Have you ever ever thought of the true value of comfort? What value are you actually paying for all of these pre-packaged comfort meals?
Pre-packaged, preservative-laden processed meals aren’t simply unhealthy for our well being (whats up, additional well being care prices!); pound for pound, additionally they value us more cash.
Saving on the Value of Comfort
For those who’re seeking to eat higher and save money, you’re a lot better off making meals at house from scratch. Purchase complete elements and staple meals objects (in bulk when doable) and switch them into all kinds of scrumptious however frugal meals and snacks.
You’ll be stunned by how a lot cash it can save you by making ready meals at house from scratch. Plus, you’ve gotten complete management over what goes into each meal you make, so you realize precisely what’s in (and what’s not in) the meals that you simply and your loved ones eat.
The way to Keep away from Paying the Value of Comfort
Does the above picture look acquainted? Wandering down rows of packaged meals on the grocery store, evaluating manufacturers of meals objects that our grandmothers used to make at house from scratch?
Sadly, the typical fast journey to the grocery retailer often consists of a visit down these aisles and ends with a cart filled with packaged, ready meals, packed lettuce, frozen pizzas, bakery objects, frozen entrees, and extra!
Packaged, ready meals are handy, however in our busy, hurried-up world, they’ve change into the norm, and cooking from scratch has change into a misplaced artwork.
Subsequent time you go to the grocery retailer, take this problem…..
Cease! Again away from the packages…choose up a couple of complete elements as a substitute and make it from scratch! The financial savings are properly price the additional time it takes to arrange a meal from scratch, and the style and well being advantages are greater than well worth the effort.
Eat This, Not That!
Listed here are some easy grocery switches:
Lettuce: When was the final time you purchased a head of lettuce to make a salad? Do you usually end up shopping for these pre-mixed bagged salads? It actually solely takes a couple of minutes to clean and chop your individual lettuce, and the worth distinction is important:
Purchase: a head of Romaine lettuce ($0.99)
As a substitute of: a bag of chopped Romaine ($3.50)
Save: $2.51
Syrup: Rising up, my mother at all times made selfmade syrup for our pancakes. It was heat and scrumptious and made the entire kitchen scent candy! Do you know {that a} bottle of syrup prices about $3.50, and you may make it in a couple of minutes for under pennies? For those who can’t afford 100% maple syrup, this can be a good different.
Low cost Syrup Recipe
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon maple flavoring
- 1 teaspoon butter flavoring
Warmth in a saucepan over medium warmth till the sugar is dissolved. Let cool barely earlier than serving.
It’s also possible to make homemade Pancake Syrup from Apple Peels.
I used to be very lucky to have grown up with issues constructed from scratch and I continúe to stay with these recipes, however I’ve by no means made my very own syrup! I’ll begin making my very own from today ahead.
Vanessa, Little Home Residing reader
Pizza: We’re a nation of pizza lovers, and it’s so easy to make for a fraction of the associated fee! Let’s check out a big cheese pizza….
Supply = $12
Frozen, Identify Model = $8
Frozen, Retailer Model = $5
Home made = $2
Make your own Pizza Dough and Pizza Sauce as a substitute! Press the selfmade dough right into a greased sheet, high with sauce and cheese, and bake at 350F. If it’s the “fastness” that you really want, do this 30 Minute Pizza Recipe.
Birthday Cake: Wow, half a sheet cake from the bakery prices $25 or extra! Subsequent time you want a cake, bake it, don’t purchase it, and save about $20. Listed here are some scrumptious selfmade birthday cake concepts:
Strawberry Cake
German Chocolate Cake
Chocolate Cheesecake Cake
Or strive any certainly one of these 50 Cake Recipes From Scratch.
Oatmeal and Grits: That is such a easy swap! Take a look at the directions on a giant field of grits or oatmeal….you merely measure the water, add the oatmeal or grits to your bowl, and microwave! I feel that’s simply so simple as opening a kind of particular person serving packets, and it’s an terrible lot cheaper.
Massive Field of Oats = $2 for 30 servings
Instantaneous Oatmeal Packages = $3 for 10 servings
Observe these easy directions to Make Your Own Oatmeal Packets, or take a look at these 20 Delicious Oatmeal Breakfast Recipes.
For extra concepts on issues you may make as a substitute of shopping for from the shop, take a look at this listing of 7 Pantry Staples to Start Making at house from scratch.
Single serve freezer meal prep is a big value financial savings for us.
Any recipe I search for, ALWAYS asks about freezing objects.
My rule of thumb is: if you could find it within the freezer isle, prepackaged FOR you, yup, it freezes properly, and you may, too!
Butter hen, candy n bitter pork, and so forth. If you should buy it, you may make it and freeze it in single parts.
When you have freezer-to-microwave containers, a lot cash financial savings, vs little or no time enter (extra so, in batch cooking!!!).
And bonus- much less trash!!!!S, Little Home Residing reader
The Value Of Comfort Goes Past Meals
There are such a lot of issues we pay additional for after we might simply as properly make it at house from scratch and save huge cash (all these {dollars} and cents actually add up!). Take a look at my in depth listing of posts and tutorials on frugal selfmade substitutes for non-food comfort objects that we often pay high greenback for on the grocery retailer:
Make Your Own: Frugal Homemade Versions of Everyday Items
So, what easy grocery switches will you make this week?
Regardless that a few of the issues we get are bought with coupons and they’re low-cost, generally it’s even cheaper simply to make them selfmade. That is very true while you’re cooking with whole food elements.
Typically, the objects you could find coupons for are pre-packaged objects, however even after utilizing coupons, the selfmade model is often nonetheless cheaper and is sort of at all times more healthy. Complete meals and bulk elements would possibly even value a bit of extra upfront for a bulk portion, however they common out to a lot much less per meal while you do the maths.
Costco is a good choice for getting high quality, complete elements in bulk. They even supply many natural choices now! Your greatest wager is to work on stocking your pantry with giant portions of versatile meals objects that may be reworked into many various issues. Do that, and also you’re certain to economize and keep away from paying the true value of comfort!
I hope this text offers you some concepts on some easy switches that you may make in your on a regular basis procuring and cooking to economize and protect your well being!
For much more fast “comfort meals” that you may make at house, take a look at my article on 13 Convenience Foods That You Can Stop Buying and Start Making.
What else do you make at house as a substitute of shopping for from the grocery retailer? Let me know within the feedback!
Merissa Alink
Merissa has been running a blog about and living the simple life since 2009 and has internationally printed 2 books on the subject. You’ll be able to examine Merissa’s journey from penniless to freedom on the About Page. You’ll be able to ship her a message any time from the Contact Page.
This weblog submit about The way to Save On the Value of Comfort was initially printed on Little Home Residing in Might 2010. It has been up to date as of January 2024.
