Coupons are great. We can get lots of things free or for next to nothing with coupons. So how do you avoid trying to serve the kids Yakisoba with canned corn? Use a recipe generator to help you use up what you have. Get creative. Keep track of your stockpile.
Recipe generators like Food.com’s Recipe Sifter, SuperCook.com, Recipe Matcher and Recipe Puppy can all help you figure out how to best use what you’ve got on hand. You can figure out the best recipe with a minimum of fuss. I like the SuperCook site the best, but your mileage may vary. These sites are a great way to repurpose a stockpiled ingredient.
Learning how to get creative in the kitchen can save you lots of money. Instead of baked chicken and two sides every week, branch out. Try a new recipe using items you already have. Experiment. You’re already saving a ton on your groceries. It’s okay if it’s not a success – you’ve got frozen pizza. Or peanut butter and jelly. Or cereal.
Make sure you know what’s in your stockpile. Some people keep lists, some people use a spreadsheet, some people use a dry erase board on the pantry, but the goal is the same – making sure you don’t have 27 jars of spaghetti sauce and no pasta. When you know what you have, you can use it effectively.
I love using coupons, and I love saving money on the things I was going to buy anyway. But sometimes, it’s good and cheaper to try something new. You never know – it just might become a new family favorite in your house!
Kristin