How Much Money Can You Save by Cooking at Home vs. Eating Out?

Let’s face it, life is busy. Between work, school drop-offs, and extracurricular activities, there doesn’t seem to be enough time in the day to get everything done. And for many of us, when we’re in the middle of another busy week, it can be difficult to find time to shop for groceries and cook meals. But, of course, you still have to eat—so what do you do? You likely make a curbside pickup order or a quick drive-thru stop on the way from Point A to Point B, or order dinner from your favorite meal delivery service when you get home. But, over time, these costs can add up and make a significant dent in your monthly budget. How much money can you save by cooking at home vs. eating out? Let’s take a closer look at the numbers—you just may be surprised how much you can save and how quickly you can whip up a healthy meal.

The True Cost of Eating Out

On average, it is about five times more expensive to eat out than it is to cook meals at home. When you go out to eat, you can expect to spend an average of $13 per meal, depending on the type of restaurant and quality of the food. The average American eats out an average of 4 times a week.

Let’s contrast this with the cost of buying groceries and cooking at home. The average home-cooked meal costs about $5-8 for groceries per person, making a $10-$20 restaurant meal more than twice as expensive as eating at home. Plus, if you have leftovers from your home-cooked meal, this extends your savings even further. Also consider that meals that you prepare yourself at home tend to be healthier than eating out, so making this lifestyle change can have other positive effects as well.

Replacing even just two of your weekly restaurant meals with home-cooked ones can save you up to $1,000 a year. Those who eliminate eating out completely can save up to $500 a month, so doing so can help you reach your savings goals much faster than trying to save up while still eating out.

Update Your Kitchen to Make Cooking More Enjoyable

Is your home’s kitchen cramped or outdated, making it unenjoyable to spend time cooking meals for family and friends? If so, Kitchen Saver has a solution that can help. Since our founding in 1979, we have been helping local homeowners update their kitchens with our Custom Cabinet Renewal projects, which take traditional cabinet refacing to the next level. We can address several components of your kitchen to turn it into the modern, functional space you need to make cooking a less stressful and more enjoyable task. Once the work is complete, your days of eating out will be in the past, because you’ll want to spend as much time in your newly updated kitchen as possible!

To begin the process of having the experts at Kitchen Saver complete a Custom Cabinet Renewal project in your home, contact Kitchen Saver today to schedule a consultation. Our team looks forward to working with you.