subject: Cooking Your Way To Savings [print this page] Have you been eating your money? Many people don't realize it, but they are spending lots and lots of their money on food every month, most of which they could save if they engage their secret weapon: their kitchen! Here's how to get the most out of your food dollars.
It seems kind of silly at first, but food really is one of the largest and most important parts of many people's budgets. Try this out: get a sheet of paper out and write down every time you eat out for a whole week. Every cup of coffee, take-out dinner, cookie, and bag of chips must be written down along with their prices. You will be shocked at how much you are spending!
No, you don't have to cut out all your favorite meals and snacks to make ends meet. Instead, you need to become wise with your shopping and your spending.
Remember that list? Well, take note of everything you keep buying and pick it up next time you go grocery shopping. Buying a big bag of chips and tossing a handful into a baggie before going to work could save you up to $12 a month by itself. Yes, this means planning ahead, but if you have what you want already you won't spend money on it.
Try visiting recipe sites to see what goes into your favorite snacks and premade meals. For example, if you like iced coffee, a cooking website will tell you that it is made of strong coffee with maybe some added milk and sugar. You can simply make this yourself, then pour the coffee into bottles and pop the bottles into your refrigerator. All you need to do from there is grab your coffee and go! Each bottle you make can save you up to three dollars.
Get to know what is really in the foods you enjoy. Hunting down recipes online is a great way to get started. Once you know what you need, put those things on your grocery list and make it yourself. Many foods bought from stores can be made with little effort for much less than you buy them for and keep well in your refrigerator or freezer.
Another sink that many people don't think of is pre-prepared convenience food. It is so easy to grab a premade lunch or bag of cooked chicken and reheat it that many people just get lazy and end up wasting money on it. Many convenience foods can be made at home for fractions of the cost: all you have to do is find a recipe you like and make it yourself in a big batch. From there, simply bottle or bag your food and store it in your fridge or freezer for later.
With a little creativity, patience and planning, you can save lots of money while still enjoying your favorite foods and drinks on the go. Just stick to your shopping list, plan ahead, and keep foods and drinks you enjoy on you and you will never buy expensive premade foods again.
