Your Cheapskates CLub Newsletter 48:21
In This Newsletter
1. Cath's Corner
2. From the Tip Store - Salsa Substitute; Papadams Instead of Savoury Biscuits; Stretch the Meat on Skewers for More Barbecue Deliciousness
3. Tip of the Week - Sell Unwanted Gift Cards
4. Share Your Tips
5. On the Menu - White Chocolate Lemon Shortbread
6. The $300 a Month Food Challenge - Easy Meals for the Busiest Time of the Year
7. Cheapskates Buzz - Cheapskaters are talking in the Forum and on Cath's blog
8. The Cheapskates Club Show
9. The Weekly MOO Challenge - Plum Pudding Anyone?
10. 2021 Saving Revolution - Holiday Travel
11. Ask A Question - Have a question? Ask it here
12. Join the Cheapskates Club
13. Frequently Asked Questions
14. Contact Details
1. Cath's Corner
Hello Cheapskaters,
I writing this with a wonky eye. I know, you're shaking your head and wondering how I navigate a single day without some kind of klutzy event. Well Tuesday afternoon I went to bring in some washing and was waylaid (as I am often) by the lure of the tomato plants which led me to check on the progress of the zucchini plants. Well there were a few weeds poking through, so as I do, I flicked my fingers over them to loosen them and pull them out.
Now I've done this a gazillion times before and never had a problem. Tuesday I flicked the weeds and they obviously weren't as deep as I thought and one flipped up into the air, with a lovely big clump of compost on the roots, and as it came down it showered me with said compost.
No problem, except that I looked up to see where that pesky weed landed and the dirt and compost landed on my face, with a nice sized lump landing in my right eye. I say nice sized because I could see it in the mirror without my glasses.
Out came the eyebath and the saline (thank goodness for a stocked first aid pantry) but some of the stuff just wouldn't budge. Buy then it was starting to sting and even burn a little. Long story short (it's a miracle I know!), no scratches but a lot of irritation. It's getting better, not nearly as red and puffy as it was.
Well that was my drama for the week - hopefully for the rest of the year. I hope your week was full of good things, no dramas.
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
Salsa Substitute
Approximate $ Savings $200
I love salsa and instead of buying expensive prepacked varieties which can cost up to $5 per carton I used a can of flavoured tomatoes. You can get many different varieties in flavours (Mexican is of course my favourite) but you can mix them and match them to the meal you are serving too. I probably eat at least 2 cans of tomatoes a week just for salsa and it saves me over $200 per year (and is much healthier than buying creamy dips too).
Contributed by Danielle, Ellerslie
Papadams Instead of Savoury Biscuits
I'm keeping a file on Christmas food, which is the time of year that we do most of our feeding the hoards. As I was sorting through what went on over Christmas, what worked best, what not to bother with again....the simplest things are the best and they were a big hit. Light on the wallet, light on the waist, light on cupboard space with no waste. Being frugal means to me waste is not acceptable. I no longer have the 1/4 filled packet of biscuits needing to be used after the family has left. One packet of small spicy papadams, cut the uncooked papadams in half or even quarters, paint with oil and microwave for approximately 40 seconds or as per the directions and there it is. The spicy flavour allows for simpler, cheaper to make toppings, a little dip on top with a parsley leaf and you're done. Don't cook to many at once, as they will take on the moisture of the topping. These are no waste as you can do as and when needed. Well worth keeping on file.
Contributed by Carol, Mudgegonga
Stretch the Meat on Skewers for More Barbecue Deliciousness
When making skewers to barbecue, in addition to adding vegetables such as onion, capsicum, mushroom etc. add a cube of bread either side of your meat. The juices from the meat soak into the bread and it will taste amazing, and is a cheap way to bulk out your skewer when the meat can be quite pricey. Bread works even better when the meat has been marinated, as it will take the flavour of the marinade also.
We use wholemeal bread, but you can use whatever you have on hand - white, wholemeal, seeded or even garlic bread. Sandwich or toast sliced is fine. Simple trim the crust off and cut into squares or cubes that are roughly the same diameter as the meat pieces.
Contributed by Simone Dejun
Add a Tip
3. This Week's Winning Tip
This week's winning tip is from Adele, who has won a one year Platinum Cheapskates Club membership for submitting her winning tip.
Sell Unwanted Gift Cards
I know it sounds terrible, but selling unwanted gift cards puts cash in your pocket, and I can do more with cash than with a gift card to a store that won't have anything I need or use. I let friends and colleagues know I have a gift card I won't be using, and that it is for sale. Depending on the value of the card I offer it for either 5% or 10% off the face value. So far this year I've been able to sell seven gift cards that were unwanted for Christmas and my birthday and put $385 in cash in my purse, which was then used to buy things I wanted, on sale, from the stores I frequent. KI ahvent ventured to online selling, but if I end up with more this coming year, that is my next market. You can also buy gift cards at discounts too, from people like me who don't need the card and would prefer the cash. Just be sure to check the expiry date on the card, and that the value is what is advertised (some cards are partially used).
Congratulations, we hope you enjoy your Cheapskates Club membership.
The Cheapskate's Club website is thousands of pages of money saving hints, tips and ideas. There are over 12,000 tips to save you money, time and energy; 1,800 budget and family friendly recipes, hundreds of printable tip sheets and ebooks.
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.
4. Share Your Tips
Share your favourite hint or tip that saves money, time and energy and be in the running to win a one-year subscription to The Cheapskate Journal.
Remember, you have to be in it to win it!
Share Your Tip
5. On The Menu
White Chocolate Lemon Shortbread
This shortbread is so good. The hint of lemon gives them a fresh zing, and the creamy white chocolate is a nice finish to a buttery biscuit, making them delicious to eat and a lovely gift.
Ingredients:
3 cups plain flour
1 cup plus 2 tbsp sugar, divided
2 tbsp grated lemon zest
375g butter, softened, cut up
1 tbsp lemon juice
2 tsp Vanilla Extract
90g white chocolate
Method:
Heat oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Line two lamington trays with baking paper. Whisk flour, 1 cup of the sugar and lemon zest in large bowl.
With pastry blender, butter knife or the tines of a fork, cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs. Stir in lemon juice and vanilla. Divide dough in half, and press dough into prepared pans; sprinkle the top of each pan with 1 tablespoon sugar. Mark into fingers with a butter knife.
Bake 20 - 25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on wire rack.
Meanwhile, place chocolate in microwave-safe bowl. Microwave until melted, stirring every 30 seconds until is melted and smooth. Drizzle over bars.
Next week we will be eating:
Sunday: Roast Chicken
Monday: BBQ, salad
Tuesday: Lasagne
Wednesday: Slow cooker curried chicken
Thursday: MOO Pizza
Friday: Meat fritters, salad
Saturday: Toasted Sandwiches
There are over 1,800 budget and family friendly recipes in the Cheapskates Club Recipe File, all contributed by your fellow Cheapskates, so you know they're good.
Add A Recipe
Recipe File Index
6. The $300 A Month Food ChallengeEasy Meals for the Busiest Time of the YearThis time of year it's not only hot, but busy! And this year is no different; in fact from what I've been seeing, shops and calendars are even busier than usual coming off long lockdowns and restrictions. Our home is no different. We seem to be in and out until well into January with different events and appointments and of course holidays.
I know that when I get too busy, feeding the troops is the last thing I feel like doing, and that temptation to get something pre-prepared or pick up take-away is strong. So having some easy meals on the menu, especially if they can be frozen ahead of time, really saves a fortune by taking that temptation away, and saving our budget.
When hamburgers and chips for four can be up to $30 delivered, depending on which chip shop we order from, or Indian take-away can be $32, having a few meals in the freezer really does save a LOT of money!
This is where double-up cooking really shines. As you're cooking over the next couple of weeks, try doubling what you're making, and freezing the extra meal. If you don't end up using it before Christmas, it is there to make the summer holidays easier. After all, even the cook deserves a break over summer.
Some of the meals I've frozen this week have been a quadruple batch of pag bol sauce and a double potato bake. I've added some marked down hamburger buns and made burgers to go with them, and froze them together. These can be cooked on the barbecue and will most likely be cheeseburgers with some of my caramelised onion as a garnish.
Some other meals that freeze well are:
Quiche (or cheat and make Impossible Quiche)
Curry chicken
Honey soy chicken
Curried beef
Lasagne
Tortellini
Ravioli
Hamburgers/rissoles
Cream cheese patties
Fish cakes
Meatloaf (great hot or cold)
Sausage rolls
Pizza
Another thing that stops the take-away temptation is prepping veggies and salads ahead. On a Sunday I check the forecast for the week and if it is going to be hot I prep salads - coleslaw, potato salad, green salad and a pasta salad. I leave the coleslaw dry, adding dressing just before serving, and the same for the green salad. Potato and pasta salads are fine with the dressings for a few days. I boil up eggs and keep them in the fridge. Slice capsicum, carrot and celery and put them into a Fresh'n'Crisp bag. I keep the coleslaw in a Fresh'n'Crisp bag too. Two tins of pineapple are opened and put into a container in the fridge to chill too. It takes about half an hour of actual work time to get the week's salads prepped.
Then all we need to do is choose a dish from the freezer or thaw meat to barbecue and dinner is done. The salads all keep for at least four days like this. Saves so much time and money and we eat nice, fresh veggies with our dinner.
Even if you only have a couple of meals in the freezer and a side or two in the fridge, when getting dinner on the table feels like an effort, it will be quick and easy and best of all won't hurt your budget when you pull something delicious out. And often, thawing and heating takes less time than getting something delivered!
The $300 a Month Food Challenge Forum
The Post that Started it All
7. Cheapskates Buzz
From The Article Archive
Teacher Appreciation Gifts Cheapskates Style
Top 12 Crafty Things to Buy at the Op Shop
The Treasure Hunt
This Week's Hot Forum Topics
Shrewd Shopping - Week 50
Decorating Terracotta Flowerpots
Presents for the Elderly - Any Suggestions?
8. The Cheapskates Club Show
Join us live on YouTube every Tuesday and see how we are living debt free, cashed up and laughing - and find out how you can too!
Show Schedule
Tuesday: Around the Kitchen Table - join Cath and Hannah for a cuppa and a chat around the kitchen table as they talk about living the Cheapskates way.
Thursday: Cheapskates in the Kitchen - want to know how to cook delicious, healthy and cheap meals? Watch Cath and Hannah as they create cheapskates style cuisine and share their favourite recipes.
Latest Shows
1. Cath's Corner
2. From the Tip Store - Salsa Substitute; Papadams Instead of Savoury Biscuits; Stretch the Meat on Skewers for More Barbecue Deliciousness
3. Tip of the Week - Sell Unwanted Gift Cards
4. Share Your Tips
5. On the Menu - White Chocolate Lemon Shortbread
6. The $300 a Month Food Challenge - Easy Meals for the Busiest Time of the Year
7. Cheapskates Buzz - Cheapskaters are talking in the Forum and on Cath's blog
8. The Cheapskates Club Show
9. The Weekly MOO Challenge - Plum Pudding Anyone?
10. 2021 Saving Revolution - Holiday Travel
11. Ask A Question - Have a question? Ask it here
12. Join the Cheapskates Club
13. Frequently Asked Questions
14. Contact Details
1. Cath's Corner
Hello Cheapskaters,
I writing this with a wonky eye. I know, you're shaking your head and wondering how I navigate a single day without some kind of klutzy event. Well Tuesday afternoon I went to bring in some washing and was waylaid (as I am often) by the lure of the tomato plants which led me to check on the progress of the zucchini plants. Well there were a few weeds poking through, so as I do, I flicked my fingers over them to loosen them and pull them out.
Now I've done this a gazillion times before and never had a problem. Tuesday I flicked the weeds and they obviously weren't as deep as I thought and one flipped up into the air, with a lovely big clump of compost on the roots, and as it came down it showered me with said compost.
No problem, except that I looked up to see where that pesky weed landed and the dirt and compost landed on my face, with a nice sized lump landing in my right eye. I say nice sized because I could see it in the mirror without my glasses.
Out came the eyebath and the saline (thank goodness for a stocked first aid pantry) but some of the stuff just wouldn't budge. Buy then it was starting to sting and even burn a little. Long story short (it's a miracle I know!), no scratches but a lot of irritation. It's getting better, not nearly as red and puffy as it was.
Well that was my drama for the week - hopefully for the rest of the year. I hope your week was full of good things, no dramas.
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
Salsa Substitute
Approximate $ Savings $200
I love salsa and instead of buying expensive prepacked varieties which can cost up to $5 per carton I used a can of flavoured tomatoes. You can get many different varieties in flavours (Mexican is of course my favourite) but you can mix them and match them to the meal you are serving too. I probably eat at least 2 cans of tomatoes a week just for salsa and it saves me over $200 per year (and is much healthier than buying creamy dips too).
Contributed by Danielle, Ellerslie
Papadams Instead of Savoury Biscuits
I'm keeping a file on Christmas food, which is the time of year that we do most of our feeding the hoards. As I was sorting through what went on over Christmas, what worked best, what not to bother with again....the simplest things are the best and they were a big hit. Light on the wallet, light on the waist, light on cupboard space with no waste. Being frugal means to me waste is not acceptable. I no longer have the 1/4 filled packet of biscuits needing to be used after the family has left. One packet of small spicy papadams, cut the uncooked papadams in half or even quarters, paint with oil and microwave for approximately 40 seconds or as per the directions and there it is. The spicy flavour allows for simpler, cheaper to make toppings, a little dip on top with a parsley leaf and you're done. Don't cook to many at once, as they will take on the moisture of the topping. These are no waste as you can do as and when needed. Well worth keeping on file.
Contributed by Carol, Mudgegonga
Stretch the Meat on Skewers for More Barbecue Deliciousness
When making skewers to barbecue, in addition to adding vegetables such as onion, capsicum, mushroom etc. add a cube of bread either side of your meat. The juices from the meat soak into the bread and it will taste amazing, and is a cheap way to bulk out your skewer when the meat can be quite pricey. Bread works even better when the meat has been marinated, as it will take the flavour of the marinade also.
We use wholemeal bread, but you can use whatever you have on hand - white, wholemeal, seeded or even garlic bread. Sandwich or toast sliced is fine. Simple trim the crust off and cut into squares or cubes that are roughly the same diameter as the meat pieces.
Contributed by Simone Dejun
Add a Tip
3. This Week's Winning Tip
This week's winning tip is from Adele, who has won a one year Platinum Cheapskates Club membership for submitting her winning tip.
Sell Unwanted Gift Cards
I know it sounds terrible, but selling unwanted gift cards puts cash in your pocket, and I can do more with cash than with a gift card to a store that won't have anything I need or use. I let friends and colleagues know I have a gift card I won't be using, and that it is for sale. Depending on the value of the card I offer it for either 5% or 10% off the face value. So far this year I've been able to sell seven gift cards that were unwanted for Christmas and my birthday and put $385 in cash in my purse, which was then used to buy things I wanted, on sale, from the stores I frequent. KI ahvent ventured to online selling, but if I end up with more this coming year, that is my next market. You can also buy gift cards at discounts too, from people like me who don't need the card and would prefer the cash. Just be sure to check the expiry date on the card, and that the value is what is advertised (some cards are partially used).
Congratulations, we hope you enjoy your Cheapskates Club membership.
The Cheapskate's Club website is thousands of pages of money saving hints, tips and ideas. There are over 12,000 tips to save you money, time and energy; 1,800 budget and family friendly recipes, hundreds of printable tip sheets and ebooks.
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.
4. Share Your Tips
Share your favourite hint or tip that saves money, time and energy and be in the running to win a one-year subscription to The Cheapskate Journal.
Remember, you have to be in it to win it!
Share Your Tip
5. On The Menu
White Chocolate Lemon Shortbread
This shortbread is so good. The hint of lemon gives them a fresh zing, and the creamy white chocolate is a nice finish to a buttery biscuit, making them delicious to eat and a lovely gift.
Ingredients:
3 cups plain flour
1 cup plus 2 tbsp sugar, divided
2 tbsp grated lemon zest
375g butter, softened, cut up
1 tbsp lemon juice
2 tsp Vanilla Extract
90g white chocolate
Method:
Heat oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Line two lamington trays with baking paper. Whisk flour, 1 cup of the sugar and lemon zest in large bowl.
With pastry blender, butter knife or the tines of a fork, cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs. Stir in lemon juice and vanilla. Divide dough in half, and press dough into prepared pans; sprinkle the top of each pan with 1 tablespoon sugar. Mark into fingers with a butter knife.
Bake 20 - 25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on wire rack.
Meanwhile, place chocolate in microwave-safe bowl. Microwave until melted, stirring every 30 seconds until is melted and smooth. Drizzle over bars.
Next week we will be eating:
Sunday: Roast Chicken
Monday: BBQ, salad
Tuesday: Lasagne
Wednesday: Slow cooker curried chicken
Thursday: MOO Pizza
Friday: Meat fritters, salad
Saturday: Toasted Sandwiches
There are over 1,800 budget and family friendly recipes in the Cheapskates Club Recipe File, all contributed by your fellow Cheapskates, so you know they're good.
Add A Recipe
Recipe File Index
6. The $300 A Month Food ChallengeEasy Meals for the Busiest Time of the YearThis time of year it's not only hot, but busy! And this year is no different; in fact from what I've been seeing, shops and calendars are even busier than usual coming off long lockdowns and restrictions. Our home is no different. We seem to be in and out until well into January with different events and appointments and of course holidays.
I know that when I get too busy, feeding the troops is the last thing I feel like doing, and that temptation to get something pre-prepared or pick up take-away is strong. So having some easy meals on the menu, especially if they can be frozen ahead of time, really saves a fortune by taking that temptation away, and saving our budget.
When hamburgers and chips for four can be up to $30 delivered, depending on which chip shop we order from, or Indian take-away can be $32, having a few meals in the freezer really does save a LOT of money!
This is where double-up cooking really shines. As you're cooking over the next couple of weeks, try doubling what you're making, and freezing the extra meal. If you don't end up using it before Christmas, it is there to make the summer holidays easier. After all, even the cook deserves a break over summer.
Some of the meals I've frozen this week have been a quadruple batch of pag bol sauce and a double potato bake. I've added some marked down hamburger buns and made burgers to go with them, and froze them together. These can be cooked on the barbecue and will most likely be cheeseburgers with some of my caramelised onion as a garnish.
Some other meals that freeze well are:
Quiche (or cheat and make Impossible Quiche)
Curry chicken
Honey soy chicken
Curried beef
Lasagne
Tortellini
Ravioli
Hamburgers/rissoles
Cream cheese patties
Fish cakes
Meatloaf (great hot or cold)
Sausage rolls
Pizza
Another thing that stops the take-away temptation is prepping veggies and salads ahead. On a Sunday I check the forecast for the week and if it is going to be hot I prep salads - coleslaw, potato salad, green salad and a pasta salad. I leave the coleslaw dry, adding dressing just before serving, and the same for the green salad. Potato and pasta salads are fine with the dressings for a few days. I boil up eggs and keep them in the fridge. Slice capsicum, carrot and celery and put them into a Fresh'n'Crisp bag. I keep the coleslaw in a Fresh'n'Crisp bag too. Two tins of pineapple are opened and put into a container in the fridge to chill too. It takes about half an hour of actual work time to get the week's salads prepped.
Then all we need to do is choose a dish from the freezer or thaw meat to barbecue and dinner is done. The salads all keep for at least four days like this. Saves so much time and money and we eat nice, fresh veggies with our dinner.
Even if you only have a couple of meals in the freezer and a side or two in the fridge, when getting dinner on the table feels like an effort, it will be quick and easy and best of all won't hurt your budget when you pull something delicious out. And often, thawing and heating takes less time than getting something delivered!
The $300 a Month Food Challenge Forum
The Post that Started it All
7. Cheapskates Buzz
From The Article Archive
Teacher Appreciation Gifts Cheapskates Style
Top 12 Crafty Things to Buy at the Op Shop
The Treasure Hunt
This Week's Hot Forum Topics
Shrewd Shopping - Week 50
Decorating Terracotta Flowerpots
Presents for the Elderly - Any Suggestions?
8. The Cheapskates Club Show
Join us live on YouTube every Tuesday and see how we are living debt free, cashed up and laughing - and find out how you can too!
Show Schedule
Tuesday: Around the Kitchen Table - join Cath and Hannah for a cuppa and a chat around the kitchen table as they talk about living the Cheapskates way.
Thursday: Cheapskates in the Kitchen - want to know how to cook delicious, healthy and cheap meals? Watch Cath and Hannah as they create cheapskates style cuisine and share their favourite recipes.
Latest Shows
9. The Weekly MOO Challenge
Plum Pudding Anyone?
We love plum pudding, or Christmas pudding as it is more commonly known in Australia these days. I usually make Mum's recipe, in October, so it has time to mature. But this recipe is good too, and if you've never made a Christmas pudding before, it's simple, and almost foolproof.
This recipe comes from the Member Forum and was posted by Pamela. Since then it's had nothing but praise for everyone who's tried it, including me. Best of all it's done in the slowcooker - how easy can a plum pud get?
Simple Slow Cooker Plum Pudding
This recipe is simple and cheap to make, just the thing for the cold winter nights for dessert
Ingredients:
60g butter
1 tbsp brown sugar
1 cup mixed fruits (I usually use just sultanas - troops aversion to peel)
1/2 cup chopped dates
2 tsp grated lemon rind (I usually leave that out)
1 tsp bi-carb soda
1 cup boiling water
1 tsp mixed spice
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup SR flour
Method:
Grease pudding basin (I use a casserole that fits inside my big slow cooker).
Put butter, sugar, dates, mixed fruits, lemon rind and bi-carb in a mixing bowl and pour in boiling water. Stir well and allow to cool slightly.
Sift in flour, spice and salt and stir lightly until blended (I don't bother to sift the flour - works fine without).
Pour into prepared basin and cover with double layer of greaseproof and tie with string (I use the casserole lid).
Place 1 cup boiling water in crockpot.
Place pudding in crockpot, cover and cook on HIGH for 2 1/2 - 3 hours (my slow cooker is a slow, slow cooker). Check every hour and if necessary add more boiling water to the crock.
Remove pudding from crock pot and allow to stand for 5 mins before turning out of basin ( I just leave mine in the casserole dish and serve from there). Serve with custard or cream or ice-cream or all of them!
This is lovely, not too heavy like a Christmas Plum Pudding - the name is deceptive. I have even eaten it like cake when cold, sliced and spread with butter with a cuppa.
I buy the fruit from Aldi, they have mixed dried fruit and sultanas, as well as dates. Don't be tempted to leave the dates out, they make the pudding really delicious and moist.
There's no alcohol in this recipe, so if you want to make it ahead and keep it, add 2 tablespoons brandy or whisky to the fruit, and then after the pudding is cooked, drizzle the top with another tablespoon of brandy and store in the fridge to keep it.
Get in on the fun and discussions here.
10. 2021 Saving Revolution
Lesson 49: Holiday Travel
We're not making plans to travel over the coming Christmas/New Year and summer holidays. Well we are, but we are being very flexible with the where, when and how. This year travel is even more up in the air, but the planning rules still apply, especially the budget part.
And that's what is covered in tomorrow's lesson - enjoying holiday travel without blowing the budget, even in these crazy times.
Look for it in your inbox tomorrow - it should pop up around 11am.
Log into the 2021 Saving Revolution forum and join the discussions too. They're fun, keep you accountable, and over the course of the year will be an amazing source of valuable hints and tips for you too.
11. Ask A Question
We have lots of resources to help you as you live the Cheapskates way but if you didn't find the answer to your question in our extensive archives please just drop me a note with your question.
I read and answer all questions, either in an email to you, in my weekly newsletter, the monthly Journal or by creating blog posts and other resources to help you (and other Cheapskaters).
Ask Your Question
12. Join The Cheapskates Club
For just $25 a year, you can join the Cheapskates Club and get exclusive access to the Cheapskate Journal, the monthly e-journal that shows you how to cut the costs of everyday living and still have fun.
Joining the Cheapskates Club gives you 24/7 access to the Members Centre with 1000's of money saving tips and articles.
Click here to join the Cheapskates Club today!
13. Frequently Asked Questions
How do I change my email address?
This one is easy. When you login to the Member's Centre just click on your name at the top of the page to go straight to your profile page where you can update your details, change your password and find your subscription details.
Not a Cheapskates Club member? Then please use the Changing Details form found here to update your email address.
How do I know when my membership should be renewed?
Memberships are active for one year from the date of joining. You can also find your membership expiry date on your profile page.
When you login to the Member's Centre just click on your name to go straight to your profile page where you can will find your join date and your expiry date.
What will you do with my email address?
We never rent, trade or sell our email list to anyone for any reason whatsoever. You'll never get an unsolicited email from a stranger as a result of joining this list.
How did I get on this list?
The only way you can get onto our newsletter mailing list is to subscribe yourself. You signed up to receive our Free Newsletter at our Cheapskates Club Web site or are a Platinum Cheapskates Club member.
14. Contact Cheapskates
The Cheapskates Club -
Showing you how to live life
debt free, cashed up and laughing!
PO Box 5077 Studfield Vic 3152
Contact Cheapskates
Plum Pudding Anyone?
We love plum pudding, or Christmas pudding as it is more commonly known in Australia these days. I usually make Mum's recipe, in October, so it has time to mature. But this recipe is good too, and if you've never made a Christmas pudding before, it's simple, and almost foolproof.
This recipe comes from the Member Forum and was posted by Pamela. Since then it's had nothing but praise for everyone who's tried it, including me. Best of all it's done in the slowcooker - how easy can a plum pud get?
Simple Slow Cooker Plum Pudding
This recipe is simple and cheap to make, just the thing for the cold winter nights for dessert
Ingredients:
60g butter
1 tbsp brown sugar
1 cup mixed fruits (I usually use just sultanas - troops aversion to peel)
1/2 cup chopped dates
2 tsp grated lemon rind (I usually leave that out)
1 tsp bi-carb soda
1 cup boiling water
1 tsp mixed spice
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup SR flour
Method:
Grease pudding basin (I use a casserole that fits inside my big slow cooker).
Put butter, sugar, dates, mixed fruits, lemon rind and bi-carb in a mixing bowl and pour in boiling water. Stir well and allow to cool slightly.
Sift in flour, spice and salt and stir lightly until blended (I don't bother to sift the flour - works fine without).
Pour into prepared basin and cover with double layer of greaseproof and tie with string (I use the casserole lid).
Place 1 cup boiling water in crockpot.
Place pudding in crockpot, cover and cook on HIGH for 2 1/2 - 3 hours (my slow cooker is a slow, slow cooker). Check every hour and if necessary add more boiling water to the crock.
Remove pudding from crock pot and allow to stand for 5 mins before turning out of basin ( I just leave mine in the casserole dish and serve from there). Serve with custard or cream or ice-cream or all of them!
This is lovely, not too heavy like a Christmas Plum Pudding - the name is deceptive. I have even eaten it like cake when cold, sliced and spread with butter with a cuppa.
I buy the fruit from Aldi, they have mixed dried fruit and sultanas, as well as dates. Don't be tempted to leave the dates out, they make the pudding really delicious and moist.
There's no alcohol in this recipe, so if you want to make it ahead and keep it, add 2 tablespoons brandy or whisky to the fruit, and then after the pudding is cooked, drizzle the top with another tablespoon of brandy and store in the fridge to keep it.
Get in on the fun and discussions here.
10. 2021 Saving Revolution
Lesson 49: Holiday Travel
We're not making plans to travel over the coming Christmas/New Year and summer holidays. Well we are, but we are being very flexible with the where, when and how. This year travel is even more up in the air, but the planning rules still apply, especially the budget part.
And that's what is covered in tomorrow's lesson - enjoying holiday travel without blowing the budget, even in these crazy times.
Look for it in your inbox tomorrow - it should pop up around 11am.
Log into the 2021 Saving Revolution forum and join the discussions too. They're fun, keep you accountable, and over the course of the year will be an amazing source of valuable hints and tips for you too.
11. Ask A Question
We have lots of resources to help you as you live the Cheapskates way but if you didn't find the answer to your question in our extensive archives please just drop me a note with your question.
I read and answer all questions, either in an email to you, in my weekly newsletter, the monthly Journal or by creating blog posts and other resources to help you (and other Cheapskaters).
Ask Your Question
12. Join The Cheapskates Club
For just $25 a year, you can join the Cheapskates Club and get exclusive access to the Cheapskate Journal, the monthly e-journal that shows you how to cut the costs of everyday living and still have fun.
Joining the Cheapskates Club gives you 24/7 access to the Members Centre with 1000's of money saving tips and articles.
Click here to join the Cheapskates Club today!
13. Frequently Asked Questions
How do I change my email address?
This one is easy. When you login to the Member's Centre just click on your name at the top of the page to go straight to your profile page where you can update your details, change your password and find your subscription details.
Not a Cheapskates Club member? Then please use the Changing Details form found here to update your email address.
How do I know when my membership should be renewed?
Memberships are active for one year from the date of joining. You can also find your membership expiry date on your profile page.
When you login to the Member's Centre just click on your name to go straight to your profile page where you can will find your join date and your expiry date.
What will you do with my email address?
We never rent, trade or sell our email list to anyone for any reason whatsoever. You'll never get an unsolicited email from a stranger as a result of joining this list.
How did I get on this list?
The only way you can get onto our newsletter mailing list is to subscribe yourself. You signed up to receive our Free Newsletter at our Cheapskates Club Web site or are a Platinum Cheapskates Club member.
14. Contact Cheapskates
The Cheapskates Club -
Showing you how to live life
debt free, cashed up and laughing!
PO Box 5077 Studfield Vic 3152
Contact Cheapskates