Pre-cut fruits and vegetables: While convenient, pre-cut produce often comes with a significant markup compared to whole fruits and veggies. It's more cost-effective to buy them whole and prep them at home.
Bottled water: Purchasing individual bottles of water can add up quickly and is often unnecessary, especially if you have access to clean tap water. Invest in a reusable water bottle instead.
Single-serve snacks: Individually packaged snacks like chips, crackers, and cookies tend to be more expensive per serving compared to buying in bulk. Consider portioning out snacks at home into reusable containers.
Pre-made salads: Pre-made salads from the supermarket deli can be convenient, but they're often pricier than making your own at home.
Gourmet or specialty items: While tempting, gourmet or specialty foods typically come with a higher price tag. Unless it's a special occasion or unique ingredient you can't find elsewhere.
Name-brand products: Brand loyalty can be costly. In many cases, store-brand or generic versions of products are just as good as their name-brand counterparts but come at a lower cost.
Pre-marinated meats: Pre-marinated meats may seem convenient, but you're often paying extra for the marinade. It's usually more economical to buy plain cuts of meat and marinate them yourself.