Your Cheapskates Club Newsletter 43:17
In this Newsletter
1. Cath's Corner
2. In the Tip Store - Keep Towels Looking Good and Lasting Longer; Sunscreen Moisturiser; Bread Machine Maintenance
3. Share Your Tips
4. On the Menu - Mexican Meatballs
5. The $300 a Month Food Challenge with Wendy - Making Room in The Freezer Update 2
6. Cheapskates Buzz - Cheapskaters are talking in the Forum and on Cath's blog
7. Member's Featured Blog - A Bumpy Start from Hobbiton
8. Last Week's Question - Helping elderly parents maintain their independence
9. This Week's Question - Can anyone tell me how to cook in an electric pressure cooker?
10. Ask Cath
11. Join the Cheapskates Club
12. Frequently Asked Questions
13. Contact Details
1. Cath's Corner
Hello Cheapskaters,
What a week! We held our first ever flash sale and boy was it fun! A very warm Cheapskates welcome to all our new members, we're so glad you've joined us on our journey to a debt free, cashed up life.
So much is happening. The hydrangeas are leafing up. The grass is growing. The apple tree is, or rather was, covered in blossom (until those northerlies came through and blew it all off), but enough of what's happening here.
What's happening at Cheapskates Central? Well, we're almost half-way through the Own Your Christmas countdown and from what I'm hearing, everyone is on target to be finished by 30th November and set to sit back and enjoy Christmas 2017, knowing it has been paid for. There are even a few die-hards who are planning on owning Christmas 2019 and two who are well on the way to owing Christmas 2020 (well done Jayne and Robbie).
Planning for 2018 is almost complete (yay!).
And as always things are buzzing along, on Facebook and in the Forum, so why not jump in and join the 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
Keep Towels Looking Good and Lasting Longer
I like to buy quality towels on special (and not very often - probably once every ten years) but even they can start looking a bit skanky when the selvages at the sides start to fray. The rest of the towels will still be good but there will be bits of threads hanging off at the sides. At the first sign of this, if you zigzag the edges on a sewing machine (does not need to be close zigzag) they will last much longer and keep looking good. A sewing machine is good for many mending/altering jobs and therefore money saving ideas. So many people throw them out in this disposable age, so there is a chance to pick one up free. I got my Bernina that way.
Contributed by Susan Czermak
Note: I do this too! It's a great way to extend the life of good towels. Once the towels are worn through, I also then cut them down to make bathmats. Once they're no good for bathmats I cut them down to make cleaning cloths for the laundry and bathrooms. Old towels, cut down, make the best cleaning cloths - they're absorbent, soft enough not to scratch surfaces but sturdy enough to scrub with. Don't discard old towels before they're completely used up. Cath
Sunscreen Moisturiser
Good sunscreen is expensive, so you want to make sure you use it all and don't waste it or your money. If you discover your sunscreen is out of date don't discard, but use as an after-sun moisturiser or as a moisturiser after showering.
Contributed by Victoria Nicholls
Bread Machine Maintenance
I bought this little bread maker for $5 at a charity shop - nice clean little unit. When working, my machine started to smell like dry metal surfaces rubbing together so I went online to check for maintenance tips as there was nothing noted in the manual. I found a hint that suggested you use 3-in-1 oil or Singer Sewing Machine Oil, and apply one (1) drop of oil to the external base spindle of the bread pan every 3 months, or more often depending on usage. It will prolong the life of your machine and let it run quieter. Check it out for yourself, as it had photos to guide you. I used an eye-dropper to apply the one drop. Go to: http://www.breadmachinedigest.com/tips/bread-machine-maintenance.php, for guidance photos. If you look at the underside of your bread pan, you’ll see the bread spindle shaft. This does require oil on a fairly regular basis. You don't add any oil to the interior of the bread pan or the internal spindle, only add a drop of 3-in-1 oil to the exterior shaft on the underside of the bread pand.... check the photos.
Contributed by Marcia Harris
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
Mexican Meatballs
When I found this recipe about 20 years ago I was thrilled! A whole meal I could cook in the microwave oven, in just 20 minutes. In those days I had three small children and a really, really tight grocery budget ($200 for the month, and that had to include the baby's medicine). My local Tupperware lady shared the recipe, I'm guessing in the hope that I'd buy the whizz bang microwave containers she was demonstrating. Unfortunately, even though they were lovely, and I was a tad envious, they were WAY out of my non-existent kitchen budget.
I thought and thought and came up with a way to use the microwave containers I had, and Mexican Meatballs have featured on our menu regularly ever since. Even "I don't like spicy food" Hannah loves them!
Mexican Meatballs
Ingredients:
500g mince
1 egg
1 packet taco seasoning mix (or 3 tablespoons MOO Taco Seasoning)
1 cup beef stock (stock cube with water)
1 tbsp tomato sauce
2 tsp cornflour
Method:
Mix beef stock, tomato sauce, cornflour and 1/2 packet taco seasoning in microwave jug and cook on high for 2 minutes
Mix mince with the egg and 1/2 packet taco seasoning.
Shape teaspoons full of mixture into balls. (Makes approximately 25)
Place into a 1.5L casserole dish that has been sprayed with cooking spray.
Pour sauce over meatballs.
Cook on HIGH for 20 minutes, until meatballs are cooked through and sauce has thickened.
Place pasta and water in the bottom stack add meatball stack on top and microwave for 18 minutes.
Serve with steamed rice or mash.
This week we will be eating:
Sunday: Roast Chicken
Monday: Mexican Meatballs
Tuesday: Refrigerator Lasagne
Wednesday: Tandoori chicken, salad, naan bread
Thursday: MOO Pizza
Friday: Hamburgers
Saturday: Muffin Surprise
In the cake tin: Fruit cakes, shortbread
There are over 1,500 other great money saving meal ideas in the Recipe File.
5. The $300 a Month Food Challenge with Wendy
Making Room in The Freezer Update 2
Welcome to the food challenge everyone.
Last week I gave you an update of how we are progressing with our freezers. The goal has been to eat out of the freezers as much as possible to make room for legs of lamb.
We've been successful in eating from the freezers. Darren and I have been eating those freezer meals (leftovers) that seem to pile up. Unfortunately, each time we see a little room, it seems to get filled up.
We were at church on Sunday and one of the fridges had its temperature dials changed resulting in frozen cheese and margarine. So, we had the blessing of bringing a few items home instead of them being thrown out. Instead of defrosting the food, we popped it straight into the freezer, so we can use it when we run out of fresh stuff.
So, the challenge begins all over again. Last night I wrote up a menu plan for the next two weeks with a focus on bulky food straight from the freezer. I'm determined to make room for a few legs of lamb.
How are you going with your own challenge?
Are you seeing little pockets of space?
Have a great week and BE ENCOURAGED!!!
The $300 a Month Food Challenge
The Post that Started it All
6. Cheapskates Buzz
Most popular forum posts this week
Plastic Free Tips
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?3608-Plastic-free-tips
Decluttering Tally Game 2017
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?3480-Decluttering-Tally-Game-2017
My Retirement Garden
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2581-My-Retirement-Garden
Most popular blog posts this week
Cake of the Month Club
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2011/12/cake-of-month-club.html
How to Decorate the Christmas Tree
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2011/12/how-to-decorate-christmas-tree.html
The Perfect Roast Potato
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2011/12/perfect-roast-potato.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 Sherry.
A Bumpy Start from Hobbiton
Okay so this little Hobbit is on her way (minus the hairy feet and pony). I've had quite a few successes this week and a couple of unfortunate failures.
First up was addressing my book fetish. Stocktake reveals I have over 100 books in the bookshelves to read and more that I want. So, I discovered something that I thought was a bit ingenious - get someone else to buy them for me! I went to my local library website and they have a recommendation section where you can ask the library to buy books they don't already have. So, I did the rounds of QBD, Kmart and Big W and took photos with my phone of all the books I would normally have bought in a single shopping trip. Then I put in Requests for Purchase at the library and guess what? They are buying them all and I'm first on the list to read them - yay! I always give my books away after I read them so now other library members can potentially enjoy them as well.
In the past week, I also made my own dishwasher tablets with only 3 ingredients and they work perfectly, so there's another long-term saving for us. Geez, if only I could make our own toilet paper (the price of which freaks me out, even though I already buy Homebrand), then I would really be making progress!
Then I hit a snag. I suffer from emotional shopping and often do it to relieve anxiety. I've had a terrible week with our very sick dog and found myself driving in circles around my suburb crying and unable to get myself back on an even keel. So, I resorted to pre-programmed behaviour and stopped at the newsagent and bought 3 magazines. There went $50 down the drain (National Geographic, a military magazine and a weekly gossip magazine). Least they were soft enough to be able to hit myself over the head with later…...
I guess at least I can say two steps forward and only one step back this week. Thanks for all your support everyone as I continue on!
Login to read more Cheapskates Club Member blogs
8. Last Week's Question
Last week's question was from Lyn who wrote
"My elderly folks live on a 46 acre rural property in WA. It's lovely but they have had it for sale for 9 years as NO ONE is buying. They took out a reverse mortgage when they first put it on the market, thinking they would sell the property shortly after BUT the mortgage it is eating away at their equity, as it costs a lot to maintain the property - especially on a pension. Mum recently became very sick and has been in hospital for 5 weeks. And Step-Dad, at 82, is trying to run the house, let alone the property by himself. They live 9km from the nearest town, 50 minutes from their doctor and the hospital. I need advice about where to go to find assistance for them. As they (and the bank) own their only asset - that they can't sell - they are limited with the assistance they can receive. I'm sure they're not alone. We live in the city; our house is small and we have a young family. We've offered for them to move in with us, but they would like to maintain some independence if they possibly can. Any suggestions would be gratefully appreciated. Thank you."
Jo Deller answered
What about Airbnb as a way to get some income out of the property?
Lara de Vries answered
Good on you for offering housing for your family. That was very kind. There are a few things to consider, though some less palatable than others.
1) People will always buy if your parents meet the market. They need to engage a national real estate agency such as LJ Hooker with a large database and look to seriously reduce their price. Expect to pay for the service and ask the agent for advice on price and low cost improvements. Get rid of any junk inside and out and declutter the house. You may want to help them tidy up the property as well (new carpet and paint, mow the lawns around the house). Your parents will need to seriously adjust their expectations if they want to sell regardless.
2) I suggest contacting Anglicare financial services for independent low cost/ free advice.
3) Your mother's hospital should have a social work team that can offer practical help and support. Your mother sounds like she may require full or part time care in the future and they can guide you and your father through the process.
4) Look at the need for guardianship for your mother/ father.
5) Sit down and talk honestly to your parents about their finances and see if there is anything else you can sell now e.g. unused vehicles.
6) Ask for assistance with Centrelink's Financial Information Service for free which will help guide you about what to do next.
Helen Smith answered
This is just maybe one solution to the problem and I know this is a long shot but what about contacting Selling Houses Australia or Better Homes and Gardens for help to sell, or organise a family working bee as unfortunately these days people want all up to date houses and a bit of a spruce might be needed. I for one, and most other cheapskates, wouldn't care as we all know cheap ways to decorate and make do but others lack the vision. It is also a good idea for a neutral party to point out any negatives and if it is in your power to rectify these, do it; you might think the property is perfect but when you are emotionally involved the rose coloured glasses tend to taint things a little. Also, maybe grill the real estate agent about what he or she is doing to actively sell, there are always buyers out there no matter what, I'd change estate agents as if it has been sitting on the market for a while interest can go stale and a new agent will come in with fresh energy and enthusiasm which in turn will reach buyers which could have overlooked the property. It takes a lot of work on all parties to sell a house these days and I feel for your parents. Good luck.
Denise Rol answered
If they have a spare room at their house get them to go to https://www.helpx.net/ and rent out the room in exchange for help around the property.
Elaine Fay answered
Contact Home and Community Care HAAC in your area. Also, Silver Chain. Another agency for helping the elderly is a Government Assistance, My Aged Care.
9. This Week's Question
Margaret writes
"I have just purchased an electric pressure cooker (Fast & Slow) and the recipe book that comes with it is not every day basic recipes. For example, I wanted to cook a piece of silverside in it, but was unsure of how long to cook it. Does anyone have any good easy recipes or know of a good recipe book?"
Do you have the answer?
If you can help Margaret, 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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13. Contact Details
The Cheapskates Club -
Showing you how to live life
debt free, cashed up and laughing!
PO Box 5077 Studfield Vic 3152
1. Cath's Corner
2. In the Tip Store - Keep Towels Looking Good and Lasting Longer; Sunscreen Moisturiser; Bread Machine Maintenance
3. Share Your Tips
4. On the Menu - Mexican Meatballs
5. The $300 a Month Food Challenge with Wendy - Making Room in The Freezer Update 2
6. Cheapskates Buzz - Cheapskaters are talking in the Forum and on Cath's blog
7. Member's Featured Blog - A Bumpy Start from Hobbiton
8. Last Week's Question - Helping elderly parents maintain their independence
9. This Week's Question - Can anyone tell me how to cook in an electric pressure cooker?
10. Ask Cath
11. Join the Cheapskates Club
12. Frequently Asked Questions
13. Contact Details
1. Cath's Corner
Hello Cheapskaters,
What a week! We held our first ever flash sale and boy was it fun! A very warm Cheapskates welcome to all our new members, we're so glad you've joined us on our journey to a debt free, cashed up life.
So much is happening. The hydrangeas are leafing up. The grass is growing. The apple tree is, or rather was, covered in blossom (until those northerlies came through and blew it all off), but enough of what's happening here.
What's happening at Cheapskates Central? Well, we're almost half-way through the Own Your Christmas countdown and from what I'm hearing, everyone is on target to be finished by 30th November and set to sit back and enjoy Christmas 2017, knowing it has been paid for. There are even a few die-hards who are planning on owning Christmas 2019 and two who are well on the way to owing Christmas 2020 (well done Jayne and Robbie).
Planning for 2018 is almost complete (yay!).
And as always things are buzzing along, on Facebook and in the Forum, so why not jump in and join the 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
Keep Towels Looking Good and Lasting Longer
I like to buy quality towels on special (and not very often - probably once every ten years) but even they can start looking a bit skanky when the selvages at the sides start to fray. The rest of the towels will still be good but there will be bits of threads hanging off at the sides. At the first sign of this, if you zigzag the edges on a sewing machine (does not need to be close zigzag) they will last much longer and keep looking good. A sewing machine is good for many mending/altering jobs and therefore money saving ideas. So many people throw them out in this disposable age, so there is a chance to pick one up free. I got my Bernina that way.
Contributed by Susan Czermak
Note: I do this too! It's a great way to extend the life of good towels. Once the towels are worn through, I also then cut them down to make bathmats. Once they're no good for bathmats I cut them down to make cleaning cloths for the laundry and bathrooms. Old towels, cut down, make the best cleaning cloths - they're absorbent, soft enough not to scratch surfaces but sturdy enough to scrub with. Don't discard old towels before they're completely used up. Cath
Sunscreen Moisturiser
Good sunscreen is expensive, so you want to make sure you use it all and don't waste it or your money. If you discover your sunscreen is out of date don't discard, but use as an after-sun moisturiser or as a moisturiser after showering.
Contributed by Victoria Nicholls
Bread Machine Maintenance
I bought this little bread maker for $5 at a charity shop - nice clean little unit. When working, my machine started to smell like dry metal surfaces rubbing together so I went online to check for maintenance tips as there was nothing noted in the manual. I found a hint that suggested you use 3-in-1 oil or Singer Sewing Machine Oil, and apply one (1) drop of oil to the external base spindle of the bread pan every 3 months, or more often depending on usage. It will prolong the life of your machine and let it run quieter. Check it out for yourself, as it had photos to guide you. I used an eye-dropper to apply the one drop. Go to: http://www.breadmachinedigest.com/tips/bread-machine-maintenance.php, for guidance photos. If you look at the underside of your bread pan, you’ll see the bread spindle shaft. This does require oil on a fairly regular basis. You don't add any oil to the interior of the bread pan or the internal spindle, only add a drop of 3-in-1 oil to the exterior shaft on the underside of the bread pand.... check the photos.
Contributed by Marcia Harris
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
Mexican Meatballs
When I found this recipe about 20 years ago I was thrilled! A whole meal I could cook in the microwave oven, in just 20 minutes. In those days I had three small children and a really, really tight grocery budget ($200 for the month, and that had to include the baby's medicine). My local Tupperware lady shared the recipe, I'm guessing in the hope that I'd buy the whizz bang microwave containers she was demonstrating. Unfortunately, even though they were lovely, and I was a tad envious, they were WAY out of my non-existent kitchen budget.
I thought and thought and came up with a way to use the microwave containers I had, and Mexican Meatballs have featured on our menu regularly ever since. Even "I don't like spicy food" Hannah loves them!
Mexican Meatballs
Ingredients:
500g mince
1 egg
1 packet taco seasoning mix (or 3 tablespoons MOO Taco Seasoning)
1 cup beef stock (stock cube with water)
1 tbsp tomato sauce
2 tsp cornflour
Method:
Mix beef stock, tomato sauce, cornflour and 1/2 packet taco seasoning in microwave jug and cook on high for 2 minutes
Mix mince with the egg and 1/2 packet taco seasoning.
Shape teaspoons full of mixture into balls. (Makes approximately 25)
Place into a 1.5L casserole dish that has been sprayed with cooking spray.
Pour sauce over meatballs.
Cook on HIGH for 20 minutes, until meatballs are cooked through and sauce has thickened.
Place pasta and water in the bottom stack add meatball stack on top and microwave for 18 minutes.
Serve with steamed rice or mash.
This week we will be eating:
Sunday: Roast Chicken
Monday: Mexican Meatballs
Tuesday: Refrigerator Lasagne
Wednesday: Tandoori chicken, salad, naan bread
Thursday: MOO Pizza
Friday: Hamburgers
Saturday: Muffin Surprise
In the cake tin: Fruit cakes, shortbread
There are over 1,500 other great money saving meal ideas in the Recipe File.
5. The $300 a Month Food Challenge with Wendy
Making Room in The Freezer Update 2
Welcome to the food challenge everyone.
Last week I gave you an update of how we are progressing with our freezers. The goal has been to eat out of the freezers as much as possible to make room for legs of lamb.
We've been successful in eating from the freezers. Darren and I have been eating those freezer meals (leftovers) that seem to pile up. Unfortunately, each time we see a little room, it seems to get filled up.
We were at church on Sunday and one of the fridges had its temperature dials changed resulting in frozen cheese and margarine. So, we had the blessing of bringing a few items home instead of them being thrown out. Instead of defrosting the food, we popped it straight into the freezer, so we can use it when we run out of fresh stuff.
So, the challenge begins all over again. Last night I wrote up a menu plan for the next two weeks with a focus on bulky food straight from the freezer. I'm determined to make room for a few legs of lamb.
How are you going with your own challenge?
Are you seeing little pockets of space?
Have a great week and BE ENCOURAGED!!!
The $300 a Month Food Challenge
The Post that Started it All
6. Cheapskates Buzz
Most popular forum posts this week
Plastic Free Tips
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?3608-Plastic-free-tips
Decluttering Tally Game 2017
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?3480-Decluttering-Tally-Game-2017
My Retirement Garden
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2581-My-Retirement-Garden
Most popular blog posts this week
Cake of the Month Club
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2011/12/cake-of-month-club.html
How to Decorate the Christmas Tree
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2011/12/how-to-decorate-christmas-tree.html
The Perfect Roast Potato
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2011/12/perfect-roast-potato.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 Sherry.
A Bumpy Start from Hobbiton
Okay so this little Hobbit is on her way (minus the hairy feet and pony). I've had quite a few successes this week and a couple of unfortunate failures.
First up was addressing my book fetish. Stocktake reveals I have over 100 books in the bookshelves to read and more that I want. So, I discovered something that I thought was a bit ingenious - get someone else to buy them for me! I went to my local library website and they have a recommendation section where you can ask the library to buy books they don't already have. So, I did the rounds of QBD, Kmart and Big W and took photos with my phone of all the books I would normally have bought in a single shopping trip. Then I put in Requests for Purchase at the library and guess what? They are buying them all and I'm first on the list to read them - yay! I always give my books away after I read them so now other library members can potentially enjoy them as well.
In the past week, I also made my own dishwasher tablets with only 3 ingredients and they work perfectly, so there's another long-term saving for us. Geez, if only I could make our own toilet paper (the price of which freaks me out, even though I already buy Homebrand), then I would really be making progress!
Then I hit a snag. I suffer from emotional shopping and often do it to relieve anxiety. I've had a terrible week with our very sick dog and found myself driving in circles around my suburb crying and unable to get myself back on an even keel. So, I resorted to pre-programmed behaviour and stopped at the newsagent and bought 3 magazines. There went $50 down the drain (National Geographic, a military magazine and a weekly gossip magazine). Least they were soft enough to be able to hit myself over the head with later…...
I guess at least I can say two steps forward and only one step back this week. Thanks for all your support everyone as I continue on!
Login to read more Cheapskates Club Member blogs
8. Last Week's Question
Last week's question was from Lyn who wrote
"My elderly folks live on a 46 acre rural property in WA. It's lovely but they have had it for sale for 9 years as NO ONE is buying. They took out a reverse mortgage when they first put it on the market, thinking they would sell the property shortly after BUT the mortgage it is eating away at their equity, as it costs a lot to maintain the property - especially on a pension. Mum recently became very sick and has been in hospital for 5 weeks. And Step-Dad, at 82, is trying to run the house, let alone the property by himself. They live 9km from the nearest town, 50 minutes from their doctor and the hospital. I need advice about where to go to find assistance for them. As they (and the bank) own their only asset - that they can't sell - they are limited with the assistance they can receive. I'm sure they're not alone. We live in the city; our house is small and we have a young family. We've offered for them to move in with us, but they would like to maintain some independence if they possibly can. Any suggestions would be gratefully appreciated. Thank you."
Jo Deller answered
What about Airbnb as a way to get some income out of the property?
Lara de Vries answered
Good on you for offering housing for your family. That was very kind. There are a few things to consider, though some less palatable than others.
1) People will always buy if your parents meet the market. They need to engage a national real estate agency such as LJ Hooker with a large database and look to seriously reduce their price. Expect to pay for the service and ask the agent for advice on price and low cost improvements. Get rid of any junk inside and out and declutter the house. You may want to help them tidy up the property as well (new carpet and paint, mow the lawns around the house). Your parents will need to seriously adjust their expectations if they want to sell regardless.
2) I suggest contacting Anglicare financial services for independent low cost/ free advice.
3) Your mother's hospital should have a social work team that can offer practical help and support. Your mother sounds like she may require full or part time care in the future and they can guide you and your father through the process.
4) Look at the need for guardianship for your mother/ father.
5) Sit down and talk honestly to your parents about their finances and see if there is anything else you can sell now e.g. unused vehicles.
6) Ask for assistance with Centrelink's Financial Information Service for free which will help guide you about what to do next.
Helen Smith answered
This is just maybe one solution to the problem and I know this is a long shot but what about contacting Selling Houses Australia or Better Homes and Gardens for help to sell, or organise a family working bee as unfortunately these days people want all up to date houses and a bit of a spruce might be needed. I for one, and most other cheapskates, wouldn't care as we all know cheap ways to decorate and make do but others lack the vision. It is also a good idea for a neutral party to point out any negatives and if it is in your power to rectify these, do it; you might think the property is perfect but when you are emotionally involved the rose coloured glasses tend to taint things a little. Also, maybe grill the real estate agent about what he or she is doing to actively sell, there are always buyers out there no matter what, I'd change estate agents as if it has been sitting on the market for a while interest can go stale and a new agent will come in with fresh energy and enthusiasm which in turn will reach buyers which could have overlooked the property. It takes a lot of work on all parties to sell a house these days and I feel for your parents. Good luck.
Denise Rol answered
If they have a spare room at their house get them to go to https://www.helpx.net/ and rent out the room in exchange for help around the property.
Elaine Fay answered
Contact Home and Community Care HAAC in your area. Also, Silver Chain. Another agency for helping the elderly is a Government Assistance, My Aged Care.
9. This Week's Question
Margaret writes
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