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You probably do this and don’t even realize you are doing it.
The last person I talked to said they only do it every once in a while and it doesn’t add up to too much.
Well believe it or not everything adds up even $5 here and $10 there. It all adds up.
Before you know it you are spending $150 a week and $600 a month. And then you are wondering where all your money went.
So what am I talking about?
I am talking about eating out, drive thrus, coffee runs, breakfast on the go. Do you realize how much you are actually spending on that coffee over the month?
Let’s break it down. If you get coffee Monday to Friday and it costs you $5 a day, by the end of the week you spent $25 on coffee in a month that is $100.
If you go out for lunch everyday of the week instead of cooking your midday meal and each one costs you $15 including drinks you have spent $105 in a week.
Week after week that adds up to $420 in lunches for a month.
Do you and your family or friends do Friday night dinners or Sunday brunch buffets? Let’s round it and say you spend $100 for a meal for four.
Multiply that by the month and you have spent $400 eating out one night a week for a month. Or double it if you eat out twice a week as a group.
It truly does add up.
Start saving more money and make it at home.
You could be saving $100 a month or more depending on how much coffee you drink by making it at home and using a travel mug.
I was given the best coffee lover gift a few years ago and it saves me so much money. Do you love lattes? Buy a milk frother!
We have this one. It will steam, whip, froth and make the perfect creamy latte milk from nut milks and regular milks. Top the coffee of your choice and enjoy.
Skip the lunch out and bring leftovers from home. Sick of sandwiches? Try this oven lunch box, my husband has it and enjoys steamy hot soups, lasagna and so much more in a matter of minutes.
Save the $420+ in lunch meals for the month and start cooking at home.
Eating out as a family is a great activity and a treat for whoever regularly cooks. But when you add up eating out more than once a week as a family you could be looking at a monthly bill of $800.
Save the money, put it toward a vacation and start meal planning.
It is always better if someone else makes it.
My husband likes to say bagels always taste better when someone else makes it and so does his evening coffee. And I have to agree.
It is always nice to treat yourself and enjoy a good latte or a nice meal. But it is way cheaper to ask your spouse to make it. Or to make it yourself.
In our house we take turns cooking or making coffee or treats, that way the other feels “taken care of”. Something as simple as coffee ready before you walk out the door to work can change the day.
Home cooking your way to saving money.
You can save up to and over $1000 a month by cooking meals at home.
Now of course this is a large amount and accounting if someone has coffee out every morning and grabs lunch with his coworkers everyday.
Add in a few dinners out a week and yes you could truly add up to spending $1000 on dining out a month.
Invest in appliances that make you want to cook from home. I got the coveted Instant Pot recently and I wonder why I didn’t buy it sooner.
I love this appliance and it makes my life so much easier. Dinner is on the table in minutes.
Create a meal plan that works and you want to make.
Meal plans save time and money.
The easiest way to create a workable meal plan is to write down 10 of your family’s favorite meals.
Add in two nights for soup and sandwich rush to activities meals and two nights to try something new, or a few nights for leftovers.
Now that you have your meal ideas, write up your grocery list, check and see what ingredients you have. Cross reference your list with the store sales and your Ibotta money savings app.
Write the meals on the calendar and you have a simple and easy meal plan to follow. If you are looking for new meal ideas checkout this out.
You can save money by changing this one thing.
Learn to say no. Pass on the eating out and enjoy a good old fashioned home cooked meal.
Other money saving posts you may enjoy:
- Learn How To Save Money When Things Are Tight
- 75 Frugal Living Tips To Help You Survive On One Income
- 21 Things We Stopped Buying To Save Money
- Secret Must Haves Of a Frugal Home
Have an amazing day,
Cynthia
Saving & Simplicity