Eating a meal out in a new town is a chance to see more of a new neighborhood, speak the language, and learn new phrases from the menu. But there are only so many meals I can order out before I feel like cash is falling through a hole in the pocket of my shorts.
Maybe I could save money by not traveling. A new place, however, does NOT need to mean eating my meals at a restaurant every day. I prefer to save money by having picnics. All the good fruits, veggies, cheeses, wines, and seafood listed on restaurant menus are also available somewhere to buy fresh. Finding where can be a challenge, but if I stick to buying food at the daily covered markets or the weekly open-air markets available in most Spanish cities I've visited, I can find all the goodies I need to nourish my body and satisfy my cravings. By ''callejeando'' (wandering the streets) and asking anyone where and when the markets are, you will find what you're looking for.
Malaga, a much busier and larger city than Granada, has it's share of corner stores and an amazing covered market in the Huelin neighborhood. Being a larger city, there are also around-the-clock grocery stores. But as I expected, the freshest and most quality produce and meat options are bought from the market vendors.
Even the Puerto de Mazarrón, where I've found myself finally renting an apartment this year, has all the picnic resources I need to eating cheaply and eating well.