[ConservativeInPA]

I’ll start with my most recent cost cutter. I have baked bread for years. It tastes better than store bought. It has no preservatives. It’s less expensive than any loaf you can buy. But I often find that half of what I bake goes to waste. Homemade bread goes stale before it starts growing mold if you don’t have enough people around to quickly eat it. You can make toast, breadcrumbs, French toast and a few other things from stale bread, but after awhile you still find that you are wasting bread.

The solution: I bought a 1/2 loaf Pullman bread pan. It can be used without it’s top to make a regular loaf or with it’s top to make pain de mie.

Pain de Mie

Half Pullman Bread Pan

A half loaf pan has a couple of advantages beyond cutting the amount of stale or moldy bread. It requires half the ingredients to make a loaf. A half loaf is easier to knead than a full loaf. And, it cuts baking time (energy savings) and rise times are also reduced.

I generally make a loaf every three or so days, say that is about twice per week. That means I don’t waste a loaf of bread per week. Let’s guesstimate a loaf of homemade bread costs $0.80 to bake. The cost of a half pullman pan is about $20. It takes 25 weeks to recoup the cost of the pan. Savings are even greater if you use the price of a really good loaf of bread from a bakery.

While saving a buck or two a week doesn’t sound like much, it does add up over a year. When you combine additional cost savers it really adds up. You can eat healthier and better tasting food for much less.

[NEMDF]

We joined Sam’s Club in April, and immediately received a credit for the membership fee on the first shopping trip. We have been going approximately every 6 weeks.

We buy all of our toilet paper, paper towel, paper napkins, and Kleenex there now. Also Folger’s coffee, butter, some supplements, canned tuna, cat litter, canned black olives, and a few other odds and ends. We don’t have tons of storage space, or might be inclined to get additional products there.

For our regular grocery trips, HyVee has 5% discount for seniors on Wednesdays. I also carefully check prices on products we often use, stock up a bit for sales. Chicken pieces are still sometimes $1.49/lb or less. Eggs, potatoes, some pork cuts and products still seem to be decent value.

If you get there early-ish, they have bulk packages of hamburger or whatever ground beef was left in the meat case at the end of the prior day. These are usually 2-3 pounds, and priced at $3.99/lb, then I make hamburger patties or package for sloppy joes or meatloaf, etc.

We have gotten to asking for gift cards to restaurants for birthdays, mother’s/father’s day, Christmas, etc. gifts from our grown kids, and rarely eat out if not with a gift card. Can have a pretty nice meal for 2 at Cracker Barrel with a $25 gift card. Texas Roadhouse is a good spot for early lunch on weekends.

We haven’t really gotten TOO drastic yet, but I have always been pretty frugal in my shopping habits. We don’t seem to have access to many coupons, so not sure where FReepers are getting these.

[fuzzylogic]

Keto diet...smaller meals and only twice a day. I don’t get hungry.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Book recommendations on the topic at hand:

‘The Tightwad Gazette’ (Find the BIG compilation; 3 books in one) by Amy Dacyzyzn

‘The All New Ball Book of Canning and Preserving’ - You don’t have to grow it yourself to preserve it! If you get a great deal on a bushel of Apples, learn what to do with them!

“Make the Bread, Buy the Butter: What You Should (and Shouldn’t) Cook from Scratch to Save Time and Money by Jennifer Reese

[Diana in Wisconsin]

You can still find deals on WHOLE chickens. If you don’t know how to roast one, try this recipe. It’s the best I’ve found.

Skillet-Roasted Whole Chicken with Lemon and Potatoes:

https://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/skillet-roasted-whole-chicken-with-lemon-and-potatoes/38a0eda0-1fc3-4962-b9ef-e4133425a858

And a roast chicken will give you leftovers for DAYS to make into other dishes. Chicken Fajitas. Chicken Salad. Chicken Soup. Chicken Noodle Casserole. (And make stock from the bones and skin!)

And go back to just cooking the basics; there truly IS nothing new under the sun when it comes to cooking. Food just has better lighting, fancier photos and they just add Curry Powder or Garam Masala to everything, now.

*SMIRK*

[Rio]

Big flock of chickens = meat + eggs + trash disposal
Small herd of cows = meat + $$$
Big garden = veg. Can/freeze a bunch for winter.
NEVER eat out except when traveling.
Home-made bread from home-ground flour. mmmmmm...
Watch those sales at the grocery stores.

[CodeToad]

We don’t economize much on food, but one thing that bugs me is the price of chicken. I buy the larger packs of 5-6 breasts that are about $12 a pack and then freeze them individually in plastic bags.

[MrChips]

red beans and rice

[mewzilla]

If you eat out at somewhere other than a fast food joint, order one meal as a take out and split it. That way there’s no plate charge and no tip. And there’s usually plenty of food for two in a single meal these days.

And if you’re on the road, pack your own food and drink.

[joe fonebone]

Buy a vacuum packer and buy meat in bulk...
Example: center cut pork chops, 7 bucks a pound.
Whole pork loin, 3 bucks a pound.
You get about 20, 1.25 inch pork chops, plus 2 pork roasts, for about 20 bucks.
Cut it yourself and vacuum pack it. Will stay good in the freezer for up to a year.
Same with bulk chicken breast, burger,etc.
Look for meat on sale and take advantage.

[sauropod]

bkmk

[SueRae]

I LOVE this idea. I kept my carbs to a minimum but my husband may enjoy this.

[SueRae]

Only 3 at home. Rarely go out. Takeout is way down, too. I enjoy cooking..waiting for a Instanpot..finally on sale. So many good recipe to try. I use costco and bj’s and budget and plan. Budget and plan. As best as I can.

[Drew68]

How do you save on food/dining costs?

By marrying a woman with some OCD issues around food and who doesn't like to eat anything she didn't prepare herself.

Saves me a fortune on dining bills (though once in a while I will sneak out and enjoy a "table for one" at a local restaurant).

[CFW]

I shop at Kroger using their deals and coupons, which also gives me gas points. I shop a lot at Dollar General also using their coupons. I buy fresh veggies and make casseroles such as squash, zucchini, with mushrooms (topped with cheese). Dishes such as that can last for two dinner meals.

Although, I have to admit that with just me and hubby, we can make it on a lot less than a large family and I do not cook as much as I used to. Sandwiches are usually what we have for lunch. When the grandkids come to visit, I make sure I have their favorites on hand so that is the only thing that increases my grocery budget.

In addition, we have a nearby local store that has it’s own meat section and they cut up their own meat and package it so it’s cheaper. Other than that, I’m losing weight. I’m on the “Venezuelan” diet plan.

[TianaHighrider]

Bookmark 💖

[Gaffer]

One thing I just noticed at Kroger yesterday was the availability of ‘half loafs’ of bread. Never saw that before. Not just a hasty repackaging or something - a real half-loaf with a heel on each end. I forget the name...but it was there.. in white, wheat and some other kind...

[Texas resident]

Never shop for groceries while you are hungry. You will end up buying less.