Money saving and sustainable living intersect on many levels, yet one of the most obvious ones is food. After all, entertainment will cost you no matter if it’s an occasional concert or a sports game at your local stadium, you can’t negotiate your bills and fees, and many other expenses are beyond change. You can always save on food, though, and it’s surprisingly easy if you know how to start. Saving opportunities are there in every season – you can make the most of each one and save money in the long run.
Spring – Herbs, fruit, eggs
Spring is the time when nature finally ends its hybernation and finds life anew. It’s also the season when some of the tastiest fruits are blooming and ripening – it is the perfect time to stock up on some of these so your supplies will last all year long.
Strawberries might be available all year long in supermarkets, yet the real, sunkissed fruit is only available in the spring. Since an abundance of fruit is collected at this time of the year, make sure to stock up on it and preserve it in jars, as a compote or a jam. It will serve you well later in the year. Spring is the perfect time to collect elderflower – you can dry it for tea or make a syrup out of it, and use it all year long to flavor your lemonades – and, depending on the area you live in, some early mushrooms that you can dry or preserve in salt for later (make sure to only buy these from a certified professional or have them checked by an expert).
Mid-Spring (around Easter) there’s an abundance of eggs that floods the market. Look for great deals on this delicious and nutritious food – you can use them to cook a series of delicious dishes, make pasta, or even preserve them in salt and vinegar.
Summer – Fruit and veggies
Summer comes with its hot temperatures and long periods of daylight, perfect for certain fruit and vegetables to ripen. This is the perfect time to stock up on these, and fill your freezer, as well as your pantry, with them. The internet is full of guides and recipes on how to preserve various fruits and veggies – make sure to have your reserves filled while the prices are down.
Fall – abundance of fruit
Each season – and region – has its typical fruits that you can find cheaper in season than at any other time of the year. Make sure to know which ones are the best for you, and stock up on them while they are cheap. The fall is, in most areas, the time when the largest quantities of preserves are made – no wonder, as it is the most abundant season.
Fill your pantry with fruit juices, compotes, and jams, and your freezer with corn kernels (they are perfect frozen) so that you will have lots of food to reach out to during the winter.
Winter – holiday sales
Last but not least, let’s not forget about the holiday shopping season. Before Christmas, the stores are filled with food, often at a discount price. If your freezer still has space after the abundant crop of the fall, this is the perfect time to stock up on meat (it can stay frozen for up to 3 months without alteration), fish, and basically anything else you can find cheap.