From lunch out to food waste to home deliveries: the three daily habits that are invisible expenses that empty the account and how to reduce them
The real problem of the family budget? The expenses you don’t see. In the Italy of high costs of living there is an enemy that could be fought: it is not always the large expenses, but the small, daily and often invisible ones. Small and recurring costs which, added up, month after month, can turn into a chasm. And according to an analysis by Bravo, a company specialized in the management of over-indebtedness, there are three very widespread habits that cost up to 4 thousand euros a year per family. A figure, especially in a context marked by rising inflation (+1.7% in March according to Istat) and estimated price increases of up to 776 euros per year for a family with two children, which can make the difference between a balanced budget and one in trouble.
Lunch break outside: the daily luxury that costs up to 3,200 euros a year
The first great “unconscious waste” is one of the most common: lunch outside the home. Between bars, restaurants, delicatessens and delivery, the average cost now fluctuates between 10 and 15 euros per day. An expense which, multiplied by the working days, can arrive up to 3,200 euros per year for every worker. To save money and make an impact on your wallet, the schiscetta, the lunch brought from home, is an increasingly useful strategy. According to the Censis-Camst 2025 report, today 78% of workers eat a lunch prepared at home and 62% cook it specially
Food waste: 275 euros a year ends up in the garbage
Then there is an even more subtle item, because it is invisible: food waste. Each Italian family throws away on average around 70 kg of food per year, which it means approximately 275 euros. The problem is ethical or environmental, but also financial. In fact, it is money that has already been spent and literally thrown away. Behind this waste there are often bad habits: unplanned purchases, incorrect food storage, poor attention to deadlines. The solution? Plan weekly meals, make a targeted shopping list and learn to reuse leftovers. Actions which, over time, can return hundreds of euros to the family budget
Home deliveries: the “invisible tax” of over 360 euros per year
Finally, there is the price of convenience. Between food delivery, online shopping and e-commerce, home deliveries have become routine for millions of Italians. But it’s a habit that comes at a high price: over 360 euros per year for delivery costs alone. A figure that is difficult to understand in its entirety, precisely because it is fragmented into micropayments: a few euros at a time, often ignored. Yet, in the long term, they have a significant impact. Reducing the number of orders, planning larger purchases or choosing options without shipping costs are simple but effective strategies to contain this expense item. Awareness and changing habits can lead to savings of 4 thousand euros per year per family, quite a bit.
