Welcome to my 52 Ways to Save $100 a Month series. We’re serious about saving money in 2016. Sometimes it’s the little things and sometimes it’s the big things. I’m here to walk you through some little things that can add up to BIG savings. 52 little things to be exact. Every week, join me back here for another small money saving tip or idea that might not seem like significant savings until you see the overall yearly savings. It might just blow your mind. So pop in each Tuesday and read a new tip that will help you on your way to save $100 a month!
Don’t look away just because you don’t garden. This post is for gardeners and non-gardeners alike. We’re talking about preserving your bounty. If you are a gardener, it’s the bounty in your own backyard. If you are not, it’s learning to take advantage of fruits and veggies when they are in season, buying in bulk and then preserving on one of these great ways:
Canning: Canning is not only my favorite way to preserve food, but I actually enjoy doing it. Something therapeutic about seeing rows upon rows of canned goods all perfectly in line makes my OCD heart happy. You can pretty much can just about anything! Don’t be afraid of canning either. I know a lot of people shy away from it because they think it’s much more complicated than it is. Check out all my canning recipes you can choose from and get all the tips and hints you need to be a successful canner on my Canning Pinterest Board.
Proper Storage: So much of what you grow can survive without being preserved if you simply know how to store it properly. That took a few years for me to learn the hard way before I got the hang of it. Carrots, potatoes and beets all store really well and last really long as long as you know what you’re doing. Check out my guide on How to Keep Carrots, Beets and Potatoes Fresh all Winter.
Freeze: Freezing some of your excess harvest will keep you in your favorite produce all year round. You can check out some of the things I like freezing HERE. Freezing peaches and freezing corn are family favorites. I also love to make my Fast and Easy Strawberry Freezer Jam and store it in small containers.
Dehydrate: Buy yourself a handy dandy dehydrator and go to town. I dehydrate everything. Seriously. Sweet potatoes, tomatoes, and even sage. The thing I love most about dehydrating as a preservation option, is that it makes for a much quicker snack than say a can of green beans. Ha! I also love using up my dehydrated stash in soups all year long. Check out all my Dehydrated Recipes or click on over to my Dehydrated Recipes Pinterest Board.
How Much Can You Save: $600+ This depends on family size and how much produce you typically buy, but for my family of 4, I suspect I save myself about $50/month just by preserving my produce!
More Ways to Save:
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Clean Out Your Closet {Week 1 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Break Up with Cable {Week 2 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Barter Better {Week 3 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Change Your Own Oil {Week 4 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Adjust Your Thermostat {Week 5 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Take Advantage of Your Perks {Week 6 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Pack Your Lunch {Week 7 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Make It Yourself {Week 8 of 52}
Susan says
I LOVE preserving! Canning, dehydrating and freezing.
Like you, I find canning very therapeutic. It makes me smile to see the fruits (and veggies 🙂 ) of my labor all lined up ready to eat, share and give as gifts. We have a decent sized garden, so I have a lot to work with.
I also keep my eyes peeled for discounts and specials at grocery stores – and especially Chuck’s Produce. They have really amazing deals once in a while. Totally unadvertised- that i happily come across.
Fred Meyer and QFC have mushrooms discounted often. I bring them home and dehydrate them immediately.
I grow kale specifically to dry. Add a couple of spices and a tad olive oil. My “kids” and grandchildren LOVE kale chips. Have you seen how expensive it is in the store?? RIDICULOUSLY priced!!
Same goes for jerky. Fred Meyer has Petite Sirloin Steak for $3.99 lb. at least once a month. I buy it to make jerky. It’s a HUGE savings .
At the end of gardening season, i pick the corn that is past it’s prime and peel the husks back and hang them in the garage until they dry. I feed it to my chickens. For some reason, I always end up with a couple dozen “forgotten” ears.
Amy says
Thanks for this post… I LOVE to can. It’s my ‘me’ time. I also love seeing all the pretty jars lined up and knowing I’m feeding my family fresh good food at a fraction of the cost (because you can’t include your time cost if you love to do it).
Thanks to you, I’ve been tracking our food budget since January because I honestly had no idea how much we spent on food per month. Now that I have a two month baseline history of about $180/ month for a family of 3, I can now set a goal of decreasing that amount.
Molly says
Mavis, I love this series and look forward to Tuesdays to see what your next money saving tip will be! Thanks for the motivation!! Are you planning on doing a post on how you’re going to pay down your mortgage? I’ve got a goal to pay our house off in two years and I’ve been waiting for your mortgage tips with anticipation! 😉