My nemisis is eating out...

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-29-2006
My nemisis is eating out...
8
Fri, 04-28-2006 - 1:08pm

This is the biggest waste of where I spend our dollars. I have tried before to stop and have been unsucccessful. I have cut back this month, but it is still too much a waste of money. I use a ton of exccuses in order to justify it, so I need not do it anymore.

Please support me while I go "cold turkey" with this. I know I can do it, I stopped drinking soda last year. We will be going out today for the ds birthday, then my first goal is for a week. I can do it!

Michelle

PS. anyone want to join me so I am not so alone and different from eveyone else?

Avatar for 2locachicas
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-14-2003
Fri, 04-28-2006 - 1:30pm

I would love to join you....but I can't start until May 1st. Hubby is leaving for 3 weeks for his new job and we have a couple of family nights planned that include eating out.

Have you ever watched Oprahs debt diet? One family spent $29,000 eating out EVERY YEAR!! That is more than I pay for my house in a year....

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-10-2003
Fri, 04-28-2006 - 1:58pm

Boy do I hear you on that one. I used to eat out at least once, if not twice a day!! Granted I was bartending at the time, and it was just easier to come into work and eat there then have to make it myself. Unfortunately, old habits die hard, and after I stopped bartending and starting back at school, it was always easier to grab something at the cafeteria then make it at home. Since I have gotten serious about budgeting (and my ever growing waiste-line), I now include eating out in my spending money. That way if I want to do it, I have to give up something else in return. So far its been working and I am down to about once every two weeks.
Another thing that has helped is making meals in my slow cooker and freezing them in individual portions. This way when I am at home and tempted to go out, I just throw a meal in the microwave and it tastes so much better!!! It cheaper and better for me!!!

Hope this helps, and good luck!!!

Bex


Bex -

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Fri, 04-28-2006 - 2:02pm

Eating out is clearly where most of my money is stupidly spent too. Funny how it never seemed almost like an addiction until you stop trying to do it, isn't it? I have done really well during this month. Other than the 5 days this month we were out of town on vacation, I don't think we ate out at all. Plus I've been extremely on the ball with bringing my lunch to work everyday, which is making a difference too.

The hard part I am finding is having to say no when other people ask you to go out with them. And I try to explain about how getting out of debt is a priority right now, but then sometimes people think you must be in a really *bad* situation, like your car is about to repo'd or something, because you can't splurge for dinner. It isn't like I'm totally broke or anything, I just want to get off this merry go round that I have been riding on for 22 years since I got my first credit card at age 18.

Personally, I think I do need to get out every once in a while to maintain my sanity. Plus I don't want my 8 yr old DD to ever forget how she should act in a restaurant. Try to set a guideline for yourself. We were going out to dinner about 3 times per month. I am shooting for once a month right now. That reduces yearly dining out from 36 times to 12, and I still know that I can look forward to going out once a month.

Heather

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-29-2006
Fri, 04-28-2006 - 4:42pm

I knew that I was not the only one!

And Heather I know exactly what you mean about the assumptions made when you choose not to eat out. That is one of the things that has made it so hard for me. I do have the money, but now I want to use it in a totally different way. I want to make headway in our seemingly unmoving debt. Others seem not to care because what is one more $25 meal going to do for me. Again I have to be firm in that I am *choosing* to be different with my money.

Michelle

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-31-2005
Fri, 04-28-2006 - 6:46pm
My SIL and her DH were in town one weekend. They only live about 1 hour away and DH and I had already gone for lunch that day. Well when SIL's DH asked us to go for supper I said no they said "Don't be so cheap" So of course we gave in and went. We try to limit our eating out to Pizza on Friday nite after food shopping. Doesn't make sense to get all those groceries then spend money on pizza. But that is our treat for the weekend.

over 40 and tired

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-30-1999
Sat, 04-29-2006 - 12:04pm
this is definately my biggest problem area too. But I TRULY enjoy getting out of the house in this way so I'm not going to give it up but I am going to try to start setting limits for myself. Last night for example my DH and I met friends at a nice downtown resturant. My DH and I shared an appetizer, main entree, and each had an alcoholic drink and paid tip...we got out for 35.00. i was happy b/c we usually do alot worse. I figure baby steps are better than none. And BTW we paid with debit card! :)
michelle
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Sat, 04-29-2006 - 4:22pm

This is a hard situation for me. I'm single, so I don't cook hardly at all...I don't like leftovers. So, sure, I can go buy ready-made single size servings of things at the gorcery store, but they cost $2 and up...whereas I can go to Wendy's and eat off the dollar menu for the same price, and get what I want when I'm craving it, instead of being limited to what I already have in my freezer!

It's a conundrum for me...

I'm just trying not to eat much at all, whether in or out...summer is coming, so I can load up on fresh fruit and be OK, instead of eating all day long...that's the only thing I can do to help my situation...

So I'll join you in your quest to stay away from eating out...

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-07-2005
Sat, 04-29-2006 - 5:18pm
I'll join (waving hands in the air)!!! It's our main pitfall too. I did ok for awhile but then backslid into old habits. I really need to give it up since it's so expensive and bad for ya. I'm also working out to lose some weight so that'd help too. I also have the soda addiction and want to give it up cold turkey. So I'm in......May is my month to go restaurant free!! (I say as I'm literally eating Taco Bell) :( hanging my head in shame. I so could have written your post. It helps if you have support from you SO too! GL