It seems that more and more Americans are now realizing that eating out can get expensive. A new report by the NPD Group, which is a group of market researchers finds that Americans are now eating out much less than they did just a few years ago. The weakened economy has more people avoiding restaurants in favor of preparing meals at home.
One thing that is interesting about this report is that it shows that when people do eat out, they are favoring restaurant chains instead of independent mom and pop shops. There is a perception that chain restaurants are less expensive. And while this might be somewhat true when you factor in fast food chains, independent restaurants should be judged individually, since many can provide a great value for the money.
Eating at home can definitely be the best option for saving money. With careful shopping that includes grocery sales, coupons and shopping in bulk, most at home meals can be prepared for a third of the cost of even fast food. Even without coupons and sales, you will still save on the cost of your meals when cooking at home.
Invest in a few good cookbooks or visit your local library to borrow them for free. Start with the basics. It is okay to use some prepared ingredients on busy nights or when you first start to cook the bulk of your meals at home. The more preparation that you do at home, though, the more that you will be able to save.
For those times when you do eat out, do some research to find the best values in your area. Consider visiting restaurants during lunch hours, where you often have the option of the same menu but for less expense. Online deal sites can often bring your cost down even more.
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