Your Cheapskates Club Newsletter 25:19
In This Newsletter
1. Cath's Corner
2. From the Tip Store - Poo-Pourri; Guaranteed Sparkling Shower; DIY Face Bronzer
3. Share Your Tips -
4. On the Menu - Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas
5. The $300 a Month Food Challenge - Budgeting Eating Expenses
6. Cheapskates Buzz - Cheapskaters are talking in the Forum and on Cath's blog
7. The Cheapskates Club Show - Live Tuesday & Thursday
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,
Welcome to our new Cheapskates Club members, it's so good to meet you all. We are a very friendly bunch, so please introduce yourselves in the forum or over on Cheapskates Chatter
I am taking a few days off, and will be back at work next Tuesday, 25th June.
If you have a query, send it through, but please understand if I don't reply until Tuesday.
Have a lovely weekend and stay warm.
Happy Cheapskating,
Cath
2. From The Tip Store
Poo-Pourri
Use up any unwanted or stale perfume and keep your toilet smelling great by adding a squirt of perfume on top of your loo water before you go. Works equally well when substituted with a couple of drops of essential oil.
Uses up unwanted gifts or unfortunate purchases and is remarkably effective at keeping evil smells at bay!
Contributed by Megan Menhennitt
Guaranteed Sparkling Shower
I had a few old lemons, past their use by date, only good for juice. I wondered if the rind would help my water stained shower ( we usually buy and then make the miracle spray.) To my surprise, after cutting 1 lemon in half, I rubbed it cut side down all over the screen, and when I went back to rinse it off, well!!
The water marks that always seem to be there were gone! I finished it off by squeegeeing the water off and polishing with a glass cloth. The results were amazing!! Don't throw out old lemons!!! The glass looks like brand new again, all I did was rub gently until smooth. I also used it on the water stained metal taps. They also came up looking new.
Contributed by Janie-Lee McRobert
DIY Face Bronzer
For all those that hate spending money on expensive makeup, here's a recipe for a DIY Bronzer that's easy to make from everyday products and it's all natural.
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon cornflour
1 tablespoon cocoa powder
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Mix cinnamon and cornflour thoroughly, then add cocoa and nutmeg, making sure all lumps are removed.
Store in a cold space in a mason jar or old bronzer container.
Contributed by Colleen Thomas
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
It has been so cold! Barely making it into double digits this week, and wet (I'm grateful for the rain, just not the cold). These days we don't eat until around 7pm, when everyone is home from work. As I tell the family, the kitchen isn't a restaurant kitchen and I'm not a short order cook. I cook one meal, serve one meal and we all eat one meal. Together.
So I need meals that are easy to put together and that won't be ruined if the trains or buses run late. Dishes that reheat nicely, and that taste good. This is one of those recipes, and it's a favourite of mine.
You can use bottled enchilada sauce if you want to, but it really is easy to make and worth taking the five minutes or so to put together yourself - you'll taste the difference and be pleased if you do.
Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas
Filling
Ingredients:
2 tbsp canola oil
1 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup green capsicum, diced
1kg chicken breast fillets, skin off and diced
1/2 cup water
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp paprika
1-1/2 cups grated cheese
2 cups cooked brown rice
Method:
In a heavy skillet, heat oil on medium high, then add chopped onion and bell pepper. When onions are translucent, add cut up chicken and cook on medium until browned. Add water and spices, cover and let simmer about 10 minutes, or until cooked through.
Zesty Enchilada Sauce
Ingredients:
2 tbsp canola oil
2 tbsp plain flour
2 tbsp chilli powder
180g can tomato paste
2 cups chicken stock
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp onion powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
Method:
First make a roux by heating oil in a heavy saucepan or skillet over high heat, then lowering to medium low and whisking in flour. After whisking for about 2 minutes, you should start to see tiny bubbles forming and the color darkening. Add the chili powder and continue to whisk until fully mixed.
Slowly pour in the chicken broth, turning heat back up to medium. Add tomato paste, garlic powder, cumin, onion powder and salt, stirring until smooth. Simmer for 10 minutes, or until slightly thickened. Sauce can be used right away or stored in the refrigerator for up to three days.
Note: Make sure to get the rice cooking as well. Pour 2 cups water and one cup long grain brown rice into a saucepan. Stir and cover, bringing to a boil on high heat. Lower to medium and simmer for around 35 minutes, until all the water is absorbed.
Putting it All Together
Preheat oven to 175 degrees Celsius. Pour a thin layer of Enchilada Sauce in the bottom of a lightly oiled baking dish. For each enchilada lay out a tortilla, spoon in rice, chicken mixture and a sprinkle of grated cheese. Roll up the tortilla and lay in baking dish with the seam down. Repeat with the other enchiladas and filling. Pour the remainder of the enchilada sauce over the enchiladas. Top with a layer of grated cheese. Cover with foil and bake in the centre of the oven for 15 minutes, until they are heated through and the cheese is melted.
These enchiladas are great served immediately, and even better warmed up the next day.
Next week we will be eating:
Sunday: Roast Chicken
Monday: Baked Chicken Enchiladas
Tuesday: Lasagne & salad
Wednesday: Schnitzels, veggies, tomato gravy
Thursday: MOO Pizza
Friday: Soup & crumpets
Saturday: Chicken Pies
In the fruit bowl: mandarins, bananas
In the cake tin: Vanilla cupcakes, sultana cake
There are over 1,700 budget and family friendly recipes in the Cheapskates Club Recipe File, all contributed by your fellow Cheapskates, so you know they're good.
Add A Recipe
Recipe File Index
5. The $300 A Month Food Challenge
Are you eating your way into debt? When you’re looking at where you spend your money, you might be surprised that so much of it is spent on treats, take-away or restaurants. It all adds up!
Australians spend on average $200 a week on groceries and around $50 a week on take-away and restaurant meals and another $20 at the bakery - that's $270 a week!
A frugal food budget is $15 per week per person (and it can be done - see the $300 a Month Food Challenge over at the Cheapskates Club) while a slightly more luxurious budget is around $25 per week per person. Really want to live it up? Budget for $30 per week per person.
Being more prepared in your meal planning and grocery shopping can not only save you money, but it will save your sanity, it will save you time, it will save you energy and it can help to make sure that your family is eating a healthful diet.
Creating a meal plan is easy. Really. Start off with a simple plan, one that includes basic meals for the week and a few snacks. When you've mastered the basic meal plan you can get a little more elaborate with more detailed meals (you'll be able to put all those saved recipes to good use at last).
Getting started is simple, just five steps and you'll have a meal plan and a shopping list.
Step One:
Make a master list (either on paper or on your computer) of the meals that your family enjoys eating. To make this job easier, you may want to think of smaller groups of food -- for example, think of meals that you make with mince (beef, chicken, lamb or pork), chicken or other main ingredients.
In my family, we often eat meals from one of four "categories", so I have my list separated according to those:
-- Australian (meat & 3 veg, mince stew, meat pie, roast, burgers, etc.)
-- Mexican (tacos, burritos, enchiladas, etc.)
-- Oriental (fried rice, stir-fry, sweet 'n' sour chicken, spring rolls, beef and black bean, etc.)
-- Italian (lasagne, pizza, spaghetti, minestrone etc.)
Step Two:
Determine how often you will shop. For example will you shop weekly, every two weeks or monthly? You may find it easier to shop according to your pay cycle, to take advantage of the sale cycle, and plan your meals accordingly.
Step Three:
With your list of meals, write down on a sheet of paper what meals your family will eat for your time period. I may purposely plan a dinner with chicken - and visa versa, if no chicken is one sale (and I don't have any in my freezer) we will not be eating chicken that week. I also make sure to not to serve any two "categories" of meals two nights in a row (for example, we won't eat tacos on Monday and burritos on Tuesday).
Be sure to look at your family's calendar when deciding what meals to prepare. Because of our schedules with work and other activities, we also have designated meal nights e.g. Tuesday is ‘pasta night' because Wayne doesn't get home until late. Thursday is my busy day, and Wayne is on call for work so we always have MOO pizza. Friday is the end of the week and a another busy day, so a slow-cooker meal, a stew or casserole that will cope with re-heating. Saturday night is always a light meal and leftover night, we clean out the fridge and everyone gets a little of what ever is left over. I bulk it out with rice, potato or salad depending on the season and what's left over.
Step Four
Next to each meal list the ingredients that you will need to purchase for that meal. If we are having cheeseburgers, I look to see what ingredients I already have and then I list everything else I don't have so I am sure to buy them.
Step Five
Now that you have your meals listed, along with the ingredients that you need to purchase, you are ready to go to the supermarket. Hit that store with a smile, you are on a mission and you have a plan!
If you are eating your way into debt, limit the number of times you go out or have take-away every week and start planning your menus when you cook at home. Then shop with a list, and stick to it. This will make a huge difference in your grocery bill.
The $300 a Month Food Challenge Forum
The Post that Started it All
6. Cheapskates Buzz
From The Article Archive
Things we didn't Spend Money on when we had None (and we still don't!)
Ready to Double your Income?
Mocha Fudge
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
1. Cath's Corner
2. From the Tip Store - Poo-Pourri; Guaranteed Sparkling Shower; DIY Face Bronzer
3. Share Your Tips -
4. On the Menu - Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas
5. The $300 a Month Food Challenge - Budgeting Eating Expenses
6. Cheapskates Buzz - Cheapskaters are talking in the Forum and on Cath's blog
7. The Cheapskates Club Show - Live Tuesday & Thursday
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,
Welcome to our new Cheapskates Club members, it's so good to meet you all. We are a very friendly bunch, so please introduce yourselves in the forum or over on Cheapskates Chatter
I am taking a few days off, and will be back at work next Tuesday, 25th June.
If you have a query, send it through, but please understand if I don't reply until Tuesday.
Have a lovely weekend and stay warm.
Happy Cheapskating,
Cath
2. From The Tip Store
Poo-Pourri
Use up any unwanted or stale perfume and keep your toilet smelling great by adding a squirt of perfume on top of your loo water before you go. Works equally well when substituted with a couple of drops of essential oil.
Uses up unwanted gifts or unfortunate purchases and is remarkably effective at keeping evil smells at bay!
Contributed by Megan Menhennitt
Guaranteed Sparkling Shower
I had a few old lemons, past their use by date, only good for juice. I wondered if the rind would help my water stained shower ( we usually buy and then make the miracle spray.) To my surprise, after cutting 1 lemon in half, I rubbed it cut side down all over the screen, and when I went back to rinse it off, well!!
The water marks that always seem to be there were gone! I finished it off by squeegeeing the water off and polishing with a glass cloth. The results were amazing!! Don't throw out old lemons!!! The glass looks like brand new again, all I did was rub gently until smooth. I also used it on the water stained metal taps. They also came up looking new.
Contributed by Janie-Lee McRobert
DIY Face Bronzer
For all those that hate spending money on expensive makeup, here's a recipe for a DIY Bronzer that's easy to make from everyday products and it's all natural.
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon cornflour
1 tablespoon cocoa powder
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Mix cinnamon and cornflour thoroughly, then add cocoa and nutmeg, making sure all lumps are removed.
Store in a cold space in a mason jar or old bronzer container.
Contributed by Colleen Thomas
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
It has been so cold! Barely making it into double digits this week, and wet (I'm grateful for the rain, just not the cold). These days we don't eat until around 7pm, when everyone is home from work. As I tell the family, the kitchen isn't a restaurant kitchen and I'm not a short order cook. I cook one meal, serve one meal and we all eat one meal. Together.
So I need meals that are easy to put together and that won't be ruined if the trains or buses run late. Dishes that reheat nicely, and that taste good. This is one of those recipes, and it's a favourite of mine.
You can use bottled enchilada sauce if you want to, but it really is easy to make and worth taking the five minutes or so to put together yourself - you'll taste the difference and be pleased if you do.
Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas
Filling
Ingredients:
2 tbsp canola oil
1 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup green capsicum, diced
1kg chicken breast fillets, skin off and diced
1/2 cup water
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp paprika
1-1/2 cups grated cheese
2 cups cooked brown rice
Method:
In a heavy skillet, heat oil on medium high, then add chopped onion and bell pepper. When onions are translucent, add cut up chicken and cook on medium until browned. Add water and spices, cover and let simmer about 10 minutes, or until cooked through.
Zesty Enchilada Sauce
Ingredients:
2 tbsp canola oil
2 tbsp plain flour
2 tbsp chilli powder
180g can tomato paste
2 cups chicken stock
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp onion powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
Method:
First make a roux by heating oil in a heavy saucepan or skillet over high heat, then lowering to medium low and whisking in flour. After whisking for about 2 minutes, you should start to see tiny bubbles forming and the color darkening. Add the chili powder and continue to whisk until fully mixed.
Slowly pour in the chicken broth, turning heat back up to medium. Add tomato paste, garlic powder, cumin, onion powder and salt, stirring until smooth. Simmer for 10 minutes, or until slightly thickened. Sauce can be used right away or stored in the refrigerator for up to three days.
Note: Make sure to get the rice cooking as well. Pour 2 cups water and one cup long grain brown rice into a saucepan. Stir and cover, bringing to a boil on high heat. Lower to medium and simmer for around 35 minutes, until all the water is absorbed.
Putting it All Together
Preheat oven to 175 degrees Celsius. Pour a thin layer of Enchilada Sauce in the bottom of a lightly oiled baking dish. For each enchilada lay out a tortilla, spoon in rice, chicken mixture and a sprinkle of grated cheese. Roll up the tortilla and lay in baking dish with the seam down. Repeat with the other enchiladas and filling. Pour the remainder of the enchilada sauce over the enchiladas. Top with a layer of grated cheese. Cover with foil and bake in the centre of the oven for 15 minutes, until they are heated through and the cheese is melted.
These enchiladas are great served immediately, and even better warmed up the next day.
Next week we will be eating:
Sunday: Roast Chicken
Monday: Baked Chicken Enchiladas
Tuesday: Lasagne & salad
Wednesday: Schnitzels, veggies, tomato gravy
Thursday: MOO Pizza
Friday: Soup & crumpets
Saturday: Chicken Pies
In the fruit bowl: mandarins, bananas
In the cake tin: Vanilla cupcakes, sultana cake
There are over 1,700 budget and family friendly recipes in the Cheapskates Club Recipe File, all contributed by your fellow Cheapskates, so you know they're good.
Add A Recipe
Recipe File Index
5. The $300 A Month Food Challenge
Are you eating your way into debt? When you’re looking at where you spend your money, you might be surprised that so much of it is spent on treats, take-away or restaurants. It all adds up!
Australians spend on average $200 a week on groceries and around $50 a week on take-away and restaurant meals and another $20 at the bakery - that's $270 a week!
A frugal food budget is $15 per week per person (and it can be done - see the $300 a Month Food Challenge over at the Cheapskates Club) while a slightly more luxurious budget is around $25 per week per person. Really want to live it up? Budget for $30 per week per person.
Being more prepared in your meal planning and grocery shopping can not only save you money, but it will save your sanity, it will save you time, it will save you energy and it can help to make sure that your family is eating a healthful diet.
Creating a meal plan is easy. Really. Start off with a simple plan, one that includes basic meals for the week and a few snacks. When you've mastered the basic meal plan you can get a little more elaborate with more detailed meals (you'll be able to put all those saved recipes to good use at last).
Getting started is simple, just five steps and you'll have a meal plan and a shopping list.
Step One:
Make a master list (either on paper or on your computer) of the meals that your family enjoys eating. To make this job easier, you may want to think of smaller groups of food -- for example, think of meals that you make with mince (beef, chicken, lamb or pork), chicken or other main ingredients.
In my family, we often eat meals from one of four "categories", so I have my list separated according to those:
-- Australian (meat & 3 veg, mince stew, meat pie, roast, burgers, etc.)
-- Mexican (tacos, burritos, enchiladas, etc.)
-- Oriental (fried rice, stir-fry, sweet 'n' sour chicken, spring rolls, beef and black bean, etc.)
-- Italian (lasagne, pizza, spaghetti, minestrone etc.)
Step Two:
Determine how often you will shop. For example will you shop weekly, every two weeks or monthly? You may find it easier to shop according to your pay cycle, to take advantage of the sale cycle, and plan your meals accordingly.
Step Three:
With your list of meals, write down on a sheet of paper what meals your family will eat for your time period. I may purposely plan a dinner with chicken - and visa versa, if no chicken is one sale (and I don't have any in my freezer) we will not be eating chicken that week. I also make sure to not to serve any two "categories" of meals two nights in a row (for example, we won't eat tacos on Monday and burritos on Tuesday).
Be sure to look at your family's calendar when deciding what meals to prepare. Because of our schedules with work and other activities, we also have designated meal nights e.g. Tuesday is ‘pasta night' because Wayne doesn't get home until late. Thursday is my busy day, and Wayne is on call for work so we always have MOO pizza. Friday is the end of the week and a another busy day, so a slow-cooker meal, a stew or casserole that will cope with re-heating. Saturday night is always a light meal and leftover night, we clean out the fridge and everyone gets a little of what ever is left over. I bulk it out with rice, potato or salad depending on the season and what's left over.
Step Four
Next to each meal list the ingredients that you will need to purchase for that meal. If we are having cheeseburgers, I look to see what ingredients I already have and then I list everything else I don't have so I am sure to buy them.
Step Five
Now that you have your meals listed, along with the ingredients that you need to purchase, you are ready to go to the supermarket. Hit that store with a smile, you are on a mission and you have a plan!
If you are eating your way into debt, limit the number of times you go out or have take-away every week and start planning your menus when you cook at home. Then shop with a list, and stick to it. This will make a huge difference in your grocery bill.
The $300 a Month Food Challenge Forum
The Post that Started it All
6. Cheapskates Buzz
From The Article Archive
Things we didn't Spend Money on when we had None (and we still don't!)
Ready to Double your Income?
Mocha Fudge
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
Coming Up
Thursday 19th June - The $20 a Week Pantry Challenge Follow-Up
8. Ask A Question
We have lots of resources to help you as you live the Cheapskates way but if you didn't find the answer to your question in our extensive archives please just drop me a note with your question.
I read and answer all questions, either in an email to you, in my weekly newsletter, the monthly Journal or by creating blog posts and other resources to help you (and other Cheapskaters).
Ask Your Question
9. Join The Cheapskates Club
For just $36.50 a year, you can join the Cheapskates Club and get exclusive access to the Cheapskate Journal, the monthly e-journal that shows you how to cut the costs of everyday living and still have fun.
Joining the Cheapskates Club gives you 24/7 access to the Members Centre with 1000's of money saving tips and articles.
Click here to join the Cheapskates Club today!
10. Frequently Asked Questions
How do I change my email address?
This one is easy. When you login to the Member's Centre just click on your name at the top of the page to go straight to your profile page where you can update your details, change your password and find your subscription details.
Not a Cheapskates Club member? Then please use the Changing Details form found here to update your email address.
How do I know when my membership should be renewed?
Memberships are active for one year from the date of joining. You will be sent a renewal reminder before your subscription is due to renew. You can also find your membership expiry date on your profile page.
When you login to the Member's Centre just click on your name to go straight to your profile page where you can will find your join date and your expiry date.
What will you do with my email address?
We never rent, trade or sell our email list to anyone for any reason whatsoever. You'll never get an unsolicited email from a stranger as a result of joining this list.
How did I get on this list?
The only way you can get onto our newsletter mailing list is to subscribe yourself. You signed up to receive our Free Newsletter at our Cheapskates Club Web site or are a Platinum Cheapskates Club member.
11. Contact Cheapskates
The Cheapskates Club -
Showing you how to live life
debt free, cashed up and laughing!
PO Box 5077 Studfield Vic 3152
Contact Cheapskates
Thursday 19th June - The $20 a Week Pantry Challenge Follow-Up
8. Ask A Question
We have lots of resources to help you as you live the Cheapskates way but if you didn't find the answer to your question in our extensive archives please just drop me a note with your question.
I read and answer all questions, either in an email to you, in my weekly newsletter, the monthly Journal or by creating blog posts and other resources to help you (and other Cheapskaters).
Ask Your Question
9. Join The Cheapskates Club
For just $36.50 a year, you can join the Cheapskates Club and get exclusive access to the Cheapskate Journal, the monthly e-journal that shows you how to cut the costs of everyday living and still have fun.
Joining the Cheapskates Club gives you 24/7 access to the Members Centre with 1000's of money saving tips and articles.
Click here to join the Cheapskates Club today!
10. Frequently Asked Questions
How do I change my email address?
This one is easy. When you login to the Member's Centre just click on your name at the top of the page to go straight to your profile page where you can update your details, change your password and find your subscription details.
Not a Cheapskates Club member? Then please use the Changing Details form found here to update your email address.
How do I know when my membership should be renewed?
Memberships are active for one year from the date of joining. You will be sent a renewal reminder before your subscription is due to renew. You can also find your membership expiry date on your profile page.
When you login to the Member's Centre just click on your name to go straight to your profile page where you can will find your join date and your expiry date.
What will you do with my email address?
We never rent, trade or sell our email list to anyone for any reason whatsoever. You'll never get an unsolicited email from a stranger as a result of joining this list.
How did I get on this list?
The only way you can get onto our newsletter mailing list is to subscribe yourself. You signed up to receive our Free Newsletter at our Cheapskates Club Web site or are a Platinum Cheapskates Club member.
11. Contact Cheapskates
The Cheapskates Club -
Showing you how to live life
debt free, cashed up and laughing!
PO Box 5077 Studfield Vic 3152
Contact Cheapskates