One common money sink for those who are aiming for frugality is the temptation to eat out. Oh, those restaurants are tempting. The thought of having someone else cook for you at the end of a hard day is very, very delicious. Or when you’re out and the kids are hungry, what then? The restaurants and grocery stores call, with their prepared lunches and snacks. How about breakfast or brunch with friends on the weekend?
Eating out is such a social occasion and such a temptation. We do it upon occasion too. I’m not telling you to stop, but it is a good idea to moderate your eating out. Even a small meal at an inexpensive restaurant can cost $40 or more for a family, and over time that takes a big chunk out of your budget.
So what can you do instead? First, think ahead. Plan for the children to get hungry the minute they step out the door. Pack water or juice and snacks, a variety of snacks so that everyone has something that they like. If you’re going to be gone for a while, pack two sets of snacks. Find local bakeries and grocery stores that sell inexpensive baked goods and fruit and lean on them in a pinch.
In lieu of eating out in the evening, freeze meals ahead of time and have them thaw while you are out during the day. This gives you the sense – almost – that someone was making this while you were gone. If you have a crockpot or a slow cooker, you can actually have dinner simmering by breakfast time. Take turns having different members of the family cook something simple. See it as an investment in their skills. Knowing how to cook is important.
As for brunch, it’s fairly inexpensive and a good way to go out with friends. However, you can cook up some eggs and bacon at home too, for less. Take turns doing brunch with your friends and alternate between your homes and restaurants.
How do you avoid eating out a lot?