Cath's Meal Plan 2/04/2017 - 8/04/2017

This week we will be eating:

Sunday: Roast Chicken

Monday: Fishcakes, gems, coleslaw

Tuesday: Spag bol

Wednesday: Enchiladas, salad

Thursday: MOO Pizza

Friday: Stir-fry

Saturday: Omelettes & salad

The Week that Was 26th March 2017

It has been a while since I posted my accomplishments through living the Cheapskates way. I've been running on half-strength for a few weeks, not able to sit for too long, and this week I spent three days in hospital in what I hope is the beginning of getting this problem solved.

Here is a catch-up of what's been going on in the Armstrong home.

The Week that Was 12th March

We have Wayne's father staying with us this weekend.

During the week I did some baking to fill the biscuit and cake tins, he likes his morning and afternoon teas and supper. I made a fruit cake, blueberry muffins, scones, gingerbread and a batch of coconut biscuits. Whew! And all without having to buy a single ingredient. Thank goodness for a well-stocked pantry.

Dried the washing on the clothesline.

Spent the day with Pamela on Tuesday making cards (and talking and laughing and eating and drinking tea and coffee).

Kept the house shut tight during the heat of the day, and opened doors and windows wide at night to let the cool air in.

Picked more tomatoes from the lone tomato bush.

Added to the stockpile with a tray of tomato soup and a tray of baked beans and six kilos of plain flour using leftover grocery money.

Wayne needed a new mobile phone so he went shopping. My only comment was that it couldn't cost more than what he's paying now. He came home with a new iphone and a Samsung tablet plus $120 worth of accessories and it's $1 a month less than he was paying for the same value in calls and data. You should have seen the smile on his face!smile on his face -

The week that was 19th March

The card ladies came for our monthly cardmaking session. This month Wendy and I showed them how to make a very simple cold press soap. They were all able to take home a few cakes to cure and use.

We had a stamping demonstration and everyone made a pretty card to take home. I learnt a new technique (new to me anyway) and had some fun too.

Watched a YouTube video and learned to make a gift set - very simple to make and cost nothing as I had all the materials in my stash.

Maureen very generously gave me some capsicums which I oven roasted and then packed into olive oil. I love roasted capsicum so this will be a special treat during winter.

Grace gave me a bottle of the beautiful Lavender pillow spray she makes.

Picked lots of tomatoes from the lonely tomato bush.

Repurposed a sweet dish into a floral arrangement for the tall boy in the entrance. I used silk flowers I had, and recycled a piece of oasis. To finish the dish off I spread a bag of glass chips around the oasis so it can't be seen. I knew I'd find a use for them one day, I've been saving them in the craft box for about six years! I haven't quite finished with it, I'll keep tweaking until I am happy with it.

Made a batch of vanilla yoghurt.

All the usual things such as collecting shower water, drying the washing on the line, cooking our meals and so on.

Paid a specialist bill and checked the next day to make sure the Medicare rebate had been credited to our bank account. It had, but I've had to chase a couple in the past.

The Week that Was 26th March

 I spent three days in hospital this week.

Knowing I'd have at least one day in hospital this week I batch cooked on Monday and Tuesday and made dinner for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday ahead of time.  I froze Friday's dinner, and left Wednesday and Thursday (which is pizza so easy) in the fridge with warming instructions on a sticky note. Hannah works late Wednesday and Thursday so the boys had to get their own dinner. They know how to turn the oven on (I have taught them too cook) but still need guidance for meals they haven't prepared before. A sticky note gave me the peace of mind knowing that there would be no excuse for an overcooked dinner.

Last week Grace gave me a bottle of the beautiful Lavender Pillow Spray she makes and I've used it a lot this week, as I've spent a lot of time flat on my back in bed.

Downloaded some free ebooks for my Kindle.

My darling husband brought me home a bunch of beautiful Australian wild flowers from a nursery he was working at, as a surprise. They're on the tall boy in our bedroom, where I can see them all the time.

Reminded everyone that now the days are getting shorter and lights are being used, to turn them off when they leave a room.

Arranged for Wayne to drop me at the hospital entrance where I was met with a wheelchair rather than park and take me in himself. At $10 for 20 minutes it gets a bit expensive.  We did the same thing in reverse when I was discharged.

Checked prices on my prescriptions and took advantage of the hospital pharmacy to save $3.20 over the three scripts. I rang my local chemist to ask the prices, then ordered them from the hospital. I always compare prices between brands of drugs and if there is a cheaper option that my pharmacist recommends usually choose that.

The Grand Prix was on this week, and Wayne and I had a Grand Prix afternoon tea today. We had pita chips (made ahead), dip, veggie sticks, MOO sausage rolls, MOO mini quiche, sandwiches and a cheese platter with crackers, oven roasted capsicum, olives, semi-dried tomatoes and cheese cubes. All from the fridge or pantry and washed down with Overnight Gingerbeer, 50:50 Cordial or iced water. Luckily it was our lunch too, and we had a very late dinner!

What have you done to save money, time and energy this week?

Cath's Meal Plan 26/03 - 01/04/2017

This week we will be eating:

Sunday: Roast Lamb

Monday: Swedish Meatballs, noodles

Tuesday: Bolognese Pasta Bake

Wednesday: Lamb kebabs

Thursday: MOO Pizza

Friday: Haystacks

Saturday: Sub sandwiches

Cath's Meal Plan 19/03 - 25/03/2017

This week we will be eating:

Roast Chicken

Meatloaf, salad

Chicken Alfredo

Shepherds Pie, carrot,peas, corn

MOO Pizza

Hamburgers

Tacos

Cath's Meal Plan 12th - 18th March 2017

This week we will be eating:

Sunday: Roast Beef

Monday: Meatloaf, salad

Tuesday: Refrigerator Lasagne

Wednesday: Lamb curry, steamed rice, papadums

Thursday: MOO Pizza

Friday: Tacos

Saturday: Haystacks

The Week that Was 5th March 2017

Made a batch of Miracle Spray.

Made four loaves of bread this week.

Cooked all our meals from scratch, using ingredients on hand.

Mended the lining of my favourite handbag, where it had torn down the side.

Took the hem up on a pair of trousers for Mum.

Dried the washing on the line and carefully folded it as it came off to reduce ironing (not my favourite household task).

Cut the buttons off some of Wayne's old work shirts before tearing them into rags for the shed.

Gratefully accepted rhubarb from a friend and made a crumble for dessert - lasted three nights.

Spent a lovely day with Pamela making cards. We were super productive with 50 cards between us!

Kept the house shut during the heat of the day and used fans to circulate the air instead of using the air con. Opened the windows and doors wide overnight to let the cool air in.

Learned the hard way that gardens need water! I usually water in the early morning, around 6am. This week it has been a bit dark and of course I would get busy and forget to go and do the watering. The plants in post were looking very sad. Glad to say they've revived with a little regular watering.

Used a discount voucher to fill my car with petrol.

Picked lots of lovely tomatoes and zucchini from the garden.

What did you do to save money, time and energy last week?

Cath's Meal Plan 5th - 11th March 2017

This week we will be eating:

Sunday: Roast Chicken

Monday: Rissoles, vegetables, gravy

Tuesday: Spag bol

Wednesday: Chicken parmigiana, salad, french fries

Thursday: MOO Pizza

Friday: Stir-fry

Saturday: Muffin Surprise

The Week that Was 26th February 2017

Dried the washing on the line. I love the smell of the sheets and towels when they come in from the sunshine, so much nicer than artificial scents.

Caught the shower warm up water in a bucket and used it to water the pot plants. I explained how I do this here.

Picked zucchini and tomatoes from the garden.

Made two loaves of wholemeal bread, sliced them and put them in the freezer.

Made a batch of Simple Soap and a batch of basic re-purposed soap and used a recycled Pringles can as a mould.

Went through my wardrobe to see what I need for winter. Felt strange, it was 33 degrees while I was doing it, but my clothing budget needs to stretch a long way this year. Hannah did her wardrobe at the same time and I've inherited a couple of tops, a vest, 2 scarves and a jumper that she's never worn. That generous donation means I just need to get some new socks, a pair of runners (mine have finally collapsed after 12 years) and either track pants for around the house or the fleecy to make them.

Big W used to sell ladies basic track pants for $8 a pair, but they've changed the style and the fabric and put the price up. It takes 1.10 metres to make a pair for me, so if fleecy is on sale for under $8 a metre I'll make them. I already have the non-roll waistband elastic in the sewing box so they shouldn't cost any more. Bonus will be I can make them to fit properly.

Made some craft kits to put on the Etsy store.

Made two get well cards, a thinking of you card and a birthday card. That's at least a $4 saving (if I'd bought them from a cheap shop), up to $20 if I'd bought them from a card shop. Cards are so expensive to buy, but I love to send them to special people.

This week I've been batch cooking for future meals; now there is room in the freezer, thanks to the Freezer Challenge, it's time to start getting ahead again. Tuesday I made pasta sauce x 5 and put four containers in the freezer. While I had the big wok out I made four lots of taco meat and froze them in meal sized lots too.

Thursday morning I did an interview for Mamamia.

Skipped the half price specials this week due to No Spending Month, after realising we have plenty of the things I had on my list, or at least enough to last until the next sale cycle. Thank goodness for a grocery stockpile.

What did you do to save money, time and energy this week?

Cath's Meal Plan - 26th February - 4th March 2017

This week we will be eating:

Sunday: Roast Lamb

Monday: Fish, wedges, coleslaw

Tuesday: Macaroni cheese with vegetables

Wednesday: Sweet & Sour meatballs, rice

Thursday: MOO Pizza

Friday: Haystacks

Saturday: Enchiladas

Having Fun at Aldi

Last week was just fabulous.

Even the (really, really) early start on Wednesday couldn't dampen my enthusiasm. Nor could the humidity in Perth. It was so humid I thought I was back on Cape York! And then when we arrived in Adelaide it was so cool I put a jacket on - and counted my blessings because the week before it was over 40 degrees.

I had so much fun at the three Aldi workshops and met so many really lovely people and was finally able to put faces to names I've known for years, I just love my job!

I was doing my three favourite things: talking, meeting old friends and showing them how they really can trim their grocery budgets, without compromising on quality, taste, texture, colour, health - you get the idea.

I was on my Cheapskating soapbox and had a willing audience - it was almost as good as heaven to me :)

Wednesday afternoon Today Tonight in Perth invited me to Mirabooka Square, where I met a lovely Aldi newbie, Juliana, and showed her just how easy it is to feed the family for less at Aldi. We made a meal plan, whipped up the shopping list and off we went.  Lots of fun and along the way we converted another Australian homemaker to shopping the Cheapskates way at Aldi.

One of my monthly grocery top-up shops, to replace what was used from the stockpile

Over the three workshops 79 people were introduced to shopping the Cheapskates way at Aldi. Some were already Aldi shoppers, but only for the things they recognised. And some were new to Aldi, never having stepped foot through the doors before.

Oh boy did I have fun introducing them all to Aldi's range of exclusive brand products and shopping the Cheapskates way.

I talked about the products I love and the ones I don't.

I talked about the two tiers of products found on Aldi shelves.

I explained how I buy some things in bulk (for example dishwashing liquid, tomato soup, pasta).

I also talked about the no questions asked, 60 day money back guarantee (Aldi really do stand by their guarantee, I've tested it).

I mentioned how Aldi was the first supermarket chain in Australia to introduce unit pricing and how easy it makes comparing brands and sizes and how Aldi is the first supermarket in Australia to be completely free of all artificial colourings across the entire range of its own brands.

I talked so much that by Thursday night my throat was scratchy and my voice was hoarse. By Friday morning I couldn't talk, and there was still one workshop to do. Lots of rest, lots of fluids and lots of soothers helped and I had a little voice by Saturday afternoon, ready to head off to Westlakes and meet more lovely Cheapskaters.

We had a crew from Today Tonight in Adelaide follow us around the store, asking lots of questions. You can watch the video here.

There were lots of questions at all the workshops. Some of the questions asked were:
What are haystacks?
Am I employed by Aldi? (I answered this one in this week's newsletter)
Do I really only shop once a month?
How do I catch shower water (that one was from left field)?
How do I manage to keep the fruit and veg good between shops?
Do I buy meat from Aldi, because I always talk about Tasman and Australian Butcher?
Does Aldi really stand by the no questions asked, 60 day, money back guarantee?

Over the next few days I'll try to answer them for you, starting with this one.

How do I catch shower water?

Well the short answer is in a bucket. The long answer is that each bathroom has a bucket used just for catching the warm-up water. The bucket is put under the showerhead before it's turned on and it catches the water until it warms up. This is good, clean water so I will either pour it into the washing machine or use it for watering pot plants. I've been known to put a clean jug under the shower and then put it in the fridge when it's full to use for drinking water.

And that's how I catch the shower water. No secrets, no special containers. Just a bucket in the shower.

Why won't My Yoghurt Set?

It's a cry I hear at least once a week.

I wish there were a simple, straightforward answer, but there isn't.

I can give you some hints that will help to ensure you make a successful batch of yoghurt every time.

This is my MOO yoghurt recipe.

To make 1 litre of yoghurt you will need:
A clean 1 litre jar with a screw top lid
A wide mouthed thermos that will hold the jar
2 cups milk powder (either full cream or skim, it’s up to you)
2 tablespoons natural yoghurt (this is the starter)
Cool water (tap water is fine as long as it’s not really cold).

Half fill the jar with cool water, add the milk powder and the 2 tablespoons natural yoghurt. Put
the lid on and shake well to combine. Make sure there are no lumps of milk powder left. Fill the
jar to the top with more water, seal and shake well. Shake it really well, for at least two minutes. You need the starter and the milk powder to completely dissolve.

Place the jar in the thermos. Pour boiling water around the jar until it reaches approximately 2/3
of the way up the sides. Put the lid on the thermos, sealing it tight.

Set aside for 8—12 hours, depending on how thick you like your yoghurt. Once it has reached the
consistency you like, place the jar of yoghurt in the fridge to cool.

If your yoghurt doesn't set:

First off, check your thermos. I have two: Easiyo and  Aldi. These thermoses don't seal tightly, but the lid does sit right down on them. If the lid on your thermos doesn't sit right down, it could be leaking the heat needed to set the yoghurt.

Did you use skim or low fat milk powder? Commercial yoghurts have thickener added, that's what makes even the low fat versions "thick and creamy". If you like a thick and creamy yoghurt then full cream milk powder is the answer.

Is your starter old? If you've been saving some of each batch as a starter for the next batch you may find that over time it will weaken and finally just not work. After every five or six batches I suggest you use a fresh bought yoghurt as your starter. If you don't want to eat the leftovers, you can freeze it in ice-cube trays to start other batches.

If your yoghurt isn't as thick as you like after 12 hours don't stress. You can safely leave it to set in the thermos for up to 24 hours. Your yoghurt won't stop thickening until it is chilled.

The weather can play a big part in a good set or a runny fail. Too hot, too cold, too humid can all determine how long and how thick your yoghurt sets. In winter try wrapping the thermos in a towel for extra warmth and then topping up the boiling water every six hours or so.

If  your yoghurt doesn't set as thick as you like, don't throw it out and waste it. Use it to replace the liquid in cakes, pancakes, muffins, white sauce or custard or add it to milkshakes or smoothies. .

Don't give up. At less than half the price per kilo of even the cheapest bought yoghurt, it is well worth persevering and fine-tuning your yoghurt making skills.

The Week that Was 19th February 2017

A short week this week as far as home tasks went anyway.

I was up at 4am Wednesday morning to fly to Perth for the start of the Aldi workshops. That was a very long day!

Before I left the men in the family home alone (I'll admit to being nervous, Hannah is usually here to supervise) I made sure the house was clean and tidy and that there were meals ready to just be heated so they wouldn't be tempted to buy take away.

The meal plan was adapted and Tuesday afternoon I made spag bol, curried chicken, pizza bases and sauce, a batch of Haystacks and meat pies. While I was doing that I had dough in the bread maker and made two loaves of bread that was sliced and frozen. Tom printed the "mini meal plan" and stuck it on the fridge so whoever was home first would know what to get for dinner.

There were no leftovers and no complaints when I arrived home this afternoon, and the kitchen was clean and tidy too, so all good.

At the last minute Hannah decided to come with me and I appreciated the company but what I really appreciated was her skill as a navigator, getting us around Perth and down to Mandurah, and we didn't get lost once! Picking up the hire car I just asked if there was a cheaper car available, as there wasn't when I booked. Yes! Saved $7.50 a day, $22.50 in total just for asking a quick question.

I do as much as I can to keep the cost of workshops down, and part of that is meals while I'm away from home.  We took snacks and breakfasts with us, and plates and cups. Once we landed we were able to get disposable cutlery and ingredients for our lunches and teas. I think we ate for the entire trip for less than two take-away or café meals, and we weren't eating junk.

What did you do to save money, time and energy this week?

Cath's Meal Plant 19th - 25th February 2017

This week we will be eating:

Sunday: Roast Chicken

Monday: BBQ sausages, salad

Tuesday: Vego Pasta Bake

Wednesday: Devilled Chicken Wings

Thursday: MOO Pizza

Friday: Hamburgers

Saturday: Corn Fritters & salad

Handmade Christmas Week 7

It's not that I haven't been working Christmas the last couple of weeks, I have. I've also been super busy getting Mum organised and settled and working with my brother to make the wisest choices for her ongoing care, and that has been exhausting.

I rescued some boxes from the kitchen and a brown paper shopping bag to be made over into gift wrapping. I also saved the ribbon and bow from a beautiful gift I was given. They're gold, and we all know gold can be used for any occasion so recycling them into "new" embellishments make sense.

And I have friends saving me the plastic containers that nappy/laundry soaker comes in. They are perfect for holding  Cheapskates Washing Powder. Most of the brands come in white containers with peel-off labels. I've made my own labels, one with the name of the product and one with the recipe that I'll stick on the opposite side.

While I was in a creative mood I've made some jam labels too. Sticking with the French provincial theme, they're black on white in a pretty cursive font. I'm using labels I bought at a $2 shop and they seem to be sticking to jars without a problem.

The figs are finally ripe so while it was cooler on Friday Hannah and I made some fig jam. My uncle loves it, and I always put it in his hamper, and another friend tried it last year for the first time and keeps asking for more so it's going in his hamper too.

Two dishcloths have been added to the present box and I've started a baby blanket, using wool from Mum's stash. It's a simple square in white, pink, lemon, blue and mauve.

I posted a link to a video that shows how to make very cute Barbie clothes and shoes (those little shoes are so cute, and super easy to make). I don't have any little girls to make them for, although I'm thinking I may just get out my scrap box and make some anyway. Here's the video

How are you going with your handmade Christmas? 

The Week that Was 12th February 2017

This last week has been a teary week for me. It's finally really hit me that Mum won't ever be going home, that she won't ever do all the "mum" things she's always done for me and with me, my entire life. And I'm sad. I'm sad for me and I'm sad for her too.

I haven't been straying too far, but I have been busy.

This week I've:

Picked figs from Mum's fig tree and made fig jam.

Made a birthday card for an extra special friend.

Donated DVDs that we no longer want to the nursing home.

Saved $45 on name labels for Mum's clothes by MOOing them with white bias tape and a laundry marker. It was hot on Wednesday so I sat in the family room, under the fan with the air conditioner on for a couple of hours and stitched them all in place.

Cooked all our meals from the pantry, fridge and freezer ingredients.

Bought four Christmas gifts for $2 each from the Post Office on clearance. They are vintage board games, and Myer sells them for up to $19.99 each!

Made a set  of cards and a matching box to send to Wayne's Aunty Elaine (of Elaine's Easy Pastry fame).

Made pita chips using pita bread from the freezer, garlic salt and oil and onion dip using MOO plain yoghurt, dried onion, a pinch of garlic salt and pepper for Tom's Super Bowl party on Monday. The boys all brought drinks and snacks to share (they even brought paper plates, cups and a roll of paper towel to use as serviettes).

Finished the printing for the Aldi workshops in Perth and Adelaide later this week.

Saved shower water, dried washing on the line or the clothes horses and all the other frugal habits I do without thinking about them each day.

 Wayne and I have been talking over the last couple of weeks and we've decided we'd like to do another big (for us anyway) trip next year, so we've chosen to go back to Cape York. That means of course that we'll be saving like crazy to make it possible, both in time and money. And that means I need to go back to when Disaster Struck and become extra frugal again. Here I was enjoying the last couple of months back on our normal income and we're voluntarily going back to last year's tight budget! I'll post the revived budget later in the week, although not much has changed.

What did you do to save money, time and energy this week?

Cath's Meal Plan 12th - 18th February 2017

This week we will be eating:

Sunday: Roast Beef

Monday: Mini meatloaves, salad

Tuesday: Spinach Ricotta Ravioli, salad

Wednesday: Tandoori chicken, salad, naan bread

Thursday: MOO Pizza

Friday: Tacos

Saturday: Homemade Subs

Cath's Meal Plant 5th -11th February 2017

This week we will be eating:

Sunday: Roast Chicken

Monday: Fishcakes, gems, coleslaw

Tuesday: Spag bol

Wednesday: Cream Cheese Patties, salad

Thursday: MOO Pizza

Friday: Stir-fry

Saturday: Pan-fried sandwiches & salad

The Week that Was 29th January 2017

True to form, Telstra very kindly were doing whatever it is they do and we had no internet for most of yesterday. Very frustrating!

Last week we saved money, time and energy a few ways:

We had a decent shower of rain which meant the garden didn't need to be watered for a couple of days.

Dried the washing on the line.

Redirected the grey water onto the back lawn.

Caught shower warm up water and used it to water the hanging baskets and pots.

Made two batches of cupcakes to use up packet mixes I was given, one chocolate, one red velvet. Consensus is they're not as good as made from scratch (and I expect they'd be a lot more expensive too).

Made four lots of pizza dough, rolled out, par-baked and froze them for February's pizzas.

Made ciabatta using a mix that was given to us - yum!

Made cinnamon banana bread.

All the usual cleaning, filling of cars with petrol etc.

Made breadcrumbs using the crusts in the freezer while the oven was hot from the cupcakes.

Saved lots of packaging to restyle into gift packaging.

What did you do to save money, time and energy last week?