10 Ways to Save Money and Eat Healthy After Buying Your First Home

So, you’ve decided to take the plunge and join the elite circle of first-time homeowners! Well, good for you! But, how do you continue your healthy eating lifestyle and stay within your budget?  Fear not! I’ve got your back with these simple, budget-friendly tips to help you eat healthy, without blowing your budget:

1. Keep staple foods in stock.
When it comes to saving money on food, it helps to keep staple items like rice, beans, and potatoes stocked in your pantry. These are low-cost items that can serve as the starter ingredient for a healthy meal.

2. Make salad the star attraction.
Who says a salad can’t be the main dish? Salads are inexpensive to make, versatile and great topped with a protein such as chicken, fish, or shrimp along with your favorite salad toppings.

3. Buy from your local farmers market.
With the rise of health-conscious consumers, farmers markets are available in many towns and cities. Visit your farmers markets for fresh local produce. With a wide variety of produce, remember to not blow your budget by buying all organic.

4. Cook meatless meals.
You’d be surprised how much money you can save by cooking meatless meals. Try making pasta dishes with your favorite vegetables, and topped with grated Parmesan cheese.

5. Cook two-day meals.
Cooking meals that will last for a couple days will definitely save money. Dishes such as soups, spaghetti, or lasagna are the perfect meals, which you can eat for a few days.

6. Don’t buy processed foods.
Buying processed foods will blow your budget and your health. Foods loaded with refined sugars, and high in salt and saturated fat are not wise food choices. Stick to the outer aisles of the grocery store where the more healthier food choices are located.

7. Stick to meal planning.
Planning your meals each week will help you to stick to your budget. You don’t have to make meal planning complicated, just know what weekly meals you’re preparing when you head to the grocery store. That way, you can stick to your list and your budget.

8. Buy foods in bulk.
I’m a fan of buying in bulk those grocery items that I tend to buy on a regular basis like coffee, tea, ketchup, mustard, pasta, and breads. But, it’s not wise to buy bulk items you have no place to store, or highly perishable items that you don’t plan to use right away. Then, buying in bulk is a waste of money.

9. Eat breakfast foods for dinner.
If you’re like most, you don’t have time during the mornings to cook pancakes, eggs, french toast, or waffles. But, what if you had time to cook your favorite breakfast foods for dinner, which are quick to make and inexpensive. What could be cheaper than a few slices of bread dipped in eggs with cinnamon?

10. Don’t eat out.
If you really want to blow your budget, then eat out a few times a week, then track how much money you’ve spent. Instead, try cooking a few of your favorite take-out dishes at home — hey, Alexa, how do I make….?

Yes, owning a home is a financial commitment. But, you don’t have to sacrifice your health and budget in order to eat healthy. Try a few of these tips to help you stay on track — you got this!