Groceries are a necessary evil, and nothing hurts more than seeing that pricey bill when you're checking out. In a time where almost every family is facing some economic struggles, saving any penny you can is a priority. So why are we spending so much money on staple items?! As a way to keep cash in my wallet while still eating all my yummy treats, here are the three foods I make for soooooo much cheaper than the grocery store. And they are extremely easy - barely any cooking involved!
Oat Milk
There's a TikTok where the voice-over says, "I am so sick of y'all spending so much money on oat milk!" And that's exactly how I feel. Oat milk is expensive (nearly $5 a carton!) and you can make it for less than $2, in under 5 minutes, and be doing your part for the environment. Oat milk is the most sustainable milk to make and it's delicious. Here's how:
You will need:
1 cup oats
3 cups water
Honey or agave
Vanilla (optional)
Pinch of salt
Blend it all together, strain in a fine mesh strainer or nut milk bag, and voila! You're done! I have made an entire carton of oat milk in the time it takes me to make a smoothie, and it lasts a while. Save yourself that money and help the environment!
Muesli
It will not surprise anyone that a meal consisting of oats and seeds did not seem like something I wanted to eat ever in my adult life. But I was really wrong about muesli. Move over cereal and oatmeal - this stuff is amazing. My recipe is loosely based off of this one from Feasting at Home. I mix mine with some oat milk (see above) and fruit, and it keeps me running for hours. The ingredient choices are endless, and if you buy in bulk, ~60 oz of homemade muesli can cost around $4. A 40 oz bag of Bob's Red Mill muesli is $10. See - we're saving money!
You will need:
3 cups oats
1 cup sunflower seeds
1 cup walnuts or almonds
1 cup unsweetened flaked coconut
2 tbsp chia seeds
2 tbsp hemp hearts
2 tbsp flaxseed
1 cup dried fruit (I like to use a cranberry/golden berry mix)
Preheat the oven to 350°F. On a large baking sheet spread out the oats, sunflower seeds, walnuts, and coconut and put in the oven for 10 minutes. Let cool. Mix together with all of the other ingredients and store in a large, airtight container.
Bread
Bread became the hot topic of baking at the beginning of the pandemic, and I'm glad that homemade bread is becoming more popular. It's so easy to make and I haven't bought bread since I learned how to make it pre-pandemic. You only need 5 ingredients and a little time for both of the ~quick~ recipes I rotate between. This 1-hour version is great in a pinch (I have become the woman who brings bread to every social gathering) and this 3-hour version results in the most incredible, no-knead loaves that I thought only bakeries could make. I recommend trying both recipes and seeing which floats your boat more.
For both recipes, you will need:
Warm water
Honey
Yeast
Flour
Salt
Both recipes use the same base, just different rising times. Let me know which you like better!
What foods do you make at home to save money? What should I try next?