Frugal and healthy?

The average American family spends close to $300 a month on eating out.

$300 just sounds insane. For some families that’s close to 10% of their income. Sure, there are times to hang out with friends or family. But trips around town to various appointments shouldn’t require you to eat out. And certainly not school or work.

Not to mention the health side effects of eating out all the time. But what to do instead?

For our family, saving money and eating healthier means packing lunches. We try to plan how long we will be gone and fix meals. It’s part of our monthly meal planning strategy.

To start the process, I purchased lunch containers. Using disposable bags constantly does not help save money. Plus, each person having a lunch container keeps meals cleaner on the go, easy to wash up when we get home, and even less fighting when they all get to pick their lunches.

If your family is planning to save money, packing a meal to take to work, family trips, or other adventures saves tons of cash. Buying food in bulk will always be more cost effective. Homemade is always better. Even when on the go.