Giving every £ a job

savingholmes

Eating out - or eating full stop tends to steal far more than I planned from the budget.

Sarahwithlove

savingholmes said:

Eating out - or eating full stop tends to steal far more than I planned from the budget.

I think this is a common theme for most of us unfortunately. But I try and remind myself that I don't smoke or anything like that so could be worst ways to spend my money 

Franalamadingdong

I guess it's looking at the type of eating out. Is it going out with friends? Eating out because you're too tired to cook? Going out at lunch at work? Then thinking about a swap or two. Invite friends over, or check out a voucher code for places and pick somewhere from there. If it's being tired maybe cook double one day (I did that yesterday, yay no cook yummy tea for me!). Lunch I tend to bring in from home, there's only me, so not one I've really thought about.

We're all just works in progress

Blackcats

Yes Saving - I spend a lot on food one way or another.  I am better at meal planning now but I still spend way more than some of the amazing people on here who seem to be able to do a weekly shop for very low cost.  I like to buy good quality food and I am trying to waste less.  Still work to be done.  

Hello Sarah - that's a good point. We have choices on how we spend our money and it's important to have balance.  In my case I think I need to be more mindful about eating out and it should be a treat rather than being a frequent but mediocre experience.  I had a lovely meal in a super restaurant on Sunday which I will have good memories of so I think that was a good spend.  However, there are many occasions that are average - it's these that should be easier to cut out. 

Fran, it's a mixture of "I deserve a little treat" or "I fancy a curry" or "it's been a long day .....". 

I mostly work from home so lunch is usually ok.  I've been eating lots of home made soup this winter and I like "something on toast" type lunches.  It's definitely evening meals out which are more likely to include drinks that are my weakness.
great food for thought though - pardon the pun.  

savingholmes

I agree with the risk of the experience becoming mediocre if you do it too much. Our Chinese takeaway is consistently good- the local pub not so much. The Chinese works out cheaper too.

Dottles1

Could you include the cost of a couple of takeaways or meal out in your monthly budget?   If this is something that you regularly do it might help.  it may stop you feeling guilty as it's "allowed" and you may also find that you don't have so many if you can have a " when it's gone it's gone" attitude to that pot

Timpanum

Hi Blackcats
I've been flowing your journey and found it inspirational. 
I just tried a month of paying cash for everything instead of contactless etc. Amazing how your spending patterns become so visible when you're handing over crisp £20 notes all the time!! Bought groceries today and only spent £13.93 - so desperate not to be losing another purple note!! Really starting to avoid buying crap, so I'm no longer feeling guilty about spending money on other things like my personal training. It's the crap I realise I should be feeling bad about!! Ha ha
Timps

Blackcats

Hello Dottles - I think that's a good idea.  I need a "when it's gone it's gone" attitude.  I've already had one meal out in this budgeting period which only started on 5th 😱.  It was a planned meal with a group of friends but it worked out to be quite expensive as the table had beers and wines and then quite a few had starters or puddings and then coffees.  We always divide the bill evenly.and in the past I've never thought twice about it but this time I realised that I only had a main and a glass of wine but it cost me a big chunk of my monthly eating out budget.  However, it was a lovely evening and when the eating out budget is gone, then it's gone or I can reduce another pot to replenish it.  Let's see how I get on .....

Blackcats

Hello Timps.  Thank you for your kind words.  I'm not sure about inspiring but for the first time I'm being honest about my spending habits and temptations which is really helping me.  

Well done on your shopping and keeping those lovely purple notes in your purse.  It's so easy to spend on a card - I admit I'm an expert after years of practice - ha ha.  

I'm saving a £ a day towards Christmas and it's sooo motivating.  Even though I have a regular monthly saver account where I save £300 that happens automatically whereas dropping 31 £ coins into a money box is so much more satisfying.  

savingholmes

Love it with the individual pound coins. I agree it would be more satisfying but don't really use cash.