Hello Cheapskaters, I hope you are all having a wonderful week and welcome to all our new members. I'm not going to rabbit on this week, there are so many great ideas in this newsletter that you don't need my waffle. Just enjoy the hints and tips, and don't forget to enter our fantastic giveaway. This week's question is different too. I am looking forward to hearing what makes you feel rich when you are living a Cheapskates lifestyle. Read what members are saying about the Cheapskates Club Love the website!  Love the emails!   Thank you to you and your team of hard workers.  All your efforts are very much appreciated. Thanks, Cathy Nemeth Hi Cath, I have just joined the Cheapskates Club and love the newsletter.  Wally Jablonka Just wanted to say thank for a great site. I have made and used the washing powder seems to work just fine. Have even convinced my mum to use it when she comes over the help with the washing. Michelle Ourimbah Just a quick note to say thank you. I am loving my membership and have already made back six times - yes six times ($180 all up) - the joining fee in five days.  - Tracey Norton June is Get a Deal month at the Cheapskates Club, and to celebrate, we are running a competition. We want to know your secrets for getting a great deal (I already have Jack's and Ian's)! To enter, just send us your best tip for getting a great deal. We have two cash prizes to giveaway, first prize - $100 cash and second prize - $50 cash. Click here to submit your great 'Get a Deal' tip . Get your tip in before 5pm, Friday 25th June. We'll announce the winners in the July Journal. I can’t wait to see how you ‘Get a Deal’. 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 Linda Hawkins.  Linda has won a one-year membership to the Cheapskates Club for submitting a winning tip. A Purse Just Like Mummy's Sitting at the doctors the other day I watched a young mother trying to amuse her toddler. She allowed the toddler to go through her purse, slowly removing every item; dockets, money and credit cards. I wished I'd seen this before having my children because I realised that all toddlers love to play with Mum's purse so why not make one up for your child. A purse containing laminated pieces of card with little pictures or letters (instead of credit cards), photos of family members and old shopping dockets. Maybe an old flyer folded in the pockets and of course some small play money (just remember not to include anything that could be a choking hazard). It would be easy to keep it in your handbag with your real purse and to change some of the cards occasionally to reduce the child becoming bored with the purse. If play with the purse was limited to special times such as waiting at the doctors it would not become a boring object to the child. If only I had thought of it earlier. Congratulations Linda, I hope you enjoy your Cheapskates Club membership. I used a similar idea, only it was one of Grandma's old handbags, to keep the boys, and then Hannah, quiet in church. Worked a treat, it only came out once a week and they never knew what was going to be in it, I changed the contents every week.

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

Lunchbox Fillers Have you noticed how appetites increase during the colder months? Kids seem to have hollow legs and are always looking for something to eat. This last week both Hannah and Thomas have decided they need more lunch, they are hungry way before they get home from school. With their starving moans in the background I pulled out my recipe collection to find some lunchbox fillers that are reasonably healthy and budget friendly that they would eat. Fruity Fingers Ingredients: 125g butter or margarine ½ cup castor sugar 2 eggs 1 cup SR flour, sifted 1 ½ cups sultanas (mixed fruit or other dried fruit may be used) Method: Cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time. Beat well after each addition. Lightly fold in flour followed by fruit. Spread evenly into an 18cm x 28cm lamington tin. Bake in a moderate oven 30 – 35 minutes. Cut into squares to serve. Sultana, Cheese 'n Oat Bars Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups plain flour 1 cup brown sugar ½ teaspoon baking powder 185g butter ½ teaspoon salt 3 tablespoons apricot jam 11/2 cups rolled oats 125g grated tasty cheese 1 cup sultanas Method: Combine sifted flour, baking powder and salt with the oats and brown sugar. Rub in the butter until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Press half on to the base of an 18 cm x 28cm (7" x 11") slice tray. Spread with the jam and sprinkle over the grated cheese and sultanas. Spread remainder of crumble mixture over the filling, pressing so that the oats will not flake off and become dry. Bake in a moderate oven 35-40 minutes or until golden brown. Cool, and slice. Cereal Crumb Slice Ingredients: 2 cups of dried cereal crumbs ( I save them from the bottom of the Weetbix, Weetbix Crunch, Mini Wheats etc and put them in a zip lock bag until I have 2 cups) 1 cup of any flour(self raising, plain or wholemeal) 1/2 cup coconut 2/3 cup of any sugar (brown or white) 1 cup of any choc bits (Homebrand is good) 1/2 cup of any dried fruit 4 oz melted butter or marg 1 or 2 tablespoons of milk Method: Melt butter in microwave or on stove. Add all other ingredients and enough milk to get a slightly moist consistency. Press into lined lamington tin and bake in moderate oven for about 30 minutes. Make up a simple icing (about 1 cup) such as lemon or chocolate and smooth over slice while still warm. Sprinkle with coconut to decorate.    Contributed by Erin Hill Weetbix Slice Ingredients: 3 cups SR flour 3 cups  desiccated coconut 9 Weetbix 2 1/4 cups brown sugar 375 g butter 200g chocolate bits Method: Crush Weetbix. Place flour, Weetbix, coconut and sugar into bowl and stir to combine. Melt butter and  mix into dry ingredients. Press into  a well greased or baking paper lined lamington  tray. Bake in a moderate oven approximately 20 minutes until golden brown and cooked.  Immediately spread choc bits evenly over hot slice so they melt and form an icing.  This slice freezes well. 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  Funda, seeking advice on how to budget for toys and treats for her children on a limited income, when she just can't say 'no' to them.  Reading the wonderful advice sent in, there are some very blessed children of Cheapskaters. Their very wise parents are raising them to be happy and financially and ethically savvy adults.  We have had so many really thoughtful replies to Funda's question, far too many to include in the newsletter but they have all been added to the Tip Store.

Maureen Hampson answered
I love buying toys and books for my grandchildren Funda but I find them in op shops and garage sales. Most of the toys I buy are nearly new and the kids don't even know the difference.  

Margaret Ashton answered
Dear Funda. I make a budget every Wednesday fortnight.  I type in what I owe such as rent, telephone, electricity and other bills and I stick to it. As for the two children, tell them that you can't afford the money for toys and if they want something they will have to earn the money to pay for it by doing jobs around the house. They will learn the price of things that they want. For the bigger things that they want buy them at Christmas or for their birthdays. I hope this helps you. 

Robyn Howard answered
I suggest that you take your kids to the local "Vinnies" when they ask for toys. Give them a budget of one or two dollars and see what they come up with. This is what I do with my son and it works a treat. He had show and tell recently at school and stood up in front of his class with his new toy elephant and proudly told all his class mates "my mum bought this for me at the Vinnies". Kids, ya gotta love 'em.  

Ann Booth answered
In relation to sticking to a budget, I found that having a goal written in bold letters on my fridge, helped me to stay focused on the end goal. It took me a while to get the hang of it but with perseverance and dedication you CAN learn to stick to a budget. We did and in 16 months we fully paid off all our credit and store cards, and are halfway to saving to go on a two week holiday with all four of our children. (Something that we have never done)  

Cath Mann answered
1. It does sound mean, but practice saying "No" to requests for toys. It gets easier.
2. Set a ground rule that if your children nag you or have a tantrum (at home or in public) about getting a new toy, it automatically means they get nothing.
3. Set a price value that you are prepared to pay to. If there is no nagging for one week (or two), then they can each choose a toy to that particular value. Use stickers on a calendar to count the days.
4. Ultimately, introduce them to books instead of toys. This way you can take them to a library as a reward and borrowing a book is much cheaper than buying toys.
5. Alternatively, join a toy library if there is one in your area.   

Michelle Brewster answered
Hi Funda It sounds like you're off to a good start as you're conscious of your spending! A very large part of living the Cheapskates Way is to form saving habits that work for you and then stick to them! Try keeping a diary of your day to day spending as if you were running a business - be accountable for every cent that you spend. As far as spending money on toys for the little ones, try to remember that children outgrow many toys very quickly. You could try dividing all the toys that you already own into cheap laundry baskets and then rotate them on a regular basis. This will not only help you with the clean up but teach the children to truly appreciate what they already have. Don't forget that friends and relatives are quite often a valuable resource. Try having some "toy swap parties". Keep track of all toys in a cheap exercise book and decide on some rules for everyone to follow. This way you can avoid spending any money at all, and the kids will always have "new" toys to play with. Good luck  

Rachel Keyte answered
I can understand finding it hard to resist when your children put on their cute faces and want more toys. Especially when you've been out and about and "I've been so good Mummy!" One thing that has helped me resist this is thinking of the number of older kids, teens and adults who have a strong sense of entitlement - it's not attractive! I don't want my kids turning out like that. It's cute when they're little, but much harder to stamp out when they're older! 

Tanya Klose answered
I have just read a small book called "The Money Tree" written by Cory Bernardi, a South Australian Senator. It is a guide to securing your child's financial future but can still be put in place by adults. Just take two jars, mark one 'Temporary Savings' and the other 'Permanent Savings'. Work out what ratio you need to split your income into; say ninety percent temporary and ten percent permanent savings. Then when you have a reasonable amount in the Permanent jar, invest this money in a way you feel comfortable with e.g. bank term deposit or shares. This way when the Temporary jar is empty after paying your bills and buying essential items like food and clothing the kids can see that there is no money left for spending on unnecessary toys.

Sharon Greenhill answered
With a 16yo and 5yo, who both love the language of gifts and a mum who enjoys giving just as much, I find this works for me - 1. Create a goodie box/cupboard for keeping special treats at home. My 5yo no longer sees a visit to the shops as an opportunity to buy something for her as this is not how she receives a gift - so it eliminates the hard task of saying no in public at a store. 2. Buy smartly - keep an eye out for toy/gift wholesaler sales - go direct and buy up at the annual sales, discount shopping outlets etc. 3. Both my girls love heading out to the local trash and treasure market with a set amount to spend, usually only about $5 each - pocket money. We also have fun at local op shops, markets, toy bazaar's for 2nd hand goodies and of course things like Ebay are great for second hand purchases at a bargain price. Our latest buy was an electronic drum kit for kids with great beat noises, a headset to sing into and my 5yo is having loads of fun playing it - all for $5 at the local op shop. 4. I usually now link the gift/reward to behaviour/achievements so its even more powerful than an impulse purchase. Both the girls love being rewarded for doing extra good deeds or really well at school etc. and they both know that at different times throughout the year, they might get an extra goodie for this. So you can have fun and let them buy a toy every now and then but the most important step is to set a budget each month on the amount you are prepared to spend. Only on birthdays or Christmas do I go over the monthly limit but still find loads of goodies in my cupboard to fill the stocking each year. Good luck.

Shelley Naysmith answered
Hi Funda, I would suggest giving your children a chore chart and a stamp each. Pick the chores you really want them to do each day that would save your sanity and they put a stamp on each one when it is completed. (Mine are things like make bed, dress herself, pack away toys, eat dinner etc). At the end of the day if all chores are done then they get some money. In my case my 4 year old daughter gets a dollar. These days toys are expensive so it saves me harping on about how we cannot buy a certain toy in the shop when she wants one. I just say "well have you saved up enough yet?" It's really teaching her about the value of money. She's saving up for a Princess figurine and it's $30. Whenever she wants something else I say "Do you want that or the princess?" and it makes her evaluate what is more important to her, not just wanting anything and everything. I'm also showing her catalogues when they come in showing her sometimes it's good to wait for what you want because you save lots of hard earned money! She loves Cheapskating with me! Good luck! 

Jane Saliba answered
Hi Funda, I used to be a bit like you too (except was always soft on myself!) I also have 2 small children (6 yrs and 1 yr). While I understand pester power, you need to be really strong and start saying NO! You will actually be doing them a favour in the long run- you need to teach your kids that they can't have everything they want straight away and it's easier to start when they are young. Also, when it comes time for birthdays and Christmas, they have more to look forward to as the things they ask for they will have been wanting for months. You'll also find that they have more appreciation for what the toys they get if they've been waiting for it for a while. At the moment we are saving for a family holiday and all our spare coins go in the "Townsville" tin. When my daughter asks for something- even if it only costs $2 I ask her if she wants it more than going on holiday- the answer is usually the holiday and the toy/book etc is forgotten about. The more you say NO, the easier it becomes! Good luck - there's always lots of help available on this website.

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

This week's question is different from our usual "help" request. Eva Clarke has asked what makes you feel rich so that you don't feel deprived when you say no.   Living the Cheapskates way isn't about going without the things we love and being miserable. It's about not wasting our money on stuff that we don't care about so we can have and really enjoy the things we love, like Eva's bone china mug and plate.  For me it's good coffee and the occasional running away weekend with Wayne.    Eva writes "I'd love to hear what purchases members have made that have been an on-going source of pleasure for them, as I'm convinced that a carefully chosen purchase can make you feel so rich that saying no to yourself in other areas doesn't feel like such a deprivation. I live on my own and LOVE nice china, so, 6 Christmases ago I spent $30 dollars on the PERFECT English bone china mug and plate, which makes me feel like a queen every time I use it. At fifteen uses per week, minimum, by fifty-two weeks, by six years, that's a total of 4,680 uses.  My extravagance has cost me something like a quarter of a cent per use, very little for something that makes me feel so good! I'd love to hear from other members what personal purchase has been a winner for them."

What do you splurge on that makes you feel great? We'd love to know what makes you feel rich instead of poor and deprived. Click here to tell us what makes you feel rich?

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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