There is a massive motivation for people to save money: life is getting more expensive, and aside from our mortgage, often the second biggest household expense is our weekly food bill.
But, it doesn’t have to be that way!
Meal planning is the number one way to save money in the kitchen. We often tend to buy ingredients only to use half of them and find that the rest goes to waste. Instead, here are some helpful tips to make sure you get the most out of your groceries.
- Write a shopping list and stick to it. Eliminate those ‘impulse buys’: goods that are randomly bought at the supermarket and get thrown out down the track.
- Shop at home first. It is amazing how many ingredients, and therefore meals, are already sitting in your pantry or fridge. Again, this is where meal planning is important. Use what you have to create a weekly meal plan, adding to your shopping list only the ingredients you don’t have.
- Be creative. Swap flavours to help build variety into your weekly meals.
- Use as many fundamental ingredients as possible – vegetables, poultry, meat, and fish – without using speciality ingredients which can be expensive and hard to find.
- Some recipes may contain shortcuts, so you can adjust cooking time to fit within your lifestyle. Though, it is healthier to cook from scratch, steer clear of chemically harmful ingredients that can be sneaky and hard to recognise.
- Summer provides a vivid, luscious display of fresh fruit and vegetables. This is the season to do as little as possible with your ingredients. Think crisp and peppery salads, quiches and tarts (with 4 ingredients), and lean meats or fish grilled on the barbecue.
- Source your food locally and seasonally, as much as possible. Buying locally means less waste occurs between the farmer and the retailer, food is fresher and will last longer in your fridge, and your diet will vary with the seasonal produce.
- Don’t be afraid to purchase imperfect produce. Use cooking methods to help turn them into delicious dishes.
- Save leftovers. Small portions of leftover meals can be reused as snacks or added to future dishes with ease.
- Putting your health at the top of your mind doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive. Visit your local food swaps or community gardens: somewhere to mingle in shorts and sandals, to linger in the sun and watch a cooking demonstration or purchase from verdant jungles of lettuces, leaves and fresh herbs.
Here are some great Farmers’ Markets and Food Swaps to visit:
Macleod Community Organic Garden
Bundoora Park Farmers’ Market
Community Grocer Heidelberg West
Eltham Farmers’ Market
Fairfield Farmers’ Market
Coburg Farmers’ Market
Food Swaps
A few simple steps and some planning will see you improve your kitchen efficiency and your cooking skills, while decreasing your food waste. Being a frugal cook isn’t just about following a recipe, but also learning how to get the most out of your shopping and food, be it a chicken carcass, leftover roast or the beetroot greens you’ve always thrown away.
Here are some great books to get you started:
No Waste Kitchen by Giovanna Torrico and Amelia Washiliev, 2019
This cookbook is all about reducing kitchen waste and finding ways to turn all those leftover bits into something useful. At the same time, you’re saving money and being environmentally friendly which is a big win in our book (pun intended). Goodreads rates it 3.7/5 stars
The $50 Weekly Shop: Weekday Dinners by Jody Allen, 2017
If you’re interested in our Dollar Limit challenge to "feed the fam for under $10", then this is the book for you. You might not be able to reach the $50 target if you have more family members but learning new tips to bring that price point down is always worth it in the long run. Goodreads rates it 3.26/5 stars
15 minute vegan on a budget by Katy Beskow, 2019
Vegan, fast and “without the price tag”! Sounds like the best of all worlds. Even for non-vegans, this is a good opportunity to dip in and explore new flavours with some quick side dishes. Goodreads rates it 4/5 stars
The ice kitchen by Shivi Ramoutar, 2020
Freezers and fridge sales exploded during Covid-19 as everyone stocked up while locked up for the long wait. Even without a global pandemic, this book’s tips for keeping frozen items fresh without sacrificing flavour is sure to come in handy. Goodreads rates it 4.2/5 stars
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