Cook for Other Families to Save Money

To save money on groceries, you could find one or two families who you know are very busy and either eat out a lot or order in a lot. See if they would be interested in having you make meals for them.

The key is they buy enough groceries to make enough for their family and yours. I find if you're making a meal anyways, it is very easy to double it.

I personally make meals for two separate families. One family I will cook for two days a week and the second I will cook for the remaining three days, with the weekends being leftover days.

Then on Fridays, I sit down and make up the menus for the coming week and the ingredient list for both families. They go buy the food and drop it off to me for the week.

So far, I have cut my grocery bill from $120.00 to $50 per week. The families I cook for have said that this actually saves them money to as it's cheaper than eating out.

By Vicki from Nanaimo, B.C.

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By Ann (Guest Post)

December 8, 20080 found this helpful

Top Comment

I Love the idea. This fall I offered to cook one night a week for some friends of my who have four children I don't have any and enjoy doing and it helps them out plus I have a meal for my husband and myself. Everyone wins!! Great idea to share

Syl

January 8, 20100 found this helpful

Top Comment

What a great idea Vicki. I'm retired and love to cook and I often take meals to my two neighbours/friends. My children also drop by and pick up meals. I'm not sure how I would approach my neighbours to contribute to the grocery bill.

They have never asked me to do this for them, but I know they really appreciate it; especially coming home after a busy day at work. I'll have to think on that one.

ayesha christmas

January 9, 20100 found this helpful

Top Comment

Thats a great idea everyone wins! I do something a little similar. I work in an international school in Europe where everyone, by law, gets a lunch allowance paid.
I grow my own vegetables and salads and make my own and 2 other lunches. I pay for the ingredients for 3 for the price of 1! Its worth about $100 dollars a month which I spend on seeds and supplies for my gardening.

Pattysss

January 9, 20100 found this helpful

Top Comment

What a great idea! I send out newsletters to about 300+ people and this is a good tip to give them. I love to cook and do most of it on the week ends and then freeze portions to reheat during the week.

Thanks - Patty

Kate

January 10, 20100 found this helpful

Top Comment

I babysit for a family 2-3 days a week, and on those days I cook dinner for my family and theirs. Sometimes it is just beans and rice, sometimes roast with all the trimmings. They pay me an hourly wage for the babysitting, plus money for the dinner. Their family gets to sit down to a nutritious meal (they did a LOT of takeout before I started) and they have saved a BUNCH of money on their food budget! I call it my "Julia Child Therapy"!

joanne

January 29, 20090 found this helpful

great idea tho i cant cook :(

helen
Bronze Request Medal for All Time! 65 Requests

January 11, 20100 found this helpful

What a great idea as I live on a very small pension and love cooking. I would love to see some of your menus as an example, even though I know that everyone has different taste in food.

Many thanks, helen x

Jackie H.
Silver Post Medal for All Time! 355 Posts

October 1, 20160 found this helpful

I love this ides used to cooking for my large family and now it's just me. This would be great as now I live in townhouse/Condo living where most people are full time workers. I think I will make a flyer and send it to just the other 5 units I live in. They all know my cooking already from me sharing. Thanks for the great idea!

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