Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m one of the poors and pretty much only buy generic EXCEPT for canned tomatoes. I used to live in Italy and still splurge on the good cans, because they make an enormous difference. Everything else is Walmart great value

What brands do you recommend? I love canned tomatoes, but hate it when they have that lingering metallic taste.

Yes -- what Italian brand?

NP. I like Cento.

We make things from scratch more because it’s cheaper. And we don’t buy fruits and veggies out of season most of the time.

I use frozen or freeze-drive fruits and bake them into muffins or waffles and freeze them. When apples and pears are in season I buy a bunch and make apple or pear cake or applesauce and freeze it all.

We buy Most dairy eggs or meat in bulk from costco and use or freeze.

I do less meat and more veggies or beans/lentils in most dishes. E.g., I make hamburgers with 2 pounds of meat, 4 zucchinis, a big thing of mushrooms, a pound of carrots, some onions, some black beans, eggs, seasonings and bread crumbs. Shred all the veggies/beans in a food processor, mix it in with the eggs, seasonings, bread crumbs and beef and make a huge pile of burger patties. I bake them, then freeze them in stacks the right number for one family meal, then can easily pull them out for a fast weeknight dinner alongside roast potatoes or french fries. Or I’ll make a chicken pot pie with lots of veggies and only a little chicken, or a shepherds pie similar to the burgers. Basically instead of going vegetarian, just swap out the ratio of veggies to meat. The meat goes further but you still get most of the flavor.

I stock up on staples when I visit my parents, who live in a much cheaper area (but still close enough to drive). We are visiting for the weekend and I bought a bunch of food staples for half the price I would pay at home. Obviously I stick with non perishables.

I love all the posters earnestly exclaiming, "buy in bulk, and when things are on sale," like they think they reinvented the wheel.

Thanks, ladies. Really.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I buy marked down meat (usually with a close sell by date).

I cook cheaper recipes (pasta and stir fry come to mind).

Drastically limit takeout (we are down 75% this month).

I try to use what we have.

Plant our own herbs.

Freeze leftovers instead of them going to waste.

Forgot to add on the marked down meat, I stock up and put it in the deep freezer.

Those are all good ideas!

It is more cost-effective—and environmentally friendly—not to have a deep freezer that constantly zaps energy and increases your energy bill!

Unless you have data to back this claim up, I'm going to file it under "things that I wish were true, but really are just wild-ass guesses that most likely aren't."

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I buy marked down meat (usually with a close sell by date).

I cook cheaper recipes (pasta and stir fry come to mind).

Drastically limit takeout (we are down 75% this month).

I try to use what we have.

Plant our own herbs.

Freeze leftovers instead of them going to waste.

Forgot to add on the marked down meat, I stock up and put it in the deep freezer.

Those are all good ideas!

It is more cost-effective—and environmentally friendly—not to have a deep freezer that constantly zaps energy and increases your energy bill!

Anonymous wrote:Intermittent Fasting.

Can't get my kids to join in

Intermittent Fasting.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m one of the poors and pretty much only buy generic EXCEPT for canned tomatoes. I used to live in Italy and still splurge on the good cans, because they make an enormous difference. Everything else is Walmart great value

What brands do you recommend? I love canned tomatoes, but hate it when they have that lingering metallic taste.

Yes -- what Italian brand?

Not PP but I like pomi tomatoes in the tetrabrick. No metallic taste.