Your Cheapskates Club Newsletter 28:20
In This Newsletter
1. Cath's Corner
2. From the Tip Store - Best Ever Peg Basket; Earth Friendly Seedling Pots; The Never Empty Money Cup
3. Tip of the Week - Price Match - be Proud to Not be Proud
4. Share Your Tips
5. On the Menu - Crock Pot Bean Soup
6. The $300 a Month Food Challenge - No More Menu Madness
7. Cheapskates Buzz - Cheapskaters are talking in the Forum and on Cath's blog
8. The Cheapskates Club Show
9. Ask A Question - Have a question? Ask it here
10. Join the Cheapskates Club
11equently Asked Questions
12. Contact Details
1. Cath's Corner
Hello Cheapskaters,
I was talking with a friend recently and she commented on how stressed people were getting by the rising cost of everything. I've noticed some comments about this on Cheapskates Chatter too. Oh, and I've noticed it at the checkout as well, and I'm not doing a regular shop, just the weekly top-up.
I can understand that if you aren't a practicing Cheapskate or are a very new Cheapskate, that you may well be feeling very stressed and panicked with the rising prices and economic uncertainty (turn off the news, stick to once a day and then live your life!). Please don't panic. Take a few deep breaths, make a cuppa and then sit down with a notebook and a pencil and start to work on your survival plan.
We are all at different stages of frugality and only you know what you need to do to survive and then prosper. But you are not alone. There's a whole club of fellow Cheapskates who will offer caring support and advice so don't forget about us. Check in often and remember not to panic, you are after all a Cheapskate.
Have a great week everyone.
Happy Cheapskating,
Cath
2. From The Tip Store
Best Ever Peg Basket
Approximate $ Savings: Free if you are a gardener, just a recycling idea.
Instead of buying, every few years, the plastic coated peg holders that hang on my laundry trolley, because the plastic cracks and flakes off and it becomes rusty, I have used a plant pot, black, that is approximately 25cms wide, it is quite a sturdy pot, it must have some rubber in it as it hasn't cracked and I have been using it for about 8 years and it is always out in the weather. The pot isn't anything out of the ordinary just a pot I acquired when I bought a larger shrub or small tree. Next you need to get a wire coat hanger, unravel it and attach one end of it through one of the holes on the top lip of the pot, twist it to secure it, you will need some pliers and then wind it around the handle of the laundry trolley as many times as you like to get the height you want it. Too long and the pot with the pegs in it will sway too much and be a nuisance. Then attach the wire to the hole opposite the one you first used and voila! you have a peg holder that doesn't deteriorate, that has drainage holes and the wire coat hanger doesn't rust, I guess because it's steel. I love it too because having 5 children I needed lots of pegs and it holds quite a lot and there's no holes for them to slip out of. It cost nothing and was recycling items I had at home. I must admit now, one of my sons thought the idea up and made it for me! Hope this makes sense.
Contributed by Kathy
Earth Friendly Seedling Pots
Approximate $ Savings: $240.00
I have begun growing my vegetable seedlings again (due to some spare weekend time and the growing price of vegetables). I used to spend approximately $45.00 on jiffy pots, $25.00 on peat pots, $50.00 on seed raising mix, and between $30-40.00 on different seeds (these amounts are usually spent every 6 months or so). Well not anymore! I'm now collecting newspapers and toilet rolls for use as seed pots. I get about 10 sheets of newspaper (one on top of the other) and cut them into A5 size pieces. I then roll them up around a toilet roll and whack a couple of rubber bands around it to secure it. Take the toilet roll out as well and it can be used the same way! Then I put these 'pots' into some polystyrene boxes, fill them with my own seed raising mix (made with 1/4 part commercial seed raising mix; 1/4 peat; 1/4 part sand; 1/4 part sheep poo because its less potent than the other poos) and put my seeds into these. When the seedlings are big enough, then the whole thing gets planted into the garden bed and decomposes. Not only does this save the seedling from shock but it saves me approximately $240.00 a year just on the pots and seed raising mix alone! Not to mention the savings on my own home grown cabbages, tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, celery etc etc. So the savings are even more. This season I'm even going to master the art of seed collection and save myself more dollars by harvesting my own seeds ready for the next season.
Contributed by Sharon
The Never Empty Money Cup
I made myself a cup (a bit uneven and wobbly) and decided it would be like a money cup and this cup would never be empty. Sometimes it has only 5 cents in it but it has never been empty in the years I have owned it. My lucky cup. I now make cups for my friends and put some coins into it for each member of their family and the rule is the cup can never be empty. Being a cheapskate you have to use your imagination sometimes to create a bit of fun and hope, that way you always have a bit of money and a fun gift.
Contributed by E. Rushton
Editor's note: I love this! What a fun and inexpensive gift idea. How pretty would a vintage op shopped tea cup and sauce be sitting on a dresser or desk collecting coins? Or a country style mug on the fridge? Or even a cute kids mug to get the little people saving? So many ideas! Cath
Add a Tip
3. This Week's Winning Tip
This week's winning tip is from Rachel Bendall. Rachel has won a one year Platinum Cheapskates Club membership for submitting her winning tip.
Price Match - be Proud to Not be Proud
When a company includes a price match offer they rely on most people not taking the time or enduring the embarrassment of questioning them. I encourage everyone to flip this theory on its head and feel proud every time you hold them to account.
My partner used to call me 'the Queen of Awkward' when I'd smile and wait for the manager to be called to verify some price difference. Yet I'd be proud of myself for the money saved when the manager approved it. It takes seconds to do a google search for the item, click the shopping tab and you can save loads!
Now my partner is even better at it than me. We regularly save small amounts like $5 but have saved $30 on more expensive items. We do this for our bills twice a year too. Just call our providers and ask them to price match current competitor deals. Even when buying secondhand I try it. If I find an item closer to home which is more expensive than another item being sold, I'll politely point it out to my local seller and mostly they will match the price.
If you're friendly and adopt a positive attitude around what you're doing, it doesn't feel awkward at all!
Congratulations Rachel I hope you enjoy your Cheapskates Club membership.
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.
4. 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
5. On The Menu
Crock Pot Bean Soup
It's cold, and the forecast is for colder and wetter by the weekend, perfect soup weather. This soup is ideal for the slow cooker. I put it on early in the morning and by lunchtime it's ready and the house smells delicious. I serve it with cheesy bread stick or cheese toasties and it is always a hit.
Ingredients:
8 cups water
2 cups diced cooked chicken or beef or ham
1 onion, finely chopped
1 tsp. salt
250g dried Navy beans
1 cup finely chopped celery
2 tbsp finely chopped parsley
1/4 tsp pepper
Method:
In a large pot, bring water to a boil. Add beans (picked through), and boil gently 2 minutes. Turn off heat and let stand covered 1 hour. Pour all including water, into a slow cooker. Add remaining ingredients. Cover and cook on high 6-7 hours until beans are very soft.
Next week we will be eating:
Sunday: Roast Lamb
Monday: Mexican Lasagne, Salad
Tuesday: Vego Pasta Bake
Wednesday: Honey Mustard Chicken
Thursday: MOO Pizza
Friday: Lamb Souvlakis
Saturday: Pies
In the fruit bowl: Oranges, limes (they are off our trees), bananas
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
6. The $300 A Month Food Challenge
No More Menu Madness
A great benefit of having a meal plan is that takes a lot of the load of preparing daily meals off your shoulders. It's easy to check the menu each morning so you know what to prepare for dinner. No more takeaway and no more having to think of what to cook after a long days work either. The decision
has been made and the ingredients bought. All you need to do is put it together (or better yet get the family involved) and serve.
To make menu planning (and sticking to it easier) try these little tricks:
Get the family involved. Let them decide what you are going to be eating.
Have a good selection of easy meals and family favourites.
Make sure you have easy meals (crockpot, from the freezer, things that can be prepared in a hurry) down for busy nights.
Try to use ingredients that you have on hand or would normally use. This keeps the expense down and almost guarantees everyone will eat what's put in front of them.
Add in a new recipe occasionally, but only for nights where you'll have time to concentrate on it. A new recipe is not a good thing to try when you are pushed for time.
Encourage the whole family to help with meal preparation. Let each child have a night where they prepare dinner, even if it's just cheese on toast (and even a five-year-old can do this).
Try to plan for bulk cooking. Double up casseroles, pasta dishes etc. and freeze for the next week.
Keep a supply of frozen meals on hand for nights when the menu just isn't going to work (and we all have these). Knowing you can pull a meal out of the freezer and pop it in the oven or the microwave will stop you going through the drive through on the way home.
Plan for leftovers and freeze them for quick lunches or dinners in a hurry.
Keep food preferences in mind when planning meals. There's no point in
preparing tripe and onions if no-one is going to eat it. You've wasted your money and your time and food and everyone will be miserable.
Remember: your meals need to fit your lifestyle, and a meal plan, however simple will help this to happen.
The $300 a Month Food Challenge Forum
The Post that Started it All
7. Cheapskates Buzz
From The Article Archive
A $75 a Week Meal Plan
Chewy Muesli Bars
How to Cook on a Budget
This Week's Hot Forum Topics
Soap Making - A pure & gentle soap for personal use
MOO Breakfast Wraps
The $5 Pantry Challenge
Most Popular Blog Posts This Week
Living Off Our Stockpile Week 4
Cheesy Filled and Grilled Quesadillas
Stork Bundles
8. The Cheapskates Club Show
Join Cath and Hannah live Tuesdays on You Tube at 7.30pm AET
Join us live on YouTube every Tuesday and see how we are living debt free, cashed up and laughing - and find out how you can too!
Most Popular Shows
1. Cath's Corner
2. From the Tip Store - Best Ever Peg Basket; Earth Friendly Seedling Pots; The Never Empty Money Cup
3. Tip of the Week - Price Match - be Proud to Not be Proud
4. Share Your Tips
5. On the Menu - Crock Pot Bean Soup
6. The $300 a Month Food Challenge - No More Menu Madness
7. Cheapskates Buzz - Cheapskaters are talking in the Forum and on Cath's blog
8. The Cheapskates Club Show
9. Ask A Question - Have a question? Ask it here
10. Join the Cheapskates Club
11equently Asked Questions
12. Contact Details
1. Cath's Corner
Hello Cheapskaters,
I was talking with a friend recently and she commented on how stressed people were getting by the rising cost of everything. I've noticed some comments about this on Cheapskates Chatter too. Oh, and I've noticed it at the checkout as well, and I'm not doing a regular shop, just the weekly top-up.
I can understand that if you aren't a practicing Cheapskate or are a very new Cheapskate, that you may well be feeling very stressed and panicked with the rising prices and economic uncertainty (turn off the news, stick to once a day and then live your life!). Please don't panic. Take a few deep breaths, make a cuppa and then sit down with a notebook and a pencil and start to work on your survival plan.
We are all at different stages of frugality and only you know what you need to do to survive and then prosper. But you are not alone. There's a whole club of fellow Cheapskates who will offer caring support and advice so don't forget about us. Check in often and remember not to panic, you are after all a Cheapskate.
Have a great week everyone.
Happy Cheapskating,
Cath
2. From The Tip Store
Best Ever Peg Basket
Approximate $ Savings: Free if you are a gardener, just a recycling idea.
Instead of buying, every few years, the plastic coated peg holders that hang on my laundry trolley, because the plastic cracks and flakes off and it becomes rusty, I have used a plant pot, black, that is approximately 25cms wide, it is quite a sturdy pot, it must have some rubber in it as it hasn't cracked and I have been using it for about 8 years and it is always out in the weather. The pot isn't anything out of the ordinary just a pot I acquired when I bought a larger shrub or small tree. Next you need to get a wire coat hanger, unravel it and attach one end of it through one of the holes on the top lip of the pot, twist it to secure it, you will need some pliers and then wind it around the handle of the laundry trolley as many times as you like to get the height you want it. Too long and the pot with the pegs in it will sway too much and be a nuisance. Then attach the wire to the hole opposite the one you first used and voila! you have a peg holder that doesn't deteriorate, that has drainage holes and the wire coat hanger doesn't rust, I guess because it's steel. I love it too because having 5 children I needed lots of pegs and it holds quite a lot and there's no holes for them to slip out of. It cost nothing and was recycling items I had at home. I must admit now, one of my sons thought the idea up and made it for me! Hope this makes sense.
Contributed by Kathy
Earth Friendly Seedling Pots
Approximate $ Savings: $240.00
I have begun growing my vegetable seedlings again (due to some spare weekend time and the growing price of vegetables). I used to spend approximately $45.00 on jiffy pots, $25.00 on peat pots, $50.00 on seed raising mix, and between $30-40.00 on different seeds (these amounts are usually spent every 6 months or so). Well not anymore! I'm now collecting newspapers and toilet rolls for use as seed pots. I get about 10 sheets of newspaper (one on top of the other) and cut them into A5 size pieces. I then roll them up around a toilet roll and whack a couple of rubber bands around it to secure it. Take the toilet roll out as well and it can be used the same way! Then I put these 'pots' into some polystyrene boxes, fill them with my own seed raising mix (made with 1/4 part commercial seed raising mix; 1/4 peat; 1/4 part sand; 1/4 part sheep poo because its less potent than the other poos) and put my seeds into these. When the seedlings are big enough, then the whole thing gets planted into the garden bed and decomposes. Not only does this save the seedling from shock but it saves me approximately $240.00 a year just on the pots and seed raising mix alone! Not to mention the savings on my own home grown cabbages, tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, celery etc etc. So the savings are even more. This season I'm even going to master the art of seed collection and save myself more dollars by harvesting my own seeds ready for the next season.
Contributed by Sharon
The Never Empty Money Cup
I made myself a cup (a bit uneven and wobbly) and decided it would be like a money cup and this cup would never be empty. Sometimes it has only 5 cents in it but it has never been empty in the years I have owned it. My lucky cup. I now make cups for my friends and put some coins into it for each member of their family and the rule is the cup can never be empty. Being a cheapskate you have to use your imagination sometimes to create a bit of fun and hope, that way you always have a bit of money and a fun gift.
Contributed by E. Rushton
Editor's note: I love this! What a fun and inexpensive gift idea. How pretty would a vintage op shopped tea cup and sauce be sitting on a dresser or desk collecting coins? Or a country style mug on the fridge? Or even a cute kids mug to get the little people saving? So many ideas! Cath
Add a Tip
3. This Week's Winning Tip
This week's winning tip is from Rachel Bendall. Rachel has won a one year Platinum Cheapskates Club membership for submitting her winning tip.
Price Match - be Proud to Not be Proud
When a company includes a price match offer they rely on most people not taking the time or enduring the embarrassment of questioning them. I encourage everyone to flip this theory on its head and feel proud every time you hold them to account.
My partner used to call me 'the Queen of Awkward' when I'd smile and wait for the manager to be called to verify some price difference. Yet I'd be proud of myself for the money saved when the manager approved it. It takes seconds to do a google search for the item, click the shopping tab and you can save loads!
Now my partner is even better at it than me. We regularly save small amounts like $5 but have saved $30 on more expensive items. We do this for our bills twice a year too. Just call our providers and ask them to price match current competitor deals. Even when buying secondhand I try it. If I find an item closer to home which is more expensive than another item being sold, I'll politely point it out to my local seller and mostly they will match the price.
If you're friendly and adopt a positive attitude around what you're doing, it doesn't feel awkward at all!
Congratulations Rachel I hope you enjoy your Cheapskates Club membership.
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.
4. 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
5. On The Menu
Crock Pot Bean Soup
It's cold, and the forecast is for colder and wetter by the weekend, perfect soup weather. This soup is ideal for the slow cooker. I put it on early in the morning and by lunchtime it's ready and the house smells delicious. I serve it with cheesy bread stick or cheese toasties and it is always a hit.
Ingredients:
8 cups water
2 cups diced cooked chicken or beef or ham
1 onion, finely chopped
1 tsp. salt
250g dried Navy beans
1 cup finely chopped celery
2 tbsp finely chopped parsley
1/4 tsp pepper
Method:
In a large pot, bring water to a boil. Add beans (picked through), and boil gently 2 minutes. Turn off heat and let stand covered 1 hour. Pour all including water, into a slow cooker. Add remaining ingredients. Cover and cook on high 6-7 hours until beans are very soft.
Next week we will be eating:
Sunday: Roast Lamb
Monday: Mexican Lasagne, Salad
Tuesday: Vego Pasta Bake
Wednesday: Honey Mustard Chicken
Thursday: MOO Pizza
Friday: Lamb Souvlakis
Saturday: Pies
In the fruit bowl: Oranges, limes (they are off our trees), bananas
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
6. The $300 A Month Food Challenge
No More Menu Madness
A great benefit of having a meal plan is that takes a lot of the load of preparing daily meals off your shoulders. It's easy to check the menu each morning so you know what to prepare for dinner. No more takeaway and no more having to think of what to cook after a long days work either. The decision
has been made and the ingredients bought. All you need to do is put it together (or better yet get the family involved) and serve.
To make menu planning (and sticking to it easier) try these little tricks:
Get the family involved. Let them decide what you are going to be eating.
Have a good selection of easy meals and family favourites.
Make sure you have easy meals (crockpot, from the freezer, things that can be prepared in a hurry) down for busy nights.
Try to use ingredients that you have on hand or would normally use. This keeps the expense down and almost guarantees everyone will eat what's put in front of them.
Add in a new recipe occasionally, but only for nights where you'll have time to concentrate on it. A new recipe is not a good thing to try when you are pushed for time.
Encourage the whole family to help with meal preparation. Let each child have a night where they prepare dinner, even if it's just cheese on toast (and even a five-year-old can do this).
Try to plan for bulk cooking. Double up casseroles, pasta dishes etc. and freeze for the next week.
Keep a supply of frozen meals on hand for nights when the menu just isn't going to work (and we all have these). Knowing you can pull a meal out of the freezer and pop it in the oven or the microwave will stop you going through the drive through on the way home.
Plan for leftovers and freeze them for quick lunches or dinners in a hurry.
Keep food preferences in mind when planning meals. There's no point in
preparing tripe and onions if no-one is going to eat it. You've wasted your money and your time and food and everyone will be miserable.
Remember: your meals need to fit your lifestyle, and a meal plan, however simple will help this to happen.
The $300 a Month Food Challenge Forum
The Post that Started it All
7. Cheapskates Buzz
From The Article Archive
A $75 a Week Meal Plan
Chewy Muesli Bars
How to Cook on a Budget
This Week's Hot Forum Topics
Soap Making - A pure & gentle soap for personal use
MOO Breakfast Wraps
The $5 Pantry Challenge
Most Popular Blog Posts This Week
Living Off Our Stockpile Week 4
Cheesy Filled and Grilled Quesadillas
Stork Bundles
8. The Cheapskates Club Show
Join Cath and Hannah live Tuesdays on You Tube at 7.30pm AET
Join us live on YouTube every Tuesday and see how we are living debt free, cashed up and laughing - and find out how you can too!
Most Popular Shows
9. 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
10. Join The Cheapskates Club
For just $25 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!
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 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