There is so much going on this week, school holidays, competition winners, a new Journal and a brand new give away for you to enter.   Our two judges have had a tough time selecting the winners to our "Get a Deal" competition.  After narrowing the entries down to twenty-five - yes twenty-five -  they went away again when I said they had to choose two. I am so glad I wasn't judging because they have had a really hard time. In the end they finally agreed on their favourite entries.   And the winners are (can you hear the drum roll?)..... Rosemary Modrich. First prize of $100 goes to Rosemary for her simple tip to get a great deal. "Hit the shops near closing time. Most sales people want to get home after a long day and if you hang around asking millions of questions about your proposed purchase they tend to give in to your request for discount or special price...just to get rid of you. Yes it's mean and you won't be popular but it's effective." And second prize ($50) goes to Jorja Stone. Jorja's tip for getting a great deal is: "Don't be afraid to ask. I used to think that the price advertised was the end of the story. But after working with someone who used to get great deals all the time, I learned this isn't the way. For example now when I want to go on a weekend away, I pick a few hotels I like, check out all the various discount website prices, such as wotif.com, then I email the hotel direct and ask them for their best price. Almost every time they'll knock at least $10 off the price. If you're ever at a clothes shop and buying multiple items, it never hurts to ask if they could offer a deal. Another example, when I was buying my TV, I visited a few stores before choosing the TV, and then went to JB because they had an extra 10% off promotion, and lucky for me a staff member hadn't taken down the promotion that had ended the day before, and I insisted on getting that price as well as the 10% discount. It's all about realising that the stores need your business, and if you don't get the deal you want, there's plenty of other hotels, clothes and TVs out there, and they know that." Congratulations to Rosemary and Jorja, and well done to everyone who entered, we certainly have some tough negotiators in the Cheapskates Club.   The July edition of the Journal is ready in the Member's Centre.  And that means lots of new tips and interesting articles, including If Its July, It Must Be Christmas. There's a motivating Saving Story and some really delicious winter recipes, real comfort food to warm you on chilly evenings and all our regular columns. And to top this week off we have a brand new giveaway for you. We have three copies of the new book "101 Great Websites to Save You $$$" to give away. You can enter here. I'm off to warm my fingers by the fire, have a great 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 Fiona Bosch.  Fiona is already a Platinum member of the Cheapskates Club, so her membership  has been extended by one year for submitting a winning tip. The Forty Percent Christmas Club Approximate $ Savings:     40% off Groceries    Each week in our grocery catalogues we see lots of items on special at half price, so my best friend and I came up with an idea to capitalise on those special prices.  We each put aside $10 a week towards our own Christmas grocery shopping club. For the first few months or so we just bank the money. Then, towards the middle of the year, when we see a half price special we purchase those items and put them aside for Christmas.  We start by purchasing the items which have the longest shelf life first: tinned food, deodorants, washing powder, shampoos, oil etc. As Christmas gets closer we start buying items that have a shorter self life e.g. chips, biscuits, sweets etc.  We take it in turns to shop each week and there is only one rule we follow - find the best bargains from our weekly catalogues and try to save at least on average 40% off the original price. We are lucky that we share the same interest and likes, so if we see for example red wine on special, and then a further 30% off catalogue special, plus my friend's daughter works for a leading store so she gets a further 5% off - that's when we buy it. We worked out that if we put $10 aside each week for forty-five  weeks a year (allowing for a break over Christmas)  we would have $450 to spend on our Christmas period groceries.  And if we could save close to 40% on average off our Christmas shopping that's around $180 saved.  The best part is that it is a lot of fun. The kids get in on it too, they keep an eye out for the best specials, and let us know about them.   Congratulations Fiona, 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

Sausage Casseroles They are a summer favourite - cooked on the barbecue then served in a slice of bread, smothered in sauce. Sausages are also a great winter meal too. They are and economical replacement for steak or chicken in casseroles and stews, saving money and cooking time. Colleen's Sausage Casserole Ingredients: 1kg potatoes, peeled, roughly chopped 40g butter, chopped 3/4 cup milk 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 brown onion, sliced 500g sausages 1/4 cup tomato sauce 1/4 cup barbecue sauce 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 35g packet French onion soup 1 tablespoon plain flour 1/2 cup grated tasty cheese Method: Place potatoes in a saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring to the boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 20 to 25 minutes or until tender. Drain. Return to pan. Add butter, milk and salt and pepper. Mash until smooth. Preheat oven to 200°C. Heat oil in a deep frying pan over medium heat. Add onion and cook for 3 minutes or until tender. Add sausages and cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 minutes or until browned. Chop sausages into bite size pieces. Whisk tomato sauce, barbecue sauce, Worcestershire sauce, soup, flour and 3/4 cup water in a jug. Stir into sausage mixture and bring to the boil. Spoon sausage mixture into an 8-cup capacity casserole. Top with potato. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until cheese is golden. Curried Sausages Ingredients: 1kg sausages (thick are nicer) 440g can tomato soup 2tbsp brown sugar 1tbsp white vinegar 1tsp curry powder 1tsp mustard powder Method: Chop the sausages into bite size chunks and place them in the crockpot. Mix the other ingredients and pour over the sausages. Cook on low for 5 hours. Crockpot Sausage Casserole Ingredients: 1 kg sausages, 2 tbsp tomato paste 3 large potatoes (cut to 2cm pieces) 1 tbsp fresh basil or 1 tsp dried oregano 2 cloves of garlic 2 440g cans tomatoes Method: Chop sausages into bite size pieces (they can be left whole if they fit in the crockpot). Mix the other ingredients together and pour over the sausages. Cook on low for 5 hours. After 4 ½ hours, add 2 cups cooked spiral pasta, reheat and serve. Do you have a fantastic recipe using sausages? We can't wait to try it and add it to the Recipe File. Share it with us here.

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Last Weeks Question

Last week's question was from  Ruth asking for budget friendly meal ideas for her truck driving husband.

Olivia Mills answered
Hi Ruth, what about purchasing some dry ice, no freezer required, just perhaps a foam box as an esky? I have found that purchasing cans of braised steak and onions or similar meals can work excellently to fill up your man for around $2.50 a can. Also, try dehydrated foods like noodles and onion flakes etc, to keep foods fresher longer and tastier too. Also, you could try the Malcolm Douglas website for camp cooking ideas. He has made some awesome, cheap, healthy meals en-route! He gets by using a lot of canned food and things like egg powder, milk powder, custard powder etc.  Perhaps research outback cooking or think back to pre-icebox days, they survived by eating pickled/heavily salted things to preserve them. Perhaps some modern day techniques could be applied to make this style of preservation healthier (instead of too much salt or especially too many chemical preservatives). Perhaps advertise on Facebook for a dehydrating machine or look on eBay/sales? PS: just make sure he has some fresh fruit/tomato, cucumbers at least 3 days a week to keep things more balanced.  

Wendy James answered
My son loves to take his family camping and he also loves to cook. He sources many ingredients from camping stores like dehydrated veggies, powdered milk etc., ingredients that do not need refrigeration. There are also cook books for campers with recipes that may be useful to you Ruth. Good luck with your quest. Wendy James.  

Iva Steinke answered
In reply to Ruth's question I suggest that during the week she can prepare foods that can be frozen. Put them in the portable fridge in the frozen state. They will take some time to thaw so will last quite a few days. Soup is suitable, also meatballs, chicken and beef schnitzels, single serves of risotto or lasagne or macaroni cheese. The latter two would require a heavy bottomed saucepan with a lid to heat up on low heat otherwise they might burn. In the other pot your husband could simmer some pears in red wine, have half hot for dessert the first night, the other half as a cold dessert the following night. Corned beef lasts quite a long time if kept covered in the fridge. Send along eggs, these make easy but nutritious meals, boiled, scrambled or fried. If he is a little interested in cooking omelettes are lovely. Some vegetables can be prepared a few days ahead - carrots and beans in airtight containers in the fridge. Raw vegetables for salads don't take much preparation, just washing and slicing. Home made dressing is much nicer and much cheaper that bought stuff, your husband can keep a week's supply in the fridge. Just mix a dressing and put it in a pop top bottle. If your husband is happy to buy steak but is sick of plain steak, put a bottle of home made or bought marinade to sprinkle on food as it is cooking. Hopefully some of these ideas appeal to Ruth.   

Rachele Reynolds answered
My suggestion is to freeze leftovers into one meal portions and then on Sunday night before leaving pop them into the fridge. Depending on what they are and how often the fridge is opened they should defrost across the next few days and if still frozen can be reheated on the camp stove. Anything you would normally freeze for another night at home could be used for on the road. My friends do this when they go camping so they only have to heat and serve.   

Trish Levido answered
I would suggest packets of dehydrated rice and vegetables into which he can add a small tin of baked beans; or tuna; or sardines. There are also now available in major supermarkets tins of chick peas and vegetables - add dehydrated mashed potato to this to 'bulk it up'.
  
Emma Black answered
We do a lot of camping so I have the same dilemma after we've used up all our fresh ingredients from the esky. I'll often make tuna pasta.  I simply bring a saucepan of water, powdered milk, and a packet of dry pasta and sauce to the boil (pasta carbonara flavour works well). Once thickened, add a can of plain tuna and heat through. You could also add in any leftovers from the week like tomato, ham, cheese etc. It's an easy, cheap, filling, and tasty meal to get us through the final days of our trip.

Tracy Jones answered
We bought a vacuum food saver for when we go camping. I pre-make meals, vacuum pack them and they last up to two weeks in the fridge! The unit will pay for itself many times over. I make casseroles, cooked vegies, pasta bakes, anything!! All he'll have to do is take them out the bag for the micro, or just reheat in bag on the stove. Get him to save the bags if possible to re-use after a thorough washing).

Chris Scambler answered
You could make up batches of lasagne, spaghetti bolognaise, curry, casseroles etc and freeze them in single serve portions. You can buy metal camping dishes with lids that can be just dropped in a pan of water to be reheated. Or buy a little microwave and pop them in there. On the Sunday they could all just go in the truck fridge and they would still be ok by the Friday. We do this is our caravan if we go away for a long weekend and it saves heaps on food.

Tina Burgess answered
I would suggest packing ingredients that can be used to make toasted sandwiches on the camp stove. We do this when camping, it’s easy in a fry pan, just butter the outside of the bread. You can make a toasted sandwich more of a meal by using wholemeal or multigrain bread, and multiple fillings like cold meats, cheese, tomato etc and maybe having it with a cup-a-soup? Another camp favourite of ours is bacon and egg rolls. Just don’t use too much oil, and trim the bacon. 

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

Catherine asks "I have recently worked through the Living the Cheapskates Way free e-course - what an eye opener!  I'm very keen to get ourselves free of debt (besides the mortgage... for now!) and it seems so simple.  I have gathered up my bills and have a clear picture of all our out-goings.  My problem now is that our income is not regular.  My husband works for himself and draws a very intermittent income supplemented now and then with some casual work.  I work part-time and care for our child the rest of the week.  Does anyone have any tips for how to plan and create a budget when you can't be sure exactly what your income will be?  I'm sure I can't be the only one ... what do other families with casual or intermittent work do?"

If you have a suggestion or idea for Catherine let us know.  We'll add your answer to the Tip Store and 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 ideas

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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