Tip of the Day June 4 2009

Carry a floor plan of your supermarket and save time and money

Do you want to save time and money at the supermarket? Then ask at the service desk of your regular supermarket for a floor plan and laminate it to use as your shopping list. You'll save time and not buy the extra goods you do not really need. This also helps if you have kids with you as they tend to cause distractions-just stick to the list you have marked. Use a whiteboard marker when making your list and crossing your purchases off so it can be used from week to week.

Tip of the Day June 3, 2009

Balance your bank account regularly

In order for you to have a good idea of how much money is sitting in your bank account, what deposits and payments have cleared, and any errors that you, or your bank, may have made you must balance your bank account. It really doesn't take that long, if you balance your bank account the same day your statement arrives from the bank, each month or quarter. Keep all your banking paperwork (ATM receipts, deposit books, cheque books, statements etc) in the same place so it's easy to find and the job will be done in no time.

Tip of the Day June 2, 2006

Leftovers? No, they're meal stretchers!

When you are cooking, plan to stretch the ingredients to get at least two meals from them.You don't have to cook and eat big meat and 3 veg meals every night. Try having meat and 3 veg one night followed by stir fry, quiche or noodle soup using the planned for meal stretchers (commonly called leftovers by those who don't know any better!) meat and veggies the next night. Omelettes, poached or scrambled eggs are another great way to use up these meal stretchers. Add diced meat and vegetables to a thick white or cheese sauce and use this as a pie filling or to fill thick, fluffy pancakes that can be sprinkled with cheese and a sprinkle of nutmeg and baked for savoury pancakes. Create gourmet pizzas using meal stretchers - you'll never have the same pizza twice!

Tip of the Day June 1, 2009

Social stitching

If you like to sew, embroider, quilt, cross-stitch etc start a Stitching Group. Gather a group of friends for a stitching session, you get to have an afternoon or night out for free (or for the cost of a homemade cake and coffee if you are the host for the session). Take turns hosting so it doesn't become a burden on any one member. The host is responsible for supplying a simple supper (a cake,slice or biscuits and tea/coffee) for refreshments. Everyone brings their own projects and supplies and gets on with the stitching. On top of that you can swap patterns plus ideas and get help all for free. You can even swap fabric that you are finished with for some you want. It's a great way to make new friends and get started on those gifts you are always going to make. You may even get some of those UFOs under control, we all have them hiding in the cupboard, just waiting to be finished. On top of all these great benefits, you get to chat and have fun with some friends. Savings all round.


You can expand this idea to other crafts and hobbies: scrapbooking, model making, woodworking, painting etc, it doesn't have to just be stitching crafts.

Tip of the Day May 31, 2009

Budget Sandpit Sun Shade

Approximate $ Savings: $1,200

With an active toddler I built her a sandpit two years ago just off our back verandah. We then realised that every time she played in there she was getting an awful lot of exposure to the sun and her toys were getting trashed by the elements.

Rather than building a solid structure over the sandpit we invested a whole $30 in a standard gazebo that you can pick up at Reject Shop / Cheap as Chips et al. type outlets at anytime.

We have had the gazebo up continuously for two years now and it is only just starting to show some wear and tear. We secure the corners with very long tent pegs and bricks, and weigh the centre point of the gazebo down with a heavy weight off a chaff cutter. It has not taken off in the wind yet!

Once the kids are grown we will return this area to lawn or garden so we did not want a permanent structure. When the current gazebo wears out we will just buy another one for $30. Big saving and it looks remarkably good!


Contributed by Tracey, Tintinara

Tip of the Day May 30, 2009

Thimble in a Can

This is a quick and easy craft that even young children can help with. These little containers are a fun idea for a gift for the needleworker or sewer and because they are so quick and easy to make, and very inexpensive they make really good fete and stall stock too. Use up all those cute scraps of fabric and ribbon you have stashed and they will be even cheaper to make.

Materials needed:

• 1 x 35mm film canister (or a pill bottle about the same size)
• 1m narrow ribbon (or desired length)
• Fabric (10.5cmX 5cm or size of your container)
• Glue
• 1 thimble

Instructions:

1. Turn your film container upside down and centre the ribbon onto the bottom of the film container. Glue it onto the bottom and the sides only leaving the long ends hanging loose. Let glue dry.
2. Run a bead of glue along the long edge of the container and glue the edge of the fabric down.
3. Make sure the top edge of the fabric is lined up against the top edge of the film container. Continue to glue the rest of the fabric to the container and let dry.
4. Clip the edges of the bottom of the fabric about every 1cm up to the bottom edge of the film container.
5. Glue all these little pieces down towards the centre of the bottom of the film container.
6. Draw a circle on paper the size of the bottom of the container.
7. Pin the paper circle onto a little piece of fabric and cut it out.
8. Glue this to the bottom of the film container to cover all the little edges you glued down. Let thoroughly dry.
9. Knot the two loose ends of the ribbon together to make a necklace out of your creation.
10. Put the thimble into the container, replace the lid onto the top of the container, and there you have a "Thimble in a Can" to wear around your neck.

Tip of the Day May 29, 2009

Where does it all go?

Have you taken a family spending inventory lately? Grab your last bank statement and categorise every cent spent in the last 30 days.

You may be surprised at where your hard-earned money is going. If one category seems particularly bloated (grocery, entertainment, and miscellaneous are typical budget busters), spend an hour brainstorming with your family to find ways to trim the fat.

Set a specific goal (ie. resolve to drop $50 off of your grocery bill), create a concrete plan, and review your progress weekly. Plan a special treat as a celebration when you meet your goal.

Next month, plan another family budget challenge. One that we always enjoy (we play this little ‘game with our kids two or three times a year) is to find ways to cut 20% off our electricity bill. It s a real challenge in our house and the kids really begin to appreciate how much utilities such as electricity actually cost.

This is not only a great way to save money, but a fun way to teach children about planned spending.

Tip of the Day May 28, 2009

Take your time and decorate to your style

Let your decorating scheme evolve over time as you find treasures and deals that work. Not only will you spread out your spending over a longer period of time, your room won't look out of fashion next year. Use flexible decor. Find pieces you can decorate with that you can switch out or modify slightly with the seasons. Change florals, bows, pictures in frames, and candle colours. Reverse pillowcases, window treatments, quilts and throws. Search the classifieds and garage sales for bargains. There are a lot of people out there who redecorate every year or so and are happy to sell off decorator items at greatly reduced prices.

Tip of the Day May 27, 2009

Organize your expenses as you spend

Want to know how much you spend each month, so you can determine your monthly spending budget? As you spend, just record that expense. This can be called your Expense Summary. You can use a computer program for this purpose (do a Google search on "free personal budget software", or you can certainly do this with paper and pen and a small spiral notebook.

Tip of the Day May 26, 2009

No more tears

If you hate chopping onions store them in the freezer. When you need one next, just zap it in the microwave for 20-30 seconds (just long enough to make it soft enough to chop, but the onion is still cold). No more tears, guaranteed. Chopping onions will now be a pleasure.

Tip of the Day May 25, 2009

A Sewing Kit for Non-Sewers

Even if you aren't a great dressmaker, or mad keen on sewing, you will at sometime have to bite the bullet and actually do some mending. By keeping a basic but small sewing kit on hand, those emergency mending jobs can be done with a minimum of stress, time and cost.

This little sewing kit can be put together for under $10, and will fit into a small lunchbox (around 99 cents at discount shops). Keep it in the laundry, or the linen cupboard where it will be easy to get to in a hurry.

Basic Sewing Kit:

1 reel white thread
1 reel black thread
1 reel invisible thread (matches any colour)
1 packet of all-purpose needles, self-threading, or include a threader
4-hole white shirt buttons (usually come 5 to a card)
1 iron-on patch kit, lightweight
1 iron-on patch kit, heavyweight
1 pack of Velcro strips, white
1 pack of Velcro strips, black
Small pair scissors

Tip of the Day May 24, 2009

Grow Your Own Garlic

When you get cloves of garlic that are too small to use, plant them outside in your herb garden or into a pot. As they grow you can use the tops like garlic flavoured chives and when they are larger cut them off at the base and use them like spring onions (don't pull out) to flavour dishes and meals and as green garnish for scones and pizzas. The flavour is a lot lighter than the actual clove and if you don't pick the whole clove again they will keep growing all year around. If you leave them in for a few years they will multiply and when the tops have died off and before they start growing again, the whole clove can be picked...but I leave mine down unless I'm desperate because I've run out. You will always have garlic for salads or anything you need without any waste and no cost.

Contributed by Silvia

Tip of the Day May 23, 2009

Cheap Family Outings

We purchase a family memberships to our State museum. At just $70 per household it gives us free general entry to all the museums and unlimited discounted entry to special events. We also received reciprocal free entry to interstate and overseas museums. A trip to the museum is a great way to spend your Saturdays and Sundays when you have active children (or not, it's still fun) and it is a great activity for school holidays. Check your area museums. Household rates are not limited to one or two children but includes one or two adults and children at the same address, so this becomes a really cheap way for a large family to have a loads of fun and adventure!

Tip of the Day May 22, 2009

Budget Banana Shakes

Did you know that once frozen bananas can be whipped? Buy bananas when they are on sale, and either freeze them in the skin, or you can peel them and then freeze them. Use the frozen bananas to make a delicious extra creamy and thick, thick shake. Blend two frozen bananas, one small tub of yogurt and half a litre of low fat milk. They are delicious, and much thicker than the same ingredients without the bananas. All this with the added bonus of being healthy and low calorie.

Tip of the Day May 21, 2009

Bedsheets

To keep your linen press neat and tidy, always fold your sheets and pillowcases in sets. Then simply use one of the pillowcases as a cover for the sheet set. Next time you go to get sheets, the complete set is there, just ready for you to grab and put on the bed.

Tip of the Day May 31, 2009

Budget Sandpit Sun Shade

Approximate $ Savings: $1,200

With an active toddler I built her a sandpit two years ago just off our back verandah. We then realised that every time she played in there she was getting an awful lot of exposure to the sun and her toys were getting trashed by the elements.

Rather than building a solid structure over the sandpit we invested a whole $30 in a standard gazebo that you can pick up at Reject Shop / Cheap as Chips et al. type outlets at anytime.

We have had the gazebo up continuously for two years now and it is only just starting to show some wear and tear. We secure the corners with very long tent pegs and bricks, and weigh the centre point of the gazebo down with a heavy weight off a chaff cutter. It has not taken off in the wind yet!

Once the kids are grown we will return this area to lawn or garden so we did not want a permanent structure. Big saving and it looks remarkably good!

Contributed by Tracey, Tintinara

Tip of the Day May 20, 2009

Reducing the Paper Pile

Open your mail near a rubbish bin. Immediately toss all outer envelopes (or put them in the notepaper stack to re-use), un-needed bill inserts, junk mail (unopened, if you can bring yourself to do it) and magazine wrappers. Only carry away things that need to be dealt with or referenced. This will reduce the pile of papers you have to take care of by more than 50 percent!

Tip of the Day May 19, 2009

Buy sugar soap as a cleaning agent

Water it down in a spray bottle and you'll be surprises how far it goes, how quick it cleans and how less often you'll be forking out for cleaning agents. My squirt bottle sits on the bench in my kitchen, I have a grubby hubby, a feral 2 yr old and I have found over the last year by accident when I had run out of pine o clean it did the trick in half the time and cost half as much.
Contributed by Maresa Robbers

Tip of the Day May 18, 2009

Hang them out to dry

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

Tip of the Day May 17, 2009

Popcorn Paydirt

I just love fresh popcorn, especially the microwave kind. I have loads of visitors, including my husband's 8 brothers and sisters and their partners and children and my own 8 brothers and sisters and their kids. Between us we have 35 nephews and nieces who often visit us, completely ravenous as all kids are. We always keep popcorn on hand. The kids think we are giving them the expensive microwave kind but we are giving them our Cheapskate special. We just get a paper bag which we save from our shopping, although a new one is good too. We then spray it with a no name brand polyunsaturated oil in a tin on the inside of the bag. Place a handful of popcorn inside, give it a shake so the popcorn gets coated then seal the top with sticky tape. Lay it flat in your microwave for between 2 to 3 minutes or until the popping sound gets really slow. Presto! Hot popcorn that is healthy as well. We also buy McCormicks buttered popcorn flavouring in a jar and give it a quick shake. Heaps cheaper than wasting all that butter and salt. Flavours left over from two minute noodles that kids don't use are also great flavourings. Yum Yum!

Contributed by Jennifer

Tip of the Day May 16, 2009

Single Serves

When you live alone, cooking isn't always fun. Instead of indulging in takeaways or expensive '1 serve' portions at the supermarket, get together with friends, bulk cook and share. Each person should cook enough of a dish that will allow one serve for each person in the group. Package, label and freeze each serve then get together with your friends and swap. S friends means you get a different meal every night of the week with almost no effort and you can usually take advantage of supermarket bulk specials to cut the cost of ingredients.

Tip of the Day May 15, 2009

Magic colouring pages

If your kids like to do lots of colouring in or mazes and dot to dots, slide the sheet/activity book inside a clear plastic sleeve and give them some non-toxic white-board markers. The marker can be rubbed out with a cloth and used again and again.
Contributed by Sue

Tip of the Day May 14, 2009

The most popular birthday gift

When your children are invited to parties the best , cheapest and most popular present is a torch! You can get them for around $2, sometimes with batteries included, at $2 shops and hardware stores.

Tip of the Day May 13, 2009

Tidy up those cords and leads

What about all those cables and leads behind your TV. TV, DVD, Cable TV, Games Console, VCR. You could buy expensive cable ties that you have to cut off each time you have to move one of the components (repair etc) or you could simply secure the cables neatly with inexpensive pipe-cleaners. They are easily undone as well.

Tip of the Day May 12, 2009

Saving on family fun

Paying for movies and entry to big fun parks, such as Movie World, Dream World, Sea World can cost a fortune. Before you go, check out discounts you may be able to receive from your Health Fund, Union, Motoring Organisation (e.g. RACQ, NRMA etc.). They can often give you discounted prices, but make sure you bring your membership cards for ID, and/or purchase your tickets from them before you go.

Tip of the Day May 11, 2009

Paint clean-up

Instead of using turps as a cleanup for oil paints ....use baby oil . Baby oil takes paint off hands and brushes and leaves both soft. Baby oil is a little safer to use than turps and the generic product is OK to use.

Tip of the Day May 10, 2009

Easy lunch prep

Rushing in the morning to make kids lunches for child care and school can end up costing a fortune. To help make things run smoother in the morning, I prepare my kids lunches in advance by making sandwiches with a variety of fillings such as Vegemite, Nutella, peanut butter etc. and freeze them separately. I then make a home made batch of mini muffins and freeze them. I buy generic Barbeque Shapes and Fruit Sticks. Decant large containers of peach and pear pieces into smaller containers. Then the night before or even better, in the morning before the madness sets in, I just grab some sandwiches, muffins, shapes, a fruit stick, small fruit and voila! It's done with minimal fuss and so much less in cost. I find that saving money is very important, but also saving time and emotional energy equally important to me and my family and this helps in keeping my stress levels down and me a happy mummy.

Contributed by Debi, Warrandyte

Tip of the Day May 9, 2009

A false sense of saving

Don't fall into a false sense of saving money by shopping at the same place all the time. I've noticed that sometimes things are really cheap for a while and then they just creep up in price, one or two items a week, until you are paying more than you should i.e. cheese - I used to pay $5.79 for 1kg tasty cheese and this week I noticed it had gone up to $6.29 for 1kg at my usual supermarket, making it the same price as the other supermarkets in the area. I will be watching to see if it creeps up again, and comparing prices so I can get the best buy. It really does pay to know your prices at all the supermarkets you use.

Tip of the Day May 8, 2009

Mountain fresh? Or perhaps lavender is your preferred air freshener?

Make your own air fresheners by cutting a small kitchen sponge into a circle and putting it into a container (the lid off aerosol cans is ideal for this). Then put a few drops of your favourite scented oil onto the sponge and top with hot water. Put it on or near window sills. Use them in the bathrooms and laundry to keep them fresh. The breeze makes the smell go through the house. After a few days top up with more water to keep the scent fresh.

Make Your 'Do' Easy

To make your own hair de-tangler, simply buy a clear plastic spray bottle (about $1.50 from $2 shop), fill to about 2/3 water and add 1-2 squirts of conditioner. Then add 1-2 drops essential oil (chamomile for blondes/rosemary for brunettes) and 1-2 drops tea-tree oil, put cap back on and shake. Instant leave-in conditioner and de-tangler, the essential oils bring about the natural shine and highlights in the hair and the tea-tree oil acts as a deterrent for head-lice who hate the scent, so it is great for kids.

Tip of the Day May 6, 2009

Planning a move

When moving house, save loads of time and money by planning ahead. Gather up anything that hasn't been worn in recent months or any item that you don't absolutely love, sell the things that are in excellent condition on eBay and get rid of the rest by garage sale. What's left might go to someone needy. The money you make will help pay for the move, it's cheaper and easier with less to move and you move into your new place with more space and only items you love. What a great feeling!

Tip of the Day May 5, 2009

Know the cost before you leave home

The hardest thing when sticking to a grocery budget is knowing when you've reached it! Create a simple spreadsheet with all the usual grocery items you buy listed and how much each costs, and before each shop mark off each item you need and then check the total. This gives you a good idea of how much your shopping will cost before you even get to the store. If you print the list off each shop this becomes your shopping list. It takes a little time to get it started but is a great help once it's up and running.

Tip of the Day May 4, 2009

Free gourmet snack

Here's a very cheap and tasty idea bordering on desperate, but its good for you. After you wash and peel your spuds keep the skins. The same goes for pumpkin seeds. Put them on a biscuit tray in a single layer, sprinkle with a little salt and bake in a moderate oven until ready (they'll be brown and crisp).... almost no waste and a good healthy snack to boot! You can sprinkle the potato skins with a little olive oil and some paprika and bake them for a delicious and really frugal alternative to potato chips. They are great to nibble on and go really well with dips, too.

Tip of the Day May 3, 2009

Storytime at home

Keep your junk mail and let your littlies use it for pasting. You can either cut out pictures for them or let the older children do their own cutting (with safety scissors of course). It keeps them busy for ages. If you have time to sit with them you can talk about what they are pasting. Use recycled paper or exercise books that have been purchased at back to school sales for as little as 1 cent each at the beginning of the year to paste in. Let them tell you the story of their picture and help them to write simple sentences underneath to encourage vocabulary and writing skills too.

Tip of the Day May 2, 2009

Don't forget to stop occasionally

While it may seem like a no-brainer, many people forget to make room in their lives to spend with friends and family. If you need to, schedule time to meet with your loved ones for dinner, game nights, or perhaps just over coffee. It may seem silly to have to make an appointment to catch up with family or even friends, but in today's busy world we often forget just how important family and friends are to our own happiness and well-being.

Tip of the Day May 1, 2009

A seniors moment

Seniors, don't leave home without your Seniors Card. It entitles you to discounts at shops, cafes, restaurants and cinemas displaying the Seniors Card sign. If they don't display the sign, ask if they give a Seniors discount any way. It doesn't cost anything to ask. If you've lived long enough to get discounts just because you've lived, go right ahead and enjoy them.

Tip of the Day April 30, 2009

Keep the records straight

Keeping good records is essential to keep track of how much money you are spending and how much money you are making. Keeping track of your income and expenses can prevent you from overdrawing your account and will also help you track where you money is going. It’s also useful come tax time when you are trying to prepare those pesky forms. Cheapskates Bill Paying System will help you to keep your records straight. Keeping track in the first place will save you a lot of time and stress in the long run.

Tip of the Day April 29, 2009

Cut back on treats

It’s hard to resist giving yourself the occasional treat, but consider how much you spend on things like coffee, soft drinks, lollies, chocolates, cakes and biscuits over the course of a month. It can add up very quickly. Treats are just that - treats. When you have them everyday they very quickly lose their "wow" factor and familiarity takes away the pleasure of the occasional treat. You can cut back on these expenses without completely depriving yourself, just remember that treats are not for everyday. You might find that with the money you save you can buy yourself a better treat in the long run.

Learn to DIY

Almost anything you can pay a service person to do you can learn to do on your own. Hemming your own pants, changing your own oil or doing your own tax, painting, cooking, gardening, carpentry, tiling even concreting and bricklaying can all be things you can learn to do on yourself. Not only does this save money, but you will gain the confidence and satisfaction of knowing you did it all on your own.

Tip of the Day April 27, 2009

A new house, and it doesn't have to cost a cent

Sick of your same old living room or the squeaking screen door? You don’t need to move house. Sometimes just fixing up or rearranging things around the house can make your space seem like new. Take pride in your home and fix up little things around the house. Embrace your inner interior designer and try moving your couch to the other wall, or changing the curtains. Get a box and go through each room, removing all the ornaments and other clutter, leaving just the furniture. Give each room a good spring clean, starting at the ceiling and working your way down to the floor. Wash the curtains and windows, dust and polish furniture and vacuum or sweep and wash the floor. Re-arrange the furniture if you feel like it. Clean all your ornaments and then go back and put back either one, two or three ornaments (smaller groups have more impact). Improving your surroundings can often have a big impact on improving your mood.

Tip of the Day April 26, 2009

Break the big jobs down

Sometimes a big project can seem so daunting you hardly know where to begin. If you break it up into smaller parts it can become more manageable, and you’ll be happier feeling like you are making some progress by checking off each of the smaller parts as you complete them. By breaking a big job down into smaller tasks you are much more likely to actually finish it, rather than getting discouraged and putting it aside. A pile of mending can be a breeze if you break it down to smaller tasks i.e. stitch on all the missing buttons one day, fix hems another day and so on. Getting the bank account reconciled won't seem such a big job if you break it down - collect the statements, put the receipts in order, gather pens, notepads etc before you start. Any big (or overwhelming) job can be broken down to smaller steps. Set a time limit and spend no more than 30 minutes on the job without a break.

Tip of the Day April 25, 2009

Anzac biscuits

Ingredients:
100g butter
1 tablespoon golden syrup
2 tablespoons boiling water
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
1 cup of rolled oats
3/4 cup desiccated coconut
1 cup plain flour
1 cup sugar

Method:
Combine all dry ingredients except bi-carb soda. Add melted butter. Stir in soda mixed with boiling water. Place in spoonfuls on greased tray, allowing room for spreading. Cook in moderate oven about 20 minutes. Allow to cool. Store in airtight container.

Tip of the Day April 24, 2009

Do less laundry

Do you really need to wash the shirt you wore for 2 hours at dinner? Before you throw that shirt into your laundry hamper, take a second look. Does it really need to be washed or could it go for another wearing? Not so very many years ago clothes were worn more than once, often more than twice and for a lot of people they were worn for a week at a time! With the arrival of automatic washing machines and dryers we seem to have developed the habit of wear it once (even if it is just for an hour) and throw it in the wash. Do yourself a favour and think about the clothes you put in the laundry - do they really need to be washed, can they be aired or sponged and worn again? Don't get me wrong, I'm not suggesting we all wear dirty clothes, but this little action will save time, energy, and help your clothes to last longer.

Tip of the Day April 23, 2009

The 50 Box

This is one of our favourites. Never spend a 50 cent coin. My children love to check my purse and their father's wallet for 50 cent pieces. Any 50 cent pieces they find go into the 50 box and when we have saved $50, we take it to the bank and deposit it into our holiday savings account. You'll be surprised how many 50 cent coins you accumulate and if you remove them immediately, you don't even miss them. We were able to pay for a family holiday one year just by saving our 50 cent coins!

5-minute microwave bottling

I am so excited! I found (in Big W) a new book on microwave bottling by Isabel Webb. I first heard Isabel and saw her demonstrate microwave bottling techniques at the Henty Field Days about 14 - 15 years ago. I stood, fascintated, and took down lots of notes on scraps of paper during the demonstration. Wayne and the boys quickly became bored and wandered off (mind you the boys were just 2 and 3 years old at the time), leaving me in a rapt daze.

Microwave bottling was something so new to me, I was still struggling with the old stove-top Fowlers, actually I'm still using the same old stove-top Fowlers outfit, but these days I do a fair bit of microwave bottling too thanks to that wonderful demonstration.

I had to take notes and lots of them because while Isabel had written a beautiful book on the subject, we didn't have the money at the time for me to buy it. Nowadays I have a little more mad money so while it was an impulsive purchase, I've already had a good look through and even tried the drying technique on the last of the apples off the tree (they actually turned out the way the book said they would!).

I've looked on eBay a few times in the hope of picking up one of the original books, but they always went for far more than I was prepared to pay and I have been keeping an eye out in op shops and at garage sales, sure I'd come across one, now I don't have to worry.

The one thing I found most valuable was the information about re-using jam jars, pasta sauce jars etc. They are so much easier to get hold of than the Fowlers jars and of course so much cheaper, generally being free. I've put a request out amongst friends and family to save their jars for me in exchange for a jar or two of jam, pickles or fruit and already they have started to roll in.

I'll do a proper book review and include it in the May Journal after I've tried a few of the recipes and dried a few more fruits, I can't wait to do bananas.

Tip of the Day April 22, 2009

A good use for an old jam jar

Have a savings jar on the fridge. Any loose change you find around the house, in the washing machine, on the floor of the kids' bedrooms, under the sofa cushions or on the floor of the car goes into the jar. When the jar is full, deposit the contents into a savings account. If you don't feel you can afford to "dump" all your loose change into savings, choose a denomination - say all 5c and 10c coins or all silver and just save those. The amount of money in the jar builds quite quickly, it's amazing just how much loose change you can find in a household when you are actively looking for it.

Tip of the Day April 21, 2009

Banking the difference

Save the difference between budgeted amounts and the actual cost. For example, if you have budgeted $120 for electricity and the bill is $106, pay the bill and bank the remaining $14 directly into a separate savings account. Do this with all your budgeted spending - petrol, phone, even groceries. This method of saving can become a competition to see how far below budget you can get your bills so you can save more. It's a fun way of saving for a specific goal - a holiday, new car, home renovations etc. Get the whole family involved in the "how low can you go" competition with the goal as the prize at the end. Set a time to reach your goal and then see how much you can save.

Tip of the Day April 20, 2009

The DIY Christmas club

Put away a small amount each month, perhaps $50, to use for Christmas. If you start now, you will have saved $400, plus interest, by the end of November. It's a great feeling to be able to buy gifts and goodies for the festive season, knowing that they are paid for and you won't be paying for them for the next 6 months. Having money saved really takes the stress out of the Christmas season.

Tip of the Day April 19, 2009

You can save and still enjoy life

If you think you don't make enough to have anything extra in a Peace of Mind account, emergency fund or stocks/bonds etc., try emptying your purse or pockets of change each night. Bank the money each week or fortnight and watch it grow. There are some great Internet bank accounts available that are fee free, have no minimum deposit or balance requirement and pay up to 6% interest. By saving a dollar here and a dollar there you will build up a 'rainy day' fund, ready for emergencies. It will grow quickly and you will really enjoy watching it increase in value.

Tip of the Day April 18, 2009

No debt today

Take one hour at a time today so you can have 24 hours without adding to your debt. Tell yourself 'I will NOT go into debt today' and repeat each time you are tempted to spend on something that is not covered in your budget. Chances are, when debt is not an option, you will find ways to get what you need, or discover that what you thought you needed was not really necessary at all. We haven't used credit for fourteen years (apart from our mortgage) and we haven't used a credit card since we were married (20 years and counting) and we don't miss it. We live by the creed of 'if you can't pay cash, you can't afford it.'

So today, try to not increase your debt at all.

Tip of the Day April 17, 2009

Stop debting

This is a word I found in an article I was reading about debt. It's not in the dictionary, but it is a great, descriptive word. You get the meaning immediately. You cannot possibly get out of debt if you continue to get into it, either by continuing to spend your cash reserves or to use credit cards or take on other unnecessary debt. Unnecessary debt is anything at all that you do not need to live: movies, videos, clothing, shoes, holidays, gifts, magazines, newspapers everyday, takeaway meals or eating out etc . Either add these things to your budget so you have the money for them when you need them or do without them. If you don't have the cash to pay for something then you can't have it while you have debt.

Tip of the Day April 16, 2009

Quick and easy dinner

Occasionally there comes a night when it just seems easier to give in and buy dinner - maybe fish and chips or pizza or bbq chicken - regardless of how much it will cost and how much damage it will do to your budget for the week. Make a list of quick and easy dinners you can whip up from pantry and fridge ingredients so you don't have to give in to temptation. Keep them to meals you can get on the table in under 30 minutes and you'll save time and money.

One of our favourites is good old Mac'n'Cheese

Ingredients:
500g macaroni
2 cups water
1/2 cup milk powder (skim or full cream)
2 tbsp plain flour
1 cup grated cheese
1 tsp mustard powder

Method:
Cook the macaroni according to the directions on the packet. Combine the milk powder , mustard powder and plain flour with 1 cup of the water until mixed (no lumps!). In a large saucepan combine the remaining cup of water and the combined water/milk mixture. Bring to the boil, stirring constantly. Add the grated cheese and stir until melted and well combined. Stir through the macaroni. Serve.

It's such a frugal meal too. Today the total cost for 6 serves was a low, low $1.92 or just 32 cents per serve.

Try to have at least two really cheap (ingredients wise) meals a week. They really help to keep the grocery bill down and under budget. When you come in under budget, add half the surplus to the slush fund and half to your savings so you have real motivation to keep the shopping bill low.

Tip of the Day April 15, 2009

Shop for food that you like to eat

Don’t settle for brands that you won’t eat and don’t taste good to you because they cost less. By all means, try generics and cheaper brands, but if you don't like them then go back to your favourites or look for other ways of having what you like. Here’s one solution: if you like beef stroganoff (for example), don’t buy the prepared dish. Read the label and then buy the ingredients and create the dish you love at home. You could even get more than one meal out of it and save money.

Get Regular Checkups

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

Tip of the day April 13, 2009

Look good, feel good, spend less

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

Tip of the Day April 12, 2009

Read the labels

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

Tip of the Day April 11, 2009

Eating the right portions

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

Tip of the Day April 10, 2009

Visit booklover's heaven

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

Tip of the Day April 9, 2009

Use it or lose it

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

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

Tip of the Day April 8, 2009

MOO Cleaning Supplies

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

Blend well and store in spray bottle.


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

1/2 cup white vinegar
4 litres warm water

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


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

1 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup lemon juice

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

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

Tip of the Day April 7, 2009

Lose the "stuff"

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

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

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

Tip of the Day April 6, 2009

Home Roasted Peanuts

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

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

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

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

Tip of the Day April 5, 2009

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

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

Easter Treats Chocolate Making Day

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

Tip of the Day April 3, 2009

Never miss paying a bill on time

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


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

Tip of the Day April 2, 2009

Taking the proper care

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

Tip of the Day April 1, 2009

New life for old goods

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

Tip of the Day March 31, 2009

Recycle, Recycle, Recycle

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

Tip of the Day March 30 2009

Cook ahead

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

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

Tip of the Day March 29 2009

Easy Openings

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

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

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

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

Tip of the Day March 28, 2009

Stay Organized

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

Tip of the Day March 27, 2009

Cleaning melted plastic off the toaster

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

Tip of the Day March 26, 2009

How much should you save?

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

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

Tip of the Day March 25, 2009

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

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

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

Tip of the Day March 24, 2009

De-scaling the kettle

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

Tip of the Day March 23, 2009

Using up horrible shampoo

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

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

Tip of the Day March 22, 2009

Budget Freezer Labels

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

Stretch Your Dollar follow-up

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

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

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

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

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

Tip of the Day March 21, 2009

Teaching kids to save

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

Tip of the Day March 20, 2009

Use laundry baskets to save money, time and energy

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

Stretch Your Dollar

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

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

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

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.