In this Newsletter
1. Cath's Corner
2. In the Tip Store - Make a Centrepiece Table Light; Grocery List Using OneNote; Move Mould Permanently
3. Share Your Tips Here
4. On the Menu - Chicken Curry for 76 Cents a Serve
5. The $300 a Month Food Challenge - Get Started Meal Planning
6. Cheapskates Buzz - Cheapskaters are talking in the Forum and on Cath's blog
7. Member's Featured Blog - Spring is Everywhere
8. Last Week's Question - Advice needed to (tactfully) teach my MIL how to shop like a Cheapskate
9. This Week's Question - How can I face up to my huge debt responsibly?
10. Ask Cath
11. Join the Cheapskates Club
12. Frequently Asked Questions
13. Contact Details
1. Cath's Corner
Hello Cheapskaters,
Is everyone enjoying the school holidays? Even if you don't have children at school, you can still have loads of school holiday fun. I'm loving the lack of traffic on the road early in the morning - that 20 minute trip is only taking about 9 minutes! Who'd have thought school holidays would make that much difference to morning peak hour.
There are loads of free activities at libraries and shopping centres (skip the shopping, take drinks and snacks with you so they stay free) and special events at zoos and museums all over the country. Check out your auto club for discounts to attractions, play tourist in your own town or city and have some fun.
We had a fairly easy school holiday routine. We alternated going out and staying home. On our stay at home days we'd have movie marathons, bake, learn a new craft, have friends over for a playdate, work in the garden, play board games, have Scrabble or Monopoly marathons. On our going out days we'd take a picnic to the lake, take bikes and ride the bike tracks, meet friends for picnics at new parks or playgrounds, go to the zoo and or a museum (we had zoo and museum memberships and they more than paid for themselves every year). Friday was always movie day. I'd search for suitable movies and discount tickets then pack drinks and snacks and off we'd go.
Usually the only extra expense was our movie tickets, and I'd budget and save for them during term time. School holidays don't need to be boring or expensive. Think about things you'd like to do, that perhaps you don't have time to do during term time, then start having fun.
Have a great week everyone.
Happy Cheapskating,
Cath
PS: Love our site? We love referrals! Send a note to your favourite newspapers, magazines, radio stations, TV stations, friends and relatives, and tell them about us!
2. From The Tip Store
Make a Centrepiece Table Light
To make an outside table light centrepiece, take a nice pot and cover the hole in the bottom and fill with sand or pebbles and place a solar light in the middle. You could even scatter these around your patio or outdoor area. Another trick is to use dirt and pop plants around the outside - Mondo grass looks nice. Saves on electricity for outdoor entertaining and is a fantastic talking point.
Contributed by Casey Morrison
Grocery List Using OneNote
A friend of mine recently introduced me to Microsoft OneNote. You can use it on your computer, phone or electronic device and it will synchronise the data on all devices. It has saved me so much time and money doing my monthly grocery shop!
I set up a Master Grocery List for each store I shop at (i.e. Aldi and Woolworths). Each month I save a copy of my Master Grocery List and tick off any item I've run out of for the month. When I'm ready to my groceries I delete any item off the list that I don't need to buy and then I head to the shops with my smart phone and have my list at my fingertips.
I've also saved all my favourite recipes to the same app so that when I'm menu planning I can check my recipe to make sure I have all the items I need. Also great if you are at a friend's house and want to share a recipe.
Best thing of all the software is free! Definitely worth a try.
Contributed by Natalie Johnson
Editor's Note: I love OneNote and have used it every day for over 10 years for everything from keeping track of to do lists to writing articles to sorting recipes, I even use it to track our budget and spending. It is an amazing program with dozens of really useful features. As Natalie said, it is definitely worth trying. There are other similar programs available, all wonderful in their own way, and you're sure to find one that suits your exact needs. Cath
Move Mould Permanently
Mould is a big health problem which we have had in our lives. My research led me to the only substance that will "destroy'' mould spores. That is Oil of Cloves, an aromatherapy oil which you can buy from the chemist (be sure it is 100% pure essential oil). It's powerful - only 1/4 teaspoon in 1 litre of water then into a spray bottle. Spray and leave overnight; then wipe off with a mix of 1 teaspoon bicarb soda and 1/4 cup vinegar in 2 cups water. If the mould is heavy with spores it is best to wear a mask and wipe first with the bicarb soda/vinegar mix. Then spray with the oil of cloves. Make a habit of spraying this oil of clove mixture in the shower every day, you do not want mould to return.
Contributed by Casey Hume
There are currently more than 12,000 great tips in the Tip Store
3. 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
4. On the Menu
Chicken Curry for 76 Cents a Serve
This is chicken curry is so easy - just toss everything in the slow cooker and let it simmer all day. About 20 minutes before you want to eat, steam some rice and dinner is done.
It's cheap too, costing around $4.60 for six big serves (or 76 cents a serve).
I can get the price down by using chicken fillets bought on sale, onions, carrots and tomatoes all bought on sale, Aldi coconut cream and frozen peas and MOO chicken stock.
Slow Cooker Chicken Curry
Ingredients:
1 medium onion chopped
2 chicken breast fillets, skin removed and cut into cubes
4 large carrots cut into thick slices
2 large tomatoes, roughly chopped
1 can coconut cream
1/2 cup chicken stock
2 tbsp curry powder
1 tsp salt
1 cup fresh or frozen peas
Method:
Place all ingredients except peas into the slow cooker and stir. Cook on LOW for 8 hours. Add the peas 30 minutes before serving. Serve over steamed rice.
This week we will be eating:
Sunday: Roast Chicken
Monday: Fishcakes, gems, coleslaw
Tuesday: Spag bol
Wednesday: Chicken Curry, rice
Thursday: MOO Pizza
Friday: Hamburgers
BBQ Sausage sandwiches
In the fruit bowl: bananas
In the cake tin: Banana cake, choc chip muffins
There are over 1,500 other great money saving meal ideas in the Recipe File.
5. The $300 a Month Food Challenge
Get Started Meal Planning
Are you eating your way into debt? When you’re looking at where you spend your money, you might be surprised that so much of it is spent on treats, take-away or restaurants. It all adds up!
Australians spend on average $200 a week on groceries and around $50 a week on take-away and restaurant meals and another $20 at the bakery - that's $270 a week!
A frugal food budget is $15 per week per person (and it can be done - see the $300 a Month Food Challenge over at the Cheapskates Club) while a slightly more luxurious budget is around $25 per week per person. Really want to live it up? Budget for $30 per week per person.
Being more prepared in your meal planning and grocery shopping can not only save you money, but it will save your sanity, it will save you time, it will save you energy and it can help to make sure that your family is eating a healthful diet.
Creating a meal plan is easy. Really. Start off with a simple plan, one that includes basic meals for the week and a few snacks. When you've mastered the basic meal plan you can get a little more elaborate with more detailed meals (you'll be able to put all those saved recipes to good use at last).
Getting started is simple, just five steps and you'll have a meal plan and a shopping list.
Step One:
Make a master list (either on paper or on your computer) of the meals that your family enjoys eating.
To make this job easier, you may want to think of smaller groups of food -- for example, think of meals that you make with mince (beef, chicken, lamb or pork), chicken or other main ingredients.
In my family, we often eat meals from one of four "categories", so I have my list separated according to those:
-- Australian (meat & 3 veg, mince stew, meat pie, roast, burgers, etc.)
-- Mexican (tacos, burritos, enchiladas, etc.)
-- Oriental (fried rice, stir-fry, sweet 'n' sour chicken, spring rolls, beef and black bean, etc.)
-- Italian (lasagne, pizza, spaghetti, minestrone etc.).
Choose the method that works best for you and start writing.
Step Two:
Determine how often you will shop. For example, will you shop weekly, every two weeks or monthly? You may find it easier to shop weekly, when you first start so your planning and shopping isn't overwhelming. Once you get the hang of meal planning you can make meal plans for a fortnight, month or even a year (I meal plan a year in advance!).
I prefer to hit the supermarkets once every four weeks - it takes the same time as a weekly shop, and I don't have the hassle for another 28 days. Just 13 shopping trips a year!
I can still watch for half-price sales between shops and pick up just those things, if they are on my next shopping list. Then, when I've bought them, I cross them off the list (I don't want to forget I've already bought them and end up paying full price!).
Step Three:
With your list of meals, write down on a sheet of paper what meals your family will eat for your time period. If you do more than a week at a time, you may want to write the actual dates. I also use my grocery store ads at this time, you might like to as well. If I noticed a great deal on chicken, I may purposely plan a dinner with chicken - and vice versa, if no chicken is on sale (and I don't have any in my freezer) we will not be eating chicken that week. I also make sure to not to serve any two "categories" of meals two nights in a row (for example, we won't eat tacos on Monday and burritos on Tuesday).
Be sure to look at your family's calendar when deciding what meals to prepare. Because of our schedules with work and other activities, we also have designated meal nights e.g. Tuesday is ‘pasta night' because Wayne doesn't get home until late. Thursday is my busy day, I spend it with Mum, doing shopping and other appointments and Wayne is on call for work so we always have MOO pizza and everyone makes their own (no hassle or cleaning up for me!). Friday is always a stir-fry or similar because Hannah cooks on Fridays and they are her specialty. Saturday night is always a light meal and leftover night, we clean out the fridge and everyone gets a little of whatever is left over. I bulk it out with rice, potato or salad depending on the season and what's left over.
Step Four
Next to each meal list the ingredients that you will need to purchase for that meal. If we are having cheeseburgers, I look to see what ingredients I already have and then I list everything else I don't have so I am sure to buy them.
Step Five
Now that you have your meals listed, along with the ingredients that you need to purchase, you are ready to go to the supermarket. Hit that store with a smile, you are on a mission and you have a plan!
If you are eating your way into debt, limit the number of times you go out or have take-away every week and start planning your meals so you can quickly and easily cook at home. Then shop with a list, and stick to it. This will make a huge difference in your grocery bill.
The $300 a Month Food Challenge
The Post that Started it All
6. Cheapskates Buzz
Most popular forum posts this week
Stockpiling for Christmas
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2619-300-a-month-food-challenge-8-09-14-Stockpiling-For-Christmas
Something, Something New
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?3616-Something-Old-Something-New
School Holidays
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?3060-School-Holidays
Most popular blog posts this week
What does it Mean to be "Frugal"?
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2014/02/what-does-it-mean-to-be-frugal.html
Bathroom Cleaning Quickies
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2013/11/bathroom-cleaning-quickies.html
The State of Your Economy
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2013/11/the-state-of-your-economy.html
7. Members Featured Blog
Platinum Cheapskates Club members have their very own Cheapskating blogs, and they are wonderful and inspirational and encouraging and even funny. This week's featured blog is written by Mumof2.
Spring is Everywhere
I love spring…. everything starts blooming.... we have more time outside and I think everyone just starts feeling better.
This has been a hard month for us financially but we are back on track to where we want to be; yep springing into action in spring.
Everything has been going pretty well. I have finished and passed the subjects I was working on, start again with the next couple in a few weeks. Have started exercising again. All the yummy fruits are starting to come out so it is easier for snack foods and salads, especially with the nicer weather.
Budget wise I have redone our budget for the rest of this year and next year and have to say I am feeling really good about it and finally getting back to where we were. We were able to pay the CC off again with no problem, have savings in the bank, no debt and our other accounts are starting to look good again.
We do have to get back on track with our menu planning, we haven't been doing that at all; but we are sticking to our food budget and we have just planted our vegies so I am not so worried about it. I think this better weather we are starting to have has just made everything bloom - let's hope it stays that way.
Login to read more Cheapskates Club Member blogs
8. Last Week's Question
Last week's question was from Dianne who wrote
"My husband and I have been married for five months, and are currently living with his parents. This is their wedding gift to us, so we can save as much as possible as a deposit on a home of our own. They offered us rent and utility free living for two years, which we are grateful for. The problem is grocery money (of all things!). Because of our work schedules, my MIL also does the grocery shopping and cooking (she's a great cook, I'm learning heaps) and we split the bill 50-50. Here's the rub: she does all the grocery shopping Coles and refuses to go anywhere else. She doesn't look for markdowns or specials, and flatly refuses to even consider generic brands. Last month our share of the grocery bill was $1,365 - even living rent free, we can't afford that! How can I, at 25 years old and a newlywed, tactfully introduce the idea of smart and frugal, budget shopping without any offence to my mother-in-law, who has been a housewife for 30+ years and has never needed to budget?"
Alisa Perks answered
You and/or your husband could step in and do half the cooking. With that offer to the household, it means you will insist that you need to do the shopping for that cooking because you know what you'll need to buy. This should mean that MIL would not need to buy so many groceries (at full price!). Good luck.
June Brown answered
Hi Dianne, I think you need to be totally honest with your MIL. You and your hubby need to sit down with her and explain that you are trying to save for a house and the budget is a bit tight to allow that much money for groceries; that is a lot of money for two people just for food! Good Luck.
Lynette Stewart answered
If you say anything to her she will get her back up, so it is up to your husband to be truthful and say that you are trying to save for a house and that you are unable to do so with such a high cost of food shopping for the month. It is a very hard thing when you live in their house and maybe you have to look at finding a cheap rental and just say you appreciate what they were offering but your newlyweds and need to get to know each other, surely you two could sort out what to say and do for the best.
Rebecca Daniel answered
I think blunt honesty is best, but it's easy for someone outside of the situation to say. If not offending is of most importance then perhaps you could both go on a very "specific" diet, like paleo, gluten free, or vegan. Then you would have to cook separately, without upsetting anyone. If that doesn't appeal, maybe explaining that you are following the $300 a month challenge, and you are DETERMINED to succeed. Your MIL may just be very impressed!
There are more answers to Dianne's question in the Tip Store and on our Facebook page.
9. This Week's Question
MN writes
"I am in dire need of help with huge debt. My first issue is denial, unable to collect my mail out of letterbox knowing I will collect bills and I just don't want to see them. Is there any help in this situation? Thank you."
Do you have the answer?
If you can help MN 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 Cath
We have lots of resources to help you as you live the Cheapskates way but if you didn't find the answer to your question in our extensive archives please just drop me a note with your question.
I read and answer all questions, either in an email to you, in my weekly newsletter, the monthly Journal or by creating blog posts and other resources to help you (and other Cheapskaters).
Ask Your Question
11. 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!
12. 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.
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Read our privacy policy
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14. Contact Details
The Cheapskates Club -
Showing you how to live life
debt free, cashed up and laughing!
1. Cath's Corner
2. In the Tip Store - Make a Centrepiece Table Light; Grocery List Using OneNote; Move Mould Permanently
3. Share Your Tips Here
4. On the Menu - Chicken Curry for 76 Cents a Serve
5. The $300 a Month Food Challenge - Get Started Meal Planning
6. Cheapskates Buzz - Cheapskaters are talking in the Forum and on Cath's blog
7. Member's Featured Blog - Spring is Everywhere
8. Last Week's Question - Advice needed to (tactfully) teach my MIL how to shop like a Cheapskate
9. This Week's Question - How can I face up to my huge debt responsibly?
10. Ask Cath
11. Join the Cheapskates Club
12. Frequently Asked Questions
13. Contact Details
1. Cath's Corner
Hello Cheapskaters,
Is everyone enjoying the school holidays? Even if you don't have children at school, you can still have loads of school holiday fun. I'm loving the lack of traffic on the road early in the morning - that 20 minute trip is only taking about 9 minutes! Who'd have thought school holidays would make that much difference to morning peak hour.
There are loads of free activities at libraries and shopping centres (skip the shopping, take drinks and snacks with you so they stay free) and special events at zoos and museums all over the country. Check out your auto club for discounts to attractions, play tourist in your own town or city and have some fun.
We had a fairly easy school holiday routine. We alternated going out and staying home. On our stay at home days we'd have movie marathons, bake, learn a new craft, have friends over for a playdate, work in the garden, play board games, have Scrabble or Monopoly marathons. On our going out days we'd take a picnic to the lake, take bikes and ride the bike tracks, meet friends for picnics at new parks or playgrounds, go to the zoo and or a museum (we had zoo and museum memberships and they more than paid for themselves every year). Friday was always movie day. I'd search for suitable movies and discount tickets then pack drinks and snacks and off we'd go.
Usually the only extra expense was our movie tickets, and I'd budget and save for them during term time. School holidays don't need to be boring or expensive. Think about things you'd like to do, that perhaps you don't have time to do during term time, then start having fun.
Have a great week everyone.
Happy Cheapskating,
Cath
PS: Love our site? We love referrals! Send a note to your favourite newspapers, magazines, radio stations, TV stations, friends and relatives, and tell them about us!
2. From The Tip Store
Make a Centrepiece Table Light
To make an outside table light centrepiece, take a nice pot and cover the hole in the bottom and fill with sand or pebbles and place a solar light in the middle. You could even scatter these around your patio or outdoor area. Another trick is to use dirt and pop plants around the outside - Mondo grass looks nice. Saves on electricity for outdoor entertaining and is a fantastic talking point.
Contributed by Casey Morrison
Grocery List Using OneNote
A friend of mine recently introduced me to Microsoft OneNote. You can use it on your computer, phone or electronic device and it will synchronise the data on all devices. It has saved me so much time and money doing my monthly grocery shop!
I set up a Master Grocery List for each store I shop at (i.e. Aldi and Woolworths). Each month I save a copy of my Master Grocery List and tick off any item I've run out of for the month. When I'm ready to my groceries I delete any item off the list that I don't need to buy and then I head to the shops with my smart phone and have my list at my fingertips.
I've also saved all my favourite recipes to the same app so that when I'm menu planning I can check my recipe to make sure I have all the items I need. Also great if you are at a friend's house and want to share a recipe.
Best thing of all the software is free! Definitely worth a try.
Contributed by Natalie Johnson
Editor's Note: I love OneNote and have used it every day for over 10 years for everything from keeping track of to do lists to writing articles to sorting recipes, I even use it to track our budget and spending. It is an amazing program with dozens of really useful features. As Natalie said, it is definitely worth trying. There are other similar programs available, all wonderful in their own way, and you're sure to find one that suits your exact needs. Cath
Move Mould Permanently
Mould is a big health problem which we have had in our lives. My research led me to the only substance that will "destroy'' mould spores. That is Oil of Cloves, an aromatherapy oil which you can buy from the chemist (be sure it is 100% pure essential oil). It's powerful - only 1/4 teaspoon in 1 litre of water then into a spray bottle. Spray and leave overnight; then wipe off with a mix of 1 teaspoon bicarb soda and 1/4 cup vinegar in 2 cups water. If the mould is heavy with spores it is best to wear a mask and wipe first with the bicarb soda/vinegar mix. Then spray with the oil of cloves. Make a habit of spraying this oil of clove mixture in the shower every day, you do not want mould to return.
Contributed by Casey Hume
There are currently more than 12,000 great tips in the Tip Store
3. 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
4. On the Menu
Chicken Curry for 76 Cents a Serve
This is chicken curry is so easy - just toss everything in the slow cooker and let it simmer all day. About 20 minutes before you want to eat, steam some rice and dinner is done.
It's cheap too, costing around $4.60 for six big serves (or 76 cents a serve).
I can get the price down by using chicken fillets bought on sale, onions, carrots and tomatoes all bought on sale, Aldi coconut cream and frozen peas and MOO chicken stock.
Slow Cooker Chicken Curry
Ingredients:
1 medium onion chopped
2 chicken breast fillets, skin removed and cut into cubes
4 large carrots cut into thick slices
2 large tomatoes, roughly chopped
1 can coconut cream
1/2 cup chicken stock
2 tbsp curry powder
1 tsp salt
1 cup fresh or frozen peas
Method:
Place all ingredients except peas into the slow cooker and stir. Cook on LOW for 8 hours. Add the peas 30 minutes before serving. Serve over steamed rice.
This week we will be eating:
Sunday: Roast Chicken
Monday: Fishcakes, gems, coleslaw
Tuesday: Spag bol
Wednesday: Chicken Curry, rice
Thursday: MOO Pizza
Friday: Hamburgers
BBQ Sausage sandwiches
In the fruit bowl: bananas
In the cake tin: Banana cake, choc chip muffins
There are over 1,500 other great money saving meal ideas in the Recipe File.
5. The $300 a Month Food Challenge
Get Started Meal Planning
Are you eating your way into debt? When you’re looking at where you spend your money, you might be surprised that so much of it is spent on treats, take-away or restaurants. It all adds up!
Australians spend on average $200 a week on groceries and around $50 a week on take-away and restaurant meals and another $20 at the bakery - that's $270 a week!
A frugal food budget is $15 per week per person (and it can be done - see the $300 a Month Food Challenge over at the Cheapskates Club) while a slightly more luxurious budget is around $25 per week per person. Really want to live it up? Budget for $30 per week per person.
Being more prepared in your meal planning and grocery shopping can not only save you money, but it will save your sanity, it will save you time, it will save you energy and it can help to make sure that your family is eating a healthful diet.
Creating a meal plan is easy. Really. Start off with a simple plan, one that includes basic meals for the week and a few snacks. When you've mastered the basic meal plan you can get a little more elaborate with more detailed meals (you'll be able to put all those saved recipes to good use at last).
Getting started is simple, just five steps and you'll have a meal plan and a shopping list.
Step One:
Make a master list (either on paper or on your computer) of the meals that your family enjoys eating.
To make this job easier, you may want to think of smaller groups of food -- for example, think of meals that you make with mince (beef, chicken, lamb or pork), chicken or other main ingredients.
In my family, we often eat meals from one of four "categories", so I have my list separated according to those:
-- Australian (meat & 3 veg, mince stew, meat pie, roast, burgers, etc.)
-- Mexican (tacos, burritos, enchiladas, etc.)
-- Oriental (fried rice, stir-fry, sweet 'n' sour chicken, spring rolls, beef and black bean, etc.)
-- Italian (lasagne, pizza, spaghetti, minestrone etc.).
Choose the method that works best for you and start writing.
Step Two:
Determine how often you will shop. For example, will you shop weekly, every two weeks or monthly? You may find it easier to shop weekly, when you first start so your planning and shopping isn't overwhelming. Once you get the hang of meal planning you can make meal plans for a fortnight, month or even a year (I meal plan a year in advance!).
I prefer to hit the supermarkets once every four weeks - it takes the same time as a weekly shop, and I don't have the hassle for another 28 days. Just 13 shopping trips a year!
I can still watch for half-price sales between shops and pick up just those things, if they are on my next shopping list. Then, when I've bought them, I cross them off the list (I don't want to forget I've already bought them and end up paying full price!).
Step Three:
With your list of meals, write down on a sheet of paper what meals your family will eat for your time period. If you do more than a week at a time, you may want to write the actual dates. I also use my grocery store ads at this time, you might like to as well. If I noticed a great deal on chicken, I may purposely plan a dinner with chicken - and vice versa, if no chicken is on sale (and I don't have any in my freezer) we will not be eating chicken that week. I also make sure to not to serve any two "categories" of meals two nights in a row (for example, we won't eat tacos on Monday and burritos on Tuesday).
Be sure to look at your family's calendar when deciding what meals to prepare. Because of our schedules with work and other activities, we also have designated meal nights e.g. Tuesday is ‘pasta night' because Wayne doesn't get home until late. Thursday is my busy day, I spend it with Mum, doing shopping and other appointments and Wayne is on call for work so we always have MOO pizza and everyone makes their own (no hassle or cleaning up for me!). Friday is always a stir-fry or similar because Hannah cooks on Fridays and they are her specialty. Saturday night is always a light meal and leftover night, we clean out the fridge and everyone gets a little of whatever is left over. I bulk it out with rice, potato or salad depending on the season and what's left over.
Step Four
Next to each meal list the ingredients that you will need to purchase for that meal. If we are having cheeseburgers, I look to see what ingredients I already have and then I list everything else I don't have so I am sure to buy them.
Step Five
Now that you have your meals listed, along with the ingredients that you need to purchase, you are ready to go to the supermarket. Hit that store with a smile, you are on a mission and you have a plan!
If you are eating your way into debt, limit the number of times you go out or have take-away every week and start planning your meals so you can quickly and easily cook at home. Then shop with a list, and stick to it. This will make a huge difference in your grocery bill.
The $300 a Month Food Challenge
The Post that Started it All
6. Cheapskates Buzz
Most popular forum posts this week
Stockpiling for Christmas
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2619-300-a-month-food-challenge-8-09-14-Stockpiling-For-Christmas
Something, Something New
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?3616-Something-Old-Something-New
School Holidays
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?3060-School-Holidays
Most popular blog posts this week
What does it Mean to be "Frugal"?
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2014/02/what-does-it-mean-to-be-frugal.html
Bathroom Cleaning Quickies
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2013/11/bathroom-cleaning-quickies.html
The State of Your Economy
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2013/11/the-state-of-your-economy.html
7. Members Featured Blog
Platinum Cheapskates Club members have their very own Cheapskating blogs, and they are wonderful and inspirational and encouraging and even funny. This week's featured blog is written by Mumof2.
Spring is Everywhere
I love spring…. everything starts blooming.... we have more time outside and I think everyone just starts feeling better.
This has been a hard month for us financially but we are back on track to where we want to be; yep springing into action in spring.
Everything has been going pretty well. I have finished and passed the subjects I was working on, start again with the next couple in a few weeks. Have started exercising again. All the yummy fruits are starting to come out so it is easier for snack foods and salads, especially with the nicer weather.
Budget wise I have redone our budget for the rest of this year and next year and have to say I am feeling really good about it and finally getting back to where we were. We were able to pay the CC off again with no problem, have savings in the bank, no debt and our other accounts are starting to look good again.
We do have to get back on track with our menu planning, we haven't been doing that at all; but we are sticking to our food budget and we have just planted our vegies so I am not so worried about it. I think this better weather we are starting to have has just made everything bloom - let's hope it stays that way.
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8. Last Week's Question
Last week's question was from Dianne who wrote
"My husband and I have been married for five months, and are currently living with his parents. This is their wedding gift to us, so we can save as much as possible as a deposit on a home of our own. They offered us rent and utility free living for two years, which we are grateful for. The problem is grocery money (of all things!). Because of our work schedules, my MIL also does the grocery shopping and cooking (she's a great cook, I'm learning heaps) and we split the bill 50-50. Here's the rub: she does all the grocery shopping Coles and refuses to go anywhere else. She doesn't look for markdowns or specials, and flatly refuses to even consider generic brands. Last month our share of the grocery bill was $1,365 - even living rent free, we can't afford that! How can I, at 25 years old and a newlywed, tactfully introduce the idea of smart and frugal, budget shopping without any offence to my mother-in-law, who has been a housewife for 30+ years and has never needed to budget?"
Alisa Perks answered
You and/or your husband could step in and do half the cooking. With that offer to the household, it means you will insist that you need to do the shopping for that cooking because you know what you'll need to buy. This should mean that MIL would not need to buy so many groceries (at full price!). Good luck.
June Brown answered
Hi Dianne, I think you need to be totally honest with your MIL. You and your hubby need to sit down with her and explain that you are trying to save for a house and the budget is a bit tight to allow that much money for groceries; that is a lot of money for two people just for food! Good Luck.
Lynette Stewart answered
If you say anything to her she will get her back up, so it is up to your husband to be truthful and say that you are trying to save for a house and that you are unable to do so with such a high cost of food shopping for the month. It is a very hard thing when you live in their house and maybe you have to look at finding a cheap rental and just say you appreciate what they were offering but your newlyweds and need to get to know each other, surely you two could sort out what to say and do for the best.
Rebecca Daniel answered
I think blunt honesty is best, but it's easy for someone outside of the situation to say. If not offending is of most importance then perhaps you could both go on a very "specific" diet, like paleo, gluten free, or vegan. Then you would have to cook separately, without upsetting anyone. If that doesn't appeal, maybe explaining that you are following the $300 a month challenge, and you are DETERMINED to succeed. Your MIL may just be very impressed!
There are more answers to Dianne's question in the Tip Store and on our Facebook page.
9. This Week's Question
MN writes
"I am in dire need of help with huge debt. My first issue is denial, unable to collect my mail out of letterbox knowing I will collect bills and I just don't want to see them. Is there any help in this situation? Thank you."
Do you have the answer?
If you can help MN 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 Cath
We have lots of resources to help you as you live the Cheapskates way but if you didn't find the answer to your question in our extensive archives please just drop me a note with your question.
I read and answer all questions, either in an email to you, in my weekly newsletter, the monthly Journal or by creating blog posts and other resources to help you (and other Cheapskaters).
Ask Your Question
11. 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!
12. Frequently Asked Questions
How do I change my email address?
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14. Contact Details
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