In this Newsletter
1. Cath's Corner
2. In the Tip Store - Washing Mould Away the Easy Way; Never Miss Paying a Bill When Travelling; It's Worthwhile to Haggle
3. Share Your Tips -
4. On the Menu - Spanish Rice
5. The $300 a Month Food Challenge - Is your stockpile enough?
6. Cheapskates Buzz - Cheapskaters are talking in the Forum and on Cath's blog
7. Member's Featured Blog - Getting There!
8. Last Week's Question -
9. This Week's Question -
10. Ask Cath
11. Join the Cheapskates Club
12. Frequently Asked Questions
13. Contact Details
1. Cath's Corner
Hello Cheapskaters,
Life has been busy this week.
We are getting ready to go away, just two weeks until we leave. That means getting everything we need together, ready to pack. Making sure bills will be covered while we're away, leaving food in the freezer for the troops at home, getting the garden into shape, and a gazillion other little jobs that need to be done, including autumn cleaning.
It was great to be reminded to make sure the bills would be paid while we're away (see Daniela's tip below) - I can cross another thing off the to do list.
Now to get back and see what else I can cross off.
Have a great week everyone.
Happy Cheapskating,
Cath
PS: Love our site? We love referrals! Send a note to your favourite newspapers, magazines, radio stations, TV stations, friends and relatives, and tell them about us!
2. From The Tip Store
Washing Mould Away the Easy Way
I recently had mouldy spots on my bathroom ceiling. I tried washing the ceiling with half a bucket of water and Tea Tree Oil (a small splash), using my floor mop. I successfully removed the mould and there has been no mould ever since. I have googled this mixture and it is recommended for all bathroom areas. Smells nice too! Good luck.
Contributed by Kathryn O'Loughlin
Never Miss Paying a Bill When Travelling
I've been doing this for years regardless of where I was in the world. The following assumes that you have a smartphone. Firstly, make sure you register with your service providers (electricity, water, gas, phone etc.) to receive your bill electronically by email. This way you can also check your accounts at any time. Don't forget to have the account list and remember your passwords. Best is to email the bill list to yourself, so you can access it anywhere, in whatever device and from the cloud. You can also set yourself electronic remainders in your phone, as soon as the bill comes by email. Then it is just a matter of having internet access, get into internet banking and always pay your bills on time. If you're overseas don't forget to switch off your data and only connect to the internet when you have free internet access, like in the lobby of the hotel, a public library or friends place with wireless. I only connect through my own device and never use public computers. I prefer to buy the equivalent of a $10 data sim card, so I can have my own internet access, for security reasons.
Contributed by Daniela Tutman
It's Worthwhile to Haggle
When I go out for a "coffee" I usually just order a plain hot soy milk and then I add a sachet or granules of something I like (I have stomach issues, so I find this suits me). This saves me lots because I usually only get charged $2.00 for a cup of hot soy milk. Today in town, at a cafe, I was horrified at being charged $3.50 for a plain cup of the same so I haggled until they at least cut off the .50c, reducing it to $3.00. Moral: it's worth our while to haggle, even in places we've never thought of doing it before.
Contributed by Josie
There are currently more than 12,000 great tips in the Tip Store
3. Submit Your Tip
The Cheapskate's Club website is over 3,000 pages of money saving hints, tips and ideas. Let's get together and make the Cheapskates Club Australia's largest online hint, tip and idea library. Share your favourite money saving, time saving or energy saving hint and be in the running to win a one-year membership to The Cheapskate Club. We publish a Winning Tip each Thursday, so enter your great money, time or energy saving idea now.
Share your favourite hint or tip that saves money, time and energy and be in the running to win a one-year subscription to The Cheapskate Journal.
Remember, you have to be in it to win it!
Submit your tip
4. On the Menu
Spanish Rice
There are so many variations of this recipe, but the one we eat regularly is the one I was taught in high school cooking class. It has become a family favourite; the kids all learned to make it when they were very young, and often they'll whip up a pot for a weekend lunch or to take as for their lunches during the week.
It's also become a staple on our camping meal plan, because it is quick and easy and doesn't need a lot of fancy ingredients.
Spanish Rice
Ingredients:
1 ½ cups cooked brown rice (if you prefer white rice, it will substitute just fine)
1 small onion, diced
1 tin tomato soup (or MOO equivalent)
1 tsp curry powder
½ cup grated cheese (whatever you have)
Method:
Brown onion, add curry powder. Cook 1 minute. Add tomato soup. Stir in cheese. When melted add the rice, heat through and serve immediately.
Leftovers can be rolled into croquettes or patties, dipped in crumbs and fried.
This week we will be eating:
Sunday: Roast Lamb
Monday: Sweet Lamb Curry, rice, pappadums
Tuesday: Chilli Pasta Bake
Wednesday: Meatloaf, vegetables, gravy
Thursday: MOO Pizza
Friday: Crumbed sausages, vegetables
Saturday: Enchiladas
In the fruit bowl: apples
In the cake tin: Fruit cake
There are over 1,600 other great money saving meal ideas in the Recipe File.
5. The $300 a Month Food Challenge
Hypothetical: A Transport Strike Stops Deliveries
If all deliveries to all shops stopped today, would you be able to survive?
Is your pantry stocked with ingredients that you can use to prepare a variety of dishes? Is your freezer packed with meat, seafood, poultry, fruit and vegetables? Do you have a stockpile of toiletries and cleaning supplies?
What would you do? Imagine there is a national transport strike. How would you survive? Do you have food to last a day? Two or three days? A week? Could you go longer without having to find food? What about medicines? Baby needs?
It doesn't take much to see supermarket shelves empty. We haven't had them in Australia for a while, but a general transport strike would see shelves empty within about 3 days. If it were to be a longer strike, that means no deliveries to supermarkets. No deliveries to butchers or markets. No milk deliveries. No pharmaceutical deliveries. No fuel deliveries. Nothing.
I imagine supermarket shelves will empty in hours, if not minutes, rather than days because most households today don't run an active, working pantry. Many homes wouldn't have enough food to last more than one or two days. Some may be able to stretch to three or four days, but a week would find the food situation dire.
Localised shortages would happen almost immediately as people panic buy bread and milk, meat and vegetables.
It wouldn't just be supermarket shelves that emptied either. It would be chemists, hardware stores, newsagents, department stores, service stations and the corner milk bar.
With a fully stocked pantry you'd be just fine. While everyone else is pushing and shoving and queuing to buy bread and milk you would be safely and happily at home, preparing dinner from your pantry.
So, would you be OK? Would you be able to feed yourself and your family? Or would you be one of the masses, panic buying staples, hoping they'll last to get you through?
This is just one scenario that could affect your food security.
One of our Cheapskaters, Amanda, and her family are regularly cut off from their nearest town for up to a week (sometimes it's been longer) by flood water (they live in rural Queensland). Without a stocked pantry they'd be in trouble. Amanda keeps a pantry stocked with ingredients, so she can use to cook a variety of meals and foods from scratch, rather than having it stocked with ready-made foods that are good for one purpose only.
Even a week of being in bed with the flu could cause difficulties in many homes because there isn't a stocked pantry. There are dozens of reasons for maintaining a stockpile.
My stockpile is twelve months' worth of basic pantry items: flours, sugars, dried fruits, cereals, spices, pasta, toiletries, cleaning supplies, jams, tea and coffee, milk powder, sauces and preserved fruits and vegetables. I keep 4 - 6 months of meat, poultry and fish in the freezer.
I'm not suggesting for one minute that you rush out and spend a fortune stocking up on groceries. But having a small stockpile of basic groceries is a good idea.
I started building our stockpile with the slush fund - the leftover grocery money. Some months it would be only $10, other months the shopping list would be cheaper, and I'd have $76 in the slush fund. I'd use that money, wisely, to build the stockpile.
By wisely, I mean I started by buying only the things we used regularly when they were on half-price sale. Half price sales are great for building stockpiles quickly.
Mark downs and deleted products helped to build the stockpile (and still do).
Build your stockpile based on what you use regularly. There's no point having a dozen cans of tuna in the cupboard if you don't like it or use it. On the other hand, a dozen cans of baked beans will get used if you love them and use them in lots of recipes (baked beans are a wonderful way to stretch mince-based meals).
Think about what you use, how you use it and then as you do your shopping put one or two stockpile items in the trolley. Use your grocery slush fund to pay for them or better still, leave one or two things you don't really need (soft drink, biscuits, chips, dips, flavoured milk, sugary cereals etc.) on the shelf and replace them with your stockpile items. By the way, all those things you can leave on the shelf you can easily MOO, and they'll be cheaper and healthier than anything you'll buy at the supermarket.
Do you have a stockpile? How did you build it? Where do you store it? How long can you live from it? Would a transport strike cause you to panic? Or would you not even notice it because you have a good stockpile?
The $300 a Month Food Challenge
The Post that Started it All
6. Cheapskates Buzz
Most popular forum posts this week
Question: What are Your Three Biggest Financial Challenges?
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?3689-Question-What-are-your-three-biggest-financial-challenges
Time to Get Back to Menu Planning
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?3715-Time-to-get-back-to-menu-planning
Easy Chicken Pie Recipe Please
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?1143-Easy-Chicken-Pie-recipe-please
Most popular blog posts this week
Freeing Up Cash
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2016/08/freeing-up-cash.html
The Most Liberating Feeling
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2015/12/the-most-liberating-feeling.html
Take an $8 Barbecue Chook……
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2016/07/take-8-barbecue-chook.html
7. Members Featured Blog
Platinum Cheapskates Club members have their very own Cheapskating blogs, and they are wonderful and inspirational and encouraging and even funny. This week's featured blog is written by sube60.
Getting There!
Hi everyone,
Things have been topsy turvy to say the least in our household. I feel this year is not going to go so well.
I lost my niece (36) to cancer in December and my Dad died a couple of weeks ago (both overseas) ... they say things come in 3's.....
I am coping ok with good support from the family but am now questioning my own mortality! Ah life!
On a brighter note, the C/C debt is on track for an August payout. DH is being really good at not spending but the food bill is nothing to laugh about.
Dear son is trying GF to see if he can get into remission, along with other things. He hates GF bread etc so trying to find recipes for lunch is difficult to say the least.
I planted some spinach, silverbeet, lettuce and pak choi yesterday and with the warm days (up to 35C at the moment) but cool nights (10C) am hoping for some reasonable growth before winter really hits.
I still read peoples blogs but what with getting things ready for winter etc. etc. and a bit of lost motivation, getting nowhere fast. I have finished studying and am looking to craft (dishcloths!) stamps and genealogy to keep the old thoughts busy.
Everybody, keep up your great cheapskates journey - no plastic bags come July here in Queensland sounds really great for us all. In adversity, something positive always come from it though we may not realise it at the time.
Login to read more Cheapskates Club Member blogs
8. Last Week's Question
Last week's question was from Leesa who wrote
"Does anybody know of a way of storing meat and leftovers to prevent freezer burn, other than vacuum packaging, on a tight budget? I'd like to avoid the expense involved with purchasing a vacuum packaging appliance and the ongoing expense of buying plastic sleeves, but even if this were not a concern, I worry about putting even more plastic into the environment and would prefer to use reusable containers (i.e. Tupperware or other suitable containers). Any suggestions would be appreciated. Cheers."
Kasey Ball answered
If storing in Tupperware, the aim is to reduce the oxygen touching your food. Try to find containers which fit the leftovers just right, to minimise having lots of air in with them. Some leftovers can also be kept safe from freezer burn by covering with a thin layer of oil/fat like stocks, soups, pesto and sauces.
Kathleen Lauchlan answered
I use cliplock bags as they can be washed and reused, and they can be laid flat to freeze so you get more in freezer and you can squash the air out.
Deanna Darling answered
Vacuum seal without a machine by placing leftovers in a zip lock bag. Dip the OPEN bag into bowl or sink of water up to food level. This presses the air out of the bag, then you can seal it. This should avoid any freezer burn.
Christine Stockwell answered
Aldi have those plastic reusable containers about 10 for only a few dollars with different coloured lids. They are BPA free and dishwasher safe on the top level. I am having surgery in a few weeks and have cooked up meals to freeze to make it easier on us. They won't last a long time, like say Tupperware, but should be okay for several uses and are not a big lay out to purchase. They should reduce the freezer burn situation, providing the lids are secured on.
9. This Week's Question
Kathy Miller asks
"Just wondering what other Cheapskates think of cooking with frozen vegetables instead of fresh vegetables, is it a healthy option? Frozen vegetables are much cheaper than fresh, but do they have as many vitamins?"
Do you have the answer?
If you have advice for Kathy, 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
10. Ask Cath
We have lots of resources to help you as you live the Cheapskates way but if you didn't find the answer to your question in our extensive archives please just drop me a note with your question.
I read and answer all questions, either in an email to you, in my weekly newsletter, the monthly Journal or by creating blog posts and other resources to help you (and other Cheapskaters).
Ask Your Question
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!
12. Frequently Asked Questions
How do I change my email address?
This one is easy. Members can update their email address or any other details by clicking on "Edit Profile" directly under their membership number after they have logged in to the Member's Centre. Subscribers to our free newsletter can use the Change Your Address form (under Customer Service in the menu) and fill it out. Once you've filled it in click the send button and we'll do the rest. Please remember to include your old email address so we can find it in the list as well as the new one.
How do I know when my membership should be renewed?
When you login to the Member's Centre you will be told how many days of membership you have left once you have 30 days left. Just click on the link to renew and your membership will just continue on, uninterrupted.
What will you do with my email address?
We never rent, trade or sell our email list to anyone for any reason whatsoever. You'll never get an unsolicited email from a stranger as a result of joining this list.
How Did You Get on Our List?
You signed up to receive our Free Newsletter at our Cheapskates Club Web site or are a Platinum Cheapskates Club member
13. Contact Details
The Cheapskates Club -
Showing you how to live life
debt free, cashed up and laughing!
Contact Cheapskates
1. Cath's Corner
2. In the Tip Store - Washing Mould Away the Easy Way; Never Miss Paying a Bill When Travelling; It's Worthwhile to Haggle
3. Share Your Tips -
4. On the Menu - Spanish Rice
5. The $300 a Month Food Challenge - Is your stockpile enough?
6. Cheapskates Buzz - Cheapskaters are talking in the Forum and on Cath's blog
7. Member's Featured Blog - Getting There!
8. Last Week's Question -
9. This Week's Question -
10. Ask Cath
11. Join the Cheapskates Club
12. Frequently Asked Questions
13. Contact Details
1. Cath's Corner
Hello Cheapskaters,
Life has been busy this week.
We are getting ready to go away, just two weeks until we leave. That means getting everything we need together, ready to pack. Making sure bills will be covered while we're away, leaving food in the freezer for the troops at home, getting the garden into shape, and a gazillion other little jobs that need to be done, including autumn cleaning.
It was great to be reminded to make sure the bills would be paid while we're away (see Daniela's tip below) - I can cross another thing off the to do list.
Now to get back and see what else I can cross off.
Have a great week everyone.
Happy Cheapskating,
Cath
PS: Love our site? We love referrals! Send a note to your favourite newspapers, magazines, radio stations, TV stations, friends and relatives, and tell them about us!
2. From The Tip Store
Washing Mould Away the Easy Way
I recently had mouldy spots on my bathroom ceiling. I tried washing the ceiling with half a bucket of water and Tea Tree Oil (a small splash), using my floor mop. I successfully removed the mould and there has been no mould ever since. I have googled this mixture and it is recommended for all bathroom areas. Smells nice too! Good luck.
Contributed by Kathryn O'Loughlin
Never Miss Paying a Bill When Travelling
I've been doing this for years regardless of where I was in the world. The following assumes that you have a smartphone. Firstly, make sure you register with your service providers (electricity, water, gas, phone etc.) to receive your bill electronically by email. This way you can also check your accounts at any time. Don't forget to have the account list and remember your passwords. Best is to email the bill list to yourself, so you can access it anywhere, in whatever device and from the cloud. You can also set yourself electronic remainders in your phone, as soon as the bill comes by email. Then it is just a matter of having internet access, get into internet banking and always pay your bills on time. If you're overseas don't forget to switch off your data and only connect to the internet when you have free internet access, like in the lobby of the hotel, a public library or friends place with wireless. I only connect through my own device and never use public computers. I prefer to buy the equivalent of a $10 data sim card, so I can have my own internet access, for security reasons.
Contributed by Daniela Tutman
It's Worthwhile to Haggle
When I go out for a "coffee" I usually just order a plain hot soy milk and then I add a sachet or granules of something I like (I have stomach issues, so I find this suits me). This saves me lots because I usually only get charged $2.00 for a cup of hot soy milk. Today in town, at a cafe, I was horrified at being charged $3.50 for a plain cup of the same so I haggled until they at least cut off the .50c, reducing it to $3.00. Moral: it's worth our while to haggle, even in places we've never thought of doing it before.
Contributed by Josie
There are currently more than 12,000 great tips in the Tip Store
3. Submit Your Tip
The Cheapskate's Club website is over 3,000 pages of money saving hints, tips and ideas. Let's get together and make the Cheapskates Club Australia's largest online hint, tip and idea library. Share your favourite money saving, time saving or energy saving hint and be in the running to win a one-year membership to The Cheapskate Club. We publish a Winning Tip each Thursday, so enter your great money, time or energy saving idea now.
Share your favourite hint or tip that saves money, time and energy and be in the running to win a one-year subscription to The Cheapskate Journal.
Remember, you have to be in it to win it!
Submit your tip
4. On the Menu
Spanish Rice
There are so many variations of this recipe, but the one we eat regularly is the one I was taught in high school cooking class. It has become a family favourite; the kids all learned to make it when they were very young, and often they'll whip up a pot for a weekend lunch or to take as for their lunches during the week.
It's also become a staple on our camping meal plan, because it is quick and easy and doesn't need a lot of fancy ingredients.
Spanish Rice
Ingredients:
1 ½ cups cooked brown rice (if you prefer white rice, it will substitute just fine)
1 small onion, diced
1 tin tomato soup (or MOO equivalent)
1 tsp curry powder
½ cup grated cheese (whatever you have)
Method:
Brown onion, add curry powder. Cook 1 minute. Add tomato soup. Stir in cheese. When melted add the rice, heat through and serve immediately.
Leftovers can be rolled into croquettes or patties, dipped in crumbs and fried.
This week we will be eating:
Sunday: Roast Lamb
Monday: Sweet Lamb Curry, rice, pappadums
Tuesday: Chilli Pasta Bake
Wednesday: Meatloaf, vegetables, gravy
Thursday: MOO Pizza
Friday: Crumbed sausages, vegetables
Saturday: Enchiladas
In the fruit bowl: apples
In the cake tin: Fruit cake
There are over 1,600 other great money saving meal ideas in the Recipe File.
5. The $300 a Month Food Challenge
Hypothetical: A Transport Strike Stops Deliveries
If all deliveries to all shops stopped today, would you be able to survive?
Is your pantry stocked with ingredients that you can use to prepare a variety of dishes? Is your freezer packed with meat, seafood, poultry, fruit and vegetables? Do you have a stockpile of toiletries and cleaning supplies?
What would you do? Imagine there is a national transport strike. How would you survive? Do you have food to last a day? Two or three days? A week? Could you go longer without having to find food? What about medicines? Baby needs?
It doesn't take much to see supermarket shelves empty. We haven't had them in Australia for a while, but a general transport strike would see shelves empty within about 3 days. If it were to be a longer strike, that means no deliveries to supermarkets. No deliveries to butchers or markets. No milk deliveries. No pharmaceutical deliveries. No fuel deliveries. Nothing.
I imagine supermarket shelves will empty in hours, if not minutes, rather than days because most households today don't run an active, working pantry. Many homes wouldn't have enough food to last more than one or two days. Some may be able to stretch to three or four days, but a week would find the food situation dire.
Localised shortages would happen almost immediately as people panic buy bread and milk, meat and vegetables.
It wouldn't just be supermarket shelves that emptied either. It would be chemists, hardware stores, newsagents, department stores, service stations and the corner milk bar.
With a fully stocked pantry you'd be just fine. While everyone else is pushing and shoving and queuing to buy bread and milk you would be safely and happily at home, preparing dinner from your pantry.
So, would you be OK? Would you be able to feed yourself and your family? Or would you be one of the masses, panic buying staples, hoping they'll last to get you through?
This is just one scenario that could affect your food security.
One of our Cheapskaters, Amanda, and her family are regularly cut off from their nearest town for up to a week (sometimes it's been longer) by flood water (they live in rural Queensland). Without a stocked pantry they'd be in trouble. Amanda keeps a pantry stocked with ingredients, so she can use to cook a variety of meals and foods from scratch, rather than having it stocked with ready-made foods that are good for one purpose only.
Even a week of being in bed with the flu could cause difficulties in many homes because there isn't a stocked pantry. There are dozens of reasons for maintaining a stockpile.
My stockpile is twelve months' worth of basic pantry items: flours, sugars, dried fruits, cereals, spices, pasta, toiletries, cleaning supplies, jams, tea and coffee, milk powder, sauces and preserved fruits and vegetables. I keep 4 - 6 months of meat, poultry and fish in the freezer.
I'm not suggesting for one minute that you rush out and spend a fortune stocking up on groceries. But having a small stockpile of basic groceries is a good idea.
I started building our stockpile with the slush fund - the leftover grocery money. Some months it would be only $10, other months the shopping list would be cheaper, and I'd have $76 in the slush fund. I'd use that money, wisely, to build the stockpile.
By wisely, I mean I started by buying only the things we used regularly when they were on half-price sale. Half price sales are great for building stockpiles quickly.
Mark downs and deleted products helped to build the stockpile (and still do).
Build your stockpile based on what you use regularly. There's no point having a dozen cans of tuna in the cupboard if you don't like it or use it. On the other hand, a dozen cans of baked beans will get used if you love them and use them in lots of recipes (baked beans are a wonderful way to stretch mince-based meals).
Think about what you use, how you use it and then as you do your shopping put one or two stockpile items in the trolley. Use your grocery slush fund to pay for them or better still, leave one or two things you don't really need (soft drink, biscuits, chips, dips, flavoured milk, sugary cereals etc.) on the shelf and replace them with your stockpile items. By the way, all those things you can leave on the shelf you can easily MOO, and they'll be cheaper and healthier than anything you'll buy at the supermarket.
Do you have a stockpile? How did you build it? Where do you store it? How long can you live from it? Would a transport strike cause you to panic? Or would you not even notice it because you have a good stockpile?
The $300 a Month Food Challenge
The Post that Started it All
6. Cheapskates Buzz
Most popular forum posts this week
Question: What are Your Three Biggest Financial Challenges?
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?3689-Question-What-are-your-three-biggest-financial-challenges
Time to Get Back to Menu Planning
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?3715-Time-to-get-back-to-menu-planning
Easy Chicken Pie Recipe Please
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?1143-Easy-Chicken-Pie-recipe-please
Most popular blog posts this week
Freeing Up Cash
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2016/08/freeing-up-cash.html
The Most Liberating Feeling
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2015/12/the-most-liberating-feeling.html
Take an $8 Barbecue Chook……
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2016/07/take-8-barbecue-chook.html
7. Members Featured Blog
Platinum Cheapskates Club members have their very own Cheapskating blogs, and they are wonderful and inspirational and encouraging and even funny. This week's featured blog is written by sube60.
Getting There!
Hi everyone,
Things have been topsy turvy to say the least in our household. I feel this year is not going to go so well.
I lost my niece (36) to cancer in December and my Dad died a couple of weeks ago (both overseas) ... they say things come in 3's.....
I am coping ok with good support from the family but am now questioning my own mortality! Ah life!
On a brighter note, the C/C debt is on track for an August payout. DH is being really good at not spending but the food bill is nothing to laugh about.
Dear son is trying GF to see if he can get into remission, along with other things. He hates GF bread etc so trying to find recipes for lunch is difficult to say the least.
I planted some spinach, silverbeet, lettuce and pak choi yesterday and with the warm days (up to 35C at the moment) but cool nights (10C) am hoping for some reasonable growth before winter really hits.
I still read peoples blogs but what with getting things ready for winter etc. etc. and a bit of lost motivation, getting nowhere fast. I have finished studying and am looking to craft (dishcloths!) stamps and genealogy to keep the old thoughts busy.
Everybody, keep up your great cheapskates journey - no plastic bags come July here in Queensland sounds really great for us all. In adversity, something positive always come from it though we may not realise it at the time.
Login to read more Cheapskates Club Member blogs
8. Last Week's Question
Last week's question was from Leesa who wrote
"Does anybody know of a way of storing meat and leftovers to prevent freezer burn, other than vacuum packaging, on a tight budget? I'd like to avoid the expense involved with purchasing a vacuum packaging appliance and the ongoing expense of buying plastic sleeves, but even if this were not a concern, I worry about putting even more plastic into the environment and would prefer to use reusable containers (i.e. Tupperware or other suitable containers). Any suggestions would be appreciated. Cheers."
Kasey Ball answered
If storing in Tupperware, the aim is to reduce the oxygen touching your food. Try to find containers which fit the leftovers just right, to minimise having lots of air in with them. Some leftovers can also be kept safe from freezer burn by covering with a thin layer of oil/fat like stocks, soups, pesto and sauces.
Kathleen Lauchlan answered
I use cliplock bags as they can be washed and reused, and they can be laid flat to freeze so you get more in freezer and you can squash the air out.
Deanna Darling answered
Vacuum seal without a machine by placing leftovers in a zip lock bag. Dip the OPEN bag into bowl or sink of water up to food level. This presses the air out of the bag, then you can seal it. This should avoid any freezer burn.
Christine Stockwell answered
Aldi have those plastic reusable containers about 10 for only a few dollars with different coloured lids. They are BPA free and dishwasher safe on the top level. I am having surgery in a few weeks and have cooked up meals to freeze to make it easier on us. They won't last a long time, like say Tupperware, but should be okay for several uses and are not a big lay out to purchase. They should reduce the freezer burn situation, providing the lids are secured on.
9. This Week's Question
Kathy Miller asks
"Just wondering what other Cheapskates think of cooking with frozen vegetables instead of fresh vegetables, is it a healthy option? Frozen vegetables are much cheaper than fresh, but do they have as many vitamins?"
Do you have the answer?
If you have advice for Kathy, 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
10. Ask Cath
We have lots of resources to help you as you live the Cheapskates way but if you didn't find the answer to your question in our extensive archives please just drop me a note with your question.
I read and answer all questions, either in an email to you, in my weekly newsletter, the monthly Journal or by creating blog posts and other resources to help you (and other Cheapskaters).
Ask Your Question
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!
12. Frequently Asked Questions
How do I change my email address?
This one is easy. Members can update their email address or any other details by clicking on "Edit Profile" directly under their membership number after they have logged in to the Member's Centre. Subscribers to our free newsletter can use the Change Your Address form (under Customer Service in the menu) and fill it out. Once you've filled it in click the send button and we'll do the rest. Please remember to include your old email address so we can find it in the list as well as the new one.
How do I know when my membership should be renewed?
When you login to the Member's Centre you will be told how many days of membership you have left once you have 30 days left. Just click on the link to renew and your membership will just continue on, uninterrupted.
What will you do with my email address?
We never rent, trade or sell our email list to anyone for any reason whatsoever. You'll never get an unsolicited email from a stranger as a result of joining this list.
How Did You Get on Our List?
You signed up to receive our Free Newsletter at our Cheapskates Club Web site or are a Platinum Cheapskates Club member
13. Contact Details
The Cheapskates Club -
Showing you how to live life
debt free, cashed up and laughing!
Contact Cheapskates