Saving money in winter is easy with these tips!

Feb 3, 2015

Between heating, winter coats and extra moisturizer, winter gets pricey! But that doesn’t mean your produce bill has to go up too. With a few tips and a grocery list, you can get lots of affordable fruits and veggies in the winter.

Cook meals at home. This might seem like an obvious tip but this is by far the best way to make your dollar work for you, especially in the winter. By cooking at home you can buy vegetables in bulk when they’re on special and cook up big batches of stew or chili. Just pop the extra in the freezer for easy lunches. Bonus tip: Using the oven will give off a little heat to keep you warm on those chilly days!
Eat seasonal. You may think, seasonal? In winter? Yes indeed! There are some great fruits and veggies you can choose to save yourself some pennies through the winter. Think onions, carrots, potatoes, beets, cabbage, other root veggies and squashes. These veggies are packed with antioxidants and make wonderful warm side dishes. For fruits, think bananas, oranges, kiwis and grapefruit.
Head to toe cooking! Remember those vegetables we mentioned in our previous point? Those and many other fruits and vegetables can be used entirely in your cooking. Don’t waste leaves, skin or other bits and pieces. Did you know that broccoli leaves can be used in soups? Most if not all fruits and veggies can be used in some way or another entirely. Check out this really simple recipe that uses broccoli leaves!
Shop smart by checking flyers and going to the supermarkets that have the best sales for you. Make a list so you don’t buy things on impulse.
Find recipes that are budget friendly. A quick search will get you some great ideas on recipes that use affordable ingredients. There are lots of recipes on Half Your Plate that are very budget friendly. For example, at only $1.35 per serving, this Carrot and Squash Ginger Soup pairs great with a sandwich for a quick dinner!