Cheap eats

FEELING THE FINANCIAL PINCH? TRY THESE TIPS TO KEEP COSTS UNDER CONTROL

Fuel and transport costs are rising, and the trickledown effect is already hitting grocery items. But what if you could help mitigate rising prices? Take stock of your kitchen now by implementing these three easy changes that will help you stretch your budget through the coming months.

They’ll help maintain the family budget, assist with meal-planning and get you cooking much quicker than if you had to run to the store for ingredients. These easy tips will help you save money and give you a sense of safety and order if costs skyrocket.

1 Create a pantry

If we look back into bygone times, no home was without a place to store long-life food. A pantry is a simple word but it has such strong symbolism.

Practically, it gives us a centralised space to keep our food.

Emotionally, it creates a sense of logic and a feeling of order and cultivates a sense of security.

Symbolically, it represents abundance and gratitude for what we have and gives us hope for the future.

Creating a pantry is an exercise in frugality that we all can make use of these days.

The trick is to start small and build your stocks. You don’t need a large walk-in pantry filled to the ceiling with bottles of homemade preserves and pickles – although that would be nice! Instead, a small linen cupboard or a few shelves in the garage can get you started.

When we speak of pantries, we are also talking about stocking the freezer or deep freeze with meat and frozen veggies, either bought or home-grown.

Meat is usually one of the first things to rise in cost, so if you have space in the freezer or deep freeze, you will be able to ride the wave when prices are high.

Keeping stocks of frozen meat and vegetables works well in combination with a cupboard pantry to help bulk up your everyday meals and provide diverse nutrients for your family.

2 Stock up on pulses, legumes and cans

Stocking up doesn’t mean you need to spend a ton of money. Use the supermarket specials to buy a little bit every week to add to your pantry.

This is how frugal people do it. They don’t blow their money all at once, and they’re never caught without a can of something essential.

Keeping an adequate stock of legumes and pulses can help provide nutrients and bulk to your meals. Stock your pantry with lentils, split peas, red kidney beans, chickpeas and borlotti beans because they often have a long shelf-life.

They can be rehydrated in delicious soups, stews and curries. A packet of red lentils is often a meal itself. A dish such as creamy coconut and lentil dhal curry is a simple and effective dinner for those who won’t be able to purchase much meat. You could also use lentils to bulk up a dish such as pea and ham soup to keep everyone nourished.

Don’t forget to include long-life canned fish. Stocking cans of tuna, sardines, mackerel and salmon in the pantry means you can make simple lunch wraps or delicious bakes.

Chickpeas can be used to create a smorgasbord of dishes such as chickpea masala that can be served as a light lunch or side dish.

3 Invest in a slow cooker or heavy-based pot

Slow cooking helps break down nutrients and make foods easier for us to digest. Kitchen appliances such as a slow cooker – or the old-fashioned heavy-based pot – are an excellent way to make a meal.

A slow cooker allows you to cook at a low temperature over a long period, creating a beautiful aroma in the kitchen and letting you get on with other things.

They are best known for helping prepare dishes such as stews, casseroles and curries, but can also be used for cakes, roasts and even your morning porridge. A heavy-based pot with a lid does the same thing but requires more of your attention.

Keep an eye on the food, so it doesn’t burn, but the principle of slow cooking is the same.

These easy changes are an excellent way to take stock of your kitchen and make changes for the future. Easy enough to implement over a weekend, they will help you live simply and frugally and cultivate a sense of resilience and security if costs become too high. Scan with your phone for more frugal recipes