Of course everybody has a different budget and different needs but this is what my boyfriend and I do to save our money.

The best tip I ever heard was to buy the whole chicken, not just the breasts or the thighs. At my local grocery store they cost $1.69/lb. and even the bones can be used to make a really nice broth. I don’t know much more about it but after reading this article I was convinced!

We also buy vegetables that we know we will use in multiple dishes. Because usually a whole pack of carrots or celery is too much for one meals but if we make three meals with the same vegetables a week then we save by not throwing out the leftovers.

Buying in bulk is another way that we save a ton of money. Any food you can find cheaper in bulk that you know will last the allotted time you need it for is a good option. Some foods, like coffee, can even be purchased online to say even more.

The last think I can advise would to be planning meals that could last several days. Most weeks we commonly pick three meals that will each last at least two days. It can greatly reduce the amount you go out which obviously is more healthy and will save money.

There are lots of sites out there to help you meal prep if you’d like, but even if you don’t want to do a whole week worth of meals, it can really help to make a few. We all have days where we are too tired to cook at the end of the day and having a few meal pre-made can really lessen the load. I would suggest making meals with at least one vegetable and a lean meat like chicken, if any at all. We like stir-fry, lentil soup, and minestrone. Meal prep and cooking can be fun and easy after some initial thought, not to mention all the money you can save!