Your Cheapskates Club Newsletter 04:19
In This Newsletter
1. Cath's Corner
2. From the Tip Store - Laundry Adaptation; Water Bottles on Flights; Travel Size Make-Up and Skin Care Saves Money
3. This Week's Winning Tip - On the Go Hidden Inventories
4. Share Your Tips -
5. On the Menu - Baked Spaghetti
6. The $300 a Month Food Challenge-In-a-Hurry Meals to Avoid Takeaway
7. Cheapskates Buzz - Cheapskaters are talking in the Forum and on Cath's blog
8. Last Week's Question - Do we sell up and buy a caravan?
9. This Week's Question -
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,
It's hot again! That means more icy poles for the freezer. Thomas finally found the stash at the weekend. Talk about comical! I'd been rationing them, handing them out after tea, and keeping the stash of my homemade fruit icy poles hidden to keep them a treat. Now he knows where they are, I have him washing the containers and making the refills.
We are off on holiday this weekend. I'll be away for two weeks, back on the 12th February.
Hannah will be helping with newsletters and answering questions, and when we have internet connection I'll pop in and say hello and catch up too. Internet connection isn't guaranteed where we're travelling, but we should find ourselves in towns at least every third or fourth day. That's the plan anyway - it could well change.
Enjoy the newsletter, and stay cool!
Happy Cheapskating,
Cath
2. From The Tip Store
Laundry Adaptation
Our laundry is located at the end of our garage, and it is a completely walled off area from the garage, the door between the garage and the laundry has been made by my husband using square lattice, it is perfectly functional as a door and keeps the dogs out of the laundry if needed but it has a dual purpose, as it then becomes my clothes dryer in wet weather, it is perfect to hang up undies, tea towels and socks etc without taking up valuable floor space and no need for pegs, although it is possible to hand things like tea towels using pegs. I also have a rail up near the ceiling where I hang up my clothes on coat hangers to dry, this saves lots of ironing and space.
Contributed by Penny
Water Bottles on Flights
I always take an empty drink bottle through security and as soon as I’m on the plane I ask the cabin crew to fill it for me! I haven’t been refused yet and so I have water way before the first drink is offered!
Contributed by Karin Allan
Travel Size Make-Up and Skin Care Saves Money
I love to buy good quality brands of make-up and skincare however I find that a little goes a long way, meaning many full sized products are past their use by date long before I’ve used them up. I now buy travel sized versions which are cheaper initially. Of course buying the smaller size can be more expensive per gram than the full size product, but if you end up throwing half of it away, it will cost more in the end. As a bonus when you do travel you don’t need to purchase anything extra.
Contributed by Rebecca Clay
Add a Tip
3. This Week's Winning Tip
This week's winning tip is from Janelle Murphy. Janelle has won a one year Platinum Cheapskates Club membership for submitting her winning tip.
On the Go Hidden Inventories
We've just moved into a new house, and I'm trying to keep the fridge clutter free. I'm also trying to have a well-stocked pantry with all the basics and items I use the most. This sometimes leads to a very cluttered pantry, especially with husbands and kids working in the kitchen. Then I spend time looking for ingredients I know I have, give up and buy it again, only to find it the next week as I'm searching for another lost ingredient. I've printed and laminated the Pantry, Fridge and Freezer inventories from the Tip Sheets page, and laminated them. I used double sided tape and put them on the pantry wall, just inside the door. DH drilled a cup hook into the bottom of the middle shelf and I hung a whiteboard marker from it. Now I just cross the items off as they are used, and add them to my shopping list on shopping day. I'm not searching in vain any more (I'm still working on getting the others to keep the pantry tidy) and I can see at a glance what I need to buy on shopping day. This has been in place since we moved in, in November 2018, and so far it's working better than I had hoped.
Congratulations Janelle, 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
Baked SpaghettiIngredients
500g spaghetti
500g lean beef mince
1 onion, diced
1 green capsicum, diced
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 tin condensed cream of mushroom soup
1-1/2 cups water
1 tin condensed tomato soup
200g grated sharp cheddar cheese
Method:
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add spaghetti and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain and reserve.
In a large frypan over medium heat, brown mince and sauté onion, green capsicum and garlic; drain and return to frypan.
Stir mushroom soup, water and tomato soup into frypan. Stir pasta into meat and soup mixture; mix together well.
Line a 20cm x 30cm lasagne dish with a layer of plastic wrap, a layer of foil and then a layer of baking paper, making sure each layer is large enough to wrap the dish.
Spread the mixture into the baking dish; top with cheddar cheese. Fold baking paper over the top, then the foil and finally the plastic wrap. Freeze.
Once the dish is completely frozen you can remove it from the baking dish, make sure the plastic wrap is tight and return to the freezer.
To cook remove from freezer and thaw in the fridge. Remove the plastic wrap and foil. Place the baking paper wrapped pie into the baking dish. Bake in preheated moderate oven for 30 to 35 minutes; serve.
Serves 6.
Cost: $6
This recipes is from the Pasta Recipe File
Next week we will be eating:
Sunday: Roast Lamb
Monday: BBQ chicken, salad
Tuesday: Baked Spaghetti, salad, garlic bread
Wednesday: Corned beef, mash, carrots, mustard sauce
Thursday: MOO Pizza
Friday: Haystacks
Saturday: Cheesy Filled & Grilled Quesadillas
In the fruit bowl: nectarines, mandarins
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
In-a-Hurry Meals to Avoid Takeaway
Every cook needs a few fall back recipes that use basic ingredients, are quick to prepare and get onto the table and that are tasty. Five is a good number, it means you won't be eating spag bol more than once a week.
They need to be simple, so you can put them together and cook almost on auto-pilot.
They need to use ingredients you always have in the pantry, fridge or freezer.
They need to be quick. When you're tired and everyone is hungry, waiting hours for dinner just won't cut it.
I'm sure I've mentioned it before, but most of us eat the same meals over and over (and over, and over…..). The average is 30 meals for most families and they just rotate through.
So go make your list of 30 meals. Just write them all down.
Now choose five that are simple, use basic ingredients, and are quick.
My in-a-hurry meals are:
Spag bol - 20 minutes from start to plate.
Chicken soup - 15 minutes from start to bowl.
Tacos - 15 minutes from start to plate.
Haystacks - 15 minutes from start to plate.
Cheats Tuna Mornay - 20 minutes from start to plate.
You may see that there's not a toasted sandwich in sight. Personally, I don't think toasted sandwiches are quick, easy or inexpensive, so they are not on my quick meal list. I save them for weekends when I have more time and can get help to put them together. Ditto scrambled eggs. We love them, and they are a cheap meal, but they're fussy to make properly and so they are saved for weekend breakfasts or dinners, again when everyone is home to help.
The meals on my list are all really quick to make, don't need fancy ingredients or kitchen appliances and anyone can make them.
What are your cheap, in-a-hurry meals?
The $300 a Month Food Challenge Forum
The Post that Started it All
7. Cheapskates Buzz
From The Article Archive
Before You Lose Your Purse
Nix the Midday Lunch Breaks with Co-Workers
Weird, Wacky, Wonderful Things We did to Become Debt Free
This Week's Hot Forum Topics
Paper Craft Supplies
2019 Off to a Great Start
What's for dinner for 2019?
Most Popular Blog Posts This Week
Are You the Millionaire Next Door?
Get a Grip on Ironing
Mustard Potato Salad
8. Last Week's Question
Last week's question was from H who wrote
"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!"
Marge Ollis answered
You don't say if you own the cottage or have a mortgage to pay out! Is there accommodation for the whole family on base or will you have to live off base in the caravan? We have had several friends who have sold up and moved to Perth only to find that when the transfer was finished, they did not have the funds to get back into the market on the east coast when the time came. My husband and I have a van but he would not contemplate selling up the home base and spending the money on the purchase of a van and vehicle. Is it possible for you to rent out the cottage while this transfer happens, as it is only for 9 months, which would give you a base to come back to. The other question is can you purchase the van and vehicle without selling the cottage? I think you have an exciting time ahead in seeing this wonderful land, please think carefully and good luck.
Katrina Small answered
You're not crazy! Living in a caravan can be very economical - my husband and I and our dog lived in our caravan for nearly six months while journeying around the coast. May be a bit tedious for your 2-year-old however, as if you are driving on your own, you cannot also entertain your child. The other issue could be locations to park the van - if you have stopping points with friends/family along the journey, great! Otherwise secure van parks can be expensive and many free sites will be off-limits if you have a domestic pet with you. But you can definitely still live a cheapskates lifestyle from a van! Library resources are available online - you can download eBooks and audio books anywhere. Stockpiling is nearly impossible, but you can always choose MOO over pre-prepared, shopping specials and in season and choosing generics over branded. Final tip though - be prepared. Before you invest in a caravan and vehicle, equip yourself with information on where you can stay at what cost, how much the fuel for the journey will cost, what will you do if you have a breakdown, how much is insurance etc. Also be prepared mentally - what plan do you have for when your child is ill? Will you have anyone to socialise with along your journey? How will you stay in touch with friends and family? Caravanning can be a very rich experience, but don't leave home without planning ahead.
Jaro Deacs answered
Sometimes you cannot put a price on family time. If you are caravanning across Australia, you will not get to share your toddler growing up with your husband. Those years will never come back! Some of the best times of your life are being lost to be debt free. I know what I would pick.
Janet Smith answered
If you are thinking of returning to Melbourne after your posting, try considering renting out your hobby farm, as when you are finished with the defence you will have something to come back to. With the price of property going up all the time you will have something to fall back on. As for a caravan to try, why not try renting one to see if you like it, it would be terrible if you sold everything and did not like it.
9. This Week's Question
Robyne writes
"My Granddaughter lives with us and at 13 everything was fine till the bank has offered her own ATM card. She gets pocket money and we have a bank account that is put into a long term savings that she can't touch for a certain amount of years. This bank account we have been adding to since she was a baby for her future. She is always saying her friends have it and their parents keep a lot of money for them to spend. She has always been a keen saver but lately spends like mad on silly things. She is wanting this ATM card and is constantly asking about the other money. Her dad and I are co-signers so it can't be touched. I was wondering if anyone else has this problem."
What a dilemma for Robyne. Our kids had access to their bank accounts at 16, and if they spent the lot before next pay day then they were broke. They were also expected to work to earn any money they had, we didn't hand it out willy-nilly. We had savings accounts for all three children, and added to it at Christmas and birthdays, as did their grandparents. They didn't get access to these accounts until they were 21 (and yes, each one asked at least once before they turned 21).
So do you have some advice for Robyne? Have you experienced this parenting challenge? How did you handle it?
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!
Contact Cheapskates
1. Cath's Corner
2. From the Tip Store - Laundry Adaptation; Water Bottles on Flights; Travel Size Make-Up and Skin Care Saves Money
3. This Week's Winning Tip - On the Go Hidden Inventories
4. Share Your Tips -
5. On the Menu - Baked Spaghetti
6. The $300 a Month Food Challenge-In-a-Hurry Meals to Avoid Takeaway
7. Cheapskates Buzz - Cheapskaters are talking in the Forum and on Cath's blog
8. Last Week's Question - Do we sell up and buy a caravan?
9. This Week's Question -
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,
It's hot again! That means more icy poles for the freezer. Thomas finally found the stash at the weekend. Talk about comical! I'd been rationing them, handing them out after tea, and keeping the stash of my homemade fruit icy poles hidden to keep them a treat. Now he knows where they are, I have him washing the containers and making the refills.
We are off on holiday this weekend. I'll be away for two weeks, back on the 12th February.
Hannah will be helping with newsletters and answering questions, and when we have internet connection I'll pop in and say hello and catch up too. Internet connection isn't guaranteed where we're travelling, but we should find ourselves in towns at least every third or fourth day. That's the plan anyway - it could well change.
Enjoy the newsletter, and stay cool!
Happy Cheapskating,
Cath
2. From The Tip Store
Laundry Adaptation
Our laundry is located at the end of our garage, and it is a completely walled off area from the garage, the door between the garage and the laundry has been made by my husband using square lattice, it is perfectly functional as a door and keeps the dogs out of the laundry if needed but it has a dual purpose, as it then becomes my clothes dryer in wet weather, it is perfect to hang up undies, tea towels and socks etc without taking up valuable floor space and no need for pegs, although it is possible to hand things like tea towels using pegs. I also have a rail up near the ceiling where I hang up my clothes on coat hangers to dry, this saves lots of ironing and space.
Contributed by Penny
Water Bottles on Flights
I always take an empty drink bottle through security and as soon as I’m on the plane I ask the cabin crew to fill it for me! I haven’t been refused yet and so I have water way before the first drink is offered!
Contributed by Karin Allan
Travel Size Make-Up and Skin Care Saves Money
I love to buy good quality brands of make-up and skincare however I find that a little goes a long way, meaning many full sized products are past their use by date long before I’ve used them up. I now buy travel sized versions which are cheaper initially. Of course buying the smaller size can be more expensive per gram than the full size product, but if you end up throwing half of it away, it will cost more in the end. As a bonus when you do travel you don’t need to purchase anything extra.
Contributed by Rebecca Clay
Add a Tip
3. This Week's Winning Tip
This week's winning tip is from Janelle Murphy. Janelle has won a one year Platinum Cheapskates Club membership for submitting her winning tip.
On the Go Hidden Inventories
We've just moved into a new house, and I'm trying to keep the fridge clutter free. I'm also trying to have a well-stocked pantry with all the basics and items I use the most. This sometimes leads to a very cluttered pantry, especially with husbands and kids working in the kitchen. Then I spend time looking for ingredients I know I have, give up and buy it again, only to find it the next week as I'm searching for another lost ingredient. I've printed and laminated the Pantry, Fridge and Freezer inventories from the Tip Sheets page, and laminated them. I used double sided tape and put them on the pantry wall, just inside the door. DH drilled a cup hook into the bottom of the middle shelf and I hung a whiteboard marker from it. Now I just cross the items off as they are used, and add them to my shopping list on shopping day. I'm not searching in vain any more (I'm still working on getting the others to keep the pantry tidy) and I can see at a glance what I need to buy on shopping day. This has been in place since we moved in, in November 2018, and so far it's working better than I had hoped.
Congratulations Janelle, 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
Baked SpaghettiIngredients
500g spaghetti
500g lean beef mince
1 onion, diced
1 green capsicum, diced
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 tin condensed cream of mushroom soup
1-1/2 cups water
1 tin condensed tomato soup
200g grated sharp cheddar cheese
Method:
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add spaghetti and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain and reserve.
In a large frypan over medium heat, brown mince and sauté onion, green capsicum and garlic; drain and return to frypan.
Stir mushroom soup, water and tomato soup into frypan. Stir pasta into meat and soup mixture; mix together well.
Line a 20cm x 30cm lasagne dish with a layer of plastic wrap, a layer of foil and then a layer of baking paper, making sure each layer is large enough to wrap the dish.
Spread the mixture into the baking dish; top with cheddar cheese. Fold baking paper over the top, then the foil and finally the plastic wrap. Freeze.
Once the dish is completely frozen you can remove it from the baking dish, make sure the plastic wrap is tight and return to the freezer.
To cook remove from freezer and thaw in the fridge. Remove the plastic wrap and foil. Place the baking paper wrapped pie into the baking dish. Bake in preheated moderate oven for 30 to 35 minutes; serve.
Serves 6.
Cost: $6
This recipes is from the Pasta Recipe File
Next week we will be eating:
Sunday: Roast Lamb
Monday: BBQ chicken, salad
Tuesday: Baked Spaghetti, salad, garlic bread
Wednesday: Corned beef, mash, carrots, mustard sauce
Thursday: MOO Pizza
Friday: Haystacks
Saturday: Cheesy Filled & Grilled Quesadillas
In the fruit bowl: nectarines, mandarins
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
In-a-Hurry Meals to Avoid Takeaway
Every cook needs a few fall back recipes that use basic ingredients, are quick to prepare and get onto the table and that are tasty. Five is a good number, it means you won't be eating spag bol more than once a week.
They need to be simple, so you can put them together and cook almost on auto-pilot.
They need to use ingredients you always have in the pantry, fridge or freezer.
They need to be quick. When you're tired and everyone is hungry, waiting hours for dinner just won't cut it.
I'm sure I've mentioned it before, but most of us eat the same meals over and over (and over, and over…..). The average is 30 meals for most families and they just rotate through.
So go make your list of 30 meals. Just write them all down.
Now choose five that are simple, use basic ingredients, and are quick.
My in-a-hurry meals are:
Spag bol - 20 minutes from start to plate.
Chicken soup - 15 minutes from start to bowl.
Tacos - 15 minutes from start to plate.
Haystacks - 15 minutes from start to plate.
Cheats Tuna Mornay - 20 minutes from start to plate.
You may see that there's not a toasted sandwich in sight. Personally, I don't think toasted sandwiches are quick, easy or inexpensive, so they are not on my quick meal list. I save them for weekends when I have more time and can get help to put them together. Ditto scrambled eggs. We love them, and they are a cheap meal, but they're fussy to make properly and so they are saved for weekend breakfasts or dinners, again when everyone is home to help.
The meals on my list are all really quick to make, don't need fancy ingredients or kitchen appliances and anyone can make them.
What are your cheap, in-a-hurry meals?
The $300 a Month Food Challenge Forum
The Post that Started it All
7. Cheapskates Buzz
From The Article Archive
Before You Lose Your Purse
Nix the Midday Lunch Breaks with Co-Workers
Weird, Wacky, Wonderful Things We did to Become Debt Free
This Week's Hot Forum Topics
Paper Craft Supplies
2019 Off to a Great Start
What's for dinner for 2019?
Most Popular Blog Posts This Week
Are You the Millionaire Next Door?
Get a Grip on Ironing
Mustard Potato Salad
8. Last Week's Question
Last week's question was from H who wrote
"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!"
Marge Ollis answered
You don't say if you own the cottage or have a mortgage to pay out! Is there accommodation for the whole family on base or will you have to live off base in the caravan? We have had several friends who have sold up and moved to Perth only to find that when the transfer was finished, they did not have the funds to get back into the market on the east coast when the time came. My husband and I have a van but he would not contemplate selling up the home base and spending the money on the purchase of a van and vehicle. Is it possible for you to rent out the cottage while this transfer happens, as it is only for 9 months, which would give you a base to come back to. The other question is can you purchase the van and vehicle without selling the cottage? I think you have an exciting time ahead in seeing this wonderful land, please think carefully and good luck.
Katrina Small answered
You're not crazy! Living in a caravan can be very economical - my husband and I and our dog lived in our caravan for nearly six months while journeying around the coast. May be a bit tedious for your 2-year-old however, as if you are driving on your own, you cannot also entertain your child. The other issue could be locations to park the van - if you have stopping points with friends/family along the journey, great! Otherwise secure van parks can be expensive and many free sites will be off-limits if you have a domestic pet with you. But you can definitely still live a cheapskates lifestyle from a van! Library resources are available online - you can download eBooks and audio books anywhere. Stockpiling is nearly impossible, but you can always choose MOO over pre-prepared, shopping specials and in season and choosing generics over branded. Final tip though - be prepared. Before you invest in a caravan and vehicle, equip yourself with information on where you can stay at what cost, how much the fuel for the journey will cost, what will you do if you have a breakdown, how much is insurance etc. Also be prepared mentally - what plan do you have for when your child is ill? Will you have anyone to socialise with along your journey? How will you stay in touch with friends and family? Caravanning can be a very rich experience, but don't leave home without planning ahead.
Jaro Deacs answered
Sometimes you cannot put a price on family time. If you are caravanning across Australia, you will not get to share your toddler growing up with your husband. Those years will never come back! Some of the best times of your life are being lost to be debt free. I know what I would pick.
Janet Smith answered
If you are thinking of returning to Melbourne after your posting, try considering renting out your hobby farm, as when you are finished with the defence you will have something to come back to. With the price of property going up all the time you will have something to fall back on. As for a caravan to try, why not try renting one to see if you like it, it would be terrible if you sold everything and did not like it.
9. This Week's Question
Robyne writes
"My Granddaughter lives with us and at 13 everything was fine till the bank has offered her own ATM card. She gets pocket money and we have a bank account that is put into a long term savings that she can't touch for a certain amount of years. This bank account we have been adding to since she was a baby for her future. She is always saying her friends have it and their parents keep a lot of money for them to spend. She has always been a keen saver but lately spends like mad on silly things. She is wanting this ATM card and is constantly asking about the other money. Her dad and I are co-signers so it can't be touched. I was wondering if anyone else has this problem."
What a dilemma for Robyne. Our kids had access to their bank accounts at 16, and if they spent the lot before next pay day then they were broke. They were also expected to work to earn any money they had, we didn't hand it out willy-nilly. We had savings accounts for all three children, and added to it at Christmas and birthdays, as did their grandparents. They didn't get access to these accounts until they were 21 (and yes, each one asked at least once before they turned 21).
So do you have some advice for Robyne? Have you experienced this parenting challenge? How did you handle it?
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
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