We talk about it all the time — the cost of living is getting high! This is not just a Bow Valley issue — this is a national (if not international) issue.
Here are some ideas to help you save money on meals without having to eat Ramen noodles for the rest of your life.
1. 10% Tuesday: Did you know that Sobey’s offers a 10% discount on the 1st Tuesday of every month? Try to buy unperishable food, toiletries and cleaning supplies on the 1st Tuesday. If you have a freezer, buy extra items that can be frozen and used throughout the month. And while you’re there, go to Nutter’s as well — they also offer a discount on what they call Power Tuesdays.
2. Plan Ahead: Plan out your meals for the week and put together a grocery list. Otherwise, you buy stuff you don’t need, or end up throwing out food that has gone bad before you can eat it.
3. Cook Large Quantities: Spend a day cooking up a storm! Look for recipes that freeze really well (casseroles, soups, stews, lasagna, muffins). Having home-cooked meals on hand and ready to pop in the oven will save you from eating out.
4. Find A Food Buddy: You make an extra batch of your meal, while they make an extra batch of their meal — then swap. If you work together, alternate days on which you bring lunch for each other.
5. Join a Community Kitchen: Members of a Community Kitchen meet once per month and make an abundance of food. Because they are buying food in bulk and splitting the cost across the group, the meals are ridiculously cheap. Call 678-7131 (Town of Canmroe FCSS) and ask about their Young Adult Community Kitchen) or start your own.
That’s it for now — I’ll add some more cost-saving ideas later. If you have some ideas you’d like to share please add a comment below.