Save Money on Practically Everything, 2010: FOOD

published 3 March 2010

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the average American household spends $6,443 a year on food -- that's more than 12% of income.

Here are 15 ways you can save money on food, whether you're eating in or out.

Topics

Lists Smart Buying

Save Money on Food: COOK YOUR OWN MEALS

It's easy to order in or go out to eat. Trouble is, the restaurant habit is a real budget-buster. The average American household spends 42% of their total food budget on dining out. So if you're serious about saving money on food, your first step is to eat out less. (And that includes lunch at work.)

Sponsored Content

Save Money on Food: STOCK UP ON STAPLES

Watch ads for sales on nonperishable food, and stock up. That way, you'll have your family staples on-hand when you need them, without having to make an extra trip to the store to pay regular price.

Sponsored Content

Save Money on Food: SHOP WITH A PLAN

Before you head to the store, take ten minutes to map out your meals for the week. Check your cupboards and fridge to see what you already have, then make a list of ingredients you need to buy. Don't forget to include breakfast, lunch and snack items on your list to help curb your impulse spending.

Sponsored Content

Save Money on Food: MIND YOUR MATH

Many grocery-store tags will tell you how much an item costs per ounce, per pound or by some other unit of measurement. Comparison-shop by unit price and save.

Sponsored Content

Save Money on Food: SKIP PREPACKAGED & PRE-PREPPED

To stretch your dollar the farthest, pay for food, not packaging. Sure, that bag of prewashed romaine lettuce is convenient, but it can cost $1 or $2 more than buying a head of romaine and washing it yourself. And really, how hard is that?

Sponsored Content

Save Money on Food: LIMIT TRIPS TO THE STORE

How often have you gone to the store for milk and walked out with your wallet $50 lighter? No matter how carefully you craft your shopping list, you're bound to buy a few extras. Put a damper on your impulse spending by making larger shopping trips less often.

Sponsored Content

Save Money on Food: COUPON WITH CARE

It's tempting to go hog-wild clipping coupons. But remember that coupons only save you money if you use them on items you were going to buy anyway. If you buy something you didn't need, you didn't save money. You just bought something extra. Most coupons are for brand-name items, so be sure to price-compare against the generic brand.

Sponsored Content

Save Money on Food: SEPARATE FOOD AND NON-FOOD SHOPPING

The place you buy your food may not be the cheapest place to buy other household goods, such as paper products, health and beauty items, cleaning supplies, and pet food. Big-box stores or drug stores may offer up better deals. It pays to shop around. Many stores will also match a competitor's advertised price. Be sure to ask.

Sponsored Content

Save Money on Food: TRY A DISCOUNT SUPERMARKET

Prices at discount grocers, such as Aldi, Grocery Outlet, Sav-A-Lot or WinCo, can run 30% to 50% lower than at the local supermarket. These no-frills shops often focus on off-brand items or on liquidating overstock. Bread outlet stores can also save you 50% or more on baked goods.

Sponsored Content

Save Money on Food: TRIM YOUR RESTAURANT TAB

When you dine out, don't pay full price. Search the Web for restaurant coupons. Or head to Restaurant.com where you can get a $25 gift certificate to local eateries for only $10. If you have kids in tow, consider a restaurant where they'll eat free. Find deals at Kidsmealdeals.com.

Sponsored Content

Save Money on Food: BE SPICE SMART

Adding flavor to a meal can cost a lot. You can pay up to $5 for a bunch of fresh herbs or a jar of dried spices. Prepackaged marinades and rubs can be a rip-off, too.

Sponsored Content

Save Money on Food: WATCH YOUR FLUIDS

Don't pour money down the drain. Use a water filter instead of buying bottled water. Brew a homemade cuppa joe instead of hitting the local coffee shop. Skip the soda in your office vending machine, and bring your own from home. (Better yet, skip the soda in favor of something healthier.)

Sponsored Content

Save Money on Food: TAKE-OUTINSTEAD OF DINE-IN

Really don't want to cook tonight? Order take-out from your favorite eatery. That way, you can have your own drinks at home, saving you $2 to $5 a pop, and eliminate the 15% to 20% tip.

Sponsored Content

Save Money on Food: BUY FOOD IN SEASON

From strawberries in winter to grapefruit in the summer -- you'll pay a premium to eat fruits and veggies in the off-season.

Sponsored Content

Save Money on Food: PAY ATTENTION

Even after all you do, you could mistakenly get overcharged at the cash register. Something may not ring up at the sale price, or the cashier may accidentally enter your produce wrong, costing you a few extra bucks.