Your Cheapskates Club Newsletter: 41:14 Bright ideas to save you money
1. Cath's Corner
2. In the Tip Store - Online Vintage Women's Weeklys, Recycled Lazy Susan Saves Space, Organizing with Wheelie Bins
3. Submit Your Tip - Enter your favourite tip for a chance to win
4. Living Green in 2014 - Keeping Chickens
5. On the Menu with Anne - Singapore Noodles
6. The $300 a Month Food Challenge with Wendy - Preparing for the Season of Giving
7. Cheapskates Buzz - Cheapskaters are talking in the Forum and on Cath's blog
8. Member's Featured Blog - Coffee and Lunch = Prepaid Holiday
9. Last Week's Question - How can I find a spare part?
10. This Week's Question - Junk mail is banned, where can I find the specials online?
11. Join the Cheapskates Club
12. Gift Memberships
13. Frequently Asked Questions
14. Contact Details
1. Cath's Corner
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
Online Vintage Women's Weeklys
As Cheapskaters you will appreciate some old fashioned recipes and tips and a great place to find them is in vintage magazines. The National Library of Australia has vintage Australia Women's Weekly magazines scanned so you can enjoy reading them online. You can also open the save the pdf to read offline. I am having such a good time looking back at the articles, fashions and advertisements too. Find them here at http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/title/112
Contributed by Sharon Benjamin
Website: http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/title/112
Recycled Lazy Susan Saves Space
Do not throw away the lazy susan from your old microwave oven. I have collected them from various places such as op shops, kerbside collections etc. I have them in my pantry, craft room, kids' playroom and Hubby's workshop. They keep the clutter under control. I have them in the pantry for spreads, sauces, herbs and spices, in the playroom for Lego pieces nicely separated into recycled yoghurt tubs, so easy to find those elusive pieces! In the, craft room I have coloured beads in yoghurt tubs, coloured pencils, paints etc. and for Hubby they keep those corners organized with an easy swing around to find jars of screws, nails etc. They work just as well out of the microwave as they do in it! Saves $30 each from Howard's Storage if you recycle.
Contributed by Nanette Menzies
Organizing with Wheelie Bins
Approximate $ Savings: $500+ per year
I have a walk in pantry and have purchased wheelie bins to store pasta, rice, flour, sugar, beans/lentils. Many local Asian supermarkets have these items plus many other great spices, herbs etc. in brown paper bags for bulk buying. Wheelie bins can store one item such as 25kg of rice (around $25) or several items can go into one wheelie bin with an inventory stuck to the front(herbs and spices for example) still in their brown bags. The wheelie bin keeps them fresh. I decant them into small containers for everyday use. I make my own bread so buying in bulk is a fantastic saving. If your pantry will allow wheelie bins to be used, they are a wonderful way of saving money. For a family of three adults, I only need to purchase rice, flour and sugar around every 9 months. Bulk flour is only around $30 for 30 kilos, as an example from wonderful Asian supermarkets.
Contributed by Janet Robers
There are more than 11,000 great tips in the Tip Store
3. 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
4. Living Green in 2014
Keeping Chickens
As a child I grew up with chickens roaming the backyard and fresh eggs every day. Then, like many very useful skills, keeping hens went out of favour. Just a few years ago, it seemed a little bizarre that someone would keep chickens in their backyard. Thank goodness these days, no one bats an eye at this inexpensive and rewarding way to feed the family, deal with kitchen waste and fertilise the garden.
There are a few reasons why people raise chickens:
- Obviously, for the fresh eggs
- Natural removal of weeds and bugs
- To save money
- It’s pretty easy, once you get started
Of course, always check local by-laws about raising chickens in your yard and ensure you’re in compliance before you start. Where I live you can have up to six hens, no roosters. You can purchase chickens from a variety of suppliers. You can actually hatch eggs or raise chicks, but they are more work than a grown chicken. You can even rent chickens to try them out, just in case you're not suited to poultry keeping.
Keep your climate in mind, the egg size you want and whether or not the chicken will be raised strictly for eggs.
One chicken will lay about 4-6 eggs per week, but they generally lay less in colder months, so keep this in mind when planning their space.
To raise chickens, you can have them running free, but a coop provides protection from the elements and predators, so make a plan to build one. A coop should provide about 1 square metre per hen and for the outside area; each hen should have about 1.5 square metres of space. In a coop they can peck each other without enough space, so never try to cram them in.
As you build, keep seasonal temperatures in mind. Make sure air can get through in summer and keep it from going through in winter. You can even use a tarp to keep air from blowing through and remove it, as needed. Use a slanted roof to let rain roll off, if you live in a rainy area.
Inside the coop, use pine shavings for the flooring. This makes it comfortable for the chickens and easy for clean up as you scoop out and replace the shavings. Provide plenty of roosting space. They will also need nesting space. Wooden boxes work well for this.
You can feed chicken store-bought feed pellets. They also love vegetables scraps, bread and bugs. Give them fresh water regularly, keep their area clean and you’ll have happy chickens. Check on them daily and collect their eggs each day as well. Eggs can go bad quickly in warm weather and in cold weather they can freeze, expand and crack.
If you have young children, always supervise them with the chickens. Chickens will peck to defend themselves and although it won’t take a child too long to learn this, you need to be there to ensure proper handling of the chickens. In addition, live poultry can carry salmonella. Everyone should wash their hands thoroughly and immediately after handling the chickens or being in your chicken’s area.
Overall, having chickens can be a very rewarding experience and many people come to see chickens as part of their family. It is a long term commitment because chickens can live for 12 years or more. Just care for them, protect them and they will serve you well.
5. On the Menu with Anne
Singapore Noodles
This isn't an authentic recipe by any means, it is what my interpretation of a classic Singapore noodle dish. It works for my family and my budget because it uses lots of little amounts of meat, vegetables and sauce. It is very flexible. No meat? No problem, add more veggies. Not a great variety of vegetables? No problem, just cut what you have into smaller pieces or finer slices to stretch it. No bottled sauce? Great! I don't use them at all. Instead I choose one of the recipes from the Recipe File to flavour our noodles.
Singapore Noodles
Ingredients:
1 pkt Singapore Noodles (I use the Aldi noodles)
1 onion, diced
1 carrot, thinly shredded
2 sticks celery, finely sliced
1 capsicum, finely sliced
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 cup cooked chicken/beef/lamb/pork cut into small cubes
Sauce:
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1/3 cup tomato sauce
1 tablespoon honey
2 tablespoons sherry or rice wine vinegar
½ teaspoon five-spice powder
1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
1 clove garlic, crushed
Method:
Prepare the noodles according to the directions on the packet. While the noodles are soaking, heat the oil in a wok or fry pan. Sauté the vegetables until the onion is clear. Add the cooked chicken and cook until heated. Mix the ingredients for the sauce together. Add to the wok and stir through the vegetables and chicken. Drain the noodles and add to the wok. Toss through the vegetables until combined. Serve immediately.
This week we will be eating:
Friday: Moussaka
Saturday: Hamburgers
Sunday: Roast beef, baked vegetables, peas, carrots, gravy
Monday: Rissoles, sweet potato mash, beans, corn, onion gravy
Tuesday: Grilled sausages, salad
Wednesday: Honey mustard chicken, steamed rice
Thursday: Meatloaf, salad
In the fruit bowl: oranges, kiwi fruit, and bananas
In the cake tin: Raspberry muffins, fruit cake
There are over 1,400 other great money saving meal ideas in the Recipe File
6. The $300 a Month Food Challenge with Wendy
Hello Cheapskaters. It's just over eleven weeks to Christmas YAY!!! I love Christmas as it's the time of the year we celebrate the birth of Jesus - the greatest gift ever given. I love to give to others especially those in need.
As you start to think about Christmas presents and food for your own celebrations, please take the time to plan how you'll help others. Here are some ideas that won't blow out your grocery budget -
* Clean out your pantry and donate excess tinned and dried foods to charities, churches and schools that are collecting.
* Each time you do your grocery shop add a couple of tins of spaghetti, baked beans, fruit and vegetables. You could do this every time you are tempted buy a bottle of soft drink or a packet of chips as a part of your usual shop.
* Next time you feel like takeaway, put the money towards buying food for charity.
* Start looking for specials on boxed cereal, porridge, tinned hams and toiletries to donate.
With a little bit of planning ahead of time you'll be able to bless many in need.
Who's up for the challenge to start now?
Have you already put items aside for charity?
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
My Family's Lifestyle Change for 2014
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2300-My-family-s-lifestyle-change-for-2014
Share Your Grocery Specials and Super Bargains Here
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?22-Share-your-grocery-specials-and-super-bargains-here
The 2014 Food Challenge Begins
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2332-The-2014-Food-Challenge-Begins
Most popular blog posts this week
Stress Free Cooking
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2011/09/stress-free-cooking.html
Knit a Bookmark
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2011/08/knit-bookmark.html
You've got it Margaret, by George, You've got it!
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2011/07/youve-got-it-margaret-by-george-youve.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 annaliesebishop.
Coffee and Lunch = Prepaid Holiday
I'm trying to save for my awesome holiday next year. It will be three magical and memorable weeks in Malaysia and Singapore, my two favourite countries.
I'm not so good with the saving for airfares and hotels in a bank account, and I'd much rather pre-pay everything I can. Then I can concentrate on saving for my spending money and food - which I am good at saving for!
Luckily, I've managed to take advantage of some serious airfare specials with Air Asia - getting up at 3am Monday paid off when I was able to purchase the last internal airfare I needed for just $11 AUD, instead of the full price of nearly $70 AUD!
Also, I'll be staying in many cities that have a Tune Hotel, so I've prepaid all my accommodation already too. I'll be pre-purchasing my tours, local transport and activities only also, as doing so means big savings. AND...I've already joined Groupon for Singapore and Malaysia for even more savings on things like nice-ish restaurants and theme parks, etc.
My sales commission from work has so far paid for 5 internal flights, hotels in six cities and a couple of tours. This way the money isn't coming out of my fortnightly pay and I feel like there's a reward for all my hard work as I've consistently increased my sales by 50% each month in the three months since I started work!
I was also spending up to $4 a day on coffees while working. As of last Thursday, I picked up my new coffee machine off lay buy also paid for with sales commission) and am now only spending about 80c for an espresso coffee. The $3.20 saved per day is going into an emergency fund.
And...I'm also taking lunch to work each day instead of spending $5-8 a day. For around $3.20 per day I get a ham, cheese and salad wrap, a yogurt, a drink, a bag of fruit & nuts and some crackers. When my new workplace opens in a few weeks I will go home for lunch as it is walking distance from my house!
So, I get espresso without waiting in line, plus lunch and snacks for less than the cost of one bought coffee. And the knowledge that I know exactly what is in my food, how it's made and that it won't rark up my multiple intolerances and allergies.
Login to read more Cheapskates Club member blogs
9. Last Week's Question
Last week's question was from Keith who wrote "I have a Black and Decker 'food centre' (processor) which needs a part. Model No is FP 21W. The machine is at least 20 years old but worked perfectly until recently when a plastic component disintegrated. B and D have long gone and I can find no info about spare parts suppliers. I'd be very grateful for any information on how to find the part I need."
Melody Francia answered
Keith, Gumtree have a column for wanted items or services in the "Offer Type" section, in which you could put an Ad in and hopefully get a response. Otherwise I recommend calling around your local Charity shops to ask if they have a Black and Decker processor.
Prudence Holgate answered
It may be possible to source an identical appliance, to cannibalise for parts, by using the "search" capabilities of eBay and getting alerted by e-mail every time a suitable listing is made. Another good source is to place a "wanted to buy" in the local Facebook "buy swap sell" for your area, or Gum Tree.
Julie Buxton answered
Several years ago the glass lid of my crockpot was broken by a careless action of a visitor. My son did a web search and bought me another crockpot although by the time it arrived I'd found a lid at an op-shop. http://www.ereplacementparts.com/black-and-decker-food-processor-parts-c-4167_124456.html is a good place to check - Keith may be lucky!
Website:
http://www.ereplacementparts.com/black-and-decker-food-processor-parts-c-4167_124456.html
Liz Randall answered
Keith, I don't know where you live, but there is an amazing company on the south-western side of Brisbane that carries parts for just about every electrical appliance known to man, including very old ones.
Mr Sparky
130 Oxley Station Rd,
Oxley, 4075.
Ph.: (07)3379 5332.
I'm sure if they have your part, they'd be able to post it to you.
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
Claire writes
"Hubby and I live in an over-50's lifestyle village and junk mail is banned from our letter boxes, so do you know of any websites where I can download specials vouchers or coupons for our food shopping?"
Do you have the answer?
If you have a suggestion or idea for Claire 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.
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Read our privacy policy
How Did You Get on Our List?
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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
2. In the Tip Store - Online Vintage Women's Weeklys, Recycled Lazy Susan Saves Space, Organizing with Wheelie Bins
3. Submit Your Tip - Enter your favourite tip for a chance to win
4. Living Green in 2014 - Keeping Chickens
5. On the Menu with Anne - Singapore Noodles
6. The $300 a Month Food Challenge with Wendy - Preparing for the Season of Giving
7. Cheapskates Buzz - Cheapskaters are talking in the Forum and on Cath's blog
8. Member's Featured Blog - Coffee and Lunch = Prepaid Holiday
9. Last Week's Question - How can I find a spare part?
10. This Week's Question - Junk mail is banned, where can I find the specials online?
11. Join the Cheapskates Club
12. Gift Memberships
13. Frequently Asked Questions
14. Contact Details
1. Cath's Corner
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
Online Vintage Women's Weeklys
As Cheapskaters you will appreciate some old fashioned recipes and tips and a great place to find them is in vintage magazines. The National Library of Australia has vintage Australia Women's Weekly magazines scanned so you can enjoy reading them online. You can also open the save the pdf to read offline. I am having such a good time looking back at the articles, fashions and advertisements too. Find them here at http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/title/112
Contributed by Sharon Benjamin
Website: http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/title/112
Recycled Lazy Susan Saves Space
Do not throw away the lazy susan from your old microwave oven. I have collected them from various places such as op shops, kerbside collections etc. I have them in my pantry, craft room, kids' playroom and Hubby's workshop. They keep the clutter under control. I have them in the pantry for spreads, sauces, herbs and spices, in the playroom for Lego pieces nicely separated into recycled yoghurt tubs, so easy to find those elusive pieces! In the, craft room I have coloured beads in yoghurt tubs, coloured pencils, paints etc. and for Hubby they keep those corners organized with an easy swing around to find jars of screws, nails etc. They work just as well out of the microwave as they do in it! Saves $30 each from Howard's Storage if you recycle.
Contributed by Nanette Menzies
Organizing with Wheelie Bins
Approximate $ Savings: $500+ per year
I have a walk in pantry and have purchased wheelie bins to store pasta, rice, flour, sugar, beans/lentils. Many local Asian supermarkets have these items plus many other great spices, herbs etc. in brown paper bags for bulk buying. Wheelie bins can store one item such as 25kg of rice (around $25) or several items can go into one wheelie bin with an inventory stuck to the front(herbs and spices for example) still in their brown bags. The wheelie bin keeps them fresh. I decant them into small containers for everyday use. I make my own bread so buying in bulk is a fantastic saving. If your pantry will allow wheelie bins to be used, they are a wonderful way of saving money. For a family of three adults, I only need to purchase rice, flour and sugar around every 9 months. Bulk flour is only around $30 for 30 kilos, as an example from wonderful Asian supermarkets.
Contributed by Janet Robers
There are more than 11,000 great tips in the Tip Store
3. 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
4. Living Green in 2014
Keeping Chickens
As a child I grew up with chickens roaming the backyard and fresh eggs every day. Then, like many very useful skills, keeping hens went out of favour. Just a few years ago, it seemed a little bizarre that someone would keep chickens in their backyard. Thank goodness these days, no one bats an eye at this inexpensive and rewarding way to feed the family, deal with kitchen waste and fertilise the garden.
There are a few reasons why people raise chickens:
- Obviously, for the fresh eggs
- Natural removal of weeds and bugs
- To save money
- It’s pretty easy, once you get started
Of course, always check local by-laws about raising chickens in your yard and ensure you’re in compliance before you start. Where I live you can have up to six hens, no roosters. You can purchase chickens from a variety of suppliers. You can actually hatch eggs or raise chicks, but they are more work than a grown chicken. You can even rent chickens to try them out, just in case you're not suited to poultry keeping.
Keep your climate in mind, the egg size you want and whether or not the chicken will be raised strictly for eggs.
One chicken will lay about 4-6 eggs per week, but they generally lay less in colder months, so keep this in mind when planning their space.
To raise chickens, you can have them running free, but a coop provides protection from the elements and predators, so make a plan to build one. A coop should provide about 1 square metre per hen and for the outside area; each hen should have about 1.5 square metres of space. In a coop they can peck each other without enough space, so never try to cram them in.
As you build, keep seasonal temperatures in mind. Make sure air can get through in summer and keep it from going through in winter. You can even use a tarp to keep air from blowing through and remove it, as needed. Use a slanted roof to let rain roll off, if you live in a rainy area.
Inside the coop, use pine shavings for the flooring. This makes it comfortable for the chickens and easy for clean up as you scoop out and replace the shavings. Provide plenty of roosting space. They will also need nesting space. Wooden boxes work well for this.
You can feed chicken store-bought feed pellets. They also love vegetables scraps, bread and bugs. Give them fresh water regularly, keep their area clean and you’ll have happy chickens. Check on them daily and collect their eggs each day as well. Eggs can go bad quickly in warm weather and in cold weather they can freeze, expand and crack.
If you have young children, always supervise them with the chickens. Chickens will peck to defend themselves and although it won’t take a child too long to learn this, you need to be there to ensure proper handling of the chickens. In addition, live poultry can carry salmonella. Everyone should wash their hands thoroughly and immediately after handling the chickens or being in your chicken’s area.
Overall, having chickens can be a very rewarding experience and many people come to see chickens as part of their family. It is a long term commitment because chickens can live for 12 years or more. Just care for them, protect them and they will serve you well.
5. On the Menu with Anne
Singapore Noodles
This isn't an authentic recipe by any means, it is what my interpretation of a classic Singapore noodle dish. It works for my family and my budget because it uses lots of little amounts of meat, vegetables and sauce. It is very flexible. No meat? No problem, add more veggies. Not a great variety of vegetables? No problem, just cut what you have into smaller pieces or finer slices to stretch it. No bottled sauce? Great! I don't use them at all. Instead I choose one of the recipes from the Recipe File to flavour our noodles.
Singapore Noodles
Ingredients:
1 pkt Singapore Noodles (I use the Aldi noodles)
1 onion, diced
1 carrot, thinly shredded
2 sticks celery, finely sliced
1 capsicum, finely sliced
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 cup cooked chicken/beef/lamb/pork cut into small cubes
Sauce:
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1/3 cup tomato sauce
1 tablespoon honey
2 tablespoons sherry or rice wine vinegar
½ teaspoon five-spice powder
1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
1 clove garlic, crushed
Method:
Prepare the noodles according to the directions on the packet. While the noodles are soaking, heat the oil in a wok or fry pan. Sauté the vegetables until the onion is clear. Add the cooked chicken and cook until heated. Mix the ingredients for the sauce together. Add to the wok and stir through the vegetables and chicken. Drain the noodles and add to the wok. Toss through the vegetables until combined. Serve immediately.
This week we will be eating:
Friday: Moussaka
Saturday: Hamburgers
Sunday: Roast beef, baked vegetables, peas, carrots, gravy
Monday: Rissoles, sweet potato mash, beans, corn, onion gravy
Tuesday: Grilled sausages, salad
Wednesday: Honey mustard chicken, steamed rice
Thursday: Meatloaf, salad
In the fruit bowl: oranges, kiwi fruit, and bananas
In the cake tin: Raspberry muffins, fruit cake
There are over 1,400 other great money saving meal ideas in the Recipe File
6. The $300 a Month Food Challenge with Wendy
Hello Cheapskaters. It's just over eleven weeks to Christmas YAY!!! I love Christmas as it's the time of the year we celebrate the birth of Jesus - the greatest gift ever given. I love to give to others especially those in need.
As you start to think about Christmas presents and food for your own celebrations, please take the time to plan how you'll help others. Here are some ideas that won't blow out your grocery budget -
* Clean out your pantry and donate excess tinned and dried foods to charities, churches and schools that are collecting.
* Each time you do your grocery shop add a couple of tins of spaghetti, baked beans, fruit and vegetables. You could do this every time you are tempted buy a bottle of soft drink or a packet of chips as a part of your usual shop.
* Next time you feel like takeaway, put the money towards buying food for charity.
* Start looking for specials on boxed cereal, porridge, tinned hams and toiletries to donate.
With a little bit of planning ahead of time you'll be able to bless many in need.
Who's up for the challenge to start now?
Have you already put items aside for charity?
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
My Family's Lifestyle Change for 2014
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2300-My-family-s-lifestyle-change-for-2014
Share Your Grocery Specials and Super Bargains Here
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?22-Share-your-grocery-specials-and-super-bargains-here
The 2014 Food Challenge Begins
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2332-The-2014-Food-Challenge-Begins
Most popular blog posts this week
Stress Free Cooking
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2011/09/stress-free-cooking.html
Knit a Bookmark
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2011/08/knit-bookmark.html
You've got it Margaret, by George, You've got it!
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2011/07/youve-got-it-margaret-by-george-youve.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 annaliesebishop.
Coffee and Lunch = Prepaid Holiday
I'm trying to save for my awesome holiday next year. It will be three magical and memorable weeks in Malaysia and Singapore, my two favourite countries.
I'm not so good with the saving for airfares and hotels in a bank account, and I'd much rather pre-pay everything I can. Then I can concentrate on saving for my spending money and food - which I am good at saving for!
Luckily, I've managed to take advantage of some serious airfare specials with Air Asia - getting up at 3am Monday paid off when I was able to purchase the last internal airfare I needed for just $11 AUD, instead of the full price of nearly $70 AUD!
Also, I'll be staying in many cities that have a Tune Hotel, so I've prepaid all my accommodation already too. I'll be pre-purchasing my tours, local transport and activities only also, as doing so means big savings. AND...I've already joined Groupon for Singapore and Malaysia for even more savings on things like nice-ish restaurants and theme parks, etc.
My sales commission from work has so far paid for 5 internal flights, hotels in six cities and a couple of tours. This way the money isn't coming out of my fortnightly pay and I feel like there's a reward for all my hard work as I've consistently increased my sales by 50% each month in the three months since I started work!
I was also spending up to $4 a day on coffees while working. As of last Thursday, I picked up my new coffee machine off lay buy also paid for with sales commission) and am now only spending about 80c for an espresso coffee. The $3.20 saved per day is going into an emergency fund.
And...I'm also taking lunch to work each day instead of spending $5-8 a day. For around $3.20 per day I get a ham, cheese and salad wrap, a yogurt, a drink, a bag of fruit & nuts and some crackers. When my new workplace opens in a few weeks I will go home for lunch as it is walking distance from my house!
So, I get espresso without waiting in line, plus lunch and snacks for less than the cost of one bought coffee. And the knowledge that I know exactly what is in my food, how it's made and that it won't rark up my multiple intolerances and allergies.
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9. Last Week's Question
Last week's question was from Keith who wrote "I have a Black and Decker 'food centre' (processor) which needs a part. Model No is FP 21W. The machine is at least 20 years old but worked perfectly until recently when a plastic component disintegrated. B and D have long gone and I can find no info about spare parts suppliers. I'd be very grateful for any information on how to find the part I need."
Melody Francia answered
Keith, Gumtree have a column for wanted items or services in the "Offer Type" section, in which you could put an Ad in and hopefully get a response. Otherwise I recommend calling around your local Charity shops to ask if they have a Black and Decker processor.
Prudence Holgate answered
It may be possible to source an identical appliance, to cannibalise for parts, by using the "search" capabilities of eBay and getting alerted by e-mail every time a suitable listing is made. Another good source is to place a "wanted to buy" in the local Facebook "buy swap sell" for your area, or Gum Tree.
Julie Buxton answered
Several years ago the glass lid of my crockpot was broken by a careless action of a visitor. My son did a web search and bought me another crockpot although by the time it arrived I'd found a lid at an op-shop. http://www.ereplacementparts.com/black-and-decker-food-processor-parts-c-4167_124456.html is a good place to check - Keith may be lucky!
Website:
http://www.ereplacementparts.com/black-and-decker-food-processor-parts-c-4167_124456.html
Liz Randall answered
Keith, I don't know where you live, but there is an amazing company on the south-western side of Brisbane that carries parts for just about every electrical appliance known to man, including very old ones.
Mr Sparky
130 Oxley Station Rd,
Oxley, 4075.
Ph.: (07)3379 5332.
I'm sure if they have your part, they'd be able to post it to you.
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10. This Week's Question
Claire writes
"Hubby and I live in an over-50's lifestyle village and junk mail is banned from our letter boxes, so do you know of any websites where I can download specials vouchers or coupons for our food shopping?"
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