Your Cheapskates Club Newsletter: 03:15
Bright ideas to save you money
In This Newsletter
1. Cath's Corner
2. In the Tip Store - Organizing Power Cords, Kill Fungus and Mildew for Good, Made with Love Not $
3. Cheapskate's Winning Tip - Vegetable, Fruit, Eggs & Garden Item Swaps
4. Submit Your Tip - Share your favourite Cheapskating tip here
5. On the Menu with Anne - Back on the Meal Planning Bandwagon
6. The $300 a Month Food Challenge with Wendy - Catering for a family do
7. Cheapskates Buzz - Cheapskaters are talking in the Forum and on Cath's blog
8. Member's Featured Blog - That will teach me!
9. Last Week's Question - What's the deal with solar panels?
10. This Week's Question - Please help me to save for a new baby
11. Join the Cheapskates Club
12. Gift Memberships
13. Frequently Asked Questions
14. Contact Details
1. Cath's Corner
Hello Cheapskaters,
This week's newsletter is huge, so I won't keep you from it. With tips to save you money and a full meal plan for one week from Anne, a $300 Food Challenge post from the Archives, lots to read on the blog and in the Member's forum and a whole lot more there is plenty to get through.
Have a great week everyone and
Happy Cheapskating,
Cath
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.
http://www.cheapskates.com.au/pages/group/default.cfm?group_id=4291&list=Full
========================================
2. From The Tip Store
Organizing Power Cords
Approximate $ Savings: $50c
Use the Clips from loaves of bread etc. And write which power cord is e.g.: TV, DVD player, Surround Sound, Stereo etc. Clip them to each lead so when you go to the power board you will know which 1 to remove by the label. And not unplug unnecessary lead.
Contributed by Michelle Goodall
Kill Fungus and Mildew for Good
Take 1 part Hydrogen Peroxide and 2 parts water. Put in a clean empty spray bottle and spray on your affected walls. Let it stand a little while, respray as needed.
Contributed by Isabel Sebastiao-Vieira
Made with Love Not $
I have four grandchildren aged 13, 12, 10 and 10. Like many children they have the latest in electronics and are 'privileged' as they rarely go without anything. Their experience of giving Christmas gifts is to obtain money from dad for mum's gift and from mum for dad's gift. My suggestion to them is that their parents would appreciate a gift that they had earned money for themselves or something they had made. They decided they would cook their parents' favourite treats. They 13 year old found a recipe online for macarons for her grandfather, the 12 year old decided to make rocky road for his father using milk chocolate, cashews, red jellies and marshmallows and the 10 year old made earthquake gingerbread biscuits for his mother. The other 10 year old was not interested in being involved and said he would use his own cash to purchase gifts. One obstacle was who would pay for the ingredients. Comments of "you have all that's needed in your pantry!" My response was "but I had to pay for them." We added up the cost of the ingredients and negotiated some time weeding my garden to pay for them. The end result was three very pleased and proud children, some beautifully presented gifts, and impressed parents and grandparent, (the children could not wait until Christmas Day to give their gifts) and I hope a gentle lesson.
Contributed by Carol Woolcock
There are more than 11,000 great tips in the Tip Store
========================================
3. Cheapskate's Winning Tip
This week's winning tip is from Deborah Hunter-Kells. Deborah has won a one year Platinum Cheapskates Club membership for submitting her winning tip.
Vegetable, Fruit, Eggs & Garden Item Swaps
In our nearby suburb we hold this approximately every 3 weeks. Everyone benefits. We bring glut from the garden - including a variety of vegetables, fruits, herbs and eggs. Some of the ladies make jams, jellies and marmalades to swap. Some swap egg cartons and plant containers. Anything you can use. There seems to be so much that everyone comes out in front since it saves wasting what you have too much of. Of note - we swap in a little area in front of a restaurant and the chef makes up a large dish for us made up of several ingredients we provide. Yum.
Congratulations Deborah, I hope you enjoy your Cheapskates Club membership.
The Cheapskate's Club website is over 2,000 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.
Enter your tip here
========================================
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. On the Menu with Anne
Anne is away this week, so here's a post from the What's for Dinner archives.
Good morning Cheapskaters,
I hope you managed to eat well on a budget last week.
I've been thinking about eating and sticking to my grocery budget this week, especially as I'm trying really, really hard to stick to the spending freeze (only a few days to go, woo hoo).
When I first started this Cheapskates thing (thanks Cath) I would stick to my grocery budget ($100 a week, there are 4 of us) and spend it to the cent, but never, ever go over. It was great, we always had lots of food in the house and no one was hungry or bored.
So what changed? Well the boys grew (as boys are want to), I became tired (as old ladies are want to), DH just trundled along as usual (as DHs are want to) and life just generally became a little ho hum, to me anyway.
It occurred to me as I was pondering this post while I sipped my morning wake-me-up that the only thing that really changed was me - or rather my attitude to our grocery budget, meal planning and cooking.
The last couple of weeks, when I've been "not spending" on grocery shopping, I've felt that little frisson of a thrill again. Feeding my family has become exciting and fun once more - the challenge is there to stick to my grocery budget and keep enough food in the house so the troops don't revolt (I don't want revolting troops ).
I have actually enjoyed getting our meals, even making lunches which was boring me to almost tears.
I am having fun counting the money I am not spending on takeaway. We've only had one takeaway meal this month, and it was only because we haven't had any takeaway/junk/convenience type meal, no one had asked for it and I did have a back-up meal planned, it's now in the freezer for next month.
I've added the money I haven't spent to my savings, have you seen my ticker grow?
Yes, I am back on the meal planning bandwagon and thoroughly enjoying it.
So with that in mind, this is what my family will be eating this week:
Sunday
Breakfast: Pancakes with banana and pancake syrup
Lunch: Salad sandwiches (bought bread, homemade on the way)
Dinner: Fajitas with homemade tortillas (steak, capsicum, onion, fajita seasoning)
Monday
Breakfast: Cereal, toast
Lunch: Wraps using the rest of the tortillas (salad, cheese)
Dinner: Curried beef & steamed rice
Tuesday
Breakfast: Cereal, toast
Lunch: Rolls (salad, corned beef from the freezer that was cooked yesterday)
Dinner: Corned beef, yellow mash, carrots, peas, broccoli, mustard sauce
Wednesday
Breakfast: Cereal toast
Lunch: Sandwiches (corned beef, tomato, and mustard)
Dinner: Spag bol and garlic rolls
Thursday
Breakfast: Cereal, toast
Lunch: Crackers with cheese slices
Dinner: Steak, salad
Friday
Breakfast: Cereal, toast
Lunch: Salad sandwiches
Dinner: Homemade mini pizzas
Saturday
Breakfast: Scrambled eggs on toast
Lunch: Toasted sandwiches (baked beans/cheese/spaghetti/braised steak & onions)
Dinner: Haystacks
Snacks:
Lunchbox Cookies
Caramel Slice
Savoury Twists
Dip
Apples, oranges, bananas & mandarins
Boiled fruit cake
I've done my pantry/fridge/freezer inventories and I don't need to buy A SINGLE THING to stick to this meal plan!
I can't wait to add this week's grocery money to my ticker and savings account!
I hope you join me on the meal planning bandwagon, the more the merrier and the more the savings grow!
There are over 1,400 other great money saving meal ideas in the Recipe File
========================================
6. The $300 a Month Food Challenge with Wendy
Wendy is having a well-deserved break for the next few weeks so we are going to revisit the $300 a Month Food Challenge Archives.
Hello fellow Cheapskaters. Welcome to a new week of hunting down bargains. This month I think I've gone over the $300 by about $30. I did have a lot of baking ingredients on my shopping list and last month’s list was under by $40 so it evens out in the end.
On the weekend I catered for my birthday. I don't include food bought for special occasions in my $300. This would be too hard but I limit the damage by trying to make dishes that I already have the ingredients for - or at least most of them.
So the menu for Saturday's bbq tea was -
lamb chops - bought at $5.99 kg the tray cost $9
sausages we already had in the freezer
rissoles from mince we already had in the freezer
mushrooms
onions
bread stick
tossed salad - lettuce from the garden
creamy pasta salad - dressing is on sale at $1.67 approx. I added extra pasta for a bigger dish
boiled eggs
homemade birthday cake
choc coated strawberries
lemon slice
muesli bar slice
a couple of bottles of soft drink
50 /50 cordial
jug of water
tea / coffee
The only thing I lashed out on were the chops and strawberries. Everything else I already had or had bought on my regular fruit and veg run to the market. This food fed 11 people. We were all full and there are plenty of leftovers for tea tonight making it an even cheaper birthday meal as it is doing 2 meals.
How do you cater for family dos? Do you go over the top and are eating leftovers for the next week? Or do you go budget friendly?
Do you have any special dishes you like to make for special occasions?
Be encouraged!!!
The $300 a Month Food Challenge
The Post that Started it All
========================================
7. Cheapskates Buzz
This week's hot forum topics
Are Whole Chickens Really Cheaper?
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2725-Are-whole-chickens-really-cheaper&p=47340#post47340
TLC for Pets
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?1996-TLC-for-Pets
Waist Watchers (again)
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2500-Waist-Watchers-(again)
Most popular blog posts this week
It's Worthwhile to Haggle
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2011/11/its-worthwhile-to-haggle.html
Chores for Sale
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2012/11/chores-for-sale.html
Keeping Your Cool over Lettuce
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2012/02/keeping-your-cool-over-lettuce.html
========================================
8. Member's Featured Blog
Platinum Cheapskates Club members have their very own Cheapskating blogs, and they are wonderful and inspirational and encouraging and even funny. This week's featured blog is written by School.
That will Teach Me!
The day after I posted my first blog describing the financial disaster I had gotten myself into, my husband was told that the contract his company had for the site he worked at had been terminated and he only had 3 weeks left of work. Do you know what my first thought was? "That will teach me for spending all our hard earned savings!"
I know this sounds ridiculous but I almost laughed at the irony of the situation and how life keeps teaching us lessons until we learn them.
Well this year I will learn them!
I then swung into action and created a new, leaner but very doable budget and felt immediately at peace with the whole thing and whatever was to happen.
Cut my grocery budget down, finally did a menu plan and proper grocery list (first time in a year!) and low and behold got a pantry full of food for $35 less than the cash I took to the grocery store.
It's been six days since my first blog and apart from groceries and some necessary medications I have not spent a single unnecessary cent.
I'm feeling better already!
Login to read more Cheapskates Club member blogs
========================================
9. Last Week's Question
Last week's question was from Hazel who wrote
"My husband and I are considering installing solar panels on our roof and would like some help as to the best deals etc.
Thank you."
Wendy Gill answered
Do lots of research and try to buy as much kW as your budget allows or get an inverter that lets you add more panels when money permits. It is costly adding extra panels later as you have to get a bigger inverter.
Kath Alderwick answered
Do your homework: check prices and look at reviews. I have had solar panels for 2-1/2 years. Check the invertor box that they put on the outside on a wall and check how much do they charge after 2 years or so for service calls just to make sure everything is working as it should be? It's a bit of a process to research and then have them installed, but in the end it is worthwhile.
Do you have a question that needs an answer?
Send us your question and receive the combined knowledge of your fellow Cheapskates to solve your problem!
Ask Your Question
========================================
10. This Week's Question
Christina writes
"I am preparing for my baby which will be born in 6 months. I am wondering what are some ways I can scrimp and save any money possible? The thought of going down to one wage is daunting. Is there any good advice for things I should do to prepare without breaking the bank?"
Do you have the answer?
If you have a suggestion or idea for Christina let us know. We'll enter your answer into our Tip of the Week competition, with a one-year membership to the Cheapskates Club as the prize too.
Send your answer
========================================
11. Join the Cheapskates Club
For just 10 cents a day you can join the Cheapskates Club and get exclusive access to the Cheapskate Journal, the monthly e-journal that shows you how to cut the costs of everyday living and still have fun.
Joining the Cheapskates Club gives you 24/7 access to the Members Centre with 1000's of money saving tips and articles.
Click here to join the Cheapskates Club today!
http://www.cheapskates.com.au/members/join_form.cfm?item_id=2271
========================================
12. Gift Memberships
Your family and friends will thank you for a whole year when you give them a Platinum Cheapskates Club membership as a gift.
It's so simple: just select the number of gift memberships required, click the Buy Now button and complete the Gift Membership order form (you must use this form to order gift memberships) and we'll get in touch with you to confirm the gift subscriptions.
Click here to order a gift membership right now!
http://www.cheapskates.com.au/pages/default.cfm?page_id=43740
========================================
13. Frequently Asked Questions
How do I change my email address?
This one is easy. Members can update their email address or any other details by clicking on "Edit Profile" directly under their membership number after they have logged in to the Member's Centre. Subscribers to our free newsletter can use the Change Your Address form (under Customer Service in the menu) and fill it out. Once you've filled it in click the send button and we'll do the rest. Please remember to include your old email address so we can find it in the list as well as the new one.
How do I know when my membership should be renewed?
When you login to the Member's Centre you will be told how many days of membership you have left once you have 30 days left. Just click on the link to renew and your membership will just continue on, uninterrupted.
What will you do with my email address?
We never rent, trade or sell our email list to anyone for any reason whatsoever. You'll never get an unsolicited email from a stranger as a result of joining this list.
Read our privacy policy
How Did You Get on Our List?
You signed up to receive our Free Newsletter at our Cheapskates Club Web site or are a Platinum Cheapskates Club member
========================================
14. Contact Details
The Cheapskates Club -
Showing you how to live life
debt free, cashed up and laughing!
PO Box 5077 Studfield Vic 3152
www.cheapskates.com.au
[email protected]
========================================
1. Cath's Corner
2. In the Tip Store - Organizing Power Cords, Kill Fungus and Mildew for Good, Made with Love Not $
3. Cheapskate's Winning Tip - Vegetable, Fruit, Eggs & Garden Item Swaps
4. Submit Your Tip - Share your favourite Cheapskating tip here
5. On the Menu with Anne - Back on the Meal Planning Bandwagon
6. The $300 a Month Food Challenge with Wendy - Catering for a family do
7. Cheapskates Buzz - Cheapskaters are talking in the Forum and on Cath's blog
8. Member's Featured Blog - That will teach me!
9. Last Week's Question - What's the deal with solar panels?
10. This Week's Question - Please help me to save for a new baby
11. Join the Cheapskates Club
12. Gift Memberships
13. Frequently Asked Questions
14. Contact Details
1. Cath's Corner
Hello Cheapskaters,
This week's newsletter is huge, so I won't keep you from it. With tips to save you money and a full meal plan for one week from Anne, a $300 Food Challenge post from the Archives, lots to read on the blog and in the Member's forum and a whole lot more there is plenty to get through.
Have a great week everyone and
Happy Cheapskating,
Cath
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.
http://www.cheapskates.com.au/pages/group/default.cfm?group_id=4291&list=Full
========================================
2. From The Tip Store
Organizing Power Cords
Approximate $ Savings: $50c
Use the Clips from loaves of bread etc. And write which power cord is e.g.: TV, DVD player, Surround Sound, Stereo etc. Clip them to each lead so when you go to the power board you will know which 1 to remove by the label. And not unplug unnecessary lead.
Contributed by Michelle Goodall
Kill Fungus and Mildew for Good
Take 1 part Hydrogen Peroxide and 2 parts water. Put in a clean empty spray bottle and spray on your affected walls. Let it stand a little while, respray as needed.
Contributed by Isabel Sebastiao-Vieira
Made with Love Not $
I have four grandchildren aged 13, 12, 10 and 10. Like many children they have the latest in electronics and are 'privileged' as they rarely go without anything. Their experience of giving Christmas gifts is to obtain money from dad for mum's gift and from mum for dad's gift. My suggestion to them is that their parents would appreciate a gift that they had earned money for themselves or something they had made. They decided they would cook their parents' favourite treats. They 13 year old found a recipe online for macarons for her grandfather, the 12 year old decided to make rocky road for his father using milk chocolate, cashews, red jellies and marshmallows and the 10 year old made earthquake gingerbread biscuits for his mother. The other 10 year old was not interested in being involved and said he would use his own cash to purchase gifts. One obstacle was who would pay for the ingredients. Comments of "you have all that's needed in your pantry!" My response was "but I had to pay for them." We added up the cost of the ingredients and negotiated some time weeding my garden to pay for them. The end result was three very pleased and proud children, some beautifully presented gifts, and impressed parents and grandparent, (the children could not wait until Christmas Day to give their gifts) and I hope a gentle lesson.
Contributed by Carol Woolcock
There are more than 11,000 great tips in the Tip Store
========================================
3. Cheapskate's Winning Tip
This week's winning tip is from Deborah Hunter-Kells. Deborah has won a one year Platinum Cheapskates Club membership for submitting her winning tip.
Vegetable, Fruit, Eggs & Garden Item Swaps
In our nearby suburb we hold this approximately every 3 weeks. Everyone benefits. We bring glut from the garden - including a variety of vegetables, fruits, herbs and eggs. Some of the ladies make jams, jellies and marmalades to swap. Some swap egg cartons and plant containers. Anything you can use. There seems to be so much that everyone comes out in front since it saves wasting what you have too much of. Of note - we swap in a little area in front of a restaurant and the chef makes up a large dish for us made up of several ingredients we provide. Yum.
Congratulations Deborah, I hope you enjoy your Cheapskates Club membership.
The Cheapskate's Club website is over 2,000 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.
Enter your tip here
========================================
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. On the Menu with Anne
Anne is away this week, so here's a post from the What's for Dinner archives.
Good morning Cheapskaters,
I hope you managed to eat well on a budget last week.
I've been thinking about eating and sticking to my grocery budget this week, especially as I'm trying really, really hard to stick to the spending freeze (only a few days to go, woo hoo).
When I first started this Cheapskates thing (thanks Cath) I would stick to my grocery budget ($100 a week, there are 4 of us) and spend it to the cent, but never, ever go over. It was great, we always had lots of food in the house and no one was hungry or bored.
So what changed? Well the boys grew (as boys are want to), I became tired (as old ladies are want to), DH just trundled along as usual (as DHs are want to) and life just generally became a little ho hum, to me anyway.
It occurred to me as I was pondering this post while I sipped my morning wake-me-up that the only thing that really changed was me - or rather my attitude to our grocery budget, meal planning and cooking.
The last couple of weeks, when I've been "not spending" on grocery shopping, I've felt that little frisson of a thrill again. Feeding my family has become exciting and fun once more - the challenge is there to stick to my grocery budget and keep enough food in the house so the troops don't revolt (I don't want revolting troops ).
I have actually enjoyed getting our meals, even making lunches which was boring me to almost tears.
I am having fun counting the money I am not spending on takeaway. We've only had one takeaway meal this month, and it was only because we haven't had any takeaway/junk/convenience type meal, no one had asked for it and I did have a back-up meal planned, it's now in the freezer for next month.
I've added the money I haven't spent to my savings, have you seen my ticker grow?
Yes, I am back on the meal planning bandwagon and thoroughly enjoying it.
So with that in mind, this is what my family will be eating this week:
Sunday
Breakfast: Pancakes with banana and pancake syrup
Lunch: Salad sandwiches (bought bread, homemade on the way)
Dinner: Fajitas with homemade tortillas (steak, capsicum, onion, fajita seasoning)
Monday
Breakfast: Cereal, toast
Lunch: Wraps using the rest of the tortillas (salad, cheese)
Dinner: Curried beef & steamed rice
Tuesday
Breakfast: Cereal, toast
Lunch: Rolls (salad, corned beef from the freezer that was cooked yesterday)
Dinner: Corned beef, yellow mash, carrots, peas, broccoli, mustard sauce
Wednesday
Breakfast: Cereal toast
Lunch: Sandwiches (corned beef, tomato, and mustard)
Dinner: Spag bol and garlic rolls
Thursday
Breakfast: Cereal, toast
Lunch: Crackers with cheese slices
Dinner: Steak, salad
Friday
Breakfast: Cereal, toast
Lunch: Salad sandwiches
Dinner: Homemade mini pizzas
Saturday
Breakfast: Scrambled eggs on toast
Lunch: Toasted sandwiches (baked beans/cheese/spaghetti/braised steak & onions)
Dinner: Haystacks
Snacks:
Lunchbox Cookies
Caramel Slice
Savoury Twists
Dip
Apples, oranges, bananas & mandarins
Boiled fruit cake
I've done my pantry/fridge/freezer inventories and I don't need to buy A SINGLE THING to stick to this meal plan!
I can't wait to add this week's grocery money to my ticker and savings account!
I hope you join me on the meal planning bandwagon, the more the merrier and the more the savings grow!
There are over 1,400 other great money saving meal ideas in the Recipe File
========================================
6. The $300 a Month Food Challenge with Wendy
Wendy is having a well-deserved break for the next few weeks so we are going to revisit the $300 a Month Food Challenge Archives.
Hello fellow Cheapskaters. Welcome to a new week of hunting down bargains. This month I think I've gone over the $300 by about $30. I did have a lot of baking ingredients on my shopping list and last month’s list was under by $40 so it evens out in the end.
On the weekend I catered for my birthday. I don't include food bought for special occasions in my $300. This would be too hard but I limit the damage by trying to make dishes that I already have the ingredients for - or at least most of them.
So the menu for Saturday's bbq tea was -
lamb chops - bought at $5.99 kg the tray cost $9
sausages we already had in the freezer
rissoles from mince we already had in the freezer
mushrooms
onions
bread stick
tossed salad - lettuce from the garden
creamy pasta salad - dressing is on sale at $1.67 approx. I added extra pasta for a bigger dish
boiled eggs
homemade birthday cake
choc coated strawberries
lemon slice
muesli bar slice
a couple of bottles of soft drink
50 /50 cordial
jug of water
tea / coffee
The only thing I lashed out on were the chops and strawberries. Everything else I already had or had bought on my regular fruit and veg run to the market. This food fed 11 people. We were all full and there are plenty of leftovers for tea tonight making it an even cheaper birthday meal as it is doing 2 meals.
How do you cater for family dos? Do you go over the top and are eating leftovers for the next week? Or do you go budget friendly?
Do you have any special dishes you like to make for special occasions?
Be encouraged!!!
The $300 a Month Food Challenge
The Post that Started it All
========================================
7. Cheapskates Buzz
This week's hot forum topics
Are Whole Chickens Really Cheaper?
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2725-Are-whole-chickens-really-cheaper&p=47340#post47340
TLC for Pets
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?1996-TLC-for-Pets
Waist Watchers (again)
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2500-Waist-Watchers-(again)
Most popular blog posts this week
It's Worthwhile to Haggle
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2011/11/its-worthwhile-to-haggle.html
Chores for Sale
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2012/11/chores-for-sale.html
Keeping Your Cool over Lettuce
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2012/02/keeping-your-cool-over-lettuce.html
========================================
8. Member's Featured Blog
Platinum Cheapskates Club members have their very own Cheapskating blogs, and they are wonderful and inspirational and encouraging and even funny. This week's featured blog is written by School.
That will Teach Me!
The day after I posted my first blog describing the financial disaster I had gotten myself into, my husband was told that the contract his company had for the site he worked at had been terminated and he only had 3 weeks left of work. Do you know what my first thought was? "That will teach me for spending all our hard earned savings!"
I know this sounds ridiculous but I almost laughed at the irony of the situation and how life keeps teaching us lessons until we learn them.
Well this year I will learn them!
I then swung into action and created a new, leaner but very doable budget and felt immediately at peace with the whole thing and whatever was to happen.
Cut my grocery budget down, finally did a menu plan and proper grocery list (first time in a year!) and low and behold got a pantry full of food for $35 less than the cash I took to the grocery store.
It's been six days since my first blog and apart from groceries and some necessary medications I have not spent a single unnecessary cent.
I'm feeling better already!
Login to read more Cheapskates Club member blogs
========================================
9. Last Week's Question
Last week's question was from Hazel who wrote
"My husband and I are considering installing solar panels on our roof and would like some help as to the best deals etc.
Thank you."
Wendy Gill answered
Do lots of research and try to buy as much kW as your budget allows or get an inverter that lets you add more panels when money permits. It is costly adding extra panels later as you have to get a bigger inverter.
Kath Alderwick answered
Do your homework: check prices and look at reviews. I have had solar panels for 2-1/2 years. Check the invertor box that they put on the outside on a wall and check how much do they charge after 2 years or so for service calls just to make sure everything is working as it should be? It's a bit of a process to research and then have them installed, but in the end it is worthwhile.
Do you have a question that needs an answer?
Send us your question and receive the combined knowledge of your fellow Cheapskates to solve your problem!
Ask Your Question
========================================
10. This Week's Question
Christina writes
"I am preparing for my baby which will be born in 6 months. I am wondering what are some ways I can scrimp and save any money possible? The thought of going down to one wage is daunting. Is there any good advice for things I should do to prepare without breaking the bank?"
Do you have the answer?
If you have a suggestion or idea for Christina let us know. We'll enter your answer into our Tip of the Week competition, with a one-year membership to the Cheapskates Club as the prize too.
Send your answer
========================================
11. Join the Cheapskates Club
For just 10 cents a day you can join the Cheapskates Club and get exclusive access to the Cheapskate Journal, the monthly e-journal that shows you how to cut the costs of everyday living and still have fun.
Joining the Cheapskates Club gives you 24/7 access to the Members Centre with 1000's of money saving tips and articles.
Click here to join the Cheapskates Club today!
http://www.cheapskates.com.au/members/join_form.cfm?item_id=2271
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12. Gift Memberships
Your family and friends will thank you for a whole year when you give them a Platinum Cheapskates Club membership as a gift.
It's so simple: just select the number of gift memberships required, click the Buy Now button and complete the Gift Membership order form (you must use this form to order gift memberships) and we'll get in touch with you to confirm the gift subscriptions.
Click here to order a gift membership right now!
http://www.cheapskates.com.au/pages/default.cfm?page_id=43740
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13. Frequently Asked Questions
How do I change my email address?
This one is easy. Members can update their email address or any other details by clicking on "Edit Profile" directly under their membership number after they have logged in to the Member's Centre. Subscribers to our free newsletter can use the Change Your Address form (under Customer Service in the menu) and fill it out. Once you've filled it in click the send button and we'll do the rest. Please remember to include your old email address so we can find it in the list as well as the new one.
How do I know when my membership should be renewed?
When you login to the Member's Centre you will be told how many days of membership you have left once you have 30 days left. Just click on the link to renew and your membership will just continue on, uninterrupted.
What will you do with my email address?
We never rent, trade or sell our email list to anyone for any reason whatsoever. You'll never get an unsolicited email from a stranger as a result of joining this list.
Read our privacy policy
How Did You Get on Our List?
You signed up to receive our Free Newsletter at our Cheapskates Club Web site or are a Platinum Cheapskates Club member
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14. Contact Details
The Cheapskates Club -
Showing you how to live life
debt free, cashed up and laughing!
PO Box 5077 Studfield Vic 3152
www.cheapskates.com.au
[email protected]
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