Tips for Saving Money in the Kitchen

If you're like most families, a significant percentage of your budget is probably spent in the kitchen. The kitchen is a major source of energy use, with all of its fancy appliances and gadgets. It's also where your food is stored and prepared, which can add up over time. By keeping the following tips in mind, you can save money not only on energy costs but also on your actual food bills.

Save Money on Energy

Your refrigerator and freezer run 24 hours a day, using a great deal of energy! You can cut down on this energy use by making sure that you only open the door when necessary and avoid putting warm food in your fridge or freezer. This requires your appliances to work harder in order to keep everything cool.  You can maximise energy use by defrosting your unit regularly and leaving your fridge three quarters full. This helps keep the right level of air circulation around food to optimise efficiency. Rather than stuffing your fridge with water bottles or home filter systems, consider buying water coolers instead that sit on the countertop yet provide you with cool, fresh water.

water cooler

When you're washing dishes in the kitchen, save on your water bill by turning the faucet off when you're not actively using it. Fill the sink up with soapy water to do all of the washing up in one load. Purchasing an energy-efficient dishwasher and only running it when you have a full load can also cut down on your water and energy bills.

Finally, if you find yourself regularly putting the electric kettle on for cups of tea or coffee throughout the day, you may want to invest in an instant hot water tap instead. This helps save money on the energy required to constantly heat up the kettle. Putting water on the hob is another money-saving alternative.

instant hot water tap

Save Money on Food Preparation

Once you've scaled back your energy use, you can also start to save money on the food you prepare in the kitchen. Your freezer can be your best friend with a lot of these tips, helping you avoid wasting food. Save scraps of chopped up onions or veggies to use in soups and stews down the road, and put away a portion of leftovers in the freezer to ensure none of it gets thrown out. You can also reduce the possibility of food spoiling by preparing a leftover calendar, so that you know exactly when you made each meal and when it must be eaten by.

Making a meal plan for the week is a good way to get the whole family involved in your meal preparation. This also helps when you find yourself at the shop, because you'll have a definite list to stick to and won't be as tempted by extras. Look for online coupons before you go shopping, to print out and save money on your family's favourites.

By taking a little bit of time and preparation to help cut back on your food and energy costs, you can make the kitchen a place for saving rather than blowing the family budget!