Topic of the Week: Kitchen Money Savers

[Gingerbug]

I thought we got so many great ideas in the Simplify the Kitchen thread and the Menu thread creativemom started that maybe we should try having a different topic each week related to the kitchen in some manner With the economy in a downward spiral I thought maybe tips for saving money in the kitchen might be timely. So let's us this thread for little tips about ways to save money.

 

[wadeallie]

When I was growing up, my Mother always had what we referred to as "THE SOUP KETTLE", in the freezer. It was a large square plastic container, and after supper when there'd be 1/4 cup of veggies left from supper or 2 tomato slices left after lunch, we'd put them into this container. After the container was filled with veggies, Mom would make a hearty soup. With the different veggies collected it was never a boring soup as it had lots of color. Sometimes she'd make it with hamburger and sometimes with chicken.

 

[wadeallie]

Today when we treat ourselves to a rotisserie chicken I hate to waste anything so I pop the remainder of the carcass into the crock pot overnight for a full flavored broth and pick any remaining meat off too. If it's summer, I freeze the broth for later in the season or for rainy evenings. I use large mayo containers I acquired from the local senior citizen home or the elementary school. They have screw tops and easily hold one crock pot full of broth.

 

[Ahorsesoul]

I serve one 'meatless' meal a week. It could be pancakes, salad or spaghetti but always meatless just to save money.

 

[Cathymac]

I buy store brands of almost everything, from milk to pain relievers. I buy a few name brand things, just because I think the taste is worth the extra money-for instance, Hidden Valley Ranch salad dressing, Hunt's ketchup, Folger's coffee and real Pop Tarts. Almost everything else is store brand. I use store brand paper towels, napkins and zipping bags, along with a host of other things. We rarely can tell the difference!

 

[momof4]

Stocking up has helped cut costs. I kept a pseudo-price book for a while to keep track of good sale prices of items I buy regularly. Now I know how much I'm willing to spend on most items and when I see it at that sale price, I stock up. I will easily buy a dozen bottles of ketchup or 2 dozen cans of beans at the right price because I know we will use it. Fortunately I have the storage space for it in the basement.

 

[teachermomof2]

Our son eats a packed lunch for school everyday. To save money I buy a large bag of chips and split it into baggies instead of single size packs. I try to bake my own "dessert" for him to pack too. Our splurge is small containers of fruit for him, but I buy those on sale, at Sam's club or with a coupon.

Lisa

 

[wadeallie]

I pack my son a brown bag lunch every school day and he takes leftovers or special things I make, and he is the envy of his classmates. He takes hamburgers that I pre-grill and after he microwaves the burger, he adds the tomato slice and lettuce I pack. The school provides the ketchup and mustard.
I make him wraps using grilled chicken tenders, or my own cheese filled pizza "rolls". I use frozen bread dough, thawed and rolled out to a small rectangle, pizza sauce spooned on, and the dough is wrapped around a piece of string cheese. I brush egg wash on the outside and prebake. At school, DS just pops it into microwave to heat it up and I include a small cup of pizza sauce for dipping. I can make about a dozen in one session and I freeze them on occasion.

 

[momof4]

When I have leftover coffee in the pot, I pour it in ice cube trays and freeze, then transfer to a plastic bag. I throw one or two in a vanilla milkshake, a cup of hot cocoa, or blend with a little kaluha and cream - yummy!

I do the same with a little bit of wine that might be left in the bottle (doesn't happen very often :haha: ). I then use these cubes in sauces.

 

[MinnieCo]

I seperate all of our largr bag or box items into snack size bags. We dont buy any of those 100 calorie packs or snack packs for lunches. I just take the time to put them in snack size ziplocks myself. Helps not only with money, but portion control a well.

Also buying spices for a $1.00 can help a done when the kind you need are available at wal-mart or the dollar store.

Unless your a collector of books themselves, buying recipe books for variety just isn't needed any more either with the internet. Women would spend a ton of money on cook books and now you can find anything at your fingertips. HOWEVER, there's nothing wrong with a few of the classics, we just don't need bookshelves of them any longer.

I love the wine and coffee in ice cube trays. I do it for juice already to use in recipe, why not those..hmmm???

 

[starflake]

The most wonderful money-saver for me is I pack a bento lunch every day. It's a perfect way for me to use up leftovers, even when there is only a tiny bit of food left. When done in health consciousness, it's a great way to control portion size (not wasting food) and eat tons of fresh produce every day (fruits/veggies never go bad now), too. I have reusable mini chopsticks (got from a local asian market for pennies; you can use regular utensils or buy mini flat ones, too), sauce/dressing containers, and food skewers to use with my bento, so it saves on sandwich baggies and the like (not to mention that the bento itself is reusable).

I consider monetary, health, and environmental impacts in my "costs" but here are some other savings-doublers:

• Eat few to no animal products (get nutrition sources that cost less, & soy and rice milk, etc last far longer)[/*:m:952a6]
• Buy certain things like grains in bulk when the unit price is on sale and better than the individual components[/*:m:952a6]
• Use store brand or on-sale items (whichever is less expensive and still healthy/enviro-friendly)[/*:m:952a6]
• Farmers market (great way to save despite gas prices; and saves on health/enviro costs, of course)[/*:m:952a6]
• Keep water filter/pitcher & reusable bottles for on-the-go[/*:m:952a6]
• Food is, above all, for your body's fuel... You only get one body. All things in moderation. Eat to live, don't live to eat.[/*:m:952a6]
• Avoid junk food, soda, etc. (total impact = not worth your time. see above. yadda yadda)[/*:m:952a6]
• Treats saved for special occasions (pumpkin pie, cupcakes, pricey casseroles, etc. The wait makes them extra special, too).[/*:m:952a6]
• Split cooking/baking supplies into several batches (in freezer, pantry, etc) so there's extra for another time or two.[/*:m:952a6]
• Add fruits/veggies entrée so can cut down on bulky main course or save leftovers.[/*:m:952a6]
• Menu plan so leftovers can fit in with a meal later in the week (like my bento).[/*:m:952a6]
• When eating out or on holidays, again, don't forget moderation. Eat wisely and remember leftovers.[/*:m:952a6]

 

[angiejo]

You all have had some great ideas! There are several I will use. I feel bad and wasteful since I really don't have anything to add. I don't cook often, but need to and need to save money. thanks!!!

 

[Bren]

We use a lot of the ideas already listed.

We do not eat out very often. We know many families that eat out several times a week at sit down restaurants. We go to a restaurant for special occassions and maybe two or three times a month....tops. Usually that is just DS4 and myself because we are out shopping & it's time for lunch (and we just grab something cheap!). My DS LOVES to eat a picnic in our van. I will brown bag lunch & we will eat in whatever parking lot when we get hungry. I have a van that lets you fold down the third row seat. We lay down an old quilt & have lots of room. Honestly, he loves having a "van picnic" more than going to McD's. Naturally we are limited if it is very cold or hot. Most people I know do not add in dining out into their kitchen costs, but if it is food you are buying to consume for the week, maybe it should be added :flower: .

Bren :-D