Produce can eat a big chunk of your grocery bill. So,when it comes to buying produce, knowing a few tricks will help you to save. Knowing when, and how to buy fresh produce will cut down on the cost of these items on your grocery bill. Here are some simple tips that will help you to learn how to save on produce:
Buy in Season
When you buy fresh produce for your family, always buy the produce that is in season. You'll see significant savings this way! Find more information about buying in season here.
Make Substitutions
If the produce you want is not in season, consider purchasing the frozen or canned version. An example would be mushrooms. When the price of fresh mushrooms rise, and you are making spaghetti, use canned mushrooms instead, or omit them altogether.
Check the Clearance Bin
Most grocery stores will have a cart, or an area, that has produce on it which are considered past their prime. This does not mean the food is rotten; it may only have some blemishes on it. An example of this would be a bunch of bananas that are neither green nor yellow, but may have some black spots throughout the peel. Normally grocery stores gather a bunch of the same products together and offer them for reduced prices. I often find Bananas, tomatoes, lettuce, cucumber, eggplant, cauliflower and other fruit and vegetables sold this way when they have blemishes that can easily be removed with a knife.
Plant a garden
Planting a garden is a great way to save on produce. Not only will you have plenty of fresh produce to last all summer, you'll most likely have a ton of produce to freeze or can to last all winter!
U-Pick
Find a few local orchards or farms that offer U-Pick. Picking your own produce directly from a local farm ensures you'll be saving a bundle. It also creates some fun memories if you involve the family!
Weigh Pre-Packaged Produce
When a potato sack says it's 5 pounds worth, it may actually be 5.5 pounds and a different bag may weigh 5.9lbs. So believe it or not, not all pre-packaged produce weighs the same amount. So be sure to weigh those bags and take the one that weighs the most!
Remembering these tips when you're shopping is a great way for you to save money on your grocery bill.
How do you save on fruits and veggies? I’d love to learn from you!
Earlier this week I talked about ways you can save on Dairy and Meat purchases. Lorraine wanted to share how her family saves on meat with this tip and a recipe!
One way we save on meat is by eating stir frys. The recipe below is one that we enjoy immensely and is also very healthy.
Chicken/Quinoa Vegetable Stir Fry
Cut up a variety of vegetables such as: carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, yellow beans, red cabbage, onion or leek or shallot, red pepper and garlic and sautée these in organic coconut oil until al dente. Then add leftover chicken pieces and Bragg all purpose soy sauce. While you are preparing the vegetables, cook 1/2 cup of quinoa in 1 cup of water. Bring the quinoa to a boil, simmer for ten minutes, fluff it with a fork and let stand for an additional five minutes. If the quinoa is not pre-rinsed, make sure to rinse it well before cooking. Once the quinoa is cooked, incorporate it into the remaining ingredients and simmer approximately two to three additional minutes.
Note: I try to follow the rainbow diet; therefore, I use red, purple, yellow, orange and green coloured vegetables when preparing a meal. This will help to ensure that you are getting as many nutrients as possible during the day. I use very little chicken in this casserole and this really helps to stretch the food budget. It is also a gluten free meal that our whole family really enjoys and it is also a great way to use up vegetables that need to be used up before the next grocery order.
That sounds delicious and quick! Thanks Lorraine!
She also wanted to add that quinoa is a complete protein; therefore, it can be served instead of meat or poultry or it can be used as an additional ingredient to boost the nutrient value of the meal.
I hope that this recipe helps your readers stretch their food budget while ensuring a healthy lifestyle.
Meat is one of the biggest expenses in the grocery budget. However, there are ways that you can save money on your meat purchases without having to cross it off your list if you make use of the following tips!
How to Save on Meat Purchases:
Buy in Bulk
You can save money on your meat purchases if you buy meat in bulk packages or family size packs. The smaller/single portions are offered at a higher cost per kilogram than the larger portions (or family packages). It is more budget friendly to buy your meat in bulk and then divide it into smaller portions when you get home.
Choose Cheaper Cuts of Meat
Invest in a slow cooker to make less tender cuts of meat tender. Stew beef, rump roasts, and other cuts of meat can be placed in your slow cooker with a can of tomatoes, broth, or any other liquid that you fancy. Cooking it slow all day will really tenderize the meat and it will be melt in your mouth delicious!
Serve Smaller Portions
Another way to save money on meat purchases is to include less meat in your meals. By using recipes where meat isn’t the main focus, you’ll be saving a bundle. Vegetables and grains can be just as delicious without an abundance of meat. A meal of macaroni and cheese, tossed with vegetables and ground meat will feed a family of four for two days. Casseroles, pasta dishes, and even rice dishes can be made in a variety of ways with different types of meat to really make your meat stretch.
Watch for Sales
Keep a close eye on your flyers. Grocery stores rotate their sales and there will be sales on different types of meat every week. One week they might have a special on chicken, and the next week it might be pork loin roasts or even beef. I always stock up enough to last me to the next sale.
Buying it Whole
Buying the whole animal and dividing it up at home will save you money. Instead of only buying chicken pieces (thighs, breasts), for example, buy the whole chicken, divide it up yourself to freeze, or cook it whole and enjoy leftovers. Save the bones for soup!
Invest in a Freezer
Investing in a freezer to store meat that you have purchased on sale is a great way to make sure that you have enough on hand when it comes to preparing a meal. Meat can be frozen for six months to a year, if it has been wrapped in the proper freezer bags.
The above tips should help you save on the cost of your meat purchases at the grocery store.
Over the next several weeks, you’ll be seeing some posts about ‘How to Save’ on some of our regular household purchases. I hope to provide useful tips to help you save!
As we all know, dairy products contain important vitamins and nutrients necessary to our well being. Therefore, it’s important that you and your family make sure that you get enough dairy products on a daily basis. Unfortunately, sometimes the grocery budget does not allow you to buy an assortment of cheeses and yogurts on a weekly basis. However, follow these tips and you can learn how to save on dairy products:
Purchase Skim Milk
Since homogenized and 2% milk is usually higher in price than skim milk, you can save some money on your milk purchases if you buy skim milk instead. If skim milk isn’t your thing, consider using it only in your morning tea or coffee. Or, for recipes that need milk but don’t depend on the milk for flavour.
Buy Powdered Milk
Buying powdered milk is another great way to save. Use it in your in your coffee or tea or in your baking. Simply follow the instructions as to how much powder and water is needed to get the amount of milk that you need. If you don’t anticipate using much powdered milk, don’t buy a big bag. Buy a small quantity from a bulk food store to avoid spoiling.
Buy Food Made with Dairy Products
Another way that you can make sure that your family gets the dairy products that they need, without breaking the bank, is to buy prepared foods that contain dairy products. An example would be a spinach and ricotta cheese lasagna. It’s cheaper to buy it already made than putting it together yourself.
Watch for Clearance Stickers
When your walking the dairy section at your grocery store, keep your eyes open for clearance stickers! I regularly find them on yogurt. Since yogurt usually lasts quite a bit longer than the best before date, I know I can use it in a timely matter.
Make your Own Dairy Products
Making your own dairy products is not difficult to learn. Why not try your hand at homemade yogurt,butter, cream cheese or homemade sour cream! This is the ideal time to use those products you got on clearance.
The above tips are just a few ways that you can save on your dairy purchases. If you happen to purchase yogurt, try buying the larger containers as opposed to the individual servings as they do cost more money. Keeping an eye on your flyers for promotional sales on dairy products will also help you to save even more money.
Thanksgiving. A time to gather family and friends. Many family and friends, which of course, can be expensive! But hosting Thanksgiving dinner doesn’t mean you have to spend and arm and a leg to create a Thanksgiving to remember.
Consider these tips for a thanksgiving on a budget:
Determine your Budget
First things first, determine how much you can spend. Decide on a budget, then use it to plan how you will spend that money. Even if your budget is $75, Thanksgiving dinner can be done, but it's important to have a number in mind so you know how to divide it up to cover all the bases.
Plan the menu
Now that you're armed with a budget, it's time to start planning the menu. The best way to keep your budget in check is to plan simple dishes with in-season ingredients. Recipes that include fancy/expensive ingredients can really eat up the budget in a hurry. Don't forget to put those coupons to use!
Make it a potluck
While you're planning your menu, you decide if your guests will be bringing any dishes to help with costs. A potluck can be tons of fun. I love tasting all the different dishes, especially since they're usually different from the usual fare that is served at home time and time again.
Decorate with the outdoors
While a Thanksgiving table can simply be decorated with the food that is being served, you might want to add a few items to make it more festive. Consider using items that you can collect from the outdoors. Leaves, pine cones, and cedar branches can all add a nice touch to the dinner table. Throw in some items you already have on hand (candles, table cloths...) to finish it off.
Borrow
If you find you don't have enough plates, or you don't have a roasting pan, it's completely unnecessary to run to the store to buy those items if you can easily borrow them from someone.
Finally, you can celebrate Thanksgiving on a budget, but it really all boils down to the fact that you're celebrating with family and friends! Take the time to enjoy each others company. That my friends, is free!
What are your tips for a budget-friendly Thanksgiving? What are your favourite Thanksgiving recipes?
Halloween is such a fun time of the year. Seeing all of the little ones in their cute and scary outfits, passing out candy, decorating and parties!
Halloween can also get pretty expensive, some of those awesome costumes will run you $50 or more! That kind of money seems a little excessive for one day of fun. Getting your decorations, candy and Halloween costumes on a budget is doable and actually pretty easy.
Affordable Halloween Costume Ideas
First of all, here are some creative Halloween costume ideas on a budget that are fun and easy to put together:
Ghost: An old white sheet with cut-out eye holes.
Zombie: Torn-up old clothes, dark makeup, and fake blood (which can be made at home with corn syrup and food coloring).
Mummy: Toilet paper or white bandages.
Tourist: Hawaiian shirt, shorts, a camera, sunglasses, and a fanny pack.
BlackCat: Black clothes, a headband with DIY cat ears (made from cardboard), and drawn-on whiskers using eyeliner.
Superhero: An old bedsheet or towel as a cape, tights, and a t-shirt with a drawn or taped-on emblem.
Vampire: Black clothes, a makeshift cape (old sheet), and dark makeup for the face. DIY fangs from paper.
Hippie: Tie-dye shirt, headband, bell-bottom jeans, and peace sign accessories.
80s Workout Enthusiast: Neon leggings, headband, and an old sweatshirt cut at the shoulders.
Skeleton: Black clothes with white tape or paint to create a skeleton outline. Add some face paint for extra effect.
Pirate: Striped shirt, a bandana, eye patch (which can be DIY with cardboard), and some torn pants.
Witch: A black dress, DIY pointy hat from cardboard, and a broom.
Robot: Cardboard boxes, tin foil, and silver paint.
Lumberjack: Plaid shirt, jeans, beanie, and a cardboard or plastic axe.
Now that you have some simple to put together costume ideas, let's take a look at even more ways to save.
Host a Costume Swap
In mid to late September put together a Halloween costume swap. Invite moms from your community to bring costumes from previous years to the swap. Everyone at the swap gets to look for costumes that fit their children. This is a great way to get a free costume and connect with other moms in your local area. You can advertise your costume swap by work of mouth, flyers or create a Facebook group for people in your area.
Shop Second Hand Stores
Come early October second-hand stores will be flooded with Halloween costumes. Before you look at any high-priced costume shops make sure to check out local thrift shops. You can find basic costumes to very impressive and expensive costumes. The best part is the prices are great!
Shop Late
Halloween stores need to sell all of their merchandise before Halloween. Once Halloween is over these shops close their doors for the year. Try shopping one or two days before Halloween and you will probably see lots of costumes that have been discounted by 50% or more! This could mean some huge savings but the downside is the inventory is usually limited.
Make Your Own
Making your own Halloween costume is possible and can be done without touching a sewing machine. Look around your house and see what you already own and what you can turn into a costume. Have an old cheerleading outfit, football uniform, golf clubs or just a scary mask sitting around. Get creative and let your imagination run wild. Get your children used to making their own costumes and not dressing up in the same costume everyone else is wearing. You can also spend some time searching Pinterest for creative and fun costumes to make at home.
Visit a consignment shop.
Check out local consignment shops for used costumes. Many consignment shops carry children’s costumes during the fall season, so you can often find one at a great price. If you want, you can even take some of your old costumes in for cash. This will help free up some funds for this year’s costumes. Call your local consignment shop and ask if they will be carrying Halloween costumes this season.
Saving in Other Areas
For Halloween candy and decorations there are also ways to save. Make sure to check your local Dollar Store for decorations and candy. Typically, they have a large selection of holiday items. Shopping the day after Halloween can sometimes save you up to 75% on next years decorations!
What are your favourite Halloween costumes on a budget?
