Your Cheapskates Club Newsletter: 50:14 Bright ideas to save you money
1. Cath's Corner
2. In the Tip Store - Chemical Free Clean, Cost Free Doggy Doo Bags, Everlasting Christmas Tree in a Pot
3. Submit Your Tip - Share your favourite money, time or energy saving idea here
4. Living Green in 2014 - 5 Simple Ways to Keep Your Cool
5. On the Menu with Anne - Royal Puddings
6. The $300 a Month Food Challenge with Wendy - The Final Countdown until Christmas
7. Cheapskates Buzz - Cheapskaters are talking in the Forum and on Cath's blog
8. Member's Featured Blog - Just Checking In!
9. Last Week's Question - Plants to grow in water
10. This Week's Question - Is there a good MOO floor polish I can use?
11. Join the Cheapskates Club
12. Gift Memberships
13. Frequently Asked Questions
14. Contact Details
1. Cath's Corner
It's the week before Christmas and everywhere people are running around, madly swiping cards and banging into ATMs, all in the name of peace and joy. I think they are sadly mistaken if they believe all the rushing, pushing, shoving, spending, queuing, stressing and debt is what Christmas is about.
"Hi Cath, I've just finished the Christmas Countdown and I am laughing. My girlfriends are running around like headless chooks, my sister is getting cranky, even my mother is looking stressed. Our tree is up and all the presents (most of them bought on sale or homemade) are wrapped, labelled and under it. Our ham is in the fridge. The cake is made. The pudding is done and hanging in the laundry. The house is decorated and looks amazing. Our four kids are so excited (8, 6, 4 and 20 months) and love doing their Advent calendar every morning. But the thing I love the most is my husband is smiling. Usually by this time of year he's grumpier than the Grinch. Oh, and we don't owe a cent - it's all paid for. Thanks for taking the time to remind us that we can really "own our Christmas". I can't wait to do it all again next year." Shelly Blake
Shelly's email put a smile on my face that's still there. Cheapskates isn't about being miserly. It isn't about living like a scrooge just to save money. Living the Cheapskates way is about choices. It's about making wise spending choices and not wasting money, time or energy. It's about ditching the things that aren't important to you so you have the money to enjoy the things that are.
Next Thursday is Christmas Day so your newsletter will be a day early - look for it on Wednesday afternoon.
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
Chemical Free Clean
Approximate $ Savings: $20+ a month
After finding out my daughter had allergies to most chemicals we opted to find a solution that kept our home clean without the harsh outcome that our Windex, oven cleaner, bleach and so on would leave on her. So we headed down to Kmart and picked up a $29 hand steam cleaner. This little machine isn't for you carpet, it is for your car or home. It comes with many attachments that we use to successfully clean the oven, sinks, stove, toilets, showers, cupboard doors, microwave, shower glass and even windows! It has pointy attachments, scrubber attachments, squeegee and more. Our house is clean and chemical free, we don't even own one cleaning product so it has saved us hundreds since we bought it :)
Contributed by Heleina Talbot
Cost Free Doggy Doo Bags
Approximate $ Savings: $5 per week
Instead of buying those specialty bags for picking up after your dog when out walking or at home, save all your bread bags. They are just the right size, you can put your hand in and there is plenty of bag left over to tie a knot at the top. With three dogs, I have saved a lot of money as I walk them each day and use three bags per day. Family and friends give me their used bread bags too.
Contributed by Sue Bell
Everlasting Christmas Tree in a Pot
Approximate $ Savings: $50 per annum
Christmas is coming - so an everlasting Christmas tree is the best way to save! Buying a pine tree in a pot 14 years ago, has saved me $50 annually. Rather than buying a cut pine for $50 annually, I bought 1 pine 14 years ago which is put into the garden for the rest of the year. It smells beautiful in the house in December and looks gorgeous with all the decorations :-) Great way to save!
Contributed by Cath Lyons
There are more than 11,000 great tips in the Tip Store
3. Cheapskates Winning tip
This week's winning tip is from Meran Robinson. Meran has won a one year Platinum Cheapskates Club membership for submitting her winning tip.
Cheap Rainy Day Construction Toy
Approximate $ Savings: +$20
Kids unwell or confined due to weather during the holidays and bored with their regular toys? Give them a bag of clothes pegs. Yes - clothes pegs! The ORIGINAL construction toy. Let their imagination run wild, or set them some "peg" challenges - make farm animals, houses, arrange into patterns, sort, peg themselves together, make peg "guns" and try shooting the pegs into a washing basket, play peg "tag" (like regular tag, but peg something to the person who is now "it") the possibilities are only as endless as your/your child's imagination. Best part is, all this fun from a household item you are bound to have already - no extra equipment required! Suits kids aged 3-10 years - just modify the "challenges" to suit!
Congratulations Meran, I hope you enjoy your Cheapskates Club membership.
4. Submit your tip
The Cheapskate's Club website is over 3,000 pages of money saving hints, tips and ideas. Let's get together and make the Cheapskates Club Australia's largest online hint, tip and idea library. Share your favourite money saving, time saving or energy saving hint and be in the running to win a one-year membership to The Cheapskate Club. We publish a Winning Tip each Thursday, so enter your great money, time or energy saving idea now.
Share your favourite hint or tip that saves money, time and energy and be in the running to win a one-year subscription to The Cheapskate Journal.
Remember, you have to be in it to win it!
Submit your tip
5. Living Green in 2014
5 Simple Ways to Keep Your Cool
We've already felt a blast of summer in many parts of Australia, with the bulk (and worst) of the heat to come. Running air-conditioners may keep you cool but only until you get the electricity bill. And the impact on our environment is even worse than on your bank balance.
Here are five simple, low-tech, environmentally friendly and effective ways you can keep your cool this summer without turning on the air-conditioner.
1. Wear clothes in natural fabrics. Linen and cotton are cool and breathe, wicking moisture away from your body and letting it cool down better than synthetics. Don't worry about the wrinkled look, it's part of the charm of natural fabrics.
2. Eat salads and sandwiches and fruit salads instead of large, protein-rich meals when the weather is hot, as these can warm your body up. Oven- or stove-top cooking heats up your house as well so remember the barbecue and put it to use.
3. Avoid alcohol and caffeine in the heat, as these can promote dehydration. Drink more water than usual or consider an electrolyte replacement drink if you’re sweating a lot. Freeze grapes and orange segments and eat them instead of icy poles - better for you and they take longer to thaw.
4. Soak your feet in a tub of cold water, put on a wet bandana, or take a cool shower. Keep a spray bottle of water in the refrigerator and spritz yourself regularly throughout the day. When my children were little I'd fill the bath with cool water and sit them in it to play while I sat on the cool tiles and splashed them.
5. When your home is at its hottest plan outings to air-conditioned buildings such as the library or visit your local swimming pool and cool off with a dip during the hottest part of the day.
6. On the Menu with Anne
Royal Puddings
These little treats have become a Christmas staple in our family, ever since the $50 Christmas Dinner http://www.cheapskates.com.au/docs/cheapskates_christmas_dinner_tip_sh.pdf meal plan first appeared in 2005 so I wasn't surprised when No. 2 Son asked me if I had everything needed to make them and, more importantly (for him anyway), when I was going to make them.
They've been made, some devoured, the rest put in the freezer for Christmas Eve and then afternoon tea on Christmas Day.
Ingredients:
1 pkt Chocolate Royal biscuits
200g block white chocolate
1 pkt Jaffas (or the generic brand)
1 pkt spearmint leaves
Method:
Melt the chocolate and let it cool until almost set. Carefully spoon it over each biscuit, letting it run down the sides to resemble custard. Top with a Jaffa and a spearmint leave on either side. Store in an airtight container in the fridge.
This week we will be eating:
Friday: Chicken & vegetable stir-fry with noodles
Saturday: Hamburgers
Sunday: Roast beef, baked vegetables, steamed cauliflower & gravy
Monday: Meatloaf, mash, carrots, broccoli, corn
Tuesday: Pasta bake and salad (freezer meal, made last week)
Wednesday: Sausages & salad (lettuce, tomato, beetroot, cucumber, pineapple, cheese, egg, coleslaw)
Thursday: Grilled fish, wedges, salad (same as above)
In the fruit bowl: bananas, oranges, kiwi fruit
In the cake tin: Lamingtons, rock cakes, fruit cake, shortbread
There are over 1,400 other great money saving meal ideas in the Recipe File
7. The $300 a Month Food Challenge with Wendy
The final countdown is on until Christmas Day arrives. With just over a week to go you'll notice the supermarket catalogues are full of festive food, drinks and gifts. It all looks so good and can be tempting. Remember to stick to your planned Christmas menu and buy what you need.
It's a great idea to start planning your week leading up to Christmas. Make a plan of what needs to be done each day. Some desserts can be made ahead of time like sticky date puddings. I made some this morning and they will be frozen. Mini pavlovas, biscuit dough and slices can also be made many days before needed.
If you have family and friends coming over for Christmas, give them a call and ask them to bring a plate of food. They need time to organise their food shopping trips too. If you are eating at someone else's home, give them a call and ask what you can bring.
Remember to put a little bit of money aside for post-Christmas sales. Supermarkets like to clear out their boxes of chocolates, pretzels, puddings, hams, lollies and giftware. You are sure to pick up a bargain and it pays to be ready.
This will be my last post before Christmas as I'm working right up to Christmas Eve. Thank you so much for taking the time to read the $300 a month food challenge posts. I appreciate your comments and sharing of ideas and tips.
This thread will stay open until I return in late January. Please feel free to share anything food related.
May you have a glorious Christmas with family and friends as you celebrate the birth of Jesus. The greatest gift ever given.
Wendy xoxo
The $300 a Month Food Challenge
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?24-Take-up-the-challenge-!!!!
The Post that Started it All
http://www.cheapskates.com.au/pages/default.cfm?page_id=44265
8.Cheapskates Buzz
This week's hot forum topics
New to Cheapskates
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2699-New-to-Cheapskates
I'm After a Good Mop
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2690-Im-after-a-good-mop
What Helps You Stay on Track
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2665-what-help-you-stay-on-track
Most popular blog posts this week
5 Ways an Ice Cube Tray Can Save Your Grocery Budget
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2013/08/5-ways-ice-cube-tray-can-save-your_9.html
How I Write My Shopping List
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2013/08/how-i-write-my-shopping-list_31.html
A Mixed Up Kind of Day
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2011/06/mixed-up-kind-of-day.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 Toots.
Just Checking In!
Bit of a crazy week but I guess it's that time of year My daughter is travelling overseas in January with school, I'm a bit panicked but I know it will be a wonderful experience (I have never travelled).
I have been stalking those pesky fruit flies but they appear to be winning I can't understand why they attack my trees, a house down the street has an overgrown garden that nobody looks after and they have a big apple tree with big fruit all over it not a bite in sight!!! I have made the milk bottle traps and have a couple in each tree but no luck.
It has been too hot to do any cooking here, so not a lot of MOOing going on, hoping it will be a bit cooler this weekend so I can do some cooking! Have a great week and happy Cheapskating.
Login to read more Cheapskates Club member blogs
10. Last Week's Question
Last week's question was from E. who wrote
"I am looking for suggestions for propagating plants in water to establish roots. As I do a lot of windowsill gardening I would appreciate the names of some plants which are easy to get going in water. Also to say I had great success with Rosemary cuttings. Thanks!"
Heather Schlusemeyer answered
Basil does really well. Just break off about a 10cm stem and keep it well watered. If in a glass container you can watch the fine little roots start until there is enough to plant. Have fun.
Jenny Gross answered
Iresine Herbstii - Beefsteak Plant: this red leaf plant, like coleus, grows easily in water and I should know because I have black thumbs and have NO problem with getting a small cutting and sticking it in water and voila, roots. Then it is easy to plant into the garden. It is an annual and gives great colour but needs a little protection from the afternoon sun.
Mary Lydamore answered
I have great success with geraniums and pelargoniums, they easily grow roots in water and then I transplant into soil. Succulents are great to grow in water and my kitchen window sill has a variety of succulents that I pick on my daily walks. I also have great success with begonias, lots of lovely colour in the flowers and the foliage.
Dianne Cuppleditch answered
I have had ivy growing in water on my kitchen windowsill for months. It just keeps on growing, even when I forget to top the water up. Another one to try is spider plant and I've propagated day lilies this way too. Hope this helps.
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
Renae writes
We've moved into an older home (1950s) with the original polished floorboards. They are lovely but dull, so they look dirty all the time. I was wondering if anyone had a recipe for a simple homemade floor polish I could use to put a gleam on them without having to strip them right back and re-polish (we don't have the time, money or motivation to do this job right now).
Do you have the answer?
If you have a suggestion or idea for Renae 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 - Chemical Free Clean, Cost Free Doggy Doo Bags, Everlasting Christmas Tree in a Pot
3. Submit Your Tip - Share your favourite money, time or energy saving idea here
4. Living Green in 2014 - 5 Simple Ways to Keep Your Cool
5. On the Menu with Anne - Royal Puddings
6. The $300 a Month Food Challenge with Wendy - The Final Countdown until Christmas
7. Cheapskates Buzz - Cheapskaters are talking in the Forum and on Cath's blog
8. Member's Featured Blog - Just Checking In!
9. Last Week's Question - Plants to grow in water
10. This Week's Question - Is there a good MOO floor polish I can use?
11. Join the Cheapskates Club
12. Gift Memberships
13. Frequently Asked Questions
14. Contact Details
1. Cath's Corner
It's the week before Christmas and everywhere people are running around, madly swiping cards and banging into ATMs, all in the name of peace and joy. I think they are sadly mistaken if they believe all the rushing, pushing, shoving, spending, queuing, stressing and debt is what Christmas is about.
"Hi Cath, I've just finished the Christmas Countdown and I am laughing. My girlfriends are running around like headless chooks, my sister is getting cranky, even my mother is looking stressed. Our tree is up and all the presents (most of them bought on sale or homemade) are wrapped, labelled and under it. Our ham is in the fridge. The cake is made. The pudding is done and hanging in the laundry. The house is decorated and looks amazing. Our four kids are so excited (8, 6, 4 and 20 months) and love doing their Advent calendar every morning. But the thing I love the most is my husband is smiling. Usually by this time of year he's grumpier than the Grinch. Oh, and we don't owe a cent - it's all paid for. Thanks for taking the time to remind us that we can really "own our Christmas". I can't wait to do it all again next year." Shelly Blake
Shelly's email put a smile on my face that's still there. Cheapskates isn't about being miserly. It isn't about living like a scrooge just to save money. Living the Cheapskates way is about choices. It's about making wise spending choices and not wasting money, time or energy. It's about ditching the things that aren't important to you so you have the money to enjoy the things that are.
Next Thursday is Christmas Day so your newsletter will be a day early - look for it on Wednesday afternoon.
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
Chemical Free Clean
Approximate $ Savings: $20+ a month
After finding out my daughter had allergies to most chemicals we opted to find a solution that kept our home clean without the harsh outcome that our Windex, oven cleaner, bleach and so on would leave on her. So we headed down to Kmart and picked up a $29 hand steam cleaner. This little machine isn't for you carpet, it is for your car or home. It comes with many attachments that we use to successfully clean the oven, sinks, stove, toilets, showers, cupboard doors, microwave, shower glass and even windows! It has pointy attachments, scrubber attachments, squeegee and more. Our house is clean and chemical free, we don't even own one cleaning product so it has saved us hundreds since we bought it :)
Contributed by Heleina Talbot
Cost Free Doggy Doo Bags
Approximate $ Savings: $5 per week
Instead of buying those specialty bags for picking up after your dog when out walking or at home, save all your bread bags. They are just the right size, you can put your hand in and there is plenty of bag left over to tie a knot at the top. With three dogs, I have saved a lot of money as I walk them each day and use three bags per day. Family and friends give me their used bread bags too.
Contributed by Sue Bell
Everlasting Christmas Tree in a Pot
Approximate $ Savings: $50 per annum
Christmas is coming - so an everlasting Christmas tree is the best way to save! Buying a pine tree in a pot 14 years ago, has saved me $50 annually. Rather than buying a cut pine for $50 annually, I bought 1 pine 14 years ago which is put into the garden for the rest of the year. It smells beautiful in the house in December and looks gorgeous with all the decorations :-) Great way to save!
Contributed by Cath Lyons
There are more than 11,000 great tips in the Tip Store
3. Cheapskates Winning tip
This week's winning tip is from Meran Robinson. Meran has won a one year Platinum Cheapskates Club membership for submitting her winning tip.
Cheap Rainy Day Construction Toy
Approximate $ Savings: +$20
Kids unwell or confined due to weather during the holidays and bored with their regular toys? Give them a bag of clothes pegs. Yes - clothes pegs! The ORIGINAL construction toy. Let their imagination run wild, or set them some "peg" challenges - make farm animals, houses, arrange into patterns, sort, peg themselves together, make peg "guns" and try shooting the pegs into a washing basket, play peg "tag" (like regular tag, but peg something to the person who is now "it") the possibilities are only as endless as your/your child's imagination. Best part is, all this fun from a household item you are bound to have already - no extra equipment required! Suits kids aged 3-10 years - just modify the "challenges" to suit!
Congratulations Meran, I hope you enjoy your Cheapskates Club membership.
4. Submit your tip
The Cheapskate's Club website is over 3,000 pages of money saving hints, tips and ideas. Let's get together and make the Cheapskates Club Australia's largest online hint, tip and idea library. Share your favourite money saving, time saving or energy saving hint and be in the running to win a one-year membership to The Cheapskate Club. We publish a Winning Tip each Thursday, so enter your great money, time or energy saving idea now.
Share your favourite hint or tip that saves money, time and energy and be in the running to win a one-year subscription to The Cheapskate Journal.
Remember, you have to be in it to win it!
Submit your tip
5. Living Green in 2014
5 Simple Ways to Keep Your Cool
We've already felt a blast of summer in many parts of Australia, with the bulk (and worst) of the heat to come. Running air-conditioners may keep you cool but only until you get the electricity bill. And the impact on our environment is even worse than on your bank balance.
Here are five simple, low-tech, environmentally friendly and effective ways you can keep your cool this summer without turning on the air-conditioner.
1. Wear clothes in natural fabrics. Linen and cotton are cool and breathe, wicking moisture away from your body and letting it cool down better than synthetics. Don't worry about the wrinkled look, it's part of the charm of natural fabrics.
2. Eat salads and sandwiches and fruit salads instead of large, protein-rich meals when the weather is hot, as these can warm your body up. Oven- or stove-top cooking heats up your house as well so remember the barbecue and put it to use.
3. Avoid alcohol and caffeine in the heat, as these can promote dehydration. Drink more water than usual or consider an electrolyte replacement drink if you’re sweating a lot. Freeze grapes and orange segments and eat them instead of icy poles - better for you and they take longer to thaw.
4. Soak your feet in a tub of cold water, put on a wet bandana, or take a cool shower. Keep a spray bottle of water in the refrigerator and spritz yourself regularly throughout the day. When my children were little I'd fill the bath with cool water and sit them in it to play while I sat on the cool tiles and splashed them.
5. When your home is at its hottest plan outings to air-conditioned buildings such as the library or visit your local swimming pool and cool off with a dip during the hottest part of the day.
6. On the Menu with Anne
Royal Puddings
These little treats have become a Christmas staple in our family, ever since the $50 Christmas Dinner http://www.cheapskates.com.au/docs/cheapskates_christmas_dinner_tip_sh.pdf meal plan first appeared in 2005 so I wasn't surprised when No. 2 Son asked me if I had everything needed to make them and, more importantly (for him anyway), when I was going to make them.
They've been made, some devoured, the rest put in the freezer for Christmas Eve and then afternoon tea on Christmas Day.
Ingredients:
1 pkt Chocolate Royal biscuits
200g block white chocolate
1 pkt Jaffas (or the generic brand)
1 pkt spearmint leaves
Method:
Melt the chocolate and let it cool until almost set. Carefully spoon it over each biscuit, letting it run down the sides to resemble custard. Top with a Jaffa and a spearmint leave on either side. Store in an airtight container in the fridge.
This week we will be eating:
Friday: Chicken & vegetable stir-fry with noodles
Saturday: Hamburgers
Sunday: Roast beef, baked vegetables, steamed cauliflower & gravy
Monday: Meatloaf, mash, carrots, broccoli, corn
Tuesday: Pasta bake and salad (freezer meal, made last week)
Wednesday: Sausages & salad (lettuce, tomato, beetroot, cucumber, pineapple, cheese, egg, coleslaw)
Thursday: Grilled fish, wedges, salad (same as above)
In the fruit bowl: bananas, oranges, kiwi fruit
In the cake tin: Lamingtons, rock cakes, fruit cake, shortbread
There are over 1,400 other great money saving meal ideas in the Recipe File
7. The $300 a Month Food Challenge with Wendy
The final countdown is on until Christmas Day arrives. With just over a week to go you'll notice the supermarket catalogues are full of festive food, drinks and gifts. It all looks so good and can be tempting. Remember to stick to your planned Christmas menu and buy what you need.
It's a great idea to start planning your week leading up to Christmas. Make a plan of what needs to be done each day. Some desserts can be made ahead of time like sticky date puddings. I made some this morning and they will be frozen. Mini pavlovas, biscuit dough and slices can also be made many days before needed.
If you have family and friends coming over for Christmas, give them a call and ask them to bring a plate of food. They need time to organise their food shopping trips too. If you are eating at someone else's home, give them a call and ask what you can bring.
Remember to put a little bit of money aside for post-Christmas sales. Supermarkets like to clear out their boxes of chocolates, pretzels, puddings, hams, lollies and giftware. You are sure to pick up a bargain and it pays to be ready.
This will be my last post before Christmas as I'm working right up to Christmas Eve. Thank you so much for taking the time to read the $300 a month food challenge posts. I appreciate your comments and sharing of ideas and tips.
This thread will stay open until I return in late January. Please feel free to share anything food related.
May you have a glorious Christmas with family and friends as you celebrate the birth of Jesus. The greatest gift ever given.
Wendy xoxo
The $300 a Month Food Challenge
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?24-Take-up-the-challenge-!!!!
The Post that Started it All
http://www.cheapskates.com.au/pages/default.cfm?page_id=44265
8.Cheapskates Buzz
This week's hot forum topics
New to Cheapskates
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2699-New-to-Cheapskates
I'm After a Good Mop
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2690-Im-after-a-good-mop
What Helps You Stay on Track
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2665-what-help-you-stay-on-track
Most popular blog posts this week
5 Ways an Ice Cube Tray Can Save Your Grocery Budget
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2013/08/5-ways-ice-cube-tray-can-save-your_9.html
How I Write My Shopping List
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2013/08/how-i-write-my-shopping-list_31.html
A Mixed Up Kind of Day
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2011/06/mixed-up-kind-of-day.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 Toots.
Just Checking In!
Bit of a crazy week but I guess it's that time of year My daughter is travelling overseas in January with school, I'm a bit panicked but I know it will be a wonderful experience (I have never travelled).
I have been stalking those pesky fruit flies but they appear to be winning I can't understand why they attack my trees, a house down the street has an overgrown garden that nobody looks after and they have a big apple tree with big fruit all over it not a bite in sight!!! I have made the milk bottle traps and have a couple in each tree but no luck.
It has been too hot to do any cooking here, so not a lot of MOOing going on, hoping it will be a bit cooler this weekend so I can do some cooking! Have a great week and happy Cheapskating.
Login to read more Cheapskates Club member blogs
10. Last Week's Question
Last week's question was from E. who wrote
"I am looking for suggestions for propagating plants in water to establish roots. As I do a lot of windowsill gardening I would appreciate the names of some plants which are easy to get going in water. Also to say I had great success with Rosemary cuttings. Thanks!"
Heather Schlusemeyer answered
Basil does really well. Just break off about a 10cm stem and keep it well watered. If in a glass container you can watch the fine little roots start until there is enough to plant. Have fun.
Jenny Gross answered
Iresine Herbstii - Beefsteak Plant: this red leaf plant, like coleus, grows easily in water and I should know because I have black thumbs and have NO problem with getting a small cutting and sticking it in water and voila, roots. Then it is easy to plant into the garden. It is an annual and gives great colour but needs a little protection from the afternoon sun.
Mary Lydamore answered
I have great success with geraniums and pelargoniums, they easily grow roots in water and then I transplant into soil. Succulents are great to grow in water and my kitchen window sill has a variety of succulents that I pick on my daily walks. I also have great success with begonias, lots of lovely colour in the flowers and the foliage.
Dianne Cuppleditch answered
I have had ivy growing in water on my kitchen windowsill for months. It just keeps on growing, even when I forget to top the water up. Another one to try is spider plant and I've propagated day lilies this way too. Hope this helps.
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