Your Cheapskates Club Newsletter 21:19
In This Newsletter
1. Cath's Corner
2. From the Tip Store - Homemade Air Freshener; Getting the Most from Scented Candles; Three Tips for Always Sparkling Windows
3. Share Your Tips
4. On the Menu - Rhubarb and Apple Sponge
5. The $300 a Month Food Challenge - When It Comes to Being Shopping Savvy, It's First Things First
6. Cheapskates Buzz - Cheapskaters are talking in the Forum and on Cath's blog
7. The Cheapskates Club Show - Live on You Tube Tuesdays & Thursdays
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
Homemade Air Freshener
Use a regular pump spray mister with 4 cups of water in it, add 4 teaspoons of bicarb soda and spray the odours away. If you'd like a scent add 10 - 20 drops of your favourite essential oil. The strength will depend on how strong you like the fragrance. Just be sure to spray into the air, and not directly onto furnishings or floor coverings.Getting the Most from Scented CandlesIf you love to burn scented candles, save the wax left when they burn down. Put it in a jar or bowl and sit it over the ducted heater vent or in front of a sunny window and the heat will be enough to release the fragrance and it will continue to scent the air.Three Tips for Always Sparkling WindowsA few tips on window washing:
(1) never wash windows while the sun is shining on them because they dry too quickly and leave streaks;
(2) when polishing windows use up and down strokes on one side of the window and side to side strokes on the other to tell which side requires extra polishing; and
(3) to polish windows or mirrors to a sparkling shine, try a natural linen towel or other soft cloth, a clean, damp chamois cloth, a squeegee, or a microfibre glass cloth.
Wash windows or glass with a mixture of equal pans of white vinegar and warm water. Dry with a soft cloth. Leaves windows and glass without streaks. To remove those stubborn hard water sprinkler spots and streaks, use undiluted vinegar.
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
Rhubarb and Apple Sponge
Now the nights are cooling down, we're looking for warm desserts and this sponge fits the bill perfectly. It uses a simple, plain cake mix (75 cents), but if you want to make your own cake batter that's fine. If you don't have rhubarb, double the apple or replace with stewed apricots or peaches or plums.
Ingredients:
500g rhubarb, stewed
2 cups stewed apple (or 1 large tin pie apple)
1 plain cake mix
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
Method:
Pre-heat oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Grease a 6 cup capacity casserole dish with butter. Heat the rhubarb and apple to boiling, pour hot rhubarb mixture into casserole dish Beat eggs in small bowl with electric mixer until thick and creamy, about five minutes. Add cake mix and milk and stir to just combine. Spread mixture evenly over hot rhubarb mixture, bake for about 30 minutes. Test to make sure sponge is cooked before removing from oven.
Serve with custard or ice-cream.
This week we will be eating:
Sunday: Roast Chicken
Monday: Sausages, gravy, veggies
Tuesday: Spinach Ricotta Lasagne, salad
Wednesday: Honey Mustard Chicken
Thursday: MOO Pizza
Friday: Fish, wedges, salad
Saturday: Muffin Surprise
In the fruit bowl: oranges, limes, bananas
In the cake tin: Lucnbox Cookies, Fruit Cake
There are over 1,600 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
When It Comes to Being Shopping Savvy, It's First Things First
Hello Cheapskaters,
Every day I am asked "how do I get my grocery bill down?"; it's something everyone wants to know.
I've been saying for almost 20 years: your grocery bill is the one bill you have absolute control over. You, and you alone, decide just how much money you spend on groceries each week. You choose what to buy, the brands you buy, the quantities you buy and where you buy those things.
So with those choices in mind, here's an outline of the strategies you can use to get your grocery bill down.
1. Clean, organize and inventory your pantry, fridge and freezer. Cheapskates Club members can login and use the downloadable inventories on the Printable page.
2. Decide how much you are going to spend and set your grocery budget. It doesn't have to be the amount you are spending now. Try trimming last week's grocery bill by 10 per cent to start. If that works, next time you shop take another 10 per cent off and see if that works. Keep going until you find you aren't buying everything you need, then add 10 per cent and stick to it for a few weeks. If it works, great, that's your optimal grocery budget. If after a few weeks you find it doesn't work, add 5 per cent and see if that makes a difference.
3. Create a meal plan. Whether it's weekly, fortnightly or monthly you need a meal plan. It is easier to work a meal plan to fit your shopping routine so if you shop weekly, meal plan weekly. Login and download the current month's blank meal planner and my meal plan for the month to make meal planning easy. You don't need to stick to it, but you'll have an idea of what to shop for and if you have ingredients then switching meals is easy.
4. Collect the junk mail, the local papers and get online to find the store ads. Use them to write your shopping list and more importantly to familiarize yourself with the sale cycle, and just what comes on sale. Start a price book and track the prices and sale cycle of the products you use most
5. Stock up on staples. Every family has different staples, foods they always have on hand. Use these staples to start your grocery stockpile, buying one or two extra staples each time you shop and stocking up when they come on sale. Items such as baking goods, meat, breakfast cereals, toiletries, cleaning supplies, canned or frozen foods are usually staples in most homes and are a good starting point.
6. Donate your extras. Cheapskates live by the 10-10-80 rule: give 10 per cent, save 10 per cent and live off 80 per cent. Use some of your stockpile to donate to food banks and soup kitchens in your area. You don't need to give money, you can be generous with your time, skills and energy too.
The $300 a Month Food Challenge Forum
The Post that Started it All
6. Cheapskates Buzz
From The Article Archive
The Minimum Wage Challenge
Portion Control and Free Meals
Six Multitasking Tips to Get More Out of Your Day
This Week's Hot Forum Topics
How Our Shopping Habits Affect the Economy
A Question About Envelope Budgeting System
Fed Up with Improved Products
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
Clean the Whole House for Under $20 a Year!
How to Stock Your Pantry
Raising a Richie Rich (or Teaching Kids About Money)
Coming Up
Thursday 23rd May - 0ne Pot Jams & MOO Coffee Syrups
Tuesday 28th May - Can You Feed A Family On A Budget With Just A Few Ingredients?
8. 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
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
1. Cath's Corner
2. From the Tip Store - Homemade Air Freshener; Getting the Most from Scented Candles; Three Tips for Always Sparkling Windows
3. Share Your Tips
4. On the Menu - Rhubarb and Apple Sponge
5. The $300 a Month Food Challenge - When It Comes to Being Shopping Savvy, It's First Things First
6. Cheapskates Buzz - Cheapskaters are talking in the Forum and on Cath's blog
7. The Cheapskates Club Show - Live on You Tube Tuesdays & Thursdays
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
Homemade Air Freshener
Use a regular pump spray mister with 4 cups of water in it, add 4 teaspoons of bicarb soda and spray the odours away. If you'd like a scent add 10 - 20 drops of your favourite essential oil. The strength will depend on how strong you like the fragrance. Just be sure to spray into the air, and not directly onto furnishings or floor coverings.Getting the Most from Scented CandlesIf you love to burn scented candles, save the wax left when they burn down. Put it in a jar or bowl and sit it over the ducted heater vent or in front of a sunny window and the heat will be enough to release the fragrance and it will continue to scent the air.Three Tips for Always Sparkling WindowsA few tips on window washing:
(1) never wash windows while the sun is shining on them because they dry too quickly and leave streaks;
(2) when polishing windows use up and down strokes on one side of the window and side to side strokes on the other to tell which side requires extra polishing; and
(3) to polish windows or mirrors to a sparkling shine, try a natural linen towel or other soft cloth, a clean, damp chamois cloth, a squeegee, or a microfibre glass cloth.
Wash windows or glass with a mixture of equal pans of white vinegar and warm water. Dry with a soft cloth. Leaves windows and glass without streaks. To remove those stubborn hard water sprinkler spots and streaks, use undiluted vinegar.
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
Rhubarb and Apple Sponge
Now the nights are cooling down, we're looking for warm desserts and this sponge fits the bill perfectly. It uses a simple, plain cake mix (75 cents), but if you want to make your own cake batter that's fine. If you don't have rhubarb, double the apple or replace with stewed apricots or peaches or plums.
Ingredients:
500g rhubarb, stewed
2 cups stewed apple (or 1 large tin pie apple)
1 plain cake mix
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
Method:
Pre-heat oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Grease a 6 cup capacity casserole dish with butter. Heat the rhubarb and apple to boiling, pour hot rhubarb mixture into casserole dish Beat eggs in small bowl with electric mixer until thick and creamy, about five minutes. Add cake mix and milk and stir to just combine. Spread mixture evenly over hot rhubarb mixture, bake for about 30 minutes. Test to make sure sponge is cooked before removing from oven.
Serve with custard or ice-cream.
This week we will be eating:
Sunday: Roast Chicken
Monday: Sausages, gravy, veggies
Tuesday: Spinach Ricotta Lasagne, salad
Wednesday: Honey Mustard Chicken
Thursday: MOO Pizza
Friday: Fish, wedges, salad
Saturday: Muffin Surprise
In the fruit bowl: oranges, limes, bananas
In the cake tin: Lucnbox Cookies, Fruit Cake
There are over 1,600 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
When It Comes to Being Shopping Savvy, It's First Things First
Hello Cheapskaters,
Every day I am asked "how do I get my grocery bill down?"; it's something everyone wants to know.
I've been saying for almost 20 years: your grocery bill is the one bill you have absolute control over. You, and you alone, decide just how much money you spend on groceries each week. You choose what to buy, the brands you buy, the quantities you buy and where you buy those things.
So with those choices in mind, here's an outline of the strategies you can use to get your grocery bill down.
1. Clean, organize and inventory your pantry, fridge and freezer. Cheapskates Club members can login and use the downloadable inventories on the Printable page.
2. Decide how much you are going to spend and set your grocery budget. It doesn't have to be the amount you are spending now. Try trimming last week's grocery bill by 10 per cent to start. If that works, next time you shop take another 10 per cent off and see if that works. Keep going until you find you aren't buying everything you need, then add 10 per cent and stick to it for a few weeks. If it works, great, that's your optimal grocery budget. If after a few weeks you find it doesn't work, add 5 per cent and see if that makes a difference.
3. Create a meal plan. Whether it's weekly, fortnightly or monthly you need a meal plan. It is easier to work a meal plan to fit your shopping routine so if you shop weekly, meal plan weekly. Login and download the current month's blank meal planner and my meal plan for the month to make meal planning easy. You don't need to stick to it, but you'll have an idea of what to shop for and if you have ingredients then switching meals is easy.
4. Collect the junk mail, the local papers and get online to find the store ads. Use them to write your shopping list and more importantly to familiarize yourself with the sale cycle, and just what comes on sale. Start a price book and track the prices and sale cycle of the products you use most
5. Stock up on staples. Every family has different staples, foods they always have on hand. Use these staples to start your grocery stockpile, buying one or two extra staples each time you shop and stocking up when they come on sale. Items such as baking goods, meat, breakfast cereals, toiletries, cleaning supplies, canned or frozen foods are usually staples in most homes and are a good starting point.
6. Donate your extras. Cheapskates live by the 10-10-80 rule: give 10 per cent, save 10 per cent and live off 80 per cent. Use some of your stockpile to donate to food banks and soup kitchens in your area. You don't need to give money, you can be generous with your time, skills and energy too.
The $300 a Month Food Challenge Forum
The Post that Started it All
6. Cheapskates Buzz
From The Article Archive
The Minimum Wage Challenge
Portion Control and Free Meals
Six Multitasking Tips to Get More Out of Your Day
This Week's Hot Forum Topics
How Our Shopping Habits Affect the Economy
A Question About Envelope Budgeting System
Fed Up with Improved Products
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
Clean the Whole House for Under $20 a Year!
How to Stock Your Pantry
Raising a Richie Rich (or Teaching Kids About Money)
Coming Up
Thursday 23rd May - 0ne Pot Jams & MOO Coffee Syrups
Tuesday 28th May - Can You Feed A Family On A Budget With Just A Few Ingredients?
8. 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
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