photo credit: Skype Nomad
With food costs going up and budgets getting squeezed, one way to save money is by preparing meals at home. Eating low-cost meals doesn’t have to mean buying cheap, unhealthy food. Beyond clipping coupons there are ways to slash your food spending and start cooking on a budget.
Plan Meals
The worst thing you can do to your food budget is to stop planning ahead. Last minute meals can require extra trips to the grocery store which means spending more on gas and more on food. Take a few minutes one night a week to plan out the meals for the next seven days.
Make Extra
By making extra food each night you’ll have leftovers for lunch the next day. This will prevent you from eating out during the day.
Search for Cheap Recipes
Several recipe sites are catching on to the need for cooking on a budget. Some to check out are CheapCooking.com, Cooks.com and MiserlyMoms.com. At AllRecipes.com you’ll find ten meals for under $10.
Eat Vegetarian
Meat can be the most expensive thing on your grocery list. You don’t have to become a vegetarian, but try to avoid recipes with large amounts of pricey meat. Check out these budget-friendly recipes for ground beef. Ground turkey is another affordable meat option.
Rice and Beans
When cooking on a budget, rice and beans can be your best friends. They are cheap ingredients and fairly healthy, too. They are incredibly versatile and can be used in dozens of different ways.
Buy in Bulk
Buying in bulk can be a great way to save money. Just be sure you have a place to store it and will actually eat what you buy!
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