Dieting on the cheap

I fall into the group of people with the impression that dieting and eating healthy is expensive. But when you actually make the effort, and look around at your options, it really doesn't have to be. Dining in, for example, can be cheaper and healthier than ordering out all the time -- even fast food meals really add up if you do it regularly.

Other money saving ideas include buying in bulk when it makes sense (nonperishable items and things that freeze well can be divided into smaller portions and stored for months at a time) and buying the generic store-brand instead of automatically reaching for the commercial brand every time.

Making small efforts can pay off bigger than you expect, without necessarily sacrificing good taste.