Spend Less on Food With These 8 Tips

Podcast Transcription

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Hi everyone, we’re here with another episode of PFCU’s Money Talk Podcast. Your host, Maddy, here and I’m bringing you more relevant and useful tips to help you save money and balance your budget.

So, the USDA Economic Research Service forecasts that, as of February, the prices for food at home will increase by 3.2% in 2025.  

And we know that food has been expensive, but it doesn’t matter how much the cost of food increases, we still have to buy it, it’s not something you can just cut out of your spending. But we also know that it can really eat at your budget if you’re not careful.

I’m fairly certain that we’ve all given into the temptation of dinner at an expensive restaurant or a thoughtless trip to the grocery store where you throw anything and everything into the cart. I’m certainly guilty of this, especially when I have my kids with me. Unfortunately, these expenses add up quickly and can cause your food budget to balloon into something unsustainable. If you’ve been wondering how to reduce that food bill, here are 8 strategies that you can try right away.

Number one, limit eating out. It's probably obvious, but takeout, that delicious ramen place, and even quick "cheap" burgers add up quickly. That's why hitting up your go-to restaurant less often is one of the most effective ways to lower your food budget. Of course this does not mean to stop eating out entirely. Restaurants are a social thing, they’re fun to go to and they're not the enemy. But, when it comes to your budget, they can turn into a bit of a black hole. And I know I’ve mentioned this in other episodes before but using the apps of your favorite restaurants can help you find some cost savings when you do go out to eat.

So how often should you eat out? Well, it’s up to you. The key is moderation and balance. If you can’t stomach the idea of eating out less, know that you’ll have to cut your budget in other categories. Just remember that eating out truly is one of the largest chunks of your food budget, so think carefully about how much you’re currently spending at restaurants and how much you want to be spending.

Number two, plan your grocery shopping. I’m sure we’ve all been advised and heard that it’s a good idea to create a grocery list and then stick to it and that’s because it works! In our house, we keep a running list on our fridge and not only does this help stop impulse buying when we do go to the store but it ensures that we don’t forget anything that we actually do need.

But that’s only one way to save money at the store. Try couponing, even if the savings seem small, you know, 50 cents here, a dollar there, it can make a difference in the long run. Grocery stores often send out weekly ads so, look at those, plan your meals for the week around those discounts. And finally, try buying staples that are affordable and versatile, like bread, pasta, beans, rice. You can use those things in a bunch of different meals and tailor them to your tastes.

Buying new and unusual foods can be fun now and then, but expensive ingredients sitting in the pantry for months gathering dust? Not so fun. Buy what you will actually try.

Number three is to reduce food waste. I know we’ve all been there, another full vegetable drawer ready for the garbage can. Wasting food is wasting money. Try canned or frozen produce instead. It lasts much longer and it’s actually just as good for you. Preservatives can be rinsed off canned foods and frozen is perfectly fine. Do your best to avoid spending money on food you won’t eat, and remember that good intentions can often pave a road to rotten zucchini, lettuce, grapes. And if you’re anything like us, strawberries, raspberries, why do they go bad so fast?

Number four is to buy in bulk. You can save money per package or ounce when you buy in bulk. It’s a great strategy for foods you buy and eat often. But keep in mind that buying more than you’ll actually eat is not saving you any money. Do you really need 15 pounds of onions or apples? Plan how you’ll use something you buy in bulk before you actually buy it.

Strategy number five is to set a budget. In order to create a budget, though, you’ll need to know what’s reasonable. To figure that out, track your spending. After a month or two, assess how much you actually spend on food each week and then make a plan. Can you cut back? How much can you cut back? What’s doable? Don’t set your standards so high that you cannot follow-through. Now, once you have a baseline, you can start making those adjustments. Create that spending limit but you also have to make sure that you stick to it.

Number six is to plan for leftovers. Try making big meals a few times a week—meals that you couldn’t possibly eat all at once. Why? Leftovers! Leftovers are a great way to have a ready-to-go meal and snacks that you don’t have to spend a lot for. I love when I have leftovers to take to work the day after we make something for dinner. It not only saves money but it makes my life so much easier. Of course, we want to try not to waste food. But if you will eat the leftovers, making them can stretch ingredients longer and get you more bang for your buck.

Number seven is meal prepping. For me, meal prepping sounds very intimidating. But it doesn’t just have to be for the organized ones among us— everyone can meal prep. If you plan your meals ahead of time, or even prepare them ahead of time, you’ll be less likely to eat out when you’re in a bind or pressured for time. If this seems overwhelming, like I said, start small. Try making lunch the night before or putting together a dedicated drawer for go-to snacks. Maybe you’re realizing that you already meal prep a little bit, especially if you do make your lunch the night before. You can also go big and cook the ingredients for a week of meals ahead of time or create “freezer meals” that you can pop into a slow cooker or into the oven. Whatever works for you is the perfect place to begin, and every bit of planning truly does matter.

And the last strategy is to brew your own coffee. Yes, a lot of us need a little pick-me-up each morning and that’s totally fine. But recurring costs, like a daily latte, can cause your money to disappear exponentially. It might not seem like a big deal at the time when you’re checking out with that $7 coffee but it can really add up. An average cup of coffee costs around $3. While that isn’t much on its own, a full month of 31 cups is going to cost you roughly $93. Meanwhile, you can get a 12oz bag of coffee at about $10 and gets you 12 cups. That would mean you’re spending about $0.83 per cup, or just under $26 for a whole month. That’s a lot of savings over multiple months or even years. If you need it, buy the extra cream or fancy toppings, too. It’ll still save you money in the long run. And again that not to say you have to cut out that coffee run completely, maybe just cut back to once or twice a week.

Reducing your food bill is something most of us could really use, and yet, it’s one of the toughest expenses to cut down. It requires a complete shift of your mindset and a lot more awareness. But, even with a little bit of effort, taking some of these tips and trying them, your changes can make a big difference. Alright you guys, that’s all I have for you today on how to save money on your food bill. Thanks for listening.

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