Drink more water. Even if you drink bottled water, it is still the cheapest beverage available. By consuming the recommended eight glasses of water a day, you support all your body's systems and reduce the number of more costly beverages you consume. Eat less meat. Most Americans still eat too much meat relative to other components of their diets.
Meat also takes the biggest bite out of the food budget.
The answer seems almost too easy. Grow your own herbs. A vegetable garden is also a good idea, but an herb garden is much less daunting. Herbs require little space or care, and once established, most provide a continuous harvest. Fresh herbs add a gourmet taste to any meal.