Surviving the Recession, Episode 2: Grow Your Own (D)

Produce some savings

You’ve made it! After reading the conclusion of this four-part article (here are parts ONE, TWO and THREE), you will know exactly what to do with your grocery store haul. Moreover, you’ll be armed with some great ideas for growing your own food, even if you live in the city.

• Bring a snack and bottle of water when you go out – Cut back on the temptation to grab a soda and fries at the drive through. Basic snacks from home like fruit, nuts, granola or even carrot sticks are cheap and healthy, as is water
• Grow your own produce – Home gardening is a great way to save on food. Recent studies indicate that 90 percent or more of those who do this view their food garden as something akin to a savings account. If you tend to it during growing seasons, you’ll have food when you need it. And if you don’t have enough space to grow your own produce, have you considered a square foot garden? Pots on the patio can also work

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• Freeze, can, dehydrate – This can preserve foods you aren’t going to eat right away. Many foods will last a long while in the freezer; here are some tips from the United States Department of Agriculture. Canning is also useful, as is dehydrating
• Use a crock pot or convection oven – They are more energy-efficient (cheaper) than your standard range or microwave oven. Furthermore, they don’t alter the molecular structure of food the way a microwave does. Crock pots are even safe to leave on during the day, so long as they’re set to low. By the time you get home from work, your dinner can be done after a day in the pot

Thanks for reading about ways to survive the recession. Now that your grocery shopping budget and eating habits are (hopefully) in order, stay with us for future installments of “Surviving the Recession,” where I’ll talk about ways to save on gasoline and automobile expenses!

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