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Spend with Pennies is your trusted kitchen companion, helping millions of home cooks create simple, affordable, and comforting meals every day. Our goal is to make home cooking easy, approachable, and stress-free—because we believe great meals don’t have to be complicated to bring people together.
Launched in 2012, Spend with Pennies has grown into one of the web’s most-visited food destinations, featuring over 3,000 thoroughly tested recipes and a loyal community of readers from around the world.
Our Story
Spend with Pennies was created by Holly Nilsson, a recipe developer, photographer, and cookbook author who began sharing recipes while cooking for her family on a budget as a single parent. Her practical approach to simple ingredients, approachable techniques, and reliable results quickly resonated with home cooks.
Over the past decade, Holly has transformed her collection of home recipes into a trusted resource for anyone who loves comforting, family-style meals that are as easy to make as they are delicious.
For more about Holly, visit her full Author Page.
What We Offer
Proven, Tested Recipes – Every recipe on Spend with Pennies is tested multiple times to ensure foolproof results every single time.
Budget-Friendly Inspiration – Our recipes use affordable, everyday ingredients—without sacrificing flavor or comfort.
Meal Planning Support – Weekly meal plans and easy dinner ideas help take the stress out of “What’s for dinner?”
Trusted Kitchen Advice – Tips, substitutions, and variations are included to help home cooks adapt recipes to their own needs.
Comfort + Variety – From quick weeknight dinners to hearty casseroles and cozy Sunday suppers, our recipes range from nourishing to indulgent, always with family in mind.
Our Achievements
- Millions of Monthly Readers – A trusted source for home cooks around the world.
- Published Cookbook – Everyday Comfort (2023), Holly’s debut cookbook, features fan-favorite recipes plus 90+ exclusive new recipes.
- National Recognition – Our recipes and cooking tips have been featured by major outlets and lifestyle shows, including
- Newsday NW
- KATU Lifestyle
What Makes Spend with Pennies Unique?
Real-Life Recipes – Created for busy home cooks who want meals that work every time.
Approachable & Accessible – No complicated techniques, no specialty tools—just simple instructions and familiar ingredients.
Family-Focused – Every recipe is designed to bring families together around the table.
Tested & Reliable – We don’t just write recipes; we develop and test them until they’re perfect.
Connect With Us
There are lots of ways to get inspired and dig into Spend with Pennies!
- Browse 3,000+ Recipes: Browse the thoroughly tested recipes on the site and save your favorites.
- Free Weekly Meal Plans: Sign up for the free weekly meal plan emails to get easy dinner ideas delivered right to your inbox.
- Get Recipes to Your Inbox: Sign up for emails for a daily dose of delicious.
- Follow Us on Social Media: You can also follow along on social media (Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, X, YouTube) for a daily dose of food inspiration.
- Order Holly’s Cookbook: Be sure to order a copy of my debut cookbook, Everyday Comfort, packed with heartwarming family recipes and pro tips for making the most of simple ingredients.
However you choose to enjoy Spend with Pennies, I hope you feel right at home!
