Everyone has to eat! And that means that everyone has to spend money on food each month. In fact, for most people, food is the second biggest line item in their budget after housing. That said, even a slight attempt at cutting back on your food budget could go a long way towards padding your savings or paying down debt. Here are some tips for how to do it:

Head out of the city

If you live in a big city, chances are you’re paying much more at your neighborhood grocery shop or corner store than you would by stocking up on staples in the suburbs or online at sites like Amazon. Even if storage space is at a minimum, see what you can do to shop strategically when you are outside the city visiting friends or family. Or, consider joining a warehouse club so you can save on food purchases as well as toiletries and other household items.

Pack your lunch

This is an easy one yet so many people still fail to do it. Not only is packing your lunch good for your wallet, it’s good for your health as you can control exactly what you’re eating. If you don’t have time in the morning to make lunch, take some time on Sundays to pack all of your lunches for the week. Or promise yourself that you’ll try it for just one week and see how much you save in the process – the results should be pretty motivating.

Set a budget for eating out

A lot of people don’t realize just how much they spend on eating out. If you order takeout or find yourself heading out to dinner on the weekends, start tracking how much you’re spending and then make a goal to reduce it by a certain percentage. Cooking your own meal once or twice a month instead of grabbing a bite out can save you a little bit right now but will really add up when you do it month in and month out!