These are some of the ways I keep my budget on track, all while feeding my growing family a cruelty-free and healthy diet (with the occasional treat, of course).
Check sales flyers.
The day before your shopping day, check out your store’s sales and write down everything that is on sale, that you can use. Take advantage of buy 1 get 1 deals (especially for nonperishables). If possible, plan full meals around the sale items, then start adding on extras when needed.
Hit up multiple stores.
If you have the time and energy, you can save even more money by looking through the flyers of a couple different stores. Maybe store A has pasta on sale this week and store B has your favourite jarred sauce on sale this week. Score!
Plan your meals.
My friends have actually made fun of me for this one, like it’s totally extreme to know exactly what you’ll be eating for 1-2 weeks, BUT it saves a TON of money. I literally cut my grocery budget in half when I do this. If you do nothing else, this is the biggest money and time saver, ever.
Buy in-season produce.
This is a hard one for me, because I want peaches, watermelon, and tomatoes all year round; although admittedly these things always taste 1000 times better in the summer months.
Opt for frozen fruit and veggies.
Even chef Gordon Ramsay says frozen often tastes better! Just think, they harvest these fruits and veggies, ship them to stores, then they sit for how many days; all while losing flavour and nutrients. Frozen fruits and vegetables however, are harvested and immediately frozen. They have better colour, they taste better, are as, if not more nutritious, and definitely a cheaper alternative to buying things out of season.
Stick to legumes.
It is absolutely incredible how many options we have these days. Almost every animal product now has a cruelty-free and delicious alternative. I would recommend using these as a treat instead of a staple, though, as they are generally pretty expensive. Especially when compared to a bag of lentils or a can of beans. The great thing about legumes is, they are incredibly versatile. Meatballs, burgers, curry, tacos, the possibilities are endless!
If you can make it at home, make it at home.
Don’t pay someone else to package your food. Make things like salad dressings, seasoning packets, and condiments at home. Try to make your baked goods like bread and other staples, such as almond milk from scratch. This can save you a pretty substantial about of money.
Here are some of our most budget friendly recipes.
