This is how we do it:

1. We purchase what is on sale – We plan our meals around what is on sale at the supermarket. Last week, we bought 10lbs of chicken at an amazing $.49/lb.

2. We buy in bulk – It is almost always cheaper to buy in larger quantities. We bought a large box of cheese slices knowing that we would be grilling burgers every week.

3. We make our own burgers – This is fun and the burgers always taste better. We buy ground beef and mix in garlic, onions, and seasoning. Not only are the burgers tastier, but the costs end up cheaper than purchasing premade burger patties.

Here is another example of eating economically.

Last weekend, 16 of my college friends and I had a mini reunion at a bed and breakfast in Lake George, NY. We had a blast and we ate gloriously for a minimal cost of $15. Food was partially covered by the bed and breakfast, but we cooked our own lunches and dinners. We ate four meals, ate snacks and drank 48 beers in total for a mere $15/person. We had a BBQ as described above, ate home-made pizza for lunch the next day, had pasta with choices of meat sauce, lemon pepper chicken pasta, and vegetable sauce for dinner, and finished with a final lunch of leftover burgers and pasta. For snacks we had chips, pretzels, and vegetables with ranch dressing.

Eating well for so little was achieved by simply planning ahead and taking advantage of good deals at the supermarket. Buying the generic brands can also save you money as ultimately, they are the same product – only cheaper.