The worldwide economic crisis has impacted on us all. Whether you are adapting to a lifestyle on one salary or simply wish to live a more frugal and considerate ecological existence, we have some top tips to bear in mind when it comes to one of our biggest areas of waste, our food bill.
Write a list. It is estimated that 40 to 50% of food harvested in America never gets eaten. Food waste accounts for about 1 billion dollars of the energy budget spend in disposal. With famine blighting so many other countries around the world, it is imperative that we make changes in our own households that will impact on a larger scale. The financial impact that food waste has on an average family of four’s household budget is estimated to be $2,275 annually. The main reason for food waste is simply overbuying. We’ve all been conned by ‘bargains’ at the market, which subsequently go out of date before they are consumed. Frugal food shopping just takes a little bit of time and organisation. Write a list of the main meals you plan to prepare for your family that week and on a separate piece of paper, write the ingredients you will need for that meal. Check your cupboards to ensure that you don’t already have any of these ingredients to avoid unnecessary duplication. Then, and this is the important part, stick to the list. You will save money by only buying what you actually need and, as a happy side effect, will increase your free time as you don’t need to rush to the store daily to pick up a forgotten vital ingredient.
Eat out less often. For me, the real pleasure of eating out is that I got a break from my usual role of head cook and bottle washer. In fact, the food is rarely better than I could prepare myself and it is simply the enjoyment of being served that I appreciate. Eating out takes a huge chunk out of your budget and is a luxury that is one of the first to go when the purse strings are tightened. You need not resign yourself to a life of drudgery, with a little commitment from the other members of your family; you can still get your beloved cooking respite. Ask your spouse or grown children to volunteer an evening where they would be prepared to cook the dinner to give you a break. You could even make this a fun family competition where the chef gets to plan and cook the meal and is then awarded a score by other family members. The person with the highest score at the end of the month wins a prize. Suggest the same idea to friends and neighbours and take turns once a week to cook for each other.
Be inspired. Look to communities who have already made a change. Sustainable communities such as Bruderhof, who have achieved the state of sustainable living, will have some fantastic ideas for frugal living within your own home.
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