Whether you’re an accomplished home cook or someone who enjoys dining out, food is an unavoidable line item in every budget.
With inflation pushing prices higher across the board, any tips for trimming grocery and dining expenses are welcome.
Below are some of the top Savinly articles to help you lower your everyday food spending.
338 Tips to Cut Food Spending
Worry less about grocery bills with this collection of practical savings ideas.
Grocery Shopping
You can win the fight against rising food costs right in your grocery cart. It takes a bit of planning, but we offer many strategies to save both time and money … and even on fuel (with this app)!
15 Stores That Provide Free Pickup
You don’t necessarily have to pay extra to get the perks of a personal shopper. Grocery retailers nationwide offer complimentary curbside pickup. That’s a nice benefit while gas prices remain elevated.
Besides saving time by skipping the in-person shopping trip, free pickup helps you resist impulse buys, like grabbing a sugary treat at the checkout that wasn’t on your list.
7 Best Grocery Delivery Services
Choosing grocery delivery is another way to stick to your list and keep your food budget intact, while also saving on fuel. Just be mindful of any delivery or subscription fees that may apply.
This guide to the best grocery delivery services explains how each option works and what you’ll pay.
4 Reasons to Visit Ethnic Grocery Stores
Local ethnic markets frequently offer better bargains on staples such as rice, pasta, condiments and canned goods, as well as meat and seafood. They often have lower prices because they operate in smaller spaces and don’t spend heavily on advertising.
These stores are also excellent sources for spices and specialty ingredients used in cuisines like Mexican, Vietnamese and Indian.
Learn 11 Tricks to Buy Cheaper Meat
Because meat prices can spike unexpectedly, it’s useful to have 11 tips on finding lower-cost beef, poultry and pork. Like other food-saving strategies, a bit of forethought helps you get better deals.
Knowing which meats are on sale before you shop lets you plan meals around bargains. Check your grocery’s website in advance, or use your smartphone while you’re in the store if you prefer to decide on the fly. Head to the meat counter first to see what’s available and then pick up complementary ingredients.
5 Places to Purchase Ugly Produce
We often prefer our fruits and vegetables to look flawless, but nature doesn’t always agree. Spotty bananas or oddly shaped eggplants still offer the same nutrients and flavor. Imperfect produce often comes at a discount, and choosing it helps reduce food waste.
Ugly produce deserves a second look. From subscription boxes to supermarket offerings to local farms, you can save money by opting for less-than-perfect fruits and veggies.
10 Smart Ways to Save on Spices
The right spices elevate a dish, but they can add up. It’s hard to justify spending $4 or more on a jar when you only need a tablespoon and the rest sits untouched for months.
This article shares 10 tactics to cut spice costs, including buying generic brands, learning substitutions and shopping at bulk stores so you can purchase only the amount you’ll use.
3 Ways Joining a CSA Lowers Costs
Buying a share in a Community Supported Agriculture program supports farmers and delivers produce straight from the field. CSAs are an affordable source of fresh, often organic, fruits and vegetables that typically cost less than grocery or farmers market prices.
We offer tips for maximizing the weekly box of produce, such as splitting it with family or friends and finding recipes to use up items like string beans and cherry tomatoes.
Cooking at Home
Preparing meals at home generally costs less over time than frequenting restaurants or ordering takeout. We provide many suggestions for meal planning and pantry stocking so you can make tasty, budget-friendly meals with ease.
11 Ways to Stock Pantry Essentials
A well-stocked pantry makes it simpler and cheaper to cook at home instead of turning to takeout. When your pantry contains staples, you can take advantage of store sales and create meals without buying every single ingredient for one recipe.
Use this pantry essentials guide to build a shopping list of canned goods, grains, baking basics, condiments, spices and more for easy meal prep.
10 Meal Planning Tips You’ll Appreciate
Meal planning can feel tedious, but it’s an effective way to save money as food prices climb. Spending about 30 minutes a week on a plan can keep you out of the drive-thru.
Our meal-planning advice includes watching for sales, shopping for specific recipes, buying seasonal produce and other cost-saving tactics.
10 Affordable Vegan Recipes
There’s a myth that a vegan diet is pricey. In truth, many plant-based meals are very budget-friendly.
This piece highlights 10 inexpensive vegan recipes that are filling, nutritious and easy to prepare.
7 Trader Joe’s Vegetarian Recipes for Budget-Conscious Food Lovers
Vegetarians don’t miss out, either.
Some favorite meatless dishes using Trader Joe’s items include a hearty quinoa cowboy veggie burger with fries, a kale-and-chickpea salad, and a tofu-and-vegetable biryani. And there are several more ideas included.
24 Ways to Serve Eggs for Dinner
Even when egg prices rise, eggs remain a good value because of their versatility.
They’re a reliable protein source but are often reserved for breakfast or baking. Don’t limit them! Eggs can headline many dinner recipes. This article lists 24 affordable dinner ideas centered on eggs.
26 Wines Under $15
Good wine doesn’t have to be pricey, and a glass with a home-cooked meal can be delightful.
We compiled a list of 13 white wines under $10 that still taste great. Prefer red? There are 13 inexpensive and tasty red options, too. Your guests don’t need to know how little you spent.
Butter Boards: The TikTok Trend That’s Cheaper Than Charcuterie
Butter boards boomed in popularity in late 2022. Besides being delicious, they’re much less expensive than a typical charcuterie spread — making entertaining simpler and more budget-friendly.
We explored popular butter-board versions online and on social media. We also tried building our own, using softened butter with flaky salt, roasted garlic, roasted peppers, arugula and a drizzle of honey. It was very tasty.
Dining Out
Trying to eat exclusively homemade food is admirable, but for many people it’s not realistic seven nights a week. Between work, kids’ activities and the convenience of prepared meals, most of us eat out occasionally. That doesn’t mean you can’t trim the cost.
57 Restaurants Where Kids Eat Free
Feeding a family at a restaurant can get pricey. Sometimes dining out is the best choice for the day. If you’re traveling, you might also need to eat at restaurants.
Stretch your food budget by visiting one of these 57 chains where kids can eat for free.
Celebrate With 101 Birthday Freebies
You shouldn’t have to spend on food for your birthday. Sign up for birthday freebies from participating places and don’t pay a dime for treats on your special day.
Our list includes offers from many national chains, such as a free drink from Starbucks, free wings from Buffalo Wild Wings, a free burger from Ruby Tuesday and more.
11 Ways to Save on Food While Traveling
People often budget for airfare and lodging, but meal costs during a trip can add up quickly.
Before your next getaway, consider these 11 tips to cut food expenses on the road.
13 Clever Starbucks Hacks
Your Starbucks habit probably isn’t the reason you won’t become a billionaire. If you enjoy a coffee treat now and then, that’s fine.
That said, we have several tricks to spend less at Starbucks if it’s your go-to cafe. Your wallet (and taste buds) will thank you.
8 Services That Deliver Meals for Less
Meal-delivery services remove the daily question of what to cook.
This article reviews eight of the most affordable meal-delivery brands so you know what each company provides and how much it costs.
Nicole Dow is a former senior writer at Savinly. Senior writer Robert Bruce contributed.
