Your grandma is full of good ideas and wisdom that go well beyond her award-winning peach cobbler. Here are six secret ways your grandparents were saving money that they might not have shared with you before.
Planning Out Meals in Advance
The concept of meal planning isn’t novel. In fact, grandma was doing it as a way of keeping her home and finances organized. In an era where penny-pinching was the norm, older generations would save by having a food strategy for the entire week. If you aren’t already doing this, we recommend trying it and see how much money (and probably food) you’ll save.
Repurpose Leftovers
Planning meals should leave room for two things: creativity and flexibility. Maybe grandma made way too much Sunday gravy. Instead of forcing her kids to choke down pasta every night of the week, maybe she’d repurpose it to make tomato soup and serve with grilled cheese. There’s nothing stopping you from doing the same, so try it the next time you have leftovers instead of letting them rot in the fridge.
Shop Seasonal and Local
This is less of a money-saving tip and more of just something older generations had to do: shop for seasonal local produce whenever possible. Grandma wasn’t getting fresh kiwi in mid-winter. She was making do with oranges and kale because they were in season. Buying in season and local has other benefits, too, like getting better produce overall because it’s at peak ripeness.
Do the Simple, Free Thing
Your grandma probably spent a lot of time walking around in the park, maybe playing catch, or napping out in the backyard on a sunny day. It’s not as glamorous as bottle service at your local watering hole, but it’s a lot more nourishing for the soul — and it’s completely free. Many would turn their nose up at the art of the lazy Sunday and would rather overdraft on bottomless mimosas. But nana? She’d take a nip of whiskey and read a book in the sun room with her dogs. You tell us which one saves you more money.
Grow Fruits and Vegetables at Home
You’re probably arguing a good point right now: “well, of course grandma would harvest her own zucchini. She had the space for it!” But what you probably didn’t know is that there are tons of veggies and herbs that with a decently green thumb and a little patience you could grow even in an apartment building.
Your grandma also probably didn’t always do this to save money; many people just love keeping a garden! But we can’t argue that it’s always going to be cheaper to snip off a bit of basil when you need it than buying a pack that goes bad before you can use it all.
Make DIY Cleaning Products
Grandma knew there was simply no need to spend money on expensive cleaners or cleaning supplies when you can make your own at home. She probably used basic pantry items like vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice to make great cleaning products. These homemade cleaners are often cheaper than store-bought cleaners and are environmentally friendly without harmful chemicals.
