Your Cheapskates Club Newsletter 03:17
In this newsletter
1. Cath's Corner
2. In the Tip Store - Don't get Ripped Off Buying Cushion Inserts; Reaping the Bounty with Food Swaps; Enjoy Constant Discounts on Gift Cards
3. You'll Fall in Love with Aldi Workshops - Three exciting new workshops coming up
4. Share Your Tips - Share your favourite money, time and energy saving tip here
5. On the Menu - Watermelon and Feta Salad
6. The $300 a Month Food Challenge - Meal Planning 101
7. Cheapskates Buzz - Cheapskaters are talking in the Forum and on Cath's blog
8. Member's Featured Blog - Week 1 of the Revolution
9. Last Week's Question - Travel help needed
10. This Week's Question - I need a solution to smelly pants
11. Ask Cath
12. Join the Cheapskates Club
13. Frequently Asked Questions
14. Contact Details
1. Cath's Corner
Hello Cheapskaters,
Well this week flew by! I've been flat chat weeding and making plans for three exciting new workshops to be held in February. The details are further down the page, just keep scrolling.
I mentioned weeding. Boy, have I been weeding. This odd weather we're having sure is good for weeds. I just get one patch done and move on to the next and I the first patch is looking weedy again.
It's also been good for the zucchini. I've been picking at least one a day, of an average size. Then I didn't get a chance for a day and bazinga! I picked two giant, and I mean giant, zucchini. They've been grated and frozen to use in casseroles and slices later. It really does do to pay attention to the garden every day, even if it's just for a few minutes, or it can very quickly get out of control.
Our finances are like that. When we look after them regularly, we're always in control. But neglect them, even for just a few days, and they can very easily get out of control, with spur-of=the-moment spending or late fees or even excess ATM withdrawals.
I've made a promise to myself to spend at least 10 minutes every day tending to the garden to keep it under control. Why don't you make a promise to yourself to spend just 5 minutes every day keeping track of your finances in 2017? I guarantee that you'll have control of your finances in just a few days.
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!
2. From The Tip Store
Don't get Ripped Off Buying Cushion Inserts
I can't believe the money some companies are asking for small, flat cushion inserts. I was given some beautiful large cushion covers and I went on a mission to buy some inserts for them to complete a new look for my loungeroom. After discovering the inserts were going to cost me $15+ each, I ended up in Kmart where I found a two pack of pillows for $5. I took them home, squished them into the size I wanted, stitched them up and cut off the extra cover. I now have my new cushions and they look fantastic, they are twice the plumpness of the 'infills'.... I ended up with all of them filled for well under the cost of what the other places wanted for their cushion inserts and I saved over $100.
Contributed by Cathy
Reaping the Bounty with Food Swaps
Attending food swaps allows for sharing of excess home grown produce - fruit, veggies, plants, composting needs, worm wee and herbs. A social event - local community members come together to share their knowledge, food and time. The website below has a list of Eastern 'Burbs swaps - they happen all over Melbourne and can be set up easily with support from an established swap.
Contributed by Cathy Lyons
Website: http://localfoodconnect.org.au/food-swaps/where-they-are/
Editor's note: I love food swaps. The Crafty Mums get together once a month and one of our favourite parts of the day is the swap table. We share garden cuttings, seedlings and seeds as well as produce from our gardens. We also share the jams and pickles we make too. Cath
Enjoy Constant Discounts on Gift Cards
I always buy iTunes cards at a discounted price thanks to a handy website I found that keeps track of when iTunes cards are on sale at all the different retailers. I have found the site invaluable when buying presents for teenagers. I simply check for the best deals currently available and always get between 10% and 25% off the full retail price. I have been following this for about eight months, and during that time there have only been a few weeks where there wasn't a sale on somewhere. The sites called 'Gift cards on Sale' and is also available on Facebook and Twitter.
Contributed by Rebecca
Website: http://www.giftcardsonsale.com.au/
There are currently more than 12,000 great tips in the Tip Store
3. You'll fall in love with aldi workshops
Join me in Perth or Adelaide in February at these very special Cheapskates Workshops where I will share the secrets to getting the very best from Aldi and to slashing thousands of dollars off your grocery budget every year!
I'll be sharing my shopping list, how I shop at Aldi, my favourite Aldi products and the secrets to shopping at Aldi that will slash your grocery budget, leaving more cash in your purse to spend on the things you enjoy.
These three exciting workshops which will take place in store - yes, you'll be learning as you shop and we'll have the store to ourselves!
Workshop 1 - Alid Harrisdale
Workshop 2 - Aldi Mandurah
Workshop 3 - Aldi West Lakes
Click here for more information and to book your spot:
4. Submit your tip
The Cheapskate's Club website is over 3,000 pages of money saving hints, tips and ideas. Let's get together and make the Cheapskates Club Australia's largest online hint, tip and idea library. Share your favourite money saving, time saving or energy saving hint and be in the running to win a one-year membership to The Cheapskate Club. We publish a Winning Tip each Thursday, so enter your great money, time or energy saving idea now.
Share your favourite hint or tip that saves money, time and energy and be in the running to win a one-year subscription to The Cheapskate Journal.
Remember, you have to be in it to win it!
Submit your tip
5. On the Menu
Watermelon and Feta Salad
Summer is salad season, but salad doesn't have to be boring lettuce and tomato on a plate or that Australian favourite, coleslaw. If you'd like to try something different try this watermelon and feta salad. Serve it icy cold from the fridge on its own as a starter or as a side to grilled chicken.
Ingredients:
Juice of 2 limes
1 large red onion, cut in half then thinly sliced
1 medium watermelon, cut into 2cm cubes (about 15 cups)
1 large cucumber, peeled and cubed
250g feta cheese, crumbled
1/2 cup fresh coriander, finely shredded
cracked black pepper
sea salt
Method:
In a small bowl, pour lime juice over red onion and set aside to marinate. In a large bowl very gently combine the watermelon, cucumber, feta cheese and coriander. Season with black pepper. Use your fingers to gently toss the watermelon salad with marinated onions. Chill until ready to serve. Season with sea salt just before serving.
This makes a BIG salad, so when I'm making it for a family dinner I halve the recipe. And if you need a salad for a party or barbecue or special occasion, this one is spectacular and always a hit.
This week we will be eating:
Sunday: Roast Beef
Monday: Fish, wedges, coleslaw
Tuesday: Refrigerator Lasagne
Wednesday: Thai chicken curry, rice
Thursday: MOO Pizza
Friday: Tacos
Saturday: Sausage rolls, salad
In the fruit bowl: kiwi fruit, bananas
In the cake tin: chocolate biscuits, crackers, fruit mince pies
There are over 1,500 other great money saving meal ideas in the Recipe File.
6. The $300 a Month Food Challenge
Meal Planning 101
If you really want to stick to your grocery budget you need to plan your meals. Without a meal plan you really can't write a shopping list that will see you through the month. Without a meal plan it's so much easier to pick up take-away or eat out or spend a fortune at the supermarket on the way home.
To anyone who does it regularly, menu planning is simple. To someone who has never tried it before it can be horribly daunting. It's not hard and if you've done it once, it's a breeze.
A quick and simple trick that can really speed things up is to assign a type of meal to each day of the week i.e. Sunday – roast, Monday – pasta, Tuesday – fish, Wednesday – mince, Thursday – takeaway (either bought or from Mum's Kitchen), Friday – leftovers, Saturday – soup and sandwiches.
If you've followed my meal plan each week you'll have noticed that Sunday is always a roast, Tuesday is a pasta dish, Wednesday we have something a little spicier (Hannah works late and she doesn't like spicy food) and Thursday is MOO pizza (everyone makes their own and cleans up too - it's my night off). The other three days I slot in meals to use up what is leftover in the fridge and freezer.
If you do this and nothing else, you at least know what to take out of the freezer in the morning. You can spend the day thinking of ways to prepare it if you need to.
The next step is to actually assign recipes to the meal i.e. Roast- stuffed chicken, lamb with rosemary and garlic mustard coated beef; Pasta - spag bol, lasagne, Chicken Alfredo Roll-ups, Vegetable Pasta Bake etc. Doing this helps with your shopping list – you'll know exactly what you need to buy to cook these meals.
When you've mastered these two steps, you can get adventurous and assign new recipes to the meals. Start with one new recipe a week and aim for a day when you know you'll have time to spend in the kitchen – a Sunday night dinner could become a regular new recipe night in your house.
If you or your family have favourite meals, you can safely repeat them during the cycle. My family love pizza. It's easy to make, cheap and great for using up little bits of leftovers and Thursday night is a hectic night in our household, so MOO pizza on Thursday suits us. Everyone knows what's for dinner, there are no complaints, everyone makes their own to their taste and best of all they all clean up the kitchen. Thursday night really is my night off.
Some tips to help you:
• Write your menu down
• Start small – a week if you're really unsure, two weeks if you have a bit more confidence.
• Put your menu on the fridge so everyone will know what's for dinner.
• Involve the family – let everyone choose a favourite meal. Then tell them that they have to prepare it!
• Choose recipes within your cooking experience.
• Make a note of the new dishes you like – mark them as keepers.
• Once you have your fortnight menu under control – go for the month. A whole day of dinners planned and you'll really be on the way to mastering Menu Planning. And once you've mastered a month why not go for a year - I love spending a couple of hours in December planning what we'll be eating for the next 12 months and my family loves being able to check the meal plan on the fridge to see what's coming up.
The $300 a Month Food Challenge
The Post that Started it All
7. Cheapskates Buzz
Most popular forum posts this week
What did you do Today that Saved you Money?
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?3452-What-did-you-do-today-that-saved-you-money
The Greatest Organizer I Have Ever Seen!!!
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?63-The-greatest-organizer-I-have-ever-seen-!!!
The Stash
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?3477-The-Stash
Most popular blog posts this week
Teaching Kids to Manage Money
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2013/10/teaching-kids-to-manage-money.html
6 Tips to Save on Back-to-School Supplies
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2015/01/pencils-pads-pens-and-notebooks-mean.html
Some things are just Better Homemade
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2013/07/some-things-are-just-better-homemade.html
8. Members 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 KarenE.
Week 1 of the Revolution
Well my first week arrived today (thankyou Cath) and I have to say I actually answered all the questions a lot easier than last year.
All except one anyway and that one still got me.
What are my financial strengths??? Still have to say that I can't think of a single thing; I know I've improved on last year but I still cannot answer that question and I've decided that I'm not going to get upset about it this time but every week that goes by from now on I'll re- ask it and I know I'll have an answer soon.
So apart from that, let the Revolution begin (again).
Login to read more Cheapskates Club Member blogs
9. Last Week's Question
Last week's question was from Gina wrote
"I've been asked to attend a conference in San Francisco in April. My employer will pay my accommodation and conference fees, but he's asked me to pay my air fares. I work for a small (very small) business so I'm excited to be asked to attend. I'm also happy to pay my air fares and spending money, but I've never travelled overseas before. Any suggestions so I can get the best deal on air fares and transport while I'm there (taxi? bus? train?). And lastly, I'll have a week to myself after the conference so what should I see and do while I'm there? I'll be on my own, it's a little scary, but exciting too. Thanks in advance for all everyone's help."
I just love how Cheapskaters share. This week's answers cover everything from fares to food to accommodation to sightseeing, transport, even spending money and saving receipts for tax time. There were so many answers, many of them really detailed. You can read all the answers to Gina's question on the Latest Tips page.
Deb Burton answered
Regarding air fares, I would go to Webjet and check out their fares. Then I would go to the airline's site saving the fees that Webjet charge. It's also a good idea to double check with a couple of travel agents as they will often match a price found on the net.
Kate Crawford answered
I have found some useful phone apps to help whilst travelling, which I'd like to share.
Find near me: helps you find shops, ATMs, coffee, restaurants, bus stops, doctors, and pretty much anything else in the area you're staying.
Tipulator: helps you work out the amount to tip in countries that underpay staff (like America) and staff rely upon your generosity to make ends meet.
Safe city: helps you not wander into dangerous suburbs, where you might get mugged or shot.
Travel safe: helps you find emergency numbers for police, fire, and ambulances in an instant.
These were all free apps on my iPhone. Have a great trip knowing you can be safe and know where you're going!
BJ Jones answered
To get to your hotel from anywhere you land in a USA airport, there are usually 'Super Shuttle', 'Reddy to Go' or an equivalent. These are shared mini-buses which usually cost (worst I had was $20USD in LA) to take you direct to your hotel. You usually get a deal if you book your return with them as well. You may be able to book from here, but there is usually no problem getting one when you get out of arrivals unless you arrive late at night, then pre-booking is a must.
Irene Wilkinson answered
What a great trip you are going to have. First get in touch with the hotel and ask them if they have a shuttle service from the airport to hotel, most do. This is the cheapest, easiest stress free way to get to the hotel. Public transport is easy. Get an all-round ticket and let the bus take you on a round trip. Everyone is helpful to show off their city, as ask for directions. They love Aussies.
Emily Smith answered
I have some suggestions about your access to money while you're in the USA. Check what your bank has on offer as far as Travel Money Cards go. They can save you a LOT of money in international fees and currency conversion fees. You load them with the local currency and use the card like a normal ATM card. Also, if it's with your regular bank, you don't have to keep all of your spending money on your card. You can transfer it as needed through your internet banking facility, and it should be available immediately. That can help you stick to your daily budget if you only have so much cash loaded on to your card. Also, if you have a credit card with your bank, they may offer complimentary international travel insurance as a feature of your credit card. This can save you hundreds! My husband and I paid $200 each for travel insurance for our honeymoon, and had we realised that our card offered complimentary insurance, it would have "cost" us $89 (our credit card annual fee). A saving of $311 there!
Em Riley answered
when looking at flights consider booking into Los Angeles (LAX) and then booking a domestic carrier from LAX to SFO separately. You can find these on expedia.com easily and potentially save $100 or more. Just leave yourself a lot of time between connections at LAX if you do this as you'll need to clear customs and switch terminals and LAX is very big and not laid out well. 2.5 to 3 hours of a layover should be enough, with 4 hours giving you enough to stretch your legs and have a bite to eat. There are also trains that run between LA and San Francisco if you want to treat that as part of the experience.
10. This Week's Question
Audrey writes
"Hello, I recently bought two pairs of jeans at a good price. However, they have a terrible smell to them. The lady at the shop said it was just a coating on the denim and would disappear with washing. I have washed them over and over (around 5 times) but the smell is still there. It makes them unwearable but I would love to be able to get rid of the smell and wear them as they are a wonderful fit and very comfy. Please, can anyone help me?
Do you have the answer?
If you can help Audrey 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. Ask Cath
We have lots of resources to help you as you live the Cheapskates way but if you didn't find the answer to your question in our extensive archives please just drop me a note with your question.
I read and answer all questions, either in an email to you, in my weekly newsletter, the monthly Journal or by creating blog posts and other resources to help you (and other Cheapskaters).
Ask Your Question
12. Join the Cheapskates Club
For just 10 cents a day you can join the Cheapskates Club and get exclusive access to the Cheapskate Journal, the monthly e-journal that shows you how to cut the costs of everyday living and still have fun.
Joining the Cheapskates Club gives you 24/7 access to the Members Centre with 1000's of money saving tips and articles.
Click here to join the Cheapskates Club today!
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.cheapskatesclub.net
1. Cath's Corner
2. In the Tip Store - Don't get Ripped Off Buying Cushion Inserts; Reaping the Bounty with Food Swaps; Enjoy Constant Discounts on Gift Cards
3. You'll Fall in Love with Aldi Workshops - Three exciting new workshops coming up
4. Share Your Tips - Share your favourite money, time and energy saving tip here
5. On the Menu - Watermelon and Feta Salad
6. The $300 a Month Food Challenge - Meal Planning 101
7. Cheapskates Buzz - Cheapskaters are talking in the Forum and on Cath's blog
8. Member's Featured Blog - Week 1 of the Revolution
9. Last Week's Question - Travel help needed
10. This Week's Question - I need a solution to smelly pants
11. Ask Cath
12. Join the Cheapskates Club
13. Frequently Asked Questions
14. Contact Details
1. Cath's Corner
Hello Cheapskaters,
Well this week flew by! I've been flat chat weeding and making plans for three exciting new workshops to be held in February. The details are further down the page, just keep scrolling.
I mentioned weeding. Boy, have I been weeding. This odd weather we're having sure is good for weeds. I just get one patch done and move on to the next and I the first patch is looking weedy again.
It's also been good for the zucchini. I've been picking at least one a day, of an average size. Then I didn't get a chance for a day and bazinga! I picked two giant, and I mean giant, zucchini. They've been grated and frozen to use in casseroles and slices later. It really does do to pay attention to the garden every day, even if it's just for a few minutes, or it can very quickly get out of control.
Our finances are like that. When we look after them regularly, we're always in control. But neglect them, even for just a few days, and they can very easily get out of control, with spur-of=the-moment spending or late fees or even excess ATM withdrawals.
I've made a promise to myself to spend at least 10 minutes every day tending to the garden to keep it under control. Why don't you make a promise to yourself to spend just 5 minutes every day keeping track of your finances in 2017? I guarantee that you'll have control of your finances in just a few days.
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!
2. From The Tip Store
Don't get Ripped Off Buying Cushion Inserts
I can't believe the money some companies are asking for small, flat cushion inserts. I was given some beautiful large cushion covers and I went on a mission to buy some inserts for them to complete a new look for my loungeroom. After discovering the inserts were going to cost me $15+ each, I ended up in Kmart where I found a two pack of pillows for $5. I took them home, squished them into the size I wanted, stitched them up and cut off the extra cover. I now have my new cushions and they look fantastic, they are twice the plumpness of the 'infills'.... I ended up with all of them filled for well under the cost of what the other places wanted for their cushion inserts and I saved over $100.
Contributed by Cathy
Reaping the Bounty with Food Swaps
Attending food swaps allows for sharing of excess home grown produce - fruit, veggies, plants, composting needs, worm wee and herbs. A social event - local community members come together to share their knowledge, food and time. The website below has a list of Eastern 'Burbs swaps - they happen all over Melbourne and can be set up easily with support from an established swap.
Contributed by Cathy Lyons
Website: http://localfoodconnect.org.au/food-swaps/where-they-are/
Editor's note: I love food swaps. The Crafty Mums get together once a month and one of our favourite parts of the day is the swap table. We share garden cuttings, seedlings and seeds as well as produce from our gardens. We also share the jams and pickles we make too. Cath
Enjoy Constant Discounts on Gift Cards
I always buy iTunes cards at a discounted price thanks to a handy website I found that keeps track of when iTunes cards are on sale at all the different retailers. I have found the site invaluable when buying presents for teenagers. I simply check for the best deals currently available and always get between 10% and 25% off the full retail price. I have been following this for about eight months, and during that time there have only been a few weeks where there wasn't a sale on somewhere. The sites called 'Gift cards on Sale' and is also available on Facebook and Twitter.
Contributed by Rebecca
Website: http://www.giftcardsonsale.com.au/
There are currently more than 12,000 great tips in the Tip Store
3. You'll fall in love with aldi workshops
Join me in Perth or Adelaide in February at these very special Cheapskates Workshops where I will share the secrets to getting the very best from Aldi and to slashing thousands of dollars off your grocery budget every year!
I'll be sharing my shopping list, how I shop at Aldi, my favourite Aldi products and the secrets to shopping at Aldi that will slash your grocery budget, leaving more cash in your purse to spend on the things you enjoy.
These three exciting workshops which will take place in store - yes, you'll be learning as you shop and we'll have the store to ourselves!
Workshop 1 - Alid Harrisdale
Workshop 2 - Aldi Mandurah
Workshop 3 - Aldi West Lakes
Click here for more information and to book your spot:
4. Submit your tip
The Cheapskate's Club website is over 3,000 pages of money saving hints, tips and ideas. Let's get together and make the Cheapskates Club Australia's largest online hint, tip and idea library. Share your favourite money saving, time saving or energy saving hint and be in the running to win a one-year membership to The Cheapskate Club. We publish a Winning Tip each Thursday, so enter your great money, time or energy saving idea now.
Share your favourite hint or tip that saves money, time and energy and be in the running to win a one-year subscription to The Cheapskate Journal.
Remember, you have to be in it to win it!
Submit your tip
5. On the Menu
Watermelon and Feta Salad
Summer is salad season, but salad doesn't have to be boring lettuce and tomato on a plate or that Australian favourite, coleslaw. If you'd like to try something different try this watermelon and feta salad. Serve it icy cold from the fridge on its own as a starter or as a side to grilled chicken.
Ingredients:
Juice of 2 limes
1 large red onion, cut in half then thinly sliced
1 medium watermelon, cut into 2cm cubes (about 15 cups)
1 large cucumber, peeled and cubed
250g feta cheese, crumbled
1/2 cup fresh coriander, finely shredded
cracked black pepper
sea salt
Method:
In a small bowl, pour lime juice over red onion and set aside to marinate. In a large bowl very gently combine the watermelon, cucumber, feta cheese and coriander. Season with black pepper. Use your fingers to gently toss the watermelon salad with marinated onions. Chill until ready to serve. Season with sea salt just before serving.
This makes a BIG salad, so when I'm making it for a family dinner I halve the recipe. And if you need a salad for a party or barbecue or special occasion, this one is spectacular and always a hit.
This week we will be eating:
Sunday: Roast Beef
Monday: Fish, wedges, coleslaw
Tuesday: Refrigerator Lasagne
Wednesday: Thai chicken curry, rice
Thursday: MOO Pizza
Friday: Tacos
Saturday: Sausage rolls, salad
In the fruit bowl: kiwi fruit, bananas
In the cake tin: chocolate biscuits, crackers, fruit mince pies
There are over 1,500 other great money saving meal ideas in the Recipe File.
6. The $300 a Month Food Challenge
Meal Planning 101
If you really want to stick to your grocery budget you need to plan your meals. Without a meal plan you really can't write a shopping list that will see you through the month. Without a meal plan it's so much easier to pick up take-away or eat out or spend a fortune at the supermarket on the way home.
To anyone who does it regularly, menu planning is simple. To someone who has never tried it before it can be horribly daunting. It's not hard and if you've done it once, it's a breeze.
A quick and simple trick that can really speed things up is to assign a type of meal to each day of the week i.e. Sunday – roast, Monday – pasta, Tuesday – fish, Wednesday – mince, Thursday – takeaway (either bought or from Mum's Kitchen), Friday – leftovers, Saturday – soup and sandwiches.
If you've followed my meal plan each week you'll have noticed that Sunday is always a roast, Tuesday is a pasta dish, Wednesday we have something a little spicier (Hannah works late and she doesn't like spicy food) and Thursday is MOO pizza (everyone makes their own and cleans up too - it's my night off). The other three days I slot in meals to use up what is leftover in the fridge and freezer.
If you do this and nothing else, you at least know what to take out of the freezer in the morning. You can spend the day thinking of ways to prepare it if you need to.
The next step is to actually assign recipes to the meal i.e. Roast- stuffed chicken, lamb with rosemary and garlic mustard coated beef; Pasta - spag bol, lasagne, Chicken Alfredo Roll-ups, Vegetable Pasta Bake etc. Doing this helps with your shopping list – you'll know exactly what you need to buy to cook these meals.
When you've mastered these two steps, you can get adventurous and assign new recipes to the meals. Start with one new recipe a week and aim for a day when you know you'll have time to spend in the kitchen – a Sunday night dinner could become a regular new recipe night in your house.
If you or your family have favourite meals, you can safely repeat them during the cycle. My family love pizza. It's easy to make, cheap and great for using up little bits of leftovers and Thursday night is a hectic night in our household, so MOO pizza on Thursday suits us. Everyone knows what's for dinner, there are no complaints, everyone makes their own to their taste and best of all they all clean up the kitchen. Thursday night really is my night off.
Some tips to help you:
• Write your menu down
• Start small – a week if you're really unsure, two weeks if you have a bit more confidence.
• Put your menu on the fridge so everyone will know what's for dinner.
• Involve the family – let everyone choose a favourite meal. Then tell them that they have to prepare it!
• Choose recipes within your cooking experience.
• Make a note of the new dishes you like – mark them as keepers.
• Once you have your fortnight menu under control – go for the month. A whole day of dinners planned and you'll really be on the way to mastering Menu Planning. And once you've mastered a month why not go for a year - I love spending a couple of hours in December planning what we'll be eating for the next 12 months and my family loves being able to check the meal plan on the fridge to see what's coming up.
The $300 a Month Food Challenge
The Post that Started it All
7. Cheapskates Buzz
Most popular forum posts this week
What did you do Today that Saved you Money?
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?3452-What-did-you-do-today-that-saved-you-money
The Greatest Organizer I Have Ever Seen!!!
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?63-The-greatest-organizer-I-have-ever-seen-!!!
The Stash
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?3477-The-Stash
Most popular blog posts this week
Teaching Kids to Manage Money
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2013/10/teaching-kids-to-manage-money.html
6 Tips to Save on Back-to-School Supplies
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2015/01/pencils-pads-pens-and-notebooks-mean.html
Some things are just Better Homemade
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2013/07/some-things-are-just-better-homemade.html
8. Members 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 KarenE.
Week 1 of the Revolution
Well my first week arrived today (thankyou Cath) and I have to say I actually answered all the questions a lot easier than last year.
All except one anyway and that one still got me.
What are my financial strengths??? Still have to say that I can't think of a single thing; I know I've improved on last year but I still cannot answer that question and I've decided that I'm not going to get upset about it this time but every week that goes by from now on I'll re- ask it and I know I'll have an answer soon.
So apart from that, let the Revolution begin (again).
Login to read more Cheapskates Club Member blogs
9. Last Week's Question
Last week's question was from Gina wrote
"I've been asked to attend a conference in San Francisco in April. My employer will pay my accommodation and conference fees, but he's asked me to pay my air fares. I work for a small (very small) business so I'm excited to be asked to attend. I'm also happy to pay my air fares and spending money, but I've never travelled overseas before. Any suggestions so I can get the best deal on air fares and transport while I'm there (taxi? bus? train?). And lastly, I'll have a week to myself after the conference so what should I see and do while I'm there? I'll be on my own, it's a little scary, but exciting too. Thanks in advance for all everyone's help."
I just love how Cheapskaters share. This week's answers cover everything from fares to food to accommodation to sightseeing, transport, even spending money and saving receipts for tax time. There were so many answers, many of them really detailed. You can read all the answers to Gina's question on the Latest Tips page.
Deb Burton answered
Regarding air fares, I would go to Webjet and check out their fares. Then I would go to the airline's site saving the fees that Webjet charge. It's also a good idea to double check with a couple of travel agents as they will often match a price found on the net.
Kate Crawford answered
I have found some useful phone apps to help whilst travelling, which I'd like to share.
Find near me: helps you find shops, ATMs, coffee, restaurants, bus stops, doctors, and pretty much anything else in the area you're staying.
Tipulator: helps you work out the amount to tip in countries that underpay staff (like America) and staff rely upon your generosity to make ends meet.
Safe city: helps you not wander into dangerous suburbs, where you might get mugged or shot.
Travel safe: helps you find emergency numbers for police, fire, and ambulances in an instant.
These were all free apps on my iPhone. Have a great trip knowing you can be safe and know where you're going!
BJ Jones answered
To get to your hotel from anywhere you land in a USA airport, there are usually 'Super Shuttle', 'Reddy to Go' or an equivalent. These are shared mini-buses which usually cost (worst I had was $20USD in LA) to take you direct to your hotel. You usually get a deal if you book your return with them as well. You may be able to book from here, but there is usually no problem getting one when you get out of arrivals unless you arrive late at night, then pre-booking is a must.
Irene Wilkinson answered
What a great trip you are going to have. First get in touch with the hotel and ask them if they have a shuttle service from the airport to hotel, most do. This is the cheapest, easiest stress free way to get to the hotel. Public transport is easy. Get an all-round ticket and let the bus take you on a round trip. Everyone is helpful to show off their city, as ask for directions. They love Aussies.
Emily Smith answered
I have some suggestions about your access to money while you're in the USA. Check what your bank has on offer as far as Travel Money Cards go. They can save you a LOT of money in international fees and currency conversion fees. You load them with the local currency and use the card like a normal ATM card. Also, if it's with your regular bank, you don't have to keep all of your spending money on your card. You can transfer it as needed through your internet banking facility, and it should be available immediately. That can help you stick to your daily budget if you only have so much cash loaded on to your card. Also, if you have a credit card with your bank, they may offer complimentary international travel insurance as a feature of your credit card. This can save you hundreds! My husband and I paid $200 each for travel insurance for our honeymoon, and had we realised that our card offered complimentary insurance, it would have "cost" us $89 (our credit card annual fee). A saving of $311 there!
Em Riley answered
when looking at flights consider booking into Los Angeles (LAX) and then booking a domestic carrier from LAX to SFO separately. You can find these on expedia.com easily and potentially save $100 or more. Just leave yourself a lot of time between connections at LAX if you do this as you'll need to clear customs and switch terminals and LAX is very big and not laid out well. 2.5 to 3 hours of a layover should be enough, with 4 hours giving you enough to stretch your legs and have a bite to eat. There are also trains that run between LA and San Francisco if you want to treat that as part of the experience.
10. This Week's Question
Audrey writes
"Hello, I recently bought two pairs of jeans at a good price. However, they have a terrible smell to them. The lady at the shop said it was just a coating on the denim and would disappear with washing. I have washed them over and over (around 5 times) but the smell is still there. It makes them unwearable but I would love to be able to get rid of the smell and wear them as they are a wonderful fit and very comfy. Please, can anyone help me?
Do you have the answer?
If you can help Audrey 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. Ask Cath
We have lots of resources to help you as you live the Cheapskates way but if you didn't find the answer to your question in our extensive archives please just drop me a note with your question.
I read and answer all questions, either in an email to you, in my weekly newsletter, the monthly Journal or by creating blog posts and other resources to help you (and other Cheapskaters).
Ask Your Question
12. Join the Cheapskates Club
For just 10 cents a day you can join the Cheapskates Club and get exclusive access to the Cheapskate Journal, the monthly e-journal that shows you how to cut the costs of everyday living and still have fun.
Joining the Cheapskates Club gives you 24/7 access to the Members Centre with 1000's of money saving tips and articles.
Click here to join the Cheapskates Club today!
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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.cheapskatesclub.net