Your Cheapskates Club Newsletter 29:23
In This Newsletter
1. Cath's Corner
2. From the Tip Store - Stocking Stuffers; Think Themes; Now's the Time to Plan your Summer Holiday
3. Share Your Tips
4. On the Menu - Baked Macaroni Cheese
5. The $300 a Month Food Challenge - Waste Not Want Not Muffins
6. The Weekly MOO Challenge - MOO Soothing Eczema Cream
7. Cheapskates Buzz
8. The Cheapskates Club Show
9. Handmade Christmas Challenge - Using Your Stash to Create Gift Kits
10. Join the Cheapskates Club
11. Frequently Asked Questions
12. Contact Details
1. Cath's Corner
Hello Cheapskaters,
It's me again, with another Cheapskates Club newsletter full of great ideas to save you money, time and energy and help you to live the Cheapskates way.
If you're a new newsletter subscriber, or a new Cheapskates Club member, welcome.
There's a lot in this week's newsletter, so make a cuppa and sit down for jolly good read.
Have a great week everyone.
Happy Cheapskating,
Cath
PS: Love our site? We love referrals! Send a note to your favourite newspapers, magazines, radio stations, TV stations, friends and relatives, and tell them about us!
2. From The Tip Store
Stocking Stuffers
Start looking now for those little things you can use for stocking stuffers, they are everywhere. Little notebooks, markers and crafting supplies, small Lego sets, toiletries, stickers, colouring books (even for adults!), pencils, perfumes and aftershaves, hair accessories, car accessories, novelty desk items, nuts, chocolates, DVDs, CDs are all things that will be on sale between now and then end of November. In early December you can add tea, coffee, lovely biscuits, so stock up. They are all things that will store so add them to your present box now to save money, time and energy in December.
Think Themes
Start scanning the sales for items that fit a theme. In a discount bin full of mismatched items, sale items might not seem appealing as gifts, but if you create a collection, you can put it in a gift basket to wow your loved ones! For instance, you might find headbands, nail polish and slippers separately, but together it makes a fun spa gift basket. Or, you could keep an eye out for the ingredients to make this Gingerbread House Kit or stock up on the ingredients to make Cheapskates Washing Powder and Miracle Spray and put together a green cleaning kit - knit a couple of dishcloths, include the tip sheets and you have a lovely, useful and inexpensive gift. When you have a theme shopping is easy and by starting now it will be cheaper too.
Now's the Time to Plan your Summer Holiday
In Australia January is traditionally the month most of us take our annual holiday. Some of us head to the beach, some of us head to the bush, some of us head off anywhere else and some of us holiday at home. However you plan to spend your summer holiday, even if it is just the gazetted days, start planning now. Think about where you are going, how you'll be getting there, where you'll stay and what you'll be doing. Work out your holiday budget and start saving towards it. Take some time to research accommodation costs, travel cost, discounts to entertainment and restaurants and anything else you would like to do on your holiday. Look for discount opportunities online and through any club or organisation affiliations you might have. It might be cold and dreary right now and holidays may seem a long way off but summer and holiday time will be here before you know it.
There are more than 12,000 great tips in the Tip Store
Add a Tip
3. Share Your Tips
The Cheapskate's Club website is thousands of pages of money saving hints, tips and ideas. There are over 12,000 tips to save you money, time and energy; 1,600 budget and family friendly recipes, hundreds of printable tip sheets and ebooks.
Let's get together and make the Cheapskates Club Australia's largest online hint, tip and idea library. Share your favourite money saving, time saving or energy saving hint and be in the running to win a one-year membership to The Cheapskate Club.
Share your favourite hint or tip that saves money, time and energy and be in the running to win a one-year subscription to The Cheapskate Journal.
Remember, you have to be in it to win it!
Share Your Tip
4. On The Menu
Baked Macaroni Cheese
This is pure comfort food, perfect for winter dinners or lunches. Serve it with crusty bread and a salad and you'll have happy eaters and clean plates.Baked Macaroni CheeseIngredients:
180g large elbow macaroni
300g sharp cheddar cheese, grated
1 tsp dry mustard
Pinch nutmeg
3 eggs, beaten
1 cup milk
salt and pepper, to taste
Method:
Pre-heat oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Cook macaroni in boiling salted water until al dente. Drain the water and add 3/4 of the cheese, the mustard, spices, eggs and just enough milk to bring the liquid up to the level of the still hot macaroni. Stir well and heat on the stovetop till the cheese melts. Put into a buttered lasagne dish and cover with aluminium foil. Bake for 25 to 35 minutes or until the centre is hot. Remove the foil and add the remainder of the cheese to the top and bake an additional five minutes.
Cost: $5.07 or 84 cents per serve (6)
Next week we will be eating:
Sunday: Roast Beef
Monday: Honey Soy Drumsticks, fried rice
Tuesday: Baked Macaroni Cheese, salad
Wednesday: Curried Sausages, rice
Thursday: MOO Pizza
Friday: Baked BBQ Chicken sandwiches
Saturday: Haystacks
There are over 1,800 budget and family friendly recipes in the Cheapskates Club Recipe File, all contributed by your fellow Cheapskates, so you know they're good.
Add A Recipe
Recipe File Index
5. The $300 a Month Food Challenge
Waste Not Want Not Muffins
Just because even though we feed our families on a tight grocery budget, doesn't mean we can't enjoy treats and a treat I love is a plump, moist muffin to have with my morning tea. I'm sharing one of our most popular recipes this week, that’s great for using what you have and the best thing is every time you make them they can be something different. I am pretty sure I've never made these muffins the same way twice, that's part of the charm and fun I think.
When a single apple muffin can cost $5.40, these muffins are more than affordable. The plain version of this recipe is just $1.28 and makes 6 large muffins, or 12 regular sized muffins. That means they cost between 10 cents and 21 cents each! You can make four batches for the cost of one from a café!Waste Not Want Not MuffinsIngredients:
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.
The $300 a Month Food Challenge Forum
The Post that Started it All
6. The Weekly MOO Challenge
MOO Soothing Eczema Cream
I've been making this cream for years, since the kids were small. I have two who suffer from eczema and the itchy, red rash nearly drives them crazy, and it seems to be much worse in winter.
This recipe can be used as a daily skin moisturizer to prevent eczema from flaring up. If by chance it does still appear this helps to nip it in the bud quickly!MOO Soothing Eczema CreamYou will need:
1/4 cup of oats
3/4 cup of coconut oil
Few drops of rosemary oil* (optional)
1 tbsp of olive oil
A small jar with a screw top lid, sterilised
Step 1. Finely grind the oats to a powder/flour consistency and set aside. I use my food processor but you can use a stick blender, vitamiser, mortar and pestle (if you have the muscles), a Nutri Bullet - any appliance that will grind the oats into a fine powder.
Step 2. Over a low heat, melt the coconut oil in a small saucepan until it melts.
Step 3. Add in a few drops of rosemary oil if you are using it. I usually add 8 drops as we like the fragrance and I like the antibacterial properties of rosemary oil.
Step 4. Add finely ground oats to the saucepan and mix until well blended. At this stage the mixture will be quite thin.
Step 5. Now, pour the olive oil into the mixture and stir until blended.
Step 6. Once all ingredients are thoroughly combined remove from the heat and let it cool, absorbing all the goodness from the oats. While it is still semi-liquid pour in to a small, sterilised storage container. It won't matter if you get any of the oats in the jar, your cream will just have a little texture. If you don't want any oats, strain the liquid into the jar. Let it cool and harden for several hours.
Apply to hands and skin as needed and feel the moisturising magic at work!
Note: I grind the oats to a very fine powder. I use the food processor, and then the coffee grinder to get it to a very, very fine powder and leave them in the cream, I don't worry about straining them out.
Get in on the fun and discussions here.
7. Cheapskates Buzz
From The Article Archive
A Handprint Apron for Grandma
A Personalised Mouse Pad
Pretty Jar Openers
This Week's Hot Forum Topics
Super Cheap Presents
Homemade Christmas Presents and Hampers
Handmade Gifts
8. The Cheapskates Club Show
Join Cath and Hannah live Tuesdays and Thursdays on You Tube at 7.30pm AET
Latest Shows
1. Cath's Corner
2. From the Tip Store - Stocking Stuffers; Think Themes; Now's the Time to Plan your Summer Holiday
3. Share Your Tips
4. On the Menu - Baked Macaroni Cheese
5. The $300 a Month Food Challenge - Waste Not Want Not Muffins
6. The Weekly MOO Challenge - MOO Soothing Eczema Cream
7. Cheapskates Buzz
8. The Cheapskates Club Show
9. Handmade Christmas Challenge - Using Your Stash to Create Gift Kits
10. Join the Cheapskates Club
11. Frequently Asked Questions
12. Contact Details
1. Cath's Corner
Hello Cheapskaters,
It's me again, with another Cheapskates Club newsletter full of great ideas to save you money, time and energy and help you to live the Cheapskates way.
If you're a new newsletter subscriber, or a new Cheapskates Club member, welcome.
There's a lot in this week's newsletter, so make a cuppa and sit down for jolly good read.
Have a great week everyone.
Happy Cheapskating,
Cath
PS: Love our site? We love referrals! Send a note to your favourite newspapers, magazines, radio stations, TV stations, friends and relatives, and tell them about us!
2. From The Tip Store
Stocking Stuffers
Start looking now for those little things you can use for stocking stuffers, they are everywhere. Little notebooks, markers and crafting supplies, small Lego sets, toiletries, stickers, colouring books (even for adults!), pencils, perfumes and aftershaves, hair accessories, car accessories, novelty desk items, nuts, chocolates, DVDs, CDs are all things that will be on sale between now and then end of November. In early December you can add tea, coffee, lovely biscuits, so stock up. They are all things that will store so add them to your present box now to save money, time and energy in December.
Think Themes
Start scanning the sales for items that fit a theme. In a discount bin full of mismatched items, sale items might not seem appealing as gifts, but if you create a collection, you can put it in a gift basket to wow your loved ones! For instance, you might find headbands, nail polish and slippers separately, but together it makes a fun spa gift basket. Or, you could keep an eye out for the ingredients to make this Gingerbread House Kit or stock up on the ingredients to make Cheapskates Washing Powder and Miracle Spray and put together a green cleaning kit - knit a couple of dishcloths, include the tip sheets and you have a lovely, useful and inexpensive gift. When you have a theme shopping is easy and by starting now it will be cheaper too.
Now's the Time to Plan your Summer Holiday
In Australia January is traditionally the month most of us take our annual holiday. Some of us head to the beach, some of us head to the bush, some of us head off anywhere else and some of us holiday at home. However you plan to spend your summer holiday, even if it is just the gazetted days, start planning now. Think about where you are going, how you'll be getting there, where you'll stay and what you'll be doing. Work out your holiday budget and start saving towards it. Take some time to research accommodation costs, travel cost, discounts to entertainment and restaurants and anything else you would like to do on your holiday. Look for discount opportunities online and through any club or organisation affiliations you might have. It might be cold and dreary right now and holidays may seem a long way off but summer and holiday time will be here before you know it.
There are more than 12,000 great tips in the Tip Store
Add a Tip
3. Share Your Tips
The Cheapskate's Club website is thousands of pages of money saving hints, tips and ideas. There are over 12,000 tips to save you money, time and energy; 1,600 budget and family friendly recipes, hundreds of printable tip sheets and ebooks.
Let's get together and make the Cheapskates Club Australia's largest online hint, tip and idea library. Share your favourite money saving, time saving or energy saving hint and be in the running to win a one-year membership to The Cheapskate Club.
Share your favourite hint or tip that saves money, time and energy and be in the running to win a one-year subscription to The Cheapskate Journal.
Remember, you have to be in it to win it!
Share Your Tip
4. On The Menu
Baked Macaroni Cheese
This is pure comfort food, perfect for winter dinners or lunches. Serve it with crusty bread and a salad and you'll have happy eaters and clean plates.Baked Macaroni CheeseIngredients:
180g large elbow macaroni
300g sharp cheddar cheese, grated
1 tsp dry mustard
Pinch nutmeg
3 eggs, beaten
1 cup milk
salt and pepper, to taste
Method:
Pre-heat oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Cook macaroni in boiling salted water until al dente. Drain the water and add 3/4 of the cheese, the mustard, spices, eggs and just enough milk to bring the liquid up to the level of the still hot macaroni. Stir well and heat on the stovetop till the cheese melts. Put into a buttered lasagne dish and cover with aluminium foil. Bake for 25 to 35 minutes or until the centre is hot. Remove the foil and add the remainder of the cheese to the top and bake an additional five minutes.
Cost: $5.07 or 84 cents per serve (6)
Next week we will be eating:
Sunday: Roast Beef
Monday: Honey Soy Drumsticks, fried rice
Tuesday: Baked Macaroni Cheese, salad
Wednesday: Curried Sausages, rice
Thursday: MOO Pizza
Friday: Baked BBQ Chicken sandwiches
Saturday: Haystacks
There are over 1,800 budget and family friendly recipes in the Cheapskates Club Recipe File, all contributed by your fellow Cheapskates, so you know they're good.
Add A Recipe
Recipe File Index
5. The $300 a Month Food Challenge
Waste Not Want Not Muffins
Just because even though we feed our families on a tight grocery budget, doesn't mean we can't enjoy treats and a treat I love is a plump, moist muffin to have with my morning tea. I'm sharing one of our most popular recipes this week, that’s great for using what you have and the best thing is every time you make them they can be something different. I am pretty sure I've never made these muffins the same way twice, that's part of the charm and fun I think.
When a single apple muffin can cost $5.40, these muffins are more than affordable. The plain version of this recipe is just $1.28 and makes 6 large muffins, or 12 regular sized muffins. That means they cost between 10 cents and 21 cents each! You can make four batches for the cost of one from a café!Waste Not Want Not MuffinsIngredients:
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.
The $300 a Month Food Challenge Forum
The Post that Started it All
6. The Weekly MOO Challenge
MOO Soothing Eczema Cream
I've been making this cream for years, since the kids were small. I have two who suffer from eczema and the itchy, red rash nearly drives them crazy, and it seems to be much worse in winter.
This recipe can be used as a daily skin moisturizer to prevent eczema from flaring up. If by chance it does still appear this helps to nip it in the bud quickly!MOO Soothing Eczema CreamYou will need:
1/4 cup of oats
3/4 cup of coconut oil
Few drops of rosemary oil* (optional)
1 tbsp of olive oil
A small jar with a screw top lid, sterilised
Step 1. Finely grind the oats to a powder/flour consistency and set aside. I use my food processor but you can use a stick blender, vitamiser, mortar and pestle (if you have the muscles), a Nutri Bullet - any appliance that will grind the oats into a fine powder.
Step 2. Over a low heat, melt the coconut oil in a small saucepan until it melts.
Step 3. Add in a few drops of rosemary oil if you are using it. I usually add 8 drops as we like the fragrance and I like the antibacterial properties of rosemary oil.
Step 4. Add finely ground oats to the saucepan and mix until well blended. At this stage the mixture will be quite thin.
Step 5. Now, pour the olive oil into the mixture and stir until blended.
Step 6. Once all ingredients are thoroughly combined remove from the heat and let it cool, absorbing all the goodness from the oats. While it is still semi-liquid pour in to a small, sterilised storage container. It won't matter if you get any of the oats in the jar, your cream will just have a little texture. If you don't want any oats, strain the liquid into the jar. Let it cool and harden for several hours.
Apply to hands and skin as needed and feel the moisturising magic at work!
Note: I grind the oats to a very fine powder. I use the food processor, and then the coffee grinder to get it to a very, very fine powder and leave them in the cream, I don't worry about straining them out.
Get in on the fun and discussions here.
7. Cheapskates Buzz
From The Article Archive
A Handprint Apron for Grandma
A Personalised Mouse Pad
Pretty Jar Openers
This Week's Hot Forum Topics
Super Cheap Presents
Homemade Christmas Presents and Hampers
Handmade Gifts
8. The Cheapskates Club Show
Join Cath and Hannah live Tuesdays and Thursdays on You Tube at 7.30pm AET
Latest Shows
Subscribe to our You Tube channel and never miss a show.
9. Handmade Christmas Challenge
Using Your Stash to Create Gift Kits
It's not too early to start planning and collecting gifts for Christmas 2019 and using this idea you could give beautiful gifts that haven't cost you a cent, especially if you live by the motto “she who dies with the most fabric wins” and have a huge stash of fabric and other craft supplies that you never use.
Go through your stash and make up Craft in a Basket (or box/jar/bag - whatever you have on hand) kits to give as gifts.
You've already bought the materials for these gifts so you're saving by not buying a gift and you're going to feel so good when that craft stash has been sorted out. If you have friends and family that are crafters they'll love this gift.
Some ideas would be a pattern, threads and cloth for a cross-stitch basket.
Fabric squares, thread and instructions for a mini-quilt kit.
Papers, stencils, layout guides and gel pens for a scrapbooking kit.
Knitting needles, yarn and a pattern for a knitted dishcloth/soap sack/scarf/coat hanger/tea cosy or whatever.
Beading kits – beads, wire or thread, needle, clasps, small pliers, instructions.
Cardstock, patterned papers and embellishments for a card making kit.
Using your stash of craft materials, you can make Craft in a Basket kits that will make lots of items, or just one - it's entirely up to you!
Don't forget to check in for our Make It Monday show and tell over at Cheapskates Chatter, we'd love to see what you've made.
Handmade Christmas Central
The Handmade Christmas Forum
10. Join The Cheapskates Club
For just $30 you can join the Cheapskates Club and get exclusive access to the Cheapskate Journal, the monthly e-journal that shows you how to cut the costs of everyday living and still have fun for a full year.
That's unlimited 24/7 access to EVERYTHING in the Member's Centre!
Click here to join the Cheapskates Club today!
11. Frequently Asked Questions
How do I change my email address?
This one is easy. When you login to the Member's Centre just click on your name at the top of the page to go straight to your profile page where you can update your details, change your password and find your subscription details.
Not a Cheapskates Club member? Then please use the Changing Details form found here to update your email address.
How do I know when my membership should be renewed?
Memberships are active for one year from the date of joining. You will be sent a renewal reminder before your subscription is due to renew. You can also find your membership expiry date on your profile page.
When you login to the Member's Centre just click on your name to go straight to your profile page where you can will find your join date and your expiry date.
What will you do with my email address?
We never rent, trade or sell our email list to anyone for any reason whatsoever. You'll never get an unsolicited email from a stranger as a result of joining this list.
How did I get on this list?
The only way you can get onto our newsletter mailing list is to subscribe yourself. You either signed up to receive our Free Newsletter at our Cheapskates Club Web site or are a Platinum Cheapskates Club member.
12. Contact Cheapskates
The Cheapskates Club -
Showing you how to live life
debt free, cashed up and laughing!
PO Box 5077 Studfield Vic 3152
Contact Cheapskates
9. Handmade Christmas Challenge
Using Your Stash to Create Gift Kits
It's not too early to start planning and collecting gifts for Christmas 2019 and using this idea you could give beautiful gifts that haven't cost you a cent, especially if you live by the motto “she who dies with the most fabric wins” and have a huge stash of fabric and other craft supplies that you never use.
Go through your stash and make up Craft in a Basket (or box/jar/bag - whatever you have on hand) kits to give as gifts.
You've already bought the materials for these gifts so you're saving by not buying a gift and you're going to feel so good when that craft stash has been sorted out. If you have friends and family that are crafters they'll love this gift.
Some ideas would be a pattern, threads and cloth for a cross-stitch basket.
Fabric squares, thread and instructions for a mini-quilt kit.
Papers, stencils, layout guides and gel pens for a scrapbooking kit.
Knitting needles, yarn and a pattern for a knitted dishcloth/soap sack/scarf/coat hanger/tea cosy or whatever.
Beading kits – beads, wire or thread, needle, clasps, small pliers, instructions.
Cardstock, patterned papers and embellishments for a card making kit.
Using your stash of craft materials, you can make Craft in a Basket kits that will make lots of items, or just one - it's entirely up to you!
Don't forget to check in for our Make It Monday show and tell over at Cheapskates Chatter, we'd love to see what you've made.
Handmade Christmas Central
The Handmade Christmas Forum
10. Join The Cheapskates Club
For just $30 you can join the Cheapskates Club and get exclusive access to the Cheapskate Journal, the monthly e-journal that shows you how to cut the costs of everyday living and still have fun for a full year.
That's unlimited 24/7 access to EVERYTHING in the Member's Centre!
Click here to join the Cheapskates Club today!
11. Frequently Asked Questions
How do I change my email address?
This one is easy. When you login to the Member's Centre just click on your name at the top of the page to go straight to your profile page where you can update your details, change your password and find your subscription details.
Not a Cheapskates Club member? Then please use the Changing Details form found here to update your email address.
How do I know when my membership should be renewed?
Memberships are active for one year from the date of joining. You will be sent a renewal reminder before your subscription is due to renew. You can also find your membership expiry date on your profile page.
When you login to the Member's Centre just click on your name to go straight to your profile page where you can will find your join date and your expiry date.
What will you do with my email address?
We never rent, trade or sell our email list to anyone for any reason whatsoever. You'll never get an unsolicited email from a stranger as a result of joining this list.
How did I get on this list?
The only way you can get onto our newsletter mailing list is to subscribe yourself. You either signed up to receive our Free Newsletter at our Cheapskates Club Web site or are a Platinum Cheapskates Club member.
12. Contact Cheapskates
The Cheapskates Club -
Showing you how to live life
debt free, cashed up and laughing!
PO Box 5077 Studfield Vic 3152
Contact Cheapskates