Slice & Dice Food Costs
Food takes up a whopping 12.8 percent of a monthly budget compared to 4.5 for fuel, says Weston. But reducing costs here is easy.

For starters, scout bring-your-own-beverage spots when eating out to limit spending on alcohol ($10 Australian wines aren't menu mainstays). And you don't need to dine in restaurants to keep it social. Host a potluck or evening picnic at the park, says Weston, or take a friendly stroll through the farmer's market for cheaper, fresher in-season produce.

Save at the grocery store by banning pre-packaged foods from your shopping list. Stick to raw ingredients and pick up the bag of rice over the microwave-ready rice bowl. Tip: At grocerygame.com pay $1 to have up-to-date deals from your local grocery sent to your in-box for four weeks.