Homemaking. It’s a traditional skill I’m passionate about, one I live out every single day. And yet? Apart from my homemaking series, I rarely share this side of life with you! However, today I’m going to share 8 ways you can save money in the kitchen.
I practice each and every one of these skills in my home! I’ve seen them work. And if they work for me, I’m willing to wager some of them can work for you!
Hang onto your apron and let’s go!
#1-Create a Monthly Grocery Budget
It’s difficult to avoid luxury purchases when you don’t have a monthly grocery budget! Take 15 minutes to look over previous bank statements. Find your monthly grocery average. And then, create a frugal, but sustainable grocery budget.
#2-Use Cash
This was the key thing that helped me stay on course! Pulling the allotted money from our bank account at the beginning of each month, I’d store it in a little tin container. And if I spent it too soon? I refused to draw out more! Instead, I’d create meals from supplies that were already in our home.
I have to say…there’s something unique about buying with cash. Watching your stash diminish makes you think before you buy. And the reward is real when you have savings at the end of the month. I encourage you to give it a try!
#3-Cook Simple, Wholesome Meals
If you don’t already cook most of your meals at home, I highly recommend making this change slowly, but steadily!
When it came to saving money through home cooking, I learned something important. I realized I needed to stop viewing food as a luxury and instead, begin seeing it as a necessity. I made a point of creating meals that were simple, hearty and wholesome.
If this mentality lowered my grocery costs, I bet it can do the same for you!
#4-Purchase In Bulk
If you want to save money in the kitchen, find a bulk food supplier in your area. Your local grocery store usually isn’t the best place to buy staple ingredients like rice, oil, beans and lentils, rolled oats, whole grains, natural sweeteners, etc. Most of the time, not even their best sales compare to the saving you’ll get with bulk food purchases.
So find yourself a supplier! And then? Go ahead and buy in bulk!
#5-Stock the Pantry
Once you’ve found a bulk food supplier, try to lay in at least 6 months worth of goods. Maybe even aim for a year! And then? Make a point of planning meals from what you have.
Keep record of your bulk food purchases and how quickly you use up each item. It’ll help you be more accurate next time you lay up supplies!
#6-Raise, Glean and Forage
Learning to DIY in the food department will save you so much money! Instead of paying someone else to raise your meat, herbs and vegetables, learn to raise a portion of these things yourself!
If you’re stuck in a living situation where you can’t grow fruit trees, nuts and berries, you might be able to glean these things from the good folks of your community.
If you’re semi-rural, try foraging from nature as well!
When you’re willing to work and want a cheap way to get your hands on healthy food, I recommend practicing these 3 things!
#7-Harvesting and Preserving Food In Season
Whether you raise it yourself, glean, forage or harvest from a local U-pick, make a point of putting up food when it’s in season (aka the cheapest). Between canning and freezing, root cellaring techniques, dehydrating and fermenting, you can significantly lower your grocery bill!
#8-Turning Saving Into a Game
Instead of spending everything you budgeted for in the grocery department, start making a game of it. See if you can get by on less. If you have money leftover at the end of the month, it means you won! You beat the ol’ budget!
I always chose to set that money aside for bulk food purchases the following year! Whether you forward it or put it into savings, it feels good!
So There You Have It!
I discovered I could make a difference in our finances by better managing the kitchen. While it isn’t easy, it certainly has it’s reward! And even though we’ve reached our financial goals and our budget is looser today, I still practice these 8 ways you can save money in the kitchen. Because they’re worth holding onto!
Ha ha… Often when I read your posts, I think, “How is that girl so wise and yet so young?”
:)I had a mother who was incredibly good in the kitchen! So much of what I know, I learned from observing her!