Frugal Kiwi from Whakatane has asked for suggestions for finger food. Angela from Whanganui responded with these suggestions, “When I have a big crowd to feed I make burritos. A bit of mince can go a long way if you pad it out with beans and canned tomatoes. I make tortillas myself (they are ridiculously […]
Thanks to the readers who responded to the Housing goes up in smoke column. Many expressed the view that cutting down on things like alcohol and cigarettes should be the very first thing to do when money is tight. We agree – it’s the responsible thing for parents to do if the family is struggling […]
Oily raggers are not ones to dwell on the negative so they are probably not taking a lot of notice of all the talk about expensive housing. As oily raggers we know that home affordability is more like a molehill than an insurmountable mountain, so we thought it worth sharing some hints about home ownership […]
This week we share some tips from readers – and remind you how easy it is to start a garden. Karen from Palmerston North has this recipe for a homemade alternative to commercial sugar soap for wall cleaning. You need: 1/4 cup of white vinegar, 1/2 cup of laundry detergent (unscented is better), 1/2 cup […]
This week we have lots of ways to stretch a dollar into two. DC writes, “All coffee outlets are keen to get rid of their used grounds, which when scattered over the garden, will keep the birds away for 2-3 weeks. The best time for BP is late evening or mid-morning. If you ask the […]
This week we cast a wide net and capture some great money saving tips for the most expensive part of the house – the kitchen. Eggs, as most people know, are graded by size. A size seven egg is bigger than a size six egg and costs more. But on a weight basis, larger eggs […]
Just to prove that cheap living does not need to be seriously earnest all of the time we thought we would remind readers that its perfectly all right to indulge in some sweet treats from time to time – OK, most of the time! Here are some ideas and suggestions from readers. Pineapple treat. Add […]
August the 4th was a significant day for pets – it was the one day of the year where they can demand their right to have a day at a workplace, rather than sitting at home and sleeping. Which only goes to show that pets seem to have the work life balance about right – […]
Potatoes must be the best value veg around – and a good friend to those living off the smell of an oily rag. The potato industry has gathered together a lot of information about our humble friend and our relationship with it. Here are some snippets from their website www.potatoes.co.nz. 93% of households cook potatoes […]
The winter chill has set in so we thought it time to revisit the best of the oily rag tips about low-cost tummy-warming winter meals. Linda Mitchell from Te Puke says, “We empty a tube of sausage meat and a finely chopped onion into a glass dish, squish together, then microwave until cooked. Add tin […]