Homesteading on a frugal budget is absolutely possible—and you don’t need all of the fancy gadgets or culinary skills to do it. You can achieve your homesteading dreams right where you are, today, but it may not look exactly like what you see on social media. There are still ways to live a frugal homestead life without using a credit card or a ton of great resources like a large garden in your backyard or the nicest kitchen toys. One great way to transition to the simple life as a new homesteader is by sticking to a grocery budget that lends well to your goals. Buying in bulk from local meat suppliers, creatively using every part of the produce or animal, and cooking from scratch are all great ways to stretch your dollars and live a more simple, low-waste homesteading lifestyle.
Over the last two years I have had to learn it all on my own. How to be homesteader, a homemaker, and how to DIY common store-bought snacks for pennies on the dollar to improve our household health. I had no prior skills or knowledge to fall back on when moving to the new homestead. When our second oldest started having skin and respiratory issues as soon as we moved from the city, I was in panic mode. It was months of immediate care runs, emergency room visits, and not knowing what was causing them or how to help her.
After she was hospitalized, I knew I had to find ways to create a healthier, less harmful home environment. I didn’t just want my kid to live. I wanted her to thrive. After making the switch to nontoxic household cleaners, locally raised meat, and organic produce, I saw my child run for the first time just shy of her third birthday. Just last week she had the capacity and stamina to ride a bike for the first time. Some may be skeptics and others outright criticizers, but I want to share our story to encourage those who are in a similar boat. The desperation, the exasperation, the helplessness. There is a way out and I found it through transitioning to a simple, more healthy life.
As much as I knew the switch to more natural foods and cleaners was the answer, I struggled with keeping the grocery budget under control when my husband switched jobs and took a 50% pay cut. I had to learn new ways to accommodate our current diet and healthy home, while also budgeting more frugally. The grocery budgeting tips detailed below will work for you whether you are new to homesteading and want to learn new ways to grocery shop on a budget or are wanting to become a more frugal homesteader. Here are the ways I have learned to save money on groceries and our favorite snacks throughout the year for a more frugal, kid-filled homestead.
Ways to save money on groceries
Buying meat in bulk
Buying local meat in bulk is one of the best money saving tips I have for new homesteaders. While the upfront price can be hefty compared to buying meat as needed at the store, it saves us tremendously on our weekly grocery bill. We also don’t feel like we are skimping out on nicer meals because the steaks we get are the same price as our ground beef. Slather up a sweet potato with butter and cinnamon and you have an incredible meal at home for pennies on the dollar compared to going out to a restaurant.
We have found our local beef, pork, and chicken suppliers mostly through word of mouth. A lot of farms nowadays also have their own FB pages or websites to order off of, so start with a simple search and see what comes up in your area. Have a general idea of how much meat you want to purchase (aka what you can reasonably fit in your freezer space) and what kind of cuts you want. If you have no idea, they will gladly walk you through the process and what your options are. You will be asked if you want certain parts of the animal and this is a great way to expand your homesteading skills since they come with the animal you are already paying for.
For example, we ask for the soup bones of the cow to make the most delicious beef broth imaginable. Out of eleven pounds of soup bones, I was able to stock my pantry for months! Most, if not all, of our steaks also come bone-in, so I make more from those as we use them. Other parts of a cow you will be asked about are the tongue, the liver, etc. If you have a freeze dryer you can make awesome dog treats for the furry pals in your life or you could even try to prepare them for yourself!
Also note that when buying meat in bulk you will be writing a check to the farmer who raised the meat as well as the butcher for the processing. When you purchase the animal, the farmer will give you a timeframe for when it will be processed and their price per pound. You will generally pick up the meat from the butcher and they will call to let you know definitively when your meat is ready for pick up and how much the processing fee is. You can then also determine how much you will owe for the animal based on weight and the price per pound given. This price is the same for the steaks or roasts as it is for the ground beef, so although it is a larger investment upfront, the cost savings is across the board no matter what cuts of meat you get!
We have purchased three different cows (1/2 or 1/4 at a time) since moving to our new homestead and have found the saving for such fits well into our cash envelope budgeting system. The first purchase was made on a 1/2 a cow we split with my parents so the financial piece was easier because we shared the cost and they were flexible with payment. Then last year we purchased a 1/4 cow just for our family which lasted us from March until just last month. It was roughly $550 to pay both fees and therefore we add a certain amount to our envelope each pay period to save up for the next one. If you have the ability to go in on an animal with close friends or family, this is an awesome way to fill up your freezer and theirs with local, nutrient-packed meat at a fraction of the cost.
A consideration when purchasing bulk meat is where it will be stored. It will come from the butcher frozen and that is the best way to keep it fresh the longest. When we moved to the homestead we planned on buying new appliances but asked to keep the old fridge so we could move it to the basement as a backup. We also have a very small chest freezer (5 cu. ft.). A quarter of a cow will fill the chest freezer and nothing else, so we split it up between the two freezers to give more room for other items as well.
In order to set up our basement for our extra meat storage, we had to call an electrician to set up additional outlets and dedicate an entire circuit in our breaker box to the downstairs fridge/freezers. This investment was absolutely worth it to us, but did come at a cost that was not expected when we first had the idea to move the additional storage downstairs.
As I mentioned previously, getting started on the homestead (or really any time you venture into something new) seems like a huge investment, but in time it will pay for itself multiple times over. We just need to be smart about our investments as new homesteaders and look at the transition into a new lifestyle as a marathon, not a sprint.
If I can’t afford a full, half, or quarter of an animal, what are other ways I can save on meat?
Another option aside from purchasing meat in extremely large quantities is purchasing from local butcher shops when they have a sale. One of our local butcher shops advertises their weekly sales on Facebook. A lot of the time, the sale prices will continue to drop if you buy five or ten pounds. While this is still a lot, I can still purchase multiple meals’ worth of meat at a great price.
Whenever breakfast sausage is on sale, I will stop in and purchase the quantity listed to get the cheapest price (for this specific meat, it is ten pounds). I then take it home and divvy it out in estimated one to two pound freezer bags and thaw when needed. This method works great when making my make ahead freezer-friendly breakfast burritos!
Other tips for buying meat
I have also established a relationship with our grocery store’s butcher and have been told when most meats will go on sale. Purchasing meat in the grocery store is not my first choice, as I don’t know the origin of the meat like I do at our local butcher shops. However, when we are on a tight budget, this is a great way to fill my family’s bellies with protein and a hearty meal while still watching our spending. Another consideration to this is I can also sometimes afford the higher quality or cuts of meats when on sale than when they’re full price. Hello, red-tagged bison steaks!
While I find buying in bulk when something is on sale to be practical advice, I will admit that this doesn’t always work when you meal plan. To still incorporate these frugal tips into your grocery shopping, I would suggest that you plan meals with flexibility in mind or just know that when you purchase the on-sale meat, you may have to freeze it and plan to use it in next week’s meal plan. I would caution you to ensure you are not spending a lot of money on this method, as you could end up spending more rather than reaching your goal of financial independence. Even if it is not your goal to become completely debt free, when you are not able to produce your own food, there are additional food costs and shopping strategies that need to be considered when creating your budget.
Food preservation saves money in the long-term
Another fantastic option is food preservation, especially if you can source it locally. You are getting the highest quality and health benefits while also supporting others in your community.
If you are new to food preservation through canning (water bath canning or pressure canning), it is important to plan the types of canned items you want from your fresh produce. For example, the first year I bought local, organic apples by the bushel I only made applesauce. I spent $37 on local, organic apples and canned just enough pints and quarts to maybe break even for what I would pay at the grocery store. Now, while I am feeding my children healthier options (no sugar and organic), I was disappointed. Especially after spending hours upon hours on my feet coring, slicing, peeling, cooking, and canning. I thought homesteading was supposed to save me money, not just be a replacement!
This year, I bought four bushels of apples and decided I was going to get the most bang for my buck. I was determined to use every single part of the apples and stretch my dollar the furthest. Instead of throwing my scraps to the chickens, I threw those string bean apple peels and cores onto my dehydrator trays and made apple peel potpourri with a little cinnamon stick thrown in. These can be used around the house as a traditional potpourri or you can put them in a simmer pot and enjoy the fresh, natural scent for days. What a beautiful and frugal Christmas gift for all of my friends and family as well because I had a lot of apple scraps.
I also put the cores and peels into wide mouth glass mason jars, filled with some sugar and water, and in two weeks created my own apple scrap vinegar to use around the house similar to my citrus-scented vinegar cleaning solution. This is also made completely naturally, so I can add it to my chickens’ waterers when needed for a little apple cider vinegar health boost! Once the scrap vinegar was strained, I decided to give some of the used peels to the chickens and used the rest in a simmer pot. It smelled a little more like vinegar than I preferred so I likely won’t do that again, but I was proud I truly used every bit of the apple over and over again!
Other apple preservation projects I took on this year was canned apple slices and apple pie filling. I did not bother with these in the previous year because I don’t like canned apples (so I thought). I have made beautiful hand pies with the pie filling and the canned apple slices are an absolute hit with the whole family. Being close to the due date of baby number four, I’ve actually hidden a couple of pints just for me postpartum!
The thing I have had to remember about canning food is that it is only worth it when done in big batches or when I use up as much of the item as possible. It doesn’t really make sense financially to purchase organic apples at the store just to cut those up and make homemade ACV, for example. If you are able to find alternative uses for the scraps or even for the produce to make it stretch, then you are only adding more value to your investment. If you can’t produce your own food items, then you do have to take into consideration cost as another factor, especially if you are looking to have a frugal grocery budget.
But something else I’m learning is sometimes in the midst of trying we waste more than if we hadn’t tried at all. The benefit and success is in learning new skills and honing the craft. So if that is all you can do at the moment, don’t let that discourage you from trying. Just know it may not be the most frugal until you can find ways to stretch your investment the furthest.
Animals as additional meat and dairy sources
Bringing animals onto your homestead will of course give you a return on your investment, though the initial cost for not only the animal and raising it, but also the structures and fencing, can be steep. We currently do not have any other animals on our homestead other than chickens. If you have not before read the reasons why I encourage new homesteaders to make chickens their first priority or aren’t sure where to start with backyard chickens, read some of my posts here.
We do have a future goal of bringing Kune Kune pigs onto the property, but as we have learned with everything in this homesteading life, it is best to do your research and evaluate your bandwidth before taking on another project or recurrent responsibility. If you are able to take on the responsibility of a milk cow or even a goat, you will cut down on your grocery budget but there will also be a lot of upfront investments and other small things (time and money considerations) that will be added to the equation. All of this needs to be evaluated and determined if it can be down at the low cost you need it to at this time or if it needs to wait while you focus on other homesteading adventures.
If you and your property have the capacity for animals that have a meat or dairy benefit, I would highly suggest considering them as an option of living more frugally, becoming more self-sufficient, and eating a healthier diet. If you can’t, however, now or in the future, it does not make you any less of a homesteader. It is simply one of countless ways you can achieve your goals. So don’t feel bad about yourself or your situation. This is not the only way to have a frugal homestead or live the homesteading life.Make your own bread from scratch or drink some kombucha or whatever else makes you feel accomplished as a homesteader and continue to be encouraged, friend!
Low-cost, homemade substitutes for your children’s snacks to save on your grocery bill
One way to save money on groceries is by simplifying your palate. This is definitely easier said than done. Thankfully I did not regularly purchase many “kids’ snacks” before learning to cook more at home, so there aren’t many substitutes that I have had to learn how to make.
Some of the weekly grocery staples, however, included the following: Chobani flavored yogurt cups, granola, Made Good oatmeal ball snacks, pre-packaged oatmeal, and frozen pancakes. These are the ways I learned to substitute with homemade variations and save on our grocery bill.
Substitute for Chobani Flavored Greek Yogurt Cups (with fruit on bottom): I now purchase large containers of plain whole milk or greek yogurt and add my own fruit to it. I have made canned apple butter to add as a flavoring and that is probably our family favorite. You can’t go wrong with cinnamon and nutmeg and a pinch of clove in this house. But to switch it up, I will also buy different berries when they are extremely discounted and mash them up with a fork to add to the yogurt. Although not in season, I snagged blackberries for $0.99, mashed them up, and froze them in glass mason jars to pull out later. As a sweetener, we use local honey/maple syrup or organic blue agave found at Costco.
For my husband’s lunch I will pack homemade granola for him to add on top to his yogurt. Our children prefer to eat the granola on the side. To each their own! To make the homemade granola, I follow the Cluster Maple Pecan Granola recipe from Scratch Pantry.
Substitute for store-bought oatmeal balls (recipe post coming soon): As referenced in my recipe post, I needed a good alternative to cookies and other desserts when my husband was applying for the police academy. These also came in handy as we transitioned from the store-bought Made Good chocolate chip oatmeal ball snacks for our kids. The best part is they love to help with preparing this recipe and there is no baking required. We make these at least a few times a year and we always make a double batch. I love how versatile, healthy, and simple they are to make and eat.
Substitute for oatmeal packets: My kids love the ready-made oatmeal that comes in the packets with all of the flavorings and sugar. While I didn’t love all of the added ingredients, I took a vow to find a homemade substitute for this breakfast item when I found out what they spray on the oats. Yuck!
My extremely simple “recipe” for homemade oatmeal that my kids devour is as follows:
- Old fashioned steel cut oats heated up (normally in the microwave for 1 minute 30 seconds if I don’t have time to make it on the stovetop)
- A heaping glob (tablespoon) of organic peanut butter, a dash of homemade vanilla extract, and some honey or maple syrup
- On occasion I will also add nuts or shaved coconut if the kids request, but this isn’t often
This is a very filling breakfast and generally my kids will finish their bowl over the course of a couple of hours of playing and homeschool. It is a great way to start their day with a full belly and also get out of preparing another item for snack time.
Substitute for frozen pancakes: I have tried plenty of pancake recipes and this one by Cafe Delites by far is our family’s favorite. I love to make pancakes for dinner, save some for the next morning, and freeze the rest. Although I’m not a fantastic chef/baker, I do have a difficult time sticking to a recipe. I love allowing my creativity to flourish, even if it only means adding more cinnamon and vanilla because who can have too much vanilla? I have learned you can, in fact, add too much cinnamon to a recipe. But in this household, it still takes quite a bit.
Back to the deviation. Instead of 1 3/4C of milk, I added 3/4C of milk, a heaping cup of canned pumpkin and a healthy amount of cinnamon to the pancake batter at the very end and gently folded it in, careful to not overmix. I may have added a dash more milk to get my preferred consistency, so play around with it, but not too much. You want those delicate air bubbles for fluffy, high-rising pancakes and this recipe definitely delivers.
Pancake-making tip: I mix up the pancake batter and let it rest for 5-8 minutes while the griddle is heating up and have found this helps in getting deliciously fluffy pancakes. Don’t make the mistake of preheating the griddle and immediately cooking that batter! You will regret it when your pancakes are only average instead of “the best pancakes ever” (according to my kids, anyway).
Grocery budgets aren’t the only consideration for a frugal homestead
When learning new things about frugal living, grocery shopping on a dime is probably one of the first things that come to mind. However, living the simple life encompasses so much more when pursuing your homestead dream. Why? Homesteading doesn’t stop where your doorway does. It extends to your entire property and way of life. It affects your decision making and generally you need an entire arsenal of affordable ideas to make your homesteading dreams come true.
I have written another blog post titled “Frugal Tips for DIY Homesteading with Young Children” for those that are looking for additional ways to pursue simple living in this modern world on a budget. If you are inspired to look beyond your grocery list for ways to be a frugal homesteader, follow the link above to read the full post. In it, I discuss other ways that me and my young daughters have learned side-by-side the value of hard work and the best way we can live a very frugal lifestyle that is still a full life.
Homesteading can seem intimidating, take too much time, and require too much money if you try to recreate everything you see on social media in one fell swoop. What I have learned in the last two years is that this simple life I am trying to pursue truly is just that simple. Take one step at a time to replace store-bought products with ones that are homemade (or made with natural products if you don’t yet have the time to DIY). Remember that homesteading is a lifestyle, a shift in mindset and perspective, and a learning experience is awaiting you in every step you take. I believe in you!
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This sounds so much like my family, minus the health concerns! Homesteading with little kids and eating healthy and frugally, doesn’t have to be complicated. There is such freedom in simplicity. Thanks for the encouraging reminder!
PS Those hand pies look amazing!!
Hi, Jen! It definitely doesn’t have to be complicated but feels very overwhelming when you’re first starting out if you try to do it all at one time! I have had to learn how to be patient and graceful with myself as we continue to learn and simplify as you mentioned! The freedom is absolutely worth it, though there is a work involved in getting there! Thank you for the compliment! I will admit I was extremely proud of the hand pies.. Thankfully they also tasted good (according to my family anyway!) 🙂
I love all your substitutes! There are so many things I hadn’t heard of before. Thanks for this post, so useful!
Hi Amanda! Thank you so much for stopping by and leaving your support! We have certainly learned a lot over the last two years & still have so many ideas for new growth in the future!