Eat Grocery Store Deli Food instead of Going out
Save Money by Eating Ready-Made Food from the Supermarket
Oct 3, 2008
The next time you plan a date night or a family evening out at a restaurant, think about eating in instead. Also, how to find coupons and specials on deli food.
Dinner at a moderately priced restaurant for a family of four will probably run at least $30. That same meal, fully cooked eaten at home will likely cost as little as $9.99. The difference? Grocery store cooks prepare your food instead of a restaurant chef.
How to Save Money by Eating Ready-Made Food from the Supermarket
- Choose the special of the day. You might see empty bags sitting in front of the deli counter at your local grocery store, with a sign that says, "Eight Piece Chicken Dinner for $9.99." You simply fill the bag with your favorite chicken parts, pick two sides, and throw in some dinner rolls. You walk out of the store saving a bundle and now you don’t have to worry about cooking. If you’re looking for a healthier alternative, ask for baked chicken instead of fried.
- Don’t buy more than you’ll eat that night. Many ready-made deli salads and hot dishes won’t last more than 24 hours. And they don’t taste the best re-heated the next day. So only buy what you know you’ll eat. Those containers look like they hold a lot less than they actually do. So if you ask the person behind the counter to fill up the smallest container, you’ll probably have enough of that dish for your whole family.
- Try something new. If you’re a meat-and-potatoes person, try Eggplant Parmesan or catfish and hushpuppies. Since you’re not spending as much at the deli as you would at a restaurant, there’s room to experiment. Feel like turkey, but it’s not even close to Thanksgiving? Buy pre-cooked turkey and gravy and add some deli-made cranberry relish. With deli food, you’ll have a wider selection than you would at a normal restaurant. So one person can eat Chinese while someone else chows down on barbecue brisket. And if you don’t see what you like in the deli case, order it for next time. Special requests normally don’t cost extra. And the money you save on restaurant tips, you can spend on dessert!
- Look for coupons and specials. Before you head to the store, go to all your local supermarkets' web sites within a five mile area. Each one should feature their sales flyer online. Peruse them to find out which store has a coupon or special that day on ready-made foods.
- Pretend like you’re eating out when you’re at home. If you normally go out to dinner on Saturday night, but instead you’re eating in to save money, make the dinner a little more special than a regular week night meal by lighting candles, putting out a nice table cloth and breaking out the good china. You’ll relish in your family’s company and feel good about how much money you're saving by not eating out!
The copyright of the article Eat Grocery Store Deli Food instead of Going out in Consumer Education is owned by L. Marie Dubuque. Permission to republish Eat Grocery Store Deli Food instead of Going out in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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