Saving Money On Groceries This Year

We’re all on the alert for ways to save $$$ on groceries, aren’t we? It seems that prices are rising weekly! I will not bemoan or fall into panic mode. This is life. Our God is on the Throne. He can be trusted, even with my grocery bill! But I am the steward of what He gives us, so how can I be the BEST manager of our money and still buy groceries and eat well at home? Here are five simple suggestions ~

1. Use what you already have. Often I will be looking at recipes on Pinterest and find something that sounds delicious, but it’s full of ingredients that I will have to go purchase. Instead, I am try8ng to find recipes that have ingredients that I already have! I will look in my pantry and freezer to see what items are on the shelves and then find a clever way to use those items. I will try not to be lured into the weekly grocery store ads telling me that Pork Loins are on sale, when I already have pork shops in the freezer.
2. Eat your leftovers. Okay, maybe everyone in the house doesn’t love to eat spaghetti a second night, but it can be fun to have one night a week that is “leftover night.” Pull out the two slices of pizza, the 1/4 meatloaf and the last couple slices of lasagna. Maybe have the family draw numbers as to who gets to choose first, then let them go in that order to select a menu item. Add a fresh salad or a dessert. Make the table cozy with candlelight and cloth napkins and disguise the fact that you’ve eaten those items once before!
3. Put your fruit and vegetables in places where they will be eaten. Have you ever forgotten about the grapes or lemons you bought because they were stashed away in the drawer of your fridge? Put the lemons in a pretty little bowl in the fridge where they will be seen and also add a bright spot of color! Wash the grapes and put them into a bowl on the counter. Add the mandarin oranges to the tiered stand on your counter. Keep the veggies washed and up front in the vegetable drawer where you see them when you open the fridge door. Use the veggies that go bad quickly at the beginning of your week so they won’t have a time to spoil before use.
4. Have a meat-free night. It could be that you’ll serve another protein like beans. This recipe for Pinto beans is so good that you won’t even think about not having meat! Add some potatoes and corn bread and you have a delicious meal and one that costs pennies. Scrambled eggs, pancakes, waffles or Baked Quiche (leave out the bacon) are all great breakfast AND supper menu items! Go here for other meatless recipes.
5. Use high priced foods sparingly. Eggs and butter sky-rocketed just before Christmas, making Christmas baking a challenge! I chose to look for recipes that used little of both of those ingredients. These Double Chocolate Biscotti have NO butter in them, so I made up a batch. They’re super good with coffee! You can go on Pinterest and search for “Desserts that use no eggs” and come up with lots of options. You con’t have to buy those high-priced grocery items when they soar. Just cook and bake around them.

These are all simple suggestions, but I think we often overlook the most basic ideas. We throw good food in the trash, we overlook foods and they go bad, or we feel like we have to purchase certain items, spite the fact that they’re really high at that time. We can steward our money and our resources better so we can purchase what we really need and still eat well at home.

I encourage you to make the effort to eat your meals at home as often as you can. There are some really great results that come from those family gatherings. Everyone can be refreshed with the food and the fellowship that is found there. It’s such a gift.

Refresh your grocery budget with these simple suggestions, and share your money-saving ideas in the comments below!