Your Cheapskates Club Newsletter 08:18
In this Newsletter
1. Cath's Corner
2. In the Tip Store - Maple Syrup Bottles Become Pretty Vases; Versatile Home Décor; Never Ending Apple Cider Vinegar
3. Share Your Tips
4. On the Menu - Hungarian Chicken
5. The $300 a Month Food Challenge - Easy Semi-Dried Tomatoes
6. Cheapskates Buzz - Cheapskaters are talking in the Forum and on Cath's blog
7 Member's Featured Blog - Weeks 6 & 7 Pay Your Bills on Time and Bare Bones
8. Last Week's Question - Travel tips for adventurous seniors
9. Ask Cath
10. Join the Cheapskates Club
11. Frequently Asked Questions
12. Contact Details
1. Cath's Corner
Hello Cheapskaters,
Short newsletter this week folks, not that I planned it that way. I'm having a spot of bother with my eyes, and so reading, writing, 'puters and TV are no-nos! As is knitting, crocheting, embroidery - feels like pretty much anything I enjoy. Hopefully all will be fixed in a couple of weeks, but until next Wednesday I am banned!
Not to worry, there is still a whole lot of good stuff in the newsletter to save you money, time and energy. And of course, there is more in the Tip Store and the Recipe File, and of course the Newsletter Archives.
I'm not driving either, which means no shopping, which means no spending - a great way to end No Spending Month.
Have a great week everyone,
Happy Cheapskating
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!
2. From The Tip Store
Maple Syrup Bottles Become Pretty Vases
If you are wanting to put a few blooms in a small glass bottle for decoration in your living areas, then don’t throw out your empty Maple syrup bottles in the recycle after using.
They can be washed out with some soapy water and make sure you peel off the sticker then reuse them as pretty vases. They really look great with a few flowers tucked neatly in the top because of the style and shape of the bottle.
Pair it with a few glass vases or photo frames and voila- a decorator piece for no extra cost and less recycle in the bin.
Contributed by Michelle Hoffman
Versatile Home Décor
My easiest and cheapest home decorating tip is to make use of your acrylic paints that you get from the bargain shop. I have used these to give me an endless variety of colour scheme. I brought two identical largish vases and whenever the whim takes me I just paint the outside of these vases to whatever colour scheme I want. When I grow tired of that colour I just wash them off and change the colour, I don't have to then try to find a storage space for an endless variety of vases.
I also use these acrylic paints, to colour and refresh proteas that I have grown, and I restore their colour, so they too look fresh in the vases. I also have used it to colour all manner of plant matter and ornate grasses with these paints, by mixing up and putting in a small spray bottle. I also made rubber back curtain material into cushion covers and I also add splashes of colour to these cushions then put them out on the line to dry and when they have dried I spray them with vinegar so that the colours will not come off on clothing. Once again to change the colour scheme, I just put the cushion covers in nappy soaker and away I go with the acrylic paints.
The tubes cost me $1 each tube, and with the basic colours I can make them up to any combination of colours I choose.
Contributed by Penny Hughes
Never Ending Apple Cider Vinegar
If you buy Apple Cider Vinegar with the 'Mother'... when the bottle is half empty, fill it up with clear unsweetened apple juice with no preservatives and tuck it away in a cool dark corner for about three weeks. I have not bought a new bottle for over 5 years. It has saved me heaps.
Contributed by Heather Schlusemeyer
There are currently more than 12,000 great tips in the Tip Store
3. Submit Your Tip
The Cheapskate's Club website is over 3,000 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.
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
4. On the Menu
Hungarian Chicken
Ingredients:
4 large chicken thighs
1 tablespoon butter
1 large onion, chopped
1 tablespoon sweet paprika
1 medium capsicum, diced
1 stick celery, chopped
1 medium carrot, chopped
2 medium tomatoes, chopped (or 1 can tomatoes)
2-3 tablespoons tomato paste
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 cup button mushrooms, sliced
½ cup sour cream
Method:
Melt butter in heavy saucepan. Brown chicken pieces all over. Add onion. Cook until transparent. Add paprika; cook for 5 mins. Add capsicum, celery, carrot, tomatoes, water, tomato paste, vinegar and sugar. Stir well. Cover. Simmer for 30-35 mins or until chicken is cooked and tender. Add mushrooms; cook for 2 minutes. Stir in sour cream. Heat but do not boil. Serve with rice or noodles and crusty bread.
Note: Can be made ahead and reheated.
This week we will be eating:
Sunday: Roast Chicken
Monday: Salmon quiche, salad
Tuesday: Macaroni cheese with vegetables
Wednesday: Schnitzels, potato bake
Thursday: MOO Pizza
Friday: Haystacks
Saturday: Homemade Subs
There are over 1,600 other great money saving meal ideas in the Recipe File.
5. The $300 a Month Food Challenge
Easy Semi Dried Tomatoes
One of the easiest ways to save money is to preserve food, whether it's homegrown, gleaned, given to you or bought very cheaply from markets. Preserving has the reputation of being hard, time-consuming and messy, but it's not, especially with the tools we have available today. One of my most used kitchen tools is my dehydrator. It's a simple, three tray Aldi unit, bought a few years ago and it gets a real workout during summer.
So far this summer it's dried onions, tomatoes, egg plant and celery to stock the pantry and boost ingredient options for our meals.
This week Pellegrino's, my favourite greengrocer, has had tomatoes on sale by the box. We've been enjoying fresh tomatoes, but there are only so many fresh tomatoes a family can eat in a week. Wasting them isn't an option. I've made sauce, my simple recipe is here. And I've dried some to enjoy through winter. They'll keep well and add a richness to casseroles and gravies as well as being delicious to nibble on with olives, crackers and a little cheese. They'll give winter salads a nice flavour boost too. There are so many ways to use semi-dried tomatoes, especially when they cost just a fraction of the deli price! At $25 a kilo, taking the time to preserve them yourself saves a bundle.
You will need:
Tomatoes - ripe off the vine, doesn't really matter what type
Salt
Olive oil
Step 1. Slice tomatoes into slices the same thickness so they dry at about the same rate. I used a mandolin, you can use a knife if you don't have one. Place the sliced tomatoes into a bowl, drizzle with olive oil (drizzle, not drown) and sprinkle lightly with salt. Toss gently.
Step 2. Place on dehydrator trays or on a biscuit tray lined with baking paper if using your oven. Set the temperature on the dehydrator or oven to 110 degrees Celsius. This is slightly higher than you would normally use because tomatoes are a particularly moist food and need to dry a little faster, to prevent them going mouldy.
Step 3. Turn the tomatoes every three hours and rotate the trays at the same time (this helps to ensure they dry evenly). Dry until no moisture remains, but tomatoes are still flexible. (Don’t worry – if they get stiff and dry, they still taste great!) Tomatoes take a long time to dry, so expect to take up to 24 hours, it depends on the type of tomato, the moisture content and even the weather, so be patient, it's worth it.
Step 4. Store in a sterilised jar in the fridge or freeze for long term storage.
It really is that easy - if you like semi-dried tomatoes, try doing a small batch first. If you like them, you can do more and save yourself a fortune.
The $300 a Month Food Challenge
The Post that Started it All
6. Cheapskates Buzz
Most popular forum posts this week
Hello Everyone and Where to Start?
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?3685-Hello-everyone-and-where-to-start
The 2018 No Spending Month Challenge
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?3712-The-2018-No-Spending-Month-Challenge
Weight Watchers on a Budget
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2649-Weight-Watchers-on-a-Budget.
Most popular blog posts this week
Buying Big
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2015/01/buying-big.html
I Love Coffee
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2015/11/i-love-coffee.html
For the Coffee Addicts: The Cheapskates Way to Refilling Pods
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2014/08/for-coffee-addicts-cheapskates-way-to.html
7. Members 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 slharris02.
Weeks 6 & 7 Pay Your Bills on Time and Bare Bones
Hi All,
We always manage to pay bills on time however, I've found the emergency fund needs to be more than $2,000. Example, late last year our got a paralysis tick despite having flea and tick protection - over $1,000 vet bill - pet insurance paid $350. Yesterday, the washing machine (surge protector in place) stopped, and the fish tank filter (surge protector in place) went with a bang, I not sure which one of them went out in sympathy with the other. Washing machine with extra warranty $987, delivery and takeaway old machine, and new surge protector purchased with voucher that is coming with new machine. and $66 for the fish tank filter. Our council ceased curb side pick-ups last year so if you want bulky goods collected (e.g. old washing machine) you phone them, and they charge you $44 to take it to the tip. We are the last village in the council area so not all stores offer a delivery service. I'm lucky someone can come and let the delivery people in during the week whilst I'm at work. It will take more than the year to build this amount up again.
Bare bones weeks we do but not whilst we are working. It's usually whilst we are on leave and staying at home. No trips to town needed. This week has again been very hot so not much eating going on at home, but I have had the pedestal fan going over the weekend. Work is air-conditioned for during the week.
I always enjoy reading the emails that come during the week. I'm finding them interesting an informative. I've realised though I think I need a lesson in storage. My food cupboard definitely doesn't look like the one in the picture. In my pantry most are still in their boxes or packets with cloths pegs on them. Items are grouped and start out lined up though however I'm very short, so I tend to just push things aside, rather than get the step ladder out.
Login to read more Cheapskates Club Member blogs
8. Last Week's Question
Last week's question was from Kath who wrote
"My husband and I are going on a trip to Italy at the end of this year. If any Cheapskates have been to Italy could you please send me any good travel ideas, e.g. train, bus, accommodation etc. and which are the best places to go without spending too much money. We are both fit 78-year-olds. Thank you."
Marie Seddon answered
Make sure that you both wear money belts under your top layer. Store your credit cards, tickets, passports and cash close to your body and only carry enough visible cash for the day. Keep handbags strapped across the body; if you must wear a backpack keep it in front of you; never put a wallet in your back pocket and have the best trip two 78-year-olds can have. My 76-year-old husband and I have both travelled extensively and a list of places to see can be found in the Lonely planet books from the library. Enjoy.
Jenny Travers answered
We have been to Italy (with our Italian brother in law) and followed his advice to always go several streets back from tourist streets and try to find cafes etc. where locals are eating - much better food and cheaper. Also - always remember to validate your train tickets on the platform before boarding the train - fines for not doing so are very steep. You're going to love Italy - it's fabulous.
Penelope Harris answered
Hi Kath
My children and I had a magnificent trip to Italy a couple of years ago.
My advice is to use the trains - they are fantastic! City to city - you're delivered into the centre of each city, and you can walk to your accommodation. No need for expensive city taxis. My first source of information was from "The Man in Seat 61" who provides independent information and advice for train travel (mainly) within Europe.
I booked my inter-city trains directly with https://au.trenitalia.it-inter.com web. The earlier you book, the cheaper the fares - a bit like airlines. There are only a certain number of discounted fares available, so booking early makes sense however the tickets only go on sale 60 days prior to the date of travel. I pre-booked (and pre-paid) my art gallery and museum tickets for places in Venice, Florence and Rome using the museums' websites directly - both as a way of skipping the queues on the day, but mainly as a budgeting technique so I knew what my costs were upfront.
I am usually a truly independent traveller, however sometimes a company can do it cheaper/better than I can. I highly recommend you look at https://www.walksofitaly.com/. You may find that they can do a better deal on some day trips than you can achieve independently and that they have access to stuff that isn't available to individuals - like access to the Sistine Chapel before it's open to the general public.
I also use my Travel Money Card (Qantas Cash in my case, but there are several available) as a way of smoothing the foreign currency fluctuations. Each pay day, I transferred my holiday savings onto my Qantas Cash Card to purchase Euros (and Singapore $ for the stopover). (Obviously, I am foregoing interest earned, or mortgage offset benefits, however it always makes me feel better that I have the currency, and nothing can derail my holiday.)
I could go on forever, Kath - enjoy your holiday!
Robyn Allender answered
Here is an Italian rail offer that free for persons over 75.
Silver Card
The Silver Card ("Carta d'Argento") with Railplus discount is for customers over 60 years and costs 30 euro (free for customers of 75 years and over).
It allows discounts of:
10% off wagon lits and couchettes,
15% off the Base Fares (first and second class) on all national trains and on service levels Business, Premium and Standard
25% off with the Railplus discount on international connections.
Both the Green and Silver Cards can be bought at the station ticket desks and from the authorized travel agencies in Italy. Note: you must present a valid id or passport.
Joan Hagan answered
If you drink coffee, line up to order ad pay, then receive a receipt. Bear in mind that the Italians charge a significantly higher price if you sit in their café. Instead, either drink your coffee standing up, or ask for a take-away.
Many shops and businesses in Italy close for a couple of hours for a midday siesta, times are random. So, have a leisurely lunch at this time, which is cheaper than evening meals. Being a Catholic country, there isn't much open on a Sunday.
A service charge of up to 10% is often added to restaurant bills. Expect to pay for bread which is often served whether you eat it or not.
Most historical areas anywhere are best explored on foot, as there were no cars when constructed. Check for discount travel passes if staying for several days in the one location e.g. cities.
Pizza can be bought by the slice (large) for $2-$4, try the back streets for the cheapest deals.
If travelling to Venice, stay outside the Venice city area (try Campalto, Tessera) and travel into the rail station either by bus or train for the day. There are no cars in Venice city so no taxis! Accommodation in Venice city is very expensive too. There's a regular public bus that travels between the Marco Polo Airport, and the rail station servicing Venice city (Santa Lucia), that passes many of the hotels and a campground with cabins (we stayed at the latter - good cheap meals, Wi-Fi). Once at the rail station, buy a ticket for the public water bus (vaporetto) to Piazza San Marco, the central tourist area. Board the vaporetto. You will enjoy a 40-45-minute cruise on the vaporetto along the Grand Canal in Venice on the way (14 stops), at a token price of 7.50 euros. Explore Venice on foot from here and return to your accommodation the same way.
I recommend you pre-book a tour of St Mark's Basilica online, to avoid very long queues. This will give you express entry.
Gondola rides are over-rated, they are expensive (80 -150 euros pp, nights at the higher end) and once down on the water on the smaller canals, there is a strong sewerage smell and limited photo opportunities. I didn't enjoy the gondola ride at all! The vaporettos are much better and far cheaper!
9. Ask Cath
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
10. 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!
11. Frequently Asked Questions
How do I change my email address?
This one is easy. Members can update their email address or any other details by clicking on "Edit Profile" directly under their membership number after they have logged in to the Member's Centre. Subscribers to our free newsletter can use the Change Your Address form (under Customer Service in the menu) and fill it out. Once you've filled it in click the send button and we'll do the rest. Please remember to include your old email address so we can find it in the list as well as the new one.
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12. Contact Details
The Cheapskates Club -
Showing you how to live life
debt free, cashed up and laughing!
Contact Us
1. Cath's Corner
2. In the Tip Store - Maple Syrup Bottles Become Pretty Vases; Versatile Home Décor; Never Ending Apple Cider Vinegar
3. Share Your Tips
4. On the Menu - Hungarian Chicken
5. The $300 a Month Food Challenge - Easy Semi-Dried Tomatoes
6. Cheapskates Buzz - Cheapskaters are talking in the Forum and on Cath's blog
7 Member's Featured Blog - Weeks 6 & 7 Pay Your Bills on Time and Bare Bones
8. Last Week's Question - Travel tips for adventurous seniors
9. Ask Cath
10. Join the Cheapskates Club
11. Frequently Asked Questions
12. Contact Details
1. Cath's Corner
Hello Cheapskaters,
Short newsletter this week folks, not that I planned it that way. I'm having a spot of bother with my eyes, and so reading, writing, 'puters and TV are no-nos! As is knitting, crocheting, embroidery - feels like pretty much anything I enjoy. Hopefully all will be fixed in a couple of weeks, but until next Wednesday I am banned!
Not to worry, there is still a whole lot of good stuff in the newsletter to save you money, time and energy. And of course, there is more in the Tip Store and the Recipe File, and of course the Newsletter Archives.
I'm not driving either, which means no shopping, which means no spending - a great way to end No Spending Month.
Have a great week everyone,
Happy Cheapskating
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!
2. From The Tip Store
Maple Syrup Bottles Become Pretty Vases
If you are wanting to put a few blooms in a small glass bottle for decoration in your living areas, then don’t throw out your empty Maple syrup bottles in the recycle after using.
They can be washed out with some soapy water and make sure you peel off the sticker then reuse them as pretty vases. They really look great with a few flowers tucked neatly in the top because of the style and shape of the bottle.
Pair it with a few glass vases or photo frames and voila- a decorator piece for no extra cost and less recycle in the bin.
Contributed by Michelle Hoffman
Versatile Home Décor
My easiest and cheapest home decorating tip is to make use of your acrylic paints that you get from the bargain shop. I have used these to give me an endless variety of colour scheme. I brought two identical largish vases and whenever the whim takes me I just paint the outside of these vases to whatever colour scheme I want. When I grow tired of that colour I just wash them off and change the colour, I don't have to then try to find a storage space for an endless variety of vases.
I also use these acrylic paints, to colour and refresh proteas that I have grown, and I restore their colour, so they too look fresh in the vases. I also have used it to colour all manner of plant matter and ornate grasses with these paints, by mixing up and putting in a small spray bottle. I also made rubber back curtain material into cushion covers and I also add splashes of colour to these cushions then put them out on the line to dry and when they have dried I spray them with vinegar so that the colours will not come off on clothing. Once again to change the colour scheme, I just put the cushion covers in nappy soaker and away I go with the acrylic paints.
The tubes cost me $1 each tube, and with the basic colours I can make them up to any combination of colours I choose.
Contributed by Penny Hughes
Never Ending Apple Cider Vinegar
If you buy Apple Cider Vinegar with the 'Mother'... when the bottle is half empty, fill it up with clear unsweetened apple juice with no preservatives and tuck it away in a cool dark corner for about three weeks. I have not bought a new bottle for over 5 years. It has saved me heaps.
Contributed by Heather Schlusemeyer
There are currently more than 12,000 great tips in the Tip Store
3. Submit Your Tip
The Cheapskate's Club website is over 3,000 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.
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
4. On the Menu
Hungarian Chicken
Ingredients:
4 large chicken thighs
1 tablespoon butter
1 large onion, chopped
1 tablespoon sweet paprika
1 medium capsicum, diced
1 stick celery, chopped
1 medium carrot, chopped
2 medium tomatoes, chopped (or 1 can tomatoes)
2-3 tablespoons tomato paste
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 cup button mushrooms, sliced
½ cup sour cream
Method:
Melt butter in heavy saucepan. Brown chicken pieces all over. Add onion. Cook until transparent. Add paprika; cook for 5 mins. Add capsicum, celery, carrot, tomatoes, water, tomato paste, vinegar and sugar. Stir well. Cover. Simmer for 30-35 mins or until chicken is cooked and tender. Add mushrooms; cook for 2 minutes. Stir in sour cream. Heat but do not boil. Serve with rice or noodles and crusty bread.
Note: Can be made ahead and reheated.
This week we will be eating:
Sunday: Roast Chicken
Monday: Salmon quiche, salad
Tuesday: Macaroni cheese with vegetables
Wednesday: Schnitzels, potato bake
Thursday: MOO Pizza
Friday: Haystacks
Saturday: Homemade Subs
There are over 1,600 other great money saving meal ideas in the Recipe File.
5. The $300 a Month Food Challenge
Easy Semi Dried Tomatoes
One of the easiest ways to save money is to preserve food, whether it's homegrown, gleaned, given to you or bought very cheaply from markets. Preserving has the reputation of being hard, time-consuming and messy, but it's not, especially with the tools we have available today. One of my most used kitchen tools is my dehydrator. It's a simple, three tray Aldi unit, bought a few years ago and it gets a real workout during summer.
So far this summer it's dried onions, tomatoes, egg plant and celery to stock the pantry and boost ingredient options for our meals.
This week Pellegrino's, my favourite greengrocer, has had tomatoes on sale by the box. We've been enjoying fresh tomatoes, but there are only so many fresh tomatoes a family can eat in a week. Wasting them isn't an option. I've made sauce, my simple recipe is here. And I've dried some to enjoy through winter. They'll keep well and add a richness to casseroles and gravies as well as being delicious to nibble on with olives, crackers and a little cheese. They'll give winter salads a nice flavour boost too. There are so many ways to use semi-dried tomatoes, especially when they cost just a fraction of the deli price! At $25 a kilo, taking the time to preserve them yourself saves a bundle.
You will need:
Tomatoes - ripe off the vine, doesn't really matter what type
Salt
Olive oil
Step 1. Slice tomatoes into slices the same thickness so they dry at about the same rate. I used a mandolin, you can use a knife if you don't have one. Place the sliced tomatoes into a bowl, drizzle with olive oil (drizzle, not drown) and sprinkle lightly with salt. Toss gently.
Step 2. Place on dehydrator trays or on a biscuit tray lined with baking paper if using your oven. Set the temperature on the dehydrator or oven to 110 degrees Celsius. This is slightly higher than you would normally use because tomatoes are a particularly moist food and need to dry a little faster, to prevent them going mouldy.
Step 3. Turn the tomatoes every three hours and rotate the trays at the same time (this helps to ensure they dry evenly). Dry until no moisture remains, but tomatoes are still flexible. (Don’t worry – if they get stiff and dry, they still taste great!) Tomatoes take a long time to dry, so expect to take up to 24 hours, it depends on the type of tomato, the moisture content and even the weather, so be patient, it's worth it.
Step 4. Store in a sterilised jar in the fridge or freeze for long term storage.
It really is that easy - if you like semi-dried tomatoes, try doing a small batch first. If you like them, you can do more and save yourself a fortune.
The $300 a Month Food Challenge
The Post that Started it All
6. Cheapskates Buzz
Most popular forum posts this week
Hello Everyone and Where to Start?
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?3685-Hello-everyone-and-where-to-start
The 2018 No Spending Month Challenge
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?3712-The-2018-No-Spending-Month-Challenge
Weight Watchers on a Budget
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2649-Weight-Watchers-on-a-Budget.
Most popular blog posts this week
Buying Big
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2015/01/buying-big.html
I Love Coffee
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2015/11/i-love-coffee.html
For the Coffee Addicts: The Cheapskates Way to Refilling Pods
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2014/08/for-coffee-addicts-cheapskates-way-to.html
7. Members 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 slharris02.
Weeks 6 & 7 Pay Your Bills on Time and Bare Bones
Hi All,
We always manage to pay bills on time however, I've found the emergency fund needs to be more than $2,000. Example, late last year our got a paralysis tick despite having flea and tick protection - over $1,000 vet bill - pet insurance paid $350. Yesterday, the washing machine (surge protector in place) stopped, and the fish tank filter (surge protector in place) went with a bang, I not sure which one of them went out in sympathy with the other. Washing machine with extra warranty $987, delivery and takeaway old machine, and new surge protector purchased with voucher that is coming with new machine. and $66 for the fish tank filter. Our council ceased curb side pick-ups last year so if you want bulky goods collected (e.g. old washing machine) you phone them, and they charge you $44 to take it to the tip. We are the last village in the council area so not all stores offer a delivery service. I'm lucky someone can come and let the delivery people in during the week whilst I'm at work. It will take more than the year to build this amount up again.
Bare bones weeks we do but not whilst we are working. It's usually whilst we are on leave and staying at home. No trips to town needed. This week has again been very hot so not much eating going on at home, but I have had the pedestal fan going over the weekend. Work is air-conditioned for during the week.
I always enjoy reading the emails that come during the week. I'm finding them interesting an informative. I've realised though I think I need a lesson in storage. My food cupboard definitely doesn't look like the one in the picture. In my pantry most are still in their boxes or packets with cloths pegs on them. Items are grouped and start out lined up though however I'm very short, so I tend to just push things aside, rather than get the step ladder out.
Login to read more Cheapskates Club Member blogs
8. Last Week's Question
Last week's question was from Kath who wrote
"My husband and I are going on a trip to Italy at the end of this year. If any Cheapskates have been to Italy could you please send me any good travel ideas, e.g. train, bus, accommodation etc. and which are the best places to go without spending too much money. We are both fit 78-year-olds. Thank you."
Marie Seddon answered
Make sure that you both wear money belts under your top layer. Store your credit cards, tickets, passports and cash close to your body and only carry enough visible cash for the day. Keep handbags strapped across the body; if you must wear a backpack keep it in front of you; never put a wallet in your back pocket and have the best trip two 78-year-olds can have. My 76-year-old husband and I have both travelled extensively and a list of places to see can be found in the Lonely planet books from the library. Enjoy.
Jenny Travers answered
We have been to Italy (with our Italian brother in law) and followed his advice to always go several streets back from tourist streets and try to find cafes etc. where locals are eating - much better food and cheaper. Also - always remember to validate your train tickets on the platform before boarding the train - fines for not doing so are very steep. You're going to love Italy - it's fabulous.
Penelope Harris answered
Hi Kath
My children and I had a magnificent trip to Italy a couple of years ago.
My advice is to use the trains - they are fantastic! City to city - you're delivered into the centre of each city, and you can walk to your accommodation. No need for expensive city taxis. My first source of information was from "The Man in Seat 61" who provides independent information and advice for train travel (mainly) within Europe.
I booked my inter-city trains directly with https://au.trenitalia.it-inter.com web. The earlier you book, the cheaper the fares - a bit like airlines. There are only a certain number of discounted fares available, so booking early makes sense however the tickets only go on sale 60 days prior to the date of travel. I pre-booked (and pre-paid) my art gallery and museum tickets for places in Venice, Florence and Rome using the museums' websites directly - both as a way of skipping the queues on the day, but mainly as a budgeting technique so I knew what my costs were upfront.
I am usually a truly independent traveller, however sometimes a company can do it cheaper/better than I can. I highly recommend you look at https://www.walksofitaly.com/. You may find that they can do a better deal on some day trips than you can achieve independently and that they have access to stuff that isn't available to individuals - like access to the Sistine Chapel before it's open to the general public.
I also use my Travel Money Card (Qantas Cash in my case, but there are several available) as a way of smoothing the foreign currency fluctuations. Each pay day, I transferred my holiday savings onto my Qantas Cash Card to purchase Euros (and Singapore $ for the stopover). (Obviously, I am foregoing interest earned, or mortgage offset benefits, however it always makes me feel better that I have the currency, and nothing can derail my holiday.)
I could go on forever, Kath - enjoy your holiday!
Robyn Allender answered
Here is an Italian rail offer that free for persons over 75.
Silver Card
The Silver Card ("Carta d'Argento") with Railplus discount is for customers over 60 years and costs 30 euro (free for customers of 75 years and over).
It allows discounts of:
10% off wagon lits and couchettes,
15% off the Base Fares (first and second class) on all national trains and on service levels Business, Premium and Standard
25% off with the Railplus discount on international connections.
Both the Green and Silver Cards can be bought at the station ticket desks and from the authorized travel agencies in Italy. Note: you must present a valid id or passport.
Joan Hagan answered
If you drink coffee, line up to order ad pay, then receive a receipt. Bear in mind that the Italians charge a significantly higher price if you sit in their café. Instead, either drink your coffee standing up, or ask for a take-away.
Many shops and businesses in Italy close for a couple of hours for a midday siesta, times are random. So, have a leisurely lunch at this time, which is cheaper than evening meals. Being a Catholic country, there isn't much open on a Sunday.
A service charge of up to 10% is often added to restaurant bills. Expect to pay for bread which is often served whether you eat it or not.
Most historical areas anywhere are best explored on foot, as there were no cars when constructed. Check for discount travel passes if staying for several days in the one location e.g. cities.
Pizza can be bought by the slice (large) for $2-$4, try the back streets for the cheapest deals.
If travelling to Venice, stay outside the Venice city area (try Campalto, Tessera) and travel into the rail station either by bus or train for the day. There are no cars in Venice city so no taxis! Accommodation in Venice city is very expensive too. There's a regular public bus that travels between the Marco Polo Airport, and the rail station servicing Venice city (Santa Lucia), that passes many of the hotels and a campground with cabins (we stayed at the latter - good cheap meals, Wi-Fi). Once at the rail station, buy a ticket for the public water bus (vaporetto) to Piazza San Marco, the central tourist area. Board the vaporetto. You will enjoy a 40-45-minute cruise on the vaporetto along the Grand Canal in Venice on the way (14 stops), at a token price of 7.50 euros. Explore Venice on foot from here and return to your accommodation the same way.
I recommend you pre-book a tour of St Mark's Basilica online, to avoid very long queues. This will give you express entry.
Gondola rides are over-rated, they are expensive (80 -150 euros pp, nights at the higher end) and once down on the water on the smaller canals, there is a strong sewerage smell and limited photo opportunities. I didn't enjoy the gondola ride at all! The vaporettos are much better and far cheaper!
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