Thursday, October 13, 2016

31 Days of Money-Saving Tips: Day #13 - Cook from Scratch


Another great way to save money is to cook from scratch.  Now, don't be afraid, you've got this.  I am not necessarily talking about making homemade bread, or assembling your own seasonings, unless that's what you want to do, and then by all means, go right ahead.  What I am referring to is eating at home.  Cooking homemade meals doesn't have to be hard or super involved, especially if you have a slow cooker.  We all know about my infatuation and down-right deep love for my slow cooker.  What's a super easy meal to make in a slow cooker you ask -- well, just add 1 turkey breast or pork roast to your slow cooker, season as desired, add washed, pricked potatoes on top (white or sweet), cook on low 6-8 hours, and serve.  This is delicious, cheap, and you can heat up a can or bag of frozen vegetables to go with it.  Super simple, and tasty.
Don't have a slow cooker?  Well, first of all you need to get yourself to a store and buy one.  They go on deep discount during Black Friday (which will be here soon), and often frequent the shelves of thrift stores.  But even if you are just making canned soup and grilled cheese at home, it is still cheaper than ordering that same thing at a diner.  There are so many convenience foods out there, that eating at home shouldn't be hard.  And even though they are not the best foods for you, they are still healthier than the indulgent and deep fried items you can order from a restaurant.  Pick 4 or 5 easy meals, and just rotate through them for dinners.  Spaghetti and meatballs is another super simple one that really only involves boiling, simmering, and 2 stove-top burners.
What about breakfasts and lunches?  Well, if you are a coffee drinker, making your cup of Joe at home will save you a crazy amount of money, even if you use more expensive coffee.  Easy breakfast foods we like are cereal, instant oatmeal, and frozen waffles with fruit.  There's three options for you, one of which doesn't even have to be cooked.  Lunches are just as simple.  Prep them the night before for a smooth morning.  Think PB and J sandwiches, frozen TV dinners, leftovers - I never said the meals had to be exciting, but making your own instead of eating out or picking up fast food will save you a ton of money in the end.
So, in summary, eat at home, because it's cheaper than eating out.
Photos for this series are from Flickr.  They are pictures that are under the license of ‘commercial and mods allowed.’  Edits were done by me.  The licensor does not endorse me or my use.