Your Cheapskates Club Newsletter: 04:14 Bright ideas to save you money
1. Cath's Corner
2. In the Tip Store - Heating/Cooling Electricity Savings, Tomato Ties, Shoestring Organising
3. The Art of Living the Cheapskates Way Workshop
4. Submit Your Tip - You have to be in it to win it!
5. Living Green in 2014 - Great Reduce, Reuse, Recycle ideas from Cheapskaters
6. On the Menu with Anne - An Australia Day Feast
7. The $300 a Month Food Challenge with Wendy - The 2014 Food Challenge Begins
8. Cheapskates Buzz - Cheapskaters are talking in the Forum and on Cath's blog
9. Member's Featured Blog - I Can Cope with a Challenge by Laurab
10. Last Week's Question - What do other Mums pack in lunchboxes?
11. This Week's Question - Tips for sticking to the $300 a Month Food Challenge
12. Join the Cheapskates Club
13. Gift Memberships
14. Frequently Asked Questions
15. Contact Details
1. Cath's Corner
Hello Cheapskaters,
We seem to have survived the heat wave unscathed, although the garden wasn't quite so fortunate. I lost some beetroot and a tomato plant and my orange tree seemed to be especially stressed and dropped almost all it's fruit. But otherwise we survived, I hope you all came through it hale and hearty too.
Wendy is back this week with the $300 a Month Food Challenge and Anne has posted a particularly delicious Australia Day menu.
I'm thrilled with your response to Living Green in 2014 - keep those reuse, recycle, reduce tips rolling in and let's all keep doing our best to live a little greener - and cheaper.
Have a lovely Australia Day on Sunday and a great week of Cheapskating everyone.
PS: Love our site? We love referrals! Send a note to your favourite newspapers, magazines, radio stations, TV stations, friends and relatives, and tell them about us!
PPS: You can read this newsletter and past copies on the website in the Newsletter Archive.
2. From The Tip Store
Heating/Cooling Electricity Savings
I live in a fibro home that is freezing in winter and boiling in summer. I rent so don't want to spend money making the house more permanently efficient in heating/cooling so we occasionally use the installed reverse cycle air con in our lounge. My partner and I spend most of our time in this room, which has two doorway entrances on either side of it - but no doors on them. Last winter, after receiving a massive electricity bill, I tacked up two heavy woollen blankets against the doorways which trap all the heat into the lounge room rather than it flowing out into the kitchen or the hallway. This keeps the room so much warmer in winter and so much cooler in winter. I also found that by regularly cleaning the reverse cycle air con filters really helps with its efficiency and it doesn't have to work as hard.
Contributed by Leah Doyle
Tomato Ties
Before throwing away old joggers (shoes with laces) or unwanted soft belts (from dresses) keep the laces/belts. Cut into smaller lengths and use them to tie up tomato plants or any other wayward plants in the garden. They are soft enough not to "cut" into the stems of the tomatoes and strong enough to hold them up.
Contributed by Cherry Colville
Shoestring Organising
Organised homes seem to be the in thing at the moment and there are blogs, websites, ads everywhere regaling the virtues of this tub or that storage system. Getting organised doesn't need to cost the earth. Nappy boxes, wipes boxes and even packaging your food comes in can all repurpose into wonder storage . We are renting and my sons' wardrobes only have shelves and hanging space. Now the shelves hold nappy boxes which I've prettied up with nothing more than a sheet of scrapbook paper and a label I made up on the computer. Same goes for the plastic storage cupboard in the kitchen and dried goods cupboard in the laundry, under the sink in the bathroom, the linen press, etc. My house still has a long way to go to being completely organised (if that can ever be achieved) but so far it's cost me a scrapbook, two rolls of packing tape and a few pages printed on the printer.
Contributed by Leanne C.
There are more than 11,000 great tips in the Tip Store
3. Cheapskates Tip of the Week
The $300 a Month Food Challenge
When: Sunday, 16th February 2014
Where: Orana Neighbourhood House, 62 Coleman Road, Wantirna South
What time: 1:30pm - 4.30pm
Join Cath and guest speaker Wendy, moderator of The $300 a Month Food Challenge for an afternoon of fun and frugality as you learn the secrets of how to eat well, save more and do it all on just $300 a month.
Click here to book your place at this workshop
4. Submit your tip
Share your favourite hint or tip that saves money, time and energy and be in the running to win a one-year subscription to The Cheapskate Journal.
Remember, you have to be in it to win it!
Submit your tip
5. Living Green in 2014
The reuse, recycle, reduce bug is catching. Every day someone shares another idea for re-purposing rubbish into something useful.
Here are some that came in this week.
Jars.....I paint them and give them as gifts with lollies etc in them.
Linda Stapleton
One of my daughter's friends uses a LOT of take-a-way. I get her to save the plastic containers for me and use them to freeze items - soups, left-overs, "portion" size fish, meat, chicken etc. The containers can be used several times and pack neatly into the freezer.
Bernadette Barnett
I store my buttons in glass jars. My grandchildren use some of the smaller jars to catch and house bugs which are let go and the end of the day.
Denise Smith
Tin cans are another versatile re-useable item, opened with a winding smooth edge opener, they can be used for tidying stationery and kitchen tools, made into pot plants and garden edging for herb plants as well as candle holders.
Bluebell234
Old Christmas cards or other greeting cards and wrapping paper can be recycled by donating them to your local school or day care centre where they can be used to make new artwork.
Petra Maubach
Want to know more about living green? Do you have a great way to reduce, reuse or recycle? Click here to share.
6. On the Menu with Anne
An Australia Day Feast
Sunday is Australia Day and what better way to celebrate that with a traditional Aussie barbecue. It may be in the backyard, in a park, on the banks of a river somewhere, on the top of a mountain or on sizzling sands at the beach. However you celebrate, food will be a big part of the celebration.
This Sunday we will be celebrating at home with friends and family and enjoying a lamb roast, damper and pavlova.
Slow Roasted Lamb Shoulder
Ingredients:
1 lamb shoulder (bone in)
1 head of garlic
1 bunch of rosemary
1 tbsp olive oil
Method:
Preheat oven or barbecue to 150 degrees. Separate the cloves of garlic. Lay half the rosemary and half the garlic in the base of a roasting tray. Lay the shoulder on top. Rub the olive oil over the shoulder, cover with the remaining garlic and rosemary. Cover tightly with foil and bake for 4-5 hours. Rest for 20 minutes prior to serving.
Damper
Ingredients:
500g self raising flour
1 tsp salt
20g butter, softened
1 cup milk
1/2 cup water
Method:
Preheat oven to 220 degrees and grease a baking tray. In a large bowl, stir together the flour and salt. Rub in butter using your fingertips. Make a well in the centre of the flour mixture and pour in the milk and water. Stir until the dough comes together. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and form into a round loaf 20cm across. Place the loaf onto the prepared tray and using a sharp knife, cut a cross in the top. Bake for 25 minutes then lower the temperature to 180 degrees and continue to bake for an additional 5 to 10 minutes. The damper loaf should be golden brown and the bottom should sound hollow when tapped.
Easy Peasy No Fail Pavlova
This is a really easy pav to make, quick to cook and yummy to eat. Even if you've never made a pavlova before you'll have success with this recipe.
Ingredients:
2 egg whites
1 cup white sugar
1 tsp vinegar
1 tsp cornflour
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tbsp boiling water
Method:
Pre-heat oven to 180 degrees Celsius (this is important, the oven must be at temperature when you put the pav in so it starts to cook immediately). Beat egg whites, vinegar, vanilla, cornflour and boiling water until stiff. Slowly add the sugar, beating until it is dissolved. Prepare a pavlova plate or baking sheet by covering the base with baking paper. Spread the pavlova mixture onto the baking paper in either a circle or rectangle, it's up to you. Bake for 45 minutes until slightly browned. Turn the oven off and leave the pav in the oven, with the door closed, until it is cold.
To make a larger pav, double the recipe and extend baking time by 10 minutes.
This week we will be eating:
Friday: Spaghetti bolognaise
Saturday: Barbecued chicken drumsticks, fried rice
Sunday: Roast shoulder of lamb, baked vegetables
Monday: Italian Vegetarian Meatballs, mashed potato, beans, corn
Tuesday: MOO pies, wedges, salad
Wednesday: Fishcakes, potato gems and salad
Thursday: Mushroom crepes, salad
In the fruit bowl: Rockmelon, strawberries, mandarins, grapes
In the cake tin: Raspberry Coconut Slice, choc chip cookies, ANZAC slice
There are over 1,300 other great money saving meal ideas in the Recipe File
7. The $300 a Month Food Challenge with Wendy
The 2014 Food Challenge Begins
Hello fellow Cheapskaters and welcome to a new year of the $300 a month food challenge. This is where you'll learn lots of ideas that will help you to trim your food budget and still eat well.
I'm hoping there are lots of new readers and members who'd like to join me in this challenge. The general outline of the challenge is to spend $300 a month for a family of four or $75 per person. My family consists of two adults, two teenagers, one cat and five chickens. If $300 a month is too low for you to start on, feel free to set your own goal.
I'm able to achieve this challenge by -
* Shopping once a month for all general grocery staples
* Shopping weekly for milk, fruit and veg only
* Shopping every few months for meat when on special at the butcher's
* Only buying fruit and veg at a fruit and veg shop
* Always having a shopping list and sticking to it
* Menu planning for the month and writing the shopping list from the menu
* Having an inventory list of the pantry, fridge and freezer
* Keeping my fridge, freezers and pantry tidy
* Baking all cakes, slices and biscuits from scratch
* Cooking all meals from scratch
* Avoiding pre - packaged, microwave, ready made, instant food
* Having a veg garden
* Freezing excess produce or bargains
* Only buying items at the cheapest possible price
* Buying in bulk
* Buying no name as much as possible
* Portion controlling the meals - especially the meat
* Freezing leftovers ASAP
* Freezing meat into meal sizes
* Cooking good wholesome comfort food
* Baking in bulk and freezing most of it
* Putting leftover money into a food slush fund for future specials
* MOOing as many things as I can
* Using unit pricing to get the best price possible
The $300 covers all food including meat, fruit and veg, dairy, general staples, basic toiletries, basic cleaning products and the odd item for the house ( coat hangers, super glue etc. ). This challenge is achievable. I've been sticking to the $300 a month for the last three and a half years. I did start the challenge with a reasonably full pantry, freezer and a half filled fridge.
So who is going to join me for 2014's $300 a month food challenge ? I'm calling on all interested parties to state their name, how much they usually spend ( if you're game ), what your new goal is for the year and how you think you'll achieve it. I'll start off the list -
My name is Wendy and I usually spend $300 a month (mostly less). My new goal is to spend $270 per month and to still have money left over for my food slush fund. I think I'll achieve this by freezing more leftovers and writing them into the menu plan. I need to choose cheaper options when some fruit and veg is too dear. I need to make more chunky soups for Winter and avoid buying the tinned chunky soups to have " just in case ".
Who would like to add their name to the list?
Have a great week and BE ENCOURAGED!!!!
The $300 a Month Food Challenge
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2332-The-2014-Food-Challenge-Begins&p=37727
The Post that Started it All
http://www.cheapskates.com.au/pages/default.cfm?page_id=44265
8.Cheapskates Buzz
This week's hot forum topics
I Know it Sounds Ridiculous but ..... have You Started Planning for Christmas Yet?!
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?487-I-know-it-sounds-ridiculous-but-.....-have-you-started-planning-for-Christmas-yet-!
Slow Cooker Died
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2320-slow-cooker-died
Can I Cook with USED Olive Oil?
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2312-Can-I-cook-with-USED-olive-oil
Most popular blog posts this week
Cath's Guide to Carpet Care
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2014/01/caths-guide-to-carpet-care.html
Laundry Soap and Bicarb Soda
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2011/02/laundry-soap-and-bicarb-soda.html
The Start of the Annual No Spend Challenge
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2012/02/start-of-annual-no-spend-challenge.html
9. Member's Featured Blog
Platinum Cheapskates Club members have their very own Cheapskating blogs, and they are wonderful and inspirational and encouraging and even funny. This week's featured blog is written by Laurab.
I Can Cope with a Challenge
After New Years I went about setting up a budget and tracking my spending. Today I get a call from HR saying they'd been overpaying me - for 10 pay cycles, 20 weeks. About 6 months. As in, from when I quit my full time job. So I've been merrily going along with the money thinking it was my part time salary and budgeting accordingly. But now I have to re-budget for the lesser amount PLUS having the repayments of their error as an expense.
NOT HAPPY.
I'm currently doing Lite'N'Easy because I am nearly double what my weight should be and my partner is away which usually leads to eating toast for dinner. It's expensive, I knew that from the outset, but health is important and I needed help. My original budget factored it in and it was fine. Now I've had to slash more than $100 per fortnight out of my budget it's just got to go. I just hope I've gotten in the smaller portion sizes habit well enough. Well, really I'm just going to have to do it. I'm sick of being fat plus I have too little money to eat too much.
On the bright side my lettuces, tarragon and basil are doing great despite the nuclear summer weather we're having at the moment. Once the heat dials back a few thousand notches I'll see what else I can be adding. I got some pots free from a friend who was moving house - our soil is highly compacted dust, we found one worm in our whole quite sizeable bed. Things like rosemary and succulents are all that really cope with that plus that high amount of sunlight. So pots it is.
Also looking into things to make being broke less unhappy. Found a blackhead cleanser yesterday that seems to be working already - baking soda and water. Once the worst of them are cleared I'll switch to milk and nutmeg as suggested on crunchybetty.com. A few good ideas on there which happily combine the beauty budget (which is currently $0) with the grocery budget.
Trying to think positive. I have a lovely pet who is paid for (Seeing Eye Dog trainee), my bills are all part of my rent (including electricity which at the moment means all the A/C all the time), I can afford to continue with my back-to-uni plan without getting another part time job. Just not with the Lite N Easy. Which isn't the end of the world. Need to be positive about it all. It's just a challenge. I can cope with a challenge. It's just challenging.
Login to read more Cheapskates Club member blogs
10. Last Week's Question
Last week's question was from Lisa who wrote
"It's that time of year again - back to school. We have three kids in primary school. I pass down uniforms and hats and spring clean school bags and shop around for shoes, and usually do OK. What I struggle with are lunches and morning teas. My kids must have a "brain food" snack for mid-morning and then lunch. They're all good eaters, I just run out of ideas that will pack and store in school bags until lunchtime. What do other Mums pack in lunchboxes?"
Emily Steele answered
When I was at school we were asked to bring 'brain food' as well. My Mum would pop popcorn the night before and separate into equal containers. She used to take it to work as well. If you pop it on the stove in an old pot with tinfoil you need less than a tablespoon of oil and there's no need to add any after for flavour. (Just keep shaking the pot while it cooks!) Almonds always taste so much nicer roasted but instead of oven roasting, stick one serving (12-15 nuts) between two pieces of paper towel or napkin in the microwave for 15-25 seconds depending on your microwave. Yum!
Karen Clarke answered
My kids have soft, insulated lunchbox bags and I use a few Lock N Lock containers to fit everything separately.
1 x square for sandwich/wrap/leftovers.
3 x small rectangles for healthy snack/muffin/fruit/biscuits, etc.
They put a small frozen ice pack/brick to keep everything fresh. We live in FNQ so it gets very hot!
Healthy Snack (Brain Food) - carrot sticks - cucumber sticks - grapes - apple cut into eighths - cheese sticks/squares (block cheese, cut yourself) - orange cut into wedges - corn cob (cooked the night before & cut in half)
Lunch - sandwich my kids generally have a sandwich every day, I just change the filling. I roast my own meat (lamb, pork, beef, chicken) slice it thinly, then freeze in portions to cover 2 days. Add whatever else they like to the sandwich - chutney, gravy, sauce, lettuce, cheese, etc. not usually tomato as it goes soggy. - leftover cold spag bog
Treats - homemade muffins, cake, biscuits - more sliced fruit - sultanas - occasionally a cream biscuit.
Robyne Neal answered
I am a second time around mum looking after my granddaughter full time. At 8 she is always hungry. For her lunches when hot I freeze a water bottle or one of those small drink cartons. She is over wraps this year so its sandwiches and home made muesli bars, fruit salad in a small container, plus her usual fruit, what ever is in season. I dry my own sultanas and fruit so I know she is getting the best. It is hard but I googled up recipes for lunches and came up with different things for her to have. She also has a large water bottle and in winter she has a flask for warm milk.
Naomi McDougall answered
In 2013 I decided to take my children of as many food additives as possible. This has made a massive difference to their moods and ability to focus and learn. We also had to go gluten free for health reasons. As you can imagine this began as quite a challenge but here are the snacks that we now pack:
fruit (try to give wide variety)
two fruit salad (2 piece fruit chopped)
vegetable sticks
cherry tomatoes
plain popcorn (in microwave no oil)
pikelets (home made Gluten free)
buckwheat and apple muffins
plain rice crackers (no flavouring or colours)
boiled egg
cheese
organic sultanas (to avoid additives)
dried apricots (sulphite/presev. free)
fruit leather (100% fruit)
coconut and fruit balls (own recipe)
cheese and puffed millet squares
vegetable fritters
Other foods (just not ones my kids eat) are:
humus with vegie sticks
celery filled with humus or ricotta
sushi
seed mix(eg.sesame, pumpkin, sunflower, chia etc)
coleslaw
I try to keep lunch boxes as healthy as possible; treats are reserved for the week end. Lunch orders are once or twice a term. We only order snacks as my kids don't eat the sushi and cold rolls on offer (which are very yummy!). We order plain popcorn (salted, no colours), plain crisps, yoghurt with berries, muesli and fruit salad. Hope that helps spark some ideas.
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11. This Week's Question
Lesley writes
"I work full-time in a busy role and have a husband and two children. Whilst I'm organised on most levels (the only thing I outsource is after school care), I do struggle with my food bill and menu planning each fortnight. I tend to treat my shopping trips as 'get it over and done with as quickly as possible' on the weekends which often leads to expensive food bills and little meal planning. For those readers who also work full-time (away from the home), what are your tips for keeping your food bill in the same vein as the Cheapskates $300 a Month Food Challenge? Many thanks."
Do you have the answer?
If you have a suggestion or idea for Lesley let us know. We'll enter your answer into our Tip of the Week competition, with a one-year membership to the Cheapskates Club as the prize too.
Send your answer
12. Join the Cheapskates Club
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
13. Gift Memberships
Your family and friends will thank you for a whole year when you give them a Platinum Cheapskates Club membership as a gift.
It's so simple: just select the number of gift memberships required, click the Buy Now button and complete the Gift Membership order form (you must use this form to order gift memberships) and we'll get in touch with you to confirm the gift subscriptions.
Click here to order a gift membership right now!
14. Frequently Asked Questions
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.
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15. Contact Details
The Cheapskates Club -
Showing you how to live life
debt free, cashed up and laughing!
PO Box 5077 Studfield Vic 3152
www.cheapskates.com.au
[email protected]
2. In the Tip Store - Heating/Cooling Electricity Savings, Tomato Ties, Shoestring Organising
3. The Art of Living the Cheapskates Way Workshop
4. Submit Your Tip - You have to be in it to win it!
5. Living Green in 2014 - Great Reduce, Reuse, Recycle ideas from Cheapskaters
6. On the Menu with Anne - An Australia Day Feast
7. The $300 a Month Food Challenge with Wendy - The 2014 Food Challenge Begins
8. Cheapskates Buzz - Cheapskaters are talking in the Forum and on Cath's blog
9. Member's Featured Blog - I Can Cope with a Challenge by Laurab
10. Last Week's Question - What do other Mums pack in lunchboxes?
11. This Week's Question - Tips for sticking to the $300 a Month Food Challenge
12. Join the Cheapskates Club
13. Gift Memberships
14. Frequently Asked Questions
15. Contact Details
1. Cath's Corner
Hello Cheapskaters,
We seem to have survived the heat wave unscathed, although the garden wasn't quite so fortunate. I lost some beetroot and a tomato plant and my orange tree seemed to be especially stressed and dropped almost all it's fruit. But otherwise we survived, I hope you all came through it hale and hearty too.
Wendy is back this week with the $300 a Month Food Challenge and Anne has posted a particularly delicious Australia Day menu.
I'm thrilled with your response to Living Green in 2014 - keep those reuse, recycle, reduce tips rolling in and let's all keep doing our best to live a little greener - and cheaper.
Have a lovely Australia Day on Sunday and a great week of Cheapskating everyone.
PS: Love our site? We love referrals! Send a note to your favourite newspapers, magazines, radio stations, TV stations, friends and relatives, and tell them about us!
PPS: You can read this newsletter and past copies on the website in the Newsletter Archive.
2. From The Tip Store
Heating/Cooling Electricity Savings
I live in a fibro home that is freezing in winter and boiling in summer. I rent so don't want to spend money making the house more permanently efficient in heating/cooling so we occasionally use the installed reverse cycle air con in our lounge. My partner and I spend most of our time in this room, which has two doorway entrances on either side of it - but no doors on them. Last winter, after receiving a massive electricity bill, I tacked up two heavy woollen blankets against the doorways which trap all the heat into the lounge room rather than it flowing out into the kitchen or the hallway. This keeps the room so much warmer in winter and so much cooler in winter. I also found that by regularly cleaning the reverse cycle air con filters really helps with its efficiency and it doesn't have to work as hard.
Contributed by Leah Doyle
Tomato Ties
Before throwing away old joggers (shoes with laces) or unwanted soft belts (from dresses) keep the laces/belts. Cut into smaller lengths and use them to tie up tomato plants or any other wayward plants in the garden. They are soft enough not to "cut" into the stems of the tomatoes and strong enough to hold them up.
Contributed by Cherry Colville
Shoestring Organising
Organised homes seem to be the in thing at the moment and there are blogs, websites, ads everywhere regaling the virtues of this tub or that storage system. Getting organised doesn't need to cost the earth. Nappy boxes, wipes boxes and even packaging your food comes in can all repurpose into wonder storage . We are renting and my sons' wardrobes only have shelves and hanging space. Now the shelves hold nappy boxes which I've prettied up with nothing more than a sheet of scrapbook paper and a label I made up on the computer. Same goes for the plastic storage cupboard in the kitchen and dried goods cupboard in the laundry, under the sink in the bathroom, the linen press, etc. My house still has a long way to go to being completely organised (if that can ever be achieved) but so far it's cost me a scrapbook, two rolls of packing tape and a few pages printed on the printer.
Contributed by Leanne C.
There are more than 11,000 great tips in the Tip Store
3. Cheapskates Tip of the Week
The $300 a Month Food Challenge
When: Sunday, 16th February 2014
Where: Orana Neighbourhood House, 62 Coleman Road, Wantirna South
What time: 1:30pm - 4.30pm
Join Cath and guest speaker Wendy, moderator of The $300 a Month Food Challenge for an afternoon of fun and frugality as you learn the secrets of how to eat well, save more and do it all on just $300 a month.
Click here to book your place at this workshop
4. Submit your tip
Share your favourite hint or tip that saves money, time and energy and be in the running to win a one-year subscription to The Cheapskate Journal.
Remember, you have to be in it to win it!
Submit your tip
5. Living Green in 2014
The reuse, recycle, reduce bug is catching. Every day someone shares another idea for re-purposing rubbish into something useful.
Here are some that came in this week.
Jars.....I paint them and give them as gifts with lollies etc in them.
Linda Stapleton
One of my daughter's friends uses a LOT of take-a-way. I get her to save the plastic containers for me and use them to freeze items - soups, left-overs, "portion" size fish, meat, chicken etc. The containers can be used several times and pack neatly into the freezer.
Bernadette Barnett
I store my buttons in glass jars. My grandchildren use some of the smaller jars to catch and house bugs which are let go and the end of the day.
Denise Smith
Tin cans are another versatile re-useable item, opened with a winding smooth edge opener, they can be used for tidying stationery and kitchen tools, made into pot plants and garden edging for herb plants as well as candle holders.
Bluebell234
Old Christmas cards or other greeting cards and wrapping paper can be recycled by donating them to your local school or day care centre where they can be used to make new artwork.
Petra Maubach
Want to know more about living green? Do you have a great way to reduce, reuse or recycle? Click here to share.
6. On the Menu with Anne
An Australia Day Feast
Sunday is Australia Day and what better way to celebrate that with a traditional Aussie barbecue. It may be in the backyard, in a park, on the banks of a river somewhere, on the top of a mountain or on sizzling sands at the beach. However you celebrate, food will be a big part of the celebration.
This Sunday we will be celebrating at home with friends and family and enjoying a lamb roast, damper and pavlova.
Slow Roasted Lamb Shoulder
Ingredients:
1 lamb shoulder (bone in)
1 head of garlic
1 bunch of rosemary
1 tbsp olive oil
Method:
Preheat oven or barbecue to 150 degrees. Separate the cloves of garlic. Lay half the rosemary and half the garlic in the base of a roasting tray. Lay the shoulder on top. Rub the olive oil over the shoulder, cover with the remaining garlic and rosemary. Cover tightly with foil and bake for 4-5 hours. Rest for 20 minutes prior to serving.
Damper
Ingredients:
500g self raising flour
1 tsp salt
20g butter, softened
1 cup milk
1/2 cup water
Method:
Preheat oven to 220 degrees and grease a baking tray. In a large bowl, stir together the flour and salt. Rub in butter using your fingertips. Make a well in the centre of the flour mixture and pour in the milk and water. Stir until the dough comes together. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and form into a round loaf 20cm across. Place the loaf onto the prepared tray and using a sharp knife, cut a cross in the top. Bake for 25 minutes then lower the temperature to 180 degrees and continue to bake for an additional 5 to 10 minutes. The damper loaf should be golden brown and the bottom should sound hollow when tapped.
Easy Peasy No Fail Pavlova
This is a really easy pav to make, quick to cook and yummy to eat. Even if you've never made a pavlova before you'll have success with this recipe.
Ingredients:
2 egg whites
1 cup white sugar
1 tsp vinegar
1 tsp cornflour
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tbsp boiling water
Method:
Pre-heat oven to 180 degrees Celsius (this is important, the oven must be at temperature when you put the pav in so it starts to cook immediately). Beat egg whites, vinegar, vanilla, cornflour and boiling water until stiff. Slowly add the sugar, beating until it is dissolved. Prepare a pavlova plate or baking sheet by covering the base with baking paper. Spread the pavlova mixture onto the baking paper in either a circle or rectangle, it's up to you. Bake for 45 minutes until slightly browned. Turn the oven off and leave the pav in the oven, with the door closed, until it is cold.
To make a larger pav, double the recipe and extend baking time by 10 minutes.
This week we will be eating:
Friday: Spaghetti bolognaise
Saturday: Barbecued chicken drumsticks, fried rice
Sunday: Roast shoulder of lamb, baked vegetables
Monday: Italian Vegetarian Meatballs, mashed potato, beans, corn
Tuesday: MOO pies, wedges, salad
Wednesday: Fishcakes, potato gems and salad
Thursday: Mushroom crepes, salad
In the fruit bowl: Rockmelon, strawberries, mandarins, grapes
In the cake tin: Raspberry Coconut Slice, choc chip cookies, ANZAC slice
There are over 1,300 other great money saving meal ideas in the Recipe File
7. The $300 a Month Food Challenge with Wendy
The 2014 Food Challenge Begins
Hello fellow Cheapskaters and welcome to a new year of the $300 a month food challenge. This is where you'll learn lots of ideas that will help you to trim your food budget and still eat well.
I'm hoping there are lots of new readers and members who'd like to join me in this challenge. The general outline of the challenge is to spend $300 a month for a family of four or $75 per person. My family consists of two adults, two teenagers, one cat and five chickens. If $300 a month is too low for you to start on, feel free to set your own goal.
I'm able to achieve this challenge by -
* Shopping once a month for all general grocery staples
* Shopping weekly for milk, fruit and veg only
* Shopping every few months for meat when on special at the butcher's
* Only buying fruit and veg at a fruit and veg shop
* Always having a shopping list and sticking to it
* Menu planning for the month and writing the shopping list from the menu
* Having an inventory list of the pantry, fridge and freezer
* Keeping my fridge, freezers and pantry tidy
* Baking all cakes, slices and biscuits from scratch
* Cooking all meals from scratch
* Avoiding pre - packaged, microwave, ready made, instant food
* Having a veg garden
* Freezing excess produce or bargains
* Only buying items at the cheapest possible price
* Buying in bulk
* Buying no name as much as possible
* Portion controlling the meals - especially the meat
* Freezing leftovers ASAP
* Freezing meat into meal sizes
* Cooking good wholesome comfort food
* Baking in bulk and freezing most of it
* Putting leftover money into a food slush fund for future specials
* MOOing as many things as I can
* Using unit pricing to get the best price possible
The $300 covers all food including meat, fruit and veg, dairy, general staples, basic toiletries, basic cleaning products and the odd item for the house ( coat hangers, super glue etc. ). This challenge is achievable. I've been sticking to the $300 a month for the last three and a half years. I did start the challenge with a reasonably full pantry, freezer and a half filled fridge.
So who is going to join me for 2014's $300 a month food challenge ? I'm calling on all interested parties to state their name, how much they usually spend ( if you're game ), what your new goal is for the year and how you think you'll achieve it. I'll start off the list -
My name is Wendy and I usually spend $300 a month (mostly less). My new goal is to spend $270 per month and to still have money left over for my food slush fund. I think I'll achieve this by freezing more leftovers and writing them into the menu plan. I need to choose cheaper options when some fruit and veg is too dear. I need to make more chunky soups for Winter and avoid buying the tinned chunky soups to have " just in case ".
Who would like to add their name to the list?
Have a great week and BE ENCOURAGED!!!!
The $300 a Month Food Challenge
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2332-The-2014-Food-Challenge-Begins&p=37727
The Post that Started it All
http://www.cheapskates.com.au/pages/default.cfm?page_id=44265
8.Cheapskates Buzz
This week's hot forum topics
I Know it Sounds Ridiculous but ..... have You Started Planning for Christmas Yet?!
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?487-I-know-it-sounds-ridiculous-but-.....-have-you-started-planning-for-Christmas-yet-!
Slow Cooker Died
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2320-slow-cooker-died
Can I Cook with USED Olive Oil?
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2312-Can-I-cook-with-USED-olive-oil
Most popular blog posts this week
Cath's Guide to Carpet Care
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2014/01/caths-guide-to-carpet-care.html
Laundry Soap and Bicarb Soda
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2011/02/laundry-soap-and-bicarb-soda.html
The Start of the Annual No Spend Challenge
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2012/02/start-of-annual-no-spend-challenge.html
9. Member's Featured Blog
Platinum Cheapskates Club members have their very own Cheapskating blogs, and they are wonderful and inspirational and encouraging and even funny. This week's featured blog is written by Laurab.
I Can Cope with a Challenge
After New Years I went about setting up a budget and tracking my spending. Today I get a call from HR saying they'd been overpaying me - for 10 pay cycles, 20 weeks. About 6 months. As in, from when I quit my full time job. So I've been merrily going along with the money thinking it was my part time salary and budgeting accordingly. But now I have to re-budget for the lesser amount PLUS having the repayments of their error as an expense.
NOT HAPPY.
I'm currently doing Lite'N'Easy because I am nearly double what my weight should be and my partner is away which usually leads to eating toast for dinner. It's expensive, I knew that from the outset, but health is important and I needed help. My original budget factored it in and it was fine. Now I've had to slash more than $100 per fortnight out of my budget it's just got to go. I just hope I've gotten in the smaller portion sizes habit well enough. Well, really I'm just going to have to do it. I'm sick of being fat plus I have too little money to eat too much.
On the bright side my lettuces, tarragon and basil are doing great despite the nuclear summer weather we're having at the moment. Once the heat dials back a few thousand notches I'll see what else I can be adding. I got some pots free from a friend who was moving house - our soil is highly compacted dust, we found one worm in our whole quite sizeable bed. Things like rosemary and succulents are all that really cope with that plus that high amount of sunlight. So pots it is.
Also looking into things to make being broke less unhappy. Found a blackhead cleanser yesterday that seems to be working already - baking soda and water. Once the worst of them are cleared I'll switch to milk and nutmeg as suggested on crunchybetty.com. A few good ideas on there which happily combine the beauty budget (which is currently $0) with the grocery budget.
Trying to think positive. I have a lovely pet who is paid for (Seeing Eye Dog trainee), my bills are all part of my rent (including electricity which at the moment means all the A/C all the time), I can afford to continue with my back-to-uni plan without getting another part time job. Just not with the Lite N Easy. Which isn't the end of the world. Need to be positive about it all. It's just a challenge. I can cope with a challenge. It's just challenging.
Login to read more Cheapskates Club member blogs
10. Last Week's Question
Last week's question was from Lisa who wrote
"It's that time of year again - back to school. We have three kids in primary school. I pass down uniforms and hats and spring clean school bags and shop around for shoes, and usually do OK. What I struggle with are lunches and morning teas. My kids must have a "brain food" snack for mid-morning and then lunch. They're all good eaters, I just run out of ideas that will pack and store in school bags until lunchtime. What do other Mums pack in lunchboxes?"
Emily Steele answered
When I was at school we were asked to bring 'brain food' as well. My Mum would pop popcorn the night before and separate into equal containers. She used to take it to work as well. If you pop it on the stove in an old pot with tinfoil you need less than a tablespoon of oil and there's no need to add any after for flavour. (Just keep shaking the pot while it cooks!) Almonds always taste so much nicer roasted but instead of oven roasting, stick one serving (12-15 nuts) between two pieces of paper towel or napkin in the microwave for 15-25 seconds depending on your microwave. Yum!
Karen Clarke answered
My kids have soft, insulated lunchbox bags and I use a few Lock N Lock containers to fit everything separately.
1 x square for sandwich/wrap/leftovers.
3 x small rectangles for healthy snack/muffin/fruit/biscuits, etc.
They put a small frozen ice pack/brick to keep everything fresh. We live in FNQ so it gets very hot!
Healthy Snack (Brain Food) - carrot sticks - cucumber sticks - grapes - apple cut into eighths - cheese sticks/squares (block cheese, cut yourself) - orange cut into wedges - corn cob (cooked the night before & cut in half)
Lunch - sandwich my kids generally have a sandwich every day, I just change the filling. I roast my own meat (lamb, pork, beef, chicken) slice it thinly, then freeze in portions to cover 2 days. Add whatever else they like to the sandwich - chutney, gravy, sauce, lettuce, cheese, etc. not usually tomato as it goes soggy. - leftover cold spag bog
Treats - homemade muffins, cake, biscuits - more sliced fruit - sultanas - occasionally a cream biscuit.
Robyne Neal answered
I am a second time around mum looking after my granddaughter full time. At 8 she is always hungry. For her lunches when hot I freeze a water bottle or one of those small drink cartons. She is over wraps this year so its sandwiches and home made muesli bars, fruit salad in a small container, plus her usual fruit, what ever is in season. I dry my own sultanas and fruit so I know she is getting the best. It is hard but I googled up recipes for lunches and came up with different things for her to have. She also has a large water bottle and in winter she has a flask for warm milk.
Naomi McDougall answered
In 2013 I decided to take my children of as many food additives as possible. This has made a massive difference to their moods and ability to focus and learn. We also had to go gluten free for health reasons. As you can imagine this began as quite a challenge but here are the snacks that we now pack:
fruit (try to give wide variety)
two fruit salad (2 piece fruit chopped)
vegetable sticks
cherry tomatoes
plain popcorn (in microwave no oil)
pikelets (home made Gluten free)
buckwheat and apple muffins
plain rice crackers (no flavouring or colours)
boiled egg
cheese
organic sultanas (to avoid additives)
dried apricots (sulphite/presev. free)
fruit leather (100% fruit)
coconut and fruit balls (own recipe)
cheese and puffed millet squares
vegetable fritters
Other foods (just not ones my kids eat) are:
humus with vegie sticks
celery filled with humus or ricotta
sushi
seed mix(eg.sesame, pumpkin, sunflower, chia etc)
coleslaw
I try to keep lunch boxes as healthy as possible; treats are reserved for the week end. Lunch orders are once or twice a term. We only order snacks as my kids don't eat the sushi and cold rolls on offer (which are very yummy!). We order plain popcorn (salted, no colours), plain crisps, yoghurt with berries, muesli and fruit salad. Hope that helps spark some ideas.
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11. This Week's Question
Lesley writes
"I work full-time in a busy role and have a husband and two children. Whilst I'm organised on most levels (the only thing I outsource is after school care), I do struggle with my food bill and menu planning each fortnight. I tend to treat my shopping trips as 'get it over and done with as quickly as possible' on the weekends which often leads to expensive food bills and little meal planning. For those readers who also work full-time (away from the home), what are your tips for keeping your food bill in the same vein as the Cheapskates $300 a Month Food Challenge? Many thanks."
Do you have the answer?
If you have a suggestion or idea for Lesley let us know. We'll enter your answer into our Tip of the Week competition, with a one-year membership to the Cheapskates Club as the prize too.
Send your answer
12. Join the Cheapskates Club
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15. Contact Details
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www.cheapskates.com.au
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