You can save money this week by by planning at least 3 meals based on items you already have in your fridge, freezer, and pantry. This saves money and helps rotate through what you already have!
Here Are Some Quick Tips To Save Each Week:
I recommend checking out this post where you can learn more ways to save money this week on food and download my FREE Stick To Your Budget Checklist. But here are some quick tips to get you started.
- Inventory Check: Start by updating your inventory of food items you already have. Create a checklist to keep track of what you need to use and what you have on hand.
- Meal Planning: Make a list of meal ideas based on the ingredients you already have. Consider dishes that can be created from your existing pantry staples and ingredients.
- Shop Smart: Look for sales and discounts on items you need to stock up on. Be strategic in your purchases to take advantage of deals and discounts.
- Budget-Friendly Meat: Consider ordering meat online from sources like Good Chop, which offers high-quality cuts of meat at affordable prices. This can help you avoid the temptation of spending more at the local butcher.
- Variety of Meals: Plan meals based on the ingredients you have. For example, I can make chicken Pad Thai, Sriracha shrimp, chicken with stuffing in the crockpot, Mississippi chicken, fried rice, or stir-fry with what I already have in my pantry.
- Be Realistic: Plan your meals around your schedule. Opt for crockpot meals on busy days, and save special dishes for occasions like anniversaries.
- Special Occasions: Reserve special meals, like New York strip steaks or lobster ravioli, for special occasions or celebrations. This way, you can enjoy a special meal without breaking the bank.
By following these steps, you can effectively save money on food by making the most of what you already have and making strategic purchases when needed.
Here are the Meals I made with what I already had on hand:
4-Ingredient Slow Cooker Chicken with Stuffing
This is an incredibly easy slow cooker meal that reminds me of Thanksgiving. Pretty much anything with stuffing does, to be honest. In the future, I’d serve it with some cranberry sauce on the side! Get the full recipe here!
Cheese Tortellini With Chicken
This one is a budget classic! You can use shredded chicken or ground chicken, and it’s also great with ground beef or sausage. It’s a versatile dish that will make any family feel loved! Get the full recipe here!
Ny Strip Steaks With Crumbled Blue Cheese and Lobster Ravioli
I love to save better cuts of meat and other treats I find on sale for special occasions. I grabbed the Rana Brand ravioli at my local grocery store on sale for just $2.50 and checked the expiration prior to purchase to make sure it would last a bit since I didn’t have a plan for it right away. When our anniversary rolled around, these were the perfect addition to our meal.
I also try to find higher quality cuts of meat on sale or I order them from Good Chop and keep them in my freezer until a special occasion presents itself. On this occasion we grilled up some NY Strip steaks from Good chop (on high 4 minutes on each side) and topped them with crumbled blue cheese. This was a truly fantastic meal that made us feel very special without spending extra.
For more soup recipes check out these videos:
MORE SOUP RECIPES TO TRY
- 7 Can Soup (Just dump n go in the slow cooker!)
- Panera Bread Copycat Turkey Chili Recipe
- Chicken and Corn Chowder! (You’ll be shocked you can make this one with pantry ingredients!)
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Fran Wingate
Wanted your pantry tracking sheets
Thank you
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You can get them in the Stick To Your Budget Checklist here!https://mealswithmaria.site/get-all-my-free-downloadable-content-here/