are great value because you can save some of the seed from your favourites and use it to grow more food next year - you don't need to buy more seed!
So the next time you see that gnarled carrot or misshapen tomato at the greengrocers or market, consider giving it a home. This is the type of produce we need to support if we want to sustain organic cultivation.
6. On the Menu with Anne
Beef and Bean Burritos with Spanish Rice
My family loves food with flavour. And food that is filling. And food that can be eaten quickly. I love food that has flavour, is filling, can be eaten quickly and that takes just minutes to prepare. Beef and Bean Burritos and Spanish Rice are two dishes that meet all those criteria and they're cheap to boot!
Beef and Bean Burritos
Ingredients:
1kg mince
1/2 medium onion, diced
1 cup tomato puree (or passata)
Salt And Pepper, to taste
2 tbsp MOO Taco Seasoning
1 can refried beans (or substitute baked beans in tomato sauce)
3/4 cups grated cheese
12 large flour tortillas
Extra grated cheese, for sprinkling
Extra tomato puree
Method:
Brown mince with the onion and season to taste. Drain fat from pan. Return the meat mixture to the pan and pour in tomato puree, add the MOO taco seasoning and simmer over low heat. Add a little water if mixture gets too dry.
Heat refried beans in a saucepan. Add cheese and stir in till melted. Keep warm.
Heat tortillas in microwave for one minute.
Spread a small amount of beans on each tortilla. Add meat. Fold over ends, then roll up. Place two burritos on a microwave-safe plate. Drizzle red sauce over the top and sprinkle with more grated cheese. Microwave for one minute, or until cheese is melted. Serve immediately.
Spanish Rice
Ingredients:
1 ½ cups cooked brown rice
1 small onion, chopped
1 tin tomato soup
1 teaspoon curry powder
½ cup grated cheese
Method:
Brown onion, add curry powder. Cook 1 minute. Add tomato soup. Stir in cheese. When melted add the rice, heat through and serve immediately. Leftovers can be rolled into croquettes or patties, dipped in crumbs and fried.
This week we will be eating:
Friday: Pasta bake and salad
Saturday: Sliced steak in gravy, baked vegetables, broccoli with cheese sauce
Sunday: Roast chicken, baked vegetables, peas, corn, gravy
Monday: Crumbed fish, wedges and coleslaw
Tuesday: Mini meatloaves, mashed potato, pumpkin, cauliflower, gravy
Wednesday: Beef and bean burritos with Spanish rice
Thursday: Mufti quiche, wedges and salad
In the fruit bowl: bananas, apples, mandarins
In the cake tin: Double choc chip biscuits, sultana cake, apricot muffins
There are over 1,400 other great money saving meal ideas in the Recipe File
7. The $300 a Month Food Challenge with Wendy
Having a clean home is important to me. When my home is clean and tidy, everything is right in my world. My mind is at peace and I can relax knowing that if anyone showed up unexpectedly I wouldn't be embarrassed or I wouldn't be shoving things in cupboards out of sight.
Having a clean home doesn't have to drain the food budget. Yes, the few cleaning products I buy are included in the $300 a month food challenge. As a hired domestic cleaner of over 15 years, I've learnt that the fancy cleaning products are not necessary to keep a home clean. More than anything, they are toxic, expensive and a complete waste of space (and money ).
Microfibre cloths are a great invention. I use the cheap version at home and work. They last for years and reduce the need for chemicals.
Miracle Spray is the best cleaning product I've come by. It's great for cleaning showers, toilets, sinks, floors, stoves, laundry stains and carpet stains. Thankyou Joy for sharing your recipe with Cheapskates. It's changed my life, my health and my budget. For a dollar or two you can make up a large 2 litre bottle.
Bleach is used every six weeks in my showers to reduce the mould (I have old showers).
A small dash of disinfectant is used in the washing if the clothes are smelly.
Floors are cleaned with vinegar, detergent and boiling water. Or you can use just boiling water.
It's worth having a think about the cleaning products you have in your home. Do they really work as well as the advertising claims? Is it worth the money?
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
8. Cheapskates Buzz
This week's hot forum topics
Questions for the Bakers Out There
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2595-Questions-for-the-bakers-out-there
Non Soap Shower Gel & Hair Conditioner
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2592-Non-Soap-Shower-Gel-amp-Hair-Conditioner
Citrus Trees not Healthy, HELP
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2324-citrus-trees-not-healthy-HELP
Most popular blog posts this week
Guerrilla Shopping - Part 5: Making the Most of the Grocery Wars
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2012/06/guerrilla-shopping-part-5-making-most.html
How to Create Pretty Storage Solutions with Items You Already Own
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2012/06/how-to-create-pretty-storage-solutions.html
EWSM Real Food Challenge Day 2
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2012/07/ewsm-real-food-challenge-day-2.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 Coates776.
Great Depression Meals
I was on YouTube yesterday watching some budgeting movies when l tripped over a lady called Clara, a 93 year old, who was a You Tube star for showing how to make meals that she had in the depression.
It was fascinating to watch her cook and inspirational to hear her survival stories. I watched about 10 and decided to try a few myself. l made a mixed dried lentils side dish cooked for 40 minutes and then you add rice for a further 30 minutes and job done. I made the salad which was only lettuce with a homemade dressing of olive oil, lemon salt and pepper. I made the baked apples but when l took them out they were still hard and l decided to put a bit more sugar on and the jar was salt, in the bin they went.
I then went on the Internet researching depression meals and it was a great experience to read the stories of how people battled in real hard times. When you think about it we don't really do it hard now; we are spoilt for choice and live in a modern, thriving world where most of our basic requirements are considered our right.
It got me thinking that the depression era was all about do what we can with what we have and be grateful. I was so interested that l got Clara's e-book on Amazon for $8 and to give you an example as they had no fridges the meat, that was an extreme rare meal, was buried in the snow over winter to preserve. The kids would get the shovel to bring the meal in, these days they drive to KFC or just whinge about what's put in front of them.
The more l read l realized how the modern world has created us to be over-consumers and wasters of all things to the extent that we would not know how to survive in the event of a catastrophic event. As l have my cup of tea and cherry ripe and select from my ipads of varying sizes and Foxtel and go in the kitchen with everything you could possibly want l felt ill that we have come to not be grateful for all we have and questioned whether l could survive in those conditions. I saw Clara using all her utensils from years ago and she stressed why replace what does the job already!
When I listened to the news now and heard about the ebola outbreak and the problems in Iraq l questioned could l survive extreme living arrangements? I know that this is a bit over the top but let's say we all had to stay home as that ebola took over (praise the lord that will never happen) but could I survive?
It made me think about the doomsday preppers and as extreme as they are they have food stocks!
Anyway, feel like buying a 30kg bag of rice and a heap of lentils!!!!!
Don't think it hurts every once and a while to revisit our living environment and be grateful for the things we do have.
Will keep you updated as l read her book.
Anyway Happy Cheapskating!
Login to read more Cheapskates Club member blogs
10. Last Week's Question
Last week's question was from Megan who wrote
"My cat is a determined carpet scratcher. I've been using a spray from vet stores to stop her scratching and it is effective - it's also expensive! It has a strong citrus smell. Does anyone know of a MOO alternative that works just as well? (Oh, and yes she does have a scratching pole - she just prefers the carpet). Thanks in advance!"
Lynette Henderson answered
You could make a spray with water, some Isocol (rubbing alcohol) and depending on size of your bottle maybe six drops of any essential citrus oil. Cats hate citrus smells. You can use it anywhere you don't want the cat to be.
Shirley Hay
Our cat would get up on the bench top and was also quite mischievous in other ways and well as very determined. We diluted white vinegar in water about 50/50 and this worked wonders. It got to a point that all I had to do was pick it up and she knew what that meant.
Gwen Waters answered
We had a similar problem with the cat scratching our furniture. Besides closing off certain rooms to her, providing a scratching post, and spraying furniture with a supposed deterrent (which didn't work our last alternative was to ban her from inside the house. As luck had it I had to buy some new outside door mats and went for a cheap plastic backed low profile straw mat (50x60cms). Lo and behold she decided this was just the thing so I purchased some more to put just inside the house next to the doors to outside. I have not had a problem with her scratching furniture since and she is happy as the ban is lifted and she is now allowed back inside. She also loves sleeping on these mats too, especially the ones near sliding glass doors where the sun warms her.
Julie Colbert answered
Use ammonia diluted with water in a spray bottle and use the same as the expensive spray. You only have to use enough ammonia mixed with the water to make it smell strong and the cat will hate it.
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
11. This Week's Question
Gwen writes
" My question where does one start to become a cheapskate as it all seems very overwhelming to me? But being divorced and with no job I really need as much help as I can get please."
Do you have the answer?
If you have a suggestion or advice for Gwen 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
12. 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
13. 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!
14. 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.
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Read our privacy policy
How Did You Get on Our List?
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15. 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 - Great Prices on Men's Underwear, No Stir Porridge, Defrost Your Freezer Easily
3. Cheapskate's Winning Tip - Show Bag Creates Perfect Birthday Present
4. Submit Your Tip - Share your favourite money, time or energy saving idea here
5. Living Green in 2014 - Weird Looking Heirloom Vegetables
6. On the Menu with Anne - Beef and Bean Burritos with Spanish Rice
7. The $300 a Month Food Challenge with Wendy - A Clean House on the $300 a Month Food Challenge
8. Cheapskates Buzz - Cheapskaters are talking in the Forum and on Cath's blog
9. Member's Featured Blog - Great Depression Meals by Coates76
10. Last Week's Question - I'd love a recipe for a MOO cat spray
11. This Week's Question - Where do I begin?
12. Join the Cheapskates Club
13. Gift Memberships
14. Frequently Asked Questions
15. Contact Details
1. Cath's Corner
Birthday month is almost over. It's been a huge celebration, with lots of new Cheapskaters joining the saving revolution, aiming for a debt free, cashed up life. To end the celebration I have a brand new ebook for you.
Cheapskates Secret Super Savers is full of places, secret places, to save you money. Some are regular retail stores, some are factory outlets. The thing they have in common is the savings: up to 85% off retail prices. You'll find savings on everything from eggs to spices to towels to clothes to saucepans to outdoor furniture and dozens of other everyday items in between. And it's yours to download completely free as a birthday gift from me to you. You can click here to get your copy.
And if you have time tonight, switch over to A Current Affair on Channel 9 at 7pm to see some of the super secret saver outlets in the Secret Saver ebook. I had a wonderful day visiting my favourite outlets here in Melbourne to show just how cheap they really are.
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
Great Prices on Men's Underwear
My partner actually came across the website - they sell men’s underwear online from Sydney. Each month they send out a discount code, last month was 50% - I received men’s boxer shorts (100% cotton) for $7.00. Delivered free might I add. Sometimes the discounts are 40%, then sometimes 42%. I was sick and tired of spending $19 - $30 on men’s boxer shorts at David Jones and other department stores; I think I have managed to find a great savings measures for us fellas. The company is called Frank and Beans Underwear or www.frankandbeans.com.au.
Contributed by Ray Dyson
Website: www.frankandbeans.com.au
No Stir Porridge
We are a family of 7, with 5 children under 7. Needless to say time in the morning is at a premium, so standing and stirring porridge is not very practical. Many mornings I have stirred, walked away, stirred, walked away, and often it has stuck on the bottom of the pan as I have been distracted. I have tried slow cooker porridge in the past and woken up to a burnt waste of food as my slow cooker is too efficient and waking up at midnight to turn it on is just not practical. Then I had a brainwave - the rice cooker! I can put the oats just as I normally would make them in the pot, straight into the rice cooker and walk away guilt free! Hooray! This works best with rolled oats and makes the best, creamiest porridge I have had. So win, win, yummy porridge and time saved. :-)
Contributed by Ashleigh Holmes
Defrost Your Freezer Easily
After reading Wendy's freezer defrosting story I was reminded of a tip from the days when Mum had a freezer that needed to be manually defrosted. When your freezer is next defrosted, before re-loading the items into the freezer, wipe over the walls and shelves with glycerin. Next time it is defrosted, the ice will come away in sheets. No need for bowls of warm water or waiting for ice to melt. Don't forget to re-do the glycerin each time it is defrosted.
Contributed by Kerry Rowles
There are more than 11,000 great tips in the Tip Store
3. Cheapskates Winning tip
This week's winning tip is from Bella Richardson. Bella has won a one year Platinum Cheapskates Club membership for submitting her winning tip.
Show Bag Creates Perfect Birthday Present
Approximate $ Savings: $70
My daughter loves Peppa Pig, and as her 2nd birthday is coming up, I was considering various Peppa pig toys. After a trip to the ABC shop, I realised the cost of the particular things I was considering would blow the budget. (Approximately $100) Back to the drawing board. Alternatives? Cheaper sources? In the end, while looking online, I came across a website where you can buy Ekka Showbags (www.showbags.com.au) It turns out that they sell a Peppa Pig show bag, which contains a Peppa Pig Backpack, Plate and Bowl Set, Tumbler, Sunglasses, Inflatable Wand, Garden Set, Play Ball and Hair Clips. The bag is $25. I am combining postage with another bag. Total Postage is about $7, making postage for one bag about $3.50. So for $28.50 and I have eight birthday presents sorted. For a two year old, this is perfect. And knowing her, she will be over the moon with all of them.
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
Weird-Looking Heirloom Vegetables
Green cauliflower. Purple carrots. Striped beetroot. If you’ve ever been to a farmer’s market, no doubt you’ve come across vegetables labelled as “heirloom.” Heirloom is such an elegant words and it refers to something valuable passed down from generation to generation.
But if heirloom vegetables are so valuable, why do they look so darned weird?
Simply put, heirloom vegetables are a specific variety vegetable that has been grown for many years and is open –pollinated. This is in contrast to hybrid and GM (genetically modified) vegetables. Heirlooms themselves are not necessarily organic, but when you grow them using organic techniques, they most definitely are.
Because they aren’t modified or cross-pollinated to produce new desirable traits, they may not look as pretty as the produce we’ve come to expect at the grocery store. But the good news is they are usually quite delicious. They are also often selected for their ability to withstand extreme weather and produce high yields.
You can buy heirloom seeds and heirloom seedlings from your local nursery and get started with your heirloom vegetable garden. From a Cheapskate's point of view heirlooms are great value because you can save some of the seed from your favourites and use it to grow more food next year - you don't need to buy more seed!
So the next time you see that gnarled carrot or misshapen tomato at the greengrocers or market, consider giving it a home. This is the type of produce we need to support if we want to sustain organic cultivation.
6. On the Menu with Anne
Beef and Bean Burritos with Spanish Rice
My family loves food with flavour. And food that is filling. And food that can be eaten quickly. I love food that has flavour, is filling, can be eaten quickly and that takes just minutes to prepare. Beef and Bean Burritos and Spanish Rice are two dishes that meet all those criteria and they're cheap to boot!
Beef and Bean Burritos
Ingredients:
1kg mince
1/2 medium onion, diced
1 cup tomato puree (or passata)
Salt And Pepper, to taste
2 tbsp MOO Taco Seasoning
1 can refried beans (or substitute baked beans in tomato sauce)
3/4 cups grated cheese
12 large flour tortillas
Extra grated cheese, for sprinkling
Extra tomato puree
Method:
Brown mince with the onion and season to taste. Drain fat from pan. Return the meat mixture to the pan and pour in tomato puree, add the MOO taco seasoning and simmer over low heat. Add a little water if mixture gets too dry.
Heat refried beans in a saucepan. Add cheese and stir in till melted. Keep warm.
Heat tortillas in microwave for one minute.
Spread a small amount of beans on each tortilla. Add meat. Fold over ends, then roll up. Place two burritos on a microwave-safe plate. Drizzle red sauce over the top and sprinkle with more grated cheese. Microwave for one minute, or until cheese is melted. Serve immediately.
Spanish Rice
Ingredients:
1 ½ cups cooked brown rice
1 small onion, chopped
1 tin tomato soup
1 teaspoon curry powder
½ cup grated cheese
Method:
Brown onion, add curry powder. Cook 1 minute. Add tomato soup. Stir in cheese. When melted add the rice, heat through and serve immediately. Leftovers can be rolled into croquettes or patties, dipped in crumbs and fried.
This week we will be eating:
Friday: Pasta bake and salad
Saturday: Sliced steak in gravy, baked vegetables, broccoli with cheese sauce
Sunday: Roast chicken, baked vegetables, peas, corn, gravy
Monday: Crumbed fish, wedges and coleslaw
Tuesday: Mini meatloaves, mashed potato, pumpkin, cauliflower, gravy
Wednesday: Beef and bean burritos with Spanish rice
Thursday: Mufti quiche, wedges and salad
In the fruit bowl: bananas, apples, mandarins
In the cake tin: Double choc chip biscuits, sultana cake, apricot muffins
There are over 1,400 other great money saving meal ideas in the Recipe File
7. The $300 a Month Food Challenge with Wendy
Having a clean home is important to me. When my home is clean and tidy, everything is right in my world. My mind is at peace and I can relax knowing that if anyone showed up unexpectedly I wouldn't be embarrassed or I wouldn't be shoving things in cupboards out of sight.
Having a clean home doesn't have to drain the food budget. Yes, the few cleaning products I buy are included in the $300 a month food challenge. As a hired domestic cleaner of over 15 years, I've learnt that the fancy cleaning products are not necessary to keep a home clean. More than anything, they are toxic, expensive and a complete waste of space (and money ).
Microfibre cloths are a great invention. I use the cheap version at home and work. They last for years and reduce the need for chemicals.
Miracle Spray is the best cleaning product I've come by. It's great for cleaning showers, toilets, sinks, floors, stoves, laundry stains and carpet stains. Thankyou Joy for sharing your recipe with Cheapskates. It's changed my life, my health and my budget. For a dollar or two you can make up a large 2 litre bottle.
Bleach is used every six weeks in my showers to reduce the mould (I have old showers).
A small dash of disinfectant is used in the washing if the clothes are smelly.
Floors are cleaned with vinegar, detergent and boiling water. Or you can use just boiling water.
It's worth having a think about the cleaning products you have in your home. Do they really work as well as the advertising claims? Is it worth the money?
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
8. Cheapskates Buzz
This week's hot forum topics
Questions for the Bakers Out There
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2595-Questions-for-the-bakers-out-there
Non Soap Shower Gel & Hair Conditioner
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2592-Non-Soap-Shower-Gel-amp-Hair-Conditioner
Citrus Trees not Healthy, HELP
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2324-citrus-trees-not-healthy-HELP
Most popular blog posts this week
Guerrilla Shopping - Part 5: Making the Most of the Grocery Wars
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2012/06/guerrilla-shopping-part-5-making-most.html
How to Create Pretty Storage Solutions with Items You Already Own
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2012/06/how-to-create-pretty-storage-solutions.html
EWSM Real Food Challenge Day 2
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2012/07/ewsm-real-food-challenge-day-2.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 Coates776.
Great Depression Meals
I was on YouTube yesterday watching some budgeting movies when l tripped over a lady called Clara, a 93 year old, who was a You Tube star for showing how to make meals that she had in the depression.
It was fascinating to watch her cook and inspirational to hear her survival stories. I watched about 10 and decided to try a few myself. l made a mixed dried lentils side dish cooked for 40 minutes and then you add rice for a further 30 minutes and job done. I made the salad which was only lettuce with a homemade dressing of olive oil, lemon salt and pepper. I made the baked apples but when l took them out they were still hard and l decided to put a bit more sugar on and the jar was salt, in the bin they went.
I then went on the Internet researching depression meals and it was a great experience to read the stories of how people battled in real hard times. When you think about it we don't really do it hard now; we are spoilt for choice and live in a modern, thriving world where most of our basic requirements are considered our right.
It got me thinking that the depression era was all about do what we can with what we have and be grateful. I was so interested that l got Clara's e-book on Amazon for $8 and to give you an example as they had no fridges the meat, that was an extreme rare meal, was buried in the snow over winter to preserve. The kids would get the shovel to bring the meal in, these days they drive to KFC or just whinge about what's put in front of them.
The more l read l realized how the modern world has created us to be over-consumers and wasters of all things to the extent that we would not know how to survive in the event of a catastrophic event. As l have my cup of tea and cherry ripe and select from my ipads of varying sizes and Foxtel and go in the kitchen with everything you could possibly want l felt ill that we have come to not be grateful for all we have and questioned whether l could survive in those conditions. I saw Clara using all her utensils from years ago and she stressed why replace what does the job already!
When I listened to the news now and heard about the ebola outbreak and the problems in Iraq l questioned could l survive extreme living arrangements? I know that this is a bit over the top but let's say we all had to stay home as that ebola took over (praise the lord that will never happen) but could I survive?
It made me think about the doomsday preppers and as extreme as they are they have food stocks!
Anyway, feel like buying a 30kg bag of rice and a heap of lentils!!!!!
Don't think it hurts every once and a while to revisit our living environment and be grateful for the things we do have.
Will keep you updated as l read her book.
Anyway Happy Cheapskating!
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10. Last Week's Question
Last week's question was from Megan who wrote
"My cat is a determined carpet scratcher. I've been using a spray from vet stores to stop her scratching and it is effective - it's also expensive! It has a strong citrus smell. Does anyone know of a MOO alternative that works just as well? (Oh, and yes she does have a scratching pole - she just prefers the carpet). Thanks in advance!"
Lynette Henderson answered
You could make a spray with water, some Isocol (rubbing alcohol) and depending on size of your bottle maybe six drops of any essential citrus oil. Cats hate citrus smells. You can use it anywhere you don't want the cat to be.
Shirley Hay
Our cat would get up on the bench top and was also quite mischievous in other ways and well as very determined. We diluted white vinegar in water about 50/50 and this worked wonders. It got to a point that all I had to do was pick it up and she knew what that meant.
Gwen Waters answered
We had a similar problem with the cat scratching our furniture. Besides closing off certain rooms to her, providing a scratching post, and spraying furniture with a supposed deterrent (which didn't work our last alternative was to ban her from inside the house. As luck had it I had to buy some new outside door mats and went for a cheap plastic backed low profile straw mat (50x60cms). Lo and behold she decided this was just the thing so I purchased some more to put just inside the house next to the doors to outside. I have not had a problem with her scratching furniture since and she is happy as the ban is lifted and she is now allowed back inside. She also loves sleeping on these mats too, especially the ones near sliding glass doors where the sun warms her.
Julie Colbert answered
Use ammonia diluted with water in a spray bottle and use the same as the expensive spray. You only have to use enough ammonia mixed with the water to make it smell strong and the cat will hate it.
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11. This Week's Question
Gwen writes
" My question where does one start to become a cheapskate as it all seems very overwhelming to me? But being divorced and with no job I really need as much help as I can get please."
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If you have a suggestion or advice for Gwen 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.
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