I recently discovered a bit of Japanese advice. Stop eating when you feel 80% full. It makes sense because there is a lag in the signal of satiety to the brain.
I have heard that but how does one even determine a percentage of that nature? I personally cannot tell if I am 75 percent full versus 80 percent....or any other percentage for that matter.
I grocery shop at Walmart online. Saves thousands a year. Seriously! No impulse buying at all! I use to fill half my cart with impulse cute stuff. Especially around the holidays. I shop once a week and limit myself to a calculated amount from my budget. I go over occasionally but it’s for a birthday or holiday. I can’t tell you how this improved my life. Budget control made easy.
I also do this except I still go into the stores for the loss leaders and I compare the prices of Walmart to Aldi. They are about the same on many things but Walmart has the convenience factor, for sure!
I started doing Walmart online and Safeway's just for you program, both are huge savers. Shopping the lose leaders stocking up on those and planning meals around those are fabulous.
So glad you had intermittent fasting on this list. I have been doing it two year now and it has saved me money on food I didn't need to eat and time preparing all the extra meals and snacks I didn't need. Plus it has significantly improved my health and how I feel! Highly recommended.
I love the idea of cooking with few ingredients. I myself use 3 to 5 ingredients + spices. Cooking this way is cheaper + you save on calories. Great ideas 👍
Another idea for people that like to go grocery shopping weekly , instead try stretching it out for 8 days and then nine day , that way you actually do save money
I'm a widow and can't use a gallon of milk before it goes bad. I bought 5 plastic, quart containers with a pour lid. When I buy a gallon of milk, I split it up between 4 of the containers. 3 of them go in the freezer. It takes a while to thaw out once you grab one out of the freezer, which helps it to last longer. When you're on the last quart, buy another gallon, split it between 4 containers and put all of them in the freezer. Lately I've been snacking on cheese. It fills me up better than chips, etc ever did.
When I was a single mom (17 years ago), we rarely used milk for much other than cereal or Mac & cheese. I did the same thing but with water bottles I’d washed out (like the ones you get at the gas station in the cooler). We saved SO MUCH MONEY doing it this way!!! Especially helped as I was working 2 full time jobs (could & did take my son with me as it was an overnight & weekend job) & by the time I would come home from a weekend working, about half of the bottle would be defrosted. I actually miss doing this but hubby and our youngest son go through a gallon pretty quickly! My oldest son is now a grown man out on his own!!!
@@lifebeyondthesalary2458 originally, I had just used the quart milk jugs. But they were hard to wash, so I bought the containers. My main use for milk is in my coffee. It's cheaper than creamer.
@@saraconklinfrozenpennies I've shocked a few people doing this because they were under the impression that you can't freeze milk. I've been doing it for years.
When I was waiting in a food pantry line many years ago, sometimes we would get milk on the verge of 'going bad'. A lady advised me to use a pinch of salt to preserve. Grateful for a generous gallon, but difficult for food management. The pinch of salt does work, even when learning to portion and freeze off.
I reverse meal plan. Take a look at what I have in the fridge and freezer that needs using up, then add items to my shopping list to complete the meal.
I plan meals for the week. I cook it, portion it out and freeze it. I use portion friendly size containers to ratón it out. Meals are laid out long before meal time. If I wait to do all of the decision making, shopping and portion control when I am starving....game over. Not only for my wallet...but my waistline. I male sure I have a happy/ full tummy when I am in the grocery store and food planning . That is another pit fall. EVERYTHING looks tempting.
I’ve started making meals ahead and put them in individual containers and freeze them. Yes at first you spend a few hours or less preparing but then you save lots of time later when you just pull them out of the freezer in the morning and then heat and eat for dinner. I love it. I don’t know why I didn’t do this years ago. I’ve been making my own bread for decades. I can get a fresh loaf on the table within approximately 4 hours. When you use very warm water the whole process is a lot faster. I always add different flavors like minced onions, or sliced almonds and honey. Really yummy. Yes some bread is better left to rise over night. But those are my special breads that taste better with certain ingredients soaking in the dough overnight
I do this too my brother in law bought me these single serving trays from Sam's Club 30 pack Hefty brand for $10.00. I am a new widow but I cook like I normally would have when husband was alive and freeze the extra portions, label the trays and put them in the top of my freezer ( some of the extra's go in my deep freezer) so all I have to do is look in the freezer and figure out what I want for dinner that day. Lunches are usually a sandwich of some kind and breakfast I batch cook either scrambled eggs for the week or boiled eggs. Anna In Ohio
@@buckeyedav1 oh yes I often boil several eggs ahead and then chop them up and add to some of my meals. Or if I just want munch on something and don’t want to eat sweets or other junk food I just grab a boiled egg
I'm always daunted by the kneading and proving of bread (one of the reasons Im looking out for a secondhand breadmaker), but yesterday I experimented and made Wholewheat & Oatmeal Soda Bread. It was on the table in an hour, prep included, and absolutely delicious.
Thank you for the tips.. one of my biggest problems is that I run for takeout in a heartbeat rather than cooking on a Friday or Saturday night. One day I actually added up everything I spent during the month. And, it was an eye-opener!. I am trying to keep meals in the house that I can make it a moment's notice. I would love to see more of these type of videos I need to remind myself over and over again not to call to take out number. They are right across the street from me so it makes it really really easy!
Water only around here! Save hundreds a year. I make ice tea occasionally but still cheap! We are healthier and can’t stand soda anymore. We lost the desire to drink sodas. Crazy but true.
#29 Yes, we in the US easily eat 2-3 times servings of something that we like or are addicted to. 😄I noticed that when I would go to a restaurant, I would expect these gargantuan servings just like I'd give myself at home. One way to understand what a good serving size is is to look on the backs of cans and boxes of food. There you find ounces servings. You can also buy a little food scale and even weigh your servings before you put them on your plate, if you want to be that specific. Another thing that helps to reduce servings sizes is to chew each bite longer. It works. The longer I chew each bite the less I want to eat. I feel fuller faster and my food is ground up before swallowing like it should be for good digestion. Thanks for all of your wonderful tips! 🌞
Setting aside $$ for stock up is key here with my elders. We're going to Aldi early this morning for her needs closer spring 😊.. Time saved for at home crafts & mending this winter
All such great ideas Sara!! I will be heading to Aldi on Monday. I only go every 4 to 6 weeks as it is a 40 mile round trip. With winter coming I will be really stocking up in case I can't get there for awhile because of weather. I will be getting some of that 40 cent soup for sure!
Thanks for the idea of prioritizing the grocery list and holding some grocery spending by holding back a little. I like the idea of building in a little money for the specials.
Stocking up on sale items is how I built up my pantry. It takes a while but it really works and now I no longer need to go to the store every week. I can wait for good sales to go shopping.
My favorite budget saver. Buying the higher fat ground beef, cooking it and saving the beef tallow in the fridge to use as a replacement for cooking oil. The price of oils has gotten insane lately!
I started making my own coffee creamer So much cheaper. I also ventured out to make my own mixes. Like hot chocolate, apple cider and chai tea. My faves to consume during the winter. I just went to a local shop and bougth tea in bulk. I have saved so much already. Hope some of you try your hand at this.
Thank you! Not only will people save money on food but they will be healthier too by not drinking juices and flavored drinks but water, doing intermittent fasting (lose weight!), and not eating processed foods (which as you say are expensive but also prepared with unhealthy oils, and loaded with chemicals and sugars), among others. Great video! 👍🏼👍🏼👏🏼
I LOVE crumpets but they are now AUD$2.20 for 6 - AT HALF PRICE! The price increase is ridiculous - although $2 is the 'right' price IMHO and that's how much they USED to be so you'd have to be an idiot to pay $4.40 - funny how they are now frequently 'on special', we are truly being played by our grocers, and they use the same strategy for many other grocery lines here. This week I finally made crumpets from scratch and oh my, what a success - incredibly quick, so easy and fun to make at a cost of about 25 cents! Never going back to store bought, which often went moldy before being eaten. Great ideas here, thanks Sara!
I stopped shopping major grocery stores. The deal on jacking up egg prices and poultry in general or cauliflower because of internet popularity well…. I try to shop local farmers produce, dairy and yes even eggs and meat. I grow a garden. Most herbs in supermarkets are enormously expensive. One tarragon plant will spread. Mint if you don’t eat it will overtake your yard. Basil, oregano, cilantro parsley and chives are too easy to grow and most are perennials. Most can also be grown in containers.
I get kind of jealous of some of the people I see on RUclips with the amount of great markdowns they get from Kroger stores. My local Krogers rarely have markdowns and when they do they’re not marked down by much. It seemed to change around 2020 over here. Before then I would go every Thursday (that’s the day my stores mark most items down) and come out with at least a small basket of some great markdown items. It saved me a lot of money, and helped stretch our budget. I’ve also been noticing sales ads getting smaller and smaller since then as well. Hardly any good sales anymore at all. Especially on meat. The meats we buy used to go on sale on a 3 or so month rotation. I could predict exactly when each one would go on sale, and then stock up for several months. Not anymore. They rarely go on sale, and if they do it’s not much of a sale in my opinion. Our grocery bill has AT LEAST tripled since then. No more deals to be found plus inflation 🤦🏻♀️
We don't have Kroger here but none of the stores we do have have markdowns any more. We have the most amazing food bank here and all the stores donate what would be markdowns there. So sale shopping is the way to go here in West Texas.
Learn to coupon. Couponing is not what you think today. You will save so much money. There is a learning curve but it’s worth it. We spend about $100 a month on groceries for the 2 of us. Our cabinets are full. You’ll stop the “do without” mindset and live in abundance.
Well thats the trade off. And it really does depend. You will spend no matter what but is it more important to spend your time or your money. if you don't have the money or chose to spend it on other things, then you make the time. 😊
Sometimes, I factor in if I could use some baking or stovetop cooking that will heat up my kitchen, then an apartment hvac unit to pick up and distribute the heat. But will turn on the hvac heater after I am done. Same for my crockpot. Sometimes, I will instead, turn off my crockpot, wrap in small blankets, towels and let it finish it's cooking and not worry to much about adding a bit of needed heat in my home.
Grab 3 to 4 calendars given away for free at banks, tourist areas, and by charities at the end of the year. One I use to write down what we ate for the day, another I use to plan coming meals and the third I use to keep track what I harvested from the veggie garden that day (we have an almost year-round garden). The fourth I use to write down what was planted and where.
We just keep stocked up things we eat. We try to buy them mostly on sale. We don't meal plan. Everyone's has their own system that works for them. This saves us a lot of money.
So many 'experts' advocate meal planning. As a frugal and mindful prepper, that is not my style. I shop the 'REDUCED' bins for fresh veggies and fruits, early mornings on week days, other than Fridays, because prices are usually higher on weekends and drop right after weekends and holidays. I buy only items I know I will use, eat some now, and dehydrate the rest. One day, I came home with 8 massive bags of fresh. I made mushroom soup, and dehydrated the rest. I have lots of jars of Better Than Boullion, and can make many healthy soups. One rule I stick to, is never open or start something new, until what is open has been used. I have three pantries. One, of items I am using now, one to restock items the first, and one of longterm storage items. By having a large well stocked pantry system, I can eat what I want most of the time.. I never impulse shop, and always buy foods when they are at rock bottom prices. Eating a whole food plant based diet is far less expensive and healthier than eating animal products. Other than food items, I buy as much as possible second hand, but in excelent condition, and take care of everything I have with regular maintence. Living frugally, allows me to mitigate inflation and shortages. A simple lifestyle allows me to better deal with emergency expenses such as petrol to drive long distances to medical appointments, or the extras, that make like more comfortable. Monthly Days Out, help maintain mental health, a change of scenery always brings a fresh perspective on life. Going to grow more of my own food this year, by having a veggie garden and buying more berry bushes and a couple of fruit trees.
I’ve been making your mother’s soup for almost 50 years. As a single mom, I’ve always tried to stretch a dollar. We didn’t throw out that last spoon or two of green beans, corn, etc. still in the pan. I still keep a container in my freezer to add those things. The only difference in ours is the name. Since we would have thrown it out…it’s like free food…”Freebie Soup”.
Regarding Chex mix, this is also the time of year when many Costco stores sell the Chex bundle (3 flavors in one bundle) specifically for Chex mix makers. It's generally the cheapest you'll see those cereals price-wise.
Take advantage of different stores and their sales. For example, I have 3 grocery stores within a mile of my home, utilized their sale flyers, compared prices online, and was able to get a full trunk full of groceries for under $100. Some of the items are stocking up and not needed immediately. I also thought about how to drive the trip in order to save gas and time. I had made a list and only bought those items. One store it was Wednesday, their senior day, and I let them know I was a senior for even more savings. 😊
An added benefit of meal planning is the mental space it frees up. If I have plan, the nagging question of “What am I going to cook for dinner?” isn’t rattling around in my brain all day.
as for the soup, I usually don't have any leftovers to freeze, but I will save and freeze vegetable scraps from regular food prep like ends of onions, including the skins, veggie peels like carrots and potatoes, winter squash peels, pulp and seeds, the end of that tomato that never gets eaten, etc. anything that is edible that usually gets tossed. when the bag is full, I add a few cheap root veggies like turnips, parsnips, onion and carrots and make the stock. I like to roast these with olive oil and some spices for some great deep roasted flavor then cook all that on the stovetop with water. strain and toss or compost those used up veggies and make your soup with some fresh ingredients and the stock.
I love 1C! Such a great tip. I'm not sure the entire country will get on board for 1B an I think thats what it would take to lower the prices. But super great idea!
Im Amish a good meal plan is BreKfast , olde fashioned oatmeal w 1/4 tsp brown sugar an orgsnic orange. Snack an apple or banana. Lunch Chili with Kidney beans n hamburger n generic tomato soup crackers sun iced tea w no sugar n oeanut butter sandwich. Supper. Most hard/,days work is done so Popcrn cheap light tastes good.
My husband and I always stocked up on sales (on meat canned/frozen etc). When COVID hit we didn't have to go to the store except for dairy every other week or so. My mom would feed 4 people (2 adults and 2 kids) on a chicken and a few basic veggies last for a week. The first 2 nights it was roasted chicken with sides. Then it was a big pot of soup with homemade stock, a few extra veggies some barley or rice, carrots and celery bought whole and cutting them up (I don't remember baby carrots back then so a sharp knife was the best). I don't have an Aldi but do have a Kroger family store (a local chain that Kroger bought) and they regularly have "buy one get one free" meat sales and their sales go in cycles so once you figure them out you can buy enough --- to last til the next time. For example - they just had butter on sale for $2.50 a lb if you have a customer card (these are free and give great sales and a minimum of 3 cents off gas - you get gas points with each purchase) I stocked up and froze them. The online coupons are great there too (and I don't have to remember the paper ones). They also regularly have "red tag" meats (meats that have to be used or frozen in a day or two) that can save a lot of money too. I would guess that most Kroger stores have similar items (the ad she held up looks just like the ones here - I am in the Pacific Northwest).
I just wish we had Kroger here. I've seen some amazing sales on RUclips! I was also totally prepared for the pandemic! Like we've been training our whole lives 😉
@@saraconklinfrozenpennies another thing to point out is that the prettier the package the more it costs to make it, sometimes up to 10cents just for the bag depending on the features the bag has. The company has to buy them in quantities that cost thousands and then the upkeep on the machines to package (a new machine can cost 250k with parts that are hundreds of dollars to replace). Those costs get passed on to the consumer too, so it isn't just inflation of the products it's the packaging as well. We have to look at the big picture. I am moving to the Midwest and am looking forward to shopping at an Aldi but if there's a Kroger w/in 60mi I will probably check them out too. Lol
I appreciate all your ideas! I only buy cheese when it's on sale and in my area, both block cheese and shredded cheese are the same price. I do like to buy shredded cheese in large quantities and then divide it into smaller portions to freeze. Thanks again!
To my mind, the essentials are: plan your meals, make a list _and stick to it,_ and build up a repertoire of freezer-friendly meals which you can bulk cook.
Those are some great tips! Three of your tips seems like the same thing though - stop buying processed foods, buy Whole Foods and buy ingredients. You can't grocery shop once a month and stock up on the sales and loss leaders. I watch a RUclips channel with a family of 9 and she has a great way of shopping for her family. She makes her list weekly of what they need then looks up the cheapest prices through ads and or walmart, the second cheapest normally in her area. Then she goes to Aldi first. She buys everything at Aldi that is cheaper than anything else in other stores. With Aldi you can't look up their prices online unless it's in their sale ad. She calls it her "price to beat" list. If you aren't blessed to have Aldi near you you can do the same thing with whatever your cheapest grocery store is. It means that she goes to 4 grocery stores almost every week but they are very close together and she figured out she uses less than 50 cents in gas to do it. It takes more time yes but some people have more time than money. You have to find what works for you. As for buying block cheese instead of shredded cheese they are generally the same price per ounce here where I live. Sometimes the shredded is cheaper as shrinkflation sets in and the former 8 oz blocks of cheese start to become 7 oz blocks with the shredded cheese remains 8 oz bags. I do know that stuff gets added to shredded cheese to keep it from sticking together so you might be concerned about those ingredients. I don't think you mentioned buying produce in season. Stock up and freeze. Often if I have vegetables that I'm not going to use before they go bad I just stick them straight in the freezer. Even that fresh spinach. It can easily be added to something when you need it. It chops up great if you chop it up quickly while Frozen and can go into omelets or casseroles or soups. Istick whole tomatoes and peppers straight into the freezer. The great thing about the tomatoes is that the skin comes off so easily when you thaw them to cook. Almost everything can be frozen. If you walk down the freezer aisles and look at the food products that are frozen there you will see what I mean. If they can sell it frozen then you can freeze it as well. That means, if you have the freezer space, it can save you lots of money. Make sure you know where the regular markdowns are kept in your stores. I always hit those spots. I find it's best if you can shop in the mornings whether weekdays or weekends but not first thing when they open where I live. You need to give the employee some time to Mark things down but if you go too late all of the marked down items are sold out. Also, give yourself plenty of time to explore because you will often find clearance items still on the shelves with a special tag instead of moved to the clearance section. Don't forget to get the store apps and clip the digital coupons. If you can still get paper coupons that's great. Also, don't leave out dollar tree. You can actually find some great deals on spices and healthier items there. Just be prepared to compare prices, unit per unit, with the other cheapest store in your area.
Ha ha. I live for those red, yellow and orange Kroger stickers. I’ve had many a meal plan consist almost entirely of those massive markdowns. I always make room for those markdowns and many times I’ll change meal plans to fit the mega deals I run across. Since menopause ha ha I actually find that it just doesn’t take that much actual food to fill me up and give me adequate energy. That cheesy chili looked so good. That’s what I’m gonna go eat now. Lol. (I already have what I need on hand lol).
@@saraconklinfrozenpennies Lol. I’m sorry. I wonder if there’s got to be something tho. I’m moving to NC at some point and I wonder when I move what will groceries look like there. Currently in burbs of Atlanta GA.
@@goodenoughgirl8102 Oddly enough, none of the stores near me offer any real discounts on anything. I wonder what they do with the things that are getting ready to expire???
@@saraconklinfrozenpennies They gotta go somewhere. I know around here we have several charities that have food banks but one in particular has grown and has free deals for the destitute and very good deals for anyone else for a small donation. You can’t be too squeamish about expired food tho and yet most things are just fine and the exp date on most things Imo is often way too premature. Nice stores around here send them all kinds of “fancy” things as well as staples and non food items. Idk if you want to try Misfits Market. I think their prices have gone up but they have a pretty good market in what I call “fru fru clearance.” Lol. Organic produce grass fed meats, fancy, vegan etc. It’s kind of like clearance for the more high end stuff. But most times I just hit Kroger Bcuz they often beat Misfit prices with clearance and have more of a selection. Misfits takes some stuff like that. Such as fancy stuff from stores that didn’t sell Bcuz it costs too much. Although I’ve seen a few markdowns even at Aldi but it’s just not near as often and Aldi is pretty good and at least decently reliable on pricing and quality for most things. Walmart eh. I prob sound like a snob but their clearance is often not so great stuff and esp breads etc. It’s like eating cardboard and some stuff just don’t taste right etc. I will hit Walmart or Aldi tho for things like cheap spices or condiments or canned goods or produce at Aldi at times. This one charity tho. If you play detective you might could find something like that. You go in and give them $10 and you come out with a giant cart full of stuff. Usually overflowing. Usually way more than anyone would know what to do with. Even things from restaurants in huge quantities. Once a frozen extra was like 5 lbs of shaved Philly beef which there was nothing wrong with. Good quality. Or a giant box of huge cinnamon rolls. Some stuff is more relevant than other stuff tho. Lol. (I did not need that many cinnamon rolls lol but I ate all of the beef and could freeze it well). If you can find out where it all goes, you might could find yourself some good stuff for very cheap. Idk if any of that was helpful but prob my extremely curious and detective like nature helps me find what I need. 😅😅 But I also had to find out way back when. I was poor as dirt with friends in low places. Some of them would raid the grocery dumpsters and grab up stuff that was still frozen. I never had to go that far but it’s just that I know that stuff has to go somewhere and it’s better for everyone if they don’t just Chuck it in the trash. I also get some stuff at the dollar stores as it’s a better price (sometimes like dry beans or rice etc). Although the $10 charity often had all of that also. Large bags of pasta, dry goods, dry beans etc. Restaurant sized cans and so on. Feminine hygiene products, toilet paper, vitamins, shampoo and so on. They even helped new moms with formula and diapers and occasionally had pet food. Spend $10 and come out with maybe several hundreds worth of merchandise and food or better. Depending on what came down the pike on any given day. I used to get so much there that I’d wind up giving half of it away. Lol.
I used to eat out all the time like multiple times a day sometimes. I retired early in 2021 ,I knew that I couldn’t keep eating out like that. I quit cold turkey and didn’t eat out for 2 months. I now eat out whenever I want but I don’t want to very often it is usually with friends .I like to make it a special treat to eat something that a restaurant does better than I do. I had/have an addiction to cokes that I think that I have fixed I just don’t buy and bring them home. I don’t deny myself but being that I seldom eat out and I won’t pay $ 3 or more for a soda problem solved.
I used to eat out for lunch every day when I worked. Even at $3 to $4 a day it sure adds up. ($15 to $20 s month) I now only get fast food rarely...( 2 times in the last 5 months) and it felt like a real treat. And what I spend for groceries in a month is pretty much what I used to spend on lunches.
Living on Dime pointed out that all the bakery items (like sugar, cake mixes, and butter), and canned goods and turkeys are on sale this week at the Kroger grocery store chains. It may be true for other grocery chains, too. It happens once a year right before Thanksgiving. Stock up on your staples!
Plan your car trips carefully, so you make the most of your gasoline in running errands. Instead of driving all over the place to find something, call first. You'll be amazed if you can group your shopping in a logical manner, how much gasoline you will save. 1970's energy crisis tip!
We try to eat less meat. I usually use only half the amount of meat that a recipe calls for, and then use my Food Saver to freeze it for the next recipe.
When ever we have stew , I mash down whats leftb,add more mash iff nessesary , Make pie crust and make pies ,pasties , I allwaye try make 2 to 3 meals out of one lot of meat / veg ect Alpso i split packs of mince meat ,into 2 to 3 ammounts and freeze Out of ome pack of mince meat I will make a stew , 2 a shepherds pie , A pie Spag bol ,so much u can do with mince
My opinion on homemade bread. Just be careful. I got breadmaker machine for Christmas and now I have to shop for new clothes 😊. 6 lb in three months 😮.....but it's worth it 😊. Homemade bread soooooo gooooooood😊
Generic or store brand Buy family packs of meat,and split it up into single portions,wrap well, into Ziploc bags,label,date,freeze. If you buy chicken breast, butterfly it to double the amount of meat for the same price. Look for alternative of what you like.find reasonable substitute
I have a food saver as well...I use it very well as well...I try to freeze all the sales that I'm able to find while shopping the sales that I find in my local grocery store here is assume. 😊
@@saraconklinfrozenpennies it works well. It allows 4 u to preserve all sorts of food...and it is well worth the price I paid 4 it. I would buy another 1 if I had 2...
It's appalling when I watch a channel in which the person talks about being poor, then they turn around and make main dishes that cost $10-20 or a cake that costs $12. And that's a fairly regular occurrence......Carla H.
@@saraconklinfrozenpennies What someone chooses to spend their money on is their business. However, the choices they're making can affect their income (youtube) because of losing subscribers. I've been poor - at times REALLY poor - in my life and I have low tolerance who say they "can't afford to buy American made products, or they can't afford to not buy Chinese crap, but they can afford a $12 cake or to have their eyebrows waxed, etc. Again, it's none of my business and I don't write nasty comments on their channel, but I also quit watching their channel. It would be different to say "this is what I choose to spend my money on" rather than "I can't afford to___".
When hummus goes on sale, I stock up, and freeze most of them. I found out by accident one day that they freeze and defrost perfectly. (No, I’d rather not make my own.)
I forgot one tip that I read recently - stretch your ground meat with lentils. Choose the lentil closest to the color of the meat you are cooking. You can gradually increase the amount of lentils and most people won't even notice.
Another great money saver (& even more important,y, a health saver) is to quit buying microwaveable popcorn packets,. The packaging is known to carcinogenic! Buy a microwaable popcorn maker and make your own.
I never buy meat or dairy. Vegan or vegetarian is so much cheaper and healthier. Don’t buy vegan substitutes. They’re super expensive, super processed and don’t have a good taste. But I will say some Morningstar sausage is very good. I always drink water.
It's hard and it takes a lot of creativity, but I have been able to do it. I haven't been to Aldi for 6 weeks, but I was still able to keep my monthly food costs in October to $169, and ate very well.
@@1mourningdove54Am getting to that point also. Am getting close to lowering my monthly single person food costs to $170. Takes time, creativity and occasionally a mad scientist in the kitchen of me wanting to first try out on low levels of cooking, freezing and storage management. Relocated a year ago and food costs have been the most challenging in starting new along with an emergency at home sufficient, basic food pantry. Reviewed my first year in, lots of hard work. Went to food banks to get me by now and then. But am able to donate back to my seniors complex food pantry when I purchase a few items on sale for my pantry, then I can donate an item. Was it hard work, incorporating food management from different places I have lived. On the internet provides valuable information that I like to sometimes experiment. Food management does not come overnight. Takes a working mindset from budgets to store to home. But the nickel and dimes here and there are finally starting to show some kind of payoff in eating healthier and still stay on a tiny budget.
An alternative to Freezer Soup/Garbage Soup/Stone Soup is to turn those ingredients into a stir fry and have that over rice or noodles. 🍝😊
Great Idea!!!
I make pot pies with my saved leftovers.
I recently discovered a bit of Japanese advice. Stop eating when you feel 80% full. It makes sense because there is a lag in the signal of satiety to the brain.
Intermittent fasting 👍
You really have to be in tune with your body, too. Its a good practice!
I have heard that but how does one even determine a percentage of that nature? I personally cannot tell if I am 75 percent full versus 80 percent....or any other percentage for that matter.
@@999manman well, this may be seen as metaphorical. Simply quit eating before one feels full. If still hungry, more food is in order. That’s my take.
@@asexualatheist3504 Hmmm. Makes sense! Thanks for your input!🙂
I grocery shop at Walmart online. Saves thousands a year. Seriously! No impulse buying at all! I use to fill half my cart with impulse cute stuff. Especially around the holidays. I shop once a week and limit myself to a calculated amount from my budget. I go over occasionally but it’s for a birthday or holiday. I can’t tell you how this improved my life. Budget control made easy.
I agree!!!😊
I also do this except I still go into the stores for the loss leaders and I compare the prices of Walmart to Aldi. They are about the same on many things but Walmart has the convenience factor, for sure!
I do that with any store that offers it and since COVID it's most of them (at least where I live).
I started doing Walmart online and Safeway's just for you program, both are huge savers. Shopping the lose leaders stocking up on those and planning meals around those are fabulous.
Lose leaders?
Meal planning was a game changer in my household. We rarely eat out now and save so much money every month.
Absolutley. I agree!
So glad you had intermittent fasting on this list. I have been doing it two year now and it has saved me money on food I didn't need to eat and time preparing all the extra meals and snacks I didn't need. Plus it has significantly improved my health and how I feel! Highly recommended.
I love the idea of cooking with few ingredients. I myself use 3 to 5 ingredients + spices. Cooking this way is cheaper + you save on calories. Great ideas 👍
I totally agree! And thanks for watching!
Another idea for people that like to go grocery shopping weekly , instead try stretching it out for 8 days and then nine day , that way you actually do save money
Great tip! Thanks!
I'm a widow and can't use a gallon of milk before it goes bad.
I bought 5 plastic, quart containers with a pour lid. When I buy a gallon of milk, I split it up between 4 of the containers. 3 of them go in the freezer.
It takes a while to thaw out once you grab one out of the freezer, which helps it to last longer.
When you're on the last quart, buy another gallon, split it between 4 containers and put all of them in the freezer.
Lately I've been snacking on cheese. It fills me up better than chips, etc ever did.
When I was a single mom (17 years ago), we rarely used milk for much other than cereal or Mac & cheese. I did the same thing but with water bottles I’d washed out (like the ones you get at the gas station in the cooler). We saved SO MUCH MONEY doing it this way!!! Especially helped as I was working 2 full time jobs (could & did take my son with me as it was an overnight & weekend job) & by the time I would come home from a weekend working, about half of the bottle would be defrosted. I actually miss doing this but hubby and our youngest son go through a gallon pretty quickly! My oldest son is now a grown man out on his own!!!
@@lifebeyondthesalary2458 originally, I had just used the quart milk jugs. But they were hard to wash, so I bought the containers.
My main use for milk is in my coffee. It's cheaper than creamer.
My gram did this too!!!
@@saraconklinfrozenpennies I've shocked a few people doing this because they were under the impression that you can't freeze milk. I've been doing it for years.
When I was waiting in a food pantry line many years ago, sometimes we would get milk on the verge of 'going bad'. A lady advised me to use a pinch of salt to preserve. Grateful for a generous gallon, but difficult for food management. The pinch of salt does work, even when learning to portion and freeze off.
I reverse meal plan. Take a look at what I have in the fridge and freezer that needs using up, then add items to my shopping list to complete the meal.
Yup. Me., too!
I plan meals for the week. I cook it, portion it out and freeze it. I use portion friendly size containers to ratón it out. Meals are laid out long before meal time. If I wait to do all of the decision making, shopping and portion control when I am starving....game over. Not only for my wallet...but my waistline. I male sure I have a happy/ full tummy when I am in the grocery store and food planning . That is another pit fall. EVERYTHING looks tempting.
I think that’s a super smart way to do it!
I’ve started making meals ahead and put them in individual containers and freeze them. Yes at first you spend a few hours or less preparing but then you save lots of time later when you just pull them out of the freezer in the morning and then heat and eat for dinner. I love it. I don’t know why I didn’t do this years ago.
I’ve been making my own bread for decades. I can get a fresh loaf on the table within approximately 4 hours. When you use very warm water the whole process is a lot faster. I always add different flavors like minced onions, or sliced almonds and honey. Really yummy. Yes some bread is better left to rise over night. But those are my special breads that taste better with certain ingredients soaking in the dough overnight
I love taking a few hours and batch cooking for the week! Saves me so much time and saves my husband from always asking “what’s for dinner”??
I do this too my brother in law bought me these single serving trays from Sam's Club 30 pack Hefty brand for $10.00. I am a new widow but I cook like I normally would have when husband was alive and freeze the extra portions, label the trays and put them in the top of my freezer ( some of the extra's go in my deep freezer) so all I have to do is look in the freezer and figure out what I want for dinner that day. Lunches are usually a sandwich of some kind and breakfast I batch cook either scrambled eggs for the week or boiled eggs. Anna In Ohio
@@buckeyedav1 oh yes I often boil several eggs ahead and then chop them up and add to some of my meals. Or if I just want munch on something and don’t want to eat sweets or other junk food I just grab a boiled egg
@@buckeyedav1 I’m sorry for your loss
I'm always daunted by the kneading and proving of bread (one of the reasons Im looking out for a secondhand breadmaker), but yesterday I experimented and made Wholewheat & Oatmeal Soda Bread. It was on the table in an hour, prep included, and absolutely delicious.
Thank you for the tips.. one of my biggest problems is that I run for takeout in a heartbeat rather than cooking on a Friday or Saturday night. One day I actually added up everything I spent during the month. And, it was an eye-opener!. I am trying to keep meals in the house that I can make it a moment's notice. I would love to see more of these type of videos I need to remind myself over and over again not to call to take out number. They are right across the street from me so it makes it really really easy!
Water only around here! Save hundreds a year. I make ice tea occasionally but still cheap! We are healthier and can’t stand soda anymore. We lost the desire to drink sodas. Crazy but true.
Us too. Sometimes my husband will buy a big jug of iced tea but its mostly water, coffee, and hot tea.
#29 Yes, we in the US easily eat 2-3 times servings of something that we like or are addicted to. 😄I noticed that when I would go to a restaurant, I would expect these gargantuan servings just like I'd give myself at home. One way to understand what a good serving size is is to look on the backs of cans and boxes of food. There you find ounces servings. You can also buy a little food scale and even weigh your servings before you put them on your plate, if you want to be that specific.
Another thing that helps to reduce servings sizes is to chew each bite longer. It works. The longer I chew each bite the less I want to eat. I feel fuller faster and my food is ground up before swallowing like it should be for good digestion. Thanks for all of your wonderful tips! 🌞
Good idea!
I stopped buying bread and now make my own from scratch! I use the no knead bread recipes which are healthy, fool proof, super easy and cheap!
Its just so easy!!
Setting aside $$ for stock up is key here with my elders. We're going to Aldi early this morning for her needs closer spring 😊.. Time saved for at home crafts & mending this winter
Love that! I'm getting ready for a big winter rediness stock pile myself. I should film that!
@@saraconklinfrozenpennies that would be great!
All such great ideas Sara!! I will be heading to Aldi on Monday. I only go every 4 to 6 weeks as it is a 40 mile round trip. With winter coming I will be really stocking up in case I can't get there for awhile because of weather. I will be getting some of that 40 cent soup for sure!
I'm heading out with my youngest son tomorrow to do a big pantry stock up for winter. I need to get that butter from Aldi!
Thanks for the idea of prioritizing the grocery list and holding some grocery spending by holding back a little. I like the idea of building in a little money for the specials.
I liked the idea of putting a little to the side for stock ups, too. I might do that one myself!
Stocking up on sale items is how I built up my pantry. It takes a while but it really works and now I no longer need to go to the store every week. I can wait for good sales to go shopping.
Awesome hacks that can be easily implemented.... Thank you❤
Intermittent fasting helps. I’ve lost 20 pounds and I only eat twice a day. Cheapest easiest diet I ever did.
Thats me, also. I eat breakfast around 10 and dinner around 3. Then I'm finished for the day.
Love your info. Watching them more and more. Thanks
Thrift stores are a great place to find bread machines. It's so easy to make delicious bread in them.
Yes they are! And all other small appliances too!
My favorite budget saver. Buying the higher fat ground beef, cooking it and saving the beef tallow in the fridge to use as a replacement for cooking oil. The price of oils has gotten insane lately!
Do you strain or clarify it?
@@saraconklinfrozenpennies I just strain mine 🙂
I started making my own coffee creamer So much cheaper. I also ventured out to make my own mixes. Like hot chocolate, apple cider and chai tea. My faves to consume during the winter. I just went to a local shop and bougth tea in bulk. I have saved so much already. Hope some of you try your hand at this.
I love this! I need to fund a bulk tea resource!
So thrilled to find your channel!!!
Thank you! Helpful list!
Thank you! Not only will people save money on food but they will be healthier too by not drinking juices and flavored drinks but water, doing intermittent fasting (lose weight!), and not eating processed foods (which as you say are expensive but also prepared with unhealthy oils, and loaded with chemicals and sugars), among others. Great video! 👍🏼👍🏼👏🏼
Great ideas...
Thanks for watching!
Hi! I just watched you for the first time you are amazing! Love your video! I'm going to watch some more. Thank you!
Awe. Thanks so much and thanks for watching!
I LOVE crumpets but they are now AUD$2.20 for 6 - AT HALF PRICE! The price increase is ridiculous - although $2 is the 'right' price IMHO and that's how much they USED to be so you'd have to be an idiot to pay $4.40 - funny how they are now frequently 'on special', we are truly being played by our grocers, and they use the same strategy for many other grocery lines here. This week I finally made crumpets from scratch and oh my, what a success - incredibly quick, so easy and fun to make at a cost of about 25 cents! Never going back to store bought, which often went moldy before being eaten. Great ideas here, thanks Sara!
Awesome! I love that you are making your own! Thanks for watching!
I stopped shopping major grocery stores. The deal on jacking up egg prices and poultry in general or cauliflower because of internet popularity well…. I try to shop local farmers produce, dairy and yes even eggs and meat. I grow a garden. Most herbs in supermarkets are enormously expensive. One tarragon plant will spread. Mint if you don’t eat it will overtake your yard. Basil, oregano, cilantro parsley and chives are too easy to grow and most are perennials. Most can also be grown in containers.
I get kind of jealous of some of the people I see on RUclips with the amount of great markdowns they get from Kroger stores. My local Krogers rarely have markdowns and when they do they’re not marked down by much. It seemed to change around 2020 over here. Before then I would go every Thursday (that’s the day my stores mark most items down) and come out with at least a small basket of some great markdown items. It saved me a lot of money, and helped stretch our budget. I’ve also been noticing sales ads getting smaller and smaller since then as well. Hardly any good sales anymore at all. Especially on meat. The meats we buy used to go on sale on a 3 or so month rotation. I could predict exactly when each one would go on sale, and then stock up for several months. Not anymore. They rarely go on sale, and if they do it’s not much of a sale in my opinion. Our grocery bill has AT LEAST tripled since then. No more deals to be found plus inflation 🤦🏻♀️
I'm totally jealous! We dont even have the Kroger Line here!
Kroger is such a budget saver for me!the mark downs are not much but, sales are great
We don't have Kroger here but none of the stores we do have have markdowns any more. We have the most amazing food bank here and all the stores donate what would be markdowns there. So sale shopping is the way to go here in West Texas.
Learn to coupon. Couponing is not what you think today. You will save so much money. There is a learning curve but it’s worth it. We spend about $100 a month on groceries for the 2 of us. Our cabinets are full. You’ll stop the “do without” mindset and live in abundance.
Eating out is a super treat. Birthday or holiday or special occasion. Savings is incredible!
The same for us. We rarely eat out!
Just discovered your channel. I'm from Central new York.
Great list ❤some of these ideas sound time consuming 🤔would I have time to make bread, make my own lasagna etc
Well thats the trade off. And it really does depend. You will spend no matter what but is it more important to spend your time or your money. if you don't have the money or chose to spend it on other things, then you make the time. 😊
loads of good tips but I also take into account electricity costs when baking cakes or cokies etc...sometimes cheaper to buy here in UK
That's a great point!
Sometimes, I factor in if I could use some baking or stovetop cooking that will heat up my kitchen, then an apartment hvac unit to pick up and distribute the heat. But will turn on the hvac heater after I am done. Same for my crockpot. Sometimes, I will instead, turn off my crockpot, wrap in small blankets, towels and let it finish it's cooking and not worry to much about adding a bit of needed heat in my home.
Grab 3 to 4 calendars given away for free at banks, tourist areas, and by charities at the end of the year. One I use to write down what we ate for the day, another I use to plan coming meals and the third I use to keep track what I harvested from the veggie garden that day (we have an almost year-round garden). The fourth I use to write down what was planted and where.
We just keep stocked up things we eat. We try to buy them mostly on sale. We don't meal plan. Everyone's has their own system that works for them. This saves us a lot of money.
Really? How many people in the home?
So many 'experts' advocate meal planning. As a frugal and mindful prepper, that is not my style. I shop the 'REDUCED' bins for fresh veggies and fruits, early mornings on week days, other than Fridays, because prices are usually higher on weekends and drop right after weekends and holidays. I buy only items I know I will use, eat some now, and dehydrate the rest. One day, I came home with 8 massive bags of fresh. I made mushroom soup, and dehydrated the rest. I have lots of jars of Better Than Boullion, and can make many healthy soups. One rule I stick to, is never open or start something new, until what is open has been used. I have three pantries. One, of items I am using now, one to restock items the first, and one of longterm storage items. By having a large well stocked pantry system, I can eat what I want most of the time.. I never impulse shop, and always buy foods when they are at rock bottom prices. Eating a whole food plant based diet is far less expensive and healthier than eating animal products. Other than food items, I buy as much as possible second hand, but in excelent condition, and take care of everything I have with regular maintence. Living frugally, allows me to mitigate inflation and shortages. A simple lifestyle allows me to better deal with emergency expenses such as petrol to drive long distances to medical appointments, or the extras, that make like more comfortable. Monthly Days Out, help maintain mental health, a change of scenery always brings a fresh perspective on life. Going to grow more of my own food this year, by having a veggie garden and buying more berry bushes and a couple of fruit trees.
I’ve been making your mother’s soup for almost 50 years. As a single mom, I’ve always tried to stretch a dollar. We didn’t throw out that last spoon or two of green beans, corn, etc. still in the pan. I still keep a container in my freezer to add those things. The only difference in ours is the name. Since we would have thrown it out…it’s like free food…”Freebie Soup”.
That is awesome! Love that!
Regarding Chex mix, this is also the time of year when many Costco stores sell the Chex bundle (3 flavors in one bundle) specifically for Chex mix makers. It's generally the cheapest you'll see those cereals price-wise.
Great tip! Thanks!
I eat only once a day. That’s it. No snacks. Used to it now. Had to get my health back.
I get it! 100%!
@@saraconklinfrozenpennies Love your channel, by the way. 🥰
@@curlyb4c95 Thanks so much! I appreciate your watching!
Take advantage of different stores and their sales. For example, I have 3 grocery stores within a mile of my home, utilized their sale flyers, compared prices online, and was able to get a full trunk full of groceries for under $100. Some of the items are stocking up and not needed immediately. I also thought about how to drive the trip in order to save gas and time. I had made a list and only bought those items. One store it was Wednesday, their senior day, and I let them know I was a senior for even more savings. 😊
Great tips. Thank you.
Thanks so much and thanks for watching!
I buy meat when on sale and pressure can it in pints. Perfect size and shelf stable.
An added benefit of meal planning is the mental space it frees up. If I have plan, the nagging question of “What am I going to cook for dinner?” isn’t rattling around in my brain all day.
Oh my gosh! YES! I could not agree more!
as for the soup, I usually don't have any leftovers to freeze, but I will save and freeze vegetable scraps from regular food prep like ends of onions, including the skins, veggie peels like carrots and potatoes, winter squash peels, pulp and seeds, the end of that tomato that never gets eaten, etc. anything that is edible that usually gets tossed. when the bag is full, I add a few cheap root veggies like turnips, parsnips, onion and carrots and make the stock. I like to roast these with olive oil and some spices for some great deep roasted flavor then cook all that on the stovetop with water. strain and toss or compost those used up veggies and make your soup with some fresh ingredients and the stock.
Great idea!
I like hack #21, great idea to have a list by priority and see as we go where we're at with the budget 👍
1B. Don't buy any meat to force the companies to lower the prices.
1C. Don't eat if you are not hungry. It's hard to tell but really works.
I love 1C! Such a great tip. I'm not sure the entire country will get on board for 1B an I think thats what it would take to lower the prices. But super great idea!
Sorry, I eat a carnivore diet. Meat is practically all I eat. So, I'm not going to starve myself or eat bugs as a protest.
I eat meat everyday with either salad or vegetables so wont stop buying it ever
These are good tips:)
I've always called freezer soup, Garbage Soup. It utilizes that stuff in the fridge.
Lol!! That’s great!!
You could always get classy and call it 'potage garbure' which is basically a regional French soup with bits and pieces and whatever is on hand.
Just made some granola, milk jello and rice krispies. So much cheaper!! Loving your videos 😊
Love your snake plant 🪴
Great video! 😊
Thanks for the visit
Im Amish a good meal plan is BreKfast , olde fashioned oatmeal w 1/4 tsp brown sugar an orgsnic orange. Snack an apple or banana. Lunch Chili with Kidney beans n hamburger n generic tomato soup crackers sun iced tea w no sugar n oeanut butter sandwich. Supper. Most hard/,days work is done so Popcrn cheap light tastes good.
Thank you! I’m also in upstate New York
Nice!!! We should start a petition to get Kroger here!!
@@saraconklinfrozenpennies I’ve never been but I’m guessing they have great prices!
@@colleenwood8220 Me neither but the videos of their discounts and sales look pretty fantastic!
👍👍👍
My husband and I always stocked up on sales (on meat canned/frozen etc). When COVID hit we didn't have to go to the store except for dairy every other week or so.
My mom would feed 4 people (2 adults and 2 kids) on a chicken and a few basic veggies last for a week. The first 2 nights it was roasted chicken with sides. Then it was a big pot of soup with homemade stock, a few extra veggies some barley or rice, carrots and celery bought whole and cutting them up (I don't remember baby carrots back then so a sharp knife was the best).
I don't have an Aldi but do have a Kroger family store (a local chain that Kroger bought) and they regularly have "buy one get one free" meat sales and their sales go in cycles so once you figure them out you can buy enough --- to last til the next time. For example - they just had butter on sale for $2.50 a lb if you have a customer card (these are free and give great sales and a minimum of 3 cents off gas - you get gas points with each purchase) I stocked up and froze them. The online coupons are great there too (and I don't have to remember the paper ones). They also regularly have "red tag" meats (meats that have to be used or frozen in a day or two) that can save a lot of money too.
I would guess that most Kroger stores have similar items (the ad she held up looks just like the ones here - I am in the Pacific Northwest).
I just wish we had Kroger here. I've seen some amazing sales on RUclips! I was also totally prepared for the pandemic! Like we've been training our whole lives 😉
@@saraconklinfrozenpennies another thing to point out is that the prettier the package the more it costs to make it, sometimes up to 10cents just for the bag depending on the features the bag has. The company has to buy them in quantities that cost thousands and then the upkeep on the machines to package (a new machine can cost 250k with parts that are hundreds of dollars to replace). Those costs get passed on to the consumer too, so it isn't just inflation of the products it's the packaging as well. We have to look at the big picture.
I am moving to the Midwest and am looking forward to shopping at an Aldi but if there's a Kroger w/in 60mi I will probably check them out too. Lol
I appreciate all your ideas! I only buy cheese when it's on sale and in my area, both block cheese and shredded cheese are the same price. I do like to buy shredded cheese in large quantities and then divide it into smaller portions to freeze. Thanks again!
To my mind, the essentials are: plan your meals, make a list _and stick to it,_ and build up a repertoire of freezer-friendly meals which you can bulk cook.
Those are some great tips! Three of your tips seems like the same thing though - stop buying processed foods, buy Whole Foods and buy ingredients. You can't grocery shop once a month and stock up on the sales and loss leaders. I watch a RUclips channel with a family of 9 and she has a great way of shopping for her family. She makes her list weekly of what they need then looks up the cheapest prices through ads and or walmart, the second cheapest normally in her area. Then she goes to Aldi first. She buys everything at Aldi that is cheaper than anything else in other stores. With Aldi you can't look up their prices online unless it's in their sale ad. She calls it her "price to beat" list. If you aren't blessed to have Aldi near you you can do the same thing with whatever your cheapest grocery store is. It means that she goes to 4 grocery stores almost every week but they are very close together and she figured out she uses less than 50 cents in gas to do it. It takes more time yes but some people have more time than money. You have to find what works for you. As for buying block cheese instead of shredded cheese they are generally the same price per ounce here where I live. Sometimes the shredded is cheaper as shrinkflation sets in and the former 8 oz blocks of cheese start to become 7 oz blocks with the shredded cheese remains 8 oz bags. I do know that stuff gets added to shredded cheese to keep it from sticking together so you might be concerned about those ingredients. I don't think you mentioned buying produce in season. Stock up and freeze. Often if I have vegetables that I'm not going to use before they go bad I just stick them straight in the freezer. Even that fresh spinach. It can easily be added to something when you need it. It chops up great if you chop it up quickly while Frozen and can go into omelets or casseroles or soups. Istick whole tomatoes and peppers straight into the freezer. The great thing about the tomatoes is that the skin comes off so easily when you thaw them to cook. Almost everything can be frozen. If you walk down the freezer aisles and look at the food products that are frozen there you will see what I mean. If they can sell it frozen then you can freeze it as well. That means, if you have the freezer space, it can save you lots of money. Make sure you know where the regular markdowns are kept in your stores. I always hit those spots. I find it's best if you can shop in the mornings whether weekdays or weekends but not first thing when they open where I live. You need to give the employee some time to Mark things down but if you go too late all of the marked down items are sold out. Also, give yourself plenty of time to explore because you will often find clearance items still on the shelves with a special tag instead of moved to the clearance section. Don't forget to get the store apps and clip the digital coupons. If you can still get paper coupons that's great. Also, don't leave out dollar tree. You can actually find some great deals on spices and healthier items there. Just be prepared to compare prices, unit per unit, with the other cheapest store in your area.
Ha ha. I live for those red, yellow and orange Kroger stickers. I’ve had many a meal plan consist almost entirely of those massive markdowns. I always make room for those markdowns and many times I’ll change meal plans to fit the mega deals I run across. Since menopause ha ha I actually find that it just doesn’t take that much actual food to fill me up and give me adequate energy.
That cheesy chili looked so good. That’s what I’m gonna go eat now. Lol. (I already have what I need on hand lol).
I REALLY wish they would come to Upstate NY! I would even be willing to travel an hour to get to one!
@@saraconklinfrozenpennies Lol. I’m sorry. I wonder if there’s got to be something tho. I’m moving to NC at some point and I wonder when I move what will groceries look like there. Currently in burbs of Atlanta GA.
@@goodenoughgirl8102 Oddly enough, none of the stores near me offer any real discounts on anything. I wonder what they do with the things that are getting ready to expire???
@@saraconklinfrozenpennies They gotta go somewhere. I know around here we have several charities that have food banks but one in particular has grown and has free deals for the destitute and very good deals for anyone else for a small donation. You can’t be too squeamish about expired food tho and yet most things are just fine and the exp date on most things Imo is often way too premature. Nice stores around here send them all kinds of “fancy” things as well as staples and non food items.
Idk if you want to try Misfits Market. I think their prices have gone up but they have a pretty good market in what I call “fru fru clearance.” Lol. Organic produce grass fed meats, fancy, vegan etc. It’s kind of like clearance for the more high end stuff. But most times I just hit Kroger Bcuz they often beat Misfit prices with clearance and have more of a selection. Misfits takes some stuff like that. Such as fancy stuff from stores that didn’t sell Bcuz it costs too much. Although I’ve seen a few markdowns even at Aldi but it’s just not near as often and Aldi is pretty good and at least decently reliable on pricing and quality for most things. Walmart eh. I prob sound like a snob but their clearance is often not so great stuff and esp breads etc. It’s like eating cardboard and some stuff just don’t taste right etc. I will hit Walmart or Aldi tho for things like cheap spices or condiments or canned goods or produce at Aldi at times.
This one charity tho. If you play detective you might could find something like that. You go in and give them $10 and you come out with a giant cart full of stuff. Usually overflowing. Usually way more than anyone would know what to do with. Even things from restaurants in huge quantities. Once a frozen extra was like 5 lbs of shaved Philly beef which there was nothing wrong with. Good quality. Or a giant box of huge cinnamon rolls. Some stuff is more relevant than other stuff tho. Lol. (I did not need that many cinnamon rolls lol but I ate all of the beef and could freeze it well). If you can find out where it all goes, you might could find yourself some good stuff for very cheap. Idk if any of that was helpful but prob my extremely curious and detective like nature helps me find what I need. 😅😅
But I also had to find out way back when. I was poor as dirt with friends in low places. Some of them would raid the grocery dumpsters and grab up stuff that was still frozen. I never had to go that far but it’s just that I know that stuff has to go somewhere and it’s better for everyone if they don’t just Chuck it in the trash. I also get some stuff at the dollar stores as it’s a better price (sometimes like dry beans or rice etc). Although the $10 charity often had all of that also. Large bags of pasta, dry goods, dry beans etc. Restaurant sized cans and so on. Feminine hygiene products, toilet paper, vitamins, shampoo and so on. They even helped new moms with formula and diapers and occasionally had pet food. Spend $10 and come out with maybe several hundreds worth of merchandise and food or better. Depending on what came down the pike on any given day. I used to get so much there that I’d wind up giving half of it away. Lol.
@@saraconklinfrozenpennies My local stores donate the close to expiration items to the local food bank.
Some stores are more than others. You have to shop around. And yes I freeze leftovers
I used to eat out all the time like multiple times a day sometimes. I retired early in 2021 ,I knew that I couldn’t keep eating out like that. I quit cold turkey and didn’t eat out for 2 months. I now eat out whenever I want but I don’t want to very often it is usually with friends .I like to make it a special treat to eat something that a restaurant does better than I do. I had/have an addiction to cokes that I think that I have fixed I just don’t buy and bring them home. I don’t deny myself but being that I seldom eat out and I won’t pay $ 3 or more for a soda problem solved.
You must be saving a lot now!
I used to eat out for lunch every day when I worked. Even at $3 to $4 a day it sure adds up. ($15 to $20 s month) I now only get fast food rarely...( 2 times in the last 5 months) and it felt like a real treat. And what I spend for groceries in a month is pretty much what I used to spend on lunches.
Living on Dime pointed out that all the bakery items (like sugar, cake mixes, and butter), and canned goods and turkeys are on sale this week at the Kroger grocery store chains. It may be true for other grocery chains, too. It happens once a year right before Thanksgiving. Stock up on your staples!
I've got my list already! Since we don't have a Kroger near us, I have to hit up some others.
The better sales at Kroger were last week and week before! I also shop Albertsons sales
I bought/cooked eight Turkey’s this year at 89c a lb and have canned most, froze some and froze the bones for future bone broth.
Share the cost of wholesale bulk purchases.
Yay first comment and first like
Lol! You win!! Thanks so much!
good job
GreAt Tips
Plan your car trips carefully, so you make the most of your gasoline in running errands. Instead of driving all over the place to find something, call first. You'll be amazed if you can group your shopping in a logical manner, how much gasoline you will save. 1970's energy crisis tip!
We try to eat less meat. I usually use only half the amount of meat that a recipe calls for, and then use my Food Saver to freeze it for the next recipe.
When ever we have stew ,
I mash down whats leftb,add more mash iff nessesary ,
Make pie crust and make pies ,pasties ,
I allwaye try make 2 to 3 meals out of one lot of meat / veg ect
Alpso i split packs of mince meat ,into 2 to 3 ammounts and freeze
Out of ome pack of mince meat
I will make a stew ,
2 a shepherds pie ,
A pie
Spag bol ,so much u can do with mince
I love this idea!
My opinion on homemade bread. Just be careful. I got breadmaker machine for Christmas and now I have to shop for new clothes 😊. 6 lb in three months 😮.....but it's worth it 😊. Homemade bread soooooo gooooooood😊
Generic or store brand
Buy family packs of meat,and split it up into single portions,wrap well, into Ziploc bags,label,date,freeze.
If you buy chicken breast, butterfly it to double the amount of meat for the same price.
Look for alternative of what you like.find reasonable substitute
Some great tips!
Thanks for watching!
Thanks
Thanks for watching!
Great 👍 video. ❤❤❤
Thanks for the visit
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I have a food saver as well...I use it very well as well...I try to freeze all the sales that I'm able to find while shopping the sales that I find in my local grocery store here is assume. 😊
Nice! My oldest son has one. I may need to borrow it!
@@saraconklinfrozenpennies it works well. It allows 4 u to preserve all sorts of food...and it is well worth the price I paid 4 it. I would buy another 1 if I had 2...
You can buy an attachment to use for Mason jars.
@@activistgranny2.066 that's too much work to use it 4 that. But thanks for the heads up.😀
I can't see that sealing dry foods in jars is really much work.
It's appalling when I watch a channel in which the person talks about being poor, then they turn around and make main dishes that cost $10-20 or a cake that costs $12. And that's a fairly regular occurrence......Carla H.
Well that doesn’t sound like a poor meal but it does sound cheaper than going out to eat. So I’d say a $20 meal could be a frugal meal. 🤷🏻♀️
@@saraconklinfrozenpennies What someone chooses to spend their money on is their business. However, the choices they're making can affect their income (youtube) because of losing subscribers. I've been poor - at times REALLY poor - in my life and I have low tolerance who say they "can't afford to buy American made products, or they can't afford to not buy Chinese crap, but they can afford a $12 cake or to have their eyebrows waxed, etc. Again, it's none of my business and I don't write nasty comments on their channel, but I also quit watching their channel. It would be different to say "this is what I choose to spend my money on" rather than "I can't afford to___".
I have a plan. I plan to cook dinner every night or ever other night. Plan made. 🤔
LOL! Excellent plan!
🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
When hummus goes on sale, I stock up, and freeze most of them. I found out by accident one day that they freeze and defrost perfectly. (No, I’d rather not make my own.)
Make popcorn cookies with stale popcorn 😊
I've never heard of this. I'm going to have to Google it!
I forgot one tip that I read recently - stretch your ground meat with lentils. Choose the lentil closest to the color of the meat you are cooking. You can gradually increase the amount of lentils and most people won't even notice.
I eat more nose to tail. Keeps me healthier anyway. Hoping we bring in some venison.
I love venison. Makes a GREAT stew!
@@saraconklinfrozenpennies And it makes GREAT chili!!
The problem is when you have been doing all of those for years, then what do you do?
Another great money saver (& even more important,y, a health saver) is to quit buying microwaveable popcorn packets,. The packaging is known to carcinogenic! Buy a microwaable popcorn maker and make your own.
I never buy meat or dairy. Vegan or vegetarian is so much cheaper and healthier. Don’t buy vegan substitutes. They’re super expensive, super processed and don’t have a good taste. But I will say some Morningstar sausage is very good. I always drink water.
Thanks for sharing!! And thanks for watching!
I totally agree with you 😊
Stop buying plants 😂🤣😂
Toss the whole uncooked spinach bag in the freezer, it's fine. Less steps
Yup! Perfect for smoothies, soups, and hot spinach dip!
How about turning the tv off or put the phone down and go make dinner!
How are you suppose to be inflation when prices got ever every day or week.
That is an excellent question! I guess cut back on non discretionary spending or make more money.
It's hard and it takes a lot of creativity, but I have been able to do it. I haven't been to Aldi for 6 weeks, but I was still able to keep my monthly food costs in October to $169, and ate very well.
@@1mourningdove54Am getting to that point also. Am getting close to lowering my monthly single person food costs to $170. Takes time, creativity and occasionally a mad scientist in the kitchen of me wanting to first try out on low levels of cooking, freezing and storage management. Relocated a year ago and food costs have been the most challenging in starting new along with an emergency at home sufficient, basic food pantry. Reviewed my first year in, lots of hard work. Went to food banks to get me by now and then. But am able to donate back to my seniors complex food pantry when I purchase a few items on sale for my pantry, then I can donate an item. Was it hard work, incorporating food management from different places I have lived. On the internet provides valuable information that I like to sometimes experiment. Food management does not come overnight. Takes a working mindset from budgets to store to home. But the nickel and dimes here and there are finally starting to show some kind of payoff in eating healthier and still stay on a tiny budget.
Your spelling and words makes no sense.