I have never been a big fan of New Year Resolutions, because like so many other people, they last for like a month and then you are back to your old ways. I even stopped making them so I would feel better about not breaking them. But this year I caved. After spending more money than anticipated this last December, Chris and I decided that it was time to have a budget. I have never been too good at keeping a close eye on the money going in and out because we have always had enough. But, we decided to be better at budgeting money so we can save and then pay off his school loans when he graduates.
So I signed up for Mint.com in effort to kick start the resolution. It is a great website that helps you track all the money coming in and going out. On each transaction it can detect what kind of area you are spending your money (example: Smiths = Groceries). I have loved this website!
As soon as I signed up, it calculated my December transactions and I was MORTIFIED! I know Christmas was included (and also more than I had thought), but I was mostly shocked by how much eating out we did. We spent $62 at Arby's alone! Granted I am a full time working wife and Chris is a full time student and part time employee. So eating out is so easy. Especially after working 12 hour days... there is no way I want to come home and prepare a meal for an hour before I crash into bed. And bless Chris and his minimal cooking skills. But $62 at ARBY'S!! That doesn't even count all the other food joints we ate at. And remember... there are only 2 of us!
So that sparked another resolution... eating out less.
However, eating out less means cooking more. A skill that I wish I was better at. My mom is a phenomenal cook, but never really enlisted our help growing up. She always did everything, and did it amazingly. So I am a little crippled in the chef department. But, I have been looking up recipes and coming up with ideas and meals that will help us avoid running to Arby's every time we are hungry.
Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages I have learned over the past week.
The Advantages of Not Eating Out:
1. Easier on the wallet. However, I did spend a little more on groceries in effort to cook more of a variety of foods. But now I am spending $62 on a variety of foods instead of Arby's.
2. Eating more healthy. The variety of foods have a variety of nutrients! And I am sure we are eating a few less calories too.
3. Having fun learning to cook and being pleased when things actually taste good!
4. Calling my Mom for recipes... Thanks MOM! (The banana bread was as delicious as I remember).
5. Having an official "dinner time" where Chris and I sit down together instead of inhaling a bowl of cereal while watching TV when I come home from work. It makes me feel like a better wife.
The Disadvantages:
1. Having to plan meals. I have to make sure I have all the ingredients in my recipes or I won't be able to cook them.
2. Grocery shopping takes a little longer because I have to find ingredients I have never purchased before (Worcestershire Sauce?... Who knew so many recipes called for this?!)
3. THE DISHES! I thought it was hard to keep up with all the dishes before. Now I am using those large dishes like pots, pans, crock pots, and muffin tins that take so much more effort to clean. I feel like my kitchen is a constant mess.
4. I have a built up of left overs which I am not too much of a fan. Guess tomorrow will have to be leftover night!
It has only been a little over a week, but we have done pretty good so far. We have only been out once. Normally by that time we would have been out at least 4 or 5 times! It has been an adjustment for sure, but I am hoping we can keep it up!
11 comments:
This is something I totally need to do. Adam's hours just got cut back at work until things pick up again, and we pretty much only eat out.
I justify it by that $5-$10 a day thing, rather than a big lump sum, but I really should add it up to see exactly how much we're spending.
I also don't love to cook for just the two of us, so I need to figure out how to get around that.
Oh man, I totally share your struggle! So much easier to have Chandler pick something up to eat on his way home then me having to cook for everyone! But we have been trying to do a lot better too! I found this website simplfysupper.com. You chose what you are going to cook for the week and then it gives you a shopping list to print! Its helps, but we still need our cafe rio fix.. Yah, we have to work on that!!
I think most people struggle with this. We do sit down once a week and plan our menu and shopping list--it makes it a lot easier. If we wait until right before dinner time to decide what to have--we're probably going to eat out. We've also gotten in the habit of just doing all the dishes as soon as we're done eating--one of us clears the table and wipes down the table and the counters (and the kids, but you don't have to worry about just yet) and the other one washes the dishes.
I'm too scared to find out how much we spend eating out. I hate cooking, and after a long day of work, it's the last thing I want to do. Not only does it take longer to cook, it's like you said, THE DISHES. I hate the dishes. It just doesn't seem worth it. I have so little time to myself and more importantly with my kids, I don't want to spend it that way. But even just from a nutritional stand point, eating out is probably a bad idea.
You have some great resolutions. If you need any receipes I have a ton of super easy and yummy recipes...let me know if you want some/all. I need to get back into the swing of eating in once again as well
That's why I bought into a person who likes to cook. But I admire your resolve to give it a shot. If I didn't have my own personal cook, I would probably eat a lot more hot pockets and cold cereal.
I laughed out loud at Arby's.
"We ate at a restaurant ..."
"Arby's"
"I had the roast beef."
I had no idea that eating out could be such a money-sucker until I moved up to SLC. I didn't have many friends when I first moved up, so I didn't go out to eat very much. After a few months I couldn't figure out why I had so much extra money - after I did my budget I realized just how much I had been spending before!
Those sound like some great resolutions - good luck!
Those are great resoloutions! I can't recommend highly enough the book "The Total Money Makeover" by Dave Ramsey.....read that in conjunction with your new budget, I guartentee you will feel rich in the next year. It is easy to read, and you can get it at Sam's club for $11.00. I have loved my budget! (i never thought I'd say that) and life is good! You CAN DO IT!!!!!
That has really helped our budget (and our diet). LOL It is HARD but it is worth it! Good luck!
Now that I am cooking for two again, me and the hubs, since the boy doesn't believe in eating, it is way harder than when I cooked for a whole family. We eat a LOT of leftovers.
fatter wallets, thinner butts is my resolution....we'll see how that goes:)
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