Cooking: Time savers/waste reducing ideas?

Question

What are your best ideas when it comes to reducing waste and saving money/time?

I don't always eat dinner with my husband, I usually eat something healthier than he does. So, when I make something like Hamburger Helper, I only use half the mix and noodles and put the other half in storage bags for later. This way, I only have to cook it once, and he doesn't have to eat leftovers which are never as good.

I only use half a banana in my cereal, so I cut it in half and put the rest in a ziploc bag, and suck the air out. It doesn't brown this way.

(this is particularly thrifty! lol) But, when I was pregnant, I would go through an entire gallon of milk a DAY! Yes, seriously. SO, I started buying whole milk instead of 2%, and I would put half of the milk in an empty carton and then fill them both up the rest of the way with water. lol I know, really thrifty, but it was actully good, and saved us a lot of money. haha

Okay, so what are your ideas?

Answer 1

When I make a pot of mince and vegetables I make enough for two meals, and after serving the first portions, I will curry the rest, for later in the week, or freeze.
You could add a can of chili beans and cooked rice.

Answer 2

If I make extra spagetti/chilli/stew.... I freeze one. That way I don't waste any ingredients or have to throw away any leftovers.. I also use my crockpot a lot. Especially in the summer. It doesn't heat up the kitchen the way a reg. oven does and it saves on my heating/electric bill. No one eats the ends of the bread in my house so I freeze them and when I need bread crumbs I just toast them and put them in the cuisinart. Look for rebates in the beer isle.. I leave that job to my husband. We get back $200 a yr just buying beer. For example last Christmas it was buy a case of miller lite and $75 worth of Christmas presents and get $30 back by mail..That was a no brainer... This year we got back $30 by mail buying some patio furniture that we were buying anyway.. Buy 24pk Coors and patio furniture $100 or more and get back $30 by mail... It's pretty easy... Also, if you like/dislike a product you can call the 1-800 and telll a cust. rep sometimes you get free products/coupons.. Our wharehouse club BJ's takes manufacter coupons as well as there own coupons and you can use them together..They also really discount clearance/dated items.. We once got a $40 spa gift set w/ bathroom cabinet for $12 for two! We also buy there bulk sausage reg. price $2.99 a lb when it 's marked down to .99 a lb. It freezes well and it's good for spagetti, sandwiches and cook outs... That's about all I can think of off the top....Hope that helps good luck and have fun!!

Answer 3

Wow. You really do some miserly things. I wouldn't go as far as you do. Who wants to add water to their milk? Ugh?
Bananas aren't that expensive and they are terrifically healthy I would eat the whole thing.
And leftover Hamburger Helper is really good, I take leftovers for my lunch during the day, thrifty! Please putting it in baggies raises the chances that some pesky critters are getting in there.

I always freeze leftover spaghetti sauce (I make homemade). We also buy our hamburger in bulk (10 pound rolls) cut it up into 2 pound packages, wrap it and freeze it. We get it for somewhere between .99 and 1.09 a pound that way. I watch the weekly ads and make dinner menus from them depending on what is on sale and then make sure I have all the ingredients on hand. It keeps me out of the store, which is a good thing. And when something we use a lot of is on sale, I stock up.