A lot of people say you can save lots of money by learning to cook. They say it is easy and fun, and it is worth the extra time because of the benefits to both wallet and health.
It is generally implied that the only two options are eating out or cooking at home, although sometimes there might be acknowledgement of commercial frozen meals, which fall somewhere between the two in terms of cost.
So you can have quick and convenient, healthy, or inexpensive, but never all three.
I propose a fourth option...
Develop simpler tastes.
A lot of mustachianism involves giving up little luxuries that many are so used to that they just take for granted, and learning to enjoy whats available instead of chasing desires.
The one thing that stands out to me that all 3 methods of getting food on the plate have in common is they are all very complex and refined and flavorful.
But you can have meals that are just as healthy, and - depending on taste - just as tasty, without anything so involved as to be called "cooking".
Cooking is just fine for someone who both enjoys cooking, and has the time to do it.
I find it is fun to occasionally make something elaborate - but up to 3 times a day, 365 days a year, it gets tedious.
My general everyday feeling is I don't want to spend anymore time preparing food then its going to take me to eat it. I have other more fun and/or profitable things to do with my time than getting food into me all day (like posting on the MMM board!)
Here are a few examples of stuff I eat:
Yogurt, berries, nuts, a little whey powder (for protein)
Tortilla, with beans, corn, cheese, and salsa (left over from chips that came with super burrito)
Bread, peanut butter, jelly, bread
Bread, cheese, lettuce (from garden), bread
Noodles, tvp, mixed vegetables, cheese
Raw ingredients usually come from cans or frozen. I know this isn't as cheap as dry or fresh, but it is a whole heck of a lot closer in price than it is to eating out, but with none of the prep time.
Eating out to me usually means a $3 super burrito (plus free chips and salsa) which is big enough to be at least 1.5 meals (plus, salsa to use in home-made burrito mentioned above)
Anyone else have any <1 minute meal ideas?
I haven't cranked the numbers of actual cost of, say, canned beans vs dried, or frozen veggies vs fresh, so anyone care to correct me that the cost difference is relatively small (relative to eating pre-prepared meals)?