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HOW TO SAVE MONEY COOKING AT HOME.
Want to save money on food? Food has become so expensive that people are looking for ways to cut back on food costs. So what can you do to save money cooking at home?
Here are a few tips to help you spend less money on cooking food at home.
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Home cooking is the best way to eat healthy foods. You are in control of what you are cooking for your family. Take-out foods are often unhealthy, full of fats, and have lots of salt. And eating out is costly plus you can never be sure of what is added to the food you order.
When you cook the food at home you know exactly what ingredients you are using.
One of the best ways to save money to save money cooking at home is by planning your meals ahead of time. I plan my meals monthly this way when I go grocery shopping I know what I need to buy. Buying less meat and by adding beans to meat dishes is another way I save money on food at home.
You can save a lot of money cooking at home by planning your meals!
BEST WAYS TO SAVE MONEY COOKING AT HOME.
PLAN YOUR MEALS FOR THE MONTH.
I know this may sound like such a lot of work but if you plan your meals for the month then you know what you are going to eat every day. Often if you have planned ahead of time you will wonder what to cook for supper/lunch and then pop into the supermarket for food items.
If you go to the supermarket a few times a week it starts to add up. Have a look at your bank account and find all the supermarket transactions and you may be very surprised at how much money you spend by just quickly popping into the store for a few food items.
On a Sunday you could have a roast and then eat the leftovers on Monday and Tuesday. Be creative and turn the leftover roast into two new meals. If you have a chicken roast you can have chicken with pasta or chicken stew.
COOK WHAT YOU HAVE.
How often towards month end do you realize that you don’t have much groceries left? And off you go to the shops to buy a few items.
Try your best not to go to the supermarket. Rather use what you have. Be creative with the food you have left. Not only if this help you save money but also helps you reduce and avoid food waste. Think of all the food you throw away that you could have used.
How often when cleaning out your fridge do find stale mouldy blocks of cheese? Don’t forget the vegetables that are going yellow and mouldy too! If you make use of what you have then you will use up what you have in the fridge instead of letting the food spoil.
BUY ONLY WHAT YOU NEED.
Are certain meals that your family likes more than others? My children love chicken nuggets. I make my chicken nuggets I do not buy frozen chicken nuggets. I always make sure to have extra chicken breasts and panko crumbs.
Again planning your meals for the month will help you buy only what you need for the month. If your family doesn’t eat a lot of a certain food item don’t buy the food item chance is it will go to waste and you may have to throw it away come month’s end.
Buying in bulk can also save you money when cooking at home. However, be very careful when buying in bulk. Ask yourself do I need the food items and are they part of my meal plan? If it’s not food items you will be using it’s not a good deal because you may just end up throwing most of it away.
Remember to check the best before/expiry date when buying in bulk!
BUY WHAT IS ON SALE.
Before I go grocery shopping for the month. I go through my fridge, freezer and kitchen cupboards to see what I am running low on and what is finished. This way I know what to buy according to the meals I have planned for the month.
After that, I go through the pamphlets with the monthly specials for the different supermarkets. You can also do so online if you don’t have the pamphlets. Find the items on your shopping list that are on special in store.
You may not be able to find every single food item on special but the more the better.
If you can work out the price per kilogram because there are times when an item is on special but the bigger pack not on special works out cheaper. When my son comes shopping with me I ask him to calculate the cost per kilogram.
MAKE YOUR OWN.
I seldom buy bottled salad dressings, crushed garlic, ginger or chillies. I make my own. And I find that the store-bought bottled ones have a very chemical taste. If you can make these items from scratch it is better to do so. If you don’t know how to you can learn the basics.
COOK SIMPLE TASTY MEALS.
I love roast lamb, calamari and rump steak these are meals we eat on special occasions.
While many of us enjoy eating a juicy steak, ribs falling off the bone, prawns and lobster these are not food items we can eat all the time. Just think of the amount of money you will be spending if you eat these food items on a regular basis?
Not saying you can’t eat fancy foods. Save pricey food items for special occasions. This way it will be something to look forward to and you are more likely to savour the taste. And also try to buy the pricey food item when it is on special. You can always freeze it and use it later.