/ Savings

Save $150 a Year Just by Changing How You Buy Spices!

Hey everyone — Scott here from Built to Taste! 👋


Today, I’m breaking down how you can save about $150 a year just by changing how you buy your spices. Sounds crazy, right? But it’s true — and it’s not just about taco seasoning 🌮. This same trick works for tons of popular spice blends!

💸 The Small Jar Problem

Let’s start with a confession: my wife Emily ❤️ loves buying spices from Penzeys — and honestly, so do I. Their blends are awesome.

But here’s the problem: those small jars add up fast.

For example, our go-to Mexican taco seasoning costs $21.17 per 1-cup batch when using those little jars. 😳

Now, don’t get me wrong — I’m not here to bash Penzeys. They make great products, and we’ll still buy their unique blends. But when I saw our credit card statement one day, the Penzeys total made me do a double-take. 💳💥

That’s when I started running the numbers.

🧂 Doing the Math

Here’s what I found:
If I buy larger spice containers from Amazon, my cost per 1-cup batch drops from $21.17 → $2.31. 🤯

That’s a savings of about $19 per batch — and since we go through roughly 8 cups of taco seasoning per year, that adds up to $150+ saved annually! 💰💰💰

And this doesn’t just apply to tacos. I looked at five other common blends too:

  • 🌿 Italian Seasoning
  • 🔥 BBQ Rub
  • 🌶 Cajun Spice
  • 🧄 All-Purpose Blend
  • 🐔 Poultry Seasoning

Across the board, buying in bulk saved money — sometimes a little, sometimes a lot, depending on the ingredients.

🏪 What About Organic or Penzeys Bulk?

If you’re loyal to Penzeys, here’s some good news:
they also sell larger sizes and bags that can cut your costs in half.

For our taco seasoning example:

  • Small jars: ~$22 per batch
  • Larger Penzeys containers: ~$10 per batch

If you’re shopping organic 🌿, the savings still hold up.
Buying bulk organic spices on Amazon can take your cost from $9 → $3 per batch.

So whichever route you take, bigger is better when it comes to your spice containers.

🧮 Upfront Cost vs. Long-Term Savings

It’s true — you’ll spend a bit more upfront when buying in bulk.
To make a batch of my Mexican seasoning blend:

  • Small jars from Penzeys: ~$48 total upfront
  • Bulk containers: ~$72 upfront

But here’s the catch:
You’ll only get 1–2 batches from the small jars,
while the bulk containers will make 15 batches or more before you need to restock. ✅

That’s long-term savings that really spice up your wallet. 🌶💵

🧊 Do Bulk Spices Go Bad?

Great question!
Spices don’t really “go bad,” but they lose flavor over time if not stored properly.
Here are some quick tips to keep them fresh:

🔒 Best Practices for Storing Spices:

  1. Keep them away from heat and light — store in a cool, dark cupboard or pantry.
  2. Use airtight containers — glass jars or high-quality plastic with tight seals.
  3. Avoid shaking spices over steam — moisture kills flavor!
  4. Label your blends — note the date you mixed them 🏷.
  5. Use a bulk storage strategy — refill smaller jars as needed to limit oxygen exposure.

🧠 Pro Tip: If you’re unsure whether a spice is still good, pinch a bit between your fingers and smell or taste it. If it’s weak, it’s time for a refresh.

🏡 How I Store My Taco Seasoning

For my weekly taco nights, I use a plastic container with a rubber seal (found on Amazon).
It holds about a cup and a half, seals tight with a click, and has both a sprinkle and scoop option.
Super convenient! 🙌

👉 I’ll link to the exact containers I use below.

💵 Bottom Line

If you use a spice blend regularly — taco seasoning, BBQ rub, Cajun, whatever —
stop buying those tiny jars!
Buy in bulk, mix your own, and watch the savings add up. 💰

🛒 My Recommended Products (Affiliate Links)

Save time (and money!) with my top picks 👇

(These are affiliate links — purchasing through them helps support the channel at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support! 🙏)

🎥 Watch the Full Video

🎬 Want to see the full breakdown?
Check out the video on our YouTube channel: Built to Taste — and learn how to make your own spice blends that taste amazing and save you money!

🧂 Common Spice Blend Recipes

Here are a few easy recipes to get you started making your own blends at home 👇
(Ratios use “parts” so you can scale up or down depending on your needs)

🌮 Taco / Mexican Blend

  • ½ part chili powder (add more to taste)
  • 2 parts cumin
  • 1 part garlic powder
  • 1 part onion powder
  • 1 part oregano
  • 1 part salt
  • 1 part black pepper

🌿 Italian Seasoning

  • 2 parts oregano
  • 2 parts basil (optional)
  • 1 part thyme
  • 1 part rosemary
  • ½ part black pepper

🔥 BBQ Dry Rub

  • 2 parts paprika
  • 2 parts brown sugar (optional)
  • 1 part chili powder
  • 1 part cumin
  • 1 part garlic powder
  • 1 part onion powder
  • 1 part black pepper
  • 1 part salt

🌶 Cajun Seasoning

  • 2 parts paprika
  • 1 part garlic powder
  • 1 part onion powder
  • 1 part oregano
  • 1 part thyme
  • 1 part black pepper
  • ½ part cayenne (adjust to taste)
  • 1 part salt

🐔 Poultry Seasoning

  • 2 parts sage
  • 2 parts thyme
  • 1 part rosemary
  • 1 part marjoram (or extra thyme)
  • ½ part black pepper

🧄 All-Purpose House Blend

  • 2 parts salt
  • 2 parts black pepper
  • 2 parts paprika
  • 1 part garlic powder
  • 1 part onion powder