After going out to eat again last night, I decided to sit down and go through our bank statements. I wanted to see how many times we had eaten out last month. I counted 16- get that, sixteen, meals out! That is just what we debited and I’m sure we probably paid cash at least once. Our meals were also paid for a few times. I’m going to say we ate out at least 20 times. Some were necessary, like on our trip to the beach, but most were not. In light of this, I have decided to completely cut out eatting out for the entire month of July.
I’m telling you guys before I have even talked to my husband about it. I have done this before and he never joins me, so I have no reason to believe he will this time either. I will mention it to him, but I anticipate I will get the “what am I going to eat on lunch at work?” spill and he never likes my answer of “How about you carry your lunch?” If you guys have any ideas of how to get him to join me, feel free to throw them my way.
If we both participate, this will save us around $200 a month!
I have started writing down my plan of attack, but I need more ideas.
- Cook more. How obvious can you get?
- Pack a snack bag for the adults. I already do this for Bryson, so I will just add to his bag.
- Keep a veggie and fruit tray in the fridge.
- Make sure to keep drinks on hand.
Simple Mom has a great post up about “The Basics Behind a Budget that Works”. I think it is a must read, as is the rest of her blog!
>We were doing pretty good for a little while but have slipped back into running out for fast food too often. One thing that helps and I always have to remind myself is to be sure and have quick stuff. When we eat out the most is when I am tired and there's nothing quick to have for dinner.
>That is so funny as me and my DH just came to the same conclusion but you can double your number for us. It was getting to like our kitchen was for show and I even know how to cool. So we talked and came up w/a similar plan!
>We go out only when we really have to LOL in June we went out to eat 2 times.It's mostly B-days, anniversaries and stuff like that.
I do cook every day and a lot (well a lot meaning enough for the 3 of us) only good thing is where my Hubby works they pay for the lunch 🙂 so that helps a LOT…
Make a list for the store, I have 2 for first of the month (usually get enough food for 3 weeks) than second list will be somewhere mid month to get stuff we run out of and if I make any changes to the menu. I also make a monthly dinner menu (breakfast and lunch is easy it's just my daughter and I) keep it interesting change meals so that they don't seem all the same.