Want to save some money? Your kitchen could be the key!
We often spend money on kitchen-related stuff without realising how much it all adds up. You can save hundreds each year by making a few little adjustments to how you approach your kitchen and day-to-day life.
Here are my favourite ways to save money in your kitchen!
Do your absolute best to not waste any food.
I know you know, we all do, but it’s worth mentioning because it only takes a couple of little hacks to make the most of your food, and once you get into the routine of it, you’ll be amazed at the difference it can make! Wasting less food means it stretches into more meals and snacks, which means you buy less next time, which means you save money.
Here are my favourite ways to reduce food waste at our house:
- Eat fresh first e.g. Use the fresh potatoes before heating up frozen oven chips
- Designate an “eat first” box or shelf in your fridge and pantry so you don’t forget what needs to be used up as a priority
- Eat leftovers for lunch AND snacks (you can put pretty much anything into a jaffle)
- Have homemade pizzas on Friday nights using up the leftover produce
- Make a big pot of soup on the weekend with any leftover produce and freeze it in small portions for lunches next week
- If you buy 2 packets of biscuits, hide the second packet so it doesn’t get opened until the first is finished
- Google “what to make with” whatever you have left - there are great ideas out there!
Organise your fridge and pantry.
If you can easily see what you have without having to dig around, you’re less likely to accidentally double-buy, which will save you money.
- Tiered shelves are great in your pantry for holding 3x of your canned goods that are easy to see at a glance
- Keep the same things in the same spots all the time so it’s easy to look for them
- Get an airtight container and put all of your pasta packets in it together. If you can see it’s full, you don’t need to buy any more pasta. Works with rice, dried beans, and flour too!
- Always keep a packet of pasta and a tin of tomatoes in your pantry for when you want an easy dinner but don’t want to spend money on takeaway. Simmer the tomatoes in a small saucepan with a little garlic and a sprinkle of dried mixed herbs while you cook your pasta, then mix them together. Done!
- Challenge yourself to shop your pantry and freezer once a season and do a week’s worth of meals without going to the shops. You’ll save money AND clear out some space!
Don’t buy every gadget.
Hey, if you really love a particular gadget, go for it! But you don’t need them all.
- Onion choppers are cool but a knife and chopping board do the same thing
- You can chop a lemon in half and squeeze it with your hands
- You can use your oven if you don’t have an air fryer
- You can drink instant coffee or use a french press and save thousands on a coffee machine
- You can use a box grater if you don’t have a food processor
- You can mix cakes by hand if you don’t have a stand mixer
- You can slice up your veggies if you don’t have a spiraliser
- You can make popcorn on the stovetop or in the microwave if you don’t have a popcorn machine
- You can make bread in the oven if you don’t have a bread maker
- You can poach an egg in a saucepan or in a bowl in the microwave if you don’t have an egg poacher
I hope you found these ideas helpful! If you’re ready for next steps in making life easier as a parent, you might to check out my popular House & Family Binder. It’s a simple set of prints to help you reduce the mental load and streamline the running of your household, and I’m adding digital versions of each planning print too to make it even easier to use! Check it out here anytime.
x Marissa
