Restaurant Diners Anonymous

[golden1]

Eating out is my biggest budget weakness and has been really tough for me to get a handle on. 

Groceries (including cat stuff and toiletries) for our family of 4 is about 800/month and eating out is around $300-400 (I know, I know!).   I recently cut down on eating out for my lunches, eating out only once a week most weeks.  A lot of my eating out is family take out - I stop at Chipotle every friday night to get dinner for the family - $23 for two burrito bowls and two kids meals, and there are usually leftovers for me for Saturday lunch - cheaper than pizza and much healthier.  We probably eat out at a sit down restaurant no more than once a month, usually to celebrate something, like a birthday.  These things don't bother me that much.  My DH is the biggest offender - he spends about $200-300 a month on work lunches, daily coffees, and take out for dinner a few times a week (he goes to night school).  I have mentioned to him that he could save money by making coffee at work, bring lunches etc, but he won't give up the coffee, and he will make his lunches for awhile then he will slowly drift back into buying everyday. 

My groceries are so high because my kids are tweens and are currently eating me out of house and home.  In order to keep fresh fruit in the house, I have to stop every 2-3 days.  It's crazy!  I used to be able to get under $600/month when they were younger, even with diapers, which isn't too bad for the boston area. 

I still could do better with

[swick]

So what do you guys do for lunch at work? This has been my Achilles heel. We have a cafeteria and a microwave and I guess I'm a bit of a food snob. I like warm food and hate microwaved food, so I end up spending at the cafeteria. It's hard for me to come up with foods to pack that I'd like to eat. I rationalize it by telling myself that once I don't have to work, I won't be at the office 10 hours a day and I can cook lunches (which I don't mind at all). But for now this is my big unnecessary spending category...

We would probably eat out more if we had anywhere to go that didn't disappoint us, but small town and we can always make better at home. If you make great food at home, leftovers are always a good options.

If you don't like microwaving your food, but still want something "Hot" I would suggest a small electric Panini press. Hubby has one that he can stash in his office and take to the lunch room as needed (otherwise it would go missing) I have never come across a sandwich that doesn't taste better hot and  toasted.

Most of the guys he works with bring whatever styrofoam leftovers they had from the bar the night before - many have offered to pay him to provide a toasted sandwich for their lunch. I'm looking into the logistics and possibilities :)

[giggles]

Dining out is FOR SURE our biggest mustachian failing.  I am hoping to reverse this when I am home on maternity leave!

[Mr. Frugalwoods]

So what do you guys do for lunch at work? This has been my Achilles heel. We have a cafeteria and a microwave and I guess I'm a bit of a food snob. I like warm food and hate microwaved food, so I end up spending at the cafeteria. It's hard for me to come up with foods to pack that I'd like to eat. I rationalize it by telling myself that once I don't have to work, I won't be at the office 10 hours a day and I can cook lunches (which I don't mind at all). But for now this is my big unnecessary spending category...

Soups! Stews! Chilis!  Nothing reheats like a liquid.  These are also begging to be made on sunday, portioned out, and grabbed from the fridge every morning.

I made this black bean soup recipe last sunday:

http://iowagirleats.com/2012/12/04/best-ever-black-bean-soup-with-cilantro-lime-rice/

Didn't quite make it as fancy as that blogger did, but it's a good template.  And stupid cheap!

[obstinate]

This was good. I'll bet it would reheat well too.

http://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/classic-rag-bolognese

[BlueHouse]

Where are my other diners at? Because I'm feeling rather lonely and I *know* people on here have it worse than I do.

Sorry Galliver, I was elbows deep in my takeout Indian food.  I'm here.  yup, I eat out a lot and I get take out way more than I should.  But I'm really good about lunches and i always bring my lunch to work.  Here's an idea that might work for you.  I haven't actually done it yet, but it's on my list of to-dos to get going in my neighborhood. 
Start a brown-bag club with at 4 other people.  On Sunday, everyone makes a meal that is big enough for 6 servings.  You eat one and pack 5 into freezable, microwaveable containers.  Everyone gets together and exchanges tupperwares so that everyone walks out with 5 different meals for 5 lunches.  You really can do this with any number of people.  If you have more, you have more selections to choose your 5 meals from.  If you have fewer, then you have to eat the same thing more than once. 
Discuss with the group whether you want to institute any meal guidelines:   vegetarian; healthy; under x calories;   

[Zikoris]

Does no-one else find most restaurant food disgusting?

I can't cook, but my wife makes simple meals that are more consistent and better tasting than when I have eaten out. Perhaps related, she likes restaurants better than I.

This thread is figuratively making me nauseous!

This is exactly how my boyfriend and I feel - add to that the fact that we're vegans and get sick from eating food with too much fat or salt, and restaurants are not a pleasant experience.

We do go to a nice, healthier vegetarian restaurant once a year for our anniversary, pick up grilled gourmet veggie burgers from a vegan food truck a few times a year, and grab takeout sushi for lunch the day we're leaving for vacation and have no food left in the house. We enjoy those, since they're healthier choices and don't make us sick.

[rosaz]

One thing that's helped me is really thinking about why I'm eating out. I know it sounds basic but I found that even when I was reducing the number of times I ate out, I was still treating every time I did decide to go out as a reason to grab a full meal + drink.

So... am I eating out to grab a drink and socialize with friends? Ok - then I really just need to buy a drink. I don't need to order food just because I'm at a place that serves food.

Is it because I'll be out and about all day, and feel I need something more substantive than a sandwich? Ok, but then I just grab a Chipotle burrito and a free water- no chips, no juice needed. Just something to keep me running.

Do I want to try new foods for variety's sake? Ok, well my local Indian restaurant has a fairly affordable weekend lunch buffet - I can go then, rather than pay full dinner entree prices.

And on the occasions I am going out because I really want a full dinner plus a cocktail or two I can't make well at home... then fine, I do that. But that's about once every few months, and the other times, it doesn't really enhance the experience.

[thepokercab]

Hello, my name is PokerCab, and it's been 48 hours since my last eating out trip....! 

[galliver]

One thing that's helped me is really thinking about why I'm eating out. I know it sounds basic but I found that even when I was reducing the number of times I ate out, I was still treating every time I did decide to go out as a reason to grab a full meal + drink.

So... am I eating out to grab a drink and socialize with friends? Ok - then I really just need to buy a drink. I don't need to order food just because I'm at a place that serves food.

Is it because I'll be out and about all day, and feel I need something more substantive than a sandwich? Ok, but then I just grab a Chipotle burrito and a free water- no chips, no juice needed. Just something to keep me running.

Do I want to try new foods for variety's sake? Ok, well my local Indian restaurant has a fairly affordable weekend lunch buffet - I can go then, rather than pay full dinner entree prices.

And on the occasions I am going out because I really want a full dinner plus a cocktail or two I can't make well at home... then fine, I do that. But that's about once every few months, and the other times, it doesn't really enhance the experience.

I think you're right. I think that's why I posted all the reasons I did find for my own lapses (or justifiable-to me-causes). Now I can conquer them one by one. Or get suggestions on those specific causes/reasons. Although "plan better" (which you can see has been mentioned a lot) doesn't work so well when plans go awry because my lifestyle is unpredictable :) (Admittedly, there *are* still times I could plan better.)

Hello, my name is PokerCab, and it's been 48 hours since my last eating out trip....! 

Hi PokerCab, welcome! (Is that the appropriate response? I'm not too familiar with the __A-group meetings...)

[Cassie]

We also love to eat out. Never really understand when people say they rather eat at home.  We don't eat out more then once a week and sometimes not even that.  If we do a fancy meal then that is all we do for the month.  Restaurant.com has some great coupons for a small cost so you might want to check it out.  We are way better then we used to be.

[Malloy]

You rang?

I love eating out, and we could easily spend $1000/month.  I don't do this, but I could easily imagine it.  This whole thread has been very instructive. I am one of those tiresome people who thinks of food as a pleasure, and I just do not comprehend people who eat things like luna bars on the regular.  Sure, sometimes I'm forced to eat for fuel, but I'd rather eat fruit or crackers than trumped up things masquerading as food.  If I could flex my MMM muscles, I could probably overcome my wiring towards delicious food, but that seems so grim.

I try to keep my budget in check by treating eating out as a special occasion, although this has its own risks.  Namely, I eat out less frequently but far more expensively.  I also try to only go to places that make food I can't possibly make at home.  That means sushi (expensive!), but also cheaper things like ramen, korean bbq, Indian, etc.  I don't feel too bad about this, because we can afford it, but our food budget is definitely on the upper end for this forum.  Probably $300-400/month in restaurants and $800-900 in food and alcohol, including a meat and veggie share.  Ethical meat is just very expensive, and the best way to cut down this expense would be to eat less meat. I'm all for it, but I can't get the rest of the family on board.  I blame bacon.

[galliver]

Listened to my own advice and walked to the grocery store instead of the chinese place yesterday. Worked pretty well. :)

You rang?

I love eating out, and we could easily spend $1000/month.  I don't do this, but I could easily imagine it.  This whole thread has been very instructive. I am one of those tiresome people who thinks of food as a pleasure, and I just do not comprehend people who eat things like luna bars on the regular.  Sure, sometimes I'm forced to eat for fuel, but I'd rather eat fruit or crackers than trumped up things masquerading as food.  If I could flex my MMM muscles, I could probably overcome my wiring towards delicious food, but that seems so grim.

I try to keep my budget in check by treating eating out as a special occasion, although this has its own risks.  Namely, I eat out less frequently but far more expensively.  I also try to only go to places that make food I can't possibly make at home.  That means sushi (expensive!), but also cheaper things like ramen, korean bbq, Indian, etc.  I don't feel too bad about this, because we can afford it, but our food budget is definitely on the upper end for this forum.  Probably $300-400/month in restaurants and $800-900 in food and alcohol, including a meat and veggie share.  Ethical meat is just very expensive, and the best way to cut down this expense would be to eat less meat. I'm all for it, but I can't get the rest of the family on board.  I blame bacon.

Meat is delicious. Forcing carnivores to give up meat is a form of torture.

[Amanda]

I stay away from restaurants because it's harder to have a good conversation there, the food is unimpressive for the price, and I have kids that are picky eaters. I've never, ever found taking kids to eat out a fun activity. It is torture.

Amen and amen.

I still like to go out to eat foods that I haven't mastered making at home or out to a good pub that has a bunch of beers on tap that I might not otherwise get to try, but dining out with children (even my little angels) ought to be banned under the Geneva Convention.

[pipercat]

Count me in as another member of your little RDA group!  For us, as parents, it all comes down to our schedule and planning.  We've been improving over recent months, but it hasn't been easy.  The biggest change has been taking my lunch to work.  Also, limiting the number of errands we go on as an entire family.  When we are all out and about, it's easy to just "stop in somewhere and grab a bite".

[galliver]

I have a story to share...

One day, I brought a double-sized lunch because I was anticipating having a long day and was going to have half for dinner. Instead, I convinced a friend that stopped by to ask me to join her for (going out to) lunch to share half of my food. In return, she made me lunch a few days later. Last week, I offered in advance to bring her lunch (I had a big batch of Budget Bytes' quinoa tabbouleh I was going to get tired of), and yesterday she called me up with the same offer (she made a delicious potato soup :) )

Might be a strategy to try for others who tend to get tired of their own cooking and enjoy company with their lunch (and usually get these things by going out). :)

[dragoncar]

I have a problem, but I just don't care at this point.  I'll just plan to incorporate restaurant eating into my RE expenses and save accordingly.

[BFGirl]

I have a problem, but I just don't care at this point.  I'll just plan to incorporate restaurant eating into my RE expenses and save accordingly.

+1

[Philociraptor]

Put me in this boat, we (2 adults) have a $400 grocery budgets and still find ourselves spending $200-$400 each month at restaurants (including alcohol). We don't eat breakfast and we take our lunches 4 out of 5 days. Sushi restaurants were our largest restaurant expense for awhile, between $50 and $80 each time we went.  We're doing a no-spend July (with an anniversary exception), so hopefully that will help us reset our spending there.

[Cassie]

We actually budget about 200/month to eat out because we really enjoy it.  We tend to eat things that we do not make at home.

[MidwestGal]

Yup, I belong here.  Even with a grocery budget of $400-500/month including pet food and supplies, we easily spend $100-200 a month on eating out.  It's slowly getting pared down.  I am a semi-foodie and would love to save our restaurant budget for fancier fare but we generally go to restaurants/bars with friends at a price point that everyone can afford.  We do potlucks when possible!

+1 on getting things that we can't do well at home.

[DMoney]

I've the got the solution for you!  Have three children in 19 months.  Ha!  Oh, I used to savor the dining out experience.  Now it is a nightmare with three children under the age of 3.  The scorn of waiters and fellow diners alike, is a lousy tasting sauce, indeed. 

We tried to go out for Father's Day.  One of those brick oven pizza like places.  It's almost like a military operation, the way the five of us coming in, get seated in the far corner of the restaurant, and order IMMEDIATELY.  The waiter, if he knows what is good for him, pushes our order to the front, because there's just no telling how long it will be until the twins start throwing food or the toddler decides he wants to run circles around the tables. 

Solidarity, sister.  Maybe cut out the expenditures for poor prior planning, but the times you are eating out for pleasure and social encounters, I say savor it! ;)

[ThriftyD]

To cut down on my own self-admitted laziness when it comes to cooking daily, I've grown to become a serial (not cereal) eater.  I make a big batch of something on Sunday (maybe taco meat, a casserole, four or five chicken breasts, pasta, etc) and can eat that each dinner for the next 4-5 days and I really don't get sick of it.  I can also eat it for lunch or use the chicken breasts for lunch sandwiches.

That way, if I don't feel like making something new that night I'll already have something made that I'll just have to re-heat in the microwave. 

[Gin1984]

I though of something that may save you a few cents.  If you buy starbucks gift cards from cardpool, they are at least a little discounted.  Over time even a small savings may help.

[Ashyukun]

We definitely eat out more than I'd like, though I don't have the exact numbers it's usually a few times a week so probably up there in the $3-400/month range. I imagine that will drop down considerably in a few weeks once the wife quits her retail job at the mall- half the time we eat out it's because she hasn't been able to get a lunch break and is starving so wants to meet up at one of the nearby restaurants for dinner.

More than eating meals out though, we need to work on the desserts! We both LOVE frozen yogurt and probably spent $45 or so on it per week. Should probably really try and cut back on it, but especially in the summer it just really hits the spot- and is one of the only dessert-type things besides fruit that we usually have.

[golden1]

Yep, we also spend around $250-300/month on restaurants and take out.  I know it is an extravagance, but I budget for it and I am comfortable with that amount.  That covers a once a month "celebration" meal, an occasional (usually once every three months) date night meal, a weekly Chipotle take out for the family (it is a healthy meal that everyone eats, yay!), and a once a week take out lunch and coffee for me.  While I understand it is a luxury, I am willing to budget for it.  If I had cc or student loan debt, I would probably pare it down or get rid of it but I am okay with it right now. 

[Louisville]

Unlike a lot of people on this thread, my sin is expensive restaurants. Wife and I don't eat out for convenience/laziness/socializing, we eat out for high quality food. Our town has more than it's per capita share of really good restaurants where the chefs are pulling off awesome things. Things that would take me a lot of tries to duplciate at home. We both have backgrounds in culinary arts, so we are food/drink nerds. We never eat at chains, etc. So, it's a hobby/entertainment, not just calories/nutrition.

We go out slightly more often than twice a month, and the bills, with tip, run in the $150 neighborhood. When I'm paying that kind of money, the restaurant had better deliver. I don't mind expensive, but I do mind expensive and not worth it. I won't return to a place like that.

Having said all that, at the end of the month I look at the CC statement and feel regret. I've been trying to cut back, without much success. It's easier in the summer, with so much to do. In the winter, the spending goes up. We're saving better than 60%, so I guess this is an ok hobby. But, again, it bothers me sometimes.

[hybrid]

We spend more on eating out than I wish we did, but we cut our eating out budget in half from last year. When I decide to eat out now there needs to be a good reason, and convenience doesn't count as a good reason. I usually opt for things that are out of the ordinary. I make an exception for going out occasionally with friends, and we typically don't go to high priced places. Last night was one of those occasions and my tab for the evening was $20. For a night out with buddies I don't see enough of that's money well spent.

[skunkfunk]

We definitely eat out more than I'd like, though I don't have the exact numbers it's usually a few times a week so probably up there in the $3-400/month range. I imagine that will drop down considerably in a few weeks once the wife quits her retail job at the mall- half the time we eat out it's because she hasn't been able to get a lunch break and is starving so wants to meet up at one of the nearby restaurants for dinner.

More than eating meals out though, we need to work on the desserts! We both LOVE frozen yogurt and probably spent $45 or so on it per week. Should probably really try and cut back on it, but especially in the summer it just really hits the spot- and is one of the only dessert-type things besides fruit that we usually have.

?!! Why not let her eat out without you? Have a sandwich or something. and $45 a week on FROZEN YOGURT?? You can buy a low-end commercial-grade frozen yogurt machine and the mix, AND install the thing, and your payback period is, what, 5 months?

U We both have backgrounds in culinary arts, so we are food/drink nerds. We never eat at chains, etc. So, it's a hobby/entertainment, not just calories/nutrition.

Do you cook gourmet food at home? Cause if not, I just don't even know where to begin.

Sorry for the facepunches, I just get a little rage-y reading such horrid weaknesses on an early retirement forum. $400 a month restaurant habit costs an extra $120000 in retirement holdings to maintain at 4% SWR. For me to do that I'd be tacking 2 years of working onto my life if I saved every penny my wife and I take home! Not to mention that $400 a month would make the savings rate substantially lower.

Does this post count as compassionate support?

[dodojojo]

Don't be afraid to buy convenience foods at the grocery store as you're cutting back. Time was a major factor for me and restaurants. I would wait too long to eat and then realize I was extremely hungry and so I was even less likely than normal to cook... so I would order out. So be sure to have to "crappy" meals around, like frozen meals that you can microwave for a few minutes.

- Cook in bulk once a week and freeze the excess. It's economical and will guarantee that you always have a good quantity of food in the house.

This is very relevant to me and I find when I fail in these areas--I spend on crappy take-out lunches and dinners.  I'm actually okay with spending money on a good meal and/or for social reasons.  It's something to enjoy in life.  Obviously with common sense and moderation.  For example, when I go to LA to visit friends and family, I  spend a lot of money on eating out.  I'm okay with this for 2-3 weeks out of the year.

What I dislike is when I spend $5-10 on lunches and take-out dinners and it's all down to processes.  It's down to not cooking and prepping meals on the weekends for the work week.  It's not washing the dishes and tidying up the kitchen which in turn prevents me from cooking.  On the walk home late from work and I realize there's a mountain of dishes in the sink.  Oh, I have to washes the dishes before I even get to cooking?  Detour to the local chicken rotissierie place...It's not helpful that I haven't been able to use the dishwasher the last couple of months.  Argh, need to follow up with the landlord.

And I'm going to embrace the prepared food option as legit.  I occasionally pick up boxed or frozen food from Trader Joe's and it's always a struggle as I feel I should not be eating this type of food.  Cook and eat fresh...But you know, it's a compromise and it's still a cheaper and likely better option than take-away.

[galliver]

Sorry for the facepunches, I just get a little rage-y reading such horrid weaknesses on an early retirement forum. $400 a month restaurant habit costs an extra $120000 in retirement holdings to maintain at 4% SWR. For me to do that I'd be tacking 2 years of working onto my life if I saved every penny my wife and I take home! Not to mention that $400 a month would make the savings rate substantially lower.

Does this post count as compassionate support?

I have to assume you have no weaknesses yourself? Some if what people on here talk about seems pretty ridiculous to me...but if people enjoy their car and plane hobbies, who am I to judge if it's worth it to them?

You also seem to be missing two other key points: not everyone's #1 priority is to ER ASAP (yes, even on this forum), and that this is a place for work in progress-such as minimizing and defeating bad habits.

If this thread makes you ragey go read other threads! There is quite a variety on here!

Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk 2

[Louisville]

Sorry for the facepunches, I just get a little rage-y reading such horrid weaknesses on an early retirement forum. $400 a month restaurant habit costs an extra $120000 in retirement holdings to maintain at 4% SWR. For me to do that I'd be tacking 2 years of working onto my life if I saved every penny my wife and I take home! Not to mention that $400 a month would make the savings rate substantially lower.

Does this post count as compassionate support?

I have to assume you have no weaknesses yourself? Some if what people on here talk about seems pretty ridiculous to me...but if people enjoy their car and plane hobbies, who am I to judge if it's worth it to them?

You also seem to be missing two other key points: not everyone's #1 priority is to ER ASAP (yes, even on this forum), and that this is a place for work in progress-such as minimizing and defeating bad habits.

If this thread makes you ragey go read other threads! There is quite a variety on here!

Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk 2

Sorry, I'm with Skunkfunk, even though I'm one of the ones he's facepunching.   I've got an expensive hobby. I realize I need to curtail it. He's pointing out the error of my ways.
BTW, Skunkfunk, yes, I throw the fuck down in the kitchen at home.

[Bookworm]

I have a problem, too! In my case, I kind of get away with it because I'm a very light eater, so eating fast food is really cheap, and doesn't create a huge Hair on Fire emergency in my food budget. I can eat one item from the dollar and under menu and be full. But it's so horrible for my health, I know. I keep telling myself I'm going to stop, and then I don't.

[Cassie]

I always make sure I have some quick things in the freezer that I can just put in the oven.  That helps me avoid going out to eat when I am tired, etc.  Not the healthiest but eating out is often not healthy either.  Life is a trade-off. If eating out brings pleasure like it does to us then do it & cut expenses in other places you do not care about. 

[Ashyukun]

We definitely eat out more than I'd like, though I don't have the exact numbers it's usually a few times a week so probably up there in the $3-400/month range. I imagine that will drop down considerably in a few weeks once the wife quits her retail job at the mall- half the time we eat out it's because she hasn't been able to get a lunch break and is starving so wants to meet up at one of the nearby restaurants for dinner.

More than eating meals out though, we need to work on the desserts! We both LOVE frozen yogurt and probably spent $45 or so on it per week. Should probably really try and cut back on it, but especially in the summer it just really hits the spot- and is one of the only dessert-type things besides fruit that we usually have.

?!! Why not let her eat out without you? Have a sandwich or something.

Perhaps because I value eating dinner with my wife and the time spent with her in general far more than I do saving a few dollars?

and $45 a week on FROZEN YOGURT?? You can buy a low-end commercial-grade frozen yogurt machine and the mix, AND install the thing, and your payback period is, what, 5 months?

First off, that $45 is probably on the high side, especially since I try and find coupons/discounts on it as much as possible. It's probably closer to $35, not that I imagine that's much better in your eyes. We also, unsurprisingly, go far less often in the winter, though it's still an enjoyable treat and they often have very interesting holiday flavors.

And that 'frozen yogurt machine' you linked is not, in fact, a frozen yogurt machine- it's the mixer thing that is on the side of it: it's what you'd use if you wanted to make something akin to a DQ Blizzard by mixing in toppings. A true frozen yogurt machine of the likes that you'd need to be able to compare to getting it at a shop looks to run in the vicinity of $4k for a USED model, closer to $7k for a new one. The mix you posted is for soft-serve and not FroYo- I couldn't in a reasonable enough time find a truly good answer for what all the ingredients (base mix, yogurt (if not using a liquid based mix), and flavoring) would cost as well as how much it would generate in the way of finished product. Then there's also the cost of toppings to add in (which is at least half of why we go- we're really good about candy and sweets otherwise). Even using the $45 amount, a used machine, and ignoring the cost of the yogurt itself & electricity to power the thing, it would take almost -90- months, or over 7 YEARS to break even.

[tmac]

I think I've stumbled across a way to check my restaurant habit. Much of our eating out was for convenience. We also tended to frequent the same few places over and over again.

We just moved to a new state.  I don't know any of the restaurants, and there are a lot of them. Here, in this relatively rich restaurant environment, I could see us falling into an expensive foodie trap.

Our new rule: We can't eat twice at the same place until we've sampled quite a lot of available options. I'm reviewing everywhere we go on Yelp to keep a running list of where we've been. This means no falling into an easy pattern of "Oh, let's just pick up some [whatever]." It requires some research to figure out where to go, and by then, I might as well cook.

We've been here for two weeks, and have eaten at a Mexican place and gotten some really good take-out pizza. So far, so good.

[meadow lark]

My name is Meadow and I am a restaurant diner-aholic.  To come clean, currently our budget for 4 adults (son's GF eats all her meals here) sis $800 for groceries, $400 for restaurants.  Yeah, pretty bad.  For me it is very social.  I go out with my friends for coffee A LOT.  Then my wife wants to go out for dinner all the time.  And I have trouble saying no whenever someone suggests going out...  Still a work in progress.

[Caoineag]

Yeah, I am definitely at the high end of this range (allow me to rephrase, I am trying to get my budget down to the high end of mustachian eating out). Groceries are under control, especially since we don't buy hardly any convenience items. Restaurant eating though? You don't want to see the budget.

Big issues in our household: laziness, inability to eat things more than 3 times in a row (4-5 if brand new recipe), hectic schedule, enjoy the experience of picking out something that someone else cooks, love to try new things, live to eat not eat to live.

We do flexible planning. By having a variety of quick to eat items (raw veggies, bread and oil, quick recipe items), we stand a much better chance of making it home to eat. Our recent insistence on healthy whole foods has resulted in a diminishing use of unhealthy fast food (which is not actually helpful to the budget but good for the arteries). Unfortunately, we have a large variety of tasty restaurants, some of which quote the "Eat real food, mostly plants" as their cooking motto.

Supper after work and work meals seem to be my major issues. Work meals are an issue because I need to start bringing more variety to work so I don't go "Nah, I don't feel like eating that, I will just grab something from the cafeteria." Supper after work because we drive (yes, hubby and I carpool at night) right past all these lovely restaurants. I trying to work on that by making supper more of a snacking event and the first two meals of the day being the main calorie source. Its still very much a work in progress...

[Latwell]

Whenever I eat out, there are two rules I try to follow which makes me feel a little less guilty about eating out:

1. Never order something that you are capable of making at home (so no burgers, chicken fingers, ect).

2. As soon as my plate comes, I split it in half. I eat half of the plate and save the other half for the following day.

[skunkfunk]

We definitely eat out more than I'd like, though I don't have the exact numbers it's usually a few times a week so probably up there in the $3-400/month range. I imagine that will drop down considerably in a few weeks once the wife quits her retail job at the mall- half the time we eat out it's because she hasn't been able to get a lunch break and is starving so wants to meet up at one of the nearby restaurants for dinner.

More than eating meals out though, we need to work on the desserts! We both LOVE frozen yogurt and probably spent $45 or so on it per week. Should probably really try and cut back on it, but especially in the summer it just really hits the spot- and is one of the only dessert-type things besides fruit that we usually have.

?!! Why not let her eat out without you? Have a sandwich or something.

Perhaps because I value eating dinner with my wife and the time spent with her in general far more than I do saving a few dollars?

and $45 a week on FROZEN YOGURT?? You can buy a low-end commercial-grade frozen yogurt machine and the mix, AND install the thing, and your payback period is, what, 5 months?

First off, that $45 is probably on the high side, especially since I try and find coupons/discounts on it as much as possible. It's probably closer to $35, not that I imagine that's much better in your eyes. We also, unsurprisingly, go far less often in the winter, though it's still an enjoyable treat and they often have very interesting holiday flavors.

And that 'frozen yogurt machine' you linked is not, in fact, a frozen yogurt machine- it's the mixer thing that is on the side of it: it's what you'd use if you wanted to make something akin to a DQ Blizzard by mixing in toppings. A true frozen yogurt machine of the likes that you'd need to be able to compare to getting it at a shop looks to run in the vicinity of $4k for a USED model, closer to $7k for a new one. The mix you posted is for soft-serve and not FroYo- I couldn't in a reasonable enough time find a truly good answer for what all the ingredients (base mix, yogurt (if not using a liquid based mix), and flavoring) would cost as well as how much it would generate in the way of finished product. Then there's also the cost of toppings to add in (which is at least half of why we go- we're really good about candy and sweets otherwise). Even using the $45 amount, a used machine, and ignoring the cost of the yogurt itself & electricity to power the thing, it would take almost -90- months, or over 7 YEARS to break even.

I see, I misunderstood. You are referring to the fancy frozen yogurt places that I sometimes see in shopping centers, whereas I was thinking of the frozen yogurt you might get at a cheap chinese buffet.

The only reasonable alternative that I can think of in that case is making homemade ice cream, which is easy, but not at all the same thing. I have had the fancy frozen yogurt a time or two, and it is pretty tasty.

Sorry for the facepunches, I just get a little rage-y reading such horrid weaknesses on an early retirement forum. $400 a month restaurant habit costs an extra $120000 in retirement holdings to maintain at 4% SWR. For me to do that I'd be tacking 2 years of working onto my life if I saved every penny my wife and I take home! Not to mention that $400 a month would make the savings rate substantially lower.

Does this post count as compassionate support?

I have to assume you have no weaknesses yourself? Some if what people on here talk about seems pretty ridiculous to me...but if people enjoy their car and plane hobbies, who am I to judge if it's worth it to them?

You also seem to be missing two other key points: not everyone's #1 priority is to ER ASAP (yes, even on this forum), and that this is a place for work in progress-such as minimizing and defeating bad habits.

If this thread makes you ragey go read other threads! There is quite a variety on here!

Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk 2

Sorry, I'm with Skunkfunk, even though I'm one of the ones he's facepunching.   I've got an expensive hobby. I realize I need to curtail it. He's pointing out the error of my ways.
BTW, Skunkfunk, yes, I throw the fuck down in the kitchen at home.

Yes, I have a major weakness - my house. I paid top dollar for an old 1800 sq ft house, 1 month before I found MMM. Luckily I got one close enough to work to cycle, by chance, but it still takes up well over half of my expenses. Ugh. Not sure how to fix that aside from my current plan of paying it down aggressively, but on the positive side it has forced me to cut every other expense to the bone as my hair is on fire with this mortgage. Haven't paid a dime for labor, for instance, since signing on for ER, which used to be a big weakness (mechanics, home repairs, etc.)

[ProfWinkie]

Simple plan... put the amount you wish to allocate to restaurant meals in cash in an envelope. Only use the cash in the envelope to buy restaurant meals. I did this and cut my restaurant dinning by 60% overnight and I love having money left over at the end of the month.

[Goldielocks]

I have a problem. But I know I'm not the only one so I'm starting this thread for discussion and mutual support. I spend way too much on food, mostly by eating out. $200-300/month. I don't mind spending some, but I feel like I should be able to get it down to $100 without deprivation. However every time I focus on it and try, it seems to get away from me.

There are some situations I don't want to give up:
1) Weekly lunch with lady friends. $40/mo for sanity. Sometimes I grab a coffee with someone else, add $10/mo.
2) Celebrations (birthdays, career milestones, engagements, etc); There's probably one a month, on average, of some kind. I can't and won't tell my friends or colleagues how to celebrate, and I won't be so stingy as to not come share their joys.
3) Trying new foods/cuisines on dates with bf. We enjoy it and it influences my cooking by exposing me to new flavors.

And then there are some situations where it's unnecessary, but my resolve slips:
4) Staying late at work; I keep food in the office, but by 5-6 pm I want to *get out* and going for food is a handy excuse for a 10-15 min walk. Just going for a walk seems stupid even though it's not.
5) Feeling lonely. Sometimes I don't want to eat alone. Friends are on their own schedule, obviously.
6) Sushi. I can make CA rolls at home but it's not the same. :(
7) Bribing myself to get to campus earlier with a breakfast sandwich, coffee, etc. Even though we have tasty office coffee and I keep some kind of granola bars/breakfast cookies/etc in my desk...

And then there is lack of preparation/laziness:
8) Not having lunch-compatible foods (except canned soup, and "not feeling like it").
9) Feeling tired/hangry and craving something.
10) Not having grab-n-go breakfast options ready and running late for a morning appointment.
11) Heading out somewhere around lunch or dinner time and not thinking that I should have or bring a snack.

If you have conquered such situations/impulses I'd love to hear your advice! If you're dealing with the same sorts of issues I'd love to commiserate! Let's be compassionate. This is a support group. ;)

Eating with friends is one of life's joys, so focus on your eating alone habits first, where the reward versus planning is pretty small, really, once you get used to it.

My husband spent nearly 200 last month on eating out simply because he forgets about food when he leaves the house at 11am, then picks up food  about 2pm on the go..  He doesn't even really like the food, just forgets to eat.

If eating out with friends still a concern, just be certain to eat a healthy snack before you go out, to reduce what you order to an appetizer, or fries, or salad, etc. 

[Goldielocks]

Eating out is my biggest budget weakness and has been really tough for me to get a handle on. 

Groceries (including cat stuff and toiletries) for our family of 4 is about 800/month and eating out is around $300-400 (I know, I know!).   I recently cut down on eating out for my lunches, eating out only once a week most weeks.  A lot of my eating out is family take out - I stop at Chipotle every friday night to get dinner for the family - $23 for two burrito bowls and two kids meals, and there are usually leftovers for me for Saturday lunch - cheaper than pizza and much healthier.  We probably eat out at a sit down restaurant no more than once a month, usually to celebrate something, like a birthday.  These things don't bother me that much.  My DH is the biggest offender - he spends about $200-300 a month on work lunches, daily coffees, and take out for dinner a few times a week (he goes to night school).  I have mentioned to him that he could save money by making coffee at work, bring lunches etc, but he won't give up the coffee, and he will make his lunches for awhile then he will slowly drift back into buying everyday. 

My groceries are so high because my kids are tweens and are currently eating me out of house and home.  In order to keep fresh fruit in the house, I have to stop every 2-3 days.  It's crazy!  I used to be able to get under $600/month when they were younger, even with diapers, which isn't too bad for the boston area. 

I still could do better withu

Hmm. I am looking for the thread about how to communicate/ handle non MMM spouses...  Anyone have that link?