How to Save Money on Food When You Aren’t a Cook
In a world filled with enticing restaurants and the convenience of takeout, it's easy to see how dining expenses can quickly add up. In this post, I’m answering a reader’s question about saving money on food when they hate cooking.
This Mind Money Balance reader writes,
Dear Mind Money Balance,
I’m a single person in my late 20s, and I’m starting to get a hang of my spending plan (thanks for the tip on not calling it a budget). Food–eating out and carry out specifically–are my largest non-fixed expenses that I need help with. I live in a good-sized city, and there are so many good restaurants nearby, and I love being able to support mom-and-pop-owned businesses, including restaurants.
Everything I read and listen to about saving on food revolves around cutting back on your grocery expenses and cooking at home. But here’s the thing: I hate cooking. Like, would rather do almost any chore aside from cooking. Please don’t tell me the only option to save money on food is to learn how to cook! Help!
–Cook Averse
Oh, Cook Averse, I hear a version of this so frequently! Food is one of the most expensive things Americans spend their money on, behind housing and transportation (BLS, 2022). But becoming a cook or spending hours in the kitchen aren’t the only ways to save money on food. I promise this post isn’t a hidden version of, “how to save money not eating out.” Whether you’re like Cook Averse and hate cooking, live somewhere with a less-than-ideal kitchen setup, or just can’t be bothered to cook, I’ve got some tips for you, that I can’t wait to share!
Tip 1. Fight Food Waste by Checking Your Trash
If you’re like most Americans, you’re throwing out food, and a lot of it. According to Recycle Track Systems, about 40% of our entire food supply ends up in the trash. In other words? Each adult tosses 325 pounds of food waste yearly (need a visual? That’s 975 apples in the trash). Without judgment, peek at what you’re tossing at the end of each week and tweak your shopping habits accordingly. Knowing what you eat and what you throw out is a simple but impactful way to not only save money on unnecessary food purchases but also to fight food waste.
Tip 2. Look for Lunch Specials
Living in a city with a vibrant food scene has its perks. Explore lunchtime specials offered by local restaurants, which often provide larger portions at a lower cost. Most restaurants offer mid-week specials as those are usually the slowest days for restaurants (hence the popularity of things like Taco Tuesdays or Wing Wednesdays). Search for lunch specials that come with extras, like sides or salads, or ones that could be large enough to feed you for two (or more!) meals for a cook-free way to save on food.
Tip 3. No Cook Meal Ideas
For non-cooks, focus on easy assembly meals or no-cook meals. Consider options like cereal, oatmeal, smoothies, sandwiches, and salads to keep you full for your first two meals of the day. Kick up a boring sandwich by throwing it in the toaster oven or on the stove to create a hot sandwich or panini. Enhance the flavor of salads with simple additions like a squeeze of lemon, a grind of sea salt, or dried herb blends. If even the thought of squeezing a lemon or finding a spice blend is overwhelming, ask your favorite restaurant if they sell their dressing or spice blends! These small tweaks can make a boring meal more enjoyable and, thus, more sustainable in the long run.
Something boring about me is that I’ve been eating basically the same meal for lunch for a decade. My go-to no-cook meal? A version of oatmeal or overnight oats with a variety of flavors and toppings. I’ll add chia seeds and sprinkle pumpkin spice blend in the fall with apple slices, or make a savory oatmeal (hat tip to Giada DeLaurentis) with olive oil and a sprinkle of salt in colder months. Sounds strange, but it works for me!
Tip 4. Mindful Dining, Takeout & Delivery
Distinguish between the cost of dining out, getting food delivered, and ordering takeout. While it’d be easy to say “never go out to eat” or “only order carry-out!” that’s not how food works. Take an extra moment to evaluate which option is most cost-effective for your favorite meals. Take advantage of occasional delivery app promotions or discounts on minimum orders. Sometimes dining in at a fast-casual restaurant is more affordable than ordering takeout, and when there are flash sales, sometimes delivery might be a better financial option than carry-out.
Tip 5. Find Discounted Restaurant Gift Cards
There’s a podcast where Tony Hale of Veep and Arrested Development fame talks about his love of national restaurant chains. If you identify with Tony and love a chain, explore discounted restaurant gift cards to cut dining costs. Warehouse stores like Costco often offer packs of gift cards at a reduced price. Alternatively, check out online platforms where individuals resell gift cards they won't use. These gift card resale platforms are a win-win; the person selling the card to a restaurant they won’t go to sells their gift card at a discount, and you get the restaurant card for less than the retail price. This can be an excellent strategy if you frequently visit specific restaurants frequently and know you’ll use them.
Tip 6. Seek Out Deals and Specials
Don't shy away from seeking out deals and specials. Just as you might clip coupons for groceries, look for discounts on restaurant meals. Food happy hours (usually between lunch and before the dinner rush), flash sales, and special days for discounted items can significantly contribute to your food savings. You might qualify for a special discount if you’re in the military, are a student, in the food industry (when I was a waitress, I LOVED industry nights at restaurants), or are an AARP member. Double-check what groups you belong to and make sure you’re taking advantage of the associated discount!
It also pays to be loyal. If you’ve got a favorite place to eat, make sure you’re signed up for their loyalty program, where you might get a free treat on your birthday or free meal after purchasing a certain number of meals.
Tip 7. Closing Time Deals
Explore closing-time deals at bakeries and grocery stores as another way to save on food. During the final hours of operation, establishments often offer substantial discounts on their baked goods and pre-made salads and sandwiches. This presents a fantastic opportunity for people looking to save on food to get high-quality, fresh meals or food items at significantly reduced prices.
I used to live within walking distance of an amazing bakery, and everything was 50% in the final hour that they were open. That year, I was spoiled for high-quality sandwich bread, baguettes, and bagels! Even more recently, I lucked out at a fancy boutique grocer’s closing time deal and got a beautiful cake just in time for a family member’s birthday!
Tip 8. Using Up Leftovers
Don't let a little bit of food leftovers go to waste – instead, turn them into a well-rounded, satisfying meal. If you find yourself with a small amount of leftover protein from a restaurant or takeout order, create a full meal by seeing what you’ve got in your fridge or pantry. Items like quinoa, rice, beans, and lettuce are excellent additions to bulk up your leftovers into a proper meal. Quick-cooking quinoa and microwaveable rice can be prepared with minimal effort, while rinsed canned beans provide a protein boost without the need for cooking. Hot tip: heat your beans! I swear warmed beans are so much tastier than room-temperature ones. Add some fresh greens (pre-rinsed and chopped is great) to create a delicious and easy-to-assemble salad. The beauty of using pantry staples is that they stretch your leftovers and introduce new textures and flavors to keep your meals exciting.
Tip 9. Embrace Spontaneity with Food Tech Apps
For those living in larger cities, consider services like Too Good to Go or Flash Food. These apps partner with local food establishments to sell surplus food at discounted prices. The Too Good To Go app connects hungry shoppers with food establishments to create a win-win. The restaurant, cafe, or bakery owners get to sell a “Surprise Bag,” and you get a mix of goodies at a steep discount. When my partner and I were in Zurich, an entire storefront used this model. With everything being so pricey, you can bet your behind that we did a lot of our meals at the “day old” bakery. And, no, things were not gross or stale!
Flash Food is similar, but they partner more with grocery stores and sell food nearing its “best by” date. I find these apps work best when you like what a cafe or restaurant offers, and you aren’t a super picky eater.
Tip 10. Trade Skills with Friends
In an era of “collectivism over capitalism” memes and sharable quotes, are you practicing collectivism? If you are ready to try it out, give a skill swap a go. If you have friends who enjoy cooking, consider a skill swap. Offer to help with chores or tasks they dislike, such as doing laundry, in exchange for a home-cooked meal. It’s a collaborative and collective win; you get some prepped or cooked meals, and your friends get a clean and folded load of laundry. Have more friends and more skills to swap? Great! In addition to cooking and laundry, get creative about things like cleaning the house, running errands, yard work, or childcare. These skills and tasks can be swapped for prepped meals and contribute to a richer connection with your community.
Tip 11. Utilize Kids Eat Free Days:
For those with children, keep an eye out for restaurants offering "kids eat free" promotions. These usually are structured in a “buy a full meal, get a kids meal free” manner, so keep it in mind when you’re ordering for you plus kiddos, or when you’ve got your nieces and nephews in town.
Tip 12. No-Cook Freezer Meals
Freezer food has come a long way from the days of sketchy beige protein with a chocolate-scented dessert. Explore the frozen food section for meals that appeal to your taste buds. From nutrient-dense flash-frozen fruits and veggies to full-blown meals, these foods often require minimal preparation, involving only a microwave, oven, or toaster oven. Freezer meals are a convenient and cost-effective alternative to eating out. To zhuzh up a freezer meal, look to tip number 3 and add some tasty dressing or spices.
I’m a big fan of frozen dumplings; I cook or reheat them in a wok with oil and throw in a generous handful of spinach, kale, or chard toward the end of the cooking time for something more exciting and nutrient-rich.
Save Money Without Cooking
Saving money on food isn’t an either-or like many financial talking heads might have you believe. You can continue to be a non-cook or kitchen novice and save money on food. Instead of trying to force yourself into liking cooking, embrace your pension for supporting local restaurants and eating new meals! And with these tips, I hope you’ve thought of a few creative ways to save on your food expenses while decreasing the amount of food you waste.
Now, consider extending this mindset of financial wellness to your organization or community. By bringing in a financial therapist like myself, you not only prioritize the financial well-being of your employees, students, or colleagues but also contribute to creative and shame-free ways to thing about personal finance. With certifications in financial therapy and a deep commitment to financial wellness, I've had the privilege of speaking to diverse organizations, schools, and companies about the importance of understanding their emotional relationship with money. Reach out to bring me into your school, organization, or conference today!