Cooking on a Budget:

Cooking on a budget does not have to be difficult.

With a little planning, you can make delicious meals that are easy on your wallet.

The cost of food is one of the largest expenses in most households. Spending 10% or more of your income on food is not uncommon.

With a little ingenuity and a lot of flavors, you can make budget-friendly meals that are both delicious and filling. Creating a meal plan doesn't have to be complicated.

Start by looking at what you already have in your pantry, fridge, and freezer. Then, make a list of meals you can make with those ingredients. One thing to keep in mind, there are certain things that you need to keep on hand to be ready for any cooking venture.

· Cooking Oils and Sprays – Olive Oil, Sesame Oil, Coconut Oil, and Others. ·

Spices – Common Ones: Onion Powder, Celery, Chili Powder, Salt, and Pepper.

· Condiments and Sauces · Sour Cream, Butter, Jams (Orange, Peach, Strawberry, or your other favorites). ·

Some Canned Goods: Tomatoes, Mushrooms, Olives, and the like.

I plan on posting a list on this site very soon of the items that should be in every kitchen, so check back soon. Or better, sign up for our Newsletter. We will also start posting some suggested meal plans, and some other budgeting tools.

Once you have a list of potential meals, you can start planning out your week. Here are a few tips to help you get started: -Plan your meals ahead of time and make a grocery list based on what you need. - Stick to basic ingredients that can be used in multiple dishes.

Get creative with leftovers. - Use herbs and spices to flavor your dishes. No matter how you do it, meal planning is a great way to save time and money.