Buy in bulk or when on special

You don't have to be a big family to benefit but you will need a big enough freezer or pantry cupboard to cope with this method of cooking on a budget.  This includes meat and vegetables and make sure to prepare them properly for the freezer or for bottling and canning.   When you find groceries you use often  ''on special' then buy them up too.  Items like canned tomatoes and beans are two that I stock up on.

Buy vegetables and fruit that is in season

The cheapest and most flavorsome fruits and vegetables are the ones in season.  Adjust your crock pot recipes to include those vegetables that are in season only.  This keeps the costs down so you achieve cheap easy meals for your family whatever season it is.

Cook more than you need for one meal

If you are cooking for 4 then cook for 8 and freeze one meal for another time.  This saves energy and the preparation time is almost the same.  The crock pot slow cooker is great for cooking on a budget for this very method as it is big enough to cook for batches or large families.

Buy cheaper cuts of meat

Cheap easy meals don't have to have expensive cuts of meat when you use your slow cooker as the slow cooking method tenderizes and improves the quality overall of these cuts.

Carbohydrates are fillers

When cooking on a budget in the slow cooker use potato, pumpkin and pasta to thicken your soups and casseroles and adds bulk to fill those hungry stomachs but still providing cheap easy meals.

Make one meal into two

A good example of this is when I cook my slow cooker meatloaf.   Any I have left over is made into a spaghetti sauce for another meal.  Just add cooked spaghetti and you are set.  Use broths from cooking chicken to make a great a base for a  soup or just add noodles for an instant one for the kids.

Cooking on a budget isn't as difficult as you thought now is it so get out your crock pot and save lots of money in the long run. Also check out a great book from Amazon called Everything Meals on a Budget Cookbook: High-flavor, low-cost meals your family will love (Everything Series) for some great recipe ideas.

When most people think of crock pot cooking they think of cooking stews only, and they do cook well by slow cooking, but in winter I also cook most of my puddings, cakes and other desserts in the crock pot.  Last winter I also started cooking breakfasts also.  If you are a busy person, then why not get out that crock pot this winter and if you haven't already got one you can buy one at a great price on eBay or Amazon.  Check out the eBay auction on this site for current listings.

We are all cooking on a budget these days and the slow cooker helps you save money as you can use less expensive cuts of meat, use less electricity, cook in bulk and have more home made meals instead of dining out. Cooking in winter is always more pleasant than the hot steamy days of summer so this winter why not try some nutritious and easy crock pot meals.  Cooking on a budget has never been easier.

TO CHECK OUT:    Frugal Mom's Guide to Once a Month Cooking is here!  Not only does it have over 70 mom-tested once a month cooking recipes, but complete step-by-step instructions for doing once a month cooking, and lots of great forms to help you!
Click here for more information.