Meal Plan 4 - 10 September 2016

I'm looking forward to this week's meal plan, mainly because they're all things I like. They're all easy too and very simple and cheap meals that use basic pantry ingredients.

We're having roast lamb on Sunday (and I'll get another roast dinner from it) for Father's Day. It will be studded with garlic cloves and rosemary springs, drenched in lemon juice and then slow cooked on the barbecue. I serve this lamb with roasted vegetables: potato chunks, sweet potato chunks, carrot chunks, zucchini and onion and steamed greens (broccoli this week, it was only 79c a kilo last week).

This week we will be eating:

Sunday: Roast Lamb

Monday: Swedish Meatballs, mash, cream sauce, cranberry jelly

Tuesday:  Slowcooker stroganoff, noodles, veggies

Wednesday: Chicken pie, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots

Thursday: MOO Pizza

Friday: Meatball Sliders

Saturday: Soup and crumpets

Buying Produce Locally and in Season is Green and Saves You Money

To combine green living with frugal living, buy your fresh produce locally while it is in-season.
Buying locally involves buying your produce from local farmers' markets, produce stands and co-ops, rather than big box supermarkets. Buying in-season involves buying the fruits and vegetables that are ripening and being harvested right now. Both strategies save you money.

Grab these benefits by buying locally:
1.Eco-friendliness. Buying locally is more eco-friendly because the produce doesn't have to be shipped or transported into your local area by plane or truck. Grocery stores obtain their produce from all over the country and world, and the long-distance transportation translates into the use of more pesticides, gas, oil, and energy.

2.Local economy. You can also stimulate the local economy by buying locally, because you're supporting local farms and farmers rather than growers all over the world. When you buy locally-grown produce, every part of the process is local. You're supporting local growers, transportation, and merchants, which boosts the economy in your city and state.

Enjoy these benefits of buying in-season produce:
1.Taste benefits. When you buy your produce in season, you won't be disappointed with the taste. Fruits, especially, only ripen properly and taste their best during the seasons in which they thrive. When you buy produce off-season, the quality of the flavor will be compromised.

2.Cost benefits. Seasonal food tends to be significantly less expensive than out-of-season produce, primarily because far less effort is required to bring you in-season produce. In the proper season, fruit can grow on its own, requiring less time and labor. This translates into the most cost-friendly produce to stock your kitchen with.

3.More variety. If you follow along with the seasons rather than shopping for the same produce over and over, then you'll enjoy a much richer and more varied collection of different vegetables and fruit. From this variety of produce, you can find new ways to experiment and enjoy new recipes.

Buying in-season, local produce is one of the greatest things you can do when shopping for your family. You can provide your family with the best tasting, most nutritious food while also saving money.

Old-Fashioned Household Products for your Spring Cleaning Project

Back before chemicals and factories were the norm, cleaning products were composed mostly of household items for a natural, pure and wholesome cleaning effect. Nowadays, with women so busy working and taking care of family, grabbing a bottle of something store bought may be easier; but women today also realise and recognise the importance of all natural cleaning products for their household as well as their families.

Although there are a host of cleaning products that are made from all natural household products that are just right for your spring cleaning project, here are a few of the cheapest and most common:

· Vinegar has many uses other than just dressing salads. For cleaning purposes, vinegar is one of the best known and best loved old-fashioned household products for cleaning and shining mirrors and glass. Measure 2 cups of water and ½ cup of white vinegar and mix in a large bucket. Grab some old newspaper, scrunch it up, and dunk the newspaper in the bucket full of mixture. Go at your windows and mirrors like there is no tomorrow. You will receive a streak-free shine every time and using newspaper offers the benefit of no leftover paper towel lint.

· Vinegar is also an old staple outside the home as well. It can be mixed with dishwashing liquid and placed in a clean, empty spray bottle so that you can spray the weeds in cracks and crevices around the outside of your house. The vinegar causes the weeds to die off and the soap assists the vinegar in adhering to the weeds.

· Pouring vinegar down the drain once a month will shine and sanitize your sink pipes.

· Bicarbonate soda has many uses and one of the most common is to deodorise your refrigerator. Place an open box of bicarb soda (small box will do) in the back of your refrigerator and this will absorb odours, giving your refrigerator a clean, fresh scent.

· Bicarb soda mixed with water and used with a scrubbing brush makes an excellent paste for scrubbing away soap scum from your tub and tiles.

· You can also add lavender sprigs or lemon oil as well as dishwashing liquid to bicarb soda to create a nice smelling, all-purpose cleaner. Always spot test an area before using anything, whether store bought or naturally made, on fabrics, carpets, clothing and painted surfaces.

· Placing bicarb soda in a burnt pot or pan with water and bringing to a boil can assist in dissolving burnt on food.

While vinegar, bicarb soda, lemons and sprigs of lavender are earth friendly and non-toxic, they also add the additional benefit of being cost effective.

Being able to save money while saving the planet by using these items is a win/win situation for your home, family, the environment, and your purse as well.

Short notice I know but I'm talking to Christine Anu tonight at 8:10pm

I'm about to talk to Christine Anu (Evenings with Christine Anu) on ABC 702 (Sydney) tonight at 8:10pm.

We'll be talking about stress and money and the relationship between money and stress - something I think we've all experienced at some point in our lives.

Tune in if you can get 702, or listen live on your computer/mobile device   http://www.abc.net.au/sydney/programs/listenlive.htm

Mega Grocery Savings by Savvy Shopping

Cheapskates Members know how to shop. They know how to find a bargain: the stores to frequent, the time to be there and which items to concentrate on.

These savvy shoppers are so tuned into getting a grocery bargain that they even know the time of day different items are marked down! And they make sure they are there to snap up the best deals.

There are some simple guidelines that will help you with your mark-down bargain grocery shopping, ensuring you’ll always get a good deal.

1. Know the regular price of the item
2. Check to see if it’s on your shopping list. If it isn’t, is the item something you use regularly?
3. Will you be able to use it before the Use By date?
4. If not, do you have the capability to freeze it, store it, dehydrate it, bottle it?
5. Will you be able to use it within a reasonable period of time? There’s no point in storing 15 cans of furniture polish if you only polish your furniture once a year!

Here’s some advice from Cheapskates Club Members:

Double Up 

When doing your grocery shop, for the week/fortnight. Double up on a staple, such as tea or sugar. Put them in a separate place, and in a couple of months, you will have nearly a whole shopping list of staples. I usually treat myself, with the savings, to something special. I also do the same thing with specials if I can afford to.
Contributed by Josie

Easy Ways to Cut Down on Your Grocery Bills 

Make sure you take a good look at your weekly supermarket catalogues before you head to the supermarket. This way you can save lots on washing powder, toilet rolls etc. If you need to buy nappies or wipes also keep an eye out in the catalogues (supermarket, Target, Kmart, Big W). I have compared just about every price in Sydney for nappies and wipes and I find the cheapest time to buy them is when Kmart have 15% off storewide or Woolworths have Huggies Bulk Box Nappies on special for $29.99. Also for meat talk to your Butchery Dept at your supermarket and find out when they reduce their meat (when it only has a few days left on the expiry date). The meat is still fine, and you just have to put it into the freezer. For fruit and veggies take a trip to your Asian greengrocer - they have a fantastic variety and are much cheaper (if in Sydney try Cabramatta) Hope this helps.
Contributed by Olivia

Freeing Up Cash

Today's Tip of the Day is one after my own heart. When Disaster Struck the first thing we did was switch to a cash budget using the envelope system. In those day's I'd go to the bank every second Thursday and withdraw the cash we needed for the next two weeks. I'd have to go into the bank because I wanted the right change for each envelope. The night before banking day I'd sit down with the budget and work out exactly how much I needed to withdraw and the currency needed.

Then, when I finally made it home, I'd sit down at the kitchen table with a cuppa and sort the money into the envelopes. Those envelopes lived in a drawer in our bedroom. When I needed grocery money I'd take what it from the grocery envelope, petrol came from the petrol envelope and so on.

It may be old fashioned but it works and it is a great way to control your money and your spending.

Freeing Up Cash

When I started out seriously budgeting, we had 2 school aged children, credit card bills, mortgage, car payments as well as everyday living. We both work full time and weren't getting anywhere fast or had any spare cash so I set up an envelope system for my bills I split it all up into fortnightly amount (that's when we get paid) and started putting the money away. For the first twelve months it was hard but if you persevere it will get easier. I now can make double payments on the house, have cleared the car payment, credit card bills, have just sent my husband to Germany for a holiday with his family and have spare money in the bank. I have never felt more in control of our money than I do now. Our children don't miss out on anything and now our son works he realises the value of money and saves his up. He has already purchased a car for when he gets his license.
​Contributed by Presley Dostal

In-a-Hurry Vegetarian Lasagne

This lasagne is so quick to put together, it's perfect for a quick lunch or dinner, and so very tasty that no-one will even notice that there's no meat! Serve it with a big green salad and garlic bread for a really delicious meal.  You'll have everyone  coming back for seconds.

In a Hurry Vegetarian Lasagne

Ingredients:
6 large lasagne noodles
1 jar of tomato based pasta sauce
200g low fat cottage cheese
2 cup shredded Mozzarella cheese
2 tbsp of dried parsley

Method:
Pre-heat oven to 200 degrees Celsius.  In the bottom of a 22cm x 33cm baking dish place 3 uncooked noodles. Spread half the pasta sauce over the noodles and then carefully spread  all the cottage cheese on top of the pasta sauce. Top with 1 cup of the grated cheese. Repeat, ending with grated cheese. Sprinkle on parsley. Cover tightly with foil and put into a pre-heated oven. Bake for 45 minutes. Remove foil and continue to cook a further 10 - 15 minutes until the cheese begins to brown.

I Made My Own Rubit Scrubit and Saved!

​
I was looking at these little gadgets at the Papercraft Expo over the weekend. No, I didn't buy one. I use wet wipes to clean my stamps (and I clean them each time I use them so they don't stain). I don't have a lot of stamps, but the ones I have get a lot of use so I may well try Veronika's idea out. I just need to hunt through the house to find a case to keep it in (I have a stash of microfibre cloths I can use)!

I Made My Own Rubit Scrubit and Saved!

Approximate $ Savings: $26

As an avid stamper my rubit scrubit (stamp cleaning pad) was getting very tattered and wasn't doing the job. A friends sister-in-law has just joined a stamping party plan, and was keen to show off all her goodies (and maybe book a party or two!). I really loved the stamp cleaning device they had, a swish black case with microfibre cleaning power. But at $30, I thought I could do with my old pad a little longer. Back at home, the brain started ticking over, and I found my tin of watercolour pencils, and emptied them into another container (recycled of course) and when we went shopping purchased 2 cheap microfibre cloths for my tin - I had to trim the cloth to it and glue it to the tin and found instead of being one cloth, it was folded over and hemmed, giving me two cloths for the price of one! As well as a spare! I now have a very effective stamp cleaner, the only compromise is it's a coloured cloth, not a black one, so you can see the ink when it comes off the stamp, but with a saving of $26, I think I can live with that!
Contributed by Veronika

Meal Plan 28 August - 3 September 2016

Perfect scrambled eggs on toast - great for breakfast or a quick dinner

Sunday: Roast Chicken

Monday: Chicken nachos

Tuesday: Stir-fried vegetables & Singapore noodles

Wednesday: Sweet Chilli Pasta Bake

Thursday: MOO Pizza

Friday: Apricot Chicken, mash, veggies

Saturday: Scrambled Eggs on toast

Meal Plan 21 - 27 August 2016

Tandoori Chicken and crunchy coleslaw

Sunday: Roast Beef

Monday: Tandoori chicken, rice, salad

Tuesday: Satay chicken & fried rice

Wednesday: Black bean and corn enchiladas

Thursday: MOO Pizza

Friday: Pizza Pockets

Saturday: Toasted sandwiches & tomato soup

The Week that Was 14th August

It has been a very frugal week here,  I spent $23 on Thursday to buy milk, cheese, eggs and some fruit and salad veggies and that was the total money spent this week.

Swapped the meal plan around. Used chicken from the freezer and the veggies were in the fridge and the rice was in the pantry so no additional.

Cooked some rhubarb. Hannah made an apple and rhubarb crumble and put some in a container to have with breakfast and froze two tubs for more crumbles or breakfasts.

Made a batch of MOO yoghurt. Flavoured it with a tin of passionfruit pulp from the pantry. It had been there a while and needed to be used. Yum!

Topped my car up when petrol was 101.07c/litre. I drove past my usual petrol station to one about a kilometre further down the road, same brand, but 30 cents a litre cheaper.

Made sure I used my membership card to get 15% off prescriptions this week.

Used some biscuit crumbs from the freezer to make a base for a slice. I empty the biscuit jar into a Tupperware container in the freezer before washing and refilling. It takes a while to get enough crumbs to make a slice but I'm not buying biscuits just to crush them for a slice.

Pulled the buttons of some old work shirts of Wayne's and added them to the button jar before cutting the shirts into rags for the shed.

Hannah gave both her brothers haircuts. This didn't really save me any money but it saved AJ and Tom $30 each.

Cut up a whole pumpkin from our stockpile and made soup. I'd been thinking about it for a couple of days and when I picked it up I noticed it was starting to go soft around the stalk - good timing and delicious soup.

Dried the washing outside on one day, by the fire the other days.

Kept the thermostat set at 15 degrees, so the ducted heating stayed off  most days. The fire was enough to keep the house warm.

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

Meal Plan 14 - 20 August 2016

Cottage Pie - perfect comfort food and a great way to use up a little bit of mince

Sunday: Roast Chicken

Monday: Sausage casserole, mashed potato, steamed broccoli

Tuesday: Cottage Pie

Wednesday: MOO meat pie, mash, veggies

Thursday: MOO Pizza

Friday: Chicken stir-fry and rice

Saturday: Enchiladas

Meal Plan 31 July - 6 August 2016

Corned beef, mashed potato, carrot straws

Sunday: Roast Chicken

Monday: Spag bol, salad, garlic bread

Tuesday: Corned beef, mash, cauliflower, carrots, peas

Wednesday: Fish pie, cauliflower & broccoli casserole

Thursday: MOO Pizza

Friday: Kai Si Min

Saturday: Chicken soup, toasted crumpets

Meal Plan 24 - 31 July 2016

Aunty Mary's Beef Casserole - tasty winter comfort food

Sunday: Roast Beef, baked potato, sweet potato, carrot; steamed beans, cauliflower, gravy

Monday: Slow Cooker Curried Chicken and rice

Tuesday: Mock fish fingers, wedges, salad

Wednesday: Aunty Mary's Beef Casserole, mash

Thursday: MOO Pizza

Friday: Chicken pancakes, wedges, salad

Saturday: Hamburgers

Take an $8 Barbecue Chook……

Coles have reduced the price of their regular barbecue chickens to $8.

Now I'm not normally a fan of the good old Aussie barbecue chook, mainly because they have been in the past rather expensive.

I can by whole chickens for $2.99/kg. That makes a No. 20 (2kg) chicken $5.98 and that chicken will give me 12 serves of meat and the bones to make stock or soup. I can get three, usually four, meals from one chicken and no one goes hungry.

But sometimes I don't have the time, the energy or the inclination to wash, dry, season, stuff and roast a chicken. Sometimes picking up a barbecue chook is the better option. Remember, Cheapskating isn't about paying the lowest price all the time, it's about saving money, time and energy and being a good steward of your resources.

So yesterday while I was in Coles with Mum (Thursday is her shopping day) I picked up a barbecue chicken; here's how I used it.

First, I cut the wings and drumsticks off it - they are one meal for four.

We'll have them with roast veggies (potato, sweet potato, onion, carrot, parsnip) and steamed greens (beans or peas, broccoli or cauliflower) and gravy.

Secondly, I pulled the breasts off it.

One breast was shredded to make Curried Chicken. Yes, one chicken breast, shredded with a couple of forks, gives enough meat for six serves of Curried Chicken. The other breast was shredded and put in the freezer. It will be used to make the chicken filling for the pancakes we have on the menu next Friday. I make a white sauce, add a little diced onion, some sliced mushrooms (re-hydrated from the bulk lot I dried in January) and a little cheese and the chicken and it's delicious.

Then I pulled the rest of the meat off the bones and put it in the freezer.

I'll use this meat for Chicken Fried Rice or Chicken Salad Sandwich Filling - whichever we'll need first. Right now it will probably be for chicken salad for sandwiches as we've a day out four wheel driving with friends planned for next week and I know we'll be super hungry after being out in the cold and the walking and so on we'll be doing.

Lastly, I put the bones into the slow cooker with water, some celery tops, a sad carrot, and a large onion and let it cook overnight to make stock.

I use stock to cook rice, it gives it a really lovely flavour. We have curried chicken on the meal plan and we always have rice with it, so I've planned to have the stock on hand for this purpose.  I also use it to make gravy - again it gives the gravy a much richer flavour.

The rest I'll use to make Grandma's Chicken Soup for lunches next week. I won't have the whole chicken for this, obviously, as I've used it for other meals, but it will still be flavourful and healthy and the bones will give up the rest of the chicken meat.

The Week that Was 17th July 2016

A new technique and a quick card is made!

What a busy week!

I had a lot of work to do, on top of getting ready for the Cheapskates Crafters card making retreat.

This week in our house we:

Caught the water from the showers and bucketed it into the washing machine.

Dried the washing by the fire and over the ducted heating vents.

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

Chicken Alfredo Lasagne Roll-Ups - quick, easy, cheap and delicious. A new recipe I've been experimenting with

I made a double batch of pita chips - one for home, one for the retreat.

Picked salad greens from the garden for our meals.

Filled the cars up (or rather topped the cars up) when fuel was 99.7c/litre - the cheapest it's been for a while.

Went through my craft drawers to find the materials needed for the card making retreat - didn't have to buy a thing.

Some of the cards I made at the retreat - three new techniques learned and mastered! And yes, I've started my Christmas cards :)

On the very cold days we turned the ducted heating on first thing in the morning and around 5pm for an hour to help the fire heat the house.

Once the cold snap was over, the sun came out. Having north facing windows is such a blessing in winter, the sun through the windows meant the house warmed up without the heater or the fire.

Made a batch of breadcrumbs using crusts from the freezer.

Came home on Sunday night to a sparkling house and a lovely hot dinner as well as a family who had obviously missed me, they surrounded me as soon as I walked through the door and bombarded me with questions and talking about their weekend. Sometimes we mothers wonder if we would be missed, my gorgeous bunch sure let me know I was.

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

Meal Plan 17 - 22 July 2016

I'll be away this weekend at Phillip Island (or is that on Phillip Island?)  with the card ladies, so Hannah will be cooking the roast on Sunday. I'll be able to walk in the door to a piping hot dinner and I can't wait. She's very good at roasts, so  I know  it will  be good.

Next week we'll be eating:

Sunday: Roast Chicken

Monday: Peanut rice patties, salad

Tuesday: Quiche & salad

Wednesday: Spaghetti & meatballs

Thursday: MOO Pizza

Friday: MOO meat pie, veggies

Saturday: Tuna Melts

Tuna Melts

Ingredients:
400g tuna in water, drained
3 tsp mayonnaise
1 tsp prepared mustard (we like English for the kick)
1 tsp salsa (hot, medium, mild - it's up to you)
6 pieces sliced cheese (I use tasty because that's what we usually have)
12 bread slices (wholegrain is good, adds a nutty flavour to the sandwich)
Butter

Method:
In a bowl, combine the first four ingredients. Mix well. Butter one side of all 6 pieces of bread. Flip bread over. Divide tuna mixture between six slices bread. Assemble sandwiches with butter facing out. Cook sandwiches in a hot frying pan over medium heat, until lightly toasted on each side and cheese is melted. Makes six sandwiches.

A Back-to-School Lunchbox Treat

My mother made something similar to these rice bubble treats way back when I was in primary school. I adapted her recipe to make them for my kids when they were in primary (and high) school. Then all of a sudden Kelloggs decided to mass produce them, give them a quirky name and sell millions of them at an outrageous price.

Now Hannah has adapted the recipe yet again to make them for her morning tea at work - if the boys don't find them and devour them beforehand!

Call them what you will, we call them Ricie Bars, they are delicious, quick and easy enough to make that the kids can do it themselves. And Hannah's version is colourful too with the addition of mini M&Ms. They were on clearance at Coles last week for 50c a tube so she snapped up the lot to use in her baking. You could use regular M&Ms or Smarties or the generic equivalent. As long as they are colourful it won't matter.

Rainbow Ricie Bars

Ingredients:
6 cups Ricies
1 pkt marshmallows (about 200g - or MOO your own marshmallow)
3 tbsp butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup mini M&Ms

Method:
Line a slice tray with baking paper. In a large saucepan (big enough to mix the Ricies in) melt the butter. Add the vanilla and marshmallows and stir until completely dissolved. Remove from the heat and quickly stir in the Ricies and the M&Ms, mixing thoroughly. You will need to move quickly, the mixture firms up as it cools. Quickly spread the mixture into the prepared slice tray. Press down firmly, then roll over the top with a small glass to firm it down. Put in fridge for 30 minutes to set. Use a serrated knife to cut into bars when set. Store in an airtight container in the fridge.

5 Tips for a Stress Free Monday (or any day) Morning

It’s Monday morning (again).  You glance at the kitchen clock and gulp down a cup of coffee while attempting to put on your clothes at the same time and realise that you only have 5 minutes to get your 5 year old dressed and ready for school, not to mention you still need to pack her lunch.  Not soon enough do you remember that you were warned the previous Thursday by your easy-going boss (not!) for being late the third day in a row.

Sound all-too familiar? No one said being a working mum would be easy, but here are 5 steps to help you achieve that delicate Monday (or any) morning balance:

1. First and foremost, be prepared.  

If need be, pack your child’s lunch the night before.  Give your child a bath the night before as well.  Do your washing and ironing on the weekend so that all clothes are hung and ready to go; prepare at least 5 outfits for each member of the family over the weekend and have your husband and children assist you in the process.

When our children were small every Sunday afternoon we'd put out the school and sports uniforms for the week, complete with underwear, socks and shoes. They each had a five cubby hanging organiser in their wardrobes and their uniforms would go into them, one day per cubby. It took all of five minutes every Sunday afternoon and saved so much time in the mornings. Hannah still uses hers to organise her clothes for the week.

2. Set your alarm clock 30 minutes earlier to allow yourself more time in the morning.  

If need be, go to bed 30 minutes earlier to make up for the time difference. Wake up before your kids to shower and dress and get your day started peacefully.

Even when we only had one baby I'd get up at 6am to have some quiet time. I'd make a cup of coffee and sit and read for a few minutes before starting my day.

3. Keep breakfast simple and healthy.  

Set the table before bed, fill the kettle, put out the toaster, take the bread from the freezer to thaw. If you feel that you just don’t have the time for breakfast, try keeping bananas and other easy to eat fruit or hard boiled eggs handy and ready to grab and go.

It takes five minutes before bed to get breakfast organised and saves half an hour in the morning chaos. I put the oats in the saucepan and cover them with water to soak, put out the Weet-bix and bran, add coffee to mugs so that when it's time for breakfast most of the work is done.

4. Set a routine for you and your family and stick with it.  

Our bodies crave routine and that’s a fact.  Go to bed at the same time every night and wake up at the same time every morning.  Sticking with a schedule will make it easier to effectively manage that morning balancing act.

5. Divide your morning into phases.  

For example, phase 1:  eat breakfast, phase 2:  get dressed, etc.  Set the phases in 15-30 minute time increments (phasing increments can vary, depending on the overall time you give yourself).  Attempting to accomplish everything at once will only lead to chaos and confusion.  Help your family stay within the proper phase and ask them to also pitch in and help.  Encourage your family to stick to the morning phases to keep things running smoothly.

Even the youngest of toddlers can help to get ready in the mornings.

We had a "no play" rule for first thing. It avoided distractions and really helped keep everyone on task. When the kids were in school we had a 20 - 25 minute drive, depending on traffic, and had to leave on time if they were to be at school before the bell went.

The key to achieving any balance, especially that morning balance, is being prepared.  My mother used to say I was always getting ready for tomorrow today and in a way she's right. Doing what I can ahead of time, when I have the time, saves rushing and getting stressed.

Try a more organised approach to your mornings and you will find that they turn out to be a lot smoother and less stressful for everyone