Stocking
your kitchen is probably one of your biggest monthly budget items. Most people or families usually make at least
one grocery run per week. It can cost a
lot of money just to fill your freezer and pantry shelves. So who wouldn’t want a few tips on how to
lower your kitchen costs? These aren’t drastic changes, just a few simple ideas
that will lower your grocery bill. Read
on for four money-saving tips for your kitchen needs.
1.
Scope out deals. Coupon Clipping seems to be a lost art in this
day an age. In reality, you can find
huge savings on your every day groceries by using coupons. A new trend of sites
like Coupon Cravings dedicate pages to
grocery, retailer, and travel coupons, and often offer tips for raising
families on a budget. Another trick is to always bring in a coupon for any
store you’re shopping at, even if you don’t buy what’s advertised – often times
they just have one barcode for all promotions, and this can help you save tons
of money.
2.
Buy all your produce in season.
According to GetRichSlowly.org,
buying produce out of season means you’ll have to pay more. That’s likely because it’s not locally
grown. Instead it’s being shipped to
your grocery store from warmer climates.
That’s why you should get your produce in season, it will be cheaper,
and it might even taste better. It may
mean changing the way you cook based on what’s in season, but it will be worth
it with all the money you save on produce.
3.
Get a canning kit.
When you buy produce in season you can get great deals and stock up on
your favorites. But you need to make
sure you use them before they go bad, or you’ll have wasted money. That’s where a good canning kit comes
in. About.com
explains that canning your own fruits and vegetables can save you money you
would later have spent on these items in the grocery store.
4.
Use dry milk in recipes.
Dry milk is so much cheaper than fresh.
Most people can taste the difference if just drinking it straight. However, when you use it in cooking, the other
flavors will mask the flavor of the dry milk.
When eating the finished meal, you won’t even be able to tell that it’s
there. Save your fresh milk for
cereal. But use dry milk in your next
recipe to cut costs.
5.
Buy cheap cuts of meat for use in
the slow-cooker. Meat prices can be through the roof. But not all cuts of meat are expensive.
Usually you can find various cheaper cuts of meat. The problem lies in how to best cook them so
they are flavorful. Tipnut.com suggests using a
slow-cooker for these tougher cuts. Give
them enough time and they will be fork tender and delicious.
Your
kitchen can be the source of a lot of your expenses. It requires regular purchases to keep it
well-stocked. Remember these cost
cutting ideas the next time your pantry needs replenishing. The savings can really add up.
A guest post by FrugalDad.com
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