Your Cheapskates Club Newsletter 04:21
In This Newsletter
1. Cath's Corner
2. From the Tip Store - Additive Free/Gluten Free Snacks
3. Tip of the Week - Turn Old Vertical Blinds to New
4. Share Your Tips
5. On the Menu - Spicy Salsa Meatloaf
6. The $300 a Month Food Challenge - What's in the Fridge?
7. Cheapskates Buzz - Cheapskaters are talking in the Forum and on Cath's blog
8. The Cheapskates Club Show
9. The Weekly MOO Challenge - What’s in the fridge?
10. 2021 Saving Revolution
11. Ask A Question - Have a question? Ask it here
12. Join the Cheapskates Club
13. Frequently Asked Questions
14. Contact Details
1. Cath's Corner
Hello Cheapskaters,
January is almost over and you know what that means.
Back to school. Back to work. And No Spending Month is just a few days away! Woo hoo! I can't wait for this year's No Spending Month - it's the 20th year we have had a spending freeze in February. That's a lot of money not spent and saved; a lot of debt paid down early; a lot of emergency funds given a boost!
Like most households, 2020 played havoc with our spending plan. We spent more on some things, less on others, and income was down for almost a whole year.
This year we need to get our spending back on track, and our budgets back under control, and No Spending Month will give us the start and instant boost we need.
So get ready - it starts on Monday with some challenges and some plans and some ideas you can use all year round, not just in February.
Have a great week everyone.
Happy Cheapskating,
Cath
2. From The Tip Store
Additive Free, Gluten Free Snacks
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 weekend. 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.
Contributed by Naomi
Add a Tip
3. This Week's Winning Tip
This week's winning tip is from Chris Mutch. Chris has won a one year Platinum Cheapskates Club membership for submitting her winning tip.
Turn Old Vertical Blinds to New
I renovated our spare bedroom and the verticals no longer matched the décor. I was going to buy new slats but with nothing to lose decided to try painting them. I gave them a wipe with a damp cloth, I used British paints “Lighten Up” indoor low sheen wall paint to match the already painted walls. I used a 4” roller, rolled one side and hung back up to dry, then did the same with the reverse. I gave them 2 coats each. They are like new, flexible and took very little paint. Who knew you could paint verticals?
Congratulations Chris, 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
Spicy Salsa Meatloaf
Ingredients:
500g ground beef
1/2 cup salsa
1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs (add Italian seasoning or mixed herbs to crumbs)
1/2 cup grated tasty cheese
1 egg, lightly beaten
3 cloves garlic
minced dried parsley, to taste
salt and pepper, to taste
Method:
Preheat oven to 175 degrees. In a large bowl combine beef, salsa, bread crumbs, cheese, egg and garlic. Add parsley, salt and pepper as desired. Bake in a 8 x 22cm well oiled loaf pan for 45 minutes.
Cath's Hacks:
Use 250g mince and 1 cup reconstituted TVP to cut the cost.
No salsa? No problem, add a pinch of each of chilli, garlic and cumin powders and some chopped onion to a half cup of drained, diced tomatoes (fresh or tinned).
Next week we will be eating:
Sunday: Roast Chicken
Monday: Meatloaf, salad
Tuesday: Refrigerator Lasagne
Wednesday: Chicken pot pie, veggies
Thursday: MOO Pizza
Friday: Sausage Wellingtons, salad
Saturday: Fried Rice/Spring Rolls
In the fruit bowl: rock melon, strawberries, watermelon, bananas, lemons, mandarins
There are over 1,700 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
What's in the fridge? Is it breeding a few science experiments? Or is it organised and packed full of good food ready to be turned into delicious meals for you and your family?
Years ago, a lot of years ago, I was reading a book and part of the story was how the husband decided to clean out the fridge whilst his wife was ill. At the back of the fridge he found a container of something. Taking it to his wife, he asked what it was, and how long it had been there. She had no idea, and didn't really care. I'll never forget his comment "But Joyce, you know it takes 28 days for food to go mouldy in Tupperware!"
Now, I don't know whether or not it takes 28 days for food to go off in Tupperware, but I do know that lurking at the back of just about every fridge is some kind of life-form. It really stuck in my mind for whatever reason, and I've been conscious of keeping the fridge organised ever since.
If you were to open our fridge and have a look, you'd think it was a chaotic mess, but it's not. It is organised and arranged to suit the way we eat, cook and store food. So what works for me, may not work for you and vice versa, but not having some form of organisation will most definitely cost you money, time and energy.
We bought a new fridge when we bought the appliances for the kitchen. It's the same size as the old one, but the interior layout is different. That meant I had to figure out a new food storage system. It took a few weeks of shuffling, but the way it is now, is working really well.
The top of the fridge has two drawers. I use these for butter, cream cheese, hard cheese, deli meats and hard boiled eggs.
On the shelf underneath, on a tray is the condiments. Salad dressings, pickles, jam, marmalade - things like that. I keep them on a tray so it just slides out, I can pick up what I want and slide the whole thing back into place. It is easier than trying to juggle individual jars and bottles to get to the one I want. Next to it is more butter (slowly working through what I picked up on sale last year).
Second shelf has the jars of KFC mix and Shake'n'Bake, containers of glace cherries, prunes and dates for baking. Next to them is the eggs. I buy eggs in trays of 30 and generally have three trays in the fridge at a time. Any leftovers to be used up sit on this shelf too, so they don't get lost.
Next shelf is any meat that is thawing, or cooked meats to be used, made salads etc.
Now this fridge only has one produce bin, so I kept it. In the old fridge I took the produce bins out and replaced them with containers that held the fruit and veg in Fresh'n'Crisp bags. I love these bags! I'm still using them, and the one drawer holds all the produce we use each week. I get lots of questions about these bags, I've used them for over 15 years and LOVE them. They are no longer available at Coles. Too bad for Coles, because they are available at Woolworths or you can order direct. I wait until they are on sale online and order direct once every couple of years. Yes, I wash and line dry them, and re-use them until they fall apart, and that takes a long time.
Excess moisture in the vegetable bins will cause produce to spoil more quickly (moisture starts the rotting process) so if you find condensation on fruits and vegetables, wipe them dry. Line the bottom of the crisper with a face washer, use Fresh'n'Crisp bags, cloth bags, or paper towel if you're feeling extravagant.
In the door of the fridge are coffee grounds, some smaller bottles of chilli sauce, mustard sauce, mint sauce and mayo. The bottom shelf holds the milk and bottles of cordial and Iced Coffee Syrup, and a spare bottle of cold water (I use this to top up the dispenser on the bench).
What works:
Keep frequently used items together and within reach
Keep items that need cooler temperatures near the bottom
Keep your refrigerator temperature between 35 and 40 degrees F (it should have a temperature control somewhere you can set - I turn it down a little in winter).
One more thing. The more people in your home, the more the refrigerator will be opened, allowing cool air to escape and costing more to run. On our kitchen bench is a drink dispenser filled with water. It's topped up with ice cubes as needed, and everyone can get a cold drink without opening the fridge. To save on washing up, there's a one glass all day rule too - get a drink, rinse, dry and put the glass back.
No, this is the last thing: before bin night I go through the fridge to make sure everything is still good. Anything I find that is dubious is composted or put in the worm farm or the bokashi bucket. Any packaging can then be binned or rinsed and recycled.
Keep the fridge organised and you'll stop food waste, save some money and stick to your grocery budget.
The $300 a Month Food Challenge Forum
The Post that Started it All
7. Cheapskates Buzz
From The Article Archive
Back to School 2021
Tasty School Lunchbox Ideas
Simple Tips Make Packing Lunches Easy
This Week's Hot Forum Topics
2021 Spending Freeze
Book Club 2021
How Much Did You Spend on Sending the Kids Back to School?
8. The Cheapskates Club Show
We will be back next Tuesday night, with our first live show for 2021 starting promptly at 7.30pm.
Show Schedule
Tuesday: Around the Kitchen Table - join Cath and Hannah for a cuppa and a chat around the kitchen table as they talk about living the Cheapskates way.
Thursday: Cheapskates in the Kitchen - want to know how to cook delicious, healthy and cheap meals? Watch Cath and Hannah as they create cheapskates style cuisine and share their favourite recipes.
Coming Up
Tuesday 2nd February 2021: My Oh-Oh It's Happening Survival List
Popular Shows
1. Cath's Corner
2. From the Tip Store - Additive Free/Gluten Free Snacks
3. Tip of the Week - Turn Old Vertical Blinds to New
4. Share Your Tips
5. On the Menu - Spicy Salsa Meatloaf
6. The $300 a Month Food Challenge - What's in the Fridge?
7. Cheapskates Buzz - Cheapskaters are talking in the Forum and on Cath's blog
8. The Cheapskates Club Show
9. The Weekly MOO Challenge - What’s in the fridge?
10. 2021 Saving Revolution
11. Ask A Question - Have a question? Ask it here
12. Join the Cheapskates Club
13. Frequently Asked Questions
14. Contact Details
1. Cath's Corner
Hello Cheapskaters,
January is almost over and you know what that means.
Back to school. Back to work. And No Spending Month is just a few days away! Woo hoo! I can't wait for this year's No Spending Month - it's the 20th year we have had a spending freeze in February. That's a lot of money not spent and saved; a lot of debt paid down early; a lot of emergency funds given a boost!
Like most households, 2020 played havoc with our spending plan. We spent more on some things, less on others, and income was down for almost a whole year.
This year we need to get our spending back on track, and our budgets back under control, and No Spending Month will give us the start and instant boost we need.
So get ready - it starts on Monday with some challenges and some plans and some ideas you can use all year round, not just in February.
Have a great week everyone.
Happy Cheapskating,
Cath
2. From The Tip Store
Additive Free, Gluten Free Snacks
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 weekend. 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.
Contributed by Naomi
Add a Tip
3. This Week's Winning Tip
This week's winning tip is from Chris Mutch. Chris has won a one year Platinum Cheapskates Club membership for submitting her winning tip.
Turn Old Vertical Blinds to New
I renovated our spare bedroom and the verticals no longer matched the décor. I was going to buy new slats but with nothing to lose decided to try painting them. I gave them a wipe with a damp cloth, I used British paints “Lighten Up” indoor low sheen wall paint to match the already painted walls. I used a 4” roller, rolled one side and hung back up to dry, then did the same with the reverse. I gave them 2 coats each. They are like new, flexible and took very little paint. Who knew you could paint verticals?
Congratulations Chris, 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
Spicy Salsa Meatloaf
Ingredients:
500g ground beef
1/2 cup salsa
1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs (add Italian seasoning or mixed herbs to crumbs)
1/2 cup grated tasty cheese
1 egg, lightly beaten
3 cloves garlic
minced dried parsley, to taste
salt and pepper, to taste
Method:
Preheat oven to 175 degrees. In a large bowl combine beef, salsa, bread crumbs, cheese, egg and garlic. Add parsley, salt and pepper as desired. Bake in a 8 x 22cm well oiled loaf pan for 45 minutes.
Cath's Hacks:
Use 250g mince and 1 cup reconstituted TVP to cut the cost.
No salsa? No problem, add a pinch of each of chilli, garlic and cumin powders and some chopped onion to a half cup of drained, diced tomatoes (fresh or tinned).
Next week we will be eating:
Sunday: Roast Chicken
Monday: Meatloaf, salad
Tuesday: Refrigerator Lasagne
Wednesday: Chicken pot pie, veggies
Thursday: MOO Pizza
Friday: Sausage Wellingtons, salad
Saturday: Fried Rice/Spring Rolls
In the fruit bowl: rock melon, strawberries, watermelon, bananas, lemons, mandarins
There are over 1,700 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
What's in the fridge? Is it breeding a few science experiments? Or is it organised and packed full of good food ready to be turned into delicious meals for you and your family?
Years ago, a lot of years ago, I was reading a book and part of the story was how the husband decided to clean out the fridge whilst his wife was ill. At the back of the fridge he found a container of something. Taking it to his wife, he asked what it was, and how long it had been there. She had no idea, and didn't really care. I'll never forget his comment "But Joyce, you know it takes 28 days for food to go mouldy in Tupperware!"
Now, I don't know whether or not it takes 28 days for food to go off in Tupperware, but I do know that lurking at the back of just about every fridge is some kind of life-form. It really stuck in my mind for whatever reason, and I've been conscious of keeping the fridge organised ever since.
If you were to open our fridge and have a look, you'd think it was a chaotic mess, but it's not. It is organised and arranged to suit the way we eat, cook and store food. So what works for me, may not work for you and vice versa, but not having some form of organisation will most definitely cost you money, time and energy.
We bought a new fridge when we bought the appliances for the kitchen. It's the same size as the old one, but the interior layout is different. That meant I had to figure out a new food storage system. It took a few weeks of shuffling, but the way it is now, is working really well.
The top of the fridge has two drawers. I use these for butter, cream cheese, hard cheese, deli meats and hard boiled eggs.
On the shelf underneath, on a tray is the condiments. Salad dressings, pickles, jam, marmalade - things like that. I keep them on a tray so it just slides out, I can pick up what I want and slide the whole thing back into place. It is easier than trying to juggle individual jars and bottles to get to the one I want. Next to it is more butter (slowly working through what I picked up on sale last year).
Second shelf has the jars of KFC mix and Shake'n'Bake, containers of glace cherries, prunes and dates for baking. Next to them is the eggs. I buy eggs in trays of 30 and generally have three trays in the fridge at a time. Any leftovers to be used up sit on this shelf too, so they don't get lost.
Next shelf is any meat that is thawing, or cooked meats to be used, made salads etc.
Now this fridge only has one produce bin, so I kept it. In the old fridge I took the produce bins out and replaced them with containers that held the fruit and veg in Fresh'n'Crisp bags. I love these bags! I'm still using them, and the one drawer holds all the produce we use each week. I get lots of questions about these bags, I've used them for over 15 years and LOVE them. They are no longer available at Coles. Too bad for Coles, because they are available at Woolworths or you can order direct. I wait until they are on sale online and order direct once every couple of years. Yes, I wash and line dry them, and re-use them until they fall apart, and that takes a long time.
Excess moisture in the vegetable bins will cause produce to spoil more quickly (moisture starts the rotting process) so if you find condensation on fruits and vegetables, wipe them dry. Line the bottom of the crisper with a face washer, use Fresh'n'Crisp bags, cloth bags, or paper towel if you're feeling extravagant.
In the door of the fridge are coffee grounds, some smaller bottles of chilli sauce, mustard sauce, mint sauce and mayo. The bottom shelf holds the milk and bottles of cordial and Iced Coffee Syrup, and a spare bottle of cold water (I use this to top up the dispenser on the bench).
What works:
Keep frequently used items together and within reach
Keep items that need cooler temperatures near the bottom
Keep your refrigerator temperature between 35 and 40 degrees F (it should have a temperature control somewhere you can set - I turn it down a little in winter).
One more thing. The more people in your home, the more the refrigerator will be opened, allowing cool air to escape and costing more to run. On our kitchen bench is a drink dispenser filled with water. It's topped up with ice cubes as needed, and everyone can get a cold drink without opening the fridge. To save on washing up, there's a one glass all day rule too - get a drink, rinse, dry and put the glass back.
No, this is the last thing: before bin night I go through the fridge to make sure everything is still good. Anything I find that is dubious is composted or put in the worm farm or the bokashi bucket. Any packaging can then be binned or rinsed and recycled.
Keep the fridge organised and you'll stop food waste, save some money and stick to your grocery budget.
The $300 a Month Food Challenge Forum
The Post that Started it All
7. Cheapskates Buzz
From The Article Archive
Back to School 2021
Tasty School Lunchbox Ideas
Simple Tips Make Packing Lunches Easy
This Week's Hot Forum Topics
2021 Spending Freeze
Book Club 2021
How Much Did You Spend on Sending the Kids Back to School?
8. The Cheapskates Club Show
We will be back next Tuesday night, with our first live show for 2021 starting promptly at 7.30pm.
Show Schedule
Tuesday: Around the Kitchen Table - join Cath and Hannah for a cuppa and a chat around the kitchen table as they talk about living the Cheapskates way.
Thursday: Cheapskates in the Kitchen - want to know how to cook delicious, healthy and cheap meals? Watch Cath and Hannah as they create cheapskates style cuisine and share their favourite recipes.
Coming Up
Tuesday 2nd February 2021: My Oh-Oh It's Happening Survival List
Popular Shows
9. The Weekly MOO Challenge
It's summer in Australia and that means a glut of produce. Zucchini and tomatoes, basil, egg plant and capsicums are all keeping me busy at the moment.
With those ingredients there are lots of things you can MOO - pasta sauce, semi-dried tomatoes, dried basil, zucchini pickle, tomato relish are just a few.
If you like pickles and relishes, it makes sense to make them, especially if you grow some of the ingredients. Not only do they taste amazing, better that the "gourmet" brands you can buy, but they're so much cheaper and better for you.
This is my go-to zucchini pickle recipe. This pickle is great with corned beef, roast beef, on sandwiches or on a Ploughman's Platter for a lunch. It goes well with hard cheeses too.
Make it in small batches and you won't get overwhelmed - it will be done in no time, with very little effort.
Zucchini Pickles
Ingredients:
2 kg zucchini, grated
500g onions, grated
1tsp pepper
1 tbsp salt
2 tbsp mustard powder
1 tbsp turmeric
1 tsp pickling spices
750g sugar
1 cup plain flour
1 ½ litres vinegar
Method:
Grate the onions and zucchini (a food processor makes this easier). Place the zucchini and onions in a large saucepan with one litre of vinegar. Cook until tender. Mix the other ingredients together and add to pan. Bring to boil, stirring constantly to avoid lumps. Let the mixture cool down, then bottle and seal.
You can get pickling spices at the supermarket, or some greengrocers might have them.
Get in on the fun and discussions here.
10. 2021 Saving Revolution
Week four already! This year is going to fly by. Some of you are getting impatient and want to move right onto the "good stuff".
We'll get there. You had to crawl before you walked, so you need to get the financial basics down before you move onto the advanced stuff. Remember, this is going to take a year (or longer, quite a few Revolutionists join again each year, a great way to stay on track and focused).
Lesson four is all about setting up a workable home office. The emphasis is on workable. Doesn't matter where you choose to set up your office, as long as it works.
There are lots of ideas and suggestions in Lesson Four to accomplish this, on a Cheapskate's budget, and it is worth doing. When you have a dedicated place to pay bills, file bills, write shopping lists and meal plans and check your spending plan, you do it and it's easy.
If you haven't tackled this lesson yet, get a wriggle on - Lesson 5 is ready to go!
Revolutionists who are active Cheapskates Club members can log into the 2021 Saving Revolution forum and join the discussions too. They're fun, keep you accountable, and over the course of the year will be an amazing source of valuable hints and tips for you too.
11. 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
12. 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!
13. 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.
14. Contact Cheapskates
The Cheapskates Club -
Showing you how to live life
debt free, cashed up and laughing!
PO Box 5077 Studfield Vic 3152
Contact Cheapskates
It's summer in Australia and that means a glut of produce. Zucchini and tomatoes, basil, egg plant and capsicums are all keeping me busy at the moment.
With those ingredients there are lots of things you can MOO - pasta sauce, semi-dried tomatoes, dried basil, zucchini pickle, tomato relish are just a few.
If you like pickles and relishes, it makes sense to make them, especially if you grow some of the ingredients. Not only do they taste amazing, better that the "gourmet" brands you can buy, but they're so much cheaper and better for you.
This is my go-to zucchini pickle recipe. This pickle is great with corned beef, roast beef, on sandwiches or on a Ploughman's Platter for a lunch. It goes well with hard cheeses too.
Make it in small batches and you won't get overwhelmed - it will be done in no time, with very little effort.
Zucchini Pickles
Ingredients:
2 kg zucchini, grated
500g onions, grated
1tsp pepper
1 tbsp salt
2 tbsp mustard powder
1 tbsp turmeric
1 tsp pickling spices
750g sugar
1 cup plain flour
1 ½ litres vinegar
Method:
Grate the onions and zucchini (a food processor makes this easier). Place the zucchini and onions in a large saucepan with one litre of vinegar. Cook until tender. Mix the other ingredients together and add to pan. Bring to boil, stirring constantly to avoid lumps. Let the mixture cool down, then bottle and seal.
You can get pickling spices at the supermarket, or some greengrocers might have them.
Get in on the fun and discussions here.
10. 2021 Saving Revolution
Week four already! This year is going to fly by. Some of you are getting impatient and want to move right onto the "good stuff".
We'll get there. You had to crawl before you walked, so you need to get the financial basics down before you move onto the advanced stuff. Remember, this is going to take a year (or longer, quite a few Revolutionists join again each year, a great way to stay on track and focused).
Lesson four is all about setting up a workable home office. The emphasis is on workable. Doesn't matter where you choose to set up your office, as long as it works.
There are lots of ideas and suggestions in Lesson Four to accomplish this, on a Cheapskate's budget, and it is worth doing. When you have a dedicated place to pay bills, file bills, write shopping lists and meal plans and check your spending plan, you do it and it's easy.
If you haven't tackled this lesson yet, get a wriggle on - Lesson 5 is ready to go!
Revolutionists who are active Cheapskates Club members can log into the 2021 Saving Revolution forum and join the discussions too. They're fun, keep you accountable, and over the course of the year will be an amazing source of valuable hints and tips for you too.
11. 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
12. 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!
13. 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.
14. Contact Cheapskates
The Cheapskates Club -
Showing you how to live life
debt free, cashed up and laughing!
PO Box 5077 Studfield Vic 3152
Contact Cheapskates