A very short note from me this week as I'm off to Sydney tomorrow for the Happiness & Its Causes Conference at Darling Harbour. The kids are excited because they're coming too, and staying with Granny and Grandad for a few days.  Little do they know I've collected some school work for them to do so they don't get too far behind. It's only a little each day, shouldn't take them more than an hour to get through and then they are free to have fun. I am a panellist at the Conference on Friday afternoon and then signing books from 5.30pm. I know there are some Cheapskaters attending so if you have the time, please come see me at the book shop on Friday evening, I'd love to meet you in person and say hello. Because the conference is called Happiness & Its Causes and because Cheapskaters are happy people, we are having a Happy Cheapskater sale. All Platinum Cheapskates Club memberships are on sale for just $25 until 8pm, Sunday 17th May - that's six whole days of sale! Click here to order your Happy Cheapskate membership now or visit www.cheapskates.com.au and click on the Join Now button. Here are some emails from happy Cheapskaters: "Hi Cath, I have had your book for one week and have already deleted my credit card details off Paypal (easy trap there) and will only use cash to buy things! I have already got more bang for my buck with my first shop bringing home more food and buying generic brand products to give them a try, saving around $50. Your book is awesome, looking forward to your next book!"  Tanya Campigli "Hi Cath, Today I made my first batch of 'Lunchbox Cookies', one half choc chip and the other apricot. I think a well highlighted note needs to be added to the bottom of the recipe warning against eating these when just out of the oven...they were delicious."   Megan Kelly "Hi Cath, thank you so much for your wonderful website. I started this year in the worst situation I have ever been, and had not known what it was like to not be able to sleep over money worries until then. I was able to pay the pensioner rate to subscribe, as it is just my beautiful girl and I, but even then I felt sick putting it on the card for fear that I was wasting what smidge of a space was left. Thank you - you've more than come up with the goods.  I wanted to share some exciting news - I've just slashed over $70 off the electricity bill - yay!!! This is compared to the last bill, and I think these 2 are pretty comparable, and it's only $5 more than last year despite price hikes.  Thank you to you and everyone who has contributed tips  to the site, I now religiously turn off everything bar the fridge and phone at the wall, I question how necessary it is to use the hot water before turning it on, or use the bathroom taps which heat up instantly next to the hot water tank (the property I am renting is not off-peak), and had to buy a new fridge which has made a big difference. I completed the Origin audit as recommended by one of your 'tipsters' and learnt HEAPS from doing this. Most of all I am feeling like I can breathe in only a few short months. I've used your ideas to pay off one card, and making great headway with another. Now I feel like I have the headspace I am about to go way back to the January Budget Reno, and start from scratch. Wish me luck, but most of all thank you for all the hope, and for the space in my chest that actually allows me to breathe!!!!!"  Nicole 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 Carroll.  Linda has won a one-year membership to the Cheapskates Club for submitting a winning tip. A Little Reminder Approximate $ Savings:  Unlimited     "After reading Debt Free, Cashed Up & Laughing I decided the best way to keep me from buying things that I really didn't need was to use my Dymo Labeller. I printed off multiple labels of STOP, THINK & SAVE, Is it essential for survival? and If in doubt go without! I stuck STOP, THINK & SAVE on all of my eftpos cards (credit cards too if you have them, I've cut mine up). All sales assistants who see it think it's a great idea. I also stuck STOP, THINK & SAVE near my notes section in my purse. This idea has saved me from buying many items that I really don't need. When I recognise the savings I have made at the shops for e.g.: 2x can coke from machine at shop $3 (I now carry a drink of water in my bag everywhere I go) I go home and transfer the money straight onto my credit card using Internet banking. It may only be as little as $3 but it all adds up and I've paid an extra $30 off my credit card in one month. I've also placed these labels on my note book I use to pay bills and write my shopping list. It really does work and you can stick them anywhere you think it will help you to remember." Editors Note:  I love this idea! We all need a little reminder every now and then, especially when we are in a hurry or tired. Having a reminder when we open our purse or go to use a card can bring us back into the saving zone gently, much nicer than being jerked back when the bills arrive and we are scurrying to find the money to pay them.  And congratulations Linda, I hope you enjoy your Cheapskates Club membership.  Cath

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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On the Menu

Curried Tuna Mornay Ingredients: 185g can tuna in brine 410g can cream of chicken soup 1 large onion, diced 1 cup mixed frozen vegetables (peas, corn & carrots) ¼ cup milk powder ½ cup water 1tsp curry powder (more or less according to taste) 2tsp butter Method: Melt butter in a heavy based saucepan and add onion. Cook for 1 minute and add curry powder. Cook a further minute, stirring to prevent curry powder from burning. Add tuna and brine. Break up clumps and stir through curry and onion. Add mixed vegetables and stir. Add soup, milk powder and water and stir sauce until boiling. Turn down and simmer 2 minutes until thickened. Serve over hot steamed rice. Corned Beef Pie This was one of my favourite meals when I was growing up. Little did I know that it was made from leftovers. Ingredients: 3 – 4 cups of cold corned beef, diced ½ cup sliced green beans ½ cup corn ½ cup pickles 4 cups mashed potato 2tsp butter, melted Method: Mix diced corned beef, beans, corn and pickles. Place in a greased pie dish. Mash the potatoes but don't add milk or butter. Spread over the top of the mixture in the pie dish. Brush the top with melted butter. Cook in a moderate oven (180 degrees) for 20 minutes until potato is golden and it is warmed through. Cheesy Muffins These muffins are great to eat with soup and they are perfect for lunchboxes as an alternative to sandwiches or rolls. Bake them in Texas muffin pans (the really big ones) and then split and spread with butter and vegemite, Yummy! Ingredients: 1 cup SR flour 1tsp baking powder 1 cup cheese (grated) ¼ cup powdered milk ¾ cup water Method: Sift flour, powdered milk and baking powder. Add cheese and then mix in water with a wooden spoon. Stir until just combined, don't over mix. Drop into greased muffin tins and bake in a moderate oven (180 degrees) for 20 minutes. Can be eaten warm or cold. Can also be frozen. There are over 500 other great money saving meal ideas in the Recipe File

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Last Weeks Question

Last week's question was from Nicole,asking for advice on purchasing and then renovating a home. Kelli Both answered Don't use removalists if possible. Hire a horse trailer instead from your local petrol station - these fit a heap more than a regular large trailer so you won't need it for as long. With renovating, do as much as you can yourselves, shop around, get quotes from different sources, and remember that with things such as tiling and painting it can actually save you money paying an expert - you will lose money on the value of the property if you do the 'finishing' jobs yourself and they're not up to standard, so if you're doing whole rooms I'd recommend an expert! One way of gaining cheap assistance with both moving and renovating is your friends and family....have a working bee and supply a BBQ tea at the end of the day for everyone!   Julie McFie answered Congratulations Nicole. I have been buying and renovating homes for the past 20 years (just about to finish No 7) and here are some of my hints. Have a budget and then add 10%. Be careful not to over capitalise and don't borrow to renovate - save up the cash. Always get 3-4 quotes, itemised, so that you can see how much each section costs (you may even be able to do some of the work yourself). Chose your colour pallet and stick to it. Buy all the paint in one hit so that it will be the same colour. (Watch for specials). Visit auction houses for revamping your kitchen, laundry and bathrooms as well as display showrooms as they turn over displays regularly and at times have seconds (sometimes you don't even know where the dent or scratch is). Do all demolition yourselves to save $$'s (if you feel confident). Complete one room at a time and always have a quick meal in the freezer for these working weekends, because you really won't feel like cooking or even going out for takeaway. Good luck with your project and remember there will be fights and arguments so don't forget a kiss for each other at the end of a long day. Jo Sharpe answered Hi Nicole, as property valuer I would recommend avoiding homes with render and timber windows. Look for a property that has something unique...views, overlooking a park, a large block that could be subdivided later maybe. Get Archicentre to inspect construction. Keep in mind the most expensive rooms to renovate are the kitchen and bathroom, look for houses where these are already renovated or an easy design you could pull out and buy a second-hand kitchen...yes, you can buy fully constructed kitchens. As for moving - pack everything yourself-packing companies double pack EVERYTHING! More boxes, more money. Contact courier companies and ask if any of their employees (often subcontractors) do weekend work for cash. Speak to your local supermarket manager, ask him to save boxes for you which you collect daily. If you're buying by auction, set your budget and get someone else bid...remain distant and don't get emotional. Check council for zoning, read Vendors Statement VERY CAREFULLY, check for easements (which you can't build over). There's so much more...I'm happy to assist further. Good luck!!   Anita Morgan answered Firstly, to save a huge amount, make sure that the property you have in mind is just daggy- rather than needing new structural work. It's one thing to replace things like toilets, kitchen cabinets and lino, yet another to have to strip back and re-build anything. Ask around and find friends of friends or family who are tradies (plumbers, builders, electricians) to find good deals, and for an even better deal, ask them if they would reduce the price in return for a service or favour you can do for them- i.e., if you're an accountant, offer to do their tax. When renovating, always check the tip - people throw away some crazy things, and often it's perfect for what you want and you can save hundreds on single items!   Bernadette Thorley answered Ask McDonald's restaurants for their fries boxes (go just before lunch and ask them to save them . Saturdays are busiest (therefore more boxes). They are free and an excellent size for packaging and carrying. Renovating: Remove old wallpaper / borders with a 70c sachet of fabric softener. Put in a spray bottle 1:1 water to fabric softener. Rip off the top layer of wallpaper or border leaving the cardboard raw paper effect, then spray (wet completely)with fabric softener mix, leave for 10-15 minutes and scrape of excess carefully. Saves a fortune in steaming it off, and just as quick! And don't forget recycled building material yards, or even building sites which often throw away good offcuts of wood and cement sheeting.

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

Darryl asks "I have a kitchen cupboard door which has come away with screws from wall, which is chipboard, so it cannot be screwed back in securely. Can you someone suggest how to fix it so it will be back to its original state? Thank you."

Do you have the answer? If you have a suggestion or idea for Darryl let us know, and we'll publish your answers 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, valued at $29.20, 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 Cheapskate Journal, the monthly e-journal that shows you how to cut the costs of everyday living and still have fun. Joining the Cheapskates Club gives you 24/7 access to the Members Centre with 1000's of money saving tips and articles. 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