Home Economics | Cookbooks

I love cookbooks! I used to spend hours at Border's flipping through cookbooks. (In hindsight, I should have probably bought more of them. Poor Borders.) I am a big proponent of meal planning to save money and waste less food, and I feel good cookbooks help in the process. On occasion, you get tired of eating the same ol' thing. On occasion, you have lots of random ingredients and no idea what to do with them. For me, that's where a good cookbook comes in. (I do, of course, use food blogs and online recipe sites as well.) Nothing beats a good cookbook when you need to know something more substantial than how to just microwave bacon. 

The Silver Spoon is an Italian classic full of old Nonna recipes, that is my go-to for Italian cooking. I also love the Picayune's Creole Cook Book, when I'm too embarrassed to call my mother and ask. I do very much enjoy old American cookbooks, but it's difficult to find some of the old-timey ingredients, like forcemeats and mushroom liquor.

Home Economics | Coupons

I was watching the new season of Mad Men and it made me realize that coupons are pure marketing. Something I absolutely don't need is 2 for 22¢ - sounds catchy, Peggy, but no thanks. Personally, I don't go out of my way to look for coupons because it's not worth my time. And I have a low paying graduate fellowship, so that should tell you something about the value of my time. I enjoy discounts, but coupons don't do it for me.

More importantly, fresh grocery items don't need coupons because they're perishable. You can always find a deal in the fresh produce section or at the butcher counter because those tomatoes and that steak aren't going to stay pretty for long. I've bought meat before where the butcher has looked me dead in the eye and sternly told me to cook the meat that same day. Great price, no coupons! If you stick to what you know you should be eating, you can get considerable discounts without the hassle of coupons. And you won't have to wonder how 10 boxes of cheese doodles for $10 made you gain 10 pounds.

Home Economics | Hope for the Best Veggies, Meal Plan for the Worst

All single-occupancy dwellers know how much food you waste when you're living alone. Your eyes are a lot bigger than your stomach come market time. If you want to avoid food spoilage, I think it's important to plan your meals for the week even if you don't have an army of children. It may even be more important if you're just a household of one. Meal planning helps you avoid waste and ultimately, save money.

Home Economics | Make the Bread, Buy the Butter

I was really excited when I heard about this book by Jennifer Reese - Make the Bread, Buy the Butter. As an economist and a foodie, what more could I ask for in a book? However, as an economist, it's glaring that she doesn't include the price of anything other than the ingredients to the homemade recipes. These aren't even externality costs, these are just plain ol' costs she didn't include!