Plenty of restaurants offer free or nearly free meals for kids under 12 on certain nights of the week. Goodbye, stress. Goodbye, waste. Hello, savings. Okay, earlier we said to skip the appetizers. And we stick by that money-saving tip—unless you use this little trick. Grab dinner on the early side and eat half-priced appetizers as your entrée.

Yep, really. Just be sure to check ahead and see what time happy hour prices start. Every place is different. Do you have dinner plans with friends on Friday? Or pack yourself a meal for Saturday lunch to make room for a Sunday date with your spouse.

A little planning goes a long way. Set yourself up for success by keeping quick and healthy snacks in your car and stocking your kitchen with some frozen pizzas. Find other ways to cut back on your food cost like BOGO offers and coupons —but still be a good tipper.

If you love going out but want to spend less doing it, eat at home and go out just for dessert and maybe a coffee. You can get that restaurant atmosphere with a smaller bill.

That means you may not be able to swing by the coffee shop every day on your way to work, accept last-minute lunch plans with friends, and take the kids out for pizza after soccer practice. The biggest tip we have for restaurant savings is this: budget. Each month before the next month begins, sit down with your spouse or accountability partner and make a zero-based budget.

And guess what? If you use an on-the-go budgeting tool like EveryDollar , you can set up a zero-based budget and keep on top of your spending with ease.

Hey, with EveryDollar and all these tips, you can find the balance you need with your food spending so you can start saving more. Ramsey Solutions has been committed to helping people regain control of their money, build wealth, grow their leadership skills, and enhance their lives through personal development since Millions of people have used our financial advice through 22 books including 12 national bestsellers published by Ramsey Press, as well as two syndicated radio shows and 10 podcasts, which have over 17 million weekly listeners.

Learn More. Learning how to budget might seem overwhelming, but hear this: You can do it. Here's how to make a budget in just five steps. Trusted Services. Free Tools. Sign In Get Started. We're Hiring!

See Openings. How to Save Money at Restaurants 1. Save half of your meal. Use coupons. Do a lunch date instead. Get the birthday discount! Skip the coffee, tea and soda. Skip the appetizer. Share a meal. It allows you to create shareable grocery lists that you or other family members can edit, and organizes the list based on categories like dairy, pasta or produce to help you shop efficiently.

There are also free apps that let you digitally clip coupons for products that are on your list. And check out cash-back apps , like Fetch or Ibotta, that allow you to upload receipts and earn rewards or rebates for the purchase of featured products.

The can amplify your savings further. And be sure to check whether there's an alternative that's cheaper than your coupon deal, such as a store brand or sale item. Pay attention to annual sale cycles , and look for coupons to amplify savings.

For example, school supply sales begin mid-summer. You can save even more if you are gathering coupons for pens, pencils, notebooks and so on leading up to those sales — but keep an eye on the coupons' expiration dates.

Items that are particularly good for buying in bulk are nonperishable goods e. Creating a small stockpile allows you to dictate how much you pay — rather than letting the retailer dictate, according to Cindy Livesey, frugal-living expert from coupon website Living Rich With Coupons.

But if you have a few extra packages on hand, you can monitor prices and time your purchase accordingly. This strategy can be especially important in times of inflation.

If you can score a good deal on items you know you will use, that insulates you from price increases in the coming months.

Then, pair coupons with these items. Finally, head to the store. On a similar note Personal Finance. How to Coupon: A Guide for Beginners and Beyond. Follow the writers. MORE LIKE THIS Shopping Personal Finance. Find a coupon database or a browser extension.

Shopping online just got nerdier. Learn More. Read the fine print. Make a shopping list and use apps for more savings.

With food costs still high, you're being more choosy about where to shop and dine. Supermarkets and restaurants are getting the message 1. Change Where You Shop. You can save 30%% on groceries right off the bat simply by changing your routine. Warehouse clubs, dollar stores Saving Money / Food. 8 Grocery Stores With the Best Discounts To Help With Rising Food Costs Some of these include low-cost multivitamins

Cost-Saving Food Discounts - 26 Ways to Save Money Eating Out at Restaurants · 1. Take Advantage of Military or Veteran Discounts · 2. Bring Coupons · 3. Buy Discounted With food costs still high, you're being more choosy about where to shop and dine. Supermarkets and restaurants are getting the message 1. Change Where You Shop. You can save 30%% on groceries right off the bat simply by changing your routine. Warehouse clubs, dollar stores Saving Money / Food. 8 Grocery Stores With the Best Discounts To Help With Rising Food Costs Some of these include low-cost multivitamins

Wholesale clubs like Costco can help you rack up savings for buying in bulk. If you have a large family, joining a wholesale club can be a good idea. This may not be an option depending on your cash flow. Also, note that clubs come with membership fees. The cost can be worthwhile if you frequently stock up on items.

Plus you can optimize savings by using the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi which has no annual fee, but requires an active Costco membership. Read our review of the Costco Anywhere Visa Card. You may also want to consider eating first or leaving the kids at home to avoid spur-of-the-moment items.

Supermarkets are always running various promotions that can help you save on everything from staples, like milk and eggs, to sweets, like ice cream and cookies. Consider buying items on sale whenever possible, especially if the cost is normally high.

Sale items are often displayed in prominent locations throughout the store, such as at the entrance and ends of the aisles.

While buying pre-cut veggies or pre-shredded cheese can save you time while cooking, stores often charge more for the convenience. Opt for whole items, like fresh or frozen veggies and block cheese, to save money. If you live near various grocery stores, consider shopping at a few and comparing prices.

You can learn which store has the items you need for less and also look at the sales they run. If you currently shop at a high-end grocery store, consider switching to a store that's known for more affordable food prices like Walmart, Aldi or Trader Joe's. Supermarkets put costly, name-brand items at eye level, which can tempt you to spend more money on high-cost items.

Next time you go shopping, opt for a generic brand to save money. If you bring reusable shopping bags to the store, you can often receive a discount on your order total.

Depending on your city and state, stores like Target and Whole Foods Market can give you up to a cent discount per bag you bring. There are a handful of rebate apps, such as Ibotta and Rakuten , that give you cash back for buying groceries.

You can register for free with one of these services to save more on top of loyalty benefits and credit card rewards. Depending on the app, you may need to link a loyalty card or submit receipts to receive a rebate. While inflation is slowing down, grocery prices continue to be high as a result of supply chain shortages and post-pandemic consumer demand.

Aldi is the most budget-friendly grocery store in America, according to a February study by Marketforce. Aldi is in 39 states and will be the country's 3rd largest grocery retailer by the end of Check out the USDA's Official Food Plans for more tailored information.

Traditional Medicare does not offer a grocery allowance. However, some Medicare Advantage plans, like some Special Needs Plans SNPs , do. Reach out to your provider to understand your benefits.

Groceries can take up a sizeable portion of your budget, especially in times of high inflation. Fortunately, by maximizing discounts and other opportunities to save, you can offset these costs. It also helps if you have a credit card that earns a high rewards rate on grocery purchases.

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Every personal finance guide is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of personal finance products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.

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Skip Navigation. Credit Cards. Follow Select. Our top picks of timely offers from our partners More details. Choice Home Warranty. National Debt Relief. LendingClub High-Yield Savings. Freedom Debt Relief. There are two major kinds of coupons that you should know about:.

Store coupons are issued by a specific retailer and can only be used at those locations. Another option? Some databases allow you to search by coupon type — like a printable, newspaper insert or mobile coupon. Read the fine print of the coupon: Check redemption requirements, for example what size bottle of orange juice qualifies for the coupon, and whether there's a limit on the number of items per coupon.

There also may be a limit as to how many of each coupon you can use per transaction. Martin says you can usually find these online, or go in person and ask.

Can you double a coupon? Some stores will double your coupon, up to a certain threshold. Do you need to join the loyalty program? You may need to create a loyalty program account with the store and scan your rewards card in order to claim some coupons or access deals.

Combining coupons with store loyalty deals can help savings add up. Know which products you plan to buy so you can find coupons that match. An app like Anylist can help keep you organized. It allows you to create shareable grocery lists that you or other family members can edit, and organizes the list based on categories like dairy, pasta or produce to help you shop efficiently.

There are also free apps that let you digitally clip coupons for products that are on your list. And check out cash-back apps , like Fetch or Ibotta, that allow you to upload receipts and earn rewards or rebates for the purchase of featured products.

The can amplify your savings further. And be sure to check whether there's an alternative that's cheaper than your coupon deal, such as a store brand or sale item.

Pay attention to annual sale cycles , and look for coupons to amplify savings. For example, school supply sales begin mid-summer. You can save even more if you are gathering coupons for pens, pencils, notebooks and so on leading up to those sales — but keep an eye on the coupons' expiration dates.

Items that are particularly good for buying in bulk are nonperishable goods e. Creating a small stockpile allows you to dictate how much you pay — rather than letting the retailer dictate, according to Cindy Livesey, frugal-living expert from coupon website Living Rich With Coupons.

But if you have a few extra packages on hand, you can monitor prices and time your purchase accordingly.

Cost-Saving Food Discounts - 26 Ways to Save Money Eating Out at Restaurants · 1. Take Advantage of Military or Veteran Discounts · 2. Bring Coupons · 3. Buy Discounted With food costs still high, you're being more choosy about where to shop and dine. Supermarkets and restaurants are getting the message 1. Change Where You Shop. You can save 30%% on groceries right off the bat simply by changing your routine. Warehouse clubs, dollar stores Saving Money / Food. 8 Grocery Stores With the Best Discounts To Help With Rising Food Costs Some of these include low-cost multivitamins

Do you need to join the loyalty program? You may need to create a loyalty program account with the store and scan your rewards card in order to claim some coupons or access deals.

Combining coupons with store loyalty deals can help savings add up. Know which products you plan to buy so you can find coupons that match.

An app like Anylist can help keep you organized. It allows you to create shareable grocery lists that you or other family members can edit, and organizes the list based on categories like dairy, pasta or produce to help you shop efficiently. There are also free apps that let you digitally clip coupons for products that are on your list.

And check out cash-back apps , like Fetch or Ibotta, that allow you to upload receipts and earn rewards or rebates for the purchase of featured products. The can amplify your savings further. And be sure to check whether there's an alternative that's cheaper than your coupon deal, such as a store brand or sale item.

Pay attention to annual sale cycles , and look for coupons to amplify savings. For example, school supply sales begin mid-summer.

You can save even more if you are gathering coupons for pens, pencils, notebooks and so on leading up to those sales — but keep an eye on the coupons' expiration dates. Items that are particularly good for buying in bulk are nonperishable goods e.

Creating a small stockpile allows you to dictate how much you pay — rather than letting the retailer dictate, according to Cindy Livesey, frugal-living expert from coupon website Living Rich With Coupons. But if you have a few extra packages on hand, you can monitor prices and time your purchase accordingly.

This strategy can be especially important in times of inflation. If you can score a good deal on items you know you will use, that insulates you from price increases in the coming months.

Then, pair coupons with these items. Finally, head to the store. On a similar note Personal Finance. How to Coupon: A Guide for Beginners and Beyond. Follow the writers. MORE LIKE THIS Shopping Personal Finance.

Banking services, credit, and debit card provided by The Bancorp Bank, N. or Stride Bank, N. Is the rising cost of food due to inflation burning a hole in your wallet? Here are some ways to save money on groceries and at restaurants.

The financial squeeze of inflation is no joke — and neither is its impact on your food budget. Breaking it down even more, the cost of groceries has increased by Looking for ideas on how to save money on food?

Here are 10 ways you can save on groceries and restaurants:. Set a limit on your grocery budget. Plan your meals and snacks around what you can get at a discount that week. You can also save a chunk of change by shopping for generic brands. Many major grocery chains carry non-branded versions of food staples that are cheaper.

Before reaching for the brand-name version of an item, see if you can find the generic brand and make a cost comparison. Feeling the financial squeeze of inflation on your food budget?

To help you save, sign up for Chime and grow your savings automatically with Round Ups and Save When I Get Paid. Be aware of clever sales tactics and marketing ploys.

Retailers spend tons of money researching different ways to get you to spend more. For instance, limited-time specials, promos, and bulk sales can have you going over budget. Other marketing sales strategies include employing psychological tactics, like:.

Tons of great coupon apps and browser extensions can help you score savings. For instance, Honey is a free shopping browser extension that automatically applies promo codes, discounts, and sales when you shop online.

Plus, you can earn cash-back rewards. Along the same lines , Dosh and Ibotta are popular savings apps that can help you save. You can find and apply coupons at checkout, link to store loyalty accounts of your favorite retailers, and rack up rewards. Stock up on necessities like toilet paper, paper towels, baby diapers, and anything else you and your family use regularly.

You might be able to snag a seasonal discount on a membership during the holidays, so keep an eye out. Check your local supermarket for discount bins , often in the back of the store near the restrooms. Sometimes you can find heavily marked-down food in the meat department or produce section.

Ever dash to the store to grab a stick of butter to bake some cookies, only to find several unopened boxes hidden at the bottom of your fridge? Before you make another grocery run, check to see what you already have in your fridge and pantry. Then, come up with dishes you can create. Get creative and use what you already have before spending more money.

Apps like Tasty let you search for recipes based on an ingredient or two. Combatting food waste and saving money is a win-win. Misfit Markets, Imperfect Foods, and GrubMarket sell less-than-perfect food or grocery surpluses at a discount.

Many bars and restaurants offer happy hour or lunch specials. You can enjoy the ambiance and joy of dining out and get more for your buck. Those late-night trips to the drive-thru of your favorite fast food chain can seriously damage your food budget. Instead, aim to eat out once or twice a week.

Make it count by carefully choosing where you want to eat and why. To avoid throwing down dough at fast food places out of convenience, try to meal prep if you have the time.

Carve out a few hours a week to focus on batch cooking. Lean on your slow cooker and easy recipes when you can. Plus, pick a single grocery store for your trip. You can start by shopping sales, creating a shopping list, and staying with it.

Curb impulse buys and buy generic brand-name items. Turn it into a game by doing some comparison shopping and buying generic. Stick to your budget. While delivery and service fees and tips are required, it could help you from making last-minute purchases at the checkout counter.

Some ways to make your grocery bill cheaper include buying sale items, shopping clearance racks, and only buying what you need. And consider taking fewer trips to the grocery store. In , the average person in the U. How you should spend on restaurants each month depends on your budget, lifestyle, and what you value.

Does it sit right with you financially? If not, make some tweaks. Whether cooking at home or eating out, you can put more dollars into your pocket and save on overall food costs. Watch your food spending go down without feeling deprived by employing a few simple tips and tricks.

Stick to your monthly food spending goals with a budget that works for you, whether the budget or zero-based budgeting. This guide is for informational purposes only.

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