How The Cheapskates Club Began
Celebrating 25 years of Cheapskating together — 2001–2026
The Cheapskates Club began with a very simple idea: to put together a little newsletter filled with hints, tips, recipes and practical ways to save money, time and energy.
When Disaster Struck and unemployment turned our family budget upside down, our income changed drastically—but, from the outside at least, our lifestyle did not appear to change very much at all.
That had the other mums at playgroup asking questions.
“Can I have the recipe for those muesli bars?”
“Are you sure those are tomatoes you’re growing?”
“How come your water bill is so low? Don’t you wash?”
The answers were yes, yes, and of course we washed—we simply didn’t waste water.
Every week there seemed to be more questions about how we were managing during unemployment. Most of my time at playgroup was spent explaining what we were doing, why we were doing it and how the other mums could try the same things at home.
Then one afternoon, while the boys were having their naps, I was feeding the baby and watching television.
I was watching Donahue. That is how long ago this was!
He was interviewing a woman who was raising her family on one low income. As I watched, I kept thinking:
“I do that.”
“We do that.”
“There’s an easier way to do that.”
At the end of the interview, she mentioned that she produced a monthly newsletter to share her ideas with other frugal-minded families.
And I thought, “I could do that.”
As it turned out, I couldn’t do that—not then, anyway.
Back in 1995, producing a newsletter meant typing it, printing it, folding it, putting it into envelopes and posting it. I didn’t have the time, and I certainly didn’t have the money to set it up.
So I put the idea aside.
But it never really went away. It sat quietly in the back of my mind, simmering.
A few years later, I was still talking about my newsletter idea when the phone rang one day. It was my cousin Le.
“Hey, Cath, do you still want to do that newsletter thing you were talking about?”
My answer was a resounding yes.
“Well, I have a way you can do it. Come over and I’ll show you.”
Before I picked the boys up from school, I called in to see her. Le showed me how I could share my newsletter without having to type, print, fold and post every copy.
She showed me a website.
You need to understand that at the time, I had only the vaguest idea of what a website was. I didn’t know how to use email, and the internet was far too expensive for us, so we didn’t have it at home.
When she suggested creating a website, I shook my head. I didn’t know how to build a website or even how to use one.
So she showed me.
She sat beside me and said:
“Type this.”
“Click here.”
“Now hit save.”
Within a few minutes, I had created my very first webpage.
Over the next couple of hours, Le helped me build the very first Cheapskates Club website—and I was sold.
I picked up the children from school and rang Wayne.
“Hi, honey. I’ve just bought a website.”
Wayne, the love of my life and the rock of my world, simply said, “That’s nice.”
And just like that, the very first Cheapskates Club website was born.
It was simple, and it came with a very steep learning curve.
I had to learn how to create and build webpages. I had to learn how to put together an online newsletter and understand email marketing. I learned about domain names, URLs and keywords. I learned how to use ecommerce—which is so much easier now—and I had to work out how to find subscribers so I could keep my “little budget newsletter” going.
That was 25 years ago.
We have come a very long way since then.
Over those 25 years, we have had three different versions of the Cheapskates Club website.
Our membership began with one member and continues to grow.
Opportunities have come my way that I never could have imagined when I sat down to create that first webpage.
I have published three books.
I have been a regular guest on A Current Affair and ABC Radio.
I have written a column for Woman’s Day magazine.
I have been honoured with business award nominations and have been fortunate enough to win awards too.
I have had the pleasure of hosting workshops around Australia.
I built a YouTube channel, which has been another learning adventure—and one that continues to this day.
Most importantly, I have travelled, met and become friends with some truly wonderful Cheapskaters.
They have shared their ideas, encouraged me, inspired me and motivated me to keep going. Twenty-five years is a long time, and some of the people I met through the Club have become lifelong friends. We speak almost every day and get together whenever we can.
I have had the privilege of sharing some extraordinary moments with Cheapskaters.
I have celebrated with members as they cleared their first debt, harvested their first crop, made their first batch of taco seasoning or enjoyed their first debt-free Christmas.
I have celebrated new babies and new beginnings.
I have also mourned the loss of beloved Cheapskates Club members who became an important part of our community.
Through every stage, the heart of The Cheapskates Club has remained the same.
It is a community built on practical ideas, generosity and encouragement.
It exists because of you—the members who support, encourage, inspire, create and share, day after day.
This 25th anniversary is not only a celebration of The Cheapskates Club.
It is a celebration of you, the Cheapskates Club members who have made the Club possible.
Thank you for believing in this little idea.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
Thank you for encouraging one another.
Thank you for helping The Cheapskates Club grow from one simple webpage into the community it is today.
Here’s to another 25 years of living life the Cheapskates way: Debt free, cashed up and laughing.
When Disaster Struck and unemployment turned our family budget upside down, our income changed drastically—but, from the outside at least, our lifestyle did not appear to change very much at all.
That had the other mums at playgroup asking questions.
“Can I have the recipe for those muesli bars?”
“Are you sure those are tomatoes you’re growing?”
“How come your water bill is so low? Don’t you wash?”
The answers were yes, yes, and of course we washed—we simply didn’t waste water.
Every week there seemed to be more questions about how we were managing during unemployment. Most of my time at playgroup was spent explaining what we were doing, why we were doing it and how the other mums could try the same things at home.
Then one afternoon, while the boys were having their naps, I was feeding the baby and watching television.
I was watching Donahue. That is how long ago this was!
He was interviewing a woman who was raising her family on one low income. As I watched, I kept thinking:
“I do that.”
“We do that.”
“There’s an easier way to do that.”
At the end of the interview, she mentioned that she produced a monthly newsletter to share her ideas with other frugal-minded families.
And I thought, “I could do that.”
As it turned out, I couldn’t do that—not then, anyway.
Back in 1995, producing a newsletter meant typing it, printing it, folding it, putting it into envelopes and posting it. I didn’t have the time, and I certainly didn’t have the money to set it up.
So I put the idea aside.
But it never really went away. It sat quietly in the back of my mind, simmering.
A few years later, I was still talking about my newsletter idea when the phone rang one day. It was my cousin Le.
“Hey, Cath, do you still want to do that newsletter thing you were talking about?”
My answer was a resounding yes.
“Well, I have a way you can do it. Come over and I’ll show you.”
Before I picked the boys up from school, I called in to see her. Le showed me how I could share my newsletter without having to type, print, fold and post every copy.
She showed me a website.
You need to understand that at the time, I had only the vaguest idea of what a website was. I didn’t know how to use email, and the internet was far too expensive for us, so we didn’t have it at home.
When she suggested creating a website, I shook my head. I didn’t know how to build a website or even how to use one.
So she showed me.
She sat beside me and said:
“Type this.”
“Click here.”
“Now hit save.”
Within a few minutes, I had created my very first webpage.
Over the next couple of hours, Le helped me build the very first Cheapskates Club website—and I was sold.
I picked up the children from school and rang Wayne.
“Hi, honey. I’ve just bought a website.”
Wayne, the love of my life and the rock of my world, simply said, “That’s nice.”
And just like that, the very first Cheapskates Club website was born.
It was simple, and it came with a very steep learning curve.
I had to learn how to create and build webpages. I had to learn how to put together an online newsletter and understand email marketing. I learned about domain names, URLs and keywords. I learned how to use ecommerce—which is so much easier now—and I had to work out how to find subscribers so I could keep my “little budget newsletter” going.
That was 25 years ago.
We have come a very long way since then.
Over those 25 years, we have had three different versions of the Cheapskates Club website.
Our membership began with one member and continues to grow.
Opportunities have come my way that I never could have imagined when I sat down to create that first webpage.
I have published three books.
I have been a regular guest on A Current Affair and ABC Radio.
I have written a column for Woman’s Day magazine.
I have been honoured with business award nominations and have been fortunate enough to win awards too.
I have had the pleasure of hosting workshops around Australia.
I built a YouTube channel, which has been another learning adventure—and one that continues to this day.
Most importantly, I have travelled, met and become friends with some truly wonderful Cheapskaters.
They have shared their ideas, encouraged me, inspired me and motivated me to keep going. Twenty-five years is a long time, and some of the people I met through the Club have become lifelong friends. We speak almost every day and get together whenever we can.
I have had the privilege of sharing some extraordinary moments with Cheapskaters.
I have celebrated with members as they cleared their first debt, harvested their first crop, made their first batch of taco seasoning or enjoyed their first debt-free Christmas.
I have celebrated new babies and new beginnings.
I have also mourned the loss of beloved Cheapskates Club members who became an important part of our community.
Through every stage, the heart of The Cheapskates Club has remained the same.
It is a community built on practical ideas, generosity and encouragement.
It exists because of you—the members who support, encourage, inspire, create and share, day after day.
This 25th anniversary is not only a celebration of The Cheapskates Club.
It is a celebration of you, the Cheapskates Club members who have made the Club possible.
Thank you for believing in this little idea.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
Thank you for encouraging one another.
Thank you for helping The Cheapskates Club grow from one simple webpage into the community it is today.
Here’s to another 25 years of living life the Cheapskates way: Debt free, cashed up and laughing.