Hello Cheapskaters, If you like saving money you are going to love the tips in this week's newsletter. I've added up how much I would save if I used each of these tips just once (and I only chose one of the Hens party ideas), and it's a whopping $1,462! Saving money really is easy. I absolutely love the way Cheapskaters share their ideas so we can all benefit. Saving only becomes hard when you think you are alone. I'm here to tell you you're not, there are thousands and thousands of Cheapskaters, with a common goal to live life debt free.  I started the Cheapskates Club so that I wouldn't have to be alone in my journey, and it's here to support you in yours too. On that note, I think it's time for a challenge. An all cash, every day challenge. For the next week, just seven short days, I challenge you to use only cash for your shopping, eating out, petrol, entertainment, bill paying (unless you pay them online) and all those miscellaneous expenses.  Go to the ATM and withdraw the cash you'll need for the week. Then when you buy something, use cash. Keep your receipts so you'll know where your money is going. And once that cash is gone, it's gone. You can't sneak to the ATM and get a top up or whip out the credit or debit card. I can't wait to hear how you are doing and how much money you are saving. And I'd love to know what you will do with the money you save. It might only be $5, it could be $50 or $500. And I'd love to know how you manage on a cash budget too. I'm guessing that for some Cheapskaters, a cash budget will be a brand new experience. 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 Deborah Cooper.  Deborah has won a one-year membership to the Cheapskates Club for submitting a winning tip. The Parts Are Out the Back Approximate $ Savings:     $73+     When something around you house is in need of repair, often the first thought for a Cheapskater is to fix it ourselves. Instead of running off to the hardware store to buy the spare parts required, first try a specialised retailer of the item requiring repair. They often have spare parts in boxes 'out the back' which they are happy to give you. We have just bought a house and the shower screen didn't open and close easily. A shower screen shop quoted a call-out fee of $65 plus parts. The spare parts we required to fix it ourselves added up to $65 from Bunnings. My husband, keen to avoid either of those costs, removed the screen and took it into the screen retailer. They rummaged through their box of parts and gave us all we needed for free. We tried the same when the castor on a bed broke. Castors were $8 for two at Bunnings. A major bedding retailer gave us the one we needed plus a spare for free. Finally, a couple of the small fixings from an old, second hand Ikea bookshelf were lost in the move. Today, I visited Ikea and was given the missing parts for nothing (and I had a lovely, cheap lunch in their cafe). As we're now renovating our new house, we'll be trying this tactic for many of the fiddly bits we discover we need along the way.   Congratulations Deborah, 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

Easy Winter Pudding This pudding is delicious with custard on a cold winter s night. It is also very quick and easy to prepare and inexpensive, too.  This pudding can also be made using a generic butter cake mix.  Simply mix the butter and cake mix together to make the topping. The flavour combinations for this dessert are endless. Try Black Forest, use tinned cherries and add 3 tablespoons cocoa to the flour or use a chocolate cake mix. Or tropical - use a tin of crushed pineapple with a butter cake mix.  Peaches with a vanilla cake mix or even apple with a teaspoon of cinnamon added to the crumbs or made with a teacake mix. Ingredients: 1 large tin fruit in syrup (can be light syrup) 4 tbsp butter or margarine 2 cups SR flour 1 cup sugar 1/2 cup powdered milk (full cream or skim) Method: Pre-heat oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Place butter, flour, sugar and powdered milk in food processor and whiz to crumbs (or mix with a fork until crumbly). Lightly grease and sugar a casserole dish . Place fruit in the bottom of the dish and pour the syrup over fruit. Top with crumb mix. Bake for 20 minutes until crumbs are golden brown and fruit has heated through. Do you have a delicious pudding recipe? 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  Melody, asking for suggestions for a frugal but fun hen's party.

Christie Johnson answered
If it's a party you want, and you don't want to pay for alcohol but are worried what people will think - what about doing a brunch? People won't expect alcohol that early in the day, saving you heaps of money. You can easily put together a great spread - if you can borrow a waffle-maker then waffles always go down a treat, especially with ice-cream and berries (a bit of an expense out of season, I know, but they add a feeling of luxury and you can pad them out with generic-brand tinned berries, which also add a nice syrup). If you can't do waffles there's always pancakes, or bacon and eggs (the BBQ can be used if you need to cook a lot at once) - the possibilities are endless. Fresh fruit and some quality juices (or squeeze your own) add a nice, healthy touch, and if you can borrow a fancy coffee-maker you'll be even more popular. For entertainment you can always put on a chick-flick, or provide a pile of chick-mags for the girls to flick through and laugh over (borrow from the library or ask a friend with a subscription to bring over old issues).

Evelyn Tempany answered
Instead of renting a house - stay at one of the bridesmaids' or friends' house for a sleep over pyjama party. Coordinate the food - everyone bring a plate of food that they enjoyed at parties when they were young. Also coordinate the drinks - either to make a cocktail or wine and cool drinks etc. You can have fun games - use your imagination to change the childhood games to fit into a wedding hens night. Good luck and have a fun time.

Anita Whittingham answered
You could go to a restaurant that has a package including food and unlimited drinks, like Spanish Tapas in Glebe. They also have flamenco dancers.  Or go to Mykonos on Pitt St,  they have another restaurant in Parramatta and include plate smashing.

Websites:
www.spanishtapas.com.au/index.htm
mykonosoncrown.com.au/php/hens.php  

Judy Lee answered
As my daughter's hens night involved many different ages, nationalities and cultures, we had a party at my home. A person from each culture brought a dish of their own country's cuisine. We played many old children's party games, musical chairs, pin-the-bowtie-on-the-groom, pass-the-parcel (with each unwrapping being a piece of clothing bought at an Op shop which then had to be put on) with much hilarity. We also hired the services of a Mendi artist who came and drew henna tattoos on anyone who wanted one (85 year old Nanna had an arm bracelet drawn on and loved it). It was a brilliant night filled with interest and laughter. My daughter's friends, four years on, are still talking and laughing over it.

Emma Gilchrist answerd
Have an "at home pampering party". Do it yourself or a couple of websites I found that specialise in this.  There are so many options out there for you to chose from. Just remember to do what you want to do and what reflects you. Congratulations on your upcoming wedding and all the best for your Hen's party.  

Websites:
www.mobilepamperingparties.com.au
www.spa-angels.com.au

Sophia Gibson answered
Why not have an indulgent girls day out. Book in for you and your friends to get manicures and pedicures at a beauty training college in your local city - you'll get all your treatments at a heavily discounted price. After all that pampering, you'll probably be hungry, so visit a training restaurant at a culinary college for a beautiful meal at an unbeatable price. Everyone will have a great time, and you can put all the money you save towards something else like your wedding flowers or honeymoon.  

Cate Valpiani answered
Hen's parties seem to be a new, expensive 'tradition' which the wedding industry has invented! Try a real tradition instead - gathering together with close friends to make a quilt for the couple getting married. This needs a bit of coordination (colour range, block size for the quilt) but the result is hopefully a unique gift which will be treasured. Better still, everyone bring a plate or a bottle of wine to share. Still want the beach? Combine the above with a beach picnic!

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

Gillian asks "I am a single and in serious debt but my goal is to become debt free within three years. I am having great difficulty keeping all my information organised plus stay focused as there is just too much information out there, some that is relevant to me and some that is not.  I was wondering if anyone had any great tips to keep all the information which is relevant to you organised and your goal focussed?"

If you have a suggestion or idea for Gillian let us know. You will 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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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