When you consider the major household expenses, those related to food top the list. However, what we do not take good care of is the fact that we tend to waste a lot of cooked or uncooked food over a period of time. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to save money on food. However, practicing small changes in day-to-day life can come a long way in saving a lot of money pertaining to food. You can follow the below tips to save money on food.
Bring your lunch to work
Lunchtime is often the most precious time you socialize with people around you, and prep for the rest of the day by fueling your body. Buying lunch at work can be an expensive affair. No matter which state, your average lunch would cost you anywhere between $7–$10. That comes to $35–$50 a week, and around $140–$200 a month. This, indeed, is a hefty amount of money if you consider on a yearly basis.
Making lunch and taking it to work helps you cut this cost, and save at least half of the money you would spend otherwise. It also gives you good control of the ingredients that go in and ensures that the food is fresh and free of preservatives. Packing a simple sandwich, soup, salad, or light snacks could help you save money on food considerably. It is important to use appropriate containers for food to stay fresh. Taking lunch to office also helps utilize the leftovers efficiently, since it saves time.
Try growing your own vegetables
Growing your own vegetables is not only healthy but also cost-effective in the long run. While living in apartments and condos won’t give you much space to practice this, you could still do it if you are willing to use some portion of your living space for horticulture. You can always grow herbs and small plants. Some fruits like a tomato can be grown even in containers.
It is a fun hobby and equally rewarding, apart from helping you save money on food. With prices of the vegetables like bell peppers being high priced, growing them in the backyard is a good idea. You can also be sure that it is free of chemicals. Some fruits and vegetables can be frozen and stored for a long time. In such cases, growing in bulk and saving for later also helps save money.
Eat out less often
Though eating out may be convenient and a delicious affair, it adds up to the expenditure on the food to a great extent. Be it fast food outlets or fine dining restaurants, you always spend more than what you would spend if you had cooked at home. The hack is to eat out only on special occasions and when you are not in a state to cook. Reducing the frequency of eating out helps you not only with saving money but also by avoiding unwanted preservatives and food additives.
