Your Cheapskates Club Newsletter: 02:14 Bright ideas to save you money
1. Cath's Corner
2. In the Tip Store - MOO Dog Toys, Check Weights of Fruit and Veg, Never Buy a Book Again...
3. The Art of Living the Cheapskates Way Workshops - The $300 a Month Food Challenge
4. Submit Your Tip - Have a great idea? Share it here
5. Living Green in 2014 - Recycling and Reusing Bottles
6. On the Menu with Anne - What we're eating this week
7. The $300 a Month Food Challenge with Wendy - Will you take up the challenge this year?
8. Cheapskates Buzz - Cheapskaters are talking in the Forum and on Cath's blog
9. Member's Featured Blog - Bulk Buying - How Will It Go? by joyofquilting
10. Last Week's Question - Any ideas for board games I can make?
11. This Week's Question - Stinky wheelie bin help!
12. Join the Cheapskates Club
13. Gift Memberships
14. Frequently Asked Questions
15. Contact Details
1. Cath's Corner
Hello Cheapskaters,
Welcome to a very different format newsletter this week. I'll be trialling new formats for the newsletter for the next few weeks because our newsletter is so big. So big in fact that some subscribers, just like you, who wait for their newsletter every Thursday, just aren't getting it.
Personally I prefer getting any newsletter delivered complete to my inbox, with the option to click through to read more information if I want to.
In this version you'll see snippets for each section of the newsletter with a "click here to read more" at then end. If you click (and I really hope you do - it's a great newsletter) you'll be taken to the Newsletter Archive where you'll see the newsletter in it's entirety. While you're there you can catch up on back issues too, they're all there just waiting to be read.
Feel free to let me know what you think, it's your newsletter and your opinion matters.
Have a great week everyone, and enjoy this week's huge newsletter.
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
MOO Dog Toys
Approximate $ Savings: $25 to $100
Dog toys can be expensive, especially if you have an active breed that needs extra mental stimulation to prevent them getting bored. Here are some ways to make some simple dog puzzles:
1. Spread some peanut butter or thick gravy on the inside of an empty cardboard roll (cut down to toilet roll size)
2. Sprinkle some dog treats in the bottom of an empty cereal box, and fold it closed. Watch the fun when your dog figures out how to get them out!
3. Put an empty 500ml plastic bottle in an old sock (you know the ones that you've been holding on to in hope it's mate turns up!) Instant crunchy toy!
4. Fill an empty dip (with lid) or similar container with chicken or beef stock, put on the lid, and freeze. Great for dogsicles in the summer!
Some store bought toys of this nature retail for $25+. These ideas are almost free (if you use food you already have or left overs - eg cheese, pieces of cooked sausage, etc.) in place of store bought, then extra savings! *** All of these dog toys require human supervision - please remove the recycled plastic bottle toy if the dog punctures or tears to prevent injury.***
Contributed by Meran Robinson
Check Weights of Fruit and Veg
The other day I shopped for strawberries again, and again some were not fresh and even going soft and off. I swap them with healthy ones when that happens but this time weighed the boxes as well. One by one they were underweight by 25 grams. This is against the law and I have been at a supermarket where I checked potatoes and found them underweight. The manager was at the box very fast, taking all bags off to have them repacked lest they be caught out. So the warning is there to watch your packed fruit/veg.
Contributed by Jenny Maring
Never Buy a Book Again...
Approximate $ Savings: $100's
Further to the e-book hit of this week there are sites (just google one hundred free books or Pixel of Ink to name 2) that send emails daily and are on Facebook, with a huge selection of books, all genes including children's, cooking, fiction and non-fiction etc. All you need is the kindle app (downloadable for free on to tablet, i-phone, computer if you don't have a kindle), and an Amazon account (free). Amazon also have a section where you can find 100's of books offered free daily. Just make sure they are still $0.00 when you go to 'purchase' as they can change hourly. Most of these books are offered by the writers free for a specific time so that the reader gets to know them.
Contributed by Chris Peachey
There are more than 11,000 great tips in the Tip Store
3. The Art of Living the Cheapskates Way Workshops
The $300 a Month Food Challenge
Join Cath and guest speaker Wendy, moderator of The $300 a Month Food Challenge for an afternoon of fun and frugality as you learn the secrets of how to eat well, save more and do it all on just $300 a month.
Cath's grocery budget is just $320 a month for her family of five, with any leftover cash going into her grocery slush fund, while Wendy budgets $300 a month (and usually spends much less). If you are struggling with your food bill, this workshop will give you the skills to slash it, eat healthfully and not feel deprived.
When: Sunday, 16th February 2014
Where: Orana Neighbourhood House, 62 Coleman Road, Wantirna South
What time: 1:30pm - 4.30pm
Cost: $30 per person
Places are limited to 30 so please book early to avoid disappointment.
Click here to book your seat now!
4. Submit your tip
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
This year the challenge is to reduce, reuse and recycle and save: money, time and energy and our planet.
The tips this week focus on reusing and recycling plastic bottles and have been shared by Cheapskates Club member Bluebell234.
"Soft drink bottles can have a section cut out to allow enough room to hold water for small birds who thirst in extreme and summer heat, I have done this for years to accommodate a tiny bird that helps keep fruit fly away from the figs. They can, on their own and with milk bottles, be used for fruit fly traps.
I use 3 litre milk bottles for keeping laundry gel, filling them with water makes strong weights for bird netting, cutting a section out of the middle makes good pantry tidies, filled leaving enough room for expansion the make great ice blocks for the esky, and they make great containers for ice water and made up fruit juice and cordial drinks.
Milk bottles are so handy, I use them by filling with water and using them as weights on bird netting.
I also use them to make Vegemite fruit fly traps. I cut a small round hole just near the top and cut a soft drink bottle at the top ridge (about two to three inches from the top) so that just the top of the soft drink bottle fits into the cut hole of the milk bottle. Then I make a mixture of Vegemite and boiling water (a large heaped tablespoon to 500mls) and distribute that into the milk bottles (500mls into 4 milk bottle). These are hung in the fruit trees and so far are successful in deterring the fruit fly.
I also use them to make ice blocks for the esky and as a way of frozen drinking ice water on a very hot day.
Most of these ideas have come from researching the Cheapskates web site and other recycling idea sites. "
Want to know more about living green? Do you have a great way to reduce, reuse or recycle? Click here to share.
6. On the Menu with Anne
This week we will be eating:
Friday: Chicken Chutney Filo, tossed salad
Saturday: BBQ chops, tossed salad, bread rolls
Sunday: Roast beef, baked root vegetables
Monday: Quiche, wedges, salad
Tuesday: Vegetable lasagne, salad
Wednesday: Meatloaf, hot potato salad, green salad
Thursday: Fish, chips, salad
In the fruit bowl: Watermelon, apricots, nectarines, oranges
In the cake tin: Chocolate muffins, Lemon Coconut Slice, Jam Drops
7. The $300 a Month Food Challenge with Wendy
From $300 a month food challenge results 16/01/12
Hello everyone and welcome to a fabulous new year of trimming our food budgets. For those of you who are new to the forums or have been lurking and not sure of where to begin, I'll explain this challenge for you.
The $300 a month food challenge is based on a family of 4. That's for two adults and two children ( although mine are now almost 15 and almost 12 ). In other words $75 per person.
$300 is just my goal. Please feel free to set your own goal. Maybe $400 is more realistic for you.
$300 includes all food for the month, toiletries ( shampoo etc, not make up ) and cleaning products. If you have babies then please allow extra for nappies, formula etc as I know these can be costly.
$300 does NOT include takeaway food. Our family does not eat out very often. We make our own hamburgers, pizza, fish and chips. We eat tacos and pretend that it's like takeaway.
To stick to the $300, buy everything you can no name to keep the costs down. There are some exceptions like coffee, chocolate, toothpaste, Vegemite, curry powder etc. You get the picture - the important things where taste really does matter.
Grow as many veggies as you can. What you can't grow, then find a fruit and veggie shop or a market where prices are better than the overpriced supermarkets. Buy your fruit in season and when at it's cheapest. Buy extra and freeze.
Buy your meat from a butcher where possible. I personally buy mine from Tasman Meats and I buy lots when something is on a great special. I portion it up into meal sizes to reduce waste. Buy budget cuts of meat. Budget meat becomes premium when cooked in the slow cooker.
Reduce portion sizes of meat. Meals like chop suey only require about 300gms of mince for 4 people.
Bulk out meals with lots of veggies or maybe a garlic bread.
Cook from scratch. Over 95% of my meals are made from scratch. I make mostly old fashion food like meat pie, stews, casseroles, soups, pasta bakes, spag bol, lasagne, roasts, silverside (in slow cooker) etc.
Bake from scratch and freeze extras.
Use tins of soup instead of jars of sauces. Tomato soup goes well with mince and cream of chicken soup goes well with chicken.
Make your own white sauce, gravy, marinades, salad dressings etc
Avoid prepackaged, microwave, snack size, premade foods. They are so overpriced and quite often contain too much salt/sugar or other nasties
Menu plan and shop from home first.
Write a list of everything you can cook (including simple things like fish fingers). Write your menu plan from this list. This helps to get your family (and the cook) excited about what's for tea that night.
Write a shopping list and take it with you when you go shopping. Stick to your list.
Write a pantry/freezer and fridge inventory. It helps when writing your shopping list.
I personally like to do big shop once a month and do weekly top ups of milk. I also go to the fruit and veg market once a fortnight.
Use leftovers within 2 days. This avoids the chance of food poisoning and wastage due to everyone forgetting it's in the fridge.
All this information pretty much forms the $300 a month food challenge. I'm sure I'll remember other things later, so this list may grow. There is also another thread in this section called " Take up the challenge ". It's back on the earliest page I think. I've listed some points there too. Throughout the year I'll go into more detail on all of the above points.
I originally set this challenge up so that my family would be healthy, happy with the food I serve up and to have more savings.
Will you take up the challenge this year?
What monthly food budget do you have now?
What is your new monthly $$$ goal for this year?
What will you do with the savings?
WHO IS GOING TO JOIN ME!!!
Be encouraged and happy shopping!!!
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
My Favourite Comfort Food
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2313-my-favourite-comfort-food
Some things I have Learnt about Buying Books for School….
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2315-Some-things-I-have-learnt-about-buying-books-for-school-....
The Clear the Clutter Thread - Week 2
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2308-The-Clear-the-Clutter-Thread-Week-2
Most popular blog posts this week
One is Enough
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2014/01/one-is-enough.html
What's in the Fridge?
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2013/12/whats-in-fridge.html
How to Buy Used Like a Pro
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2013/10/how-to-buy-used-like-pro.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 Joyofquilting
Joy has updated her blog throughout the week. All her updates are here, along with her original post.
Bulk Buying - How Will It Go?
Today I shopped, I had to take my daughter to the plaza to pick up a layby so while she did that I went into WW and bought 2 packs of french onion soup for hot potato salad. Then I dropped her at the station so she could catch the train into town to visit a friend in hospital and started shopping. I went to Tasman Meats and spent $100.19 on beef and chicken and fish sticks, then I went to the green grocer next door and bought veggies and fruit, $36.20, then on to Aldi where I spent $115.10. We're going away for 2 weeks and I want to leave everything fully stocked so the kids (28+22) can just get something from the freezer and reheat. The meat I would like to last all term. My plan this year is to stock up in the holidays, both meat etc. for the freezer and baking, and just get fresh and specials until the next big shop. Sort of a variation on Cath's 3 month shopping, I will try and post updates on the blog so you can see how I do.
At Tasman Meats got a $6kgrump for $7/kg. This will be cut into two and one half cooked in the Webber for my son's birthday at the end of the month, the other half I might cut in half again for oven roasting or leave and Webber, not sure yet. I will get 50-60 serves from the whole lot plus sandwiches. If I decide to Webber both halves, I will slice the meat when cold, and freeze in gravy in meal sized lots ready for reheating. I also bought 2.5kg chicken breast @ $7/kg, the skin will be frozen for stock, the breasts will become schnitzel, stir-fry, burritos, kebabs and chicken pies, I should get about 20+ serves from that. I also bought 4 kg of lean beef mince @ $7.50/kg. I will turn this into meatloaf, shepherds pie, mince (for pies as well), spag bol which will also be used for lasagne, taco mix and some just pre-fried with veggies as a base to freeze.
Well I've cooked all the mince:
3 x 2 serves of taco , a large pot of bol sauce which should make 3 meals x 4 serves of spag and 2 meals x 4 serves of lasagne. I will freeze that tomorrow when it's cooled down, do that before I have to go into work. I want to make the lasagne and freeze it already assembled so all the kids have to do is heat it up while we're away and hopefully one or two for later in the term. When I make the white sauce I'll make triple and freeze some for pasta with bacon. I've also got a large pot of mince cooling that should make 3 shepherds pies and hopefully 1-2 meat pies, forgot to fry some for bourrek, so I'll get some more after the cruise if there's none lurking at the bottom of the freezer. I also made a batch of pastie filling, so the next step will be making pasties and sausage rolls for the freezer. Won't have time tomorrow as hubby wants to go to a dance lesson after I get home from work, so maybe early Tuesday.
6/01/2014:
I have a couple of packs of 'casserole mix' in the freezer. I chop the meat, add onions, carrots and celery, vacuum seal (I invested in the Aldi sealer this year and love it) they'll last 6=12 months and I just bring out overnight and pop in the slow cooker before I go to work in winter, yummo. I'll try and find the link that I bought a couple of menu plans from to start me off, then I just did the same thing with my own recipes.
Today I froze 2 x 4 serves pasta sauce and 3 x 4 serves lasagne before work. I've made the pastry for pasties and quiche and it's resting while I type.
Keep you posted.
Right, pastry rolled and cut out, 2 rectangular quiches will serve 6 each for lunch or 4 for dinner, bases are in the freezer. Also made a pack of chicken for shaslicks, that will serve 5-6 so I’ll use it on a Friday when we always have an extra. Also thinly sliced the breasts and made 16 crumbed schnitzel, we had MOO KFC with it last night for 3. Made 15 pasties from the mince mix, they'll probably only make 8-9 serves. So far my $100 has made 63 serves, plus the roast beef, so I'm going to estimate under $1 per serve, I also haven't added in the 20 fish sticks that I will turn into sushi for lunches for me and Dd. I have fish and some wings and a roast of pork in the freezer and some hotdogs in the fridge. I think I have the terms meals covered or will have when I make the quiche and sausage rolls.
Login to read more Cheapskates Club member blogs
10. Last Week's Question
Last week's question was from Carolyn, mother of four boys, who wrote asking for ideas for games she and her boys could make (or buy very cheaply) for those really too-hot-to-play-outside summer days.
Chrissy Bourke answered
I have boys too, and have the same problem on really hot or rainy days. To help with these times, I recently introduced them to a couple of "old-fashioned" games and they are loving it.
Game #1 Hookey -
Using a spare piece of timber (ours is square but you can use any shape) I screwed 12 cup hooks into it and numbered them with a permanent marker. For rings to toss at the hooks I am using some spare jar seals (the orange ones). You keep score by simply adding the numbers they hook on to.
Game #2 - Tiddlywinks. Draw up a target on a piece of paper (or onto the back of a cereal box if you want to make it a bit harder). For the counters we use either the tokens out of another board game or spare buttons out of the sewing kit. Either is fine as long as they are flat. You use 1 token to press down on the edge of another token to make it flick towards the target. By adding numbers to the target you can keep a score for this game as well.
Game #3 - Quoits. To make a quick and cheap version of this game I use my wooden paper towel holder as the target and cut some rings out of an old thick cardboard box. Like I said, old-fashioned games, but new to the boys and they are proving to be lots of fun. As a bonus, they are all games that can be played be one person or many.
Amanda C. answered
Make your own SCATTERGORIES by drawing lines on a piece of paper each and making up your own categories like Boy's Name, Girl's Name, Animal, Country, Part of the Body, Item of Clothing, etc. then get one player to start saying the alphabet in his head. Someone else can yell stop and whatever letter they are up to, that's the letter you play with. For example if the letter is S, then turn on the egg timer and everyone has to quickly write down a boy's name starting with S, a girl's name starting with S, a country starting with S and so on. This game is great fun and one we played on buses and planes when travelling and all you need is pen and paper.
Janie-Lee McRobert answered
The best game we ever invented was taping white paper all over the table - the game went for 3 weeks so we sacrificed eating inside and barbecued instead - then the kids drew a game; the rules changed constantly, it was a combination of Snakes and Ladders, Guess Who and Cluedo. Pieces were gum nuts sprayed gold, Christmas cracker gifts and chocolate gold coins were added as the game evolved. My now teens still reminisce about "Guess What Snake Dunnit?" I'm in WA so I used Gumtree to source lots of free stuff. Sometimes they played as dress up characters and had to sing a song or quote a line- hope this helps you!
Katie Richer answered
I love tabletop games! There is a series on YouTube called 'Tabletop', hosted by Wil Wheaton. Each episode he and three showbiz buddies play through a game, explaining the rules as they go. It's really funny, and I've bought quite a few games after seeing them on the show. Some of them are cheap, others aren't... but perhaps watching these episodes will give you ideas on what games to save up for. These are all VERY different from the typical family favourites.
Rachel Knobel answered
We do a reverse hide and seek game on wet days. One person hides a soft toy or any item you choose, then everyone else has to try and find it. Whoever finds it first then gets the next go to hide the item for everyone else to find again.
Julie Moss answered
I've spent summer holidays in England with my two nephews, aged 8 and 10, usually indoors, with the rain beating down outside. Here are some easy indoor games, but be warned! 'Consequences' can get very saucy, specially with pre-pubescent boys involved:
'Consequences': You will need (for a family of 4) 4 sheets of paper, 4 pens, copious amounts of alcohol for the adults to help it go more smoothly, (optional, but highly recommended, especially at seasonal large family gatherings where attempts at escape are futile). Someone to act as 'MC'.
First round: Boy's name. MC tells all involved to write a boy's name at the top of the paper. Fold it over so the next person can't see it. Pass it to the person on your left.
Second Round: Girl's name. MC tells everyone to write a girl's name on the bit of paper, fold it over, pass it to person on left. Hint: write your nephews' female teacher or current girly crush for a bit of extra oomph.
Third Round: Where they met. Ditto with the procedure. They could meet in the pool, at the chip shop, at the park etc.
Fourth Round: What he said to her. e.g. You have lovely eyes, or, You have bird poo on your shoulder etc.
Fifth Round: What she said to him. Same procedure.
Sixth Round: The consequence. ..And the consequence was.. e.g. they got married, had a chip supper, they spent the weekend cleaning etc. Pass it along to person on your left.
Seventh and Final Round: Each person reads the entire script. Mums and Dads can help the kids to read theirs. (It is like a little entry into an entirely different family world). Needless to say it gets more rude as it goes along. I've found you can do this for about 4-5 goes and it whittles away a happy hour or so. Enjoy :)
Melanie Turner answered
A pack of cards can provide a multitude of different games, and the rules are easily available by searching the internet. One of our holiday favourites is "Spoons". It just needs a standard pack of cards, and a few spoons (3 if your four boys are playing). Have fun!
We received a lot of answers to Carolyn's question. Unfortunately we can't publish them all, but every reply is in the Tip Store.
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
Joanna writes
"This last bout of really hot weather has caused our wheelie bin to smell even worse than usual. The Christmas and New Year holidays haven't helped, with extra rubbish. The way it smells at the moment no one wants to take the rubbish out! Is there a frugal, Cheapskates way I can get it clean and deodorise it at the same time? "
Do you have the answer?
If you have a suggestion or idea for Joanna 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
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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
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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
[email protected]
2. In the Tip Store - MOO Dog Toys, Check Weights of Fruit and Veg, Never Buy a Book Again...
3. The Art of Living the Cheapskates Way Workshops - The $300 a Month Food Challenge
4. Submit Your Tip - Have a great idea? Share it here
5. Living Green in 2014 - Recycling and Reusing Bottles
6. On the Menu with Anne - What we're eating this week
7. The $300 a Month Food Challenge with Wendy - Will you take up the challenge this year?
8. Cheapskates Buzz - Cheapskaters are talking in the Forum and on Cath's blog
9. Member's Featured Blog - Bulk Buying - How Will It Go? by joyofquilting
10. Last Week's Question - Any ideas for board games I can make?
11. This Week's Question - Stinky wheelie bin help!
12. Join the Cheapskates Club
13. Gift Memberships
14. Frequently Asked Questions
15. Contact Details
1. Cath's Corner
Hello Cheapskaters,
Welcome to a very different format newsletter this week. I'll be trialling new formats for the newsletter for the next few weeks because our newsletter is so big. So big in fact that some subscribers, just like you, who wait for their newsletter every Thursday, just aren't getting it.
Personally I prefer getting any newsletter delivered complete to my inbox, with the option to click through to read more information if I want to.
In this version you'll see snippets for each section of the newsletter with a "click here to read more" at then end. If you click (and I really hope you do - it's a great newsletter) you'll be taken to the Newsletter Archive where you'll see the newsletter in it's entirety. While you're there you can catch up on back issues too, they're all there just waiting to be read.
Feel free to let me know what you think, it's your newsletter and your opinion matters.
Have a great week everyone, and enjoy this week's huge newsletter.
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
MOO Dog Toys
Approximate $ Savings: $25 to $100
Dog toys can be expensive, especially if you have an active breed that needs extra mental stimulation to prevent them getting bored. Here are some ways to make some simple dog puzzles:
1. Spread some peanut butter or thick gravy on the inside of an empty cardboard roll (cut down to toilet roll size)
2. Sprinkle some dog treats in the bottom of an empty cereal box, and fold it closed. Watch the fun when your dog figures out how to get them out!
3. Put an empty 500ml plastic bottle in an old sock (you know the ones that you've been holding on to in hope it's mate turns up!) Instant crunchy toy!
4. Fill an empty dip (with lid) or similar container with chicken or beef stock, put on the lid, and freeze. Great for dogsicles in the summer!
Some store bought toys of this nature retail for $25+. These ideas are almost free (if you use food you already have or left overs - eg cheese, pieces of cooked sausage, etc.) in place of store bought, then extra savings! *** All of these dog toys require human supervision - please remove the recycled plastic bottle toy if the dog punctures or tears to prevent injury.***
Contributed by Meran Robinson
Check Weights of Fruit and Veg
The other day I shopped for strawberries again, and again some were not fresh and even going soft and off. I swap them with healthy ones when that happens but this time weighed the boxes as well. One by one they were underweight by 25 grams. This is against the law and I have been at a supermarket where I checked potatoes and found them underweight. The manager was at the box very fast, taking all bags off to have them repacked lest they be caught out. So the warning is there to watch your packed fruit/veg.
Contributed by Jenny Maring
Never Buy a Book Again...
Approximate $ Savings: $100's
Further to the e-book hit of this week there are sites (just google one hundred free books or Pixel of Ink to name 2) that send emails daily and are on Facebook, with a huge selection of books, all genes including children's, cooking, fiction and non-fiction etc. All you need is the kindle app (downloadable for free on to tablet, i-phone, computer if you don't have a kindle), and an Amazon account (free). Amazon also have a section where you can find 100's of books offered free daily. Just make sure they are still $0.00 when you go to 'purchase' as they can change hourly. Most of these books are offered by the writers free for a specific time so that the reader gets to know them.
Contributed by Chris Peachey
There are more than 11,000 great tips in the Tip Store
3. The Art of Living the Cheapskates Way Workshops
The $300 a Month Food Challenge
Join Cath and guest speaker Wendy, moderator of The $300 a Month Food Challenge for an afternoon of fun and frugality as you learn the secrets of how to eat well, save more and do it all on just $300 a month.
Cath's grocery budget is just $320 a month for her family of five, with any leftover cash going into her grocery slush fund, while Wendy budgets $300 a month (and usually spends much less). If you are struggling with your food bill, this workshop will give you the skills to slash it, eat healthfully and not feel deprived.
When: Sunday, 16th February 2014
Where: Orana Neighbourhood House, 62 Coleman Road, Wantirna South
What time: 1:30pm - 4.30pm
Cost: $30 per person
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4. Submit your tip
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5. Living Green in 2014
This year the challenge is to reduce, reuse and recycle and save: money, time and energy and our planet.
The tips this week focus on reusing and recycling plastic bottles and have been shared by Cheapskates Club member Bluebell234.
"Soft drink bottles can have a section cut out to allow enough room to hold water for small birds who thirst in extreme and summer heat, I have done this for years to accommodate a tiny bird that helps keep fruit fly away from the figs. They can, on their own and with milk bottles, be used for fruit fly traps.
I use 3 litre milk bottles for keeping laundry gel, filling them with water makes strong weights for bird netting, cutting a section out of the middle makes good pantry tidies, filled leaving enough room for expansion the make great ice blocks for the esky, and they make great containers for ice water and made up fruit juice and cordial drinks.
Milk bottles are so handy, I use them by filling with water and using them as weights on bird netting.
I also use them to make Vegemite fruit fly traps. I cut a small round hole just near the top and cut a soft drink bottle at the top ridge (about two to three inches from the top) so that just the top of the soft drink bottle fits into the cut hole of the milk bottle. Then I make a mixture of Vegemite and boiling water (a large heaped tablespoon to 500mls) and distribute that into the milk bottles (500mls into 4 milk bottle). These are hung in the fruit trees and so far are successful in deterring the fruit fly.
I also use them to make ice blocks for the esky and as a way of frozen drinking ice water on a very hot day.
Most of these ideas have come from researching the Cheapskates web site and other recycling idea sites. "
Want to know more about living green? Do you have a great way to reduce, reuse or recycle? Click here to share.
6. On the Menu with Anne
This week we will be eating:
Friday: Chicken Chutney Filo, tossed salad
Saturday: BBQ chops, tossed salad, bread rolls
Sunday: Roast beef, baked root vegetables
Monday: Quiche, wedges, salad
Tuesday: Vegetable lasagne, salad
Wednesday: Meatloaf, hot potato salad, green salad
Thursday: Fish, chips, salad
In the fruit bowl: Watermelon, apricots, nectarines, oranges
In the cake tin: Chocolate muffins, Lemon Coconut Slice, Jam Drops
7. The $300 a Month Food Challenge with Wendy
From $300 a month food challenge results 16/01/12
Hello everyone and welcome to a fabulous new year of trimming our food budgets. For those of you who are new to the forums or have been lurking and not sure of where to begin, I'll explain this challenge for you.
The $300 a month food challenge is based on a family of 4. That's for two adults and two children ( although mine are now almost 15 and almost 12 ). In other words $75 per person.
$300 is just my goal. Please feel free to set your own goal. Maybe $400 is more realistic for you.
$300 includes all food for the month, toiletries ( shampoo etc, not make up ) and cleaning products. If you have babies then please allow extra for nappies, formula etc as I know these can be costly.
$300 does NOT include takeaway food. Our family does not eat out very often. We make our own hamburgers, pizza, fish and chips. We eat tacos and pretend that it's like takeaway.
To stick to the $300, buy everything you can no name to keep the costs down. There are some exceptions like coffee, chocolate, toothpaste, Vegemite, curry powder etc. You get the picture - the important things where taste really does matter.
Grow as many veggies as you can. What you can't grow, then find a fruit and veggie shop or a market where prices are better than the overpriced supermarkets. Buy your fruit in season and when at it's cheapest. Buy extra and freeze.
Buy your meat from a butcher where possible. I personally buy mine from Tasman Meats and I buy lots when something is on a great special. I portion it up into meal sizes to reduce waste. Buy budget cuts of meat. Budget meat becomes premium when cooked in the slow cooker.
Reduce portion sizes of meat. Meals like chop suey only require about 300gms of mince for 4 people.
Bulk out meals with lots of veggies or maybe a garlic bread.
Cook from scratch. Over 95% of my meals are made from scratch. I make mostly old fashion food like meat pie, stews, casseroles, soups, pasta bakes, spag bol, lasagne, roasts, silverside (in slow cooker) etc.
Bake from scratch and freeze extras.
Use tins of soup instead of jars of sauces. Tomato soup goes well with mince and cream of chicken soup goes well with chicken.
Make your own white sauce, gravy, marinades, salad dressings etc
Avoid prepackaged, microwave, snack size, premade foods. They are so overpriced and quite often contain too much salt/sugar or other nasties
Menu plan and shop from home first.
Write a list of everything you can cook (including simple things like fish fingers). Write your menu plan from this list. This helps to get your family (and the cook) excited about what's for tea that night.
Write a shopping list and take it with you when you go shopping. Stick to your list.
Write a pantry/freezer and fridge inventory. It helps when writing your shopping list.
I personally like to do big shop once a month and do weekly top ups of milk. I also go to the fruit and veg market once a fortnight.
Use leftovers within 2 days. This avoids the chance of food poisoning and wastage due to everyone forgetting it's in the fridge.
All this information pretty much forms the $300 a month food challenge. I'm sure I'll remember other things later, so this list may grow. There is also another thread in this section called " Take up the challenge ". It's back on the earliest page I think. I've listed some points there too. Throughout the year I'll go into more detail on all of the above points.
I originally set this challenge up so that my family would be healthy, happy with the food I serve up and to have more savings.
Will you take up the challenge this year?
What monthly food budget do you have now?
What is your new monthly $$$ goal for this year?
What will you do with the savings?
WHO IS GOING TO JOIN ME!!!
Be encouraged and happy shopping!!!
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
My Favourite Comfort Food
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2313-my-favourite-comfort-food
Some things I have Learnt about Buying Books for School….
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2315-Some-things-I-have-learnt-about-buying-books-for-school-....
The Clear the Clutter Thread - Week 2
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2308-The-Clear-the-Clutter-Thread-Week-2
Most popular blog posts this week
One is Enough
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2014/01/one-is-enough.html
What's in the Fridge?
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2013/12/whats-in-fridge.html
How to Buy Used Like a Pro
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2013/10/how-to-buy-used-like-pro.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 Joyofquilting
Joy has updated her blog throughout the week. All her updates are here, along with her original post.
Bulk Buying - How Will It Go?
Today I shopped, I had to take my daughter to the plaza to pick up a layby so while she did that I went into WW and bought 2 packs of french onion soup for hot potato salad. Then I dropped her at the station so she could catch the train into town to visit a friend in hospital and started shopping. I went to Tasman Meats and spent $100.19 on beef and chicken and fish sticks, then I went to the green grocer next door and bought veggies and fruit, $36.20, then on to Aldi where I spent $115.10. We're going away for 2 weeks and I want to leave everything fully stocked so the kids (28+22) can just get something from the freezer and reheat. The meat I would like to last all term. My plan this year is to stock up in the holidays, both meat etc. for the freezer and baking, and just get fresh and specials until the next big shop. Sort of a variation on Cath's 3 month shopping, I will try and post updates on the blog so you can see how I do.
At Tasman Meats got a $6kgrump for $7/kg. This will be cut into two and one half cooked in the Webber for my son's birthday at the end of the month, the other half I might cut in half again for oven roasting or leave and Webber, not sure yet. I will get 50-60 serves from the whole lot plus sandwiches. If I decide to Webber both halves, I will slice the meat when cold, and freeze in gravy in meal sized lots ready for reheating. I also bought 2.5kg chicken breast @ $7/kg, the skin will be frozen for stock, the breasts will become schnitzel, stir-fry, burritos, kebabs and chicken pies, I should get about 20+ serves from that. I also bought 4 kg of lean beef mince @ $7.50/kg. I will turn this into meatloaf, shepherds pie, mince (for pies as well), spag bol which will also be used for lasagne, taco mix and some just pre-fried with veggies as a base to freeze.
Well I've cooked all the mince:
3 x 2 serves of taco , a large pot of bol sauce which should make 3 meals x 4 serves of spag and 2 meals x 4 serves of lasagne. I will freeze that tomorrow when it's cooled down, do that before I have to go into work. I want to make the lasagne and freeze it already assembled so all the kids have to do is heat it up while we're away and hopefully one or two for later in the term. When I make the white sauce I'll make triple and freeze some for pasta with bacon. I've also got a large pot of mince cooling that should make 3 shepherds pies and hopefully 1-2 meat pies, forgot to fry some for bourrek, so I'll get some more after the cruise if there's none lurking at the bottom of the freezer. I also made a batch of pastie filling, so the next step will be making pasties and sausage rolls for the freezer. Won't have time tomorrow as hubby wants to go to a dance lesson after I get home from work, so maybe early Tuesday.
6/01/2014:
I have a couple of packs of 'casserole mix' in the freezer. I chop the meat, add onions, carrots and celery, vacuum seal (I invested in the Aldi sealer this year and love it) they'll last 6=12 months and I just bring out overnight and pop in the slow cooker before I go to work in winter, yummo. I'll try and find the link that I bought a couple of menu plans from to start me off, then I just did the same thing with my own recipes.
Today I froze 2 x 4 serves pasta sauce and 3 x 4 serves lasagne before work. I've made the pastry for pasties and quiche and it's resting while I type.
Keep you posted.
Right, pastry rolled and cut out, 2 rectangular quiches will serve 6 each for lunch or 4 for dinner, bases are in the freezer. Also made a pack of chicken for shaslicks, that will serve 5-6 so I’ll use it on a Friday when we always have an extra. Also thinly sliced the breasts and made 16 crumbed schnitzel, we had MOO KFC with it last night for 3. Made 15 pasties from the mince mix, they'll probably only make 8-9 serves. So far my $100 has made 63 serves, plus the roast beef, so I'm going to estimate under $1 per serve, I also haven't added in the 20 fish sticks that I will turn into sushi for lunches for me and Dd. I have fish and some wings and a roast of pork in the freezer and some hotdogs in the fridge. I think I have the terms meals covered or will have when I make the quiche and sausage rolls.
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10. Last Week's Question
Last week's question was from Carolyn, mother of four boys, who wrote asking for ideas for games she and her boys could make (or buy very cheaply) for those really too-hot-to-play-outside summer days.
Chrissy Bourke answered
I have boys too, and have the same problem on really hot or rainy days. To help with these times, I recently introduced them to a couple of "old-fashioned" games and they are loving it.
Game #1 Hookey -
Using a spare piece of timber (ours is square but you can use any shape) I screwed 12 cup hooks into it and numbered them with a permanent marker. For rings to toss at the hooks I am using some spare jar seals (the orange ones). You keep score by simply adding the numbers they hook on to.
Game #2 - Tiddlywinks. Draw up a target on a piece of paper (or onto the back of a cereal box if you want to make it a bit harder). For the counters we use either the tokens out of another board game or spare buttons out of the sewing kit. Either is fine as long as they are flat. You use 1 token to press down on the edge of another token to make it flick towards the target. By adding numbers to the target you can keep a score for this game as well.
Game #3 - Quoits. To make a quick and cheap version of this game I use my wooden paper towel holder as the target and cut some rings out of an old thick cardboard box. Like I said, old-fashioned games, but new to the boys and they are proving to be lots of fun. As a bonus, they are all games that can be played be one person or many.
Amanda C. answered
Make your own SCATTERGORIES by drawing lines on a piece of paper each and making up your own categories like Boy's Name, Girl's Name, Animal, Country, Part of the Body, Item of Clothing, etc. then get one player to start saying the alphabet in his head. Someone else can yell stop and whatever letter they are up to, that's the letter you play with. For example if the letter is S, then turn on the egg timer and everyone has to quickly write down a boy's name starting with S, a girl's name starting with S, a country starting with S and so on. This game is great fun and one we played on buses and planes when travelling and all you need is pen and paper.
Janie-Lee McRobert answered
The best game we ever invented was taping white paper all over the table - the game went for 3 weeks so we sacrificed eating inside and barbecued instead - then the kids drew a game; the rules changed constantly, it was a combination of Snakes and Ladders, Guess Who and Cluedo. Pieces were gum nuts sprayed gold, Christmas cracker gifts and chocolate gold coins were added as the game evolved. My now teens still reminisce about "Guess What Snake Dunnit?" I'm in WA so I used Gumtree to source lots of free stuff. Sometimes they played as dress up characters and had to sing a song or quote a line- hope this helps you!
Katie Richer answered
I love tabletop games! There is a series on YouTube called 'Tabletop', hosted by Wil Wheaton. Each episode he and three showbiz buddies play through a game, explaining the rules as they go. It's really funny, and I've bought quite a few games after seeing them on the show. Some of them are cheap, others aren't... but perhaps watching these episodes will give you ideas on what games to save up for. These are all VERY different from the typical family favourites.
Rachel Knobel answered
We do a reverse hide and seek game on wet days. One person hides a soft toy or any item you choose, then everyone else has to try and find it. Whoever finds it first then gets the next go to hide the item for everyone else to find again.
Julie Moss answered
I've spent summer holidays in England with my two nephews, aged 8 and 10, usually indoors, with the rain beating down outside. Here are some easy indoor games, but be warned! 'Consequences' can get very saucy, specially with pre-pubescent boys involved:
'Consequences': You will need (for a family of 4) 4 sheets of paper, 4 pens, copious amounts of alcohol for the adults to help it go more smoothly, (optional, but highly recommended, especially at seasonal large family gatherings where attempts at escape are futile). Someone to act as 'MC'.
First round: Boy's name. MC tells all involved to write a boy's name at the top of the paper. Fold it over so the next person can't see it. Pass it to the person on your left.
Second Round: Girl's name. MC tells everyone to write a girl's name on the bit of paper, fold it over, pass it to person on left. Hint: write your nephews' female teacher or current girly crush for a bit of extra oomph.
Third Round: Where they met. Ditto with the procedure. They could meet in the pool, at the chip shop, at the park etc.
Fourth Round: What he said to her. e.g. You have lovely eyes, or, You have bird poo on your shoulder etc.
Fifth Round: What she said to him. Same procedure.
Sixth Round: The consequence. ..And the consequence was.. e.g. they got married, had a chip supper, they spent the weekend cleaning etc. Pass it along to person on your left.
Seventh and Final Round: Each person reads the entire script. Mums and Dads can help the kids to read theirs. (It is like a little entry into an entirely different family world). Needless to say it gets more rude as it goes along. I've found you can do this for about 4-5 goes and it whittles away a happy hour or so. Enjoy :)
Melanie Turner answered
A pack of cards can provide a multitude of different games, and the rules are easily available by searching the internet. One of our holiday favourites is "Spoons". It just needs a standard pack of cards, and a few spoons (3 if your four boys are playing). Have fun!
We received a lot of answers to Carolyn's question. Unfortunately we can't publish them all, but every reply is in the Tip Store.
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11. This Week's Question
Joanna writes
"This last bout of really hot weather has caused our wheelie bin to smell even worse than usual. The Christmas and New Year holidays haven't helped, with extra rubbish. The way it smells at the moment no one wants to take the rubbish out! Is there a frugal, Cheapskates way I can get it clean and deodorise it at the same time? "
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If you have a suggestion or idea for Joanna 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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