Faith Farm

Cheap-living tips- kitchen

First things first-get excited-If your not happy about being more frugal-how is your family going to be? Get the  Attitude of gratitude.  It is a better way...only speaking from experience here..being a former junk food/convenience food junky myself.  Here is a few tips on cutting your grocery bill:

I buy items at the grocery store in bulk if it saves me money and it is something that I use alot of.  Be careful when doing this though because bulk doesn't always mean cheaper.  Take your calculator with you.  If the large item in a bulk package is the same price or only a few cents cheaper, it is not worth it when you have to repackage it and buy zip-lock bags to put it in.  Always check expiration dates as well...around here bulk items don't turn over as fast and you might be buying something old.  Buy items in season and put them back.  This is very true for fruit/veggies that you don't grow yourself.  I can things first and put in the freezer last.  Go to the grocery store with a plan.  Know what you need and what you don't.  It is a good idea to keep a "food price book" on the items you regularly purchase.  That away you know when you have a good sale...it is also good to keep track of the overall price increase of food so you can better plan your budget.  This year the cost of staple products in our house has risen alot.  Plan on taking advantage of good sales.  If you see one of those wow sales on a product that you use regularly buy alot of it.  It will take from this months budget but it will save you on all the following months.  I always allow for a wow sale in every months grocery money.  It helps to build your pantry.  Use coupons on items that you use.  Cut down or get rid of junk food and prepackaged foods...your family will be healthier and happier with homemade goodies.  Alot of people plan their menu's and that really does help out alot with cost...unfortunately thats not me.  I cook what I feel like cooking that day and so I routinely buy the same basic staples and get creative with what I have.  Learn the sales patterns for the stores that you shop...most place have hams on sale around Easter and October, Turkeys in Nov. and Dec., I find baking goods on sale in Dec. and Jan.,  I find that chicken and hambuger are cheaper at the end of the month than at the first of the month...things like that.  Most stores offer a wow sale to pull you in at the first of the month...take advantage of it...but don't buy everything else at a higher price. Also look for free food in your area-yes free-we have an abundance of wild plums, blackberries-just waiting to be picked.  Learn about your area and take advantage of them. 

My DH says I have two seasons-inside and outside-and that greatly effects how I cook.  This time of year I spend most of my time in the house so that means I am in the kitchen alot.  In the "outside" season the time I spend in the kitchen is usually canning and preserving.  So 'everyday meal' cooking is done differently.  I spend one day cooking bulk, I make dishes I can freeze and just pop in the oven.  Makes all the time in the garden easier if I don't have to worry about dinner...It keeps it from being a burden when I am tired.  I also take advantage of all the fresh veggies in the summer and we eat them on the days we harvest.  If your canning something serve it with dinner.  Now in the 'inside season'  I cook daily and love it.  So does everyone else..lol.  I still bulk cook things like biscuits and freeze them..ready to bake..cookie dough, pie crusts...stuff like that.  It is so much easier to make alot when you are already making a big mess anyway.

Since we are talking about putting food up for later-let me say there is alot of really great web sites that can help you with food storage issues...as I am no one to give advice on this, I really recommend you look for resources in that area.  I use alot of them, but I do like the Ball Canning website alot.  I keep containers in the house for freezing and for packaging my husbands lunch-I try to stay away from disposable items as I feel I am just throwing away my money.  If it can be reused, I use it.  I do suggest that you keep a good stock of staples at your house...you decide what is right for you...I can grow veggies, hunt / fish for meat, find fruit in season, I have milk and eggs available, but I can't make salt, sugar, flour (yet), spices, ect.  See what I mean.  You need to have the right storage for these food items.  Have fun with it.  I hope this helps someone.  If anyone has any suggestions or a really good bulk pie crust recipe-please share with me.  I love time-money saving tips!  Have a blessed day.

Untitled Comment

{ 09:57, Wednesday, December 12, 2007 } { Posted by Kitty }

We have the same ideas on all of this. I do what you do for all the same reasons. In the spring my goal is to re-do my pantry area to have more storage for bulk purchases, can't wait...........Kitty