Your Cheapskates Club Newsletter 24:23
In This Newsletter
1. Cath's Corner
2. From the Tip Store -
3. Tip of the Week -
4. Share Your Tips
5. On the Menu -
6. The $300 a Month Food Challenge -
7. The Weekly MOO Challenge -
8. Cheapskates Buzz
9. The Cheapskates Club Show
10. The Handmade Christmas Challenge
11. Join the Cheapskates Club
12. Frequently Asked Questions
13. Contact Details
1. Cath's Corner
Hello Cheapskaters,
Welcome new subscribers and Cheapskates Club members!
This is newsletter number 24 for 2023. We are almost half-way through the year already.
The last week has been a flurry of canning (mince, chicken and corned beef) and bulk cooking (pasta sauce), gardening, crocheting, sorting and packing and decluttering. It has been busy, but good.
Today's newsletter is full of great ideas, and a favourite recipe that is just lovely warm, or cold (can you tell I like it!).
I hope you enjoy the read, and don't forget, the Member's Centre has 432 articles, 12,605 tips, 1,863 recipes, 187 tips sheets and so much more, so login regularly to stay up-to-date.
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
Cheapskates Style Laptop Raiser
Laptop raisers can be a great tool to keep you from hunching over your computer but I found them very expensive. I bought a cheap pantry organiser with the intention to make more room in my pantry and instead found it made a great laptop stand - it gives my laptop plenty of ventilation, it's at a great height and was a fraction of the cost of an expensive laptop raiser.
Contributed by Kate
Holiday Pantry Challenge Saves a Bundle
On the last day of school my routine was to go to the supermarkets and stock up for the holidays so I wouldn't have to drag my kids around with me during the holidays. This year for the first time I decided to do the opposite. I didn't go anywhere near the supermarkets and I still haven't. I am looking in my fridge, freezer and pantry every day and am creating meals as good as ever. I have spent a total of $3 on milk and I still have so much food to use that I am thinking I'll be able to keep this up into next week. This will definitely be my new holiday routine.
Contributed by Dee
Storing Chocolate for the Long Term Pantry
Chocolate is good to have in the pantry, it will keep for years. Of course over time, if it's not stored properly, it will bloom (that's the whitish coating chocolate sometimes gets). It's still good to use, just looks a little ugly. To stop the bloom, keep it cool, don't let it get too hot. The next step, to ensure it will stay fresh and delicious, is to vacuum seal it. You can vac seal it in jars, or in bags. Once vacuum sealed chocolate will keep on the shelf for up to two years without any noticeable change in colour or taste. If you want to keep it longer, freeze it.
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
Lemon Impossible Pie
This pie shouldn't work, but it does. It's a nice way to use up excess lemon juice in the freezer before the next crop of lemons are picked.
Ingredients:
250g butter
1 1/4 cups sugar
3 eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 cup plain flour
3/4 cup light sour cream
Zest of 1 lemon
Method:
Pre-heat oven to 160 degrees Celsius. Grease a 25cm pie plate or tart dish. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs slowly, beating well. Fold in sour cream and lemon zest. Add flour, mixing well. Pour into prepared pie dish and bake 30 minutes. Do not overcook as this will cause the base to be dry.
Syrup
Ingredients:
1/3 cup lemon juice
1/2 cup caster sugar
Method:
Combine juice and sugar and cook over a low heat until sugar is dissolved. Poke holes over the top of the pie with a skewer. Pour the syrup over the hot pie.
Next week we will be eating:
Sunday: Roast Chicken
Monday: Colleen's Sausage Casserole
Tuesday: Mexican Lasagne, salad
Wednesday: Easy Chicken & Parmesan Risotto
Thursday: MOO Pizza
Friday: Honey Soy Chicken & Rice
Saturday: Cheat's Burritos
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
Tips for Buying Marked Down Meat
If you don't have a butcher to shop at for your meat, you're most likely stuck with supermarket offerings.
That's OK, but they are usually expensive and you choice is limited; supermarket butchers don't keep a full range of meat cuts.
The thing supermarkets have over most butchers is mark downs, those products that are close to the sell-by date. The savings vary, depending on the cut, time left before it reaches the sell-by date and the meat department manager.
You can pick up bargains with some savvy shopping and following a few simple tips.
1. Find out when the meat is marked down at your supermarket. The time will vary from store to store, depending on the restocking schedule.
2. Check the Use by/Best Before date on the package. If it's out of date, don't buy it. If it is still within dates, buy it.
3. Don't buy cuts of meat you won't eat. That's just a waste of money, freezer space and electricity.
4. Just because it's marked down, doesn't mean it's a bargain. Check the unit price, and if it's over your limit, don't buy it.
5. When buying reduced to clear meats, especially poultry and seafood, check that the wrapping is secure and completely sealed. Avoid buying if the clingwrap has been torn or if the package is leaking more than you'd normally expect.
6. Don't buy more than you can use before expiry.
7. Alternatively, be prepared to repackage and freeze immediately - don't leave mark downs sitting in the fridge for a couple of days before freezing. This will extend the use by, giving you time to meal plan and use the meat.
8. Check the chiller cabinet. Packaged deli meats can be frozen, and you'll often find them marked down. Again, check the unit price and expiry dates before buying.
With the price of meat going up every week, finding some marked down packets to add to your freezer stocks can save you a ton of money.
When you shop, keep your eyes open and remember that your slush fund is there for stocking up on extra special bargains.
Download the Tip Sheet here
The $300 a Month Food Challenge Forum
The Post that Started it All
6. The Weekly MOO Challenge
Slow Cooker Refried Beans
Refried beans are so handy to have on hand, and delicious too. I like to add them to tacos and burritos, and they make a great side dish to grilled chicken or meat.
Slow Cooker Refried Beans
Ingredients:
4 cups pinto beans*
6 tsp MOO Taco Seasoning https://www.cheapskatesclub.net/moo-taco-seasoning.html
2 tsp dried onion flakes
1 tsp garlic powder
Method:
Rinse the beans under running water and strain. I don't soak the beans overnight, but you can if you wish to.
Add to slow cooker and fill the crock with water to the top. Don't worry, it's not too much water.
Cook on HIGH for one hour. Check and stir. The beans should be starting to soften and absorb the water.
Continue to cook on HIGH, checking often to stir and if necessary add more water.
Add the spices after four hours, stir in well. The beans should be starting to thicken.
Continue to cook for eight hours in total. The beans should be thick and soft and most of the water absorbed.
They are ready to use!
Notes:
You can fry them in a little butter or coconut oil if you wish to, I don't bother with this step, I just serve them as is.
These refried beans freeze and thaw well.
The quantities in this recipe are for a 6 litre slow cooker. Don't be tempted to add more beans, they swell to almost three times the size during cooking. If your slow cooker is smaller, adjust the quantity of dried beans you start with.
Get in on the fun and discussions here.
7. Cheapskates Buzz
From The Article Archive
Eating from the Pantry
Making Meals Cheaper
Budget Your Eating Expenses
This Week's Hot Forum Topics
The $5 Pantry Challenge Video
Pantry Moths
Best Staples for Pantry and Fridge...?
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 -
3. Tip of the Week -
4. Share Your Tips
5. On the Menu -
6. The $300 a Month Food Challenge -
7. The Weekly MOO Challenge -
8. Cheapskates Buzz
9. The Cheapskates Club Show
10. The Handmade Christmas Challenge
11. Join the Cheapskates Club
12. Frequently Asked Questions
13. Contact Details
1. Cath's Corner
Hello Cheapskaters,
Welcome new subscribers and Cheapskates Club members!
This is newsletter number 24 for 2023. We are almost half-way through the year already.
The last week has been a flurry of canning (mince, chicken and corned beef) and bulk cooking (pasta sauce), gardening, crocheting, sorting and packing and decluttering. It has been busy, but good.
Today's newsletter is full of great ideas, and a favourite recipe that is just lovely warm, or cold (can you tell I like it!).
I hope you enjoy the read, and don't forget, the Member's Centre has 432 articles, 12,605 tips, 1,863 recipes, 187 tips sheets and so much more, so login regularly to stay up-to-date.
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
Cheapskates Style Laptop Raiser
Laptop raisers can be a great tool to keep you from hunching over your computer but I found them very expensive. I bought a cheap pantry organiser with the intention to make more room in my pantry and instead found it made a great laptop stand - it gives my laptop plenty of ventilation, it's at a great height and was a fraction of the cost of an expensive laptop raiser.
Contributed by Kate
Holiday Pantry Challenge Saves a Bundle
On the last day of school my routine was to go to the supermarkets and stock up for the holidays so I wouldn't have to drag my kids around with me during the holidays. This year for the first time I decided to do the opposite. I didn't go anywhere near the supermarkets and I still haven't. I am looking in my fridge, freezer and pantry every day and am creating meals as good as ever. I have spent a total of $3 on milk and I still have so much food to use that I am thinking I'll be able to keep this up into next week. This will definitely be my new holiday routine.
Contributed by Dee
Storing Chocolate for the Long Term Pantry
Chocolate is good to have in the pantry, it will keep for years. Of course over time, if it's not stored properly, it will bloom (that's the whitish coating chocolate sometimes gets). It's still good to use, just looks a little ugly. To stop the bloom, keep it cool, don't let it get too hot. The next step, to ensure it will stay fresh and delicious, is to vacuum seal it. You can vac seal it in jars, or in bags. Once vacuum sealed chocolate will keep on the shelf for up to two years without any noticeable change in colour or taste. If you want to keep it longer, freeze it.
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
Lemon Impossible Pie
This pie shouldn't work, but it does. It's a nice way to use up excess lemon juice in the freezer before the next crop of lemons are picked.
Ingredients:
250g butter
1 1/4 cups sugar
3 eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 cup plain flour
3/4 cup light sour cream
Zest of 1 lemon
Method:
Pre-heat oven to 160 degrees Celsius. Grease a 25cm pie plate or tart dish. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs slowly, beating well. Fold in sour cream and lemon zest. Add flour, mixing well. Pour into prepared pie dish and bake 30 minutes. Do not overcook as this will cause the base to be dry.
Syrup
Ingredients:
1/3 cup lemon juice
1/2 cup caster sugar
Method:
Combine juice and sugar and cook over a low heat until sugar is dissolved. Poke holes over the top of the pie with a skewer. Pour the syrup over the hot pie.
Next week we will be eating:
Sunday: Roast Chicken
Monday: Colleen's Sausage Casserole
Tuesday: Mexican Lasagne, salad
Wednesday: Easy Chicken & Parmesan Risotto
Thursday: MOO Pizza
Friday: Honey Soy Chicken & Rice
Saturday: Cheat's Burritos
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
Tips for Buying Marked Down Meat
If you don't have a butcher to shop at for your meat, you're most likely stuck with supermarket offerings.
That's OK, but they are usually expensive and you choice is limited; supermarket butchers don't keep a full range of meat cuts.
The thing supermarkets have over most butchers is mark downs, those products that are close to the sell-by date. The savings vary, depending on the cut, time left before it reaches the sell-by date and the meat department manager.
You can pick up bargains with some savvy shopping and following a few simple tips.
1. Find out when the meat is marked down at your supermarket. The time will vary from store to store, depending on the restocking schedule.
2. Check the Use by/Best Before date on the package. If it's out of date, don't buy it. If it is still within dates, buy it.
3. Don't buy cuts of meat you won't eat. That's just a waste of money, freezer space and electricity.
4. Just because it's marked down, doesn't mean it's a bargain. Check the unit price, and if it's over your limit, don't buy it.
5. When buying reduced to clear meats, especially poultry and seafood, check that the wrapping is secure and completely sealed. Avoid buying if the clingwrap has been torn or if the package is leaking more than you'd normally expect.
6. Don't buy more than you can use before expiry.
7. Alternatively, be prepared to repackage and freeze immediately - don't leave mark downs sitting in the fridge for a couple of days before freezing. This will extend the use by, giving you time to meal plan and use the meat.
8. Check the chiller cabinet. Packaged deli meats can be frozen, and you'll often find them marked down. Again, check the unit price and expiry dates before buying.
With the price of meat going up every week, finding some marked down packets to add to your freezer stocks can save you a ton of money.
When you shop, keep your eyes open and remember that your slush fund is there for stocking up on extra special bargains.
Download the Tip Sheet here
The $300 a Month Food Challenge Forum
The Post that Started it All
6. The Weekly MOO Challenge
Slow Cooker Refried Beans
Refried beans are so handy to have on hand, and delicious too. I like to add them to tacos and burritos, and they make a great side dish to grilled chicken or meat.
Slow Cooker Refried Beans
Ingredients:
4 cups pinto beans*
6 tsp MOO Taco Seasoning https://www.cheapskatesclub.net/moo-taco-seasoning.html
2 tsp dried onion flakes
1 tsp garlic powder
Method:
Rinse the beans under running water and strain. I don't soak the beans overnight, but you can if you wish to.
Add to slow cooker and fill the crock with water to the top. Don't worry, it's not too much water.
Cook on HIGH for one hour. Check and stir. The beans should be starting to soften and absorb the water.
Continue to cook on HIGH, checking often to stir and if necessary add more water.
Add the spices after four hours, stir in well. The beans should be starting to thicken.
Continue to cook for eight hours in total. The beans should be thick and soft and most of the water absorbed.
They are ready to use!
Notes:
You can fry them in a little butter or coconut oil if you wish to, I don't bother with this step, I just serve them as is.
These refried beans freeze and thaw well.
The quantities in this recipe are for a 6 litre slow cooker. Don't be tempted to add more beans, they swell to almost three times the size during cooking. If your slow cooker is smaller, adjust the quantity of dried beans you start with.
Get in on the fun and discussions here.
7. Cheapskates Buzz
From The Article Archive
Eating from the Pantry
Making Meals Cheaper
Budget Your Eating Expenses
This Week's Hot Forum Topics
The $5 Pantry Challenge Video
Pantry Moths
Best Staples for Pantry and Fridge...?
8. The Cheapskates Club Show
Join Cath and Hannah live Tuesdays and Thursdays on You Tube at 7.30pm AET
Latest Shows
9. Handmade Christmas Challenge
Gift TagsThis week the cardboard dividers from the boxes of tea bags were turned into gift tags. They're so easy to do with just some stamps, ephemera, ribbon or twine and a hole punch.
I love that they can be cut in half to make two small tags or left as they are for a larger tag with more space for a personal message.
And I love that they are basically free, made using recycled card and embellishments on hand.
These tags measure 6.6cm long and I used a hole punch to make the hole for the lace. The lace has been dyed in coffee. It came from my mother's stash, so it's very old, probably close to 55 years old, and on a great big card. Being white it dyes nicely.
I inked the edges to give the tags a vintage look, and then stamped the bird on a branch at the bottom. The sentiment was centred and stamped towards the top.
The "To" and "From" stamps on the back are from a free set off a very old magazine. I've had them for years and guard them like they're gold because they are hard to find unless you want to spend a lot of money (and I don't!).
I'm happy with the way they turned out and will use them on gifts through the year. My plan is to keep saving the cardboard strips and donate half to the school for bookmarks and turn half into gift tags and make them up into sets for the present box.
Don't forget to check in for our Make It Monday show and tell over at Cheapskates Chatter, we'd love to see what you've made.
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
I love that they can be cut in half to make two small tags or left as they are for a larger tag with more space for a personal message.
And I love that they are basically free, made using recycled card and embellishments on hand.
These tags measure 6.6cm long and I used a hole punch to make the hole for the lace. The lace has been dyed in coffee. It came from my mother's stash, so it's very old, probably close to 55 years old, and on a great big card. Being white it dyes nicely.
I inked the edges to give the tags a vintage look, and then stamped the bird on a branch at the bottom. The sentiment was centred and stamped towards the top.
The "To" and "From" stamps on the back are from a free set off a very old magazine. I've had them for years and guard them like they're gold because they are hard to find unless you want to spend a lot of money (and I don't!).
I'm happy with the way they turned out and will use them on gifts through the year. My plan is to keep saving the cardboard strips and donate half to the school for bookmarks and turn half into gift tags and make them up into sets for the present box.
Don't forget to check in for our Make It Monday show and tell over at Cheapskates Chatter, we'd love to see what you've made.
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