What are the little things that you do to save money on groceries? Do you make your own Bisquick or hot chocolate mixes? Do you make your own croutons with leftover bread? Do you make your own bread?

--When I chop up an onion and don't use it all I put it in the freezer to use the next time.
--We rarely throw away leftovers.
--When eggs are nearing their exp date I make hard boiled eggs for salads, egg salad sandwiches, or bake something.
--I sometimes save the juice from canned fruit and use it instead of water to make jello.

I save money on my grocery budget by cooking from scratch. I bought a cookbook from a long time ago when you made everything from scratch and use the receipes in it. It has receipes for instant oatmeal, chocolate syrup, pancake syrup and mix, quick breads, and many others I haven't tried yet. The ones I have all listed are GREAT.

We also eat leftovers, watch the adds, use coupons, and container garden.

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A Family of 5's quest to forget the Joneses.

I have been making double batches when I cook and freeze one batch. I've been buying more store brand items rather than name brand. Been using powdered milk for baking. Started using the end crusts of the bread for breadcrumbs - throw them in my food processor and then a little seasoning -- good!

Here is another Big *Duh* moment for me!! I always end up throwing away chopped Onions and Peppers! This is A great idea! Can't Believe I Never thought about this- Thanks!
Easy ways I Do save a Little bit-
-I Only Use 1/2 a Bag of Chocolate Chips when I am making Muffins or Cookies- No one ever Seems to notice the difference

-Same thing with ground Meat- I can Get 4 meals out of 3 lbs ground beef. When a Recipe calls for 1 lb. I Ususally only use 3/4 Lbs. In casseroles and things like Stroganoff or Hamburger Helper there isn't a difference.

I try to save money on groceries by:

- making most things from scratch
- making double batches and freezing leftovers (which is also very convenient... )
- try not to throw anything away
- buy store brands
- make cheaper meals
- don't eat meat very often
- making a weekly menu

I think the thing that saves us from going out and getting take out or convenience food is my freezer. I always have several meals ready in there that just need to be thawed when I don't feel like cooking. I also freeze batches of pancakes, waffles, breads and rolls. They defrost in the microwave in just a few seconds.

Would you mind sharing the name of your cookbook??? Sounds very interesting.

I also do all of the things that the other gals have mentioned. I do have recipes for some scratch ingredients that I use all the time that I will start to make on my own-Cream of mushroom and chicken dry soup mix, Lipton onion soup dry mix and flavored coffee creamers. I just need to get organized and see what I have for storage containers and than see what ingreindients I need.

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Definitely would be interested in the name of that cookbook too.

Thanks

I buy whole milk and mix it at the time of use with half water to get an approximate 2% milk. The taste is indistinguishable from 2% milk for about half the cost and half the carbs.

Would you mind posting the recipe for flavored coffee creamer? I spend a lot of money on them and never even thought about making my own!

could you share those recipes!?? i have been looking for them! it would be greatly appreciated!

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My choices yesterday create my today. My choices today create my tomorrow.

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