Thursday, October 22, 2009

Thrifty Tip - Save Money on Cooking and Eating

I know we've been down this road before, but it's always good to have a refresher.
  • Eat less meat.
  • Become a vegetarian.
  • Eat leftovers.
  • Cook large amounts and freeze extra for busy nights.
  • Scrape out food jars to use the last little bit.
  • Cook from scratch.
  • Never eat out.
  • Eat from your stocked pantry.
  • Bring lunch from home (it’s worth it to invest in proper containers).
  • Eat less. The average American eats too much.
  • Don’t use the vending machines at work.
  • Always have a meal plan. Always.
  • Use the Once a Month Cooking system.
  • Keep soup starter jars in the freezer. A little leftover this, a little leftover that. Nothing is wasted.
  • Get creative with leftovers. Concoct new recipes, so nothing is wasted.
  • Base most of your meals on rice or beans to cut down on meat consumption.
  • Look for events that entertain and feed you at the same time. Church socials, shopping at Sam’s (think about those free samples)…
  • Don’t drink soda. Drink water!
  • Make your own jello cups (or applesauce cups, or pudding cups) for lunches and snacks.
  • If your kids complain about generic cereal, put the generic in a name-brand box. They’ll never know the difference!
  • Use Angel Food Ministries if you have one in your area.
  • Rear your own chickens.
  • Join a freezer club. Get together with like-minded people to exchange meals for your freezers. It’s cheaper to prepare a lot of one meal and split it up, than to prepare a bunch of different meals.
  • Make your own baby food.
  • Always take a snack and bottle of water wherever you go. You won’t be tempted to stop for expensive fast food or drinks.
  • Grow your own produce. No room? Try a square foot garden! Or use pots on the patio.
  • Freeze, can, or dehydrate your produce.
  • Cook with the crockpot to avoid using the oven, which warms up the house.
  • Use a convection oven to accomplish the same purpose.
Tips from BeingFrugal.net