ballin on a budget
five ways to save money on groceries
Hello everyone, it’s been a minute since we’ve talked! I trust everyone has been crafting their New Years resolutions and putting together your vision boards for 2024. If not, that’s okay too. I always find peace in the fact that the “New Year” is only a day of tradition, it doesn’t mean much.
That said, I thought it would be fun to reflect on a few areas I could grow. One of these was managing my money a little better. Food is obviously a place we invest a lot of our finances, so let’s talk about ways to “cut corners” at the grocery store, while still prioritizing a healthy diet.
POLL TIME
because I’m curious and it’ll be fun
shop Aldi
I’d like to thank God and also my roommate, Susan, for bringing Aldi into my life. I’ve always been hesitant to go into Aldi, thinking they may not have health-conscious brands or fresh ingredients. I was wrong. Here are a few healthy options that I was pleasantly surprised to find at Aldi, all at a good price:
Rao’s pasta sauce
Friendly farms yogurt
Castle Wood deli meat
Produce - good quality at a good price!
homemade salsa
This was actually a recent epiphany of mine. Making your own salsa is way cheaper, way fresher, and WAY TASTIER. I recognize that not everyone is blessed by a roommate who owns a food processor, but if you are so lucky to have one, make your own salsa. There are also a lot of cheap food processors on FB marketplace. Here is (in my opinion) the best combination of ingredients for salsa:
1 (28-ounce) can whole tomatoes, drained
1/2 cup fresh cilantro, roughly chopped
1/4 cup chopped red onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 jalapeño, quartered and sliced thin
1 tsp ground cumin
2 tsp salt
1 whole lime, juiced
include frozen fruits and vegetables
I think a common misperception is that fresh fruits and vegetables are better for you. That’s actually not always true! Frozen options provide the same nutrients that fresh ones do, and they’re cheaper. Here are a few things I always have in my freezer:
fruit mix for smoothies
banana halves for smoothies
veggie mix for stir fry or fried rice
edamame for a high protein snack
frozen leftover soup or chili
buy in bulk
Most times, I am just cooking for myself, but that doesn’t mean I don’t buy in bulk! Here are a few things I like to buy in bulk, usually from Costco:
oats
chia seeds, flaxseed, hemp seeds
chopped walnuts and slivered almonds
protein powder
rethink your bevvy
I’m limiting my alcohol intake to special occasions in January, and let me tell you I am sleeping so well. That’s what I’ve noticed the most, but it’s also saving me money. If you are looking for a mocktail to keep your drinks interesting, you have to try this:
la croix any flavor
lime juice
jalapeño garnish