Easy Money Saving Grocery Trick.
In one of my favorite frugal books “Miserly Moms” by Jonni McCoy, she explains that one of the things she did to help save money was to institute a soup night. I think that’s a great idea especially now that it’s getting cooler around here (well, if you can call 70 cool~smile). What I decided to do was to make soup night where I either use veggies from the garden or use leftovers (which I have been very good about wrapping up and sticking in the freezer if I say so myself). I’ve really been trying to stay on top of the perishables and use them so I don’t get to a point where I throw them out and the same with leftovers (that’s where menu planning comes in). Read on to see how a soup night can save you money!
Save Money With A Soup Night
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So last night I went out and picked some Swiss Chard and we had Swiss Chard and White Bean Soup. It was really good and everyone liked it. Even my daughter who normally doesn’t like meals that are meatless! I realized after I made the soup that I had a ham bone from Easter that still had a lot of meat on it in my freezer that I could have put in there!! Going through my freezer and taking an inventory is on my agenda this week! Oh, the soup recipe I used came from “The South Beach Diet Cookbook” and I’ve gotta say I haven’t made one thing from that book that we haven’t just loved!
My exciting news is that I made my first loaf of bread and it wasn’t hard (and it was perfect with soup)!
I used this book’s master recipe!
Here are some soup recipes on the blog to get you started with implementing your own soup night:
- Creamy Potato Chowder
- Chicken & Dumpling Soup
- Tomato Basil Parmesan Soup
- 15 Slow Cooker Soup Ideas
- Low Calorie Vegetable Soup
How Having A Soup Night Can Save You Money
1. You can make your on soup stock for free just by saving your scraps of produce and bones. So don’t throw away your scraps!
2. Soup recipes are very forgiving. If you don’t have a particular ingredient, most times its perfectly fine to just use what you have on hand.
3. It’s easy to bulk up soap by adding beans, rice or pasta which are very inexpensive ingredients.
4. You can save money on soup ingredient by purchasing seasonal ingredients or growing your own!
I love making soup! Let me know what soup is your favorite in the comments below!
Melissa Wertz says
We eat a lot of soups, especially this time of year and throughout the winter and early spring months.
I love this kind of soup. I make mine with … turnip greens…
One think I like about soups is, I can make a ton and put it in the fridge and not have to cook for a couple of days.
Susie Homemaker says
Homemade soup and fresh warm bread…now that is comfort food at it’s best!
Yummy tips!
Susie
Screaming Meme says
Yes,sweetie! I have been doing this soup night too! I didn’t know it was a trend! I also , will serve soup first and then those stinky boys …(:…will not eat me out of house and home! I think we should share our soup recipes! Like a recipe swap…Have a awesome day! Meme
Karen says
I am new to visiting your blog and have thoroughly enjoyed it thankyou.
Lady Katherine says
What a lovely soup in its bowl. I asked hubby is is too late can we plant? I have bread machine made bread for guys on the road, One did not turn out, it went out and so did the mixer paddles. One state we had already left behind. The best bread is home made, I’ll take a loaf, please! lol
Kim~"HomeIsWhereTheHeartIs" says
I absolutely love soups…I for one could eat soup every day of the week!
AJ says
I’m going to check out Rhonda Jean’s blog. I so need help with time management! Maybe if I didn’t read so many blogs I’d have more time to manage;)
We just had soup and grilled cheese for lunch. Yum!
miss m says
your bread looks really good. Thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving a very nice comment.
glorv1 says
That is perfect for a day like today over here in Modesto. It is windy and the chimes outside are chiming away. It is fun baking bread on your own. I do from time to time. Have a great week.
Kathleen Grace says
We are having French Onion soup tonight. Isn’t fresh bread the best? And it really is so much less expensive than the store bought kind! I need to look up that book, I really like the idea of storing the dough inht he fridge and haveing fresh each day. It looked beautiful!
Mimi Sue says
I love soup and I love bean soup so I must get that recipe! When my kids were all at home, every Thursday night was buffet night. We’d eat whatever was left in the fridge. Strange combinations to say the least but the kids thought it was fun and I’d always make some kind of dessert to bribe them with. Then Fri. I’d go get groceries. It worked out pretty well and we didn’t throw out much food. Which is a huge money saver. Mimi
Linda's Blue Gate says
There really isn’t anything better than homemade soup along with homemade bread….. yummmy
HUgs
Linda
ShabbyInTheCity says
You’re a smart cookie Manuela! That bread looks so good 🙂
She'sSewPretty says
I made soup tonight too. Kind of a chicken taco soup and it was so good. I love when the weather changes and we can have soup again. Your soup sounds good. I’ll look for that recipe.
Sue says
How fun…you made bread from dear Zoe’s cookbook…Have you been to her blog yet? http://www.zoebakes.com She is so wonderful. She is always there to answer all your bread baking questions…Isn’t the bread wonderful….
Elizabeth G. says
Manuela,
Thank you for the helpful suggestion of having a soup and bread night. I need to start doing that again!
I am also proud of you for handmaking some bread. I don’t have a bread machine so I always make my bread this way. Boy, it is a learned skill and an art. Took me awhile to master it.
Could you share your recipe?
Take care and have a great day!
Elizabeth
Paula says
Dear Manuela,
I recently purchased that book too. Clarice highly recommends it as well. I need to give it a try. Thank you for sharing!
Oh, your soup looks so good! We love soup. I look forward to having chard from my garden to use in our soups too. Isn’t it wonderful to have chard growing in your own garden? Yours looks beautiful.
Love, Paula
Laura says
Thank you for posting this! It makes me want to try some of the “firsts” I have been putting off. Have a wonderful week!
Storybook Woods says
As you know this book has changed my life. I now bake a fresh loaf of bread everyday. So easyyyyyy. Clarice
bj says
Your soup sounds delicious. Mr. Sweet Nothings and I both LOVE veggie soups so we have them at least a couple of times during the week…especially thru the cold months. I, too, save tiny bits of left overs (my mom used to call this type soup REFRIDGERATOR SOUP) adding other things as needed. A big pan of cornbread and a slice of onion and we are HAPPY!
Your bread sounds delicious, too!
bj
Erik says
I agree with those who asked for the recipe. It looks like a winner!
Christine says
Oh my goodness…I need to make this bread! What a perfect time of year for this warm treat! Love your blog here! Thanks so much for sharing all these wonderful ideas.