Your Cheapskates Club Newsletter: 36:14 Bright ideas to save you money
1. Cath's Corner
2. In the Tip Store - Broccoli Box Gardens, Toothpaste for Sensitive Teeth, Tagging Cabbage Moths
3. Cheapskates Workshop - Let's All MOO
4. Submit Your Tip - You have to be in it to win it
5. Living Green in 2014 - Cleaning with Microfibre Cloths
6. On the Menu with Anne - Garden Veggie and Ginger Beef Stir Fry
7. The $300 a Month Food Challenge with Wendy - A surprise treat
8. Cheapskates Buzz - Cheapskaters are talking in the Forum and on Cath's blog
9. Member's Featured Blog - In which I attend to my outstanding debt
10. Last Week's Question - Where do I begin?
11. This Week's Question - How do I meal plan for two?
12. Join the Cheapskates Club
13. Gift Memberships
14. Frequently Asked Questions
15. Contact Details
1. Cath's Corner
Here are a couple of the emails that came in last week from happy Cheapskaters:
"Hi Cath, never thought that Cheapskating can be this much fun. Being able to get into the Member's Centre and find great money saving tips kept me encouraged to work towards our goals, first time we have reached the state of putting money into an emergency fund and not repaying credit card debt." PM
"Hi Cath, will be renewing my membership for the 4th year (I think) and after all this time have finally made the washing powder. The clothes are bright and clean and swinging away on the line. Won't be buying any expensive washing powder anymore. Thank you so much for all the information that you and the Cheapskates Members share." Christine B.
"Hi Cath, not sure why it took me so long to actually join Cheapskates, but I wish I had done it years ago. So much time we have wasted trying to get out of debt on our own. In the last seven months we've halved our grocery bill down to $160 a week for the 6 of us, actually worked out a budget that we can stick to and we are paying off our debts and saving a little each fortnight too. Every time I log in I shake my head at how much my indecision has cost us." LH
"I've had Cheapskates withdrawals. We had no internet for a week and boy did I miss my daily fix of Cheapskates. I love reading the Tip of the Day while I eat my lunch and check in to the forum every afternoon just before the kids get home from school. So glad we are back online again and I can feed my Cheapskates addiction." Sue M.
I love to hear from Cheapskaters, your emails really make my day.
This week's newsletter is a big one, full of great ideas and the details for the next workshop. If you love to MOO or want to give MOOing a try this is the workshop for you. The details are below, but as places are limited please book early, I'd hate you to miss out.
Have a great week everyone,
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!
PPS: You can read this newsletter and past copies on the website in the Newsletter Archive.
2. From The Tip Store
Broccoli Box Gardens
Make 6 round holes in the bottom of a styrene box, fill with good quality potting mix and/or worm castings and plant a few rocket seeds in it. Don't like rocket? Then the box is ideal for mixed lettuce seedlings, you just pick a few leaves every day for your salads, so no waste! A punnet of 6 plants with oak leaf, mignonette, cos etc. last until the really hot weather hits. Put your boxes in a sunny spot, where they will also be safe from slugs and snails. You can also grow spring onions, silver beet and herbs this way. Water in worm tea every 2-3 weeks. I grow enough greens to also supply my daughter and neighbour. You can also propagate seeds this way and it is a great way for your children to 'get gardening'
Contributed by Margaret McLoughlin
Toothpaste for Sensitive Teeth
Approximate $ Savings: Up to $11 per tube
My teeth have become very sensitive of late. After a visit to my dentist he recommended that I use a toothpaste especially formulated for sensitive teeth. So which tooth paste to use? Instead of buying a series of full sized tubes at the supermarket until I found the one that worked for me, I asked the dentist if they had any suitable samples that I could try first. They were happy to supply me with 5 samples of various brands. Consequently I know which toothpaste to purchase without spending heaps in the meantime.
Contributed by Ruth Genders
Tagging Cabbage Moths
I keep the white lids from long life milk and white tags from bread packaging. When growing cabbages etc. I place them around the plants and the white butterflies believe that another butterfly is busy there and they move on. I don't use pesticides and my veggies are not infested with grubs and I use items that would be discarded.
Contributed by Geraldine Giandinoto
There are more than 11,000 great tips in the Tip Store
3. Cheapskates Workshops
Let's All MOO
There are so many things we buy that can just as easily be made at home, often for much less than the cost of buying them. Since the end of WWII, and especially since the mid-sixties, when supermarkets began to take the place of corner grocers, we have been coerced into thinking that buying is better than making. This is especially true of foods, cleaning products and clothing.
Cheapskates just love to Make Our Own!
Throughout the workshop I will be sharing my favourite frugal tips, ideas and projects to learn how to do more with less. Demonstrations include making your own Cheapskates washing powder, MOO brown sugar, a simple, safe pest spray for the garden and more. Come prepared to join in and have some frugal fun!
When: Saturday 27th September 2014
Where: Orana Neighbourhood House, 62 Coleman Rd, Wantirna South
What time: 9:00am - 1:00pm
Cost: $30 per person (includes refreshments, samples and handouts)
Click here to book your seat now
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. Living Green in 2014
Cleaning with Microfibre Cloths
I love, love, love my microfibre cleaning cloths. They are inexpensive, easy to use, do a great job and have eliminated almost all cleaning products from my home.
They are all different brands. Mr Clean, Sabco and a couple of generic brands from the $2 shop. They all work brilliantly.
I learned early on that the secret to using microfibre cloths is to use cold water. Cold water helps the microfibres collect dust, grease, grime and most importantly soap scum. And they should always be washed in cold water, without detergent or fabric softener. That's fine I wash in cold water anyway and don’t use a fabric softener so once a week I toss a pile into the washing machine and put them through the econo cycle and onto the line to dry.
What do I use microfibre cloths for? Just about all my cleaning jobs:
Dusting
Polishing
Windows
Mirrors
Glass doors
Cleaning glass vases
Baths
Basins
Showers
Toilets
Floors
Walls and woodwork
Washing the cars
Cleaning outdoor furniture
Cleaning the barbecue and smoker
The sink
Cupboards and bench tops
Cleaning the oven and stove
Wiping down the fridge and freezer
Mopping up spills
Microfibre cloths make cleaning easy and if you really want it to be, chemical free. All you need is cold water and a suitable microfibre cloth.
Are they frugal? Yes they are. I've never paid more than $2 for a single cloth, and some of them are in packs of two!
6. On the Menu with Anne
Garden Veggie and Ginger Beef Stir Fry
Sometimes you need a recipe that stretches a very little meat a very long way. This dish is one that does just that. You only need around 250g of steak to make four hearty servings. If you serve it with fried rice you can stretch it to six servings and no one will know dinner has been stretched.
Garden Veggie and Ginger Beef Stir Fry
Ingredients:
1 tsp low-sodium soy sauce
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/3 cup water
1/4 cup vegetable oil
250g lean beef, sliced very thinly
1 large carrot, cut into thin strips
1 green capsicum, sliced into thin strips
1 small onion, sliced into thin strips
2 cups broccoli, cut into small florets
250g fresh mushrooms, sliced
Cooked brown rice, optional
Method:
Put the steak into the freezer for 2 hours before slicing. This will allow you to make very thin slices and stretch the meat even further. When the meat is sliced, put the soy sauce, garlic powder, ground ginger and water in a small bowl and mix together; set aside. Heat half the oil in wok or large frying pan, when hot add beef and stir, cooking quickly; remove beef. Put the remaining oil in the wok and add the carrots, cook for 1 minute, stirring, then add the remaining vegetables and cook, stirring often, until the vegetables soften slightly. Pour in the soy sauce mixture and stir; reduce heat and cook for another minute until hot and bubbly. Remove from heat, add beef back into the mixture and stir. Serve over cooked brown rice if desired. Serves four (or six if you serve it with fried rice).
This week we will be eating:
Friday: Spaghetti bolognaise
Saturday: MOO lamb kebabs
Sunday: Roast chicken, baked vegetables, gravy
Monday: Rissoles, sweet potato mash, broccoli, carrots, corn
Tuesday: Kransky in barbecue sauce with hot potato salad
Wednesday: Vegetable soup, toasted MOO crumpets
Thursday: Steak and salad (coleslaw, lettuce, capsicum, onion, beetroot, pineapple, grated carrot)
In the fruit bowl: Oranges, kiwi fruit, bananas
In the cake tin: ANZAC slice, chocolate cake, banana muffins
There are over 1,400 other great money saving meal ideas in the Recipe File
7. The $300 a Month Food Challenge with Wendy
Today (Sunday) has been a lovely day weather wise. It's almost spring and I can feel some warmth in the air. Yesterday I secretly plotted with Darren to take the girls out for a special treat after church today. I packed a yummy lunch of homemade rolls, curried eggs, and lettuce from our garden, tomatoes, cheese and water bottles. The esky was packed into the boot of the car while the girls were busy getting ready for church.
As we left our church the girls noticed we were driving in a different direction. Megan asked where we were going to which we replied “Sorrento for lunch and afternoon tea ". For those of you who haven't been to Sorrento, it's a lovely seaside town on the Mornington Peninsula. Its home too many rich Australians and home of the famous, award winning Vanilla Slice.
We had our picnic lunch down by the water just near the ferry that travels across to Queenscliff. Lots of families were there taking advantage of a beautiful Sunday afternoon we kept our eye on the time knowing if we wanted that famous vanilla slice we'd have to get to a lovely little cafe by mid-afternoon at the latest (they have sold out by 3pm on occasion). During summer and holiday times they have been known to sell more than 50 trays of vanilla slice with each tray containing over 50 serves.
This slice is creamy, decadent and generous in size. To us, it's a luxury to be enjoyed as a special treat. It's the reason why we are frugal. We are debt free, we can pay all our bills, we are frugal with the things that don't matter (like brand names) so as a family we can enjoy these wonderful outings together. Over and over our girls exclaimed how yummy the vanilla slice was. Darren and I could see they appreciated their afternoon tea. On the way home Jessica and Megan both thanked us for the surprise treat.
Its days like this when I remember back to the hard times of sacrifice when we were paying off our mortgage on a low income. We knew back then that the sacrifices would pay off in the end. Being frugal with my food budget has its benefits. Going out for a vanilla slice with my family is one of them.
Do you keep your food budget under control to enjoy little treats?
What treats do you enjoy as a luxury?
Have great week and BE ENCOURAGED!!!!
The $300 a Month Food Challenge
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2587-300-a-month-food-challenge-11-08-14
The Post that Started it All
http://www.cheapskates.com.au/pages/default.cfm?page_id=44265
8.Cheapskates Buzz
This week's hot forum topics
Retirement
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2613-Retirement
Reduce Reuse Recycle
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2314-Reduce-Reuse-Recycle
What's growing in your veg garden?
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?47-What-s-growing-in-your-veg-garden
Most popular blog posts this week
What Vegetables Should I Plant?
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2010/10/what-vegetables-should-i-plant.html
A Mid-Week Money Challenge Just for You
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2012/02/mid-week-money-challenge-just-for-you.html
The Great Chocolate Pudding Experiment
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2011/05/great-chocolate-pudding-experiment.html
9. Member's 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 KR.
In which I attend to my outstanding debt
Well, earlier on in the year I celebrated getting by debts down to just one. The one that really mattered - the mortgage. And it felt damned good.
So good that I wanted others to feel this awesome. So when my sister went back to university with a maxed out credit card hanging over her head, I offered to pay it out for her. My conditions? She shred the card immediately, in front of me (which she did); she close the card the next week (which she did); and she pay it back. How did she do that on a part time job at a pet store? We bartered. I said to her, "I just bought 50 hours of cleaning off you. That's how you're going to pay it back." And so, every week (uni and work commitments permitting), she came around to my place and cleaned for me. This was an absolute boon for me as I was in my first trimester of pregnancy at the time and I was tired all the time. Why do I bring this up? Well, last week she wiped the last two hours of cleaning from her 'bill'. She has now paid her debt to me in full. I'll now have to pay her $20 and hour every time I want her to come and clean for me...and I couldn't be happier.
Since we went credit free it's been pretty good. I can confidently say that I will never, ever own a credit card again. The debit card is enough for me. Bills come - we pay them (with one exception - see below). Money a little low? We trim sails until the bank balance is looking healthier. No stress about wasting money on interest. We've even recently engaged the services of a financial adviser to show us how we can invest our money so it's working a little harder (hopefully we can use it to pay our mortgage faster, or to pay for our children's education, or even a holiday with the kids...) - and that's been really exciting.
The only bill that posed a bit of a problem was the $2,000 obstetrician bill. I'm a little annoyed at myself - I knew it was coming and yet I did not save for it specifically. (Goes to show, I'm not perfect at this yet and I still have areas I can improve in!). However, I am doing a Payment Push on that very bill as we speak. When I expressed concern about paying for the bill all at once, the Doc said that many of his patients paid in instalments. You just can't claim it on insurance until it's been paid in full, that's all. So that's what I've been doing - I've been paying $500 of it at each of my appointments (which are every few weeks), and I've worked out that I should be able to pay the last $1,000 when I next see him, in a few weeks.
So, once that's done, the next bit will be saving for the financial advisor's bill (which is...sizable...but it counts as a tax deduction so we'll get some of it back) and for the solicitor to get our new wills and powers of attorney drawn up. Then, we start putting money away in the Emergency Fund (and some in our fledgling investment fund...)
So for all those out there who feel like it's never ending, and that they'll never get out of the financial hole they've dug themselves - do not lose hope! This Payment Push thing really does work! Just stay disciplined and it will happen. I can't put a price on how good being (comparatively) out of debt is. I want everyone to be here!
Login to read more Cheapskates Club member blogs
10. Last Week's Question
Last week's question was from Gwen who wrote
“My question where does one start to become a cheapskate as it all seems very overwhelming to me? But being divorced and with no job I really need as much help as I can get please."
Shirley Hay answered
I understand how you are feeling, I started with my shopping, and you’ll find a snowball effect from there. Firstly: Find out what you have in the house, go through your fridge, freezer, pantry, then walk through the house and see what you have in the realms of toiletries and cleaning supplies.
Secondly: Menu plan with the food that you have on hand first, try your best to not have to buy anything extra, if you do, make sure that it is something that you are going to use.
Thirdly: Write a list from your plan, not forgetting about cleaning and toiletries, I know that there are great recipes for cleaning supplies through Cheapskates and I use them myself, but I made an effort to use up what I had in regards to conventional cleaners first so I could use the spray bottles for the Cheapskate's cleaners, and they are very good, the washing powder is brilliant.
Fourth: I then went to Bare Bones Groceries to build up my slush/surplus and I started my price book. Fifth: Now I am at the stage where I am slowly building up a supply from shopping the sales (now this took me a little to understand). Shopping the sales is mainly buying sale items because you have everything else at home that you need and you understand the sales cycle of different products.
My husband and I are low income and we have two children, we are still renting and we would like to buy our home but no one will look at us until we have paid down our debt and we have a deposit. Because of the fact that I have been able to reduce our shopping we have been able to save an amazing $400 a month (we were spending $200 a week on shopping alone)..... Good Luck
Andrea Hewett answered
Hi Gwen I started getting into the CS lifestyle by making up Miracle Spray and the CS washing powder. With micro-fibre cloths this makes up most of my cleaning needs. If you 'need' something, think about whether you already own something you can use, or substitute. I always check unit pricing on the supermarket shelf labels; you soon get to know what a real bargain is.
Michelle Neilson answered
I remember when I started. Going through the first Cheapskates book (Debt Free, Cashed Up and Laughing) and following through, I started with working out incoming and outgoing money. Re-assessed things like car insurance, phone bills, energy bills. Then went onto making homemade cleaning supplies. By the third book (Eat Well, Save More) I'm still trying out the food recipes. And I swear by the dog wash; my dog has never had fleas.
Kae Smith answered
Hi Gwen, well I started with my shopping list. I sorted out needs from wants and bought cheaper brands. I started to meal plan and shopped around my menu. Limited take away too occasionally. It wasn't so easy at first but now it's a breeze!! It just takes a bit of forward thinking. After I got the shopping bit sorted I began to look at other things like clothing for my family of four (two adults and two teenagers). Op shops are fantastic and so are clearance sales. Then utility bills, we cut these down a bit by turning off lights when not in the room etc. There are so many ways to cut costs and every little thing adds up. Once you start it will come easily and you will find it becomes second nature after a while, it's all in the mindset. Good luck!
Ask Your Question
11. This Week's Question
Macey writes
"I would like to start menu planning for two people. Should I cook for four and freeze the rest or do you have any other ideas? I am finding it hard to get started."
Do you have the answer?
If you have a suggestion or idea for Macey 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. 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!
http://www.cheapskates.com.au/members/join_form.cfm?item_id=2271
13. Gift Memberships
Your family and friends will thank you for a whole year when you give them a Platinum Cheapskates Club membership as a gift.
It's so simple: just select the number of gift memberships required, click the Buy Now button and complete the Gift Membership order form (you must use this form to order gift memberships) and we'll get in touch with you to confirm the gift subscriptions.
Click here to order a gift membership right now!
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.
Read our privacy policy
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!
PO Box 5077 Studfield Vic 3152
www.cheapskates.com.au
[email protected]
2. In the Tip Store - Broccoli Box Gardens, Toothpaste for Sensitive Teeth, Tagging Cabbage Moths
3. Cheapskates Workshop - Let's All MOO
4. Submit Your Tip - You have to be in it to win it
5. Living Green in 2014 - Cleaning with Microfibre Cloths
6. On the Menu with Anne - Garden Veggie and Ginger Beef Stir Fry
7. The $300 a Month Food Challenge with Wendy - A surprise treat
8. Cheapskates Buzz - Cheapskaters are talking in the Forum and on Cath's blog
9. Member's Featured Blog - In which I attend to my outstanding debt
10. Last Week's Question - Where do I begin?
11. This Week's Question - How do I meal plan for two?
12. Join the Cheapskates Club
13. Gift Memberships
14. Frequently Asked Questions
15. Contact Details
1. Cath's Corner
Here are a couple of the emails that came in last week from happy Cheapskaters:
"Hi Cath, never thought that Cheapskating can be this much fun. Being able to get into the Member's Centre and find great money saving tips kept me encouraged to work towards our goals, first time we have reached the state of putting money into an emergency fund and not repaying credit card debt." PM
"Hi Cath, will be renewing my membership for the 4th year (I think) and after all this time have finally made the washing powder. The clothes are bright and clean and swinging away on the line. Won't be buying any expensive washing powder anymore. Thank you so much for all the information that you and the Cheapskates Members share." Christine B.
"Hi Cath, not sure why it took me so long to actually join Cheapskates, but I wish I had done it years ago. So much time we have wasted trying to get out of debt on our own. In the last seven months we've halved our grocery bill down to $160 a week for the 6 of us, actually worked out a budget that we can stick to and we are paying off our debts and saving a little each fortnight too. Every time I log in I shake my head at how much my indecision has cost us." LH
"I've had Cheapskates withdrawals. We had no internet for a week and boy did I miss my daily fix of Cheapskates. I love reading the Tip of the Day while I eat my lunch and check in to the forum every afternoon just before the kids get home from school. So glad we are back online again and I can feed my Cheapskates addiction." Sue M.
I love to hear from Cheapskaters, your emails really make my day.
This week's newsletter is a big one, full of great ideas and the details for the next workshop. If you love to MOO or want to give MOOing a try this is the workshop for you. The details are below, but as places are limited please book early, I'd hate you to miss out.
Have a great week everyone,
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!
PPS: You can read this newsletter and past copies on the website in the Newsletter Archive.
2. From The Tip Store
Broccoli Box Gardens
Make 6 round holes in the bottom of a styrene box, fill with good quality potting mix and/or worm castings and plant a few rocket seeds in it. Don't like rocket? Then the box is ideal for mixed lettuce seedlings, you just pick a few leaves every day for your salads, so no waste! A punnet of 6 plants with oak leaf, mignonette, cos etc. last until the really hot weather hits. Put your boxes in a sunny spot, where they will also be safe from slugs and snails. You can also grow spring onions, silver beet and herbs this way. Water in worm tea every 2-3 weeks. I grow enough greens to also supply my daughter and neighbour. You can also propagate seeds this way and it is a great way for your children to 'get gardening'
Contributed by Margaret McLoughlin
Toothpaste for Sensitive Teeth
Approximate $ Savings: Up to $11 per tube
My teeth have become very sensitive of late. After a visit to my dentist he recommended that I use a toothpaste especially formulated for sensitive teeth. So which tooth paste to use? Instead of buying a series of full sized tubes at the supermarket until I found the one that worked for me, I asked the dentist if they had any suitable samples that I could try first. They were happy to supply me with 5 samples of various brands. Consequently I know which toothpaste to purchase without spending heaps in the meantime.
Contributed by Ruth Genders
Tagging Cabbage Moths
I keep the white lids from long life milk and white tags from bread packaging. When growing cabbages etc. I place them around the plants and the white butterflies believe that another butterfly is busy there and they move on. I don't use pesticides and my veggies are not infested with grubs and I use items that would be discarded.
Contributed by Geraldine Giandinoto
There are more than 11,000 great tips in the Tip Store
3. Cheapskates Workshops
Let's All MOO
There are so many things we buy that can just as easily be made at home, often for much less than the cost of buying them. Since the end of WWII, and especially since the mid-sixties, when supermarkets began to take the place of corner grocers, we have been coerced into thinking that buying is better than making. This is especially true of foods, cleaning products and clothing.
Cheapskates just love to Make Our Own!
Throughout the workshop I will be sharing my favourite frugal tips, ideas and projects to learn how to do more with less. Demonstrations include making your own Cheapskates washing powder, MOO brown sugar, a simple, safe pest spray for the garden and more. Come prepared to join in and have some frugal fun!
When: Saturday 27th September 2014
Where: Orana Neighbourhood House, 62 Coleman Rd, Wantirna South
What time: 9:00am - 1:00pm
Cost: $30 per person (includes refreshments, samples and handouts)
Click here to book your seat now
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. Living Green in 2014
Cleaning with Microfibre Cloths
I love, love, love my microfibre cleaning cloths. They are inexpensive, easy to use, do a great job and have eliminated almost all cleaning products from my home.
They are all different brands. Mr Clean, Sabco and a couple of generic brands from the $2 shop. They all work brilliantly.
I learned early on that the secret to using microfibre cloths is to use cold water. Cold water helps the microfibres collect dust, grease, grime and most importantly soap scum. And they should always be washed in cold water, without detergent or fabric softener. That's fine I wash in cold water anyway and don’t use a fabric softener so once a week I toss a pile into the washing machine and put them through the econo cycle and onto the line to dry.
What do I use microfibre cloths for? Just about all my cleaning jobs:
Dusting
Polishing
Windows
Mirrors
Glass doors
Cleaning glass vases
Baths
Basins
Showers
Toilets
Floors
Walls and woodwork
Washing the cars
Cleaning outdoor furniture
Cleaning the barbecue and smoker
The sink
Cupboards and bench tops
Cleaning the oven and stove
Wiping down the fridge and freezer
Mopping up spills
Microfibre cloths make cleaning easy and if you really want it to be, chemical free. All you need is cold water and a suitable microfibre cloth.
Are they frugal? Yes they are. I've never paid more than $2 for a single cloth, and some of them are in packs of two!
6. On the Menu with Anne
Garden Veggie and Ginger Beef Stir Fry
Sometimes you need a recipe that stretches a very little meat a very long way. This dish is one that does just that. You only need around 250g of steak to make four hearty servings. If you serve it with fried rice you can stretch it to six servings and no one will know dinner has been stretched.
Garden Veggie and Ginger Beef Stir Fry
Ingredients:
1 tsp low-sodium soy sauce
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/3 cup water
1/4 cup vegetable oil
250g lean beef, sliced very thinly
1 large carrot, cut into thin strips
1 green capsicum, sliced into thin strips
1 small onion, sliced into thin strips
2 cups broccoli, cut into small florets
250g fresh mushrooms, sliced
Cooked brown rice, optional
Method:
Put the steak into the freezer for 2 hours before slicing. This will allow you to make very thin slices and stretch the meat even further. When the meat is sliced, put the soy sauce, garlic powder, ground ginger and water in a small bowl and mix together; set aside. Heat half the oil in wok or large frying pan, when hot add beef and stir, cooking quickly; remove beef. Put the remaining oil in the wok and add the carrots, cook for 1 minute, stirring, then add the remaining vegetables and cook, stirring often, until the vegetables soften slightly. Pour in the soy sauce mixture and stir; reduce heat and cook for another minute until hot and bubbly. Remove from heat, add beef back into the mixture and stir. Serve over cooked brown rice if desired. Serves four (or six if you serve it with fried rice).
This week we will be eating:
Friday: Spaghetti bolognaise
Saturday: MOO lamb kebabs
Sunday: Roast chicken, baked vegetables, gravy
Monday: Rissoles, sweet potato mash, broccoli, carrots, corn
Tuesday: Kransky in barbecue sauce with hot potato salad
Wednesday: Vegetable soup, toasted MOO crumpets
Thursday: Steak and salad (coleslaw, lettuce, capsicum, onion, beetroot, pineapple, grated carrot)
In the fruit bowl: Oranges, kiwi fruit, bananas
In the cake tin: ANZAC slice, chocolate cake, banana muffins
There are over 1,400 other great money saving meal ideas in the Recipe File
7. The $300 a Month Food Challenge with Wendy
Today (Sunday) has been a lovely day weather wise. It's almost spring and I can feel some warmth in the air. Yesterday I secretly plotted with Darren to take the girls out for a special treat after church today. I packed a yummy lunch of homemade rolls, curried eggs, and lettuce from our garden, tomatoes, cheese and water bottles. The esky was packed into the boot of the car while the girls were busy getting ready for church.
As we left our church the girls noticed we were driving in a different direction. Megan asked where we were going to which we replied “Sorrento for lunch and afternoon tea ". For those of you who haven't been to Sorrento, it's a lovely seaside town on the Mornington Peninsula. Its home too many rich Australians and home of the famous, award winning Vanilla Slice.
We had our picnic lunch down by the water just near the ferry that travels across to Queenscliff. Lots of families were there taking advantage of a beautiful Sunday afternoon we kept our eye on the time knowing if we wanted that famous vanilla slice we'd have to get to a lovely little cafe by mid-afternoon at the latest (they have sold out by 3pm on occasion). During summer and holiday times they have been known to sell more than 50 trays of vanilla slice with each tray containing over 50 serves.
This slice is creamy, decadent and generous in size. To us, it's a luxury to be enjoyed as a special treat. It's the reason why we are frugal. We are debt free, we can pay all our bills, we are frugal with the things that don't matter (like brand names) so as a family we can enjoy these wonderful outings together. Over and over our girls exclaimed how yummy the vanilla slice was. Darren and I could see they appreciated their afternoon tea. On the way home Jessica and Megan both thanked us for the surprise treat.
Its days like this when I remember back to the hard times of sacrifice when we were paying off our mortgage on a low income. We knew back then that the sacrifices would pay off in the end. Being frugal with my food budget has its benefits. Going out for a vanilla slice with my family is one of them.
Do you keep your food budget under control to enjoy little treats?
What treats do you enjoy as a luxury?
Have great week and BE ENCOURAGED!!!!
The $300 a Month Food Challenge
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2587-300-a-month-food-challenge-11-08-14
The Post that Started it All
http://www.cheapskates.com.au/pages/default.cfm?page_id=44265
8.Cheapskates Buzz
This week's hot forum topics
Retirement
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2613-Retirement
Reduce Reuse Recycle
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2314-Reduce-Reuse-Recycle
What's growing in your veg garden?
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?47-What-s-growing-in-your-veg-garden
Most popular blog posts this week
What Vegetables Should I Plant?
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2010/10/what-vegetables-should-i-plant.html
A Mid-Week Money Challenge Just for You
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2012/02/mid-week-money-challenge-just-for-you.html
The Great Chocolate Pudding Experiment
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2011/05/great-chocolate-pudding-experiment.html
9. Member's 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 KR.
In which I attend to my outstanding debt
Well, earlier on in the year I celebrated getting by debts down to just one. The one that really mattered - the mortgage. And it felt damned good.
So good that I wanted others to feel this awesome. So when my sister went back to university with a maxed out credit card hanging over her head, I offered to pay it out for her. My conditions? She shred the card immediately, in front of me (which she did); she close the card the next week (which she did); and she pay it back. How did she do that on a part time job at a pet store? We bartered. I said to her, "I just bought 50 hours of cleaning off you. That's how you're going to pay it back." And so, every week (uni and work commitments permitting), she came around to my place and cleaned for me. This was an absolute boon for me as I was in my first trimester of pregnancy at the time and I was tired all the time. Why do I bring this up? Well, last week she wiped the last two hours of cleaning from her 'bill'. She has now paid her debt to me in full. I'll now have to pay her $20 and hour every time I want her to come and clean for me...and I couldn't be happier.
Since we went credit free it's been pretty good. I can confidently say that I will never, ever own a credit card again. The debit card is enough for me. Bills come - we pay them (with one exception - see below). Money a little low? We trim sails until the bank balance is looking healthier. No stress about wasting money on interest. We've even recently engaged the services of a financial adviser to show us how we can invest our money so it's working a little harder (hopefully we can use it to pay our mortgage faster, or to pay for our children's education, or even a holiday with the kids...) - and that's been really exciting.
The only bill that posed a bit of a problem was the $2,000 obstetrician bill. I'm a little annoyed at myself - I knew it was coming and yet I did not save for it specifically. (Goes to show, I'm not perfect at this yet and I still have areas I can improve in!). However, I am doing a Payment Push on that very bill as we speak. When I expressed concern about paying for the bill all at once, the Doc said that many of his patients paid in instalments. You just can't claim it on insurance until it's been paid in full, that's all. So that's what I've been doing - I've been paying $500 of it at each of my appointments (which are every few weeks), and I've worked out that I should be able to pay the last $1,000 when I next see him, in a few weeks.
So, once that's done, the next bit will be saving for the financial advisor's bill (which is...sizable...but it counts as a tax deduction so we'll get some of it back) and for the solicitor to get our new wills and powers of attorney drawn up. Then, we start putting money away in the Emergency Fund (and some in our fledgling investment fund...)
So for all those out there who feel like it's never ending, and that they'll never get out of the financial hole they've dug themselves - do not lose hope! This Payment Push thing really does work! Just stay disciplined and it will happen. I can't put a price on how good being (comparatively) out of debt is. I want everyone to be here!
Login to read more Cheapskates Club member blogs
10. Last Week's Question
Last week's question was from Gwen who wrote
“My question where does one start to become a cheapskate as it all seems very overwhelming to me? But being divorced and with no job I really need as much help as I can get please."
Shirley Hay answered
I understand how you are feeling, I started with my shopping, and you’ll find a snowball effect from there. Firstly: Find out what you have in the house, go through your fridge, freezer, pantry, then walk through the house and see what you have in the realms of toiletries and cleaning supplies.
Secondly: Menu plan with the food that you have on hand first, try your best to not have to buy anything extra, if you do, make sure that it is something that you are going to use.
Thirdly: Write a list from your plan, not forgetting about cleaning and toiletries, I know that there are great recipes for cleaning supplies through Cheapskates and I use them myself, but I made an effort to use up what I had in regards to conventional cleaners first so I could use the spray bottles for the Cheapskate's cleaners, and they are very good, the washing powder is brilliant.
Fourth: I then went to Bare Bones Groceries to build up my slush/surplus and I started my price book. Fifth: Now I am at the stage where I am slowly building up a supply from shopping the sales (now this took me a little to understand). Shopping the sales is mainly buying sale items because you have everything else at home that you need and you understand the sales cycle of different products.
My husband and I are low income and we have two children, we are still renting and we would like to buy our home but no one will look at us until we have paid down our debt and we have a deposit. Because of the fact that I have been able to reduce our shopping we have been able to save an amazing $400 a month (we were spending $200 a week on shopping alone)..... Good Luck
Andrea Hewett answered
Hi Gwen I started getting into the CS lifestyle by making up Miracle Spray and the CS washing powder. With micro-fibre cloths this makes up most of my cleaning needs. If you 'need' something, think about whether you already own something you can use, or substitute. I always check unit pricing on the supermarket shelf labels; you soon get to know what a real bargain is.
Michelle Neilson answered
I remember when I started. Going through the first Cheapskates book (Debt Free, Cashed Up and Laughing) and following through, I started with working out incoming and outgoing money. Re-assessed things like car insurance, phone bills, energy bills. Then went onto making homemade cleaning supplies. By the third book (Eat Well, Save More) I'm still trying out the food recipes. And I swear by the dog wash; my dog has never had fleas.
Kae Smith answered
Hi Gwen, well I started with my shopping list. I sorted out needs from wants and bought cheaper brands. I started to meal plan and shopped around my menu. Limited take away too occasionally. It wasn't so easy at first but now it's a breeze!! It just takes a bit of forward thinking. After I got the shopping bit sorted I began to look at other things like clothing for my family of four (two adults and two teenagers). Op shops are fantastic and so are clearance sales. Then utility bills, we cut these down a bit by turning off lights when not in the room etc. There are so many ways to cut costs and every little thing adds up. Once you start it will come easily and you will find it becomes second nature after a while, it's all in the mindset. Good luck!
Ask Your Question
11. This Week's Question
Macey writes
"I would like to start menu planning for two people. Should I cook for four and freeze the rest or do you have any other ideas? I am finding it hard to get started."
Do you have the answer?
If you have a suggestion or idea for Macey 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.
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15. Contact Details
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Showing you how to live life
debt free, cashed up and laughing!
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www.cheapskates.com.au
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