Recipe Boxes Are Sometimes The Cheaper Option

If you think that recipe boxes can be overly expensive, then you're not the only one. However, there are some cases in which recipe boxes can help cut down on grocery expenses. Sometimes buying all the ingredients listed on a recipe box would cost much more than just buying the box itself. So, this might be a good option for those that simply love to cook at home and try out new things.

However, all of these boxes aren't created equal, and we'd recommend actually figuring out how much you spend on groceries on average and then comparing that with the prices of recipe boxes.

Limit Shopping Trips

We're not saying that you have to starve yourself if you run out of groceries, but it is a good idea to limit shopping trips to one every two weeks instead of once a week if you're trying to save money. It might force you to plan out your trips better or use things that you already have at home if you think that you've run out of ingredients.

It also just cuts down on the number of opportunities you have to overspend. If you can stretch out your groceries, then this tip is sure to save you some money.

Consider Going Vegetarian (For At Least One Meal)

Vegetarianism and veganism are probably more popular now than they've ever been. However, if you're not ready to make the switch completely, then we don't blame you; meat is pretty delicious. But it's also usually more expensive than buying produce. So, if you're looking to save money, then you might want to consider having at least one vegetarian meal a week. You can increase the number of meals if you feel like you want to save more money.

The best thing is that there are now plenty of websites and videos devoted to strictly vegetarian recipes, meaning it's not going to be very hard to find your next favorite meal.

Buy Ingredients That Go Further

This is one that most of us probably wish we were better at. Buying ingredients that go further means buying things that can be used in multiple dishes. For example, buying flour will allow you to make things like pancakes or biscuits while still being useful for a roux. The same can be said for things like rice or frozen vegetables. All it really takes is a little bit of planning ahead.

And these types of ingredients are usually very cheap, especially considering all of the different dishes that can be made from them. They're also just great to have around when you want to experiment.

Don't Shop While You're Hungry

This is a pretty common piece of advice, but it holds true. It's usually a bad idea to go shopping while you're hungry. You'll likely find yourself buying much more than you would if you had just eaten. Even if you're someone who is pretty good at sticking to their shopping list, there's no point in adding more temptation to the shopping experience. Instead, just grab a snack or cook a quick meal before you head to the grocery store if you can.

Of course, there will sometimes be times when you're not able to do either one of those and have to go shopping hungry. But, if you keep this little tip in your mind, you might be able to avoid overbuying.

Avoid Minimarkets And Gas Stations

This one might sound kind of obvious, but for most of us, it's extremely hard to do. Most gas stations and minimarkets make their money from purchases like snacks, which are usually priced higher than you'd find in a grocery store. That means walking into one of these temptation-laden stores and buying whatever you see on impulse is usually a bad idea if you're trying to save money.

Again, we know it's kind of hard to just walk in and pay for gas without buying anything, but it really will help save money if you're the type of person with willpower. Unfortunately, we are not.

Store Produce With A Kitchen Towel

Storing produce with a kitchen towel will help it last longer and, in turn, cut down on food waste. It's also really easy. Just wash your vegetables and then dry them and put them away in a Ziplock bag with a kitchen towel inside. The towel will soak up any extra moisture that might've otherwise caused your produce to go bad quicker. This is especially helpful for things like leafy greens.

After all, one of the most annoying things is when you go out and spend money on something only to have that something spoil before you even get a chance to finish it.