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Food costs can be something that makes or breaks your budget. Whether you’re ordering food, cooking at home or going to a restaurant with friends, here are some ways you can start saving more money on food.

Order carryout rather than delivery

Cutting down on takeout orders can save a lot of money, but it can be difficult if this is a regular routine rather than a treat. Between mobile apps and an increase in delivery service options, ordering takeout is easier and more convenient than ever. However, it can also be extremely expensive to rely on this as a way to get your meals.

It’s okay to treat yourself every once in a while, as long as it’s in your budget. When you do order takeout, do a quick Google search for available promo codes before ordering. And if you can, choose the carryout option and pick up your order instead of delivery to avoid extra fees.

If you're looking to drastically cut spending on food, eliminating takeout is an option. The first step is paying attention to our reasoning behind ordering takeout:

• Has it been a long day and we’re too tired to cook?
• Have we not visited the grocery store in a while?
• Are we not sure how to cook?

​Once we determine why we’re choosing to order takeout, we can make a plan to avoid it.

Cooking food at home

Preparing meals at home is the best way to save money on food. Planning your meals for the week ahead can help you put together your grocery list and avoid buying more groceries than you need.

You can also plan to bring meals, coffee and snacks with you during the day to avoid spending more on campus. Ralphie’s Cooking Basics offers an opportunity to learn new recipes and cooking techniques for free.

If you feel like you don’t have much time in your schedule to cook, plan to make large portions a couple times during the week and save leftovers to eat for a few days. Search food blogs or recipe books for simple, healthy meal ideas to get a start on your planning. You can also review these four meals that won’t break the bank.

Eating at restaurants

Whether it’s a way to treat yourself or a special occasion with friends, there are some things you can do to lower the cost of eating at restaurants:

• Many restaurants in Boulder offer daily or weekly deals. Subscribe to your favorite restaurant’s emails or follow them on social media to stay updated on special offers. You can also check ,  or .
• Meal portions tend to be large at most restaurants. Eat half of what you order and save the leftovers for dinner the next day, or split an entrée with a friend to save money.
• Between appetizers, beverages, entrees and dessert, your bill can add up very quickly. Before going out, create a budget for the night and stick to it.