Frugality for Teens: How to Save Money on Food

In these economic times, the last thing teenagers need to be wasting their money on is unnecessary food. Why spend a couple dollars on a burrito when you could have eaten for free at home? Why spend your hard-earned cash on candy when you could be using that money to pay for gas to drive yourself to the gym? Although teens love the independence that comes with having their own money, it would be wise to either cut back on eating out or find cheaper deals elsewhere.

One way to save money on food is clipping coupons. Many teens don't think they have the time to sit down and go through fast food coupons, but perhaps they can make time by cutting back on texting, Facebook quizzes, Twittering, and Myspace posting. It actually doesn't take that much time, after all. All you need is a good Sunday newspaper or internet connection- with a printer- and you will be finding good deals on McDonalds and Subway in no time. Once you're done finding the actual coupons, sit back and compare: is your favorite hamburger at Carl's Jr. cheaper than the roast beef sandwich at Arby's? Keep the best coupons and either give away or toss out the rest. You don't want to have too many available, or you'll be eating out much more than you had initially intended to, under the false pretense of 'saving money' because hey, you're using coupons.

If your favorite place has no coupons, then set aside one day (per week or month, your choice) where you treat yourself, but only if you stick to a goal (such as no buying other food or cutting back on junk food).

Another way to save money on food is perhaps the easiest one of all: eat at home. Not only is the food probably healthier, but it doesn't cost you anything. Your parents pay for it instead of you, leaving you some extra cash to use for a movie night with friends or buy yourself some new clothes. If your school or work is quite a distance away, then pack yourself a lunch for the day. Skipping lunch altogether is not a smart idea, so at least pack yourself some snacks so you aren't tempted to buy junk food while you're away from home.

This one may seem obvious, but eating breakfast is a great way to not only jump start your day, but keep your voracious appetite at bay. Studies have shown that those who don't eat breakfast are more likely to snack throughout the day. If you don't have snacks on hand, your growling stomach will be more than enough to convince you to plunk down even more money for food. If you start your day the right way and have a few- preferably- healthy snacks with you, there won't be any need to buy food.

The $3.06 you spent on that combo meal may not seem like much, but remember: everything adds up.