Your Cheapskates Club Newsletter 23:32
In This Newsletter
1. Cath's Corner
2. From the Tip Store - Have an Oven Use Plan; Menu Window Shopping; No More Boring Dinners, This Family has Plenty of Variety for Less $$$
3. Share Your Tips
4. On the Menu - Lamb Hot Pot
5. The $300 a Month Food Challenge - Avoid Blunders that Bust the Budget
6. The Weekly MOO Challenge - MOO Tikka Seasoning
7. Cheapskates Buzz
8. The Cheapskates Club Show
9. Handmade Christmas Challenge - Beanies
10. Join the Cheapskates Club
11. Frequently Asked Questions
12. Contact Details
1. Cath's Corner
Hello Cheapskaters,
Welcome new members and newsletter subscribers!
It has been a weird week. First, the weather has been crazy. It's June, and the days have been warm, in the high teens, not that I'm complaining, but they have also been grey and drab. They look like June days should, but feel more like September!
It has been good for the garden. The plants have settled in well, and are growing quickly. I go out every day and look at the cabbages and cauliflowers and silverbeet and turnips and parsnips and smile because they look amazing. This should be a good winter harvest.
I cut more rosemary and hung it to dry over the heater. Then I put more celery through the dehydrator. Made a batch of Iced Coffee Syrup that goes very well in hot milk (just saying, if the idea of iced coffee doesn't appeal).
It was busy, with family happenings and Cheapskates happenings, but a good week when I look back on it. If you think you're not getting much done, or not getting ahead with your pantry or paying down debt fast enough, take a few minutes and look back and list what you've done. Then smile because every little success counts just as much as the bigger, bolder ones.
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
Have an Oven Use Plan
We have all seen the benefit of menu planning to help with reducing waste and sticking to budget. When I was growing up we combined that with planning our oven use. My mum was very reluctant to turn on the oven for only one food. She would make sure if she had heated the oven up there was something else to go in. So if the oven is on for a roast then dessert would be in there or a batch of scones could go in later etc. I try to menu plan with this in mind. For example, if I know I'll need some cupcakes by Wednesday, on Monday when lasagne is on the menu I can do the cupcakes. Sometimes it is possible to cook two days worth of dinners at the same time. Dinners that keep well for another day include quiche, lasagne, pasta bake, curry, casserole and sausages. They can be reheated in the microwave using much less power.
Contributed by Gillian
Menu Window Shopping
As things are getting tighter and tighter restaurant meals are out for us but we've found a way around it we go to the window of a restaurant we'd like to visit (or their website) check out the menus and pick what we'd like to order and then come home and I make the meal myself! I'm learning to cook new things and saving heaps and we don't feel like we're missing out. My teenage son even said my "McMum" quarter pounder was better than Macca's lol and my partner is sold on the fact that he can "order" anything and not worry about the cost!
Contributed by Lisa
No More Boring Dinners, This Family has Plenty of Variety for Less $$$
$ Savings: $30 per week
I tired of trying to decide what to cook for dinner each night. We seemed to be eating the same meals each week, and it felt impossible to find meals that the four of us all liked. So I sat down and wrote out a list of all the meals that we all like. Then I divided it into categories, such as chicken, beef, lamb, fish, pasta based, egg based, rice based and vegetarian (some meals are in multiple categories.) I took it one step further by writing an approximate cost next to each meal. Now, I write out a weekly meal planner. I jot down the days of the week and then make notes of things like the days I'm home late from work or my husband is out for a function. Then, I pick meals from my list and slot them in. I chose one or two from each category, so we're getting a good variety of vitamins etc, and I'm careful to only chose one of the more expensive meals a week. If I know that I'm going to be home late from work, I make sure that I have an easy to prepare meal for that night. I also allow for one 'leftovers' and one 'scrap-up' meal a week. (Scrap-up usually involves an omelette or risotto using all the odds and sods in the fridge). I always know what meat to defrost the night before, I'm only shopping once a week, and only buying food needed for the planned meals, and we're throwing out a lot less food. As my husband said just last week, we're eating better than before, and saving money whilst we do it! I've been doing this for a few months now, and it's a brilliant time and cost saver. I also took note of where we don't have much variety (i.e. in the lamb section) so I'm experimenting with new recipes to pad out that category.
Contributed by Sarah
There are more than 12,000 great tips in the Tip Store
Add a Tip
3. Share Your Tips
The Cheapskate's Club website is thousands of pages of money saving hints, tips and ideas. There are over 12,000 tips to save you money, time and energy; 1,600 budget and family friendly recipes, hundreds of printable tip sheets and ebooks.
Let's get together and make the Cheapskates Club Australia's largest online hint, tip and idea library. Share your favourite money saving, time saving or energy saving hint and be in the running to win a one-year membership to The Cheapskate Club.
Share your 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
Lamb Hot Pot
This is a budget friendly meal. Use whatever meat you have if you don't have barbecue chops.
Ingredients:
6 bbq chops (or any other meat, I often just use chuck steak)
1 sliced onion
2 potatoes thinly sliced
1 thinly sliced carrot
beef stock cube
water – eyeball it, about 1 ½ cups
Method:
Grease a casserole dish and put the chops on the bottom. Then layer the vegetables over the top. Mix the stock cube with the water and pour over. Cover with a lid and bake in a moderate oven until meat and veggies are cooked about 1 ½ - 2 hours depending on size of chops. The meat will fall off the bones, be very tender and you will have lovely gravy to spoon over the meat and veggies.
Next week we will be eating:
Sunday: Roast Lamb
Monday: Enchiladas
Tuesday: Pumpkin Gnocchi with Spinach Pesto
Wednesday: Lamb Hot Pot, mash, veggies
Thursday: MOO Pizza
Friday: Fish, wedges, coleslaw
Saturday: Freezer Meals
There are over 1,800 budget and family friendly recipes in the Cheapskates Club Recipe File, all contributed by your fellow Cheapskates, so you know they're good.
Add A Recipe
Recipe File Index
5. The $300 a Month Food Challenge
Avoid the Blunders that Bust Budgets
These days, there are better options than trusting our grocery budget to supermarkets. And with food prices rising every week, even the smallest increase or mistake at the checkout can show up in big red figures on our budgets.
There are some simple things you can do to avoid being caught by the grocery budget blunders, and you'll notice the savings almost immediately.
Our job is to stay alert, avoid the tricks that cost us and do what we can to stick to our budget.
The first mistake we could make is being brand loyal. Unless it is something specific (in our house tea and coffee) then sticking to a brand out of habit or loyalty could be costing you big.
The next mistake is not checking unit prices. We are blessed in Australia with supermarkets putting the unit price on the price ticket for each item. Check it! Compare it between brands, and even between different sizes in the same brand. It's up to you if you choose the cheaper option, but at least be aware of unit prices so you can make an informed choice.
One that I'm sure we've all fallen for at some time, is giving into temptation. Everything about a supermarket is designed to facilitate impulse buying. Give yourself a head start by not picking up a basket; no basket means nowhere to put those impulse buys and more money in your purse.
Another common mistake is lack of a plan. Grocery shopping without a list is risky. Without a plan you'll buy things because you "might need them" or "because we'll use it anyway" and undoubtedly you'll find yourself coming back for what you forgot—and that starts the mistakes all over again. Write up a shopping list before you leave home and then stick to it as you shop. And no aisle cruising either - if the aisle doesn't hold an item on your list you can skip it.
Lastly, beware of checkout daze. If you want to save money, keep a close eye on the scanner at the checkout. If the store you shop at adheres to the Supermarket Scanner Code of Practise (and it is voluntary, not required) then watching for errors could put money back into your pocket if your items scan at more than the advertised price. You also need to watch that each item is scanned only once and that any special deal prices (i.e. buy two get one free etc.) are applied to your bill. It pays to check your receipt before you leave the store and get any errors corrected straight away.
The $300 a Month Food Challenge Forum
The Post that Started it All
6. The Weekly MOO Challenge
MOO Tikka Seasoning
This can be used as a dry rub for chicken, or as the seasoning in a curry, but I love it mixed into plain yoghurt and used as a marinade for diced chicken. I toss the chicken in the marinade and leave it overnight, then toss it onto the barbecue and serve it in warmed wraps with shredded lettuce, sliced red onion and a drizzle of yoghurt. Yum!
Ingredients:
1 tbsp coriander powder
1-1/2 tbsp paprika (I use sweet, use whatever you prefer)
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp cardamon powder
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
Method:
Combine all ingredients together. Can be used immediately and stores in an airtight container for a few months.
Get in on the fun and discussions here.
7. Cheapskates Buzz
From The Article Archive
7 Freezer Meals in One Hour for under $30
Adapting Recipes for the Slow Cooker
Groceries I don't Buy
This Week's Hot Forum Topics
Restocking Pantries
Cakes in a Slow Cooker
Ideas for using up Canned Corn, Peas & Green Beans
8. The Cheapskates Club Show
Join Cath and Hannah live Tuesdays and Thursdays on You Tube at 7.30pm AET
Latest Shows
1. Cath's Corner
2. From the Tip Store - Have an Oven Use Plan; Menu Window Shopping; No More Boring Dinners, This Family has Plenty of Variety for Less $$$
3. Share Your Tips
4. On the Menu - Lamb Hot Pot
5. The $300 a Month Food Challenge - Avoid Blunders that Bust the Budget
6. The Weekly MOO Challenge - MOO Tikka Seasoning
7. Cheapskates Buzz
8. The Cheapskates Club Show
9. Handmade Christmas Challenge - Beanies
10. Join the Cheapskates Club
11. Frequently Asked Questions
12. Contact Details
1. Cath's Corner
Hello Cheapskaters,
Welcome new members and newsletter subscribers!
It has been a weird week. First, the weather has been crazy. It's June, and the days have been warm, in the high teens, not that I'm complaining, but they have also been grey and drab. They look like June days should, but feel more like September!
It has been good for the garden. The plants have settled in well, and are growing quickly. I go out every day and look at the cabbages and cauliflowers and silverbeet and turnips and parsnips and smile because they look amazing. This should be a good winter harvest.
I cut more rosemary and hung it to dry over the heater. Then I put more celery through the dehydrator. Made a batch of Iced Coffee Syrup that goes very well in hot milk (just saying, if the idea of iced coffee doesn't appeal).
It was busy, with family happenings and Cheapskates happenings, but a good week when I look back on it. If you think you're not getting much done, or not getting ahead with your pantry or paying down debt fast enough, take a few minutes and look back and list what you've done. Then smile because every little success counts just as much as the bigger, bolder ones.
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
Have an Oven Use Plan
We have all seen the benefit of menu planning to help with reducing waste and sticking to budget. When I was growing up we combined that with planning our oven use. My mum was very reluctant to turn on the oven for only one food. She would make sure if she had heated the oven up there was something else to go in. So if the oven is on for a roast then dessert would be in there or a batch of scones could go in later etc. I try to menu plan with this in mind. For example, if I know I'll need some cupcakes by Wednesday, on Monday when lasagne is on the menu I can do the cupcakes. Sometimes it is possible to cook two days worth of dinners at the same time. Dinners that keep well for another day include quiche, lasagne, pasta bake, curry, casserole and sausages. They can be reheated in the microwave using much less power.
Contributed by Gillian
Menu Window Shopping
As things are getting tighter and tighter restaurant meals are out for us but we've found a way around it we go to the window of a restaurant we'd like to visit (or their website) check out the menus and pick what we'd like to order and then come home and I make the meal myself! I'm learning to cook new things and saving heaps and we don't feel like we're missing out. My teenage son even said my "McMum" quarter pounder was better than Macca's lol and my partner is sold on the fact that he can "order" anything and not worry about the cost!
Contributed by Lisa
No More Boring Dinners, This Family has Plenty of Variety for Less $$$
$ Savings: $30 per week
I tired of trying to decide what to cook for dinner each night. We seemed to be eating the same meals each week, and it felt impossible to find meals that the four of us all liked. So I sat down and wrote out a list of all the meals that we all like. Then I divided it into categories, such as chicken, beef, lamb, fish, pasta based, egg based, rice based and vegetarian (some meals are in multiple categories.) I took it one step further by writing an approximate cost next to each meal. Now, I write out a weekly meal planner. I jot down the days of the week and then make notes of things like the days I'm home late from work or my husband is out for a function. Then, I pick meals from my list and slot them in. I chose one or two from each category, so we're getting a good variety of vitamins etc, and I'm careful to only chose one of the more expensive meals a week. If I know that I'm going to be home late from work, I make sure that I have an easy to prepare meal for that night. I also allow for one 'leftovers' and one 'scrap-up' meal a week. (Scrap-up usually involves an omelette or risotto using all the odds and sods in the fridge). I always know what meat to defrost the night before, I'm only shopping once a week, and only buying food needed for the planned meals, and we're throwing out a lot less food. As my husband said just last week, we're eating better than before, and saving money whilst we do it! I've been doing this for a few months now, and it's a brilliant time and cost saver. I also took note of where we don't have much variety (i.e. in the lamb section) so I'm experimenting with new recipes to pad out that category.
Contributed by Sarah
There are more than 12,000 great tips in the Tip Store
Add a Tip
3. Share Your Tips
The Cheapskate's Club website is thousands of pages of money saving hints, tips and ideas. There are over 12,000 tips to save you money, time and energy; 1,600 budget and family friendly recipes, hundreds of printable tip sheets and ebooks.
Let's get together and make the Cheapskates Club Australia's largest online hint, tip and idea library. Share your favourite money saving, time saving or energy saving hint and be in the running to win a one-year membership to The Cheapskate Club.
Share your 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
Lamb Hot Pot
This is a budget friendly meal. Use whatever meat you have if you don't have barbecue chops.
Ingredients:
6 bbq chops (or any other meat, I often just use chuck steak)
1 sliced onion
2 potatoes thinly sliced
1 thinly sliced carrot
beef stock cube
water – eyeball it, about 1 ½ cups
Method:
Grease a casserole dish and put the chops on the bottom. Then layer the vegetables over the top. Mix the stock cube with the water and pour over. Cover with a lid and bake in a moderate oven until meat and veggies are cooked about 1 ½ - 2 hours depending on size of chops. The meat will fall off the bones, be very tender and you will have lovely gravy to spoon over the meat and veggies.
Next week we will be eating:
Sunday: Roast Lamb
Monday: Enchiladas
Tuesday: Pumpkin Gnocchi with Spinach Pesto
Wednesday: Lamb Hot Pot, mash, veggies
Thursday: MOO Pizza
Friday: Fish, wedges, coleslaw
Saturday: Freezer Meals
There are over 1,800 budget and family friendly recipes in the Cheapskates Club Recipe File, all contributed by your fellow Cheapskates, so you know they're good.
Add A Recipe
Recipe File Index
5. The $300 a Month Food Challenge
Avoid the Blunders that Bust Budgets
These days, there are better options than trusting our grocery budget to supermarkets. And with food prices rising every week, even the smallest increase or mistake at the checkout can show up in big red figures on our budgets.
There are some simple things you can do to avoid being caught by the grocery budget blunders, and you'll notice the savings almost immediately.
Our job is to stay alert, avoid the tricks that cost us and do what we can to stick to our budget.
The first mistake we could make is being brand loyal. Unless it is something specific (in our house tea and coffee) then sticking to a brand out of habit or loyalty could be costing you big.
The next mistake is not checking unit prices. We are blessed in Australia with supermarkets putting the unit price on the price ticket for each item. Check it! Compare it between brands, and even between different sizes in the same brand. It's up to you if you choose the cheaper option, but at least be aware of unit prices so you can make an informed choice.
One that I'm sure we've all fallen for at some time, is giving into temptation. Everything about a supermarket is designed to facilitate impulse buying. Give yourself a head start by not picking up a basket; no basket means nowhere to put those impulse buys and more money in your purse.
Another common mistake is lack of a plan. Grocery shopping without a list is risky. Without a plan you'll buy things because you "might need them" or "because we'll use it anyway" and undoubtedly you'll find yourself coming back for what you forgot—and that starts the mistakes all over again. Write up a shopping list before you leave home and then stick to it as you shop. And no aisle cruising either - if the aisle doesn't hold an item on your list you can skip it.
Lastly, beware of checkout daze. If you want to save money, keep a close eye on the scanner at the checkout. If the store you shop at adheres to the Supermarket Scanner Code of Practise (and it is voluntary, not required) then watching for errors could put money back into your pocket if your items scan at more than the advertised price. You also need to watch that each item is scanned only once and that any special deal prices (i.e. buy two get one free etc.) are applied to your bill. It pays to check your receipt before you leave the store and get any errors corrected straight away.
The $300 a Month Food Challenge Forum
The Post that Started it All
6. The Weekly MOO Challenge
MOO Tikka Seasoning
This can be used as a dry rub for chicken, or as the seasoning in a curry, but I love it mixed into plain yoghurt and used as a marinade for diced chicken. I toss the chicken in the marinade and leave it overnight, then toss it onto the barbecue and serve it in warmed wraps with shredded lettuce, sliced red onion and a drizzle of yoghurt. Yum!
Ingredients:
1 tbsp coriander powder
1-1/2 tbsp paprika (I use sweet, use whatever you prefer)
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp cardamon powder
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
Method:
Combine all ingredients together. Can be used immediately and stores in an airtight container for a few months.
Get in on the fun and discussions here.
7. Cheapskates Buzz
From The Article Archive
7 Freezer Meals in One Hour for under $30
Adapting Recipes for the Slow Cooker
Groceries I don't Buy
This Week's Hot Forum Topics
Restocking Pantries
Cakes in a Slow Cooker
Ideas for using up Canned Corn, Peas & Green Beans
8. The Cheapskates Club Show
Join Cath and Hannah live Tuesdays and Thursdays on You Tube at 7.30pm AET
Latest Shows

Beanies!This week I've been knitting beanies, using the beautiful wools that were gifted to me a few weeks ago. They're not for Christmas though, they will be donated to charity to distribute to whoever needs them to keep warm.
Very easy pattern, even for me, and quick too. I can get an adult sized beanie crocheted in under 2 hours, making them perfect to work on while I'm watching TV.
The pattern is basically a crocheted rectangle, stitched into a round, with one end cinched closed. I've put pompoms on the top, but they're not necessary.
Using a 6.50mm crochet hook and 8 ply yarn, chain 35.
First row: Skip 2 chain and work 1 half double crochet in each chain to the end, chain 2 and turn. 33 half double crochet.
Second row: Skip 2 chain and work 1 half double crochet into the back of each chain to the end of the row. 33 half double crochet. Chain 2 and turn.
Repeat the second row for 15 (17, 19) rows (or until the rectangle is large enough to fit around your head with just a very slight stretch). Tie off, leaving a long tail.
Stitch into a round, matching the start row chain and end row chain. Don't tie off, but stitch around the edge of the beanie, pulling into a cinch to create the top. Fasten off and weave in end. Attach a pom pom if you wish. Fold up the brim to fit.
It is very easy and very forgiving. If you think the yarn needs to be thicker use two strands or go down one hook size.
Enjoy!
Handmade Christmas Central
The Handmade Christmas Forum
10. Join The Cheapskates Club
For just $30 you can join the Cheapskates Club and get exclusive access to the Cheapskate Journal, the monthly e-journal that shows you how to cut the costs of everyday living and still have fun for a full year.
That's unlimited 24/7 access to EVERYTHING in the Member's Centre!
Click here to join the Cheapskates Club today!
11. Frequently Asked Questions
How do I change my email address?
This one is easy. When you login to the Member's Centre just click on your name at the top of the page to go straight to your profile page where you can update your details, change your password and find your subscription details.
Not a Cheapskates Club member? Then please use the Changing Details form found here to update your email address.
How do I know when my membership should be renewed?
Memberships are active for one year from the date of joining. You will be sent a renewal reminder before your subscription is due to renew. You can also find your membership expiry date on your profile page.
When you login to the Member's Centre just click on your name to go straight to your profile page where you can will find your join date and your expiry date.
What will you do with my email address?
We never rent, trade or sell our email list to anyone for any reason whatsoever. You'll never get an unsolicited email from a stranger as a result of joining this list.
How did I get on this list?
The only way you can get onto our newsletter mailing list is to subscribe yourself. You either signed up to receive our Free Newsletter at our Cheapskates Club Web site or are a Platinum Cheapskates Club member.
12. 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
Very easy pattern, even for me, and quick too. I can get an adult sized beanie crocheted in under 2 hours, making them perfect to work on while I'm watching TV.
The pattern is basically a crocheted rectangle, stitched into a round, with one end cinched closed. I've put pompoms on the top, but they're not necessary.
Using a 6.50mm crochet hook and 8 ply yarn, chain 35.
First row: Skip 2 chain and work 1 half double crochet in each chain to the end, chain 2 and turn. 33 half double crochet.
Second row: Skip 2 chain and work 1 half double crochet into the back of each chain to the end of the row. 33 half double crochet. Chain 2 and turn.
Repeat the second row for 15 (17, 19) rows (or until the rectangle is large enough to fit around your head with just a very slight stretch). Tie off, leaving a long tail.
Stitch into a round, matching the start row chain and end row chain. Don't tie off, but stitch around the edge of the beanie, pulling into a cinch to create the top. Fasten off and weave in end. Attach a pom pom if you wish. Fold up the brim to fit.
It is very easy and very forgiving. If you think the yarn needs to be thicker use two strands or go down one hook size.
Enjoy!
Handmade Christmas Central
The Handmade Christmas Forum
10. Join The Cheapskates Club
For just $30 you can join the Cheapskates Club and get exclusive access to the Cheapskate Journal, the monthly e-journal that shows you how to cut the costs of everyday living and still have fun for a full year.
That's unlimited 24/7 access to EVERYTHING in the Member's Centre!
Click here to join the Cheapskates Club today!
11. Frequently Asked Questions
How do I change my email address?
This one is easy. When you login to the Member's Centre just click on your name at the top of the page to go straight to your profile page where you can update your details, change your password and find your subscription details.
Not a Cheapskates Club member? Then please use the Changing Details form found here to update your email address.
How do I know when my membership should be renewed?
Memberships are active for one year from the date of joining. You will be sent a renewal reminder before your subscription is due to renew. You can also find your membership expiry date on your profile page.
When you login to the Member's Centre just click on your name to go straight to your profile page where you can will find your join date and your expiry date.
What will you do with my email address?
We never rent, trade or sell our email list to anyone for any reason whatsoever. You'll never get an unsolicited email from a stranger as a result of joining this list.
How did I get on this list?
The only way you can get onto our newsletter mailing list is to subscribe yourself. You either signed up to receive our Free Newsletter at our Cheapskates Club Web site or are a Platinum Cheapskates Club member.
12. 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