Your Cheapskates Club Newsletter: 15:15 Bright ideas to save you money
1. Cath's Corner
2. In the Tip Store - Urban Food Swaps, Have a Decorating Budget, More Perfume Savings
3. Cheapskate's Winning Tip - Finding Lost Soles
4. Submit Your Tip - Share your favourite tip for a chance to win
5. On the Menu with Anne - Breadcrumb Biscuits
6. The $300 a Month Food Challenge with Wendy - Food Shopping Day
7. Cheapskates Buzz - Cheapskaters are talking in the Forum and on Cath's blog
8. Member's Featured Blog - Grocery Spend Slashed!!
9. Last Week's Question - Does anyone have a recipe for coconut yoghurt?
10. This Week's Question - Ideas for using broken pots?
11. Join the Cheapskates Club
12. Gift Memberships
13. Frequently Asked Questions
14. Contact Details
1. Cath's Corner
Hello Cheapskaters,
I hope you've all had a lovely Easter. We had visitors for the weekend, and the house was full of beds on floors, bodies on chairs, lounges and the floor and a never ending supply of food and drinks; it was just wonderful. Our visitors left on Tuesday morning, and it took me all day to get used to the quiet house!
Work on the new website is progressing nicely, I'm hoping it will be ready early - wouldn't that be nice? I've roped in a few helpers so if we keep our heads down and fingers flying over the keyboards it may just happen.
We have a lot of new members, so for all of you who already know this, I apologise for going over it again. It seems that some members are sending emails to me, and then getting upset because I don't reply or they bounce back. The only way to contact me is to use the Contact Us form on the website. Platinum members can log in and use the Contact Cath form which comes straight to me. I'm sure you understand that I am just one person and there are thousands of you and since the A Current Affair story my inbox hasn't dropped under 300 unread emails. It takes time to answer your questions and I am working as fast as I can.
Winter seems to have hit Melbourne this week. I had to dig out a jumper and my winter slippers yesterday. It's been cold enough for soup, but the rain was a blessing, my garden is looking fresh and the plants appreciated the drink. I was almost tempted to put the heater on, then I looked at the weather forecast and decided to put on a heavier jumper and leave the heater off; we're back up in the 20's next week!
Have a great week everyone,
PS: Love our site? We love referrals! Send a note to your favourite newspapers, magazines, radio stations, TV stations, friends and relatives, and tell them about us!
PPS: You can read this newsletter and past copies on the website in the Newsletter Archive.
2. From The Tip Store
Urban Food Swaps
Approximate $ Savings: $50 a week
Growing your own food creates savings. There are always surpluses. Take your surplus to a local council food swap, and pick up some veggies in return. I have saved $50 a week in fruit and vegetable bills.
Contributed by Cath Lyons
Editor's note: I love food swaps, and not just for the amazing food I can get totally free! Every month I learn something new - it might be a better way to grow food or a new recipe or where to find more jars - and come away feeling blessed by the knowledge and generosity of other swappers. If your Council doesn't have a food swap group set up, be the impetus and ask about setting one up yourself. Cath
Have a Decorating Budget
I don't redecorate every year, or even every five years. We tend to buy quality furniture, soft furnishings and paint and decorate to last.
I do however like to freshen our home up with little touches here and there that bring it up to date décor-wise. And those little touches can cost a lot of money.
To cover the cost I've put a decorating category in our Spending Plan so that when I finally find the perfect lamp for the loungeroom the money will be in the Spending Plan and I won't need to rob another category or miss out because I don't have the cash.
I also have prices I won't go over and in fact go out of my way to try and beat. For instance I recently recovered our kitchen chairs and the bar stool in a blue and white check fabric - for the grand total of $2! I found a tablecloth in a blue and white check that I loved for $7 on clearance at Target. When I cut it up I had enough to cover the four chairs and the bar stool, with enough left over to make placemats and recover the chairs again twice if needed!
When Hannah wanted to redecorate her bedroom, curtains and drapes were going to be the biggest expense, until we found curtain fabric she loves on sale at Spotlight ($24 to cover her window) and two doona covers in the exact print she wanted that I used to make the drapes for $5 each!
We reused the existing rod and tracks and I very carefully unpicked the tape off the old drapes and re-used it on the new ones. Being doona covers I didn't need to line them and they were already double thickness.
So for the grand total of $34 she has beautiful new curtains that match her new bedroom decor beautifully.
Redecorating doesn't have to cost a fortune. Think outside the box, be a little creative and see what you can come up with.
Contributed by Cath Armstrong
More Perfume Savings
If you really like designer perfumes, scented body lotions, talcs etc. watch for department store sales. Mother's Day and Christmas are the time that department stores such as Harris Scarfe, Myer/Grace Bros etc. have their fragrance specials. You can often pick up special packs complete with bonus items, made especially for these occasions, for less than the cost of a perfume. And if you don't use all the contents, you have some really nice gifts to use during the year.
There are more than 11,000 great tips in the Tip Store
3. Cheapskates Winning tip
This week's winning tip is from Aimee McFadden. Aimee has won a one year Platinum Cheapskates Club membership for submitting her winning tip.
Finding Lost Soles
Approximate $ Savings: $5 and upwards
We all know the feeling when we see a lost sock? And it take ages to find its missing partner/sole mate!! (and eventually we might throw it out or turn it into a hand duster, puppet etc.). It really is one of those annoying things in life! So to save the energy in transforming it into another item I have created a "lost sole" mini clothes line in my laundry. All the lost socks/soles are pinned up on display and when their "lost sole" is found - they get matched up. It really has saved me a lot of socks and avoids me buying any new ones. And it really costs hardly nothing to make. A piece of string, two clear 3M hooks and some pegs! Enjoy. I think it looks super cute too in any laundry.
Congratulations Aimee I hope you enjoy your Cheapskates Club membership.
4. 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
5. On the Menu with Anne
I try really hard to have a no waste kitchen. If there are leftovers they are either deliberate and planned for another meal, or frozen to use as freezer meals when a quick dinner is needed or we are too busy to cook (and freezer meals from leftovers are virtually free dinners - a great way to keep the grocery budget in trim). Peelings are composted, bottles and jars are scraped clean with a spatula and bread ends are made into lovely MOO breadcrumbs.
I don't use a lot of breadcrumbs, but I do like to make these biscuits and use my MOOed breadcrumbs. I wait until there are about 8 - 10 bread crusts in the freezer, then I let them thaw, whizz them in the food processor to make crumbs and use them in this recipe.
Bread Crumb Biscuits
These biscuits are so good and are another delicious way to use up leftover bread crusts or stale bread.
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups SR flour
1 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup cocoa
1/2 cup skim milk
1 egg, beaten
1-1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2/3 cup apple sauce
2 cups fresh breadcrumbs*
Method:
Pre-heat oven to 175 degrees Celsius. Sift together flour and cocoa, stir in bread crumbs and brown sugar. Combine skim milk, egg, vanilla extract and apple sauce. Add to dry ingredients and stir to combine. Drop by spoonfuls onto a biscuit tray lined with baking paper. Bake 15 minutes until golden.
*Note: Save crusts in the freezer until you have enough to make 2 cups of breadcrumbs.
This week we will be eating:
Friday: Honey mustard chicken, mash, peas, corn, carrots
Saturday: Pasta bake with semi-dried tomato sauce, tossed salad, bread sticks
Sunday: Roast lamb, baked potatoes, sweet potato, beans, corn, gravy
Monday: Rissoles, mash, broccoli, corn, carrots, onion gravy
Tuesday: Sweet'n'sour chicken, egg fried rice
Wednesday: Vegetable soup
Thursday: Muffin pizzas
In the fruit bowl: pears, mandarins, apples
In the cake tin: choc chip cookies, jam drops, raspberry coconut slice
There are over 1,400 other great money saving meal ideas in the Recipe File
6. The $300 a Month Food Challenge with Wendy
Hello Cheapskaters. This week's topic is “Food shopping day ". When my monthly food shopping day arrives I'm all excited. I think it's all the build up to the day with the planning and list writing. It's also the day I get to spend money and not feel guilty. I just love being able to buy all the yummy food for my family knowing that it keeps them healthy and happy.
Here are some great tips for a successful food shopping day -
* Revise and pack the shopping list into your bag the night before
* Organise cash, credit card or ATM visit
* Pack a pen, water bottle and snack (if you think you'll need it)
* Avoid mealtimes - the food looks so good
* Pack a snack and drink for the kids
* Give your kids a shopping list to keep them happy
* Use correct sized shopping trolley
* Avoid areas of temptation (deli, bakery, junk food, soft drink aisle)
* Use unit pricing to get the best deal
* Look on the top and bottom shelf for cheaper items
* Buy as much as you can no name to keep costs down
* Look for sales of regular items and buy a few extra
* Check use by and best before dates
* Pick items further back on the shelf for better quality
* Stick to your list
* Ask for a fuel docket for every $30 of groceries bought
* Scan loyalty cards - points can be converted into gift cards
* Check your docket before you leave the store
When you get home, make sure you put your groceries away immediately. Always put your frozen and fridge items away first. Portion meat into meal sizes and freeze. Fill your canisters and containers with dry goods and sort your pantry as you put away. Rotate your groceries - oldest to the front, newer to the back.
File your dockets away, fold your green bags and recycle the plastic bags. Quite often there are items on my shopping list that I couldn't buy due to being out of stock or the wrong price. I transfer these items over to the next month's shopping list. That way I don't forget to buy them. Then sit down for a cuppa and think about all the great meals and snacks you'll be making.
How do you “tackle shopping day"?
Have a great week and BE ENCOURAGED!!!
The $300 a Month Food Challenge
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2842-300-A-Month-Food-Challenge-6-04-15-Food-Shopping-Day
The Post that Started it All
http://www.cheapskates.com.au/pages/default.cfm?page_id=44265
7.Cheapskates Buzz
This week's hot forum topics
Home Made Dog Food.
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2841-Home-Made-Dog-Food.
Who Actually Achieves the Magic $300 per Month Grocery Bill?
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2840-Who-actually-achieves-the-magic-300-per-month-grocery-bill-Or-what-do-you-spend
Anyone know how to make Rice Crackers?
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/search.php?searchid=388292
Most popular blog posts this week
What is a Serve?
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2012/07/what-is-serve.html
Tea Cup Pincushion
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2012/09/tea-cup-pincushion.html
Make a Menu Board
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2012/09/make-menu-board.html
8. Member's Featured Blog
Platinum Cheapskates Club members have their very own Cheapskating blogs, and they are wonderful and inspirational and encouraging and even funny. This week's featured blog is written by mumto5.
Grocery Spend Slashed!!
Hi lovely folk
Just popping in quickly to share a win with you guys!
I've been tracking my grocery spend this year, and making a concerted effort to cut it to the bone!! I know that with all of our allergy issues I will never hit the golden $300 a month, but even a substantial drop will make me happy!
Well...January was the first grocery track month, and OH MY GOSH!! It was horrifying!!! I was buying stuff willy-nilly, popping to the shops when we ran out of something (and buying 10 other things!). No more! I vowed that never, ever again would I spend so much money on groceries!!
February rolled around, and my price book finally came into play. What an enlightening experience it is to have a price book! No more being tricked by "specials" that aren't special at all! So at the end of February I was delighted to find I had cut our grocery spend by a third!!
And now for March, today was the day, I totalled up our grocery spend for the month...I was very nervous! Lol! But, low and behold...I've cut another $100 from the spend!!
I did a little happy dance on the spot!!
I'm very, very pleased with myself! I have a long way to go, and I know once I pick up our special cycles and get some stockpiling happening (and find a good place to get some cheap meat!!) I will be able to cut things even more. Exciting times!!
Can't thank all of you enough for all the hints, encouragement and support you give me. Thank you!!
Login to read more Cheapskates Club member blogs
9. Last Week's Question
Last week's question was from Heather who wrote
"Does anyone have a good recipe for yoghurt made from coconut milk? I know when using coconut flour more liquid is required than for wheat flour and am wondering what differences there would be for yoghurt."
Clare Andrews answered
In answer to Heather's question about making coconut yoghurt here is a link to the Green Living Australia instructions. Hope this helps www.greenlivingaustralia.com.au/yoghurt.html#coconut_yoghurt
Debbie Mitchell answered
Here is a yoghurt recipe that used coconut cream/milk and does not need a yoghurt maker. My husband uses it very day on his cereal. Ingredients 2 table spoons chia seed 1 tin coconut cream Method combine in a screw top jar, I use an empty peanut butter jar, shake well place in fridge shake again whenever you think of it, not constantly, until it is thick spoon over cereal or fruit then enjoy. Keeps for about 1 week in the fridge.
Ask Your Question
10. This Week's Question
Criss writes
"How can I recycle my broken terracotta pots? I have many, from little pieces to large sizes and can't bear to send them to landfill. Any suggestions would be much appreciated."
Do you have the answer?
If you have a suggestion or idea for Criss let us know. We'll enter your answer into our Tip of the Week competition, with a one-year membership to the Cheapskates Club as the prize too.
Send your answer
11. Join the Cheapskates Club
For just 10 cents a day you can join the Cheapskates Club and get exclusive access to the Cheapskate Journal, the monthly e-journal that shows you how to cut the costs of everyday living and still have fun.
Joining the Cheapskates Club gives you 24/7 access to the Members Centre with 1000's of money saving tips and articles.
Click here to join the Cheapskates Club today!
http://www.cheapskates.com.au/members/join_form.cfm?item_id=2271
12. Gift Memberships
Your family and friends will thank you for a whole year when you give them a Platinum Cheapskates Club membership as a gift.
It's so simple: just select the number of gift memberships required, click the Buy Now button and complete the Gift Membership order form (you must use this form to order gift memberships) and we'll get in touch with you to confirm the gift subscriptions.
Click here to order a gift membership right now!
13. Frequently Asked Questions
How do I change my email address?
This one is easy. Members can update their email address or any other details by clicking on "Edit Profile" directly under their membership number after they have logged in to the Member's Centre. Subscribers to our free newsletter can use the Change Your Address form (under Customer Service in the menu) and fill it out. Once you've filled it in click the send button and we'll do the rest. Please remember to include your old email address so we can find it in the list as well as the new one.
How do I know when my membership should be renewed?
When you login to the Member's Centre you will be told how many days of membership you have left once you have 30 days left. Just click on the link to renew and your membership will just continue on, uninterrupted.
What will you do with my email address?
We never rent, trade or sell our email list to anyone for any reason whatsoever. You'll never get an unsolicited email from a stranger as a result of joining this list.
Read our privacy policy
How Did You Get on Our List?
You signed up to receive our Free Newsletter at our Cheapskates Club Web site or are a Platinum Cheapskates Club member
14. Contact Details
The Cheapskates Club -
Showing you how to live life
debt free, cashed up and laughing!
PO Box 5077 Studfield Vic 3152
www.cheapskates.com.au
2. In the Tip Store - Urban Food Swaps, Have a Decorating Budget, More Perfume Savings
3. Cheapskate's Winning Tip - Finding Lost Soles
4. Submit Your Tip - Share your favourite tip for a chance to win
5. On the Menu with Anne - Breadcrumb Biscuits
6. The $300 a Month Food Challenge with Wendy - Food Shopping Day
7. Cheapskates Buzz - Cheapskaters are talking in the Forum and on Cath's blog
8. Member's Featured Blog - Grocery Spend Slashed!!
9. Last Week's Question - Does anyone have a recipe for coconut yoghurt?
10. This Week's Question - Ideas for using broken pots?
11. Join the Cheapskates Club
12. Gift Memberships
13. Frequently Asked Questions
14. Contact Details
1. Cath's Corner
Hello Cheapskaters,
I hope you've all had a lovely Easter. We had visitors for the weekend, and the house was full of beds on floors, bodies on chairs, lounges and the floor and a never ending supply of food and drinks; it was just wonderful. Our visitors left on Tuesday morning, and it took me all day to get used to the quiet house!
Work on the new website is progressing nicely, I'm hoping it will be ready early - wouldn't that be nice? I've roped in a few helpers so if we keep our heads down and fingers flying over the keyboards it may just happen.
We have a lot of new members, so for all of you who already know this, I apologise for going over it again. It seems that some members are sending emails to me, and then getting upset because I don't reply or they bounce back. The only way to contact me is to use the Contact Us form on the website. Platinum members can log in and use the Contact Cath form which comes straight to me. I'm sure you understand that I am just one person and there are thousands of you and since the A Current Affair story my inbox hasn't dropped under 300 unread emails. It takes time to answer your questions and I am working as fast as I can.
Winter seems to have hit Melbourne this week. I had to dig out a jumper and my winter slippers yesterday. It's been cold enough for soup, but the rain was a blessing, my garden is looking fresh and the plants appreciated the drink. I was almost tempted to put the heater on, then I looked at the weather forecast and decided to put on a heavier jumper and leave the heater off; we're back up in the 20's next week!
Have a great week everyone,
PS: Love our site? We love referrals! Send a note to your favourite newspapers, magazines, radio stations, TV stations, friends and relatives, and tell them about us!
PPS: You can read this newsletter and past copies on the website in the Newsletter Archive.
2. From The Tip Store
Urban Food Swaps
Approximate $ Savings: $50 a week
Growing your own food creates savings. There are always surpluses. Take your surplus to a local council food swap, and pick up some veggies in return. I have saved $50 a week in fruit and vegetable bills.
Contributed by Cath Lyons
Editor's note: I love food swaps, and not just for the amazing food I can get totally free! Every month I learn something new - it might be a better way to grow food or a new recipe or where to find more jars - and come away feeling blessed by the knowledge and generosity of other swappers. If your Council doesn't have a food swap group set up, be the impetus and ask about setting one up yourself. Cath
Have a Decorating Budget
I don't redecorate every year, or even every five years. We tend to buy quality furniture, soft furnishings and paint and decorate to last.
I do however like to freshen our home up with little touches here and there that bring it up to date décor-wise. And those little touches can cost a lot of money.
To cover the cost I've put a decorating category in our Spending Plan so that when I finally find the perfect lamp for the loungeroom the money will be in the Spending Plan and I won't need to rob another category or miss out because I don't have the cash.
I also have prices I won't go over and in fact go out of my way to try and beat. For instance I recently recovered our kitchen chairs and the bar stool in a blue and white check fabric - for the grand total of $2! I found a tablecloth in a blue and white check that I loved for $7 on clearance at Target. When I cut it up I had enough to cover the four chairs and the bar stool, with enough left over to make placemats and recover the chairs again twice if needed!
When Hannah wanted to redecorate her bedroom, curtains and drapes were going to be the biggest expense, until we found curtain fabric she loves on sale at Spotlight ($24 to cover her window) and two doona covers in the exact print she wanted that I used to make the drapes for $5 each!
We reused the existing rod and tracks and I very carefully unpicked the tape off the old drapes and re-used it on the new ones. Being doona covers I didn't need to line them and they were already double thickness.
So for the grand total of $34 she has beautiful new curtains that match her new bedroom decor beautifully.
Redecorating doesn't have to cost a fortune. Think outside the box, be a little creative and see what you can come up with.
Contributed by Cath Armstrong
More Perfume Savings
If you really like designer perfumes, scented body lotions, talcs etc. watch for department store sales. Mother's Day and Christmas are the time that department stores such as Harris Scarfe, Myer/Grace Bros etc. have their fragrance specials. You can often pick up special packs complete with bonus items, made especially for these occasions, for less than the cost of a perfume. And if you don't use all the contents, you have some really nice gifts to use during the year.
There are more than 11,000 great tips in the Tip Store
3. Cheapskates Winning tip
This week's winning tip is from Aimee McFadden. Aimee has won a one year Platinum Cheapskates Club membership for submitting her winning tip.
Finding Lost Soles
Approximate $ Savings: $5 and upwards
We all know the feeling when we see a lost sock? And it take ages to find its missing partner/sole mate!! (and eventually we might throw it out or turn it into a hand duster, puppet etc.). It really is one of those annoying things in life! So to save the energy in transforming it into another item I have created a "lost sole" mini clothes line in my laundry. All the lost socks/soles are pinned up on display and when their "lost sole" is found - they get matched up. It really has saved me a lot of socks and avoids me buying any new ones. And it really costs hardly nothing to make. A piece of string, two clear 3M hooks and some pegs! Enjoy. I think it looks super cute too in any laundry.
Congratulations Aimee I hope you enjoy your Cheapskates Club membership.
4. 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
5. On the Menu with Anne
I try really hard to have a no waste kitchen. If there are leftovers they are either deliberate and planned for another meal, or frozen to use as freezer meals when a quick dinner is needed or we are too busy to cook (and freezer meals from leftovers are virtually free dinners - a great way to keep the grocery budget in trim). Peelings are composted, bottles and jars are scraped clean with a spatula and bread ends are made into lovely MOO breadcrumbs.
I don't use a lot of breadcrumbs, but I do like to make these biscuits and use my MOOed breadcrumbs. I wait until there are about 8 - 10 bread crusts in the freezer, then I let them thaw, whizz them in the food processor to make crumbs and use them in this recipe.
Bread Crumb Biscuits
These biscuits are so good and are another delicious way to use up leftover bread crusts or stale bread.
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups SR flour
1 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup cocoa
1/2 cup skim milk
1 egg, beaten
1-1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2/3 cup apple sauce
2 cups fresh breadcrumbs*
Method:
Pre-heat oven to 175 degrees Celsius. Sift together flour and cocoa, stir in bread crumbs and brown sugar. Combine skim milk, egg, vanilla extract and apple sauce. Add to dry ingredients and stir to combine. Drop by spoonfuls onto a biscuit tray lined with baking paper. Bake 15 minutes until golden.
*Note: Save crusts in the freezer until you have enough to make 2 cups of breadcrumbs.
This week we will be eating:
Friday: Honey mustard chicken, mash, peas, corn, carrots
Saturday: Pasta bake with semi-dried tomato sauce, tossed salad, bread sticks
Sunday: Roast lamb, baked potatoes, sweet potato, beans, corn, gravy
Monday: Rissoles, mash, broccoli, corn, carrots, onion gravy
Tuesday: Sweet'n'sour chicken, egg fried rice
Wednesday: Vegetable soup
Thursday: Muffin pizzas
In the fruit bowl: pears, mandarins, apples
In the cake tin: choc chip cookies, jam drops, raspberry coconut slice
There are over 1,400 other great money saving meal ideas in the Recipe File
6. The $300 a Month Food Challenge with Wendy
Hello Cheapskaters. This week's topic is “Food shopping day ". When my monthly food shopping day arrives I'm all excited. I think it's all the build up to the day with the planning and list writing. It's also the day I get to spend money and not feel guilty. I just love being able to buy all the yummy food for my family knowing that it keeps them healthy and happy.
Here are some great tips for a successful food shopping day -
* Revise and pack the shopping list into your bag the night before
* Organise cash, credit card or ATM visit
* Pack a pen, water bottle and snack (if you think you'll need it)
* Avoid mealtimes - the food looks so good
* Pack a snack and drink for the kids
* Give your kids a shopping list to keep them happy
* Use correct sized shopping trolley
* Avoid areas of temptation (deli, bakery, junk food, soft drink aisle)
* Use unit pricing to get the best deal
* Look on the top and bottom shelf for cheaper items
* Buy as much as you can no name to keep costs down
* Look for sales of regular items and buy a few extra
* Check use by and best before dates
* Pick items further back on the shelf for better quality
* Stick to your list
* Ask for a fuel docket for every $30 of groceries bought
* Scan loyalty cards - points can be converted into gift cards
* Check your docket before you leave the store
When you get home, make sure you put your groceries away immediately. Always put your frozen and fridge items away first. Portion meat into meal sizes and freeze. Fill your canisters and containers with dry goods and sort your pantry as you put away. Rotate your groceries - oldest to the front, newer to the back.
File your dockets away, fold your green bags and recycle the plastic bags. Quite often there are items on my shopping list that I couldn't buy due to being out of stock or the wrong price. I transfer these items over to the next month's shopping list. That way I don't forget to buy them. Then sit down for a cuppa and think about all the great meals and snacks you'll be making.
How do you “tackle shopping day"?
Have a great week and BE ENCOURAGED!!!
The $300 a Month Food Challenge
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2842-300-A-Month-Food-Challenge-6-04-15-Food-Shopping-Day
The Post that Started it All
http://www.cheapskates.com.au/pages/default.cfm?page_id=44265
7.Cheapskates Buzz
This week's hot forum topics
Home Made Dog Food.
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2841-Home-Made-Dog-Food.
Who Actually Achieves the Magic $300 per Month Grocery Bill?
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2840-Who-actually-achieves-the-magic-300-per-month-grocery-bill-Or-what-do-you-spend
Anyone know how to make Rice Crackers?
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/search.php?searchid=388292
Most popular blog posts this week
What is a Serve?
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2012/07/what-is-serve.html
Tea Cup Pincushion
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2012/09/tea-cup-pincushion.html
Make a Menu Board
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2012/09/make-menu-board.html
8. Member's Featured Blog
Platinum Cheapskates Club members have their very own Cheapskating blogs, and they are wonderful and inspirational and encouraging and even funny. This week's featured blog is written by mumto5.
Grocery Spend Slashed!!
Hi lovely folk
Just popping in quickly to share a win with you guys!
I've been tracking my grocery spend this year, and making a concerted effort to cut it to the bone!! I know that with all of our allergy issues I will never hit the golden $300 a month, but even a substantial drop will make me happy!
Well...January was the first grocery track month, and OH MY GOSH!! It was horrifying!!! I was buying stuff willy-nilly, popping to the shops when we ran out of something (and buying 10 other things!). No more! I vowed that never, ever again would I spend so much money on groceries!!
February rolled around, and my price book finally came into play. What an enlightening experience it is to have a price book! No more being tricked by "specials" that aren't special at all! So at the end of February I was delighted to find I had cut our grocery spend by a third!!
And now for March, today was the day, I totalled up our grocery spend for the month...I was very nervous! Lol! But, low and behold...I've cut another $100 from the spend!!
I did a little happy dance on the spot!!
I'm very, very pleased with myself! I have a long way to go, and I know once I pick up our special cycles and get some stockpiling happening (and find a good place to get some cheap meat!!) I will be able to cut things even more. Exciting times!!
Can't thank all of you enough for all the hints, encouragement and support you give me. Thank you!!
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9. Last Week's Question
Last week's question was from Heather who wrote
"Does anyone have a good recipe for yoghurt made from coconut milk? I know when using coconut flour more liquid is required than for wheat flour and am wondering what differences there would be for yoghurt."
Clare Andrews answered
In answer to Heather's question about making coconut yoghurt here is a link to the Green Living Australia instructions. Hope this helps www.greenlivingaustralia.com.au/yoghurt.html#coconut_yoghurt
Debbie Mitchell answered
Here is a yoghurt recipe that used coconut cream/milk and does not need a yoghurt maker. My husband uses it very day on his cereal. Ingredients 2 table spoons chia seed 1 tin coconut cream Method combine in a screw top jar, I use an empty peanut butter jar, shake well place in fridge shake again whenever you think of it, not constantly, until it is thick spoon over cereal or fruit then enjoy. Keeps for about 1 week in the fridge.
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10. This Week's Question
Criss writes
"How can I recycle my broken terracotta pots? I have many, from little pieces to large sizes and can't bear to send them to landfill. Any suggestions would be much appreciated."
Do you have the answer?
If you have a suggestion or idea for Criss 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.
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14. Contact Details
The Cheapskates Club -
Showing you how to live life
debt free, cashed up and laughing!
PO Box 5077 Studfield Vic 3152
www.cheapskates.com.au