Meal Prep vs Eating Out Savings

What is the Meal Prep vs Eating Out Savings?

A meal prep savings calculator shows how much money you could save per week, month and year by cooking meals yourself instead of buying them ready-made or eating out, based on the cost difference you enter for each. It works by subtracting your typical cost per meal-prepped meal from your typical cost per meal eating out, multiplying that saving by how many meals a week you're comparing, then scaling the weekly figure up to monthly (× 4.33) and yearly (× 52) totals. To calculate it manually: (cost eating out − cost meal prepping) × meals per week = weekly saving, then multiply by 52 for the yearly figure — the actual saving depends entirely on the real prices you enter for your own habits, rather than a generic assumed cost.

How it works

This calculator compares your typical spend on eating out or takeaways against an estimated cost of preparing the same meals at home, using the frequency and average costs you enter, then projects the difference over a year. It's a simple multiplication (frequency × cost difference × weeks in a year), but seeing the annual total rather than a single per-meal saving is often what makes the numbers land.

UK context

The real-world saving depends heavily on what you're comparing — a homemade meal prepped from basic ingredients is usually far cheaper than a takeaway or restaurant meal, though the gap narrows if you're comparing against cheaper eating-out options or your home cooking uses expensive ingredients.

Tips

• Be honest about your actual eating-out frequency and average spend for a realistic estimate, rather than an idealised one.
• Factor in your time too — meal prepping saves money but costs time, so the "worth it" calculation isn't purely financial for everyone.

A quick note

This is a fun, illustrative estimate based on the figures you enter — actual savings will vary based on your specific habits and costs.