5 Frugal Ways to Enjoy Chocolate

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The following is a guest post from another long-time reader, Lisa of Stop and Smell the Chocolates. I first fell in love with Lisa’s blog because I am a fellow chocolate addict lover.

In my first trimester of pregnancy, I had a sudden aversion to all things chocolate and was worried that I had lost my mind! Thankfully, that was short lived, and I am back to my normal chocolatey self. For a satisfying chocolate fix every week, subscribe to Lisa’s RSS feed.

Hi, I’m Lisa from Stop and Smell the Chocolates! I am so happy for Alyssa with her new baby boy! She deserves a break and I’m happy to help out with a guest post.

When Alyssa suggested I write about some kind of frugal chocolate, I though it was a great idea! I just happen to love chocolate. But I also have the desire to be frugal, even more so with our current economy.

I came up with a few frugal ways to enjoy chocolate:

1. You can enjoy chocolate in the form of beverages. You could have a mocha or some hot chocolate.

I even have a couple of recipes for mixes that you can make yourself (even more frugal): Fireside Coffee Mix and Vanilla Hot Chocolate Mix.

2. You can also enjoy chocolate “straight.” The problem with buying cheap chocolate is that it doesn’t satisfy that craving and you end up eating more of it. You might spend a little more on a high quality dark chocolate bar or some really nice truffles, but then you can just enjoy a tiny bit at a time and it will last you longer.

3. How about a frugal chocolate dessert? I found this cake recipe at Cooks.com and it doesn’t even contain eggs.

SIMPLE CHOCOLATE CAKE
1 1/2 c. flour
1 c. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
3 tbsp. cocoa
1 tbsp. vinegar
6 tbsp. oil
1 tsp. vanilla
1 c. water
Sift first five ingredients together, add remaining ingredients. Pour into 8 inch greased and floured round pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes, let cool and frost with your favorite frosting or confectioners sugar.

The cheapest chocolate cake mix I usually find is 98 cents and then you still have to add in expense of eggs and oil. I do believe if you do the cost analysis on this recipe, you’ll find that it is even more frugal than a cheap cake mix.

4. Free samples of chocolate are always nice. Stop in the candy stores in your mall. At our mall, Harry & David always gives a sample when you’re looking around in there and it’s usually chocolate. Also, See’s Candy gives free chocolate samples when you stop in. Can’t get more frugal than free!

5. If you are a chocolate-lover like I am, then I’m sure I don’t need to tell you to shop for chocolate right after each holiday for the best sales. If you have willpower and a place to store it, then stock up!

In frugal times, there is no need to give up chocolate! Just find new ways to have it and pay closer attention to how much you’re paying.

What are some of your methods for getting a chocolate fix within a budget? Share here in comments!

Lisa 🙂

Comments

  1. Anonymous says

    Are there any chocolate lovers out there that have found chocolate that they know does not come from cocoa produced by slave labor? I read an article a while back about this and wonder every time I buy chocolate now.

  2. Lisa @ Stop and Smell the Chocolates says

    Alyssa, that is so sweet of you!! And I'm so glad you are back to liking chocolate – what a relief! 🙂

    To anonymous – you might want to check into Green & Black's organic chocolate. They are fair-trade certified and you can find more info about them on the web.

  3. Jen@Balancing Beauty and Bedlam says

    Whew – good thing your chocolate phase passed quickly. Can’t have that now.
    Yea for Lisa…love her!

  4. Donna @ Way More Homemade says

    I would venture to say that making from scratch is almost always going to be more frugal that buying a mix… but maybe that’s just because that’s what I enjoy. 🙂

    I read an article recently about the chocolate cake they used to make during the Depression… it used mayonnaise in place of oil and eggs. I found it quite interesting.

    Great post, Lisa!

  5. Joy@Frugal Menu Mamas says

    I am a fellow chocolate lover. I am in search of a probably not too frugal chocolate cake recipe. You know the kind with like 4 moist layers and yummy frosting as well…maybe the sides are decorated with mini chocolate chips…any ideas?

  6. Petula says

    Mmmmm… chocolate! My fav. Hello, my name is Petula and I’m a chocoholic. My oldest daughter recently bought me a bag of dark chocolate Kisses. I eat the serving size or less each day and the bag lasts forever. So, you’re right, buy the good stuff and eat it slowly. I think I’ll go grab a couple to treat myself before tackling my toddler to get her ready for bed. 😀

  7. Mom of Many Messes says

    When there’s NO leftover kiddie candy in the house and I’m having a serious attack…I turn to the chocolate chips. Toss a handful in a coffee cup, melt until smooth, and add a spoonful or two of peanut butter….oh my goodness…warm and silky smooth chocolaty, peanut buttery goodness eaten with a spoon…’nuff said.

  8. The Real Me! says

    That’s why I love Lisa. Frugal AND chocolate! LOL.
    BIG Cheap Chocolate size hugs to you my sweet friend.

  9. Kate says

    In frugal times like these, that’s when we need chocolate the most, don’t you think? This is my first visit to your blog and as a food blogger, I was super excited to see a recipe on a personal finance blog! I agree completely with Lisa that it’s better to buy a higher quality chocolate and eat less, than skimp and eat more! It’s like those two authors on Martha Stewart were talking about yesterday, it’s all about living with “The Power of Small”!

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