Your Cheapskates Club Newsletter 26:17
In this Newsletter
1. Cath's Corner
2. In the Tip Store - Easy Store Loyalty Cards; Homemade Natural Deodorant; Vinegar for the Laundry
3. Share Your Tips - Have a great tip? Share it here for a chance to win a Cheapskates Club membership
4. On the Menu - Waste Not, Want Not Muffins
5. The $300 a Month Food Challenge with Wendy - Dried Seasoned Bread Crumbs
6. Cheapskates Buzz - Cheapskaters are talking in the Forum and on Cath's blog
7. Member's Featured Blog - Mid-Year Finance Check
8. Last Week's Question - Meal Planning for a Mixed Meal Family
9. Ask Cath
10. Join the Cheapskates Club
11. Frequently Asked Questions
12. Contact Details
1. Cath's Corner
Hello Cheapskaters,
Just a short, quick newsletter this week.
There are still great tips, my go to muffin recipe, some great answers to last week's question and the $300 a Month Food Challenge to keep you busy for the 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
Easy Store Loyalty Cards
Finding a way to tidy out my purse of all my loyalty cards so that I wasn't having to carry them around with me. Always being asked at different stores if I have their loyalty card and not being able to find it in a hurry at the checkout. I was discussing this with a friend and she told me of an app that her daughter used and it is brilliant! The app is called Stocard, you can add your loyalty card in the app, it scans your member barcode and stores it on your phone. Then when you go to the checkout and you're asked for your card, you simply open the app and tap on the card you need and then it can be scanned. This keeps your loyalty cards at home and not in your purse. Clearing out the clutter in your purse.
Contributed by Shelley Madden
Homemade Natural Deodorant
Ingredients:
5-6 tablespoons coconut oil
1/4 cup baking powder
1/4 cup arrowroot
Combine baking soda and arrowroot. Slowly add coconut oil and mix with spoon. Then I used an old roll-on deodorant container cleaned of course and spooned mixture in. I popped ball back in case.
This is the best deodorant I have used, works a treat.
Contributed by Cheryl Hawkey
Vinegar for the Laundry
My tip is one I read quite a while back but took many years before I used it. I'm surprised that it works well. Skin irritations caused by detergents often occur as a result of residue that is left on your clothes. Using white vinegar leaves no residue at all. For those of you who still use detergent, adding just half a cup of white vinegar will remove all residue from your clean clothes. One of the biggest reasons that people use detergents is they fear that natural alternatives won’t fight off odours. White vinegar fights off bad smells, even those socks that have sat in your gym bag for a while! For stains with the potential to ruin your clothes, e.g. red wine, coffee, grease, etc., simply mixing half a cup of white vinegar and hot water will remove almost any stain. Leave the article of clothing in the solution overnight and then wash them as usual afterwards. So, next time you go to throw your clothes in the machine try white vinegar, it might be the healthiest decision you’ve ever mad.
Contributed by Michaela Coombs
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
Waste Not, Want Not Muffins
These muffins are quick and simple and quite nice as they are if you don't have leftovers to spice them up. Add your leftovers (fruit, cereal, corn, ham etc) and they become something really special. And best of all you're not wasting a single thing!
Ingredients:
2 cups self-raising flour
1/2 cup sugar*
1/2 cup applesauce (you can use tinned baby apple or sieved stewed apple)
1 egg
1/2 cup milk
1/2 tsp vanilla extract*
Method:
Pre-heat oven to 175 degrees Celsius. Mix the applesauce, egg and milk together. Combine the flour and sugar and add the wet ingredients. Stir to just combine. Now add the leftovers and gently stir through. Spoon into muffin cases and bake for 20 minutes.
*Note: for savoury muffins leave out the sugar and the vanilla extract.
Leftovers to use:
Brown bananas
Cereal crumbs (Weetbix, muesli, Sultana Bran, rolled oats, Crunchy Nut etc)
Cold porridge
Sweet biscuit crumbs (shake out the cookie jar)
Jam (add the milk to the jar, put the lid on and shake)
Sad apples, pears, plums, peaches etc diced or grated
Dried fruit
Nutella (scrape out jar, mix into wet ingredients)
Coconut
Dregs from flavouring bottles (caramel, strawberry, chocolate - mix into wet ingredients).
Peas, corn and carrots
Diced cold meats
Grated cheese and pickles
Chive and cheese
Use your imagination and see what wonderful muffins you can create and put a stop to kitchen waste.
This week we will be eating:
Sunday: Roast Chicken
Monday: Nutmeat loaf, veggies
Tuesday: Vegetable Lasagne
Wednesday: Kransky, hot potato salad
Thursday: MOO Pizza
Friday: Stir-fry
Saturday: Toasted sandwiches, tomato soup
In the fruit bowl: grapes
In the cake tin: Peppermint slice, scones
There are over 1,500 other great money saving meal ideas in the Recipe File.
5. The $300 a Month Food Challenge with Wendy
Dried Seasoned Bread Crumbs
Welcome to the food challenge everyone.
These homemade bread crumbs are very tasty, cheap and easy to make. I use them to coat chicken fillets, chicken drumsticks and salmon patties. Unfortunately, I don't measure out the ingredients when I make the seasoned bread crumbs. It's usually a shake of this and a good shake of that and some taste testing along the way. However you make your bread crumbs, they'll be much nicer than anything you'll buy in the supermarket.
Here are my approximate measurements:
3 cups of dried bread crumbs.
1 cup of crushed corn flakes or Weetbix
1 tablespoon of dried onion powder or 2 tablespoons of dried onion flakes.
1 tablespoon of rock salt/cooking salt (less if desired)
2 teaspoons of paprika
1 teaspoon of dried garlic granules or powder
few peppercorns or pepper
about 1 tablespoon of dried chives or parsley
If you are using granules or flakes for your seasonings, whiz them in a coffee grinder or use a mortar and pestle.
Mix everything together in a large bowl. Place in an air tight container. Once the lid is on give it a good shake to distribute the seasonings evenly over the bread crumbs. Store in the pantry.
NOTES:
*I use a food processor to blitz bread crusts from the ends of loaves of bread (saved up in the freezer). Any bread can be used. The crumbs are then spread evenly on large oven trays and baked at 160 degrees Celsius for about 20 minutes until golden and dry. You may need to use a spoon to loosen the bread crumbs half way through baking to even out the drying process
*If you are running low on seasoned bread crumbs, add a couple of handfuls of crushed corn flakes and / or Weetbix to the mix.
Have a great week and BE ENCOURAGED!!!!
You might also like:
MOO Italian Breadcrumbs
How to Make Seasoned Breadcrumbs
The $300 a Month Food Challenge
The Post that Started it All
6. Cheapskates Buzz
Most popular forum posts this week
How to MOO Recipe into a Bulk Recipe
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2088-How-to-MOO-Recipe-into-a-Bulk-Recipe
Tough Times
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?3604-Tough-Times
Stockpiling - Small Wins!
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?3591-Stockpiling-Small-Wins!
Most popular blog posts this week
Control Your Day to Day Finances
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2012/05/control-your-day-to-day-finances.html
MOO Condensed Milk, Cross it off Your Shopping List and Save a Fortune
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2017/06/moo-condensed-milk-cross-it-off-your.html
Take an $8 Barbecue Chook
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2016/07/take-8-barbecue-chook.html
7. Members Featured Blog
Platinum Cheapskates Club members have their very own Cheapskating blogs, and they are wonderful and inspirational and encouraging and even funny. This week's featured blog is written by joyofquilting.
Mid-Year Finance Check
My aim this year was $10,000 in 4 different accounts, I'm not doing too badly, I started with approximately $5,000 in each.
Bills-$8,300
I.C.E.-$7,300
Medical-$6,500
Holidays -$725
Bills is a working account that I'm trying to put extra in each fortnight to build a 6 month buffer for no income, or twelve months with a little pension/super if I retire early. On track for the end of the year.
I.C.E. ditto, we've been spending as hubby is doing up the ensuite slowly. I also spent $1,500 earlier this year to do up my car, brakes, new seatbelt, major service, lights etc. it's a 2001 Subaru with over 300,000km on the clock and should be right for another 100, which will be into retirement.
Medical, I've been doing a bit of a payment push, upped it from $50 to $150 per fortnight, might need to add the tax to that to meet the target.
Holidays, well, we spent on a cruise which wiped that account, but that's the plan, save for holidays, big one every couple of years, in between we go to car club runs or rallies; we've been to Wagga in June and got Wangaratta in October and I pay for my quilt weekend every year from this too. Don't think this will get back anywhere near the goal.
Overall, I'm pleased with progress, when any one account reaches target I'll snowball on the next nearest, bit like DR and his credit card payment system. Holidays will be the last to be done to keep me honest, I need to earn the rewards.
I still need to sort out the filing which I've been a bit slack with lately, but I've changed our utilities direct debits for electricity and gas as the solar system is reducing costs, so my homework for the week is done.
These holidays I'm also planning to get the stockpile, stash, freezers, pantry etc sorted, a nice rest that will make next term easier.
Login to read more Cheapskates Club Member blogs
8. Last Week's Question
Last week's question was from Janine who wrote
"I am having trouble menu planning at present as I have two meat eaters and two vegetarians in the family. Where once I would put the slow cooker on before work and it would feed all four of us, I now find it leaves two of us out. The vegetarian meals are fine even though I am yet to find many slow cooker meals because I can always add meat. It is the meat meals that leave the vegetarians out that are making things hard. Any suggestions? I am finding the vegetarians are living on nachos and wedges a lot. Having a few freezer meals in stock would be good for the let's get take away instead ‘cause it is easy nights (Chinese veggies and noodles etc.)."
Jill Parker answered
There are many vegetarian dishes that work well as a main dish for the vegetarians in the family and a side dish for the meat eaters. Things like chickpea curry, pumpkin and lentil hotpot or roasted vegetable bake. Salads and soups do dual duty too. We also used to do a dinner course of vegetables for all but with chops or steak for the meat eaters and meat substitute like Quorn products for the vegetarians. A vegetarian spaghetti bolognaise can be separated into two dishes, one with added mince which pads it out without changing the taste. Many Asian dishes are meat free and can have prawns or chicken added later. If your meal plan has one meat free meal for everyone once a week and a MOO pizza or takeaway for another meal, and don't forget planned leftovers, you begin to reduce the number of "twin" meals that need to be created each week. Refer to a few vegetarian cookbooks for some ideas that you can try or adapt.
Sharyn Green answered
I live with two meat eaters and two vegans, so I understand your pain.
Here's an example of my weekly plan:
Sunday: Roast dinner (I cook the roast on the BBQ) and roast veggies in the oven (I use maple syrup, garlic and herbs to make the veggies taste better). Serve the veggies with a rice or mixed rice or we make mashed potatoes. Any leftovers veggies are used for lunches or used for recipes for the week.
Monday: Stir fry with tofu (at the end I remove the vegan portions then add a meat which I've cooked in a separate pan).
Tuesday: Minestrone soup (which we can all eat). Cook in the slow cooker if you're working, and serve with bread rolls.
Wednesday: Spag Bog. For the meat eaters, I use mince and I make a tomato and herb base recipe for the vegans, and serve with Garlic Bread.
Thursday: BBQ (Steak and snags cooked on the BBQ) and you can buy vegan/veggie burgers and sausages at Woolies, Coles and Aldi. I serve with a salad and chips.
Friday and Saturday, we usually have take-out, left overs, whatever is in the freezer.
There are many vegetarian/vegan options on the net, some website good and some not so good (I find the Australian websites better).
It's not easy, and I find myself still cooking two meals, but if you can plan your week, it certainly helps.
Cheree Pereira answered
I'm the only vegetarian in my house, so always have things in the freezer to tie into the meat meal. Cauliflower fritters can be batched cooked and frozen- replaces burger patties and meat on meat and veg night. Tomato based pasta dishes or veggie lasagne freeze well, as do curries. Quiches and frittatas can be frozen in individual serves to have with salad or veggies. Soups are another option that can be frozen. I usually make a couple of meals one day a week, freeze them, then work that into the meat menu plan for the week.
Sharon Marriott answered
Maybe get two slow cookers, one for vego meals and one for the meat ones. Freeze the excess meals for both. My son is vegan and I recently bought a small slow cooker so I can use that for him when we have a slow cooker meal. Vegetable curry is nice -mix a packet of curry powder, onion, garlic, juice and zest of a lemon, jar of tomato paste in a blender and blitz; add salt and sugar to taste. Fry off assorted vegetables, stir through curry paste and add a can of coconut milk. Simmer until done and serve over rice. I make a huge vegetable one and put it up in single serve portions for Mr Vegan. Or make a big batch of vegetarian bean burgers/patties and freeze them. Then just pull them out and serve in the meal instead of meat. Or in burgers or wraps.
You might also like:
Recipe File: Vegetarian
http://www.cheapskatesclub.net/vegetarian.html
Recipe File: Vegetables
http://www.cheapskatesclub.net/vegetables1.html
Vegetarian Slow Cooker Recipes
http://www.cheapskatesclub.net/on-the-menu---wednesday-1st-july-2015.html
Do you have a delicious vegan or vegetarian recipe or meal idea? Share it here to have it added to the Recipe File.
9. 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
10. 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!
11. 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.
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12. Contact Details
The Cheapskates Club -
Showing you how to live life
debt free, cashed up and laughing!
PO Box 5077 Studfield Vic 3152
www.cheapskatesclub.net
1. Cath's Corner
2. In the Tip Store - Easy Store Loyalty Cards; Homemade Natural Deodorant; Vinegar for the Laundry
3. Share Your Tips - Have a great tip? Share it here for a chance to win a Cheapskates Club membership
4. On the Menu - Waste Not, Want Not Muffins
5. The $300 a Month Food Challenge with Wendy - Dried Seasoned Bread Crumbs
6. Cheapskates Buzz - Cheapskaters are talking in the Forum and on Cath's blog
7. Member's Featured Blog - Mid-Year Finance Check
8. Last Week's Question - Meal Planning for a Mixed Meal Family
9. Ask Cath
10. Join the Cheapskates Club
11. Frequently Asked Questions
12. Contact Details
1. Cath's Corner
Hello Cheapskaters,
Just a short, quick newsletter this week.
There are still great tips, my go to muffin recipe, some great answers to last week's question and the $300 a Month Food Challenge to keep you busy for the 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
Easy Store Loyalty Cards
Finding a way to tidy out my purse of all my loyalty cards so that I wasn't having to carry them around with me. Always being asked at different stores if I have their loyalty card and not being able to find it in a hurry at the checkout. I was discussing this with a friend and she told me of an app that her daughter used and it is brilliant! The app is called Stocard, you can add your loyalty card in the app, it scans your member barcode and stores it on your phone. Then when you go to the checkout and you're asked for your card, you simply open the app and tap on the card you need and then it can be scanned. This keeps your loyalty cards at home and not in your purse. Clearing out the clutter in your purse.
Contributed by Shelley Madden
Homemade Natural Deodorant
Ingredients:
5-6 tablespoons coconut oil
1/4 cup baking powder
1/4 cup arrowroot
Combine baking soda and arrowroot. Slowly add coconut oil and mix with spoon. Then I used an old roll-on deodorant container cleaned of course and spooned mixture in. I popped ball back in case.
This is the best deodorant I have used, works a treat.
Contributed by Cheryl Hawkey
Vinegar for the Laundry
My tip is one I read quite a while back but took many years before I used it. I'm surprised that it works well. Skin irritations caused by detergents often occur as a result of residue that is left on your clothes. Using white vinegar leaves no residue at all. For those of you who still use detergent, adding just half a cup of white vinegar will remove all residue from your clean clothes. One of the biggest reasons that people use detergents is they fear that natural alternatives won’t fight off odours. White vinegar fights off bad smells, even those socks that have sat in your gym bag for a while! For stains with the potential to ruin your clothes, e.g. red wine, coffee, grease, etc., simply mixing half a cup of white vinegar and hot water will remove almost any stain. Leave the article of clothing in the solution overnight and then wash them as usual afterwards. So, next time you go to throw your clothes in the machine try white vinegar, it might be the healthiest decision you’ve ever mad.
Contributed by Michaela Coombs
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
Waste Not, Want Not Muffins
These muffins are quick and simple and quite nice as they are if you don't have leftovers to spice them up. Add your leftovers (fruit, cereal, corn, ham etc) and they become something really special. And best of all you're not wasting a single thing!
Ingredients:
2 cups self-raising flour
1/2 cup sugar*
1/2 cup applesauce (you can use tinned baby apple or sieved stewed apple)
1 egg
1/2 cup milk
1/2 tsp vanilla extract*
Method:
Pre-heat oven to 175 degrees Celsius. Mix the applesauce, egg and milk together. Combine the flour and sugar and add the wet ingredients. Stir to just combine. Now add the leftovers and gently stir through. Spoon into muffin cases and bake for 20 minutes.
*Note: for savoury muffins leave out the sugar and the vanilla extract.
Leftovers to use:
Brown bananas
Cereal crumbs (Weetbix, muesli, Sultana Bran, rolled oats, Crunchy Nut etc)
Cold porridge
Sweet biscuit crumbs (shake out the cookie jar)
Jam (add the milk to the jar, put the lid on and shake)
Sad apples, pears, plums, peaches etc diced or grated
Dried fruit
Nutella (scrape out jar, mix into wet ingredients)
Coconut
Dregs from flavouring bottles (caramel, strawberry, chocolate - mix into wet ingredients).
Peas, corn and carrots
Diced cold meats
Grated cheese and pickles
Chive and cheese
Use your imagination and see what wonderful muffins you can create and put a stop to kitchen waste.
This week we will be eating:
Sunday: Roast Chicken
Monday: Nutmeat loaf, veggies
Tuesday: Vegetable Lasagne
Wednesday: Kransky, hot potato salad
Thursday: MOO Pizza
Friday: Stir-fry
Saturday: Toasted sandwiches, tomato soup
In the fruit bowl: grapes
In the cake tin: Peppermint slice, scones
There are over 1,500 other great money saving meal ideas in the Recipe File.
5. The $300 a Month Food Challenge with Wendy
Dried Seasoned Bread Crumbs
Welcome to the food challenge everyone.
These homemade bread crumbs are very tasty, cheap and easy to make. I use them to coat chicken fillets, chicken drumsticks and salmon patties. Unfortunately, I don't measure out the ingredients when I make the seasoned bread crumbs. It's usually a shake of this and a good shake of that and some taste testing along the way. However you make your bread crumbs, they'll be much nicer than anything you'll buy in the supermarket.
Here are my approximate measurements:
3 cups of dried bread crumbs.
1 cup of crushed corn flakes or Weetbix
1 tablespoon of dried onion powder or 2 tablespoons of dried onion flakes.
1 tablespoon of rock salt/cooking salt (less if desired)
2 teaspoons of paprika
1 teaspoon of dried garlic granules or powder
few peppercorns or pepper
about 1 tablespoon of dried chives or parsley
If you are using granules or flakes for your seasonings, whiz them in a coffee grinder or use a mortar and pestle.
Mix everything together in a large bowl. Place in an air tight container. Once the lid is on give it a good shake to distribute the seasonings evenly over the bread crumbs. Store in the pantry.
NOTES:
*I use a food processor to blitz bread crusts from the ends of loaves of bread (saved up in the freezer). Any bread can be used. The crumbs are then spread evenly on large oven trays and baked at 160 degrees Celsius for about 20 minutes until golden and dry. You may need to use a spoon to loosen the bread crumbs half way through baking to even out the drying process
*If you are running low on seasoned bread crumbs, add a couple of handfuls of crushed corn flakes and / or Weetbix to the mix.
Have a great week and BE ENCOURAGED!!!!
You might also like:
MOO Italian Breadcrumbs
How to Make Seasoned Breadcrumbs
The $300 a Month Food Challenge
The Post that Started it All
6. Cheapskates Buzz
Most popular forum posts this week
How to MOO Recipe into a Bulk Recipe
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2088-How-to-MOO-Recipe-into-a-Bulk-Recipe
Tough Times
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?3604-Tough-Times
Stockpiling - Small Wins!
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?3591-Stockpiling-Small-Wins!
Most popular blog posts this week
Control Your Day to Day Finances
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2012/05/control-your-day-to-day-finances.html
MOO Condensed Milk, Cross it off Your Shopping List and Save a Fortune
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2017/06/moo-condensed-milk-cross-it-off-your.html
Take an $8 Barbecue Chook
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2016/07/take-8-barbecue-chook.html
7. Members Featured Blog
Platinum Cheapskates Club members have their very own Cheapskating blogs, and they are wonderful and inspirational and encouraging and even funny. This week's featured blog is written by joyofquilting.
Mid-Year Finance Check
My aim this year was $10,000 in 4 different accounts, I'm not doing too badly, I started with approximately $5,000 in each.
Bills-$8,300
I.C.E.-$7,300
Medical-$6,500
Holidays -$725
Bills is a working account that I'm trying to put extra in each fortnight to build a 6 month buffer for no income, or twelve months with a little pension/super if I retire early. On track for the end of the year.
I.C.E. ditto, we've been spending as hubby is doing up the ensuite slowly. I also spent $1,500 earlier this year to do up my car, brakes, new seatbelt, major service, lights etc. it's a 2001 Subaru with over 300,000km on the clock and should be right for another 100, which will be into retirement.
Medical, I've been doing a bit of a payment push, upped it from $50 to $150 per fortnight, might need to add the tax to that to meet the target.
Holidays, well, we spent on a cruise which wiped that account, but that's the plan, save for holidays, big one every couple of years, in between we go to car club runs or rallies; we've been to Wagga in June and got Wangaratta in October and I pay for my quilt weekend every year from this too. Don't think this will get back anywhere near the goal.
Overall, I'm pleased with progress, when any one account reaches target I'll snowball on the next nearest, bit like DR and his credit card payment system. Holidays will be the last to be done to keep me honest, I need to earn the rewards.
I still need to sort out the filing which I've been a bit slack with lately, but I've changed our utilities direct debits for electricity and gas as the solar system is reducing costs, so my homework for the week is done.
These holidays I'm also planning to get the stockpile, stash, freezers, pantry etc sorted, a nice rest that will make next term easier.
Login to read more Cheapskates Club Member blogs
8. Last Week's Question
Last week's question was from Janine who wrote
"I am having trouble menu planning at present as I have two meat eaters and two vegetarians in the family. Where once I would put the slow cooker on before work and it would feed all four of us, I now find it leaves two of us out. The vegetarian meals are fine even though I am yet to find many slow cooker meals because I can always add meat. It is the meat meals that leave the vegetarians out that are making things hard. Any suggestions? I am finding the vegetarians are living on nachos and wedges a lot. Having a few freezer meals in stock would be good for the let's get take away instead ‘cause it is easy nights (Chinese veggies and noodles etc.)."
Jill Parker answered
There are many vegetarian dishes that work well as a main dish for the vegetarians in the family and a side dish for the meat eaters. Things like chickpea curry, pumpkin and lentil hotpot or roasted vegetable bake. Salads and soups do dual duty too. We also used to do a dinner course of vegetables for all but with chops or steak for the meat eaters and meat substitute like Quorn products for the vegetarians. A vegetarian spaghetti bolognaise can be separated into two dishes, one with added mince which pads it out without changing the taste. Many Asian dishes are meat free and can have prawns or chicken added later. If your meal plan has one meat free meal for everyone once a week and a MOO pizza or takeaway for another meal, and don't forget planned leftovers, you begin to reduce the number of "twin" meals that need to be created each week. Refer to a few vegetarian cookbooks for some ideas that you can try or adapt.
Sharyn Green answered
I live with two meat eaters and two vegans, so I understand your pain.
Here's an example of my weekly plan:
Sunday: Roast dinner (I cook the roast on the BBQ) and roast veggies in the oven (I use maple syrup, garlic and herbs to make the veggies taste better). Serve the veggies with a rice or mixed rice or we make mashed potatoes. Any leftovers veggies are used for lunches or used for recipes for the week.
Monday: Stir fry with tofu (at the end I remove the vegan portions then add a meat which I've cooked in a separate pan).
Tuesday: Minestrone soup (which we can all eat). Cook in the slow cooker if you're working, and serve with bread rolls.
Wednesday: Spag Bog. For the meat eaters, I use mince and I make a tomato and herb base recipe for the vegans, and serve with Garlic Bread.
Thursday: BBQ (Steak and snags cooked on the BBQ) and you can buy vegan/veggie burgers and sausages at Woolies, Coles and Aldi. I serve with a salad and chips.
Friday and Saturday, we usually have take-out, left overs, whatever is in the freezer.
There are many vegetarian/vegan options on the net, some website good and some not so good (I find the Australian websites better).
It's not easy, and I find myself still cooking two meals, but if you can plan your week, it certainly helps.
Cheree Pereira answered
I'm the only vegetarian in my house, so always have things in the freezer to tie into the meat meal. Cauliflower fritters can be batched cooked and frozen- replaces burger patties and meat on meat and veg night. Tomato based pasta dishes or veggie lasagne freeze well, as do curries. Quiches and frittatas can be frozen in individual serves to have with salad or veggies. Soups are another option that can be frozen. I usually make a couple of meals one day a week, freeze them, then work that into the meat menu plan for the week.
Sharon Marriott answered
Maybe get two slow cookers, one for vego meals and one for the meat ones. Freeze the excess meals for both. My son is vegan and I recently bought a small slow cooker so I can use that for him when we have a slow cooker meal. Vegetable curry is nice -mix a packet of curry powder, onion, garlic, juice and zest of a lemon, jar of tomato paste in a blender and blitz; add salt and sugar to taste. Fry off assorted vegetables, stir through curry paste and add a can of coconut milk. Simmer until done and serve over rice. I make a huge vegetable one and put it up in single serve portions for Mr Vegan. Or make a big batch of vegetarian bean burgers/patties and freeze them. Then just pull them out and serve in the meal instead of meat. Or in burgers or wraps.
You might also like:
Recipe File: Vegetarian
http://www.cheapskatesclub.net/vegetarian.html
Recipe File: Vegetables
http://www.cheapskatesclub.net/vegetables1.html
Vegetarian Slow Cooker Recipes
http://www.cheapskatesclub.net/on-the-menu---wednesday-1st-july-2015.html
Do you have a delicious vegan or vegetarian recipe or meal idea? Share it here to have it added to the Recipe File.
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