Some random things I do to save money:
I keep a large jar of oil filled with 'things'. Garlic about to grow? In the oil. Capsicum [bell pepper] a bit wrinkly? Roast it and put it in the oil. Tomatoes going soft? Sliced, dried gently and in the oil. I fish them out for pastas, salads, soups and the like. Even if I only have one thing, anything, just as it's going off, I'll roast it with dinner or pop it in a pan and brown it or slice it up to bake in the oven with something else. That way I don't waste a single vegetable. I also keep simple syrup and pickle juice on hand on my fridge for exactly the same reason haha. I get -everything- before it goes off, even if it's a tiny amount. A small jar of random fruit in syrup is still a nice treat in a lunchbox! I make the syrups/pickles on Sunday and because they're on hand I use them a lot more than if I had to make them individually so I'm usually out within the week. The oil is forever. If I feel it's getting 'stale' I'll start cooking with it and replenishing it. Even fruit can just be chopped and frozen and added to as the week/month goes on. When you have a bag full make a smoothie. It's the 'random things that almost went off but I caught just in time and froze' smoothie. Alternatively, this is good in a pie or crumble. This stuff adds up, too. A fruit or two a week is a lot in a month, actually, and can be a full dessert or meal even every week!
If I have leftover gravy on the bottom of the pan I mix some rice into it and mix it with the dogs food for a couple days or when they've been good as a treat and it pads out their meals with meat juice and rice and nommy fresh stuff and I didn't waste just a random half-pan of gravy or meat juices or bones or leftovers. I sometimes freeze them in blocks and give them to the dogs frozen in ultra high heats. They love me for this.
Get cookbooks from the library, get your favourite recipes and copy them at home in a notebook or on the scanner. Hehehe.
I think to myself "What was the origin of this?" and "Can I make that?" Can tomato sauce [ketchup] be made at home for cheaper? Mayonnaise? With chickens, mostly. It tastes nicer anyway. But, as for bargains... What is in my shampoo? Can I make that or something cheaper? [Does vinegar and bicarb work with my type of hair? Answer is no, but it might work for you!] Hm, my face masque has all these weird things in it...what do I really need? What is my ultimate goal with this masque? Can I make something similar with things I have?
If I really like something that's easy to buy but harder to make, I try to make a lot of it. Husband loves pizza every now and again so I make a lot of dough and freeze bases out so all they have to do is be tossed on a hot pan, covered in stuff from my jar and some cheese and baked. So it's so easy it's even quicker than ordering it because I prepared everything already. The dough takes two hours a million years ago and I can make 10-15 at a time. A deep freeze does help lol. I do this with mini cakes, stews, tons of things. I
f I have a lot and I need things done, I trade them for those things. I find a LOT of capable handymen really hate buying lunches and LOVE homecooked meals but don't get any. You would be SO surprised how many people will do their job for homemade food. I paid an accountant in wine, a mover in homebrew beer, a water tank load in stew, a car rental in frozen frittata...I even got car parts, more food, animals, books, cookery and various other things from people for food. People REALLY like homemade food. Seriously just go, "Oh I really like to cook. Actually...if you give me a deal I can bring you meals. How does $__ off a meal sound?" Usually they'll barter it's worth more to you than that! So I've offered like 10 meals for a job and they seriously reply "Oh nonono...I couldn't take more than 6." BRILLIANT.