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Note from the Editor:

This article was kindly written for the SDC by member @Deejay11 . This week, Deb is back with more clever savings, tasty meals, and a fun surprise win. From the kitchen to competitions and surveys, Deb’s knack for making a little go a long way continues to shine. Don’t miss her smart tips and inspiring frugal finds below!


Hi again from @Deejay11

I hope readers are fit and well, and not stressing over the small stuff! Has anyone had a go at entering competitions or surveys?

At the end of April, I was one of fifty people who won $250 worth of Women’s Weekly Cookbooks. They asked people to send in a photo of a Women’s Weekly birthday cake, from the iconic Birthday Cake Cookbook.

I remembered that I’d made the Swimming Pool Cake in 1996, so I dug the photo out of my album, photographed it, and sent it in. Voila! My box of books arrived today, and they’ll keep me busy for a while. The lovely box of eight books included a couple of recent slow cooker cookbooks and a pie cookbook. I’m going to have fun!

I’m following on from my sixth edition (which you can read here):


Competitions:

Try your competition luck!

Birds Eye Win Your Shop Back Promotion - Birds Eye win back your basket

Shop at Metcash IGA Supermarket, purchase an eligible product, enter the competition, and have the chance to instantly win the total cost of your shop up to the value of $250.00.

Ends 13/07/2025.

Visit Noosa | Win a Noosa Winter Escape

Imagine escaping to a warmer climate if you live in a cold region! Win return flights, two (2) nights accommodation, and a signature Noosa experience, valued at over $3,100!

Ends 14/07/2025.

Win tickets to Four Letters Of Love starring Helena Bonham-Carter | Money magazine

Win one of five double-passes to Four Letters of Love, in cinemas from July 24.

Ends 14/07/2025.

Make sure you read the T&Cs for each competition.


Surveys:

Prime Opinion is still my most profitable survey site. I’ll be withdrawing this week before I hit the supermarket (as I do most weeks).

Also, this week, I’m withdrawing $$’s from Connect Panel (which is operated by news.com.au). As I mentioned last week, Connect Panel is just one of three that I drop in and out of at times. I tend to earn $50 every six months, which is always a nice bonus.


Cooking:

Last weekend, I bought nine drumsticks for $5.50, which I’ve ‘converted’ to three meals. Before people get too excited, we’re not huge meat eaters. We’re quite satisfied with two drumsticks each for a meal, accompanied by salad/vegetables/chips/fried rice, etc.

Please consider your own needs when preparing/cooking your meals and personal portion sizes.

Meal 1: Airfryer Drumsticks



Ingredients:

• 5 chicken drumsticks
• Marinade:
  • ½ cup sweet chilli sauce
  • ¼ cup hot chilli sauce
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • 3 tbsp clear honey,
  • Good shake garlic granules
  • 4 tbsp orange juice
  • Shake of cayenne pepper
  • Shake of Chinese Five Spice Powder

Method:

1. Combine marinade ingredients. If you aren’t a ‘chilli person’, just omit the hot chilli sauce.

2. Add the drumsticks, marinate for a few hours, turning a few times.

3. Place chicken drumsticks in the air fryer, generously brush some marinade over them, and cook at 180 °C for 10 minutes. Turn the drumsticks, generously brush with marinade, and cook for another 10 minutes.

4. Reserve one chicken drumstick. Cool, wrap the drumstick in foil, refrigerate.

5. Serve two drumsticks per person, along with heaps of really cold, homemade coleslaw, cucumber slices, and sliced baby tomatoes.


Meal 2: Vietnamese Banh Mi

I’ve been making these since I saw Banh Mi rolls in my local IGA and Coles.


Ingredients:

• Two (2) long Banh Mi rolls
• Chicken sliced thinly from the remaining Airfryer Drumstick
• For the salad ingredients: chopped cucumber, finely shredded cabbage, finely shredded lettuce, grated carrot, chopped spring onion, chilli flakes, chopped parsley and/or coriander, salt, and pepper.
• 1 tbsp Lime juice (I use Kaffir lime – also known as Thai lime or Makrut lime)
• 1 tbsp mayonnaise
• 1 tbsp Chicken liver pate
• Few pieces of thinly sliced bird's eye chilli (optional)

Method:

1. Take the required amount of pate from the fridge (It’s hard to spread cold pate on warmed rolls!)

2. Make a salad from the ingredients; you need about three handfuls of salad. Add lime juice to ‘spice it up.’ Add chicken to the salad. Refrigerate for 15 minutes, turning a few times to let the lime juice spread.

3. Split rolls open, crisp in the oven at 170 for about 5 minutes.

4. Spread pate on both inside areas of rolls, and spread mayonnaise over pate.

5. Stuff rolls with salad/chicken mix and sprinkle over some fresh chilli if desired. YUM!


Meal 3: Slow Cooker Thai Curry


Ingredients:

• 1 pack MasterFoods Thai Green Curry simmer sauce
  
  
• 2/3 cup light coconut milk
  
  
• 4 chicken drumsticks
  
  
• 1 small bag baby spinach leaves
  
  
• 1 medium carrot, thinly sliced
  
  
• A handful of fresh mushrooms, sliced
  
  
• Steamed jasmine rice, to serve
  
  
• Steamed baby green beans, to serve

Method:

1. Mix the Thai Green Curry sauce with the coconut milk in your slow cooker until combined.
   
   
2. Add the drumsticks, spinach, and sliced carrot. Stir gently to coat everything in the sauce.
   
   
3. Cover and cook on low for 4 hours, turning the drumsticks occasionally to cook evenly.
   
   
4. In the last hour, add the sliced mushrooms and continue cooking until everything is tender and fragrant.
   
   
5. Serve the curry over fluffy rice, and arrange steamed baby beans around the rice for a balanced and colourful plate.

Meet the author:

I’m @Deejay11, a mostly retired worker and member of SDC who strives to enjoy life yet live frugally (so I can spend my money on what I want rather than on overpriced groceries!).

I’m sharing some of my recession-busters that may be of assistance. To quote The Barefoot Investor Scott Pape: ‘Tread your own path.’

My ideas are just that: my ideas for making meaningful changes regarding my finances. Feel free to adapt them in any way that suits you!


From the Editor:

Have you had a lucky win or turned a budget buy into multiple meals? We’d love to hear your tips, recipes, or wins in the comments below!

Advice given in this article is general in nature and is not intended to influence readers’ decisions. Always seek professional advice that takes into account your personal circumstances before making any financial decisions. We also recommend that you consider the T&Cs of any survey sites or competitions before entering.