Hello Cheapskaters, I hope you've all had a sensational week. We had a lovely Australia Day with family and friends. Lots of good food and drinks and some lovely desserts - all typically Aussie of course. As schools have started for the new year, and lots of little feet are slowly breaking in new shoes, this tip from Julie Whitelaw is timely. I hope it helps with those new school year blisters that seem to happen, no matter what we do. No More Blisters from New Shoes Back to school means new shoes and blisters. To help prevent rubbing and the dreaded blisters rub all around the inside of shoes with a dry piece of soap. Repeat until shoes are broken in.   If you are wondering if the answers you send to our weekly questions or the tips you submit are ever used, here's proof that your time and effort is appreciated. We love the way Cheapskaters share their ideas so freely. Thank you to you all. It's your willingness to share that makes the Member's Centre so great. "Hi Cath I just wanted to say a big THANKYOU to your subscribers and readers for the tips re the fridge door seals they are life savers."  Lena " I would like to thank you for the Debt Free, Cashed Up and Laughing book. I started to read it and it was great,  I got some great ideas for saving. I went to the Cheapskates Club website after we finally got a computer and it is fantastic,  I thank all the members as well for the tips. I would also like to let you know that the recipes that I have got from here are great, I can now start sending the children to school with goodies that they have helped me make. So again thank you Cath for this great site,  I am so glad that I have become a member."  Toni Yates "I joined the Cheapskates Club initially for the recipes.  Since then I have changed many little things and enjoy reading the archived items. Great Club..... Thanks and kind regards,"  Suzanne Curtis "I love my Cheapskates Club membership and really rely on it. We have a tough year ahead trying to clear CC debt and save for a new car....but with your help it will be ok and fun at the same time. Thank you so much - really appreciate all the time you put into your website, newsletters and tips. "  Annie R. :) 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 Amanda Tulloch-Hoskins. Amanda  is already a Platinum Cheapskates Club member so her membership has been extended by one year for submitting her winning tip. Portable No-dig Garden We are renting, and recently moved from a house with a huge yard where we had an extensive herb and vegetable garden. I wanted another vegetable patch where we are now, but our current place does not have enough space, and I was not sure how our landlord would feel about us digging up his yard. I began to price raised garden beds online, but was looking at a minimum of $200 for a small bed, up to $300 for the size I wanted (then we would have had to pay a lot to fill it with garden soil). So we built our own no-dig veggie patch in a free corner of the yard, using two pathways as borders on two sides, and building trellises as borders on the other two sides for climbing plants. The materials cost under $100, including plants, and when we move, we can just lift it and go without having damaged the property. Meanwhile, we have fresh vegies and herbs, and will save money on food in the long run.  Congratulations Amanda,  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

Chicken Tortilla When buying chicken breast fillets, always remove the tenders (the long, thin piece attached to the breast) and save them for other meals. When you have a few, coat them in shake'n'bake and cook. You can then refreeze them, ready to use in sandwiches or for quick snacks. Ingredients: 1 tortilla 2 cooked chicken tenders 1 tbsp ranch dressing 1thickly sliced tomato Shredded lettuce   Method: Spread tortilla with ranch dressing. Place lettuce, tomato and chicken strips in centre. Fold bottom up and then sides over to make a wrap. Wrap in greaseproof paper, twisting one end for easy opening. Then wrap in plastic wrap to keep the wrap intact in lunchbox. Remove plastic wrap and tear off greaseproof, peeling it away as you eat. Serves 1. Ranch Dressing This is a very simple version of an American favourite. We love ranch dressing on green salads and on salad sandwiches. It is especially good with crumbed chicken and is great for dipping with crudités. Ingredients: 250g container sour cream 250ml buttermilk* 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar 1 tsp salt 1/2 tsp granulated garlic and 1/2 tsp ground black pepper 1 tbsp dried parsley Method: Whisk all ingredients together in a bowl and chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve. *Buttermilk If you can't easily get buttermilk (and not all supermarkets stock it), you can make a simple version at home, in just a few minutes. I've used this version of buttermilk in cakes, pancakes and sauces with great success. Ingredients: 1 cup milk 1tbsp lemon juice Method: Stir the lemon juice into the milk. Set aside for about 15 minutes for the milk to sour. When the milk begins to curdle stir well and use in recipe. Pizzadilla These are really just quesadillas made with a pizza filling, but the kids love them and they are delicious. Use low fat cheese and a low salt tomato sauce and ham for a healthier version. Ingredients: 1 tortilla 2 tbsp tomato sauce Grated cheese Shredded ham Method: Spread tortilla with tomato sauce. Sprinkle half with ham and cheese. Fold over and heat in a sandwich press. Cut in half. Wrap in greaseproof paper and then foil to keep warm. Serves 1. There are over 700 other great money saving meal ideas in the Recipe File

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Last Weeks Question

  

Last week's question was from Suzanne, asking for ideas to convert shelves to drawers. Karen Devereux answered See www.homeandstyle.com.au  (the archived issue March 2009 Top of Page 5).  Kitchens are not generally standard in size and therefore there is not a product where one size fits all. Installing drawers not only saves your back but also your hip pocket - I did this in my kitchen and did not have to match to laminate that has aged over time, and they are tucked neatly behind the doors. Make sure you put all your heavy things in the top drawers and lighter and less used items in lower drawers (or as we suggest to people - put everything thing you use in a basket for a week and you will be amazed at what you don't use. Website:  www.homeandstyle.com.au Lynda Bond answered If I use something everyday I keep it between waist and shoulder height. Heavy stuff lower, medical stuff higher (away from little people), but still handy. There are many different sized tubs around and if you find the right size for your cupboards it might simply allow you to use your shelves like draws. I also use storage tubs in most of the cupboards for glassware/stemware, mugs, platters/bits for entertaining, coffee grinder/percolator/beans and two for plastics - one for school/work lunches and the other for stackable containers. In the harder to reach corner cupboards I have a picnic box and a BBQ box. All are ready to pull out and use when they're needed. Recently we removed our unused dishwasher and bought a flatpak two drawer unit to fill the space (from Bunnings). The lower draw fits our sandwich maker and pie maker on their sides so they are easy to reach - and my blender (set up ready to go). We use these more often now I don't have to get down and dig in the back of a cupboard for them. And the best bit is in the top draw - for ease we have enough equipment for the day: crockery, glasses, mugs and a few spoons ready to go. The draws sit under the sink so it's easy to pack away dishes. I am surprised, but I rarely use the other cupboards through the week. Margaret Trounce answered We used wire baskets and tracks from Bunnings, and have converted 3 cupboards into drawers, best idea I have ever had, can get to back of cupboards just by pulling drawer out to fullest depth.   Vanessa  Richter answered Maybe contact the local high school and see if one of the year 11 or 12 students could take on the project as their major work. There could also be some students at the local trade centre or TAFE doing cabinet making that would love the experience - might just cost you materials.  Leanne  Catt answered I use archive boxes in my kitchen cupboard. They have easy hand grips and don't require the kitchen to be remodelled. Also a bonus in a rental property. A pack of 10 archive boxes can be bought for under $25 at Officeworks. You can even label the boxes so as to sort the cupboards and make finding things easier.  Pamela  Bowman answered I am 80 years old and have similar physical problems. I bought various sizes of cheap plastic baskets at a dollar shop. I filled them with appropriate grocery items. They pull out easily when placed on the shelves lengthways. A cheaper solution than converting shelves to drawers I imagine.  - Virginia Hundt answered I built my own kitchen and bought all components at Bunnings. The majority are all draws, which makes it so much easier to access what's in them and clean. They are very easy to put together. A second pair of hands, doesn't have to be an adult assists in getting in the first couple of screws. All the holes are predrilled, so if you can use a drill or have put together anything for children, you can do it! Bunnings were much cheaper than any kitchen places, even having the draws cut to size for putting together at home.

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

Joy asks "I would like some ideas for a thirteenth birthday party with a budget of $100, possibly for up to 10 girls? The birthday is 21st February.  Thank you ."

Do you have the answer? If you have a suggestion or idea for Joy 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

Join the Cheapskates Club for just  $29.20 for the first year ($18.25 to renew) and get exclusive access to the Cheapskates Club Platinum Member's Centre containing thousands of ideas to save you money, time and energy. 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