My family used to eat fast food at least once a week until we realized that we could save money, and a lot of it, by eating at home. We decided to cut that luxury out for one month and put the money that we saved away, and boy did it add up. Going without fast food for one month saved us roughly $90.00.
There are three people in my family, myself, my husband and our sixteen year old son. When we would go to a fast food restaurant for burgers and fries, my son would always want two large fries because that is what a growing boy (young man, sigh), could eat. For three double burgers, and four large fries I pay around $22.00 here in the Poconos .
Beside for the one day a week that we set aside for fast food, there were times when someone (mostly me), would forget to take something out of the freezer for the next days dinner. Finding out there is nothing defrosted right before you are ready to start working on dinner does not leave many choices for a good nights meal. Pasta and sauce are great for these times, but you can only eat that so much without meatballs, or sausage.
These were the odd days that we would get fast food on top of the one day we set aside for it, and a movie on family night. If this happened more than once a week, the cost was way over the budget we tried to stick to, so we needed to change. I made an effort, with the help of a sticky note, to take something out for dinner the night before it was needed everyday, and it worked.
My husband started making pizza once a week, which is better than some we buy from a pizzeria, and we tried making other foods that we might eat out. All of this worked out without adding to the food shopping bill, and we saved quite a bit of money.
Besides for the fact that it is healthier to eat at home, it is also less expensive. It seems hard to get someone to give up fast food because it is not good for them, but show that same person how much money they could save every month and they just might want to change those eating habits.
$90.00 per month for one meal a week of fast food
$180.00 per month for two meals a week of fast food
Now that is what I call a great way to save money.
There are three people in my family, myself, my husband and our sixteen year old son. When we would go to a fast food restaurant for burgers and fries, my son would always want two large fries because that is what a growing boy (young man, sigh), could eat. For three double burgers, and four large fries I pay around $22.00 here in the Poconos .
Beside for the one day a week that we set aside for fast food, there were times when someone (mostly me), would forget to take something out of the freezer for the next days dinner. Finding out there is nothing defrosted right before you are ready to start working on dinner does not leave many choices for a good nights meal. Pasta and sauce are great for these times, but you can only eat that so much without meatballs, or sausage.
These were the odd days that we would get fast food on top of the one day we set aside for it, and a movie on family night. If this happened more than once a week, the cost was way over the budget we tried to stick to, so we needed to change. I made an effort, with the help of a sticky note, to take something out for dinner the night before it was needed everyday, and it worked.
My husband started making pizza once a week, which is better than some we buy from a pizzeria, and we tried making other foods that we might eat out. All of this worked out without adding to the food shopping bill, and we saved quite a bit of money.Besides for the fact that it is healthier to eat at home, it is also less expensive. It seems hard to get someone to give up fast food because it is not good for them, but show that same person how much money they could save every month and they just might want to change those eating habits.
$90.00 per month for one meal a week of fast food
$180.00 per month for two meals a week of fast food
Now that is what I call a great way to save money.
So very true. I make semi cooked meals on the weekend, freeze them and then stick one in the oven on the week nights. It saves time and money. Alot of money. Keep those ideas coming.
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