How to Never Eat Out Again!

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So, never eating out again. That’s a major statement, but the reality is that this is a HUGE way to cut expenses. Getting take out is probably one of your biggest expenses, if you aren’t on a budget.

I know for myself, when I first tracked my spending I was amazed by how much I spent on eating out and grabbing coffee. I was a full time grad student and working full time. My life was crazy chaotic and I’d stop to get coffee/lunch/dinner between classes and my jobs.

I was in survival mode, but the reality was that I didn’t need to be. Once I tracked my expenses, I made sure that I stopped getting take out and coffee as a convenience, I would to connect with friends and family though.

And now, almost 5 years later, I still very rarely eat out and get coffee. I will go to happy hour occasionally with my friends from work, or grab dinner with friends to catch up, but that spending on eating out, I am okay with it. It isn’t for convenience, but for being social and reconnecting with people, that’s important.

For me, in 2014, I would go to Chipotle at least once a week, if not more. Now, a Chipotle opened around the corner from me about 6 months ago and I have yet to step foot in it. That’s some serious progress, friends.

So, here are my tips to never eat out again, for strictly convenience at least 🙂

1. Track your expenses and see just how much you spend eating out.

This is what gave me the reality check I needed. I was bleeding money when I didn’t need to be. It was unreal how much money I was throwing away for convenience.

A lot of times we don’t realize just how much we are spending unless we track our expenses. Those few dinners or lunches out really do add up over the course of a month. Do you know how much you’re spending when you eat out? Definitely a lot more than if you ate at home.

If you subscribe to my email list, you will get a PDF to use to track your expenses, or you can purchase my Google sheets templates.

2. Meal plan for the week, so you don’t eat out.

For me, this is very easy. I meal plan for just myself, so it is very simple for me to meal plan, but I know many families that meal plan every week. For me, I make sure I have 5 breakfasts, 5 lunches, and 5 dinners for the work week.

By meal planning, it allows me to save money at the grocery store and I know I’m going to eat the food I’m buying. For the weekends, I usually go figure something out at the house. I typically have something in the pantry or freezer I can make real quick. When I notice my stock pile is shrinking, I will restock it.

Meal planning is very simple for me because I can eat the same thing everyday and not get sick of it. But, I suggest making things that can be changed slightly to change the flavor. For example, I’ll make chicken burrito bowls, then eat them as burritos, and then eat it as nachos.

Making those very simple changes does change the flavor a bit and for me is more than enough for me to continue eating it.

3. Meal prep for the week.

This is key. All the planning in the world at the grocery store won’t help you on Wednesday night when you had the day from absolute hell and the last thing you want to do is cook dinner. Prepare yourself for your crazy week and prep your meals!

I personally cook on Sunday for the week. It is just what works well for my schedule currently. I make my breakfasts, lunches, and dinners for the entire week. During the week, this allows me to quickly pack my lunch for the next day and then throw my dinner in the microwave.

This makes it super convenient when I’m sometimes at my most exhausted, at night after working all day.

If eating out is for convenience, make it so eating at home is convenient.

What it comes down to is that eating out is for convenience. If this is the case, you need to make a change so that eating at home is even more convenient. It’s super easy to grab take out on your way home, but it’s even more convenient to heat up a meal you already have made, and probably a lot healthier. Set yourself up for success during your work week and meal prep when you have some free time. You’ll thank yourself when you get to just heat something up during the week. How do you stop yourself from eating out for convenience?