By Faylee James

The ideas I am offering here are not new. I’m sure you have heard of most of them but are you using what your know, is the question?

(1) Making your own bottled tea

A one time buy of several water bottles or reusing the ones you have is an easy way of stretching your food dollar. Sun tea is better than any store bought bottled tea. You can easily make it to suit your taste. Any large clear container will work. Use up to 3 family tea bags per two-gallon container, (mine came from my local dollar store) fill it with water, add the tea bags and set it in the sun. Depending on how strong you like your tea let it set from three to five hours. The water will be warm but not hot. Add the sweetener of your choice…. yummy!

(2) Visiting a farmers market for fresher and, most times, cheaper produce.

If you see something you have not tried before, ask the salesperson how to cook or use it. People that grow food items are always the best source of advice on how to use their product.

(3) Using all that you cook or make with little waste.

Now that you have shopped for your food, you want to use it in a way that will give you the most for your money. When I’m making soup I save anything that I can put in my stock pot. Yes, even potato peelings. The ends of onions, celery, carrots and potato peeling all make for a better stock for your soups or stews. You will want to wash your potatoes before peeling, to make sure the dirt has been removed.

(4) Replace ice cream with frozen ripe fruits or juices.

Sometimes we throw away half eaten fruits because we do not know what to do with them. Freeze or dry them for future uses. Half an apple, banana, some berries or peach can all become the beginning of a great smoothie drink or home made pie.

Save enough pennies you will soon have dollars.

(5) Have a picnic dinner in the back yard once a week.

Kids love picnics and just because you can’t get to the lake or park doesn’t mean you can’t have one. If you do not have a picnic table, lay an old quilt on the grass and sit down to a meal. It could be the same hot dog or hamburger you were going to serve for dinner in the house but make it into a picnic and it becomes an adventure for the whole family.

Using what we know is the answer to most of our questions. We should listen to ourselves more often.

Faylee

Faylee James is a Life Coach/Writer/Speaker from Northeast Tennessee, who has an above average interest in cooking, people and living life to the fullest. Her website http://www.HassiesKitchenTable.com is in honor of her mother who passed away last October. Recently Faylee added a matching blog where you can get more recipes and thoughts on family life. http://www.HassiesKitchenTable.blogspot.com. Visit both and don’t forget to sign up for the twice monthly newsletter while you are at the website.

Article Source: Faylee James == Small Food Savings Can Become Big Bucks

Categories : Cooking