Tip of the Day September 22 2009

Biscuit Logs

When making biscuits, make a double recipe and roll one half into a log, slice and then wrap in clingwrap and freeze. These biscuits can then be baked from frozen, and being pre-sliced you can bake one or all of them.

Bargain Bikkies

Ingredients:
7 cups SR flour
2 cups sugar
500g margarine
4 eggs, beaten
1 dessertspoon vanilla essence

Method:
Cream butter and sugar. Mix vanilla essence with eggs and add to butter/sugar, mixing well. Add the flour. The mixture becomes quite stiff at this stage but make sure all the flour is thoroughly mixed in.

Now comes the fun part – creating different varieties of bikkies.
Divide the dough into portions – 4 is a manageable number – and flavour each portion.

Variations:

Cornflake: Take spoonfuls (tea- or dessert- depending on how big you want them) of dough, roll into balls and then roll in crushed cornflakes. I have also used the weetbix crumbs from the bottom of the box too.


Choc Chip: Mix ½ cup choc chips through the dough. Then either roll into balls and freeze or bake, or into a log.


Thumb Prints: Roll into balls, flatten out and then poke a dent in the middle of each bikkie with your thumb. Add a dollop of red jam.


Sultana: Mix through a handful of sultanas


Apricot & Almond: Chop a few dried apricots and add with ¼ cup chopped almonds.

Cherryripe: Add a packet of glace cherries, 1/4 cup choc bits and 2 tbsp coconut.

This mixture freezes really well. You can simply flash freeze the individual bikkies and then bag them, ready to bake. Or you can roll the mixture into logs and freeze. Then simply thaw a log, slice and bake.

Bake in a moderate oven for 10 minutes or until golden. Watch with the choc chip variety that they don’t burn on the bottom – the chocolate melts and may catch on the tray.

This biscuit recipe comes from the Cheapskates Club Recipe File.

Tip of the Day September 21 2009

Old Make-up Make Great Watercolours

Let the kids use the old make up to draw pictures with (using the lipsticks, eyeliners etc). The powders (like eye shadow, blushers etc) can be used like water colours. Just wet a paint brush and dip in.

Contributed by Rachael, Rivervale

Tip of the Day 20 September 2009

Make Compost Tea

When you are weeding, fill a bucket about half full of weeds and add water until the weeds are covered. Put a lid on the bucket (to stop mozzies) and leave for 3 weeks. You will have a foul smelling but fantastic fertiliser (for free!) for your plants. Use it diluted in a ratio of about 1 part fertiliser to 4 parts water and water your plants on a weekly basis. It gives back nutrients without any chemical additives and you can make as much as you want.

Contributed by Rhonda, Erindale South

Tip of the Day 19 September 2009

Challenge Your Kids

Set them a goal to work out some ways to earn money themselves so they can either save it or spend it on the things they want to do. They can go through and find things in their rooms they no longer want and learn how to sell them on eBay. Offer their services doing things like babysitting, mowing lawns, ironing etc. Or they could even go out and get a job. What a great way to start the year. It will also help them to learn the value of money. They will be more hesitant to spend their hard earned cash.

Contributed by Melanie, Dapto

Tip of the Day 18 September 2009

Union Shopper

If you or your partner is a member of a union, check if your union is a member of "Union Shopper". When you buy anything from appliances to cars to chainsaws, these people can get you great deals. You shop around for what product you want and what the best price is you can get. Than you call these people up and they call you back within 48 hours to let you know if they can get you a better price. We have saved thousands of dollars over the years by buying fridge, dishwasher, chainsaw and even 2 cars through this organization. Our fridge saved us $350 for exactly the same fridge, about $2000 on each car. It costs you only 1 phone call to check with them before you buy.

Contributed by Bianca, Advancetown

Tip of the Day 17 September 2009

Free Scoops

Save the plastic laundry scoops from washing powder and wash them in the dishwasher to thoroughly clean before use with food. Then use them as scoops (they are roughly half a cup) for rice, pasta, any dry foods that you store in Tupperware containers, animal food, anything that you would usually scoop out - esp. handy for Tupperware containers instead of the expensive scoops that you would usually have to buy to go with them, what's more, if you have extra left over that you are not using they take up very little space because they stack on top of each other very neatly in a utensil drawer.


Contributed by Genevieve, Sutherland

Tip of the Day 16 September 2009

Sponge Clean Clothes

Dry cleaning bills can be outrageous, especially for business suits and formal clothes. You can cut your dry cleaning costs by only purchasing clothing that can be washed either in the machine or by hand or by treating small spots and everyday wear yourself. You can cut your dry cleaning by at least a third if you sponge your suits and coats yourself. Hang them in the bathroom while you’re showering and let the steam take the creases away. Invest in a good pressing cloth (under $10) and learn how to properly press trousers and jackets.

Tip of the Day 15 August 2009

Butter Wrappers

Approximate $ Savings: A few cents here and there, but is all adds up

When you use packaged butter, keep the whole wrapper in your fridge door instead of throwing it away. You can use them to line cake tins and to grease the inside of tins instead of buying non-stick greaseproof paper or paper towel. I even use the paper on top of the margarine for greasing. My mother always did this; I thought it was something everyone did, until a girlfriend asked why I had a bunch of old butter wrappers in my fridge door.

Contributed by Fay, Broadford

Tip of the Day 14 September 2009

Re-Invent Second-hand Jewellery and Save on New Beads

The latest craze seems to be making your own jewellery. When buying beads, clips etc it can be very expensive from the bead shops. I now go to second hand clothing stores such as Lifeline, the Salvation Army etc and buy very cheap second hand jewellery. I then dismantle the items and reinvent my own fabulous necklaces, earnings bracelets etc.


Contributed by Robyn, Redland Bay

Tip of the Day 13 September 2009

Stop Snails in Their Tracks

Rub Vaseline around the base and top edged of plant pots and seedling trays to keep snails at bay. The slimy little critters can't (or won't) crawl over the Vaseline. The snails are defeated and your pot plants are safe.

Tip of the Day 12 September 2009

Make Flubber

This is great fun to make and even more fun to play with. Because it involves boiling water, for safety an adult will need to supervise young children while the flubber is being made. It looks great made in bright colours such as lime green, purple, hot pink, fire engine red and sunshine yellow. In a container, put some PVA glue and add a small amount of cold water. Mix it well to thin down the PVA. Add some food colouring. Now, carefully add boiling water, mixing well, a little at a time, until it is thick and resembles play dough. Turn it out and knead it well. Then go have some fun with your flubber!

Tip of the Day 11 September 2009

Setting Soap

Let your new soap breath for awhile before you use it. Unwrap it and leave the cakes of soap to dry and harden for 4 weeks before using. Dry soap has a reputation of lasting longer as it has hardened. Put it in your linen cupboard amongst the towels and sheets to keep your linen smelling fresh and silverfish and moths at bay while it matures.

Tip of the Day 10 September 2009

Cold Tea

Don't empty the tea pot down the drain. Cold tea makes an excellent cleaner for wood. Wipe over with a cloth dampened with the tea and then polish dry with a soft, clean cloth. This retains the natural patina of the timber without waxing.

Tip of the Day 9 September 2009

Coffee Just the Way You Like It

A good cup of coffee is not to be passed up, but it soon adds up to big dollars if you are buying
one or more takeaway coffees a day. Instead of paying $3.20 for your latte, why not invest in a
coffee plunger or even an espresso machine and buy your favourite blend ready ground? Then you can make a cup of coffee just the way you like it any time you like and you’ll be saving heaps. I pay $14.30 for a 200g bag of my favourite blend, freshly ground and get approximately 21 cups of coffee from it, a saving of $48.90 for coffee just the way I like it.

Tip of the Day 8 September 2009

Plain or Self-Raising?

If you get your self raising flour and plain flour mixed up, put a spoonful of flour in a bowl and stir in enough vinegar to make a thin smooth bend. If the mixture foams and thickens, then it is self raising, if not and the mix remains smooth and thin, it is plain flour.

Tip of the Day 7 September 2009

The advantages of online shopping for Christmas

It's not too early to start thinking about Christmas shopping, especially if your budget is tight and if you have to send Christmas (or birthday) presents interstate, it pays to check out the prices of online shopping sites before you hit the shopping centres.

The advantages include:
1. often lower freight charges than the postage you would pay
2. some offer free gift wrapping
3.they have specials which regular shops can't beat because of the lower online overheads
4.you don't waste petrol and wear and tear on your vehicle driving to the shops and post office
5.you can shop any time of the day or night without having to find a park or stand in a long queue
6.you can bookmark the sites where you find the best deals so you can compare with shops and find them again if you need to
7.if you've left your shopping to the last minute they usually guarantee delivery before Christmas.
8.most have a free newsletter which tells you about their latest specials

Tip of the Day 6 August 2009

Natural Bug Spray

Add sprigs of Rosemary to boiling water in a spray bottle and let it cool. You can then use this spray to deter to rid ants and other bugs from benchtops, cupboards etc. Spray the item with the rosemary water and wipe over. Keep a pot of Rosemary growing by doors and windows that don't have flyscreens to keep flies out of the house. It works when you're camping too. A little pot of Rosemary outside the tent flap will keep the flies away.

Tip of the Day 5 September 2009

Make moving house simple

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 feel! We made $3000 doing this last time we moved and are doing it again now for a future move.

Contributed by Ronnee Russell


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and then check Tip of the Day each day to see if your tip is featured!

Tip of the Day 4 September 2009

Truly Gentle Scrubbers

For scrubbing around the house, such as bathroom or kitchen, don't throw away used socks and stockings that have holes. Roll the sock up, put into the stocking and tie around to make a ball. Use it to scrub bathroom (or anywhere). It's better than any of the mops or cloths from supermarket. It's particularly good for stubborn stain as the stocking can break down the stain and yet is gentle in texture so it won't scratch delicate surfaces.

Tip of the Day 3 September 2009

Safe Stain Remover

Besides absorbing odours in refrigerators and freezers, bicarbonate soda makes a good scouring powder because of its mild abrasiveness. It removes light soil and stains on sinks, bench tops and stovetops. A paste of bicarb and water onto stained Tupperware type containers will miraculously remove the stain. Mixed with water it makes an all around, light-duty cleaner.

Tip of the Day 2 September 2009

Buy treats in bulk

Save a small fortune on your morning and afternoon tea treats and snacks by planning ahead and buying them in bulk from the supermarket. Why pay $1.80 for one chocolate bar from the local milk bar when you can buy a pack of 3 for $3.60 from the supermarket? And you’ll save on multi packs of chips, mints and lollies too. At the same time if you don’t bake, pick up your muffins and cakes from the bakery department and freeze them. You’ll still have your treats and desserts and you’ll be saving money.

Tip of the Day 1 September 2009

Fresh Muffins in Minutes

Muffin batter can be frozen and baked from frozen at a later date, saving you time and energy if you prepare a double or triple batch. Line the muffin tin with the papers, add the batter and put the tin in the freezer until the batter has frozen. Take the papers out of the tin, store in an airtight container or ziplock bag. Simply place the filled paper cases in the muffin tin to bake.

Tip of the Day 31 August 2009

Greeting Card Bookmark

Recycle the greeting cards you have received!

You will need:
Used greeting cards , poster board or cardboard
Crayons, markers or paint
Glue

Instructions:
Cut a strip from the poster board or thin cardboard, about 8 inches x 2 inches. Cut out the picture on the front of a greeting card. Glue the picture at the top of the strip. Allow the glue to dry. Write a message on the strip if you want. If the bookmark is a gift, you can simply write "to:" and "from:" To make your bookmark more durable, cover it with clear contact paper or laminate it.

From the May 2002 Cheapskates Journal

Tip of the Day 30 August 2009

Everything's Rosy with Buckets as Budget Pots

I bought 20 bare rooted roses when on special for $5.50 each. I looked at pots and it was going to cost a minimum of $4.80 for each pot to pot them out until we move house. Rather expensive until my husband came up with the idea of buckets. We bought them at 79 cents each drilled 5 holes in the bottom of each one and hey presto they have turned into brilliant pots and saving us at least $80.00
Contributed by Maureen Newman



Do you have a great money, time or energy saving tip? Click here to share your tip with us and then check Tip of the Day each day to see if your tip is featured!

Tip of the Day 29 August 2009

Playdough

All kids love playdough, even the big ones. It’s very simple and extremely cheap to make and lasts for ages. This recipe makes a small tub of playdough, you can easily double or triple it for larger batches. Store it in a container with a lid or in ziplock bags to keep it from drying out.

Ingredients:
1 cup flour
1/4 cup salt
1 tablespoon oil
few drops of food colouring
1/2 cup boiling water

Method:
Mix all together and knead until reaches dough consistency.

Play dough is a great party favour too! It’s easy and cheap to make and kids really love it. Save your take away style containers to store it in. These can be personalised with each child s name and the date of the birthday party, all ready for them to take home.

Grocery Tracking Spreadsheet

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

Contributed by Mirella

Platinum Members can download the Cheapskates Grocery Tracking Spreadsheet from the Member's Centre.

Tip of the Day 27 August 2009

Ironing Aid

I have found the best ironing spray is to mix 50 - 100ml of fabric softener (I use a sachet that makes up into 2 litres) in a spray bottle. A few squirts on the garments before going into the dryer for a few minutes to simply soften them before ironing saves a lot of time and hard ironing effort. Clothes are much easier to iron if they are still barely damp so that the ironing finishes the drying process.

NOTE: This does not stain or mark any fabrics, nor does it leave that crust that some ironing aids leave.

Contributed by Christine

Tip of the Day 26 August 2009

Take your lunch to work

Pack your lunch each day. Sounds simple enough, and should just be common sense, but it's one of those money and time saving tips that tends to get ignored for those very reasons. Pack your own lunch and you’ll save time and money and have a much more appetising meal. You can prepare sandwiches, bread rolls, roll-ups, bagels, leftovers, fresh salads (and you’ll know it’s fresh) ready to pull out of the fridge and go. By taking your lunch to work just 3 days a week you can save approximately $700 (or more) a year!

Tip of the Day 25 August 2009

Turn an overcooked cake into a gourmet delight

If a cake is over cooked and dry, make a lemon or orange syrup and pour over. Let it soak into the cake, then cut into squares and serve with a dollop of cream. To make the syrup mix 3/4 cup sugar, juice of 3 lemons or oranges and 4 tablespoons water over a low heat until the sugar is dissolved. Bring to the boil and stir constantly for two minutes. Pour over the cooled cake; let it rest about 30 minutes before serving.

This works for any cake, plain or fruit. Try an orange syrup over a fruit cake, sheer bliss. Or lemon over a buttercake, orange over a chocolate cake is delicious too.

Tip of the Day 24 August 2009

Cheap cards

Save money on greeting cards and postage by sending an e-greeting (electronic greeting) instead. There are several sites on the Internet that provide the service for free! There is a large selection of greeting cards to choose from and you can personalize the card with your very own message too. There are some great websites out there, with absolutely wonderful, free e-cards you can send. There are birthday cards, get well cards, mother’s day cards, bon voyage cards, friendship cards, even condolence cards. These sites have some of the best e-cards I’ve come across:

http://cards.123greetings.com
http://www.2000greetings.com
http://www.bluemountain.com

Tip of the Day 23 August 2009

The veggie exchange

In my family we have a lot of green thumbs. Every summer in particular, there's a competition going on to see who will grow the biggest tomatoes, best cucumbers, larges watermelons etc., all of them organic. I seem to grow the best tasting pumpkins and lots of potatoes, my sister the most delicious tomatoes. Last year I came up with a solution. One person grows four things only. My sister grew tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini and watermelon, my father grew herbs, carrots, broccoli and cauliflower and I grew pumpkin, corn, potatoes and beans. Then we exchanged. So the whole summer (and winter) we all ate free veggies. Now our veggie exchange has grown with other family members and neighbours joining in. We also have a 'saucing day' where we all get together (byo jars) and make sauce for the upcoming months. Everyone helps, including all the children and not only do we have fun, but we all save a bundle!

Contributed by Maria, Kinglake West

Tip of the Day 22 August 2009

Be entertained for less

*Use your local library to plan your holiday. They have free to use travel guides that can sometimes be pricey.
*Look out for free preview deals and test-runs. Local papers are great for deals during the holidays – everything
from the movies through to local restaurants and cafes and even venues like mini-golf, 10 pin bowling.
*And look for deals from your video library for those rainy days and have a latest run movie marathon at home.
*As the kids like to eat-you-out-of-house-and-home at weekends and during the holidays, stock up on food items in bulk. Initially it costs a little more, but you save in the long run.
*Pay cash and ask for discounts.

Tip of the Day 21 August 2009

Quality Shopping

When considering the cost of an item, take into account how long it will last and how many uses you will get out of it.
* For example a pair of runners for $60 might last twelve months while another, cheaper pair at $35 will only last nine months. At first glance it would seem that the more expensive shoe is better value because it lasts longer. In reality the cheaper shoe is better value. Here’s how to work it out: calculate the cost per month i.e. divide $60 by 12 = $5 per month, while $35 divided by 9 months = $4 per month. The cheaper shoe is better value per wear.
* Look for quality in construction: zippers, buttons and button holes, seams and hems should be checked in clothing to make sure they item will stand up to being worn.
* Keep track of how long things last and their original prices so you can then compare when it’s time to replace them.

Tip of the Day 20 August 2009

Washing for 8 Cents Per Load

If you haven't tried Cheapskates Washing Powder yet or are looking for a simpler way to get your washing clean, then give this simple tip a try.

Don't like the chemicals in laundry detergent? Use pure soap instead without breaking the budget. I buy a 6 pack of soap cakes for as little as 95 cents. For a full wash in a 5kg washing machine I grate half a cake in hot water. By the time the machine is filled with water the soap has melted and is ready to be poured in. It also saves on fabric softener as the
soap has a softening effect as opposed to harsh detergents. This means a load of washing can be done for as little as 8 cents.

Contributed by Julieanne, Mansfield

Tip of the day 19 August 2009

Household cleaning

Just a few basic products will clean almost anything around your home for minimal cost. Bicarb soda, washing soda, cloudy ammonia, borax and white vinegar will not only save you money and the environment but by using these inexpensive
ingredients the potential saving for the average home is $270 a year (based on 1 spray n wipe style cleaner, 1 shower cleaner, 1 bathroom cleaner, 1 toilet cleaner, 1 floor cleaner and 1 all purpose cleaner per month).

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 colouring (optional)

Mix all ingredients and store. Label bottle and as with any cleaner, keep it in a safe place away from children and pets. Pour into spray bottle when needed.

Tip of the Day 18 August 2009

Reduce the Use of Eggs

Reduce the use of eggs in cake making. One egg and one tablespoon of vinegar is equivalent to two eggs. Also, for each egg over three, use one extra teaspoon of baking powder or one teaspoon of cornflour.

Contributed by Lynette, Montrose

Tip of the Day 17 August 2009

Fleece Warmmy

I have one of these and it is so cosy and warm. And it was so easy to make, no sewing! Just a fold and then a careful trim and the wrap was made. Oh, and my daughter named it warmmy when she was little and wanted it to wrap herself in. It took me a few minutes to figure out what she wanted, and the name has stuck. You will need 2 metres of polar fleece. Polar fleece is readily available at craft shops and fabric stores such as Spotlight and Lincraft. You can usually pick it up for around $7 a metre and it comes in a myriad of colours and patterns. Fold in half lengthways and mark the middle of the length. This will form the neckline of your wrap. Now, carefully with a tape measure and a piece of tailor s chalk, starting at one end of the length, measure in 5 cm from the fold and mark a line with the chalk up to the middle of the length. Using the edge of a saucer, round off the line, drawing towards the fold. You should now have a line drawn from the bottom edge of the length to the middle, curving out towards the fold. It only needs to be a gentle curve. If you are happy with the curve (it forms the neckline of your wrap) you can now carefully cut along the line. And your fleece wrap is complete! And shouldn’t have cost more that $15!

From the May, 2004 Cheapskates Journal

Tip of the Day 16 August 2009

One $14 Ad Saves Hundreds of Dollars on Plants

We have nearly 4 acres and the house garden is nearly an acre alone. That means a lot of plants to find and you can't always strike or grow enough. I put an ad in the local paper asking for people with overcrowded agapanthus to contact me. I would help them thin them if I could take the thinnings. Four people contacted me and they even offered extra types of plants when they knew I wasn't a landscaper looking for stock. The ad cost me $14 and the first load alone would have cost hundreds to buy.

Contributed by Louise, Willaston

Tip of the Day 15 August 2009

Great Internet deals for holidaymakers

Before you spend a fortune on holiday accommodation and travel take a few minutes to get online and do some hunting for the best deals. You can save upwards of 50% on your holiday costs if you take advantage of the deals that are offered online.

*Wotif.com.au is perfect for spur of the moment deals. You can pick up fantastic weekend packages and
often great mid-week packages in fabulous hotels for a fraction of the regular room rate.
*Lastminute.com has flights, accommodation , car hire, restaurants, etc. A saving of $237 was made on LA flights

Tip of the Day 14 August 2009

Unit Pricing – the magic way to find the true cost

Knowing how to work out the unit price of items can save you a lot of money. Carry a small calculator with you or better still the Cheapskates How Much Does It Cost calculator to work out the unit price of goods. To do this divide the cost of each item by the number of grams, kilos, milliliters or litres. This will give you the cost per unit and you can compare them to find the cheapest product. In some cases, bigger is not always cheaper.

Tip of the Day 13 August 2009

Eliminate laundry pre-treatments

If you add 1/2 cup bicarbonate soda to your load of washing and 3/4 cup white vinegar to in the fabric softener dispenser you'll be able to almost completely eliminate the use of pre-treatments like Preen etc. I've never come across anything that was ever harmed by this baking soda/vinegar treatment, it doesn't make your clothes smell like vinegar, and it also often gets rid of colours that have bled onto other clothes. When I use this treatment on the washing it gets it all clean. In fact, it seems to get all the clothes a lot cleaner for a lot less.

Tip of the Day 12 August 2009

Save money doing the laundry

Wash in cold water and line dry. Make your own washing powder and for under $10 a year you’ll have clean clothes.
On wet days hang it over the clotheshorse instead of putting a load through the dryer. If you have ducted heating put the clotheshorse over a duct and let the warm air dry the clothes.

If you are drying heavy things such as jeans or bath towels, put them over the clotheshorse, place it over the duct and put a dry sheet over the lot tent fashion. It will create a nice little hot house effect and those wet, heavy things will be dry in no time and your house will still be warm.

To dry clothes when you don't have ducted heating, hang them over a clotheshorse and sit them under a ceiling fan turned to the lowest speed. You can do this even in winter, the fan will not only dry the washing but help circulate the warm air. Some ceiling fans have a reverse switch so they will spin backwards, forcing hot air down.

Tip of the Day 11 August 2009

Jigglers

Jigglers are popular at tuckshops and canteens around the country. These are a yummy treat, and kids just love them. These wobbly little morsels are very easy to make and extremely cheap.

Ingredients:
5 cups water
1 cup lemon juice
1 cup sugar
1 tbsp gelatine
food colouring (if desired)

Method:
Heat the water, add the lemon juice, sugar and gelatine and stir until dissolved. Add food colouring of your choice. Pour into moulds and set in fridge. Egg cups make neat, half-egg shaped jigglers when they are set. You can pour the mixture into a slice tray and set cookie cutters into it. When the jigglers are set, lift out the cookie cutters to have lions, stars, flowers, cars or whatever shape your cookie cutters are. Or you can use ice cube trays. Or set them in icy-pole moulds and give the kids a frozen jiggler! Just be sure to make your jigglers big enough to be bitten a couple of times and not small enough to be swallowed whole and pose a choking hazard. As with any finger food for children, always supervise them while eating.

Tip of the Day 10 August 2009

Sleep well on a scented pillow

My lavender bushes are stunning at the moment, so many flowers and the scent is just beautiful. I love my lavender pillows and sachets and looking at the bushes the other day reminded me to get out the sewing machine and make some more. They are really easy to do and are a great way of using up scraps of pretty fabric, old doileys and serviettes, even scarves and handkerchiefs.

Take two pieces of fabric measuring 15cm by 22cm each (scarves are lovely). Pick a pretty fabric that’s not too fragile. Sew the pieces together inside out, leaving a 2.5cm opening on one of the sides. Turn the pouch inside out and fill with 1 cup small grain rice. Add scented flowers like lavender and chamomile and a drop of your favourite essential oil or perfume. Sew or glue up the opening. You can vary the size with different sized pieces of cloth, to make it square, really big for a head, round for a seat or back, etc. It’s a great way to relax with your favourite scent.

From the May, 2004 Cheapskates Journal

Tip of the Day 9 August 2009

Seedling Swap Group

Starting and keeping a veggie going can cost a bit so I have just joined a friends group that swap seedlings/plants. Everyone raises different seedlings that we then swap for other types. It is a great way to try growing different veggies or species while getting to know what grows best in your area by talking to other gardeners. It also means that you don't have to outlay on all different seedlings or seeds.

Contributed by Tracey, Gympie

Tip of the Day 8 August 2009

Budget Activities

*Look up your theme parks for special offers. Often they have a discount if you print the page and take it when you buy tickets.

*Most people get so used to living in their local area that they take for granted the local attractions available at their doorstep. Botanical Gardens, Museums and specialist galleries and exhibitions can be a great source of entertainment. When enquiring about shows or special activities such as theme parks and cinemas always asks about family or multi-people deals.

*If you have a zoo or museum membership, often there are reciprocal deals with interstate and even overseas museums and zoos.

Tip of the Day 7 August 2009

At the Supermarket

We all want to get our money’s worth when we buy something, especially now. Some of these ideas may take a little extra time at first but once they become a habit the savings quickly add up.

*Before you leave home, make a list of what you need. Buy only what is on the list.
*Plan meals around what you have on hand and then what is on sale each week. Buy fruit and veggies that are in season and locally grown.
* Know your prices. Keep your price book up to date and jot the prices next to the items on your shopping list. Compare shelf prices to your list price and look for cheaper alternatives if necessary.
* Shop around. Go to more than one store to pick up the best bargains.
* Don’t be afraid to try generics. If it’s a new product, try it once. If it’s good then you can add it to your usual brands, if you don’t like it you can just go back to your regular brand.
* Don’t shop every day. Try to shop at the most once a week, once a fortnight is better. Less temptation = less impulse buys and more savings.

Tip of the Day 5 August 2009

Tip of the Day 5 August, 2009

Water Saving Showerheads

Switching to low flow showerheads will save money and water and doesn't need to cost a fortune. We updated the showerhead in the bathroom for under $30 and the savings were immediate. Our next water bill was down $9. You can buy water saving showerheads from as little at $14 or you can take advantage of showerhead exchange program. Visit your local water authority website to register and find the locations of exchange locations.

Tip of the Day 4 August 2009

Homemade Ready-Made Convenience Foods

We love ready-made foods for their convenience. This Shake 'n'Bake coating is one my favourite homemade versions of a ready-made convenience foods. It's perfect for coating chicken pieces, lamb cutlets, sausages, fish cakes, in fact just about anything that requires a coating. You can bake in the oven or fry in a pan sprayed with cooking spray (there is oil in the mix). I’m sure you’ll love the convenience and the price.


Shake’n’Bake Coating
Ingredients:
4 cups plain flour
20 weetbix, crushed
2 tbsp salt
2 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp onion powder
3 tbsp sweet paprika
1/4 cup olive oil

Method:
Process weetbix in a food processor until fine crumbs. Add to other ingredients and using your hands mix thoroughly. Store in container in fridge. This lasts almost indefinitely. To use dip food pieces in beaten egg, milk, yoghurt etc and then dip rissoles, chicken pieces, sausages, cauliflower and broccoli florets etc just as you would use breadcrumbs. Bake in a moderate oven until the food is cooked through or fry in a pan coated with cooking spray.

Tip of the Day 2 August, 2009

One $14 Ad Saves Hundreds of Dollars on Plants

We have nearly 4 acres and the house garden is nearly an acre alone. That means a lot of plants to find and you can't always strike or grow enough. I put an ad in the local paper asking for people with overcrowded agapanthus to contact me. I would help them thin them if I could take the thinnings. Four people contacted me and they even offered extra types of plants when they knew I wasn't a landscaper looking for stock. The ad cost me $14 and the first load alone would have cost hundreds to buy.

Contributed by Louise, Willaston

Tip of the Day 1 August 2009

Big blackboards

For some reason little people just love drawing on a giant canvas - even if that canvas is your wall or a door! To save your walls and doors (and sanity) turn a part of a wall or door into a big blackboard. You could even use the back of an island bench. It is so easy to do, simply section off a part of the wall, and frame it with mouldings (you can buy them by the metre from hardware shops). Then paint it with blackboard paint (from any hardware or paint shop). You can make it as big as you want, and your kids will be able to write on the wall...which they will love!

Tip of the Day 31st July 2009

Wrinkle-free ribbons

Don't throw away those beautiful ribbons that come with bouquets and gifts because they are curled up or full of creases. You can use a common, everyday appliance to quickly and easily remove the wrinkles. Simply run a ribbon through a heated curling iron and like magic, no more wrinkles! This is quick and easy for crafters or dressing up a little girl's hair!

Tip of the Day 30 July 2009

Scuff marks

There's nothing more annoying that scuff marks on a tiled or vinyl floor. They look unsightly and can be a pain to remove.

Here are two simple tricks that really do work, using things you are sure to have handy.

1. Use the pencil end of an eraser to lightly rub over the scuff mark. It should lift right off.

2. Don't have an eraser handy? Easily remove scuff marks from tile or linoleum by scuffing over them with your rubber shoe or slipper soles lightly. You don't even need to take the shoe off to do this one.

And you can prevent scuff marks on your floor by making sure shoes and boots come off at the door.

Tip of the Day 29 July 2009

Lots of little savings

Most people believe that saving money takes time that they don’t have. It’s simply not true. I can whip up a batch of coconut muffins for just $1.80 in less than 5 minutes. Buying muffins from the supermarket costs $8.94 a dozen, a dollar saving of $7.14 a dozen.

The most savings are made by doing simple, little things that take only a few minutes every day. It’s not doing them once or twice that saves the money, but the constant repetition of lots and lots of inconsequential little things that add up to the huge dollar savings.

Here is my Basic Muffin Recipe:

Ingredients:
3 cups SR Flour
1 tspn coconut essence
2 eggs, lightly beaten
½ cup milk powder
1 1/3 cups water
½ cup vegetable oil

Method:
Sift flour in bowl and add remaining ingredients. Stir with a fork until just mixed. Put into a muffin pan and bake at 180 for 15-20 minutes. To bake as mini muffins (you’ll get 2 dozen from the mix) bake them for 10 minutes.

To make Coconut Muffins
Add:
1 cup sugar
1 cup coconut
to the Basic Muffin Recipe and follow the instructions as above.

Tip of the Day 28 July 2009

Spreading the icing around

Every now and then convenience is worth the price we pay and for me buying ready to spread icing is worth the $3 a tub for special occasions. The brand I use most often is Betty Crocker, it's available in vanilla and chocolate flavours and one tub will cover four 20cm round cakes or at least 3 dozen cupcakes if you use this simple trick: empty the tub of icing into a mixer bowl and beat it on high speed with your mixer for a few minutes. You can double the volume, and ice more cakes or cupcakes with the same amount. You also eat less sugar and fewer calories per serving.

Tip of the Day 27 July 2009

Craft Project Holder

It never fails I have more than one knitting or sewing project going on at once. To keep all of the yarn, fabric, and needles together I save the plastic bags from linen and comforter sets. The bags are made of a thick plastic and have a zipper and handle. When you want to take the project with you everything is in one convenient package!

Contributed by Lissa Thomas

Tip of the Day 26 July 2009

Cuttings Turn into a Beautiful Friendship Garden

I can't even imagine how much money I have saved over the years in establishing (and expanding) my garden! We built a small house on a rural block just over 9 years ago. Obviously, it was just a barren paddock when we began. I now have a garden that I am extremely proud of and the entire garden has been grown without spending a cent!! That's my rule! Everything in my garden either grows from cuttings or bulbs given to me by friends and family. Sure, you have to wait longer for the plants to become established, but that's part of the joy of gardening - watching these tiny little 'sticks' turn into gorgeous rose bushes, daisies, lilies and lavender bushes (to name just a few!). I call my garden our "Friendship Garden" because everything in it comes from either my family or my friends. And of course, I LOVE having friends over to my place now to share a coffee before we wander into the garden with a shovel, secateurs and a plastic bag to fill with cuttings and bulbs for them to take home to flourish in their gardens too! (And of course, that means I have to call into their homes for coffee after my cuttings have flowered in their gardens!! Great excuse for a visit!!!) Gardening is a cathartic hobby (and if you do it like I do) its great for a girl's social life too!!! (You would be blown away by the amount of things that can be grown from a cutting!!) So, happy gardening everyone!!

Contributed by Loretto, Bushfield

Tip of the Day 25 July 2009

Affordable books

Purchasing books can be expensive, but an affordable option to purchase books is to check with your local library to see if they have any older books for sale. My local library has a sale twice a year where you can buy a bag of books for a dollar, which is even cheaper than buying secondhand from a market or book exchange. You can find some beautiful books as well as classics and often some quite recent releases at library sales. It pays to give your library a call to check when they hold their book sale.

Tip of the Day 24 July 2009

A Great Christmas Gift

Designer T-shirts are a great Christmas Gifts – but the store prices prohibitive. So, why not make your own designer T’s?

Buy a plain t-shirt from a discount retailers and decorate it with some of your creatively and personal flair. Choose from fabric paints, tie dying, laces, ribbons, buttons, and computer generated or store-brought transfers and apply according to the wearers personality.


Encourage your children to help. It is fun and gives you an individual gift they can’t buy. The best part is that each T-shirt should cost you less than $15 each.

Tip of the Day July 23 2009

Removing wax on carpet

Accidents happen, no matter how careful we are and candle wax on carpet can be hard to remove. Let the wax dry on the carpet. Once it's dry, place an old tea towel on top of the wax and run a hot iron over the towel. Pick up the towel and place a clean area of the towel over the rest of the wax and iron again. Repeat this until all the wax has been absorbed into the tea towel. Depending on how much wax has been spilt, you may need to use more than one towel.

Tip of the Day July 22 2009

Budget for bargains

Allow a set amount of money each week for 'bargain' buys - extra cheap margarine, soap powder, toilet paper etc. - on top of your grocery budget. This way you will always be able to take advantage of a great buy when you find it, without putting a strain on your budget. If you don't use it each week, save it and you will build up your bargain fund quite quickly.

Tip of the Day July 21 2009

Storing garlic

To save time when cooking, peel and skin a whole batch of garlic cloves at once and freeze in plastic bags. This gives the garlic a much greater shelf life and it can be used directly from the freezer.

Tip of the Day July 20 2009

Save a lot of money with a sewing machine

A sewing machine will save you a lot of money. If you are not an avid sewer it's probably best to not get a new one, there are good second hand options: in the paper, Salvation Army op shops etc. Look for a basic machine that you can get to know and get used to it. I am a sewer and sometimes I buy flat sheets at garage sales and make them fitted, you can make your own pillow cases too, very easy, just see how your old ones have been done. With a sewing machine you can do a lot of recycling, your big t-shirts can be altered to your size or kids size. Sometimes I buy fabric from op shops for $1 or $2 that can be made into nice tops, etc. I suggest you go to the library and borrow a book about sewing, that's the way I am learning, and practice every lesson in those books. A sewing machine will pay for itself very quickly, and you will have a lot of fun.
Contributed by Elizabeth, Berkeley

Tip of the Day 19 July 2009

Tips for a Stress Free Christmas

A great tip for a stress free Christmas is to planning ahead of your shopping time. Make yourself a list of the people and presents you plan to buy and most importantly, your budget for that person. Once you know what you want and the price you want to pay, Christmas shopping is fun. Look through sales catalogues or head to clearance centres where you know you can get a good deal. When you get to the shops, stick to your price plan. Don’t be fooled by advertising and marketing tricks. Remember, a little planning now can give you an enjoyable a happy, stress and debt free Christmas.

Tip of the Day 18 July, 2009

Get out the door on time

Put an inexpensive battery operated wall clock in the kitchen, bath, bedroom and family room. Now when you stop to do 'one more thing' while you are trying to stay on schedule you will be able to see if you can afford the time. Time yourself to see how long it takes to walk out your door and get to work on 3 different mornings. Then set aside the longest time over the three days for getting ready, out the door and to work on time. You will feel so powerful knowing that you will not be late.

Free Flowing Nail Polish to the Last Brush Stroke

One way to make those expensive little bottles of nail polish last longer is to store them in the refrigerator between uses. They won't thicken as quickly if they're kept cold, giving you perfect nail cover with every manicure

Tip of the Day 16 July, 2009

Keeping clippings neat

Ever cut out recipes from magazines or the back of food products, put them somewhere safe and promptly lose them in your kitchen? A great way to keep them all in one place is to take a small photo album with clear drop-in sleeves (you can usually find these at the $2 shop). The recipe clippings are sometimes so small you can fit two, sometimes three, per page. To be really organized you can assign one album per product - pasta, poultry, meat, etc. Keep them neatly together on a pantry shelf where you'll see them and be reminded to try the recipes.

Tip of the Day July 15, 2009

Buy your morning coffee and save

Approximate $ Savings: $365/year

I save money by buying my own homemade coffee! I am hopeless at putting money away for a rainy day, then I had an idea. I cannot function without my morning coffee, so I have put a tin next to the coffee jar, and have to put $1 in the tin before I make my first coffee. I always manage to find $1 in change laying around the house, so instead of it disappearing into thin air, the dollar goes into my coffee tin, helping me to save at least $365 dollars a year, and it is very helpful toward those Christmas expenses! Of course if your partner also enjoys his morning drink, get him to pay, doubling the cash savings.

Contributed by Nicole, Fulham Gardens

Tip of the Day July 14 2009

Handy mash from leftovers

When you have left over mashed potatoes from a meal, scoop the potatoes into small balls, place them on a cookie sheet and put the sheet in the freezer. Once completely frozen place them in a labelled and sealed freezer bag. When making potato soup (or any other cream style soup) use the potato balls in the soup to give a creamier, thicker texture. You can use a melon baller to make small, bite sized potato snacks. Just roll in breadcrumbs and shallow fry until golden.

Tip of the Day July 13 2009

A use for teabag dividers

I buy teabags in a box of 100. The teabags are in the box in nice little rows with 3 x rectangular pieces of rather good quality white glossy cardboard separating the rows. Ever since I can remember, when I open a new box of teabags I keep these pieces of cardboard. They make great bookmarks (as is or decorated) and I often use them a gift tags for presents. Just punch a hole in one corner and tie it to the gift with a personalised message written on the card. They can also be used as thread sorters - punch holes down one side, add a snippet of thread and then write the details next to it (if you use pencil then you can re-use them).

Contributed by Deborah, Gawler

Tip of the Day July 12 2009

How to stop frittering away your hard earned dollars

A good coffee is terrific, though at $3.20 per cup, it puts a serious dent on your budget. Just one coffee per day, (and often you need 2 cafe lattés a day), will cost you $1,168 each year – ouch! You can save over $900 per year by investing in a coffee plunger or an espresso machine and buying your favourite blend of coffee, ready ground. This way you can make a terrific cup of coffee just the way you like it any time you like and you’ll be saving heaps.

Getting Fit on a Budget

Getting fit can cost you a fortune, however it doesn’t have to be that way. Forget the fancy fitness attire and shop around for some genuine bargains on your fitness gear and shoes. Look to pick up end of lines, seconds and even second hand things for a fraction of the price. Most cities now have discount chains and factory outlets where you can buy top brand shoes for $50 - $80 instead of $150-180. Likewise the major department stores offer clearance and discounts at various times of the year. You can often receive 10 – 20% of the normal price by shopping at Big W or K Mart, especially when they have their sales. Myers and DJ’s have great clearance sales which include sports gear every 6 months. The dedicated sports stores have sales and are often useful to find clearance and end of line discounts.

Tip of the Day 10 July, 2009

Leftover pizza? Re-heat it for a quick snack!

Leftover pizza can become soggy and unappetizing if it's warmed in the microwave and it dries out and becomes like cardboard if it's reheated in the oven. For perfect re-heated pizza every time, try this simple method. Simply heat up leftover pizza in a non-stick fry-pan on top of the stove, over a medium to low heat and heat till warm. This keeps the crust crispy. No soggy micro pizza or dried out cardboard base. It really works, try it next time you have leftover pizza.

Tip of the Day July 9, 2009

Easy Glider

To keep the zipper on heavy jackets and jeans in tip top shape and to prevent it from sticking, run a bar of soap up and down both sides of the zip after each wash. The zipper will glide easily, preventing tugging when it gets stuck. No more tugging means no more broken zips. A side benefit is the ease of zipping for littlies and those with arthritic fingers.

Tip of the Day July 8, 2009

$5 Here, $5 There Really Adds Up

When my daughter was getting married a couple of years ago I didn't know how I was going to afford a really beautiful Mother of the Bride outfit. So I decided that I would try to not spend the $5 notes that came my way as change from breaking a note for another purchase. It worked. Whenever I got $5 as change I would put it in a separate purse and forget about it. Well they really started to add up pretty quickly. Within a few months I had a few hundred dollars. When I went shopping for my outfit I ended up finding a truly beautiful outfit for just over $300 dollars and only had to add $25 to what I had saved in $5 notes. It saved me having to put my purchase on credit card and pay back over several months, not to mention the interest that would have been added as well. So I still save my $5's. It's great for Christmas presents, birthdays, and holidays. Now I never spend my $5's until that special time that I've been saving for.
Contributed by Dianne Park

Tip of the Day July 7, 2009

Terrific Tacos

Have the perfect taco shell every time with this simple tip. Pre-heat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius. Once the oven has reached 200 degrees, switch it off and immediately drop your taco shells over the oven rack, so they are hanging down. Close the door and leave 10 minutes. Perfect taco shells, ready to be filled and enjoyed.

Tip of the Day July 6, 2009

Coin Bags Ideal for Keeping Cottons Clean

I am an avid cross stitcher. Instead of buying an expensive thread box and cards to keep my threads separate, I use the plastic money bags from the bank. I write the cotton number on the outside of the bag and it can fit more than one strand of the same colour in it.
Contributed by Rebecca, Culcairn

Tip of the Day July 5, 2009

Keeping herbs fresh

When storing your herbs in the fridge, wrap them in a damp tea towel and store in a plastic bag in the vegetable crisper. This keeps them fresh for days and they don`t wilt at all as they would in a glass of water.

Tip of the Day June 26, 2009

Beware of packaging changes

When your favourite products change packaging, check carefully to see why. Has it shrunk in size? Is it being made elsewhere? Have the ingredients changed? And most importantly has the unit price changed? Often a change of packaging means a change in size which can be costing you more. While the packaging may give you the impression that the quantity or volume hasn't changed, read the label carefully. If the change has resulted in an increase in price you may choose to look for another cheaper product to replace this one with.

Tip of the Day June 25, 2009

Seasoning new towels

Often new towels, while looking soft and fluffy, are not as absorbent as we'd like them to be. To remove the seasoning from new towels, soften them and have them ready to dry you properly, always soak them in a bucket of hot water and 2 cups of white vinegar overnight, then wash on a hot cycle with half the quantity of washing powder that you would normally use and 1/2 cup of bi-carb soda, and in the fabric softener compartment add 1/2 cup of vinegar. Line dry them and they are ready to be put into daily use. You'll have soft, fluffy towels that are super absorbent and dry beautifully.

Tip of the Day June 24, 2009

Out of sight, out of mind

If you have a problem saving, try having an automatic deduction from your wages straight to a separate bank account with limited access. Then have the balance deposited into your everyday account as usual. You can only see what you have left to spend on bills, living etc and you don't have to worry about not spending your savings.

Tip of the Day June 23, 2009

Apple snacks

Don't waste the apple peelings when you are getting apples ready to make apple sauce or stewed apple. Before you peel them wash them well. Then peel the apples, putting the peelings aside. Toss them in cinnamon sugar and bake on an oiled biscuit tray in a 160 degree oven until they are golden and crisp. They make a delicious treat to nibble on.

Tip of the Day June 22, 2009

Think outside the craft store

With the scrapbooking craze at the moment, tools can be very expensive but I've found a way to cut costs. I wanted a heat gun so I could give embossing a go, but to buy a heat gun from craft stores, was going to cost me between $60-$80 for the gun, so my hubby told me to try Bunnings (or any other hardware store), and I did. They were only about $30 for a heat gun (a big saving). But it didn't stop there, I ended up purchasing the tool from Kmart when they had 20% off tools, which saved me even more. I also wanted a pair of fine-tipped tweezers and to buy them from the craft store was going to cost $10-$20 a pair. I had a look in the beauty section at Big W and found a pair that would do the job for $4.50. The last saving I made was for paper storage (you end up acquiring a lot of paper) and again, to buy something to store paper in at the craft store was around $120+, way out of my budget. So again I went to Big W and bought a "Desktopper" (a plastic box that hold suspension files, make sure you get the ones without the lids), and it fits all of my paper in neatly, I can buy more suspension files when needed, it doesn't take up much room (it sits neatly on my desk top - hence the name) and it only cost between $11-$18. I hope this helps other crafters out there.
Contributed by Lisa, Nambour

Tip of the Day June 21, 2009

Whip up a home brew

Here is s a great way to brew up your own plant fertiliser at a cost of about 5 cents per 5 litres: add 2 teaspoons of plain household ammonia to 5 litres of water. Allow the mixture to steep for a full 24 hours. Use this liquid on plants instead of using costly commercial fertiliser.


Caution: If you use more than two teaspoons per 5 litres of water it will be too strong, and you will burn your plants. In this case more is definitely not better.

Tip of the Day June 20, 2009

Board games for free family fun

Board games are a great investment. If well taken care of, they can easily last a generation. You can often find them at garage sales for a dollar or two, even the new board games. Every family should have some basic games like Scrabble, Monopoly, cards, dominoes, chess, and checkers. You can add to your board game collection as your children grow. Start them of with Hungry Hippos (or similar) and move them up to more challenging and fun games as they grow up. Including a board game as a family present at Christmastime is a great way to build a collection. You can look out for them during the year to get the lowest possible price.

Tip of the Day June 19, 2009

Have a menu

Prepare your menu for the week around what you already have, and what's on sale. Use your junk mail to plan what you'll eat each week. For example, if chicken fillets are on sale plan to have apricot chicken, chicken cacciatore and fajitas that week. You could even make chicken soup if the weather is cool enough. Then fill out the other meals with whatever you have in the freezer or what's on sale.

Tip of the Day June 18, 2009

Creative, Chic Cushion Covers

One way to achieve an individual look for your living room is to revamp old cardigans and turn them into stylish cushion covers. Cardigans with an Aran or cabled pattern look classy, or look for plain ones with unusual buttons and/or detailing on the front. All you have to do is cut off the sleeves and sew all four sides up. You already have the button up area for your opening. Simple, and very easy to do! For next to nothing, you get an individual, one-off cushion... much more satisfying than paying $35 upwards for mass-produced ones from Spotlight or Freedom. If you don't have any old cardies, check out your local Op Shop, Garage Sale or Swap Meet. Size doesn't matter either - you can make tiny throw cushions for a bed, or larger ones for the living room; your choice.
Contributed by Chris, Bakers Hill

Tip of the Day June 17, 2009

Savings Incentive: Tuckshop or the Money?

Approximate $ Savings: $40 per year per child

Our school has canteen once per week. As a savings incentive both my daughters are given the option to spend their $1.00 on an ice cream or save it to buy something more important. My eight year old is saving to buy a new pair of jeans. Not only am I saving on dental work, but on my clothing budget for her. Another incentive for her is she gets more time to play as she isn't stuck in the playground eating an ice cream. We both win.
Contributed by Roxanne, Kingsley

Tip of the Day June 16, 2009

Stovies

This recipe brings back memories of my childhood and Monday night tea. If we had a corned leg for Sunday lunch Mum would use the leftovers on our sandwiches on Monday and to make stovies for tea on Monday night. I agree with Jenny - very yummy.


Ingredients:
1 tin corned beef (diced)
1 large onion (diced)
3 med potatoes each (per person)


Method:
Boil potatoes and onion together with a pinch of salt until cooked. Mash all 3 ingredients together to make a hash. Season to taste and add a knob of butter at serving. I eat mine with brown sauce!! Yummy!

Contributed by Jenny Phillips

Tip of the Day June 15, 2009

Start a Button Jar

Approximate $ Savings: $5

Cut the buttons off old business shirts, polo shirts and pants before you use them as rags. Keep them for use when you sew new items of clothing or to replace missing or broken buttons. This works especially well for quality business shirts as the buttons are usually the first thing to go and they are usually the same few styles of button. If you're feeling lazy and don't want to button the long sleeves of business shirts to the buttons running down the centre (to keep the sleeves getting tangled in wash) try putting them in wash bags (for a load containing a lot of long sleeved shirts) as this keeps from having to sort thru a mass of tangled sleeves.
Contributed by Yun Si, Willoughby

Tip of the Day June 14, 2009

Extra potent bug spray

To make a terrific bug spray for your garden, mix 2 tablespoons flea and tick powder, 1 tablespoon vegetable oil and 6 litres water. Pour into spray bottle and label. Shake to mix before each use. Keep out of reach of children. As with any pesticide, this is poisonous so treat it with due respect. Wear gloves and other protective clothing as necessary and be sure to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water immediately after use, and definitely before you touch anything else.

Tip of the Day June 13, 2009

A birthday to remember

All kids love their birthday so make it a day to remember by starting the celebrations as soon as they open their eyes. Start the day off with a surprise for the birthday child (or grown-up). Once the birthday child is asleep the night before the big day, blow up a bunch of balloons and tie them to the end of their bed or to a door handle. Make a “happy birthday” banner and hang this up where they'll see it when they wake up, then give them a special birthday breakfast – try pink pancakes for a girl, blue for a boy. The pancake mixture can be made before you go to bed and left in the fridge overnight, ready to quickly cook in the morning. With such a special start to the day, it's bound to be extra special all day long.

Tip of the Day June 12, 2009

No mess tacos

To keep taco fillings inside their shells, line the shell with a lettuce leaf before adding the meat and other toppings. The lettuce will hold the filling together, even if the shell starts to break when you're eating it.

Tip of the Day June 11, 2009

Hot chocolate anyone?

We are hot chocolate lovers in our house and the sudden blast of icy cold weather has had us running for the hot chocolate mix. I've had big mugs of hot chocolate waiting for the kids each afternoon when they've come in from school to warm them up and they've been having a mug each evening before bed.

Instead of paying $5 or more for ten single serve sachets (which are very nice indeed, but way too expensive) I make up a batch of Hot Chocolate Drink Mix for under $3 (using generic ingredients) that makes up around 30 serves of delicious hot chocolate.

Hot Chocolate Drink Mix
Ingredients:
2 cups skim milk powder
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup coffee whitener (I use Coles Smartbuy)

Method:
In medium bowl, combine milk powder, sugar, coca, and coffee whitener. To serve, place 3 teaspoons cocoa mix in mug. Stir in 3/4 cup boiling water. Store the mix in an airtight container for up to 2 months.

Tip of the Day June 10, 2009

Keep your tax related stuff together

The end of the financial year is almost here and that means tax season. Soon you'll start to receive tax related information from your job, your bank, Centrelink etc. As they come in, keep all of these tax-related papers together in a labelled file folder. This way, when you're ready to do your tax return, you won't have to search for the papers you need. Once you've filed your tax return you can file this paperwork.

Tip of the Day June 9, 2009

Lighting up the birthday cake

Getting all the candles lit on a birthday cake can be tricky - matches burn down so fast when you are trying to get all the candles alight at ones. If you don't have extra long matches, try lighting a piece of spaghetti. It will burn for a while and allow you to light multiple candles without burning your fingers.

Tip of the Day June 8, 2009

Re-invent second-hand jewellery and save on new beads

The latest craze seems to be making your own jewellery. When buying beads, clips etc it can be very expensive from the bead shops. I now go to second hand clothing stores such as Lifeline, the Salvation Army etc and buy very cheap second hand jewellery. I then dismantle the items and reinvent my own fabulous necklaces, earnings bracelets etc. often for less than the price of one special bead.

Contributed by Robyn, Redland Bay

Tip of the Day June 7, 2009

A safer substitute for Round-up

Here is a great weed killer you can make for less than $4. Dissolve 2 cups table salt in 5 litres white vinegar (generic is ideal). Add 8 drops of liquid dishwashing detergent (this helps plant material absorb the liquid). Label and keep out of reach of children. Use this solution in an ordinary spray bottle. This non-toxic formulation acts quickly and is very effective, so don't spray near roots of trees, shrubs, or plants you'd like to keep. This is especially effective on edges, driveways, footpaths ... any place you don't want anything to grow.

Tip of the Day June 6, 2009

A long weekend - the perfect excuse to bake a cake

No matter what you have planned this long weekend, take some time out to relax with a cuppa and a slice of this delicious, chocolate cake.

Boiled Chocolate Cake
Ingredients:
1 cup water
2 tbsp cocoa
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
125g butter
1 1/2 cups SR flour
1/2 tsp bicarb soda

Method:
Place sugar, water, butter, cocoa and bicarb soda into a medium saucepan and stir over a low heat until butter has melted. Bring to boil and simmer 5 minutes. Remove from heat and cool. When mixture cools stir in beaten eggs and SR flour. Beat well. Turn into a greased and lined 18cm round cake tin. Bake in a moderate oven for 1 hour. Cool in tin 5 minutes before turning onto a wire rack to cool completely. Dust with icing sugar to serve.

Tip of the Day June 5, 2009

Easy firelighters

It is officially winter, time to light the fire and get cosy. For a cheap fire starter, save your cardboard egg cartons and fill each compartment with dryer lint (if you use your dryer) or the dried lint from the lint filter in your washing machine or shredded paper (let the kids do this). Carefully melt the stubs from old candles and pour the wax over each section to seal the lint in. Pull the carton apart into individual sections and use one starter with the kindling when lighting a fire. You'll have a cheery blaze going in no time.