Your Cheapskates Club Newsletter 35:19
In This Newsletter
1. Cath's Corner
2. From the Tip Store - Gourmet Canteen Style School Lunches on a Budget; Cure Thrush with Pantry Items; Prolong the Life of Your Flip Flop Footwear
3. Share Your Tips
4. On the Menu - Grilled Chicken Pesto Pasta
5. The $300 a Month Food Challenge - Getting Ready for Grocery Shopping
6. Cheapskates Buzz - Cheapskaters are talking in the Forum and on Cath's blog
7.The Cheapskates Club Show - Join Cath & Hannah on You Tube every Tuesday and Thursday
8. Last Week's Question - Do they still make normal patty pans?
9. This Week's Question - Where to find cheaper free range food?
10. Ask A Question - Have a question? Ask it here
11. Join the Cheapskates Club
12. Frequently Asked Questions
13. Contact Details
1. Cath's Corner
Hello Cheapskaters,Thank you for your get well wishes. I'm still a bit croaky, but feel so much better.
This week's newsletter has some great ideas to save you money, time and energy, but before you scroll down to get to the good stuff, there is some boring stuff to take care of.
If you need to contact me, then the only way to be sure I'll get your message, and that you'll get a response, is to use the Contact Us form on our website, or scroll to the bottom of this newsletter and click the "contact Cheapskates" link. You can email - I won't get it and you won't get a response. There is a reason I ask you to use the Contact Us form and it is so I do get your message, and so you get an answer.
Also, clicking reply to a newsletter or Tip of the Day email won't get you a response either. Again, use the link to the contact form to send your message. You can click reply, but it goes to an unmonitored mailbox and your address could be marked as spam and your email address deleted from the mailing list. Then you'll not only be waiting for an answer you won't get, but newsletters that won't be arriving too.
Now the boring stuff is over, I really hope you enjoy this week's newsletter. The answer's to Donna's question about patty pans came flooding in, so there are a few extra ideas. I know many were waiting to see the answers, so I'm sure there's an answer to suit everyone.
Oh, and I loved this comment from Irene "Oh, I don't have the answer, BUT I have been trying to get that size cupcake liners for ages. Tried all the stores, cheap ones, all of them. Think the new size is to make us use more ingredients and eat more, not what we need!"
Enjoy the read everyone, and have a wonderful week.
Happy Cheapskating,
Cath
2. From The Tip Store
Gourmet Canteen Style School Lunches on a Budget
School lunches can add up, particularly if your school has a canteen with a menu more closely resembling a cafe! Our children were only ever allowed a canteen order once a fortnight as a 'treat' but we were increasingly finding the items on the menu weren't of interest to them and I was paying a fortune for small items such as party pies. It is lovely to have a warm meal at lunch in southern Australia during the cooler months! Solution: I purchased each of my children a short/squat style thermos/cup which they pretty much use every day in winter - now the have the choice of soups, stews and other homemade meals (generally left overs) but we even microwave party pies and sausage rolls (they even have mini refillable sauce bottles!) so they don't miss out on 'treat day'. Another favourite is steamed (microwave) dim sims and a squirt of soy sauce into the container. We pre-warm the thermoses when we make our morning cuppa and the meals stay hot enough for a lovely hot lunch! Happy kids and happy pocket. I estimate I'm saving $20 per month per child doing this and the thermoses cost me about $15 each a few years ago, sauce bottles were about $2 for a pack of 3 in the Reject Shop or similar. Just don't forget a fork or spoon into the lunchbox!
Contributed by Michelle Wilkinson
Cure Thrush with Pantry Items
Whilst taking a course of antibiotics recently I developed thrush. The fungal cream stung like blazes and seemed to irritate more than cure. Preferring not to buy that expensive little "cure" tablet unless I really had to I researched home remedy methods. In the past, I had tried natural yoghurt but found this a bit messy. I had also used a weak solution of apple cider vinegar in water with some effect. This time I bathed the inflamed area with the apple cider solution then applied coconut oil. BLISS! The problem cleared up within three days. Apparently, coconut oil has anti-bacterial/ anti-fungal properties. It's also a very gentle emollient and it smells nice too.
Contributed by Delaney Avenel
Prolong the Life of Your Flip Flop Footwear
A quick repair solution for when the stopper on your foot thong’s toe strap breaks. Use a u-shape plastic bag closure on the underside of the toe strap for an instant repair job. No cost involved and saves you the cost of a new pair of thongs. (Flip flop footwear.)
Contributed by Linda Kilpert
Editor's note: This works! Wayne broke the stopper off the strap on one of his thongs when we were on the Old Telegraph Track on Cape York, miles from anywhere. We used bread tags to repair them - they were in plentiful supply. We'd just look on the ground every time we stopped and pick up at least one (and people should learn to take all their rubbish with them, including bread tags). He just replaced it every time it broke until we could get a new pair. With regular $2 Kmart thongs seliing for $40 a pair on the Cape, the bread tags were a brilliant option. Cath
Add a Tip
3. Share Your Tips
Share your favourite hint or tip that saves money, time and energy and be in the running to win a one-year subscription to The Cheapskate Journal.
Remember, you have to be in it to win it!
Share Your Tip
4. On The Menu
Grilled Chicken Pesto Pasta
Ingredients:
2 chicken breast fillets, skin off
1 tsp olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
500g penne pasta noodles
1/2 cup pesto
Method:
Place chicken breasts in shallow baking dish and drizzle olive oil over top, then season with salt and pepper. Let sit for 30 minutes.
Grill marinated chicken until cooked through. Dice once cooked.
Meanwhile, cook pasta as directed on package instructions. Drain and rinse.
Toss pesto through hot pasta, add cooked chicken and toss.
Serve with green salad.
This week we will be eating:
Sunday: Roast Chicken
Monday: Steak, salad
Tuesday: Grilled Chicken Pesto Pasta*
Wednesday: Fish, wedges, coleslaw
Thursday: Pizza
Friday: Sausages, salad, bread
Saturday: Baked beans on toast
In the fruit bowl: apples, oranges, mandarins
There are over 1,700 budget and family friendly recipes in the Cheapskates Club Recipe File, all contributed by your fellow Cheapskates, so you know they're good.
Add A Recipe
Recipe File Index
5. The $300 A Month Food Challenged
Getting Ready for Grocery Shopping
I'm due to do my monthly grocery shopping in a fortnight. If you remember, I shop once a year for most of our grocery needs, and then do a monthly top-up of the perishables and things we use that may be on a super special (they need to be at least 50% off).
This week I've started to put my September list together, after doing a quick stockpile inventory.
What I've discovered though is that we don't need a lot thanks to our grocery stockpile. There is still plenty of meat, chicken and fish in the freezer. The pantry is still looking full. The fridge is full. We have enough potatoes, onions and pumpkin to last at least another month. There are apples, oranges and mandarins in the fridge that will keep for at least another four weeks. Ok, that's not a huge variety for fruit but there are tins of fruit salad, peaches, apricots and plums in the pantry and stewed apples, apricots, rhubarb and plums in the freezer.
Thanks to a super special on tea bags at NQR a few weeks ago, there is enough tea for at least the next 18 months - so tea won't be on my yearly shopping list. There are still three tins of coffee in the pantry, and plenty of pods in the cupboard.
The cheese supply is good - we haven't used as much for the last few weeks. I will buy the regular amount though, and let the cheese stockpile build up.
We will need butter and eggs and of course fresh milk each week but that's about it. The meal plan for September is already done and I don't need to buy anything special for it.
I'm hoping that butter will come on sale soon, in time for Christmas baking. When it does, I'll be buying up and putting it in the freezer. Butter has gone up so much in price this year, it's almost a luxury.
My revised grocery budget for September is $50; the leftovers will go to the slush fund to add to the money for the quarterly meat shop I'm getting ready to do next month.
The $300 a Month Food Challenge Forum
The Post that Started it All
6. Cheapskates Buzz
From The Article Archive
Butter Me Up
Don’t Just Set It and Forget It – A Budget Is a Plan
How to Freeze Biscuit Dough
Most Popular Blog Posts This Week
Building Your Emergency Fund Part 1: How Much Is Enough?
12 Strategies for Coping with a Financial Emergency
How and Why I Started Making Washing Powder
7. The Cheapskates Club Show
Join Cath and Hannah live Tuesdays and Thursdays on You Tube at 7.30pm AET
"Hi Cath and Hannah
I just wanted to send an email to say that I'm really enjoying your YouTube videos. I don't watch them live, as I live in NZ and they are a bit late here, but I watch them when i get a chance and have learnt some really useful things. I also really appreciate your honesty Cath, like acknowledging that sometimes making something from scratch can feel like a bit of a drag. I find it quite comforting! I make almost everything from scratch, because in truth we eat pretty simply so it's fairly easy to. But on an odd occasion where I've picked up a bag of frozen fries to go with dinner despite knowing I have potatoes at home, I feel guilty. Your honest approach in your videos reminds me that actually, if I'm judging myself that harshly over a bag of frozen fries then I'm probably doing a pretty good job overall! And I always come away with something new to try of something old to return to." Jen
Join us live on YouTube every Tuesday and Thursday and see how we are living debt free, cashed up and laughing - and find out how you can too!
Show Schedule
Tuesday: Around the Kitchen Table - join Cath and Hannah for a cuppa and a chat around the kitchen table as they talk about living the Cheapskates way.
Thursday: Cheapskates in the Kitchen - want to know how to cook delicious, healthy and cheap meals? Watch Cath and Hannah as they create cheapskates style cuisine and share their favourite recipes.
Latest Shows
1. Cath's Corner
2. From the Tip Store - Gourmet Canteen Style School Lunches on a Budget; Cure Thrush with Pantry Items; Prolong the Life of Your Flip Flop Footwear
3. Share Your Tips
4. On the Menu - Grilled Chicken Pesto Pasta
5. The $300 a Month Food Challenge - Getting Ready for Grocery Shopping
6. Cheapskates Buzz - Cheapskaters are talking in the Forum and on Cath's blog
7.The Cheapskates Club Show - Join Cath & Hannah on You Tube every Tuesday and Thursday
8. Last Week's Question - Do they still make normal patty pans?
9. This Week's Question - Where to find cheaper free range food?
10. Ask A Question - Have a question? Ask it here
11. Join the Cheapskates Club
12. Frequently Asked Questions
13. Contact Details
1. Cath's Corner
Hello Cheapskaters,Thank you for your get well wishes. I'm still a bit croaky, but feel so much better.
This week's newsletter has some great ideas to save you money, time and energy, but before you scroll down to get to the good stuff, there is some boring stuff to take care of.
If you need to contact me, then the only way to be sure I'll get your message, and that you'll get a response, is to use the Contact Us form on our website, or scroll to the bottom of this newsletter and click the "contact Cheapskates" link. You can email - I won't get it and you won't get a response. There is a reason I ask you to use the Contact Us form and it is so I do get your message, and so you get an answer.
Also, clicking reply to a newsletter or Tip of the Day email won't get you a response either. Again, use the link to the contact form to send your message. You can click reply, but it goes to an unmonitored mailbox and your address could be marked as spam and your email address deleted from the mailing list. Then you'll not only be waiting for an answer you won't get, but newsletters that won't be arriving too.
Now the boring stuff is over, I really hope you enjoy this week's newsletter. The answer's to Donna's question about patty pans came flooding in, so there are a few extra ideas. I know many were waiting to see the answers, so I'm sure there's an answer to suit everyone.
Oh, and I loved this comment from Irene "Oh, I don't have the answer, BUT I have been trying to get that size cupcake liners for ages. Tried all the stores, cheap ones, all of them. Think the new size is to make us use more ingredients and eat more, not what we need!"
Enjoy the read everyone, and have a wonderful week.
Happy Cheapskating,
Cath
2. From The Tip Store
Gourmet Canteen Style School Lunches on a Budget
School lunches can add up, particularly if your school has a canteen with a menu more closely resembling a cafe! Our children were only ever allowed a canteen order once a fortnight as a 'treat' but we were increasingly finding the items on the menu weren't of interest to them and I was paying a fortune for small items such as party pies. It is lovely to have a warm meal at lunch in southern Australia during the cooler months! Solution: I purchased each of my children a short/squat style thermos/cup which they pretty much use every day in winter - now the have the choice of soups, stews and other homemade meals (generally left overs) but we even microwave party pies and sausage rolls (they even have mini refillable sauce bottles!) so they don't miss out on 'treat day'. Another favourite is steamed (microwave) dim sims and a squirt of soy sauce into the container. We pre-warm the thermoses when we make our morning cuppa and the meals stay hot enough for a lovely hot lunch! Happy kids and happy pocket. I estimate I'm saving $20 per month per child doing this and the thermoses cost me about $15 each a few years ago, sauce bottles were about $2 for a pack of 3 in the Reject Shop or similar. Just don't forget a fork or spoon into the lunchbox!
Contributed by Michelle Wilkinson
Cure Thrush with Pantry Items
Whilst taking a course of antibiotics recently I developed thrush. The fungal cream stung like blazes and seemed to irritate more than cure. Preferring not to buy that expensive little "cure" tablet unless I really had to I researched home remedy methods. In the past, I had tried natural yoghurt but found this a bit messy. I had also used a weak solution of apple cider vinegar in water with some effect. This time I bathed the inflamed area with the apple cider solution then applied coconut oil. BLISS! The problem cleared up within three days. Apparently, coconut oil has anti-bacterial/ anti-fungal properties. It's also a very gentle emollient and it smells nice too.
Contributed by Delaney Avenel
Prolong the Life of Your Flip Flop Footwear
A quick repair solution for when the stopper on your foot thong’s toe strap breaks. Use a u-shape plastic bag closure on the underside of the toe strap for an instant repair job. No cost involved and saves you the cost of a new pair of thongs. (Flip flop footwear.)
Contributed by Linda Kilpert
Editor's note: This works! Wayne broke the stopper off the strap on one of his thongs when we were on the Old Telegraph Track on Cape York, miles from anywhere. We used bread tags to repair them - they were in plentiful supply. We'd just look on the ground every time we stopped and pick up at least one (and people should learn to take all their rubbish with them, including bread tags). He just replaced it every time it broke until we could get a new pair. With regular $2 Kmart thongs seliing for $40 a pair on the Cape, the bread tags were a brilliant option. Cath
Add a Tip
3. Share Your Tips
Share your favourite hint or tip that saves money, time and energy and be in the running to win a one-year subscription to The Cheapskate Journal.
Remember, you have to be in it to win it!
Share Your Tip
4. On The Menu
Grilled Chicken Pesto Pasta
Ingredients:
2 chicken breast fillets, skin off
1 tsp olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
500g penne pasta noodles
1/2 cup pesto
Method:
Place chicken breasts in shallow baking dish and drizzle olive oil over top, then season with salt and pepper. Let sit for 30 minutes.
Grill marinated chicken until cooked through. Dice once cooked.
Meanwhile, cook pasta as directed on package instructions. Drain and rinse.
Toss pesto through hot pasta, add cooked chicken and toss.
Serve with green salad.
This week we will be eating:
Sunday: Roast Chicken
Monday: Steak, salad
Tuesday: Grilled Chicken Pesto Pasta*
Wednesday: Fish, wedges, coleslaw
Thursday: Pizza
Friday: Sausages, salad, bread
Saturday: Baked beans on toast
In the fruit bowl: apples, oranges, mandarins
There are over 1,700 budget and family friendly recipes in the Cheapskates Club Recipe File, all contributed by your fellow Cheapskates, so you know they're good.
Add A Recipe
Recipe File Index
5. The $300 A Month Food Challenged
Getting Ready for Grocery Shopping
I'm due to do my monthly grocery shopping in a fortnight. If you remember, I shop once a year for most of our grocery needs, and then do a monthly top-up of the perishables and things we use that may be on a super special (they need to be at least 50% off).
This week I've started to put my September list together, after doing a quick stockpile inventory.
What I've discovered though is that we don't need a lot thanks to our grocery stockpile. There is still plenty of meat, chicken and fish in the freezer. The pantry is still looking full. The fridge is full. We have enough potatoes, onions and pumpkin to last at least another month. There are apples, oranges and mandarins in the fridge that will keep for at least another four weeks. Ok, that's not a huge variety for fruit but there are tins of fruit salad, peaches, apricots and plums in the pantry and stewed apples, apricots, rhubarb and plums in the freezer.
Thanks to a super special on tea bags at NQR a few weeks ago, there is enough tea for at least the next 18 months - so tea won't be on my yearly shopping list. There are still three tins of coffee in the pantry, and plenty of pods in the cupboard.
The cheese supply is good - we haven't used as much for the last few weeks. I will buy the regular amount though, and let the cheese stockpile build up.
We will need butter and eggs and of course fresh milk each week but that's about it. The meal plan for September is already done and I don't need to buy anything special for it.
I'm hoping that butter will come on sale soon, in time for Christmas baking. When it does, I'll be buying up and putting it in the freezer. Butter has gone up so much in price this year, it's almost a luxury.
My revised grocery budget for September is $50; the leftovers will go to the slush fund to add to the money for the quarterly meat shop I'm getting ready to do next month.
The $300 a Month Food Challenge Forum
The Post that Started it All
6. Cheapskates Buzz
From The Article Archive
Butter Me Up
Don’t Just Set It and Forget It – A Budget Is a Plan
How to Freeze Biscuit Dough
Most Popular Blog Posts This Week
Building Your Emergency Fund Part 1: How Much Is Enough?
12 Strategies for Coping with a Financial Emergency
How and Why I Started Making Washing Powder
7. The Cheapskates Club Show
Join Cath and Hannah live Tuesdays and Thursdays on You Tube at 7.30pm AET
"Hi Cath and Hannah
I just wanted to send an email to say that I'm really enjoying your YouTube videos. I don't watch them live, as I live in NZ and they are a bit late here, but I watch them when i get a chance and have learnt some really useful things. I also really appreciate your honesty Cath, like acknowledging that sometimes making something from scratch can feel like a bit of a drag. I find it quite comforting! I make almost everything from scratch, because in truth we eat pretty simply so it's fairly easy to. But on an odd occasion where I've picked up a bag of frozen fries to go with dinner despite knowing I have potatoes at home, I feel guilty. Your honest approach in your videos reminds me that actually, if I'm judging myself that harshly over a bag of frozen fries then I'm probably doing a pretty good job overall! And I always come away with something new to try of something old to return to." Jen
Join us live on YouTube every Tuesday and Thursday and see how we are living debt free, cashed up and laughing - and find out how you can too!
Show Schedule
Tuesday: Around the Kitchen Table - join Cath and Hannah for a cuppa and a chat around the kitchen table as they talk about living the Cheapskates way.
Thursday: Cheapskates in the Kitchen - want to know how to cook delicious, healthy and cheap meals? Watch Cath and Hannah as they create cheapskates style cuisine and share their favourite recipes.
Latest Shows
Coming Up
Thursday 29th August: How to MOO Pastrami
Tuesday 3rd September: Budget Planning for the Future.
8. Last Week's Question
Last week's question was from Donna who wrote
"Hello all, my question is about purchasing cupcake patty papers for my trays that I’ve had for ever. They used to be the standard pattycake size that you could always buy in the supermarket. In the last few years I have been unable to purchase this size. I have my old tins that I’ve always used and they’re perfect for the grandchildren just the right size not too much cake like some of the newer size muffin tins. If anybody knows where I could purchase these patty papers from I’ll be very grateful."
Jenny Nelson answered
Hi Donna, I have the old patty pans as well, I use the mini paper cases and they fit fine.
Diane Mills answeredI also have some very old patty cake tins and get the patty papers from Woolworths. They have their Homebrand ones which are plain white in a 100 packet or lately they also have Dollar Sweets brand chevron patty pans in a small size 100 packet which are colourful.
Susanne Brazier answered
In south Australia I shop at Gaganis Wholesalers on South road. They have a good selection of sizes to choose from. They also have a good selection of baking products.
Lisette King answered
I would recommend going to a cake decorating supply store or visiting one online. Work out the measurements of your tin (base width and side height), or use a cupcake case you already have that you know is the right size, and make sure you have those numbers on hand when you go looking. Then take note of the size that is right for your tins (it will be something like #340, #408, #550) when you find it and write it down for next time. You will be able to buy them in a bulk lot of 100 or more too which saves you money in the long run. Better yet - if you have a friend who is a decorator ask them about buying some for you when they next place an order. Decorators often get discounts and you can get items at 'wholesale' prices.
Joan Inglis answered
I cut a square of Glad Bake a bit bigger than the 'hole' in the tin, centre it over the 'hole' and press in with the bottom of a glass. This makes a patty pan similar to the ones on take away muffins. This makes a patty pan with 4 high peaks and 4 low dips, just make sure your low dips are high enough to take the cake mixture. You can cut the squares into rounds if you prefer.
9. This Week's Question
Rachel writes
"We grow some of our food - the usual tomatoes, lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower etc. - so I know what goes onto it. I try to buy organic for the other food, and free-range for our eggs, poultry and beef. Problem is the expense. We are on a budget (isn't everyone) and one income so I can be home with our two children (3-1/2 and 9 months). We live in a capital city, so are surrounded by shops. Does anyone have any tips on how I can shop for these things and not pay the outrageous supermarket prices? I'm prepared to travel a little way once a month or buy meat in bulk (Cath has opened my eyes to how much easier it is to shop this way). "
Do you have the answer?
If you have a suggestion or idea for Rachel 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
10. 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
11. Join The Cheapskates Club
For just $36.50 a year, you can join the Cheapskates Club and get exclusive access to the Cheapskate Journal, the monthly e-journal that shows you how to cut the costs of everyday living and still have fun.
Joining the Cheapskates Club gives you 24/7 access to the Members Centre with 1000's of money saving tips and articles.
Click here to join the Cheapskates Club today!
12. 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.
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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.
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13. 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