Austerity Chic: Culinary Edition
Let’s face it: inflation is real. All the prices have gone up, bills are going up and this perpetual increase does not appear to have an immediate end point. Over the summer, I learned to keep it pretty lean and below are some things that may help you save some cash when it comes to cooking. I hope you find it helpful!
Strategy: Look, none of us want to cut back, but this is the reality. Rent and bills come first. This is just life. So first off, take a look at what you are spending the most on for food. Is it restaurants and the taxi after? A certain cut of meat? What is actually the bulk of your food cost?
Plan your meals: I do cook a lot at home. But in order to avoid tossing spoiled food, which I hate, I do take a look at my fridge and freezer before going to the market. Most people have 3-4 meals that are their “go-to” meals for the week. In my case I always have yogurt and fruit for breakfast, chicken/pork and some sort of vegetable for lunch or dinner and pasta/legumes on my list. This planning multiplies for couples and families with children. Cutting back does not mean eating the same thing every day - but it does mean you need to plan to avoid this situation.
Repurpose: Not every meal I cook is a from scratch job. If I have left over grilled chicken, it goes in a salad. If I have left over vegetables, it becomes a stir fry or an omlette. You get the gist. Leftovers should be celebrated, and not seen as a bad thing.
Make a list for the market - and stick to it! If you make a list, you need to stick to the list. I would not recommend going to the grocery store when you are hungry. If you need to make yourself stick to a cash envelope to stick to your limit - do it.
Look at what is on sale…*if you actually use it: Sales are useful, if the product on sale is something you actually use. There is no point in buying a buy one get one free item if it is just sitting in your pantry. Simply skip it.
Avoid pre-prepared foods: Pre-cut vegetables and meat are a huge waste on the budget. If you look at the cost per kilo/pound it is always way more that cutting it yourself. Meal kits delivered to the home are also in this category. Convenient? Sure. A good spend? Absolutetly not.
Embrace the spice section: Fresh herbs are more expensive - if I do have excess, I will chop them up and put them in an ice cube tray and cover in olive or sunflower oil. Then I have herb cubes which I can toss into soups and sauces later. Dried herbs and spices are a great way to add variety without breaking the bank.
Eat less meat: I am not vegan or vegetarian by any means! But only eating meat for one meal a day certainly made a big difference on my budget. I stretch my euro this way - replacing meat with dishes that have mushrooms or beans. And after awhile, you actually feel a bit lighter and better. Up to you, see how you feel on this one.
Use your freezer: You can extend the life of many things by freezing them and enjoying it later. I do this for meat, coconut milk that I can’t use all of and grated cheese so it will not spoil. Freezer Tetris is a thing in my home.
Frozen/canned vegetables are your friend: Nothing worse than tossing a spoiled vegetable. I usually buy canned corn, mushrooms and tomatoes and frozen mushrooms and peas. Many vegetables freeze well - except eggplant which just gets odd.
Don’t always go out for meals/cook at home: This is a fast fix. When COVID hit, many of us realized how often we went out for food, ate lunch at restaurants or went for the easy option. Cooking at home became the only option - and many times, a much healthier one. Dining out is a privilege, not a right of humantiy. I did not say become a hermit. Change the habit, not the socialization!
Pre-game at home: I love a pre-dinner drink as much as anyone else, but this will sink your budget immediately. When you can pop a bottle of wine with friends for 10-15 euro, a cocktail at 14 euro, is really not a bargain.
Consume consciously: This is not a fun one. Ask yourself, are you going out because you feel like spending money, because you want to hang out with friends, or are you just lazy? Are you actually hungry, or just bored? Yes, all of these questions are awkward, because they drive at the heart of your consumption. If you are going out for a birthday dinner, great! Do it. Are you toasting to a special occassion, or is it just a Tuesday and you feel like it? Ask yourself what you want to experience vs what you are actually experiencing.
Be upfront with your friends: I am a freelance consultant, so when times are bare, you can hear crickets chirping. I simply say to my friends - hey, I am in saving mode, I can’t go out right now. In Italian you could say “sono in verde” literally I am in the green - but that means, I am broke! There is no shame in saying where you are financially. This is life.
Your real friends will understand and adjust. The rest of the pack was there for the fancy drink and the instapost. Let them go. You won’t miss them. Your real friends will be happy to enjoy austerity with you. And that is the real abundance there. Those friends are solid gold.