She Strengthens

Cutting Down on Food Expenses: 27 Practical Tips

Defining Your Food Budget

When it comes to tracking your food expenses, it’s essential to define what constitutes your “food” budget. Do you include eating out in your food budget or entertainment budget? Personally, I believe eating out should be considered entertainment, and I budget around $240 per month for food.

Redditors Share Their Food Budget Hacks

Recently, a Redditor asked how people keep their food costs down, and the responses were overwhelming. Here are 27 practical tips to help you slash your food budget:

Cooking and Meal Planning

• Learn to cook and prepare meals in bulk to save time and money. (kayoss_)
• Plan your meals around sale items at the grocery store. (catalevision)
• Cook a large amount of food once or twice a week and eat it for several days. (catalevision)

Buying in Bulk and Smart Shopping

• Buy in bulk and prepare your own meals to save money. (MacintoshEddie)
• Consider purchasing a Costco membership for cost-effective shopping. (HBunchesOO)
• Buy meat in bulk when it’s on sale and freeze it for later use. (MacintoshEddie)

Smart Meal Prep

• Use a slow cooker to prepare meals overnight. (Callmedory)
• Prepare breakfast the night before to save time and money. (holden147)
• Portion out meals into separate containers to grab and go. (ky_ginger)

Cutting Back on Unnecessary Expenses

• Stop buying junk food and soda to reduce your expenses. (HikerTom)
• Learn to drink water instead of expensive juices or fizzy drinks. (pjabrony)
• Cut back on eating out and consider it a recreational expense. (Slidshocking_Krow)

Meal Ideas on a Budget

• Try PB&J, ramen, eggs with chili, and frozen chicken breasts for affordable meal options. (AstralMan69)
• Use a 20lb bag of rice as a staple for regular meals. (Gjhryuuuythhhgfdet)
• Consider buying beans, which are around $1 per day. (Gjhryuuuythhhgfdet)

Other Tips

• Use online resources like Budgetbytes.com for meal planning and budgeting. (skeever2)
• Eat less meat and focus on veggies and pasta for cheaper meal options. (ohyouarethatdude)
• Check into local coops for fresh seasonal veggies at a lower cost. (coquihalla)
• Make a goal to eat in a restaurant only on special occasions. (wyvernwy)