How to Break the Restaurant Habit and Save Money
We gotta eat! That’s a fact. But how we handle this expense can make the difference between money in the bank or drowning in debt. If you find yourself spending too much money at restaurants, it’s time to take control. It’s time to break the restaurant habit and save money.
The True Cost Of Eating Out
Cooking at home is the best way to save on food costs, we all know that. But we get so busy with everyone going different directions, work, school, sports, and activities. Our busy lives make it hard to cook a meal at home.
So, what happens? We cave to convenience and dash through the drive thru or procure a pizza, even if it means pulling out the credit cards, and those drive-thru trips and pizza orders add up quickly. . Because, you gotta eat, right? It’s so easy to swipe a card for a quick fix but over time this will seriously hurt your finances.
Do this for yourself
Look through your accounts and receipts and add up how much you’re spending on dining out. You might be surprised!
Challenge Yourself: One Month of No Unplanned Dining Out
Now, I’m not talking about the special weekend dinner or celebrating an occasion. The real problem is when you order take-out simply because you didn’t plan ahead. Challenge yourself to avoid ALL unplanned restaurant meals for one month and see how much you save.
Busy? I understand. Here’s How to Cook at Home Anyway
You’re busy, I’m busy, we’re all busy. Yet some people manage and here’s how they do it. With a little planning you can make meals that are quicker and healthier than ordering out.
Here are tips for overcoming the most common excuses:
Excuse: I don’t have time
In the time it takes to go to a restaurant and wait for your food; you can easily make a meal at home. Collect meal ideas that take 15 minutes or less and keep ingredients on hand. Meals like soup and sandwich, quesadillas, spaghetti, French bread pizzas, or breakfast for dinner. A rotisserie chicken, loaf of French bread and bag of salad is so much better than a bag o’burgers.
Here are 2 recipes that take 20 minutes or less!
Excuse: No time between activities
Take food with you. Pack a cooler with sandwiches, fruit and a cookie. Or try this quick tip: Put hot dogs in a thermos with boiling water and serve with buns and condiments for a quick fun meal on the go.
Excuse: I’m busiest at dinnertime
Use your crockpot to make dinner in the morning or the night before. Or get yourself an Instant Pot and use that for quick and slow cooking.
Here’s a recipe with only 3 ingredients:
Use your weekends to prepare ahead. Cook a bunch of chicken or ground beef to keep on hand for busy weekdays.
When in Doubt, Roast a Chicken
Excuse: I’ve tried everything and I’m still way too busy to make meals
Are you sitting down? Ready? Tough Love from The Diva – If you’re so over-committed you don’t have time to feed yourself or your family, perhaps a schedule review is in order. Ouch! If you’re happy with your life as it is, there is no change necessary. However, if you’re reading this post hoping for a change you need to hear this: We all prioritize what’s most important to us. We all have the same 24 hours in a day. If breaking the restaurant habit, saving money, and better food choices are important to you, you must make them a priority.
Excuse: I can’t cook!
So, learn! Dinner doesn’t have to be complicated. Anyone can make sandwiches, pancakes, hot dogs or open a can. If you can boil water you can make pasta. Most foods have instructions right on the label, you’re reading this website, right? You can read instructions and recipes. I believe in you!
Excuse: I hate to clean up after cooking!
I feel your pain, no one loves doing dishes. But dirty dishes cause debt when it’s easier to go out to eat than face your kitchen. So, choose recipes that use only one pan. Line baking sheets with foil for easy cleaning. Use paper plates. (If you’re first thought was – “But! The environment! I can’t use single use plastics or paper goods at home” what do you thing you’re using at the drive-thru? ) It’s easier than you think. Fill a sink with hot soapy water and clean as you cook. Make after dinner clean up a family activity.
Just for fun, set a timer to see how long it takes to clean up after dinner. For most people, it’s less than 10 minutes. That’s less time than you’d spend waiting in the drive thru.
Are you ready to break the restaurant habit?
If you use these these tips you will take back control of your food spending, spend less on restaurants, spend more quality time with the kiddies with higher quality nutrition for everyone. Win, win all the way around.
Are you ready to challenge yourself to one restaurant free month? Your wallet and your waistline will thank you.
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