life

Quick and easy meals to cut costs in the kitchen

YouTube's 'The Domestic Geek', Sara Lynn Cauchon, whips up four tasty budget-friendly meals.

June 23, 2020 2:04 p.m. EST

June 24, 2020 11:18 a.m. EST

With Canada still grappling with the effects of the COVID-19 crisis, many people are trying to be as frugal as possible - and that extends to the kitchen! YouTube's 'The Domestic Geek', Sara Lynn Cauchon, whipped up some super easy recipes to save you some money and avoid a trip to the grocery store.Find the recipes below by clicking on the images, but first, here are some of Sara's budget-friendly tips.

Redefine dinner

When we think about dinner, we often think about a big cut of meat with two sides. But we all know that dinner can be as simple as a simple bowl of pasta, a frittata, or a grilled cheese. All of these dishes can leave you feeling just as satisfied at a fraction of the cost.

Beware buying in bulk

Never assume that just because something is available in bulk at a big box store, that it’s necessarily cheaper. Compare prices per unit (this may require some 4th grade math and a calculator but we’ve all got them built into our phones now). You may find that those ‘deals’ aren’t quite as good as you thought. Also, skip the bulk buys on most perishable items; it’s often hard to get through them before they spoil. Bulk should be reserved for non-perishable items and food that can be frozen and enjoyed later.

Consider curbside grocery pickup

While you may pay a nominal fee for the service, shopping for your groceries online will prevent impulse buying which will save you a bundle in the long run.

Go meatless

The cost of meat, poultry, and seafood has sky-rocketed over the past decade. Adding at least one or two meatless meals to this week’s meal plan will help you to save big. As a bonus, you’ll also be doing your small part to help curb climate change which remains one of the biggest causes of rising food costs.You can find more of Sara's tasty recipes over at The Domestic Geek on YouTube.