30-Day Money-Saving Challenge

Bringing water with you can make it easy to sip throughout your day and stay hydrated, which can lead to everything from better focus to clearer skin. Making sure your bottle is reusable can help you save money and be earth-friendly as well.

Make your own free, nutritious vegetable stock from kitchen scraps by saving onion tops, mushroom stems, and other trimmings from vegetables like carrots, squash and tomatoes.

Our One-Pot Chicken Alfredo showcases several ingredients you probably already have on hand, and is a restaurant-style favorite you can make at home for less. Affordable and nutritious chicken breast makes this well rounded meal filling while saving you time on clean up.

Skip the trip to the cafe and make your own coffee at home. You can save up to $70 a month by brewing your own coffee and still get a delicious cup.

Many takeout and deli containers can be saved, washed and reused as a free food storage container. I like to use them for freezing stock, soup and other leftovers, while saving my nice reusable tupperware for daily use.

Making a grocery list is super important when trying to save money. Make your list before you get to the store. Plan your meals, check what you already have in your kitchen and jot down the rest so you only buy what you actually need and will use. This can help you save money and cut down on food waste.

Extend the shelf life of leftovers, as well as herbs and other odds and ends by storing them in your freezer. Cutting down on waste will help you save money. Plus, the ice cube tray is one of the most underrated kitchen appliances. Use it to perfectly portion wine, herbs, coconut milk and more for all of your cooking needs.

Contrary to popular belief, frozen fruits and vegetables are just as healthy and fresh ones. They are picked at peak ripeness and flash frozen to preserve their flavor and nutrients and last for months longer in your freezer. Enjoy fruit smoothies and Nut & Berry Parfaits all year long for a fraction of the price.

Our Chicken Cutlets with Sun-Dried Tomato Cream Sauce makes the most of specialty ingredients, like sun-dried tomatoes, by using the flavorful oil to saute the chicken. This simple, decadent dinner comes together in just 20 minutes and requires minimal clean up, a win-win in our book.

With options ranging from No-Knead Bread to Whole Wheat Sourdough, this can be as involved or simple as you are comfortable with. Flour is one of the least expensive items at the grocery store. With a little planning and time, you can transform it into a bakery-quality fresh loaf, at a fraction of the price.

Many grocery stores have memberships or rewards programs for their members. Ask the cashier at your next trip to your local grocer. There are several discounts and deals that are members only, and some places will even automatically apply coupons for members. Simply sign up and start saving.

So you’ve been saving your vegetable cuttings, now what? Time to make that delicious vegetable stock with kitchen scraps. Add vegetable cuttings, any desired spices and water to a pot and let simmer for a few hours (or however long you have). Soup is in your future.

Unfortunately for those of us who do not live with a full family, many recipes make at least four or six servings. If you only cook for one or two people, cut a recipe in half so you don't have a ton of leftovers and are less likely to waste.

Think of this as a less structured way to meal prep. Multitask when you are cooking to save you prep time later in the week. While you roast a chicken for dinner, throw in some root vegetables in the oven too. Boil eggs in boiling water after your pasta has cooked. Chop twice as many onions as you need for the recipe so that they are ready to go for the next time you cook. This cuts down on the time you need to cook and also helps you use less water and electricity.

Boost your veggie intake with this Easy Cauliflower Fried Rice. It is cheaper and more veggie-packed than takeout. You can use packaged cauliflower rice or easily make your own from fresh cauliflower. Ready in just 25 minutes, this makes for a great nutritious weeknight meal.

Who doesn’t love hummus? Whether it is with cut vegetables or smeared on toast, we are big fans. Step up your hummus game by making your own from scratch. It is cheaper, healthier and you can customize it with whatever flavors you like.

Many restaurants use a principle called "first in, first out" where older foods are used before newer ones. This helps them cut down on the food waste that can occur when something gets forgotten in the back of the cooler. Take a page from their book and implement this strategy in your own home. Label your foods and make sure to bring older foods to the front of your fridge and pantry.

Stress can be hard to avoid these days. However, in excess, it can lead to overeating and overspending, which is bad for your wallet, body and mind. Doing something creative, getting some movement and taking a break from electronics are all free ways to help destress.

Cleaning out your pantry can show you what you have on hand that you may have forgotten about. It's like a grocery store in your house (but it's free!).

This one is pretty self explanatory. Strategically having a meal or snack before your shopping trip can help you avoid impulse purchases and unnecessary expenses that often happen when you're hungry and trying to food shop.

Nothing says impressive pantry dinner like our Stuffed Sweet Potato with Hummus Dressing. Plus, this is a great way to make sure you use up that tasty homemade hummus you made earlier in the week.

Keeping track of what you spend is a simple way to save money, simply by being aware. Think of your budget as weekly spending goals that you want to stay at or under. To make it more sustainable and realistic, plan to give yourself some wiggle room for spontaneous expenses that pop up.

Making gifts yourself is thoughtful and usually less expensive than the knife set or dutch oven you were thinking of buying. DIY food gifts, like spice mixes and baked goods, rely on ingredients you probably already have on hand.

It can be hard to consistently feel like you're penny pinching, and can lead to splurges later on. Instead, plan to treat yourself to something nice after a week (or a few weeks) of successful budgeting. Specify an amount in your budget to help you stay on track.

Snacking before you're hungry is a great way to avoid overeating (or blowing through a package of crackers that was supposed to last you all week). Keep mixed nuts or a piece of fruit on hand for something quick, easy and filling.

Vegetables can be grown from seeds or seedlings in a garden, but several can also sprout from food scraps in a container in your kitchen. You can also easily grow herbs inside, which is great news if you live in a place with cold weather.

Get your seafood fix with this quick, easy Shrimp Scampi recipe. This is a date-night quality meal without the restaurant price tag, perfect for your next night in. You can even use the vegetable stock you made earlier in the month instead of white wine.

Packaged snacks come in handy if you're pressed for time, but most processed snack foods are less nutritious and more expensive than whole foods. Try homemade trail mix, hummus and vegetables or cheese slices instead for healthy and affordable snacks.

This tip is not related to you personally saving money, but it helps strengthen the community and reminds you of the reason for the season. Giving back can help you be more grateful for what you have and help those who may have less.

Instead of going out, stay in for a movie night or at-home cocktail hour. This helps you celebrate and feel festive, while saving money.