REAL Food Saves Me So Much $$

 

Prices are continuing to climb, especially on groceries, and I don’t think we are going see much of a reprieve on the cost of goods anytime soon.  One of the best ways I save money on groceries is to first only buy REAL food whole ingredients and then to cook all of my meals from scratch.  Not only am I buying better quality items, but I can get a lot more of them for my money which allows me to preserve and put up a lot more food for the future.

 

I am purchasing the best quality meats I can afford and often I am able to source those things buy either buying in bulk, like at Costco, or by using digital coupons, special offers and taking advantage of really good sales, like loss leaders, to reduce the overall costs of those purchases.  Also, I am always on the lookout for “manager’s specials” and marked down meats.  In fact, most of my meat purchases tend to be markdowns which can save me up to 75% off the original prices.  Despite the price on eggs these days I still buy them, just not as often or as many.  Thankfully I have chickens to help me out the majority of the time.

 

Fresh and frozen produce is still very affordable.  I mainly purchase what is in season as it is the least expensive and most nutritious and flavorful.  Sales on fresh produce allow me to purchase more and put it away in the freezer to enjoy when prices are higher or these foods are out of season.  Buying frozen fruits and vegetables in bulk or on sale is another way to stock the freezer for less money.

 

Dairy items – butter, sour cream, cheese, cream cheese, cream, cottage cheese and whole milk are items I tend to buy on a regular price and I do spend the extra on these items.  I want the best quality with the cleanest ingredients I can find and there are a lot of good brands, even store brands that fit the bill.  Because of sales cycles I am able to pick up most of them on sale and I stock up, especially as butter, cream, milk and cheese do well in the freezer.

 

While most of what I eat these days falls in the “plants and animals” camp I do occasionally enjoy a slice of bread or a dinner roll and I also do a lot of entertaining.  I make most of the bread products myself from scratch for mere pennies compared to buying them.  I still buy tortillas however as past attempts to make them have fallen short.  The same thing goes with pasta.  When I purchase tortillas and pasta I try to only buy them on sale.

 

I also make my own condiments so I can control the ingredients, but it also saves me a lot of money as well, especially when it comes to salad dressings, which I use quite a bit.  Last summer I made my own ketchup with tomatoes I had grown in my garden and it tasted really good.  I plan to make more of that this summer.  I made my own relish too.  Again, when I do buy condiments I try to buy the best quality at the best price I can find.

 

By stepping back in time a bit and embracing a more wholesome way of feeding myself, eliminating ultra processed foods and anything with ingredients I don’t recognize, plus making as much as I can from scratch I am not only enjoying better tasting and healthier foods but saving myself a fair bit of money in the process.  I also feel a whole lot better too.  Win-win-win!