How to Save Your Money by Eating at Home

Eating meals at home can save your family hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars per year. One of the best ways to save money is by eating a healthy diet of home cooked meals. Keep your money in your wallet, survive the recession and meet your financial goals by following this money saving tip. I will show you how to save your money by eating at home.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• groceries
• kitchen

1. 
    
   Take your coffee with you in a thermos

   Brew your coffee at home. If you are purchasing a $5.00 cup of coffee everyday, this is costing you $150.00 a month. This adds up to $1,825.00 a year! Coffee makers are quite affordable. Purchase your gourmet coffee at the grocery store or online and save a hundred dollars or more a month.

2. 
    
   Eating breakfast at home is good for your waistline & your wallet!

   Eat breakfast at home. Eating breakfast is important and gives you fuel to start your day; but, stopping every morning at the corner store to grab a couple of donuts will empty your wallet fast! Stocking up on some healthy breakfast foods from the grocery store will make you healthier and wealthier!

3. Use a crockpot slow cooker to have a hot meal ready and waiting for you when you get home after work. For less than the cost of a dinner out you can find crockpots that will meet your family's needs. Put the ingredients in the crockpot the evening before, then put it in the refrigerator overnight. In the morning before you go to work, put it back into the cooker and turn it on. It will be ready when you get home. Your house will smell delicious also!

4. 
    
   Taking lunch to work will help save money

   Stock up on sandwich supplies to fix for lunch. Purchase plenty of lunch meat, bread and condiments at the grocery store. Prepare your lunch the night before to save time in the morning and eliminate your excuse. You can even prepare your sandwiches on the weekend without condiments and put them in the freezer. If you keep condiments at work, you can just grab a frozen sandwich in the morning and by lunchtime it will be thawed and ready to eat. Make baggies of chips the same way, and you can just grab one and go. Be sure to have some fruit on hand to take as well. You have a healthy lunch for around a dollar. If you usually spend $5.00 on lunch, this will save you around $100 a month, or $1,200 a year!

5. 
    
   Make casseroles, soups and stews on the weekends to eat during the week.

   Cook on the weekends when you have time and freeze some meals for later in the week. If you don't mind eating the same thing a couple of days in a row, this can be a very economical way to eat. Make a big pot of chili or homemade soup on Sunday and have it again on Monday or Tuesday. Put leftovers in the freezer for another time.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are too busy to shop, investigate online grocery shopping or find out if there is grocery delivery in your area.
• Save even more money by using grocery coupons.
• When children beg to stop at the fastfood place, tell them there is food at home.
• Carry snacks, such as crackers and juice boxes in the car to avoid going through the drivethru.
• Eating meals together is very positive for family life. Sit at the table to eat your meals and turn off the television. Light a candle, turn on some soothing music and have a conversation with your loved ones.
• Television advertising makes eating out a great temptation. Turn off the tv to avoid this influence.
• When you begin to lose weight (restaurant food is extremely fattening) and feel better (because you are not consuming so much MSG) you may find yourself addicted to eating meals at home!