eat out less

I went over budget the last couple of months on restaurant/bar spending. I’m doing okay on grocery spending, though. We eat at home a lot, but apparently not enough. Plus, one of the outings this last month was an expensive one. It was a friend’s birthday and so I went all out. Ouch, though.

So, next month, I’m going to aim for no more than one eating out experience per week (and that includes paying for coffee shop goodies).

First week I have given up the Tuesday night thing and now it looks like I’m on to a new get together on Tuesday nights that will keep me out until nearly ten and still include eating downtown… We had Captain D’s tonight…. I am a sucker for fried food.

I eat out on Tuesday and Thursday nights, every 2nd Sunday, and usually once or twice for lunch during my work week. I used to eat out on Wednesday lunch every week, but I stopped that. I didn’t care to socialize with the set of folks I ate with any more. I also eat out on Saturdays whenever I have a companion to do it with.

I eat in breakfast and most of my lunches. I am about to give up on my Tuesday suppers. The group I eat with has morphed and I’m not liking it as much.

I hate to cook. I hate to clean it up. I hate to go to the grocery. I am also so sick of hearing “What’s for dinner.” I go to the grocery and my mind goes blank. I can’t think of a thing to cook. I need to get some simple, easy, no-brainer recipes off the internet and at least try to make a meal at home once a week.

We eat out.. a lot. Probably more than most people do. What can I say though? I like to eat, and going out for dinner or a drink is very much a social thing that our families and group of friends do.

In order to get this done, I am thinking it would be better to just scale back instead of cutting it out all together.

Starting September 1st, I would like to eat out only once a week, and I will not count “events” like having a friend’s birthday gathering at a restaurant in this allotment. Maybe that is cheating, but I think its the only way I can get this done.

School will be more relaxed this semester, and wedding stuff is all finished (except for my thank you cards), so I would like to focus on learning how to cook tasty and healthy meals, and on saving money.

Saves money

at eout 5 times this week

I have not managed to curb this bad habit so far. I vowed that today would be a new day. My roommates are sitting here eating bagels they got from the corner deli but I decided instead to eat cereal.

The funny thing is that I get full just as fast wherever I eat, whether I eat at home or out, so really I just need to decide whether I want to keep paying to eat out when I have plenty of food in my cabinets.

So far no luck. I ate yesterday and today. However, and I don’t know if this helps at all, I thought carefully about where I wanted to eat. So instead of eating at the little diner, by my house which I hate, I waited and went to one of my favorite places.

I am not doing so great yet with this, but I am trying to ween myself off slowing. Today I packed a lunch and took it to work, normally I would order something for lunch, so I am trying to make change, it’s just taking some time.

In an effort to save money for our upcoming wedding, and just to save money in general, my fiancee and I are not eating out anymore.

Added benefits include improving my cooking skills and eating foods that are better for me.

Success! Err, well almost.. if we can keep this we consistently for a few months I will consider it to be a goal achieved.