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You don’t have to give up what you love eating, either.
Dashia is the consumer insights editor for CNET. She specializes in data-driven analysis and news at the intersection of tech, personal finance and consumer sentiment. Dashia investigates economic shifts and everyday challenges to help readers make well-informed decisions, and she covers a range of topics, including technology, security, energy and money. Dashia graduated from the University of South Carolina with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. She loves baking, teaching spinning and spending time with her family.
Even if you use AI to help you build your grocery list or choose a takeout meal that’s on special, how much you’re paying for food can add up.
My $100 weekly grocery budget definitely doesn’t stretch as far, and I’m spending almost double the amount since early last year, depending on my household’s needs. If you’re in the same boat as me, you’ve probably tried everything — shopping sales and even changing your household’s grocery list. The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ average food and retail prices for some items have increased.
Turning to take-out may feel like one way to cut down on the budget, especially if you’re able to stretch it into two meals. But balancing both dining out and higher prices at the grocery store can mean that you’re spending more on food altogether. This uptick in costs can cut into other budget priorities and goals, like how much you can transfer to your savings account.
But there’s another way to eat what you love without sacrificing your savings goals. Here’s what two of our experts recommend to help you stretch your budget at the grocery store, and what to do with your savings as high costs stick around.
Use a recipe generator
Lots of money-saving advice recommends shopping your pantry and fridge before going grocery shopping, but it can be tempting to make an extra grocery store run or order out if you can’t put together a dish with what you have. Cooking what you have at home can lower your overall food bill, even if you pay a bit more at the grocery store. It’ll likely give you more food and cost you less money than eating one meal out.
Side hustle expert Daniella Flores recommends SuperCook to find ways to use ingredients you already have at home — which can save on your weekly grocery bill.
“Super Cook is a website that takes all the stuff that you currently have and tries to come up with recipes for it.”
You can also try other recipe generators, like DishGen, ChefGPT and SideChef AI.
Oftentimes, when you’re looking for cheaper ingredients, it may seem impossible to create meals you like, said Flores. Some recipe generators can also help you plan while you’re shopping if you see items on sale that you may not usually use, they said.
Recreate your takeout favorites at home
Co-author of Buy What You Love Without Going Broke, Jen Smith, recommends trying to cut food costs to save more. Especially on drinks and food you’d usually enjoy at a restaurant.
In some cases, dining out can cost just as much as grocery shopping and cooking — especially if you live alone. She pointed out that when you’re trying to cut costs, you shouldn’t deprive yourself of treats or meals you really love. However, it may be more cost-effective to try to make those treats at home instead of eating out.
For example, Smith tried a salted caramel latte at a coffee shop and liked it, but she decided to make it at home to have more for less money.
“I made that syrup myself, but I’m also buying pre-made cold brew that I really like, and I can get weeks out of this, like $5 or $6 bottles of cold brew, versus just spending $6 on one cold brew one time,” said Smith. “It’s about finding what you value most and what you love, what feels like a treat, and getting creative with how you get it.”
Put the extra savings in a high-yield savings account
Putting away money you earn from grocery savings may not feel like a lot, but every cent you add can help you avoid debt and other financial troubles — especially if you’re already pulling from savings to make ends meet. If you can save $10 per week on your grocery bill, that’s $40 in savings per month.
If you transfer those savings to a high-yield savings account that’s earning around 4% APY, you can earn interest on that money. This can be an extra cushion for other bills or help you put money toward an emergency fund for surprise expenses.