How to Save Big Money on Groceries - 35% Off Milk All the Time!

With the price of milk going through the roof and only one income plus ten children four of whom are ravenous teenaged boys, we need relief! Out of necessity, I’ve become an expert on saving money on everything, milk included. Besides finding the least expensive source for fresh milk there are several other ways to save money that I use which yield 25% savings off my milk outlay. The more of my frugal tips you use the more you can slash off your bill, too!

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Measuring spoons and cups
• Long-handled spoon or whisk
• Pitcher

1. 

   1. Your first strategy is to buy lots of it when it goes on sale. But what to do with six or more gallons of milk! Your freezer to the rescue! Milk freezes fine so squeeze as much as you can in the freezer! If the milk is in glass containers, pour out a cup or so of each jug for expansion room. Then just place the jugs in the freezer. When you are within two or three days of needed more milk, move one jug of the frozen milk to the refrigerator to let it thaw. Once thawed just give it a good shake. I admit my kids were skeptical at first since it turns a pale yellow when frozen and looks just awful. But once thawed it looks and tastes fine in their morning cereal!

2. 2. Use powdered milk when cooking. It’s simple really. In place of regular milk, use as much powdered milk as you can. Using powdered milk when milk is called for in recipes is the easiest, least detectable strategy to save money on milk. Instant powdered milk cost $2.60 per gallon 35% less than fresh milk! It works fine in pancakes, muffins, even sauces and wherever milk is called for. For most recipes you don’t even have to bother premixing the dry milk in water. Just add the powder to the dry ingredients and the water to the wet ingredients.
   
   Non-instant milk powder is about 15% less expensive than instant. But you will have to place a special order for it as regular grocery stores do not carry it. You may be able to find it at health food stores or bulk foods stores or you can order it online.

3. 

   3. Use powdered milk to stretch fresh milk. Start by combining freshly made powdered milk and fresh milk. I have had the best results when I do this at night before going to bed. Not only does it taste better after chilling eight hours, but my children don’t see me do it either so they don’t know there’s something to object to! They never even noticed when I started combining 1 quart of the powdered milk with 3 quarts fresh milk. That is a good amount to start with. Just by doing that you’ve made easy money - about 10% off your milk cost.
   When you make the powdered milk put half the amount of cool water called for on the box into your pitcher. Measure carefully and pour in your dry milk powder. Stir as necessary to dissolve. Then add the remaining water. If you will be drinking it, chill at least four hours; eight is better. Stir once more before drinking. Keep in the refrigerator just as you do fresh milk.
   
   The non-instant powdered milk can be used to make drinkable milk but it requires more vigorous mixing.

4. 

   4. Transition into drinking it straight. Every time you combine regular with powdered milk slightly increase the ratio of powdered milk to regular milk. Your family may eventually notice. They may not. If they do, you can cut back a little on the amount of powdered milk you add. Some people find that adding a drop or two of vanilla or 1-2 spoonfuls of sugar improve the flavor.
   
   For an easy transition to drinking all powdered milk one trick that works quite well is to make sweet vanilla milk made by mixing one quart hot water with ¼ cup powdered coffee creamer, ¼ cup sugar, and ½ teaspoon vanilla, and optional dash of salt, stirring well to dissolve. Add 2 2/3 cups instant nonfat dry milk powder. Stir to dissolve. Fill pitcher to 2-quart mark. Stir again. Chill and serve. The coffee creamer makes the milk taste richer like whole milk, while the sweet taste makes it dessert-y.
   
   Molasses milk, made by adding one spoonful of molasses to a heated cup of reconstituted milk, is another tasty alternative.
   
   And there’s the old standby: chocolate milk which can also be made with reconstituted milk. Just squeeze a few spoonfuls of homemade chocolate syrup into a cup of milk. Stir. Easy! Heat it and you have my children’s favorite: hot cocoa! See the link below for a recipe to make your own chocolate syrup.

5. The only powdered milk that is widely available is nonfat. If you require some fat in your milk it’s possible to add it but the process is a little more involved. See link below for instructions.

6. Use powdered milk to make your own groceries!
   *Use powdered milk to make your own evaporated milk. See Hillbilly link below.
   *Make your own sweetened, condensed milk using powdered milk. See Hillbilly link below.
   *Hot cocoa mix can be made using powdered milk saving you big money. See Hillbilly link below.
   *Whenever you need buttermilk use altered powdered milk instead. See Hillbilly link below.
   *If you drink instant breakfast make your own using powdered milk. See link below.

7. A hidden and substantial benefit of using powdered milk is that you won’t be running to the store nearly as often. That’s because you won’t run out of milk, evaporated or condensed milk. No last minute runs to 7-11 for an ingredient you’re missing. You will definitely save on gas! And your milk won’t be going bad either. Dry powdered milk only goes bad after a year or so. So very little worry about an expiration date!

8. If you have a baby, try to breastfeed him or her as long as possible. The money spent on feeding the breastfeeding mother the extra food required to make breast milk is cheap compared to buying milk.
   You will love the money powdered milk saves you! These money saving ideas will work for you and they are easily done! For more money saving tips check out our other frugal living articles.

Tips & Warnings

• Try to get the freshest milk powder by checking the expiration date. Any that you’ve had more than six months should be used in cooking since taste declines with age.
• Use a wide-mouthed container to mix the milk in. It is easiest to pour milk powder into and to clean as well.
• Reconstituted milk spoils more quickly than regular milk. Make only as much as you will use in two or three days.
• Other will not know your opinion of this article if you don’t rate it by clicking on the number of stars you think this article deserves at the top of the page. Thank you!

Resources

• Turning your Non-fat powdered Milk Into 1%, 2% or Whole Milk
• Hillbilly Housewife recipes
• More Hillbilly Housewife recipes
• Instant breakfast recipes
• Chocolate syrup recipe
• How to Save Big Money on Groceries
• How to Save Big Money on Groceries: 75% off Baby Food!
• How to Save Big Money on Baby Formula
• How to Save Big Money on Groceries by Starting a Food Buying Club

[maverickblues]

on 6/29/2009 I've been freezing milk and mixing in 50% powered for a few years now, but I'm glad I found your article today. I'm looking forward to trying some of your new-to-me ideas. Thanks! 5*

[cookiesdomain]

on 1/16/2009 This is a great article. I have been doing many of these steps for several years now. But this is my first time hearing of making vanilla milk from powdered milk. I will definitely try this. Thanks a bunch!

[lkg4agreatdeal]

on 10/20/2008 great tips will us asap my family of six depletes milk way quick...I have also been told that adding a can of evaporated milk and then the balance water when a gallon of whole milk is at the halfway mark works well...these tips are better...thank you

[LNAngel]

on 6/3/2008 I honestly never thought to freeze milk - interesting!

[coachmac4]

on 6/3/2008 Excellent ideas! You are a wealth of info!