Guest post from Nancy of Counting Dollars and In the Black
As a single person, I’ve learned many ways to save money on groceries. Here are three of my favorites:
1. Cook Meals Ahead and Freeze in Single-Serving Portions
As a single person, I eat mostly home-cooked meals but I don’t spend a lot of time in the kitchen. My secret? Freezer cooking! When I make a meal, if it is freezable, I freeze it in individual portions to either eat another evening or take for lunch the next day.
Here are some of the meals I make in larger quantities and freeze in individual servings for lunch or dinner:
- Meatballs and meatloaf
- Lasagna or spaghetti
- Soups and chili
- Hot dishes or casseroles
- Baked goods
2. Reduce Waste by Freezing Extra Ingredients
Another dilemma for those cooking for one or two is worrying about ingredients going to waste. Many things can be frozen and used when you need them. Some of the items I freeze and take out as I need them are:
- Cheese
- Butter
- Cream cheese
- Vegetables such as green and colored peppers and onions
- Fruit such as strawberries, pineapple (cubed), bananas (sliced).
3. Join a CSA
This past summer, I subscribed to a CSA group (Consumer Supported Agriculture) and have subscribed again this year. In our case, we pay a monthly fee the first part of the year and for five months during the summer we receive a weekly box of produce. Besides the weekly boxes we also have opportunities to pick more of certain items.
The half share box I got is meant to be enough for two people and comes to about $80/month. I froze some of the extras and what I picked.
Now, several months later, I have needed to buy very few vegetables because of what I have in my freezer. Last summer, some people were wondering if the CSA fee was worth the money to me, but for $20 per week I have vegetables all summer and most of the winter.
Nancy Kvamme has spent several years learning about ways to make her money go further and now wants to help others through her blogs, Counting Dollars and In the Black. Nancy also feels it is important to teach kids about money and finances before they get out on their own. She enjoys traveling, which is easier to budget for when finding ways to save money on everyday expenses.
Do you have a fun and frugal DIY idea to share? I’d love to hear about it! Read the submission guidelines and submit it 
When you’re working toward financial goals, you’re almost guaranteed to have unexpected things come up: job loss, extra expenses, cars that break down, medical bills, and more. It’s easy to get discouraged and want to give up when it seems like the going is so slow. But press on and remember that moving forward–even at a microscopic rate–is still moving forward!
