Grocery costs have risen significantly in the past few years. They have caused many American households to rethink what they are buying and cooking. I know for our family prior to inflation I would say “sure, we can try that new recipe”. Now my response is “I don’t know, we will have to price it first”. Maybe you don’t have to go that far, but we are a one income household due to homeschooling. I wouldn’t have it any other way, because when we struggle or count our pennies it leaves room for growth.
I have become better at figuring out my pantry and grocery purchases. We still eat chili, sometimes the ingredients vary. Our dinners still include vegetables, but not dessert. Making allowances for eating out has changed our restaurant venues. We eat less fast food because the portions do not fill up our boys. Restaurants that are advertising specials are our target for eating out now. Here are a few ways that I am able to cook from home, use a lot of my menu’s and keep our grocery budget where we need it.
Buy Ingredients You Already Use
There is no need to run to the grocery store for new items to purchase. Cooking is about being creative. Therefore, when chili calls for meat, use chicken or ground turkey. If you don’t have elbow macaroni then use penne noodles. It’s your meal, add what you want.
I was making a tomato sauce for my spaghetti and had some sweet peppers that needed to be ground up, but didn’t have all of the ingredients for my sauce. So, I used the peppers, and some diced tomatoes to make a new kind of sauce. Thinking outside of the box increases cooking talent. Let me tell you, I have discovered it is like anything else, the more you cook the better you get.
Shop Your Pantry First
Your pantry is your stockpile. If you have learned anything it is to save and have a spare. Your pantry is your spare. Never buy one of any items, If you need flour buy in bulk. If you need tomato sauce keep one on hand and one in the pantry.
Another great place to shop is your freezer. Keep grocery costs down by planting a garden and preserving or freezing your harvest. Likewise the same for your pantry. If you don’t can, try. Learn how to dehydrate food. For example, we had a bumper crop of cucumbers. I was able to can seventeen jars. Those went up on the high shelf in my pantry.
Cut Grocery Costs and Shop Your Fridge
How many times have you been to the store, when your fridge is full of food? Do you throw out food? A good way to keep grocery costs down is to shop your fridge. Furthermore, when you shop from your fridge keep a running list of what you are almost out of. Doing this one habit saves time when you make out the grocery list.
Buying a bag of carrots (not the baby carrots) is a huge way to cut grocery costs. Do you know how many recipes need carrots? Whatever ingredients you have, use Allrecipes and pull up a way to use it. I go to the store once a month. We do weekly trips for fruit and milk only. Cutting out snacks has been a huge money saver.
Switch Brands, Not Meals
Cut your grocery costs quickly when you switch from name brand items to generic. Change ingredients in your meals. Do this by adding lesser expensive ingredients. Rice, beans, potatoes and noodles are great additions to other ingredients.
It’s ok to add to recipes to see if they can take sweet peppers instead of running to the store for a green pepper. Switching brands is still the same food, but the cost is less. Aldi is a perfect place to get cost efficient food that tastes great. I am teaching my kids’ to shop from the sales flyers’ so they will learn early how to save money and plan meals that center around saving. What are some ideas you have for cutting grocery costs?
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