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Dining on a Dime Cook Book: 1000 Money Saving Recipes and Tips
Dining on a Dime teaches you how to Eat Better and Spend Less. Learn how to eliminate budget busters from your shopping and save $10,000 in one year. Use your savings to pay down your debts and learn the value of living on a dime.
496 pages, Plastic Comb
First published October 31, 2004
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January 30, 2012Dining on a Dime is packed with tips for saving money in the kitchen. A lot of money-saving books are for beginners, but this one is not. I picked up several tips, such as:
Serve smaller portions.
Freeze small portions in plastic wrap-lined muffin tins, then remove and store in plastic bags.
A full freezer uses less energy to stay cold and will stay cold longer if there is a power outage. Fill up your extra space with water-filled milk jugs.
Add a few tablespoons of ground beef to a freezer bag each time you fry some up. Soon you will have enough for a "free meal."
A dunk in cold salt water will keep apples from browning.
There is a whole page of snack ideas, which I love because I'd love to cut down on the number of storebought snacks we eat. There is also a leftover index, so you can look up foods you have around and find ideas for using them. Perfect!
There are recipes for laundry detergent, laundry pretreatment, baby wipes, and several different cleaners. There is also a "how to clean" section by area in case you're feeling lost—I know sometimes I just don't know where to start (or don't want to start!), and a list helps me get going.
There is a section on mixes (baking, dressings, etc) and gift baskets, too. I guess the question is not what is in this book, but what isn't in it?
As with most homemaking books, the authors' style here doesn't always match my own. There are some tips and recipes I probably wouldn't try. But there are so many great ideas, and I gleaned enough inspiration from the book, that I feel it was well worth my time.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is trying to save a bit of money. I would also recommend it to anyone who needs a good basic cookbook—I was really impressed by the wide range of basic and creative recipes I found here, and at 480 pages (including a good index), it gives any good, basic cookbook a run for its money. Plus, what mainstream cookbook is going to tell you how to make soft margarine and peanut butter?
Serve smaller portions.
Freeze small portions in plastic wrap-lined muffin tins, then remove and store in plastic bags.
A full freezer uses less energy to stay cold and will stay cold longer if there is a power outage. Fill up your extra space with water-filled milk jugs.
Add a few tablespoons of ground beef to a freezer bag each time you fry some up. Soon you will have enough for a "free meal."
A dunk in cold salt water will keep apples from browning.
There is a whole page of snack ideas, which I love because I'd love to cut down on the number of storebought snacks we eat. There is also a leftover index, so you can look up foods you have around and find ideas for using them. Perfect!
There are recipes for laundry detergent, laundry pretreatment, baby wipes, and several different cleaners. There is also a "how to clean" section by area in case you're feeling lost—I know sometimes I just don't know where to start (or don't want to start!), and a list helps me get going.
There is a section on mixes (baking, dressings, etc) and gift baskets, too. I guess the question is not what is in this book, but what isn't in it?
As with most homemaking books, the authors' style here doesn't always match my own. There are some tips and recipes I probably wouldn't try. But there are so many great ideas, and I gleaned enough inspiration from the book, that I feel it was well worth my time.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is trying to save a bit of money. I would also recommend it to anyone who needs a good basic cookbook—I was really impressed by the wide range of basic and creative recipes I found here, and at 480 pages (including a good index), it gives any good, basic cookbook a run for its money. Plus, what mainstream cookbook is going to tell you how to make soft margarine and peanut butter?
March 13, 2020
On page 3 the authors tell you how to save money throughout the year by giving up something. For instance, in 2004, if you gave up one pizza delivery each week (they say the cost is $20) that you could save $1040 over the course of one year.
Page 8 “Basics of Frugal Cooking” are suggestions to help you spend less on your grocery bill. For instance, “Drink water with your meals.” You will save on the amount you spend on milk, juice or soft drinks.
Plan your meals in advance. That way when you go shopping you purchase only what you need.
This book has tips on how to eat better and spend less, to make your own baby food, how to save on herbs, and it even has a shopping list that you use. There is a “Freezer Guide” that tells you which recipes freeze well, the foods that do not freeze well, and several freezer tips.
No cookbook would be a cookbook without recipes. And this book is packed with recipes for even the pickiest eater. And the recipes are simple and the instructions are easy to follow.
Page 8 “Basics of Frugal Cooking” are suggestions to help you spend less on your grocery bill. For instance, “Drink water with your meals.” You will save on the amount you spend on milk, juice or soft drinks.
Plan your meals in advance. That way when you go shopping you purchase only what you need.
This book has tips on how to eat better and spend less, to make your own baby food, how to save on herbs, and it even has a shopping list that you use. There is a “Freezer Guide” that tells you which recipes freeze well, the foods that do not freeze well, and several freezer tips.
No cookbook would be a cookbook without recipes. And this book is packed with recipes for even the pickiest eater. And the recipes are simple and the instructions are easy to follow.
December 9, 2009
I'm crazy about this cookbook. Most of the recipes can be made with things you already have in your pantry. The recipe for BBQ sauce is wonderful and so simple! This book also includes recipes for cleaning and products that you can make with simple ingredients and they actually work! This was a great investment!
May 25, 2017
This is the kind of cookbook that would have worked well when my kids were preschoolers, because it's simple and budget friendly. Now they are older and a bit pickier about meals, I only found a few recipes I would be willing to try here. Overall, this is a great collection of basic recipes if you are not an experienced cook.
November 9, 2008
As I'm having a contest with myself of seeing how cheaply I can get away with feeding my family without sacrificing nutrition or getting complaints, I didn't find the recipes in this book earth shattering. However the TIPS about saving $$ are FABULOUS!!
November 10, 2015
When my husband and I were poor, married college students, this book was our go-to! Helped us be more conscious of our spending and to be frugal in cooking and cleaning. Lots of great tips if you don't know where to start!
September 21, 2020
It is an excellent book about how to reduce ingredients, so you save time and money. This book gave me the confidence to not spend a fortune on individual ingredients. It is now my go to cookbook.
June 12, 2020
I have the 20th Anniversary edition, which is nearly sold out at this time, but the ISBN # 9781734135008 is not listed here.
Inside Tawra, Jill & Mike have photos from Jill's childhood until 2018, giving their story from the time when Jill was trying to raise 2 teenagers on her $500 a month through to where Tawra, Mike & their 4 kids are today. (Of course, it also helps to listen to their live FB talks twice a week, as they continue to tell you how to save money.
Enjoyable people, good cook book.
Enjoy - the 3rd updated cookbook will be out soon with some new recipes, a few from this edition will not be in it, so if you want this anniversary edition, you should go today, as I believe Tawra said that there was less than 125 left on Wednesday afternoon.
Inside Tawra, Jill & Mike have photos from Jill's childhood until 2018, giving their story from the time when Jill was trying to raise 2 teenagers on her $500 a month through to where Tawra, Mike & their 4 kids are today. (Of course, it also helps to listen to their live FB talks twice a week, as they continue to tell you how to save money.
Enjoyable people, good cook book.
Enjoy - the 3rd updated cookbook will be out soon with some new recipes, a few from this edition will not be in it, so if you want this anniversary edition, you should go today, as I believe Tawra said that there was less than 125 left on Wednesday afternoon.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 2, 2021
Incredible! Such easy to make recipes and all delicious! Highly highly recommend this book.
May 11, 2015
For experienced frugalistas, there won't be much in there that hasn't been read somewhere else, but this is a great compilation. This would be a good starter book for people just beginning to think about how to reduce their grocery bill or who want to make their own detergent but don't know where to start. Definitely a useful book to have on hand to reference.
September 27, 2008
This book is fabulous. The recipes are simple and easy. I made a pizza crust yesterday from a recipe in the book and it turned out great!
August 25, 2009
A lot of good information.
April 25, 2014
Good basic stuff.
September 6, 2014
This is my "go-to" cookbook anymore.
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