Hello Cheapskaters, I hope you are enjoying the last weeks of summer holidays. We are having a ball and thoroughly enjoying our holiday, although it's coming to an end much too fast!  Before I know it we'll be home and the kids will be back at school, Wayne will be back at work and our normal routine will have kicked in.  That means we can start planning next years holiday! With holidays coming to an end, no doubt the holiday budget is almost empty too.  Having fun as a family doesn't require a six-figure income. If you look hard enough, you can find lots of free or cheap activities that parents and kids can enjoy just about anywhere. Check your local newspapers, library and council to see what free activities they are running in your area. Tuesday is Australia Day, so there will be no excuse to not celebrate our amazing country. I've seen barbecues, fireworks, parades and plays advertised as we've been travelling so there's something for everyone and they are all free. Enjoy our national day, it's a great way to end the summer holidays. "Thanks for your wonderful website it has changed my life."  Linda Howatt "I just wanted to tell you how much we enjoy the $2 meals - the other night I made the zucchini slice which the whole family loved and which gave a family of 5 leftovers as well.  Keep adding to the $2 meals everyone - they are great!"  Angela, Alstonville    ($2 Dinner Challenge) "Love getting the Tip of the Day each day.  I look forward to the words of wisdom shared. Thanks heaps." Tracey PS: Love our site? We love referrals! Send a note to your favourite newspapers, magazines, radio stations, TV stations, friends and relatives, and tell them about us! PPS: You can read this newsletter and past copies on the website in the Newsletter Archive.

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Cheapskates Tip of the Week

This week's winning tip is from Catherine Carrier.  Catherine is already a Platinum Cheapskates Club member so her membership has been extended by one year for submitting her winning tip. Simple Kiddy Sofa Cover and Quilt Set Have you noticed that baby bed linen sets come with a fitted cot sheet, a flat sheet and a baby pillow case? I bet you are like me and only use the fitted cot sheet- no one uses baby pillows- they are way to dangerous in a cot and the flat sheet- well we find muslin wraps much nicer to use on bub in summer and in winter he has a sleep suit. This means that I have these cot flat sheets and pillow cases lying around and I have finally figured out a fabulous use for them! Our bub has a fold out sofa (I think most bubs do these days) so I have bought a couple of baby pillows to put on the sofa. I picked the pillow covers apart and have resewed them - swapping backs so I have reversible couch cushions! You could just stuff the pillow slips as they are and sew them up for big, fluffy, kid sized couch cushions!  We have a cute cot sized doona for use when bub has a nap on his sofa - so instead of paying $30+ for a cot sized doona cover I have sewn two flat cot sheets together to make a huge pillow slip type cover for the doona! This relatively simple idea has not only saved me lots of money but has made use of the pillow covers and flat sheets that were sitting around doing nothing!  Congratulations Catherine,  I hope you continue to enjoy your Cheapskates Club membership.

The Cheapskate's Club website is over 2,000 pages of money saving hints, tips  and ideas. Let's get together and make the Cheapskates Club Australia's largest online hint, tip and idea library. Share your favourite money saving, time saving or energy saving hint and be in the running to win a one-year membership to The Cheapskate Club. We publish a Winning Tip each Tuesday, so enter your great money, time or energy saving idea now!

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Submit a Tip

Share your favourite hint or tip that saves money, time and energy and be in the running to win a one-year membership to the Cheapskates Club valued at $29.20. Remember, you have to be in it to win it! Enter your tip here

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Money Saving Meals

Jams  and Spreads Lemon Butter Ingredients: 2 eggs 250 grams white sugar 125 grams butter Juice of 3 lemons Zest of 2 lemons Method: Beat eggs with sugar in saucepan.  Add butter, lemon juice and zest.  Stir over medium heat until mixture thickens to consistency of honey, about 3 - 5 minutes. Cook for another 2 –3 minutes. Do not boil this mixture.  Cool and pour into sterilised bottles. Microwave Orange Marmalade Ingredients: 275g oranges juice of 1 lemon 500g white sugar Method: Cut the oranges into quarters, and remove pips. Put pips and lemon shells onto muslin square and tie with string to make a bag. Finely slice oranges and put in a 3-litre microwave safe bowl (or bigger if possible to prevent splashes) with the bag, lemon juice and 300 ml boiling water. Cover and soak for 1 hour. Add 200ml boiling water. Microwave on high for 20 minutes, stirring after 10, until peel is tender. Add the sugar and stir to dissolve. Microwave on high for 25 minutes until setting point is reached, stirring every 5 minutes. Be careful as the mixture can get very hot.  Stand for 15 minutes, then stir and ladle into hot, sterilised jars  and seal while still hot. Note:  Do a freezer test after 25 minutes to see if jam will gel, if not cook in one minute bursts until gel sets on a cold saucer. Microwave Raspberry Jam Ingredients: 500g frozen raspberries 2 cups white sugar 1 tbsp lemon juice Method: Place frozen berries, sugar and lemon juice in a medium saucepan. Stir, over a low heat until berries have thawed and sugar has dissolved. Increase heat to medium and continue to stir until jam has reached setting point - about 15 minutes. Stir continuously to avoid burning and sticking. Once jam is ready, allow to cool before placing in sterilized jars and sealing. Passion Fruit Butter Ingredients: 2 eggs 125ml oz passion fruit pulp 80g caster sugar 60g unsalted butter, softened Method: To make the passion fruit curd, place the eggs, passion fruit and sugar in a bowl over a pan of simmering water. Stir continuously with a wooden spoon for 8 minutes, until thick, then remove from the heat and whisk in the butter. Leave to cool, then serve with warm scones and whipped cream. There are over 500 other great money saving meal ideas in the Recipe File

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Last Weeks Question

  

Last week's question was from Lena, asking for help finding replacement seals for her fridge and freezer. Maureen Newman answered The only way is to replace the seals. We have just done that and purchased the seals off the net from a company called Austcold Industries Ph: 1300 36 46 16. Their service was second to none and I will use them again.   Janice Franke answered It's not worth trying to get cheap second hand ones. There are many businesses that specialise in selling replacement fridge door seals. Depending on where you are you can pick them up or order on line for about $50. They come with instructions on how to install and are very easy to do.   Verity Roser answered Petroleum jelly smeared around the seals will keep it closing properly (and staying closed) for ages. You may already have some in your cupboard, if not buy the cheapest brand available - it will do the same job as the more expensive brands, the tub will last for ages and save a fortune on electricity. Each time they don't seem to be closing properly again - just smear on a bit more - problem solved!   Kaylee  Grundy answered Hi Lena I work for a company who manufactures majority of the fridges on the market, and have had a lot of customers over the years call up having this same problem. On the bottom of the fridge there will be levelling feet. Your fridge should actually be levelled back on a slight angle, this helps prevent the fridge door from swinging open if you close the freezer to hard and vice versa and will also help the seals stick as the weight of the doors are against them! If you do need to get new seals though you can be them from a discount spare parts place out of the phone book and install them yourself, a service call to get someone out there from the manufacture is normally $95 for them to walk through the door and $35 every 15 minutes while they are there!   Ric  Turen answered Lena my Dad was a refrigeration mechanic and he used to fold newspaper finely and pack it behind the door seal, making the rubber stand further out from the door hence making a thicker seal. I have tried it on my beer fridge and it works just fine.   Connie Mussillon answered A repair man told me to clean around the door, where the seal fits, then dry with a hair dryer. Make sure the area is completely dry and then use a dry cloth sprinkled with talcum powder to rub around the seal and the fridge where the seal fits.  Karyn Howard answered If you have a health care card or pension card and live in Victoria, Australia then the Department of Human Services will send someone around to replace them for you for free (once every five years only). Call 1800 658 521 to apply over the phone.   Jenny Maring answered I think the cheapest way is to replace it yourself. It is not difficult. You have to order them by brand name and number from the maker of the fridge. Check the phone book. Details of the fridge are mostly on the side of the inside door. I recall having to unscrew the seal in a few spots (have a look) and pulling it out. The new one is pressed into place around the door, just taking care not to stretch it. You loosely hang it around the door, and start pressing it in with your thumbs pushing onto it and toward one another at the same time. It's not unlike manipulating a slightly larger sleeve or collar into a garment, small sections at a time. When you are done, replace the screws. A new seal makes a lot of difference. It stops the thermostat overworking sending the power bill up, aside from food spoilage from the warming of the contents. I was quite chuffed when I did it myself.  Kim Harrigan answered I replaced our fridge seal myself by ordering a new seal from a company called Fridge Seal. Email www.fridge-seal.com.au. I just needed to tell them the make and model and they posted it to me with instructions and it only cost $60 for the seal for the fridge (not Freezer although that was available) and the postage. Don't forget to keep the magnets out of the old seal as they make really strong fridge magnets, cut them to any length you want. Good Luck. Website:  www.fridge-seal.com.au Christine Stockwell answered I found an online place in South Australia that sells and ships door seals for most make and models of fridges or freezers. They are reasonably priced as well. My freezer is very old and they still had a seal to fit it. Seals are fairly easy to fit if you are handy. They are: doorseal.com.au (08)8263 6665     Website:  www.doorseal.com.au

Do you have a question that needs an answer? Send us your question and receive the combined knowledge of your fellow Cheapskates to solve your problem! Ask a question

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This Weeks Question

Suzanne asks "I have just had back surgery, all my lumbar spine is now fused so bending is out of the question and the knees not too good for kneeling. This means I cannot get to the back of the lower cupboards in the kitchen.  Can anyone tell me where I might get budget priced kits to convert my cupboards, especially those below cooktop and oven into drawers? I would be grateful for any ideas."

Do you have the answer? If you have a suggestion or idea for Suzanne let us know, and your answer could be published in our next newsletter. You'll also be automatically entered into our Tip of the Week competition, with a one-year membership to the Cheapskates Club as the prize. Click here to send your answer

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Join the Cheapskates Club for just  $29.20 for the first year ($18.25 to renew) and get exclusive access to the Cheapskate Journal, the monthly e-journal that shows you how to cut the costs of everyday living and still have fun. Joining the Cheapskates Club gives you 24/7 access to the Members Centre with 1000's of money saving tips and articles. Join the Cheapskates Club today

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I change my email address? This one is easy. If you area Platinum member login and click on the Edit Profile button, then on Change Password. If you are a Silver member use the Change Your Address form (under Customer Service in the menu) and fill it out. Once you've filled it in click the send button and we'll do the rest. Please remember to include your old email address so we can find it in the list as well as the new one. How do I know when my membership should be renewed? When you login to the Member's Centre you will be told how many days of membership you have left once you have 30 days left. Just click on the link to renew and your membership will just continue on, uninterrupted. What will you do with my email address? We never rent, trade or sell our email list to anyone for any reason whatsoever. You'll never get an unsolicited email from a stranger as a result of joining this list. How Did You Get on Our List? You signed up to receive our Free Newsletter at our Cheapskates Journal Web site or at the Channel 9 Money Expo. We never add names to our list unless you have voluntarily opted in.

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Contact Details

The Cheapskates Club - Showing you how to live life debt free, cashed up and laughing! Cheapskates Club PO Box 4232 Ringwood Vic 3134 www.cheapskates.com.au info@cheapskates.com.au