Shop smart for food
Average savings: $200

Making different choices in the supermarket and when eating out can net monthly savings ranging from $130 to $255. The average family of four can chop its grocery bill by $190 a month by shifting to a lower-cost mix of foods, according to data from the Department of Agriculture. The agency monitors prices of four nutritionally balanced grocery baskets at different cost levels: liberal, moderate-cost, low-cost, and thrifty. The liberal basket contains more food per month than the moderate-cost one, a greater proportion of pricier food like beef and fish, and more wasted leftovers.

In 2006 American families spent 44 percent of their food budget eating out. By cutting restaurant spending in half, you can save another $30 to $60 per month.

How to do it. Plan menus around sales on fresh poultry, fish, meat, dairy, and produce, and make use of leftovers. Avoid costly prepared meals. Eat more low-priced, high-nutrition foods such as beans and potatoes, says Andrea Carlson, a USDA economist. Shop in lower-cost stores such as Aldi Foods, PriceRite, Costco, Trader Joe's, Wal-Mart, and Sam's Club, but be sure to compare prices. Try less-expensive store brands. Sign up for store discount cards. Stock up on sale-priced staples.

When eating out, take advantage of prix-fixe meals and off-hour discounts. Eat half of the big portions in vogue today at the restaurant and take the rest home for a next-day encore.