Your Cheapskates Club Newsletter 10:17
In this Newsletter1. Cath's Corner
2. In the Tip Store - Nifty Sticky Tape Starter; Brain Food; Make a Simple, Tasty Coleslaw Dressing
3. Cheapskate's Winning Tip - Know What You Have and What You Need for Peace of Mind
4. Share Your Tips
5. On the Menu - Greek Burgers
6. The $300 a Month Food Challenge - Guerrilla Grocery Shopping Part 6: Smart Shopping
7. Cheapskates Buzz - Cheapskaters are talking in the Forum and on Cath's blog
8. Member's Featured Blog - We're Moving the Goal Posts!
9. Last Week's Question - I need a nice way to say no to splitting the bill!
10. This Week's Question - Are there any single Cheapskaters out there? How do you live frugally?
11. Ask Cath
12. Join the Cheapskates Club
13. Frequently Asked Questions
14. Contact Details
1. Cath's CornerHello Cheapskaters,
Welcome my favourite time of year, and this week's newsletter.
I love autumn. Bright sunny days with light breezes, perfect for autumn cleaning, and crisp, cool nights, perfect for sleeping. Throw in a long weekend (here in Victoria), Easter and school holidays and for me it really is the best time of year.
Of course, being March, it's also MOO month. Some of you may already be following MOO month on our Facebook page, on the Cheapskates Club website and in the Member's Forum when we MOO we not only save money, time and energy, we learn new skills and choose what we eat, what we breathe, how we grow our gardens.
There are so many things we buy that can just as easily be made at home, often for much less than the cost of buying them. Since the end of WWII, and especially since the mid-sixties, when supermarkets began to take the place of corner grocers, we have been coerced into thinking that buying is better than making. It's not!
This month let's all take back the power of our grocery money and tell the big wigs at Coles, Woolworths and yes, these days even Aldi, that we don't want them deciding what food and brands we will buy - we want to make that decision ourselves and we'll do it by Making Our Own from basic ingredients that cost a lot less than those so-called convenience products!
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 StoreNifty Sticky Tape Starter
Always have trouble finding where the sticky tape ends on a roll? I use the plastic clip from any loaf of bread and put it on the sticky tape roll so I know where the tape on the roll has ended.
Contributed by Will Bow
Brain Food
For those of senior years, when time is more plentiful than money, may I suggest joining U3A (University of the Third Age) run by volunteers from all walks of life, eager to inform with thought-provoking and interesting courses and one-off talks on many, many topics in a warm, social environment. U3A is available in all capital cities, regional cities and towns all over Australia and the world. The annual membership fee is about $50 and for this you can join any course listed in the 60-odd page (Sydney) course book. Victoria, I am told has even more to offer. The only other thing you might have to contribute financially is a gold coin donation for a cuppa in the half-time break. But hey, this is also a social group with opportunities to expand your mind and your circle of friends.
Contributed by Lesley Thompson
Make a Simple, Tasty Coleslaw Dressing
Coleslaw dressing is quite expensive and only available in small squeeze bottles but I find that Coleway Real mayonnaise available from Aldi with a little cider or white wine vinegar mixed in to make it a bit runnier works a treat and is much more economical.
Contributed by Claire Sierakowski
There are currently more than 12,000 great tips in the Tip Store
3. Cheapskates Winning TipThis week's winning tip is from Ana Rajkovaca. Ana has won a one year Platinum Cheapskates Club membership for submitting her winning tip.
Know What You Have and What You Need for Peace of Mind
I finally cracked it six months ago, and went through my home decluttering, sorting and cleaning. It took a month to do the whole house. Since then I have saved so much money! I now know what I have, how much of it and where it is. I also know that buying something means finding a place for it and that is usually enough to change my mind! I have saved over $600 in the past five months due to knowing what I have and what I need!
Congratulations Ana, I hope you enjoy your Cheapskates Club membership.
The Cheapskate's Club website is over 2,000 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.
Enter your tip here
4. Submit your tipThe 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
5. On the MenuGreek Burgers
Ingredients:
500g mince
125g Feta cheese
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp minced garlic
1/4 cup Greek yogurt
2 tbsp grated cucumber
2 tbsp lemon juice
4 hamburger buns
2 tomatoes, sliced
Preheat the barbecue or frying pan. Combine the mince, feta cheese, 2 tbsp lemon juice, dried oregano, minced garlic and salt in a medium mixing bowl. Form into 4 patties. Place the patties on the barbecue plate or frying pan. Cook for 5 to 6 minutes per side, or until cooked through. In a small bowl, mix together the Greek yogurt, grated cucumber and 2 tbsp lemon juice. Serve Greek Burgers with sliced tomato and yogurt sauce.
This week we will be eating:
Sunday: Roast Chicken
Monday: Rissoles, vegetables, gravy
Tuesday: Spag bol
Wednesday: Chicken parmigiana, salad, french fries
Thursday: MOO Pizza
Friday: Stir-fry
Saturday: Muffin Surprise
In the fruit bowl: bananas
In the cake tin: Fruit cake, blueberry muffins
There are over 1,500 other great money saving meal ideas in the Recipe File
6. The $300 a Month Food ChallengeGuerrilla Grocery Shopping Part 6: Smart Shopping
We all want to get our money’s worth when we buy something, especially now. Supermarkets bombard us with advertising telling us they have the lowest prices, and then there are the bulk warehouses who tell us they have the lowest prices.
Who do you believe? Yourself!
When you are making up your shopping list check the prices against your price book and the store's online prices. Then, and only then, will you be able to determine just where the cheapest prices are.
For example Costco here in Melbourne sells bulk lots of toilet paper (it seems to be what they are famous for). It's Kleenex, 180 sheets on a roll and when I was there it was 50c a roll. Aldi sell the equivalent toilet paper, 260 sheets to a roll for just 33 cents. I know where my dollars are going.
Aldi has pure maple syrup at $6.99 for 250ml ($28.00 a litre). Costco sells pure maple syrup for just $14.99 a litre. Again, I know where my dollars will be going.
I realize that not everyone has access to Costco and Aldi. But most Australians have access to at least two supermarkets. Take five minutes, do your research, check your prices and buy where you get the most bang for your buck.
The $300 a Month Food Challenge
The Post that Started it All
7. Cheapskates BuzzMost popular forum posts this week
What Aussies Spend on Groceries!
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?3535-What-Aussies-Spend-on-Groceries!
Winter Veggies
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?3501-Winter-Veggies
What's in Your Food Stockpile?
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?3536-What-s-In-Your-Food-Stockpile
Most popular blog posts this week
Don't Send $200 at the Supermarket this Year
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2012/03/dont-spend-200-at-supermarket-this-year.html
Can You Feed a Family on a Budget with just a Few Ingredients? Yes, You Can!
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2011/04/can-you-feed-family-on-budget-with-just.html
How to Build Your Stockpile
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2015/09/how-to-build-your-stockpile.html
8. Members Featured BlogPlatinum 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 joyofquilting.
We're Moving the Goal Posts!
I liked this week's challenge, I like having goals but I don't usually do it formally, and have a written list. I'm pretty much a cash kind of person but do sometimes use a debit card. My goals for the rest of the year are basically finishing up things. We're in the process of doing up the ensuite at home and also ripping up the carpets and going back to polished boards. We're also trying to get the house at xxxx ready to rent. DH currently has a couple of cars he's restoring. All the projects are doable but we need to focus. I also have a few quilts that need finishing. We have to accept that we can't do everything ourselves anymore, I'm ready to pay to get work done, but DH is having a hard time getting used to the idea.
We're probably getting a new dishwasher though, ours hasn't worked for about six months and he's been trying to fix it, he's now agreed to pay for a service call and get a new one if it's not repairable. One thing off the list, only 99 to go.
This week I finished two charity quilt tops and will get others to quilt them.
My goal is also to reduce my craft stashes (one for cards and one for quilts) by actually really trying hard not to buy things that appeal but only to complete a project. Already I've become more confident in the card making with what I've learned from others on this site and the links PamelaG has posted and won't buy kits from Kazzaz again and I've been working that way with the quilt stash for a while now. Money saved on this can go to improving the grocery stockpile.
I thought I was a good cheapskate but it just keeps getting better doesn't it. This old dog is still learning new tricks.
Feeling happy!
Login to read more Cheapskates Club Member blogs
9. Last Week's QuestionLast week's question was from Judy who wrote
"I'm looking for advice on how to cope/manage/deal/put up with family and friends who automatically assume that when we go out we'll just split the bill evenly. I don't drink, not even tea or coffee, so I only ever ask for tap water. I also never have an entrée or a dessert, I just can't eat that much food. But when the bill comes it's automatically divided by three or four or however many of us there are. When I mention that I only had a main course and it cost however much I feel like such a scrooge and as though I'm putting a downer on the party. I am single, own my apartment (only because I've scrimped and gone without to pay for it) and have a reasonably well paying job. The problem is all my friends and family know this and don't seem to understand that I budget for my coffee or brunch or dinner. I just don't budget, and don't really want to budget, to cover everyone else's coffee or dinner or brunch. I don’t want to upset anyone, but I really can't afford to keep subsidising their lifestyle. Is there a nice, inoffensive way I can get this through to them?"
Kate Crawford answered
I'm on a limited budget, and find it best to be upfront. I just say I have x amount of money to spend, and if the bill is going to be split evenly between diners, could everyone please not spend more than that amount each. If people want to order more than that amount, then they are usually happy to pay for their extras. Most cafes and restaurants are happy to split bills into individual items if they are not too busy. Another idea is that when you are ordering, you can always ask for your items to go on a separate docket. On the plus side, it's got my friends thinking about budgeting for themselves, rather than just being consumers.
Lisa Norris answered
I would simply suggest that everyone goes Dutch. Each person only pays for their own order. That way each person only orders what they are willing to pay for. I have to do this for all outings, even my daughter's 21st. It removes the awkwardness from the occasion.
Helen Gee answered
Could you possibly leave the table first and go up and pay for your own, and then when the bill comes to the table, you could say "I've paid for mine - you lot can split that between you." After a couple of times, they might get the idea.
Brenda Conlon answered
Judy, sometimes the truth is the only way just stand up for yourself and say that you would like to pay for your meal separately as you don't have entree etc. If they don't like it don't go they are not true friends.
Claire Martin answered
After we were both medically retired from our jobs and struggling to survive on pensions (thank goodness for Cheapskates) we found ourselves in the same situation until one day we were so fed up with it that we just told our friends that unless we pay only for what we consume, we will no longer be joining them. There was almost an imperceptible sigh of relief as, on the quiet, another couple of people told us that they were also fed up with subsidising others. Yes, it certainly hurt at first that we couldn't join them on a regular basis, but really true friends will understand. So Judy, be courageous and make your point. There are many other ways of enjoying their company, perhaps no one else has thought of it because they are just so used to "going out". Perhaps you could suggest a nice picnic where it's BYO everything with perhaps one dish to share. That way, perhaps they'll start to appreciate the friendship that each of you bring to the group, rather than the dollar value that they spend. Whatever you do, we wish you the very best.
10. This Week's QuestionJoanne writes
"Are there any single Cheapskaters out there? I would be interested to hear your ideas for living frugally as a single, grocery shopping and saving."
Do you have the answer?
If you can help Joanne 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. Ask CathWe have lots of resources to help you as you live the Cheapskates way but if you didn't find the answer to your question in our extensive archives please just drop me a note with your question.
I read and answer all questions, either in an email to you, in my weekly newsletter, the monthly Journal or by creating blog posts and other resources to help you (and other Cheapskaters).
Ask Your Question
12. Join the Cheapskates ClubFor 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!
13. Frequently Asked QuestionsHow 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?
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14. Contact DetailsThe Cheapskates Club -
Showing you how to live life
debt free, cashed up and laughing!
PO Box 5077 Studfield Vic 3152
www.cheapskatesclub.net
2. In the Tip Store - Nifty Sticky Tape Starter; Brain Food; Make a Simple, Tasty Coleslaw Dressing
3. Cheapskate's Winning Tip - Know What You Have and What You Need for Peace of Mind
4. Share Your Tips
5. On the Menu - Greek Burgers
6. The $300 a Month Food Challenge - Guerrilla Grocery Shopping Part 6: Smart Shopping
7. Cheapskates Buzz - Cheapskaters are talking in the Forum and on Cath's blog
8. Member's Featured Blog - We're Moving the Goal Posts!
9. Last Week's Question - I need a nice way to say no to splitting the bill!
10. This Week's Question - Are there any single Cheapskaters out there? How do you live frugally?
11. Ask Cath
12. Join the Cheapskates Club
13. Frequently Asked Questions
14. Contact Details
1. Cath's CornerHello Cheapskaters,
Welcome my favourite time of year, and this week's newsletter.
I love autumn. Bright sunny days with light breezes, perfect for autumn cleaning, and crisp, cool nights, perfect for sleeping. Throw in a long weekend (here in Victoria), Easter and school holidays and for me it really is the best time of year.
Of course, being March, it's also MOO month. Some of you may already be following MOO month on our Facebook page, on the Cheapskates Club website and in the Member's Forum when we MOO we not only save money, time and energy, we learn new skills and choose what we eat, what we breathe, how we grow our gardens.
There are so many things we buy that can just as easily be made at home, often for much less than the cost of buying them. Since the end of WWII, and especially since the mid-sixties, when supermarkets began to take the place of corner grocers, we have been coerced into thinking that buying is better than making. It's not!
This month let's all take back the power of our grocery money and tell the big wigs at Coles, Woolworths and yes, these days even Aldi, that we don't want them deciding what food and brands we will buy - we want to make that decision ourselves and we'll do it by Making Our Own from basic ingredients that cost a lot less than those so-called convenience products!
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 StoreNifty Sticky Tape Starter
Always have trouble finding where the sticky tape ends on a roll? I use the plastic clip from any loaf of bread and put it on the sticky tape roll so I know where the tape on the roll has ended.
Contributed by Will Bow
Brain Food
For those of senior years, when time is more plentiful than money, may I suggest joining U3A (University of the Third Age) run by volunteers from all walks of life, eager to inform with thought-provoking and interesting courses and one-off talks on many, many topics in a warm, social environment. U3A is available in all capital cities, regional cities and towns all over Australia and the world. The annual membership fee is about $50 and for this you can join any course listed in the 60-odd page (Sydney) course book. Victoria, I am told has even more to offer. The only other thing you might have to contribute financially is a gold coin donation for a cuppa in the half-time break. But hey, this is also a social group with opportunities to expand your mind and your circle of friends.
Contributed by Lesley Thompson
Make a Simple, Tasty Coleslaw Dressing
Coleslaw dressing is quite expensive and only available in small squeeze bottles but I find that Coleway Real mayonnaise available from Aldi with a little cider or white wine vinegar mixed in to make it a bit runnier works a treat and is much more economical.
Contributed by Claire Sierakowski
There are currently more than 12,000 great tips in the Tip Store
3. Cheapskates Winning TipThis week's winning tip is from Ana Rajkovaca. Ana has won a one year Platinum Cheapskates Club membership for submitting her winning tip.
Know What You Have and What You Need for Peace of Mind
I finally cracked it six months ago, and went through my home decluttering, sorting and cleaning. It took a month to do the whole house. Since then I have saved so much money! I now know what I have, how much of it and where it is. I also know that buying something means finding a place for it and that is usually enough to change my mind! I have saved over $600 in the past five months due to knowing what I have and what I need!
Congratulations Ana, I hope you enjoy your Cheapskates Club membership.
The Cheapskate's Club website is over 2,000 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.
Enter your tip here
4. Submit your tipThe 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
5. On the MenuGreek Burgers
Ingredients:
500g mince
125g Feta cheese
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp minced garlic
1/4 cup Greek yogurt
2 tbsp grated cucumber
2 tbsp lemon juice
4 hamburger buns
2 tomatoes, sliced
Preheat the barbecue or frying pan. Combine the mince, feta cheese, 2 tbsp lemon juice, dried oregano, minced garlic and salt in a medium mixing bowl. Form into 4 patties. Place the patties on the barbecue plate or frying pan. Cook for 5 to 6 minutes per side, or until cooked through. In a small bowl, mix together the Greek yogurt, grated cucumber and 2 tbsp lemon juice. Serve Greek Burgers with sliced tomato and yogurt sauce.
This week we will be eating:
Sunday: Roast Chicken
Monday: Rissoles, vegetables, gravy
Tuesday: Spag bol
Wednesday: Chicken parmigiana, salad, french fries
Thursday: MOO Pizza
Friday: Stir-fry
Saturday: Muffin Surprise
In the fruit bowl: bananas
In the cake tin: Fruit cake, blueberry muffins
There are over 1,500 other great money saving meal ideas in the Recipe File
6. The $300 a Month Food ChallengeGuerrilla Grocery Shopping Part 6: Smart Shopping
We all want to get our money’s worth when we buy something, especially now. Supermarkets bombard us with advertising telling us they have the lowest prices, and then there are the bulk warehouses who tell us they have the lowest prices.
Who do you believe? Yourself!
When you are making up your shopping list check the prices against your price book and the store's online prices. Then, and only then, will you be able to determine just where the cheapest prices are.
For example Costco here in Melbourne sells bulk lots of toilet paper (it seems to be what they are famous for). It's Kleenex, 180 sheets on a roll and when I was there it was 50c a roll. Aldi sell the equivalent toilet paper, 260 sheets to a roll for just 33 cents. I know where my dollars are going.
Aldi has pure maple syrup at $6.99 for 250ml ($28.00 a litre). Costco sells pure maple syrup for just $14.99 a litre. Again, I know where my dollars will be going.
I realize that not everyone has access to Costco and Aldi. But most Australians have access to at least two supermarkets. Take five minutes, do your research, check your prices and buy where you get the most bang for your buck.
The $300 a Month Food Challenge
The Post that Started it All
7. Cheapskates BuzzMost popular forum posts this week
What Aussies Spend on Groceries!
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?3535-What-Aussies-Spend-on-Groceries!
Winter Veggies
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?3501-Winter-Veggies
What's in Your Food Stockpile?
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?3536-What-s-In-Your-Food-Stockpile
Most popular blog posts this week
Don't Send $200 at the Supermarket this Year
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2012/03/dont-spend-200-at-supermarket-this-year.html
Can You Feed a Family on a Budget with just a Few Ingredients? Yes, You Can!
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2011/04/can-you-feed-family-on-budget-with-just.html
How to Build Your Stockpile
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2015/09/how-to-build-your-stockpile.html
8. Members Featured BlogPlatinum 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 joyofquilting.
We're Moving the Goal Posts!
I liked this week's challenge, I like having goals but I don't usually do it formally, and have a written list. I'm pretty much a cash kind of person but do sometimes use a debit card. My goals for the rest of the year are basically finishing up things. We're in the process of doing up the ensuite at home and also ripping up the carpets and going back to polished boards. We're also trying to get the house at xxxx ready to rent. DH currently has a couple of cars he's restoring. All the projects are doable but we need to focus. I also have a few quilts that need finishing. We have to accept that we can't do everything ourselves anymore, I'm ready to pay to get work done, but DH is having a hard time getting used to the idea.
We're probably getting a new dishwasher though, ours hasn't worked for about six months and he's been trying to fix it, he's now agreed to pay for a service call and get a new one if it's not repairable. One thing off the list, only 99 to go.
This week I finished two charity quilt tops and will get others to quilt them.
My goal is also to reduce my craft stashes (one for cards and one for quilts) by actually really trying hard not to buy things that appeal but only to complete a project. Already I've become more confident in the card making with what I've learned from others on this site and the links PamelaG has posted and won't buy kits from Kazzaz again and I've been working that way with the quilt stash for a while now. Money saved on this can go to improving the grocery stockpile.
I thought I was a good cheapskate but it just keeps getting better doesn't it. This old dog is still learning new tricks.
Feeling happy!
Login to read more Cheapskates Club Member blogs
9. Last Week's QuestionLast week's question was from Judy who wrote
"I'm looking for advice on how to cope/manage/deal/put up with family and friends who automatically assume that when we go out we'll just split the bill evenly. I don't drink, not even tea or coffee, so I only ever ask for tap water. I also never have an entrée or a dessert, I just can't eat that much food. But when the bill comes it's automatically divided by three or four or however many of us there are. When I mention that I only had a main course and it cost however much I feel like such a scrooge and as though I'm putting a downer on the party. I am single, own my apartment (only because I've scrimped and gone without to pay for it) and have a reasonably well paying job. The problem is all my friends and family know this and don't seem to understand that I budget for my coffee or brunch or dinner. I just don't budget, and don't really want to budget, to cover everyone else's coffee or dinner or brunch. I don’t want to upset anyone, but I really can't afford to keep subsidising their lifestyle. Is there a nice, inoffensive way I can get this through to them?"
Kate Crawford answered
I'm on a limited budget, and find it best to be upfront. I just say I have x amount of money to spend, and if the bill is going to be split evenly between diners, could everyone please not spend more than that amount each. If people want to order more than that amount, then they are usually happy to pay for their extras. Most cafes and restaurants are happy to split bills into individual items if they are not too busy. Another idea is that when you are ordering, you can always ask for your items to go on a separate docket. On the plus side, it's got my friends thinking about budgeting for themselves, rather than just being consumers.
Lisa Norris answered
I would simply suggest that everyone goes Dutch. Each person only pays for their own order. That way each person only orders what they are willing to pay for. I have to do this for all outings, even my daughter's 21st. It removes the awkwardness from the occasion.
Helen Gee answered
Could you possibly leave the table first and go up and pay for your own, and then when the bill comes to the table, you could say "I've paid for mine - you lot can split that between you." After a couple of times, they might get the idea.
Brenda Conlon answered
Judy, sometimes the truth is the only way just stand up for yourself and say that you would like to pay for your meal separately as you don't have entree etc. If they don't like it don't go they are not true friends.
Claire Martin answered
After we were both medically retired from our jobs and struggling to survive on pensions (thank goodness for Cheapskates) we found ourselves in the same situation until one day we were so fed up with it that we just told our friends that unless we pay only for what we consume, we will no longer be joining them. There was almost an imperceptible sigh of relief as, on the quiet, another couple of people told us that they were also fed up with subsidising others. Yes, it certainly hurt at first that we couldn't join them on a regular basis, but really true friends will understand. So Judy, be courageous and make your point. There are many other ways of enjoying their company, perhaps no one else has thought of it because they are just so used to "going out". Perhaps you could suggest a nice picnic where it's BYO everything with perhaps one dish to share. That way, perhaps they'll start to appreciate the friendship that each of you bring to the group, rather than the dollar value that they spend. Whatever you do, we wish you the very best.
10. This Week's QuestionJoanne writes
"Are there any single Cheapskaters out there? I would be interested to hear your ideas for living frugally as a single, grocery shopping and saving."
Do you have the answer?
If you can help Joanne 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. Ask CathWe have lots of resources to help you as you live the Cheapskates way but if you didn't find the answer to your question in our extensive archives please just drop me a note with your question.
I read and answer all questions, either in an email to you, in my weekly newsletter, the monthly Journal or by creating blog posts and other resources to help you (and other Cheapskaters).
Ask Your Question
12. Join the Cheapskates ClubFor 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!
13. Frequently Asked QuestionsHow 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 DetailsThe Cheapskates Club -
Showing you how to live life
debt free, cashed up and laughing!
PO Box 5077 Studfield Vic 3152
www.cheapskatesclub.net