Not Made Of Money

Nearly everything comes in convenient snack pack sizes these days. While their size may be small, their price is certainly not. We make it a habit here in the Not Made Of Money household to make our own snacks. With just a little bit of advance planning, we have our snacks but not their convenience prices. Here are some ways I save money on snacks:

1. Make the baked goods from scratch. I recently shared some thoughts on muffins. I bake cookies and cupcakes too. When baking any item, I double the recipe and freeze them for use later in the week.

2. Buy full size fruits and veggies and cut them into smaller sizes. I do all the prep when I get home from the grocery store. Carrots, celery, fresh cut broccoli are all washed and put into baggies and are ready to go when snacking hits.

3. Buy the large size bags of chips and pretzels and divide them into single size servings. I place the appropriate serving size into a small baggie (snack bags work well for this because they get filled to the top)! Stick pretzels are 42 sticks each, chips are 13 chips per serving, and Cheerios are 1-1/2 cups per bag.

4. Purchase cheese in wedges and cut them into cubes. I place each serving into a single size container, and place it in the fridge. Much cheaper than the string cheese packages.

5. Watch for “buy one get one free” sales on snack food items. I regularly look for the special sales at my local grocery stores on snacks in the larger sizes. When I find those on sale like different brands of chips, crackers, or pretzels, I stock up!

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