27 Ways to Save $100 in Your Kitchen This Week
Sometimes the best way to save money is to make small changes in your everyday life that add up to big money. Today I’m sharing 27 small ways you can save $100 in your kitchen this week.
Save While Washing Dishes
Let’s start with a few ways to save money while washing the dishes:
- Wash dishes once a day by hand rather than using the dishwasher and save about 63 cents per load (according to TheSimpleDollar.com).
- To save money while washing by hand, fill one side of the sink with hot water to wash dishes and the other side with cold water to rinse.
- If washing by hand is too much to ask, save on your water and power bills by only running your dishwasher when it’s full.
- During the day, keep a dishpan in your sink with a small amount of water to rinse dishes rather than using running water.
- Save on detergent by using less. Most dishwashers require only a tablespoon of powder detergent to work effectively.
- Save on electricity by using the “air dry” rather than “heat dry” setting on your dishwasher.
Save On Disposable Products
One huge money drain is the use of disposable products. Use these tips to save on paper and plastic.
- Save money and your sanity by assigning a different colored cup or glass to each child. Kids can easily identify their cup which prevents them from using multiples each day.
- Use cloth napkins instead of paper. (Find these at the thrift store to save even more.)
- Use real plates rather than paper or styrofoam.
- Use washable cloths or rags to wipe up spills rather than paper towels.
- Purchase a BPA free water bottle to avoid purchasing disposable water bottles. Save money and the environment
- Purchase a travel coffee mug rather than using disposable coffee cups.
Save While Cooking
Cooking your meals rather than eating out will save you hundreds of dollars each week, but you can save even more by using these tips:
- Use bulk cooking to fill your freezer for those days when you don’t have time to cook. Check out my Freezer Meal plans, tips and ideas HERE.
- Create a weekly menu plan. To save even more, include breakfasts and lunches along with dinner. (Click here for help with meal planning.)
- Use your slow cooker to save energy and avoid heating up the kitchen.
- Cook from scratch as much as possible to avoid convenience foods, which can cost up to five times more.
- Keep a pantry inventory and create meals from what you already have on hand. (Use this free printable pantry inventory sheet.)
Save on Grocery Shopping
Groceries can be a significant part of your overall budget, but you can use these strategies to save big:
- Make a menu and grocery list before you shop. (Find a printable menu planner HERE and a printable grocery list HERE.)
- Keep a running grocery list and note when items are half-full to avoid “emergency” trips to the grocery store, which can add $50 or more to your weekly grocery bill.
- Check sale ads before shopping to take advantage of weekly specials.
- Shop at a cheaper grocery store. I do most of my shopping at Aldi now and save a minimum of $50 a week compared to shopping at more expensive stores.
- Cook cheaper foods. Read out How to Feed Your Family for $60 a Week for more ideas.
- Freeze and use leftovers. Check out How to Use Overripe Produce HERE and How to Use Leftovers HERE for specific ideas.
Save On Cleaning
Buying household cleaners can take a big chunk out of your budget, but these tips will help you to spend less:
- Use homemade cleaners. This homemade Citrus Infused Vinegar cuts through greasy messes, smells great and is all natural so you can avoid the dangerous chemicals in store purchased cleaners.
- Add water to your dish detergent to make it stretch further.
- Make your own Swiffer covers (instructions HERE).
- Use a washable mop rather than expensive disposable products.
- Use rags, rather than paper towels. (Hide the paper towels to use only for big greasy messes.)
Implementing just a few of these cost-cutting strategies will enable you to save at least $100 in your kitchen this week, and that’s money you can add right to your emergency fund or your next savings goal.
I would love to hear which ideas you already use or which you will be implementing this week. Leave a comment. 🙂
(eMail readers will need to click through the title of this post then scroll to the bottom of the post to leave a comment.)
Happy Saving!
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I just joined and am really enjoying your website. I have recently retired and am having to adjust to half my former income, but boy is it worth it! Here’s a tip I’ve used. I “inherited” some receiving blankets that my grandchildren outgrew, and cut and serged the edges to make 4 dishtowels from each. I love the weight of them for use in the kitchen, and because they aren’t my “good” dishtowels, we don’t mind using them for all cleanups. They wash and dry nicely – and they were free! You can pick them up all the time for cheap.
Thanks for your inspiring website!
That’s a great tip Donna. Thanks for taking the time to comment. 🙂
Hi Kimberlee, I’m curious about the paper vs real debate. Paper for example (plates especially) is biodegradable, doesn’t waste water or heat resources to wash, and is also yes, convenient. I haven’t seen a real cost comparison between washing a dish and using a paper plate.
Does it really save money to use linens and real table ware when laundry/dishwashing is considered?
Hi Charmaine – I found two sources for you. A study done in 2014 for the Textile Rental Services Association of America concluded that one paper napkin made of no recycled materials has an environmental impact over 3 times higher than one cloth napkin being washed with the least-efficient washing machine. And this post: http://www.growingagreenfamily.com/ditch-paper-napkins-and-save-almost-nothing-huh/ concluded that Total cost of basic paper napkins over five years = $479.88
Total cost of NON-bulk paper napkins over five years = $2,635.60
Total cost of 100% recycled paper napkins over five years = $322.64
You could do your own calculations and determine if you want to make the switch.
Wow! That’s quite a lot of savings! Thank you for doing that research!
My pleasure Charmaine! ?
Hi Kimberlee! I just found your blog and I’m in LOVE! You have so many great ideas. 🙂 I must say, it is refreshing to see that I/we are already doing so many of the money-saving tips you have suggested! I love the printable grocery list. I am going to start using it. I think it will be so much easier to just circle or check off what we need instead of writing it all down. I have been making my own vinegar based cleaning spray for years and love to mix in all varieties of essential oils. Thanks for sharing your great tips!
Welcome Elizabeth! That’s great that you are using so many of the money saving tips, but glad I could help a little bit with the printable grocery list.
And thanks so much for your encouragement about the blog. 🙂
I just invested in some cloth napkins that I found cheap @ Bed Bath & Beyond! Wished I would have started this years ago, paper napkins was the last of the paper products we stopped buying a lot of. We rarely eat out and our grocery is to far away for “quick trips” so eat at home with what we have it is.
That’s great that you have to be intentional about eating out. It’s far too easy where I live. 🙂