Your Cheapskates Club Newsletter: 43:14 Bright ideas to save you money
1. Cath's Corner
2. In the Tip Store - A Simple MOO Shampoo from Your Kitchen, Butter Frozen Bread Better, Making Your Own Milk Alternatives even Cheaper!
3. Submit Your Tip - Enter your favourite tip for a chance to win
4. Living Green in 2014 - Is It Organic?
5. On the Menu with Anne - Corn Fritters
6. The $300 a Month Food Challenge with Wendy - Sauces
7. Cheapskates Buzz - Cheapskaters are talking in the Forum and on Cath's blog
8. Member's Featured Blog - Christmas 2014
9. Last Week's Question - Where to find free kindle books
10. This Week's Question - Is there a way to get cheaper soft drinks?
11. Join the Cheapskates Club
12. Gift Memberships
13. Frequently Asked Questions
14. Contact Details
1. Cath's Corner
Over the last couple of weeks I have been bumping into Cheapskaters wherever I go and I love it. I was helping Mum with her Christmas shopping and met Joan, who, after raising her own family, is now caring for her teenage niece and nephew. Then Hannah and I were in Aldi and bumped into June and stopped to chat for a few minutes. I knew June lived locally from her membership application, but I had never met her. I'm so glad she stopped me to say hello. It was nice to pass a few minutes talking about my favourite subject (saving money) in the middle of a busy day. I met Mai at the library and the lovely Sandra said hello to me at the Post Office.
I love meeting Cheapskaters, but of course while you might now what I look like from television segments, I don't know what you look like. If you pass me in the street or the bank or the library or the supermarket or the park or anywhere else please don't be shy; stop me and say hello, I can't wait to meet you in person.
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
A Simple MOO Shampoo from Your Kitchen
My husband and I have found a tablespoon of bicarbonate mixed with water in a plastic squeezable sauce bottle makes a great shampoo. Squeeze it into hair at the roots, massage in then rinse. Hair is soft and clean and no 'special nasty' chemicals. The same with conditioner but use a spray bottle and tablespoon of apple cider vinegar. Just make sure the bicarbonate is all rinsed out, spray on and again rinse. It doesn't bubble and foam but it works really well and costs almost nothing.
Contributed by Gail Foster
Butter Frozen Bread Better
To easily butter bread which is frozen, instead of waiting for it to defrost, and waiting for the butter to become more spreadable, just slice off a hard square of butter and drag it along the surface of the frozen bread slice = instant buttered bread totally covered in the spread once it's defrosted, with no gaps or large lumps and clumps at all. I make all my own bread, slice and freeze it in zip lock bags, since we live in the country far from local stores, plus I prefer to know what ingredients are in the bread before eating it. I often have to wait for it to defrost, and for the butter to soften (I don't like eating spreadable butters or margarines because of the bad oils used to make them) and after trying to spread hard butter on frozen bread, or even fresh bread, with a knife, I found it far easier to just grab a piece of butter and drag it over the frozen bread surface, kind of like grating in reverse!
Contributed by Larissa Taylor
Making Your Own Milk Alternatives even Cheaper!
I have recently started experimenting with making my own milk substitutes. After a couple of failed attempts straining the milk with a strainer and cheesecloth I realised I need a nut milk bag. My local health food store charges $17.95 for one bag, but the attendant told me to go to Bunnings and pick up paint strainer bags instead. I bought three bags with elasticised tops for only $6.95 and they work perfectly!
Contributed by Yanicka Gorski
There are more than 11,000 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. Living Green in 2014
Is It Organic?
When AJ was in his first year of school they had a special lunch to raise funds for a new playground. For $1 each child could have a hot dog for lunch. Being the loving mother that I am I sent along the $1 so my son wouldn't be the only child to miss out. Turns out I donated the dollar because AJ wouldn't eat his hot dog - it wasn't organic! He had his teacher and the school principal in a right tizz trying to convince him to eat his hot dog. How my 5 year old new the difference between organic and non-organic I have no idea and we still laugh about the non-organic hot dog episode today.
Australia has the largest number of organic farms in the world, making it easy for us to buy locally grown organic produce. Incorporating more and more organic food into our diet has become easier over the years. No longer is buying and eating organic food considered out there or alternative as looking for healthy food options at bargain prices has become the focus of more and more Australians and there are cheaper ways to get organic products.
Spot the rip-off – Look for the products marked “certified organic” in order to make sure you are getting what you pay for. Currently there are no laws or regulations in Australia concerning the work 'organic'. Only if the product is labelled 'certified organic' by a recognised certifier can you be sure that it is truly organic. Knowing the difference between certified organic and organic products will help you to get what you are paying for. Certified organic products are governed by certification bodies which carry out a number of inspections and tests to ensure that the products are free of pesticides, herbicides and GE free. The word "organic" is generic and therefore products with this label are not subject to any regulations or rulings. Buying "certified organic" is your guarantee that you are getting what you are paying for.
Organic sections – Just because a product is in the organic section of the fruit and vegetable area or in the health food aisle does not mean it is organic. Don't be misled, for example, by the “all natural yoghurt” in the organic section of the dairy cabinet—unless it’s marked 'certified organic' it probably is not.
Shop discount stores – You don't have to just shop at organic greengrocers or co-ops or at health food shops. Coles, Woolworths and Aldi all have an entire line of organics and those sections are expanding all the time. Ask at the service counter where the organic products are located because sometimes they are hard to find. And I can vouch for the Coles organic corn chips - they are the nicest corn chips I've ever eaten.
Buy generic – One of the really cool things about the interest in organics is the natural continuation of store brands. Look for these generic brands (which go on sale, too) and save even more.
Food co-ops – These are great sources of discounts on organic products.
The food mile – In the grocery industry there is a term known as the “food mile” which indicates how many miles food has to travel to end up in your local store. The shorter the food mile, the less expensive the product. Buy items with the shortest food mile. You’ll be saving money and helping the environment.
Buy in season – A given for most Cheapskates, the cheapest prices and shortest food mile will be achieved by buying produce in season. By eating (and freezing or preserving) your food in season you can always save money.
Compare online grocers – You might find lower prices for staples that you need by searching online at some of the best organic grocers. Go to the Australian Organic Food Directory and search for your nearest organic grocer, restaurant, co-op or wholesaler.
Go to the farm! – By going to an organic farmers market in your part of the world, you can save even more and buy the freshest organic produce possible. Look in your local paper or ask at your favourite health food shop to find your nearest organic farmers market.
Become an organic farmer! - If the cost of organic fruit and vegetables is too much for your budget become an organic farmer and grow your own. It's easy to grow a wide variety of fruits and vegetables in your own backyard or in pots on a balcony. Growing your own you control what goes into the soil and what goes onto the plants.
5. On the Menu with Anne
Corn Fritters
Corn fritters are a great snack, but they are also good for lunch or dinner too. I make these corn fritters often during spring and summer because they can be cooked on the barbecue and are a lovely light lunch with a tossed salad.
Ingredients:
2-1/2 cups corn kernels
3 large eggs
3/4 cup milk
3 tbsp butter, melted
3/4 cup plain flour
3/4 cup polenta
250g mozzarella cheese, grated
2 tbsp chopped fresh chives
1-1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Oil for frying
Method:
In a food processor, combine 1-3/4 cups corn kernels, the eggs, milk, and butter; process 3 to 4 times, or just until corn is coarsely chopped.
In a large bowl, stir together flour, cornmeal, mozzarella cheese, chives, sugar, salt, and cayenne pepper; stir in remaining corn kernels and the chopped corn mixture just until dry ingredients are moistened.
In a large, heavy based frying pan pour just enough oil to lightly cover the base. Over high heat, pour 1/8 cup batter per corn fritter into the frying pan. (Do not spread or flatten fritters.) Cook fritters in batches 3 to 4 minutes, or until edges begin to brown. Turn and cook on other side 2 to 3 more minutes, or until heated through. Serve immediately.
This week we will be eating:
Friday: Barbecued chops and salad
Saturday: Spaghetti
Sunday: Roast beef, baked vegetables, greens, gravy
Monday: Quiche and salad
Tuesday: Rissoles, potato bake, broccoli, carrots
Wednesday: Tuna Surprise, tossed salad
Thursday: Sausages, wedges, salad
In the fruit bowl: kiwi fruit, oranges, bananas
In the cake tin: Chocolate cake, jam and coconut slice
There are over 1,400 other great money saving meal ideas in the Recipe File
6. The $300 a Month Food Challenge with Wendy
Hi there fellow Cheapskaters. Last week I started a mini series of ways to cut your grocery budget without going hungry. We discussed the idea of only buying juice, soft drinks and bottled water for special occasions.
This week's topic is SAUCES.
Supermarkets dedicate half an aisle to an array of sauces, pickles, mayos and salad dressings. Each bottle costs at least $2 with some costing as much as $5 or more. So much money for so little sauce. Have a think about how many bottles of sauces and dressings you have in your fridge and pantry and ask yourself -
* Do I throw half used bottles out on a regular basis?
* Do I need so many bottles?
* How much are these bottles adding to my grocery budget?
* Could I make some dressings and pickles myself?
* Would anyone notice if I threw some out and never bought them again?
I have a friend who has a whole pantry shelf dedicated to sauces of every kind available (it seems like it). Her pantry shelf is at least a metre and a half long. I often wonder if she uses them within the use by or best before dates or if she remembers all the different types and their uses. Surely it would be hard to keep track of them all. Her fridge door is also full of sauces. Mmmmm.
I have the standard sauces in my fridge and I'm constantly trying to use them before their expiry date is up. This year I plan on reducing the amount of bottles I have without compromising on variety. I'm also planning on making salad dressing this year for the first time.
Here's the sauces I'd like to have in my fridge this all year round -
* Tomato sauce
* BBQ sauce
* Soy sauce
* Worcestershire sauce
* Mustard sauce
* Egg mayo
* Mint sauce - hoping to make my own as my mint plant has come back to life
* Dijon mustard
* Wholegrain mustard
This year I will not be buying salad dressings, pickle spread or cocktail onions (unless my husband asks for it).
My challenge for you this week is to do a stocktake of all the sauces and spreads you have. Can you throw some out? Can you make some yourself and save a small fortune on your grocery budget?
Have a great week and BE ENCOURAGED!!!!!
The $300 a Month Food Challenge
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2659-300-a-month-food-challenge-20-10-14&p=45646
The Post that Started it All
http://www.cheapskates.com.au/pages/default.cfm?page_id=44265
7. Cheapskates Buzz
This week's hot forum topics
My Retirement Garden
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2581-My-Retirement-Garden
Miracle spray, what it can and can’t be used on?
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2660-Miracle-spray-what-it-a-and-cant-be-used-on
Gratitude Journal
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2404-Gratitude-Journal
Most popular blog posts this week
The Frugal Habits of the World's Richest Man
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2011/04/frugal-habits-of-worlds-richest-man.html
Another MOO for the Kitchen - Onion Soup Mix
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2013/06/another-moo-for-kitchen-onion-soup-mix.html
You Decide.....
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2013/07/you-decide.html
8. 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 Barbw7.
Christmas 2014
Well, as of this week I can say I own my own Christmas. All of my gifts will be paid for out of money I have saved. I am very proud that I have managed to save so well and I have also already bought some gifts. I have cheapskates to thank for helping me save as I have been able to save a lot more since I joined. I am really looking forward to shopping for gifts and buying ingredients to make choc chip and macadamia biscuits as well as rocky road and peanut clusters. I will also make bracelets and necklaces. I am now really looking forward to Christmas instead of the dread I usually feel.
Login to read more Cheapskates Club member blogs
9. Last Week's Question
Last week's question was from Samantha who wrote "I have recently splurged and bought a Kindle reader. I was wanting to know if anyone knew of how to access books for free or cheaply? Thanks." We received dozens of answers to this question, far too many to include in the newsletter. You'll find all the answers in the Tip Store.
Cath answered
I love hundredzeros.com for free and cheap kindle books. The list is updated daily and it is easy to choose and download the ebooks.
Loris Manns answered
Amazon have listed the top 100 free ebooks as well as the top 100 free paid ebooks for Kindle. Go to www.amazon.com
Leonie Kraft answered
Hi Samantha, if you go to the Kindle store located in the menu section of your Kindle you need to put "free books" into the search section. It will bring up over 15,000 free books for you to choose from, and the list grows every day. I have had my Kindle for nearly 3 years and never paid for a book. I go into the store every 6 months or so and download more books. It is very easy to do.
Christine Hill answered
I subscribe to Pixel of Ink and get a daily email with some free books and some cheap books. The genres vary a lot, and some days I am not interested in any, but other days there can be several. This comes through Amazon, and you will need to open an Amazon account to access the books.
Jacqui Paulson answered
Hi Samantha, If you are a member of a library, most libraries now have access to e-books which can be downloaded and borrowed in the same manner as traditional books. You have a limited time to read the book just as you do if you borrow a paper book. If you have not read the book within the time, it needs to be renewed or re-borrowed. This is the best way I know of having a supply of free books that are up to date and current.
Sharon Benjamin answered
I haven't paid for a kindle book in years and I have 1722 ebooks on my kindle at the moment! My favourite sources for kindle ebooks, beside Amazon.com are:
dailyfreebooks.com- this site shows ebooks that are reduced to free for a limited time. There are usually around 500-1000 books listed per week. They are usually from less well known authors.
bookzz.org- ebooks for kindle and other reader apps. Lots of well-known authors here.
openlibrary.org- ebooks to download for free (usually older books) and ebooks to borrow for 21 days. Well known authors and out of print books here.
There are so many ways to find free ebooks if you are patient enough to surf the net as I have found a lot of popular books uploaded by school and university sites- just start searching and exploring. One further tip I would like to add is to narrow down the hits and find what you want is to add the file type of book you want to your search command. For example google in this manner: the silent sister diane chamberlain filetype:pdf or filetype:mobi Happy hunting!
Do you have a question that needs an answer?
Send us your question and receive the combined knowledge of your fellow Cheapskates to solve your problem!
Ask Your Question
10. This Week's Question
Meryll writes
My husband can't live without his diet cola drink. Is there any cheaper way to get it, are the soda makers cheaper? Does it taste OK?"
Do you have the answer?
If you have a suggestion or idea for Meryll 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
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!
http://www.cheapskates.com.au/members/join_form.cfm?item_id=2271
12. 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!
13. 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
14. 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 - A Simple MOO Shampoo from Your Kitchen, Butter Frozen Bread Better, Making Your Own Milk Alternatives even Cheaper!
3. Submit Your Tip - Enter your favourite tip for a chance to win
4. Living Green in 2014 - Is It Organic?
5. On the Menu with Anne - Corn Fritters
6. The $300 a Month Food Challenge with Wendy - Sauces
7. Cheapskates Buzz - Cheapskaters are talking in the Forum and on Cath's blog
8. Member's Featured Blog - Christmas 2014
9. Last Week's Question - Where to find free kindle books
10. This Week's Question - Is there a way to get cheaper soft drinks?
11. Join the Cheapskates Club
12. Gift Memberships
13. Frequently Asked Questions
14. Contact Details
1. Cath's Corner
Over the last couple of weeks I have been bumping into Cheapskaters wherever I go and I love it. I was helping Mum with her Christmas shopping and met Joan, who, after raising her own family, is now caring for her teenage niece and nephew. Then Hannah and I were in Aldi and bumped into June and stopped to chat for a few minutes. I knew June lived locally from her membership application, but I had never met her. I'm so glad she stopped me to say hello. It was nice to pass a few minutes talking about my favourite subject (saving money) in the middle of a busy day. I met Mai at the library and the lovely Sandra said hello to me at the Post Office.
I love meeting Cheapskaters, but of course while you might now what I look like from television segments, I don't know what you look like. If you pass me in the street or the bank or the library or the supermarket or the park or anywhere else please don't be shy; stop me and say hello, I can't wait to meet you in person.
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
A Simple MOO Shampoo from Your Kitchen
My husband and I have found a tablespoon of bicarbonate mixed with water in a plastic squeezable sauce bottle makes a great shampoo. Squeeze it into hair at the roots, massage in then rinse. Hair is soft and clean and no 'special nasty' chemicals. The same with conditioner but use a spray bottle and tablespoon of apple cider vinegar. Just make sure the bicarbonate is all rinsed out, spray on and again rinse. It doesn't bubble and foam but it works really well and costs almost nothing.
Contributed by Gail Foster
Butter Frozen Bread Better
To easily butter bread which is frozen, instead of waiting for it to defrost, and waiting for the butter to become more spreadable, just slice off a hard square of butter and drag it along the surface of the frozen bread slice = instant buttered bread totally covered in the spread once it's defrosted, with no gaps or large lumps and clumps at all. I make all my own bread, slice and freeze it in zip lock bags, since we live in the country far from local stores, plus I prefer to know what ingredients are in the bread before eating it. I often have to wait for it to defrost, and for the butter to soften (I don't like eating spreadable butters or margarines because of the bad oils used to make them) and after trying to spread hard butter on frozen bread, or even fresh bread, with a knife, I found it far easier to just grab a piece of butter and drag it over the frozen bread surface, kind of like grating in reverse!
Contributed by Larissa Taylor
Making Your Own Milk Alternatives even Cheaper!
I have recently started experimenting with making my own milk substitutes. After a couple of failed attempts straining the milk with a strainer and cheesecloth I realised I need a nut milk bag. My local health food store charges $17.95 for one bag, but the attendant told me to go to Bunnings and pick up paint strainer bags instead. I bought three bags with elasticised tops for only $6.95 and they work perfectly!
Contributed by Yanicka Gorski
There are more than 11,000 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. Living Green in 2014
Is It Organic?
When AJ was in his first year of school they had a special lunch to raise funds for a new playground. For $1 each child could have a hot dog for lunch. Being the loving mother that I am I sent along the $1 so my son wouldn't be the only child to miss out. Turns out I donated the dollar because AJ wouldn't eat his hot dog - it wasn't organic! He had his teacher and the school principal in a right tizz trying to convince him to eat his hot dog. How my 5 year old new the difference between organic and non-organic I have no idea and we still laugh about the non-organic hot dog episode today.
Australia has the largest number of organic farms in the world, making it easy for us to buy locally grown organic produce. Incorporating more and more organic food into our diet has become easier over the years. No longer is buying and eating organic food considered out there or alternative as looking for healthy food options at bargain prices has become the focus of more and more Australians and there are cheaper ways to get organic products.
Spot the rip-off – Look for the products marked “certified organic” in order to make sure you are getting what you pay for. Currently there are no laws or regulations in Australia concerning the work 'organic'. Only if the product is labelled 'certified organic' by a recognised certifier can you be sure that it is truly organic. Knowing the difference between certified organic and organic products will help you to get what you are paying for. Certified organic products are governed by certification bodies which carry out a number of inspections and tests to ensure that the products are free of pesticides, herbicides and GE free. The word "organic" is generic and therefore products with this label are not subject to any regulations or rulings. Buying "certified organic" is your guarantee that you are getting what you are paying for.
Organic sections – Just because a product is in the organic section of the fruit and vegetable area or in the health food aisle does not mean it is organic. Don't be misled, for example, by the “all natural yoghurt” in the organic section of the dairy cabinet—unless it’s marked 'certified organic' it probably is not.
Shop discount stores – You don't have to just shop at organic greengrocers or co-ops or at health food shops. Coles, Woolworths and Aldi all have an entire line of organics and those sections are expanding all the time. Ask at the service counter where the organic products are located because sometimes they are hard to find. And I can vouch for the Coles organic corn chips - they are the nicest corn chips I've ever eaten.
Buy generic – One of the really cool things about the interest in organics is the natural continuation of store brands. Look for these generic brands (which go on sale, too) and save even more.
Food co-ops – These are great sources of discounts on organic products.
The food mile – In the grocery industry there is a term known as the “food mile” which indicates how many miles food has to travel to end up in your local store. The shorter the food mile, the less expensive the product. Buy items with the shortest food mile. You’ll be saving money and helping the environment.
Buy in season – A given for most Cheapskates, the cheapest prices and shortest food mile will be achieved by buying produce in season. By eating (and freezing or preserving) your food in season you can always save money.
Compare online grocers – You might find lower prices for staples that you need by searching online at some of the best organic grocers. Go to the Australian Organic Food Directory and search for your nearest organic grocer, restaurant, co-op or wholesaler.
Go to the farm! – By going to an organic farmers market in your part of the world, you can save even more and buy the freshest organic produce possible. Look in your local paper or ask at your favourite health food shop to find your nearest organic farmers market.
Become an organic farmer! - If the cost of organic fruit and vegetables is too much for your budget become an organic farmer and grow your own. It's easy to grow a wide variety of fruits and vegetables in your own backyard or in pots on a balcony. Growing your own you control what goes into the soil and what goes onto the plants.
5. On the Menu with Anne
Corn Fritters
Corn fritters are a great snack, but they are also good for lunch or dinner too. I make these corn fritters often during spring and summer because they can be cooked on the barbecue and are a lovely light lunch with a tossed salad.
Ingredients:
2-1/2 cups corn kernels
3 large eggs
3/4 cup milk
3 tbsp butter, melted
3/4 cup plain flour
3/4 cup polenta
250g mozzarella cheese, grated
2 tbsp chopped fresh chives
1-1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Oil for frying
Method:
In a food processor, combine 1-3/4 cups corn kernels, the eggs, milk, and butter; process 3 to 4 times, or just until corn is coarsely chopped.
In a large bowl, stir together flour, cornmeal, mozzarella cheese, chives, sugar, salt, and cayenne pepper; stir in remaining corn kernels and the chopped corn mixture just until dry ingredients are moistened.
In a large, heavy based frying pan pour just enough oil to lightly cover the base. Over high heat, pour 1/8 cup batter per corn fritter into the frying pan. (Do not spread or flatten fritters.) Cook fritters in batches 3 to 4 minutes, or until edges begin to brown. Turn and cook on other side 2 to 3 more minutes, or until heated through. Serve immediately.
This week we will be eating:
Friday: Barbecued chops and salad
Saturday: Spaghetti
Sunday: Roast beef, baked vegetables, greens, gravy
Monday: Quiche and salad
Tuesday: Rissoles, potato bake, broccoli, carrots
Wednesday: Tuna Surprise, tossed salad
Thursday: Sausages, wedges, salad
In the fruit bowl: kiwi fruit, oranges, bananas
In the cake tin: Chocolate cake, jam and coconut slice
There are over 1,400 other great money saving meal ideas in the Recipe File
6. The $300 a Month Food Challenge with Wendy
Hi there fellow Cheapskaters. Last week I started a mini series of ways to cut your grocery budget without going hungry. We discussed the idea of only buying juice, soft drinks and bottled water for special occasions.
This week's topic is SAUCES.
Supermarkets dedicate half an aisle to an array of sauces, pickles, mayos and salad dressings. Each bottle costs at least $2 with some costing as much as $5 or more. So much money for so little sauce. Have a think about how many bottles of sauces and dressings you have in your fridge and pantry and ask yourself -
* Do I throw half used bottles out on a regular basis?
* Do I need so many bottles?
* How much are these bottles adding to my grocery budget?
* Could I make some dressings and pickles myself?
* Would anyone notice if I threw some out and never bought them again?
I have a friend who has a whole pantry shelf dedicated to sauces of every kind available (it seems like it). Her pantry shelf is at least a metre and a half long. I often wonder if she uses them within the use by or best before dates or if she remembers all the different types and their uses. Surely it would be hard to keep track of them all. Her fridge door is also full of sauces. Mmmmm.
I have the standard sauces in my fridge and I'm constantly trying to use them before their expiry date is up. This year I plan on reducing the amount of bottles I have without compromising on variety. I'm also planning on making salad dressing this year for the first time.
Here's the sauces I'd like to have in my fridge this all year round -
* Tomato sauce
* BBQ sauce
* Soy sauce
* Worcestershire sauce
* Mustard sauce
* Egg mayo
* Mint sauce - hoping to make my own as my mint plant has come back to life
* Dijon mustard
* Wholegrain mustard
This year I will not be buying salad dressings, pickle spread or cocktail onions (unless my husband asks for it).
My challenge for you this week is to do a stocktake of all the sauces and spreads you have. Can you throw some out? Can you make some yourself and save a small fortune on your grocery budget?
Have a great week and BE ENCOURAGED!!!!!
The $300 a Month Food Challenge
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2659-300-a-month-food-challenge-20-10-14&p=45646
The Post that Started it All
http://www.cheapskates.com.au/pages/default.cfm?page_id=44265
7. Cheapskates Buzz
This week's hot forum topics
My Retirement Garden
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2581-My-Retirement-Garden
Miracle spray, what it can and can’t be used on?
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2660-Miracle-spray-what-it-a-and-cant-be-used-on
Gratitude Journal
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2404-Gratitude-Journal
Most popular blog posts this week
The Frugal Habits of the World's Richest Man
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2011/04/frugal-habits-of-worlds-richest-man.html
Another MOO for the Kitchen - Onion Soup Mix
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2013/06/another-moo-for-kitchen-onion-soup-mix.html
You Decide.....
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2013/07/you-decide.html
8. 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 Barbw7.
Christmas 2014
Well, as of this week I can say I own my own Christmas. All of my gifts will be paid for out of money I have saved. I am very proud that I have managed to save so well and I have also already bought some gifts. I have cheapskates to thank for helping me save as I have been able to save a lot more since I joined. I am really looking forward to shopping for gifts and buying ingredients to make choc chip and macadamia biscuits as well as rocky road and peanut clusters. I will also make bracelets and necklaces. I am now really looking forward to Christmas instead of the dread I usually feel.
Login to read more Cheapskates Club member blogs
9. Last Week's Question
Last week's question was from Samantha who wrote "I have recently splurged and bought a Kindle reader. I was wanting to know if anyone knew of how to access books for free or cheaply? Thanks." We received dozens of answers to this question, far too many to include in the newsletter. You'll find all the answers in the Tip Store.
Cath answered
I love hundredzeros.com for free and cheap kindle books. The list is updated daily and it is easy to choose and download the ebooks.
Loris Manns answered
Amazon have listed the top 100 free ebooks as well as the top 100 free paid ebooks for Kindle. Go to www.amazon.com
Leonie Kraft answered
Hi Samantha, if you go to the Kindle store located in the menu section of your Kindle you need to put "free books" into the search section. It will bring up over 15,000 free books for you to choose from, and the list grows every day. I have had my Kindle for nearly 3 years and never paid for a book. I go into the store every 6 months or so and download more books. It is very easy to do.
Christine Hill answered
I subscribe to Pixel of Ink and get a daily email with some free books and some cheap books. The genres vary a lot, and some days I am not interested in any, but other days there can be several. This comes through Amazon, and you will need to open an Amazon account to access the books.
Jacqui Paulson answered
Hi Samantha, If you are a member of a library, most libraries now have access to e-books which can be downloaded and borrowed in the same manner as traditional books. You have a limited time to read the book just as you do if you borrow a paper book. If you have not read the book within the time, it needs to be renewed or re-borrowed. This is the best way I know of having a supply of free books that are up to date and current.
Sharon Benjamin answered
I haven't paid for a kindle book in years and I have 1722 ebooks on my kindle at the moment! My favourite sources for kindle ebooks, beside Amazon.com are:
dailyfreebooks.com- this site shows ebooks that are reduced to free for a limited time. There are usually around 500-1000 books listed per week. They are usually from less well known authors.
bookzz.org- ebooks for kindle and other reader apps. Lots of well-known authors here.
openlibrary.org- ebooks to download for free (usually older books) and ebooks to borrow for 21 days. Well known authors and out of print books here.
There are so many ways to find free ebooks if you are patient enough to surf the net as I have found a lot of popular books uploaded by school and university sites- just start searching and exploring. One further tip I would like to add is to narrow down the hits and find what you want is to add the file type of book you want to your search command. For example google in this manner: the silent sister diane chamberlain filetype:pdf or filetype:mobi Happy hunting!
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10. This Week's Question
Meryll writes
My husband can't live without his diet cola drink. Is there any cheaper way to get it, are the soda makers cheaper? Does it taste OK?"
Do you have the answer?
If you have a suggestion or idea for Meryll 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
11. Join the Cheapskates Club
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Joining the Cheapskates Club gives you 24/7 access to the Members Centre with 1000's of money saving tips and articles.
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12. 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!
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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.
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14. 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]