I’ll let you in on a little secret – I can be a bit stingy. Not in a really annoying way (ok maybe a bit) but I just hate wasting money. It pains me to see people wasting something that they worked so hard to make. I know ‘each to their own’ but I’m sure there are some people who have just never thought that there was a cheaper way to do some things.
I’m a bit the opposite and when people see me doing some of the things I do out of habit to save money they wonder what I’m doing. Just this list of 10 tips to save you money in the kitchen, can save at least
- Boil the kettle once in the morning and fill a thermos for instant tea and coffee throughout the day.
You will need a good-quality thermos for this or you’ll be drinking luke-warm tea after dinner but I find it just right for mine. I have a giant thermos that fits a whole kettle of boiling water and quite often, the next day it’s still warm
- Cut dishwasher tablets in half.
Yes this is one of those things people probably think I’m crazy for doing but it cleans just as well for half the price. While we’re at it – I buy my dishwasher tablets in bulk (I’m talking 200 tablets at a time) online to save even more. eBay has the best deal on these particular ones.
- Use white vinegar to clean the dishwasher.
Those supermarket dishwasher cleaners (even the homebrand versions) start at about $4 per use here so at about 20 cents a go white vinegar is definitely cheaper. Just fill a one-cup capacity container – cup, tupperware, measuring jug – place it on the top drawer, upright and run the dishwasher through a quick cycle. It will sparkle afterwards!
- Re-use teabags for more than one cup of tea.
This one sounds a little gross and I can’t guarantee that it’s totally hygienic but I’ve been doing it for years and never poisoned myself. If you like really strong tea it might not work, but for the average cup, you can get two cups from one bag.
- Drink tap water.
This is as opposed to bottled water. Not only is bottled water super expensive but the plastic can have some nasty chemicals in it. If you’re worried about nasties in tap water I recommend a filter or just a simple filter jug that you can get from the supermarket. Much better for the budget, your health and saves all that plastic!
- Ditch the paper towel.
I buy about a roll of paper towel every 6 months. For years now I’ve been using old rags to clean up spills and mess. Saves money and waste. Just cut up a few old towels and you’re in business. Yes you have to wash them but they don’t take up all that much room so I just put them through with the next load of clothes.
- Use cloth napkins instead of paper.
This is the same theory as the paper towels. Cloth napkins cost a bit more upfront but the saving is worth it. Plus they look prettier on the table. I bought some pretty fabric and made ours myself a few years ago for about $15 total.
- Make your own regular grocery items.
There are so many things that we all buy that can be made at home so easily and probably from ingredients you already have. Some of my favourites to make are muesli, tortillas and taco seasoning. I can’t remember the last time I bought any of them. The other bonus is that you know exactly what’s in them.
- Grow your own herbs.
This one is a bit hypocritical of me because I don’t have the world’s greenest thumb but even growing one of your favourite herbs in a little pot outside can add up to big savings. No more spending $3 a bunch for one recipe. You can even grow some herbs, like basil, from cuttings. Again another bonus is that you know exactly where it came from and what it was or wasn’t sprayed with.
- Use substitutes.
There are so many ingredients that can be used interchangeably in a recipe to save you from going all the way to the supermarket for one thing (and usually buying more than one right?). A few examples are yoghurt, sour-cream and cream in baking, ricotta and cottage cheese and I never buy self-raising flour anymore – just add 2 teaspoons of baking powder per cup of plain flour.
There are so many out there though so always best to do a quick Google before you head to the shops.
I’ve estimated that all these changes, at the very minimum would save us at least $12 a week. That’s being very conservative too. Considering they’re all very low-effort, I think saving $600 plus a year is pretty good!
What about you? What are your top savings tips for the kitchen?
