I’m writing this on January 2, 2026. Groceries are at an all-time high, and everyone is desperately looking for ways to save money on food. We’ve covered many strategies for reducing your grocery bill on the site, but in this post, I’m sharing my favorite tips for saving money on food right at home!
From getting creative with leftovers, using what you’ve got, packing a lunch, and getting your kitchen organized, these are just a few strategies that I practice myself, and I know they work. It’s not just about shopping sales and meal planning. Those are good, but let’s dive a little deeper.
For more ways to save, it’s not too late to start the 52-week money savings challenge, read my top 5 tips for saving money, and build an emergency savings account (even when you don’t think you have enough).
My OG’s may remember that before I rebranded to Plain Everything, my blog was all about saving money. I rebranded because I wanted to talk about more of the things I love, like cooking and Disney, but saving money was and still is my jam. If you’ve been paying attention to everything I write about here on the blog, there’s always a subtle nod to my roots. I have a whole series on how to save money at Disney World, and almost every recipe I post is budget-friendly.
Saving On Food
When it comes to saving on food, we’ve discussed how to shop on a budget, how ingredient prepping saves time and money, and which foods are least expensive. But how do you save money on groceries at home? Today, we’re discussing that and more, including how to prevent food waste (which is money going in the trash), getting your kitchen organized, and why that matters. Let’s dive in.
No Spend Challenge
- To save money on groceries immediately, challenge yourself to use what you’ve got. I actually do this about three times a year. It’s easy to forget about things in the back of the pantry or freezer. Challenging yourself to cook from what you’ve got is a great way to save on groceries. When I do this, I still buy the things we use every day, like eggs, coffee, and cream, but I make a conscious effort to make meals and snacks with what I already have.
Pro tip. Having a simple spending/budget tracker like the one below will help keep you in check!
Get Organized
- Organize your entire kitchen. Take note of what you already have so you can plan to use them asap. Knowing what you have prevents duplicate purchases and gives you a starting point for meal planning. An organized kitchen also saves time and sanity. I’m easily overwhelmed by a messy panty. Keeping things organized ensures you can find what you need quickly!
Pro tip: Implement a “first in, first out” system. When you come home with new products, place them behind the older ones so they get used up first.
Use It Up
- Saving on food and preventing waste go hand in hand. Throwing food away is throwing money in the trash. Use or freeze things before they go bad. Plan meals around what you’ve already got, focusing on things that need to be used first. For example, as I write this, I have an avocado and some tomatoes that need to be used, so I’ll make a quick batch of guacamole and plan dinner around what goes with that.
Bring Food With You
- We’re all guilty of this, including myself. A “quick trip to the store” turns into four different stops, and now you or your kids are hangry. Bring snacks! No one is going to starve to death, but having a few snacks with you will satisfy everyone until you get home. I can’t tell you how many times I have found myself in this position and then been mad at myself for spending the money. Use whatever you already have to make portable snack bags and save money. Nuts, cereal, dried fruit like raisins, or whatever cookies or crackers you have on hand!
Pack Your Lunch
- One of the easiest ways to save on groceries is to bring your lunch. Almost everyone my husband works with leaves for lunch. I can’t imagine how much they spend per month. He prefers home-cooked meals, so leftovers never go to waste in our house. Dining out is something you can stop immediately. It’s SO expensive. Save that cash for a nicer meal out once a month. My husband and I have noticed that the more we eat out, the less special it feels.
Pro tip: Immediately store leftovers in lunch containers, so they’re ready to go throughout the week!
Repurpose Leftovers
- Eating up those leftovers prevents food waste, period! If leftovers aren’t your thing, try repurposing them. Turn chili into taco salads, meat and vegetables can be topped with cheese and mashed potatoes for a riff on shepherd’s pie, spaghetti can be made into a crispy spaghetti pie – you get the idea. A quick Google search will help you turn those leftovers into a whole new dish your family will love!
Saving On Food Requires Creativity
- Let’s say chicken parmesan is on your list this week and calls for mozzarella cheese, but you don’t have any. You can use literally any cheese. With a bit of creativity, ingredients can be swapped, and you may even wind up with something you like better. I recently needed heavy whipping cream for a sauce and used cream cheese because that’s the only creamy dairy product I had. It worked beautifully, I saved myself a trip to the store, and used up the rest of my cream cheese, too. Blended beans can thicken soups, crushed crackers and chips can replace breadcrumbs, and ground meats are interchangeable.
Pro tip: Recipes are guides, not rules. Don’t be afraid to play around with ingredients, work with what you’ve got, and make it your own!
Start Food Prepping
- This is simply having things ready to go. Make it a priority. I posted my simple process for ingredient prepping here. Statistically, over 40% of families order take-out because they’re tired and don’t feel like cooking. If you have some things already prepped and ready, you can have dinner done in 20 minutes – and save that money.
Pro tip: My favorite containers for food prep are linked here. These are affordable, durable, dishwasher- and freezer-safe, and they can even go from the freezer to the oven. They’re BPA-free, and I love that you can stack the various sizes neatly in your freezer or refrigerator. I find myself using the half cup portion size the most. It’s the perfect amount to pop out for a quick rice bowl for a one-person meal!
Cook More For Later
- Making larger batches of freezer-friendly meals saves time and money. If you’re making chili, make a triple batch and freeze some. You can also batch-cook parts of a meal you’re already making. For example, if you’re making shredded chicken for tacos, make extra and freeze some for another meal. There is no right or wrong way. Do whatever works for you! My go tos are my baked rice (a fan favorite on the blog), breakfast sandwiches, and gluten-free sausage balls.
Say Yes To Water
- We can’t talk about saving on food costs without acknowledging that little expenditures, like how much soda and energy drinks add up. Frankly, these things should be a treat, not an everyday thing – IF you’re trying to save money on food. I know a lot of people hate water, but hear me out. My husband was buying energy drinks almost every day. He doesn’t dislike water, but it had become a habit. Once I showed him how much it cost each month, he was shocked and went back to drinking water (most of the time).
Pro tip: Nickels and dimes add up. Saving a couple of dollars on energy drinks and lattes may not seem like much, but it will save us around $50 a month or $600 a year!
I hope this post has given you some helpful ideas for saving on food at home. If you have any suggestions, please share them in the comments below!
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