I have to admit that I'm a little freaked out by what's going on with the national economy right now. I've been thinking a lot about saving money, and how the best way to do it, at least for us, is to cook and eat at home. We do it a lot anyway, but there are ways to do it more cheaply than I usually do. Read on for my best tips, and have a great week! (I've marked affiliate/referral links with a *, which means I may make a little bit of money if you make a purchase or sign up using that link - thank you!)
SAVING MONEY BY COOKING AND EATING AT HOME
- MENU PLAN. It's my hands-down, #1 tip for saving money by cooking and eating at home. It's why I've been posting a weekly menu plan at the bottom of my weekly posts here. Here are some of my best tips for menu planning.
- Prep for some easy meals. This could be in the form of freezer meals, pantry meals, or meal prep (where you prep a week's worth of meals after doing your grocery shopping).
- Shop the sales. Stock up when your tried-and-true favorites are discounted so you're never paying full price. (For example, I like Rao's marinara, which is on sale at Costco right now so I just bought half a dozen jars. It's easily the lowest price for Rao's that I'll find.) Better yet, plan your menu around sales for perishable items. If ground beef is on sale, have beef tacos. If the sale is on chuck roast, pop a roast in the slow cooker. If you have the freezer space, buy enough for multiple meals and prep your meals before freezing. The Family Freezer has tips on freezing meals for the slow cooker.
- Keep a price book. I'm not sure how well this will work if prices keep going up, but a price book helps you keep track of how much you spend on something so you know when something is a stock up price. I've written more about price books (with a free template).
- Be realistic about your adjustments. If you hardly ever cook, then commit to cooking three times a week. If paying extra for pre-cut vegetables means you'll actually cook and eat them, then go ahead and do it. It'll still be cheaper than eating out (or even take-out).
- Plan for meals out. You don't have to cook every meal for yourself. And knowing that you can eat out can help you stick to your cooking goals.
What's your best tip?
WEEKLY MENU PLAN - April 14, 2025
Monday - Chili (although I will use ground turkey and add some ground chipotle)
Tuesday - Poke Bowls
Wednesday - Breakfast (blueberry muffins, eggs, spam)
Thursday - Chicken Alfredo Bake (making a double batch so I can freeze a pan)
Friday - Dinner out
Saturday - Crispy Gnocchi with Sausage and Broccoli
Sunday - Slow Cooker Pot Roast
(For locals: To access NYT recipes through the library, go here.)
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