RARELY. Once a month - TOPS. After watching Food Inc, I educated myself on where food comes from & eating out is less appealing than ever. Plus, I am frugal - so eating at home comes natural to me.
We eat out twice a month, at most, unless there happens to be a family birthday in that month. To save money, we go during happy hour for drink specials, and we have a local "deal conncetion" here where we can get gift certificates for restaurants at a discount.
My husband and I eat out together 1-2 times per month, usually with a coupon or groupon. We tend to like the taste and cost of home-cooked food even if all we have for dinner is poached eggs with cheese on English muffins.
We went from eating out several times a week to not eating out at all. On July 23 my daughter and I decided to do something about our weight. We had talked about only eating out once a month but decided on not even that since we have tried that before and it didn't work. We usually go out on Christmas but this year we are even considering staying home and making something we like.
I am glad we aren't eating out, during the past three years I lost my business and nearly my house yet through all of that we ate out, how foolish, we are on the right path now.
Between my low-sugar diet and our reluctance to spend money we could otherwise put toward an upcoming vacation, I would say our rule in the past several months is to not eat out at all. The exceptions are when we travel and it's unavoidable and when we are invited out with friends, which is about once or twice per month. And even when I go out with friends many times I eat before I go and don't order anything. Most of my friends know about my diet so it's not too awkward.
I'm heading back to New Hampshire from California for a wedding later this week, and I'm really looking forward to doing a lot of these activities -- especially apple picking and pie baking!
We are new to the envelope system, which we have set up similar to your recommendations. One reason it has helped is because it keeps BOTH of us apprised of our spending - not just the one responsible for bill-paying. We now manage our money much better, particularly for groceries and "miscellaneous." I have the MealBoard app for my Ipad (also available for Iphone), which also makes it easier. The app allows me to create my menus for the week, then creates a shopping list with prices. I know before I leave for the store approximately what it will cost. It works amazingly well, though it took a while to get all the data entered.
Once a month to once a week. There have been months of no dining out but bringing pizza home. We don't spend money on drinks when dining out; just order water. And try to use debit/credit card perks.
We (the fam combined) eat out about five times per week. That's about two lunches for the DH and I, along with one dinner for all of us. I count take-out as eating out because it is prepared food, ready to eat.
We have retired on less what No one ever says is it SUCKS! It does you never go anywhere or spend any money doing anything and it still runs $60K to live one year!
So cut all you want do things all you like it changes your quality of life!
I eat takeout a fair amount, but nothing expensive. I do eat out and have a nicer meal maybe every week or two.
We eat out once or twice a week and usually only when we are out of town because our town doesn't have any great restaurants.
RARELY. Once a month - TOPS. After watching Food Inc, I educated myself on where food comes from & eating out is less appealing than ever. Plus, I am frugal - so eating at home comes natural to me.
We eat out twice a month, at most, unless there happens to be a family birthday in that month. To save money, we go during happy hour for drink specials, and we have a local "deal conncetion" here where we can get gift certificates for restaurants at a discount.
My husband and I eat out together 1-2 times per month, usually with a coupon or groupon. We tend to like the taste and cost of home-cooked food even if all we have for dinner is poached eggs with cheese on English muffins.
We eat out only a few times a year on special occasions. My son works at a restaurant and often foots the bill.
I eat out 1-3 times a week.
Two to three times a week. And, always try and bring a coupon.
I usually eat out once a week....on Sunday after church.
We went from eating out several times a week to not eating out at all. On July 23 my daughter and I decided to do something about our weight. We had talked about only eating out once a month but decided on not even that since we have tried that before and it didn't work. We usually go out on Christmas but this year we are even considering staying home and making something we like.
I am glad we aren't eating out, during the past three years I lost my business and nearly my house yet through all of that we ate out, how foolish, we are on the right path now.
Between my low-sugar diet and our reluctance to spend money we could otherwise put toward an upcoming vacation, I would say our rule in the past several months is to not eat out at all. The exceptions are when we travel and it's unavoidable and when we are invited out with friends, which is about once or twice per month. And even when I go out with friends many times I eat before I go and don't order anything. Most of my friends know about my diet so it's not too awkward.
I like you on facebook.
As a couple, once a month or less. Occasional lunch individually at work or with a friend.
I'm heading back to New Hampshire from California for a wedding later this week, and I'm really looking forward to doing a lot of these activities -- especially apple picking and pie baking!
I hate those new baking pans and sheets! The bottom of my cookies always seem to burn on them, but on my older cookie sheet, they're fine.
We are new to the envelope system, which we have set up similar to your recommendations. One reason it has helped is because it keeps BOTH of us apprised of our spending - not just the one responsible for bill-paying. We now manage our money much better, particularly for groceries and "miscellaneous." I have the MealBoard app for my Ipad (also available for Iphone), which also makes it easier. The app allows me to create my menus for the week, then creates a shopping list with prices. I know before I leave for the store approximately what it will cost. It works amazingly well, though it took a while to get all the data entered.
Twice a week: usually Fridays and Saturdays.
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Once a month to once a week. There have been months of no dining out but bringing pizza home. We don't spend money on drinks when dining out; just order water. And try to use debit/credit card perks.
We eat out a couple of times a month.
We (the fam combined) eat out about five times per week. That's about two lunches for the DH and I, along with one dinner for all of us. I count take-out as eating out because it is prepared food, ready to eat.
We eat out about every other week, and also stick to a strict eating out budget of $120 a month for our family of three.
We go out to eat about once a week or less usually with a Groupon or similar deal. We always order water.
Excellent info, Brandon! Thanks for sharing.
We have retired on less what No one ever says is it SUCKS! It does you never go anywhere or spend any money doing anything and it still runs $60K to live one year!
So cut all you want do things all you like it changes your quality of life!