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:
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! 😉