The price we pay for convenience…

A quick trip to the grocery store usually ends in a cart filled with packaged, prepared foods – convenience foods…packages of lettuce, frozen pizza, bakery items, frozen entrees & more!

Packaged prepared foods are convenient, but in our busy hurry-up world they have become the norm and cooking from scratch has become a lost art! Frugal living begins with cooking from scratch.

The next time you go to the grocery, take this challenge…

STOP…BACK AWAY FROM THE PACKAGE…PICK UP A FEW INGREDIENTS & MAKE IT FROM SCRATCH! The savings are well worth the time, and the taste…more than worth the effort!

Here are some simple grocery switches and frugal recipes to help you save your money:

Pancakes & Syrup
Growing up, my mother always made homemade syrup for our pancakes…it was warm, delicious and made the kitchen smell sweet! Did you know that a bottle of syrup costs about $3.50, and you can make it in a few minutes for just PENNIES! The same goes for making homemade pancakes! Try The Budget Diet’s recipes for Homemade Pancakes and Syrup.

Oatmeal & Grits
Don’t even get me going on this simple switch! Look at the instructions on a big box of oatmeal or grits…you simply measure the water, the oatmeal (or grits) into your bowl & microwave! I think that’s just a simple as opening one of those individual serving packages, & it’s a heck of a lot CHEAPER! If you insist on the individual packages, learn how to Make Your Own Instant Oatmeal Packets – 10 packets in less than 5 minutes for about $1!

Granola
I’m always tempted by the homemade granola samples at Whole Foods until I see the price! Thankfully, I’ve created a quick and easy Homemade Granola recipe that tastes just as good for a fraction of the price. Even better, choose your favorite combinations or fruits and nuts!

Granola Bars
It’s easy and budget friendly to make your own granola bars…even better, you’ll know exactly what’s in them. These homemade chewy granola bars will cost less than $2 for 18 bars.

Hummus
I love hummus, but why is it so ridiculously expensive? $3 – $4 for 8 ounces of ground up garbanzo beans! So, grab an inexpensive can of garbanzo beans, olive oil, garlic, lemon juice and a food processor…for less than $1 you can make your own hummus!

Lettuce
When’s the last time you bought a head of lettuce to make a salad? It really only takes a few minutes to wash & chop!

 
Pizza
We’re a nation of pizza lovers, and it’s so simple to make for a fraction of the cost! Let’s take a look at a large cheese pizza…

 
Pull out your old bread machine…it makes the perfect crust OR thaw frozen pizza dough, press onto a greased cookie sheet, top with sauce and cheese & bake at 350. Click here for more pizza crust options. You can even make your own gourmet pizzas like BBQ Chicken or White Pizza with my easy pizza recipes.

Taco Seasoning
Have you ever considered making your own taco seasoning? This Homemade Taco Seasoning recipe makes the equivalent of 5 taco seasoning packets for a fraction of the cost!

Chili Mix
Once you discover that there’s no “secret ingredient” in those expensive Chili mixes, you’ll want to make a big batch of this Chili Mix to use all winter long!

Birthday Cake
WOW…a half sheet cake from the bakery costs $25! Next time you need a cake…bake it, don’t buy it & save about $20! You can’t go wrong with this giant Chocolate Texas Sheet Cake (faster & easier than a box mix!) or my Pretty Pink Cake is always a hit with little girls!

Brownies
It’s hard to beat a box mix when it comes to brownies, but I’m always trying! This Rachael Ray Fast Fudgy Brownie recipe just might give the box mix a run…it’s frugalicious, fast and Budget Diet approved! You can even splurge and buy Ghirardelli unsweetened chocolate, and it will still be cheaper than the box!

So, what simple grocery switches will you make this week? Save your money and try cooking from scratch!

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Image courtesy of: Suat Eman / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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