Your Cheapskates Club Newsletter 20:19
In This Newsletter
1. Cath's Corner
2. From the Tip Store - No Waste Citrus; Better Fitting Frying Pan Lids; Homemade Bird Swing
3. Share Your Tips -
4. On the Menu - Put on a Pot Roast
5. The $300 a Month Food Challenge- The Perfect Pantry
6. Cheapskates Buzz - Cheapskaters are talking in the Forum and on Cath's blog
7. The Cheapskates Club Show
8. Ask A Question - Have a question? Ask it here
9. Join the Cheapskates Club
10. Frequently Asked Questions
11. Contact Details
1. Cath's Corner
Hello Cheapskaters,
A very short newsletter this week, but it's still full of good ideas to save you money, time and energy.
If you haven't already, please join us on Tuesdays and Thursdays over on YouTube. We have a lot of fun and the ideas being shared are amazing! Subscribe to our channel and click the bell to be notified every time there's a new show or video uploaded so you don't miss out.
Have a great week every one.
Happy Cheapskating,
Cath
2. From The Tip Store
No waste Citrus
Whenever a recipe calls for only the juice of a lemon, lime or orange, I first finely grate off the zest into a freezer container and place into freezer for later use in baking, casseroles and stir fries or cold drinks. I then juice the fruit for the recipe at hand. The leftover pith goes into any water that requires boiling to preserve the colour of the vegetables or to stop apples browning once cut before stewing. This used pith can also go into casseroles to enhance flavour then removed before serving, or keep any uncooked remains of squeezed lemon on the sink to rub on metal cooking utensils for shine and clean.
Contributed by Yvette Nnewton
Better Fitting Frying Pan Lids
Do you get frustrated at frying pans that are sold without lids, letting heat out during cooking? It's sometimes possible to find generic fit-anything lids, but even those often aren't big enough for a large frying pan. Try putting an oval slow-cooker lid on instead. It doesn't cover quite the entire frying pan, but it covers most of it, and the length of an oval slow-cooker lid will sit across any round frying pan I've used.
Contributed by Gabrielle Castle
Editor's note: You can buy lids for large frying pans and stock pots - most supermarkets will have a limited range, and department stores such as Big W and Kmart also have a range. But before you spend $10+ on a lid, take a trip to your local op shop and look for a microwave turntable/plate. These are large enough to cover the biggest round frying pan or saute pan and you can pick them up for $1 - $2 each (or check any microwaves you see out for hard rubbish and pick one up for free). Obviously you'll need a pot holder to lift it as it doesn't have a handle, but being lipped they fit well. Cath
Home Made Bird Swing
I have 10 Canaries in an aviary and I made a swing for them using a small gum tree branch, around 90cms long, andan old wire coat hanger I wound around the branch twice making sure it was secure. It was then attached to the wire under the roof and they just love swinging on it. If you make one just make sure it can swing. It is easy to squirt it with the hose to make sure it is clean; if not take another branch, untwist the wire and attach the new branch. Just make sure the wire is safe that it can't hurt the birds if the fly into it.
Contributed by Lynette Stewart
Add a Tip
3. Share Your Tips
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!
Share Your Tip
4. On The Menu
Put on a Pot Roast
I love pot roast. It is the most delicious one pot dinner, so if you're bored with your regular roast chook or beef or lamb, try an old fashioned pot roast. Using cheaper cuts of beef, a pot roast is an economical and delicious winter meal. The leftovers make great sandwiches too.
Pot Roast
Ingredients:
2 tbsp olive oil
2 - 2.5kg piece beef roast
Salt and pepper
2 cups beef stock (homemade or using stock cubes)
1/2 cup red wine (optional)*
3 large onions, cut into quarters
4 cloves garlic, crushed
2 dried bay leaves
1 tsp dried thyme
2 tbsp tomato paste
1kg baby carrots, topped and tailed
1kg potatoes, washed and cut into 2cm chunks
Method:
Preheat oven to 175 degrees Celsius. In a large cast iron Dutch oven (or flame and ovenproof casserole), heat oil over medium-high heat. Sprinkle roast all over with salt and pepper. Place in pan, and brown on all sides, about 10 minutes. Turn meat fat side up. Add stock, wine, if using, onions, garlic, bay leaves, and thyme. Stir in tomato paste. Bring to a simmer, cover; put in the oven, and roast for 3 hours. Add a little more beef stock if necessary, there should be enough liquid to make a gravy. Add carrots and potatoes, and cook until vegetables are tender, about 1 hour more. Transfer the roast, carrots, and potatoes to a platter. With a spoon, skim the fat off the surface of the cooking liquid. Cut the roast into thick slices, and serve with the vegetables. Pass the pan juices separately.
Leftover meat makes delicious sandwiches the next day.
*Note: If you don't use the red wine, add an extra 1/2 cup beef stock to the recipe.
This week we will be eating:
Sunday: Roast Lamb
Monday: Curried tuna slice & wedges, salad
Tuesday: Spag Bol, salad, garlic bread
Wednesday: Shepherd's Pie, carrot, peas, corn cobs
Thursday: MOO Pizza
Friday: Corn Fritters, Chips and Salad
Saturday: Leftover Roast Pies
In the fruit bowl: bananas, mandarins, limes
There are over 1,700 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
5. The $300 A Month Food Challenge
The Perfect Pantry
To me a perfect pantry isn't one where all the canister match, have beautiful labels, with cans all stacked by size, contents and use by. A perfect pantry is one that has the basic staples I need to prepare nutritious and tasty meals for my family without going over the grocery budget.
I can tell you that my pantry doesn't have wall to wall matching canisters, that the tins are not stored in alphabetical order and while some containers have bought labels, many of them have handwritten, sticky-taped on pieces of paper that act as labels. It may not look like something out of Better Homes and Gardens but it works, and that is what counts when it's 5.30pm and the hungry hoards are about to descend.
Getting your pantry to the perfect pantry stage takes time, especially if you are starting from scratch. It takes time to work out which pantry staples you use regularly, which ones you use occasionally and which ones you rarely, if ever use. It also takes a couple of months to determine quantities. If you only eat rice once or twice a year then keeping 20 kilos in the pantry isn't practical. If you eat rice three or four times a week then a 20 kilo bag is a good idea, if you have the room for it!
As you get started keep a list of the ingredients you use when you prepare meals. Write down the flours, sugars, cereals, grains, herbs and spices, sauces, pastas, tins and packets you use and how often you use them. Don't forget to list the things you keep in your freezer too. In most Australian homes these days a freezer forms a part of the pantry too. Use our Pantry Inventory to help you keep track of what you have on hand or need to buy. Hint: this will help you get your pricebook established too.
As you make up your list think about the things your family likes to eat and how you prepare them. Do you use many packets/tins/pre-prepared ingredients? If so think about how you make these foods from scratch using the ingredients you keep in your pantry.
When you do the grocery shopping each week or fortnight start building your pantry, starting with the things that you use the most often. Think about quantities for these ingredients: is it cheaper to buy in bulk? Do you have the room to store larger quantities of these ingredients? Can you afford to buy larger quantities? And most importantly, if you buy larger quantities, will you be able to use it up before the best before or use by dates?
When you get the shopping home update your pantry inventory as you put it away. Then as you plan your meals you can refer to the inventory and use what you have on hand along with whatever fresh food you have in the fridge.
Having a stocked up pantry allows me to shop for groceries once a month (although lately I have been stretching this out to 6 weeks). Combining a well-stocked pantry with menu planning ensures that we eat well-balanced, tasty meals and I don't go over our grocery budget. It also ensures that during the odd week or two when we want to save a little extra we can do a pantry challenge and still eat good food.
For me this is the perfect pantry: flexible enough for variety and frugal – perfect for living the Cheapskates way.
The $300 a Month Food Challenge Forum
The Post that Started it All
6. Cheapskates Buzz
From The Article Archive
Butter Me Up
The Golden Rule of Cheapskating: Spend Less, Save More
How to Shop Monthly, Save Money and Love It
This Week's Hot Forum Topics
A Time for All Things Under Heaven
Op Shop or New
What if I Don’t Have a Food Processor for Penny Pinching Pizza?
7. The Cheapskates Club Show
Join Cath and Hannah live Tuesdays and Thursdays on You Tube at 7.30pm AET
Show Schedule
Tuesday: Around the Kitchen Table - join Cath and Hannah for a cuppa and a chat around the kitchen table as they talk about living the Cheapskates way.
Thursday: Cheapskates in the Kitchen - want to know how to cook delicious, healthy and cheap meals? Watch Cath and Hannah as they create cheapskates style cuisine and share their favourite recipes.
Latest Shows
The Easiest, Most Delicious Pies Ever
7 Habits of Successful Savers
Vacuum Sealer Product Review & Overnight Gingerbeer
Raising Richie Rich (Or Teaching Kids About Money)
Coming Up
Thursday 16th May - How to Stock Your Pantry
Tuesday 21st May - Can You Feed A Family On A Budget With Just A Few Ingredients? Yes, You Can!
8. Ask A Question
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
9. Join The Cheapskates Club
For just $36.50 a year, 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
10. 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 signed up to receive our Free Newsletter at our Cheapskates Club Web site or are a Platinum Cheapskates Club member.
11. 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
www.cheapskatesclub.net
1. Cath's Corner
2. From the Tip Store - No Waste Citrus; Better Fitting Frying Pan Lids; Homemade Bird Swing
3. Share Your Tips -
4. On the Menu - Put on a Pot Roast
5. The $300 a Month Food Challenge- The Perfect Pantry
6. Cheapskates Buzz - Cheapskaters are talking in the Forum and on Cath's blog
7. The Cheapskates Club Show
8. Ask A Question - Have a question? Ask it here
9. Join the Cheapskates Club
10. Frequently Asked Questions
11. Contact Details
1. Cath's Corner
Hello Cheapskaters,
A very short newsletter this week, but it's still full of good ideas to save you money, time and energy.
If you haven't already, please join us on Tuesdays and Thursdays over on YouTube. We have a lot of fun and the ideas being shared are amazing! Subscribe to our channel and click the bell to be notified every time there's a new show or video uploaded so you don't miss out.
Have a great week every one.
Happy Cheapskating,
Cath
2. From The Tip Store
No waste Citrus
Whenever a recipe calls for only the juice of a lemon, lime or orange, I first finely grate off the zest into a freezer container and place into freezer for later use in baking, casseroles and stir fries or cold drinks. I then juice the fruit for the recipe at hand. The leftover pith goes into any water that requires boiling to preserve the colour of the vegetables or to stop apples browning once cut before stewing. This used pith can also go into casseroles to enhance flavour then removed before serving, or keep any uncooked remains of squeezed lemon on the sink to rub on metal cooking utensils for shine and clean.
Contributed by Yvette Nnewton
Better Fitting Frying Pan Lids
Do you get frustrated at frying pans that are sold without lids, letting heat out during cooking? It's sometimes possible to find generic fit-anything lids, but even those often aren't big enough for a large frying pan. Try putting an oval slow-cooker lid on instead. It doesn't cover quite the entire frying pan, but it covers most of it, and the length of an oval slow-cooker lid will sit across any round frying pan I've used.
Contributed by Gabrielle Castle
Editor's note: You can buy lids for large frying pans and stock pots - most supermarkets will have a limited range, and department stores such as Big W and Kmart also have a range. But before you spend $10+ on a lid, take a trip to your local op shop and look for a microwave turntable/plate. These are large enough to cover the biggest round frying pan or saute pan and you can pick them up for $1 - $2 each (or check any microwaves you see out for hard rubbish and pick one up for free). Obviously you'll need a pot holder to lift it as it doesn't have a handle, but being lipped they fit well. Cath
Home Made Bird Swing
I have 10 Canaries in an aviary and I made a swing for them using a small gum tree branch, around 90cms long, andan old wire coat hanger I wound around the branch twice making sure it was secure. It was then attached to the wire under the roof and they just love swinging on it. If you make one just make sure it can swing. It is easy to squirt it with the hose to make sure it is clean; if not take another branch, untwist the wire and attach the new branch. Just make sure the wire is safe that it can't hurt the birds if the fly into it.
Contributed by Lynette Stewart
Add a Tip
3. Share Your Tips
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!
Share Your Tip
4. On The Menu
Put on a Pot Roast
I love pot roast. It is the most delicious one pot dinner, so if you're bored with your regular roast chook or beef or lamb, try an old fashioned pot roast. Using cheaper cuts of beef, a pot roast is an economical and delicious winter meal. The leftovers make great sandwiches too.
Pot Roast
Ingredients:
2 tbsp olive oil
2 - 2.5kg piece beef roast
Salt and pepper
2 cups beef stock (homemade or using stock cubes)
1/2 cup red wine (optional)*
3 large onions, cut into quarters
4 cloves garlic, crushed
2 dried bay leaves
1 tsp dried thyme
2 tbsp tomato paste
1kg baby carrots, topped and tailed
1kg potatoes, washed and cut into 2cm chunks
Method:
Preheat oven to 175 degrees Celsius. In a large cast iron Dutch oven (or flame and ovenproof casserole), heat oil over medium-high heat. Sprinkle roast all over with salt and pepper. Place in pan, and brown on all sides, about 10 minutes. Turn meat fat side up. Add stock, wine, if using, onions, garlic, bay leaves, and thyme. Stir in tomato paste. Bring to a simmer, cover; put in the oven, and roast for 3 hours. Add a little more beef stock if necessary, there should be enough liquid to make a gravy. Add carrots and potatoes, and cook until vegetables are tender, about 1 hour more. Transfer the roast, carrots, and potatoes to a platter. With a spoon, skim the fat off the surface of the cooking liquid. Cut the roast into thick slices, and serve with the vegetables. Pass the pan juices separately.
Leftover meat makes delicious sandwiches the next day.
*Note: If you don't use the red wine, add an extra 1/2 cup beef stock to the recipe.
This week we will be eating:
Sunday: Roast Lamb
Monday: Curried tuna slice & wedges, salad
Tuesday: Spag Bol, salad, garlic bread
Wednesday: Shepherd's Pie, carrot, peas, corn cobs
Thursday: MOO Pizza
Friday: Corn Fritters, Chips and Salad
Saturday: Leftover Roast Pies
In the fruit bowl: bananas, mandarins, limes
There are over 1,700 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
5. The $300 A Month Food Challenge
The Perfect Pantry
To me a perfect pantry isn't one where all the canister match, have beautiful labels, with cans all stacked by size, contents and use by. A perfect pantry is one that has the basic staples I need to prepare nutritious and tasty meals for my family without going over the grocery budget.
I can tell you that my pantry doesn't have wall to wall matching canisters, that the tins are not stored in alphabetical order and while some containers have bought labels, many of them have handwritten, sticky-taped on pieces of paper that act as labels. It may not look like something out of Better Homes and Gardens but it works, and that is what counts when it's 5.30pm and the hungry hoards are about to descend.
Getting your pantry to the perfect pantry stage takes time, especially if you are starting from scratch. It takes time to work out which pantry staples you use regularly, which ones you use occasionally and which ones you rarely, if ever use. It also takes a couple of months to determine quantities. If you only eat rice once or twice a year then keeping 20 kilos in the pantry isn't practical. If you eat rice three or four times a week then a 20 kilo bag is a good idea, if you have the room for it!
As you get started keep a list of the ingredients you use when you prepare meals. Write down the flours, sugars, cereals, grains, herbs and spices, sauces, pastas, tins and packets you use and how often you use them. Don't forget to list the things you keep in your freezer too. In most Australian homes these days a freezer forms a part of the pantry too. Use our Pantry Inventory to help you keep track of what you have on hand or need to buy. Hint: this will help you get your pricebook established too.
As you make up your list think about the things your family likes to eat and how you prepare them. Do you use many packets/tins/pre-prepared ingredients? If so think about how you make these foods from scratch using the ingredients you keep in your pantry.
When you do the grocery shopping each week or fortnight start building your pantry, starting with the things that you use the most often. Think about quantities for these ingredients: is it cheaper to buy in bulk? Do you have the room to store larger quantities of these ingredients? Can you afford to buy larger quantities? And most importantly, if you buy larger quantities, will you be able to use it up before the best before or use by dates?
When you get the shopping home update your pantry inventory as you put it away. Then as you plan your meals you can refer to the inventory and use what you have on hand along with whatever fresh food you have in the fridge.
Having a stocked up pantry allows me to shop for groceries once a month (although lately I have been stretching this out to 6 weeks). Combining a well-stocked pantry with menu planning ensures that we eat well-balanced, tasty meals and I don't go over our grocery budget. It also ensures that during the odd week or two when we want to save a little extra we can do a pantry challenge and still eat good food.
For me this is the perfect pantry: flexible enough for variety and frugal – perfect for living the Cheapskates way.
The $300 a Month Food Challenge Forum
The Post that Started it All
6. Cheapskates Buzz
From The Article Archive
Butter Me Up
The Golden Rule of Cheapskating: Spend Less, Save More
How to Shop Monthly, Save Money and Love It
This Week's Hot Forum Topics
A Time for All Things Under Heaven
Op Shop or New
What if I Don’t Have a Food Processor for Penny Pinching Pizza?
7. The Cheapskates Club Show
Join Cath and Hannah live Tuesdays and Thursdays on You Tube at 7.30pm AET
Show Schedule
Tuesday: Around the Kitchen Table - join Cath and Hannah for a cuppa and a chat around the kitchen table as they talk about living the Cheapskates way.
Thursday: Cheapskates in the Kitchen - want to know how to cook delicious, healthy and cheap meals? Watch Cath and Hannah as they create cheapskates style cuisine and share their favourite recipes.
Latest Shows
The Easiest, Most Delicious Pies Ever
7 Habits of Successful Savers
Vacuum Sealer Product Review & Overnight Gingerbeer
Raising Richie Rich (Or Teaching Kids About Money)
Coming Up
Thursday 16th May - How to Stock Your Pantry
Tuesday 21st May - Can You Feed A Family On A Budget With Just A Few Ingredients? Yes, You Can!
8. Ask A Question
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
9. Join The Cheapskates Club
For just $36.50 a year, 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
10. 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 signed up to receive our Free Newsletter at our Cheapskates Club Web site or are a Platinum Cheapskates Club member.
11. 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
www.cheapskatesclub.net