Suburban Homesteading – Frugal Living

Grab a drink and a chair, folks.  This is gonna be a long one.

In the world today, monthly payments on a vehicle (or two) are at the top of the list of family expenses.  Second to that is the cost of groceries.   Whenever I get together with friends or family or for a potluck somehow the conversation always circles around to the cost of food and “how can I save on groceries?!”  It’s a darn good question too because unlike other budget items we can cut back on or eliminate (think clothing, take-out, fancy coffees or cable), food is a necessity.   Although it is true that food IS a necessity, it is also true that expensive food is NOT.  I fashion my menus and my shopping around my favorite Paul Fussell saying:  “I can feed better at home”.

Over the years I have updated, changed and turned on its head the ways in which I save on groceries, prepare meals and basically treat the subject of food.  I’m going to outline the most complete, scrumptious rundown of our frugal pantry, food and meals that I can manage.  You’ll find many more posts in my “In the Kitchen” & “Frugal Living” sections of the blog and I encourage you to peruse those posts and the recipes, because it will show just how well we eat without spending a fortune on food.  I also encourage you to look through the recipes because I won’t be posting any here, as this post is more about how I save money on food.

With that said…here we go.

First and foremost, when talking about food and food budgeting you have to do two things right away in order to have any success.

• Jettison the Excuses.
• Identify your Boundaries.

Excuses:   You know what I’m talking about, I know you do.   That little voice in your head rationalizing why you NEED eight different flavors of coffee creamer or why you have to keep an array of “treats” in the house because if you don’t there will be mutiny.   If you want to get a handle on your food budget, doing away with the excuses is a must or you won’t be successful.  Instead of lamenting what you think will be lost, start building a mindset of gratitude and anticipation over really looking at how you can eat better and spend less. Remember:  frugality IS NOT deprivation.

Some of the excuses I hear when I talk about frugal eating:

• You don’t know what it’s like shopping and cooking for a large family! (Oh yes I do!  I come from a family of 5).
• I’m a one person house and it’s hard to cook for one person! (News flash…I’m single too!)
• I eat vegetarian (or vegan) and those foods are really expensive!
• I can’t go a meal without meat, and meat is expensive!
• All the recipes are complicated and I hate to cook!
• I love trying new recipes so I’m always buying special ingredients! (Yay, I get this one, trust me.  I’m a foodie, too)

No joke…these are common excuses I hear ALL.  THE.  TIME.  While the differences might be funny it also shows just how hard people hold onto their beliefs rather than be willing to change their thinking, like it is possible to be frugal and eat well at the same time.  In a word…YES!

I do realize that every person’s situation is different and that my household of two (now one) is not the same as, say, my mom’s situation of raising three kids, or my friends who have 5 to 7 kids.  Obviously, I spend less on groceries than a larger family, but let’s not use comparison as an excuse.  Try to glean information that can be useful to you, finding ways to reduce the amount of money you spend on food.  So, identify your boundaries and preferences for food (mine are: lots of fresh, whole foods, vegetables and fruits) and embrace them, leaving the excuses on the sidelines.

As with other aspects of your life, make food choices that matter to you, but remember…not everything can be a priority.  Remember also, the general category of “food” is not a viable priority.  Be specific about what you value and write it down.

Where to Shop

Where you shop will have a big impact on your food costs.  Constantly shopping at the same store because it’s “on the way home” or “it’s where I’ve always shopped” could be biting into your food budget if you don’t know for sure that you’re getting the best prices.  Comparing prices from store to store will let you know which has the lowest prices.  One caveat here:  I’m not advocating that you run all over the county to buy a few lesser priced items miles from home.  That’s not frugal!  What I am advocating is doing your due diligence.  If you need to stock up on rice or peanut butter you won’t know which store is cheaper unless you compare prices!

Here’s what I did:  early in my frugal path, I made a list of the most commonly used foods in my kitchen and priced them out at the stores in my area—a restaurant supply store that is open to the public, a big box store where I buy my gas, the chain stores and an ethnic market.

Once you have this information you can shop at the store that has the lowest prices on most of the items you need, or you can shop at several stores if they are not out of the way.  I primarily shop at one store because their prices on produce is consistently lower than any other store, but I usually don’t buy staples, frozen or bakery items there because I can get better prices at the chain stores.  Weekly grocery store circulars can be a big help here, if you get them.

(I can remember combing through those circulars with my mom as she planned the weekly menus based on what was on sale that week.  I bet you have a similar story.)

It may sound time consuming to shop at multiple stores, but if you go armed with your list and stick to only the items you need rather than roaming all over the store it’s not that bad.  I’ve created a routine over the years where I do my grocery shopping and errands on Saturday morning.  The tricky part is mapping out my journey so perishable items are not sitting in the car for too long.  Fortunately, all the stores I shop at are within a few miles of the gas station where I fill up my tank every Saturday morning.  Although I’m not a big on-line shopper for regularly purchased foods, I do compare on-line prices when buying bulk non-perishable items like seasonings, grains and nuts.

Let’s Talk Ethnic Markets

I’m letting the cat outta the bag here.  The store I shop at most often is actually an ethnic market that caters to the Hispanic and Indian populations in our area.  Why? You may ask.  Because they have a great produce section where I can buy reasonably sized produce, not huge specimens, and they consistently have the lowest prices than any other store in my area.  I routinely buy items to fill in when the garden is young, or the crop is low.  Imagine buying carrots or onions for 25-cents a pound, or potatoes for 50-cents a pound.  They also have rocking specials on meat.  Several times a year they have chicken quarters for 39-cents a pound, with a 20-pound maximum.  Where else can you buy 20-pounds of chicken for $7.80?  If you do know of another source I’m all ears!

Be Cautious with Coupons

I’ve had a serious love hate relationship with coupons over the years.  On the one hand they are great if the coupon is for something you would buy anyway, but more times than not they entice consumers into buying something they hadn’t planned on, or may not even eat, which puts a dent in your food budget and wastes food.  My advice…if you don’t have the control to say NO to a seemingly great deal, don’t use them!

Even though I have used coupons over the years, with great savings, I have to watch myself to make sure I’m not falling victim to the marketing ploy.  You’re not saving money if you’re buying something you don’t need!  Secondly, and more importantly, coupons are usually for brand name, pre-packed or pre-made foods that are much more expensive than their homemade counterparts.  My philosophy has always been to shop the outer isles, which is where the “whole foods” are.

When & How to Shop

Old habits die hard, I get that.  But, when you shop and how you shop will have a positive or negative impact on your overall food budget and your ability to save on food expenses.

Don’t shop when you’re rushed for time.  As a busy single mom I completely understand the luxury of “extra time”, it doesn’t seem to exist, but do the best you can.  Shopping when you are rushed lessens the time you take to really think about what you’re purchasing and what you’re spending on certain items.  Calculating costs seems to also go out the window when you’re rushed.  You tend to just grab and go, not putting much thought into what goes into the shopping cart.  To get a handle on your food expenses you have to slow down and shop with purpose.  Shop in the evening without the kids or shop when the kids are busy with afterschool activities.  Be creative and find what works in your situation.  When Brianne was at home I would shop on the days she was with her dad.  Now that she’s out of the house, Saturday morning seems to work best.  I don’t shop during the week because I hate running errands after a long day at the office.

It wasn’t always a burden shopping with Brianne.  If I did have her along, we would play divide and conquer.  I would give her a few specific items with a particular price point to pick out on her own.  Example:  variety of apples or type of cheese…her choice.  This gets older kids into the habit of looking at what they buy, what the price is, and if there is a cheaper option.

Always shop with a list and stick to it!  Make your list at home before stepping foot inside the grocery store.  If you’ve taken the time to look over the fridge and pantry you’ll know what you need and what you don’t, so you’re not buying something you already have, while leaving out something you actually need.  This is a great time to ask if there are any specific requests other people in the house might have.

Don’t shop hungry!  This is not revolutionary, I know.  But, it really does make a difference to your food budget bottom line because a rumbling tummy can be a huge distraction as you pay more attention to what you can grab and eat in the store rather than the best price on cuts of meat.  The best time to shop is after you’ve eaten (hence my Saturday morning shopping routine).  If that isn’t possible, at least take along a snack and nibble in the car on your way.  That way those easy open, filling, processed food items won’t be calling your name.

What to Buy

This area will be based a lot on food preferences, dietary considerations, medication restrictions and priorities.  In essence, every person’s choices will be different.

There is a general guideline that I adhere to that should work for your particular situation:  shop the outer isles.  The perimeter of a grocery store is where you will find the majority of whole, fresh, raw, unprocessed foods.  Think about that for a moment.  The produce section, meat department, dairy and egg case are all on the perimeter of the store. There are some exceptions of course, the bulk bin section, if your store has one, oatmeal, baking goods, like flour, sugar and salt, etc. are on the inner isles, but for the most part what’s on the inside isles are mostly expensive processed foods.  If you stick to the outer isles you’ll have less expensive, wholesome foods in your cart.

I’m also a huge advocate of bulk shopping, something I’ve done my entire adult life.  With a farm to manage, livestock to tend, a child in school and everything life can throw at you it just makes sense to have a well-stocked pantry.  I also live by my own motto of: “last one, buy one”, which basically means that when I open the last container of something, whether it be a condiment or oatmeal, I put that item on my shopping list.  Buying in bulk also enables me to take advantage of sales and stock up on items I use regularly at a lower price.

Disclaimer:  for the most part, my well-stocked pantry means I have multiples of many items.  I don’t just buy a one-pound bag of split peas or beans for soup; I buy 5 or 10-pounds in bulk and repackage to fit my needs.   I also check the Manager’s Specials in the meat section to see what is at a super discount.  I routinely find tri-tip, top sirloin, short ribs, and pork roasts for just a few dollars, which can be frozen for later use.

What I mean by whole foods:

• Whole foods are the raw unprocessed ingredients needed to make a particular dish rather than buying its pre-made equivalent.
• Rather than buying a jar of salsa, buy the ingredients to make your own: tomatoes, onions, chilies, olive oil, and cilantro.
• Rather than buying pre-cut packages of fruits and vegetables, cut your own.  Did you know that dipping cut fruit, like apples or peaches, into a bowl of water with the juice of half a lemon will help keep the fruit from turning brown?  And, that root veggies like carrots, beets and parsnips last a long time in the fridge?
• Rather than buying expensive sweet breads like pumpkin or banana, buy all the ingredients and make your own.  Or, better yet, work towards having the ingredients on hand so you can make it anytime.

By looking through your pantry, fridge and freezer you can see what pre-packaged foods you buy, and plan to make them from scratch, saving you a ton of money.

What I mean by not buying processed foods:

Simply put, these are any foods that are NOT in the raw ingredients.  Think pre-formed sausage or hamburger patties, or canned soups.  Buying the pork shoulder and seasonings, and making your own homemade sausage is much cheaper.  Cooking down a chicken carcass and adding veggies, herbs and rice will produce a big pot of soup for multiple meals.  Making your own meals is healthier as well because home-cooked meals are not full of preservatives and sodium.

Buying whole ingredients in bulk and steering clear or processed foods is the cornerstone of frugal healthy eating.

Dine-In Rather than Din-Out

I struggle with this one, too.  Eating out or getting take-out is a hard one for most people to overcome, because they enjoy the socializing aspect, the convenience of not having to cook after a long day, or they have a few gourmet dishes that they think are too hard to make at home.  I’m not suggesting you do away with eating out altogether, although that is the direction I’m heading with this.  Let’s be honest…portions are WAY too large, the calorie, sodium and fat content is more than is good for us, eating out is expensive and more times than not it’s very fattening.  What I am suggesting is that you realize that with a bit of planning and a well-stocked pantry you can prepare most, if not all, of your favorite foods at home for less than you’d spend at a restaurant.

Here are a few ideas to consider:

• My sister has a group of friends that meet monthly for a simple meal, usually soup & salad; chili & cornbread; pasta, salad & garlic bread. Sometimes they do a potluck where each person brings a different course and the host makes the entrée.  The point is that socializing doesn’t have to be at a 5-star restaurant, or even a 3- or 4-star for that matter.  What’s important is that good friends are getting together in love and friendship.
• I have a group of ladies that meet during the warm summer months for water aerobics and potluck. It’s the same house each week, because she has the pool and she loves to host.  We each bring a favorite finger food to share.  Sometimes we have theme nights like Mexican, Asian, Picnic, etc.  Have fun with it, be creative!  Don’t have a pool?  How about lawn bowling or croquet?
• When I find a new recipe to try and it makes much more than I can eat or want to freeze I hold a Guinea pig party. Anyone willing to try a new, unknown dish is welcome to come.  I haven’t poisoned anyone yet, just in case you’re wondering.
• When we decided to start eating out less (not that we ate out a lot to begin with) we made a list of all our favorite dishes and began searching for copycat recipes on the internet. I’m sure you’re already aware of the plethora of food blogs with great recipes that can be found.  Think “The Julie and Julia Project”.  It was during one of these “new recipe” events that I taught Brianne how to make Julia Childs’ famous Beef Bourguignon.  Yes, it was an all-day affair, but it was a great mother/daughter time as well.  Amazing things happen when you cook with your kids…no matter what age they are.

These are just a few ways to ease into not eating out.  I’m sure you can think of more.  If eating out is an absolute necessity, but you still don’t want to bust your budget, consider reducing it to once a month, share a meal, forego the beverages, and factor the expense into your budget.  This way eating out becomes more special than routine.  Plus you can consider a more gourmet restaurant rather than the run of the mill coffee shop.

Meals at the Ready — ( Freezer Meals)

Life is unpredictable, I know.  Traffic, meetings, sports events, school events, lambing season, calving season, show season, frost season, you name it, any number of events can make you late getting home with no time to cook, so you grab the phone and call the pizza delivery guy.  Do you have him on speed dial?  ‘Cause we’re gonna break you of that right now.

Any frugal household (including mine) will tell you the two saving graces of life are:

• A slow cooker, and
• Freezer meals

I seriously think a slow cooker should be gifted to every single parent.  Here’s why:

Imagine you’ve just had the worst day of your working life.  After sitting in traffic you arrive at your child’s school only to find out that volleyball practice has been extended for another hour.  The fact that you are 30-minutes from home doesn’t help either.  When you finally get home, animals want to be fed, the dogs are going crazy, the kid smells from hours of sweating, and just when you want to fall down here comes the all too common question…”what’s for dinner, mom”?  Sound familiar?  In your previous, not so frugal life you would have pushed that speed dial button for the pizza delivery guy, but not anymore because you have joined the ranks of frugal food weirdoes.

In all of these situations I didn’t have to get take-out because I either had the slow-cooker bubbling away on the counter or I had meals already prepared and waiting in the freezer.

At any given time (or season) I have soups, chili esand stews in the freezer.  No matter what the situation is that brings us home late or the disaster  that strikes, like a broken water line or a lamb jumping over the fence and slitting his side open on a t-post (true stories , both), we can still sit down to a warm hearty meal at the end of a long, stressful day.

Anytime I’m making a batch of soup, chili or stew, I always make an extra batch to freeze.  I portion it out into 24-ounce square freezer containers (I’m not a huge fan of Ziploc bags.  Why buy something so you can throw it away?).  This is just enough for two portions, with a bit left over for lunch the next day.  They also stack nicely in the freezer.

I know from personal experience that with as much as I enjoy cooking, even “I” don’t want to cook every night.  Having a stock of freezer meals means I can eat well without busting my budget.  Nothing can derail a budget faster than getting caught having to buy take-out.

I also want to say, “be kind to yourself”, especially during the week.  With everything that goes on in a week, why add to the stress by thinking you need to create a 7-course meal every single night.  Save those impulses for times when life runs smoothly.  For every other time, have a nice selection of meals to fall back on.

If you think we eat like the Food Network every single night I can assure you nothing could be farther from the truth.  We eat simple meals made with simple whole ingredients.  Think baked chicken, rice & salad; pork chops, smashed yams & green beans; or pasta, salad & garlic bread.  There are several casserole dishes (and salads in the warmer months) that rotate in and out of our menu selection, too.  As surprising as it may seem we pretty much eat the same rotation of foods from week-to-week, with an occasional new dish thrown in when we have the time.  Even though I love to cook as much as I love to eat, I have better uses for my time and my money.

After years of preparing meals like this I also don’t do a lot of hardcore meal planning.  I have in my head what I can whip up with what’s in the pantry.  Depending on what I make, one meal may be eaten over several days as leftovers.  We love leftovers!  You may want to plan meals if you’re new to creating a stash of frozen meals.

Some of our favorite meals:

Chopped Salad – This has everything in it but the kitchen sink.  The lettuce mix is just the canvas for chopped up meats, cheeses and a whole lot of veggies.  Great way to clean out the fridge, too.

Orange Chicken Rice Bowls – This is great for leftover chicken, or cook a batch specifically for this dish.  The rice has carrots, peas and broccoli in it.  Once it is all mixed together the quantity expands exponentially, which makes it perfect for leftovers.

Green Veggie Sauté – I whip up a big batch of onions, mushrooms, spinach, green beans and asparagus into an Asian style sauté, which lasts for days.

Breakfast for Dinner – You always have plenty of eggs when you have layers, so why not turn mealtime on its head and have a frittata, scramble or just eggs and toast.  Frittata’s and scrambles are a great way to use up a variety of leftover veggies.

Pasta Fagioli – This is a favorite, especially in cold weather.  It’s hearty, packed with protein and perfect for freezing.  There’s no way to make a small batch of this, just saying.

White Chicken Chili – Another favorite.

Anti-Pasta Platter – Perfect for those hot days when no one feels like heating up the kitchen.  We lay out a combination of sliced meat (whatever we have), cheese, olives and whatever else we have.  It’s usually paired with a seasoned olive oil, for dipping, rustic crusty bread and a simple salad.

Bruschetta – Another hot weather favorite.  Grilled rustic bread loaded up with chopped tomatoes, basil and seasonings, paired with a Caesar salad.

Batches of soups, stews and chili are a great way to “clean out” the freezer.  None of us are perfect and even I have had those packages of frozen meats or veggies hidden in the dark recesses of my freezer.  After doing a thorough cleaning and super batch cooking marathon, I try (operative word…try) to maintain a strict “first in, first out” rotation of frozen foods.

Use Meat Sparingly

I have to say up front that I am a total carnivore.  There’s nothing I like better than to cook (or grill) a good piece of meat!  But, as we all know, meat can be an expensive part of your everyday meal.  To combat the bloat of your food budget, use meat sparingly; giving it a supporting role rather than a starring role.  If I make a roasted whole chicken one night, I’ll shred some and use it in lettuce tacos, or make a chicken stew.  After I think I’ve pulled off all the meat, I throw the entire carcass into a pot to make a base for chicken soup.  You’d be surprised at how much meat is still left when you think you’ve gotten it all.  Left over beef can be chopped up and used to make Beef and Barley soup; a completely hearty and feel good meal.  This way I’m extending the protein into multiple meals, saving time and money.

If I’m not raising a protein myself I’ll buy from a local producer.  Traditionally, I‘ll buy a left over fair lamb from a 4-H or FFA member.  Not only am I helping to support a young livestock producer, but I get a great product at a fair price.  I have the lamb processed into steaks and stew meat, rather than whole cuts because they are more useful for my type of cooking.  Meat also freezes well, so I also stock up on certain cuts when they are on sale (usually pork because I don’t raise hogs).

I also don’t eat meat at every meal.  A few times a week I go meatless, but that doesn’t mean I’m scrimping on taste or protein.  I just get my protein from other foods.  My lunches are also primarily meatless.  I’m a big salad fan (who wouldn’t be living in Cali), as well.  Egg salad and crackers, hummus with pita bread and veggies, or whatever is hanging out in the fridge that needs to be eaten are all good lunch alternatives.

Going without meat a few times a week doesn’t mean you have to forego flavor or being full, but it does mean you’ll lower your grocery bill.

Have a Well-Stocked Pantry

Any meal is possible if you have all the ingredients you need without running to the store.  This is where your list of most commonly eaten foods comes in handy.  Once you know what you eat on a regular basis you can decide how you’d like to stock your pantry.  This is important if you live far from town, have harsh winter weather or get stuck at home for some other reason.  The point is…can you whip up a meal day-after-day, even a simple soup or stew, with just the contents of your pantry?

Having a variety of raw ingredients on hand also means you’ll go to the store less frequently and when you do go, your trips will be shorter.  Sometimes I only go to the store once or twice a month because I have everything I need right at home.

My Basic Pantry Staples:

Rice – (white, brown, Arborio, jasmine) (kept in the freezer for long-term storage)

Beans – (white northern, kidney, Lima, butter, garbanzo)

Split peas

Steel cut oats

Pasta – (various kinds and shapes)

Oil – (olive and vegetable)

Butter – (salted & unsalted)

Vinegar – (various types)

Herbs & Spices (a whole lot of variety)

Potatoes & Yams

Carrots, onions & celery – (the three basics for almost every dish known to man)

Garlic – (fresh and dried)

Butters – (peanut, pumpkin and apple)

Condiments, olives & pickles

Flour, sugar, salt and other baking ingredients

Nuts, raisins & dried fruit

These are the foods I buy in bulk, because the per ounce price is cheaper.  I replenish as my stock becomes low.  They are also foods that are shelf-stable and will last for several weeks (or months) in proper storage conditions.

Stocking a pantry in one fell swoop can be an expensive proposition.  You may enjoy about how to build up your pantry over time, here.

Snack Time

This is an area that can really wreak havoc on the grocery bill if you are not properly prepared.  And, don’t think your will of iron will keep you from rushing to the first fast-food place or mini-mart you find when the hunger pangs begin.  We’ve all been there.  I won’t pretend we haven’t.

So…what is my plan for snacks?  In short…to have them with me all the time!  I take them to work, when I shop, go for a hike, run errands…you get the picture.  This is especially important when you have little ones.  Here are a few of our favorites:

Homemade trail mix; at least our version.  Almonds, peanuts, dried cranberries, dried blueberries & chocolate chips.  Hey!  I’m frugal, not into deprivation.

Dried fruit – mangos, cranberries, blueberries, apples, apricots and of course, natures candy…banana chips.

Deviled eggs – back to the laying hens.  I make these by the dozen, which really means 24 halves.  They are filling, super tasty and packed with protein.

Edamame – boiled and salted and ready to pop into your mouth.  They are great cold, too.

Popcorn – not a week goes by that we don’t have popcorn.  I buy it in bulk from Win-Co.

Are Drinks Damaging Your Food Budget?

Along with prepackaged foods, drinks can put a serious dent in your food budget.  To help combat this expense only buy them for special occasions.  When Brianne was in grade school everyone thought she wasn’t allowed to drink sodas, but that was not the case.  She was allowed to have them at picnics, beach parties, sleepovers and the like, if she wanted them, but they were not part of my weekly shopping list.   As a result, she never acquired a taste for them and now she rarely drinks them.  Side note:  can I just say how crazy it makes me to see a toddler downing a full sized soda.

What we regularly drink:

H2O – yep…right outta the tap.  It’s cheap, good for you and we don’t waste plastic bottles.  Some people think it gets boring, but you can spice it up by making “spa water”.  Toss some sliced fruit, ginger or cucumbers into a jug of water to give it a light refreshing flavor.

Tea – Hot or cold.  I will just confess up front that I’m a tea freak.  I like all kinds of tea, black, green, fruited, spiced, you name it. But, my go-to is iced tea.  I usually make a small batch in the evening that fills my 24-ounce reusable bottle.  When I’ve finished that, usually by lunch time, its water for the rest of the day.  Like many coffee drinkers I know I can’t give it up, so rather than depriving myself, I just limit how much I drink.  I look for sales on tea bags and stock up when the price is good.

Spirits – I’m not much of a hard liquor person.  In fact, I cook with liquors more often than I drink them, but I do have a nip now and again.  The airplane sized bottles are perfect.

Wine – It’s hard to live in California and NOT be a wine connoisseur.  When I do buy wine I stick with Trader Joe’s and Cost Plus, and keep the price less to than $10 a bottle.

Frugality isn’t about depriving yourself.  It’s about finding less expensive alternatives, which is the mainstay of living a frugal life.  So buy what you love, just frugalize it!

Waste Not; Want Not

That pretty much sums it up.  DON’T WASTE FOOD.

Did you know that 40% of all food produced in the US ends up in a landfill?  Think about that for a moment.  If you spend $100 a week on groceries, would you be okay with throwing away $40 every time you shopped?  I bet not.  What’s more astonishing is that if you are okay with the waste, you’d be throwing away over $2,000 a year!  That’s not chump change!

Here are the most common reasons for food waste:

Buying more food than your family can eat.  When you make a list and stick to it you end up only buying those items that you need and will use.  Regularly cleaning out your pantry and freezer will help use up foods, reduce the amount of food you buy and help you to determine what you r family really eats each week.

Getting Sucked in by Sales on Items You Don’t Like.  Everyone loves a sale.  I get that.  Even I’ve done this on occasion.  But, the purchase is no bargain if you end up with foods your family doesn’t like and won’t eat, not matter how much you extol its attributes.  Stick to what you know is healthy and what your family likes and will eat.

Choosing Take-Out Rather than Dine-In.  Ordering take-out rather than eating food you already own occurs because of a lack of planning.  Having a list of easy meals, that you can make in bulk, or using a slow cooker, will go a long way to reducing your food waste and thereby money waste.  If done right, you could have a wholesome, homemade meal every night of the week for a fraction of the cost of a take-out dinner.

Waiting too Long to Eat Leftovers.  To avoid food waste and the following waste of money, you MUST eat any leftovers.  Not doing so is not an option.  If this is not possible, then freeze the leftovers and eat them at another time.  Conversely, if you have veggies that are not quite good enough for fresh eating, freeze them to be used later in soups, stews, casseroles or chili.  Even the smallest portion of veggies can be added to any of these dishes.  If your family doesn’t like leftovers, start cooking just enough for that one meal.

I realize that food waste isn’t entirely avoidable.  There will always be some unusable bits.  But there’s no excuse for trashing an entire pot of soup just because you got bored eating it, or you didn’t want the same thing twice in a week.  I’m not hardcore on a lot of things, but having been in the food banking world for years has made me keenly aware of the waste.  Tossing food is not only a waste of your money; it is also a waste of the time and resources spent to produce the food.  I always encourage people to have a good way to store leftovers.  I use reusable lidded freezer containers rather than Ziploc bags because you buy them once and use them for years, or in my case, decades.  If you have chickens, they will devour veggie bits and pieces, spent lettuce and even crushed eggshells.  If not, get a compost bucket and build your own soil!

Work Day Breakfast

I’m not known for being a morning person.  Odd for a homesteader, I know.  But I’m not.  The last thing I want to do after jumping out of bed in the morning is fill my stomach with food.  But that doesn’t mean I don’t eat breakfast.  It just means I wait until later in the morning.  The challenge with this is I’m usually already at work.  My remedy: take my breakfast to work.  My favorite breakfast is good ole fashioned oatmeal.  Loaded with pecans and dried cranberries, and microwaved with a splash of milk and you’ve set yourself up for the entire morning.  The added bonus is it costs pennies per serving and keeps you from running by a coffeehouse for a $4 coffee and a $3 pastry.  Better for you too.

Hitting the Open Road?  Take your Food!

Whether you’re going on a long trip or a short hop, never leave home without food and drink.  Seriously, don’t do it.  There’s nothing that will eat into your budget faster than constantly stopping to feed someone.  Whenever I leave the house I always have a water bottle, a container of snacks and of course, a tumbler of iced tea.  No matter what.

We got pretty good at this road trip food thing after years of weekend livestock shows and volleyball tournaments.  We’d pack egg salad sandwiches for the drive, along with our trail mix (almonds, peanuts, dried cranberries and chocolate ships), homemade banana bread and plenty of cold drinks, because rule #1 on the road…”feed the driver”!  No kidding.

Samples of our packed foods:

Pack a lunch for work or school.  Pack it every day.  To make this easier, pack the night before so that you don’t get caught rushing and forget.  I do this while I’m making my iced tea.  Our favorite lunches are egg salad, either on bread or with crackers, salads, soups and leftover whatever.  Occasionally I’ll take homemade pate, cheese and rustic bread.

The workplace stash.  This is similar to the road trip foods, but for your desk.  Simple foods like trail mix, dried fruit, granola bars, even peanut butter and crackers can help fend off hunger pangs and keep you from heading towards the vending machines for a pick-me-up.  If you’re lucky enough to have a fridge in your office, like I am, you have a lot more options.  A container of cut fruit or cubes of cheese are a great energizer in the afternoon.

You can do this, I know you can!  And, after you get into the swing of things spending $15 for lunch or $5 for a soda and chips will feel less like a luxury and more like a burden; a financial burden that is.

Just Dig in and Eat It!

With the best of intentions we have all had our version of the culinary epic failure.  I know I have.  So what do you do when a meal turns out to be less than stellar?  Eat it anyway.  Yep, we do…as long as it’s safe.  And after it’s gone you can put that recipe in the “never to be made again” pile.

Don’t forget to check out the “In the Kitchen” and “Frugal Living” sections for more ideas on meals, recipes and saving money.