Your Cheapskates Club Newsletter 37:20
In This Newsletter
1. Cath's Corner
2. From the Tip Store - Turn a Ladder into a Clothes Airer; Start a Crop Swap; The Bathtub Soap Scum Buster
3. Share Your Tips
4. On the Menu - Spaghetti & Meatballs
5. The $300 a Month Food Challenge - Spring Cleaning the Pantry
6. Cheapskates Buzz - Cheapskaters are talking in the Forum and on Cath's blog
7. The Cheapskates Club Show
8. Ask A Question - Have a question? Ask it here
9. Join the Cheapskates Club
10. Frequently Asked Questions
11. Contact Details
1. Cath's Corner
Hello Cheapskaters,
Spring is my second favourite season. I love the warmer days. The slightly warmer, but still cool enough to sleep, nights. The light breezes (well, they've been gale-force here the last couple of weeks). Putting washing on the clothesline and bringing it in, dry and smelling of sunshine. Working in the garden, tending new plants, and preparing the beds for more. Knowing that the garden will feed us through spring, summer and into autumn, and quite possibly next winter too if it produces well. Having the windows and doors open to let the breeze blow the winter staleness away.
And it's the start of our busy birthday season. Yesterday was Thomas' birthday. He requested ribs, wedges and coleslaw for his birthday dinner, with Grandma's cheesecake for dessert. So out came the slow cooker, and in went the beef ribs, with my secret sauce, to cook until they were tender. Out came the air-fryer for the wedges. The cabbage for the coleslaw came straight from the garden.
And I made my mother's cheesecake. It was a bittersweet moment, as I pulled out her recipe book and took out the piece of paper with the recipe on it. This cheesecake has featured at every birthday and special occasion in my life. Mum would make it for our birthdays. For Christmas. For New Year. For anniversaries, engagements, weddings, church lunches, and because we asked for it. She'd make it especially for my brother as a surprise because it is his favourite dessert.
It wasn’t the same. I followed the recipe exactly. I did everything Mum had done. I'd helped her often enough to know the recipe backwards. I even used the springform tin she used. But to me it just wasn't the same. Thomas asked me what was wrong and I told him it just wasn't the same as when Grandma made it. And that gorgeous son of mine looked me in the eye, smiled and said that it tasted just like he remembered and one day I'll be the Grandma, making the cheesecake for all the family special occasions. Brought a tear to my eyes, and then I told him I don't need to be a Grandma anytime soon.
Have a great week everyone.
Happy Cheapskating,
Cath
2. From The Tip Store
Turn a Ladder into a Clothes Airer
As we are currently renovating our house in stages, both inside and out , we are without a proper clothesline, so instead of buying a clothes airer we have rigged up a temporary line in the limited space, however it is not always enough room. To avoid using the dryer I have utilised the ladder. If you place it in sun, the rungs are great for small items such as socks, underwear etc. freeing up the line for the larger items.
Contributed by Bronwyn James
Start a Crop Swap
Saving money by creating a local CROP SWAP group in your area. The idea was created around bringing any excess goods, putting them on a table and what's on the table is up for the takings, no money at all exchanges hands. Fruit, vegetables, herbs, potted vegetables, herbs, potted succulents, flowers, shrubs, eggs, baked goods, jams jellies, chutney, egg cartons, jars, magazines, seeds cuttings and more can be swapped. Held every Saturday all year around, its wise to have an indoor or covered area, could be a local club, or café. At Robertson, NSW, we do our crop swapping every week from 9am till 10:30 am on Saturdays but it can be any day, anytime that suits the majority of people. We have to adhere to the COVID rules but everyone goes home with a basketful of goodies and we return the following Saturday. Every week there are different items of food and more to choose from - we share recipes, make new friends, and everyone is welcome every week, its all inclusive. We have a Crop Swap Facebook site for letting people know in this COVID environment where crop swap will be each week due to changing rules and regulations. Look up Crop Swaps and start one; its so easy and it saves most people weekly between $30-$80 on average....start crop swapping and save.
Contributed by Judy Fisk
The Bathtub Soap Scum Buster
When our children were small they had a bath every night (or almost every night, sometimes they weren't dirty enough and I was too tired!). They loved their bath and would stay in it until the water was cold if I'd let them. Of course that meant that often there was a ring of gunk around the bath when it was emptied, a ring of gunk that I had to clean off.
Then a friend with triplets shared this tip with me and bath time, or at least cleaning up after bath time, became a breeze.
Rhonda suggested smearing a light coat of any type of cheap shampoo around the inside of the bathtub and letting it dry. Don't put it on the bottom of the tub, as it will make it slippery. Doing this helps prevents that ring of scum from forming.
If you have a ring around your tub at the moment, use a small amount of shampoo on a fine nylon net scrubber sponge loofah thingy. Rub around the ring and it will come off easily and your bathroom won't have that strong chemical odour after cleaning, either.
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
Spaghetti & Meatballs
From the Cheapskates Club Pasta Recipe File
Ingredients:
500g mince
1 cup TVP
1 cup hot water
3 slices fresh bread, whizzed into crumb or torn into very small pieces
1 large onion, grated
1 tsp mixed herbs
1 tbsp tomato sauce
1 egg
1 tin crushed tomatoes
1 tin tomato soup
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 onion, finely chopped
1/2 tsp sweet basil
1/2 tsp dried oregano
250g spaghetti
Method:
Pour the hot water over the TVP and let it sit 5 minutes. Mix together the mince, TVP, breadcrumbs, grated onion, mixed herbs, tomato sauce and egg using your hands. Make sure everything is well combined. Spray a cookie sheet with cooking spray. With wet hands roll teaspoonsful into small balls and place them in rows on the cookie sheet. Bake in a moderate oven (180 degrees) for 25 - 30 minutes. Check them after 15 minutes and shake them around to brown evenly. Makes 42 meatballs.
While the meatballs are cooking, cook the spaghetti and make the sauce. Cook the Spaghetti according to the directions on the packet.
For the sauce gently cook the chopped onion in a non-stick pan that has been sprayed with cooking spray until transparent. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute. Add the chopped tomatoes, tomato soup, basil and oregano. Stir to mix. Cook over a low heat until mixture thickens.
To serve: place spaghetti on plate, top with meatballs and pour sauce over. Top with grated cheese or sprinkle with grated parmesan if you prefer.
Next week we will be eating:
Sunday: Roast Chicken
Monday: Steak, baked potato, steamed veg
Tuesday: Spaghetti & Meatballs
Wednesday: Pot Roast with potato, carrot, onion, parsnip
Thursday: MOO Pizza
Friday: Chicken & vegetable risotto
Saturday: Tacos
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 Challenge
Spring Cleaning The Pantry
Our kitchen is in pieces. Yes, we're still waiting on the renovation to be completed. Actually, we're waiting for it to start. This darn lockdown has put a stop on it, but that's OK, because it's that time of year, when thoughts turn to spring cleaning. I may not be able to spring clean too much in the kitchen, but I can do the pantry, because it's not moving. Do you spring clean your pantry? You should - and not just to give it a clean and tidy, but to make sure you don't have any money lurking on the shelves, waiting to be used. And that money is in the form of food you've bought and forgotten.
It could be an ingredient you bought for something and only used it once, or perhaps it was a half-price special you stocked up on and then forgot. Or perhaps it's a favourite cereal that's no longer a favourite.
It's time to spring clean the pantry and put that money to work!
Empty each shelf. Wipe it over with Miracle Spray and dry with a towel. Put a bay leaf in each of the back corners to deter bugs. Then wipe over all the jars and tins and canisters.
As you put things back, jot down how much of each thing you have (use our Pantry Inventory to do this, then keep track of what you have by updating it regularly). I like to have like things together.
Top shelf in my pantry is the bulk buys of coffee and tea, the vanilla and Worcestershire sauce that are brewing, and things I don't use often.
The next shelf is the baking shelf. It has flours, sugars, cocoa, nuts, breadcrumbs, dried fruits and pasta in canisters.
The middle shelf is for cereal - wheat biscuits, Ricies and muesli; condiments - sauces, jam, peanut butter and Vegemite and seasonings; cooking spray, olive oil, sesame oil, vinegar, balsamic.
The bottom shelf holds more baking needs: sprinkles, fruit mince, icing sugar, choc bits, MOO mixes etc.
And on the floor are the bins of bread flour and rolled oats, the big tins of oil, and the veggie box for potatoes.
As you clean and tidy and find odd bits of money, jot them down and put them all together in one spot. When you've finished tidying write up a meal plan or two and use up all that money that's sitting on the pantry shelf.
Your pantry will be clean and tidy, you won't have any lost ingredients, and by using them up you will free up some of the grocery budget - perhaps to build your stockpile or your slush fund.
The $300 a Month Food Challenge Forum
The Post that Started it All
6. Cheapskates Buzz
From The Article Archive
Make Money With Spring Cleaning
Make-Do Kitchen Tools
Oh How I Love Freeze-Ahead Meals
This Week's Hot Forum Topics
Drying Herbs
Going Lower and Living our Best Lives
What do you do for Spring Cleaning?
7. The Cheapskates Club Show
Join Cath and Hannah live Tuesdays on You Tube at 7.30pm AET
Join us live on YouTube every Tuesday and see how we are living debt free, cashed up and laughing - and find out how you can too!
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.
Latest Shows
1. Cath's Corner
2. From the Tip Store - Turn a Ladder into a Clothes Airer; Start a Crop Swap; The Bathtub Soap Scum Buster
3. Share Your Tips
4. On the Menu - Spaghetti & Meatballs
5. The $300 a Month Food Challenge - Spring Cleaning the Pantry
6. Cheapskates Buzz - Cheapskaters are talking in the Forum and on Cath's blog
7. The Cheapskates Club Show
8. Ask A Question - Have a question? Ask it here
9. Join the Cheapskates Club
10. Frequently Asked Questions
11. Contact Details
1. Cath's Corner
Hello Cheapskaters,
Spring is my second favourite season. I love the warmer days. The slightly warmer, but still cool enough to sleep, nights. The light breezes (well, they've been gale-force here the last couple of weeks). Putting washing on the clothesline and bringing it in, dry and smelling of sunshine. Working in the garden, tending new plants, and preparing the beds for more. Knowing that the garden will feed us through spring, summer and into autumn, and quite possibly next winter too if it produces well. Having the windows and doors open to let the breeze blow the winter staleness away.
And it's the start of our busy birthday season. Yesterday was Thomas' birthday. He requested ribs, wedges and coleslaw for his birthday dinner, with Grandma's cheesecake for dessert. So out came the slow cooker, and in went the beef ribs, with my secret sauce, to cook until they were tender. Out came the air-fryer for the wedges. The cabbage for the coleslaw came straight from the garden.
And I made my mother's cheesecake. It was a bittersweet moment, as I pulled out her recipe book and took out the piece of paper with the recipe on it. This cheesecake has featured at every birthday and special occasion in my life. Mum would make it for our birthdays. For Christmas. For New Year. For anniversaries, engagements, weddings, church lunches, and because we asked for it. She'd make it especially for my brother as a surprise because it is his favourite dessert.
It wasn’t the same. I followed the recipe exactly. I did everything Mum had done. I'd helped her often enough to know the recipe backwards. I even used the springform tin she used. But to me it just wasn't the same. Thomas asked me what was wrong and I told him it just wasn't the same as when Grandma made it. And that gorgeous son of mine looked me in the eye, smiled and said that it tasted just like he remembered and one day I'll be the Grandma, making the cheesecake for all the family special occasions. Brought a tear to my eyes, and then I told him I don't need to be a Grandma anytime soon.
Have a great week everyone.
Happy Cheapskating,
Cath
2. From The Tip Store
Turn a Ladder into a Clothes Airer
As we are currently renovating our house in stages, both inside and out , we are without a proper clothesline, so instead of buying a clothes airer we have rigged up a temporary line in the limited space, however it is not always enough room. To avoid using the dryer I have utilised the ladder. If you place it in sun, the rungs are great for small items such as socks, underwear etc. freeing up the line for the larger items.
Contributed by Bronwyn James
Start a Crop Swap
Saving money by creating a local CROP SWAP group in your area. The idea was created around bringing any excess goods, putting them on a table and what's on the table is up for the takings, no money at all exchanges hands. Fruit, vegetables, herbs, potted vegetables, herbs, potted succulents, flowers, shrubs, eggs, baked goods, jams jellies, chutney, egg cartons, jars, magazines, seeds cuttings and more can be swapped. Held every Saturday all year around, its wise to have an indoor or covered area, could be a local club, or café. At Robertson, NSW, we do our crop swapping every week from 9am till 10:30 am on Saturdays but it can be any day, anytime that suits the majority of people. We have to adhere to the COVID rules but everyone goes home with a basketful of goodies and we return the following Saturday. Every week there are different items of food and more to choose from - we share recipes, make new friends, and everyone is welcome every week, its all inclusive. We have a Crop Swap Facebook site for letting people know in this COVID environment where crop swap will be each week due to changing rules and regulations. Look up Crop Swaps and start one; its so easy and it saves most people weekly between $30-$80 on average....start crop swapping and save.
Contributed by Judy Fisk
The Bathtub Soap Scum Buster
When our children were small they had a bath every night (or almost every night, sometimes they weren't dirty enough and I was too tired!). They loved their bath and would stay in it until the water was cold if I'd let them. Of course that meant that often there was a ring of gunk around the bath when it was emptied, a ring of gunk that I had to clean off.
Then a friend with triplets shared this tip with me and bath time, or at least cleaning up after bath time, became a breeze.
Rhonda suggested smearing a light coat of any type of cheap shampoo around the inside of the bathtub and letting it dry. Don't put it on the bottom of the tub, as it will make it slippery. Doing this helps prevents that ring of scum from forming.
If you have a ring around your tub at the moment, use a small amount of shampoo on a fine nylon net scrubber sponge loofah thingy. Rub around the ring and it will come off easily and your bathroom won't have that strong chemical odour after cleaning, either.
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
Spaghetti & Meatballs
From the Cheapskates Club Pasta Recipe File
Ingredients:
500g mince
1 cup TVP
1 cup hot water
3 slices fresh bread, whizzed into crumb or torn into very small pieces
1 large onion, grated
1 tsp mixed herbs
1 tbsp tomato sauce
1 egg
1 tin crushed tomatoes
1 tin tomato soup
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 onion, finely chopped
1/2 tsp sweet basil
1/2 tsp dried oregano
250g spaghetti
Method:
Pour the hot water over the TVP and let it sit 5 minutes. Mix together the mince, TVP, breadcrumbs, grated onion, mixed herbs, tomato sauce and egg using your hands. Make sure everything is well combined. Spray a cookie sheet with cooking spray. With wet hands roll teaspoonsful into small balls and place them in rows on the cookie sheet. Bake in a moderate oven (180 degrees) for 25 - 30 minutes. Check them after 15 minutes and shake them around to brown evenly. Makes 42 meatballs.
While the meatballs are cooking, cook the spaghetti and make the sauce. Cook the Spaghetti according to the directions on the packet.
For the sauce gently cook the chopped onion in a non-stick pan that has been sprayed with cooking spray until transparent. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute. Add the chopped tomatoes, tomato soup, basil and oregano. Stir to mix. Cook over a low heat until mixture thickens.
To serve: place spaghetti on plate, top with meatballs and pour sauce over. Top with grated cheese or sprinkle with grated parmesan if you prefer.
Next week we will be eating:
Sunday: Roast Chicken
Monday: Steak, baked potato, steamed veg
Tuesday: Spaghetti & Meatballs
Wednesday: Pot Roast with potato, carrot, onion, parsnip
Thursday: MOO Pizza
Friday: Chicken & vegetable risotto
Saturday: Tacos
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 Challenge
Spring Cleaning The Pantry
Our kitchen is in pieces. Yes, we're still waiting on the renovation to be completed. Actually, we're waiting for it to start. This darn lockdown has put a stop on it, but that's OK, because it's that time of year, when thoughts turn to spring cleaning. I may not be able to spring clean too much in the kitchen, but I can do the pantry, because it's not moving. Do you spring clean your pantry? You should - and not just to give it a clean and tidy, but to make sure you don't have any money lurking on the shelves, waiting to be used. And that money is in the form of food you've bought and forgotten.
It could be an ingredient you bought for something and only used it once, or perhaps it was a half-price special you stocked up on and then forgot. Or perhaps it's a favourite cereal that's no longer a favourite.
It's time to spring clean the pantry and put that money to work!
Empty each shelf. Wipe it over with Miracle Spray and dry with a towel. Put a bay leaf in each of the back corners to deter bugs. Then wipe over all the jars and tins and canisters.
As you put things back, jot down how much of each thing you have (use our Pantry Inventory to do this, then keep track of what you have by updating it regularly). I like to have like things together.
Top shelf in my pantry is the bulk buys of coffee and tea, the vanilla and Worcestershire sauce that are brewing, and things I don't use often.
The next shelf is the baking shelf. It has flours, sugars, cocoa, nuts, breadcrumbs, dried fruits and pasta in canisters.
The middle shelf is for cereal - wheat biscuits, Ricies and muesli; condiments - sauces, jam, peanut butter and Vegemite and seasonings; cooking spray, olive oil, sesame oil, vinegar, balsamic.
The bottom shelf holds more baking needs: sprinkles, fruit mince, icing sugar, choc bits, MOO mixes etc.
And on the floor are the bins of bread flour and rolled oats, the big tins of oil, and the veggie box for potatoes.
As you clean and tidy and find odd bits of money, jot them down and put them all together in one spot. When you've finished tidying write up a meal plan or two and use up all that money that's sitting on the pantry shelf.
Your pantry will be clean and tidy, you won't have any lost ingredients, and by using them up you will free up some of the grocery budget - perhaps to build your stockpile or your slush fund.
The $300 a Month Food Challenge Forum
The Post that Started it All
6. Cheapskates Buzz
From The Article Archive
Make Money With Spring Cleaning
Make-Do Kitchen Tools
Oh How I Love Freeze-Ahead Meals
This Week's Hot Forum Topics
Drying Herbs
Going Lower and Living our Best Lives
What do you do for Spring Cleaning?
7. The Cheapskates Club Show
Join Cath and Hannah live Tuesdays on You Tube at 7.30pm AET
Join us live on YouTube every Tuesday and see how we are living debt free, cashed up and laughing - and find out how you can too!
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.
Latest Shows
8. 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
9. Join The Cheapskates Club
For just $25 a year, you can join the Cheapskates Club and get exclusive access to the Cheapskate Journal, the monthly e-journal that shows you how to cut the costs of everyday living and still have fun.
Joining the Cheapskates Club gives you 24/7 access to the Members Centre with 1000's of money saving tips and articles.
Click here to join the Cheapskates Club today!
10. Frquently Asked Questions
How do I change my email address?
This one is easy. When you login to the Member's Centre just click on your name at the top of the page to go straight to your profile page where you can update your details, change your password and find your subscription details.
Not a Cheapskates Club member? Then please use the Changing Details form found here to update your email address.
How do I know when my membership should be renewed?
Memberships are active for one year from the date of joining. You will be sent a renewal reminder before your subscription is due to renew. You can also find your membership expiry date on your profile page.
When you login to the Member's Centre just click on your name to go straight to your profile page where you can will find your join date and your expiry date.
What will you do with my email address?
We never rent, trade or sell our email list to anyone for any reason whatsoever. You'll never get an unsolicited email from a stranger as a result of joining this list.
How did I get on this list?
The only way you can get onto our newsletter mailing list is to subscribe yourself. You signed up to receive our Free Newsletter at our Cheapskates Club Web site or are a Platinum Cheapskates Club member.
11. 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
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
9. Join The Cheapskates Club
For just $25 a year, you can join the Cheapskates Club and get exclusive access to the Cheapskate Journal, the monthly e-journal that shows you how to cut the costs of everyday living and still have fun.
Joining the Cheapskates Club gives you 24/7 access to the Members Centre with 1000's of money saving tips and articles.
Click here to join the Cheapskates Club today!
10. Frquently Asked Questions
How do I change my email address?
This one is easy. When you login to the Member's Centre just click on your name at the top of the page to go straight to your profile page where you can update your details, change your password and find your subscription details.
Not a Cheapskates Club member? Then please use the Changing Details form found here to update your email address.
How do I know when my membership should be renewed?
Memberships are active for one year from the date of joining. You will be sent a renewal reminder before your subscription is due to renew. You can also find your membership expiry date on your profile page.
When you login to the Member's Centre just click on your name to go straight to your profile page where you can will find your join date and your expiry date.
What will you do with my email address?
We never rent, trade or sell our email list to anyone for any reason whatsoever. You'll never get an unsolicited email from a stranger as a result of joining this list.
How did I get on this list?
The only way you can get onto our newsletter mailing list is to subscribe yourself. You signed up to receive our Free Newsletter at our Cheapskates Club Web site or are a Platinum Cheapskates Club member.
11. 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