Recession Suggestions

This is great, Galen! I play the 'coupon' card when I get tired of eating in. It is difficult sometimes to even manage with a coupon. But going out to eat 'dutch' is a really good idea in this economy. Two entrees and a drink for $20 on a birthday or other special occasion does one well! Or what about the deals where you can get an entree, drink and dessert for $15. I think it's pretty cool for those special times when getting away is good.

Galen Ollison said:

Strange that I should say what's next since I never "eat out" unless as a guest of someone else, but I might put EATING OUT LESS as my observed #1 money helper. Even for one 'splurge' a week on a $20 meal that would cost $5 home-cooked (or cooked by a friend with a cooking hobby or passion) is the $15 difference times 12 months or $180 a year saved. That's for one person. It you pay for two of you once-a-week like that its's obviously [says my calculator] $360 a year. The way I used to immediately think about that is "That would buy some nice Christmas gifts at Christmas time".

Dinner for 2 at twice a week doubles it to $720 a year -- pretty close to a thousand bucks that could do other good financial things, including add to savings ... which as an adult I seem to have most times had the LEAST of when I needed it MOST.

When I first sat down all night once in the 70's and did a family budget, I was shocked to find that we paid way more for food for the family than any other thing including car payments and fuel costs! I was then inspired to declare most days soup or stew days. Had it stuck, we might have millions by now. Ya think?

Then there's managing the cost of driving ... which is a whole 'nother chapter!

Strange that I should say what's next since I never "eat out" unless as a guest of someone else, but I might put EATING OUT LESS as my observed #1 money helper. Even for one 'splurge' a week on a $20 meal that would cost $5 home-cooked (or cooked by a friend with a cooking hobby or passion) is the $15 difference times 12 months or $180 a year saved. That's for one person. It you pay for two of you once-a-week like that its's obviously [says my calculator] $360 a year. The way I used to immediately think about that is "That would buy some nice Christmas gifts at Christmas time".

Dinner for 2 at twice a week doubles it to $720 a year -- pretty close to a thousand bucks that could do other good financial things, including add to savings ... which as an adult I seem to have most times had the LEAST of when I needed it MOST.

When I first sat down all night once in the 70's and did a family budget, I was shocked to find that we paid way more for food for the family than any other thing including car payments and fuel costs! I was then inspired to declare most days soup or stew days. Had it stuck, we might have millions by now. Ya think?

Then there's managing the cost of driving ... which is a whole 'nother chapter!

Replies

Hazel Salter-King September 7, 2009 at 11:13pm

This is great, Galen! I play the 'coupon' card when I get tired of eating in. It is difficult sometimes to even manage with a coupon. But going out to eat 'dutch' is a really good idea in this economy. Two entrees and a drink for $20 on a birthday or other special occasion does one well! Or what about the deals where you can get an entree, drink and dessert for $15. I think it's pretty cool for those special times when getting away is good.

Galen Ollison said:
Strange that I should say what's next since I never "eat out" unless as a guest of someone else, but I might put EATING OUT LESS as my observed #1 money helper. Even for one 'splurge' a week on a $20 meal that would cost $5 home-cooked (or cooked by a friend with a cooking hobby or passion) is the $15 difference times 12 months or $180 a year saved. That's for one person. It you pay for two of you once-a-week like that its's obviously [says my calculator] $360 a year. The way I used to immediately think about that is "That would buy some nice Christmas gifts at Christmas time".

Dinner for 2 at twice a week doubles it to $720 a year -- pretty close to a thousand bucks that could do other good financial things, including add to savings ... which as an adult I seem to have most times had the LEAST of when I needed it MOST.

When I first sat down all night once in the 70's and did a family budget, I was shocked to find that we paid way more for food for the family than any other thing including car payments and fuel costs! I was then inspired to declare most days soup or stew days. Had it stuck, we might have millions by now. Ya think?

Then there's managing the cost of driving ... which is a whole 'nother chapter!
Galen Ollison August 22, 2009 at 5:22pm

Strange that I should say what's next since I never "eat out" unless as a guest of someone else, but I might put EATING OUT LESS as my observed #1 money helper. Even for one 'splurge' a week on a $20 meal that would cost $5 home-cooked (or cooked by a friend with a cooking hobby or passion) is the $15 difference times 12 months or $180 a year saved. That's for one person. It you pay for two of you once-a-week like that its's obviously [says my calculator] $360 a year. The way I used to immediately think about that is "That would buy some nice Christmas gifts at Christmas time".

Dinner for 2 at twice a week doubles it to $720 a year -- pretty close to a thousand bucks that could do other good financial things, including add to savings ... which as an adult I seem to have most times had the LEAST of when I needed it MOST.

When I first sat down all night once in the 70's and did a family budget, I was shocked to find that we paid way more for food for the family than any other thing including car payments and fuel costs! I was then inspired to declare most days soup or stew days. Had it stuck, we might have millions by now. Ya think?

Then there's managing the cost of driving ... which is a whole 'nother chapter!

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