As a retiree and a child of depression era parents/grandparents - homemade & bulk is a basic mantra. 1) I dont buy pre shredded cheese (to much stuff coating the shreds) & I just grate it as needed! 2) gave up daily coffee's out (only for a treat once in awhile) I buy the best coffee I can afford (that we both like) & make ours at home! 3) l learn how to make my own cooking sauces - less chemicals & salt. 4) stock up on meats,... when on sale or clearance racks!
We are a family of 11 ,from California and I really need to cut done on my expenses. I’m spending way too much monthly.Great video, you brought me back too my reality…..Thanks for the tips!!
Buying frozen prepared meals (usually 2-3 at a time) are game changers for busy nights. There have been SO MANY TIMES where I throw a frozen Garlic Butter Shrimp dish on the stove that takes 10 minutes instead of swinging through the drive thru. Certainly not every night, but there's definitely a place for them!
@@katiefrolichman We eat at home for almost every meal. The few frozen meals I buy once a month on clearance or at the grocery outlet keep us from eating out and really do us save us money. Thank you though.
@@alekasmith9373 I commented bc you went against the first thing she said 🤣 But I get it. Premade is better than fast food. Good on you for being balanced and limiting your eating out
A big caveat would be for people living alone. I find individual packaging to be worth way more since my snacks don't go stale before I get to them. Same with premade meals since the cost of ingredients for a smaller portion is more than the premade version & freezer space is so valuable for singles because I freeze so many things that can't be bought in smaller quantities
As someone who once lived alone, it was way cheaper to spend one night a week where I would preportion and freeze my food. (As well as putting my snacks in little baggies by how much I would eat in one go) Single meals, you're being gouged for packaging.
People living alone still have freezers, though, so you don't have to get price-gouged on small things unless you fail to make the most of your freezer.
This is an excuse. I know that sounds harsh, but i am a single mom with a 5 year old child raising her alone. The amount we eat is really only about as much as a single man. Trust me, when every penny counts, you will realize that meal prep is the most efficient and healthy way to do things. All you have to do is meal prep once a month - portion out your dry snacks in sealed, reusable containers- they will not go stale if you do it as soon as you open a new container. I buy bulk meats from costco, and section out 2 person servings to freeze. My daughter & I usually only eat one serving of it, but I cook a double serving so then I have steak pre-cooked & precut for lunch salads, or to make omelets with that week. Also the amount of chemicals a person consumes in prepackaged food is revolting. Especially for us women who are more easily affected hormonally/chemically by this stuff. Do yourself a favor and at least try it for 2 months. You might be shocked at how good you feel and how much money you save. Good luck ❤
I keep some food in fridge not to keep it cool but to keep it dry. Some foods become stale because of the moisture in the air. So cookies, crackers, chips go to fridge once it's opened.
Half of the items in my freezer are thanks to you! I have never frozen premade foods and I now have cooked ground turkey, shredded chicken, waffles, pancakes, meatballs, muffins, etc and they all taste exactly the same as if I made them day of. I cannot thank you enough
@@ibolyap what? 😂 I was suggesting a cool video she could do. Google recipes? Bahahahaha that was not the point of my comment. I know how to make beans! I was just saying it would be cool if she made a video of her doing it
I always appreciate these reminders!! Some are things I do, some things I choose to do slightly differently, a couple things I don’t usually think of, but sometimes I just get out of the habit of being laser focused of budgeting food cost! We just bought our FIRST HOME!!!! And so I finally get to have my first real (semi large) garden since a kid!!!😍😍😍
Congratulations on your home!!!! I plan to buy one next year when I get my husband's social security and have a huge garden. Hopefully the land will already have some fruit trees growing on it.
Awesome tips! Here's a little note to consider: When it comes to shredded cheese, to cut some of the costs, I never buy pre-shredded cheese, as it's more expensive. Instead, I purchase a large block of chees and shred it myself.
@@cindyhunter2438Yes, I’ve been thinking about buying block cheese and shredding it myself! But at least I have been buying the shed. Cheese in large pkg. or on sale.
Totally agree with everything except the Instant Mashed Potatoes. I always keep those on hand to help thicken soups, an alternative to panko/breadcrumbs for breading's and binders, or even to thicken mashed potatoes if they end up too thin.
I thought the same exact thing, the generic mashed potato flakes are cheap plus they keep forever, unlike fresh potatoes. Ok 😅 now someone's gonna say dehydrate them yourself! But like you said, if you're only using as a binder, or to stretch actual potatoes or other recipe, it's not hurting anything to keep on hand.
@@laurao3274 True, but flour has to be cooked out or it has a raw taste, and cornstarch likes to clump. If you are already making a creamy soup or stew, instant masked potatoes are a fast way to thicken something. It's something that I've always done, but I also learned it in culinary school.
I used to love buy instant Mashed Potatoes but I prefer making mashed potatoes from scratch. Instant Mashed Potatoes just seem so gritty no matter how much water is supposed to be added.
My grandparents on my dad's side never ever bought mayonnaise. They made it when they needed it for a meal, like for fries. I remember them making the fries for me, and making the mayo as they went. It tasted so much better than any store bought one I can find these days. All it takes is vinegar, mustard, and egg, and some elbow grease in order not to have it shift on you, it's an art, but it's an amazing one to master!
@@laurao3274 well take "elbow grease" with a grain of salt, please, I mean... come on... even with a blender you have to be careful for it not to shift on you.
We buy those big Jimmy Dean sausage rolls and when we get them home I portion them out into patties and freeze them, we can eat them as patties - cook pretty quickly or we can thaw them relatively quickly to use for breakfast casseroles /other dishes. So easy!!!
In the Netherlands we have a thing called, too good to go. Grocery stores have like fruit, vegetables that have a bad one so they can't sell the package as normal. So for instance Lidl, you can buy a bag for €3,- with sellery, 8 pears, 6 apples, 1 mango, 3 small garlic, package of long thin green beans. It varies what they have but you need to get in time in store. For other grocery stores they even have meats of bread (that you can freeze) for like €5,-
In my part of Kentucky, our grocery store has 4 different clearance racks (produce, bakery-breads, meats & general items) - I always stop at the meats (which is how I can afford to have steaks 1-2 times a month!) and I only buy clearance items that I know I will use that week or over the next month. (meat is repacked for the freezer) - helps cut the cost of getting groceries!
An instant pot is an amazing way to cook beans last minute! I’m always forgetting to soak beans or cook them in advance. The instant pot cooks them so fast! I usually make a double or triple batch of beans and freeze for future meals to grab quickly.
Pre cooking ground beef was the biggest game changer for me. I have always purchased the large pack but I would freeze the rest uncooked. Freezing it cooked makes dinner that much easier.
I live alone, and it's important for me to eat mostly organic foods, and to buy from local farmers as much as I can. Of course that is much more expensive, but there are still ways I save money: 1. I use meat as more of a flavoring in food rather than the main focus of a dinner. 2. I also buy my spices in bulk (and organic) from my local health food store; if it's something I rarely use, I buy just a teeny amount, then the rest of the jar isn't wasted and tossed a year later when the flavor has faded. I also make my own bread, kombucha, etc., and I grow my own veggies and herbs in the summer. I completely agree with you on using dried rather than canned beans. I do keep 1-2 cans around for days I haven't planned ahead, but beans don't take that long to cook if you have an Instant Pot!
As a single older person, using a vacuum sealer has saved me so much! Freezing the food in a bag, then vacuum sealing works best. Plus you can reseal cereal bags, chips, salad, crackers etc. And they last so much longer! You can make your own small portion bags with vacuum sealer. (There is a button for sealing only!)
Yes! Cooking at least two meals worth in one cooking session gives you another meal to eat later in the week if you put it in the fridge or you can freeze it for anytime over the next few months. If you choose to eat it later the same week it makes meal planning easier because for each recipe you choose, you get 2 meals out of it. You're so right about dried beans. Having an instapot and quite a few bean recipes (chipolte black beans, Indian Red beans, garbanzo beans for hummus, ) makes it so easy. It cooks both dried beans and soaked overnight beans. Google cook times. When I buy a rotisserie chicken or cook a raw chicken, I save the bones, put them in my instapot with scraps of veggies (optional) and dill with water, cooking on high pressure for several hours to get delicious and very cheap bone broth.
Can you freeze a block of cheese and have it thaw like normal? I’m thinking the reason she says cheese can be frozen is because she buys shredded and I imagine all the preservatives allows it to freeze well.
@@kmallen88I never buy shredded cheese for the reason above as it costs more as you’re paying for the labor. I buy block of cheeses, shred them first, measuring them in 1/2 cups, 1 cups, place them in ziplock freezer bags in thin layer. I try not to overcrowd it, squeeze all the air out and carefully place them in the freezer horizontally to maintain that thin layer to avoid them sticking together at least until they’re totally frozen. I also shredded them and placed them in cookie sheets (again, thin layer), froze them then transferred them into small containers. I made a mistake freezing cheese blocks many years ago, thawed them out and it crumbled when I tried grating them. Messy!!!
I freeze garlic and ginger and butter and cheese. Game changer for me. I also make my own sauces. I have to learn salad dressings. Thank you for this video.
Same, except for the cheese. I also freeze tomato paste by the tablespoon in ice cube trays, because who tf can actually use more than a couple Ts before the whole can goes bad? Does the cheese texture stay the same when you thaw it? It's almost Kerrygold Dubliner with Irish Stout time, and I would LOVE to be able to stock my freezer to carry me through the long, dark cheese famine that is the rest of the year.
@triciad4100 hi from Ireland. I know mozzarella is exactly the same taste and texture after defrosting but haven't tried other cheese, not big cheese eaters
Just started implementing the bean tip, OMG what a difference in taste! I used to buy canned beans without thinking and always felt beans weren't the best tasting thing, Until I started cooking them from scratch. They are so flavorful especially after soaking them in salted water. What a game changer. Now they go in everything lol. Fantastic upload doll!
I always use dry beans, chickpeas, lentils etc. I feel like americans don't buy them as much. Every video i've seen from the us (grocery hauls, cooking) involving beans or chickpeas, they're always canned.
@@silviamagda It's true! I think because it's convenient, (Americans love convenience 😂) we just go with it but you seriously miss out on the flavor with canned beans. I refuse to go back. It takes a little more work but it's so worth it to use dry beans.
Bottled water. The price went up to 1.69 a gallon and i was going thru 1 a day. I bought the largest zerowater glass dispenser with filter...no more hauling gallons and just pennies a day..to save even more in filters u can prefilter ur water with a brita then filter that water with the zerowater unit. Filters last forever at zero ppm 😊
I always try to get things in bulk and make homemade from scratch meals. Its how I was raised, its much better for you, tastes wayyyyy betrer, not hard to do and you are right, saves lots of money❤
Thanks for this reminder. My husband and I completely lost our minds in 2023. Budget went out the window, LOL. My daughters are in college, and it's just us home, but 2024 is the savings year. We plan on eating home this year! 90% of the time. Thanks for the tips!!!
Even though there’s only two of us left at home, I still do all of these, with one exception. We travel a lot, and on long car trips I bring the fair life protein drinks with 42 g of protein. My husband doesn’t like to stop and I need to get my protein in.
We last had 5KG of onions on sale for €3.99 in our Lidl, got it, we chopped them all, froze them in individual, fill the bottom of a pot/pan size baggies. We had 20 bags / portions out of that whole bag. Yes it took a while, a couple hours in fact, but they dare ask €1.99 for a small little pot of onions where I live, a small portion that doesn't even cover your pan.
The way you explained the 3$ 10 mins difference for the butternut squash was great. Youre very good at highlighting the hidden opportunity cost that comes with making these choices.
We do a lot of this. There are always areas to improve.. My need to improve on snack items. I have an athletic teen boy who eats through my pantry. Everyone in my home has different dietary restrictions so trying to find a happy medium that fits all needs is super hard. Groceries is like a sport in my house. It takes so much energy and food prep. I have been slowly transitioning to pantry and freezer cooking which has made a world of difference! I learned that from you but tweaked it for my families dietary needs! Serious game changer! I always love all of your tips and tricks! My secret is I buy bulk fresh veggies when they are in season because they are cheaper and at their prime nutritional wise. Then I blanch and freeze them in single meal positions. This allows my family to enjoy healthy veggies that last for months and months. No yucky preservatives.
Bulk is not always the best price. You have to do your due diligence and do unit pricing to see if it's a good price. Sometimes if it's a really good sale at a Kroger store you can buy smaller packages cheaper than buying the bulk bag at Sam's of cheese. You just need to do the little bit extra effort to figure that out. Plus at Sam's there's a lot of name brand items like canned green beans whereas you can get them cheaper at Walmart then buying a whole case of them at Sam's.
1, Right, so while you are already making dinner, make extra 2, plus you get more for bulk. Vs. Small packs. Cheese- buy bulk bar and grate all one time, most of the time it's cheaper. Cream cheese, unless you are putting it in a dish , it will be a weird texture, but shoot if you sandwich your bagel they will never know haha. Meat- you can also put marinates in with your meat while separating, bam 1 step done on cook day. Food savers can be found at a reasonable price vs, tossing baggies if you don't wash them.. look for deals and buy a couple extra when they are on sale.
As an “older” person I have a hard time believing everyone doesn’t already know these common sense tips. I’ve been doing most of them my whole life. It takes more time and a little planning, but it’s so worth it. It’s understandable to cut corners here and there if you’re a busy, working parent, but if you need to save $, and who doesn’t, at least do some of them. 😊
I do the same. I do have can beans for when I am in a hurry but I keep a food grade bucket with beans, rice etc. I also buy flour in bulk and divide it up vacuum seal and put in food grade buckets. The one thing I do differently is I grate my own cheese because of what they put on shredded cheese so it doesn't stick. I still grate mine and freeze. It sticks a little bit but not bad when it saves money. Yes you can freeze practically everything. Butter, cheese and milk. Yep you can freeze all of that. That shocks many people. I use a whole chicken including the bones. They make really good broth and then freeze that. I make all my tomato products from the garden tomatoes and freeze. Once I run out of freezer space I dehydrate the rest of the tomatoes and use as a thickener.
I've been following since my teens were tots and you have never steered me wrong but of course these are all things I do except buying my individual protein shakes because I'm usually throwing it to my 15 year old on her way out the door between work and school
I would look at the ingredients on the protein shake bottles. I use the premier brand and say it has some type of oil in it and the power version doesn't. It also taste way better in the power version. I bought small shaker bottles off Amazon and rinse them out when I'm done and wash them when I get home.
hey Jordan, you must get a kick out of the myriad of silly excuses people have to not change. When my husband got cancer change for us was not an option. and now after all the changes, I would never go back. We are now accepting of "discipline" in all aspects of our life!!!! good things must be achieved, and the status quot is some times deadly or miseable. Thanks for great, healthier tips!!!
Every couple weeks I do a bulk prep day. Prep and freeze pre portioned soup, pasta, diced chicken, etc. I also make my own garlic bread, waffles, etc and freeze them. It takes some time but I just put on a podcast and get to work. I work full time, have a son, and am pregnant, but I'll sacrifice some down time for a day to gain so much of it back over the following weeks bc everything is already done. I have to agree it saves money and is better for us. My general rule is that the more that had to be done for you, the more it will cost you.
Well that is basic life here in Finland and mostly in the whole Europe. Make your food from the scratch. Buy bigger bulks of meets, veggies you use alot and cut & dice those and freeze. The less you buy produced food the healthier it will be.
Can we have a video on how to save money whether you in college or in early 20s? From cooking, car buying, education costs etc. I feel that's where alot of bad financial decisions and problems start and I didn't have parents who were financially fluent.
Love this idea! I'm 40 now but would love a video like this for ideas for my niece who is 27. But I am in the need for a new car badly and have student loans still
I always make my own salad dressing, not just for the cost issue, but I’m trying to avoid seed oils. That’s pretty much the only way I can do it, because I am not paying $10 a bottle for primal kitchen.
And it's so easy. I just did one today, it took me less than 3 minutes to prepare it. I usually make a larger quantity to last me a week. I mixed extra virgin olive oil, vinegar, a bit of honey or maple syrup, mustard, salt, pepper and dried thyme. Mixed it to emulsify and that's it. I never buy salad dressing. We only have a few in the stores either way. Not like in the US.
A bin on top shelf of fridge to put the things that need to be eaten up before it goes bad so it doesn't get wasted that way it is contained in the front at eye level and not shoved in the back, keeps inventory of fridge well known too and helps prevent food waste which is a huge money waster.
Oh one thing is lentils are a good source of protein and easy and quick to prepare. Learning about other healthier sources of protein and incorporating them into your meals can help cut the cost of the ever growing cost of animal proteins. That helps to save a lot of money too. Also other avenues to save are shop a store where you get fuel points so you save on that with the crazy prices of fuel so you can save in that department as well. Produce shop what is in season. So many other things that can help.
I also started using the wrapper rule at my house and if they don't finish it at school they can have whatever is left in the lunch boxes for a snack if they are hungry when they get home
Invest in a kid size bento boxes. Then you can bulk buy for snacks and sides. You also save on plastic bags etc. for little kids having less to open is a plus
When chicken breasts go on sale I stock up and grind them myself with an attachment to my kitchen aid. Also to grind beef. Sometimes London Broils go on sale for under 1.50 lb. makes great hamburger!
Make sure to compare the cost, per ounce, of dried beans to canned beans. Sometimes canned are cheaper. However, I love cooking dried beans. I add my own spices according to the type of dish I’m making. A rice cooker is wonderful. I use beef, chicken on vegetable broth instead of plain water and add seasonings according to the type of meal I’m making.
FYI buying groceries at Aldi maybe cheaper but check the serving sizes. I learned that buying bulk and making it into smaller portions is the way to go.
You can freeze watermelon and turn it into watermelon slushes. Even the watermelons that aren't very good and you want to throw out taste good in a slush. I've been buying the little snack portion bags. Then i get big bags of chips, goldfish, trail mix etc.. and portion it out myself. Its affodable this way. Yay
Can beans are easy to can yourself also just need a pressure cooker a canning pressure cooker that is mason jars and the beans and pre-cooked the beans a little bit but other than that they’re done quickly. They’re done way faster than cooking a pot of beans for all day long.
Great tips so easy to go for the small bag but an extra five minutes bag your own chips. They also sell those apples squeeze pouches now, so you can buy and refill them over and over if your fond of the actual pouch I have been buying the big bag of cheese for a while now I bag them into the quart freezer bags so I can take out a little at a time but you could even fill them less if you want also if it’s not to smooshed together when frozen you can usually break it apart to get what you need for that recipe without thawing the whole bag
For anyone interested in more saving money /cooking tips, I HIGHLY recommend Frugal Fit Mom on UA-cam. Christine is 1) hilarious 2) fantastic at cooking good food for cheap 3) showing how she cooks large meals for 3 teenagers & 2 adult athletes 4)inspiring - I always get good ideas. Her recent video on expired food is fantastic & extremely practical. You’ll love her.
Loving this ❤❤❤❤❤ You have a new follower! I am looking forward to binging on your channel. Prepared or shelf stable meals are usually pretty bad for you. Meal prep once a month is a life saver- literally for your physical health, and also financially. Bonus points - buying in bulk substantially reduces trash ♻️ if you are using reusable containers. Stop using zip lock bags (extra cost = extra trash).
While it's not cost-effective, I will continue to buy 5lbs bags of instant potatoes, especially when on sale. We don't use it much but lasts me as backup for the winter. Especially for the kid allergic to everything in the morning rush for lunch. I'll still try freezing some though. Good idea.
If your family makes a lot of pancakes, it's easy to just make extra and freeze them. They freeze and reheat really well. And it's way cheaper to cook them yourself than to buy the boxes of them. Plus, it's better for the environment.
Instant pot mashed potatoes are the BEST!!! Made them on Thanksgiving and was a huge hit ❤ thanks for the tips Jordan! Hope you and your family are well!
Family of 6 here and we definitely cut our grocery bills very close to half. We were easily spending $1000 or more a month on groceries for all 6 of us. We just spend more time cooking and baking our own snacks now.
Hi, thanks for the video! Things seem to be obvious, but a perfect reminder! Thanks! Sometimes I buy something on the go, but to be purposeful in budgeting - good advice! I tend to buy something in bulks when there are great discounts and the term is long as well (of course, for the products I really need and use and eat :)
Hi. Jordan Page. RIGHT on. I did this since i was a Student and Still do this. I have two younger sibbling, who buy conveince foods. They do work entertain and love to go out, when their free...i have money left over and a packed fridge. My entertaing is my sister,s i cook lots and all fresh, traditional. Only in Autmn and Winter months... they love all the newer receipes, and the amontt of yummy frezh foods, which i cook early morning. It costs 1/3 what we pay when we eat out? Thanky Jordan...You make a Huge Difference to Peoples Lives.
I totally agree with all of what u have said....when it comes to portioning out meat i just use my food saver which helps me to freeze any n all meats n other things where it doesnt cost much of anything n saves a bunch of MOLLA....!! 😊😊😊
In Canada if you buy pre diced fruit and veggies you pay taxes on it. If you buy regular fruits and veggies you don’t pay taxes on it
What about people with disabilities tho?
As a retiree and a child of depression era parents/grandparents - homemade & bulk is a basic mantra. 1) I dont buy pre shredded cheese (to much stuff coating the shreds) & I just grate it as needed!
2) gave up daily coffee's out (only for a treat once in awhile) I buy the best coffee I can afford (that we both like) & make ours at home!
3) l learn how to make my own cooking sauces - less chemicals & salt.
4) stock up on meats,... when on sale or clearance racks!
Same here! Starting making chocolate syrup. And all my dry mixes!
We are a family of 11 ,from California and I really need to cut done on my expenses. I’m spending way too much monthly.Great video, you brought me back too my reality…..Thanks for the tips!!
We all need a little reminder sometimes to rein it in!
A family of 11 and reside in Cali?! 😳😬How do y'all afford it?
@@MsInspireTooBeInspiredHer husband has to have a dynamite job!!!
Where you shop makes a huge difference. Do you have winco near you. That alone saves us thousands
I do disagree about always buying the biggest size. Sometimes a smaller size is actually cheaper per unit. Math is needed here
Buying frozen prepared meals (usually 2-3 at a time) are game changers for busy nights. There have been SO MANY TIMES where I throw a frozen Garlic Butter Shrimp dish on the stove that takes 10 minutes instead of swinging through the drive thru. Certainly not every night, but there's definitely a place for them!
This is costly.
Make it yourself on a Sunday night, say, and it’s better than store bought at a fraction of the price
@@katiefrolichman We eat at home for almost every meal. The few frozen meals I buy once a month on clearance or at the grocery outlet keep us from eating out and really do us save us money. Thank you though.
@@alekasmith9373 I commented bc you went against the first thing she said 🤣
But I get it. Premade is better than fast food. Good on you for being balanced and limiting your eating out
She is not telling anything new. Just a chance to flag her work.
What I do is cook double and freeze one and eat the other that way I can have something when it’s a busy night
A big caveat would be for people living alone. I find individual packaging to be worth way more since my snacks don't go stale before I get to them. Same with premade meals since the cost of ingredients for a smaller portion is more than the premade version & freezer space is so valuable for singles because I freeze so many things that can't be bought in smaller quantities
As someone who once lived alone, it was way cheaper to spend one night a week where I would preportion and freeze my food. (As well as putting my snacks in little baggies by how much I would eat in one go) Single meals, you're being gouged for packaging.
People living alone still have freezers, though, so you don't have to get price-gouged on small things unless you fail to make the most of your freezer.
Maybe a vacuum sealer could help with snacks going stale - try finding one at the thrift store to save on cost.
This is an excuse. I know that sounds harsh, but i am a single mom with a 5 year old child raising her alone. The amount we eat is really only about as much as a single man. Trust me, when every penny counts, you will realize that meal prep is the most efficient and healthy way to do things. All you have to do is meal prep once a month - portion out your dry snacks in sealed, reusable containers- they will not go stale if you do it as soon as you open a new container. I buy bulk meats from costco, and section out 2 person servings to freeze. My daughter & I usually only eat one serving of it, but I cook a double serving so then I have steak pre-cooked & precut for lunch salads, or to make omelets with that week. Also the amount of chemicals a person consumes in prepackaged food is revolting. Especially for us women who are more easily affected hormonally/chemically by this stuff. Do yourself a favor and at least try it for 2 months. You might be shocked at how good you feel and how much money you save. Good luck ❤
I keep some food in fridge not to keep it cool but to keep it dry. Some foods become stale because of the moisture in the air. So cookies, crackers, chips go to fridge once it's opened.
Half of the items in my freezer are thanks to you! I have never frozen premade foods and I now have cooked ground turkey, shredded chicken, waffles, pancakes, meatballs, muffins, etc and they all taste exactly the same as if I made them day of. I cannot thank you enough
You never ever answer BUT I would LOVE a video on you making these basics you just talked about. Sauces. Beans, etc
It’s all on her website and cookbooks, or just simply google recepies
@@ibolyap what? 😂 I was suggesting a cool video she could do. Google recipes? Bahahahaha that was not the point of my comment. I know how to make beans! I was just saying it would be cool if she made a video of her doing it
She mentioned a discount code for her cookbook … I don’t see it..🤷🏼♀️
She just wants us all to buy her cookbook this is just a huge infomercial for her cookbook
@@PrincessKryssiQT agree
I always appreciate these reminders!! Some are things I do, some things I choose to do slightly differently, a couple things I don’t usually think of, but sometimes I just get out of the habit of being laser focused of budgeting food cost! We just bought our FIRST HOME!!!! And so I finally get to have my first real (semi large) garden since a kid!!!😍😍😍
Congratulations on your home!!!! I plan to buy one next year when I get my husband's social security and have a huge garden. Hopefully the land will already have some fruit trees growing on it.
Awesome tips! Here's a little note to consider: When it comes to shredded cheese, to cut some of the costs, I never buy pre-shredded cheese, as it's more expensive. Instead, I purchase a large block of chees and shred it myself.
Plus there’s a coating on the cheese just like there is on pre cut veggies and fruit
@@cindyhunter2438Yes, I’ve been thinking about buying block cheese and shredding it myself! But at least I have been buying the shed. Cheese in large pkg. or on sale.
I shred the cheese in my food processor. It tastes much better than oregano shredded cheese
I recently tried this and the taste difference is insane! Fresh is so much better! I bought an attachment for my kitchen aid
I do that too, it's cheaper. My kids love grating the block cheese in the food processor.
Jordan - this was the loving butt kick/pep-talk we ALL needed. Thank you!
Totally agree with everything except the Instant Mashed Potatoes. I always keep those on hand to help thicken soups, an alternative to panko/breadcrumbs for breading's and binders, or even to thicken mashed potatoes if they end up too thin.
Great tips. Thank you!
I thought the same exact thing, the generic mashed potato flakes are cheap plus they keep forever, unlike fresh potatoes. Ok 😅 now someone's gonna say dehydrate them yourself! But like you said, if you're only using as a binder, or to stretch actual potatoes or other recipe, it's not hurting anything to keep on hand.
You can also thicken soups with flour or corn starch.
@@laurao3274 True, but flour has to be cooked out or it has a raw taste, and cornstarch likes to clump. If you are already making a creamy soup or stew, instant masked potatoes are a fast way to thicken something. It's something that I've always done, but I also learned it in culinary school.
I used to love buy instant Mashed Potatoes but I prefer making mashed potatoes from scratch. Instant Mashed Potatoes just seem so gritty no matter how much water is supposed to be added.
My grandparents on my dad's side never ever bought mayonnaise. They made it when they needed it for a meal, like for fries. I remember them making the fries for me, and making the mayo as they went. It tasted so much better than any store bought one I can find these days. All it takes is vinegar, mustard, and egg, and some elbow grease in order not to have it shift on you, it's an art, but it's an amazing one to master!
It no longer takes elbow grease. You can do it with an immersion blender in seconds. Unless you want to use a whisk, then go for it.
@@laurao3274 well take "elbow grease" with a grain of salt, please, I mean... come on... even with a blender you have to be careful for it not to shift on you.
We buy those big Jimmy Dean sausage rolls and when we get them home I portion them out into patties and freeze them, we can eat them as patties - cook pretty quickly or we can thaw them relatively quickly to use for breakfast casseroles /other dishes. So easy!!!
So smart! Thanks for the tip about cutting g sausage roll.
Living in the Caribbean we do most of these for years now and it really does save you from spending alot on groceries. Love this video
In the Netherlands we have a thing called, too good to go. Grocery stores have like fruit, vegetables that have a bad one so they can't sell the package as normal. So for instance Lidl, you can buy a bag for €3,- with sellery, 8 pears, 6 apples, 1 mango, 3 small garlic, package of long thin green beans.
It varies what they have but you need to get in time in store. For other grocery stores they even have meats of bread (that you can freeze) for like €5,-
We have that here in Ireland but I've only managed to ever buy 1 ! It was a great box though and I was delighted
In my part of Kentucky, our grocery store has 4 different clearance racks (produce, bakery-breads, meats & general items) - I always stop at the meats (which is how I can afford to have steaks 1-2 times a month!) and I only buy clearance items that I know I will use that week or over the next month. (meat is repacked for the freezer) - helps cut the cost of getting groceries!
Wat leuk, een mede-lander die hier ook naar kijkt!❤
Totally agree! I only keep a few pre cooked meals on hand from Costco yo prevent us from buying out!
Why not make and freeze to have on hand?
An instant pot is an amazing way to cook beans last minute! I’m always forgetting to soak beans or cook them in advance. The instant pot cooks them so fast! I usually make a double or triple batch of beans and freeze for future meals to grab quickly.
How do you cook them in the instant pot? I was gifted a used instant pot & have no clue what to use it for yet, lol.
Pre cooking ground beef was the biggest game changer for me. I have always purchased the large pack but I would freeze the rest uncooked. Freezing it cooked makes dinner that much easier.
I live alone, and it's important for me to eat mostly organic foods, and to buy from local farmers as much as I can. Of course that is much more expensive, but there are still ways I save money: 1. I use meat as more of a flavoring in food rather than the main focus of a dinner. 2. I also buy my spices in bulk (and organic) from my local health food store; if it's something I rarely use, I buy just a teeny amount, then the rest of the jar isn't wasted and tossed a year later when the flavor has faded. I also make my own bread, kombucha, etc., and I grow my own veggies and herbs in the summer.
I completely agree with you on using dried rather than canned beans. I do keep 1-2 cans around for days I haven't planned ahead, but beans don't take that long to cook if you have an Instant Pot!
Spices are way cheaper to buy at import stores, if you have any near you. I get almost all of mine at the Indian store.
@@laurao3274 agreed! I don't have any near me, but when I venture into the city, I do take advantage of them. I stock up on basmati rice there too.
Deforst button on the microwave is amazing for last minute on defrosting meat
As a single older person, using a vacuum sealer has saved me so much! Freezing the food in a bag, then vacuum sealing works best. Plus you can reseal cereal bags, chips, salad, crackers etc. And they last so much longer! You can make your own small portion bags with vacuum sealer. (There is a button for sealing only!)
Yes!
Cooking at least two meals worth in one cooking session gives you another meal to eat later in the week if you put it in the fridge or you can freeze it for anytime over the next few months. If you choose to eat it later the same week it makes meal planning easier because for each recipe you choose, you get 2 meals out of it.
You're so right about dried beans. Having an instapot and quite a few bean recipes (chipolte black beans, Indian Red beans, garbanzo beans for hummus, ) makes it so easy. It cooks both dried beans and soaked overnight beans. Google cook times.
When I buy a rotisserie chicken or cook a raw chicken, I save the bones, put them in my instapot with scraps of veggies (optional) and dill with water, cooking on high pressure for several hours to get delicious and very cheap bone broth.
Don’t buy pre-shredded cheese, it costs more. They put stuff on it to keep it from sticking together and you can shred it yourself.
Can you freeze a block of cheese and have it thaw like normal? I’m thinking the reason she says cheese can be frozen is because she buys shredded and I imagine all the preservatives allows it to freeze well.
@@kmallen88I never buy shredded cheese for the reason above as it costs more as you’re paying for the labor. I buy block of cheeses, shred them first, measuring them in 1/2 cups, 1 cups, place them in ziplock freezer bags in thin layer. I try not to overcrowd it, squeeze all the air out and carefully place them in the freezer horizontally to maintain that thin layer to avoid them sticking together at least until they’re totally frozen. I also shredded them and placed them in cookie sheets (again, thin layer), froze them then transferred them into small containers. I made a mistake freezing cheese blocks many years ago, thawed them out and it crumbled when I tried grating them. Messy!!!
So to summarize, just shop BIG, and i agree i do this too :) Prepackage is always so much more expensive!
I freeze garlic and ginger and butter and cheese. Game changer for me. I also make my own sauces. I have to learn salad dressings. Thank you for this video.
Same, except for the cheese. I also freeze tomato paste by the tablespoon in ice cube trays, because who tf can actually use more than a couple Ts before the whole can goes bad?
Does the cheese texture stay the same when you thaw it? It's almost Kerrygold Dubliner with Irish Stout time, and I would LOVE to be able to stock my freezer to carry me through the long, dark cheese famine that is the rest of the year.
@triciad4100 Yes the texture stays the same.
@@j.chayo45 YES, thanks!!! I'm gonna buy a whole a$$ wheel! 🤗🧀
@triciad4100 hi from Ireland. I know mozzarella is exactly the same taste and texture after defrosting but haven't tried other cheese, not big cheese eaters
Can onions be frozen?? Love my onions!! ??
Just started implementing the bean tip, OMG what a difference in taste! I used to buy canned beans without thinking and always felt beans weren't the best tasting thing, Until I started cooking them from scratch. They are so flavorful especially after soaking them in salted water. What a game changer. Now they go in everything lol. Fantastic upload doll!
I always use dry beans, chickpeas, lentils etc. I feel like americans don't buy them as much. Every video i've seen from the us (grocery hauls, cooking) involving beans or chickpeas, they're always canned.
@@silviamagda It's true! I think because it's convenient, (Americans love convenience 😂) we just go with it but you seriously miss out on the flavor with canned beans. I refuse to go back. It takes a little more work but it's so worth it to use dry beans.
@@MrsZhang91011 if i would think of a word to describe americans it would be convenience. 😂
Is there an advantage of cooking bean in salt water, verses plain water??
@@MrsZhang91011. And I’m sure there is more vitamins in cooking your own beans, also!!
Bottled water. The price went up to 1.69 a gallon and i was going thru 1 a day. I bought the largest zerowater glass dispenser with filter...no more hauling gallons and just pennies a day..to save even more in filters u can prefilter ur water with a brita then filter that water with the zerowater unit. Filters last forever at zero ppm 😊
I always try to get things in bulk and make homemade from scratch meals. Its how I was raised, its much better for you, tastes wayyyyy betrer, not hard to do and you are right, saves lots of money❤
I like to cut up my celery, tri color bell peppers and onions to make my own Trinity. Sometimes I add garlic too.
Thanks for this reminder. My husband and I completely lost our minds in 2023. Budget went out the window, LOL. My daughters are in college, and it's just us home, but 2024 is the savings year. We plan on eating home this year! 90% of the time. Thanks for the tips!!!
Even though there’s only two of us left at home, I still do all of these, with one exception. We travel a lot, and on long car trips I bring the fair life protein drinks with 42 g of protein. My husband doesn’t like to stop and I need to get my protein in.
She actually said save it for the road trips 🤣
@@katiefrolichman she actually said that about the individual snack packages, not protein drinks.
Seems reasonable! There are few things you can take in a trip to eat in the car without stopping.
@@chrysvest4746 or specific reasons
We last had 5KG of onions on sale for €3.99 in our Lidl, got it, we chopped them all, froze them in individual, fill the bottom of a pot/pan size baggies. We had 20 bags / portions out of that whole bag. Yes it took a while, a couple hours in fact, but they dare ask €1.99 for a small little pot of onions where I live, a small portion that doesn't even cover your pan.
Jordan you are wonderful sharing all of these helpful tips with us. Thank you. ❤️
The way you explained the 3$ 10 mins difference for the butternut squash was great. Youre very good at highlighting the hidden opportunity cost that comes with making these choices.
We do a lot of this. There are always areas to improve.. My need to improve on snack items. I have an athletic teen boy who eats through my pantry. Everyone in my home has different dietary restrictions so trying to find a happy medium that fits all needs is super hard. Groceries is like a sport in my house. It takes so much energy and food prep. I have been slowly transitioning to pantry and freezer cooking which has made a world of difference! I learned that from you but tweaked it for my families dietary needs! Serious game changer! I always love all of your tips and tricks! My secret is I buy bulk fresh veggies when they are in season because they are cheaper and at their prime nutritional wise. Then I blanch and freeze them in single meal positions. This allows my family to enjoy healthy veggies that last for months and months. No yucky preservatives.
Bulk is not always the best price. You have to do your due diligence and do unit pricing to see if it's a good price. Sometimes if it's a really good sale at a Kroger store you can buy smaller packages cheaper than buying the bulk bag at Sam's of cheese. You just need to do the little bit extra effort to figure that out. Plus at Sam's there's a lot of name brand items like canned green beans whereas you can get them cheaper at Walmart then buying a whole case of them at Sam's.
They’ve trained us and are now switching. Price is often best in the small pkg
Jordan, I’ve been following you since forever and I’ve got to say, I love you!!!
1, Right, so while you are already making dinner, make extra
2, plus you get more for bulk. Vs. Small packs.
Cheese- buy bulk bar and grate all one time, most of the time it's cheaper.
Cream cheese, unless you are putting it in a dish , it will be a weird texture, but shoot if you sandwich your bagel they will never know haha. Meat- you can also put marinates in with your meat while separating, bam 1 step done on cook day. Food savers can be found at a reasonable price vs, tossing baggies if you don't wash them.. look for deals and buy a couple extra when they are on sale.
When you divide the ground meat to freeze, mash it flat in the freezer bag. It thaws quicker and takes up less room in the freezer.
As an “older” person I have a hard time believing everyone doesn’t already know these common sense tips. I’ve been doing most of them my whole life. It takes more time and a little planning, but it’s so worth it. It’s understandable to cut corners here and there if you’re a busy, working parent, but if you need to save $, and who doesn’t, at least do some of them. 😊
Family of 4 here, you are awesome! I learned the No small pre-packed snacks tips from you.
I do the same. I do have can beans for when I am in a hurry but I keep a food grade bucket with beans, rice etc. I also buy flour in bulk and divide it up vacuum seal and put in food grade buckets. The one thing I do differently is I grate my own cheese because of what they put on shredded cheese so it doesn't stick. I still grate mine and freeze. It sticks a little bit but not bad when it saves money. Yes you can freeze practically everything. Butter, cheese and milk. Yep you can freeze all of that. That shocks many people. I use a whole chicken including the bones. They make really good broth and then freeze that. I make all my tomato products from the garden tomatoes and freeze. Once I run out of freezer space I dehydrate the rest of the tomatoes and use as a thickener.
I've been following since my teens were tots and you have never steered me wrong but of course these are all things I do except buying my individual protein shakes because I'm usually throwing it to my 15 year old on her way out the door between work and school
What about a made in shaker bottle?
I would look at the ingredients on the protein shake bottles. I use the premier brand and say it has some type of oil in it and the power version doesn't. It also taste way better in the power version. I bought small shaker bottles off Amazon and rinse them out when I'm done and wash them when I get home.
hey Jordan, you must get a kick out of the myriad of silly excuses people have to not change. When my husband got cancer change for us was not an option. and now after all the changes, I would never go back. We are now accepting of "discipline" in all aspects of our life!!!! good things must be achieved, and the status quot is some times deadly or miseable. Thanks for great, healthier tips!!!
If you are in pinch or just need to save on drinks, limit soda too. I think that was part of what you meant when you addressed canned coffee etc.
You’re inspiring me to get back on track.
Every couple weeks I do a bulk prep day. Prep and freeze pre portioned soup, pasta, diced chicken, etc. I also make my own garlic bread, waffles, etc and freeze them. It takes some time but I just put on a podcast and get to work. I work full time, have a son, and am pregnant, but I'll sacrifice some down time for a day to gain so much of it back over the following weeks bc everything is already done.
I have to agree it saves money and is better for us.
My general rule is that the more that had to be done for you, the more it will cost you.
Well that is basic life here in Finland and mostly in the whole Europe. Make your food from the scratch. Buy bigger bulks of meets, veggies you use alot and cut & dice those and freeze. The less you buy produced food the healthier it will be.
The way she so calmly said “me and my sister split a cow” 😅 but he’s great tips.
Can we have a video on how to save money whether you in college or in early 20s? From cooking, car buying, education costs etc. I feel that's where alot of bad financial decisions and problems start and I didn't have parents who were financially fluent.
Love this idea! I'm 40 now but would love a video like this for ideas for my niece who is 27. But I am in the need for a new car badly and have student loans still
This may be my favorite video of yours yet!!! LOVE all the ideas ❤
I will cook extra mashed potatoes cooked in an instapot and I freeze them in muffin pan.When frozen I put them in a freezer bag.
I always make my own salad dressing, not just for the cost issue, but I’m trying to avoid seed oils. That’s pretty much the only way I can do it, because I am not paying $10 a bottle for primal kitchen.
And it's so easy. I just did one today, it took me less than 3 minutes to prepare it. I usually make a larger quantity to last me a week. I mixed extra virgin olive oil, vinegar, a bit of honey or maple syrup, mustard, salt, pepper and dried thyme. Mixed it to emulsify and that's it. I never buy salad dressing. We only have a few in the stores either way. Not like in the US.
Pop, soda NO..... saves so much. Thank you for the info, !
A bin on top shelf of fridge to put the things that need to be eaten up before it goes bad so it doesn't get wasted that way it is contained in the front at eye level and not shoved in the back, keeps inventory of fridge well known too and helps prevent food waste which is a huge money waster.
Great video... teach people to help themselves ✌🏼
Oh one thing is lentils are a good source of protein and easy and quick to prepare. Learning about other healthier sources of protein and incorporating them into your meals can help cut the cost of the ever growing cost of animal proteins. That helps to save a lot of money too. Also other avenues to save are shop a store where you get fuel points so you save on that with the crazy prices of fuel so you can save in that department as well. Produce shop what is in season. So many other things that can help.
Jordan i love your video it rocks ❤❤❤❤ you rock. Rock on sister saving sales and big bargains. Have the best weekend xxx❤
I also started using the wrapper rule at my house and if they don't finish it at school they can have whatever is left in the lunch boxes for a snack if they are hungry when they get home
Invest in a kid size bento boxes. Then you can bulk buy for snacks and sides. You also save on plastic bags etc. for little kids having less to open is a plus
I'm surprised that you didn't mention brand name. Thank you for the video ❤
When chicken breasts go on sale I stock up and grind them myself with an attachment to my kitchen aid. Also to grind beef. Sometimes London Broils go on sale for under 1.50 lb. makes great hamburger!
Make sure to compare the cost, per ounce, of dried beans to canned beans. Sometimes canned are cheaper. However, I love cooking dried beans. I add my own spices according to the type of dish I’m making. A rice cooker is wonderful. I use beef, chicken on vegetable broth instead of plain water and add seasonings according to the type of meal I’m making.
Whatever you are going through- I wish you well.
great tips and thanks for sharing you definitely covered some of my go to items like potatoes and rice and dry beans to stretch my budget
FYI buying groceries at Aldi maybe cheaper but check the serving sizes. I learned that buying bulk and making it into smaller portions is the way to go.
You can freeze watermelon and turn it into watermelon slushes. Even the watermelons that aren't very good and you want to throw out taste good in a slush.
I've been buying the little snack portion bags. Then i get big bags of chips, goldfish, trail mix etc.. and portion it out myself. Its affodable this way. Yay
I haven’t seen you in like a year. Somehow lost you.? So so glad to see you 🎉 how are those kiddos
I do all of these and it does saves you a ton of money!
Buy BLOCK cheese and grate it yourself! (Toooooo many chemicals added to pre shred cheese!
Can beans are easy to can yourself also just need a pressure cooker a canning pressure cooker that is mason jars and the beans and pre-cooked the beans a little bit but other than that they’re done quickly. They’re done way faster than cooking a pot of beans for all day long.
Pretty good but I disagree that home made ranch lasts forever. Fresh buttermilk doesn’t have a very long shelf life
Eating leftovers is another great way to save money and time. Most of my dinner leftovers become lunch for the next day.
Great tips so easy to go for the small bag but an extra five minutes bag your own chips. They also sell those apples squeeze pouches now, so you can buy and refill them over and over if your fond of the actual pouch
I have been buying the big bag of cheese for a while now I bag them into the quart freezer bags so I can take out a little at a time but you could even fill them less if you want also if it’s not to smooshed together when frozen you can usually break it apart to get what you need for that recipe without thawing the whole bag
I wish your recipes were online. I don’t have a lot a space for cookbooks. I make homemade honey mustard dressing/sauce/marinade.
We have MANY recipes for free on ShelfCooking.com! Just type an ingredient into the search bar and see what comes up!
Thank you! Love your hair and makeup lately. Can you do video how you do it?
For anyone interested in more saving money /cooking tips, I HIGHLY recommend Frugal Fit Mom on UA-cam.
Christine is 1) hilarious 2) fantastic at cooking good food for cheap 3) showing how she cooks large meals for 3 teenagers & 2 adult athletes 4)inspiring - I always get good ideas.
Her recent video on expired food is fantastic & extremely practical. You’ll love her.
Loving this ❤❤❤❤❤ You have a new follower! I am looking forward to binging on your channel.
Prepared or shelf stable meals are usually pretty bad for you. Meal prep once a month is a life saver- literally for your physical health, and also financially.
Bonus points - buying in bulk substantially reduces trash ♻️ if you are using reusable containers. Stop using zip lock bags (extra cost = extra trash).
While it's not cost-effective, I will continue to buy 5lbs bags of instant potatoes, especially when on sale. We don't use it much but lasts me as backup for the winter. Especially for the kid allergic to everything in the morning rush for lunch. I'll still try freezing some though. Good idea.
Loved this video. Please tell us diet and life style changes for your autoimmune.
Making my own broth! Boxed broth is so much! Making my own was a game changer!
I remember seeing my aunt make gravy from scratch 20 years ago. I used memory muscle and made the best gravy ever.
Do you have a discount code for your Shelf Cooking 101 book?
Very timely and important tips!!!!!
If your family makes a lot of pancakes, it's easy to just make extra and freeze them. They freeze and reheat really well. And it's way cheaper to cook them yourself than to buy the boxes of them. Plus, it's better for the environment.
Instant pot mashed potatoes are the BEST!!! Made them on Thanksgiving and was a huge hit ❤ thanks for the tips Jordan! Hope you and your family are well!
DiY squeezy snacks = buy your own silicon squeeze containers in the camping or travel or kitchen section. 3:20
When I switched to dry beans, I couldn’t believe how much of a price difference it was!! And they taste so much better than canned beans.
Yes! I only use dried.
Family of 6 here and we definitely cut our grocery bills very close to half. We were easily spending $1000 or more a month on groceries for all 6 of us. We just spend more time cooking and baking our own snacks now.
Jordan has done it again!! 😊
good advice, thanks!
When freezing ground meat, squish it as flat as you can get it and it will thaw faster.
Hi, thanks for the video! Things seem to be obvious, but a perfect reminder! Thanks! Sometimes I buy something on the go, but to be purposeful in budgeting - good advice! I tend to buy something in bulks when there are great discounts and the term is long as well (of course, for the products I really need and use and eat :)
Hi. Jordan Page. RIGHT on. I did this since i was a Student and Still do this. I have two younger sibbling, who buy conveince foods. They do work entertain and love to go out, when their free...i have money left over and a packed fridge. My entertaing is my sister,s i cook lots and all fresh, traditional. Only in Autmn and Winter months... they love all the newer receipes, and the amontt of yummy frezh foods, which i cook early morning. It costs 1/3 what we pay when we eat out? Thanky Jordan...You make a Huge Difference to Peoples Lives.
I’m a single person living alone and still won’t buy prepackaged snacks for my work and school lunches. My bulk packages and ziploc bags do just fine!
Thanks for the great reminders!
Yes to all you have found out to be true. I do google can you freeze anything
I paid $8 for a butter nut squash. That pre cut one is a steal 😢
And that’s why one of the best thing anyone can do to save money is price compare!!
I grew 40 butternut squash from a packet of seeds that cost about $3
I Love your energy. You are so fun to watch 💜
I totally agree with all of what u have said....when it comes to portioning out meat i just use my food saver which helps me to freeze any n all meats n other things where it doesnt cost much of anything n saves a bunch of MOLLA....!! 😊😊😊