Your Cheapskates Club Newsletter: 04:15
Bright ideas to save you money
In This Newsletter
1. Cath's Corner
2. In the Tip Store -
3. Cheapskate's Winning Tip - Taught by a Teenager
4. Submit Your Tip - You have to be in it to win it
5. On the Menu with Anne - Cath's meal plan for the week
6. The $300 a Month Food Challenge with Wendy -
7. Cheapskates Buzz - Cheapskaters are talking in the Forum and on Cath's blog
8. Member's Featured Blog - Exciting Morning
9. Last Week's Question - Please help me to save for a new baby
10. This Week's Question - Shampoo recipes required
11. Join the Cheapskates Club
12. Gift Memberships
13. Frequently Asked Questions
14. Contact Details
1. Cath's Corner
Hello Cheapskaters,
How are you going with your Year of Saving challenge? I've been posting (semi-regularly) the everyday savings I've been able to make over on the blog. I'd love to know how you're going too, so please visit and share your savings with us.
This next week will be a big one for many Australian families. It's back to school time and for lots of mums and dads it will be the start of a whole new adventure with their little ones starting school for the very first time. It is such an exciting time. I remember Hannah wore her school uniform for weeks before school started she was so excited to be going to "real" school. I could hardly get it offer her to wash it! At least her school shoes were well and truly broken in!
We had practice lunchbox lunches for a few weeks to get her used to the opening/closing and finding it in her school bag (which looked way too big for her). It was also a trial run for me because I wasn't sure how much food to pack. I really didn't know how she would adapt to the school/meal routine and I didn't want her to be hungry but I also didn't want to be packing too much food and having it go to waste. I was also mindful of the "empty lunchbox" rule our school had - pack to much food and there would be no playtime, pack too little and they'd eat it all but end up hungry and hungry kids are cranky kids.
It was a waste of a good worry. She adapted, I adapted, we both coped. Now she's finished school and started work and moves on to her apprenticeship in a couple of weeks.
If you have children going back to school this year or starting school for the first time, enjoy it. Yes, it can be expensive and it will be busy, but you know what is best for your child. Be prepared for good days and not so good days. Trust your instincts as a parent and use them to guide you and your children through the coming school year and it will be the best school year yet.
Cath
PS: Love our site? We love referrals! Send a note to your favourite newspapers, magazines, radio stations, TV stations, friends and relatives, and tell them about us!
PPS: You can read this newsletter and past copies on the website in the Newsletter Archive.
http://www.cheapskates.com.au/pages/group/default.cfm?group_id=4291&list=Full
========================================
2. From The Tip Store
Avoid Spending Good Money on Bad Avocados
If you pop the stem end of an avocado and see that it is brown underneath - it is over-ripe.
If the hole is yellow-ish it is perfect.
If it is green - it needs a little more time to ripen.
Contributed by Vicky Poole
Who Hates Chopping Onions?
I don't! Store your onions in the freezer. When you need one next, just zap it in the microwave for 20-30 seconds (just long enough to make it soft enough to chop, but onion is still cold). No more tears guaranteed. Chopping onions will now be a pleasure.
Contributed by Lisa
Pack Lunch and Save Big
Last year's lunch box probably just needs a good cleaning (and maybe a new name label and a few new stickers) to be school ready. This year, vow to stop spending top dollar on expensive, one-use juice boxes. Instead, invest in a fun, reusable water container. There are so many good water bottles around, BPA free, unbreakable, and reusable and some are even insulated. You'll find them in department stores and supermarkets right now, with all the back to school paraphernalia. The next step on the lunch makeover is to hunt down reusable snack and sandwich containers. Vow to use Ziplocs and tin foil sparingly. Instead, opt for a waste-free lunch kit. You can get reusable sandwich and roll containers. Tupperware have them (although they are expensive). You can also get them at department stores. There are cloth sandwich wraps that are light to carry and easy to launder. Buying them is expensive when they are easily made. Thrifty mothers can make their own lunch kits by snapping up small Tupperware containers at garage sales and from op-shops in fun colours.
There are more than 11,000 great tips in the Tip Store
========================================
3. Cheapskate's Winning Tip
This week's winning tip is from Tammy Marks. Tammy has won a one year Platinum Cheapskates Club membership for submitting her winning tip.
Taught by a Teenager
My youngest son, who is just about to turn 18, taught me this invaluable tip. When looking to buy something he has a simple rule "if you want to buy something, you must have enough money to buy at least two". Easy. So if you want to buy a $2 chocolate bar, you must have at least $4. You don't have to buy 2, you just have to have enough money to be able to. Obviously this doesn't apply to essentials like a new fridge etc.
Congratulations Tammy, I hope you enjoy your Cheapskates Club membership.
The Cheapskate's Club website is over 2,000 pages of money saving hints, tips and ideas. Let's get together and make the Cheapskates Club Australia's largest online hint, tip and idea library. Share your favourite money saving, time saving or energy saving hint and be in the running to win a one-year membership to The Cheapskate Club. We publish a Winning Tip each Thursday, so enter your great money, time or energy saving idea now.
Enter your tip here
http://www.cheapskates.com.au/contactform/default.cfm?form_id=125
========================================
4. Submit your tip
Share your favourite hint or tip that saves money, time and energy and be in the running to win a one-year subscription to The Cheapskate Journal.
Remember, you have to be in it to win it!
Submit your tip
========================================
5. On the Menu with Anne
Anne is having a break, so this week I thought I'd share what we will be eating for the next seven days. I have my meal plan on the fridge so everyone can see at a glance what will be on the table when. I've found that if the family can see what is coming up they don't even think of suggesting takeaway or going out to eat. In the last three months we've had takeaway twice, and once was my birthday dinner and that was planned.
Meal plans don't have to be complicated. I print my meal plan out, mainly because no one can read my handwriting but you can just as easily make a list of what you have planned for tea. If you don't meal plan, why not give it a try this week? You'll find a downloadable meal planner on the Tip Sheets page, in the Tools and Guides section.
And if you want to know more about meal planning there are some great articles in the Member's Centre:
Dinner Planning & Grocery Shopping
Easy Menu Planning
Menu Madness
Menu Planning 101
Mindful Menus on a Budget
This week the Armstrong family will be eating:
Friday: Chicken enchiladas and green salad (lettuce, capsicum, cucumber, onion, tomato with balsamic dressing)
Saturday: Toasted sandwiches (cheese, tomato, baked beans)
Sunday: Roast Lamb, baked sweet potato, carrot, onion, crumbed cauliflower, beans & gravy
Monday: Crumbed chicken (MOO KFC, oven baked) with salad: coleslaw, potato salad, cucumber, grated carrot, beetroot, onion, pineapple, tomato
Tuesday: Refrigerator lasagne & green salad
Wednesday: BBQ steak & salad
Thursday: MOO pizzas
In the fruit bowl: oranges, lemons, strawberries, kiwi fruit, and bananas
In the cake tin: Lunchbox Cookies, ANZAC Blondies, Boiled Fruit Cake, and Pita Chips
There are over 1,400 other great money saving meal ideas in the Recipe File
========================================
6. The $300 a Month Food Challenge with Wendy
Wendy is having a well-deserved break for the next few weeks so we are going to revisit the $300 a Month Food Challenge Archives.
Good afternoon all. Welcome to a new week of trimming your food budget.
The weather is getting cooler and winter is getting closer. Time to dig out the slow cooker and your favourite winter recipes. This is a great time of the year to get a stockpile of casseroles and leftovers in the freezer. I have a couple of questions for you. Do you have room in your freezer for the casseroles and leftovers? Or is it chock a block with no name mystery packages?
A few Cheapskaters have been posting in Anne's “What’s for Dinner” thread about eating entire meals out of the freezer. So with that in mind, I thought it was time for a challenge.
For the month of May, let's all try to eat out of the freezer as much as possible. A great way to do this it to have a dig around in the freezer to locate those mystery packages. Place them all on a shelf or near the front so you can see them. Next step is to write them into your menu plan. By the end of May you should have some space in your freezer whether it be big or small.
Here are some benefits of this challenge -
* Might be a saving on your food bill.
* A trip to the butcher that you thought was urgent might be delayed for a week or two.
* A few nights off from cooking.
* Reducing household waste.
* It will make your freezer a little easier to organise with less to move around.
* Defrosting the freezer will be easier.
* It will give you room for those too hard to resist meat specials.
* You'll have room for leftovers etc.
For the month of May, the threads I post will be a chance for everyone to report their progress. It might be interesting to find out what mystery packages you find.
I'll start off this challenge. Today I will revise my menu and add anything that needs using up in the freezer. I have lots of oranges that I blended up late last year. I'll be making an orange cake this week. I have lots of stewed apple too. So apple crumble will go on the menu as well.
Who wants to give the freezer challenge a go?
Have a great week and BE ENCOURAGED!!!
The $300 a Month Food Challenge
The Post that Started it All
========================================
7. Cheapskates Buzz
This week's hot forum topics
Easiyo Yoghurt Maker
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2736-Easiyo-Yoghurt-Maker&p=47601#post47601
Power Bill
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?1727-power-Bill
Tomatoes, Tomatoes
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2637-Tomatoes-tomatoes
Most popular blog posts this week
Living with a Spendaholic Spouse
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2014/01/living-with-spendaholic-spouse.html
Step-by-Step Ginger Beer Plant
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2013/09/step-by-step-ginger-beer-plant.html
Step-by-Step to Making Up Ginger Beer Part 2
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2013/09/step-by-step-to-making-up-ginger-beer.html
========================================
8. Member's Featured Blog
Platinum Cheapskates Club members have their very own Cheapskating blogs, and they are wonderful and inspirational and encouraging and even funny. This week's featured blog is written by eedwards86.
Exciting Morning
What an excellent morning it has been! Woke up to the news that my sister will be living in my group of units. Her boyfriend's parents had been looking for an investment property and offered to rent it to them cheaper than average rent. They found out after a few agonizing days wait that the offer was accepted! While settlement goes through they will rent it off the owner, so she is moving in as of next week.
So while I was busy MOOing some cleaning items for the first time I thought why not make her a special gift of MOO cleaners? So I have made some miracle spray and started in on the citrus spray. Hopefully by the time they have settled in I will have more done and it will save them some money. Even if it's ready for use when their first batch of shop bought cleaners are used up.
Next job, Lunchbox Cookies!!
Login to read more Cheapskates Club member blogs
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9. Last Week's Question
Last week's question was from Christina who wrote
"I am preparing for my baby which will be born in 6 months. I am wondering what are some ways I can scrimp and save any money possible? The thought of going down to one wage is daunting. Is there any good advice for things I should do to prepare without breaking the bank?"
Gina Petterson answered
Christina, with my last two children, I took three years and two years break from work (my work allows us to take up to four years)...and did it easily, even with two other children (family of six total). It comes down to planning. This is how we did it:
1. When we first found, out we were expecting, we started saving 50% of my wage (so we lived off 1.5 wage). This would be my 'wage' once my paid leave ran out.
2. Saved holidays and long-service leave entitlements till I finished work. Then I took them at 'half-pay' which doubled my paid time off work. See if you can take your maternity leave the same way.
3. Check your parenting entitlements with Centrelink.
4. When I finished work, I only spent half of wage coming in from annual and maternity leave. Once my paid leave ran out, I was then able to draw on my savings that I had started putting away when I first found out we were expecting...still only drawing 50%. Meanwhile, my husband's wage covered bills and other essential expenses.
5. Finally, cut out any non-essential expenses. Remember, you don't need to buy every latest gadget for you baby. In the early days/months, they mainly just sleep and dirty nappies. Check out EBay for cots, prams, etc. I bought a cot 20 years ago for $100 and used it for my four children, selling on eBay again for the same price! Good luck.
Emma Seabrook answered
First off, congratulations on the new bub. I don't have children but from watching friends having a baby I've gathered some tips.
1. Budget - start living on one wage now and put your wage in savings. Do up meal plans, set up your price book and become friends with supermarket catalogues.
2. Don't over buy - bub will grow very quickly so buying lots of clothes is a waste of money. Try your local second hand shops for baby clothes (if you have a Savers near you, they're fantastic).
3. Join a mum's group - not only will they give you huge amounts of support but it will be a great way for you to get out and about without spending money.
4. See if you can start a home business - even becoming an online blogger can bring in small amounts of money.
5. Get all your entitlements - talk to Centrelink and make sure you're registered for every benefit you're entitled to. Good luck!
Penny Harris answered
Don't be afraid to get quotes to swap service providers for things like insurances, electricity and phone accounts. I was comparing my home and contents insurance and rang Suncorp to cancel (as they weren't competitive). My mortgage is also with Suncorp, and I wasn't getting all of the package benefits that I could. End result - insurance costs down and the "package" took an extra 0.3% of my mortgage rate!
Carma Hambley answered
I did a couple of things before my daughter was born that really helped: 1. I bought a stash of cloth nappies second hand. I got all of mine for $200. They are adjustable and do from newborn right through to toilet training. There are websites and facebook pages devoted to buying and selling second hand cloth nappies - just do some searches. 2. Throughout my pregnancy, I bought double of all the non-perishable items on my grocery list - including things like tissues, toilet paper etc. I had a huge stockpile by the time my baby was born and it meant our grocery shopping was both cheaper and faster to do once she was here. Good luck :)
Diana French answered
Nappies are a big financial burden, so my tip is to start purchasing boxes of nappies when they are on special & put them aside. I always attached my shopping receipt to each box so if you didn't end up using them, they could be returned and the money used for other things e.g. more nappies, groceries etc. Also consider the modern cloth nappies if you are not keen on disposables. After much research I purchased the Green Kids brand which are made in Australia. I outlaid about $600 and got about 18 nappies, even more inserts, re-useable breast pads and wet bags. At an average of $30 per box (1 per fortnight) over a 3 year period I will save more than $1,700!
Do you have a question that needs an answer?
Send us your question and receive the combined knowledge of your fellow Cheapskates to solve your problem!
Ask Your Question
========================================
10. This Week's Question
Wendy writes
"Reading the labels on hair shampoo scares me a lot. So many chemicals. Does anyone have a MOO shampoo recipe that does not have the chemicals but cleans hair without stripping out all the oils and leaving it dry and brittle?"
Do you have the answer?
If you have a suggestion or idea for Wendy let us know. We'll enter your answer into our Tip of the Week competition, with a one-year membership to the Cheapskates Club as the prize too.
Send your answer
========================================
11. Join the Cheapskates Club
For just 10 cents a day you can join the Cheapskates Club and get exclusive access to the Cheapskate Journal, the monthly e-journal that shows you how to cut the costs of everyday living and still have fun.
Joining the Cheapskates Club gives you 24/7 access to the Members Centre with 1000's of money saving tips and articles.
Click here to join the Cheapskates Club today!
http://www.cheapskates.com.au/members/join_form.cfm?item_id=2271
========================================
12. Gift Memberships
Your family and friends will thank you for a whole year when you give them a Platinum Cheapskates Club membership as a gift.
It's so simple: just select the number of gift memberships required, click the Buy Now button and complete the Gift Membership order form (you must use this form to order gift memberships) and we'll get in touch with you to confirm the gift subscriptions.
Click here to order a gift membership right now!
http://www.cheapskates.com.au/pages/default.cfm?page_id=43740
========================================
13. Frequently Asked Questions
How do I change my email address?
This one is easy. Members can update their email address or any other details by clicking on "Edit Profile" directly under their membership number after they have logged in to the Member's Centre. Subscribers to our free newsletter can use the Change Your Address form (under Customer Service in the menu) and fill it out. Once you've filled it in click the send button and we'll do the rest. Please remember to include your old email address so we can find it in the list as well as the new one.
How do I know when my membership should be renewed?
When you login to the Member's Centre you will be told how many days of membership you have left once you have 30 days left. Just click on the link to renew and your membership will just continue on, uninterrupted.
What will you do with my email address?
We never rent, trade or sell our email list to anyone for any reason whatsoever. You'll never get an unsolicited email from a stranger as a result of joining this list.
Read our privacy policy
How Did You Get on Our List?
You signed up to receive our Free Newsletter at our Cheapskates Club Web site or are a Platinum Cheapskates Club member
========================================
14. Contact Details
The Cheapskates Club -
Showing you how to live life
debt free, cashed up and laughing!
PO Box 5077
Studfield Vic 3152
www.cheapskates.com.au
[email protected]
========================================
1. Cath's Corner
2. In the Tip Store -
3. Cheapskate's Winning Tip - Taught by a Teenager
4. Submit Your Tip - You have to be in it to win it
5. On the Menu with Anne - Cath's meal plan for the week
6. The $300 a Month Food Challenge with Wendy -
7. Cheapskates Buzz - Cheapskaters are talking in the Forum and on Cath's blog
8. Member's Featured Blog - Exciting Morning
9. Last Week's Question - Please help me to save for a new baby
10. This Week's Question - Shampoo recipes required
11. Join the Cheapskates Club
12. Gift Memberships
13. Frequently Asked Questions
14. Contact Details
1. Cath's Corner
Hello Cheapskaters,
How are you going with your Year of Saving challenge? I've been posting (semi-regularly) the everyday savings I've been able to make over on the blog. I'd love to know how you're going too, so please visit and share your savings with us.
This next week will be a big one for many Australian families. It's back to school time and for lots of mums and dads it will be the start of a whole new adventure with their little ones starting school for the very first time. It is such an exciting time. I remember Hannah wore her school uniform for weeks before school started she was so excited to be going to "real" school. I could hardly get it offer her to wash it! At least her school shoes were well and truly broken in!
We had practice lunchbox lunches for a few weeks to get her used to the opening/closing and finding it in her school bag (which looked way too big for her). It was also a trial run for me because I wasn't sure how much food to pack. I really didn't know how she would adapt to the school/meal routine and I didn't want her to be hungry but I also didn't want to be packing too much food and having it go to waste. I was also mindful of the "empty lunchbox" rule our school had - pack to much food and there would be no playtime, pack too little and they'd eat it all but end up hungry and hungry kids are cranky kids.
It was a waste of a good worry. She adapted, I adapted, we both coped. Now she's finished school and started work and moves on to her apprenticeship in a couple of weeks.
If you have children going back to school this year or starting school for the first time, enjoy it. Yes, it can be expensive and it will be busy, but you know what is best for your child. Be prepared for good days and not so good days. Trust your instincts as a parent and use them to guide you and your children through the coming school year and it will be the best school year yet.
Cath
PS: Love our site? We love referrals! Send a note to your favourite newspapers, magazines, radio stations, TV stations, friends and relatives, and tell them about us!
PPS: You can read this newsletter and past copies on the website in the Newsletter Archive.
http://www.cheapskates.com.au/pages/group/default.cfm?group_id=4291&list=Full
========================================
2. From The Tip Store
Avoid Spending Good Money on Bad Avocados
If you pop the stem end of an avocado and see that it is brown underneath - it is over-ripe.
If the hole is yellow-ish it is perfect.
If it is green - it needs a little more time to ripen.
Contributed by Vicky Poole
Who Hates Chopping Onions?
I don't! Store your onions in the freezer. When you need one next, just zap it in the microwave for 20-30 seconds (just long enough to make it soft enough to chop, but onion is still cold). No more tears guaranteed. Chopping onions will now be a pleasure.
Contributed by Lisa
Pack Lunch and Save Big
Last year's lunch box probably just needs a good cleaning (and maybe a new name label and a few new stickers) to be school ready. This year, vow to stop spending top dollar on expensive, one-use juice boxes. Instead, invest in a fun, reusable water container. There are so many good water bottles around, BPA free, unbreakable, and reusable and some are even insulated. You'll find them in department stores and supermarkets right now, with all the back to school paraphernalia. The next step on the lunch makeover is to hunt down reusable snack and sandwich containers. Vow to use Ziplocs and tin foil sparingly. Instead, opt for a waste-free lunch kit. You can get reusable sandwich and roll containers. Tupperware have them (although they are expensive). You can also get them at department stores. There are cloth sandwich wraps that are light to carry and easy to launder. Buying them is expensive when they are easily made. Thrifty mothers can make their own lunch kits by snapping up small Tupperware containers at garage sales and from op-shops in fun colours.
There are more than 11,000 great tips in the Tip Store
========================================
3. Cheapskate's Winning Tip
This week's winning tip is from Tammy Marks. Tammy has won a one year Platinum Cheapskates Club membership for submitting her winning tip.
Taught by a Teenager
My youngest son, who is just about to turn 18, taught me this invaluable tip. When looking to buy something he has a simple rule "if you want to buy something, you must have enough money to buy at least two". Easy. So if you want to buy a $2 chocolate bar, you must have at least $4. You don't have to buy 2, you just have to have enough money to be able to. Obviously this doesn't apply to essentials like a new fridge etc.
Congratulations Tammy, I hope you enjoy your Cheapskates Club membership.
The Cheapskate's Club website is over 2,000 pages of money saving hints, tips and ideas. Let's get together and make the Cheapskates Club Australia's largest online hint, tip and idea library. Share your favourite money saving, time saving or energy saving hint and be in the running to win a one-year membership to The Cheapskate Club. We publish a Winning Tip each Thursday, so enter your great money, time or energy saving idea now.
Enter your tip here
http://www.cheapskates.com.au/contactform/default.cfm?form_id=125
========================================
4. Submit your tip
Share your favourite hint or tip that saves money, time and energy and be in the running to win a one-year subscription to The Cheapskate Journal.
Remember, you have to be in it to win it!
Submit your tip
========================================
5. On the Menu with Anne
Anne is having a break, so this week I thought I'd share what we will be eating for the next seven days. I have my meal plan on the fridge so everyone can see at a glance what will be on the table when. I've found that if the family can see what is coming up they don't even think of suggesting takeaway or going out to eat. In the last three months we've had takeaway twice, and once was my birthday dinner and that was planned.
Meal plans don't have to be complicated. I print my meal plan out, mainly because no one can read my handwriting but you can just as easily make a list of what you have planned for tea. If you don't meal plan, why not give it a try this week? You'll find a downloadable meal planner on the Tip Sheets page, in the Tools and Guides section.
And if you want to know more about meal planning there are some great articles in the Member's Centre:
Dinner Planning & Grocery Shopping
Easy Menu Planning
Menu Madness
Menu Planning 101
Mindful Menus on a Budget
This week the Armstrong family will be eating:
Friday: Chicken enchiladas and green salad (lettuce, capsicum, cucumber, onion, tomato with balsamic dressing)
Saturday: Toasted sandwiches (cheese, tomato, baked beans)
Sunday: Roast Lamb, baked sweet potato, carrot, onion, crumbed cauliflower, beans & gravy
Monday: Crumbed chicken (MOO KFC, oven baked) with salad: coleslaw, potato salad, cucumber, grated carrot, beetroot, onion, pineapple, tomato
Tuesday: Refrigerator lasagne & green salad
Wednesday: BBQ steak & salad
Thursday: MOO pizzas
In the fruit bowl: oranges, lemons, strawberries, kiwi fruit, and bananas
In the cake tin: Lunchbox Cookies, ANZAC Blondies, Boiled Fruit Cake, and Pita Chips
There are over 1,400 other great money saving meal ideas in the Recipe File
========================================
6. The $300 a Month Food Challenge with Wendy
Wendy is having a well-deserved break for the next few weeks so we are going to revisit the $300 a Month Food Challenge Archives.
Good afternoon all. Welcome to a new week of trimming your food budget.
The weather is getting cooler and winter is getting closer. Time to dig out the slow cooker and your favourite winter recipes. This is a great time of the year to get a stockpile of casseroles and leftovers in the freezer. I have a couple of questions for you. Do you have room in your freezer for the casseroles and leftovers? Or is it chock a block with no name mystery packages?
A few Cheapskaters have been posting in Anne's “What’s for Dinner” thread about eating entire meals out of the freezer. So with that in mind, I thought it was time for a challenge.
For the month of May, let's all try to eat out of the freezer as much as possible. A great way to do this it to have a dig around in the freezer to locate those mystery packages. Place them all on a shelf or near the front so you can see them. Next step is to write them into your menu plan. By the end of May you should have some space in your freezer whether it be big or small.
Here are some benefits of this challenge -
* Might be a saving on your food bill.
* A trip to the butcher that you thought was urgent might be delayed for a week or two.
* A few nights off from cooking.
* Reducing household waste.
* It will make your freezer a little easier to organise with less to move around.
* Defrosting the freezer will be easier.
* It will give you room for those too hard to resist meat specials.
* You'll have room for leftovers etc.
For the month of May, the threads I post will be a chance for everyone to report their progress. It might be interesting to find out what mystery packages you find.
I'll start off this challenge. Today I will revise my menu and add anything that needs using up in the freezer. I have lots of oranges that I blended up late last year. I'll be making an orange cake this week. I have lots of stewed apple too. So apple crumble will go on the menu as well.
Who wants to give the freezer challenge a go?
Have a great week and BE ENCOURAGED!!!
The $300 a Month Food Challenge
The Post that Started it All
========================================
7. Cheapskates Buzz
This week's hot forum topics
Easiyo Yoghurt Maker
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2736-Easiyo-Yoghurt-Maker&p=47601#post47601
Power Bill
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?1727-power-Bill
Tomatoes, Tomatoes
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2637-Tomatoes-tomatoes
Most popular blog posts this week
Living with a Spendaholic Spouse
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2014/01/living-with-spendaholic-spouse.html
Step-by-Step Ginger Beer Plant
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2013/09/step-by-step-ginger-beer-plant.html
Step-by-Step to Making Up Ginger Beer Part 2
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2013/09/step-by-step-to-making-up-ginger-beer.html
========================================
8. Member's Featured Blog
Platinum Cheapskates Club members have their very own Cheapskating blogs, and they are wonderful and inspirational and encouraging and even funny. This week's featured blog is written by eedwards86.
Exciting Morning
What an excellent morning it has been! Woke up to the news that my sister will be living in my group of units. Her boyfriend's parents had been looking for an investment property and offered to rent it to them cheaper than average rent. They found out after a few agonizing days wait that the offer was accepted! While settlement goes through they will rent it off the owner, so she is moving in as of next week.
So while I was busy MOOing some cleaning items for the first time I thought why not make her a special gift of MOO cleaners? So I have made some miracle spray and started in on the citrus spray. Hopefully by the time they have settled in I will have more done and it will save them some money. Even if it's ready for use when their first batch of shop bought cleaners are used up.
Next job, Lunchbox Cookies!!
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9. Last Week's Question
Last week's question was from Christina who wrote
"I am preparing for my baby which will be born in 6 months. I am wondering what are some ways I can scrimp and save any money possible? The thought of going down to one wage is daunting. Is there any good advice for things I should do to prepare without breaking the bank?"
Gina Petterson answered
Christina, with my last two children, I took three years and two years break from work (my work allows us to take up to four years)...and did it easily, even with two other children (family of six total). It comes down to planning. This is how we did it:
1. When we first found, out we were expecting, we started saving 50% of my wage (so we lived off 1.5 wage). This would be my 'wage' once my paid leave ran out.
2. Saved holidays and long-service leave entitlements till I finished work. Then I took them at 'half-pay' which doubled my paid time off work. See if you can take your maternity leave the same way.
3. Check your parenting entitlements with Centrelink.
4. When I finished work, I only spent half of wage coming in from annual and maternity leave. Once my paid leave ran out, I was then able to draw on my savings that I had started putting away when I first found out we were expecting...still only drawing 50%. Meanwhile, my husband's wage covered bills and other essential expenses.
5. Finally, cut out any non-essential expenses. Remember, you don't need to buy every latest gadget for you baby. In the early days/months, they mainly just sleep and dirty nappies. Check out EBay for cots, prams, etc. I bought a cot 20 years ago for $100 and used it for my four children, selling on eBay again for the same price! Good luck.
Emma Seabrook answered
First off, congratulations on the new bub. I don't have children but from watching friends having a baby I've gathered some tips.
1. Budget - start living on one wage now and put your wage in savings. Do up meal plans, set up your price book and become friends with supermarket catalogues.
2. Don't over buy - bub will grow very quickly so buying lots of clothes is a waste of money. Try your local second hand shops for baby clothes (if you have a Savers near you, they're fantastic).
3. Join a mum's group - not only will they give you huge amounts of support but it will be a great way for you to get out and about without spending money.
4. See if you can start a home business - even becoming an online blogger can bring in small amounts of money.
5. Get all your entitlements - talk to Centrelink and make sure you're registered for every benefit you're entitled to. Good luck!
Penny Harris answered
Don't be afraid to get quotes to swap service providers for things like insurances, electricity and phone accounts. I was comparing my home and contents insurance and rang Suncorp to cancel (as they weren't competitive). My mortgage is also with Suncorp, and I wasn't getting all of the package benefits that I could. End result - insurance costs down and the "package" took an extra 0.3% of my mortgage rate!
Carma Hambley answered
I did a couple of things before my daughter was born that really helped: 1. I bought a stash of cloth nappies second hand. I got all of mine for $200. They are adjustable and do from newborn right through to toilet training. There are websites and facebook pages devoted to buying and selling second hand cloth nappies - just do some searches. 2. Throughout my pregnancy, I bought double of all the non-perishable items on my grocery list - including things like tissues, toilet paper etc. I had a huge stockpile by the time my baby was born and it meant our grocery shopping was both cheaper and faster to do once she was here. Good luck :)
Diana French answered
Nappies are a big financial burden, so my tip is to start purchasing boxes of nappies when they are on special & put them aside. I always attached my shopping receipt to each box so if you didn't end up using them, they could be returned and the money used for other things e.g. more nappies, groceries etc. Also consider the modern cloth nappies if you are not keen on disposables. After much research I purchased the Green Kids brand which are made in Australia. I outlaid about $600 and got about 18 nappies, even more inserts, re-useable breast pads and wet bags. At an average of $30 per box (1 per fortnight) over a 3 year period I will save more than $1,700!
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10. This Week's Question
Wendy writes
"Reading the labels on hair shampoo scares me a lot. So many chemicals. Does anyone have a MOO shampoo recipe that does not have the chemicals but cleans hair without stripping out all the oils and leaving it dry and brittle?"
Do you have the answer?
If you have a suggestion or idea for Wendy let us know. We'll enter your answer into our Tip of the Week competition, with a one-year membership to the Cheapskates Club as the prize too.
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