For most of us, going grocery shopping is one of the most dreaded chores we do every week. The lines are long, it's not usually a fun experience, and worst of all, it can be really expensive. According to GoBankingRates, the average American spends around $300 per month on groceries, and as Fool reported, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said that in 2014, families spent $2,787 on restaurants and takeout on average over the course of the year. That really adds up, but there are definitely ways to cut that number down if you'd rather spend your money elsewhere.
When it comes to food spending, it's common to make a few mistakes, but fortunately, most of these mistakes are very easy to correct if you're willing to change your habits and learn a few new tricks.
Here are a few ways you're throwing your money away on food.
SEE ALSO: 8 signs you're spending too much money on food
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You're not buying generic.
Brand recognition is huge when it comes to grocery shopping, and for some products, you might not be willing to compromise, especially if exactly what you want isn't available from any other company. But if you're ruling store brands out completely, you're missing out on some huge savings for virtually the same exact product.
As Lifehacker pointed out, store brands are often made by the same manufacturer as big-name products, and you could save as much as 30% off of your grocery bill by shopping generic. If you want to take this to another level, shop exclusively at stores like Aldi, where almost all of their products are private label.
You're buying food way too far in advance.
As convenient as it is to make one grocery shopping trip for the week (or longer), it's not always the best idea for your budget. Buying foods that spoil quickly, like produce, may end up expiring before you have the chance to eat them, and that's just money down the drain.
Instead, if you shop on Sunday, think about just buying what you need until Wednesday, and then making another trip in when you're out of fresh fruits and veggies. Not an option for you? Buy your veggies frozen, so they stay edible for longer periods of time. That way, you're not throwing away your hard earned dollars on something you shouldn't
You're eating out all the time.
If you're busy, no one can argue how much easier it is to grab fast food on your way home rather than cooking (especially if you're feeding a whole family). And obviously, going out to restaurants is often a huge part of your social life. But if you're looking for a smaller food budget, the easiest place to make that happen is by cooking more and eating out less.
There are little ways to cut back, like skipping your daily coffee run in favor of brewing your own coffee at home, or you can opt to make bigger changes, like revamping your whole restaurant budget.
Ash Exantus, a financial coach with BankMobile, told Mic that the ideal budget for entertainment should be between 10-20% of your income each month. That means that in that category, you should figure out a dollar amount you spend on restaurants every month, and stick to it. Once you're out of the funds allotted for restaurants each month, you're done.
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