Gluten Free Thought-full Thursday – Save Money Living Gluten Free


This post is probably going to make a lot of people mad, but just keep in mind it’s my opinon and you’re entitled to yours.

I’m really tired of hearing people whine about the high cost of gluten free foods.  Their grocery bills are outrageous, they pay too much for gluten free bread, my grocery store doesn’t have what I want or their prices are too high.  Waa waa waa.  Around my house we call that B & M.  First word is a female dog and the second is moaning, like Moaning Myrtle from Harry Potter.  But I digress to my happy place.

First I AGREE that much of the processed gluten free foods are expensive, there is no doubt about it.  So why are you buying them? Why not make it yourself?  Please don’t tell me you don’t know how or you have the time.  I can go toe to toe on being busy and does not have extra time.  I have a full time job where I work 40-70 hours a week, plus my wonderful food world of blogging, plus I do have a family with a son in high school who is not driving yet and one in college.  I intentionally left our dog off the list because I have given all of those tasks to the rest of the family.

Sunday’s I now spend baking breads, muffins, quick breads, cakes and anything else we want to eat for the week.  Now if you’ve read my blog for any length of time you know I really was not handy in the baking department.  This is something new I am learning in order to save money and enjoy the baked goods we’re eating.

I’ve been trying lots of great recipes from great bakers like Karina the Gluten Free Goddess, Shirley gluten free easily, Ali and her cookbook Whole Life Nutrition Cookbook, Elana’s Pantry and her Gluten Free Almond Flour Cookbook, Shauna the Gluten Free Girl and Susan and her Gluten Free, Sugar Free Cooking cookbook.  I’m following the directions and learning how to bake.  We’re also learning what flours we like the taste of and which ones we do not.

Now that I have found some recipes that are being requested by my family, I’m going to take one afternoon and pre-measure the dry ingredients for the recipes and place them into a plastic bag.  I’m basically making my own mixes ready to have on hand for when we run out of muffins mid week.  Do you have any idea how much money that saves?  I also make a lot of other things myself.  I utilize great kitchen equipment like a crockpot to save me tons of time and money.    I also utilize my pantry and freezers.  Now I will admit to having more than one refrigerator which makes storing extra foods easy.

The point is to use what you have available and make those high cost foods yourself.  Don’t fall into the trap of being afraid to try something new.  There are so many wonderful people in the gluten free community and they are very giving and helpful.  Read up on those blogs and visit their Facebook pages.  Talk with the community and ask questions.  We’re here to help.

For instance did you know you can buy dried beans (dirt cheap), cook them and then freeze them in little baggies to pull out for your recipes instead of buying cans of beans ready to go?  Soak them overnight and then toss them into your crockpot.  Total time investment around 15-20 minutes.  Basically you are creating those convenience items that save you time when you need it, at a time when you might not.

There are tons of ways to make things yourself for less money, that tastes better and that gives you more control over what ingredients are in there and are not.  I’m guessing when you make something yourself you don’t add in all of those extra chemicals and preservatives.

I recently read a great post by Linda at Gluten Free Homemaker on saving money called Gluten Free Frugality.  She did share a tip on shopping around for good deals.  That’s true for processed and whole food ingredients.  Buy things when they are on sale.  If you live where it’s warm all year I hope you are heading to the farmers markets or growing some of your own foods.  I can’t wait to grow some of my own this summer.  I’ll have to get creative with our home owners association but if there is a will there is a way.

If you are thinking about planting a garden check out Erin’s $5 Dinners FREE Garden Planner Printables.  She is planting her second year of Square Foot Gardening.

So those of you who have some great ideas on how you save money and make things yourself please share them here.  If you’re one of those who say you’re spending too much money on gluten free foods, I want to hear what you’re spending too much money on.

For those who want to yell at me I’m not intimidated, I have kids.  But by all means share your opinion, I’m asking for it.   Let lose, don’t hold anything back, just please do not use profanity, you will be edited with pretty symbols like @%#!!

Really, thank you for sharing your thoughts with us all on Thought-full Thursday.  I really do want to hear what you have to say.   Maybe you can change my mind.

26 Responses to Gluten Free Thought-full Thursday – Save Money Living Gluten Free

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