Your Cheapskates Club Newsletter 31:18
In this Newsletter
1. Cath's Corner
2. In the Tip Store - One Power Strip for all Chargers; Never Lose Recipes Again; Permanent Partyware
3. Cheapskate's Winning Tip - Using Up All Your Lotions
4. Share Your Tips
5.Use it Up Challenge
6. On the Menu - MOO Butter Chicken
7. The $300 a Month Food Challenge - Turn Leftovers into Lunches
8. Cheapskates Buzz - Cheapskaters are talking in the Forum and on Cath's blog
9. Member's Featured Blog - The Pregnancy Saving Tale
10. Last Week's Question - Retirement advice needed
12. This Week's Question - What can I put in my compost bin?
13. Ask Cath
13. Join the Cheapskates Club
14. Frequently Asked Questions
15. Contact Details
1. Cath's Corner
Hello Cheapskaters,
This is a really, really, really big month for the Cheapskates Club. This month marks the 17th birthday of our website. Wow! I never thought all those years ago that I'd still be here, still talking cheap, cheaper and cheapest and having a ball doing it!
Seventeen years is a long time. There have been so many changes during this time. Interest rates have gone up, interest rates have gone down. Food prices have sky rocketed. Petrol prices - well who would have dreamt seventeen years ago that we'd be paying $1.59 (or more) per litre for petrol! The thought of paying $1 a litre was mind boggling.
It hasn't been easy. There have been times when we've really had to stretch those dollars until they screamed. But we've done it, together. We've shared hints and tips, saving stories and recipes. We've shared our favourite op shops and those local traders we really like to keep secret. We've shared our successes and yes, we've even shared our Cheapskating failures.
It's thanks to you, Cheapskates Club members, that we've survived seventeen years online. Those hints and tips, stories and recipes, successes and failures, favourite op shops and secret local traders have been yours, shared so willingly with us all. And it's that attitude of sharing that has made Cheapskates what it is today, a vital, active community of like-minded folk and I love it.
Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for your kindness, support and encouragement over the last seventeen years. I've always said that I love my job, and have no intention of ever retiring. I'm in for the long haul and can't wait to see what the future holds.
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
One Power Strip for all Chargers
We are saving a fortune (well around $15 a month) simply by changing the way we store our phone and tablet chargers. We now have one power saver power board, plugged into a power point next to a lamp table so we can all easily access it. All the chargers (why do they all have to be different?) are plugged into the board, but it's only turned on when a phone or tablet needs to be charged. As soon as it's fully charged, it's removed and the power board is switched off. Now we don't need to search for chargers, and we have eliminated phantom power use for five devices. The difference in our power bill for the quarter may not seem much, but $15 is better in our bank account than the power company's.
Contributed by Rachel Kennedy
Never Lose Recipes Again
I make up my own base flour mix for things like, scones, pancakes, waffles, flat bread etc. I make the base and save it in a 5 litre container, only problem was I kept losing the recipes that went along with it. Solution: I stuck a page protector to the top of the lid and now store all the relevant recipes in there. This way I save time looking for the recipes and this in turn makes it faster and easier for me to utilise the base and continue to save money.
Contributed by Kellie
Permanent Partyware
I have been organising my son's birthday party. With many friends having little ones, I thought it was a good idea to invest in some durable plastic ware (bowls, plates and cups) from the $2 stores to use long term. I wanted to get some children's cutlery that was stainless steel and dishwashable. I ended up buying teaspoons and cake forks which are the right size and would work well for the purpose.
Contributed by Cynthia
Editor's note: We had a box of party supplies when the children were younger (I passed it onto a friend with young children a couple of years ago). In it we had plastic picnic sets I bought for $2 each in blue, yellow, green and pink. I also kept plastic serving trays, serviettes, banners, candles, sheets I used as tablecloths etc. in the box. When it was time for a party, everything was already to go. The initial cost was around $30, but over the years, with three parties a year, it saved us spending a lot more on disposable plates, glasses, cutlery, serviettes and tablecloths. I estimate that over 15 years we saved at least $30 a year, or around $450. Cath
There are currently more than 12,000 great tips in the Tip Store
3. Cheapskates Winning Tip
This week's winning tip is from Brenda Dawson. Brenda has won a one year Platinum Cheapskates Club membership for submitting her winning tip.
Use It Up - Turn Lotions into Moisturising Handwash
I have so many lotions and potions that I will never use in a hundred years, and every year I get given more. How to use them up and not waste them? I decided to MOO moisturising hand wash. I recycled an empty hand wash pump, half filling it with body lotion and topped it up with hand wash, giving it a good shake to make sure it was well mixed. Now, every time I wash my hands I get them moisturised at the same time. Works a treat and saves me buying moisturising handwash, saving around $60 a year!
Congratulations Brenda, I hope you enjoy your Cheapskates Club membership.
4. 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
5. The Use It Up Challenge
Last week I promised you a new challenge and here it is: August is Use It Up Month!
How often do you find yourself buying something, and then either not using it at all, or only partially using it up?
Think about the food in your fridge, the groceries in your pantry, the toiletries in your bathroom cupboard, even the clothes and shoes in your wardrobe.
Are there any items that haven't been used up? If so, think about the money you have sitting there, tied up in things you aren't using.
There's a William Morris quote "Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful." Well, I'm going to paraphrase for the Cheapskates version. "Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, and then use it up."
This week focus on the food in your house. What’s in the fridge? What's at the back of the pantry? What can you make with the food buried at the bottom of the freezer?
Make it a challenge to use the cans that are in your pantry and the meat in your freezer. Don’t buy any more food, even if it's on sale, unless you have nothing else in the house that will substitute. Use up what you actually have.
Learn how to turn those tins of tuna into a casserole or tuna patties, or our family favourite - Tuna Surprise. Add the baked beans to tacos, or lasagne, or spag bol. That tin of passionfruit pulp left from Christmas? Stir it into plain yoghurt. Limp veggies? Grate them and add them to pancake batter to make fritters, or to stock to make veggie soup. Use your imagination, check the Recipe File and ask for ideas in the forum, and you'll find plenty of ways to use it up.
And then take the money you haven't spent, and save it.
How much do you think you'll save by using it up this week?
The Use It Up Challenge
6. On the Menu
MOO Butter Chicken
This recipe is so good it earned "more pleases" from all four taste testers, and that's saying something because Hannah doesn't like spicy food at all.
It came about because we decided on butter chicken for dinner but didn't have a jar of sauce. No problem, I set AJ the task of finding a recipe that was easy and used ingredients we already had. He came up with three, the problem being we didn't have all the ingredients to make just one.
We did some adjusting and came up with this.
MOO Butter Chicken
Ingredients:
500g chicken fillets (breast or thigh, whatever is cheapest), skin off and cut into 1cm dice
1 tbsp tandoori seasoning
1/2 cup water
1 tin tomato soup
1 onion, diced
1 tbsp oil
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground turmeric
300ml cream
Method:
Mix the tandoori seasoning with the water. Pour over the diced chicken and let marinate 10 minutes. Heat the oil in a heavy based frying pan or wok. Add the chicken and brown all over. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside. Add the onion, garlic, coriander, cumin and turmeric and cook for 3 minutes until onion is soft. Add marinated chicken and cook for 2 minutes. Add soup and cream. Bring to the boil, reduce heat and cook for 15 minutes, until chicken is cooked. Serve with steamed rice.
This week we will be eating:
Sunday: Roast Beef
Monday: Schnitzels, steamed veg, tomato gravy
Tuesday: Pasta bake, tossed salad
Wednesday: Butter chicken, steamed rice
Thursday: MOO Pizza
Friday: Curried sausages, mashed potato
Saturday: Toasted sandwiches, tomato soup
There are over 1,600 other great money saving meal ideas in the Recipe File.
7. The $300 a Month Food Challenge
Turn Leftovers into Lunches
Leftovers, whether planned or accidental, should always have a plan, otherwise they end up going off in the back of the fridge and being dumped. And that's the same as tossing money in the bin.
I use leftovers for freezer meals - I just put the extra serves into containers as I'm dishing up and pop them in the freezer. I find if I don't do it immediately, then the fridge fairies will strike and those planned freezer meals will be gone. Once they're in the freezer, we have ready-to-heat meals for those nights when I can't be bothered cooking.
Or I can use them for lunches. Leftovers make great lunches, and in the long run they are much cheaper than buying lunch.
So what leftovers from the past few dinners are lurking in your fridge right now? If you haven't frozen them for freezer meals and you're not planning on eating them tonight, turn them into lunches for tomorrow.
We have a family of five, so most of my recipes make six serves. That means there is always at least one serve left. I don't intentionally cook extra to get leftovers, but you can do that; just be sure to freeze the extra food to use as you've planned.
Here are some of our meals that have leftovers, and how I use them:
Meatloaf – Slice up any leftovers and use it to make meatloaf sandwiches, or place one slice on top of a serving of spaghetti and cover with tomato sauce. When ready to eat, simply pop it in the microwave for a yummy lunch.
Chicken – When you roast or fry a chicken, use the leftovers to make chicken sandwiches, salad or a wrap the next day. You can also prepare a regular green salad with your favourite toppings like cucumbers, tomatoes and sprouts and top with bite sized chunks of chicken for a grilled chicken salad. Just store the dressing on the side and pour it over the salad when you’re ready to eat.
Pot-Roast – Pot Roast is one of those dishes that gets better each time you heat it up. Pair it with some leftover rice or make a sandwich out of it. Slice up a sub-style roll and fill it with pot roast and slices of tomato for a filling lunch sandwich.
Chops and Steaks – Slice up leftover chops or steak and turn into yummy sandwiches or wraps. Use chutney or mustard as the spread instead of butter for added flavour. You can also make a filling salad by topping your favourite mixed greens with the meat cut into bite sized chunks. Sliced steak can be used in stir fry, or minced to make cottage pie (just add some gravy and top with mashed potato).
Soup and Stew - Just about any type of soup or stew makes for a great leftover lunch. You can heat the soup in the microwave at the office or in school, or if that’s not an option, invest in a small big-mouthed thermos. Fill it with hot soup or stew in the morning and it will still be warm when lunch time rolls around. Be sure to pack a big piece of French bread for dipping.
Pasta Dishes – Most pasta dishes can be stored in small microwave containers and reheated. Just be sure to add a little extra sauce to keep the pasta dish from getting too dry. Simply top your leftover spaghetti with a little cheese, leftover meat, or fresh veggies to make it different from last night’s dinner.
Rice – Rice makes perfect filler for quite a few dishes. Add rice to wraps and burritos or soups and stews. You can also make up a batch of rice pudding and put it into small containers as a great after lunch snack.
The $300 a Month Food Challenge
The Post that Started it All
8. Cheapskates Buzz
Most popular forum posts this week
MOO Challenge
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?3780-MOO-Challenge
Fed Up with Improved Products
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?363-Fed-up-with-improved-products.
Plastic Free Tips
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?3608-Plastic-free-tips
Most popular blog posts this week
MOO Toilet Bombs
https://www.cheapskatesclub.net/living-the-cheapskates-way-blog/moo-toilet-bombs
Zero Waste
https://www.cheapskatesclub.net/living-the-cheapskates-way-blog/zero-waste
MOO Household Cleaning Solutions
https://www.cheapskatesclub.net/living-the-cheapskates-way-blog/moo-household-cleaning-solutions
9. 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 pri_mukh.
The Pregnancy Saving Tale
So the year was October 2016 when we discovered that I am pregnant with our first baby. Although we were really excited and thrilled with the news, we were also worried what the future will be, considering we only had $5,000 in our bank account at that time. I knew I would need help once the baby is born - which translates to I will have to fly down my parents and my in-laws from abroad (read: sponsor their travel, stay, food, living expenses, visa costs, health insurance etc). So I casually asked my husband in the car on our way to grocery shopping, as to how we are going to do it and he mentioned in an equally casual tone – "it’s easy. We just have to save about $30-35,000."
At that time I really felt like hitting my head on the dashboard, but stopped short as I thought of the baby....hehehehe. Anyways, so off I started with my saving. I figured I had about 9 months in hand.
First I decided I was not going to go crazy buying stuff for the baby. I bought some very good used items like the cot etc. and essential items that I bought new, like the pram and car seat, on layby. Only bought two maternity trousers and two maternity tops - I still wear them. I learnt what NOT to do from a friend who said how crazy she went with buying stuff for her baby - she bought two prams (one in the car and one at home), two baby changing tables (one in her bedroom and another in her living area), Boori cots (I think that brand cots can range from $1,000 above), etc. I started researching the cost of flight tickets for our parents about 6-7 months in advance and bought them cheaper than what was available online by asking the travel agent to price match.
We went public for the delivery (had private health insurance for 10 months - cancelled it without any regrets) and had the most amazing birth experience. DH could stay with me overnight and I had my own room too, just shared the bathroom with another lady. To be honest with you, even if I had to share room with another mum – I wouldn’t have minded. I am there to give birth and not for vacation really. I was surprised when our other friends would boast how it was a luxurious 5 star hotel treatment for them in the private hospitals with trays and trays of food being served to them. To be honest, it didn't make any sense to me to pay a premium of over $200/month for a week of 5 star treatment in the hospital! My public hospital was only a 10 minute drive from my home yet I had to go to the city if it was private. Anyways that added to my saving plan too.
I used this opportunity to spend less on alcohol. I couldn't drink anyways since I was pregnant and I played "look at all I am sacrificing for our child" card to DH, resulting in him drinking less too. So, instead of drinking every night, he drank only on weekends - a trend that we follow even now. We used to spend about $250-300/month on alcohol - picking up a $20 bottle from the shelves at any time. We have brought it down to only about $60-$80 per month. And yes, I saved that money too.
I worked as long as I could - up until the week before my delivery. I still had a baby shower once my parents arrived and no, I didn't go crazy about it too. We had friends over to our house for a nice dinner and had a small ceremony. We all enjoyed the evening so, so much without breaking our bank and most importantly - time well spent with our loved ones!
From the time I started saving to the time I had our baby, I had saved about $60,000 (that was double the amount that DH casually mentioned in the car) and I was proud of myself. I could take a one year maternity leave, pay all our bills and mortgage on time, took both our parents and in laws around Australia (since they both visited for the first time), even took a short vacation to South Korea (yes, with a 6 month old baby - I am not gonna stop living my life only coz I have a cute little angel for whom I have to pack zillions), plus took a trip back home to meet family with the baby, organised two christening functions for the baby – one at my parent's place and then at my in law's place.
I have just started working about a month back and am pleasantly surprised that I have still managed to save about half of that. We have survived a whole year on one income, with no debts whatsoever (except our mortgage of course). It was not an easy road of course but I am so happy that this worked out.
Login to read more Cheapskates Club Member blogs
10. Last Week's Question
Last week's question was from Carol who wrote
"A New Zealand friend has been living in Australia for more than 10 years now, but has not been able to apply for citizenship due to a recent battle with cancer. Of course money is now tight. As my friend and her husband are approaching 60, thoughts of retirement are springing to mind. Does anyone know what options there are for NZs in terms of financial assistance (pensions) in Australia?"
Kaye Silich answered
Contact Centrelink - they will give you the details of their 'international' department (actually in Tassie I think). It may even be online by now as I did this for my mother seven years ago. They are amazing - they actually answer the phone and will let you know that the NZ/Australian governments have a reciprocal agreement whereby you will get the bulk of your pension from New Zealand (if you are eligible) and if there is a difference between that and the Australian pension, the Australian pension (or part ) may also be paid. The New Zealand pension is not means/income tested so your friends should be able to get it without a problem.
Susan Czermak answered
New Zealanders can claim the Age Pension here, but not until 65 (but would be 67 in 5 years' time). They can also get New Zealand superannuation, depending on their working life in both countries. Other benefits would depend on whether they have a permanent residency visa (citizenship is not required). For New Zealand superannuation, I think if one married person qualifies for super, then the younger person will also get it. Everything is means tested, so an application at the time will have to be made to determine levels, but a face to face discussion at Centrelink could help determine likely future possibilities (but things could change in the time up to 65/7). There are different conditions available to New Zealanders who were here before 2001. My sister and husband who live in NZ, are better off in their retirement (social security pensions) there than they would be here, according to them. They do not have any related pension from work.
11. This Week's Question
Denise writes
"What can I put in my compost bin? Most especially can I put used kitty litter, the clay and stone type, with the kitty poo into my compost bin? And how long should it take from go to whoa to turn to compost? I have had a compost bin for a few years, and it never seems to fill up, but I never seem to get anything out of the bottom of it. Any advice would be helpful."
Do you have the answer?
If you have the answers to Denise's questions? Let us know. We'll enter your answer into our Tip of the Week competition, with a one-year membership to the Cheapskates Club as the prize too.
Send your answer
12. 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
13. 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!
14. Frequently Asked Questions
How do I change my email address?
This one is easy. Members can update their email address or any other details by clicking on "Edit Profile" directly under their membership number after they have logged in to the Member's Centre. Subscribers to our free newsletter can use the Change Your Address form (under Customer Service in the menu) and fill it out. Once you've filled it in click the send button and we'll do the rest. Please remember to include your old email address so we can find it in the list as well as the new one.
How do I know when my membership should be renewed?
When you login to the Member's Centre you will be told how many days of membership you have left once you have 30 days left. Just click on the link to renew and your membership will just continue on, uninterrupted.
What will you do with my email address?
We never rent, trade or sell our email list to anyone for any reason whatsoever. You'll never get an unsolicited email from a stranger as a result of joining this list.
How Did You Get on Our List?
You signed up to receive our Free Newsletter at our Cheapskates Club Web site or are a Platinum Cheapskates Club member
15. Contact Details
The Cheapskates Club -
Showing you how to live life
debt free, cashed up and laughing!
Contact Cheapskates
1. Cath's Corner
2. In the Tip Store - One Power Strip for all Chargers; Never Lose Recipes Again; Permanent Partyware
3. Cheapskate's Winning Tip - Using Up All Your Lotions
4. Share Your Tips
5.Use it Up Challenge
6. On the Menu - MOO Butter Chicken
7. The $300 a Month Food Challenge - Turn Leftovers into Lunches
8. Cheapskates Buzz - Cheapskaters are talking in the Forum and on Cath's blog
9. Member's Featured Blog - The Pregnancy Saving Tale
10. Last Week's Question - Retirement advice needed
12. This Week's Question - What can I put in my compost bin?
13. Ask Cath
13. Join the Cheapskates Club
14. Frequently Asked Questions
15. Contact Details
1. Cath's Corner
Hello Cheapskaters,
This is a really, really, really big month for the Cheapskates Club. This month marks the 17th birthday of our website. Wow! I never thought all those years ago that I'd still be here, still talking cheap, cheaper and cheapest and having a ball doing it!
Seventeen years is a long time. There have been so many changes during this time. Interest rates have gone up, interest rates have gone down. Food prices have sky rocketed. Petrol prices - well who would have dreamt seventeen years ago that we'd be paying $1.59 (or more) per litre for petrol! The thought of paying $1 a litre was mind boggling.
It hasn't been easy. There have been times when we've really had to stretch those dollars until they screamed. But we've done it, together. We've shared hints and tips, saving stories and recipes. We've shared our favourite op shops and those local traders we really like to keep secret. We've shared our successes and yes, we've even shared our Cheapskating failures.
It's thanks to you, Cheapskates Club members, that we've survived seventeen years online. Those hints and tips, stories and recipes, successes and failures, favourite op shops and secret local traders have been yours, shared so willingly with us all. And it's that attitude of sharing that has made Cheapskates what it is today, a vital, active community of like-minded folk and I love it.
Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for your kindness, support and encouragement over the last seventeen years. I've always said that I love my job, and have no intention of ever retiring. I'm in for the long haul and can't wait to see what the future holds.
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
One Power Strip for all Chargers
We are saving a fortune (well around $15 a month) simply by changing the way we store our phone and tablet chargers. We now have one power saver power board, plugged into a power point next to a lamp table so we can all easily access it. All the chargers (why do they all have to be different?) are plugged into the board, but it's only turned on when a phone or tablet needs to be charged. As soon as it's fully charged, it's removed and the power board is switched off. Now we don't need to search for chargers, and we have eliminated phantom power use for five devices. The difference in our power bill for the quarter may not seem much, but $15 is better in our bank account than the power company's.
Contributed by Rachel Kennedy
Never Lose Recipes Again
I make up my own base flour mix for things like, scones, pancakes, waffles, flat bread etc. I make the base and save it in a 5 litre container, only problem was I kept losing the recipes that went along with it. Solution: I stuck a page protector to the top of the lid and now store all the relevant recipes in there. This way I save time looking for the recipes and this in turn makes it faster and easier for me to utilise the base and continue to save money.
Contributed by Kellie
Permanent Partyware
I have been organising my son's birthday party. With many friends having little ones, I thought it was a good idea to invest in some durable plastic ware (bowls, plates and cups) from the $2 stores to use long term. I wanted to get some children's cutlery that was stainless steel and dishwashable. I ended up buying teaspoons and cake forks which are the right size and would work well for the purpose.
Contributed by Cynthia
Editor's note: We had a box of party supplies when the children were younger (I passed it onto a friend with young children a couple of years ago). In it we had plastic picnic sets I bought for $2 each in blue, yellow, green and pink. I also kept plastic serving trays, serviettes, banners, candles, sheets I used as tablecloths etc. in the box. When it was time for a party, everything was already to go. The initial cost was around $30, but over the years, with three parties a year, it saved us spending a lot more on disposable plates, glasses, cutlery, serviettes and tablecloths. I estimate that over 15 years we saved at least $30 a year, or around $450. Cath
There are currently more than 12,000 great tips in the Tip Store
3. Cheapskates Winning Tip
This week's winning tip is from Brenda Dawson. Brenda has won a one year Platinum Cheapskates Club membership for submitting her winning tip.
Use It Up - Turn Lotions into Moisturising Handwash
I have so many lotions and potions that I will never use in a hundred years, and every year I get given more. How to use them up and not waste them? I decided to MOO moisturising hand wash. I recycled an empty hand wash pump, half filling it with body lotion and topped it up with hand wash, giving it a good shake to make sure it was well mixed. Now, every time I wash my hands I get them moisturised at the same time. Works a treat and saves me buying moisturising handwash, saving around $60 a year!
Congratulations Brenda, I hope you enjoy your Cheapskates Club membership.
4. 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
5. The Use It Up Challenge
Last week I promised you a new challenge and here it is: August is Use It Up Month!
How often do you find yourself buying something, and then either not using it at all, or only partially using it up?
Think about the food in your fridge, the groceries in your pantry, the toiletries in your bathroom cupboard, even the clothes and shoes in your wardrobe.
Are there any items that haven't been used up? If so, think about the money you have sitting there, tied up in things you aren't using.
There's a William Morris quote "Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful." Well, I'm going to paraphrase for the Cheapskates version. "Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, and then use it up."
This week focus on the food in your house. What’s in the fridge? What's at the back of the pantry? What can you make with the food buried at the bottom of the freezer?
Make it a challenge to use the cans that are in your pantry and the meat in your freezer. Don’t buy any more food, even if it's on sale, unless you have nothing else in the house that will substitute. Use up what you actually have.
Learn how to turn those tins of tuna into a casserole or tuna patties, or our family favourite - Tuna Surprise. Add the baked beans to tacos, or lasagne, or spag bol. That tin of passionfruit pulp left from Christmas? Stir it into plain yoghurt. Limp veggies? Grate them and add them to pancake batter to make fritters, or to stock to make veggie soup. Use your imagination, check the Recipe File and ask for ideas in the forum, and you'll find plenty of ways to use it up.
And then take the money you haven't spent, and save it.
How much do you think you'll save by using it up this week?
The Use It Up Challenge
6. On the Menu
MOO Butter Chicken
This recipe is so good it earned "more pleases" from all four taste testers, and that's saying something because Hannah doesn't like spicy food at all.
It came about because we decided on butter chicken for dinner but didn't have a jar of sauce. No problem, I set AJ the task of finding a recipe that was easy and used ingredients we already had. He came up with three, the problem being we didn't have all the ingredients to make just one.
We did some adjusting and came up with this.
MOO Butter Chicken
Ingredients:
500g chicken fillets (breast or thigh, whatever is cheapest), skin off and cut into 1cm dice
1 tbsp tandoori seasoning
1/2 cup water
1 tin tomato soup
1 onion, diced
1 tbsp oil
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground turmeric
300ml cream
Method:
Mix the tandoori seasoning with the water. Pour over the diced chicken and let marinate 10 minutes. Heat the oil in a heavy based frying pan or wok. Add the chicken and brown all over. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside. Add the onion, garlic, coriander, cumin and turmeric and cook for 3 minutes until onion is soft. Add marinated chicken and cook for 2 minutes. Add soup and cream. Bring to the boil, reduce heat and cook for 15 minutes, until chicken is cooked. Serve with steamed rice.
This week we will be eating:
Sunday: Roast Beef
Monday: Schnitzels, steamed veg, tomato gravy
Tuesday: Pasta bake, tossed salad
Wednesday: Butter chicken, steamed rice
Thursday: MOO Pizza
Friday: Curried sausages, mashed potato
Saturday: Toasted sandwiches, tomato soup
There are over 1,600 other great money saving meal ideas in the Recipe File.
7. The $300 a Month Food Challenge
Turn Leftovers into Lunches
Leftovers, whether planned or accidental, should always have a plan, otherwise they end up going off in the back of the fridge and being dumped. And that's the same as tossing money in the bin.
I use leftovers for freezer meals - I just put the extra serves into containers as I'm dishing up and pop them in the freezer. I find if I don't do it immediately, then the fridge fairies will strike and those planned freezer meals will be gone. Once they're in the freezer, we have ready-to-heat meals for those nights when I can't be bothered cooking.
Or I can use them for lunches. Leftovers make great lunches, and in the long run they are much cheaper than buying lunch.
So what leftovers from the past few dinners are lurking in your fridge right now? If you haven't frozen them for freezer meals and you're not planning on eating them tonight, turn them into lunches for tomorrow.
We have a family of five, so most of my recipes make six serves. That means there is always at least one serve left. I don't intentionally cook extra to get leftovers, but you can do that; just be sure to freeze the extra food to use as you've planned.
Here are some of our meals that have leftovers, and how I use them:
Meatloaf – Slice up any leftovers and use it to make meatloaf sandwiches, or place one slice on top of a serving of spaghetti and cover with tomato sauce. When ready to eat, simply pop it in the microwave for a yummy lunch.
Chicken – When you roast or fry a chicken, use the leftovers to make chicken sandwiches, salad or a wrap the next day. You can also prepare a regular green salad with your favourite toppings like cucumbers, tomatoes and sprouts and top with bite sized chunks of chicken for a grilled chicken salad. Just store the dressing on the side and pour it over the salad when you’re ready to eat.
Pot-Roast – Pot Roast is one of those dishes that gets better each time you heat it up. Pair it with some leftover rice or make a sandwich out of it. Slice up a sub-style roll and fill it with pot roast and slices of tomato for a filling lunch sandwich.
Chops and Steaks – Slice up leftover chops or steak and turn into yummy sandwiches or wraps. Use chutney or mustard as the spread instead of butter for added flavour. You can also make a filling salad by topping your favourite mixed greens with the meat cut into bite sized chunks. Sliced steak can be used in stir fry, or minced to make cottage pie (just add some gravy and top with mashed potato).
Soup and Stew - Just about any type of soup or stew makes for a great leftover lunch. You can heat the soup in the microwave at the office or in school, or if that’s not an option, invest in a small big-mouthed thermos. Fill it with hot soup or stew in the morning and it will still be warm when lunch time rolls around. Be sure to pack a big piece of French bread for dipping.
Pasta Dishes – Most pasta dishes can be stored in small microwave containers and reheated. Just be sure to add a little extra sauce to keep the pasta dish from getting too dry. Simply top your leftover spaghetti with a little cheese, leftover meat, or fresh veggies to make it different from last night’s dinner.
Rice – Rice makes perfect filler for quite a few dishes. Add rice to wraps and burritos or soups and stews. You can also make up a batch of rice pudding and put it into small containers as a great after lunch snack.
The $300 a Month Food Challenge
The Post that Started it All
8. Cheapskates Buzz
Most popular forum posts this week
MOO Challenge
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?3780-MOO-Challenge
Fed Up with Improved Products
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?363-Fed-up-with-improved-products.
Plastic Free Tips
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?3608-Plastic-free-tips
Most popular blog posts this week
MOO Toilet Bombs
https://www.cheapskatesclub.net/living-the-cheapskates-way-blog/moo-toilet-bombs
Zero Waste
https://www.cheapskatesclub.net/living-the-cheapskates-way-blog/zero-waste
MOO Household Cleaning Solutions
https://www.cheapskatesclub.net/living-the-cheapskates-way-blog/moo-household-cleaning-solutions
9. 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 pri_mukh.
The Pregnancy Saving Tale
So the year was October 2016 when we discovered that I am pregnant with our first baby. Although we were really excited and thrilled with the news, we were also worried what the future will be, considering we only had $5,000 in our bank account at that time. I knew I would need help once the baby is born - which translates to I will have to fly down my parents and my in-laws from abroad (read: sponsor their travel, stay, food, living expenses, visa costs, health insurance etc). So I casually asked my husband in the car on our way to grocery shopping, as to how we are going to do it and he mentioned in an equally casual tone – "it’s easy. We just have to save about $30-35,000."
At that time I really felt like hitting my head on the dashboard, but stopped short as I thought of the baby....hehehehe. Anyways, so off I started with my saving. I figured I had about 9 months in hand.
First I decided I was not going to go crazy buying stuff for the baby. I bought some very good used items like the cot etc. and essential items that I bought new, like the pram and car seat, on layby. Only bought two maternity trousers and two maternity tops - I still wear them. I learnt what NOT to do from a friend who said how crazy she went with buying stuff for her baby - she bought two prams (one in the car and one at home), two baby changing tables (one in her bedroom and another in her living area), Boori cots (I think that brand cots can range from $1,000 above), etc. I started researching the cost of flight tickets for our parents about 6-7 months in advance and bought them cheaper than what was available online by asking the travel agent to price match.
We went public for the delivery (had private health insurance for 10 months - cancelled it without any regrets) and had the most amazing birth experience. DH could stay with me overnight and I had my own room too, just shared the bathroom with another lady. To be honest with you, even if I had to share room with another mum – I wouldn’t have minded. I am there to give birth and not for vacation really. I was surprised when our other friends would boast how it was a luxurious 5 star hotel treatment for them in the private hospitals with trays and trays of food being served to them. To be honest, it didn't make any sense to me to pay a premium of over $200/month for a week of 5 star treatment in the hospital! My public hospital was only a 10 minute drive from my home yet I had to go to the city if it was private. Anyways that added to my saving plan too.
I used this opportunity to spend less on alcohol. I couldn't drink anyways since I was pregnant and I played "look at all I am sacrificing for our child" card to DH, resulting in him drinking less too. So, instead of drinking every night, he drank only on weekends - a trend that we follow even now. We used to spend about $250-300/month on alcohol - picking up a $20 bottle from the shelves at any time. We have brought it down to only about $60-$80 per month. And yes, I saved that money too.
I worked as long as I could - up until the week before my delivery. I still had a baby shower once my parents arrived and no, I didn't go crazy about it too. We had friends over to our house for a nice dinner and had a small ceremony. We all enjoyed the evening so, so much without breaking our bank and most importantly - time well spent with our loved ones!
From the time I started saving to the time I had our baby, I had saved about $60,000 (that was double the amount that DH casually mentioned in the car) and I was proud of myself. I could take a one year maternity leave, pay all our bills and mortgage on time, took both our parents and in laws around Australia (since they both visited for the first time), even took a short vacation to South Korea (yes, with a 6 month old baby - I am not gonna stop living my life only coz I have a cute little angel for whom I have to pack zillions), plus took a trip back home to meet family with the baby, organised two christening functions for the baby – one at my parent's place and then at my in law's place.
I have just started working about a month back and am pleasantly surprised that I have still managed to save about half of that. We have survived a whole year on one income, with no debts whatsoever (except our mortgage of course). It was not an easy road of course but I am so happy that this worked out.
Login to read more Cheapskates Club Member blogs
10. Last Week's Question
Last week's question was from Carol who wrote
"A New Zealand friend has been living in Australia for more than 10 years now, but has not been able to apply for citizenship due to a recent battle with cancer. Of course money is now tight. As my friend and her husband are approaching 60, thoughts of retirement are springing to mind. Does anyone know what options there are for NZs in terms of financial assistance (pensions) in Australia?"
Kaye Silich answered
Contact Centrelink - they will give you the details of their 'international' department (actually in Tassie I think). It may even be online by now as I did this for my mother seven years ago. They are amazing - they actually answer the phone and will let you know that the NZ/Australian governments have a reciprocal agreement whereby you will get the bulk of your pension from New Zealand (if you are eligible) and if there is a difference between that and the Australian pension, the Australian pension (or part ) may also be paid. The New Zealand pension is not means/income tested so your friends should be able to get it without a problem.
Susan Czermak answered
New Zealanders can claim the Age Pension here, but not until 65 (but would be 67 in 5 years' time). They can also get New Zealand superannuation, depending on their working life in both countries. Other benefits would depend on whether they have a permanent residency visa (citizenship is not required). For New Zealand superannuation, I think if one married person qualifies for super, then the younger person will also get it. Everything is means tested, so an application at the time will have to be made to determine levels, but a face to face discussion at Centrelink could help determine likely future possibilities (but things could change in the time up to 65/7). There are different conditions available to New Zealanders who were here before 2001. My sister and husband who live in NZ, are better off in their retirement (social security pensions) there than they would be here, according to them. They do not have any related pension from work.
11. This Week's Question
Denise writes
"What can I put in my compost bin? Most especially can I put used kitty litter, the clay and stone type, with the kitty poo into my compost bin? And how long should it take from go to whoa to turn to compost? I have had a compost bin for a few years, and it never seems to fill up, but I never seem to get anything out of the bottom of it. Any advice would be helpful."
Do you have the answer?
If you have the answers to Denise's questions? Let us know. We'll enter your answer into our Tip of the Week competition, with a one-year membership to the Cheapskates Club as the prize too.
Send your answer
12. 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
13. Join the Cheapskates Club
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Joining the Cheapskates Club gives you 24/7 access to the Members Centre with 1000's of money saving tips and articles.
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