Your Cheapskates Club Newsletter: 09:15 Bright ideas to save you money
1. Cath's Corner
2. In the Tip Store - Rescuing Gluggy Nail Polish, Run out of Maple Syrup for your Pancakes?, Finding the Right Lids
3. Cheapskate's Workshop - Let's All MOO!
4. Submit Your Tip - You have to be in it to win it
5. On the Menu with Anne - Sweet Lamb Curry Slow Cooker Style
6. The $300 a Month Food Challenge with Wendy - Inventory Week
7. Cheapskates Buzz - Cheapskaters are talking in the Forum and on Cath's blog
8. Member's Featured Blog - Feeling Lucky, so, so Lucky!
9. Last Week's Question - What can I use to clean my iron?
10. This Week's Question - Is there an easy way to save on the cost of fruit and veg?
11. Join the Cheapskates Club
12. Gift Memberships
13. Frequently Asked Questions
14. Contact Details
1. Cath's Corner
Hello Cheapskaters,
Welcome to all our new members and newsletter subscribers, we are so glad you've decided to join us in our crusade to live life debt free, cashed up and laughing. While you're in the Member's Centre don't forget to call into the forum and introduce yourself, we can't wait to meet you.
And now it's time for some housekeeping. I get lots of emails and requests for help with different aspects of the website. You can go to Cheapskates FAQ for answers to general questions. http://www.cheapskates.com.au/pages/default.cfm?page_id=7146 If the answer to your question isn't there, use the Contact Us form to ask your question and I'll do my best to get back to you as quickly as possible.
If you need to change your email address you will find the Change Your Details form here: http://www.cheapskates.com.au/contactform/default.cfm?form_id=524 Just fill it in, make sure you put all the information in and send it to me. You'll get an email confirmation once the updates have been made.
This one is really important. If you would like to contact me, PLEASE use the Contact Cheapskates form found here Please do not just click "reply" to newsletters or Tip of the Day emails - I won't get your question, you won't get your answer and we'll both end up upset.
Now the housekeeping has been taken care of, we can look forward to some fun. No Spending Month is almost over - three days left and then you can all go back to spending. I really hope you don't, I hope that 28 days of thinking before you spend has become a saving habit that will stick with you.
And on Sunday we start 31 Days of MOO. A whole month of ideas for things we can make instead of buy. I'm excited by this, simply because when I MOO I not only have control, options and more money in my purse. I hope you'll take up the challenge to MOO just one thing every day during March.
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!
PPS: You can read this newsletter and past copies on the website in the Newsletter Archive.
========================================
2. From The Tip Store
Rescuing Gluggy Nail Polish
Don't throw away perfectly good nail polish just because it's thick and gluggy! Simply add around half a teaspoon of nail polish remover to the bottle and it will become usable again. Keeping it in the fridge makes it last longer too.
Contributed by Angela Palmer
Run out of Maple Syrup for your Pancakes?
Approximate $ Savings: $10 per bottle
We regularly have pancakes on the weekend, but I have found trying to buy the healthier option of pure maple syrup a bit of a budget stretch for 6 hungry mouths. When we ran out recently I had to improvise. I poured a half cup of golden syrup from my 3kg catering jug that I got for nix at NQR and added some boiling water until I had the syrup consistency for pouring. The kids loved it and it's now what we have every time.
Contributed by Rebecca Taylor
Finding the Right Lids
I batch-cook and freeze a lot in individual portions, using those plastic tubs which come in packs of 5/10/100 etc. that you buy in $2 shops. 500ml ones are good for most things, with 650ml ones for larger portions. The containers stack in the cupboard nicely, but the lids get thrown in a basket. Finding a lid to match a container can be really hard (I never realised how many variations on a 500ml container there were!). Yes you can buy expensive ones with colour-coded lids but there's no need. When you buy a new set of containers, take a permanent marker and put a cross on each lid and each container. Easy to match them! The next pack you buy, put another shape - I've used circles, stars, flowers. Whatever suits you! The permanent marker lasts through several dishwasher cycles and just needs re-doing when you think the marks are getting a bit faint. It's saved me a lot of time, and a lot of bad-tempered sulks as I fling lids around the kitchen crossly. PS "Couscous juice" is left-over casserole liquid which I put couscous in!
Contributed by Gabi Fisher
There are more than 11,000 great tips in the Tip Store
========================================
3. Cheapskate's Workshops
The Let's All MOO Workshop
Cheapskates just love to Make Our Own! Cheapskaters just love to save money! Cheapskaters just love to be the first!
Early bird bookings for this workshop on Making Our own end on Saturday, when bookings for this workshop will be open to everyone and the price will go up to $35 per ticket.
Come along and join us for a morning of fun, frivolity and frugality as we refine the Art of Living the Cheapskates Way and try to put the supermarkets out of business as we learn to Make Our Own cleaning products, convenience products, favourite foods and more.
What time: 1:30pm - 4pm
Cost: $30 per person (includes refreshments, samples and handouts)
Click here to book your ticket
========================================
4. Submit your tip
Share your favourite hint or tip that saves money, time and energy and be in the running to win a one-year subscription to The Cheapskate Journal.
Remember, you have to be in it to win it!
Submit your tip
http://www.cheapskates.com.au/contactform/default.cfm?form_id=125
========================================
5. On the Menu with Anne
Sweet Lamb Curry
This isn't my recipe, it's one of Cath's. I was talking to her last night about a recipe for this newsletter and she mentioned she had cooked a sweet lamb curry in the slow cooker, and that it was just delicious. Just listening to the list of ingredients and how easy it was to throw together in the slow cooker had my mouth watering so here is Cath's recipe for a sweet lamb curry.
Sweet Lamb Curry Slow Cooker Style
Ingredients:
8 barbecue chops
1 large onion, diced
1 large green apple, peeled and diced
1/2 cup sultanas
1/2 cup chutney
3 tsp curry powder (more or less to taste)
1/2 cup water
2 tbsp plain flour
1/2 cup cold water, extra
Method:
Trim excess fat from the chops. Layer the chops in the slow cooker. Sprinkle with the diced onion. Mix curry powder and water and pour over chops and onion. Cook on LOW for 6 - 8 hours (the time depends on how fast your slow cooker cooks). The meat should be just about falling off the bone. When the meat is tender add the apple, sultanas and chutney. Cook a further hour. Mix the flour and extra cold water to a paste. Remove the bones from the slow cooker. Stir in the flour and water until well combined and the gravy starts to thicken. Cook for 5 - 10 minutes until gravy is thick and curry has been coated. Serve with steamed rice, a dollop of plain yoghurt and pappadums.
This week we will be eating:
Friday: Hamburgers and chips
Saturday: Baked bean jaffles
Sunday: Roast chicken, baked veggies and gravy
Monday: Rissoles, sweet potato mash, corn, beans, onion gravy
Tuesday: Lasagne and salad
Wednesday: Fish, wedges, salad
Thursday: Beef casserole and rice
In the fruit bowl: apples, plums, kiwi fruit
In the cake tin: Cinnamon Tea Cake, blueberry muffins
There are over 1,400 other great money saving meal ideas in the Recipe File
========================================
6. The $300 a Month Food Challenge with Wendy
Welcome to the food challenge everyone. How did you go with last week's challenge of sorting out and cleaning your fridge? I hope you didn't find any science experiments in there.
The next step in the food challenge is to write an inventory of all food items you have on hand. Some of you might have completed this when you were sorting out your pantry, fridge and freezer. That's ok, you’re ahead of everyone else. Give yourself a pat on the back.
An inventory of your supplies can be done a few ways. I have mine on an A5 piece of paper written in pen (done many years ago). You could type it up on the computer and print it out, or have it in a book or folder. Whatever works for you and whatever is easy to access.
Pick an area of your house and write down all your supplies. If might be easy for you to write things in categories like tinned foods, baking supplies, herbs and spices. As you write things down, put a star beside surprise items you find. These are the things you bought but never used, no one likes any more or you'd forgotten about. Either donate or use these items up ASAP. When they are used up cross them off your inventory list and take a moment to think about the value of this unwanted item. Make a pact with yourself and your family that you won't be buying them again.
Beside each item make a note of quantities of your stock. If you know how many you have, you might not need to buy some items for a while. My MIL is a very good example of not knowing what she’s bought. Many years ago she went away on a holiday. My SIL still lives at home and wanted me to help her clean out the pantry. As I sorted, I put some tinned items in neat rows. We soon discovered that my MIL had about 7 or 8 tins of beetroot. My SIL informed me that MIL thought she had run out. MMMMMM, no inventory and no organisation. I found some items 9 years past their best before date. Money wasted.
This week's task is to write out your inventory lists. If you already have them done, maybe you'd like to take the time to go over them and update if needed. This week I'll try to get mine typed up on the computer and printed out. My old ones are looking very ratty
Have a great week and BE ENCOURAGED!!!
The $300 a Month Food Challenge
The Post that Started it All
========================================
7. Cheapskates Buzz
This week's hot forum topics
Travelling for Shopping
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2776-Travelling-for-shopping&p=49142#post49142
The 2015 No Spending Month Challenge
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2750-The-2015-No-Spending-Month-Challenge
Do you Trolley Peek?
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?7-Do-you-trolley-peek
Most popular blog posts this week
10 Ways to Use Egg Shells
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2013/10/10-ways-to-use-egg-shells.html
How we Live a Greener Life on a Tight Budget
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2013/07/how-we-live-greener-life-on-tight-budget.html
How to Speed Your Way to Clean
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2013/05/how-to-speed-your-way-to-clean.html
========================================
8. Member's Featured Blog
Platinum Cheapskates Club members have their very own Cheapskating blogs, and they are wonderful and inspirational and encouraging and even funny. This week's featured blog is written by School.
Feeling Lucky, so, so Lucky!
Well, last time I logged in my husband's work contract had just been cancelled and we didn't know what would happen in the following two weeks. Well, we must be the luckiest people ever because the new company who took over the contract offered him his same job. He accepted very quickly and has been working with them now for almost 2 weeks. His shifts are better, the money the same and the best part he has every second weekend off after working for 4 years with no weekends off. Our family is in heaven!
The changeover has been tricky though, his final pay from the previous company only just covers our next mortgage payment and we haven't been paid yet from the new company. Luckily I've saved a bit to help us over the next week or so until we find our new rhythm with the pay cycles.
I've been having a very successful No Spend Month because I haven't got any spare money to spend. Groceries and fuel has been about it. I've cut our grocery bill down from last year but still struggling to keep it down each week. Trying very hard so it should start working soon.
Anyway, we are so relieved but I'm not going to let it go to my head this time! It was a close call and we weren't prepared. I never ever want to feel like that again.
Login to read more Cheapskates Club member blogs
http://www.cheapskates.com.au/members/login.cfm
========================================
9. Last Week's Question
Last week's question was from Susan who wrote
"Hi, just wondering what tips you have to clean an iron. Bought an iron cleaning product at Coles but that was a waste of money. Thanks."
Helen Humphreys answered
Soak some paper towels in vinegar and sprinkle with baking soda. With the iron switched off, iron the paper towel until all the gunk has come off. Turning the iron on, set it to steam so the baking soda comes out. Turn it off, wipe it down, and repeat this process until there is no baking soda left.
Val answered
Get some bees wax and placed between two sheets of brown paper and then heat iron to hot and iron over the paper. Your iron will be very clean and it always works.
Monika O'Leary
A tablet of aspirin, held with a pair of tweezers (to save your fingers). Have the iron hot, but not too hot, and rub the aspirin on the stained parts of the iron. It's brilliant, I could not believe how well it worked.
Marie Seddon answered
Take a large sheet of thick brown paper, sprinkle thickly with cooking salt. Heat the iron and push the sole plate over the salt until clean. Also ironing a steel soap pad helps to polish the sole plate take care not to gouge the sole plate.
Do you have a question that needs an answer?
Send us your question and receive the combined knowledge of your fellow Cheapskates to solve your problem!
Ask Your Question
========================================
10. This Week's Question
Katrina writes
"A large chunk of my grocery bill is fresh fruit and veg (my partner refuses to eat frozen). I don't have a garden and my current home is not suitable for keeping one. I've tried the local markets, but it's even more expensive than the supermarket! I did find a fruit and veg shop that was cheaper, but the quality was so poor it ended up more expensive after waste. How else can I save on fruit and veg?"
Do you have the answer?
If you have a suggestion or idea for Katrina let us know. We'll enter your answer into our Tip of the Week competition, with a one-year membership to the Cheapskates Club as the prize too.
Send your answer
========================================
11. Join the Cheapskates Club
For just 10 cents a day you can join the Cheapskates Club and get exclusive access to the Cheapskate Journal, the monthly e-journal that shows you how to cut the costs of everyday living and still have fun.
Joining the Cheapskates Club gives you 24/7 access to the Members Centre with 1000's of money saving tips and articles.
Click here to join the Cheapskates Club today!
http://www.cheapskates.com.au/members/join_form.cfm?item_id=2271
========================================
12. Gift Memberships
Your family and friends will thank you for a whole year when you give them a Platinum Cheapskates Club membership as a gift.
It's so simple: just select the number of gift memberships required, click the Buy Now button and complete the Gift Membership order form (you must use this form to order gift memberships) and we'll get in touch with you to confirm the gift subscriptions.
Click here to order a gift membership right now!
http://www.cheapskates.com.au/pages/default.cfm?page_id=43740
========================================
13. Frequently Asked Questions
How do I change my email address?
This one is easy. Members can update their email address or any other details by clicking on "Edit Profile" directly under their membership number after they have logged in to the Member's Centre. Subscribers to our free newsletter can use the Change Your Address form (under Customer Service in the menu) and fill it out. Once you've filled it in click the send button and we'll do the rest. Please remember to include your old email address so we can find it in the list as well as the new one.
How do I know when my membership should be renewed?
When you login to the Member's Centre you will be told how many days of membership you have left once you have 30 days left. Just click on the link to renew and your membership will just continue on, uninterrupted.
What will you do with my email address?
We never rent, trade or sell our email list to anyone for any reason whatsoever. You'll never get an unsolicited email from a stranger as a result of joining this list.
Read our privacy policy
How Did You Get on Our List?
You signed up to receive our Free Newsletter at our Cheapskates Club Web site or are a Platinum Cheapskates Club member
========================================
14. Contact Details
The Cheapskates Club -
Showing you how to live life
debt free, cashed up and laughing!
PO Box 5077 Studfield Vic 3152
www.cheapskates.com.au
[email protected]
========================================
2. In the Tip Store - Rescuing Gluggy Nail Polish, Run out of Maple Syrup for your Pancakes?, Finding the Right Lids
3. Cheapskate's Workshop - Let's All MOO!
4. Submit Your Tip - You have to be in it to win it
5. On the Menu with Anne - Sweet Lamb Curry Slow Cooker Style
6. The $300 a Month Food Challenge with Wendy - Inventory Week
7. Cheapskates Buzz - Cheapskaters are talking in the Forum and on Cath's blog
8. Member's Featured Blog - Feeling Lucky, so, so Lucky!
9. Last Week's Question - What can I use to clean my iron?
10. This Week's Question - Is there an easy way to save on the cost of fruit and veg?
11. Join the Cheapskates Club
12. Gift Memberships
13. Frequently Asked Questions
14. Contact Details
1. Cath's Corner
Hello Cheapskaters,
Welcome to all our new members and newsletter subscribers, we are so glad you've decided to join us in our crusade to live life debt free, cashed up and laughing. While you're in the Member's Centre don't forget to call into the forum and introduce yourself, we can't wait to meet you.
And now it's time for some housekeeping. I get lots of emails and requests for help with different aspects of the website. You can go to Cheapskates FAQ for answers to general questions. http://www.cheapskates.com.au/pages/default.cfm?page_id=7146 If the answer to your question isn't there, use the Contact Us form to ask your question and I'll do my best to get back to you as quickly as possible.
If you need to change your email address you will find the Change Your Details form here: http://www.cheapskates.com.au/contactform/default.cfm?form_id=524 Just fill it in, make sure you put all the information in and send it to me. You'll get an email confirmation once the updates have been made.
This one is really important. If you would like to contact me, PLEASE use the Contact Cheapskates form found here Please do not just click "reply" to newsletters or Tip of the Day emails - I won't get your question, you won't get your answer and we'll both end up upset.
Now the housekeeping has been taken care of, we can look forward to some fun. No Spending Month is almost over - three days left and then you can all go back to spending. I really hope you don't, I hope that 28 days of thinking before you spend has become a saving habit that will stick with you.
And on Sunday we start 31 Days of MOO. A whole month of ideas for things we can make instead of buy. I'm excited by this, simply because when I MOO I not only have control, options and more money in my purse. I hope you'll take up the challenge to MOO just one thing every day during March.
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!
PPS: You can read this newsletter and past copies on the website in the Newsletter Archive.
========================================
2. From The Tip Store
Rescuing Gluggy Nail Polish
Don't throw away perfectly good nail polish just because it's thick and gluggy! Simply add around half a teaspoon of nail polish remover to the bottle and it will become usable again. Keeping it in the fridge makes it last longer too.
Contributed by Angela Palmer
Run out of Maple Syrup for your Pancakes?
Approximate $ Savings: $10 per bottle
We regularly have pancakes on the weekend, but I have found trying to buy the healthier option of pure maple syrup a bit of a budget stretch for 6 hungry mouths. When we ran out recently I had to improvise. I poured a half cup of golden syrup from my 3kg catering jug that I got for nix at NQR and added some boiling water until I had the syrup consistency for pouring. The kids loved it and it's now what we have every time.
Contributed by Rebecca Taylor
Finding the Right Lids
I batch-cook and freeze a lot in individual portions, using those plastic tubs which come in packs of 5/10/100 etc. that you buy in $2 shops. 500ml ones are good for most things, with 650ml ones for larger portions. The containers stack in the cupboard nicely, but the lids get thrown in a basket. Finding a lid to match a container can be really hard (I never realised how many variations on a 500ml container there were!). Yes you can buy expensive ones with colour-coded lids but there's no need. When you buy a new set of containers, take a permanent marker and put a cross on each lid and each container. Easy to match them! The next pack you buy, put another shape - I've used circles, stars, flowers. Whatever suits you! The permanent marker lasts through several dishwasher cycles and just needs re-doing when you think the marks are getting a bit faint. It's saved me a lot of time, and a lot of bad-tempered sulks as I fling lids around the kitchen crossly. PS "Couscous juice" is left-over casserole liquid which I put couscous in!
Contributed by Gabi Fisher
There are more than 11,000 great tips in the Tip Store
========================================
3. Cheapskate's Workshops
The Let's All MOO Workshop
Cheapskates just love to Make Our Own! Cheapskaters just love to save money! Cheapskaters just love to be the first!
Early bird bookings for this workshop on Making Our own end on Saturday, when bookings for this workshop will be open to everyone and the price will go up to $35 per ticket.
Come along and join us for a morning of fun, frivolity and frugality as we refine the Art of Living the Cheapskates Way and try to put the supermarkets out of business as we learn to Make Our Own cleaning products, convenience products, favourite foods and more.
What time: 1:30pm - 4pm
Cost: $30 per person (includes refreshments, samples and handouts)
Click here to book your ticket
========================================
4. Submit your tip
Share your favourite hint or tip that saves money, time and energy and be in the running to win a one-year subscription to The Cheapskate Journal.
Remember, you have to be in it to win it!
Submit your tip
http://www.cheapskates.com.au/contactform/default.cfm?form_id=125
========================================
5. On the Menu with Anne
Sweet Lamb Curry
This isn't my recipe, it's one of Cath's. I was talking to her last night about a recipe for this newsletter and she mentioned she had cooked a sweet lamb curry in the slow cooker, and that it was just delicious. Just listening to the list of ingredients and how easy it was to throw together in the slow cooker had my mouth watering so here is Cath's recipe for a sweet lamb curry.
Sweet Lamb Curry Slow Cooker Style
Ingredients:
8 barbecue chops
1 large onion, diced
1 large green apple, peeled and diced
1/2 cup sultanas
1/2 cup chutney
3 tsp curry powder (more or less to taste)
1/2 cup water
2 tbsp plain flour
1/2 cup cold water, extra
Method:
Trim excess fat from the chops. Layer the chops in the slow cooker. Sprinkle with the diced onion. Mix curry powder and water and pour over chops and onion. Cook on LOW for 6 - 8 hours (the time depends on how fast your slow cooker cooks). The meat should be just about falling off the bone. When the meat is tender add the apple, sultanas and chutney. Cook a further hour. Mix the flour and extra cold water to a paste. Remove the bones from the slow cooker. Stir in the flour and water until well combined and the gravy starts to thicken. Cook for 5 - 10 minutes until gravy is thick and curry has been coated. Serve with steamed rice, a dollop of plain yoghurt and pappadums.
This week we will be eating:
Friday: Hamburgers and chips
Saturday: Baked bean jaffles
Sunday: Roast chicken, baked veggies and gravy
Monday: Rissoles, sweet potato mash, corn, beans, onion gravy
Tuesday: Lasagne and salad
Wednesday: Fish, wedges, salad
Thursday: Beef casserole and rice
In the fruit bowl: apples, plums, kiwi fruit
In the cake tin: Cinnamon Tea Cake, blueberry muffins
There are over 1,400 other great money saving meal ideas in the Recipe File
========================================
6. The $300 a Month Food Challenge with Wendy
Welcome to the food challenge everyone. How did you go with last week's challenge of sorting out and cleaning your fridge? I hope you didn't find any science experiments in there.
The next step in the food challenge is to write an inventory of all food items you have on hand. Some of you might have completed this when you were sorting out your pantry, fridge and freezer. That's ok, you’re ahead of everyone else. Give yourself a pat on the back.
An inventory of your supplies can be done a few ways. I have mine on an A5 piece of paper written in pen (done many years ago). You could type it up on the computer and print it out, or have it in a book or folder. Whatever works for you and whatever is easy to access.
Pick an area of your house and write down all your supplies. If might be easy for you to write things in categories like tinned foods, baking supplies, herbs and spices. As you write things down, put a star beside surprise items you find. These are the things you bought but never used, no one likes any more or you'd forgotten about. Either donate or use these items up ASAP. When they are used up cross them off your inventory list and take a moment to think about the value of this unwanted item. Make a pact with yourself and your family that you won't be buying them again.
Beside each item make a note of quantities of your stock. If you know how many you have, you might not need to buy some items for a while. My MIL is a very good example of not knowing what she’s bought. Many years ago she went away on a holiday. My SIL still lives at home and wanted me to help her clean out the pantry. As I sorted, I put some tinned items in neat rows. We soon discovered that my MIL had about 7 or 8 tins of beetroot. My SIL informed me that MIL thought she had run out. MMMMMM, no inventory and no organisation. I found some items 9 years past their best before date. Money wasted.
This week's task is to write out your inventory lists. If you already have them done, maybe you'd like to take the time to go over them and update if needed. This week I'll try to get mine typed up on the computer and printed out. My old ones are looking very ratty
Have a great week and BE ENCOURAGED!!!
The $300 a Month Food Challenge
The Post that Started it All
========================================
7. Cheapskates Buzz
This week's hot forum topics
Travelling for Shopping
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2776-Travelling-for-shopping&p=49142#post49142
The 2015 No Spending Month Challenge
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2750-The-2015-No-Spending-Month-Challenge
Do you Trolley Peek?
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?7-Do-you-trolley-peek
Most popular blog posts this week
10 Ways to Use Egg Shells
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2013/10/10-ways-to-use-egg-shells.html
How we Live a Greener Life on a Tight Budget
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2013/07/how-we-live-greener-life-on-tight-budget.html
How to Speed Your Way to Clean
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2013/05/how-to-speed-your-way-to-clean.html
========================================
8. Member's Featured Blog
Platinum Cheapskates Club members have their very own Cheapskating blogs, and they are wonderful and inspirational and encouraging and even funny. This week's featured blog is written by School.
Feeling Lucky, so, so Lucky!
Well, last time I logged in my husband's work contract had just been cancelled and we didn't know what would happen in the following two weeks. Well, we must be the luckiest people ever because the new company who took over the contract offered him his same job. He accepted very quickly and has been working with them now for almost 2 weeks. His shifts are better, the money the same and the best part he has every second weekend off after working for 4 years with no weekends off. Our family is in heaven!
The changeover has been tricky though, his final pay from the previous company only just covers our next mortgage payment and we haven't been paid yet from the new company. Luckily I've saved a bit to help us over the next week or so until we find our new rhythm with the pay cycles.
I've been having a very successful No Spend Month because I haven't got any spare money to spend. Groceries and fuel has been about it. I've cut our grocery bill down from last year but still struggling to keep it down each week. Trying very hard so it should start working soon.
Anyway, we are so relieved but I'm not going to let it go to my head this time! It was a close call and we weren't prepared. I never ever want to feel like that again.
Login to read more Cheapskates Club member blogs
http://www.cheapskates.com.au/members/login.cfm
========================================
9. Last Week's Question
Last week's question was from Susan who wrote
"Hi, just wondering what tips you have to clean an iron. Bought an iron cleaning product at Coles but that was a waste of money. Thanks."
Helen Humphreys answered
Soak some paper towels in vinegar and sprinkle with baking soda. With the iron switched off, iron the paper towel until all the gunk has come off. Turning the iron on, set it to steam so the baking soda comes out. Turn it off, wipe it down, and repeat this process until there is no baking soda left.
Val answered
Get some bees wax and placed between two sheets of brown paper and then heat iron to hot and iron over the paper. Your iron will be very clean and it always works.
Monika O'Leary
A tablet of aspirin, held with a pair of tweezers (to save your fingers). Have the iron hot, but not too hot, and rub the aspirin on the stained parts of the iron. It's brilliant, I could not believe how well it worked.
Marie Seddon answered
Take a large sheet of thick brown paper, sprinkle thickly with cooking salt. Heat the iron and push the sole plate over the salt until clean. Also ironing a steel soap pad helps to polish the sole plate take care not to gouge the sole plate.
Do you have a question that needs an answer?
Send us your question and receive the combined knowledge of your fellow Cheapskates to solve your problem!
Ask Your Question
========================================
10. This Week's Question
Katrina writes
"A large chunk of my grocery bill is fresh fruit and veg (my partner refuses to eat frozen). I don't have a garden and my current home is not suitable for keeping one. I've tried the local markets, but it's even more expensive than the supermarket! I did find a fruit and veg shop that was cheaper, but the quality was so poor it ended up more expensive after waste. How else can I save on fruit and veg?"
Do you have the answer?
If you have a suggestion or idea for Katrina 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
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11. Join the Cheapskates Club
For just 10 cents a day you can join the Cheapskates Club and get exclusive access to the Cheapskate Journal, the monthly e-journal that shows you how to cut the costs of everyday living and still have fun.
Joining the Cheapskates Club gives you 24/7 access to the Members Centre with 1000's of money saving tips and articles.
Click here to join the Cheapskates Club today!
http://www.cheapskates.com.au/members/join_form.cfm?item_id=2271
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12. Gift Memberships
Your family and friends will thank you for a whole year when you give them a Platinum Cheapskates Club membership as a gift.
It's so simple: just select the number of gift memberships required, click the Buy Now button and complete the Gift Membership order form (you must use this form to order gift memberships) and we'll get in touch with you to confirm the gift subscriptions.
Click here to order a gift membership right now!
http://www.cheapskates.com.au/pages/default.cfm?page_id=43740
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13. Frequently Asked Questions
How do I change my email address?
This one is easy. Members can update their email address or any other details by clicking on "Edit Profile" directly under their membership number after they have logged in to the Member's Centre. Subscribers to our free newsletter can use the Change Your Address form (under Customer Service in the menu) and fill it out. Once you've filled it in click the send button and we'll do the rest. Please remember to include your old email address so we can find it in the list as well as the new one.
How do I know when my membership should be renewed?
When you login to the Member's Centre you will be told how many days of membership you have left once you have 30 days left. Just click on the link to renew and your membership will just continue on, uninterrupted.
What will you do with my email address?
We never rent, trade or sell our email list to anyone for any reason whatsoever. You'll never get an unsolicited email from a stranger as a result of joining this list.
Read our privacy policy
How Did You Get on Our List?
You signed up to receive our Free Newsletter at our Cheapskates Club Web site or are a Platinum Cheapskates Club member
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14. Contact Details
The Cheapskates Club -
Showing you how to live life
debt free, cashed up and laughing!
PO Box 5077 Studfield Vic 3152
www.cheapskates.com.au
[email protected]
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