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).

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.

Tip of the Day March 14, 2009

Shop in the men's wear department for teenage basics and save!

Clothing for teenage boys can often be bought more cheaply in the men's wear departments. Basic white t-shirts, socks, underwear, shorts etc can be picked up in men's wear for up to a third less than in the youth's department. And if you are looking for school shirts, consider small men's before you buy 'school' shirts. I picked up three long sleeved, white men's business shirts for $8.00 each. The equivalent 'school' shirt was $11.95 in the teenage boy's dept. of the same shop!

Tip of the Day March 13, 2009

Saving Money With the Internet

I use the Internet for so many things that save money:

1. Postage - 55c postage to pay all my bills or 5 minutes using bpay
2. E-mails instead of STD calls to keep in touch with distant family and friends
3. Shopping. I was able to source and buy a particular watch for Hannah's birthday last year online, saving $26 on the RRP at a local jewellers
4. Manage my banking on-line, this not only saves on petrol but no more standing in queues - I can do the banking when I have the time
5. Research, research, research. Everything from where I can get bulk bi-carb to family holidays, grocery catalogues, maps, markets - just about anything you need to know about you can find online, including how to live the Cheapskates way!

Tip of the day March 12, 2009

Double the Mayo

To make the mayonnaise go further, mix equal quantities of mayonnaise and milk in a bowl. Be sure to mix well and then let it sit in the fridge for about 20 minutes. At first the mixture is quite thin and runny but as it sits it naturally thickens and doubles the quantity of mayonnaise.

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!

Website: www.freecycle.org.au

Tip of the Day March 11, 2009

Short Sheeted

Instead of buying expensive cot sheets for a newborn baby's cradle and cot, use single bed sheets and fold them to fit. They will definitely be used later on when your toddler goes into a big bed. And, instead of buying an expensive mattress protector ($40 or more) for little wet beds, use a cheap shower curtain (about $2.00 from discount shops). The shower curtain is big enough to tuck under the mattress securely, covering the sides too.

Tip of the Day March 10, 2009

Seed Collecting

When buying flowers, plants or veggies for the garden, buy plants that yield seed, then when they have flowered collect the seed and sow into seedling trays. If you collect empty toilet rolls you can use these as mini pots to get your seedlings started and then plant the whole thing into your garden beds once the seedlings are established. Simply fill the cardboard tubes with potting mix and plant into them. Once the seedlings are ready to be transplanted move them tube and all and plant straight into the ground. The cardboard breaks down over time and you aren't disturbing the seedlings at all. Keep collecting the seeds and you'll have free plants for years to come.

Tip of the Day March 9, 2009

Two Safe Pest Control Ideas

Another safe solution to keep ants at bay: Add rosemary to boiling water then spray around skirting boards, benchtops, baseboards, doors and window sills to get rid of ants and other bugs.

And to protect your pot plants rub Vaseline around the base and the top (just a thin layer will do) of plant pots to keep snails at bay. They can't climb up the slippery pot so your precious plants will be safe from nighttime raids.

Tip of the Day March 8, 2009

Egg Substitutes

It's a nuisance to be in the mood for baking only to find you have no eggs. You can buy an egg replacement (health food aisle of your supermarket) which is great for anyone with an egg allergy or intolerance or you can make an egg substitute to use in baking from common pantry ingredients, with no discernible change in the finished cake or biscuits.


Egg Substitutes
Orgran No Egg - follow directions on box. Equivalent to 66 eggs and costs around $4.50 - very economical to use and easy to store
2 tbsp cornflour = 1 egg
2 tbsp arrowroot flour = 1 egg
1 heaped tbsp soy powder + 2 tbsp water = 1 egg
1 tbsp soy milk powder + 1 tbsp cornflour + 2 tbsp water = 1 egg.
1 banana = 1 egg in cakes

You can also reduce the number of eggs you use in cake recipes. One egg and 1 tablespoon white vinegar is the equivalent of two eggs. When substituting like this, use one teaspoon of cornflour with the vinegar for each egg over three.

Tip of the Day March 7, 2009

Hang 'Em Up

When hanging business shirts, t-shirts or tops out on clothes line to dry. Place item on a wire coat hanger (type you get with your dry cleaning so that you can easily bend handle so it does not fall off) and hang on Hills Hoist clothes line where there is a loop in pipe that runs out from centre top off the line. Tops dry better and it saves on ironing !

Tip of the Day March 6, 2009

A Great Milk Substitute

Water in which you've cooked potatoes can be used in place of milk in many recipes, especially breads and white gravies and sauces. Be sure to drain it from the potatoes before you add margarine or salt, though. Add chopped vegetables and a teaspoon or two (depending on the quantity) of Marmite and you have a tasty soup. My advice: Don't keep it in the refrigerator for over a week before using for either one. If you do leave it too long use it to water your indoor plants, they'll love it.

Tip of the Day March 5, 2009

Fruity Tea Cake

This is the quickest and easiest fruit cake you'll ever make and it tastes great! Slice and serve with butter or freeze for a quick grab-n-go snack.

Ingredients:
2 cups cold tea
2 cups mixed dried fruit
2 cups SR flour

Method:
Soak the fruit in the cold tea for 10 minutes. Beat in the self-raising flour. Pour into a greased and baking paper lined loaf tin. Bake at 180 degrees for 30 - 35 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Let stand in tin for five minutes before turning out onto a cake rack to cool.

Tip of the Day March 4, 2009

Give the Garden a Drink

Keep an ordinary household bucket next to the kitchen sink. When you rinse out coffee cups, milk bottles, juice bottles etc, tip the water into the bucket. Then, when it is full, use it to water your pot plants. Don't worry about the dishwashing liquid residue in the water, it's a great bug repellent for your garden. For some reason slugs, snails and caterpillars hate it.Keep a special day (eg, the first Monday of the month) to add Seasol to the water. Not only will your plants be watered and fed on a regular basis but you'll be ridding the garden of pests without using expensive and potentially harmful chemicals - and you'll save water.

Tip of the Day March 3, 2009

Sweet Reward When the Lights are Out

Getting kids on board when it comes to saving anything takes ingenuity and imagination. Tip of the Day reader Liz has come up with a great plan where she rewards (no, it's not a bribe, we don't approve of bribes) her children with something that appeals to them and at the same time teaches them the value of earning and saving.

"We are trying to teach our two young children to be both energy and money wise. It is a constant battle to get them to turn off lights when leaving the room. I came up with the idea to make a lolly jar (out of an old glass jar) each and bought a large bag of lollies (on special). Each time they turn off a light they get one lolly in their jar and at the end of the week they get to eat them. Amazingly they ended up with 70 odd lollies each, I used Smarties. It will be very interesting to see the difference in our next power account. " - Contributed by Liz, Auckland

Tip of the Day March 2, 2009

Tracking is Not Just for the Supermarket

There are many everyday household grocery items that are available not just at the supermarket but at pharmacies, department stores, dollar stores and even markets that may not be part of your usual shopping routine. Most of these retailers put out sale brochures so be sure to have a quick look through them to see if any of the items you use are on sale. Then compare the price with the prices in your price book to see if it's worth purchasing from an alternate source. By keeping any eye out for sale prices everywhere you can maximize your savings.

Tip of the Day March 1 2009

Work Out the Lowest Sale Price and Stock Up

Start watching sales and tracking the prices of grocery items you use regularly or a lot of in a pricebook. You'll soon start to notice sales cycles and when the prices are at their highest and when they're at their lowest. The trick of course is to know when your favourite grocery items are going to be on sale and then buy when items are at their lowest price, stocking up to get you through to the next sale. By stocking up you'll avoid running out and having to buy at full price. This method of buying is called stockpiling. Stockpiling can save you a lot of money, simply because you track the sales cycles and know when your groceries are at their best possible price.

Tip of the Day February 28, 2009

A Hardware Shop in Your Garage

Next time you plan to do some handiwork around the house, check carefully what you have from last time. I'm always surprised at what hardware items we already have - such as glues, screws, paintbrushes and paint etc. Doing this can save a lot of money (and time!) at the hardware store.

Tip of the Day February 27, 2009

Best Bug Bait

Ants and cockroaches are invading everywhere at the moment. To rid your home of these disease carrying pests try this bait. It's safe to use in your home and much cheaper than commercial baits and poisons.

Simply mix equal quantities of honey and borax powder together. Spread into jam jar lids and leave in strategic places (under the fridge, at the back of the cupboard under the kitchen sink, under the stove, washing machine etc).

The creepy crawlies love this stuff and they go away to die after feasting on it. No need for dangerous and toxic sprays and poisons to be used. This bait really works.

Tip of the Day February 26, 2009

Clean Smelly Hands

There is a product available known as Stainless Steel Soap, designed to rid your hands of strong odours such as onion or fish or other unpleasant smells.

There is a cheaper alternative, readily available in any home, that works just as well to rid your hands of odours: stainless steel! Just rub your hands over the kitchen tap (or sink) while washing them and the odours will disappear. This works every time, without fail.

Tip of the Day February 25 2009

Use Less

The easiest and most simple way to save money (and time and energy and resources) is simply to use less - of everything. When you brush your teeth, make sure you turn off the tap. When you leave the room, turn off the lights and the TV. We almost always remember to take our green bags to the supermarket, but what about for other shopping? Say no to plastic bags and save money and our environment. Run full loads in the washing machine and the dishwasher. Mulch the garden to use less water. Use a timer in the shower. Walk rather than use the car whenever possible. These are simple solutions that will help you to use less of everything, reduce your monthly bills and save energy, thereby reducing your impact on the environment.

Tip of the Day February 24 2009

Getting Fit on a Budget

Getting fit can cost you a fortune, however it doesn’t have to be that way. You don’t need to spend a fortune on your sports and fitness gear. Take advantage of clearance centres and factory outlets where possible, you can pick up $180 joggers for $50-80. Alternatively look at discount retailers like Big W or Kmart - they are often 10-20% less than the sports stores and gym prices – even better when they have a 20% discount sale. Remember that Myer, DJ’s and major sports retailers offer huge discounts at clearance and their 6 monthly sales.

Tip of the Day February 23, 2009

Pouring Oil on Troubled Babies

It's hard to pour baby oil (I used light olive or almond on my babies rather than a mineral based oil), especially if you're trying to hold down a wriggly baby! You either get too much or it spills all over the change table. If you take an old roll-on bottle and wash it out really well, you can put some baby oil into it and replace the ball. You now have roll-on baby oil! No more spills, stains or waste.

Tip of the Day February 22, 2009

Sayings to Save By

Use one or all of these mantras to help you evaluate your spending habits:

1. Is this a need or a want?
Movies, holidays, computers, mobile phones, internet access and fast food are all examples of luxuries that you can live without.

2. Sweat the small stuff
A couple dollars here and there add up quickly. A cappuccino for $2.20 may not seem like much, but one a day, every day for a year adds up to a whopping $803!

3. Free is good
Listen to the radio instead of buying CDs, watch free TV instead of cable, go to the library, walk in the park.

4. Will I still want this tomorrow?
Don t buy on impulse. Wait 24 hours to be sure you really want it. If you think it will be gone before then, ask the store to put a 24 hour hold on that particular item.

Tip of the Day February 21, 2009

Lavender Blue

Great-grandma had the right idea. Plant lavender in pots and collect the flowers to use in sachets. Keep them in your drawers and linen cupboards, in boxes of stored clothing, blankets etc to keep them smelling sweet and fresh and help repel silverfish and moths.
Hang sprigs of lavender tied in bunches on the hanging rail in your wardrobe and tie them to coat hangers to scent your clothes all year round. Lavender sachets are expensive to buy, but you can have fresh ones every year if you grow your own.

Tip of the Day February 20, 2009

Tracking Water Use

Has the water bill got you stumped? Does your bill seem too high, your water usage over the suggested 155 litres per person per day no matter what you do to cut back? Maybe the meter is not tracking your usage correctly. Here's how to check. Turn off all water sources inside the house and take a metre reading. Now fill a 10 litre container three times and take a second reading. The meter should show a 30 litre increase. If you see a discrepancy you need to track down the leaky culprit if you possibly can. Before you call your water company's repair number and arrange for a service call (which could end up costing you) take a good look around for leaks - the toilets, slowly dripping taps (indoors and outside), look around the yard for signs of leaking water pipes. You can usually fix leaking taps and toilets yourself with simple supplies from any hardware shop. Underground leaks are more difficult and usuall require expert advice. If you suspect an underground leak then contact your water company or the plumber of your choice.

Tip of the Day February 19, 2009

Spud Saver

To keep potatoes from sprouting, place an apple in the bag with the potatoes and store them in a cool, dry, dark place. I keep mine on the pantry floor in a wooden box lined with a hessian sack and an apple in the middle of the pile. They keep for ages without any spoiling.

Tip of the Day February 18, 2009

Sticking Plates to a Tray

Serving a meal on a tray? A flat rubber jar opener under the dinner plate keeps it in place. Cut up old hot water bottles to use as jar openers if you have them. Saves spending $2.95 buying them, and they will be tougher and larger. Alternately, a slightly dampened face washer will do the same job, and also double as a finger towel for after the meal. For smaller mats, to use under mugs and glasses, cut the backs off rubber gloves once they get holes in them. It makes breakfast in bed and meals on a tray a little more secure!

Tip of the Day February 17, 2009

Not Just for Fish 'n Chips

Did you know that vinegar, the strength readily available in grocery stores, is a non-toxic antibacterial cleaner? Keep a spray bottle full in your kitchen and another one in your bathroom. Use it in the kitchen to spray clean your sink, countertops, and cutting boards. In the bathroom, disinfect the toilet bowl, and leave your sink & mirror sparkling clean. Wipe with a clean dry cloth, or a paper towel.

Tip of the Day February 16, 2009

How to Use a Broken Washing Basket

Use the bottom of an old plastic laundry basket as a boot tray for muddy shoes. Just cut the broken plastic top off and put it aside. I used a pair of pruning shears to cut the ribs off mine, but a sharp knife or a good pair of scissors would do the same. It sits by the back door and the kids just take their dirty boots and shoes off and drop them in the tray. It keeps the mud and dirt in one spot and the verandah, door mat and floor clean.

Use the top as a bird and cat net in the garden. Simply push the ends down into the soil to form a cage over the top of your plants. They can still get plenty of sun and water but the birds and cats can't get to them. I've saved all the zucchini and cucumber plants by doing this in the veggie garden this summer.

Tip of the Day February 15, 2009

DIY Disposable Duster

Make a throw-away duster from old newspapers. Roll together a couple of sections of plain black and white newspaper. Tie the bundle in the middle with a piece of string or a good heavy rubber band. Cut a long fringe on one end with a pair of sharp scissors (this is the duster part)...the other end is the handle. Now you can dust the cobwebs out of the high places and chase the dust bunnies out from under the couch. For extra high spots (we have cathedral ceilings in our lounge room) and outside around the house (they are great for under the eaves) use a rubber band to fasten the "handle" to the end of a broom stick and dust away. Just pitch the whole thing when it gets dirty. I like this idea because it means one less "thing" to have to keep track of and it makes cleaning in those extra high spots easy.

Tip of the Day February 14, 2009

Micro Fibre Magic

Since first trying micro-fibre cleaning cloths about three years ago I've fallen in love with them. I've tried the expensive brands (Enjo and the less expensive Sabco and Oates brands) and I've tried the cheaper brands (Mr Clean, from dollar shops). Honestly, the cheaper brands have worked just as well for me as the more expensive. Yes, it's true they don't last as long. But recommendations are that the more expensive brands need to be replaced every twelve months if they are used regularly. I've been able to get 4 – 6 weeks of constant daily use out of the cheaper brands before I've had to delegate them to "rag" status and put them outside to use on the bbq and car.

Micro fibre cleaning cloths are just fantastic if you have allergies or are environmentally conscious. They use cold water and the cloth to clean like magic. The trick is to remember to use cold water. Hot water causes any grease on the surface you're cleaning to soften and spread rather than stick to the fibres in the cloth.

At just $2 each they cost between $16 - $24 a year, a big saving on the more expensive brands for just as good a result.

Tip of the Day February 13, 2009

Dough Fun

When my children were little they loved getting out the cookie cutters and the rolling pin and tubs of homemade playdough. I would put a plastic tablecloth down on the floor to catch the crumbs and they would be busy little beavers, rolling and cutting (and even occasionally snacking on) the brightly coloured dough.

Homemade playdough is much cheaper than the bought stuff and it lasts a long time, even if they leave it out.

Even though the boys are teenagers, they still use playdough. Thomas had a video project to do for school last year and guess what – he made the scenery out of playdough.

It is very easy to make, and only costs a few cents.

Here's my favourite playdough recipe:

1 cup plain flour
1/2 cup salt
1 tbsp oil
food colouring

Mix the salt and flour. Stir the food colouring and oil into the water and add to the dry ingredients. Use your hands to knead into a pliable dough. Or, if you have a food processor, dump the whole lot into the bowl and pulse until it all comes together.

When it looks like playdough, dump it onto the bench and knead for a few minutes. That's it!

I keep it in recycled takeaway food containers (the ones with the lids, like Chinese takeaway) or ziplock style plastic bags in the fridge.

Go wild with the colours for hours and hours of cheap fun.

Tip of the Day February 12, 2009

Five Household Basics Keep the Whole House Clean

Commercially made, chemical-based household cleaners can eat up a large chunk of your household budget. There are cleaners for windows, mirrors, bench tops, cupboard doors, walls, sinks, enamel cook tops, ceramic cook tops, ovens, stainless steel appliances, wooden floors, vinyl floors, ceramic tiles, carpet, bathrooms, toilets, kitchens and laundries. You could almost fill a small supermarket with just cleaning items.

Instead of spending your hard-earned dollars on these things, just a few simple, safe and cheap everyday items will clean your whole house.

Bicarbonate soda is a gentle, moderately alkaline, non-toxic abrasive which cuts through grease and oil because it reacts with the fatty acids to form a mild detergent. Use it to clean, deodorize and buffer (you can even clean your teeth with it).

Lemon juice is a natural bleach which can be used for stain removal, deodorizing and mould inhibiting. And lemons are free if you have a lemon tree or if you know someone who does!

Salt is a natural and gentle abrasive and disinfectant, that's useful for clearing drains and scouring utensils. It is very cheap and readily available.

White vinegar is a moderately strong acid that can remove bathroom scum and hard water deposits as well as discolouration from metals such as aluminium, brass, bronze and copper. It can also remove rust stains on iron. White vinegar will clean moss off bricks and concrete, just
remember they are porous and it is an acid. Rinse well with water after cleaning.

Eucalyptus oil removes stains on carpet. Simply put eucalyptus oil in a spray atomizer, spray generously on the stain, and wipe with a clean absorbent cloth. It is also very useful for getting sticky stuff off almost anything.

Know Your Biggest Monthly Grocery Expenses

Do you know which grocery items you spend the most on at the supermarket? How much more do you spend on them than other items? How many do you buy a month? If you don't know the answers to these questions, it's good to take the time to find out. Start by writing down what you believe your biggest expenses are and then spend the next few weeks tracking the quantity of each item you purchase and how much you spend. You can use our Grocery Tracking Spreadsheet to help you keep track.

After a few weeks of tracking, you'll start to see your biggest expenses. Some you may have expected, but some may surprise you! Once you know what your biggest grocery expenses are you can determine whether you need to be spending so much on them and look for ways to trim the cost.

Tip of the Day February 10, 2009

Living With Cash!

If you don't have the cash, don't buy it. This is the simplest thing and yet it can be so difficult, especially when credit is involved. Somehow paying for something with a little plastic card doesn't send the "warning: spending in progress" alarm off in the brain. For years credit has been easy, too easy, to get. What is forgotten is that it comes with a very steep price.

Think of it this way: when you buy something on credit (that wasn't budgeted for) you don't own it until you've paid it off - the buying price and the interest if you don't pay the credit card bill immediately. Living on a cash budget and sticking to the $100/24 Hour Rule might not be what everyone else is doing but they will help you to live below your means and build up savings for the tough times and own everything you buy.

Tip of the Day February 9, 2009

Start a Slush Fund

Allow a set amount of money each week for bargain buys. I call this my slush fund and it is a budgeted item. $5 or $10 a week is added to the slush fund so that you can stock up on extra soap powder, butter, breakfast cereals, toilet paper, meat etc when they are on sale using your slush fund money. This way you will always be able to pick up a bargain without putting a strain on your budget. You can build your slush fund quite quickly by adding the excess grocery money to it after you have done your shopping. No bargains this week? No problem, just let your slush fund build up. You'll find a bargain soon enough.

Tip of the Day February 8, 2009

Protect Your Identity

Identity theft is just as real as a thief in the night. It is a growing concern now that credit is more difficult to obtain. The tight credit market increases the motive for people who stoop to the level of stealing your identity to gain access to credit. Every day someone will contact me to tell me they don't like to use their credit card online as it isn't safe, they would much rather phone me and give me their credit card number, the expiry date, the name on the card and the security code over the phone or fill out an application form and post it to me. I'm not sure which is worse. Neither of these methods of payment is secure or safe.

Protect your personal financial information by shredding financial documents (in fact any document with your full name and address on it, even envelopes) and paying your bills electronically. Using a secure online payment systems is far safer than putting your credit card details on paper for all the world to see or reading them out over the phone to a complete stranger. If you don't have a shredder then you can tear the documents into small pieces and either add them to your compost bin or worm farm or spread them onto a sheet of newspaper and then wrap the veggie peelings in it before dropping it into your garbage bin.

Remember, most identity theft is done by someone you know.

Tip of the Day February 7, 2009

Limit Your Spending Power

Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) make getting cash very easy. Look at your bank statements if you need proof. See all those $40, $50, $100 ATM withdrawals listed? Can you account for all that cash? Probably not. And take notice of the fees you have paid for the privilege of accessing your money by ATM too. If you need cash, make an ATM withdrawal from one of your bank's own ATMs or get cash added to an EFTPOS transaction, perhaps when you do the groceries or fill the car up.

Tip of the Day February 6, 2009

Hide It Before You Can Spend It

Out of sight is out of mind - and when it comes to money out of sight means in the bank. In sight eventually means out of the wallet. So, get your money out of sight before you can spend it. Set up a direct debit transfer from your main bank account to another bank account - one that you don't have a card or chequebook for so that it is difficult for you to get to that money. You will be amazed at how much you can save in a year when you don't notice it - and you won't notice it if it doesn't even hit your everyday account.

The Weekly No Buy Day

Choose one day a week as a no buy day, when you leave your money and credit/debit cards at home. Take notice of what you are tempted by - these are the things that most likely help your money disappear.

For Advanced Cheapskates: Jot down the prices of the things you would have bought if you'd had the money on you (the coffee or the packet of biscuits at the supermarket on the way home, lunch because you couldn't be bothered packing it etc). Total it up at the end of the day and immediately move that money into your emergency fund.

Check the Checker

As it's essential spending only this month, pay particular attention to your cash register dockets and receipts. Keep an eye out for incorrectly charged items as the checkout operator scans them. Over the course of a lifetime a person could be overcharged as much as 20% and they are much more common than most consumers believe. If you find a discrepancy, ask about it straight away. The major supermarkets follow the voluntary Scanning Code of Practice. Under the code supermarkets who are signatories to the Code are required to ensure the accuracy of their pricing procedures and checkout systems. If a customer finds an item that has scanned incorrectly they may be entitled to that item free of charge. You can download a copy of the Code here.

The 10% Grocery Cut

Cut your grocery bill by 10% this week. If you normally spend $200 a week, this week you are only going to spend $180. Check what you have on hand before you go shopping (fridge, freezer, pantry) and only buy what you really need rather than what you think you need. Then shop for those things within your new grocery budget. If you come in with an even bigger saving, well done. And don't forget to pay some off debt and put the rest to your emergency account.

To Save Money - STOP SPENDING!

Seriously, stop spending money - no more clothes, magazines, toys, makeup, computer bits and bobs, shoes etc. For four weeks use your money to pay the essential living expenses (mortgage/rent, utilities, food - bare bones basics, fares/petrol) and see just how much is left over at the end of the month. Then use 50% of that money to pay down debt and 50% to increase (or start) your emergency fund. You must bank the leftover money - it is not saved until it is safely in the bank it is just not spent.

Essential Spending Month

Essential spending is just that: spending money (and that includes credit) only on essentials.

Essential spending would be:
Rent/mortgage
Utilities: gas, electricity, phone, water (but look for ways to save on these too)
Food: but shop at home first
Medical/pharmacy: don't scrimp on your health – the future cost would be far too great
Petrol: unless you can walk everywhere you'll need your car. But try to limit how far you go and how often you use it. Carpool if you can, share the school run with another mother, make one trip and do all your errands.

And before you spend, look for the alternatives:
Do you have something that you can use as a substitute?
Grate a bar of soap and dissolve it in water instead of buying soap powder. You'll only need to use a very little to get the washing clean.
Mix garlic, dishwashing detergent and water to use as an insect spray on the garden.
Use a cup cake tin to make muffins – you'll get more from the recipe, too.
Before hitting the supermarket, shop at home. Is there anything in the pantry that you can use up? Be creative, you may come up with a future family favourite.
Cook and bake instead of buying.
Empty the freezer, use up all those mystery packages – make every night surprise dinner night.

I challenge you to make February your essential spending month.

Tip of the Day January 31, 2009

I love the fact that most primary schools include swimming lessons as a part of the curriculum for students. What I don't like is the cost of swimming bags or the inconvenience of finding a spare plastic bag for the kids to put their wet things in each week. Today's tip solves that problem once and for all and at a budget price too.

Make a $3 Swimming Bag from a Shower Curtain

My daughter's school sells swimming bags for $12. They are made out of royal blue showerproof nylon with a drawstring at the top and stamped with the school logo. Apart from being overpriced, they are not really waterproof and with swimming in the morning, her school bag was getting wet before she arrived home. This year I have made her a swimming bag out of a $3 nylon shower curtain. I simply measured her bag and then for added water resistance I doubled it so it is two layers thick. A casing hem at the top and I re-cycled the cord out of her old one. It dries quickly and I can even put it in the washing machine with the towels without a problem. I have enough of the material left to make at least one other bag and a couple of small purses. All for just $3! - Contributed by Jan, Glenelg

Tip of the Day January 30, 2009

Warm Weather Lunches

When you're packing the lunches think about the weather, how it's going to be transported, how long it will have to sit until it's eaten and whether or not you want the packaging back.

In warmer weather making sandwiches and rolls up ahead of time and freezing them will keep them fresh until lunchtime. Ditto for yoghurts, custards and fruit tubs. They'll thaw in the lunch box ready to be eaten. And on a hot, humid day a nice cool lunch will encourage a lagging appetite. If you are going to freeze sandwiches and rolls, double wrap them or put them into the ziplock sandwich bags (they can be washed and re-used) and then into another air tight container. This will ensure that any extra moisture stays out and discourage freezer burn and soggy sandwiches when thawed.

Tip of the Day January 29, 2009

Anybodys School Stuff

If you have more than one child, buy school needs such as drink bottles, lunchboxes, swimming bags, book bags etc in gender-neutral colours. Label backpacks and lunch boxes with your last name only (our labels say "Armstrong family"). This way you can pass the items from child to child without having the wrong name on them!

Tip of the Day January 28, 2009

Covering School Books

Every parent’s back to school nightmare but it’s a good idea to help protect your children's’ schoolbooks from a year of abuse by making covers out of a durable material, such as brown paper and strong plastic book covering. Using brown paper is much easier than using contact, saving time and a lot of frustration. You can buy rolls of brown paper for bookcovering from newsagents and office supply stores. One roll is usually enough for a couple of years, depending of course on the number of books you have to cover.

1. Measure the height of the book you want to cover. Then measure the distance from the front to back covers. Add 15cm to the two measurements (to create the inside flaps), and cut a piece of paper to this size.

2. Open the book, and place it face down in the centre of the paper. To accommodate the spine,
make two vertical cuts on the excess paper at the top and bottom of the book, creating a flap. Fold the flap down and behind the spine, creating two notches. If this isn’t possible, carefully trim the flap level with the bottom of the spine.

3. Wrap the paper around the book, making sure the inside flaps are equal sizes. Fold top and bottom flaps over the side flaps and tape in place.

Tip of the Day January 27, 2009

It's Back to School Week!

The summer has flown and now it's time for kids all over Australia to head back to school. The uniforms have been washed and ironed and the shoes polished to an outstanding sheen. Backpacks are loaded up with books and pencils and bright new lunchboxes and drink bottles stand ready on the bench to be packed with a tasty, nutritious lunch.

Save yourself some angst and gather those shirts, dresses and polo shirts and put a dab of clear nail polish on the front and back of each button before they are worn for the first time. This will help to anchor those loose threads and stop the buttons from falling off. It will also save you having to buy a card of 5 buttons when you only need 4 or having to buy two cards because you need 6. And of course those pricked fingers, sewing on buttons can be dangerous work!

You can do this to all shirt and dress buttons, not just school uniforms.

Celebrating the Australian Way

Today is 26th January, Australia Day. On our national day I thought it would be nice to share with you two emails that characterize Australians (and they're good tips on attitude too).

Be happy with what you have
I think this is the most important tip of all... in this age of consumerism and indulgence we all too often lose sight of what really matters for a good life .... good health, solid, happy and supportive relationships, a good sense of humour and the gratitude for the things we DO have , as opposed to wanting what we don't have (both material and emotional ). Caz R

We're All in This Together
Our local convenience store has always been the hub of our little hills suburb, and the new owners have made a particular effort to ensure that this continues. To them it's not just a matter of running a business - we always stay for a few extra words and leave with a big smile. We have a policy of buying something there each week - they try to keep the costs down, so the extra we are paying would be less than $1 (often only a few cents) and while I realise that $1 a week could allow a nice little treat at the end of the year, I think the feeling of fun, friendship and wellbeing is worth far more!

I see Cheapskating in terms of "we're all in this together" - being frugal is not the same as being mean, and if everyone in the community were to buy something from their local convenience store on a regular basis, perhaps we can ensure that these small businesses don't succumb to the big businesses which, let's face it, are more interested in the shareholders than the customers! Alison Campbell

Tip of the Day January 25, 2009

Grow Your Own Greens

When I was growing up my mother had a huge vegetable garden, it took up more than half the back yard so it seemed normal to me to have a veggie garden when we moved into our first house. It paled in comparison to mum's, for starters it was only 3m x 1.5m. And of course I didn't inherit her green thumbs either.

These days I have a small veggie garden but it produces all the greens my family of 5 needs for the year. It's in a nice sunny spot, gets well watered (I use the tank water) and I add compost to the soil each time I plant something new.

So, regardless of the size of your backyard or your lack of green thumbs you can grow at least some of your food and save yourself a fortune.

Pick a nice sunny spot, it will need at least 6 hours of full sun each day.
Decide what you are going to grow. There's no point in planting zucchini if you only eat eggplant. Start with the easy to grow veggies - lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, cabbage, cauliflower, peas and beans. As you become more confident you can add eggplant, squash, carrots, radishes, beetroot etc
Water and weed regularly and enjoy the fruits (or vegetables) of your labour.

Tip of the Day January 24, 2009

Parents, Keep Those Receipts!

Schools all over Australia are gearing up for another year and that means that parents and carers are out shopping for school supplies.

On 30th June 2008, the Federal Treasurer, Wayne Swan, announced the Education Tax Refund. This is to assist parents and carers with Education expenses with refunds of 50% of allowable education expenses. The maximum refund is :

• $375 per primary school student
• $750 per secondary school student

The example given in the press release is:
"Sarah and Michael have two children, Petra, in secondary school and Jack, in grade three. The Education Tax Refund will allow Sarah and Michael to claim 50% of the cost of a $1,500 laptop computer they bought for Petra, a refund of $750. They will also be able to claim Jack's education software and school textbooks up to teh value of $750, receiving a refund of $375."

Eligible expenses for the Education Tax Refund include:

• Laptops;
• Education software;
• Home computers and associated costs;
• Trade tools for use at school;
• Home Internet connections;
• School text books;
• Printers; and
• Stationery.

Parents entitled to Family Tax Benefit (FTB) Part A for children in primary or secondary school for the relevant financial year are eligible for the Education Tax Refund. It can be claimed through their tax return at the end of the financial year.

So, parents and carers of school kids, KEEP THOSE RECEIPTS!

For more information go to: http://www.treasurer.gov.au

Tip of the Day January 23, 2009

The Frugal Face

We all like to look good, but do you really need to buy those expensive brand name skin care and cosmetic products? And do you really need to buy them from the cosmetics counter at DJs or Myer? If money is tight you can still look great without taking out a second mortgage on the house and you won't end up looking like a well weathered crocodile either.

There are any number of good skin care and cosmetic products readily available at budget prices that make excellent alternatives to those brand names. Aldi have a range of make-up that sells for between $2.95 and $5.95 per item and they are fantastic. If you don't have an Aldi close by, go to elf.com.au where you will find everything the image conscious female (or male) needs to look fabulous everyday. Budget department stores and pharmacies have extensive cosmetic departments with brand names often selling for 20% less than department stores.

And as fashions change so quickly, why would you pay $25 for a lipstick from a department store when you can get one that's just as pretty and does just as good a job at keeping those lips moisturised for $5?

Tip of the Day January 22, 2009

Have a Mufti Meal Once a Week

One way to easily keep your grocery bill down is to have a mufti meal once a week to use up the leftover single serves and odd spoonfuls of foods you have lurking in the fridge at the end of the week, don't throw them out or add them to the dog food. To make it an easy meal set the food out buffet style and let everyone help themselves. Put out some tortillas or rolls, condiments and a plate of fruit to round out the meal (and clean out the fruit bowl and bread bin). To avoid arguments over favourite foods, make a 'first in line, first served' rule. It's like getting a free meal once a week.

Tip of the Day January 21, 2009

Finding Alternatives to Bought Items

Just because you've handed over your hard earned cash to a checkout operator doesn't necessarily mean that what you've bought is great, or even good or that it will serve it's purpose better than an alternative item you already have at home or can create quickly from items or ingredients you have at hand.


Homemade ideas are often better for you, your family, your home and the environment than the often more expensive bought goods. Whether you're looking for an alternative for a food item, a gift idea, or even home maintenance, shopping at home first and putting your creativity to good use can save you a lot of money.

Tip of the Day January 20, 2009

Learn from Byron's mistake

Byron learnt the hard way not to cancel insurance policies early. He had sold his cute little red Mercedes convertible and taken a cash deposit. Being confident that the sale would proceed, he rang up and cancelled his insurance policy on the car two days before it was to be picked up and paid for. Driving home from work that day he was in a three car pile-up on the Harbour Bridge and managed to write the car off - along with the cash deposit! He was left with no car, no sale and no insurance. Thankfully in this instance the car was fully paid for.

Never, ever, cancel an insurance policy until you have a permanent replacement policy in place (and a cover note just won't cut it). There are any number of reasons for insurance claims to be denied so you need to have proof that the policy has been accepted and a receipt number for the payment firmly in your hot little hands (or neatly filed away in the insurance sleeve of your Bill folder). This applies to car, health, life, home and contents - any insurance you may have.

Even one small accident can wipe out an entire emergency fund and more so don't take the chance.

Tip of the Day January 19, 2009

A Non-stick Solution

The advent of non-stick cooking utensils has made food preparation so much easier for the busy cook. Teflon revolutionised milk pans and these days there are any number of different non stick surfaces on pots and pans. Unfortunately they have a tendency to stain quite easily, making them look dirty and dingy before their time. Good quality, non-stick cookware isn't cheap so knowing how to care for it properly will ensure that you get the full life-time out of your pots and pans and enjoy cooking with them.

• Never use metal utensils in non-stick cookware (and yes, I've seen the ads and read the literature stating that some non-stick surfaces can take metal utensils).There are plenty of soft utensils around, suitable for all kinds of stirring, lifting, whisking etc that won't harm the surface of your non-stick pans.
  
• Always wipe out with a soft cloth before washing and then wash in hot, soapy water with a soft cloth. Gently rubbing any stubborn spots with the cloth should shift them quite easily.
• Remove stains from non-stick pans by sprinkling the surface with bicarb soda. Place a sliced lemon over the bicarb soda in a single layer. Add enough water to just cover the lemons, then simmer until the stain goes away. If the stain proves to be stubborn, remove from heat and allow the pan to soak overnight. Rinse and wipe over, the stain should be gone. If it's not, repeat the process.
• If you have a non-stick pan that has started to peel - stop using it! The risk of some of the coating getting into your food and through that into your body is too high to chance it.
  

Tip of the Day January 18, 2009

Seven and a half cents doesn't mean a heck of a lot...

As the old Doris Day song goes "but give it to me every minute of every hour of everyday…."

Sometimes it's easy to think that $1 here and $5 there isn't much but all those small amounts can add up to quite a lot very quickly. Frittering away $5 a day is a whopping $35 a week! That casual attitude to small amounts really does add up. Keep the carefree attitude and before too long you could end up in big trouble.

So, instead of frittering away small amounts, stash the cash instead. Put it into a jar (or the Milo tin)or your secret cash stash and when you have $20 bank it into your savings account and watch that add up.

Oh, and seven and a half cents of every minute of every day adds up to $39,312 in a year! Doris sure knew what she was singing about.

Tip of the Day January 17, 2009

Skip those ad breaks

We all like to relax, and watching a good show on TV can be a great way to relax. But you need to tune out when the ad breaks appear, even those short ones. Research indicates that couch potatoes (even ones who just relax of an evening) are much more likely to overspend when they are shopping for each 1 minute ad they watch due to the truly powerful effects of this marketing medium. Because TV advertising is made up of words and pictures (with pictures being the most powerful) every time the couch potato sees a commercial they are psychologically reminded of their desire to have it. As soon as they see it in the shop the desire returns and the impulse buying begins. Turn off the ads, get up and have a glass of water or record your favourite programs and fast forward through them. If you really need to research a product then you can do it in your own time and in your own way.

Loathsome firebugs

Oh my! I am in a state of shock at the moment. If you follow my calendar you will know that I was scheduled to speak with James Lush on ABC Radio Perth at noon today.

Unfortunately we've had to postpone the chat until early next week because some senseless fool has set fire to Kings Park. The temperature in Perth is expected to reach 40 today and Rosemary tells me the winds are blowing a gale so the fire has just taken off.

To anyone who knows Perth, you'll understand just how devastating this is. Kings Park is just glorious and I have spent many hours wandering through on my visits to WA. I am so saddened at such a stupid and senseless act.

Our gorgeous Australian landscape is so volatile, especially at this time of year. Just this week Adelaide and Port Lincoln have suffered through bush fires, even Sydney, a huge city, hasn't been immune with fire racing through the bush at Killara, a suburb just 11 kilometres from the CBD.

We have bush behind us and I love it. I look out the kitchen and family room windows straight onto majestic gums and spectacular wattle trees and I can tell you that my greatest fear is that some fool will set fire to it.

So, to ease my mind, we have a fire plan for the family and house, even though we are in the suburbs. With the bush so close to our home we have always felt that a simple and easy to remember fire plan is essential. Each summer I pray we don't have to use it. My in-laws live close to Galston Gorge in Sydney and they have a fire plan too. They have even had to use it a couple of times in recent years due to loathsome firebugs.

Even in suburbia you are not immune to the threat of bush and scrub fires so please take some time to work out a fire plan for your family. Fire plans should have been done months ago but it's not too late. If you don't have one you should do one now. You don't need to live in the bush or the mountains to be caught in a fire either - there are hundreds of housefires every year from something as simple as a pot catching fire in the kitchen.

You can get a sample plan from the NSW Rural Fire Service. This website has a number of different fact sheets you can download to help you get started.

And if you at least have a plan in place it will make the firebug's life that little bit more difficult.

Tip of the Day January 16, 2009

You Need a Plan to Get out of Debt

If you have decided 2009 is the year you are going to get rid of that credit card debt, then, before they year gets too much older, you need a plan. Without a plan all you've done is made a decision. To get rid of that debt completely you need to act on that decision and you need a plan to do that.

Here are my rules for the Payment Push (the fastest way to get out of debt that I know):

1. Stop using that card. Put it away, somewhere safe. You are not going to be using it.
2. Make this month's payment every month. You are going to keep on paying this month's payment every month and ignore the minimum required payment on your statement. This month's payment is now the fixed monthly payment for that account.
3. Make a list. Get all your credit cards and other debts and make a list of them, from smallest to largest.
4. Keep on paying. Once you have finally paid off the credit card, add the payment to the fixed payment for your next smallest debt and keep on paying. When that one is gone for good, add the payment to the next smallest debt and keep on paying. Do you see the pattern here?

Keep repeating this process until you are totally debt free.

Tip of the Day January 15, 2009

Dig out of Debt

Yesterday's tip was to spend more wisely and I suggested you physically put the money you weren't spending in a piggybank. Today we are going to move that tip up a notch. At the end of the month you are going to empty the piggybank (or jam jar or Milo tin or whatever) and take that money, as it is, and pay it straight off your smallest debt. It may be your credit card or a personal loan or even your mortgage. You are going to pay that money, no matter how small the total, off that debt. Then you are going to keep doing this until that debt is completely cleared. Of course you'll still be making your regular payments on it, but this extra boost should see it disappear even more quickly. When this debt is gone you can start on the next smallest. And best of all is you won't be missing the extra payments.

Tip of the Day January 14, 2009

Spend more wisely

We all have our own ways of wasting money. Now see how you can eliminate the ones that you wouldn't miss. Just saving the dollar you would normally spend on the newspaper each day adds up. When you've decided what to eliminate, pay yourself for it each time you would have normally bought it. Put the money in a piggy bank or a separate purse, somewhere you can't get at it. At the end of the month how much money have you kept?

Tip of the Day January 13, 2009

Don’t Leave the TV on Just to “Have Noise”

When we were first married Wayne would walk into the lounge, turn on the TV, and walk straight back out again! I was going mad, following behind to turn it off. He had become so used to the TV being on and the constant droning noise that turning it on was automatic, he didn't realize until I pointed out (a few times) what he was doing. What a waste of power. If you are in this habit, then get out of it. You'll come to enjoy the quiet and the sense of peace and find it easier to relax. Your day will be far less stressful and depending on how many TVs you have on your power bill will drop considerably.

Tip of the Day January 12, 2009

Use Tea Towels, Not Paper Towels

If you keep a tea towel near the sink that’s only to be used for drying hands and a supply of others that are just for wiping up spills and cleaning then you’ll find your paper towel usage diminish severely. We go through a roll of paper towels every 6 weeks at the fastest, unless we host a party or do a lot of frying. Recycle old, worn towels for this purpose before putting them in the rag bag.

Good food, good friends, good fun!

From the start of Daylight Saving until the end, we cook outside. A few years ago we invested (and yes, I consider the purchase an investment) in a good bbq, complete with side burners, rotisserie and roasting hood. If only the stove inside was as good! I love it, the house stays cool, the kitchen stays clean and there are usually no pots to clean up!

We usually have friends or family or both over at least one night during the week to share a bbq with us. It's a simple meal of meat and salad and maybe bread, eaten outside. Very relaxed and casual. Perfect Aussie summer entertaining.

We had friends over last night for a bbq and it was a beautiful night. Warm enough to sit outside until late (it was after 11pm when we came in) and just talk and laugh and enjoy each other's company. The thing that made it extra nice for me was the fact that the kids didn't leave the table either. They all played on the wii before we ate, and I fully expected them to jump up and go back to it when they had finished but they didn't. They sat and joined in the conversation and laughed and made jokes and even had some interesting points of view. It was so nice to have all the kids - 8 of them aged between 13 and 18 - share so much time with us.

I very rarely vary the menu for a barbecue. Tossed salad, coleslaw, potato salad, buttered bread, sausages and burgers. Nibblies are a dip and crackers, cheese cubes, pickled onions, diced sausage, carrot and celery straws. Simple and easy to prepare and I always have all the ingredients in the house, so I don't need to run out and buy anything. For dessert I usually just bring out the fruit bowl and everyone helps themselves. Last night we had watermelon and fresh pineapple, sliced and arranged on a platter as well as the fruit bowl of apples, oranges, bananas and mandarins to finish off.

While we were talking the subject back to school supplies came up. All the kids had ideas about what they needed and what they should have and I was thrilled to see that they were all happy to keep what they had and just replenish to fill in the gaps. The three girls have planned an afternoon to get together and cover last year's folders so they can use them again, but have them looking fresh. They tried to talk the boys into it, but it was no go. Oh well. They've asked us Mums to keep the junk mail for them and warned us that they'll need glue and contact and that they'll probably make a terrible mess. I'm pretty sure they'll clean it up and if it gives them an afternoon of fun and friendship and saves a few dollars I'm all for it. I'll print off the instructions for covering books for them and while they have the contact out they can cover the textbooks that need doing too. That will save me doing a job I loathe - I always end up with just one bubble that won't go away and it annoys me for days.

Today I'd like to get some more cordial made and another lot of ginger beer started. I'm still amazed at how much cheaper it is to make drinks from scratch. I saw ginger beer in the supermarket (on sale too!) for $1 a 375ml bottle! I get 24 600ml bottles for around $5, sometimes less, depending on the price of the ginger. For about a half an hour of my time and very little effort I am not spending around $33 on soft drink!

That's a fair whack of anyone's grocery budget. How much do you spend on beverages for your family? Have you ever worked it out? If you drink Coke for instance (it's just an example, and believe me there are more Coke drinkers out there than will admit to it or it would've disappeared years ago), and have a 1.5l bottle a day you're spending $19.46 a week just on one drink. If you are having trouble keeping your supermarket bill down, look at how much you are spending on drinks and try to find alternatives.

One thing that helps keep the drink bill down for us is a simple rule: no softdrinks before noon, only water and milk. After noon drinks must be cycled: a drink of water, then of milk, then of water then a softdrink, then water, then milk, then water, then a softdrink. Fizzy only for afternoon tea and with dinner. It works, believe me. Even Wayne sticks to the drink rule, bless him!

In our house softdrinks include fruit juice, cordial, magic cordial and fizzy drinks. Keeping a jug of water in the fridge encourages drinking during summer. Float some lemon or lime slices in the top, they scent the water and make it more refreshing on a boiling summers day.

Leftovers for dinner tonight, rather than our usual Sunday roast. There are sausages, burgers and salad left from last night's bbq so we'll finish those off and save the roast for another night. I'm going to make a dessert tonight too - shock, horror, I don't often make desserts - there are some berries to use up and some cream and there's a pavlova in the pantry that needs to be used up so we'll have a decadent end to our leftover dinner, the perfect end to a lovely Sunday.

Get Prepared and Slash That Grocery Bill

Take the time to write up a grocery list and go through the supermarket junk mail. Start this week by being prepared with enough food to make quick meals at home. Take the time to walk through the supermarket to compare brands and prices. Make notes on the back of your shopping list so you can update your Price Book when you get home. You can easily save $20 or more each week by shopping the sales at the stores. As soon as you've put the groceries away, update your Grocery Tracking Spreadsheet. Seeing just how much you are spending in each category can be just the thing you need to rein in the food budget.

Tip of the Day January 10, 2009

Simplify

There is a certain romance to the “simplify your life” movement. The thought of having just enough, without any clutter around, can be very appealing. And having too much stuff really does weigh us down. Take a look at everything in your home. If it does not add joy, beauty, meaning, or usefulness to your life, give it away. And when you are tempted to buy something new, ask yourself: does it make me smile? Do I need it? Will I really use it/wear it/read it/listen to it? If the answer is yes and you have the cash to buy it, without hurting your budget then go ahead.

Then, on a quarterly basis (monthly if you have a lot of 'stuff'), go through your house and ask yourself these same questions again. Go through your wardrobe, linen cupboard, kitchen cupboards, garden sheds and garage and get rid of those things that do not add genuine joy, beauty, meaning or usefulness to your everyday life.

For Advanced Cheapskates: After purging excess stuff instigate a "one thing in, one thing out rule". No one can bring an item into the house unless they first remove one. This way you'll maintain your simplified and de-cluttered environment and you won't be doubling up on purchases.

Tip of the Day January 9, 2009

Diarise Gift Giving

It's never too early to buy gifts. In fact right now is a great time to start shopping for next Christmas and any birthdays etc you have through the year. To keep track of when a gift is required make a note of it in your diary or on your family calendar. I also keep a list of gift needs in the back of my purse so I can check what's needed when I find those fantastic bargains. Then if you pick up the perfect gift at a clearance sale or factory outlet you can mark it off. Being organized with gift giving can save you an amazing amount of money (50% and often more). Wrap and label as soon as you get it home and it's ready to go, a great money saver if you need to post or courier gifts, there'll be no need for express post.

Tip of the Day January 8, 2009

Budget Buster No. 2 - The Impulse Buy

We all get them - impulses that make us reach out and pick up the chocolate or pair of shoes or even buy a new car. That sudden and unexplained craving that makes you just have to have whatever. One of the best ways to overcome these impulse tendencies is the $100/24 Hour Rule. It's quite simple: if the thing that catches your eye, that you just have to have, costs more than $100 then you wait 24 hours before buying it. You can adapt the rule to any amount: for lesser valued items perhaps wait 2 hours. If, after this time, you still want it, need it and have the cash to pay for it without hurting your budget then go ahead and buy it. I think you'll find that after waiting, even as little as 2 hours, you'll decide you don't really want or need it after all and keep your money.

Staying cool and doing chores

When did shopping centres become the place to keep cool? "I'm thinking of hitting the shops today to beat the heat" was just said to me by an acquaintance in Sydney. Now I now it's hot - very hot - in Sydney today and perhaps it's just me but is it really going to be any cooler in a shopping centre?

I didn’t say anything to her comment (very unlike me), but I wonder just how much keeping cool in a shopping centre is going to cost her today? Petrol or fares to get there and no doubt some money will be spent during the stay, so perhaps $10? $20? Or more? At that price air conditioning at home would be cheaper or at least cost the same and far more pleasant than battling hundreds and hundreds of other hot and frazzled shoppers, all trying to stay cool in a confined space.

It's cool enough here today, and I am very grateful. The windows are open and the slight breeze is actually cold. But yesterday was a stinker, hot, humid and windy, but we still managed to stay cool at home.

When the alarm went off I jumped out of bed and ran around shutting the windows tight and closing all the blinds and drapes. Just that alone makes a huge difference to the temperature in the house. Then the ceiling fans went on and the doors to rooms not being used were closed. The house stayed a very comfortable 20 degrees all day, while outside it was 30. As soon as the sun was down the windows and doors were opened to let the cool air in and we were able to turn off the fans. And I didn't have to go to a shopping centre to stay cool!

Hannah and I are going to sort out the stationery drawer today and work out what she needs for school. The sales are on so if she needs anything now is the time to get it. I'm rather hoping that we will already have everything around the house. I know her pencil case just needs a soak and a rinse and it will look almost as good as new, so that's one expense avoided, it was a rather expensive gift last Christmas. Apparently in high school if it doesn't have a brand name on it then you are just plain dorky!

I also need to get out and pull some weeds and plant a few more lettuce and cabbages. The tomatoes are going great guns and the lettuce have been amazing. Just pulling a few leaves off each plant each day has kept them going for almost three months. I hope the next lot last as long.

While we were away I tried a delicious potato salad and it's so easy I couldn't wait to try it myself. We had it over the weekend and it's become a favourite so I'll make some more this afternoon and use up some potatoes. You simply steam one potato per person, skin on. When done, cool a few minutes and then cut into chunks. Fry an onion in a little olive oil until crisp (this takes a few minutes). Mix a good slurp of balsamic vinegar with a good egg mayonnaise and stir into the potato. Mix through the fried onion. Chill. You would not believe how nice this is. Not necessarily good for the figure but very tasty and a nice change to regular potato salad.

And then if I have time I need to clean the inside of the car. I had a little altercation with a cup of coffee while we were travelling on Friday night and the carpet needs to be shampooed. Warning: don't ever trust that the lid on a take-away coffee is actually on when you pick it up. Trust me on this: if it's not you could end up wearing it!

So this Wednesday is going to be busy, I'd better get to so I can cross some things off the list.

Tip of the Day January 7, 2009

A Simple Way to Avoid Budget Busters

Budget busters are those things that create debt and can cause a budget to spiral out of control with just the swipe of a card, literally a matter of seconds. Credit cards and the use of credit is the number one cause of budgetary failure. If you struggle to control spending then moving to a cash only budget is a simple way to keep control. The envelope system works. It may be old fashioned but it's easy to use, and being a physical system you are far more conscious of spending than you are when using cards (debit, credit or eftpos). Make a withdrawal of all the money you will need for the week, divide it up into the various envelopes (food, petrol, phone, lunch, entertainment etc) and when it's gone you have to wait until next week to spend from that envelope. A quick look in each envelope will let you know how you are going and remind you of your allocated spending amount.

Tip of the Day January 6, 2009

Finding Real Entertainment

It may be old fashioned, but the simple things really are the best, and old fashioned or not, when it comes to entertainment they can also be the best value too. It's holiday time and true to form we are being bombarded with advertising telling us we need to see the latest movie, visit Dreamworld and Movie World and a myriad of other really expensive things to keep the kids (and ourselves) entertained during the holidays. We have to spend, spend, spend or we will be bored silly. Australians are working longer and harder so they can "afford" to buy entertainment and then what? It's never enough. These things leave us wanting more and more and don't satisfy. Until we learn to enjoy simple things, these expensive, supposedly more exciting things will continue to leave us wanting more. Learn to find enjoyment in simple things and pass this skill onto your children. A trip to the park (and you don't need kids to go to the park), a picnic on the beach (or in the backyard), even mowing the lawn, can provide entertainment and satisfaction. And these things don't cost a lot of money, there's no need to work longer and harder to pay for them.

Make a list of things you consider entertainment. Then choose one thing a day, that doesn't cost much but yields a feeling of satisfaction, and try to do it. You'll find that when you do spend money on entertainment, that you really will enjoy it and be happy with your choices.

If you need some inspiration for things to do, try our list of things to do when there's nothing to do.