Tip of the Day April 14, 2009

Get regular checkups

A dental visit every six months and a yearly physical have a modest or sometimes no co-pay at all depending on your doctor and health insurance (if your doctor bulk bills services then you will have no out of pocket costs at all). Even a yearly eye exam has a negligible cost and many optometrists will bulk bill the eye test. If you can afford health insurance extras, make sure you use it to maintain or elevate the status quo. Investing in good health is never wasted money.

Tip of the day April 13, 2009

Look good, feel good, spend less

For most people, having a positive outlook is closely related to feeling good about themselves. Most of us feel good when we look good and when we feel good we don't need emotional spending to lift our attitude so take care of your appearance, and you won't be tempted to spend money to feel good! Style your hair, brush your teeth, put on some makeup, wear a dab of perfume or cologne, get properly dressed - this can be enough to make you feel confident about your appearance and give you a positive outlook on your whole day.

Tip of the Day April 12, 2009

Read the labels

Food labels give you information to help you make healthy food choices and compare similar foods. Reading food labels can help you to control portion size, keep track of the fat and calories in each food, and make sure you’re getting the right amount of vitamins and minerals. Reading food labels can also save you money - they list the ingredients in the product, in order of quantity (most at the top), giving you a list of what you need to make a "cheats version" at home. MOOing your favourite packet foods lets you control the ingredients, leaving out the artificial preservatives, colourings and flavourings.

Tip of the Day April 11, 2009

Eating the right portions

Red meat can be one of the most expensive things to buy at the supermarket and eating too much of it can also have consequences to your health. On average, people who eat less meat weigh less than those individuals who eat meat more frequently. This doesn’t mean you have to cut out all meat, but you should exercise moderation when adding meat to your diet. The same applies to dairy products, fruits, vegetables and grains. To simplify choosing the right foods in the right proportions, Nutrition Australia has developed the Healthy Eating pyramid. It arranges foods into three groups – showing which foods we should eat most often, in moderate amounts, and least often. There is a reason for the healthy eating pyramid, and that is to keep our diets healthy, but a definite side benefit is the positive effect healthy eating can have on our grocery budget. Sticking to the recommended portion sizes will not only help your health but your budget too.

Tip of the Day April 10, 2009

Visit booklover's heaven

Do you love to read? Most people read the latest bestseller and then it goes up on the bookshelf to collect dust. Or a recipe book is bought for one recipe or even worse those appetizing photos and then left on the shelf. Hardly ever is a book read and reread (even in our house and we all love reading and have definite favourites). If you're not an avid reader or really attached to your books you could have thousands of dollars sitting on shelves around your house collecting dust. Instead, hit the public library to find your literary favorites. A membership is free and so is checking out books. If you want to renew, do it for free before the book expires. Some libraries have an automated system for renewal so you don’t have to go back and forth to the library. Libraries also have great DVDs and CDs that you can borrow, the latest magazines, fantastic resources for special projects, free talks for adults and story times for children. And the price is right - absolutely free!

Tip of the Day April 9, 2009

Use it or lose it

Whether you’re seeking to advance in your career or to simply explore your interests, learning new things can be a wonderful way to keep your mind active and life interesting. Learning something new doesn’t always mean that you need to take a formal class. It can be as simple as picking up a newspaper and reading all the stories, not just the ones that interest you. It can be as simple as logging in to the Member's Centre every day and checking out the Latest Tips or the newest Forum messages. You can learn a new skill or do some research to add to something you are already skilled at. Learning new things can open you up to new possibilities and ideas you hadn’t previously considered, and this practice could expand your outlook on life.

Here are some ideas to get you started:
ASX Free online investment classes
Short Courses Victoria
courses.com.au
U3A

Tip of the Day April 8, 2009

MOO Cleaning Supplies

Cleaning supplies can be expensive and many are filled with chemicals that are harmful to the environment and potentially to your family. Fortunately, you can make many of the same cleaning solutions at home for a fraction of the cost and with things you might already have around the house. For example, you can make a simple glass cleaner from ammonia, rubbing alcohol and water. Always make sure to follow a tried and true recipe, however, as some combinations could produce unwanted reactions.

There is one basic cleaning product I make which I use from benchtops to the bathroom. It has a strong smell but cleans very well!

Extra Strength Multi-Purpose Cleaner
Cost: $0.62 for 4 litres cleaner

1/4 cup bicarb soda
3/4 cup household ammonia
1/2 cup white vinegar
4 litres warm water
2 drops of food coloring (optional)

Mix all ingredients and store. Pour into spray bottle when needed.


Window Cleaner
Cost: $0.10 for 250ml extra strong window cleaner

1/2 tsp washing up detergent
3 tbsp vinegar
2 cups water
1 drop blue food colouring (optional)

Blend well and store in spray bottle.


Vinegar Window Cleaner
Cost: $0.10 for 4 litres window/mirror cleaner

1/2 cup white vinegar
4 litres warm water

Just mix and scrub. When washing windows, using newspaper is best.


Furniture Polish
This is so easy to make, and it works!
Cost: $1.13 for 375ml furniture polish

1 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup lemon juice

Pour oil and lemon juice into a squirt bottle or jar. Stir to combine. To use, dip dust cloth or rag into oil, blot the oil by folding the cloth together, and then dust your furniture. Leaves a beautiful finish!

There are lots of recipes for cleaning products and tips on how to use them in the Member's Centre so login and then go to DIY Cleaning Solutions.

Tip of the Day April 7, 2009

Lose the "stuff"

Inevitably, we all collect "stuff" as we go through life. But sometimes this stuff simply becomes clutter and we need to figure out what is worth the effort to keep and what is simply crowding our space, sapping energy and motivation. Go through your old items and get rid of anything you don’t want or things that you haven’t used in the past year. This includes clothes, toys, books, kitchen gadgets and utensils, tools, furniture, jewellery, stationery, shoes and handbags, baby things - absolutely anything you have that isn't used or loved or that doesn't make you smile. Pass it on, donate to charity, Freecycle it or sell it. You’d be surprised how little you miss these things, and there will be much less sitting around gathering dust.

Not sure where to go to pass on your stuff? Try any of these resources:

www.freecycle.org.au
www.ebay.com.au
www.tradingpost.com.au

Tip of the Day April 6, 2009

Home Roasted Peanuts

My husband likes to roast his own Peanuts. This is his roasting recipe:

Ingredients:
2 cups raw peanuts
1/4 tsp salt
1 tbsp water

Method:
Preheat oven to 180 degrees C
Place two cups raw peanuts on a tray (he uses a pizza tray). Bake for 10 minutes. Mix salt with water and pour over nuts immediately after taking out of oven. Turn oven off, return peanuts to oven and leave door open slightly till nuts are cooled. YUM!

Check out Oriental and Continental supermarkets. There are some great bargains to be found at these shops. My husband is crazy about nuts and figs! To know if the prices at these smaller shops are better than what you are paying at your local supermarket note down on your shopping list the price you are paying now and compare with these shops. Not all items will be cheaper than your supermarket, although we have compared our favourites with Woolies and found them cheaper and the quality much better. - Contributed by Liz, Sydney

Tip of the Day April 5, 2009

With Easter only a few days away and kids on school holidays looking for something to do, this tip from a Cheapskater is a fun way to celebrate Easter without the expense.

You don't have to buy chocolate moulds - use your imagination and see what you have at home- egg cups, ice cube trays (these are the perfect size for filled chocolates), jelly moulds, small cake moulds, spoons etc Chocolate making is a great group activity and doesn't have to cost a fortune.

Easter Treats Chocolate Making Day

Every Good Friday I gather my daughter's friends and mine too and have a chocolate making day. You can buy the chocolate moulds very cheap on eBay or even at your confectionery store or Spotlight for under $3.50! Last week I decided to be an early bird and at a store in Bendigo I was fortunate to come across some older stock (the plastic had slightly yellowed as moulds don't have a huge life expectancy) for only 50 cents each!!!!!!!! That was an amazing find. ALSO if you like filled chockies and eggs do not waste money buying the expensive filling and fondants. Hazlenut spread (like Nutella) is delicious filling, if you love strawberry fill just use jam and icing sugar and for creamier fillings use icing sugar and any flavoured topping mixed well! The flavour possibilities are endless. Just use your imagination and trial and error will do the trick. I just think that an Easter egg making session with the kids all together is a messy but memorable experience! If you want to get really crafty buy white chocolate buddies, and colour it with powdered food colouring (liquid colours destroy to chocolate) and watch your kids artistic ability fly! Happy Easter to all! - Contributed by Paula, California Gully

Tip of the Day April 3, 2009

Never miss paying a bill on time

Schedule a time each week to sit down and take care of your bills. If possible, set up your major bills to all be due on the same payment schedule. Use the Cheapskates Club's Bill Paying System to keep your finances in order. It will save you money, time and energy and take away the worry and stress of not paying bills on time.


Tip of the Day readers can get their free Bill Paying System here.

Tip of the Day April 2, 2009

Taking the proper care

So you’ve finally found the perfect jumper/couch/pair of shoes, don’t let your intrepid purchase fall apart before its time. To make sure your purchase lasts as long as possible take care of it appropriately. Read the labels to learn the recommended care procedure and then follow it. Mending holes and taking care of stains immediately and putting things away where they belong will help prolong the life of your favourite things.

Tip of the Day April 1, 2009

New life for old goods

Just because you’ve lost a use for an item in it’s original purpose doesn’t mean it’s garbage. Experiment with using items around the house in creative ways. Turn your old ice cube trays into places to store jewellery. Have a wine rack you don’t use? Turn it into a magazine rack. Old toolbox lying around? Clean it up and turn it into a sewing box, those compartments are great for storing cottons, needles, tape measures etc. Look around your house to figure out your own solutions for reusing items and creating less rubbish. The money you save by creative thinking will soon add up.

Tip of the Day March 31, 2009

Recycle, Recycle, Recycle

One of the easiest ways to live greener and save money is by recycling instead of simply throwing everything away. Many councils have recycling programs which make it no more difficult to recycle than to take out the regular garbage. If your council doesn’t offer this service find out where local recycling centres are located (usually at your local tip). For some recyclables, such as aluminium cans, you can actually get money back for the items you recycle. Or find a local Freecycle so that you can recycle locally and save on gas!

Tip of the Day March 30 2009

Cook ahead

If you find yourself constantly eating out because you don’t have the energy to cook every day after getting home from work, then you could save money and eat healthier by cooking meals ahead of time. Take one day a week and cook several meals for the week ahead and freeze them. That way, you’ll simply have to take dinner out before you leave for work and it will be waiting for you when you get home.

Stuck for ideas? There are over 550 fantastic recipes in the Recipe File and dozens of menu plans to give you ideas in the Menu Plan Archive.

Tip of the Day March 29 2009

Easy Openings

Sometimes we come across a jar that just won't open, no matter how hard we twist that lid. If you don't have a rubber mat, or an old hot water bottle to cut up, here are some ideas that are frugal and readily available in most homes:

1. A damp dishcloth, like a Chux wipe helps you grip better

2. If that doesn't work, run the jar under hot water and using a blunt knife (e.g. butter knife) insert the tip of the knife under the lid to break the seal. Once air gets in it will open very easily. The hot water will help the lid to expand, loosening it a little.

3. As a last resort take a Phillips head screwdriver or an old sharp knife and stab the top of the jar to make a small hole, which will let air in. Don' t use your expensive kitchen knives for this trick, it will ruin the tip of the knife.

Tip of the Day March 28, 2009

Stay Organized

If you’ve ever spent several frantic minutes searching for your keys on your way out the door or looked everywhere for that hammer just to hang up a few pictures, you know that being disorganized can eat up a lot of your time. Clean out cupboards, under sinks, and even your garage or garden shed and put items you want to keep in boxes or bins with labels so that you’ll be able to find the items when you need them.

Tip of the Day March 27, 2009

Cleaning melted plastic off the toaster

Next time a plastic bread wrapper melts onto the toaster or the kettle, try this. Rub some petroleum jelly on the spot, reheat the appliance and use a paper towel to rub off the plastic and the printing.

Tip of the Day March 26, 2009

How much should you save?

The short answer is as much as you can. What does that mean? It means different things to different people. However, no matter how much money you earn or how many expenses you have, you will always save more if you pay yourself first.

The suggested amount is 10% of your gross salary, but if you can't manage that, save 5% or 2%. Even saving just $5 a week regularly will help you establish a good saving routine and habits. You can make saving automatic by setting up a regular direct debit from your everyday account to your savings account.

Tip of the Day March 25, 2009

Using lay-by instead of credit to get what you want

Not too long ago lay-by was out of vogue and very few stores offered the service. These days it is coming back into it's own and more and more stores are re-opening their lay-by counters. Lay-by items you want or need rather than buy them on credit. Even big ticket items such as fridges, lounge suites, televisions etc can be put on lay-by. True, you will have to wait until it is paid for before you get the goods, but you will own it straight away, won't be paying for it forever and better still will only pay the actual cost price and a small lay-by fee (usually around $1) - no interest.

Lay-by is a good way to get items you need or want when they are on sale and you don't have the ready cash to buy them then and there. It's also a great way to "hide" Christmas and birthday presents when hiding spots at home are limited.

Tip of the Day March 24, 2009

De-scaling the kettle

Need to clean the scale from the inside of your electric kettle? Don't spend your money on those expensive products advertised as the only thing to use for this job. Simply put the minimum amount of water in it and add half a cup of white vinegar. Let it sit overnight, boil and rinse, refill with clean water and you'll have a nice clean kettle.

Tip of the Day March 23, 2009

Using up horrible shampoo

If you ever wind up with shampoo you really don't like (does anyone NOT do that?), don't just throw it out. Most shampoos make good liquid hand soap diluted 50:50 with water, but if you don't like it for that, use it to wash delicates in.

Extra Tip: It will dissolve some greasy stains, too. Mop the floor, or wash the soap ring out of the bathtub with it or use it as a pre-wash on collars and cuffs.

Tip of the Day March 22, 2009

Budget Freezer Labels

For really cheap freezer container labels, buy a roll of masking tape and just rip off as much as you need and write on it with ballpoint pen. Make sure that you stick the masking tape to a dry lid or base, one that has not been stored in the fridge or freezer. These labels will stick on pretty much everything from freezer bags, containers in the fridge or freezer to containers in pantry. To avoid confusion in the future, write on the label what's inside, how many serves, whether it could stretch to more serves by adding something and the date it was made i.e. "rich tomato sauce 1 serve - add zucchini/capsicum & tinned tomatoes for 2-4 serves 26/2/09". You can also do this for meat that is to be frozen. We all know how hard it is to tell what's in that freezer bag once it's frozen.

Stretch Your Dollar follow-up

I promised I would report back on how my talk at the library went on Thursday night. All I can say is what a lovely, lovely bunch of people! And some great ideas too. And some great places to pick things up locally.

It was so nice to meet members in person and to meet prospective members too. The thing that struck me most was that everyone there did something to save money, they just didn't realize it. We have a mindset that the one little thing we do isn't worth much. What we don't realize is that it's very rare that any of us do anything huge, especially on a regular basis, to save money, or time or energy. It's all the simple, seemingly insignificant, little things we do over and over that have the biggest effect.

Things like only buying marked-down meat, shopping at the market for fruit and veg, only washing when there's a full load, using lunchboxes instead of clingwrap and paper bags, turning lights off when we leave a room. Not one of these things on it's own would make a significant saving. But when combined and repeated, the savings sure add up.

There were lots of questions and some great discussions on frugality and living the Cheapskates way, how the kids coped with it and if it is really worth it.

Take it from me, the kids cope beautifully (they know which side their bread is buttered) and yes, it is worth it and has been every day for the last fourteen years.

Tip of the Day March 21, 2009

Teaching kids to save

Teach your children the value of saving and investing from as young an age as possible. Let them start with their pocket money - saving 10% to start, then moving to investing as the savings grow. Savings habits learnt young, even with just pocket money, tend to stick for a lifetime.

Tip of the Day March 20, 2009

Use laundry baskets to save money, time and energy

Buy good quality, heavy duty, plain old oval washing baskets. They'll last almost forever, and they're great for more than just lugging dirty clothes around! For example, if you have a two-story house, keep a washing basket near your stairs to collect items that need to be returned to the other floor. Keep one in the garage and use it to carry things from the car inside. Have one in the family room and fill it with things that need to be put away. Use different colours for each family member and use them as launch pads. Lunches, homework, papers, bags, hats etc can be put in the one spot ready to be used.

Stretch Your Dollar

If there's one thing I'm good at it's stretching a dollar and I have been invited to share some hints and tips tonight at the Boronia Public Library, Park Crescent, starting at 7pm.

I love libraries, I love talking and I especially love talking about Cheapskating so I'm really looking forward to it. The lovely Lorraine from the library says there are 25 confirmed bookings, so we should have a really good sharing session.

I'll put all the great ideas I pick up here for you tomorrow (or later tonight if I can't sleep).

Tip of the day March 19, 2009

Every last drop of toothpaste

The easiest way to get the last bit of toothpaste out of a modern tube is to place the tube flat on the bathroom vanity and use your straight toothbrush handle to slide the paste forward. The toothbrush handle slides better than your finger, you can press down on it harder, and it crosses the entire tube so nothing slips backwards.

Tip of the Day March 18, 2009

Get yourself a good pair of kitchen shears and use them

You can cut pizza, the kids' food at the table, chicken, spring onions, celery, parsley etc. You can use them to trim the rind off bacon and to cut deli meats into strips for pizza and pasta. I even use them to cube stewing steak and cutting stir-fry strips. Shears make slicing and dicing and carving quick and easy, letting you save money by buying in bulk and cutting into portions yourself.

Tip of the Day March 17, 2009

Cook'n'Swap

When you live alone, cooking isn't always fun. Instead of indulging in takeaways or expensive 'single serve' portions at the supermarket, get together with friends, bulk cook and share. Each person should cook enough of a dish to allow one serve for each person in the group. Package, label and freeze each serve then get together with your friends and swap. If you get together with 6 friends you will get a different meal for every night of the week with almost no effort. Plan ahead and you can take advantage of supermarket specials for your ingredients.

Tip of the Day March 16, 2009

Lots of shoes in your wardrobe?

You can buy clear, plastic shoe boxes but at $2 or more each they can be an expensive way to store shoes. I keep my shoes in the boxes they come in to keep the wardrobe tidy and to protect my shoes. To make them easier to find in the wardrobe I glue a picture of the shoes on the end of the box. This makes finding the right pair of shoes really easy, especially on a busy morning. If you just toss them haphazardly in the bottom of the wardrobe, rather than spend money on shoe boxes, consider using an over the door shoe bag or a rack to keep them together. You can also use plastic shoe bags to store socks and pantyhose.

Tip of the Day March 15, 2009

For a natural, non-toxic room deodoriser try this

Place 6 peppermint tea bags in a glass of cold water. Sit it on a sunny window sill to steep until the tea is very strong - about half an hour. Then squeeze the tea bags into the tea, pour it into a spray bottle and top up with cold water. You can now safely spray your cupboard doors, bench tops, sinks, even around the pet bowls for a lovely fresh, clean scent. And without poisoning the family or the animals.

Note: Don't spray on fabric without doing a test for colourfastness and staining first.