How to Eat Well With Little Money

If you’re on a tight budget, you may think the only food you can afford are bologna sandwiches or bags of chocolate chip cookies but the truth is you can eat well even if you don’t have much money. You just need to know a few tips.

1. Eat at home – Eating at restaurants can be very expensive. A family of three could spend $30 or $40 at most restaurants for one meal. Cooking at home will cost you a fraction of that price, plus you’ll have more control over ingredients.

2. Spend less for produce – Local supermarkets charge a fortune for produce, but produce is important if you want to eat healthy and/or tasty meals. Look for other options for buying your produce, such as the farmer’s market where growers can sell their foods directly to customers for much less. You could also consider growing some of your own produce, such as tomatoes or strawberries.

3. Stock up during sales – Most supermarkets run weekly sales. Take advantage of these opportunities to stock up your kitchen with items you enjoy eating or need for cooking. You may spend a little more initially but you’ll end up saving money in the long run and being able to enjoy the food you really love.

4. Buy meat in bulk – Another supermarket secret is that bulk meat is often cheaper per pound. Unless you have a big family, those gigantic slabs of steaks or mounds of ground chuck may never have caught your eye. But you can purchase meat, divide it into smaller portions in freezer bags, and save it in your freezer for months. Make sure to mark each bag with the date so you’ll know when the meat needs to be used.

5. Shop with a list – Never go to the grocery store without knowing exactly what you need. Pushing a cart down those aisles of delicious food can be tempting and you can end up spending a fortune on food without even having a clear idea of the meals you are going to cook. Put together a meal plan for the week and use that plan as the basis for your list. Make sure to write down everything you need and even plan for snack foods.

6. Shop on a full stomach – Cutting down your grocery bill also means only shopping when the food will be least appealing. Never go into the store when you are hungry or thirsty. You’ll end up filling your cart without everything that makes your stomach growl and your bill will be sky high.

7. Try new recipes – One reason people want to eat at restaurants is the idea of trying new foods. Most of us just eat the same foods over and over again at home. Borrow cookbooks from your local library and try a new recipe at least once a week.

8. Make favorite meals at home – Maybe your favorite luxurious meal at a restaurant is lasagna. Well, that’s fairly easy to make at home, too. The cost may be higher but you’ll be making a larger batch. Save the rest of the lasagna and use it for lunches or even for a future dinner.

Remember that eating well doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Just follow the pointers above and you should be well on your way to delicious meals even on a tight budget.