I happen to think that using a slow cooker can save you quite a bit of money. After all, everyone wants to eat healthier, but planning, shopping and prepping meals all.the.time can get old really fast. While I don’t mind cooking, it’s not one of my favourite things to do, so making the task easier is a priority of mine. 🙂 The fact that I can quickly put ingredients together into the slow cooker, turn it on, then walk away while it cooks all day practically makes me giddy.
Using your slow cooker on a regular basis can help you save in quite a few ways. Read on for some of my favourite tips, tricks and recipes for making your slow cooker a great money saving tool:
52 Ways to Save: Use a Slow Cooker
1. Purchase Cheaper Cuts of Meat
When you have a slow cooker, there’s no need to buy those expensive cuts of meat. Because the slow cooker cooks slow, it’s great for tenderizing cheaper cuts of meat.
2. Save on Electricity Costs
Did you know that slow cookers actually use less energy than the stove top or oven? It’s true! Don’t just save dollars on your grocery bill, save on your electricity bill too!
3. Use Less Meat
Perhaps it’s the recipes I use, but I’ve noticed that I use less meat when I make a slow cooker meal. Meat can be one of the more expensive things on your grocery bill so making it stretch can help a ton. I often times shred the meat I use or the vegetables far outweigh the meat quantity. Of course, you can skip the meat entirely and create a delicious pot of baked beans, lentils or what ever strikes your fancy.
4. Resist the Take Out
The slow cooker sort of takes away a lot of the excuses you could have for ordering take-out. After all, you put together your meal in the morning, when you’re (hopefully) your freshest. So when you’re tired at the end of the day, your dinner is already cooked!
5. Double Up
Or in other words, make a huge batch and freeze the extras for a super easy meal that you can just pull out and heat up!
6. Round up the Fridge
Do you have a few leftovers that are staring to pile up in the fridge? Vegetables that are just about on their last legs? Throw them into your slow cooker and create a delicious soup or stew! Try out this Pantry and Pasta soup for some ideas.
Lorraine wrote me a great email after my post about Frugal Meal Ideas for When You're Broke. She has some great tips, plus, it's kinda fun to see how other families use their grocery money. I also really appreciate Lorraine's focus on healthy eating. She has found what works for her. I think if you really focus on narrowing down what works for your family, you can save a bundle by buying basically the same things each time you go grocery shopping. In my mind this simplifies the meal planning process, and you will start to see when you should be stocking up on the items your family uses over and over again.
Here's Lorraine:
With regard to your frugal meals on a budget, I would like to suggest that people can eat vegetables that are in season. For instance, during the summertime and early fall, when the bounty abounds, we freeze many of the local vegetables in freezer bags and have them on hand throughout the winter. We freeze broccoli, cauliflower, shallots, leek, celery, peppers, zucchini and use them in soups and casseroles when the weather gets colder and the cost of produce becomes exorbitant. We buy canned tomatoes in bulk when they go on sale for 88 cents and add them to our soups and sauces. During the winter, we eat a lot of root vegetables and cabbage as they are plentiful and a produce of Canada. We also eat lots of stir fries, chicken casseroles, chicken cacciatore made with ground chicken that we buy when the ground chicken is on sale. We buy stewing beef when it is on sale and add way more vegetables than meat to our stews. We eat potatoes regularly and stretch the budget by boiling chicken pieces for a broth in a soup and then use the boiled chicken in sandwiches or casseroles such as chicken à la king. We incorporate at least 6-9 fruit and vegetables in our daily diet to ensure that we get all the necessary nutrients.
We also eat a rainbow diet; example: purple cabbage or raddichio, red peppers/tomatoes/red skinned apples, yellow beans/yellow peppers, rutabaga, for the greens, we eat kale, broccoli, spinach, the darker lettuces and cabbage and the for orange in our rainbow diet, we eat tons of carrots, sweet potatoes, squash.
Legumes are also a cheap way to get protein when combined with a whole grain pasta or an ancient grain like quinoa. We use quinoa and wild rice in our soup bases to ensure a good nutritious meal. We add lima beans and lentils to our soups. We also eat baked beans as a main course with a side salad and a whole grain bun or slice of bread or a muffin made with whole grains.
We do not eat much cheese as this is high in saturated fats. Quite often, I use a drizzle of avocado oil, grapeseed oil or almond oil in our soup instead of chicken or beef stock. This ensures that we are getting the good oils in our diet and helps to maintain our good cholesterol levels.
We watch the aisle in the grocery store for the meat marked down as it is close to the expiry date and there is never a problem if it is stored right away in the freezer for future use. We also buy chicken that has been reduced in price as long as it is within the best before date. We do not buy cheap fish, as much of the fish from Asia and especially China is contaminated with chemicals that are harmful to human consumption. That is one item that we splurge on and try to buy “wild” fish from Canada such as cod or trout.
As the cost of meat has skyrocketed in our area, we only buy when it goes on sale and we prepare meals according to the sale cycles. We also eat omelettes made with vegetables and a side salad for a healthy, quick and filling meal. When cooking meatloaf, I add a lot of oatmeal to the mix and am able to get more portions out of a small quantity of hamburger meat and as oatmeal is known to reduce the bad cholesterol, it plays an important role in our diet.
We also buy frozen fruit in the winter time when it is on sale as it is much fresher than the exotic fruits coming from South America and elsewhere. The longer the travel time, the less nutrition a food contains. Again, we freeze berries in season and use them during the winter months. We buy apples on sale as well as oranges and bananas. When the kiwi goes on sale, we purchase these for their Vitamin C content.
We also check out the bread rack where some loaves have been reduced for quick sale. They are usually still quite fresh and if they are frozen, they are great when toasted. We buy oatmeal and other cereals in bulk and save on the packaging. Oatmeal is great for a dinner with fresh fruit and almond or rice beverage and a good alternative for those who are lactose intolerant.
We also stock up on butter when it goes on sale at $2.99 or lower. We buy enough to ensure that we will have it on hand until the next sale cycle. We watch the sales for lactose free milk and buy as many as we know we can use before the expiry date. We do the same thing for orange juice as we have a special brand that we prefer. The sale cycle for orange juice is fairly short; therefore, when we buy six containers at a time, we are sure to find a good deal when we run out.
We also watch the sale cycles for paper products, cleaning products and hygiene products and we stock up to last until the next sale cycle. All of these measures ensure that we eat properly, maintain an ideal weight and do not feel deprived of life’s most basic pleasures.
I hope you've gleaned some ideas from Lorraine. Or at least been inspired to keep it simple and always buy on sale! Give us a look at how your family uses their grocery money in the comments!
Do you find it hard to prepare tasty and filling meals when you're in between pay days? Cooking hearty meals on a tight budget can be a challenge, but the truth is, it's totally possible! You can enjoy a tasty, healthy, and filling meal for less when you give these frugal meal ideas a try. Bonus: You can whip them up in no time!
1. Loaded Tomato Soup and Cheese Sandwiches
Prepare a pot of tomato soup and toss in some filling extras such as rice, cheese, or pasta. Prepare with a side of grilled cheese sandwiches and some cucumber slices.
2. Baked Italian Chicken Legs and Rice
Chicken legs are one of the cheapest cuts of chicken. Bake chicken that has been marinated with Italian dressing in the oven. Prepare with a side of rice and a small side salad if budget allows.
3. Baked Potato Bar
Prepare baked potatoes along with a buffet of toppings. Enjoy them with sour cream, chives, cheese, bacon, ham, or other tasty toppings that turn them into a meal. Side with soup if the budget allows.
4. Ham and Cheese Croissant Pockets.
Take canned croissants and stuff them with ham and cheese before rolling. Prepare as usual. The end result is a hot and tasty treat that is best when served with inexpensive soup, steamed vegetables or salad.
5. Brinner!
Brinner is when you enjoy breakfast for dinner! Eggs, pancakes, and fruit can all make for an inexpensive but hearty dinner. If budget allows, prepare some sausage links or bacon.
6. Hamburger Casserole.
Cook a pound of hamburger and drain. Add in a packet of brown gravy mix. Add in a cup of frozen corn as well as a cup of frozen peas. Pour the mixture into a baking dish, top with shredded cheese, and finish off with frozen tater tots. Bake until golden and enjoy. It's cheap and easy.
7. Meatless Taco Bar.
Create a meatless taco bar with shells, refried beans, cheese, sour cream, beans, avocado, lettuce and tomatoes. With so many fresh toppings, you won’t even miss the meat.
If you need to prepare a hearty meal on a budget, give these ideas a try! You're sure to create something tasty in no time flat.
What are your go-to frugal meal ideas for when the grocery budget is running dry?
Every Monday in 2015, I’ll be sharing a different idea to help you save money! Add all of these tips to your frugal repertoire and you’ll be able to save a lot of money this year! I hope you’ll gather a few new ideas or at least some inspiration from this series.
One way I really like to save money is by making, from scratch, items that are normally bought at the store. Some of my all-time favourite products to make are homemade cleaners. I’ve mentioned before, but I’m really into DIY projects that I can complete in an hour or less. Homemade cleaners definitely fall under that category. In fact, you could create a whole line of cleaning products that will clean your entire house in well under an hour. That my friends, is a good use of time and money for me! (Now, if only doing the actual chores was that quick…)
I’ll admit that we’re not 100% store-bought cleaner free. I still buy laundry detergent and Windex. Though often times I’ll just use water and a cloth for the windows/mirrors. As for laundry detergent, I just can’t get enough nerve to try making my own homemade laundry detergent. Maybe one day, but for now, buying those two things is what works for our family!
In the very basic sense of homemade cleaners, all you really need is vinegar, baking soda and water. Those three ingredients together and separately create the basis for your clean house. The best part? Those ingredients cost just mere pennies to use each time you create a DIY cleaner.
Over the years, I have posted quite a few Homemade Cleaner recipes on Simply Frugal that I thought I’d put together in one post for you. Here are my favorite, tried & true homemade cleaner recipes:
All-Purpose Cleaner
This all-purpose cleaner is a step up from a really basic recipe. It requires a couple of products that you may not have on hand initially but once purchased, a little goes a loooooong way.
DIY Natural Soft Scrub
This DIY natural Soft Scrub works so well! I would suggest making just a little bit at a time since it does solidify and becomes hard to get out of the jar.
DIY Super Citrus Cleaner
This Super Citrus Cleaner works really well for the soap scum we had in our bathtub! Try it out for yourself!
Sometimes I add white vinegar into the fabric softener dispenser in our washing machine. Other times I throw in one of my Homemade Dryer Sheets!
Those are the homemade cleaners that I regularly use in my home. I know that if you do a search on Pinterest you will find a ton of other homemade cleaner recipes. Try the ones that catch your eye. They may work for you or they may not! Just keep trying and eventually you’ll be saving a whole bunch of money because you stopped buying store-bought cleaners.
We all know that being organized means we stress less, feel happier and can think more clearly. But I'm a big believer of the fact that being organized can also really save you money!
Here are four smart organizing systems that I think you should implement in your life, that will in turn, save you money!
A Simple Menu Planning System
If you're wanting to eliminate the expensive Drive Thru routine, having a simple menu plan in place is key.
There's no need for an elaborate plan. Simply jot down a week's worth of meals based on what you have in the pantry/fridge/freezer in a notebook or on the calendar.
Make sure to take a look at your busy days so you can have a slow cooker meal or extra easy meal planned for those days.
Having a menu plan in place will also save you time and money at the grocery store. Say goodbye to wandering the aisles aimlessly and buying unnecessary items for a meal you "might" make.
A Coupon Organization System
If you're a coupon user, you'll definitely want to make sure you have a system in place for using your coupons effectively. Nothing is quite as disappointing as realizing you found several expired coupons for products you would have bought because you use those products regularly.
Set aside a few minutes each week to cut and sort your coupons into your chosen system. (accordion file folder, binder...etc.). Check out this post for a thorough look at some great coupon organizing systems.
A Regular Decluttering System
I find that having regular decluttering sessions helps me to save money and regain some sanity.
I usually find some long lost items that I thought I'd have to spend money on to replace.
In between my decluttering sessions, I like to have a donation box going at all times. Every time I come across an item that either annoys me or I haven't used in a long time, it goes straight into the box.
Make sure you have an effective money management system in place. That means you have a paper filing system for bills and important documents and a budget system/spreadsheet that works for you.
Missing a bill payment can easily be avoided if you have an organized system in place. If you're trying to repay debt or saving for something, a budget systemis essential to tracking your progress and gives you healthy money boundaries that will ensure your success.
Keeping up with these systems does not have to be hard. Set aside a few minutes a day or a chunk of time once a week for maintaining these systems. What's really hard, is letting your systems fall by the wayside, then having to figure out a way to regain control, which can end up costing you a lot more time and money in the long run.
Do you have any of these smart organizing systems in place in your home? How do you keep your finances and home organized?
Does it concern you that you don’t have an emergency fund? If so, it's not too late to change that! Building an emergency fund can offer you peace of mind as well as the cash you need for a rainy day. Here are 5 ideas to help you easily and efficiently build an emergency fund. Here is how to get started:
1. Set your goals.
Write down what your goal is for your emergency fund. Start low so it feels like something within reach. For example, choose an amount like $500. This would be enough to cover the cost of an appliance if one were to die on you or an unexpected bill.
2. Start with “small change.”
Start your fund by collecting your change. Every time you make a purchase and have change from the transaction, save it. If you find change around the house, store it away and save it. After 30 days, take your change and cash it in. Take the cash and add it to your emergency savings.
3. Go on a week long spending fast.
For one week, vow not to spend money. Instead, pack your lunch. Make your own coffee. Don’t buy any new clothing or entertainment items. Then, take the estimated cost of these items and put it in your fund. For example, if you spend $30 a week on lattes, take that $30 instead and place it in the fund.
4. Set aside 10 - 15% of your weekly income.
When you deposit your paycheck, take 10 - 15% off the top and put it in your emergency fund. It will be easier not to spend it if you don’t even see it in the first place. As you get comfortable with this amount, you can bump it up to 20% or more.
5. Sell what you don’t need.
Do you have a bunch of items around the home you don’t use anymore? Sell them! Ebay, Facebook Buy & Sell groups, Kijiji and Craigslist are a great way to unload unnecessary items. Take the money you make from your sales and add it to your emergency fund.
When you give these tips a try, you can quickly and easily build your emergency fund! Having an emergency fund on hand can help you feel more secure and prepared for the future as well. Give these tips a try and see what you can save. You are sure to be amazed!
What are your tried and true ways to building an emergency fund?
