Food budget thoughts

[FairestOfThemAll37]

Hey all, I'm hoping you budget boarders may be able to lend me some opinions. I'd like to have a bit more fun money set aside. As it is now, I just kind of buy when I want things and go away when I can with work but I don't really have a pot of fun money and I would like to have one.

Now to the food budget part. I eat out a lot more than I eat in. I often just have coffee and a snack from the office for breakfast and then eat out lunch and dinner most of the week. I usually do places like chipotle or Panera (average about $7-$10). I know everybody says how much cheaper it is to eat at home, but whenever I buckle down to eat at home I always end up throwing stuff out before I can get to it.

I'm just one and don't eat a lot of starch so sandwiches and the like are out. I shop at publix (I know I could save $$ if I went to Winn-Dixie or Walmart but I won't do that). I'm not a great cook and don't have a lot of pantry space which means everytime I go to do a recipe (which is never for one person) I need to buy 'staples' in addition to the ingredients. I also have a very small freezer.

I always feel like if I were feeding more it's way cheaper but have never been able to save much for just me, and the PITA factor for somebody who doesn't enjoy cooking is huge. Am I doing something wrong?!?

Sorry for being so verbose :-/

 

[clh2]

Hey all, I'm hoping you budget boarders may be able to lend me some opinions. I'd like to have a bit more fun money set aside. As it is now, I just kind of buy when I want things and go away when I can with work but I don't really have a pot of fun money and I would like to have one.

Now to the food budget part. I eat out a lot more than I eat in. I often just have coffee and a snack from the office for breakfast and then eat out lunch and dinner most of the week. I usually do places like chipotle or Panera (average about $7-$10). I know everybody says how much cheaper it is to eat at home, but whenever I buckle down to eat at home I always end up throwing stuff out before I can get to it.

I'm just one and don't eat a lot of starch so sandwiches and the like are out. I shop at publix (I know I could save $$ if I went to Winn-Dixie or Walmart but I won't do that). I'm not a great cook and don't have a lot of pantry space which means everytime I go to do a recipe (which is never for one person) I need to buy 'staples' in addition to the ingredients. I also have a very small freezer.

I always feel like if I were feeding more it's way cheaper but have never been able to save much for just me, and the PITA factor for somebody who doesn't enjoy cooking is huge. Am I doing something wrong?!?

Sorry for being so verbose :-/

I would recommend to get a little more organized. Before you go grocery shopping, plan a weekly menu, and it may mean Monday and Wednesday you are eating the same entree and Tuesday and Thursday you eat a different entree, once you have your recipes, create your shopping list. This willl help to make sure you are not buying things that you do not need( which might be tossed later). Also-start to freeze leftovers, in ziplock bags, and then you will start to have a great variety of choices ready to thaw, reheat and eat.

 

[SamSam]

It's a process to change to eating at home versus eating out. It will take a little time to build up some staples for your pantry, but you will get it built up and then cooking at home gets easier.

It's just DH and myself (when kids were home we actually ate out a lot) and once I finally added up what we were spending eating out I decided to start eating in. I do like to cook , so that's not a problem. We both are perfectly okay with leftovers so that's a bonus. I have a vacumn sealer which makes the meals taste like you just cooked them.

I can honestly say that we save around $200 a week by cooking versus eating the majority of meals out. Nice chunk of money which we use for traveling, and then we splurge on eating out!

 

[dpswift]

It is a habit that you want to change. You told us what you do not eat what do you eat?

Take baby steps if need be, buy prepared soup at the grocery store and warm it up then when you get used to that try a homemade recipe. For another meal get a piece of meat to cook and a prepared salad.

Even if you start out by spending as much as you do now as you move from the prepared food to fresh you will begin saving money.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

You don't have to be a gourmet cook to make good meals at home.

At least once a week we have breakfast for dinner. Scramble some eggs. I buy a bag of jimmy dean sausage that is already cooked so that saves some time. The expiration on the sausage is at least 6 weeks.

I always keep one or two premade dinners on hand when I am in a rush. I usually have Stouffers frozen stuffed peppers or one of Bare Foot Contessa's meals in the freezer.

You could do soup and salad for dinner.

Baked potato and soup or a piece of grilled chicken.

Healthy Choice makes some good frozen entrée for lunch. Usually I get them for 4 for $10. That leaves me one day a week to go out to eat for lunch. If I spend $6 for the lunch I eat out that equals about $3.25 a day for lunch for the week.
On these cold winter days I eat Progresso soup for lunch. Just got some yesterday for $1.45. Very cheap lunch. I usually have a cheese stick or two with my soup. Campbell soup has so new ones that are great too.

 

[Judique]

Hey all, I'm hoping you budget boarders may be able to lend me some opinions. I'd like to have a bit more fun money set aside. As it is now, I just kind of buy when I want things and go away when I can with work but I don't really have a pot of fun money and I would like to have one.

Now to the food budget part. I eat out a lot more than I eat in. I often just have coffee and a snack from the office for breakfast and then eat out lunch and dinner most of the week. I usually do places like chipotle or Panera (average about $7-$10). I know everybody says how much cheaper it is to eat at home, but whenever I buckle down to eat at home I always end up throwing stuff out before I can get to it.

I'm just one and don't eat a lot of starch so sandwiches and the like are out. I shop at publix (I know I could save $$ if I went to Winn-Dixie or Walmart but I won't do that). I'm not a great cook and don't have a lot of pantry space which means everytime I go to do a recipe (which is never for one person) I need to buy 'staples' in addition to the ingredients. I also have a very small freezer.

I always feel like if I were feeding more it's way cheaper but have never been able to save much for just me, and the PITA factor for somebody who doesn't enjoy cooking is huge. Am I doing something wrong?!?

Sorry for being so verbose :-/

First, get an idea of what you are eating now. Write it down and what it costs you. You mentioned $7-$10. Your highest number, twice a day, only comes to $140 a week. My biggest concern would be are you eating a healthy diet?

Once you figure out what you are really spending and eating - it's really interesting to see it laid out on paper - you can start your changes. They may be as simple as buying a piece of fruit to sub for the chips from Panera. For me Panera's apples are not what I want - I'm usually attracted to that nice bread.

So, monitor your food choices first. Then figure out where you should make changes. My guess is that you are young and pretty busy as opposed to not organized. At your age eating is more a social thing. The problem is to get it on track with the rest of your life and make it a healthy thing. This will lead you to cooking and budgeting. I doubt you are a bad cook - you just aren't so interested in it right now. Start simple and work your way up. Cooking simple food such as a piece of grilled chicken and adding fresh veggies is healthy and can save money and doesn't require a lot of staples.

I'll share a lunch trick we've used: Buy salad stuff and a rotisserie chicken or grill a piece of steak. Take all the chicken of the bone (or slice the steak in small pieces). Each day assemble the ingredients into a salad for work. Put some dressing in a little container so stuff doesn't get soggy. You do the prep work on Sunday evening. You can also use the meat with a bit of rice for variety. Just simple food first - then vary as you get motivated.

 

[Marionnette]

Hey all, I'm hoping you budget boarders may be able to lend me some opinions. I'd like to have a bit more fun money set aside. As it is now, I just kind of buy when I want things and go away when I can with work but I don't really have a pot of fun money and I would like to have one.

Now to the food budget part. I eat out a lot more than I eat in. I often just have coffee and a snack from the office for breakfast and then eat out lunch and dinner most of the week. I usually do places like chipotle or Panera (average about $7-$10). I know everybody says how much cheaper it is to eat at home, but whenever I buckle down to eat at home I always end up throwing stuff out before I can get to it.

I'm just one and don't eat a lot of starch so sandwiches and the like are out. I shop at publix (I know I could save $$ if I went to Winn-Dixie or Walmart but I won't do that). I'm not a great cook and don't have a lot of pantry space which means everytime I go to do a recipe (which is never for one person) I need to buy 'staples' in addition to the ingredients. I also have a very small freezer.

I always feel like if I were feeding more it's way cheaper but have never been able to save much for just me, and the PITA factor for somebody who doesn't enjoy cooking is huge. Am I doing something wrong?!?

Sorry for being so verbose :-/

Start by making your own coffee and bringing it to work in a thermos. Make yourself breakfast at home or else bring instant oatmeal with you to work.

Do you have a friend who would also like to cut back on their eating out? How about each of you cooking a meal for 2 and then you eat at each other's place one night a week.

Buy a Foodsaver or another kind of vacuum sealer. Vacuum-packed food takes up less room in the freezer than plastic containers do. Seal up your leftovers and freeze them. Save them for a night when you don't feel like cooking. You can reheat those leftovers faster than any delivery place can bring dinner.

You also need to change your attitude about cooking if you want to eat out less. There are no two ways about it. You need to get busy in the kitchen if you don't want to pay someone else to feed you.

 

[CuteAndFluffy]

I really understand the dislike of cooking, but I dont hear a lot of conviction to move past that in your post. Here are a couple of ideas that may work more with where you are now, rather than trying to overhaul where/who you are.

1) Order less or less expensively. Drink tap water, use coupons, order a kids meal. Skip dessert. Find cheaper places to eat (ethnic restaurants usually have a great option or two) Eating out is not a treat in your world, its a way of life--eat that way.

2) Just change your breakfast habits. Willpower is strongest in the morning, so as long as you give yourself a few extra minutes you should be able to change a few days a week. Bring awesome coffee. Eat a bigger meal, heavier on protien, and you might be able to eat lighter at lunch. Its easy to take 15 minutes on a Sunday night to hardboil and peel eggs or make a fritatta for the week. Or you could make overnight oatmeal in mason jars in the fridge for the whole week and just heat them up as you go. Have a couple of Clif bars around and buy just a piece of fruit on the days you're running behind.

2) Just change lunch or dinner each day. Lunch may be a major social outlet for you, so it may not be a great place to change, but just 3 days a week would save you some money. 2 dinners would help too. Suddenly, thats 5 meals! You could make mason jar salads (dressing on the bottom, hard veggies like carrots as the bottom layer, then soft veggies like tomatoes and mushrooms, then stuff the rest of the jar with greens. Will keep for a week in the fridge, just dump into a bowl and add your protein) or a pot of chili or tortilla soup and freeze it in portions so you dont get sick of it. Burrito bowls are crazy easy and cheap!

3) Cook on Sunday. Make 3 chicken breasts so you can have leftovers. Chop up a couple veggies and roast them. Put together food for just Monday & Tuesday. Meal plan on the micro scale, not the whole week. And buy groceries for longevity--shelf stable boxes of milk, frozen fruit & veggies.

4) Get inspired! Take a great class or pick up a copy of a great cooking for one book.
One thing that may be holding you back is that you feel slow or unskilled in the kitchen. Practice! Get a good knife and cutting board, watch some youtube videos on how to chop certain things.

 

[aclov]

Totally understand its so much easier to just pick something up especially at dinner time! Cooking after work is my challenge. Start with taking your own lunch - salads, veggies, chicken breast that comes packaged, soups, snacks. We have a Panera in our building downstairs so very convenient! Treat yourself every payday. Once you start cutting down on lunch it will motivate you to work towards cutting down on dinner!

 

[hsmamato2]

I'd like to have a bit more fun money set aside. I don't really have a pot of fun money and I would like to have one.
I eat out a lot more than I eat in. I always end up throwing stuff out before I can get to it.

sandwiches and the like are out. I shop at publix (I know I could save $$ if I went to Winn-Dixie or Walmart but I won't do that). I'm not a great cook - I also have a very small freezer.
the PITA factor for somebody who doesn't enjoy cooking is huge. Am I doing something wrong?!?

I'll answer your last question first. Yes. If your goal is to save money in a conscious way.
A) what is it you're ordering every day,3 meals a day? Usually, food is not that complicated. You don't even need a recipe book anymore, pinterest,allrecipes,etc are full of ideas. Make the food you like to eat.
B)Sandwiches,wraps,lettuce wraps,bento box style foods, reheated lasagna from home...easy food doesn't always equal a sandwich.
C) You don't need a big pantry or freezer to keep staples on hand,some spices,basic pasta,a few cans of soups...
D)You says you "won't" shop at a different grocery store that saves money...why? If you're serious about rerouting your money into usable vacation funds, you might want to rethink that...
E) even 1-2 meals a day,made by you,saves money= better healthy options. What about some cans of healthy soups on your shelf? Healthy simple cheese and crackers,plus some fruits? A bowl of healthy simple cereal in the morning vs. a snack from a vending machine?
Even the modest amount of money you'd save by making your lunch or breakfast, put it away immediately in a savings account, you'd probably be happy and surprised with what you're accumulating.
if you currently spend too much at the grocery store(your notes) and 25.00 (at least) per day on eating out, just calculate what putting 25.00 per day into a vacation account can net you in 6 months......

 

[FairestOfThemAll37]

OP here, thanks for all the suggestions some of them may definitely work for me. I wanted to clarify a few things

My office has a keurig and snacks available for employees at no cost. So bringing my own breakfast/coffee would actually cost me more. I usually have a coffee and a yogurt or a string cheese with a handful of almonds (I've never been a big breakfast eater and my tummy can't handle eggs in the am).

For those of you wondering about the health side of things. I eat Primal (a form of paleo diet) so I don't eat grains or potatoes and I try not to eat processed foods. So I don't eat typical fast food and frequent local places that use whole and responsibly sourced foods, organic when possible. (Not saying this is healthy for everybody but for me and my body it is)

I will admit that I have a problem finding the energy (or the will) to cook after work. I do make some meat and veggies at home some nights. I think I need to mentally get past not liking leftovers as that's important to cooking for one.

Because of the way I eat, soups and anything shelf stable is out. I have gone and bought stuff to make salads for lunch but by the time I put everything in there it equals about what I pay per day and I usually lose one day to rotted lettuce if I buy the bigger better value size (it goes faster than I can eat it). Small containers of organic greens are 4.49 which is already half of a to-go salad cost. Any advice here???

To the pp that asked why not shop at Walmart or Winn-Dixie: I do not shop at Walmart full-stop for personal reasons. Winn-Dixie has a very sad and dirty produce section (at least mine does) and that is what I primarily buy when I shop. I probably would go to Winn-Dixie if I bought anything from the middle aisles of the store.

I hope I don't come off as snippy (i have a tendency to do that). Some of the ideas are great, I just wanted to clarify as some don't work for me. Maybe I need a thread to ask about good paleo freezer meals lol.

I guess part of the lack of motivation for change is that as much as I want a pot of fun money. I just buy and travel as I want already. Maybe I need to make myself depend on that pot of money somehow...anyway thanks! And keep the thoughts coming!

 

[kellyg403]

Not sure about what your diet all entails but some ideas for cooking for fewer people. There used to be a bunch of people to cook for at my house and now it is just me and dh. The hardest thing is the appropriate portions so I am not wasting money or time.

A rotisserie chicken from the store. Its already cooked and you can bring it home and tear it apart. The 2 legs become dinner with a vegetable or two. Cut up the rest for a chicken salad that could be easily taken for lunch eaten with lettuce, grapes. Just roll into the lettuce leaf. Shred some up and make chicken tacos with leftover tomato and lettuce. One chicken already cooked can make 3 days worth of meals.

Not optimum, but a start. I find that when I get in the rut of not cooking it is hard to come back out and have to do a few days at a time. Just set a menu. If you food shop on a day you don't work and but together a few days worth of meals, it is easier to come home and actually eat. All you have to do is heat up dinner.

Kelly

 

[Marionnette]

OP here, thanks for all the suggestions some of them may definitely work for me. I wanted to clarify a few things

My office has a keurig and snacks available for employees at no cost. So bringing my own breakfast/coffee would actually cost me more. I usually have a coffee and a yogurt or a string cheese with a handful of almonds (I've never been a big breakfast eater and my tummy can't handle eggs in the am).

For those of you wondering about the health side of things. I eat Primal (a form of paleo diet) so I don't eat grains or potatoes and I try not to eat processed foods. So I don't eat typical fast food and frequent local places that use whole and responsibly sourced foods, organic when possible. (Not saying this is healthy for everybody but for me and my body it is)

I will admit that I have a problem finding the energy (or the will) to cook after work. I do make some meat and veggies at home some nights. I think I need to mentally get past not liking leftovers as that's important to cooking for one.

Because of the way I eat, soups and anything shelf stable is out. I have gone and bought stuff to make salads for lunch but by the time I put everything in there it equals about what I pay per day and I usually lose one day to rotted lettuce if I buy the bigger better value size (it goes faster than I can eat it). Small containers of organic greens are 4.49 which is already half of a to-go salad cost. Any advice here???

To the pp that asked why not shop at Walmart or Winn-Dixie: I do not shop at Walmart full-stop for personal reasons. Winn-Dixie has a very sad and dirty produce section (at least mine does) and that is what I primarily buy when I shop. I probably would go to Winn-Dixie if I bought anything from the middle aisles of the store.

I hope I don't come off as snippy (i have a tendency to do that). Some of the ideas are great, I just wanted to clarify as some don't work for me. Maybe I need a thread to ask about good paleo freezer meals lol.

I guess part of the lack of motivation for change is that as much as I want a pot of fun money. I just buy and travel as I want already. Maybe I need to make myself depend on that pot of money somehow...anyway thanks! And keep the thoughts coming!

I think that you need to look elsewhere for funding your pot o'fun money. I don't think that the grocery budget is a place that you are willing to make compromises. There is nothing wrong with that. You have your preferences and convictions. I respect that. But those convictions cost money and you have chosen to pay for them. Perhaps there is some other budget line where you can trim the fat less painfully?

 

[aclov]

Do you have a Trader Joes's near you? Whole Foods is more common but more expensive. You rarely find coupons but I do subscribe to this newsletter http://www.healthylifedeals.com/. EMeals is a meal planning service that sends weekly menus for 2 or 4 people but you may be able to adjust the 2person meals. They have Paleo and clean eating as an option. They have deals on LivingSocial sometimes. Ive been in your shoes before where eating for one is sometimes cheaper and more convenient to just eat out. I've thrown away alot of food myself. Maybe just adjust a couple of meals only. Or buy discounted gc's for Panera etc!

 

[Southernmiss]

Op, it sounds like self discipline is what you are looking for.

You want to save money by eating food you prepare but don't feel like cooking after work. You want a pot of fun money, but you also don't want to delay activities and change what you do on a day to day basis.

You have your convictions, and those are stronger than your desire to save $$. Not good or bad but just are.

 

[aclov]

I think that you need to look elsewhere for funding your pot o'fun money. I don't think that the grocery budget is a place that you are willing to make compromises. There is nothing wrong with that. You have your preferences and convictions. I respect that. But those convictions cost money and you have chosen to pay for them. Perhaps there is some other budget line where you can trim the fat less painfully?

Totally agree with you, it's a different lifestyle. Absolutely nothing wrong with it but maybe cutting down on other expenses, ie. clothes, salon expenses, cable,etc.

 

[CuteAndFluffy]

Because of the way I eat, soups and anything shelf stable is out. I have gone and bought stuff to make salads for lunch but by the time I put everything in there it equals about what I pay per day and I usually lose one day to rotted lettuce if I buy the bigger better value size (it goes faster than I can eat it). Small containers of organic greens are 4.49 which is already half of a to-go salad cost. Any advice here???

All that info helps!

Switch to conventional greens to make a more apples to apples comparison. Organic is the ideal, but you're likely eating conventional at most restaurants. Buy a pack of romaine hearts for cheap and chop/wash them yourself. That takes very little time/energy and will save you money.

Primal isn't so hard, especially if you don't limit carbs. Homemade soups and casseroles will help, as will busting out the crock pot once a week or so. Make casseroles in loaf pans--take a full 9x13 and divide it into 3 loaf pans, freeze 2 to thaw in the fridge and bake another day.

Figure out what recipes you're willing to eat leftovers of and start there. Taco meat or beef stew or chili always work here.

My step 1 for you would be checking other grocery stores in your area--aldi? Trader joes? Kroger? To see if there are less expensive options.

 

[madge]

one tip I haven't seen mentioned -- for saving money, there are websites that track sale cycles at Publix. (www.iheartpublix.com is one) even if you're not into clipping coupons, there are ways to save money!

 

[FairestOfThemAll37]

one tip I haven't seen mentioned -- for saving money, there are websites that track sale cycles at Publix. (www.iheartpublix.com is one) even if you're not into clipping coupons, there are ways to save money!

Thanks for that!!! I don't eat anything out of the middle of the store. I have seen slight produce sales but unlike stable foods can't stock up but maybe figuring out what produce is on sale in advance should help with meal planning!!

 

[jsmla]

My DH isn't a salad eater so I, too, struggle to use up fresh greens before they turn into green slime. From experience:

Don't buy the pre-made/pre-washed salads. They just don't keep as well.

Romain hearts and spinach keep longest. I remove mine from the container, rinse, dry and store in a glass container with a damp paper towel.

Cherry/grape tomatoes last longer than larger varieties.

Carrots last quite a while in the crisper as does broccoli. I store cut up celery in a glass jar with a bit of water in the bottom. The carrots and celery are usually dippers for hummus.

Frozen veggies can pump up a salad and will keep until used up. My favorites are corn (not on your diet, I know), green peas and edamame. I also add black or kidney beans as well as nuts to bring up the protein.

I like to cook (grill) chicken breasts to add to salads or other dishes-quinoa is a favorite. I freeze the cooked breasts in individual portions.

I also cook a lot of soups and freeze in individual containers. If space is limited I freeze it in muffin tins, pop them out once frozen then store in a large ZipLoc bag. This works well with things like lentil chili too.

I'm sure I have more but it's still a bit early!

ETA: Sweet potatoes are shelf stable and microwave well, yum on a coooold day! I like mine topped with cinnamon and toasted pecans