stop eating out

I am not sure when I started this…but I know the last two weeks I have not paid for a prepared meal. My boyfriend has taken me out to lunch twice this week which is highly unusual, but I did not pay :) and I appreciated it. Yesterday was a particular milestone in this goal when over break from classes I opted to drive home and prepare a meal with leftovers etc. I also finished the dishes and some sanitizing, put a new trash bag in and brought the recycle bin around back. Little things that keep things running smooth and looking tidy AND not eating out!

Two whole days eating in: not always the greatest meals, but enough. I’m still drinking coffee out, though. Even if I could limit it to coffee, I’d still save a ton of money.

And I’m proud of myself for not eating out – not even a pizza slice. This is making the last of my paycheque definitely sustain itself over the week.

Today is production day at the paper; dinner is being ordered in for us.

In theory, every day I should be able to come home from lunch if I forget to make some in the morning. I live close enough to work now.

Here’s the problem: because I have two full time jobs, effectively, I spend every last dime of my disposable income on eating out. No kidding. It’s at least once a day, but I’ve been known to do three meals a day out. It’s the diminishing returns of working too hard—as a result of this pattern I save no money.

I was telling myself, ‘I’m going to finish my jobs responsibly and then stop eating out so much,’ but I decided I’m going to take baby steps now.

So today, I conquered the nervousness of “looming work panic” – it’s always going to be there – something I have to do in just another hour – and/or losing focus because of the cooking interruption. I just went grocery shopping and in another moment, I’m making myself eggs and toast (instead of going out to the logical places for a eggs-toast-hashbrowns or scrambled egg wraps + OJ)

Later tonight if there’s time, I’m going to look for a decent blender on Kijiji or something. Making my own smoothies would probably stop me from being sucked into one of the smoothie places and also eating lunch there.

Every time I cook, I must think: cooking my own food is my life’s salvation—ie. in terms of saving money to do enjoyable things and travel. It’s important to take the breaks that cooking affords, too. Who knows, perhaps I will be more productive when cooking my own food. I wait a lot in cafes and restaurants and probably waste time talking to people who I know. (Waste time because it’s not quality time where you go DO something with a person.)

EDIT: Ten minutes later (not counting the shopping), I went from wanting food to sitting down and eating it. Just a reminder to myself about how efficient this can be.

...and it’s not at healthy and safe as cooking my own.

I work nights at times and may not be able to get home until nearly 11pm so I end up stopping somewhere to buy dinner. My boyfriend can’t really cook at all so he depends on me most of the time to provide dinner. When I work late, either I’m too tired or it’s just too late to get into cooking a meal. I don’t usually buy frozen dinners because I’m thinking healthy when I shop..not quick. I have to work on this because we can’t afford it finacially or for our diets.

I need to try to remember to take meat out of the freezer to thaw before I leave for work. That would help a lot. I should use my crock pot more often! I used to use it pretty often but it’s shoved in the cabinet unseen and forgotten with my other appliances.

Someone is always asking me to go out to eat with them.. my brothers, parents, friends… I feel like they ask me all the time because they eat out a ridiculous amount. But I am happy to say that so far I haven’t gone with them. I like to go out sometimes, sure, but not everyday.

It’s Monday and I brought my lunch! Woohoo…day 2 tomorrow…will I bring it again? I must get my lazy but out of bed early and make a sandwich! Not a morning person!

I want to stop eating out for two reasons. Obviously, it’s not the healthiest thing to do. And also, because it can get expensive. I need to save money.

okay so i need help asap. i seriously eat out three or more times a week!! its not even a weight problem, its a money problem. i feel horrible every time i eat out. i am wasting sooo much money. any advice??

my friend wanted to get food.
and for some reason i agreed.
i ended up spending 10 dollars on a plate that i didn’t want or like or eat very much of.
we were gonna split the bill, but somehow i ended up paying ten and she paid like, 3.
BULLSHIT.
never again.

i went to olive garden, which is expensive.
but i went out with my friends
which makes it a little different.
now, i’m just going to make sure i go this whole week without eating out!!