Your Cheapskates Club Newsletter 09:18
In this Newsletter
1. Cath's Corner
2. In the Tip Store - Save $100 Year on Water Filters; Potluck Takeaway; Beating Flybuys
3. Share Your Tips
4. On the Menu - White Chocolate Cornflake Squares
5. The $300 a Month Food Challenge - My 2018 Saving Revolution Continues
6. Cheapskates Buzz - Cheapskaters are talking in the Forum and on Cath's blog
7. Member's Featured Blog - Saving Revolution 2018 contd....
8. This Week's Question - Advice needed on attending a family wedding
9. Ask Cath
10. Join the Cheapskates Club
11. Frequently Asked Questions
12. Contact Details
1. Cath's Corner
Hello Cheapskaters,
No Spending Month is at an end. How did you do? Has your bank balance increased? Is there more money in your pocket? Did you have more time because you weren't shopping all the time? More importantly, were you able to survive 28 days of not spending without feeling deprived? Were you excited at the thought of really saving?
However you finished the month, I hope it was profitable for you, if not in cash, then in a new experience. And just because our official No Spending Month is over, doesn't mean you can't continue on into March, and perhaps April, and maybe May - you get the idea.
The aim of the challenge is to make you aware of unnecessary spending and how big an impact it can have on your budget and your financial life, then guide you as you make positive changes. They don't all have to happen at once; remember, one step at a time and you'll succeed.
Today is the start of MOO month. I love March. It's the beginning of my favourite time of year, and we have a whole month of new MOOs to try. I'll be posting a new MOO every day this month and you'll be able to get them here.
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
Save $100 Year on Water Filters
We purchased a French door fridge with ice maker, cold water etc. We didn't realise that the water filter needed to be replaced every six months, costing at least $50 each to buy. I contacted the manufacturers, who sent us a plastic knob/lock to replace where the filter goes, that's $100 a year saved!
Contributed by Janet Bogne
Potluck Takeaway
Instead of throwing away little bits of leftovers that would only be a half serving I now put them straight into a container and into the freezer. When I have enough for two people we have a pot luck takeaway night. I heat them in the microwave and put the containers on the table. Everyone helps themselves, having a little bit of everything. No more waste and no more grumbles about waiting for dinner or boring dinners. Best of all, as this has become our "takeaway" we are saving money - I put $20 into our Emergency Fund every time we have potluck takeaway instead of spending it on fast food.
Contributed by Julie
Potluck Takeaway
Instead of throwing away little bits of leftovers that would only be a half serving I now put them straight into a container and into the freezer. When I have enough for two people we have a pot luck takeaway night. I heat them in the microwave and put the containers on the table. Everyone helps themselves, having a little bit of everything. No more waste and no more grumbles about waiting for dinner or boring dinners. Best of all, as this has become our "takeaway" we are saving money - I put $20 into our Emergency Fund every time we have potluck takeaway instead of spending it on fast food.
Contributed by Julie
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
White Choc Cornflake Squares
Ingredients:
60g butter
300g marshmallows
125g white choc chips
3 tbsp milk powder
5 cups cornflakes
Method:
Line a 20cm square cake tin with baking paper.
Melt the butter in a large saucepan over low heat. Add marshmallows and chocolate, cook 7 minutes or until mixture melts, stirring constantly. Sprinkle the milk powder evenly over the mixture, then add the corn flakes and stir until all are well coated.
Press mixture in pan and press down to an even, compact layer.
Allow to cool at room temperature for 30 minutes before cutting into squares.
This week we will be eating:
Sunday: Roast Lamb
Monday: Lamb wraps
Tuesday: Vegetable lasagne, salad, garlic bread
Wednesday: Curried Tuna Slice, salad
Thursday: MOO Pizza
Friday: Corn Fritters & salad
Saturday: Enchiladas
In the fruit bowl: Lemons, bananas, grapes
In the cake tin: Lemon Coconut Slice
There are over 1,600 other great money saving meal ideas in the Recipe File.
5. The $300 a Month Food Challenge
A Really Tasty, Really Simple Pasta Sauce
It's MOO Month, and what nicer thing to MOO than a delicious pasta sauce that you can use for spaghetti, lasagne, on pizzas and for dipping - it's versatile. This is my go to pasta sauce and I make lots of it every summer.
After a week of cooking, there is now enough pasta sauce in the freezer to last us a year! Without tomatoes in the garden this year, I've had to buy some to add to some a friend blessed us with. I was able to get them for $8 a box, cheap enough to let me cook up our favourite pasta sauce.
Using the slow cooker and the pressure cooker, I was able to make 40 litres of delicious pasta sauce for a total cost of $19, around the price of 8 jars of bought pasta sauce (although the price varies hugely - up to $4.60 for a 500ml jar!).
The recipe I used is below, a bulk version of my Sensational, Simple Homemade Pasta Sauce. It's for a six-litre slow cooker and you will end up with around five litres of pasta sauce.
Bulk Sensational, Simple Homemade Pasta Sauce
Ingredients:
3 kg tomatoes, peeled and roughly chopped*
1/2 cup olive oil
3 tbsp crushed garlic
3 tbsp crushed basil
3 tbsp oregano
3 tsp salt
Method:
Heat the oil in the bottom of the crock pot and sauté the garlic until it is golden. Add the tomatoes, basil and oregano and stir. Put the lid on and cook on HIGH for 8 - 10 hours*. Stir. If the sauce is thick and rich, it is done. If not cook for another 30 minutes and stir again. Let the sauce cool. Use a stick blender or food processor to puree the sauce. Portion it into sterilised, saved jars, freezer containers or zip lock bags and freeze.* *
This makes the equivalent of 4 jars of commercial pasta sauce. The cooking time will depend solely on your slow cooker. Newer slow cookers are actually very fast compared to the original models, so watch your sauce and when it reaches the consistency you like it's ready.
I use this sauce as the base for other pasta sauces, adding additional seasonings depending on the recipe. It also makes a lovely pizza sauce and is delicious with just a sprinkling of mozzarella and grated parmesan cheese.
Notes:
*Cooking time will depend on the tomatoes - sometimes they are really juicy, sometimes not - and your slow cooker. Modern slow cookers cook a little faster than the older models. When the tomatoes have cooked down and the sauce is thick enough to stick to your spoon it is done.
**Storing: I bag in two cup lots in ziplock bags and freeze. You can bottle the sauce and process in a hot water bath if you prefer shelf safe storage.
The $300 a Month Food Challenge
The Post that Started it All
6. Cheapskates Buzz
Most popular forum posts this week
Messy Cupboards
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?3721-Messy-Cupboards
The 2018 No Spending Month Challenge
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?3712-The-2018-No-Spending-Month-Challenge
Life on the Farm
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?3586-Life-on-the-farm
Most popular blog posts this week
MOO Egg Substitutes
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2014/09/moo-egg-substitutes.html
MOO Monday: Raspberry Cordial
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2014/09/moo-monday-raspberry-cordial.html
Oh So Easy MOO Banana Ice Cream
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2014/08/oh-so-easy-moo-banana-ice-cream.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 pri_mukh.
My 2018 Saving Revolution Continues
Alright, so until now - I have been able to somewhat get my husband on board towards saving. He still has his moments and needs a bit of nudge now and then but the fact that he has started, is what makes me proud. The other day we were doing grocery shopping and he didn't have breakfast. He was hungry, but he didn't buy breakfast, instead he had a couple of bananas that we had bought from Aldi. His words "when you are making so much effort, I need to contribute too". This made me smile.
Filing - I am horrible at it. Frankly speaking I find it boring but I do agree that it is a very important task too. This is where my husband comes in handy. He is good at it and files all the important documents like the insurance papers, bills etc.
My no spend month is going OK, but I am a bit out of my budget. I am going abroad to meet family in the next couple of weeks so had to buy some expensive gifts for my mom, mil and my sissy. They all helped me out big time when I had my bubba and I felt that they deserve something beautiful as a thank you gesture from my side. I bought each of them a beautiful pair of diamond earrings - there goes $350. However, like Cath always says, "by giving up on things that are not important and spending on what is important", this was important to me - family. I also invested $650 on a very good quality doona. Winter is very harsh in Melbourne and it shoots up my electricity bill as well as my eczema, so I am trying to see if I can use less heater during winter, thus saving me money on electricity and on health. I also serviced the gas heaters in my house. I figured that the technicians will start charging a lot more come winter. I had to shop around a little bit and from $360, I could find a technician to do the same job for $200.
Hubby got all emotional on Valentine's Day and ended up buying me a Swatch watch for $150 (I went online and googled it. I know, I know I am not supposed to check the price of a gift, but I couldn't resist myself from checking how much he spent on a no spend month) plus a decent dinner in a restaurant so that was that.
I just bought a high chair for my little one. I found a used, branded high chair (Love n Care) in a great condition. The exact same chair costs $200 in the market. I paid only $30 for it. The chair belonged to a grandma who bought it for her grandchildren, so it was rarely used and is in a great condition. I also bought a used potty pan for my bub. The owner generously gave it for free. I figured at the end of the day who cares if it is done on a new or a used one (lol). I also sold some of my stuff that was lying around my house and earned a total of $45 so I was in profit at the end of the day.
I have started doing grocery shopping in cash and I am amazed how I have managed to already bring my grocery bill down. Keeping up with not doing grocery shopping challenge this week, I didn’t do any grocery shopping. However, I had to buy some veggies for my baby's food and some breakfast items as there was nothing left. I checked my freezer and found there was way too much chicken stocked in there and some fish (about which I had forgot). The aubergines/brinjal from my veggie garden will serve me another dish and I had some leftover dishes from previous week. So, with all these, we will sail through this week. Yay.
I have also started to track my spending. I was extremely horrible at it but now that I do it, I have started to realise where my money is seeping through. It was hard the first few weeks to really sit with my credit card spend and my debit card spend, but once I got the hang of it, it really doesn't take much time. I have set up a reminder on my phone for it every Friday. At the end of the week I sit and track my spending.
I have started to search for a good and affordable childcare centre in my area. Childcare is very expensive and will eat about half of my savings. However, it is also important that my baby is in a safe and caring environment, so I am not worrying that she is well looked after. I have been asking other moms in my area about it and have signed up in a few Facebook groups trying to find a good childcare centre. I had a mom recommend me a childcare that her daughter goes to and is slightly cheaper. She mentioned that she loves it and cannot fault the staff there. With that in mind I have booked an inspection next week. Fingers crossed it will be the one.
This week I have also opened a savings account for my daughter's marriage although she is only 7 months old (lol). I figured $10/week is not a lot of money, however 20 years down the line I will have a lump sum. My daughter may not ask for it, but I need to be prepared. I had already set up her education fund even before she was born. My next aim is to really build my Emergency Fund as soon as possible.
I have started to MOO some items as well. I MOOed Cheapskate Washing Powder but had to buy special sensitive skin laundry for my baby (as she has also got eczema from me). I found tomatoes were cheap the other day. So, I picked a couple of bags, prepared tomato puree and stored in the freezer - to use when the tomato prices shoot up. I also MOOed some dried herbs - Thai and Italian basil. I never buy cleaning products anyways. Baking soda and vinegar are my friends. I thought I will buy some probiotics for myself, but a bottle of tablets was for $50 at Chemist warehouse. I said goodbye to it and went to Coles. Picked up a Probiotic yoghurt for $3.50 instead.
I still have a long way to go but hopefully with some careful planning I will be there soon.
Login to read more Cheapskates Club Member blogs
8. This Week's Question
Carly writes
"We've been invited to my cousin's wedding in April, and while we're thrilled for him and would love to attend, it's in a country town about 4 hours from home. That means we'd need to stay overnight at a motel. Add that on top of a gift that I've been told the value of which should equal the cost of the meal and going to this wedding is way out of our budget. I've been reading the Forum and we can't afford to buy a gift of the expected value and pay for overnight accommodation. Any ideas how we can attend the wedding, with a gift, on a budget, or alternatively, send an inability to attend that won't upset the family? Thanks in advance for the advice and suggestions."
Do you have the answer?
If you have a suggestion or idea for Carly 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
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.
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.
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
12. Contact Details
The Cheapskates Club -
Showing you how to live life
debt free, cashed up and laughing!
Contact Cheapskates
1. Cath's Corner
2. In the Tip Store - Save $100 Year on Water Filters; Potluck Takeaway; Beating Flybuys
3. Share Your Tips
4. On the Menu - White Chocolate Cornflake Squares
5. The $300 a Month Food Challenge - My 2018 Saving Revolution Continues
6. Cheapskates Buzz - Cheapskaters are talking in the Forum and on Cath's blog
7. Member's Featured Blog - Saving Revolution 2018 contd....
8. This Week's Question - Advice needed on attending a family wedding
9. Ask Cath
10. Join the Cheapskates Club
11. Frequently Asked Questions
12. Contact Details
1. Cath's Corner
Hello Cheapskaters,
No Spending Month is at an end. How did you do? Has your bank balance increased? Is there more money in your pocket? Did you have more time because you weren't shopping all the time? More importantly, were you able to survive 28 days of not spending without feeling deprived? Were you excited at the thought of really saving?
However you finished the month, I hope it was profitable for you, if not in cash, then in a new experience. And just because our official No Spending Month is over, doesn't mean you can't continue on into March, and perhaps April, and maybe May - you get the idea.
The aim of the challenge is to make you aware of unnecessary spending and how big an impact it can have on your budget and your financial life, then guide you as you make positive changes. They don't all have to happen at once; remember, one step at a time and you'll succeed.
Today is the start of MOO month. I love March. It's the beginning of my favourite time of year, and we have a whole month of new MOOs to try. I'll be posting a new MOO every day this month and you'll be able to get them here.
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
Save $100 Year on Water Filters
We purchased a French door fridge with ice maker, cold water etc. We didn't realise that the water filter needed to be replaced every six months, costing at least $50 each to buy. I contacted the manufacturers, who sent us a plastic knob/lock to replace where the filter goes, that's $100 a year saved!
Contributed by Janet Bogne
Potluck Takeaway
Instead of throwing away little bits of leftovers that would only be a half serving I now put them straight into a container and into the freezer. When I have enough for two people we have a pot luck takeaway night. I heat them in the microwave and put the containers on the table. Everyone helps themselves, having a little bit of everything. No more waste and no more grumbles about waiting for dinner or boring dinners. Best of all, as this has become our "takeaway" we are saving money - I put $20 into our Emergency Fund every time we have potluck takeaway instead of spending it on fast food.
Contributed by Julie
Potluck Takeaway
Instead of throwing away little bits of leftovers that would only be a half serving I now put them straight into a container and into the freezer. When I have enough for two people we have a pot luck takeaway night. I heat them in the microwave and put the containers on the table. Everyone helps themselves, having a little bit of everything. No more waste and no more grumbles about waiting for dinner or boring dinners. Best of all, as this has become our "takeaway" we are saving money - I put $20 into our Emergency Fund every time we have potluck takeaway instead of spending it on fast food.
Contributed by Julie
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
White Choc Cornflake Squares
Ingredients:
60g butter
300g marshmallows
125g white choc chips
3 tbsp milk powder
5 cups cornflakes
Method:
Line a 20cm square cake tin with baking paper.
Melt the butter in a large saucepan over low heat. Add marshmallows and chocolate, cook 7 minutes or until mixture melts, stirring constantly. Sprinkle the milk powder evenly over the mixture, then add the corn flakes and stir until all are well coated.
Press mixture in pan and press down to an even, compact layer.
Allow to cool at room temperature for 30 minutes before cutting into squares.
This week we will be eating:
Sunday: Roast Lamb
Monday: Lamb wraps
Tuesday: Vegetable lasagne, salad, garlic bread
Wednesday: Curried Tuna Slice, salad
Thursday: MOO Pizza
Friday: Corn Fritters & salad
Saturday: Enchiladas
In the fruit bowl: Lemons, bananas, grapes
In the cake tin: Lemon Coconut Slice
There are over 1,600 other great money saving meal ideas in the Recipe File.
5. The $300 a Month Food Challenge
A Really Tasty, Really Simple Pasta Sauce
It's MOO Month, and what nicer thing to MOO than a delicious pasta sauce that you can use for spaghetti, lasagne, on pizzas and for dipping - it's versatile. This is my go to pasta sauce and I make lots of it every summer.
After a week of cooking, there is now enough pasta sauce in the freezer to last us a year! Without tomatoes in the garden this year, I've had to buy some to add to some a friend blessed us with. I was able to get them for $8 a box, cheap enough to let me cook up our favourite pasta sauce.
Using the slow cooker and the pressure cooker, I was able to make 40 litres of delicious pasta sauce for a total cost of $19, around the price of 8 jars of bought pasta sauce (although the price varies hugely - up to $4.60 for a 500ml jar!).
The recipe I used is below, a bulk version of my Sensational, Simple Homemade Pasta Sauce. It's for a six-litre slow cooker and you will end up with around five litres of pasta sauce.
Bulk Sensational, Simple Homemade Pasta Sauce
Ingredients:
3 kg tomatoes, peeled and roughly chopped*
1/2 cup olive oil
3 tbsp crushed garlic
3 tbsp crushed basil
3 tbsp oregano
3 tsp salt
Method:
Heat the oil in the bottom of the crock pot and sauté the garlic until it is golden. Add the tomatoes, basil and oregano and stir. Put the lid on and cook on HIGH for 8 - 10 hours*. Stir. If the sauce is thick and rich, it is done. If not cook for another 30 minutes and stir again. Let the sauce cool. Use a stick blender or food processor to puree the sauce. Portion it into sterilised, saved jars, freezer containers or zip lock bags and freeze.* *
This makes the equivalent of 4 jars of commercial pasta sauce. The cooking time will depend solely on your slow cooker. Newer slow cookers are actually very fast compared to the original models, so watch your sauce and when it reaches the consistency you like it's ready.
I use this sauce as the base for other pasta sauces, adding additional seasonings depending on the recipe. It also makes a lovely pizza sauce and is delicious with just a sprinkling of mozzarella and grated parmesan cheese.
Notes:
*Cooking time will depend on the tomatoes - sometimes they are really juicy, sometimes not - and your slow cooker. Modern slow cookers cook a little faster than the older models. When the tomatoes have cooked down and the sauce is thick enough to stick to your spoon it is done.
**Storing: I bag in two cup lots in ziplock bags and freeze. You can bottle the sauce and process in a hot water bath if you prefer shelf safe storage.
The $300 a Month Food Challenge
The Post that Started it All
6. Cheapskates Buzz
Most popular forum posts this week
Messy Cupboards
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?3721-Messy-Cupboards
The 2018 No Spending Month Challenge
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?3712-The-2018-No-Spending-Month-Challenge
Life on the Farm
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?3586-Life-on-the-farm
Most popular blog posts this week
MOO Egg Substitutes
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2014/09/moo-egg-substitutes.html
MOO Monday: Raspberry Cordial
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2014/09/moo-monday-raspberry-cordial.html
Oh So Easy MOO Banana Ice Cream
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2014/08/oh-so-easy-moo-banana-ice-cream.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 pri_mukh.
My 2018 Saving Revolution Continues
Alright, so until now - I have been able to somewhat get my husband on board towards saving. He still has his moments and needs a bit of nudge now and then but the fact that he has started, is what makes me proud. The other day we were doing grocery shopping and he didn't have breakfast. He was hungry, but he didn't buy breakfast, instead he had a couple of bananas that we had bought from Aldi. His words "when you are making so much effort, I need to contribute too". This made me smile.
Filing - I am horrible at it. Frankly speaking I find it boring but I do agree that it is a very important task too. This is where my husband comes in handy. He is good at it and files all the important documents like the insurance papers, bills etc.
My no spend month is going OK, but I am a bit out of my budget. I am going abroad to meet family in the next couple of weeks so had to buy some expensive gifts for my mom, mil and my sissy. They all helped me out big time when I had my bubba and I felt that they deserve something beautiful as a thank you gesture from my side. I bought each of them a beautiful pair of diamond earrings - there goes $350. However, like Cath always says, "by giving up on things that are not important and spending on what is important", this was important to me - family. I also invested $650 on a very good quality doona. Winter is very harsh in Melbourne and it shoots up my electricity bill as well as my eczema, so I am trying to see if I can use less heater during winter, thus saving me money on electricity and on health. I also serviced the gas heaters in my house. I figured that the technicians will start charging a lot more come winter. I had to shop around a little bit and from $360, I could find a technician to do the same job for $200.
Hubby got all emotional on Valentine's Day and ended up buying me a Swatch watch for $150 (I went online and googled it. I know, I know I am not supposed to check the price of a gift, but I couldn't resist myself from checking how much he spent on a no spend month) plus a decent dinner in a restaurant so that was that.
I just bought a high chair for my little one. I found a used, branded high chair (Love n Care) in a great condition. The exact same chair costs $200 in the market. I paid only $30 for it. The chair belonged to a grandma who bought it for her grandchildren, so it was rarely used and is in a great condition. I also bought a used potty pan for my bub. The owner generously gave it for free. I figured at the end of the day who cares if it is done on a new or a used one (lol). I also sold some of my stuff that was lying around my house and earned a total of $45 so I was in profit at the end of the day.
I have started doing grocery shopping in cash and I am amazed how I have managed to already bring my grocery bill down. Keeping up with not doing grocery shopping challenge this week, I didn’t do any grocery shopping. However, I had to buy some veggies for my baby's food and some breakfast items as there was nothing left. I checked my freezer and found there was way too much chicken stocked in there and some fish (about which I had forgot). The aubergines/brinjal from my veggie garden will serve me another dish and I had some leftover dishes from previous week. So, with all these, we will sail through this week. Yay.
I have also started to track my spending. I was extremely horrible at it but now that I do it, I have started to realise where my money is seeping through. It was hard the first few weeks to really sit with my credit card spend and my debit card spend, but once I got the hang of it, it really doesn't take much time. I have set up a reminder on my phone for it every Friday. At the end of the week I sit and track my spending.
I have started to search for a good and affordable childcare centre in my area. Childcare is very expensive and will eat about half of my savings. However, it is also important that my baby is in a safe and caring environment, so I am not worrying that she is well looked after. I have been asking other moms in my area about it and have signed up in a few Facebook groups trying to find a good childcare centre. I had a mom recommend me a childcare that her daughter goes to and is slightly cheaper. She mentioned that she loves it and cannot fault the staff there. With that in mind I have booked an inspection next week. Fingers crossed it will be the one.
This week I have also opened a savings account for my daughter's marriage although she is only 7 months old (lol). I figured $10/week is not a lot of money, however 20 years down the line I will have a lump sum. My daughter may not ask for it, but I need to be prepared. I had already set up her education fund even before she was born. My next aim is to really build my Emergency Fund as soon as possible.
I have started to MOO some items as well. I MOOed Cheapskate Washing Powder but had to buy special sensitive skin laundry for my baby (as she has also got eczema from me). I found tomatoes were cheap the other day. So, I picked a couple of bags, prepared tomato puree and stored in the freezer - to use when the tomato prices shoot up. I also MOOed some dried herbs - Thai and Italian basil. I never buy cleaning products anyways. Baking soda and vinegar are my friends. I thought I will buy some probiotics for myself, but a bottle of tablets was for $50 at Chemist warehouse. I said goodbye to it and went to Coles. Picked up a Probiotic yoghurt for $3.50 instead.
I still have a long way to go but hopefully with some careful planning I will be there soon.
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8. This Week's Question
Carly writes
"We've been invited to my cousin's wedding in April, and while we're thrilled for him and would love to attend, it's in a country town about 4 hours from home. That means we'd need to stay overnight at a motel. Add that on top of a gift that I've been told the value of which should equal the cost of the meal and going to this wedding is way out of our budget. I've been reading the Forum and we can't afford to buy a gift of the expected value and pay for overnight accommodation. Any ideas how we can attend the wedding, with a gift, on a budget, or alternatively, send an inability to attend that won't upset the family? Thanks in advance for the advice and suggestions."
Do you have the answer?
If you have a suggestion or idea for Carly 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
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.
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?
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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
12. Contact Details
The Cheapskates Club -
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