Saving money in the kitchen doesn’t usually come from extreme budgeting – it comes from small habits that add up over time. These are a few low-effort things I do that quietly cut costs without making life harder.
Habits
- Plan meals before shopping
- Use leftovers intentionally
- Clean the fridge weekly
- Freeze food before it goes bad
- Keep a running grocery list
Why It Works
- Planning meals before the week kicks off will help cut down on last-minute fatigue driven splurges on takeout. The menu doesn’t have to be rigid, just choose 5 meals for the week and plan to cook one each night. Choosing 5 meals is my go-to number because I have one built-in leftovers night and one built in takeout night.
- Using leftovers intentionally will save you money and will also help cut down on food waste. If you have planned your weekly meals and you know that one of them usually leaves you with a lot of leftovers, prepare that meal closer to your leftover’s night or closer to a night that you know you’ll be too busy to cook. Turn those leftovers into something different, get creative.
- Cleaning out your fridge each week doesn’t have to be a major task; you don’t need to break out the cleaning bucket to do this each week. Just a quick run through to freeze eligible items that won’t be used before expiring, toss items that have overstayed their welcome, and add to your shopping list.
- Freeze things before they are past their expiration date. Items like fresh fruit, vegetables, soups, and sauces freeze well. Use these items later for stir-fry’s, smoothies, or just a quick option to thaw and cook when the grocery budget is super tight.
- Keeping a running grocery list is incredibly helpful when menu planning and trying to stay on budget. Keep a magnetic dry erase board on your refrigerator to jot down items as you run out, then use this list as a tool when creating your weekly menu.
💡Pro Tips
Ideas for Leftover’s:
1. Leftover meatballs or shredded chicken? have a pizza night! these are great topping options.
2. Leftover soup, chili or pasta sauce? Keep freezer bags on hand, put desired amount in each bag, seal and lay flat to freeze them. once frozen you can store upright like a file system.
5 Go-To Menu Meal Ideas:
1. Salsa chicken tacos
2. Chili
3. American chop suey
4. Taco night
5. Crockpot teriyaki chicken
📌 Do you want to save money this year, but you don’t think you have anything to save? Try my Pick-a-Box savings challenge.
Final Thoughts
Small changes matter more than big overhauls, no need to overwhelm yourself by changing everything all at once. These easy recipes 5 Cozy Crockpot Meals & Pantry Dinners You Can Make When You’re Broke and Busy will give you some budget-friendly menu ideas to use each week. – Hey Ivy