Your Cheapskates Club Newsletter 03:19
In This Newsletter
1. Cath's Corner
2. From the Tip Store - Include Back-to-School as a Budget Category; Re-vamping Last Year's School Bag; Lunchbox and Drink Bottle
3. This Week's Winning Tip - Teaching Kids Financial Values with Money Savers
4. Share Your Tips
5. On the Menu - Fish Cakes
6. The $300 a Month Food Challenge - Stretching the Food You Have
7. Cheapskates Buzz - Cheapskaters are talking in the Forum and on Cath's blog
8. Last Week's Question - Getting Started
9. This Week's Question - Do we sell up and buy a caravan?
10. Ask A Question - Have a question? Ask it here
11. Join the Cheapskates Club
12. Frequently Asked Questions
13. Contact Details
1. Cath's Corner
Hello Cheapskaters,
I love you guys! Honestly, you all make my day, every day! This popped into my inbox on Thursday night, right after I'd read yet another version of how I starve my family (I don't!); thank you Moira for making my day.
"Hi, I had to go back and last week's letter to see how you were starving your family! You eat a lot of fruit and veg and a little meat just like us, it is healthy. Yesterday I took four chicken carcasses out of the freezer and boiled them up for stock; the meat on the bones was enough to make six chicken and veg pies. We must be starving too. Have a great day, from Sunny South Africa." Moira
Moira really did make my day, and I think I had a grin on my face until I went to bed that night. How great is it that we have Cheapskaters in South Africa! And that they take the time to email me! As Hannah says "it blows your mind".
Then Hannah, Wayne and I were talking and they think you all (or most of you!) secretly believe I starve my darling husband and beautiful kids! NOOOOO! Trust me, there's no way they'd let me starve them or even feed them food they don't like.
Anyhoo, the upshot of that conversation was I need to talk to you more, and after a brainstorming session, they decided the way to do that so everyone has a chance to hear, is by doing live videos and chats with you.
And so (isn't this a long drawn out spiel), our You Tube Channel has had a makeover, and I'll be doing more live video and chat sessions, starting next Tuesday at 7.30pm Melbourne time. You know your time zone, so you'll be able to work out when to come watch in your zone. And don't forget to subscribe, and then you'll never miss out!
Have a great week everyone, hope I see you on Tuesday night.
Happy Cheapskating,
Cath
2. From The Tip Store
Include Back-to-School as a Budget Category
We added "back to school" to our budget as a separate category and deposit money into that category each pay period, just as we do for the school fees, rates, insurance and other once-a-year- expenses. Now when January comes around and the back-to-school sales are on, I can comfortably and happily shop for what our four children need, knowing that the money is there and I don't have to run another category into the red. This really takes the pressure off back to school shopping, especially as it comes right on the heels of Christmas and holidays.
Contributed by Peter
Re-vamping Last Year's School Bag
Often last years backpack just needs a good clean and it is ready to go for another year. Our kids kept their backpacks through primary school, and then had new, bigger school bags for high school. At the end of each school year, I collected them to clean. I sprayed any stains with a spot remover like Miracle Spray, or covered them with a paste of bicarb and water and left them overnight. Then I just popped the backpack into the washing machine with some Cheapskates Washing Powder and washed it on the gentle cycle. To dry, I hung it upside down over a broom handle in the sun. Brings them up as good as new. Note: I only did one at a time in the washing machine.
Contributed by Cath
Lunchbox and Drink Bottle
Unless last year’s lunch box and drink bottle are falling apart, they can be reused. If they are scuffed and dirty clean them up with a paste of bi-carb and vinegar, rub it over and let it sit for a few minutes. Then wash it off in warm soapy water and dry them well. Freshen the inside of the drink bottle by filling it with cool water, adding a splash of vinegar and letting it sit overnight. Rinse it well with clean water and then turn it upside down to dry. Change the look with some new stickers or name labels and save yourself $15!
Add a Tip
3. This Week's Winning Tip
This week's winning tip is from Leanne Coward. Leanne has won a one year Platinum Cheapskates Club membership for submitting her winning tip.
Teaching Kids Financial Values with Money Savers
"To help fill in the school holidays each year we make money savers. I collect three very large juice plastic bottles and we cover them with paper machete. We use flour and water for our paste, totally covering the bottles, except for the money slit. We use three layers of paper, allowing each layer to dry thoroughly. When dry the kids paint and decorate with any craft supplies we have. During the year each child is encouraged to save some money and earn extra money around the house by helping out. At the end of the year an adult cuts through the paper and the bottle can be opened for the coins to come out. Each child is allowed to spend this money over the school holidays. Fills in around 5 days to make and a few weeks to spend their savings!"
Congratulations Leanne, I hope you enjoy your Cheapskates Club membership.
The Cheapskate's Club website is thousands of pages of money saving hints, tips and ideas. There are over 12,000 tips to save you money, time and energy; 1,600 budget and family friendly recipes, hundreds of printable tip sheets and ebooks.
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.4. Share Your Tips
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!
Share Your Tip
5. On The Menu
Fish Cakes
Take a tin of tuna or salmon, an onion, some mixed herbs, a little leftover mashed potato, smoosh it all together with a beaten egg and you have the beginnings of delicious fish cakes.
They are delicious hot, with chips or steamed veggies. Personally I think they're even better cold, with salad. However you eat them they're a tasty frugal meal.
I use tuna because my family doesn't like tinned salmon. I'm grateful, tuna is around half the price of the tinned salmon. And instead of rolling them in breadcrumbs as traditional recipes do, I coat them in Shake'n'Bake, brown them in hot oil and then bake them in the oven until the coating is crisp.
Here's my fish cake recipe:
Ingredients:
1 415g tin tuna in water, drained
3 cups or so of cold mashed potato
1 onion, grated
Good sprinkle mixed herbs
Good sprinkle parsley
Juice of 1 lemon
2 eggs
Plain flour
Shake'n'Bake
A little vegetable oil for browning
Method:
Drain the tuna well, and flake. Mix the tuna, mashed potato, onion, herbs and parsley together. Beat 1 egg and mix into the potato mixture. Put into the firgg and mix into the potato mixture. Put into the fridge to chill for at least half an hour (I make this mix up in the morning and chill until tea time). Take the mixture and shape about 1/3 cup into a patty. Beat the other egg with a little water. Put some plain flour on a plate, and Shake'n'Bake on another plate. Dip the patties in the flour, then the egg, then the Shake'n'bake. When they're all coated, chill for another few minutes. Chilling helps the coating to set so it won't fall off during frying. Heat the oil in a frying pan. Brown the patties on each side, 1 or 2 minutes. Place on a baking paper lined tray and cook in a 180 degree oven for 20 minutes, until the patties are crisp on the outside and heated through.
This week we will be eating:
Sunday: Roast Beef
Monday: Fish cakes, wedges, salad
Tuesday: Sausages & salad
Wednesday: Quiche, salad
Thursday: MOO Pizza
Friday: Hamburgers
Saturday: Australia Day BBQ
There are over 1,600 budget and family friendly recipes in the Cheapskates Club Recipe File, all contributed by your fellow Cheapskates, so you know they're good.
Add A Recipe
Recipe File Index
6. The $300 A Month Food Challenge
Stretching the Food You Have
If you believe you can't possibly achieve the $300 a Month Food Challenge, or you can't possibly trim your grocery budget any more, try this: stretch the food you have.
Think about the food you have on your shopping list, and the food you have on hand. Now think about how you can stretch those foods, and still eat well, and enough to fill hungry tummies.
I always start with meat. Meat is the most expensive component of most meals, so to me it's the obvious place to start with the stretching.
Then think about vegetables and fruit. Do you use all the fruit and veg you have? Or do you find, come garbage day, that you're dumping fuzzy or slimy or stinky or hairy fruit and veg? Because if you're buying it, and then dumping it, you may as well just put the money straight into the bin!
Some simple ways to stretch food to produce more serves are:
1. Add an equal quantity of TVP, rolled oats or cooked rice to mince when making rissoles and meatballs. You'll get double the quantity, giving you an extra meal for less than half the price.
2. Stretch mince based pasta sauces and taco fillings by whizzing a tin of baked beans per 500g mince in the food processor until the crumbs are the same size as the mince crumbs, and add to the dish. You're adding bulk, and fibre, and doubling the recipe for a fraction of the cost of the same quantity of mince. When the baked beans are whizzed, they can't be detected in the pasta sauce or taco filling. Mince is $7/kg (the cheapest around here right now), while baked beans are around $2/kg. The saving is obvious isn't it?
3. Add a tablespoon (or two) of milk to mayonnaise jars and bottles when they are getting low. Shake well to combine and no one will know the difference.
4. Add a little water or stock to pasta sauce jars, swish and pour into pasta sauces. You'll get every drop of sauce from the bottle and stretch it at the same time.
5. Use a silicone spatula to scrape out margarine containers, peanut butter, jam, honey, cream and Vegemite jars. You'll be shocked at just how much is left in the jar if you use just a knife to scrape it - easily two or three sandwiches worth, and that's money you'd be putting in the bin if you don't scrape. I bought a set of 3 silicone spatulas from Big W for under $5 about 10 years ago and they're still going strong and have saved many times their cost.
6. Instead of serving whole chicken fillets, dice them into 2cm cubes. Two medium chicken breast fillets will then easily serve four (or five in our case!). The diced chicken can be used in casseroles, enchiladas, apricot chicken, sweet'n'sour etc.
7. Don't pound meat to make it thin. Slice chicken fillets and steaks in half through the middle, creating two full fillets or steaks from each one. Cut larger steaks down so they're about the size of the palm of your hand - that's all that's required for a serve, anymore and you're just overeating and over-spending.
8. Always take the tenderloins off chicken breast fillets and use them for a separate meal. Save them in the freezer until you have enough to make crumbed chicken wraps or dice them use them in curries and stews.
9. When mashing potato use some of the water it was steamed or boiled in instead of milk. The potato will be lovely and fluffy, no added fat and no extra cost.
10. Always make stock from roast bones. Chicken carcasses and lamb bones make lovely stock which can then be used to make soup, gravies and risottos and cook rice or pasta.
These are just some ways I've managed to keep our food bill down over the years. It was a learning curve, and I'm still on it. I'm always looking for ways to trim the grocery budget, without compromising nutrition and taste.
If I can do it, you can too!
The $300 a Month Food Challenge Forum
The Post that Started it All
7. Cheapskates Buzz
From The Article Archive
4 Weeks to Freedom: The Road to Financial Independence
Are You a Shopaholic?
That Four Letter Word "Free"
This Week's Hot Forum Topics
Are You a Cheapskater Near Me?
Whats for dinner for 2019
Pay more off debt or use money to finish course?
Most Popular Blog Posts This Week
6 Tips to Save On Back-to-School Supplies
5 Tips for a Stress Free Monday (or Any Day) Morning
A Circle of Clacking Needles
8. Last Week's Question
Last week's question was from Pauline, who wrote
"I'm new to this fantastic website and I'm trying to get my head around all the great budgeting advice that is available. I'm a little overwhelmed and don't quite know where to start. Just interested to know how other members adapted to living the Cheapskates way. What did you do first to get started?"
Patricia McCarthy answered
I began by going through my pantry and freezer (small) and at the same time, thinking about planning a weeks' worth of meals. Although I am on my own, it was pleasing to see that even that little change the first week made a difference. From other people's wisdom, I made one night towards the end of my week, into what my daughter calls 'cuisine left-overs'. Every little helps!
Priyanka Mukherjee answered
Hi Pauline, The best way to get your head around this website is to start one thing at a time. I first started with the Tip Store and "implemented" them. Then when I was comfortable that they are working for me, I moved to reading blogs....implemented them too - like $300/month a Month Food Challenge, opening several savings account (Emergency fund, Peace of Mind Account, festival account, Birthday account, car account, retirement account, etc.), then followed the challenges - like no spend month, MOO month, etc. I stared MOOing pizza, washing powder, cleaning products, etc. from this website. I think for me the important thing was to change my attitude towards living the Cheapskates way (I stepped into an op shop for the first time in my life after reading this website) and then actually implementing them. All the best!!!
Yvette Jones answered
Hi Pauline... deep breath... welcome, these are amazing tips that you can customise to suit yourself.
Start with a simple plan; you can go into as much detail as you like: you could do a quick pantry and cold inventory to start. Then just grab a piece of paper (or a calendar you received from a local shop). Write in any 'activities" then plan your meals (all or only main meals to start). Now write your shopping list (use what you have first). Add in new tools as you master the previous ones. Remember the best way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time!
9. This Week's Question
H writes
"My husband is in the Defence Forces and we are due to relocate to Perth (from Melbourne) later this year for only 9 months, only to be posted somewhere else in Australia (won't know where till Perth is finished). We have an almost 2 year old and a cat and I'm contemplating selling our farm cottage, buying a caravan with the leftover cash and upgrading to a good towing car. This would leave us completely debt free and I can manage living on most of his salary whilst he lives on base (no expenses) and I caravan across slowly from Melbourne to Perth. Am I crazy for entertaining this idea? Has anyone done something similar with a toddler and cat? I won't have the space to stockpile or shop monthly and probably won't have the convenience of a library to utilise for books and movies. Any tips you can lend, even in terms of purchasing a caravan would be amazing!"
OK Cheapskaters, I know we have quite a few Defence Force families and a lot of grey nomads in our community, so here's your chance to help Hana with a big decision.
If you have some advice, a suggestion or idea for Hana, 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
10. Ask A Question
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
11. Join The Cheapskates Club
For just $25 a year, 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!
12. Frequently Asked Questions
How do I change my email address?
This one is easy. When you login to the Member's Centre just click on your name at the top of the page to go straight to your profile page where you can update your details, change your password and find your subscription details.
Not a Cheapskates Club member? Then please use the Changing Details form found here to update your email address.
How do I know when my membership should be renewed?
Memberships are active for one year from the date of joining. You will be sent a renewal reminder before your subscription is due to renew. You can also find your membership expiry date on your profile page.
When you login to the Member's Centre just click on your name to go straight to your profile page where you can will find your join date and your expiry date.
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.
How did I get on this list?
The only way you can get onto our newsletter mailing list is to subscribe yourself. You signed up to receive our Free Newsletter at our Cheapskates Club Web site or are a Platinum Cheapskates Club member.
13. Contact Cheapskates
The Cheapskates Club -
Showing you how to live life
debt free, cashed up and laughing!
PO Box 5077 Studfield Vic 3152
1. Cath's Corner
2. From the Tip Store - Include Back-to-School as a Budget Category; Re-vamping Last Year's School Bag; Lunchbox and Drink Bottle
3. This Week's Winning Tip - Teaching Kids Financial Values with Money Savers
4. Share Your Tips
5. On the Menu - Fish Cakes
6. The $300 a Month Food Challenge - Stretching the Food You Have
7. Cheapskates Buzz - Cheapskaters are talking in the Forum and on Cath's blog
8. Last Week's Question - Getting Started
9. This Week's Question - Do we sell up and buy a caravan?
10. Ask A Question - Have a question? Ask it here
11. Join the Cheapskates Club
12. Frequently Asked Questions
13. Contact Details
1. Cath's Corner
Hello Cheapskaters,
I love you guys! Honestly, you all make my day, every day! This popped into my inbox on Thursday night, right after I'd read yet another version of how I starve my family (I don't!); thank you Moira for making my day.
"Hi, I had to go back and last week's letter to see how you were starving your family! You eat a lot of fruit and veg and a little meat just like us, it is healthy. Yesterday I took four chicken carcasses out of the freezer and boiled them up for stock; the meat on the bones was enough to make six chicken and veg pies. We must be starving too. Have a great day, from Sunny South Africa." Moira
Moira really did make my day, and I think I had a grin on my face until I went to bed that night. How great is it that we have Cheapskaters in South Africa! And that they take the time to email me! As Hannah says "it blows your mind".
Then Hannah, Wayne and I were talking and they think you all (or most of you!) secretly believe I starve my darling husband and beautiful kids! NOOOOO! Trust me, there's no way they'd let me starve them or even feed them food they don't like.
Anyhoo, the upshot of that conversation was I need to talk to you more, and after a brainstorming session, they decided the way to do that so everyone has a chance to hear, is by doing live videos and chats with you.
And so (isn't this a long drawn out spiel), our You Tube Channel has had a makeover, and I'll be doing more live video and chat sessions, starting next Tuesday at 7.30pm Melbourne time. You know your time zone, so you'll be able to work out when to come watch in your zone. And don't forget to subscribe, and then you'll never miss out!
Have a great week everyone, hope I see you on Tuesday night.
Happy Cheapskating,
Cath
2. From The Tip Store
Include Back-to-School as a Budget Category
We added "back to school" to our budget as a separate category and deposit money into that category each pay period, just as we do for the school fees, rates, insurance and other once-a-year- expenses. Now when January comes around and the back-to-school sales are on, I can comfortably and happily shop for what our four children need, knowing that the money is there and I don't have to run another category into the red. This really takes the pressure off back to school shopping, especially as it comes right on the heels of Christmas and holidays.
Contributed by Peter
Re-vamping Last Year's School Bag
Often last years backpack just needs a good clean and it is ready to go for another year. Our kids kept their backpacks through primary school, and then had new, bigger school bags for high school. At the end of each school year, I collected them to clean. I sprayed any stains with a spot remover like Miracle Spray, or covered them with a paste of bicarb and water and left them overnight. Then I just popped the backpack into the washing machine with some Cheapskates Washing Powder and washed it on the gentle cycle. To dry, I hung it upside down over a broom handle in the sun. Brings them up as good as new. Note: I only did one at a time in the washing machine.
Contributed by Cath
Lunchbox and Drink Bottle
Unless last year’s lunch box and drink bottle are falling apart, they can be reused. If they are scuffed and dirty clean them up with a paste of bi-carb and vinegar, rub it over and let it sit for a few minutes. Then wash it off in warm soapy water and dry them well. Freshen the inside of the drink bottle by filling it with cool water, adding a splash of vinegar and letting it sit overnight. Rinse it well with clean water and then turn it upside down to dry. Change the look with some new stickers or name labels and save yourself $15!
Add a Tip
3. This Week's Winning Tip
This week's winning tip is from Leanne Coward. Leanne has won a one year Platinum Cheapskates Club membership for submitting her winning tip.
Teaching Kids Financial Values with Money Savers
"To help fill in the school holidays each year we make money savers. I collect three very large juice plastic bottles and we cover them with paper machete. We use flour and water for our paste, totally covering the bottles, except for the money slit. We use three layers of paper, allowing each layer to dry thoroughly. When dry the kids paint and decorate with any craft supplies we have. During the year each child is encouraged to save some money and earn extra money around the house by helping out. At the end of the year an adult cuts through the paper and the bottle can be opened for the coins to come out. Each child is allowed to spend this money over the school holidays. Fills in around 5 days to make and a few weeks to spend their savings!"
Congratulations Leanne, I hope you enjoy your Cheapskates Club membership.
The Cheapskate's Club website is thousands of pages of money saving hints, tips and ideas. There are over 12,000 tips to save you money, time and energy; 1,600 budget and family friendly recipes, hundreds of printable tip sheets and ebooks.
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.4. Share Your Tips
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!
Share Your Tip
5. On The Menu
Fish Cakes
Take a tin of tuna or salmon, an onion, some mixed herbs, a little leftover mashed potato, smoosh it all together with a beaten egg and you have the beginnings of delicious fish cakes.
They are delicious hot, with chips or steamed veggies. Personally I think they're even better cold, with salad. However you eat them they're a tasty frugal meal.
I use tuna because my family doesn't like tinned salmon. I'm grateful, tuna is around half the price of the tinned salmon. And instead of rolling them in breadcrumbs as traditional recipes do, I coat them in Shake'n'Bake, brown them in hot oil and then bake them in the oven until the coating is crisp.
Here's my fish cake recipe:
Ingredients:
1 415g tin tuna in water, drained
3 cups or so of cold mashed potato
1 onion, grated
Good sprinkle mixed herbs
Good sprinkle parsley
Juice of 1 lemon
2 eggs
Plain flour
Shake'n'Bake
A little vegetable oil for browning
Method:
Drain the tuna well, and flake. Mix the tuna, mashed potato, onion, herbs and parsley together. Beat 1 egg and mix into the potato mixture. Put into the firgg and mix into the potato mixture. Put into the fridge to chill for at least half an hour (I make this mix up in the morning and chill until tea time). Take the mixture and shape about 1/3 cup into a patty. Beat the other egg with a little water. Put some plain flour on a plate, and Shake'n'Bake on another plate. Dip the patties in the flour, then the egg, then the Shake'n'bake. When they're all coated, chill for another few minutes. Chilling helps the coating to set so it won't fall off during frying. Heat the oil in a frying pan. Brown the patties on each side, 1 or 2 minutes. Place on a baking paper lined tray and cook in a 180 degree oven for 20 minutes, until the patties are crisp on the outside and heated through.
This week we will be eating:
Sunday: Roast Beef
Monday: Fish cakes, wedges, salad
Tuesday: Sausages & salad
Wednesday: Quiche, salad
Thursday: MOO Pizza
Friday: Hamburgers
Saturday: Australia Day BBQ
There are over 1,600 budget and family friendly recipes in the Cheapskates Club Recipe File, all contributed by your fellow Cheapskates, so you know they're good.
Add A Recipe
Recipe File Index
6. The $300 A Month Food Challenge
Stretching the Food You Have
If you believe you can't possibly achieve the $300 a Month Food Challenge, or you can't possibly trim your grocery budget any more, try this: stretch the food you have.
Think about the food you have on your shopping list, and the food you have on hand. Now think about how you can stretch those foods, and still eat well, and enough to fill hungry tummies.
I always start with meat. Meat is the most expensive component of most meals, so to me it's the obvious place to start with the stretching.
Then think about vegetables and fruit. Do you use all the fruit and veg you have? Or do you find, come garbage day, that you're dumping fuzzy or slimy or stinky or hairy fruit and veg? Because if you're buying it, and then dumping it, you may as well just put the money straight into the bin!
Some simple ways to stretch food to produce more serves are:
1. Add an equal quantity of TVP, rolled oats or cooked rice to mince when making rissoles and meatballs. You'll get double the quantity, giving you an extra meal for less than half the price.
2. Stretch mince based pasta sauces and taco fillings by whizzing a tin of baked beans per 500g mince in the food processor until the crumbs are the same size as the mince crumbs, and add to the dish. You're adding bulk, and fibre, and doubling the recipe for a fraction of the cost of the same quantity of mince. When the baked beans are whizzed, they can't be detected in the pasta sauce or taco filling. Mince is $7/kg (the cheapest around here right now), while baked beans are around $2/kg. The saving is obvious isn't it?
3. Add a tablespoon (or two) of milk to mayonnaise jars and bottles when they are getting low. Shake well to combine and no one will know the difference.
4. Add a little water or stock to pasta sauce jars, swish and pour into pasta sauces. You'll get every drop of sauce from the bottle and stretch it at the same time.
5. Use a silicone spatula to scrape out margarine containers, peanut butter, jam, honey, cream and Vegemite jars. You'll be shocked at just how much is left in the jar if you use just a knife to scrape it - easily two or three sandwiches worth, and that's money you'd be putting in the bin if you don't scrape. I bought a set of 3 silicone spatulas from Big W for under $5 about 10 years ago and they're still going strong and have saved many times their cost.
6. Instead of serving whole chicken fillets, dice them into 2cm cubes. Two medium chicken breast fillets will then easily serve four (or five in our case!). The diced chicken can be used in casseroles, enchiladas, apricot chicken, sweet'n'sour etc.
7. Don't pound meat to make it thin. Slice chicken fillets and steaks in half through the middle, creating two full fillets or steaks from each one. Cut larger steaks down so they're about the size of the palm of your hand - that's all that's required for a serve, anymore and you're just overeating and over-spending.
8. Always take the tenderloins off chicken breast fillets and use them for a separate meal. Save them in the freezer until you have enough to make crumbed chicken wraps or dice them use them in curries and stews.
9. When mashing potato use some of the water it was steamed or boiled in instead of milk. The potato will be lovely and fluffy, no added fat and no extra cost.
10. Always make stock from roast bones. Chicken carcasses and lamb bones make lovely stock which can then be used to make soup, gravies and risottos and cook rice or pasta.
These are just some ways I've managed to keep our food bill down over the years. It was a learning curve, and I'm still on it. I'm always looking for ways to trim the grocery budget, without compromising nutrition and taste.
If I can do it, you can too!
The $300 a Month Food Challenge Forum
The Post that Started it All
7. Cheapskates Buzz
From The Article Archive
4 Weeks to Freedom: The Road to Financial Independence
Are You a Shopaholic?
That Four Letter Word "Free"
This Week's Hot Forum Topics
Are You a Cheapskater Near Me?
Whats for dinner for 2019
Pay more off debt or use money to finish course?
Most Popular Blog Posts This Week
6 Tips to Save On Back-to-School Supplies
5 Tips for a Stress Free Monday (or Any Day) Morning
A Circle of Clacking Needles
8. Last Week's Question
Last week's question was from Pauline, who wrote
"I'm new to this fantastic website and I'm trying to get my head around all the great budgeting advice that is available. I'm a little overwhelmed and don't quite know where to start. Just interested to know how other members adapted to living the Cheapskates way. What did you do first to get started?"
Patricia McCarthy answered
I began by going through my pantry and freezer (small) and at the same time, thinking about planning a weeks' worth of meals. Although I am on my own, it was pleasing to see that even that little change the first week made a difference. From other people's wisdom, I made one night towards the end of my week, into what my daughter calls 'cuisine left-overs'. Every little helps!
Priyanka Mukherjee answered
Hi Pauline, The best way to get your head around this website is to start one thing at a time. I first started with the Tip Store and "implemented" them. Then when I was comfortable that they are working for me, I moved to reading blogs....implemented them too - like $300/month a Month Food Challenge, opening several savings account (Emergency fund, Peace of Mind Account, festival account, Birthday account, car account, retirement account, etc.), then followed the challenges - like no spend month, MOO month, etc. I stared MOOing pizza, washing powder, cleaning products, etc. from this website. I think for me the important thing was to change my attitude towards living the Cheapskates way (I stepped into an op shop for the first time in my life after reading this website) and then actually implementing them. All the best!!!
Yvette Jones answered
Hi Pauline... deep breath... welcome, these are amazing tips that you can customise to suit yourself.
Start with a simple plan; you can go into as much detail as you like: you could do a quick pantry and cold inventory to start. Then just grab a piece of paper (or a calendar you received from a local shop). Write in any 'activities" then plan your meals (all or only main meals to start). Now write your shopping list (use what you have first). Add in new tools as you master the previous ones. Remember the best way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time!
9. This Week's Question
H writes
"My husband is in the Defence Forces and we are due to relocate to Perth (from Melbourne) later this year for only 9 months, only to be posted somewhere else in Australia (won't know where till Perth is finished). We have an almost 2 year old and a cat and I'm contemplating selling our farm cottage, buying a caravan with the leftover cash and upgrading to a good towing car. This would leave us completely debt free and I can manage living on most of his salary whilst he lives on base (no expenses) and I caravan across slowly from Melbourne to Perth. Am I crazy for entertaining this idea? Has anyone done something similar with a toddler and cat? I won't have the space to stockpile or shop monthly and probably won't have the convenience of a library to utilise for books and movies. Any tips you can lend, even in terms of purchasing a caravan would be amazing!"
OK Cheapskaters, I know we have quite a few Defence Force families and a lot of grey nomads in our community, so here's your chance to help Hana with a big decision.
If you have some advice, a suggestion or idea for Hana, 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
10. Ask A Question
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).
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11. 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.
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13. Contact Cheapskates
The Cheapskates Club -
Showing you how to live life
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PO Box 5077 Studfield Vic 3152