What our family did (and still do) to be one step closer for financial independence, is discontinue dining out in restaurants. We love going to restaurants to celebrate special occasions or just to spend our weekend in the norm. Or just a random passing up unfamiliar territory and have that sudden craving of trying out something new. It’s a family tradition since I was a little girl. We love trying out new restaurants, new themes, new flavors, and spending quality time together. However, with a bigger goal in line to manage our finances wisely, and thinking ahead of our future, my family and I revisit our budget, and decide to take a proactive approach on taking control of our money back. After all, we don’t want to outlive our money and have nothing in the future retirement days. That would be a bleak future!
At first, it was difficult to break the old habit of not going out to restaurants. But we've made a commitment and would love to see it through. We start using kitchen again to cook our meals. We utilize fresh ingredients from our local produce markets and get innovative with alternating recipes. We use whatever available on the market that day. My family enjoy the time we spend together both in the kitchen and at the dining table.
Soon, we see a dramatic changes in our finances. It’s a huge saving for our family by converting restaurants menus with home cook dishes. A typical restaurant bill for a family of three will cost you average of $50, and obviously you have to add tax and gratuity in every occasion. While the expenses of producing the similar dishes are not as nearly as half the cost. Okay, perhaps we don’t have a commercial stove or top-notch range, but you don’t really need the most superior culinary items for just an everyday meal. Any cooking utensils you have will be enough. The most expensive ingredients you’ll need to buy is meat, and $5-$10 can stretch your budget along the way. Once in a while there might be a seafood sale and you can get $9.99 for a pound of fresh salmon, which feed for family of three. Just add fragrant jasmine rice or roasted potatoes on the side, and you can call it a day! This doesn't cost you as much as dining out in your local fine dining establishments, which will charge you at least $5 or more for just a salad bowl.
And don't forget, some meals can be extended as the next day leftovers and taste even better. A pan of lasagna can last for a while, who can really eat all of them in a day?
The best thing about cutting dining out, is that you actually can explore unlimited version of producing meals that will fit your budget and your mood of the day. You can go Indian, Chinese, Italian, any time. In the long run, making your own homemade meals are healthier (as you know exactly what you put in each dishes) and friendlier for your wallet. In the last few months our family saved around $400-$500 a month by not going to any restaurants at all. What a saving! It was a relief to see this new habit comes to a fruition. It was a success we accomplished as a family!
Dining out now is just another luxury, no longer a ritual weekly habit. :)
