<prompt> Human: I need help in saving. I estimate I waste around 400 - 500 dollars on junk food or going to restaurants in a month. I am trying to save to pay off credit cards but I cave in.  <response>: First thing, dont shop hungry, you are more likely to shop with your stomach than your head. Second thing, avoid convenience foods. Its cheaper to cook from scratch than it is to buy prepared foods. Some people prefer to shop with a meal plan made up. This is especially helpful if you are just learning to cook and following recipes that way, you know youll have everything your recipes require or if you tend to have a lot of food spoil before you eat it that way, youll know exactly how much youll need for the week and dont end up buying extra. Chicken, eggs, rice and beans among other foods tend to be relatively cheap. When you are planning meals, try to include cheaper ingredients to bring your average meal cost down. Take a few minutes while planning your meals to check the local flyers. Whats on sale this week? Try to find recipes that incorporate ingredients on sale. If you want to be really hardcore, coupon and price match. It takes a bit of time, but there are savings to be had. Finally, figure out WHY you are in the habits you are in and find ways around them. If you often go out for fast food when you dont have time to cook, make a couple meals ahead of time and put them in the freezer ready to be reheated in less time than waiting in line at McDonalds. If you find yourself to tired to cook after a long day, start dinner in the slow cooker before you head out in the morning. If you are often tempted to grab snacks on your way home from work, make sure you always have a ziploc bag of snack foods to nibble on. 