The True Cost of Dining Out and How to Become a Frugal Foodie

People often say that if you want to start saving money, stop eating out so much. With hectic schedules that can be much easier said than done. Sure, it may not seem like eating out a couple of times a week isn’t a big deal and won’t do too much damage, but the truth is, it all adds up. Luckily, there are still ways to indulge the foodie in you while still saving money. The average American household earning between $100,000 and $150,000 per year spends $4,260 a year eating out, with the amount going up to an average of $6,944 for households earning $2000,000 or more per year. With a statistic like that, seeking out ways to be cost-effective with your food is critical.

5 Ways to Be a Frugal Foodie

1. Make Your Coffee at Home

This may seem like a small step, but starting somewhere is better than starting nowhere. Every little bit helps, especially if you are getting coffee and breakfast five times or more per week. The extra money you save by making your morning cup of joe at home can be put towards other things such as a special meal out on occasion. You’ll be surprised how much this small change can help you save so much.

2. Meal Prep and Cook at Home More Often

Once you have the basic necessities for cooking at home your grocery bill won’t be high as high when you meal prep. Cooking at home will save you money, but this doesn’t mean you can never eat out again. Instead, tell yourself that you will meal prep and cook at home five to six nights a week and treat yourself to a dinner out with friends on the nights that you aren't cooking.

3. Give Up The Extras

Just because you go out to dinner doesn’t mean you have to order multiple drinks, a lavish desert, and numerous appetizers. In other words, you can still eat out but just make some more frugal choices when you order. If you stick to one main entree, you can keep the amount you spend eating out more under control and still enjoy the experience of eating out.

4. Look at The Restaurant Prices in Advance

This tip is crucial to saving money when eating out. If you are someone who has to eat out from time to time but you don’t want to break the bank, make sure to check out the menu ahead of time to make the best choices on what to order once you arrive. This can also help you decide what restaurants to frequent. Maybe you look at the menu ahead of time and realize that the entree prices are a bit out of your budget. That gives you the chance to make a financially smart decision and choose to eat at a restaurant where the entrees are more reasonably priced.

If you do need (or prefer) to eat out, you can sometimes save a significant amount on eating out by picking up the food from the restaurant and taking it home to eat. This could save your from ordering expensive drinks and tips. Tips alone can add about 20% to your bill, and sometimes the drinks could cost as much or even more than the food. This can easily add up to a noticeable amount of savings when you eat out.

Proclaiming that you’ll never eat out again to save money is slightly unrealistic. The good news is, you don’t have to give up eating out entirely to save major cash. Most Americans eat commercially prepared meals about four times a week. If you make just two of these meals at home instead, you save hundreds of dollars a year!

Want more money-saving tips for your budget? Feel free to...