Food is almost always one of the biggest costs of any household, and with the current global economic climate, food has become more expensive than ever. Millions of people around the world are battling to afford their food bills, and while a lot of that cost is generally out of the hands of the consumer, there are some ways to cut down on the cost of food while still maintaining a healthy and balanced diet.

Avoid Impulse Buying

One of the biggest money sinks while at the shop is impulse spending. This is where you see something on the shelf that you buy on an impulse, and it’s almost always an item that you would otherwise have not purchased. It might seem small, like a chocolate bar, but when you sit and calculate how much money you generally spend on impulse purchases, it can add up to a fair amount of your monthly food bill. This is why it’s a good idea to have a list of the items that you need at home, and stick to that list no matter what kind of appealing treats you might come across while browsing.

Bulk Buying

Buying individual items is often the costlier way of doing things. When we take the same items and calculate how much they would cost when purchased in bulk, more often than not we find serious reductions in cost. Of course, this isn’t as straightforward as it seems. Buying in bulk does cost less in the long run, but it still means having to put down that initial investment, and not everyone is able to do so. If you can afford it, try and buy in bulk as often as you.

Buy Frozen

To maintain a balanced diet, it’s a good idea to include a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. But buying fresh produce isn’t always economical, especially if you don’t always have the time to prepare it and there’s the risk of it going off. Frozen foods, especially frozen vegetables are a great way of having constant access to vegetables without the risk of them becoming spoiled. Another appealing aspect of frozen veg is that it’s a lot healthier than buying fresh, as it tends to retain more nutrients when frozen.

Eating Out

There’s nothing wrong with going out – trying out that new restaurant around the corner can be a fun experience. It’s the frequency that makes the biggest difference overall at the end of the day.

The cost comes into question when we consider that the price of a meal item at even an average restaurant can generally cover how much all the ingredients cost and much more. This means that you can generally make that same dish four or five times at home for the same price, with the added benefit of watching a favourite show or playing the latest horse racing betting odds. It might not offer the same experience, but there’s no doubt that cooking at home is significantly cheaper than going out.