One of the first things that come to mind when you think of saving money tips is saving money on food.  We’ve all heard advice about shopping for the best deals …and of course, reducing restaurant meals.  But with such a busy life, how can you find time to cook at home every day?

One thing you’ll discover that works really well is to set a few hours aside every week to prepare food for most of your meals during the week.  You’ll probably want to have a fresh salad or healthy vegetables at least a couple of days a week.  This keeps the menus interesting, and you’re less likely to splurge on restaurant meals when you get tired of your pre-cooked soups and other foods.

However, if you’re like me, you’ve got better things to do than hang around the house for four hours on a Sunday cooking a pot of beans, especially with springtime here and so many things to do outdoors.

So here are my saving money tips for today:

1. Use a pressure cooker -
It takes about two thirds less time than cooking on a standard stove top.  The investment of buying a pressure cooker is well worth the money if you have a busy schedule and your food preparation time is limited.  A pot of black beans, for example, will be done in 45 minutes in a pressure cooker, as opposed to over two hours in a regular pot on the stove top.  This means even when you forget to do anything about preparing food to eat during the week, you can still find time to cook in advance.  Beans can be left to cool off during the day. Later you can quickly flavor them up and add them to whatever recipe you’re preparing.

2. Tips for cooking grains -
Some grains can be cooked especially quickly (without a pressure cooker,  just on the stove top) for easy meals if you’re pressed for time.  These include:

• cornmeal
• wheat bulgur
• kasha (buckwheat)
• quinoa
• many others

These will keep well in the fridge for three to five days, and taste great with beans and salsa for a quick meal.  I keep some plain, unsweetened yogurt on hand too. It’s a delicious substitute for sour cream, …and saves lots of calories.
Saving money tips like these will also help you eat healthier.