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How to break the bad habit that ruins your finances
Let’s not beat around the bush. Eating out is consuming your future. It’s devouring your present and keeping you stuck in the past. This heavy debt you carry didn’t happen while you were sleeping. Face it: you are getting into debt.
Breaking the habit of eating out is possible. You can. It takes motivation, perseverance and practice. It’s all about replacing old habits with some new ones.
– Cost. Track how much you spend on food (including groceries, coffee, donuts… all for you and every person in your household) in a week and then multiply by 52. Now take into account all the food that spoils in your kitchen and you throw away. although because you eat out. Could this be the reason you can’t save or create an emergency fund?
– Health. I don’t want to get too explicit, but recently the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that one in five restaurant employees admits to coming to work sick, with diarrhea and vomiting — two main symptoms of the stubborn norovirus. If you’ve ever gotten sick after eating out, you know what I’m talking about. Norovirus is running rampant. The problem lies in sick workers who go to the bathroom, don’t wash their hands with soap and then return to prepare and serve food. Is it possible that it would be healthier to eat at home?
– Hunger. Don’t let yourself or your family get too hungry. This is the big problem for me. If I didn’t plan ahead and cross the line into emergency territory where I must eat this minute, I’m doomed. I can not think straight.
– Plan ahead. This requires thinking ahead, i.e. strategic grocery shopping. Create menu plans, prepare lunches, post a dinner schedule on the fridge. Create menus. When everyone in the family knows what’s coming, no one will think about McDonald’s.
— Hire help. I know I need help with meal planning because I’m a busy girl. I use eMeals, but there are many options out there. Searching for apps for your phone is a good place to start. My meal plan, menus, and shopping list appear in my email once a week. Yes, I’m a fan. eMeals is also cheap to join, which obviously makes me an even bigger fan. Whether you decide to plan your meals yourself or get help, getting into planning mode is essential to breaking the habit of eating out.
– To cook. Anyone can learn how to make delicious meals. It takes commitment, good recipes, fresh ingredients and practice. There is no shortage of teachers and training on the internet. Check Food.com and Allrecipes.com for videos, recipes and tutorials. Start slow and select super easy recipes.
– Keep it special. Take something to eat out on important occasions. Make it rare. Put it on the calendar so you can expect this to be a special gift. Anticipate, celebrate. Choose a cuisine that you find difficult to prepare and you will have even more fun.
Mary invites you to visit her at EverydayCheapskate.com, where this column is archived complete with links and resources for all recommended products and services. Mary invites questions and comments at https://www.everydaycheapskate.com/contact/, “Ask Mary.” This column will answer questions of general interest, but letters cannot be answered individually. Mary Hunt is the founder of EverydayCheapskate.com, a frugal living blog, and the author of the book “Debt-Proof Living.”