12 Amazing Kitchen Saving Tips

I love saving money!  Since quitting my job a few years ago to stay home with the kiddos, my grocery budget is pretty small.  So, anytime I can save money in the kitchen, I am all over that.  Here are some simple ways I save!  Check out my 12 Amazing Kitchen Saving Tips.

Tip #1. Use Coupons and Good Garbage Bags.  

Using coupons for things that you buy anyway is just smart.  It’s not all clipping paper coupons anymore, either.  I just do a quick check on my grocery store app before heading out and add the coups for things I will be buying to my store card.

And I buy tear-resistant, odor-neutralizing garbage bags.  Because garbage on your kitchen floor is not fun.  Hefty Ultra Strong bags are an outstanding quality at a new, lower price.  They smell good, keeping gross combinations of kitchen odors at bay.  You can get them at Walmart and Target and they are a great price.  Even better when you use a coupon!  Save $1.00 off one box of Hefty trash bags!

Tip #2.   Shop Sales and Manager Specials at your Grocery Store.  

This tip is one that I do every single time I go to the grocery store.  There’s always something marked down that I can use.  If it’s a food item, I freeze it for a later date.  The bread cart always has something I can freeze.  Pizza crusts for pizza night, french bread for pasta night, croissants for sandwiches.

Tip #3.  Make Your Own Cleaner and Veggie Wash.

I am a DIY kind of girl.  And I always have the ingredients on hand to make cleanser.  It is sooo easy!  And so much cheaper.

Tip #4.  Buy Only the Amount of Bananas That you Need.

What!?  I always bought bananas in the bunch that they came in at the store.  Until one day I was sick of having brown bananas at the end of the week.  I started breaking the bunches up at the store and buying only a few at a time!  I mean, there is only so much banana bread one can make.

Bonus Tip:  Peel almost brown bananas and freeze them for later use in smoothies or bread.

Tip #5.  Re-grow Your Green Onions

This is a little tip that I ran across years ago on Pinterest.  It really works!  And green onions are in so many of my dinner recipes.  Not that green onions are that expensive, but it is one less thing that I have to buy.

Tip #6. Process Your Veggies Right When You Get Home from the Store.  

This is sometimes a pain, because it’s the last thing I feel like doing after I have done the shopping, unladed the car and put things away.  But it really helps reduce waste in our house.  Our veggies for recipes and snacks are all ready to go and I don’t throw spoiled things away that we forgot about at the end of the week.

Tip #7.  Use Freezer Bags for Everything!

I used to save money by getting zip-top bags that didn’t say “FREEZER”.   They do not work as well.  Things get freezer burned, and go bad more quickly.  Use real freezer bags.  Do it.

Tip #8.  Save Veggie Scraps.  

If you don’t compost or chickens, you can still use those veggie scraps.  Tops of peppers, bottoms of celery and broccoli stalks are the perfect thing to throw in when making broth!  It adds tons of flavor without spending a cent because you already own the veggies!  Throw them in the freezer until you are ready to make broth.

Tip #9.  Save Bones from Chickens for Broth.  

I was scared of making my own broth for a long time.  I mean, it’s not like broth is that expensive.  But, I am SO glad I tried it.  It could not be more simple and I use things that I would have thrown away anyway.  And by using organic bones, it is so much healthier than the carton of broth.   Again, throw them in the freezer until you are ready to make it.

Tip #10.  Use Your Slow Cooker to Make Broth.  

This is amazing bone broth.  When you have the bones of two – three rotisserie chickens, throw them in the crockpot with the veggie scraps you have saved in the freezer.  Cover with water.  Add a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to help pull the nutrients from the bones.  Set on low overnight (I sometimes let it go for up to 24 hours to really get the good stuff out).  Skim and freeze!  Delicious and nutritious broth for all of your recipes and soups!  You will never go back to buying a carton!

Tip #11.  Portion Out and Freeze Foods.

This tip might not be as useful if you have a big family.  But, ours is a family of 4.  And while we COULD eat a whole pound of bacon in one setting….it says 8 servings.  So, I split it and freeze it it for another recipe or meal.  Money saving and portion control.  Win.  Win.

Bonus Tip:  Only need a little bit of bacon for your recipe.  Buy some already cooked from the salad bar at your grocery store for pennies!!

Tip #12.  Use Your Freezer.  

I find that most of the money I save in the kitchen is when I can use my freezer.  So, clean it out and make some space.  It would even be awesome to have a deep freeze in the garage.  Label everything so you know what it is and when you stuck it in there.

Do you have any tips to add?  I would LOVE to hear them all!

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.