I pride myself on running a pretty great home. I stay on top of the cleaning, can grocery shop like a boss and still manage to make it to the gym every night! A friend once told me that as a stay at home mom, one of her jobs was to make her home a haven for her family. It really stuck with me. One way I need to make my home a happy and safe place to be is by watching our finances. I regulate the temp in the house, turn off lights and use energy efficient bulbs.  These changes can help, but where I found I had the most opportunities to save money was in the kitchen. I wanted to share a few of my top tips to help you cut your budget as well.

Money Saving Tips For The Kitchen

1. Buy Quality Trash Bags: Boy, did I have to learn this one the hard way! I would buy the cheap bags, fill them to the brim and have them break…every stinking time. What a mess! Who has time for that? Not me! Now the only brand I use are the Hefty Ultra Strong trash bags. And with their new lower retail price, I can stretch my kitchen dollar even further.

2. Use High Quality Detergent: I tend to try being frugal when it comes to cleaning products. On some things, like glass cleaner or floor cleaner, I don’t see a difference. With dish detergent, you want those dishes washed right the first time. Be sure to invest in high quality dish detergent, both liquid and for the dish washer. You will get sparkling clean dishes on the first wash without needing to go back and re-wash them again.

Photo Credit: Kicking it with Kelly

3. Vinegar: My Secret Weapon: I love raspberries and strawberries, but they tend to get moldy. I read that if you wash your berries with a bit of white vinegar, you can lengthen the life of your favorite berries. I use about a teaspoon for 3 cups of water. I also use vinegar to clean with, so I cut back on the cleaning products I have to buy.

4. Lower Your Fridge Temperature: This is a tip my mom always reminded me of. I tend to keep the temp in the fridge higher (around 40 degrees) than it needs to be, which can lead to bacteria growth and food spoilage. Or I cut it waaaay back (around 32) and I end up freezing foods that weren’t meant to be frozen (lettuce for example), making them useless. Both of these leads to wasting a good chunk of money over time. The recommended temp in your fridge should be between 34-38.

5. Stretch Your Food Dollar: There are so many ways to save money in the kitchen when it comes to your food budget.  We cut back on the meat called for in a recipe and add more veggies. No one knows the difference and it’s healthier too. Also, buy blocks of cheese and shred them yourself.

Photo Credit: Kicking it with Kelly

6. Regrow Veggies: Did you know you can regrow several veggies from their scraps? I know, right?! You can save the scraps from lettuce, bok choy, celery and cabbage. Just place in water, keep in sunlight and in a few days, you will see new roots. From there, you can replant and watch them grow!

7. Buy Energy Saving Appliances: This was huge for us. We noticed a significant drop on the utility bill after replacing several kitchen appliances with the Energy Star options.

8. Make Your Own Cleaning Products: Speaking of vinegar being a hero in my kitchen! Have you ever made your own cleaning products? A little vinegar, baking soda and some essential oils can go a long way. Oh, and they cost pennies on the dollar compared to store bought cleaners! Oh, and anther thing? They usually work just as good or better than store bought! Take that store bought stuff!

Photo Credit: Kicking it with Kelly

How I Get More Bag For My Buck

I have used Hefty Ultra Strong trash bags for a while now. They are the only brand I have found that really can hold up to our trash. Their Active tear resistant technology means that the will save you money from punctured trash bags, there’s nothing worse than getting that trash bag up and out of the bin only to find you ripped a hole in it. By being able to fill it more without breaking the bag, I can use less bags, therefore saving me more money in the long run.

Photo Credit: Kicking it with Kelly

Now with a lower retail price, families can afford to use an outstanding quality bags like the Hefty Ultra Strong trash bags. At just $7.99 for a 40 count of the large trash bags, you can afford to stock up! With the Arm & Hammerâ„¢ patented odor neutralizer, you can keep those kitchen odors at bay. With Ibotta you can earn $1.00 cash back after purchasing one box of Hefty trash bags. With Coupons.com, you can save $1.00 off one box of Hefty trash bags.

And there are so many scents to choose from like Clean Burstâ„¢, Lavender & Sweet Vanillaâ„¢ (my favorite), Citrus Twistâ„¢ (another favorite), Crisp Orchard Appleâ„¢, White Pine Breeze, Tropical Paradiseâ„¢ and Pomegranate Mistâ„¢. And for my husband, Hefty Ultra Strong trash bags offers a scent free option as well! I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

What are your tips for saving money in the kitchen? I would love to hear from you!