Tools and Tips
Latest Blog Entries6 Ways to Save Money on Cleaning 5 Ways to Cut Your Cell Phone Bill Latest ArticlesAbout the BillSavings Bloggers Keep Your Money from Drying Up in the Summer Heat 7 Keys to Success |
|
Savings Lifestyle
Ways to Save Money on DinnerBy Catherine
BillSavings.com Brief:
Want to save $70 a week on dinner choices for your family? Substitute less expensive choices, take advantage of leftovers, and follow good common sense tips in order to make nutritious and delicious meals for less.
A family of four spends about $5 per person on an average home-cooked meal. If you add that up, the total spent is usually $20 each night or $140 per week. Those dollar amounts are only going to rise thanks to an increase in prices at the grocery store. Over the past year, staples that families buy the most of, such as eggs and milk, have seen prices increase of up to 18 percent. Experts say prices are rising every day and with fuel increases, most families could use some tips on how to save money when buying food for dinner. Easy and affordable The good news is that you can save money while still enjoying delicious meals that are also healthy and balanced. Here's how. Write up a grocery list and stick to it. Only buy what you need and avoid special deals that only distract and encourage you to spend more. Don't forget the coupons and rebates, either. Do it yourself. Purchasing a chicken or roast already cooked saves time, but not money. Instead, buy your own three-pound chicken and cook it yourself with some herbs. This may take longer, but often you can roast your own meat or chicken and serve a far healthier meal than something mass produced in a factory or grocery store. Rather than buy premade burger patties that tend to be quite pricey, purchase ground beef and make your own. You get more meat for your money and homemade patties can last a whole lot longer. Swap without losing out on taste. Boneless chicken breasts are popular for easy casseroles and other simple meals. Try bone-in thighs rather than breasts and save over three dollars a pound. Other popular cuts like rib-eye and pork loin roasts are also not necessary. You can pick up a chuck pot roast, bone-in sirloin roast, and pork shoulders for half the price and usually get enough to feed the family with plenty left over. These substitutions are filled with flavor and tenderize quite well with slow cooking. Seafood is no different. Forgo expensive halibut and sea bass, opting instead for fish like tilapia and cod. These are often just as firm and tasty as the pricier options. Try frozen to feed more for less. A good-sized turkey can feed a family of four over three different dinners. There are plenty of recipes available to add some variety and often leave enough left over to make sandwiches. Save over three dollars a pound going with frozen over fresh. Vegetables and fruits are the same. Those produce items in the frozen section are full of flavor and cost less than fresh options. They last longer, too. Browse the canned foods. More so than fresh or frozen, canned foods last a long time, feed an entire family, and cost less than almost any other option. Don't be afraid to try something new. Flat iron steak is a brand new cut that represents a bargain at $5 a pound. This can easily replace the premium, $20 a pound filet mignon that is out of reach for so many people. Flat iron steaks feed more families and provide all the taste you enjoy in a good steak. Fake it. If you enjoy a recipe that calls for $11-per-pound lobster or $25-per-pound crab, try surimi instead. This is imitation shellfish and can take the place of more expensive choices in salads, crab cakes, casseroles, and pasta dishes. Make soup. Take thrifty seafood like clue mussels or chowder clams, both under $2 a dozen, and use them to stretch a dollar. They make a delicious addition to stews or soups that last and feed a crowd. Stock up. Purchasing cartons of eighteen eggs or premium cheeses like Gruyere or feta might seem expensive, but there is a reason for such buying trends. Larger cartons are usually marked down because they aren't as popular as the dozen eggs people usually get. More expensive cheeses are rich in flavor and therefore you use smaller amounts when cooking. The same can be said for rice. Purchase a five-pound bag of rice and get about fifty cooked cups instead of the usual three cups the small boxes yield for almost the same price. Consider dry choices. Powder milk is a fine substitution for regular milk when cooking or baking. It costs less and often people will never know the difference. Lentils and beans are less expensive when purchased in dry bags and healthier than boxed items with added preservatives. Go healthy and save money at the same time. Whole grains are the best at providing a wholesome, healthy, and filling meal for less. Items like pearl barley, brown rice, and bulgur only cost a dollar or so a pound and are also low in fat and high in fiber. They can easily be combined with most sauces and a variety of meats and vegetables to make hearty portions for the whole family. Visit local markets and farms for seasonal veggies and fruits. You'll pay less and get more variety than the offerings at grocery store chains. Leftovers, substitutions, and creative thinking are the ways to save over $70 a week in groceries and still eat delicious and nutritious meals. 8/26/2008
|
|
|
