3 ms·

^^^ This. Buy ingredients. Not ready-to-eat, highly processed foods. Where possible, buy from local producers (directly from farmer, bakery on the corner) rat

^^^ This. Buy ingredients. Not ready-to-eat, highly processed foods. Where possible, buy from local producers (directly from farmer, bakery on the corner) rather than big box store. Like dried beans: soak overnight, cook, add some veggies & spices, enjoy. Tastier & cheaper than canned food.

bombcar 3y ago
One thing people get surprised by is that “local” is often more expensive. But that’s local at retail. If you keep digging, you can find things like CSA (community supported agriculture) and get to personally know farmers, and then you can get the price for some things down (roadside stands around here in season beat Walmart handily). But for things like meat, you’ll never get small farm steak for cheaper than Walmart or Aldi - because the cows aren’t shoved in intensive dense cages. But the price will beat similar quality meats. The other key is learning to cook what is “in season” (see https://www.saltfatacidheat.com/ https://www.saltfatacidheat.com/ for general advice) - there’s a short period locally where strawberries become almost free. Get in tune with the seasons and eat the appropriate foods and your bills drop precipitously. Sure, you won’t eat strawberries in winter because you’re not having them shipped from Brazil, but you’ll also get a varied table. The other main thing I would say is get used to eating ugly foods. A local farmer can give you “factory seconds” - plants that are perfectly fine but LOOK bad - for cheap. Also keep an eye on waste - buying fifty pounds of potatoes for cheap from Costco is NOT a deal if half of them end up going to seed; getting a feel for how much you will actually use and not throw away brings the costs down further. Otherwise you’re throwing money directly in the trash (or compost pile, if you’re cooking at home you should be composting because soon you’ll be wanting to grow your own, even if it’s just herbs).

bombcar 3y ago

One thing people get surprised by is that “local” is often more expensive. But that’s local at retail. If you keep digging, you can find things like CSA (community supported agriculture) and get to personally know farmers, and then you can get the price for some things down (roadside stands around here in season beat Walmart handily). But for things like meat, you’ll never get small farm steak for cheaper than Walmart or Aldi - because the cows aren’t shoved in intensive dense cages. But the price will beat similar quality meats. The other key is learning to cook what is “in season” (see https://www.saltfatacidheat.com/ https://www.saltfatacidheat.com/ for general advice) - there’s a short period locally where strawberries become almost free. Get in tune with the seasons and eat the appropriate foods and your bills drop precipitously. Sure, you won’t eat strawberries in winter because you’re not having them shipped from Brazil, but you’ll also get a varied table. The other main thing I would say is get used to eating ugly foods. A local farmer can give you “factory seconds” - plants that are perfectly fine but LOOK bad - for cheap. Also keep an eye on waste - buying fifty pounds of potatoes for cheap from Costco is NOT a deal if half of them end up going to seed; getting a feel for how much you will actually use and not throw away brings the costs down further. Otherwise you’re throwing money directly in the trash (or compost pile, if you’re cooking at home you should be composting because soon you’ll be wanting to grow your own, even if it’s just herbs).