I'm a single "senior" so grocery shopping is a challenge at times, especially when it comes to milk, bread and other staples that will spoil before I can use them up. Buying smaller amounts of milk isn't an economical solution, so I buy a gallon and freeze two quarts (in quart jars). With bread, I freezer six slices at a time in gallon freezer bags for later use. I've also found that it's actually cheaper to buy a salad from somewhere than it is to buy all the ingredients fresh, unless you eat salad every day.
When I eat out (about once a week), I usually eat at a place that offers "meat and veggie" meals. I ask for a carry out box when they bring my food and put half in that before I start eating. That way, I get two meals for one price.
I'd love to hear about ways other single people on limited budgets with limited freezer space manage the grocery angle.
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I grow vegetables each year. I don't grow near as much as I could and would like to. I don't because I don't have freezer space to keep the harvest. By the same token, I don't buy as much frozen food when on sale as I would like to for the same reason.
It looks like we both could benefit from a freezer. I have been looking around for one. They really don't cost much to operate. When I find a small upright freezer at a good price (they're about the height of kitchen counter tops), I will buy one.
One bargain I look for is Walmart French bread. It's only a dollar a loaf and doesn't taste like soy bean oil as some other brands do. You can often find it sliced. I buy as many loaves as I think my freezer will hold because I don't grocery shop very often.
I have a single senior friend and we split the cost on things, like meat that neither of us will use before it's too old. Also when I cook a casserole I always share with her. Works for us! When she cooks stew, she shares with me.
I actually have an under-counter SubZero freezer, but I'm still trying to figure out how to fit it into my very small retirement household. And yes to those who asked about freezing milk, just thaw and shake well before using. You can also freeze cheese for casseroles and such.
Not only is your arrangement with your friend beautiful, it's simply the way things should be.
Yes, I prefer my homemade biscuits over store bought French bread, but many times I'm just not in the mood to make them.
How do you defrost the bread? Whenever I use microwave setting to defrost bread or rolls it tastes like mush.
We have a large family of 6 adults. Remove a frozen loaf of bread to the fridge to thaw removing only the number of slices needed t the time. Microwave the slices on a on a piece if paper towel at 10 second intervals until soft enough to eat or toast.
Try just setting out on the counter until defrosted. Then toast in a toaster oven.
Wrap the frozen bread in kitchen roll and put it in a plastic food bag to defrost
When I freeze bread I put the whole loaf in a Walmart bag and tie it shut! Just take it out set it on the counter over night and its like fresh bread!
I freeze mine also, dont use microwave, just take out of frezeer in ziplock bag on the counter, tastes fine, doesnt take too long to thaw
Sam's Club has some nice small freezers.
It's just my husband and I. When I make a batch of biscuits, it cut out biscuits,freeze the cutout,unbaked dough on a cookie sheet. When frozen, I put them in a freezer bag,and use what I need.
I actually had no idea you could freeze milk. Sectioning off half the meal at the start is a great idea!
I didn't know you could freeze milk either. Won't it separate? A great idea though.
I have had a different experience with freezing milk. When thawed, it tastes watery and sweeter. To me, not as good for drinking straight, but fine for all other purposes.
I freeze milk all the time. We did blind tastings and no one could tell the difference.
Yes you can freeze milk. Just take some out of the bottle. Then freeze. Take out of freezer at least 2=3 days before you need the milk.
I bake my own bread which is a lot cheaper and healthier than buying it at the store. I have a dough hook for my mixer so do very little kneading by hand. I bake 2 loaves at a time and when cool, cut each in half and freeze them. That way I always have fresh homemade bread. For those thinking about a small freezer, I did that. But those little chest freezers are so deep you are practically touching your toes to get to the bottom. l ended up filling it half full with dead weight (empty cardboard boxes worked) just so I had easy access to what I wanted.
I too senior budget and using the help from many of thrifty fun readers used several tips. One was start looking at what I'm eating in what amounts. That saved big $$$ as I was throwing away too much. MAKE A MENU start with 3 days and expand. Piggy bank for change not just loose in pocketbook. Use flavor water instead of buying. Ask yourself do I really need it when out shopping. I believe what gr. uncle george said "a man can only wear 1 suit at a time". Reuse-repurpose-and thank Thrifty Fun sharing site.
I saw a small upright freezer advertised at Sam's Club not too long ago.
Fill up dead space in freezer with milk gallon jugs filled with water. This way you have frozen water in case of an emergency and also the freezers run more efficiently when mostly full.
They do make small upright freezers. I am a "certified" food hoarder! I have a large freezer but felt I wanted to make and freeze my own broth. So we bought a small upright. They are so much easier to get into! Check around for the best prices.
Fill empty freezer space with empty milk cartons filled w water. A full freezer is more economic al to run . be sure to leave headspace in bottles as water expands when frozen
Growing up, and this would still be applicable, we used to get together, 4 - 6 women (some with families, some not) and share the expense as well as the work in making big batches of cabbage rolls. Of course a deep freeze is pretty much necessary.
We also used to share the expense of buying a young steer and having it butchered and professionally wrapped. These days, with all the worries about synthetic steriods in beef and pork, if you can find a farmer who raises organic meat and if that's your preference, this option becomes attractive again.
These days, as a single woman, I find my freezer very handy when the grocery store has such items on sale as a 10 lb. box of boneless, skinless chicken breasts or, in early fall, whole salmon.
A pressure canner is also a mainstay in my home. When I do cook, I prefer to make big batches of things. Canning what I don't immediately use is a good option in that it preserves nutrients far better than the freezing process. Pressure canners aren't inexpensive, however, and an option to consider would be sharing the expense with at least one other friend then take turns using the thing.
I'm none too happy with the quality of breads available at the grocery store and want healthier options. Multi-grains, for instance, with flax or barley for texture. I bake my own, as needed, and can thus control the loaf size.
Hoping some of my ideas prove beneficial ....
Powdered milk can taste better when you make some up, freeze it, then thaw in the fridge and shake before drinking it. And you can make it in the small amounts you need.
Or add a little powered milk to your regular milk that you froze and thawed to make it taste better.
When thawing bread, put a paper towel in the bag. Will be much better as it soaks up moisture while thawing.
Senior On a Budget JarmySC raises some important issues.
Because of the pandemic, self-serve salad bars have been eliminated but to-go salads are available packed in see-through individual containers.
At our house these days, we seldom drink milk but we do need some from time to time. We've never liked milk powder or most milk substitutes. Our grocery deli used to sell fresh milk in little containers which have been hard to find lately so instead of buying it in gallon or half-gallon sizes, I buy real milk in 8-ounce containers sold as a boxed set which can be stored at room temperature for months at a time. To improve the flavor, I refrigerate a few small cartons of milk until I'm ready to open them. BTW: I've frozen milk sometimes and thawed it with no problem but I made the mistake once of freezing it in a glass container which BROKE while in the freezer.
If you are looking for a very easy delicious vegetable meal for one that requires no refrigeration,I recommend boil-in-bag pouches which can be microwaved or heated on the stove in minutes. My favorites are savory India combinations (mild curries prepared with coconut 'milk' and tomatoes, garbanzo beans, potatoes, peas, spinach etc.) - if you like, you can enjoy them with a burger or crab cake (individually frozen) or deboned chicken meat.
We also make smoothies with protein powder (whey or soy or other protein sources sold in canisters which require no refrigeration and keep for months at a time). As we age it's vital to have enough protein.
Also, we don't eat bread much due to its high carb count but I've always stored bread in the refrigerator or freezer. If you leave a slice or two of frozen bread on the kitchen counter, it should thaw in minutes. And if you want to eliminate bread altogether, you can eat sandwiches on large lettuce leaves! I also recommend peanut butter on a celery stick - surprisingly delicious and refreshing.
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