Updated August 10, 2020. Frugal foodie? ME?!?! The woman who once read endless restaurant reviews at destinations and dreamed of savoring the cuisine of Michelin-starred chefs? Yep…it happened.
If anyone had told me a few years ago that I’d be walking right past famous, classic, or trendy restaurants, I’d have laughed out loud. Impossible! Ridiculous! Isn’t the whole point of travel to experience the best food that a city or country has to offer? Shouldn’t I research the leading restaurants and make my reservations months in advance?

Here’s my story…
In 2008, the market crashed, taking over one-third of my retirement funds with it. I wasn’t the only one, but I thought I was still safe. I had a good job and a bit of time to recover some of the losses. Until two years later, when I got laid off. At age 62. It was the worst time of my life as I tried to get another job. If you’ve ever sought meaningful employment as a “mature” worker, you know what I mean.
Eventually, I did land a job…but it paid half of what I’d been earning and required an expensive move. I took it. Three years later, that gig ended, too. That’s when I started my full-time freelance career. I was tired of working for someone else. Freelancing is unpredictable, with more valleys than peaks. But, I had no more energy for a futile job search.

The Frugal Foodie is born
Travel is essential to me. I wasn’t able to set out until I was fifty years old. Carving out precious vacation time, I managed to get to France, Italy, Turkey, Spain, Belgium, and Holland. I walked the Camino de Santiago on my first work leave-of-absence. Loved every minute of each journey.
Once I was “liberated” from the work force, I had time…but no money. The age-old problem. Single women understand this–there is no second income to pay the mortgage. Basic expenses come first. After utilities and insurance are paid, and groceries are bought, there isn’t much left for jet-setting.
I had to choose: Travel or Gourmet. It was an easy decision. I’d rather explore the world than spend my hard-earned cash at Alain Ducasse’s Plaza Athénée (Lunch menu: 210 Euros) or Thomas Keller’s French Laundry, where the tasting menu price isn’t even listed, but you can add charcoal-grilled Japanese Waygu for only $100 more. Take a look at this list of the world’s most expensive restaurants. After your heart stops racing, think of how far that amount could really take you.
In a heartbeat, I became a Frugal Foodie.

Why I’ll never go back
It’s been an amazing experience to cast aside pretentious food and eat like a local. I ask taxi drivers and maids where they like to eat, and I go there. The food is delicious and the wine is affordable. And it’s REAL. So much more fun than oohing and aahing over a plate with two scallops and three asparagus spears, washed down with a $30 glass of Chateau Whatever.
People are friendly and helpful. Waiters point at what others are eating, or they just deliver the daily special, assuming that if you’re there, you’re up for what’s been cooked.
Customers sometimes try to practice their English when they hear your pitiful accent. It’s an authentic experience that will never exist in the rarefied air of a place where “the same ingredient is never repeated during the meal.” No one is taking photos of their food. No one.
Need examples? Here are some regional dishes from around the world that aren’t expensive. In fact, they will usually set you back less than $10. Nomadic Matt has a fun list of “How to Eat Cheap When You Travel the World.”

Groceries & Markets: The Frugal Foodie’s Friends
Then there are the grocery stores. How I love to go and find something for lunch or dinner! Again, this is where everyday people go to find ingredients for their meals. Wander the aisles and discover what’s important to them. In Italy, there is an aisle devoted to pasta. In France, not so much…but the boulangeries and patisseries? Ooh-la-la! Which brings me to the little specialty stores: cheese, vegetables, meat, or seafood. Shoppers happily traipse to each vendor for what they need.
If there’s a Market, make a beeline to join the housewives who are inspecting the fresh produce. Follow them as they buy sardines, olives, nuts, honey, chocolate…all keep well for later eating. Cheesemongers and salumieres (sausage makers) will let you sample before you get a slab for your dinner. Because eating a meal as a picnic or in your hotel is a huge money-saver. Read my article on the Magnificent Markets of Sicily to see what I mean…

Fast Food Feasting
Never pass up street food or fast food found at markets. This is often traditional food, cooked and served quickly. Whether it’s a Lucky Dog in New Orleans or a bowl of pho in Vietnam, it’s a typical food that locals enjoy. Choose a place with lots of customers and get in line.
I find that university students know a good value, so I watch for their favorite spots. Whatever it is, give it a try. (As a smart traveler, you’ve received a Hepatitis A vaccination, right? It protects against the infection, which is passed by food and drink.) Fast foods are always affordable and interesting. If you don’t like it, throw it away. But they can be tasty!

Solos Over Sixty make the best Frugal Foodies
- We’re honest. We travel to have authentic experiences; cost isn’t always a factor. A slice of New York pizza gets us closer to the pulse of the city than dinner at an uppity restaurant where locals will never go.
- We’re independent. Not relying on what others think, sometimes we prefer to take a sandwich to a park or garden. Much better people watching opportunities!
- We’re smart. Fancy cuisine requires fancy clothes. Because we pack light, we aren’t willing to sacrifice precious luggage space for sparkly garments. And high heels? Fuhgeddaboudit. Pretty scarves are the way to go!
- We’re responsible. We like our travel dollars to support local vendors and small businesses. That means the agua fresca vendor who puts in 18-hour days gets our business. Maybe we’ll make a contribution to a local school or charity.
- We’re healthy. Some of us have medical conditions that require a special diet. We’ll use the grocers and markets to find simple and fresh food to stay on track.
More food and budget posts:
Cheap Eats in Seattle: A TravelSmart Woman Food Tour
Hog Island Oyster Company: The Perfect Picnic by the Bay
Chicago Food Halls: 7 Ways to “Sample” the City
We have a fond memory of a picnic in a park in Arles. A small group of us had bonded during our France tour and Carol started assigning various folks to the market and shops to get cheese, sausage, bread, wine, fruit, and Ernie proved to be the most valuable player in the scrumptious dessert category. The picnic group got progressively larger as others saw how much fun we were having. We have a photo of a dozen of us sitting around our French blue cloth with a fleur-de-lis pattern (bought in Sarlat, made in China) enjoying each other’s lovely contributions. A memorable repast at very modest expense.
Brilliant, Suzy. Yes! Amen! If one wants to get to know a place, go where the people who live there, go.
Thanks, Linda! It’s fun to just be at local places. When cooked the right way, beans and rice are magnificent!