Your Cheapskates Club Newsletter 10:23
In This Newsletter
1. Cath's Corner - Don't stop preparing!
2. From the Tip Store - Just Keep on Peeling; No Ice Needed; Free Apples and a Wonderful Story
3. Tip of the Week - MOO Cheap & Healthy Dog Treats
4. MOO Month - Share your favourite MOO and win!
5. On the Menu - Beef & Black Bean Oven Nachos
6. The $300 a Month Food Challenge - MOOing Saves Money
7. The Weekly MOO Challenge - MOO No Rinse Mould and Mildew Cleaner
8. Cheapskates Buzz
9. The Cheapskates Club Show
10. Handmade Christmas - Christmas Cards
11. Join the Cheapskates Club
12. Frequently Asked Questions
13. Contact Details
1. Cath's Corner
Hello Cheapskaters,
What a week it has been! This is a hard message to write, but I think it's important.
There is so much happening in the world that every day I thank God that disaster struck us all those years ago and opened our eyes to the need to prepare and be prepared.
We have Cheapskaters in the UK who go to the grocery store, and there's nothing to buy. Or what is available is a different brand to their usual and in short supply, or the quality is dubious. Or they are limited to three packs of fresh fruit and vegetables.
Can you imagine not being able to just go to the supermarket and toss some tomatoes, and a cucumber and a bag of potatoes and a cabbage and a bunch of silverbeet and a piece of pumpkin and some apples and oranges and a bunch of bananas in the trolley, oh and the grapes look especially nice so you add a bag of them too?
We are especially blessed to live in Australia. Yes, we are seeing shortages and inflation is hitting everyone hard, but we have time on our side, time to prepare.
We have the ideal climate to grow at least some of what we eat regardless of where we live in this great land; supermarkets as a rule don't have limits on what we can buy, and prices, while high, aren't so high that we simply can't afford food as is happening in other parts of the world.
So we should be preparing. Don't wait until those things disappear to start to worry about the empty pantry and nothing edible growing in the garden. It will be too late.
No, I'm not fear mongering.
I'm speaking and writing from experience. Twenty eight and a half years ago disaster struck us. We had no income. No savings. A mortgage (and if you think your interest rate is high, try paying 18%). Children to care for. And we didn't have a full pantry, or even a partly full pantry.
Maybe whatever has caused the crisis in the UK won't cause a crisis here. But what about sudden unemployment? Or long-term illness? Or another weather catrophsophe? Or another year of continual interest rate rises? An unexpected home repair? Or car repair?
Disaster can happen to anyone, any time. What makes it less stressful and less of a disaster and more of a hiccup, is how prepared you are.
Don't stop stocking your pantry. Don’t stop planting seeds and growing food. Don't stop learning new skills. Don't stop preparing.
If anything I've said has frightened you, it wasn't meant to. But think for a moment and ask yourself why you're scared, then do something about it.
If you need inspiration, or ideas, or motivation or support, you'll find it all and more at the Cheapskates Club.
Have a great week everyone, and don't stop preparing.
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
Just Keep on Peeling
If I am peeling potatoes for a meal I often peel a couple extra doesn't make much difference but comes in handy for making fish patties the next day.
Contributed by Lisa
Editor's note: I often do this, especially if I know I am going to be flat chat the following day. Potatoes, sweet potato,pumpkin, parsnip and onion all keep well in a dish of water in the fridge for 24 hours. I also do this when we are camping, vacuum packing the peeled veggies in meal lots. They keep for around 7 days in the fridge if they are vacuumed packed, saving a lot of time, water and mess. Cath
No Ice Needed
When going camping I pre-make the evening meals and freeze them in containers. When frozen I pop them out and then vacuum seal and keep frozen till the trip. These frozen meals act like ice bricks in the esky, keeping other food cool. And if you need to top up with a bit of ice near the end of the trip the food won't spoil by absorbing any water.
Contributed by Julie
Editor's note: I do this too, with the added advantage of being able to heat the meal in the bag, saving on washing up when water can often be scarce. I have also made freezer blocks by putting 2cm water in the bottom of 2 litre ice-cream containers and freezing, then vacuum seal the ice-block and store flat in the freezer. Because they're vacuum sealed, they can be thawed and frozen over and over, just remember to keep them flat. Cath
Free Apples and a Wonderful Story
On a recent trip to Tassie on our way to our camping spot I spied the largest apple tree on the side of the road just laden with fruit. I told hubby on our way home we could gather boxes of apples to cook and freeze. So as we were leaving, armed with several boxes, we stopped at the old tree. When we arrived there was an elderly couple also picking the fruit; we got to talking as we all picked and the lady told us that the tree was called Nellie after her best friend who died 25 years ago. Every year her and her friend would pick the apples for both their families. She now comes with her husband to pick the apples for the year ahead. We shared a cuppa and cake with this wonderful couple as they told us all the history of the Fingal Valley and as children how they had all climbed Nellie the apple tree. By stopping to pick the free apples we will save approximately $200 this year by freezing for crumble and pies and making fruit chutney. The lady said we all should keep our eyes open as there are always fruit trees growing wild with fruit to be had for free. But most of all I feel richer than the $200 we have saved for having met such a wonderful couple that shared our day and told us their stories. We have arranged to keep in touch and meet at Nellie next year when we go back to Tassie.
Contributed by Carol
There are more than 12,000 great tips in the Tip Store
Add a Tip
3. MOO Tip of the Week
This week's winning tip is from Deanna Darling has won a one year Platinum Cheapskates Club membership and a $25 Coles Myer gift card for submitting her winning MOO.
MOO Cheap & Healthy Dog TreatsAfter losing my young dog to cancer I am very aware how I feed my new dog, preferring to feed her natural and unprocessed foods. Dried Kangaroo strips from the pet store cost around $10-15 for about 5 small strips. Using a food dehydrator ($39 from Aldi) I dry strips of kangaroo muscle available from the market for $10 p/kg. Each kilo gives you about 1/2 kg of dry strips so I make 2 kg at a time. I also have successfully dried chicken breast and Basa fish which I often find on clearance in the deli section for around $6 p/kg. All the dogs love it and I know it has no nasty fillers and additives. Best kept in fridge for 3 weeks or freeze it.
Congratulations Deanna, I hope you enjoy your Cheapskates Club membership.
Do you have a fabulous MOO tip?
The share it and you could win a one year Cheapskates Club membership and a $25 Coles Myer gift card!
The Cheapskate's Club website is thousands of pages of money saving hints, tips and ideas. There are over 12,000 tips to save you money, time and energy; 1,600 budget and family friendly recipes, hundreds of printable tip sheets and ebooks.
Let's get together and make the Cheapskates Club Australia's largest online hint, tip and idea library. Share your favourite money saving, time saving or energy saving hint and be in the running to win a one-year membership to The Cheapskate Club.
Share Your Tip
4. March is MOO Month
MOO stands for "Make Our Own".
This month I am challenging you to make your own - yoghurt, washing powder, moisturiser, pancakes, pizza, liquid hand soap, dishwasher powder, pasta sauce, compost, glue, icy poles, lemonade, biscuits, cakes, cordial, apple pie, dishcloths, veggie bags, window cleaner - absolutely anything you can think of.
When you make your own you have the advantage of knowing exactly what goes into it. You can monitor the ingredients and materials and adjust them to suit yourself, your family, your home, your lifestyle and your budget.
The article "31 Days of MOO" explains the challenge and is chock full of things you can make yourself.
https://www.cheapskatesclub.net/31-days-of-moo-index.html
Share what you make yourself, how you make it and how it saves you money, time and energy. One lucky MOOer will win a one-year membership to the Cheapskates Club and a $25 Coles Myer gift card, just for sharing their MOO. Use this form to share your MOO and enter the MOOing competition.
https://www.cheapskatesclub.net/top-tip-competition.html
Good luck and happy MOOing!
5. On The Menu
Beef & Black Bean Oven Nachos
Ingredients:
500g mince
1/2 small onion
1 tbsp taco seasoning**
1 can black beans***
Salt and pepper
1 pkt corn chips*
1-1/2 cups grated cheese
200ml sour cream
200ml guacamole
Method:
Preheat oven to 200 degrees Celsius.
Brown the mince and drain. Return to frying pan and add the diced onion and taco seasoning. Cook for 3 - 4 minutes until onion is cooked. Mix in the black beans and toss for a minute or two over low heat, then remove from heat. Season mixture with salt and pepper to taste.
Add the corn chips to the base of a 7×11 or 9×9-inch baking dish. Add the beef-bean mixture over the top and then add the shredded cheese on top.
Bake in the preheated oven for 10-15 minutes, or until cheese has melted through. Top with dollops of sour cream and guacamole or other favourite nacho toppings.
*Use pita chips instead of corn chips. They're cheaper (MOOed of course) and healthier. Season them with garlic before baking for extra flavour.
** MOO Taco Seasoning to keep costs down. MOOing taco seasoning will save you 80% on the cost of buying the packets.
***No black beans? No problem - use a tin of baked beans in tomato sauce. They're just as good and readily available, you probably have a can in your pantry, just waiting to be used.
Next week we will be eating:
Sunday: Roast Chicken
Monday: Beef & Black Bean Oven Nachos
Tuesday: Spag bol & salad
Wednesday: Chicken & vegetable stir fry
Thursday: MOO Pizza
Friday: Fish, Potato Gems, coleslaw
Saturday: Meatball subs
There are over 1,800 budget and family friendly recipes in the Cheapskates Club Recipe File, all contributed by your fellow Cheapskates, so you know they're good.
Add A Recipe
Recipe File Index
6. The $300 a Month Food Challenge
Hello Cheapskaters,
Its MOO month.
MOOing saves money, time and energy - not that we are encouraged to MOO. When we MOO needs we empower ourselves. We become self-sufficient and self-reliant. We cause supermarkets and department stores to panic - they don't want us MOOing, they want us in their stores buying whatever they tell us too, spending way more money than we need to on things we often don't need or really want.
So what do you MOO? What can you MOO?
I MOO so many things it's habit and I often don't realise it. I MOO:
Jam
Pickles
Sauces
Pasta
Cakes
Biscuits
Pastry
Spice mixes
Herb mixes
Cheese
Yoghurt
Soups
Cleaners
Soap
Laundry powder
That's just what I could think of, off the top of my head. I don't think of what I do or make as MOOing, because it's just habit.
When we need something, or want something, the first question I ask myself is can I MOO it? And most of the time the answer is yes, and we get to keep the money in our savings account.
What can you MOO this week? Something off my list? Or something from the MOO Archives? Or perhaps something that you need but have never thought of MOOing before?
Whatever it is, give it ago. Try to MOO at least one thing this coming week and see not only how satisfying it is, but how much money you save.
The $300 a Month Food Challenge Forum
The Post that Started it All
7. The Weekly MOO Challenge
MOO No Rinse Mould and Mildew Cleaner
Here's today's MOO Month suggestion (they are all listed on our website, and a new one is added every day). I love this stuff, and use it on our outdoor furniture and camping furniture to keep it clean. When our kids were small and had their little plastic ride-ons, I used it on those too when we brought them out of storage in the spring.
MOO No Rinse Mould and Mildew CleanerThis mixture will clean mould and mildew, kill spores and prevent it from coming back. And it's no rinse! It is perfect for the fridge and freezer (especially the seals), bathroom tiles, window sills, plastic outdoor furniture, and kids toys.
Ingredients:
5 litres hot water
1 cup clear ammonia
1/2 cup white vinegar
1/4 cup bicarbonate soda
Pour into a spray bottle or into a bowl and use a sponge or microfibre cloth to apply to surfaces. This is a no rinse solution that acts as a degreaser and prevents mould and mildew from reoccurring.
I mix it in a bucket and make a full batch then we have a cleaning bee. You can halve the recipe to clean smaller items.
It will keep for about a week, giving you plenty of time to find things to clean.
Get in on the fun and discussions here.
8. Cheapskates BuzzFrom The Article Archive
A Twist on MOOing
31 Days of MOO 2023
Latest Tips
MOO Dawn Power Wash
Essential Air Fresheners
MOO Cheap & Healthy Dog Treats
9. The Cheapskates Club Show
Join Cath and Hannah live Tuesdays and Thursdays on You Tube at 7.30pm AET
Latest Shows
1. Cath's Corner - Don't stop preparing!
2. From the Tip Store - Just Keep on Peeling; No Ice Needed; Free Apples and a Wonderful Story
3. Tip of the Week - MOO Cheap & Healthy Dog Treats
4. MOO Month - Share your favourite MOO and win!
5. On the Menu - Beef & Black Bean Oven Nachos
6. The $300 a Month Food Challenge - MOOing Saves Money
7. The Weekly MOO Challenge - MOO No Rinse Mould and Mildew Cleaner
8. Cheapskates Buzz
9. The Cheapskates Club Show
10. Handmade Christmas - Christmas Cards
11. Join the Cheapskates Club
12. Frequently Asked Questions
13. Contact Details
1. Cath's Corner
Hello Cheapskaters,
What a week it has been! This is a hard message to write, but I think it's important.
There is so much happening in the world that every day I thank God that disaster struck us all those years ago and opened our eyes to the need to prepare and be prepared.
We have Cheapskaters in the UK who go to the grocery store, and there's nothing to buy. Or what is available is a different brand to their usual and in short supply, or the quality is dubious. Or they are limited to three packs of fresh fruit and vegetables.
Can you imagine not being able to just go to the supermarket and toss some tomatoes, and a cucumber and a bag of potatoes and a cabbage and a bunch of silverbeet and a piece of pumpkin and some apples and oranges and a bunch of bananas in the trolley, oh and the grapes look especially nice so you add a bag of them too?
We are especially blessed to live in Australia. Yes, we are seeing shortages and inflation is hitting everyone hard, but we have time on our side, time to prepare.
We have the ideal climate to grow at least some of what we eat regardless of where we live in this great land; supermarkets as a rule don't have limits on what we can buy, and prices, while high, aren't so high that we simply can't afford food as is happening in other parts of the world.
So we should be preparing. Don't wait until those things disappear to start to worry about the empty pantry and nothing edible growing in the garden. It will be too late.
No, I'm not fear mongering.
I'm speaking and writing from experience. Twenty eight and a half years ago disaster struck us. We had no income. No savings. A mortgage (and if you think your interest rate is high, try paying 18%). Children to care for. And we didn't have a full pantry, or even a partly full pantry.
Maybe whatever has caused the crisis in the UK won't cause a crisis here. But what about sudden unemployment? Or long-term illness? Or another weather catrophsophe? Or another year of continual interest rate rises? An unexpected home repair? Or car repair?
Disaster can happen to anyone, any time. What makes it less stressful and less of a disaster and more of a hiccup, is how prepared you are.
Don't stop stocking your pantry. Don’t stop planting seeds and growing food. Don't stop learning new skills. Don't stop preparing.
If anything I've said has frightened you, it wasn't meant to. But think for a moment and ask yourself why you're scared, then do something about it.
If you need inspiration, or ideas, or motivation or support, you'll find it all and more at the Cheapskates Club.
Have a great week everyone, and don't stop preparing.
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
Just Keep on Peeling
If I am peeling potatoes for a meal I often peel a couple extra doesn't make much difference but comes in handy for making fish patties the next day.
Contributed by Lisa
Editor's note: I often do this, especially if I know I am going to be flat chat the following day. Potatoes, sweet potato,pumpkin, parsnip and onion all keep well in a dish of water in the fridge for 24 hours. I also do this when we are camping, vacuum packing the peeled veggies in meal lots. They keep for around 7 days in the fridge if they are vacuumed packed, saving a lot of time, water and mess. Cath
No Ice Needed
When going camping I pre-make the evening meals and freeze them in containers. When frozen I pop them out and then vacuum seal and keep frozen till the trip. These frozen meals act like ice bricks in the esky, keeping other food cool. And if you need to top up with a bit of ice near the end of the trip the food won't spoil by absorbing any water.
Contributed by Julie
Editor's note: I do this too, with the added advantage of being able to heat the meal in the bag, saving on washing up when water can often be scarce. I have also made freezer blocks by putting 2cm water in the bottom of 2 litre ice-cream containers and freezing, then vacuum seal the ice-block and store flat in the freezer. Because they're vacuum sealed, they can be thawed and frozen over and over, just remember to keep them flat. Cath
Free Apples and a Wonderful Story
On a recent trip to Tassie on our way to our camping spot I spied the largest apple tree on the side of the road just laden with fruit. I told hubby on our way home we could gather boxes of apples to cook and freeze. So as we were leaving, armed with several boxes, we stopped at the old tree. When we arrived there was an elderly couple also picking the fruit; we got to talking as we all picked and the lady told us that the tree was called Nellie after her best friend who died 25 years ago. Every year her and her friend would pick the apples for both their families. She now comes with her husband to pick the apples for the year ahead. We shared a cuppa and cake with this wonderful couple as they told us all the history of the Fingal Valley and as children how they had all climbed Nellie the apple tree. By stopping to pick the free apples we will save approximately $200 this year by freezing for crumble and pies and making fruit chutney. The lady said we all should keep our eyes open as there are always fruit trees growing wild with fruit to be had for free. But most of all I feel richer than the $200 we have saved for having met such a wonderful couple that shared our day and told us their stories. We have arranged to keep in touch and meet at Nellie next year when we go back to Tassie.
Contributed by Carol
There are more than 12,000 great tips in the Tip Store
Add a Tip
3. MOO Tip of the Week
This week's winning tip is from Deanna Darling has won a one year Platinum Cheapskates Club membership and a $25 Coles Myer gift card for submitting her winning MOO.
MOO Cheap & Healthy Dog TreatsAfter losing my young dog to cancer I am very aware how I feed my new dog, preferring to feed her natural and unprocessed foods. Dried Kangaroo strips from the pet store cost around $10-15 for about 5 small strips. Using a food dehydrator ($39 from Aldi) I dry strips of kangaroo muscle available from the market for $10 p/kg. Each kilo gives you about 1/2 kg of dry strips so I make 2 kg at a time. I also have successfully dried chicken breast and Basa fish which I often find on clearance in the deli section for around $6 p/kg. All the dogs love it and I know it has no nasty fillers and additives. Best kept in fridge for 3 weeks or freeze it.
Congratulations Deanna, I hope you enjoy your Cheapskates Club membership.
Do you have a fabulous MOO tip?
The share it and you could win a one year Cheapskates Club membership and a $25 Coles Myer gift card!
The Cheapskate's Club website is thousands of pages of money saving hints, tips and ideas. There are over 12,000 tips to save you money, time and energy; 1,600 budget and family friendly recipes, hundreds of printable tip sheets and ebooks.
Let's get together and make the Cheapskates Club Australia's largest online hint, tip and idea library. Share your favourite money saving, time saving or energy saving hint and be in the running to win a one-year membership to The Cheapskate Club.
Share Your Tip
4. March is MOO Month
MOO stands for "Make Our Own".
This month I am challenging you to make your own - yoghurt, washing powder, moisturiser, pancakes, pizza, liquid hand soap, dishwasher powder, pasta sauce, compost, glue, icy poles, lemonade, biscuits, cakes, cordial, apple pie, dishcloths, veggie bags, window cleaner - absolutely anything you can think of.
When you make your own you have the advantage of knowing exactly what goes into it. You can monitor the ingredients and materials and adjust them to suit yourself, your family, your home, your lifestyle and your budget.
The article "31 Days of MOO" explains the challenge and is chock full of things you can make yourself.
https://www.cheapskatesclub.net/31-days-of-moo-index.html
Share what you make yourself, how you make it and how it saves you money, time and energy. One lucky MOOer will win a one-year membership to the Cheapskates Club and a $25 Coles Myer gift card, just for sharing their MOO. Use this form to share your MOO and enter the MOOing competition.
https://www.cheapskatesclub.net/top-tip-competition.html
Good luck and happy MOOing!
5. On The Menu
Beef & Black Bean Oven Nachos
Ingredients:
500g mince
1/2 small onion
1 tbsp taco seasoning**
1 can black beans***
Salt and pepper
1 pkt corn chips*
1-1/2 cups grated cheese
200ml sour cream
200ml guacamole
Method:
Preheat oven to 200 degrees Celsius.
Brown the mince and drain. Return to frying pan and add the diced onion and taco seasoning. Cook for 3 - 4 minutes until onion is cooked. Mix in the black beans and toss for a minute or two over low heat, then remove from heat. Season mixture with salt and pepper to taste.
Add the corn chips to the base of a 7×11 or 9×9-inch baking dish. Add the beef-bean mixture over the top and then add the shredded cheese on top.
Bake in the preheated oven for 10-15 minutes, or until cheese has melted through. Top with dollops of sour cream and guacamole or other favourite nacho toppings.
*Use pita chips instead of corn chips. They're cheaper (MOOed of course) and healthier. Season them with garlic before baking for extra flavour.
** MOO Taco Seasoning to keep costs down. MOOing taco seasoning will save you 80% on the cost of buying the packets.
***No black beans? No problem - use a tin of baked beans in tomato sauce. They're just as good and readily available, you probably have a can in your pantry, just waiting to be used.
Next week we will be eating:
Sunday: Roast Chicken
Monday: Beef & Black Bean Oven Nachos
Tuesday: Spag bol & salad
Wednesday: Chicken & vegetable stir fry
Thursday: MOO Pizza
Friday: Fish, Potato Gems, coleslaw
Saturday: Meatball subs
There are over 1,800 budget and family friendly recipes in the Cheapskates Club Recipe File, all contributed by your fellow Cheapskates, so you know they're good.
Add A Recipe
Recipe File Index
6. The $300 a Month Food Challenge
Hello Cheapskaters,
Its MOO month.
MOOing saves money, time and energy - not that we are encouraged to MOO. When we MOO needs we empower ourselves. We become self-sufficient and self-reliant. We cause supermarkets and department stores to panic - they don't want us MOOing, they want us in their stores buying whatever they tell us too, spending way more money than we need to on things we often don't need or really want.
So what do you MOO? What can you MOO?
I MOO so many things it's habit and I often don't realise it. I MOO:
Jam
Pickles
Sauces
Pasta
Cakes
Biscuits
Pastry
Spice mixes
Herb mixes
Cheese
Yoghurt
Soups
Cleaners
Soap
Laundry powder
That's just what I could think of, off the top of my head. I don't think of what I do or make as MOOing, because it's just habit.
When we need something, or want something, the first question I ask myself is can I MOO it? And most of the time the answer is yes, and we get to keep the money in our savings account.
What can you MOO this week? Something off my list? Or something from the MOO Archives? Or perhaps something that you need but have never thought of MOOing before?
Whatever it is, give it ago. Try to MOO at least one thing this coming week and see not only how satisfying it is, but how much money you save.
The $300 a Month Food Challenge Forum
The Post that Started it All
7. The Weekly MOO Challenge
MOO No Rinse Mould and Mildew Cleaner
Here's today's MOO Month suggestion (they are all listed on our website, and a new one is added every day). I love this stuff, and use it on our outdoor furniture and camping furniture to keep it clean. When our kids were small and had their little plastic ride-ons, I used it on those too when we brought them out of storage in the spring.
MOO No Rinse Mould and Mildew CleanerThis mixture will clean mould and mildew, kill spores and prevent it from coming back. And it's no rinse! It is perfect for the fridge and freezer (especially the seals), bathroom tiles, window sills, plastic outdoor furniture, and kids toys.
Ingredients:
5 litres hot water
1 cup clear ammonia
1/2 cup white vinegar
1/4 cup bicarbonate soda
Pour into a spray bottle or into a bowl and use a sponge or microfibre cloth to apply to surfaces. This is a no rinse solution that acts as a degreaser and prevents mould and mildew from reoccurring.
I mix it in a bucket and make a full batch then we have a cleaning bee. You can halve the recipe to clean smaller items.
It will keep for about a week, giving you plenty of time to find things to clean.
Get in on the fun and discussions here.
8. Cheapskates BuzzFrom The Article Archive
A Twist on MOOing
31 Days of MOO 2023
Latest Tips
MOO Dawn Power Wash
Essential Air Fresheners
MOO Cheap & Healthy Dog Treats
9. The Cheapskates Club Show
Join Cath and Hannah live Tuesdays and Thursdays on You Tube at 7.30pm AET
Latest Shows
Subscribe to our You Tube channel and never miss a show.
10. Handmade Christmas Challenge
Christmas Cards!
I know it's early but this past week I've been thinking about, planning and working on Christmas cards. I like to get them made ahead of time, ready to just stamp and send in November.
There are quite a few to make, for family, friends, the retirement village so getting a head start means no stress or panic closer to Christmas.
Taking my time to make the Christmas cards saves a lot of money too. Have you seen the price of beautiful Christmas cards? Not the $2 shop variety, but nice Christmas cards that, while they are mass produced, don't look like it?
In the newsagent, or even a department store individual Christmas cards cost anything from $4 up to $17.99! For one card!
I know I can make cards that are just as nice for a fraction of those prices, so I do.
I make birthday cards, and thank you cards and get well cards and right now I'm working on Easter cards too.
If you've thought about card making and thought you couldn't make cards, think again.
You don't need any expensive or even special equipment or materials. You just need an occasion and a few minutes and you'll create something beautiful for a few cents.
Here are some ideas to get you started (on Christmas and other cards).
Three Simple Christmas Cards
Get Crafty With Cards
Four Cards in 10 Minutes
Don't forget to check in for our Make It Monday show and tell over at Cheapskates Chatter, we'd love to see what you've made.
2023 Handmade Christmas
Handmade Christmas Central
The Handmade Christmas Forum
11. Join The Cheapskates Club
For just $20 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 for a full year.
That's unlimited 24/7 access to EVERYTHING in the Member's Centre!
Click here to join the Cheapskates Club today!
12. Frequently Asked Questions
How do I change my email address?
This one is easy. When you login to the Member's Centre just click on your name at the top of the page to go straight to your profile page where you can update your details, change your password and find your subscription details.
Not a Cheapskates Club member? Then please use the Changing Details form found here to update your email address.
How do I know when my membership should be renewed?
Memberships are active for one year from the date of joining. You will be sent a renewal reminder before your subscription is due to renew. You can also find your membership expiry date on your profile page.
When you login to the Member's Centre just click on your name to go straight to your profile page where you can will find your join date and your expiry date.
What will you do with my email address?
We never rent, trade or sell our email list to anyone for any reason whatsoever. You'll never get an unsolicited email from a stranger as a result of joining this list.
How did I get on this list?
The only way you can get onto our newsletter mailing list is to subscribe yourself. You either signed up to receive our Free Newsletter at our Cheapskates Club Web site or are a Platinum Cheapskates Club member.
13. Contact Cheapskates
The Cheapskates Club -
Showing you how to live life
debt free, cashed up and laughing!
PO Box 5077 Studfield Vic 3152
Contact Cheapskates
10. Handmade Christmas Challenge
Christmas Cards!
I know it's early but this past week I've been thinking about, planning and working on Christmas cards. I like to get them made ahead of time, ready to just stamp and send in November.
There are quite a few to make, for family, friends, the retirement village so getting a head start means no stress or panic closer to Christmas.
Taking my time to make the Christmas cards saves a lot of money too. Have you seen the price of beautiful Christmas cards? Not the $2 shop variety, but nice Christmas cards that, while they are mass produced, don't look like it?
In the newsagent, or even a department store individual Christmas cards cost anything from $4 up to $17.99! For one card!
I know I can make cards that are just as nice for a fraction of those prices, so I do.
I make birthday cards, and thank you cards and get well cards and right now I'm working on Easter cards too.
If you've thought about card making and thought you couldn't make cards, think again.
You don't need any expensive or even special equipment or materials. You just need an occasion and a few minutes and you'll create something beautiful for a few cents.
Here are some ideas to get you started (on Christmas and other cards).
Three Simple Christmas Cards
Get Crafty With Cards
Four Cards in 10 Minutes
Don't forget to check in for our Make It Monday show and tell over at Cheapskates Chatter, we'd love to see what you've made.
2023 Handmade Christmas
Handmade Christmas Central
The Handmade Christmas Forum
11. Join The Cheapskates Club
For just $20 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 for a full year.
That's unlimited 24/7 access to EVERYTHING in the Member's Centre!
Click here to join the Cheapskates Club today!
12. Frequently Asked Questions
How do I change my email address?
This one is easy. When you login to the Member's Centre just click on your name at the top of the page to go straight to your profile page where you can update your details, change your password and find your subscription details.
Not a Cheapskates Club member? Then please use the Changing Details form found here to update your email address.
How do I know when my membership should be renewed?
Memberships are active for one year from the date of joining. You will be sent a renewal reminder before your subscription is due to renew. You can also find your membership expiry date on your profile page.
When you login to the Member's Centre just click on your name to go straight to your profile page where you can will find your join date and your expiry date.
What will you do with my email address?
We never rent, trade or sell our email list to anyone for any reason whatsoever. You'll never get an unsolicited email from a stranger as a result of joining this list.
How did I get on this list?
The only way you can get onto our newsletter mailing list is to subscribe yourself. You either signed up to receive our Free Newsletter at our Cheapskates Club Web site or are a Platinum Cheapskates Club member.
13. Contact Cheapskates
The Cheapskates Club -
Showing you how to live life
debt free, cashed up and laughing!
PO Box 5077 Studfield Vic 3152
Contact Cheapskates