I was wasting a ton of money on fresh herbs until my neighbor pointed it out

I was making a big pot of chili last week and went to buy a bunch of cilantro, which cost me $2.50 for a tiny pack. My neighbor saw me and asked why I didn't just use the dried stuff from my spice rack. I realized I'd been buying fresh herbs for every single recipe for years, even for long-cooked dishes where the flavor cooks out. Now I only buy fresh for things like salads or garnish, and my weekly grocery bill dropped by about $8. What other small ingredient swaps have saved you guys money?

3 comments

3 Comments

joseph4552mo ago

My sister got me into buying whole chickens and breaking them down myself. A whole bird is way cheaper per pound than just buying breasts, and you get bones for stock too. I used to think it was too much work, but it only takes a few minutes once you get the hang of it.

singh.jessica2mo ago

Yeah, I saw a chef say it's the first thing they teach new cooks.

rivera.simon20h ago

That whole chicken thing really works. I started doing it a year ago and it saves me maybe $15 a week easy. The stock from the bones is a bonus too, makes my rice and soups taste way better than store bought broth. I still buy breasts sometimes when I'm in a rush but most weeks I just break down a bird on Sunday.