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1. Switch Supermarkets Stock Up on Grocery Staples at a Discount: Six-word strategy for saving on food: Get in car. Drive to Costco (Sam's or BJ's). We compared prices on 37 staples at Costco, Safeway and Whole Foods, calculated the prices for equivalent sizes, multiplied the total for each list by 12 (representing monthly shopping expeditions) and added Costco's $50 annual membership to the cost. Result: Costco can supply a family of four with many of the basics for an annual tab of $1,708, followed by Safeway, at $2,417, and Whole Foods, at a pricey $3,498.
Annual Savings: $1,790
(Costco versus Whole Foods)
2. Caffeinate Cleverly Lattes Don't Have to Break the Bank: We wouldn't dream of asking you to quit cold turkey, but weaning off Starbucks could save you money. A 20-ounce latte from Dunkin' Donuts runs $3.29; at Starbucks, the same-size drink sets you back $3.65. Plus, at Dunkin' Donuts you don't have to say "venti" when you want a large.
Annual Savings: $131
(if you lay off the doughnuts and have one cup daily )
3. Choose Cheap Eats: Can't give up eating out once a week? At hip, fast-casual sit-down restaurants, you stand in line to order the food and save on prices and tip. We tried the food at four chains and pronounced them comparable to full-service restaurants.
FRENCH
Mon Ami Gabi: Roast chicken with mushrooms and frites, wine and tip ($57.50).
La Madeleine: Rosemary rotisserie chicken dinner (half chicken) with rice and broccoli, and wine ($32).
Savings for two: $25.50
ITALIAN
Maggiano's: Shrimp and angel hair al arrabbiata, wine and tip ($54).
Vapiano: Scampi (pasta, shrimp, sauce, vegetables) and wine ($32).
Savings for two: $22
TEX-MEX
Chevys: Steak burrito with veggies, rice, beans and guacamole, and beer and tip ($44.50).
Chipotle: Fajita burrito with steak, rice, beans, guacamole and salsa, and beer ($23.48).
Savings for two: $21.02
BARBECUE
Famous Dave's: Chopped pork, muffin, corn bread, two sides, soda and tip ($29.38).
Shane's Rib Shack: Chopped pork, Texas toast, two sides and soda ($20.76).
Savings for two: $8.62
Annual Savings: $463
(for a couple dining out twice a month)
4. Belly Up to the Bar: You can eat well at a fraction of the price if you stick to the bar menu -- and we're not just talking wings. These restaurants are among many that offer fancy food on the cheap. We computed the difference in price between ordering two entrees from the regular menu and three items (one for each diner, plus one to share) from the bar menu.
Cheesecake Factory
Entree: Salmon salad ($32)
Bar: Chicken pot stickers ($9)
Savings for two: $23
McCormick & Schmick's
Entree: Rainbow trout ($35.60)
Bar: Fish and scallop ceviche ($12).
Savings for two: $23.60
Morton's the Steakhouse
Entree: New York strip steak ($86)
Bar: Petite filet mignon sandwiches ($30)
Savings for two: $56
Annual Savings: $410
(for a couple who dine out once a month)
TOTAL ANNUAL FOOD SAVINGS: $2,794
Slideshow: Top Savings Tips for 2009
Save $50 a Day
Pay Less for Banking & Loans
Pay Less for Health and Insurance Costs
Pay Less for Utilities
Pay Less for Food
Pay Less for Transportation
Pay Less for Investing Costs
Pay Less for Leisure
Pay Less for Must-Have Trends
PLUS: How These Super Savers Do It
Reader Comments (29)
Posted by: JuneP at 02/12/2009 10:01:42 AM
Coupons work when you know how to really work them. Shop at stores (that) double coupons up to 50 cents, Walmart does not. Scan the sales ads before you go shopping for what you need, stock up. Plan meals around the coupons. Buy on sale using a coupon( this is called stacking coupons) to get the best deal. Example, I recently purchased 2 bottles of Listerine total care. The Price at Walmart $5.68 per bottle. I got them on sale at CVS for 3.49 a bottle. PLUS I had a 2.00 coupon per bottle from the sunday paper. so my per bottle price for the big 1 liter bottle....just $1.49 per bottle. I have recieved free tea, mustard, other things just for planning and scanning, the best part is I use the products. I also had purchased a can of furniture polish, a duster starter set and a refill pack for the duster. With the 3 coupons I had, $2.00 off 1 item, $1.00 of another item and since I purchased a certain item and I had a refill pack of dusters, FREE coupon....I wound up paying for all 3 items..........$1.98.
Posted by: Jim in Texas at 02/18/2009 09:37:46 AM
Commodities are where the real savings are. Store brand milk vs brand name milk - its milk. It will taste like milk-If it doesn't its spoiled and you should throw it away. Store brand butter vs brand name butter is the same story. If you are a soda/caffeine addict, you can get adventurous and try Target/Walmart brand soda. I've found that I can't tell the difference. On some things you can tell, make and mental note and stay with the brand name. The savings really add up. We easily drink 4 12-packs a week. It is 2.58 vs 3.99 a 12-pack. That is $293 a year.
Posted by: Laurie at 02/24/2009 08:38:31 AM
I have started saving $200 - 250 per month on my food bill for a family of four. I scan the flyers of stores that are on my routes to work, sports, etc. I note which meats might be on sale at a good price. I then build a menu for the week based on "core" foods for the menu such as London broil, salmon, macaroni and cheese, etc. I then look at the other specials for veggies, etc and purchase those to go with the meals. I then scan the flyers and match to coupons I have filed away in a 12 month check holder pouch. I will also buy regular, bulk items at Costco such as premium flour or milk. This process takes a couple of hours every other week (I shop every two weeks), but if I am saving $200 a month, then it is worth it. We rarely eat out, so our grocery bill requires smart planning.
Posted by: steve e at 02/24/2009 08:53:34 PM
the only people who can save this money have never had a clue about shopping for food - BJ's and the other big box stores have never saved me any money, due to the fact that I know how to shop, and bulk is not always better than an educated consumer
Posted by: None at 02/24/2009 09:30:29 PM
This article is assuming that you are already wasting your money in such manner.
Posted by: ally at 02/24/2009 09:42:35 PM
Since when are all food created equal? If you shop at Whole Foods, you do so for a very valid reason, and the only real comparison to be made is with a comparable store that offers the range of healthful foods they do, say Wild Oats, or Trader Joes to name a couple of the big names. It's a bit simplistic and unrealistic to compare the three stores mentioned. Now if we were to be specific, then compare organic foods in Safeway to the ones at Whole Foods. Safeway's organic food is more expensive. why? they probably have less turnover, because if you really want organic foods then you'd probably go to a store that specializes in mostly organic foods.The author of this article might want to think about that for a second. I'd rather have 1 organic apple than a dozen pesticide-laden ones. Food for thought!
Posted by: Lorna at 02/24/2009 09:49:17 PM
You've got to be kidding me! Save by switching from Starbucks to Dunkin' Donuts? Why not just make coffee at home. This must be geared to the 6 figure crowd that isn't even likely to be needing these tips. Get a grip and write for the real world who are more likely to be living high on the hog by eating at Arby's, not Chipotle!
Posted by: bernardita intal at 02/24/2009 10:06:12 PM
list the menu for the week and stick to the plan,cook just enough for the family .Don't food shop unless everything was consumed , basically most family throw food in the ref .bec. its already spoiled.make sure when you food shop write the list you need to buy not bec. its on sale .drink water rather than carbonated soda which (is) more healthy.
Posted by: mary at 02/25/2009 01:01:06 AM
Jim in Texas, you are absolutely right. I learned that while working at a surplus store. Campbell's (just a for instance) will package their exact same product for several other labels. It is the same product just a different label. I used to know how to tell but forgot because it has been a while. But if you pick up a brand name and compare it to an off brand name and the lable is the same it is probably the same product.
Posted by: V DAVIS at 02/25/2009 04:28:22 AM
I WAS BORN AND RAISED DURING THE GREAT DEPRESSION AND HV ANOTHER ONE NOW--------- I HAV HAD POOR LESSONS- I CAN COOK A DOOR KNOB AND IT WILL BE GOOD HAHAHAHAHAHA
Posted by: Lenore at 02/25/2009 06:51:36 AM
My boyfriend and I dine out about six times a week on a combined salary of less than $30,000. Full-service, sit down restaurants like Chevy's and O'Charley's are affordable if you take advantage of specials and coupons. Chevy's has a Happy Hour from 3-7 p.m. on weekdays with $2 off appetizers if you sit in the bar. The two of us get generous portions of Fajita Nachos and Chicken Taquitos with unlimited chips and salsa plus free refills on soda for under $20. We're served just as attentively in a comfortable booth with better music than on the restaurant side, and in nice weather we can dine al fresco. We slurp up endless soup and salad deals for lunch at O'Charley's and Joe's Crab Shack. Olive Garden offers this at all hours with their deservedly famous breadsticks. Pizza can be surprisingly cheap at Italianesque places like Olive Garden and Pasta House. Both of us can also eat well for $20 or less at Bob Evans, Steak & Shake, Denny's, Cracker Barrel, IHOP and many buffets, particularly Chinese or pizza. Always check the sandwich menu and ask about freebies like bread. Avoid appetizers except as an entree, alcoholic drinks and desserts. Make sure any add-ons the server suggests are included in the menu price. To save another $4 per couple, drink water or add free lemon and sweetener to water to make lemonade. If the service is decent, tip at least 15 percent. A guilty conscience can ruin the memory of a good meal, and hard-working staff deserve to live well. If you need to eat reallycheap, hit a fast food place. Our frugal favorites include Arby's, Popeye's, Captain D's or Long John Silver's, White Castle, Rally's, Subway and Taco Bell. The dollar menus at Jack in the Box, McDonald's, Wendy's, etc. really help. Never forget to seek out local eateries that have earned a following for quality and value. Every town has a hole in the wall that serves the best hot dogs, burritos, pizza or whatever. It may take some doing to find one, but it's always worth it to find a new favorite. It's also wise to support businesses in your community to bolster the local economy.
Posted by: Bryce at 02/25/2009 10:46:34 PM
Making meals at home, and carrying my own lunches and snacks saves me a lot of money, and gives me more control over a healthy diet. The fat and sodium and sugar (not to mention unnatural and unhealthy ingredients) at restaurants are outrageous. Also, because I have worked at restaurants, I know how disgusting the food-handling practices can be -- food dropped on floor and then served, food handled by sick people and people who don't wash their hands. Think about it.
Posted by: Dan at 02/26/2009 11:39:32 AM
Who can afford to go to coffee shops, or "belly up" to the bar? We want to see real savings.
Posted by: Kathy at 02/26/2009 02:02:45 PM
If a person eats at Morgans the Stealhouse (86 dollars for a strip steak) they don't need to watch their money!
Posted by: Jane at 02/26/2009 11:03:57 PM
Lenore, You eat out 6 days a week at those places? What you think you might be saving in $ you are adding up as atherosclerosis/plaque in your blood vessels & expensive drugs for the rest of your life! If you don't have hypertension from all that salt intake or diabetes or obesity from all the soda & calories, it won't be long! To really save, both in $ & your health, quit eating out, go to the supermarket & buy some fresh vegetables, meat & potatoes or rice/whole grains, cook it up & eat healthy at home at a fraction of the cost. And to save even more while being romantic, turn out the lights, light a candle, and eat by candlelight.
Posted by: Chef Alfred at 02/28/2009 06:55:35 AM
The inexpensive foods at the supermarket are actually the best...the pricing is reversed. For example the inexpensive hamburger will make the juiciest, thickest whatta burger imaginable, or Hotlegs, or crispy Cuban bread pizza, etc.Email me for the details....alfredschrader@aol.com
Posted by: MarieTheresa at 02/28/2009 07:08:25 AM
I love to eat out, but do the grocery shopping & cooking instead because it helps to eat healthier, and save money. What I save on eating out goes toward the other bills that keep going up while my salary stays the same.
Posted by: justpicky at 02/28/2009 08:30:28 AM
You can save money if you don't buy as much groceries, eat out , etc. I'd like to know how can a couple,or one person , spend less? If you have ideas , let me know...I don't eat no "three meals a day," average one a day . My spouse he could eat 3 meals , when he looks at the clock he feels he has to eat . 7am , 12pm and 5pm . I'm not like that, if I did what he's doing, I feel im eating too much. I want to budget even more, in every way. Many who wrote on here have good advice....I'm not a person who goes to walmart weekly , I feel you spend to much that way...Some name brands, I'll buy but mostly store brands. If we buy milk it's store brand 1/2 gallon only. Soda's my downfall , that's one thing I do buy weekly (name brand )...Cooking at home , can save you $$$$$$$. Bryce.......I heard stories about that ...
Posted by: Yvonne at 02/28/2009 11:07:30 AM
I agree with Jane! For your health and your pocketbook, cooking at home is best. Finding the time and energy can be a challenge, but it is worth it.
Posted by: megan sullivan at 02/28/2009 11:50:35 AM
Ok I just want to say that Starbucks has the best quality coffee and what is the big deal having to say venti?? I mean starbucks takes extra special care of customers and if they would like to say large, then that is fine it can be translated! Plus Starbucks has a gold card that saves 10% on all cost and rewards cards where if you register your card you get your syrups,soy and breve milk FREE AND FREE coffee, iced coffee, iced tea refills. I mean a majority of people dont just get lattes!! I think Starbucks has done a great deal to help save money for customers and still in doing so! I know anytime i would like a coffee or food i wouldnt even want to waste my time or money going anywhere but where i really enjoy the product...So I think that article is pretty much bs. there are plenty ways to adjust your finances to where you can give you self a special treat and still save money.
Posted by: MomofTwo at 02/28/2009 11:52:19 AM
This is ridiulous. Anyone who wants to save real money should stay out of restaurants. Or order take-out if you have to. When you do take-out, you avoid the whopping costs of restaurant drinks. This is what they really should have recommended. Better yet, drink water with your meal. You'll save lots of money and it's healthier too.
Posted by: Bunnie at 02/28/2009 12:00:15 PM
When I have an opportuntity and the money to eat out, I want to be served..It's a treat to eat out..stand in line..not very special to do that...I can do that in my own kitchen!
Posted by: Michelle at 02/28/2009 12:22:19 PM
Wow, I'd like to be able to eat someplace that charges $86 for a piece of beef. Land's sake, why don't you compare some stores and restaurants that are for REAL working Americans? I live in Florida and work for every penny I have. I'd love to hear how to save money realistically. Come on, I make my own coffee, I refuse to pay the same for one cup of coffee with milk as I pay for one bag of whole bean coffee (I use 8 OClock brand).
Posted by: MARINA at 02/28/2009 03:28:34 PM
... AND WHILE WE TRY TO MAKE ENDS MEET, WE SEE THE FAT CATS IN D.C.WITH THEIR FANCY GOURMET SERVED MEALS ON LINEN TABLE CLOTHS AT A REDUCED RATE! AUTOMATIC PAY EAISES, 6-FIGURE SALARIES AND MILLIONS IN FREE PERKS. WHERE IS THE MEDIA EXPOSING THESE ABUSES? THINK THINGS ARE BAD?..... JUST WAIT FOR ALL THE "FREE HAND-OUTS" WITH ONE HAND AND HIDDEN TAXES WITH THE OTHER FROM D.C., YOUR STATE, COUNTY AND TOWN!!!! MEDIA DO YOU DUTY.
Posted by: Brian at 03/01/2009 10:54:52 PM
This is not a good reference for the average middle income family. The only tip that really applies is the grocery store example. If you need to seriously cut costs, Starbucks is out, fine dining is out, end of story. The real issue with saving money on food is this: How do you develop healthy inexpensive diets that don't break the bank. My wife and I go out to eat maybe once every month.
Posted by: Annie Parkinson at 03/03/2009 08:47:54 AM
What planet do these reviewers live on? I save with coupons, watch the ads, and eat at family-friendly restaurants. I think before I drive. I have a membership at Sam's. In the summer, I grow my veggies and freeze them for the winter, and I support farmer's markets. This year, I am investing in berry bushes and fruit trees, and I live on about 1/4 acre! I buy my clothes on sale, and I am not a fashion slave. We could all utilize our communities better and learn to co-exist. I'm just one old hippie who keeps on truckin' (in a hybrid now)!
Posted by: James at 03/03/2009 02:13:17 PM
I'm an experienced engineer living in DC with my wife and daughter to support. After normal bills, rent, and other costs, I'm left with $1500 for food, gas, and household items a month. $50 x 30 = $1500. If I spent nothing on these things, I would save $50 a day. This article is insulting.
Posted by: Michelle at 04/16/2009 11:30:31 PM
It is nice that they compared prices on 37 staples at Costco, Safeway and Whole Foods and found that Costco was better, however, it would help me more if I knew what those 37 staples were so I could go buy them. Since they did all the research, couldn't they have shared. PLEASE. I was really excited to read the list, after hearing about the article on the radio, and make my shopping list but there was nothing to list.
Posted by: destiny at 08/07/2009 06:29:35 PM
It's like a budget guide for a New York Stockbroker... there's 15 minutes I'll never get back.