How do you save money at the supermarket? Well, for starters you can stop buying and start cooking.
The options for DIY groceries are endless. Almost anything you can buy from the supermarket can be made at home for a fraction of the price. That’s why we wanted to share our list of homemade grocery ideas with you. We will also be posting some recipes for these grocery items, so keep an eye out.
Pantry Essentials
Pantry essentials can be costly. Particularly for large families, as you’ll find yourself going through croutons, stock and seasonings in a week! Cut back on expensive groceries and start making these pantry essentials at home. You’ll save money and still be able to enjoy all of your favorite meals.
- Chicken stock
- Cooking spray
- Crunchy croutons
- Dry onion soup mix
- Pumpkin pie spice
- Quick pickled onions
- Taco seasoning
- Salsa
- Vanilla extract
- Vegetable stock
Savoury Sauces
Sauces are a great way to change a boring old recipe. It’s a good idea to have a variety of savory sauces on hand, so you aren’t stuck for meal ideas. Set a goal of making a new sauce each week. Soon enough you’ll have a great collection of sauces to choose from and lots of meal inspiration. Not to mention, you’ll never need to buy a sauce from the supermarket again.
- BBQ sauce
- Beer BBQ sauce
- Bolognese sauce
- Buttermilk ranch dressing
- Homemade balsamic vinaigrette
- Ketchup
- Lemon stir-fry sauce
- Marinara sauce
- Mayo
- Pizza sauce
- Sweet and sour stir-fry sauce
Sweet Sauces & Spreads
We all love desserts. But having dessert a few nights each a week can add up. So how do you save money if you have a sweet tooth? The answer lies in making your own sauces and spreads. These key ingredients are much cheaper to make at home.
- Applesauce
- Caramel sauce
- Choc syrup
- Nutella
- Strawberry jam
Dairy Products
You’d be surprised how much dairy you consume. Buttered toast for breakfast, a cup of coffee and freshly baked cookies for afternoon tea all include dairy. So it’s worthwhile starting to master some dairy based recipes to save money.
- Butter
- Coffee creamer
- Ricotta cheese
- Sweetened condensed milk
- Whipped cream
Tasty Snacks
Supermarkets are notorious for charging way too much money for snacks. The below ideas are super easy to create and won’t break the bank. If you have a big family, you’ll find that making your own snacks will save you lots of money each week.
- Fruit roll-ups
- Granola
- Granola bars
- No-bake choc chip bars
- Popcorn
- Quick fix dip
- Rum balls