Your Cheapskates Club Newsletter 25:18
In this Newsletter
1. Cath's Corner
2. In the Tip Store - Yet Another Use for Eucalyptus Oil; The Softest Ever Washable Baby Wipes; Saving on Grated Cheese
3. Share Your Tips - Have a great money, time or energy saving idea? Share it here
4. On the Menu - Baked Honey Chicken
5. The $300 a Month Food Challenge -$75 a week - can it be done?
6. Cheapskates Buzz - Cheapskaters are talking in the Forum and on Cath's blog
7. This Week's Question - Is there a go to list of expenses for a budget?
8. Ask Cath - Do have a question for Cath? Ask it here!
9. Join the Cheapskates Club
10. Frequently Asked Questions
11. Contact Details
1. Cath's Corner
Hello Cheapskaters,
Welcome to another newsletter full of ideas to save you money, time and energy. I hope you enjoy it.
Have a great week,
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
Yet Another Use for Eucalyptus Oil
Coming into winter to help ward off or get rid of any colds, just splash a few drops of eucalyptus oil to the bottom of the shower. When the hot water hits the eucalyptus oil you have an instant vaporiser. You breathe in the steam and vapours and it helps clear your airways. When you have finished in the shower, give the floor a quick wipe over with your favourite cloth and the shower is cleaned as well. We all know there are many great uses for eucalyptus oil. It is a natural cleaning product. It is a great spot stain remover and cleans and deodorises, leaving a fresh natural fragrance. So your shower is clean and you and your family can stay well all for around $8 a bottle that will last you till next winter.
Contributed by Maria Smeal
Editor's note: Sprinkle the eucalpytus oil away from where you stand, even a few drops will make the shower base slippery and you don't want to fall. Cath
The Softest Ever Washable Baby Wipes
Shortly after my baby was born and I started using cloth nappies I realised I needed some wipes for them as well. We had been using cotton wool and water but wanted to wash and reuse some. I had received some wipes but they were absurdly expensive to buy extra. Here's how to make them for free. Everyone has old T-shirts which should have been binned long ago. Now there's a use. Cut them into wipe size bits of cloth - I got 18 from mine - and then add them to your nappy collection and wash with them. They don't fray as it is jersey material and does it really matter if they get slightly stained considering their use? It's been 4 months and counting since we started using them and they have not frayed or fallen apart and now my husband will not even use the bought cloths as ours are better.
Contributed by Allie Knight
Saving on Grated Cheese
Approximate $ Savings: $9
When cooking and I need grated cheese I keep a cheap block of cheese in the fridge and grate it myself. The grated cheese packets at the supermarket can cost anywhere from $10-15 a kilo. So I buy a home brand block of cheese or one that is on sale for around $6 a kilo. With a little bit of extra time and effort by grating it yourself you can save up to $9 for a kilo of cheese.
Contributed by Louise Blitz
Editors Note: Save more time and grate the whole block of cheese at once. Divide it between two ziplock bags or two air tight containers and freeze. Sprinkle a teaspoon of cornflour into each package and shake around before freezing. This stops the cheese sticking together in a clump, making it easier to pour straight from the freezer. Cath
There are currently more than 12,000 great tips in the Tip Store
3. Submit Your Tip
The Cheapskate's Club website is over 3,000 pages of money saving hints, tips and ideas. Let's get together and make the Cheapskates Club Australia's largest online hint, tip and idea library. Share your favourite money saving, time saving or energy saving hint and be in the running to win a one-year membership to The Cheapskate Club. We publish a Winning Tip each Thursday, so enter your great money, time or energy saving idea now.
Share your favourite hint or tip that saves money, time and energy and be in the running to win a one-year subscription to The Cheapskate Journal.
Remember, you have to be in it to win it!
Submit your tip
4. On the Menu
Baked Honey Chicken
A few weeks back chicken fillets were cheap - very cheap - so I took advantage of both the sale and a healthy slush fund and stocked up. We really like chicken, but it can get boring very quickly if it's just the same old crumbed schnitzels meal after meal. This Baked Honey Chicken solves the problem. It is tasty, quick and a simple one pan dinner that uses just four basic pantry ingredients.
Ingredients:
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup Dijon style mustard*
1 tsp dried basil
4 chicken breast fillets, skin off**
Method:
Preheat oven to 175 degrees Celsius. Line a baking dish with foil. Whisk together the honey, mustard and basil in a small mixing bowl. Place the chicken fillets into the baking dish. Pour the sauce over the top to evenly cover the chicken. Bake 30 minutes or until the chicken juices run clear when the chicken is poked with a fork. Serve over steamed rice or steamed vegetables.
Notes:
*We prefer wholegrain mustard so I substitute it for Dijon. I buy the Aldi wholegrain mustard.
**To make chicken fillets go further, I often dice them. Two large chicken breast fillets, diced, will give six serves - five for dinner and one for the freezer - for my family.
If I don't have chicken fillets, I use drumsticks or maryland pieces.
If it is too hot to use the oven, cook the chicken fillets on the barbecue - they're just as tasty and the kitchen won't heat up.
Next week we will be eating:
Sunday: Roast Lamb
Monday: Baked Honey Mustard Chicken, vegetables
Tuesday: Spaghetti Bolognese, garlic bread
Wednesday: Sweet lamb curry & rice
Thursday: Moo Pizza
Friday: Sweet & Sour vegetables & Singapore noodles
Saturday: Haystacks
There are over 1,600 other great money saving meal ideas in the Recipe File.
5. The $300 a Month Food Challenge
$75 a week - can it be done? Yes, it can!
Janine asked if our grocery budget was so tight out of necessity, or for other reasons. You may remember a couple of years ago we went for 16 months on a very tight budget due to a drop in income (yes, again, this time we were prepared). Since then our income has increased slightly, almost back to what it was, so I did put the grocery budget back up to $320 a month. I could, if I really wanted too, up it a little, but we're eating well, no one is going hungry, no one is suffering from malnutrition and best of all no one is complaining. I'd rather keep it as it is and use the cash for other things. I'm not being mean, I just don't see the point in spending extra money when it's not needed, and can be put to a better use somewhere else.
But I do feel the pain of households struggling to get the grocery bill down especially as feeding the family has become more of a challenge than ever, even for those who don't stick to a rigid budget. It's the one household bill we have complete and utter control over. If you are shopping for groceries on a budget the task can seem impossible, but it's not, so take heart.
I shop for the five of us once a month, with fortnightly top ups of dairy and fruit and vegetables for under $320 a month and that includes toiletries and cleaning supplies. Now remember, I've been doing this since 1993 so I have lots and lots of experience. If you are just beginning to work on your grocery bill give yourself time. Once a month shopping, or being as cutthroat with the prices as I am may not be for you yet.
When it comes to grocery shopping I have a very strict routine and it very rarely ever varies.
• Pantry, fridge and freezer inventory
• Check the meal plan
• Shopping list:
○ use inventories and menu plan to work out what's needed
○ use price book and catalogues to find best prices
○ write list up in order of stores to go to
○ Don't be afraid to try generics
• Hit the shops
It's a simple system and it works for me and it can work for you to, regardless of the size of your family.
I discovered way back in 1993 that I was buying the same things over and over and over. The same grocery lines, the same toiletries and cleaning products, the same meat and basically the same fruit and vegetables. The only variations came with a change of season. In summer I bought more salad vegetables, in winter I bought more casserole and stew types of meat. That was the beginning of the once a month grocery list (and that has now morphed into a once-a-year list).
The $300 a Month Food Challenge
The Post that Started it All
6. Cheapskates Buzz
Most popular forum posts this week
Checking Your Bills
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?261-Checking-your-bills
The Greatest Organizer I Have Ever Seen
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?63-The-greatest-organizer-I-have-ever-seen-!!!
MOO Toothpaste
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?1856-MOO-toothpaste
Most popular blog posts this week
MOO Month - Deli Treats for the MOOing
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2018/03/moo-month-deli-treats-for-mooing.html
Buy Just What You Need, Then Use Just Enough
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2015/09/buy-just-what-you-need-then-use-just.html
Plum Jam and Lemon Butter
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2018/01/plum-jam-and-lemon-butter.html
7. This Week's Question
Q. I am very new to budgeting, and need to do it a.s.a.p. as I'm getting further into debt each day. Is there a list of all things to mark off as expenses? I have gathered my accounts but I'm sure there will be the "out there" bills that I can't think of that will be missed. I have found a couple of sites but payment is needed to access these. Please Help!! Brenda
A. How long is a piece of string? Everyone has different needs for their Spending Plan. I suggest you take a deep breath then download my Simple Monthly Spending Plan worksheet and use it to create your Spending Plan. Keep it simple or you'll become overwhelmed (as you are now trying to gather things to tick off as expenses) and you'll give up in despair.
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 10 cents a day you can join the Cheapskates Club and get exclusive access to the Cheapskate Journal, the monthly e-journal that shows you how to cut the costs of everyday living and still have fun.
Joining the Cheapskates Club gives you 24/7 access to the Members Centre with 1000's of money saving tips and articles.
Click here to join the Cheapskates Club today!
10. Frequently Asked Questions
How do I change my email address?
This one is easy. Members can update their email address or any other details by clicking on "Edit Profile" directly under their membership number after they have logged in to the Member's Centre. Subscribers to our free newsletter can use the Change Your Address form (under Customer Service in the menu) and fill it out. Once you've filled it in click the send button and we'll do the rest. Please remember to include your old email address so we can find it in the list as well as the new one.
How do I know when my membership should be renewed?
When you login to the Member's Centre you will be told how many days of membership you have left once you have 30 days left. Just click on the link to renew and your membership will just continue on, uninterrupted.
What will you do with my email address?
We never rent, trade or sell our email list to anyone for any reason whatsoever. You'll never get an unsolicited email from a stranger as a result of joining this list.
How Did You Get on Our List?
You signed up to receive our Free Newsletter at our Cheapskates Club Web site or are a Platinum Cheapskates Club member
11. Contact Details
The Cheapskates Club -
Showing you how to live life
debt free, cashed up and laughing!
1. Cath's Corner
2. In the Tip Store - Yet Another Use for Eucalyptus Oil; The Softest Ever Washable Baby Wipes; Saving on Grated Cheese
3. Share Your Tips - Have a great money, time or energy saving idea? Share it here
4. On the Menu - Baked Honey Chicken
5. The $300 a Month Food Challenge -$75 a week - can it be done?
6. Cheapskates Buzz - Cheapskaters are talking in the Forum and on Cath's blog
7. This Week's Question - Is there a go to list of expenses for a budget?
8. Ask Cath - Do have a question for Cath? Ask it here!
9. Join the Cheapskates Club
10. Frequently Asked Questions
11. Contact Details
1. Cath's Corner
Hello Cheapskaters,
Welcome to another newsletter full of ideas to save you money, time and energy. I hope you enjoy it.
Have a great week,
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
Yet Another Use for Eucalyptus Oil
Coming into winter to help ward off or get rid of any colds, just splash a few drops of eucalyptus oil to the bottom of the shower. When the hot water hits the eucalyptus oil you have an instant vaporiser. You breathe in the steam and vapours and it helps clear your airways. When you have finished in the shower, give the floor a quick wipe over with your favourite cloth and the shower is cleaned as well. We all know there are many great uses for eucalyptus oil. It is a natural cleaning product. It is a great spot stain remover and cleans and deodorises, leaving a fresh natural fragrance. So your shower is clean and you and your family can stay well all for around $8 a bottle that will last you till next winter.
Contributed by Maria Smeal
Editor's note: Sprinkle the eucalpytus oil away from where you stand, even a few drops will make the shower base slippery and you don't want to fall. Cath
The Softest Ever Washable Baby Wipes
Shortly after my baby was born and I started using cloth nappies I realised I needed some wipes for them as well. We had been using cotton wool and water but wanted to wash and reuse some. I had received some wipes but they were absurdly expensive to buy extra. Here's how to make them for free. Everyone has old T-shirts which should have been binned long ago. Now there's a use. Cut them into wipe size bits of cloth - I got 18 from mine - and then add them to your nappy collection and wash with them. They don't fray as it is jersey material and does it really matter if they get slightly stained considering their use? It's been 4 months and counting since we started using them and they have not frayed or fallen apart and now my husband will not even use the bought cloths as ours are better.
Contributed by Allie Knight
Saving on Grated Cheese
Approximate $ Savings: $9
When cooking and I need grated cheese I keep a cheap block of cheese in the fridge and grate it myself. The grated cheese packets at the supermarket can cost anywhere from $10-15 a kilo. So I buy a home brand block of cheese or one that is on sale for around $6 a kilo. With a little bit of extra time and effort by grating it yourself you can save up to $9 for a kilo of cheese.
Contributed by Louise Blitz
Editors Note: Save more time and grate the whole block of cheese at once. Divide it between two ziplock bags or two air tight containers and freeze. Sprinkle a teaspoon of cornflour into each package and shake around before freezing. This stops the cheese sticking together in a clump, making it easier to pour straight from the freezer. Cath
There are currently more than 12,000 great tips in the Tip Store
3. Submit Your Tip
The Cheapskate's Club website is over 3,000 pages of money saving hints, tips and ideas. Let's get together and make the Cheapskates Club Australia's largest online hint, tip and idea library. Share your favourite money saving, time saving or energy saving hint and be in the running to win a one-year membership to The Cheapskate Club. We publish a Winning Tip each Thursday, so enter your great money, time or energy saving idea now.
Share your favourite hint or tip that saves money, time and energy and be in the running to win a one-year subscription to The Cheapskate Journal.
Remember, you have to be in it to win it!
Submit your tip
4. On the Menu
Baked Honey Chicken
A few weeks back chicken fillets were cheap - very cheap - so I took advantage of both the sale and a healthy slush fund and stocked up. We really like chicken, but it can get boring very quickly if it's just the same old crumbed schnitzels meal after meal. This Baked Honey Chicken solves the problem. It is tasty, quick and a simple one pan dinner that uses just four basic pantry ingredients.
Ingredients:
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup Dijon style mustard*
1 tsp dried basil
4 chicken breast fillets, skin off**
Method:
Preheat oven to 175 degrees Celsius. Line a baking dish with foil. Whisk together the honey, mustard and basil in a small mixing bowl. Place the chicken fillets into the baking dish. Pour the sauce over the top to evenly cover the chicken. Bake 30 minutes or until the chicken juices run clear when the chicken is poked with a fork. Serve over steamed rice or steamed vegetables.
Notes:
*We prefer wholegrain mustard so I substitute it for Dijon. I buy the Aldi wholegrain mustard.
**To make chicken fillets go further, I often dice them. Two large chicken breast fillets, diced, will give six serves - five for dinner and one for the freezer - for my family.
If I don't have chicken fillets, I use drumsticks or maryland pieces.
If it is too hot to use the oven, cook the chicken fillets on the barbecue - they're just as tasty and the kitchen won't heat up.
Next week we will be eating:
Sunday: Roast Lamb
Monday: Baked Honey Mustard Chicken, vegetables
Tuesday: Spaghetti Bolognese, garlic bread
Wednesday: Sweet lamb curry & rice
Thursday: Moo Pizza
Friday: Sweet & Sour vegetables & Singapore noodles
Saturday: Haystacks
There are over 1,600 other great money saving meal ideas in the Recipe File.
5. The $300 a Month Food Challenge
$75 a week - can it be done? Yes, it can!
Janine asked if our grocery budget was so tight out of necessity, or for other reasons. You may remember a couple of years ago we went for 16 months on a very tight budget due to a drop in income (yes, again, this time we were prepared). Since then our income has increased slightly, almost back to what it was, so I did put the grocery budget back up to $320 a month. I could, if I really wanted too, up it a little, but we're eating well, no one is going hungry, no one is suffering from malnutrition and best of all no one is complaining. I'd rather keep it as it is and use the cash for other things. I'm not being mean, I just don't see the point in spending extra money when it's not needed, and can be put to a better use somewhere else.
But I do feel the pain of households struggling to get the grocery bill down especially as feeding the family has become more of a challenge than ever, even for those who don't stick to a rigid budget. It's the one household bill we have complete and utter control over. If you are shopping for groceries on a budget the task can seem impossible, but it's not, so take heart.
I shop for the five of us once a month, with fortnightly top ups of dairy and fruit and vegetables for under $320 a month and that includes toiletries and cleaning supplies. Now remember, I've been doing this since 1993 so I have lots and lots of experience. If you are just beginning to work on your grocery bill give yourself time. Once a month shopping, or being as cutthroat with the prices as I am may not be for you yet.
When it comes to grocery shopping I have a very strict routine and it very rarely ever varies.
• Pantry, fridge and freezer inventory
• Check the meal plan
• Shopping list:
○ use inventories and menu plan to work out what's needed
○ use price book and catalogues to find best prices
○ write list up in order of stores to go to
○ Don't be afraid to try generics
• Hit the shops
It's a simple system and it works for me and it can work for you to, regardless of the size of your family.
I discovered way back in 1993 that I was buying the same things over and over and over. The same grocery lines, the same toiletries and cleaning products, the same meat and basically the same fruit and vegetables. The only variations came with a change of season. In summer I bought more salad vegetables, in winter I bought more casserole and stew types of meat. That was the beginning of the once a month grocery list (and that has now morphed into a once-a-year list).
The $300 a Month Food Challenge
The Post that Started it All
6. Cheapskates Buzz
Most popular forum posts this week
Checking Your Bills
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?261-Checking-your-bills
The Greatest Organizer I Have Ever Seen
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?63-The-greatest-organizer-I-have-ever-seen-!!!
MOO Toothpaste
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?1856-MOO-toothpaste
Most popular blog posts this week
MOO Month - Deli Treats for the MOOing
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2018/03/moo-month-deli-treats-for-mooing.html
Buy Just What You Need, Then Use Just Enough
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2015/09/buy-just-what-you-need-then-use-just.html
Plum Jam and Lemon Butter
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2018/01/plum-jam-and-lemon-butter.html
7. This Week's Question
Q. I am very new to budgeting, and need to do it a.s.a.p. as I'm getting further into debt each day. Is there a list of all things to mark off as expenses? I have gathered my accounts but I'm sure there will be the "out there" bills that I can't think of that will be missed. I have found a couple of sites but payment is needed to access these. Please Help!! Brenda
A. How long is a piece of string? Everyone has different needs for their Spending Plan. I suggest you take a deep breath then download my Simple Monthly Spending Plan worksheet and use it to create your Spending Plan. Keep it simple or you'll become overwhelmed (as you are now trying to gather things to tick off as expenses) and you'll give up in despair.
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 10 cents a day you can join the Cheapskates Club and get exclusive access to the Cheapskate Journal, the monthly e-journal that shows you how to cut the costs of everyday living and still have fun.
Joining the Cheapskates Club gives you 24/7 access to the Members Centre with 1000's of money saving tips and articles.
Click here to join the Cheapskates Club today!
10. Frequently Asked Questions
How do I change my email address?
This one is easy. Members can update their email address or any other details by clicking on "Edit Profile" directly under their membership number after they have logged in to the Member's Centre. Subscribers to our free newsletter can use the Change Your Address form (under Customer Service in the menu) and fill it out. Once you've filled it in click the send button and we'll do the rest. Please remember to include your old email address so we can find it in the list as well as the new one.
How do I know when my membership should be renewed?
When you login to the Member's Centre you will be told how many days of membership you have left once you have 30 days left. Just click on the link to renew and your membership will just continue on, uninterrupted.
What will you do with my email address?
We never rent, trade or sell our email list to anyone for any reason whatsoever. You'll never get an unsolicited email from a stranger as a result of joining this list.
How Did You Get on Our List?
You signed up to receive our Free Newsletter at our Cheapskates Club Web site or are a Platinum Cheapskates Club member
11. Contact Details
The Cheapskates Club -
Showing you how to live life
debt free, cashed up and laughing!