Cheap and Easy!
Baked Bean Hash Pie
1 - 2 tins baked beans*
4 - 6 hash browns
2 eggs
1/4 cup milk
salt and pepper to taste
grated cheese
Bacon or saveloys - optional
Spring onions - optional
Fresh parsley or dried mixed herbs - optional
Roughly line a casserole dish with the hash browns. Top hash browns with baked beans - optimally about half an inch to an inch thick. Sprinkle over chopped spring onions, finely chopped bacon, or thinly sliced saveloys - optional.
Beat together eggs and milk, salt and pepper, and pour over.
Cover with layer of grated cheese if desired. Garnish with chopped parsley or dried mixed herbs.
Bake at 180C for 35 mins.
Serving Suggestions
* For kids' teatime with buttered bread
* As a special brunch, with baby spinach salad on the side
Leftovers can be served cold like an over-moist frittata - very tasty!
* Use budget or home brand or whatever's on special!
Affordable and excellent car rental
Just the other day, one half of LastPenny got her car written off - a week before moving day! Oh noes!!!
But never fear, we took the opportunity to rent a station wagon to assist with the move - there are always *more* things than you think that you want to take in the car, right?
I got in touch with A2B Rentals in Auckland. They have a huge range of high km, older vehicles for rent for those of us who are budget-conscious.
Not only were they able to let me have a lovely big station wagon for the pricely sum of $26 per day INCLUDING GST, they allowed me to transport my cat (in her carrier), in the car, when I requested that this be allowed.
This is km-inclusive, standard-insurance inclusive, no hidden extras.
They were able to let me have the car a day early when the movers wanted to come early, and at all times they were pleasant and excellent to deal with.
The only trouble is they only have locations in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.
I recommend A2B as a great option for the LastPenny traveller!
And now that we're all moved in, you can look forward to a return to your regular tkips and recipes from LastPenny!
But never fear, we took the opportunity to rent a station wagon to assist with the move - there are always *more* things than you think that you want to take in the car, right?
I got in touch with A2B Rentals in Auckland. They have a huge range of high km, older vehicles for rent for those of us who are budget-conscious.
Not only were they able to let me have a lovely big station wagon for the pricely sum of $26 per day INCLUDING GST, they allowed me to transport my cat (in her carrier), in the car, when I requested that this be allowed.
This is km-inclusive, standard-insurance inclusive, no hidden extras.
They were able to let me have the car a day early when the movers wanted to come early, and at all times they were pleasant and excellent to deal with.
The only trouble is they only have locations in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.
I recommend A2B as a great option for the LastPenny traveller!
And now that we're all moved in, you can look forward to a return to your regular tkips and recipes from LastPenny!
Rugs: A cheaper, beter way
You probably know the expense involved in buying rugs for your home. Hundreds of dollars buys you something synthetic or thin, while the nicer ones go for the high hundreds or even thousands!
But there is a better way! You can purchased old carpet in a pattern you like - axminster is a favorite of LastPenny! or in plain colours, for often next to nothing. Cut to the size and shape you want, and have them latexed.
Latexing is a carpet treatment that's not talked about much. It involves latex being painted on the underside edge of the carpet to prevent fraying. It's a much cheaper option that overlocking or binding, and has a lovely natural look which allows the carpet pile to fall to the edge.
And best of all? It's around a tenth of the price!
Check out suppliers in your area - many will also cut to size for you. We just had a huge piece done for the princely sum of $7.20.
But there is a better way! You can purchased old carpet in a pattern you like - axminster is a favorite of LastPenny! or in plain colours, for often next to nothing. Cut to the size and shape you want, and have them latexed.
Latexing is a carpet treatment that's not talked about much. It involves latex being painted on the underside edge of the carpet to prevent fraying. It's a much cheaper option that overlocking or binding, and has a lovely natural look which allows the carpet pile to fall to the edge.
And best of all? It's around a tenth of the price!
Check out suppliers in your area - many will also cut to size for you. We just had a huge piece done for the princely sum of $7.20.
Moving: A success and two recs!
We've moved successfully and so you can look forward to your regular LastPenny updates again!
The move went really well, and that was in large part due to the wonderful moving company we employed.
We used Matamata Furniture Movers, who gave us an absolutely excellent price. They brought their very large truck and trailer for our load (which was very large!) but due to the wonderful packing skills of Gary they got everything in the truck alone.
They got us loaded in record time, and everything made the trip safely - except the keys to the desk and the china cabinet which I've put somewhere *safe*. I expect to find them around 2011...
I got in touch with Matamata Movers, (who work nation-wide) or rather they got in touch with me, via Backload Movers, a wonderful website I blogged about back here. Suffice it to say I can't recommend Matamata Movers or Backload Movers enough!
The only minor hiccup was that Gary couldn't get any staff to help unload at our new property. But we fixed that via *another* LastPenny trick! We called up Massey's Student Job Search, and they sent two wonderful young guys out to help. They arrived within 45 minutes of our call and did an hour's work each, and at the end of that time we were unloaded! (Gary and I had done a good bit before they arrived).
Student Job Search, for those not in the know, is a service for students who are looking to earn some extra cash. You can list anything from skilled, ongoing part-time jobs to one-off casuals like what we did, and every time I've used them, I've been eminently satisfied.
It's a great way to find affordable assistance with projects, whether it's household cleaning, gardening, removals, or office work such as data entry or phone-manning.
The move went really well, and that was in large part due to the wonderful moving company we employed.
We used Matamata Furniture Movers, who gave us an absolutely excellent price. They brought their very large truck and trailer for our load (which was very large!) but due to the wonderful packing skills of Gary they got everything in the truck alone.
They got us loaded in record time, and everything made the trip safely - except the keys to the desk and the china cabinet which I've put somewhere *safe*. I expect to find them around 2011...
I got in touch with Matamata Movers, (who work nation-wide) or rather they got in touch with me, via Backload Movers, a wonderful website I blogged about back here. Suffice it to say I can't recommend Matamata Movers or Backload Movers enough!
The only minor hiccup was that Gary couldn't get any staff to help unload at our new property. But we fixed that via *another* LastPenny trick! We called up Massey's Student Job Search, and they sent two wonderful young guys out to help. They arrived within 45 minutes of our call and did an hour's work each, and at the end of that time we were unloaded! (Gary and I had done a good bit before they arrived).
Student Job Search, for those not in the know, is a service for students who are looking to earn some extra cash. You can list anything from skilled, ongoing part-time jobs to one-off casuals like what we did, and every time I've used them, I've been eminently satisfied.
It's a great way to find affordable assistance with projects, whether it's household cleaning, gardening, removals, or office work such as data entry or phone-manning.
Annies - Healthy Food and on special this week
Annies is one of my favorite places to buy snacks for lunchboxes from. They make all natural dried fruit products, nut products and seed products, amongst other things. I urge you to sign up their newsletter for great email specials.
Delivery is often overnight and very reasonable.
This week, on special are Mrs Mays Nut Crunch products. Go and check it out.
These products are an excellent, healthy alternative to sweets in the lunchbox, and are great for car trips where fresh fruit is often too messy to indulge in too often.
LastPenny recommends products we use ourselves. We receive no payment or other benefits from these recommendations nor for visits to websites we recommend in posts.
Delivery is often overnight and very reasonable.
This week, on special are Mrs Mays Nut Crunch products. Go and check it out.
These products are an excellent, healthy alternative to sweets in the lunchbox, and are great for car trips where fresh fruit is often too messy to indulge in too often.
LastPenny recommends products we use ourselves. We receive no payment or other benefits from these recommendations nor for visits to websites we recommend in posts.
Kedgeree - a forgotten, filling, favorite!
Kedgeree is, put simply, a type of fish risotto.
It's nutritious, filling, warming and most kids love it. You can make it with any type of fish - personally, for ease and cost effectiveness, I use tinned smoked fish fillets.
You can also make it with tinned salmon (or even fresh salmon! But THAT'S not Last Penny!) to serve as a dinner party entree.
But you can use any sort of boneless, filleted fish.
Kedgeree
Fish of choice - 1x310g can smoked fish fillets is a good place to start. If using fresh fish, cook (grill or poach for preference) and flake.
2 cups cooked rice (long grain) - most kids prefer white, use brown for dinner parties, or, if you are being extremely posh, use a mix of wild rice and brown. Avoid jasmine, basmati, etc (Unless that's all you have in the house, in which case, I can attest to the fact it's quite edible with Jasmine!)
1 hard-boiled egg
1 or 2 fresh tomatoes
Herbs: best are fresh dill, chives and parsley. Use dried if you don't have fresh.*
I make this dish in the electric frying pan, but you can do it on the stovetop in a frying pan or wok if you prefer.
Put the cooked rice and the fish in the frying pan over a medium heat. Toss in a little oil to coat pan and prevent sticking (olive oil is best for fish, I find, but the healthiest option, of course, is good old canola cooking spray). Stir frequently, and cook until the rice is starting to brown.
Chop the egg roughly and add. Chop the tomato into smallish wedges, chop your hebs if they are fresh and add. Stir as you heat through.
Serve it when the tomato is warm but not cooked!
Serving suggestions:
For a dinner party entree, pile in small bowls and serve with a wedge of lemon to squeeze over it.
For lunch or tea, serve with a fresh green salad and slices of avocado, or with an orange-and-carrot salad, according to the season
Personally, I love the leftovers cold in my lunchbox, with a squeeze of lemon! But they also reheat in the microwave to be very tasty :)
*Top Tip: Dill is a wonderful herb to have on hand if your family likes fish. It enhances any fish cooking and is particularly tasty added to tinned fish. I usually cheat with dill and buy it dried, as I don't use the volume to justify a fresh plant.
It's nutritious, filling, warming and most kids love it. You can make it with any type of fish - personally, for ease and cost effectiveness, I use tinned smoked fish fillets.
You can also make it with tinned salmon (or even fresh salmon! But THAT'S not Last Penny!) to serve as a dinner party entree.
But you can use any sort of boneless, filleted fish.
Kedgeree
Fish of choice - 1x310g can smoked fish fillets is a good place to start. If using fresh fish, cook (grill or poach for preference) and flake.
2 cups cooked rice (long grain) - most kids prefer white, use brown for dinner parties, or, if you are being extremely posh, use a mix of wild rice and brown. Avoid jasmine, basmati, etc (Unless that's all you have in the house, in which case, I can attest to the fact it's quite edible with Jasmine!)
1 hard-boiled egg
1 or 2 fresh tomatoes
Herbs: best are fresh dill, chives and parsley. Use dried if you don't have fresh.*
I make this dish in the electric frying pan, but you can do it on the stovetop in a frying pan or wok if you prefer.
Put the cooked rice and the fish in the frying pan over a medium heat. Toss in a little oil to coat pan and prevent sticking (olive oil is best for fish, I find, but the healthiest option, of course, is good old canola cooking spray). Stir frequently, and cook until the rice is starting to brown.
Chop the egg roughly and add. Chop the tomato into smallish wedges, chop your hebs if they are fresh and add. Stir as you heat through.
Serve it when the tomato is warm but not cooked!
Serving suggestions:
For a dinner party entree, pile in small bowls and serve with a wedge of lemon to squeeze over it.
For lunch or tea, serve with a fresh green salad and slices of avocado, or with an orange-and-carrot salad, according to the season
Personally, I love the leftovers cold in my lunchbox, with a squeeze of lemon! But they also reheat in the microwave to be very tasty :)
*Top Tip: Dill is a wonderful herb to have on hand if your family likes fish. It enhances any fish cooking and is particularly tasty added to tinned fish. I usually cheat with dill and buy it dried, as I don't use the volume to justify a fresh plant.
Grocery Shop and Save
Consumer NZ has confirmed what most of us Laast Penny shoppers had already worked out for ourselves! Pak N Save has New Zealand's cheapest grocery prices.
The NZ Herald Article is here.
Here is a quote:
The survey excluded fresh produce, meat and fish - but, as LastPenny recommends, you are nearly always better off buying those products from a speciality dealer.
There are many asian groceries with fantastic prices on fresh produce, as well as markets and garden stores.
Meat is best purchased from The Mad Butcher, or other butchers in your town who are able to provide you with good prices.
If you are in Auckland, check out the Auckland Fish Market for the best prices on fresh fish!
The NZ Herald Article is here.
Here is a quote:
"Shopping there [Pak'nSave] saved around $20 and sometimes more than shopping in the dearest supermarket in each city."
Pak'nSave's Albany store produced the cheapest shopping basket, with a $115 transaction. Foodtown Glenfield was the most expensive, with a $140 total.
Woolworths had the highest prices of the nationwide chains, with prices varying from $136 to $145.
The survey excluded fresh produce, meat and fish - but, as LastPenny recommends, you are nearly always better off buying those products from a speciality dealer.
There are many asian groceries with fantastic prices on fresh produce, as well as markets and garden stores.
Meat is best purchased from The Mad Butcher, or other butchers in your town who are able to provide you with good prices.
If you are in Auckland, check out the Auckland Fish Market for the best prices on fresh fish!
