5 Money Saving Tips for Your Kitchen

Today I’m sharing money saving tips for your kitchen! These are little things that we do in my family to save money. Little things sure can add up. Let me know in the comments what money saving tips you have to share.

5 Money Saving Tips for Your Kitchen

#1 Use a trash bag that is durable and affordable.

I like to use Hefty Ultra Strong bags because of their quality, and now I can get them at a lower price. I also like that they have Arm & Hammer odor neutralizers. You can choose from one of their scented options or there’s a scent-free one, too!

For a limited time, Swagbucks has an offer for you. Purchase two or more Hefty trash bags at Target and earn a $10 Target gift card!

Bonus Tip: Place the trash bag under your sink

We started putting our trash bag under the sink because our dog kept knocking over the trash can and getting into the trash. Combined with a cabinet lock, now it’s a great way to keep the toddler out of the trash, too. A paper bag from the grocery store is the perfect size to fit in the cabinet. The kitchen trash bags fit nicely in the the paper bag. When it’s full, take out the plastic trash bag and leave the paper bag to be used again.

#2 Grow your own herbs

We use a lot of herbs in our cooking. It makes things taste better. Growing our own saves a ton of money. I don’t have to spend money on pre-cut herbs that will wilt or go bad in a few days. Instead, I visit my herb garden and snip what I need. We use cilantro, parsley, oregano, rosemary, bay, and thyme the most, so that’s what we grow. (We also have a garden bed full of mint because it just takes over.) You should grow whatever you are going to use.

#3 Regrow certain vegetables (like green onions)

You can save money by buying certain vegetables less often. Green onions are my favorite example. Buy them from the store. When you are ready to use them, only use the greens (and maybe a little of the whites). Leave the root end in tact. Place the cut green onions in a cup of water near a window. The green onions will grow back and you can use them again. I recommend changing the water every few days as it can get smelly (you do have onions in there after all). You can also plant the green onions in soil (in your windowsill or even in your garden). You can read more about our growing green onions preschool experiment here.

Here’s a list of other vegetables that you can buy once and then grow in your windowsill or planter:

• lettuce
• cabbage
• potatoes
• basil
• cilantro
• lemongrass
• celery

What else have you tried?

#4 Clean with baking soda and vinegar

There’s no need to buy expensive chemicals. Vinegar is my cleaner of choice. I use it to clean practically everything. If I need some additional scrubbing power, I’ll sprinkle on some baking soda first and then follow up with the vinegar. Not only is this option inexpensive, but it’s also safer than using many of the available chemicals.

#5 Have a few backup meals on hand

For those days when something prevents you from making dinner as planned, a backup meal will save the day. It is quick and easy to make – faster than heading to the drive through or eating out.

We make most of our meals from scratch, but that requires 30 minutes to an hour or more to prep and cook. If something gets in the way of what we’ve planned (you know that happens), a backup meal is available to us.

Here are some suggestions to try:

• Salsa soup – tomato soup with black bean and corn salsa. Serve with tortilla chips and shredded cheddar.
• Nachos – tortilla chips, nacho cheese (make your own or buy from the store), ground hamburger, and any other toppings you have on hand
• Dan Dan Noodles – ramen noodles with a quick, no cook peanut sauce
• Eggs – cooked how you like with whatever mix-ins or sides you have on hand
• Pasta – use a jarred sauce or make extra sauce and freeze it
• Salad – Add in some quinoa, lunch meat, or quickly cook up some chicken
• Grilled turkey and cheese – one of my kids’ favorites. Pair it with a salad or some frozen veggies.

What money saving tips for the kitchen do you have to share? Please tell us in the comments!

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