15 Frugal Tips to Save Money on my Food Bill
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- Опубліковано 18 чер 2024
- Time to delve into my tip book and tell you some things I always do to save the pennies.
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"Cooking with Clara" was an absolute Treasure Trove of Depression Era Cooking.
May she rest in peace.
Jane, my mom. Had 7 meals for the week. We as a family of 7 looked foreward to monday chili, tuesday lasagna, wed chicken and baked potato, thursday soup friday meat free toasted cheeze sandwich and tomato soup. Poped corn for treats and oatmeal cookies. Great memories and frugal food. Fresh fruit from garden
A young man (29 yrs old) I work with eats the same thing every single week. He said he can do his grocery shopping in about 15 minutes becauseof this habit.
He eats healthy, well what I can see at work. Taco salad, bananas, apples, nuts, home popped popcorn.
He said his grocery bill has gone up $10 a week over this year buying the exact same things weekly.
Thanks for watching
I save all of my tired bread ends and bits, cut them into cubes, toast them in the oven and make croutons. They last ages sealed in a large jar. Used in salads, meatloaf, stuffing, smash them to crumbs to make coating for fish and chicken.
Thanks Lavonda
I do this as well
Sounds yummy!
Bread pudding how I use bits,heels, etc of bread
I do the same! I freeze bits and pieces of bread ❤️when i have enough i put in oven on low heat to dry out then blitz 💚i use to crumb schnitzels and in meatballs etc❤️ better than store bought crumbs!!! I can taste the difference! 😸🇦🇺
I bought a too good to go box from our local Booths supermarket. It’s an upmarket store in the NW of the Uk. The box cost me £1.50 . It contained 3 cauliflowers, 2 huge heads of broccoli and 2 of the green pointed cauliflowers and many other things. I processed all the caulis and broccoli and divided them into 2 person portions for the freezer (it made 10 bags) it was so easy to do and we’ve made cauliflower cheese , soups and pasta bakes with it. I was so thrilled to be able to do that. We ate everything in the box and saved a ton of money doing it.
Thanks
I’ve used the too good to go app in the USA. I’ve mostly used it at restaurants and have gotten enough food for three meals. I’ve also gone to a supermarket that used the app that I got so much fresh produce. I also froze bags of produce to use at a later date. They are adding new stores weekly. You learn which ones are worth going back to again and again
I realize this is off-topic, Jane, but I like seeing how you accessorize your outfit with a colorful neck scarf. Practical for a little bit of warmth and pretty, too. Thanks for this video - your tips are most helpful. And, yes, who would think intermittent fasting would become a thing. For the most part it’s just a matter of not snacking. It’s helped me improve my health over the last few years - but it’s really the way I was raised having been born in 1956. Not the continuous eating we see a lot these days.
Yep! That's the way
I measured the amount of rice, barley and pasta that I was going to use, instead of just dumping it in a pot and adding water. Then I made a mental note of how much wasn't eaten at the meal, so the next time, I used less. All of those ingredients are kept in large glass jars, so now it is easy for me to calculate how many meal's worth there is.
I always used to cook by eyeballing my ingredients. I too found I used a lot less when I measured my ingredients. It takes a bit longer to cook, but saves a lot of waste.
My measuring cups and spoons are always in use all the time Louise, Anna.
Has we've got older, my partner and I have really cut down, because our appetites are less. It's got to the point now when we have roast dinners, we count how many potatoes we have etc, because we used to throw stuff away, and I really do hate waste. I can't believe that years ago I used to throw away the remaining Yorkshire puddings that were left in the tray instead of freezing them! It's same with bread I got fed up of bread going mouldy and throwing it away, I freeze it now and just get out what is needed. Going to have a go at making my own actually, I bet that doesn't go mouldy lol! Thank you once again Jane for your helpful advice!
Inspired by you Jane, I inventoried my freezer last week and found I had the ingredients for a breakfast casserole, a large fruit cobbler and stew meat and vegetables for a beef stew. I only had to make a couple of dishes to complete a week’s dinner menu. Thanks for the suggestion!
Wonderful!
I'm not sure if I have mentioned this before Jane - I remember having to shop around because we didn't have much money and I HATED IT, but now I will shop around to save money because prices are just absolutely ridiculous, and half the time I refuse to pay the highly inflated prices! Having said that, I genuinely have deep concerns about families really struggling 😔 and it seems to be those in power don't care😪
They don't care
Those in power WANT us to struggle
I'm always amazed that people actually think or expect them to care. They want things to work as they are by design.
Control the food and control the people. 😢
@rawreiki yes. I'm feeling there's a war on the middle and lower middle class and definitely on the poor here in America. That's why I appreciate you Jane. You're showing us how to beat the system.
Oh, and i've just discovered " poor man's parmesan" : put butter /olive oil in a pan, crush a clove of garlic in it, then add and fry breadcrumbs made from dry bread. Excellent over pasta and salad ! In France, there's also bear's garlic right now in the forest, to make pesto with.
We call bear garlic, wild garlic and we pick it too and use it in cooking
We have been just eating out of the pantry this month and will continue to do so for another couple of weeks. I look at the sale ads, see what is a true mark down, look at what I have in my pantry and decide then is it worth trying to "find" the money to get the item. I have no problem going in and buying the item that is on sale with change. It's what we have right now, that is our grocery budget. My husband keeps 5.00 worth of quarter's in his car, when he goes past a grocery store that is know for discounts he will occasionally go in with his quarters to see what has been marked down. Pays for it with the quarters and leaves.. We aren't going hungry and no we don't comply with the food stamp regulations, nor the food pantry. They consider us, middle class, don't judge people by there cars or their homes. You don't know what is going on financially with them. I used to see a lot of that, people sticking up their noses at people due to what they buy or how they are paying. People could have an expensive car and be going to the food pantry, because they just lost their jobs, they need their cars to get back and forth to there new job that pays 1/4 of what their old job paid. We are eating basic foods, buying ingredients, I am rotating meals, rice, potato's, noodles in my meals. At the same time rotating, what we call "slop" meals, some sort of soup or casserole, then a meal where you get your own piece of meat. I find that if I put to many casseroles or soups together in a week it doesn't fulfill the need to have something with texture to it. Our snacks are cans of peaches or some sort of canned fruit, it's what I have. Last night we splurged and he got a banana and I got an orange on his way home from work. We are doing all of this due to our savings taking a great hit, we have to have money to put in our emergency fund as quickly as we can. A little pain now will and can stop us from going completely under and having to go to the bank and remortgage our home. Hang in there the weather is cranky again this year, prices are going to continue to go up. Thanks for the video, and yes the whole backyard and part of the side yard will be a garden this year.
Thanks for sharing
I buy coffee for me. And I keep lemonade for my grandkids. And a couple other inexpensive drinks for guests. Doesn’t cost me much but makes me feel like a good host.
Thanks for watching
I've started since last year using leaves and stems from parsley, cauliflower, broccoli, cilantro, etc... and use them as flavorings for soups and stocks. I also sauté the leaves from cauliflower and broccoli in my stir fries; if chopped finely they deliver a world of taste and add fiber to our food.
Thanks for sharing!
Yes what a nice taste to soups and. Casaroles etc i love to use broccoli leaves and stems❤️
After last weeks food disaster where I ended up paying so much for fish and chips, I am glad to say we are eating from the pantry this week! So far so good!
Good for you Shelia
I hope the fish and chips at least were delicious because the price was a shocker! We got stung in Florence many years ago and ended up with gelato cones as big as our heads which cost about the same as a plate of pasta - dumb tourist mistake but 28 years later we're still laughing about it! These things happen, don't be too hard on yourself, and just keep look looking forward. Cheers!!
Shiela we never stop learning.
I use my freezer in several ways. I put veggie scraps in a container and make broth when it's full. I also have a baking day and make up different loaves of bread, like banana or pumpkin, for busy mornings breakfast. A habit I've recently started is marking prices of items on their package, so when I am looking through sale advertisements, I can see if the sale is really a sale or if the price is on the rise.
That's a great idea!
I came home from work one day to my neighbor waiting for me with a bag full of extra tomatoes from his garden. Needless to say, I was cooking a nice pan full of tomatoes that night, and they’re in the freezer now. I made bangers and mash, which isn’t a thing here in the US, with a tomatoe and onion gravy, and it was fantastic!
I don't meal plan before I shop I look for bargains and discounts then come home and plan what to make with it. I make a list of staples to top up my stores and that's it. As you say everyone has their own methods and what works for them.
Thanks for watching
I am very creative also and purchase marked down produce and discounted items. Then when i get home i plan what i picked up with what i already have and make a meal with it. I always prepare more than what we will eat at a meal,place the planned overs in divided containers & freeze. They make wonderful tv dinner type meals and we know what is all in there! Just warm them in a microwave and voila' a meal is served!
I do limit the trips to the supermarket and keep a list on my phone pad when I run out of something.
I had a friend bring me sourdough bread from California. I sliced it up into single slices and put them into baggies.
I just keep it simple. I remember reading that most people have the same breakfast of a day & only rotate about a dozen dishes for lunches & dinners over the fortnight. If you take the pressure off yourself to make fancy different meals all the time, and utilise herbs & spices for flavour then shopping & budget is much easier.
Great tip!
Thanks Jane and Michael and all the commenters for sharing such great tips!
I am often able to get 1 pound tubs of baby spinach or baby greens on markdown of at least $1 off. I stick the unopened container directly into my freezer and then pull from it as needed to use the greens in smoothies, soups, and pasta dishes.
Wonderful!
Great idea, Wendy!
I’m in NE NC, USA. Prices keep going up like everywhere. I gravitate between Aldi, Walmart and Food Lion here in town. I also drive 45 minutes to Kroger for certain items that I used to get at Trader Joe’s (1 1/2 hours away). Both Kroger and TJ’s are in Virginia, so it’s around every 6 weeks or as needed. It’s a pain but like you said, we need to find the bargains when and where we can. So far, so good, but I live alone. I can’t imagine trying to navigate this with a family to feed. My twin daughters are making it work for them thankfully. God bless you all who are. Thank you, Jane and Mike for your videos. Such great reminders. Take care.
Thanks very much
Also, in Quebec, we have these stores now called Liquipicerie. As you said Jane, they sell produce , products, meats that are close to sale by date. They freeze the meat so that even though the date has expired they freeze it before. As an example, I bought packages of frozen sausages (12) for 1$ instead of $5.99. Cereal bars for 1$ instead of 3.99$. Bags of chocolate chips were 1$. Incredible prices and it does not go to the waste bins.
Thanks Linda
Yes thank you Linda. I have not seen this store in my part of Quebec but now I know they exist I will look out for them. I live in western Quebec.
I cook batches of dried beans and chick peas in the Instapot and then freeze them in a single layer on a cookie sheet. Once they are frozen I transfer them to plastic bags. Then I can pour out whatever amount I need for a dish. It’s way cheaper than tins and I like the texture better too. Great video - thanks💕🇨🇦
Sounds great!
I’m going to start this, just bought rice to cook in my instant pot instead of using sachets
I’m going to start doing this. I want to start adding lentils to our ground beef and turkey to help it go farther.
In regard to a previous post relating the negative comments from the audience. Pay no attention to the negative nellies. You do you ( we love 💕 you and Mike) and let the naysayers go their way.
They might be paid by corporations too discourage frugality.
I have found washing citrus in baking soda + water, or peroxide + water before putting it in the fruit bin, greatly increases how long it stays firm and delicious. I have also taken to soaking limp vegetables for a couple of hours in water - think celery, carrots, bok choy cabbage, lettuces, to bring them back to a much better texture. It has made a surprising difference to the dishes I was making. I cook and freeze ahead. Only cooking the veggies separately to al dente, before adding them to the dish to then be frozen, makes them a much nicer texture when you actually cook them later to eat. No more mushy veggies. * It is so worthwhile to plan a week's worth of three simple meals a day, with no snacks. It actually streamlines food prep, really reduces food waste, as well as keeping the budget down. You have to be willing to eat what you have on hand. * I did a trial run with a used bread machine, and I am a bread snob. I donated that machine and have moved back to hand making bread - the no knead bread recipes are awesome, and make a much nicer loaf than i could get using the bread machine. I come from a long line of bakers, and I really enjoy a beautiful loaf of bread, or other baked items. They are much cheaper to make at home, and I consider the time spent making them "entertainment."
Eat it all up
I just use the dough setting, then shape and let rise in whatever way I am using it. Works great for loaves, pizza, rolls or whatever.
I'm a baker, so I've baked cookies & cakes at least once a week. My son is gluten-free & dairy free.
Thanks Gladys
I so agree with you about snacking all day. I was brought up to eat 3 meals a day with maybe 1 biscuit or 1 apple as extra. As for drinks - 1 family in my larger family has only given
their 4 boys water to drink & they all automatically drink that when thirsty. A fruit drink is a treat for them. That saves a lot of money ! Meal planning is essential, whichever way
you do it. I enjoy watching your channel .
Thanks Marty
To save money, we shop every two weeks instead of weekly. We also shop online then pickup at the store, no extra buying seeing something delicious. We bought a freezer during the pandemic, once every 3 months we buy bulk meat, we freeze the garden vegetables, breads, fruit in season. I have a bread machine I have not used in years, I got it out, cleaned it to start using. There is only one discount grocery store in my area, the others closed years ago. I wish we had more, we are doing OK. I love a challenge, so it is finding food at reasonable prices and fixing it economically. Best Wishes to you both.
Thanks very much
I've been batch cooking soups & stews, they freeze well. I don't eat a lot of bread but I was gifted a breadmaker so I am making my own bread.
Thanks Shawna
:Here in Illinois there is a supermarket (Fareway) that you can buy ground beef (minced beef) in 10 lb tubes at a dollar less a lb. Then you wrap it in smaller packages before you put it in your freezer at home.
:They also have some sales once a month on all different meats. If you really study the prices at home on their website you can save money but I have a big freezer so I buy quite a bit if it is allowed.
:You can also buy frozen loaves of dough that come 5 to the package and then you can bake it yourself. I buy that once a month. It usually comes out to about a dollar or more cheaper per loaf.
:Plant a garden! Then can your vegetables or freeze them.
Thanks for sharing
I have bought a pressure canner (not pressure cooker, there is a difference) and I can my own Bolognese, beef stew, chicken korma, pie fillings and almost anything meaty you can think of. You have to have a pressure canner for this to be 100% safe and that is a little bit of an investment, but oh my it has saved me so, so much money and also time. For anyone living a frugal life, or having a smaller budget, this is a lifesaver! Here in Norway food prices are very high, and especially meat prices. BUT every xmas the shops sells meats at incredibly low prices, truly lowered prices, as in less than half price and such amazing deals. I try to buy a years supply of meats and process it for canning or freezing. I put away money all year to pay for it, and it is fantastic how much it saves me. I of course also keep my eyes peeled for great offers at any time.
I did another big batch cooking session, I had the oven on to roast a chicken so I made toad in the hole and a pasta bake with the odds and ends from the fridge, put a beef stew in the slow cooker to freeze into portions and then the chicken carcass was put in the slow cooker with a sad looking celery stick half a huge onion and peppercorns to make stock with for future soups and stews. It was super hot in there but so worth it having meals ready to go if I don't fancy cooking. Tonight is spag bol and I am making double the amount to add to the freezer (not with the pasta in it though).
Thanks for watching
I make bread using the "no knead" method. It is super easy and no bread maker needed.
Thanks for watching
I make an australian damper 2 cups self raising flour 1 and a quarter milk an water some cheese grated a little butter if you like i like to add some sunflower seeds mix quickly and put into oven 165 degrees dot with butter approx 35 to 40 minutes 💜😸❤️
One and a quarter cups milk and water
In the western part of the USA, we have a chain of stores that sell short dated foods named simply "grocery outlet bargain market" and you can find some incredible deals. We also have a store chain named " winco foods" that I love to shop at because they have a bulk section that is enormous and you can pay by the ounce or gram such as for spices like bay leaf or rice etc. Similarly canada has a store named bulk barn foods that have an incredible selection as well for phenomenal prices.
I don’t buy a lot; we are a childless couple. I keep dried goods like pulses, rice, pasta, flour in stock. Also cheap tinned fish, frozen veg, and cheap soya milk. So I don’t have to buy a lot to complete meals: cheese, eggs, butter, fruit, some veg like onions and potatoes. Of course I pick up replacements and extras, but this covers the bulk of our diet. We rarely eat meat. We drink tea and instant coffee. I bulk cook chilli or curry and portion it into the freezer for ready-meals. I throw away no food: any waste goes into a worm bin which makes great fertiliser for our garden. I grow herbs, some salad leaves, apples and plums. Thank you for your lovely videos,useful and informative and really relaxing to me, too.
I have just been retired on the grounds of ill health, with a drastic drop in income. I grow my own herbs and salad leaves, which are expensive in the supermarkets. I hope to start vegetable growing when I am well enough again. I try to save money by buying in bulk, I go with a friend to a local cash and carry for bulk buying.
Thanks for watching
Hi Fiona- I'm wondering about what u are using to grow yer green bits- do u use a grow lamp or just in yer window, or? I am in process of downsizing and really want to shift to more frugal, self sufficient. Wonderjng about investing in a wee grow system- would appreciate any hot tips!! Won't have much space nor natural light. Thanks!
Thanks for your reply, Fiona- I can't find it in the thread just now- but I really appreciate it! Am moving into a studio/bachelor apartment from a house, and do get annoyed with the greens I buy going bad so quickly- sounds like investing in some sort of mini grow op would be worth it! Have a great day! :)
I think saving money on food is about thinking creatively. Last week I really fancied a beef pie. So I used corned beef instead of stewing steak. I used an onion, 2 carrots, 2 parsnips, Guinness steak and ale pie mix and 500g of short crust pastry. It made 9 portions and cost 57p per portion. 2.5kg of potatoes were on offer for 79p so we had mash - absolutely delicious. If you know how to substitute cheap ingredients it is very possible to eat well and frugally xx
Thanks Helen, tinned corned beef is so versatile
I don't have a large freezer just the one that is part of my refrigerator. When I find a sale on meat I can it. I love my pressure canner! I have 200 pint jars of meat I have canned. It makes for a quick dinner. It is tender and delicious. I keep enough empty jars available just in case we loose power. I would have time to can what little I keep in my freezer.
Great tip!
I do have a freezer, but I love canning meat to extend the longevity of the meat I have frozen. I have done chicken, stew meat, spicy pork, bbq pork, meatballs, and no bean chili! It does feel good to know you have options if there is no power. It also gives me the ability to provide easy shelf stable meals to my 80 yr old father in law who only uses a microwave. I do worry about losing what we have in the freezer if we have a long-term outage.
We do most of these - don’t know if you have seen the new Jamie Oliver programmes on channel 4 Jane?? ‘Jamie’s £1 wonders’ - he has some great ideas and really shows how to use up every bit of the food - from using bones to make gravy and stocks to finely chopping broccoli and cabbage stems and adding to the dishes to add more flavour - easy to prepare, simple dishes which are healthy and delicious xx
I don't have Jamie Oliver on French TV
All of the £1 wonder recipes are available free via email from Jamie
Yep!! All free - which I agree is unusual for Jamie but there are some good ideas xx
@@FrugalQueeninFrance sorry - I wasn’t sure if you could access some of the British channels. Xx
A good tip for anyone with a big freezer, look for a traditional butcher that will sell you a whole or a half of an animal. Learn how to cut it into joints, steaks, sausages etc yourself. You'll get much better quality meat than you'll find in a supermarket at a big saving.
Thanks for sharing
What an excellent helpful list. Thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
We have 2 freezers and they are always well stocked. On Sunday I made an apple and blackberry crumble using apples from the garden & blackberries foraged from the hedgerows in autumn. Once they’d been picked I froze them so that they could be used up later in the year. I also buy frozen veggies, they seem to work out cheaper than fresh ones, especially peppers, and we can just use what we need without veg going off in the fridge.
Thanks
Thank you for all the amazing tips, you're my frugal guru!
You are so welcome!
Great vlog! When I make a lasagne, cottage pie, chilli, bolognese sc etc I stretch the meat by adding lentils. It doubles the portions. I have a magnetic shopping list that I put items that I’ve run out of on & check that when I do my shopping list, I have a weekly planner too that I put my meals for the week on and it keeps me on track. I also have a freezer planner that I write the contents onto. I check this to see what I have before I plan the next weeks menu and for the last fortnight I’ve eaten pre made meals and just bought a few fresh veggies. I’ve saved loads! The freezer is nearly empty now and my fridge is too. I’ve never had so little food in the house, but I’m not going hungry so that’s all to the good lol. I want to be at the point where I only buy exactly what I need and not buy things just in case I may fancy them. I really need to shift some weight so from this weekend on I will literally only be buying healthier, fresh foods with no naughty treats and no extras . Here’s to saving a few £££’s and LB’s! 😊
Thanks
I managed to find some super markdown at grocery store this week! Found some supper deals on winter flannel shirts marked down from $14 to $3 for hubby and got him 6 for outdoor work.
That is awesome!
I cook fresh whole food to make from scratch recipes, and then I make sure we use up all the leftovers. I normally take leftovers for my lunch at work. I also make sure I get the best deals from the sales papers each week.
Sounds great!
Thank you for some great tips. Sadly, we don't have any discount stores in Hawaii. However we do have some great farmers markets in every district. We try to get our produce from our local farmers market, it is so much cheaper. Most of the bags of veggies are only $2.00 compared to $5.00 or $6.00 in our supermarket. We are eating some of our canned foods that we bought when prices weren't outrageous and making A LOT of soups. We can stretch soups for several days. I need to work on making a meal plan. I'm sure it would make my life so much easier.
Thanks for watching
Not food related but still grocery shopping..I cut out dishwasher tablets in half they work exactly the same on normal dirty dishes. Maybe not baked on ..but I tend to soak those things and hand wash anyway. So you will get twice the amount of loads for the price 😊
Thanks
Thanks! Lots of super tips and comments! I make a soup once a week to use up scraps; and also I cook up a batch of beans or lentils for the week’s meals such as bean burgers, soup addition, salad ingredient. Missing a small meal and drinking more water, exercising, also helps with budget. Also I share the extra soup or banana bread (brown bananas!) with seniors and young families in the neighbourhood. Difficult times can bring us together. Thanks again💕
Great tip!
I meal plan daily from what's on hand. I buy lots of fresh veggies and pair it with a small portion of meat each day. I keep the freezer full and pray the power won't go out!! Another great video!
Thanks for sharing!!
Because of you I have started using my freezer a lot more! If I have a huge block of cheese, I am find myself shredding it up, portioning it's and popping it in the freezer if I won't use it all. I've also been making big batches of things like I happen to have a whole bunch of potatoes and sour cream that I could make mashed potatoes with, I portions that up and stuck it in the freezer for upcoming meals. Thank you so much for the ideas!
Thanks for sharing
When I find eggs on sale I stock up! I use a silicon muffin pan, break and wisk one egg into each cup and place the pan in the freezer. Once frozen they pop right out and go into a freezer bag until I need them. They work beautifully in quiches and baked goods. Here in the US, Costco sells whole roasted chickens $5.00 each. I shred them into freezer bags then freeze the carcasses as well. I can get 2-3 quick meals out of each chicken as well as cook down the carcasses with vege scraps I have saved in the freezer for a flavorful bone broth.
Thanks Sam
I think being open minded helps too. For example, our local store started carrying fresh pork hocks - kind of unusual but we have a significant Asian population here and the display was BIG - bigger than the fresh chicken area, so I figured they must be good or they wouldn't allocate that much chilled cabinet area - and they're CHEAP, so I wasn't risking big money to try them. They are delicious braised and all the leftover bones and skin make a delicious stock. Same with fish - I bought 250g of small whiting just to try them because they're so cheap here and it's become one of our favourite fish. I always shop the catalogues and look for bargains in store - sounds like you have far more opportunities there though!! If you score a great marked down bargain here it's like winning the lottery!!
Thanks
We drink coffee and tea and ice water at home. We stopped buying alcohol this year. now we drink alcohol only Christmas day and birthdays as a treat. Huge savings!
Also baked goods are made at home. Made hot cross buns for the first time. We researched a great recipe online. Learned how to bake apricot raisin bread, another pricey bakery favorite. We bake them when friends come over for coffee. Yum !
❤ 🇨🇦
Nice!
I dehydrate food, onions, green peppers, kale, broccoli leaves, etc. The Broccoli leaves after dehydrating grind into a powder and sprinkle on my eggs. Many dehydrate fruit but I haven't tried that. I live in the USA, and its popular to use digital coupons at local stores. I have a small garden, and that saves on food too!
Thanks for watching
In our area, wheeling west virginia ,usa we are experiencing inflation on all food products. This is not price gouging by thr merchants, it is across the board in every segment of the economy. Many people here are storing food for long term use to avoid the continual increases of food costs. Some items have doubled in the last 2-3years and it is predicted to keep rising in the immediate future. In spite of this there seems to be a unifying factor to help support one another especially in the smaller towns and cities. In the big cosmopolitan cities this is not as frequent- crime and theft are disturbingly increasing. We pray for stability and peace in the world but it is not in the hands of the populace but in the corruption of government leadership.
Another bang on video. Thank-you. I do 'most' of what you said: I don't have a smart phone, so I don't follow the 'apps'. The only other thing that I do that wasn't said is foraging. In Ontario, blackberries/raspberries grow wild and are considered to be almost 'weeds'. I figure it's free food. I make jars of jam. My parents who lived in Quebec would also have wild blueberries. This is pretty common in the eastern provinces. I remember you collecting currants that a friend had and you made preserves with them. To find wild blackberries, go where there is lots of downed wood - next to railway tracks, wood sheds, woods in general.
Thanks for watching
Yes to blackberry picking ! I make them into jam.
Minneapolis has three Mike's Discount Grocery outlets. Large containers of yogurt that cost $7.48 at the chain grocery stores sell for $1.99 at Mike's. Bagged salads for $1.49. Gourmet pints of ice cream originally $5.99 go for $1.99. Similar savings on all fresh produce, particularly berries and mushrooms. Terrific pricing on frozen meats too.
We love our Mike’s Discount in the same area. But you have to know your prices!
My cousin lives a few blocks from a Mike's. I load up on deals at Mike's every time I visit my cousin.
Well , I have chicken so my meal plan for dinner is simple : 2 eggs and bread/salad. I also have a vegetables organic basket coming in every week, not cheap ( 10 euros) but the quality and quantity as well are just excellent. So I have no excuse to go into the supermaket for fresh veg, and i try and go there as litlle as possible, which saves me a lot of money too !
That is awesome!
In the west of the US the short date, overstock store Jane is talking about is Grocery Outlet. Not all things in this store are a great deal though, I find that WinCo is often cheaper if there is one near you or better still is ethnic grocery stores.
Thanks for watching. You have to be judicious wherever you shop and know your unit prices. Thanks
I love Grocery Outlet for specialty items such as gluten free. Winco is also great for bulk!!
Staycations , fleamarkets yard sales second hand charity shops for "new to you" clothes ect .
Hi, I love your videos. To save money on food I've been using my local community fridge which is open twice a week. Everything is free! Last month my food bill for the month was £6.36 (I live on my own). Because most of the free food is fruit and veg I'm eating more healthy than ever.
The other thing I do, each month is I fill out the Tesco customer survey online. I have their club card so if I complete the survey once a month they give me 25 club points free. I buy something for £1, get the club point for that item then use the receipt details to fill in the survey. I then save up the point and use them for Christmas treats.
Good for you
Thank you for your frugal tips. It's been a big help.
You are so welcome!
Please continue to produce your videos because I am gaining more tips and would love to visit your part of the country one day in the future!
I will!
I have enjoyed watching your videos. Sometimes I get new ideas that I have not tried. One of our stores here in the United States always has a lot of mark down Bakery items. And if I get there early I get the leftover French bread and make it into garlic toast and put it in my freezer. Or sometimes I cut it in half and make pizza. Also leftover glazed donuts great for making bread pudding
Thank you Jane...all that was very helpful. In Australia I have downloaded the Half Price app which gives products that are half price for the week for Coles and Woolworths here. It is updated each Wednesday. If I use a particular product I buy at least 2 of the product for half price.
In Victoria here we also have NQR (Not Quite Right) stores that sell close to end date or oversupply products. Mostly pantry staples, freezer and fridge...but no fruit or vegetables or fresh meat. Still, I often top up with a small shop of items that cost much less than in the usual shops. No, I am not loyal to any particular grocery store!
Thanks
I go to NQR too in Melbourne
When I have an overabundance of plums I cut them in half, remove the stones and freeze them cut side up on cookie sheets. Once they are frozen I put them in bags.
A few can be taken out and stewed to make a hot fruit sauce. I like to make a plum upside down cake. I butter a glass pan (not metal, this is acidic stuff) and cover it with frozen plums cut side down. I make a cake (coffee cake type of batter), pour it over the plums and sprinkle brown sugar and cinnamon on the top. Absolutely yummy and great for unexpected guests. It’s nice served warm with vanilla ice cream.
The plums are easy to place when frozen. By the time I have made the batter they are thawed.
I keep my pantry fully stocked of basic staples for cooking and I garden and can/preserve lots of our food. I always keep, for example..2-3 containers of instant coffee 1 in my kitchen and the otger 1 or 2 in my pantry. When I run out of the one in the kitchen and pull one from my pantry, that item is immediately added to the grocery list. If there is a sale and I have a the cash to do so, I will buy a few extra (if its something that will definitely be used before expired).
My husband has a sweet tooth and I liking for sodas. I have taken to mixing up 2 or 3 batches of cookies, roll into balls and freeze. This way I can pull out kust a few at a time and bake up. Keeps down the amount he eats at one time, cuts the cost, and we can control whats in the cookies. And I keep cold water, flavored water, and lemonade in the fridge and only by one 12 pk. By doing this and only shop once every 3-6 wks it has greatly cut down his sodas. I cpuld go on and on about the ways I save and changes I made to get him to eat what he thinks he doesnt like, but we dont have that kind of time. Even with all the changes I have made, I am still learning a lot from you..Thank you.
Always such great advice!😊
Glad you think so!
I only buy store brands
coffee & tea. Water that we filter with Briata. We do have alcohol & wine for special occasions or guests.
Thanks so much
I'm from Texas, so we have H.E.B. supermarket-very good prices & coupons. I mostly shop at Trader Joe's small markets with their own brands.
Thanks for the tips!
Gladys, Trader Joe's has great quality for reasonable prices!
@@luba-healthywithluba6866they have good prices for gluten free breads.
Another great money saving tips from you, thank you. We have just found out our home del charges are going up in May. So we will have monthly del instead of weekly now. We are non car owners so cant go hunting for deals very often as have to rely on going by bus. l keep a 'price book' im my shopping bag to double check if im getting a good price for things if l pop into a discount store when we go into town. Not all these discount stores are a saving, so it worth knowing prices of items. l also now dont buy items that l know l can make my self, ie seasoning, dried herbs, cakes, scones, castor sugar etc and of course my own frozen ready meals. Last year l learnt how to make our own winter candles, this year lm learning how to make our own herb soaps.We have a large freezer & l made the mistake last year of pre baking too many meals so l had very little room for my harvests or reduced veg, now l only keep one freezer draw for the' pre made ready meals' which we keep mainly for when l cant cook from scatch ie if one of us is ill (we are elderly) The rest of the freezer is for home grown produce & reduce price meats. We grow all year round salads on my patio for ease of harvest.We also found out last year that our local car boot that now is starting up again has local farmers that will sell produce very cheaply, ie free range eggs, fruit and veg, worth us going to for things we cant grow our selves. We only use our slow cookers from Oct to March as it helps give off a little more heat in the house & so much cheaper than cooker on. May to Sept is salads & top of cooker meals ie stir fries etc. plus outdoor wood burner bbq's in summer. l once read that large country house kitchens in the pre war times had only l very tiny waste bin the their kitchen as everything was recycled. They wasted nothing in the kitchen. Have you notice how large kitchen bins are now to buy ? l think it encourages waste to have large kitchen bins, so when my own large bin needs replacing im buying the smallest one l can find in the hope l waste even less than l do.
Thanks for watching and commenting
I've noticed that snack foods and beverages have continued to stay very costly at the supermarkets. Some nearly double the preCovid and inflation costs. I just don't buy them much. I make my own desserts at home if I have a special occasion. I'm mostly a water, coffee or tea drinker. I'd probably eat the snack food and drink sodas or alcoholic beverages if they were around. So I just don't buy them in the first place! No temptation!!! 🌝
Thanks for watching
I love to make blended soups out of every veg possible including lettuce and freeze it for later
Sounds great!
I too put limp lettuce in my soups. Anything in the fridge that is looking sad is made into soup.
Great thoughts and ideas as always.
Glad you like them!
Monday is washing day, Tuesday’s soup, Wednesday’s Roast beef (or lentil/meat loaf), Thursday’s Shepherd’s Pie (or any pie) Friday’s Fish, Saturday’s sausages, Sunday Roast (vegetables). Yes shop local family businesses first or grow own. Wish we had Too Good To Go in Australia but saving money on petrol. I usually buy whole vegetables, cook bulk meals & freeze.
Thanks for sharing
I buy Oddbox, delivered to our door. We can't get out to haul the bargains you are talking about but we are very happy with the selection of fruit and veg we get.
Thanks for sharing!!
I can do so many things with cauliflower.
It's delicious
Deeply appreciate this video and all of your tips. Thank you for making it.
Batch cooking. I make sweet potatoes, pumpkin, lasagna in advance and freeze in portions. Couple that with some potatoes, chicken and other meat that will last a while. The aim is to make small portions you can mix and match but that is easy to make and filling.
Sounds great!
I am going to try shopping my house 1st this month! What a good idea! I do believe I could almost not buy anything from the grocery store!
You can do it!
Martha it is easier than you think, especially if you have a well stocked pantry. I did it last month, and after this weekend, Easter, I am planning on going no spend for the the remainder of the month and perhaps into May as well
@@tinaelliott8029 I have a decent pantry and I have a LOT in my freezer! Thank you for the encouragement! I’m giving it a try!
I’ll regrow certain herbs and vegetables. Green onions/scallions/etc. are a great example. Don’t throw away the white ends, put them bunched together in water, change out the water occasionally, and they’ll regrow (there are plenty of detailed videos out there). I want to regrow lettuce and some other items eventually. But even regrowing the green onions can save a bit over time.
Little gem lettuces I regrow and just remove a few leaves to add to a sandwich.
I do the same thing.
Such sound advice as always, thanks Jane and Mike. Happy Easter 🐣
Our pleasure!
So many great tips Jane! I love your ideas❤
Thanks so much! 😊
Such a great show, thanks Jane!
Glad you enjoyed it!
I am still reeling from the fact that I can eat cauliflower leaves lol. That tip alone was worth subscribing.
Thanks for the sub!
Great video. Thank you, Jane.
Glad you enjoyed it!
I use grocery list app on my phone cause I always have my phone with me, that way I don’t forget to buy what’s needed
In my srea central california,usa going in & buying onky list leaderbis know as cherry puvking, that term made me smile! I grt anA+ on that. Folks be smarter than the store. Its really .o.k to do that.😊
I loved this Jane thank you 😊
You are so welcome!
Hello Jane and Mike, I truly enjoy watching your videos. I enjoy meal planning, however I do not meal plan and then go purchase at the store, I instead meal plan from what I have in my freezer and pantry. I am located in Atlantic Canada and did a no spend month easily, last month. I could have gone longer however my children and their families are coming for Easter, so I went and purchased treats etc, however I did have a ham and chicken in the freezer already, and after this week I am going to try for another month (maybe two) of NO spend. Keep up the great work!!
Thanks very w
Our spring weather starts next week so I will try to get my batch cooking done early! Thanks for the inspiration!
Hope you enjoy
Wow, thanks for this vlog. It is a wake up call for me. I've drifted back into bad habits due to poor health and depression. I will be looking at what I've got in and shop from my own stocks. Many thanks x
Thanks for watching
In case it helps, I try to take advantage of the better days (anxiety and PTSD) and bulk cook so that I have either full meals or pre-prepped ingredients in the freezer that will simplify cooking later ready to go. This helps to keep me on budget and on a healthier diet, both of which are helpful in the fight against mental health challenges and busy schedules. I play videos like these while I work to keep me going and keep my energy up to get through it.
I dice up the ends of sweet peppers for a freezer bag to use in soups and stews. It is amazing how much I was throwing away as trimmings..
Great post, as usual. I've reduced shopping trips and I don't think family has noticed yet! I'm very happy. You are so right about shipping your shelves first. It does work for me. Thank you as always for being fab.
Wonderful!
Jane and Mike, I always appreciate your frank approach to fighting for healthy food with as little waste as possible while giving up the least amount of income as is necessary. Here are a few additions that, while some of which may have been mentioned in other videos, I wanted to add for the community knowledge base: 1) Make the absolute most of every scrap! Veg and meat trimmings and bones can be saved for stock or broth. Any veg trimmings that aren't good flavors for stock can go in a reused bag in the freezer for compost. No garden? Save them for a friend who will likely greatly appreciate it for their compost pile and return the favor in free veg later. Save crumbs from slicing bread (or the ends if you abhor them) in a freezer container to make breadcrumbs for breading or casserole topping or to thicken soups. Likewise for cookie crumbs in the package bottom to sprinkle on cakes/pies once accumulated. Save butter wrappers for greasing pans/dishes. Zest all citrus before eating or using and freeze for later baking or cooking or candy the peels. 2) If you're missing an ingredient or a recipe calls for an expensive one, research substitutions rather than heading to the store. 3) Read reviews before trying a new online recipe so you don't waste ingredients & make sure the reviews are from people who have ACTUALLY made the dish. 4) Don't buy premixed seasoning packets. They're overpriced, may contain less desirable additives, and you likely have a cupboard full of spices expiring in your cabinet. Find a recipe online, mix in a repurposed container, and label with name/recipe/date. 5) Find out if your store offers rainchecks. This can also buy some time if your currently maxed out on your budget and they're out of stock, but you want to take advantage of the deal. 6) Explore your local ethnic groceries or ethnic aisles in store which often have better deals on some items. 7) Keep a price book and familiarize yourself with the unit pricing as well. ALWAYS check the unit price since bigger doesn't always mean less per unit. 8) Find the cookbook Good and Cheap by Leeanne Brown online and download it for free to learn how to make healthy meals from basics on a very tight budget. It was originally created using foods offered through the US food assistance program, SNAP. 9) Learn which veggies will regrow from their roots like green onions and celery. 10) If you have an Instant Pot or slow cooker, prep and freeze dried beans to save rather than using canned. 11) Check if any friends or family are interested in bulk buying with you and dividing if you have a smaller household. 12) Look for deals and stock up on meats after their associated holidays.
Oh! One more: If you don't finish a bottle of wine or beer, save the remainder in the freezer. Beer for potato soup or beef stew, etc., red wine for pasta sauce or pot roast, and white for chicken dishes, etc. They'll also help tenderize meats and add an acid or sweet note to the dish depending on the type.
I process my veggies as soon as I am home, carrot and celery sticks in jars water prepped to eat with hummous, red cabbage, fennel and onion shredded dry for my coleslaw, fruit kept in fridge so longer life. We also food prep roasted veggies for a meal, peel carrot and turnip ready to go, all time saving and preventing waste. I make tray bakes to slice and freeze to make portion sizes smaller and healthier, undecorated but available if guests arrive or OH wants a slice for his pickup. No waste of half cake going in the bin, or eating too much, and prepped for guests.
Thanks
Sainsbury in the uk do there big reductions on there food just after 2pm Monday-Saturday but on a Sunday it’s 1pm 😊
Thanks so much
The internet is a lifesaver for me in terms of using up leftovers. I type in the ingredients I want to use and never fail to find several recipes to choose from. I love transforming leftovers into a yummy new meal.
It really is!