When summer comes, your food budget can go out of the open window. Here are some tips on how to keep it all under control.
Why does food cost more in the summer?
There are several factors that can raise your food bill in the summer. With the heat, it is likely that you won’t be using the oven very often, meaning that those inexpensive casseroles and whole roasted turkeys, chicken and beef dishes are going by the wayside for more expensive steaks, fish and chicken breasts on the grill. There is a lot of fresh produce, to be had, but if you aren’t careful, you can buy it out of season, even in summer, and this will cost you more money.
Some money summer money saving strategies
While it is true that the oven indoors is a bad idea in summer, there are ways to cook delicious low cost meals without it. For the adventurous, you can build or buy a solar oven that will cook your food outdoors, free of electricity. Use a crockpot to help you continue to roast those meats and take advantage of less expensive cuts of meat to stretch your budget (slow cooking makes everything tender). You can even use your slow cooker in a safe place on your porch, to reduce the heat it might add to your home.
Make plenty of filling staples to go with your BBQ, so you can spend less on those steaks. Beans are a great filler (get that crockpot out again), as is cold potato salad and macaroni salad. These filling sides scream summer without making your wallet scream as well.
Continue your meal planning
Continue to have a meal plan, even during the summer when things can get a bit hectic. Take advantage of your grocery store’s weekly specials and incorporate those items into your meal plan. Write up the week’s meals, but be flexible in case of an unexpected bounty, such as a neighbor who comes by with lots of extra zucchini or tomatoes.
Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, creating a home in the Home Blog, caring for little ones in the Baby Blog and now relationships in the Marriage Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here or subscribe to the blog using the subscription box on the right.
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