FIVE KITCHEN HACKS to SAVE you MONEY!
The kitchen and the food we make there is the most costly area in our budget; but it's the area where we have the most control. Small, EASY and simple CHANGES can save you hundreds over the year! The other good news is - you can START TODAY!!
Ready to hear them??
1. RAG towels over paper towels.
So simple. Just cut up some old bath or dish towels into medium-sized rags and use to clean the counters, spills on the floor or any other use that would normally be done by a paper towel. Disclaimer... I DO still have some paper towels because there are certain times with really greasy spills that I just don't want to use a rag and put that into my washing machine. HOWEVER, for 98% of the time, a rag does just fine or better than a paper towel.
2. REUSABLE CONTAINERS instead of plastic bags.
We use glassware or stainless steel containers the majority of the time, but we do have some plasticware. Our 4 year old cannot bring glass to school (... gee, I wonder why??) so we obviously send him with plastic or stainless steel containers (whatever was in the budget a the time of purchase - stainless steel is expensive!) I try to repurpose containers that food items come in (think Jars like Salsa, Ghee, Kombucha, or plastic lunch meat containers, etc) This saves us money and saves the landfill - at least for a little while.
3. SMALL RAGS over sponges in the sink.
Am I the only one that thinks sponges are kind of gross?? I mean, the first day they are fine... but after a few days and lots of use they start to smell and become a breeding ground for germs! So, I implemented a small rag system in our kitchen and let me tell you, Brandon has said that this was the BEST idea I've had in the kitchen! We both agree that it is WAY more sanitary. We can change the rag once a day or multiple times if we are deep cleaning and then throw them all in the wash with hot water (and sometimes bleach for extra umph) and VOILA! - all clean and I didn't have to buy anything!
4. CLOTH NAPKINS.
Since I already have other linens that I'm washing, using cloth napkins is a breeze to implement! I used to think that cloth napkins were only for "special occasions" until I realized that they are kind of fun, pretty and very FUNCTIONAL. (I am one of those weird people that loves functional gifts like vacuums, cleaners, soaps, etc... don't give me flowers that will die and make and sad and then I have to throw them away... oh I digress...) Cloth napkins - use cut up old T-shirts, but them at a thrift store, get creative and don't spend a lot! Half of ours are from the thrift store and half from my mom because I requested them as a birthday gift (I told you, I am weird!).
5. Cut DISH SOAP in half with WATER.
Dishwashing liquid is usually very concentrated and cutting it in half with water is just genius in my opinion. I have had no problems and the soap is plenty foamy with lots of cleaning power. Doing this reduces the amount of soap I'm using so I have to buy it less often which means I am saving $$$. BOOM.
6. BONUS!! Frugal DIY Citrus CLEANING SPRAY.
I know there are lots of recipes out there for homemade cleaners but in an effort to keep it simple and cheap, I have settled on just using vinegar and water. BUT, I soak citrus peels - orange, lemon or lime - in white vinegar, in a jar for at least 2 weeks, and then pour that in a spray bottle. Top off the other half of the bottle with water and use all over the kitchen!
*HINT: you can also use this in the bathroom on mirrors, counters and toilets!
If you have granite countertops, DO NOT use vinegar because I have heard it will erode it and get in the pores... Just search for a DIY cleaner that uses Rubbing Alcohol instead.
Thanks for reading and watching! Let us know if you try any!
What are YOUR favorite ways to save money in the kitchen!? -Brigitte
