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It’s an expensive time for households across the country right now. The cost of living is skyrocketing, and for many families it is a struggle to pay the bills and make ends meet. Cooking meals at home is a great way to save money, as it is a lot cheaper than eating out or buying pre-packaged meals and takeaway dinners all the time. But it can still be expensive if you’re not careful.
If you’re looking to save money on your cooking, here are five ways to do it.
Waste less
One of the biggest costs of cooking is food waste. Eliminating food waste can help you save both time and money. Start by reducing the amount of food you buy at the supermarket by making shopping lists and planning your meals in advance. This will ensure you only cook what you need and end up with less food leftover.
When you cook, take the time to think about what you can discard. If there is anything left at the end, don’t just stick it in the fridge and forget about it. It will just end up going moldy and eventually thrown in the bin. Make an effort to store fresh items properly and think about how you can use them in another meal. For example, use all of the vegetable trimmings in your soup or stock rather than throwing them away. And remember to compost all of your food waste. Composting is a great way to save on gardening costs as well as reducing carbon emissions.
Take advantage of discounts
If you’re looking for a way to save money on the weekly food shop, try signing up for a loyalty program at your grocery store. You can also find coupons online or in local newspapers. Many supermarkets also post discounted items on social media or in their weekly flyers, so be sure to check those out as well. At our local Brookshire’s they generally have items marked as buy one get one for a penny. I usually stock up on these items while they are on sale.
Another great way to benefit from discounts is to go shopping nearer the end of the day. At this time it’s common for a lot of perishable food to be reduced in price to prevent it from being thrown away. By being more scrupulous in your shopping habits you can save yourself a great deal of money in the supermarket.
Eat less meat
If you were to take a look at your average food bill, you’d notice that the greatest expense is probably going to be meat. Animal products are expensive and can really put a dent in your budget. Not to mention their catastrophic impact on the environment!
But there’s no reason you have to include them in your diet at all. By making a conscious effort to eat less meat you’ll be able to save a fortune on your food costs. There are plenty of delicious vegetarian substitutes like quorn and tofu, and you can find amazing recipes full of fresh fruit and vegetables online. This mango habanero salsa recipe is a real winner, and goes with absolutely anything!
You don’t have to eliminate meat from your diet altogether if you don’t want to. Instead, see if you can cut down your consumption to a couple of days a week or restricted to certain mealtimes. Even the slightest change can make a big difference.
Save energy
Cooking a meal from scratch uses a lot of energy, so try and be more efficient where you can. Try using more energy-efficient appliances like microwaves instead of conventional ovens and cooking on the stove instead of using a grill pan. When you are boiling water or rice or pasta, put the lid on the pan to keep the heat in and enable your food to cook faster.
The specific ingredients you choose can also make a difference. Opting for long grain rice instead of basmati or brown rice means you will spend less time cooking. You could also consider making fresh pasta from scratch, as it’s cheaper than buying it and a lot quicker to cook.
Start a garden
Growing your own fruits and vegetables is another great way to save money and cook more sustainably. You probably won’t have to buy anywhere near as much fresh produce in store, and you’ll also be helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from food production and packaging. If you have a big harvest, you can also stock up on canning fruits and vegetables and enjoy healthy food all year round. It’s also fun to spend time in the garden!
If you follow these tips, it won’t be long before you start to notice a considerable reduction in your monthly food bill. Stick with it and you’ll soon discover many more ways to cut down on your cooking expenses… like mealplanning!
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