Hello Cheapskaters, Hello and I hope you are having a fantastic week. As usual it's been busy around here. I seem to make plans to have a day off and as soon as I think I can do it, something crops up and out the window my plans go. I had plans this past weekend to spend time cooking the apples off our tree, putting some in the freezer for later in the year and turning some into pies. If you've been reading my blog you'll already know that didn't happen because someone picked the apples before Wayne could get to them! Just enough apples on the tree for one apple pie which we all enjoyed! I wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry so I turned to the veggie patch instead. Out came the old tomatoes although I left one bush in because it just won't stop fruiting. I pulled the last of the cabbages, cucumbers and capsicums too. I still have six capsicums and three eggplants that are prolifically fruiting so they have had a reprieve. I spent a lovely warm afternoon planting out garlic chives, Chinese cabbage, silverbeet, iceberg lettuce, broccoli and beetroot.  When I look out the kitchen window now the veggie patch looks strangely neat and kind of bare but it won't be long before we will be eating our own produce again. The greenhouse is bare too so this weekend I'll start some more seedlings to see us through the winter. I'm still hoping for a day off, you never know, it might happen soon. I am getting lots of pleasure trying out the recipes and tips in the Member's Centre. The yogurt is a favourite, also the liquid laundry soap. Marion Martin   I am so pleased I joined Cheapskates,  so much to look at and so many ideas. I just love it and look forward to the many savings.  Diane Mugavin Love the Cheapskates Club, it gives me inspiration to keep on keeping on!  Robyn MacKellar Have a fantastic week everyone, 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 Kay Pamplin, has won a one-year membership to the Cheapskates Club for submitting a winning tip. Paying to Swim in Backyard Pool Helps Pay Off Mortgage Approximate $ Savings:    $500.00 My saving relates to our inground pool we put it. This pool increased our mortgage by $30,000 which in turn increased our repayments. It did save me money however as the kids are now happy to stay at home and swim. I took this saving and changed my mindset and thought if I were to pay for the kids to go to the local pool it would cost at least $10, so this $10 is put towards extra repayments. Even if you can only afford to do this once a week it is still going to be at least $500 off your mortgage in a year. Whenever I have the spare cash I use the principle the girls are in the pool, I need to move money to the mortgage. This same idea could be applied to anything that costs a lot and gives hours of fun.  Congratulations Kay, I hope you 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

Taco Tuesday Tuesday night is chaotic at our house. Hannah has hockey training, Wayne has a meeting and AJ doesn't get home from Uni until late. Which means that dinner has to be something that everyone likes and can grab as they have time. Taco sauce can be made ahead and reheated as needed.  The lettuce, tomato, cucumber and cheese can all be prepared ahead of time and stored in the fridge until ready assemble the tacos. Tacos are a favourite meal for us and as they are a grab'n'go meal Taco Tuesday has become a permanent fixture in our home.   Give Taco Tuesday (or any the day) a try and see if it doesn't become a new favourite tradition in your household. Basic Taco Sauce Ingredients: 500g mince 3/4 cup water 3 tbsp taco seasoning 8 taco shells 1/2 head lettuce, shredded 3 large tomatoes, diced 1 cucumber, diced 1 cup grated cheese Method: Brown mince in a large frying pan. Drain. Return mince to pan and stir in taco seasoning. Add water and bring to a boil. Turn heat down and simmer 10 minutes, until sauce has thickened.  Warm taco shells. Place 2 tablespoons of meat in the bottom, top with lettuce, tomato, cucumber and grated cheese. Vegetarian Taco Sauce Ingredients: 1 tin Sanitarium Casserole Mince 1 tbsp oil 3/4 cup water 3 tbsp taco seasoning 200g pkt corn chips 1/2 head of lettuce, shredded 3 large tomatoes, diced 1 cucumber, diced 3 baby beets, drained and diced 1 cup grated cheese Method: Drain Casserole Mince. In a large fry pan heat oil and add casserole mince. Cook 1 minute until just starting to brown. Add taco seasoning and mix well. Add water, stirring to combine. Bring to a boil, turn heat down and simmer 10 minutes until sauce has thickened.  To serve put a layer of corn chips on a plate. Spread 2 tablespoons of sauce over corn chips. Top with shredded lettuce, tomato, cucumber, beetroot and top with grated cheese. Mum's Taco Sauce Ingredients: 1 cup TVP 1 cup boiling water 500g mince 1 tin baked beans, mashed 3/4 cup water 3 tbsp taco seasoning 12 taco shells 1/2 head lettuce, shredded 3 large tomatoes, diced 1 cucumber, diced Sour cream 1 cup grated cheese Method: Pour boiling water over TVP and set aside. Brown mince in a large non-stick fry pan. Drain. Return mince to pan and add TVP, baked beans and taco seasoning. Stir to combine. Add 3/4 cup water. Bring to a boil, turn heat down and simmer 10 minutes until sauce has thickened.  Warm taco shells. In the bottom of each taco shell place 2 tablespoons of sauce and top with shredded lettuce, tomato, cucumber, grated cheese and sour cream. Taco Seasoning Ingredients: 2 tsp ground chilli powder (more or less to taste) 1 tbsp ground cumin 1 tsp paprika 1 tsp sugar 1 tbsp onion powder 1 tbsp garlic powder 1 tsp ground oregano 1/2 tsp salt Method: Mix all ingredients together and store in a small, air tight jar. To use: 3 tablespoonfuls is the equivalent of 1 packet of commercial taco seasoning mix. 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  Dawn, wanting some quick ways to save money for a family holiday. Sandy Madin answered Everyday when you come home from work empty out your pockets and wallets for all of those gold coins, yes I mean the $1 and $2 coins. Put these in a money box and watch how fast they add up. You will be really surprised and you won't even miss them.   Carla Stankowski answered Its not about saving money fast, its about reducing the cost. I booked flights from Perth to London return for $600 on Air Asia (Tiger is also cheap). I might have booked them 8 months in advance but it is an incredible saving. The last time I went to Thailand I bought a voucher off eBay - 7 nights in a 5 start hotel for $100 (twin share!). The only catch was we had to sit through a 1 hour timeshare presentation but were not pushed at all to join. If you can't book your flights in advance, it is often cheaper if you have more stopovers... to go to New York via Japan will save $500. Renee G answered Aside from tweaking your budget to allow for holiday savings, from now until you go away, EVERYTIME you go to purchase a non necessary item i.e. new clothes, take-away, magazines etc, STOP YOURSELF and then put that money that you were prepared to spend on the item into your holiday fund. Example: I took my mother-in-law to the airport this week and her bag was 2kg overweight. She was prepared to pay the $20 excess luggage as it was easier, however we convinced her to take some things out of her bag and put them in her cabin bag. It ended up being 3 magazines and 1 book. I then told her that the $20.00 now had to be put into her Bali fund - where we are going in April. You will be amazed at how many unnecessary items you put back on the shelf, knowing that your holiday fund is growing. Katie Richer answered Make friends with eBay! Set up an eBay account, and a PayPal account too (many people prefer to pay this way if they're getting items posted). These accounts are free to set up. Then, go through your house, and see if there's anything that you (or hubby/kids) haven't used in a while or are no longer using. Create an account, and put each item up for sale. You can put just about anything up for sale - I've seen clothes, baby gear, plants, pots, furniture, tools...you name it, there's probably a category for it. A basic listing only costs a few cents, and I think includes one photo (which should be all you need for most things. You can choose to have people pick items up or you can post it to them (they get to pay the cost of postage and you might get more 'bites' this way). Added bonus - you get to do a clearout at the same time!  Heather Kelly answered Dawn as airfares cost the most check out this website which compares 455 airlines to get you the cheapest flight www.jetabroad.com.au  Another idea is to have a garage sale and declutter, you could get your 5 year old involved by having them sell any old toys that they don't want. Tell them they can do what they want with the money that they make with their toys. Think about offering your services as a baby sitter to friends or they might know someone that needs a baby sitter (the going rates start at $20per hour).  Also it might give someone new for your kids to play with. Also REWARD cards make them work for you.... my Flybuys card every 2500 points $20 voucher ... hello the $21 challenge. Also think about FREECYCLE in your local area, if you have it, especially as people do their declutter/renovate/move it might be something that you want or need.(kids clothes, sometimes tickets to events, food dehydrator, bread machine etc) Hope they help.  Derryn Whyte answered Take glad wrap and thermoses on holiday. Buy bread and fillings and drink mix and make you own sandwiches and drinks hot or cold to take out each day of the holiday. You can easily have tired grumpy kids if they are hungry and thirsty and will cost a lot buying them overpriced food and drinks. Tell them you are having a picnic and make it special.  Jackie McAllister asnwered Well Dawn there is about 45 weeks left of the year, so to save $10,000 by the end of December for your flights, accommodation etc you would need to save $223 per week from now to achieve that. Hopefully you have spare money each week to go towards that. I write a fortnightly or monthly food menu and write down the exact number of ingredients required, i.e. you may only use 3 carrots rather than needing a whole bag. Write out your shopping list accordingly and only buy what is on the list. Tell your family things will be tight, but the end result will be a fabulous holiday. Then write out your budget each pay period and make sure everything is accounted for, don't use the credit card!!  If you seem to be leaking money from somewhere, write down everything you spend - every cent, so you can see where it goes. Good luck, hope some of this helps.   Karen Gibson answered Hi Dawn, We are also planning a holiday later in the year, and I opened a separate account for spending money. Think of it as paying yourself as you would other bills. We have $200 deducted from our pay each fortnight into the account. Work out how much you need for spending and work out how much that would be each fortnight. The important thing is the account can only be accessed by going into the bank to withdraw money, so we aren't tempted to delve into the account. Also, make the payment automatic (i.e., a deduction from your pay) because if you have to make the effort to bank it each pay, there will never be anything left over, and you will soon skip payments. The trick is to make it as easy and automatic as possible. Also, you soon get used to living on a bit less each fortnight, especially if you think of the fun you will have spending the money on your holiday! I figured that we will have a about $5000 by October - and that's just for spending! We will keep the deductions going after that, ready for our next holiday or emergency! Good Luck!  Sarah Swinton answered Dawn - Hold a Garage Sale. I have done this for the last two years and averaged $1000 which was quite unexpected. It is amazing what people will buy and how the $0.50 add up. Good luck.

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

Barb asks "We are selling our townhouse this year to move into a retirement village. My husband is determined to sell it himself to save on agent fees. I've been looking at sites like buymyplace. They charge a fee to cover things like photographs, display board and other help. Has anyone had any experience in selling this way?"

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