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Latest Tips & Recipes August 2023

Here you'll find the latest tips and recipes added to the Tip Store and Recipe File during August 2023

​Economical Dishwasher  Powder

​I buy the cheapest dishwasher powder, tip half out into another container, then top up both containers with bicarb., thoroughly shake the containers, then use two teaspoons of the powder with vinegar in the rinse aid compartment, and run the machine on fast cycle ( 90 minutes ) or occasionally the rapid cycle ( 30 minutes), which works just as well, I do give the dishes a quick rinse, piled in the sink using cold water. the powder lasts really well, and saves $$$$$ 
Contributed by Chris Tarbuck

​Portion the Vinegar Rinse and Save Even More

​I save money by buying home brand dishwasher powder, then add a few (4 to 6 teaspoons) of white vinegar to the dishwasher machine. Vinegar cuts the grease and leaves dishes sparkling, and saves buying expensive rinse aid.
Contributed by Chris Tarbuck

​Get a Script for Your Diabetic Animal's Insulin and Save

This may not come under the banner of a Cheapskates tip, but it may help someone. A few months ago, after a very expensive trip to the vet, my cat was diagnosed with diabetes. I then had to start buying insulin and syringes. The insulin from my vet was costing around $180, $100 for the vet visit to get the insulin and $80 per vial for the insulin. On top of that, I was paying $69 for syringes a total of $249 per vial. I recently spoke with my local pharmacist and we discussed whether they would be able to source the same insulin and syringes. They suggested I ask my vet for a prescription for insulin. My vet was happy to oblige and I was given a prescription for three vials of insulin. My pharmacist ordered the insulin at $45 a box, containing 5 vials and charges me a dispensing fee (each vial now cost $19). I also buy my syringes at the chemist, $19 instead of $69, a total of $88. This is a total saving of $161 per vial and a saving of $805 per box of insulin . I still need to take my cat back to the vet for check ups, and this could only be set up once the insulin dose was correct, but the savings speak for themselves. I'm not sure if all pharmacist will assist with this, but it's worth asking.
Contributed by Margaret Phillips

​This Tip is for the Birds

​When you stockpile, or even when you don’t, sometimes you have things that expire, go out of favour, something you wanted to try, but didn’t like, and it feels like a waste of money throwing it out. When it is something like muesli, oats, seeds, things that are ok for the birds to eat, but are too stale to try and cook with… give them to the birds. I have a yellow tub, and a place in front of my bedroom window, where I feed the birds every few days. The cats love watching from behind the glass( we call it Kitty Cat Theatre) and the birds get a ‘free’ treat, as opposed to buying birdseed.
Contributed by Denise Scotford

​Recycling Medications

​Before throwing out any unused, finished or out of date medications, take them back to your chemist to see if they can be used somewhere else. 
Contributed by Patricia McCarthy

​Use Those Leftover Meals

​With the cost of food going up as ever the old tried meal leftover recipes are ever more useful. Vegetable scraps for stock that is a basis for soup. Bits of meals and off cuts of this, that and the other can go in pancakes for fritters, in fried rice, on pizza, a stew and more. A lot of these seem to be seen as only using new ingredient bought for that purpose but historically it was not so. You might need to a little creative but it means that food scraps, left overs and unused ingredients get used and not wasted.
Contributed by Alexander Cole

​Dual Goals

​I was finding that with the two goals of reducing debt and trying to build up my emergency fund again that at times I was a bit torn as both are important. Lately I have been halving my money between the two. So, if there is $200, $100 goes to each. It has been working and I am happier.
Contributed by Ann Green

​Save Those Reward Points

For those who have rewards points, think about saving those points for something that might be not a usual budget item. For example, did you know that Flybuy points can be used for car services and repairs! I know that in a couple of months I will need tyre rotation and maybe a couple of tyres and although my points will not cover the whole cost there is already $100 towards this. The other thing I save my points towards is holidays. It helps pay for food and fuel. A friend saves her points for Christmas time to pay for food and presents.
Contributed by Ann Green

Round-Up and Painlessly Increase Your Savings

​You can automate your savings by rounding up transactions. Some free round up savings apps are Chime and Acorns. These apps let you round up your daily transactions to the nearest $1 or $5 so the change goes directly into your savings account. The advantage is that it is an easy way to save money. For example, if your groceries cost $52.40 you could round it up to the nearest $1 and save 60 cents, or if you rounded it up to the nearest $5 you would save $2.60.
Contributed by Sarah Griffiths

​Wax Melts

​Use the left over candle wax when the candle has finished to put into a wax burner/melt. It saves buying wax melts and you still get to enjoy the beautiful smell of the candle and nothing is wasted.
Contributed by Tracey Peebles

Microfibre Mouth Care

​I discovered this use for microfibre cloths whilst having chemotherapy and still use it daily for my oral health. It's a wonderfully gentle way to clean your teeth and gums if you have ulcers or similar oral conditions.

Whilst having chemo my mouth was too sore to use a toothbrush or toothpaste. Microfibre does a great job of cleansing my teeth, gums and other nook and crannies in my where it can hurt to brush.

These days, I brush my teeth during the day and use the microfibre at night before bed. Just dampen the cloth with water before use then rinse your mouth with water or mild saline solution after cleaning. I keep a bundle of pieces, cut just for this job, in a container in the bathroom cupboard. They wash and dry easily ready for reuse.
Contributed by Delaney Avenel

Rethink Your Throw Outs

​Recently we were preparing for a council hard rubbish collection, so under the house hubby went for contributions. Out came a very old tent in unremembered condition. Being old, dusty and roughly folded it was sent to the pile. On a rethink it came back in and the base was cut up and sewn into potato growing sacks. Handles were made from the top of the tent and holes for drainage made in the bottom of the sacks. Zips will be unpicked and recycled and upper parts or the tent will be made into double layered shopping bags. When fancy potato sacks cost about $78 for five this is a big savings (even if they only do one or two seasons), not including the savings for the shopping bags.
Contributed by Carolyn Koerntjes