Paying for Food: When We Dish and When We Dis
Last week I shared with you my weakness of eating out, and how it has cost me way more money than I’d care to add up. Without a doubt it’s in the thousands of dollars. How many thousands, it’s hard to say.
I am proud to say that I no longer medicate my stress, pain and loneliness with eating out. Although, I sure could use a plain double cheeseburger right about now, or creme brulee. We have saved tons of money in recent months by limiting how often we eat out. Our credit card debt is thankful for the extra cash we have been throwing its way. Our health is also grateful for nixing the deliciously bad for you food.
When it comes to food, I am more than happy to pay good money for a great meal. On our monthly date, I have no problems dropping $100.00 or more for an amazing dinner. Fewer things make me happier than fresh and sometimes organic (we are slowly making the switch) veggies, fruits, meats and herbs that I can make into something spectacular. However, there are certain foods that I am not willing to spend more than the bare minimum on.
Here are a few examples…
I buy the cheapest Roman noodles on the shelf. I will do the math to make sure that I am getting the best price on my Roman.
If meat isn’t on sale, we go vegetarian for the week.
I would rather spend my precious time washing, slicing, chopping and dicing fruits and vegetables than spend the few extra nickles on the stuff that is already precut and washed.
Steve and I share a stick of gum.
I will not spend more than $0.90 per can of Pringles, $1.25 for Hamburger Helper or $1.10 on a can of spaghetti sauce (unless it’ the really good stuff for a special occasion).
So tell me, what is the psychology behind all of this. Why am I such a cheap-o when it comes to gum and pasta, but I’ll spend my retirement fund on a single date without thought? If given the opportunity to travel the world for just the sole purpose of the eating foods of our seven continents, I would be tempted to take out a second mortgage on my home (I don’t own my home; we rent, but still). If you think I’m going to pay full price at the grocery store for cheese and chicken, you’ve gone mad.
What foods are you willing to spend your hard earned money on, and what foods do you think are criminal to pay even a dollar for?
This debate and struggle over what foods are worth spending money on, and what foods I am not willing to give up my pennies for is long from over. This is going to be an on going discussion here.
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Announcing the winner of the $25.00 gift certificate to Bonefish Grill
Congratulations Steph!!!
Steph shared the restaurant habits she and her husband share, “Wow that was great customer service!! We eat out once a week, but only somewhere we have a gift card or a coupon. I’d love to try Bonefish Grill!”
Thank you all so much for sharing your restaurant spending habits and dining out weaknesses. I loved having so many other perspectives on the subject. I could really relate too the whys behind dining out and your restaurant weaknesses.
Steph, I hope you and your husband have a great time at Bonefish Grill. I recommend starting with the Sesame Seared Tuna; it’s to die for.
Prev Post -> Reflections – February 2010
I completely agree with you. I would much rather spend some money on going out than on the everyday stuff. It’s the experience we’re paying for, not just the food. When we go out it’s seeing a new place, not cooking, not cleaning up, being waited on, having someone else fill our glass of water or mug of coffee, it’s uninterrupted time with our husband/wife/kids/friends that we can enjoy without the phone/email/tv etc. It’s time you give yourself because you’ve earned it. It’s also fun to explore new restaurants and new cuisines. I am right there with you. I don’t want to waste my nickels on overpriced groceries. I want to spend them where they matter, like a memory of time out with my family. Thanks for the reminder.
I’m a very, very big B1G1 shopper. I refuse to buy taco kits unless they are B1G1. I have begun waiting until pasta is B1G1 before buying. I’ve taken to buying a whole chicken rather than waiting for chicken breast to come down to under $3/lb — besides, I get to make soup out of the carcass, so it’s an excellent deal for me. Certain things I won’t scrimp on, such as my kids’ favorite healthy snacks.
Wow… $0.90 for a can of pringles? $1.10 for a can of pasta sauce? Oh, what joys there must be in living in civilization! Where I am, $2.50 for a can of pringles is a pretty good deal – and I only know that because my husband just recently begged me to buy a can since *apparently* it’s one of his favourite treats. And, Meredith… the possibility of chicken breast being less than $3/lb? Unfathomable.
To answer the original question, though: I spend freely on fresh veggies (bulk, unprepared), though not usually anything exotic, but not on fresh fruit (frozen is usually cheaper, except for the cheapest apples/oranges/bananas). Having eaten almost vegetarian until I got pregnant, I cringe at buying meat – fish, eggs, and beans were so much cheaper! I refuse to spend money on prepared/prepackaged snacks (buying that can of Pringles almost did me in!). Cereal, some canned goods, specialty pasta, frozen produce – I wait until it’s at a lower price or go without.
Needless to say, we cook the majority of our food from scratch. However, not organic – it’s way too expensive!
up here in the northwoods our freezer and pantry are invaluable. hunting and fishing provide for most of our meat needs. we have a garden which gives us most of our veggie and herbs. we buy on sale or in bulk. using food for bartering is common. last year we got a year’s supply of delicious blue gill just for lending out some tools. sharing food is also a custom because we have lots of parties and gatherings. occasionally we meet friends for dinner so eating out is a rare treat. there are no fast food restaurants in the area so that saves us a lot of money. despite all this, we’re still fat and sassy so we are hardly going without!