What do you make at home to SAVE MONEY?
love4fitnesslove4food_wechange
Posts: 6,897 Member
Okay, my $700 food bill per month (no eating out and just me) is pretty ridiculous. I'm looking for ways to make it cheaper...also to get others thinking about ways to save money!
So, what do you make at home instead of buying premade?
Some ideas:
-homemade tabbouleh ($5 for 4-5 cups vs. $3.50 for 6oz...that's a huge savings)
-homemade hummus ($2-3 for 1.5 cups vs. $3-4 for 6oz)
So, what do you make at home instead of buying premade?
Some ideas:
-homemade tabbouleh ($5 for 4-5 cups vs. $3.50 for 6oz...that's a huge savings)
-homemade hummus ($2-3 for 1.5 cups vs. $3-4 for 6oz)
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Replies
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Home made pesto (no cheese)- just whip up some basil, garlic and pine nuts in a blender. Cheap, cheerful and low cal, you need less than a spoon to flavour your pasta/gnocchi
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thought of some more...
pasta salad
green salads
chili
soups
muffins
protein bars
cereal bars
smoothies/protein shakes0 -
Homemade larabar recipies. For the cost of the store bough ones ($2.50 each), the cost of the ingredients to make them makes me enough for a week or two. 0
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I make homemade:
*breads & buns
*muffins
*donuts & bagels
*cookies & cakes
*salads (pasta, fruit, green, etc)
*dressings
*pasta, depending on the type
*sauces
*soups
*chilis
*flatbread
*sometimes, cheese
We also make all our own cleaning supplies - dish soap, laundry soap, glass cleaner, floor cleaner, etc.0 -
$700 a month for JUST YOU? How!? I shop organic and my food bill's only around $100-$200 a month for just me. I buy things that I can make in bulk and use over a lot of meals, like spagetti. I also buy basic ingredients that can DO a lot things, like eggs, chicken, rice and beans. Of course, I have 3 roommates and they all grocery shop too, so occasionally I'll use some of their food or they'll make dinner and share. But man, $700?0
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I make homemade:
*breads & buns
*muffins
*donuts & bagels
*cookies & cakes
*salads (pasta, fruit, green, etc)
*dressings
*pasta, depending on the type
*sauces
*soups
*chilis
*flatbread
*sometimes, cheese
We also make all our own cleaning supplies - dish soap, laundry soap, glass cleaner, floor cleaner, etc.
flatbread--do tell! cheese--tell that too!0 -
Homemade sauces are a big saver in my house! Instead of buying jars of curry/bolognase/stir fry sauces every week I just have a whole collection of spices. Its so easy to whip up a nice sauce using spices and tinned tomatoes/pureed veg. I also make my own jams - free berrys and a bag of sugar = 3 or 4 nice pots of jam for the winter.
I buy a big bag of flour and have eggs on hand at all times to make breads/pasta/cookies as I need them.
I buy a tonne of fresh fruit and veg and freeze any fruit I think I might not get through and use it later in smoothies or baking.
Ooh also dried beans! Instead of a euro per tin I just get a big bag of each and boil them up for added protein and filler in meals My saviour on days I havent been to the butchers
I dont buy much processed food as fresh is best 0 -
$700 a month for JUST YOU? How!? I shop organic and my food bill's only around $100-$200 a month for just me. I buy things that I can make in bulk and use over a lot of meals, like spagetti. I also buy basic ingredients that can DO a lot things, like eggs, chicken, rice and beans. Of course, I have 3 roommates and they all grocery shop too, so occasionally I'll use some of their food or they'll make dinner and share. But man, $700?
Where do you live? Cost of living (grocery cost) vary dramatically from city to city.0 -
I make stuff in my slow cooker, makes loads & uses cheap ingredients & cuts of meat. I eat one meal from it & freeze the rest. Works out really cheap. I use veg that is in season & cheap in the shops to make fresh soups, again freezing some of it. Homemade smoothies using own brand orange juice & frozen berries which are really cheap compared to shop bought smoothies (and nicer).
I live on my own a lot of the time & would be lost without my freezer. What on earth do you buy that comes to $700 just for you? When I was out of work a few months ago I only spent about £40 a month on shopping.0 -
$700 a month for JUST YOU? How!? I shop organic and my food bill's only around $100-$200 a month for just me. I buy things that I can make in bulk and use over a lot of meals, like spagetti. I also buy basic ingredients that can DO a lot things, like eggs, chicken, rice and beans. Of course, I have 3 roommates and they all grocery shop too, so occasionally I'll use some of their food or they'll make dinner and share. But man, $700?
yeah, it's PRETTY RIDICULOUS I'll admit...let's see...
protein powder ($30-40 a month)
non-dairy milk ($30 a month)
greek yogurt ($35-40 a month)
veggies ($3-4 a pound usually)
seafood ($9-13 a pound)
eggs ($3 a dozen)
fruit ($2-3 a pound)
seasoning/spices/condiments ($20 a month)
cottage cheese ($25 a month)
cheese ($15-20 a month)
oats/lentils/flatbread/beans ($10 a month)
misc ($100 a month)
Somehow it all adds up--sometimes I'll buy things like cheesecloth or some sort of cooking THING that's not food but it's food related.0 -
Okay, my $700 food bill per month (no eating out and just me) is pretty ridiculous. I'm looking for ways to make it cheaper...also to get others thinking about ways to save money!
So, what do you make at home instead of buying premade?
Some ideas:
-homemade tabbouleh ($5 for 4-5 cups vs. $3.50 for 6oz...that's a huge savings)
-homemade hummus ($2-3 for 1.5 cups vs. $3-4 for 6oz)
holy smokes......I can feed my hubby, 2 kids and myself for 600$ a month but 800$ if we want to splurge on fun treats.....what the heck do you eat!!!! ??
anyway, I make almost all meals from scratch, I do stirfries, chili, soups, stews, I have made bread, desserts (muffins, cakes, brownies, cookies, fruity polenta etc) salad dressing for myself, I've made my own deoderant, lotion, lipbalm and cleaning supplies but don't always, but mostly I shop sales now and find that easier as I don't always have time to make the things I want. So I do buy protein bars and fruit snacks, canned beans (instead of dry), apple sauce, juice, as well as all the produce/perishables and it just all fits into the budget if I shop and only buy what we need and not everything we want.0 -
Bread, apple pie, pasta sauce, sandwiches (for work and school for my boy) and Jamaican dishes.0
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Coffee/lattes, pizza sauce (and pizza)0
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You're getting more cals, carbs, fat, and sodium from prepackaged meals. Just make absolutely everything from scratch, except obvious things like condiments.
-Salads
-Dinners
-Desserts...0 -
I probably save the most by making all my coffee and espresso drinks at home. My machine cost around $100 when I bought it a decade ago, but now they have very similar machines at Target for around $40.
The Brita was a huge money saver as well--no more bottled water, ever.
I also take food with me whenever possible. It was definitely worth the $15 for a cooler bag, the $3 for ice packs and the $10 or so I spent to beef up my collection of storage containers. If your lunches and dinners are made at home and then packed, they are always cheaper and healthier than a frozen entree or a sandwich shop option. Snacks are much cheaper that way as well.0 -
Oh yeah--forgot about that...coffee, coffee creamer, sweetener, etc can easily add up to $30 in a month.0
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Admittedly I can EASILY cut down the food budget to MAYBE 600 but less than that it's a bit tough. I am putting myself on a budget though--$500 a month MAXIMUM. ((le sigh)) Budgets suck. Why can't food be free?0
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You're getting more cals, carbs, fat, and sodium from prepackaged meals. Just make absolutely everything from scratch, except obvious things like condiments.
-Salads
-Dinners
-Desserts...
I don't really buy prepackaged MEALS actually. I mean this summer I did but this is the amount I spend when I'm making ALMOST everything from scratch. Of course not protein powder or condiments.0 -
I make my own frozen dinners. It's just as easy to make 2 lasagnas as it is to make one - I freeze the 2nd one for a busy night. I do the same with chicken spaghetti.
Buy whole chickens at .77/# (my local grocer runs that sale every 2-3 months). Sprinkle with s&p, stuff with lemons, onions, & thyme, roast until done. Chop chicken, freeze in individual portions for salads, soups, tacos, enchiladas, sandwiches, ect. Save the roasted bones with veggie scraps - onion skins/tops/bottoms, carrot tops & peels, herb stems, celery roots, ect - in a bag in the freezer. Boil down for stock when full, strain, & freeze. Seafood stock: fish bones & shrimp heads/peels. Beef stock: beef bones, gristle, & fat.
My new favorite breakfast costs .47/serving - 2 ingredient pancakes. Mash one banana, add 2 beaten eggs, cook in a non-stick greased pan. 265 calories for the whole batch, 15g protein.
Shop your circulars, & shop what's in season. Sprout's Farmers Market is awesome if you have one close; they run at least 2-3 hormone/antibiotic-free proteins for super cheap every week. This week, we're getting salmon for $4.99/#. That's a treat for us because it's more expensive than our usual protein choices, but it's a great price for salmon.
Invest in a set of Tupperware and use it to pack your own lunches & snacks.
Make your own microwave popcorn with a paper lunch sack and 2-3 tbsp of kernels. Fold the bag closed 3-4 times, leaving plenty of room for the popcorn to expand. Cook as usual. (This saves ALOT of $ over traditional microwave popcorn!)
Another of local grocer, HEB, runs "meal deals." If you buy 1 or 2 ingredients, you get 4-6 other items free. I combine these offers with coupons and save even more money.
Last but not least, check out poorgirleatswell.com. That chick is a treasuretrove of information, healthy recipes, & money saving tips.0 -
What ON EARTH are you buying that is costing you $700/mo???? If you give me an example of what you would put in your grocery cart, and I can help you find cheaper ways to have the same thing.0
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I suddenly feel so much better about the $140 I spent at Whole Foods yesterday. *phew*0
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Oh yeah--forgot about that...coffee, coffee creamer, sweetener, etc can easily add up to $30 in a month.
:laugh: I feel HORRIBLE! We go through $20 of coffee beans a week! Man I wish it was only $30 a month lol...I make all our coffee at home as well as all our fav recipes of big coffee name brand drinks at home too. Iced Vanilla Latte, Strawberry Frap's (add your whey protein and you have an awesome after workout protein drink that's also delish). I make a lot of fish and crock pot cook anytime I can. Also, leftovers from a Sunday dinner can be Mondays lunch at work ;-)
Our grocery bill for the month for a family of 5 is $600, and that IS spoiling the kids with some of the junk they want. Not a lot 'cause I'm a Sugar Nazi, but SOME.0 -
I make homemade:
*breads & buns
*muffins
*donuts & bagels
*cookies & cakes
*salads (pasta, fruit, green, etc)
*dressings
*pasta, depending on the type
*sauces
*soups
*chilis
*flatbread
*sometimes, cheese
We also make all our own cleaning supplies - dish soap, laundry soap, glass cleaner, floor cleaner, etc.
flatbread--do tell! cheese--tell that too!
I don't really have a recipe, just mix things up for the flatbread, but both of these are recipes I've recommended to other people:
http://whisksandwhimsy.com/2012/08/30/simple-flatbread/
http://kirantarun.com/food/2012/08/17/broccoli-potato-paratha/
As for cheese, you'd probably be best off to look up how to make either mozzarella or quark to start with, but you can buy cheese-making kits that will walk you through more advanced cheeses. Cottage cheese is really easy, as well.0 -
If you have a crockpot you can make your own yogurt at a significant savings. If you strain it well the consistency gets thick like greek yogurt and you can use the reserved whey in smoothies and soups. And it's super easy to do, so that's a bonus.0
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I budget $400 a month for food and household items (TP, PT, bottled water, etc) I eat breakfast at home and lunch at home. Most nights I also make dinner at home. It's just me - no kiddies or SOs. I eat fish, beef, chicken,
lots of fruit, etc., etc.
I usually have money left over at the end of the month.
One thing I did was to keep a spending journal for three months to see exactly what I spent and was able to reduce my expenditure to 150/week, but that was tough for me so I made the choice to add back in the extra $500 -
I budget $400 a month for food and household items (TP, PT, bottled water, etc) I eat breakfast at home and lunch at home. Most nights I also make dinner at home. It's just me - no kiddies or SOs. I eat fish, beef, chicken,
lots of fruit, etc., etc.
I usually have money left over at the end of the month.
One thing I did was to keep a spending journal for three months to see exactly what I spent and was able to reduce my expenditure to 150/week, but that was tough for me so I made the choice to add back in the extra $50
I'm confused...150/week is 600 a month but you said you spend $400 a month.0 -
What ON EARTH are you buying that is costing you $700/mo???? If you give me an example of what you would put in your grocery cart, and I can help you find cheaper ways to have the same thing.
I typed it out in an earlier post.0 -
I make my own frozen dinners. It's just as easy to make 2 lasagnas as it is to make one - I freeze the 2nd one for a busy night. I do the same with chicken spaghetti.
Buy whole chickens at .77/# (my local grocer runs that sale every 2-3 months). Sprinkle with s&p, stuff with lemons, onions, & thyme, roast until done. Chop chicken, freeze in individual portions for salads, soups, tacos, enchiladas, sandwiches, ect. Save the roasted bones with veggie scraps - onion skins/tops/bottoms, carrot tops & peels, herb stems, celery roots, ect - in a bag in the freezer. Boil down for stock when full, strain, & freeze. Seafood stock: fish bones & shrimp heads/peels. Beef stock: beef bones, gristle, & fat.
My new favorite breakfast costs .47/serving - 2 ingredient pancakes. Mash one banana, add 2 beaten eggs, cook in a non-stick greased pan. 265 calories for the whole batch, 15g protein.
Shop your circulars, & shop what's in season. Sprout's Farmers Market is awesome if you have one close; they run at least 2-3 hormone/antibiotic-free proteins for super cheap every week. This week, we're getting salmon for $4.99/#. That's a treat for us because it's more expensive than our usual protein choices, but it's a great price for salmon.
Invest in a set of Tupperware and use it to pack your own lunches & snacks.
Make your own microwave popcorn with a paper lunch sack and 2-3 tbsp of kernels. Fold the bag closed 3-4 times, leaving plenty of room for the popcorn to expand. Cook as usual. (This saves ALOT of $ over traditional microwave popcorn!)
Another of local grocer, HEB, runs "meal deals." If you buy 1 or 2 ingredients, you get 4-6 other items free. I combine these offers with coupons and save even more money.
Last but not least, check out poorgirleatswell.com. That chick is a treasuretrove of information, healthy recipes, & money saving tips.
Those pancakes sound bomb.com but bananas make me itch. I wonder whether I could do that with a different fruit. I also do the popcorn thing. Salmon is 10-15 bucks a pound here...ALWAYS. Sucks! Thanks for the website! I'll check that out.0 -
do some bulk shopping. ALSO, when you shop your adds and find a great deal buy double what you will need and freeze it. I shop my ads when I go in the store and buy what is on sale for the week.
We are lucky with a big freezer, so even if fruits and vegies are higher than I want to pay I usually can get a good deal on frozen, just have a smoothie instead or keep some one hand.
I would check around for a few stores though and see if you can better deal elsewhere. That seems really high, I spend a lot because I do childcare and am home every meal, but, I find I can get a better deal at walmart than sams club on almost all things including a low cal chicken sausage that is fantastic!
I will pay extra for the sara lee breads, I like the 45 calorie, the flat bagals, the 80 calorie buns and the skinny girl flat breads 0 -
I tried to look at your food diary to see what your meals "look" like but it was locked. Anyway maybe you need to meal plan for a week at a time.
If you want to spend 500$ a month take 125$ and figure out what you want to eat that week and buy only the groceries needed for the recipies and only the amount of protein powder, fruits/veggies needed for the week etc
Maybe try a different grocery store? I know in my city some stores charge double the price for everything. So I've found 2 that are lower cost and that helps too.
Buy in bulk when things are on sale and freeze when you can (bread) or make big batches of meals in crock pot and freeze for quick "frozen dinners" shop at local farmers markets or look in the discount bins for things that are close to expiry that you can use before they go bad (can save 50% + on things this way) with protein powder buy bigger tubs since it works out cheaper that way, go to GNC when they have the buy one get one 1/2 price deal (I do this for my Vega)
Use frozen veggies and fruits if need be to cut cost and these work well for soups and such or smoothies/desserts and much less work than fresh.0
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