The Real Cost of the Kitchen
When doling out advice about saving money, many financial experts make a point in telling families to stay at home to eat and not waste cash dining out.
However, the realities of a busy lifestyle can make this seemingly simple piece of advice hard to accomplish.
Plus the amount of time, energy, and money spent to eat at home does add up and if not done with some thought and creativity, you can literally start losing money by staying home at the family table.
Family lifestyles have evolved dramatically over the last few decades and it seems that there are more scheduling in families than ever before.
Trying to wolf down dinner before leaving for soccer practice or other extra-curricular activities doesn't seem as appetizing as driving through the window at the fast food joint near the practice field.
Here are some tips to keep your money in your wallet and your sanity in your kitchen when cooking for yourself and your family during a busy week.
1.
Plan Menus in Advance - Busy parents have enough to think about during the short window of time between work and bedtime.
Dinner is often low on the priority list after homework and sports.
Not having to think about what to prepare is half the battle.
It will also help you save time when doing the grocery shopping.
Grab some recipes from the internet or your grandma's cookbooks and jot down the list of ingredients you don't already have in the pantry.
Stick to the list when you go to the store and keep a running list of commonly used items in the pantry to stock up on during a good sale.
2.
Make Bigger Portions - Extra busy families who can carve out some extra time during the week or weekend for cooking can take their favorite recipes and double it.
Save the extras in a well-sealed, freezer-safe container.
Next time the recipe is on the menu for the week, take the package out of the freezer before going to work and reheat when you get home.
3.
Shop Generic/Shop in Bulk - There are an increasing amount of opportunity to buy in bulk with stores like Costco and Sam's Club but many regular grocery stores are now jumping on the bulk-buying bandwagon.
Items that are used most often such as toilet paper and cereal can be less expensive in bulk, provided you have proper storage space for the extras.
For items you buy in regular quantities, start trying the generic brands.
Not everyone will find the substitution satisfying but there are many items where consumers will never notice the difference in taste or quality.
4.
Conserve Energy - For small meals that require a reheat, use a toaster oven or the microwave instead of turning on the large oven.
Keep the refrigerator and freezer door shut tight and make sure the seal on the doors is replaced if damage.
There is no bigger waste of food and energy than losing all of your cold and frozen foods by a simple oversight or neglected repair job.
5.
Clean Up As You Go - On the days you plan to cook full meals, save time by cleaning up as you go along.
Wash dishes by hand instead of stacking the dishwasher while waiting for water to boil or for the dishes to simmer.
Use homemade housecleaning supplies to keep the counters and the appliances clean without spraying harmful chemicals around food preparations.
You can also save money on creating the cleaners with common household products.
6.
Invest in Good Quality Supplies - Having the right cooking utensils, pots and pans, and other accessories makes the process of cooking a lot easier.
Having not enough to work with will ultimately take cooking time much longer than is necessary.
There is no reason to run out and spend hundreds of dollars on miscellaneous cooking items but purchasing a quality set of cookware and common utensils is a good investment.
Also, using a crockpot can make cooking and reheating meals even easier.
Throwing a stew together in the morning before work can produce a ready-to-eat meal for the family at the end of the workday.
7.
Get Cooperation - Family members who are old enough to safely help in the kitchen can save time and effort for everyone, while providing quality family time for everyone.
Families who work together in the kitchen can learn a lot and children who start early will possibly grow to love cooking and enjoy the creativity of preparing new meals.
However, the realities of a busy lifestyle can make this seemingly simple piece of advice hard to accomplish.
Plus the amount of time, energy, and money spent to eat at home does add up and if not done with some thought and creativity, you can literally start losing money by staying home at the family table.
Family lifestyles have evolved dramatically over the last few decades and it seems that there are more scheduling in families than ever before.
Trying to wolf down dinner before leaving for soccer practice or other extra-curricular activities doesn't seem as appetizing as driving through the window at the fast food joint near the practice field.
Here are some tips to keep your money in your wallet and your sanity in your kitchen when cooking for yourself and your family during a busy week.
1.
Plan Menus in Advance - Busy parents have enough to think about during the short window of time between work and bedtime.
Dinner is often low on the priority list after homework and sports.
Not having to think about what to prepare is half the battle.
It will also help you save time when doing the grocery shopping.
Grab some recipes from the internet or your grandma's cookbooks and jot down the list of ingredients you don't already have in the pantry.
Stick to the list when you go to the store and keep a running list of commonly used items in the pantry to stock up on during a good sale.
2.
Make Bigger Portions - Extra busy families who can carve out some extra time during the week or weekend for cooking can take their favorite recipes and double it.
Save the extras in a well-sealed, freezer-safe container.
Next time the recipe is on the menu for the week, take the package out of the freezer before going to work and reheat when you get home.
3.
Shop Generic/Shop in Bulk - There are an increasing amount of opportunity to buy in bulk with stores like Costco and Sam's Club but many regular grocery stores are now jumping on the bulk-buying bandwagon.
Items that are used most often such as toilet paper and cereal can be less expensive in bulk, provided you have proper storage space for the extras.
For items you buy in regular quantities, start trying the generic brands.
Not everyone will find the substitution satisfying but there are many items where consumers will never notice the difference in taste or quality.
4.
Conserve Energy - For small meals that require a reheat, use a toaster oven or the microwave instead of turning on the large oven.
Keep the refrigerator and freezer door shut tight and make sure the seal on the doors is replaced if damage.
There is no bigger waste of food and energy than losing all of your cold and frozen foods by a simple oversight or neglected repair job.
5.
Clean Up As You Go - On the days you plan to cook full meals, save time by cleaning up as you go along.
Wash dishes by hand instead of stacking the dishwasher while waiting for water to boil or for the dishes to simmer.
Use homemade housecleaning supplies to keep the counters and the appliances clean without spraying harmful chemicals around food preparations.
You can also save money on creating the cleaners with common household products.
6.
Invest in Good Quality Supplies - Having the right cooking utensils, pots and pans, and other accessories makes the process of cooking a lot easier.
Having not enough to work with will ultimately take cooking time much longer than is necessary.
There is no reason to run out and spend hundreds of dollars on miscellaneous cooking items but purchasing a quality set of cookware and common utensils is a good investment.
Also, using a crockpot can make cooking and reheating meals even easier.
Throwing a stew together in the morning before work can produce a ready-to-eat meal for the family at the end of the workday.
7.
Get Cooperation - Family members who are old enough to safely help in the kitchen can save time and effort for everyone, while providing quality family time for everyone.
Families who work together in the kitchen can learn a lot and children who start early will possibly grow to love cooking and enjoy the creativity of preparing new meals.
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