Eating out at restaurants is one of the leading culprits of overspending in this food-centric culture. It’s easy to justify the steep prices of going out to eat because it’s social, convenient, and exciting to try new flavors and local restaurants. Throughout my endeavors to reduce this expensive habit, I’ve identified 10 tips to make eating-in delicious, manageable, on budget and entertaining.

1. Cook in Pairs:

Dining at home can be just as social as going to a restaurant when you cook with a friend or partner. Between the washing, chopping and cooking, there are plenty of tasks to keep two or three people busy and working together. The downtime of waiting for the meal to cook can be spent at the table just like at a restaurant. Plus, the actual consumption of the meal is more rewarding because it was created together. There is no pressure to leave the table once the meal is finished, and there’s no tip necessary.

2. Double the Recipe:

Preparing meals for one or two individuals can be expensive and exhausting. A fast $5 burrito is a better deal than buying $15 worth of ingredients to make one burrito at home. In order to make eating at home a frugal practice, you must make extra servings to use up the remaining ingredients. Doubling or tripling your recipe will reduce wasted food and overall time spent in the kitchen. When you have a busy schedule, it’s tough to make time to cook, yet simple to swing by a local restaurant. Spending two of the five weeknights cooking large meals is much more manageable than cooking one or two servings every night.

3. Choose Recipes That Reheat Well:

When making meals in bulk, it’s important to select dishes that taste just as delicious reheated. Otherwise, it won’t seem appetizing and an inexpensive restaurant will win the flavor debate. Some easy meals that reheat well are: stuffed peppers, casserole, spaghetti, enchiladas, meatloaf, stir fry, chili, lentils or stew. If salads are your preference, bake multiple chicken breasts at once, chop extra veggies and wash all the lettuce. Tossing a salad together will be much quicker and just as tasty on day two or three.

4. Eat All the Leftovers:

It’s challenging for me to get excited about leftovers, especially when eating the same meals back-to-back. If I stick to meals that reheat well, I can rotate my leftovers for taste bud confusion. Packing leftovers for lunch is a huge money saver and an opportunity to mix meals up. Try filling plastic containers when you’re finished cooking so lunches are packed and easy to grab. If you can’t see yourself getting to the remaining food before it spoils, freeze it for next week. Lastly, placement in the refrigerator is essential to consuming all of the leftovers. If the pot pie is covered in foil on the bottom rack of the refrigerator, it may get forgotten like the bag of brown lettuce in the vegetable drawer. Keeping things visible, freezing meals, packing lunches and rotating leftovers will assure nothing goes to waste.

5. Plan the Menu Before Shopping:

It’s imperative to make a meal plan and itemize the grocery list before leaving home. Get inspired by what you already have and create meals that only require a couple fresh items. I like to try out new recipes, so it’s helpful to double-check my cupboards before accidentally buying yet another bottle of white wine vinegar. Having a list helps me stay on track at the grocery store, avoiding extra snacks and gathering everything necessary for the planned meals.

6. Use Coupons:

Using coupons is a great money saving strategy for some. I’m either too busy or too lazy to clip the coupons and remember to bring them with me to the store. Many grocery stores have coupon booklets at the front which are great to flip through while shopping. It’s a bonus to get a few of my list items for an extra discount.

7. Where to Shop:

I get accustomed to my local stores, but they aren’t always the best bargains. Depending on my grocery list, I adjust where I shop. QFC is a great starting point because it often has discounts on meat, which tends to be the most expensive portion of meals. After I stock up on the two-for-one deals and specialty items, I drive over to Trader Joe’s for produce, flavorful sauces and extras. Costco is a great option for bulk items, and Grocery Outlet is a bargain for canned goods. Wherever I shop, I make sure to have a free membership for those valued customer discounts.

8. When to Shop:

I prefer to shop ever week or two, usually in the evening after work. Some stores like Fred Meyer have reduced prices on rotisserie chickens after 8 pm. It’s a risk because they may have sold out, but the remaining chickens are only $3.49. Take advantage of these simple discounts. Sunday and Monday nights are generally very crowded, so try to avoid those rushes. Most importantly, don’t shop hungry! It’s too easy to let your stomach make foolish decisions.

9. Use Everything:

The real trick to saving money on food is to not let anything go to waste. In addition to the tips above, a great way to decrease wasted food is to save the less favorable items for a morning smoothie. Broccoli stems, greens that have lost their crisp, brown bananas or anything else you might otherwise toss can blend into a tasty and healthy breakfast smoothie. The really slimy spinach or moldy berries can go into the compost for your fertilizer next season.

10. Regrow:

There are several fruits, vegetables and herbs that require little attention to reproduce. For example, green onion can be regrown by simply replanting the white bulb that is generally thrown out. Plant the bulbs in soil or place a few in a cup of water with the roots facing down. Soon, you’ll have fresh green onions for your next dish. Over-ripened garlic cloves can be replanted as well as avocado pits and citrus or pomegranate seeds. This is a free method to maximize your produce. Herb gardens are another frugal way to save a few bucks. Herbs can be pricey at the store, while growing at home is easy and fruitful in the windowsill. Try picking up some inexpensive seeds and planting chives, basil, cilantro, oregano, mint or parsley.

Hopefully these tips will inspire you to make eating at home achievable and satisfying. Challenge yourself to stick to a meal schedule, grocery list or food budget. Try new recipes with friends, and enjoy the social aspect of dining outside of the restaurant setting.

photo by ReneS

We all love to have a little special treat every now and then. Maybe you love Starbucks. Maybe you enjoy going out to see a movie with your spouse. Perhaps you want a new phone or you want to save for a trip. I personally love to get a coke every day at work. (Seriously, I know that’s sad, but it’s a special little treat I look forward to every day.) However, I also love to take big trips to see the world, and I definitely want to travel more before my husband and I decide to start trying for kids.

Of course, these goals and little extras don’t always coincide with our monthly budget, so I have to come up with creative ways to make some side cash so that I don’t feel guilty about going overboard. After all,  these little life pick me ups can often cost us a buck or two, and when you spread them out and add them over a year, the prices can be a bit astonishing. So, here’s what I propose: find a way to fund your extras through a means other than your current job. That way, you can continue to use your pay check for your monthly expenses, and you’ll have extra to put towards something you’ve been wanting for months but haven’t purchased yet.

Still not sure how to do it? Below are 20 ways to save for life’s little extras.

1. Tutor a high school or middle school student.

2. Sell crafts you make at a craft fair or online.

3. Deliver the newspaper in your town.

4. Become a contributing writer for a blog.

5. Walk other people’s dogs or simply take them to a dog park.

6. Pick up a weekend shift at a restaurant or become a bartender.

7. Become someone’s virtual assistant.

8. Have a lemonade stand (or at least encourage your kids to try it out.)

9. Become a high school sports coach.

10. Work overtime.

11. Grow your own produce. (This can work in a tiny apartment or with an expansive backyard.)

12.  Cut someone else’s grass. You’ll save money and get a great workout.

13. Give up your smart phone or try a pre-paid plan.

14. Bake bread, and sell it at work.

15. Put your savings into a high yield savings account.

16. Babysit a few times every month.

17. Cancel your gym membership and watch a workout DVD instead.

18. Go a month without buying clothes.

19. Commute to work with a friend.

20. Hang your clothes out to dry.

While I know that not everyone will be interested in or even able to do what I listed above, even one of these things can save you tens if not hundreds of dollars every year. For example, I know that most people wouldn’t dream of giving up their smart phone, but I’ve survived over a year without mine and was able to paid off my credit card debt in the process. That’s not to say that everyone should do what I did. It’s just an example to show that with a little change in habits, you can absolutely meet and exceed many of your goals.

If you’re struggling to cut down on your expenses, try to visualize your end goal. Do you want to step on a plane and go to Paris? Or, do you want to walk into a store and purchase a new TV with cash? Envisioning yourself actually achieving your goal can help you to push past those immediate wants to remind you of how amazing it will be when you get to your end goal.

If you know of any other side gigs that people can do to help support their monthly income, please add to the list in the comment section below. I’d love to hear your suggestions!

photo by DC Atty

Many of you know that I currently live in the Caribbean, but what you might not know is that my hubs, my dog, and I all live in 270 square feet. The truth? It. Is. Tiny. More truth? It’s also worth it! I never thought that I could live in a space so small, especially coming from an American Dream❠type space with multiple bedrooms and a backyard. Yet, I’ve learned that bigger is not always better, and here’s why:

1.         There is less to clean in a small place.

This is perhaps the biggest and most obvious perk to living in a tiny space.   There are fewer floors to sweep and mop, less dusting to do, fewer windows to wash, and less counter top space to scrub.   There is only one toilet and one shower that have to be cleaned.   Unless you enjoy the backache you get and the sweat you work up, you can see why having less square feet can be a blessing in disguise.   Now, if only a small place translated into less laundryâ¦

2.         A small home is cheaper to furnish, decorate, heat, and cool.

My little apartment doesn’t require much in the way of furniture or decorations. There’s just a bed, a table, and a big desk that the hubs and I share. We don’t have a sofa or a t.v., although we do wish we had those things from time to time. While we don’t have to worry about heating the space here in the Caribbean, I know that will be a perk of a smaller space for those of you who live in places where there are four seasons (and not just one!)

3.         A tiny space means more together time with my hubs.

Our tiny space literally encourages togetherness. Sure, we (literally) bump into each other or need to take some time to ourselves every now and then, but ultimately, it’s been nice to be around each other and a true test to keep our things where they belong.

4.         I’m forced to prioritize my possessions and be organized.

I can’t be a packrat in my home, or I’d be on an episode of Hoarders.   The limited space really forces me to stay organized.   I don’t keep or buy things I don’t need.   I think less stuff equals less stress, too. I even have an entire laundry bag full of clothes to donate. How I ever fit those clothes in my dresser to begin with is a mystery.

5.         A tiny place encourages me to get out more.

As a true introvert, I can totally be a homebody. But, this apartment it too small for that, and even I start to get stir crazy. I genuinely think my place encourages me to get more fresh air and do more activities outside. Sure, some days I come home after work and don’t leave again, but more often than not I get in some exercise, meet up with a friend, or run an errand.

6.         I can entertain small, intimate groups but never have to host Thanksgiving.

I love, love, love that I am never expected to host large gatherings or events at my place.   It’s the perfect size for another couple to join us for dinner, but not big enough to host holiday meals or showers.   I never experience the stress of deep cleaning the house before a party or meticulously planning when each dish has to come out of the oven in order to have Thanksgiving dinner ready at three o’clock.

Ultimately, I know my apartment is incredibly small by U.S. standards, but I think that living here has been such a great experience for us. It’s encouraged us to live more simply and focus on the things that are the most important.

What about you? Have you ever lived in a small space?

photo by brentdpayne

Recently, I was having a conversation with a good friend of mine who is struggling with her bills. I asked her to list the payments she was late on, and one of them was her cell phone bill. When I asked her about her plan, she insisted that she could never give up her smart phone. She argued that she used it for school, and that it was necessary for her to do well. The thing is, my friend was also late on rent and a few other things. Her lifestyle had far surpassed her means. Yet, regardless of what I said to try to help her, she could not agree to give up her smart phone plan.

Now, I may be young, but I wasn’t born yesterday. I know that a smart phone plan is not integral to any of our lives. It may make some aspects of our lives easier, but it in no way dictates how successful we are in our relationships or our work.

I have actually gone without a smart phone for 13 months. Because I was so addicted to it, it took me at least 6 of those months to fully get over my tendency to reach for it every spare moment. While my husband still keeps one for himself, I’ve saved us money every month by giving up mine. Plus, I find that life is quite peaceful without it now that I have broken the habit.

Still, many of you would argue that smart phones are quite useful, and to that, I would agree. In fact, here’s a list of pros and cons for owning a smart phone:

PROS:

1. Instant access to all e-mails, which keeps you up to date in both your personal and professional lives.

2. GPS in case you get lost or need to find a specific store or address.

3. The ability to take videos on most high quality models and upload them instantly.

4. It can act as a small traveling computer, with important files and photos available at a moment’s notice.

5. An unlimited amount of apps that can help you in a pinch (need a level to hang a picture, anyone?)

CONS:

1. Instant access to all e-mails, which keeps you up to date in both your personal and professional lives. (Yes, I realize I listed this as a pro as well. Sometimes being too connected is unhealthy.)

2. If it breaks, it is expensive to fix.

3. The plans for a smart phone are often double, if not triple, that of a regular phone.

4. You will often purchase a phone, only to have it surpassed quickly by the latest model.

5. They are very distracting, especially when it comes to games or e-mail notifications.

While I acknowledge there are certainly a great deal of pros to owning a smart phone, ones I weighed heavily when purchasing one to begin with, I am also quite happy not having one. Sure, my family members get frustrated when I can’t see a media message, but I just encourage them to be “old fashioned’ and send me an e-mail!

Making the transition to having a regular phone wasn’t easy, but it certainly was eye opening. I can’t tell you how many times I reached for my phone or went to check an e-mail out of habit. I had no idea how much time I spent using the phone until I no longer had access to all the perks of the smart phone. Now that I’ve gone over a year without it, I don’t even miss it. I’m able to do my work and write on my blog without the habit of stopping to check my phone. This choice has made me more productive and less stressed. I highly recommend it.

Do you go sans smart phone? Or, have you ever considered giving up the practice?

photo by calgaryreviews

In that past year, I’ve given up a lot of little luxuries in the interest of budgeting my money better and saving up for more important goals. It was extremely difficult at first to quit some of these habits cold turkey. However, as time has gone on, I feel much freer, healthier, and happier living without these 4 items that I used to consider staples in my life.

1. Soft Drinks

It’s crazy to think that I used to go to the store and put milk, tea, fruit juice, cokes, etc. all in my cart. I absolutely love juice, and well, soft drinks are pretty delicious. So, I never thought twice about purchasing them. Once my husband and I really started to focus on budgeting our money, these little extras went away. Today, having a soft drink is a special treat, something I might get when out to eat at a restaurant instead of always having them in my fridge. For the past year, we’ve stuck to coffee and hot tea in the mornings and water during the rest of the day. Also, we get the little added bonus of living in the Caribbean so we often pick fresh fruit from the yard and make juice. I can’t really count how much money we’ve saved by cutting out the extras, but I know it’s an easy fix if you’re on a tight budget.

2.  Smart Phones

I’ve now gone a solid 13 months without a smart phone, and yes I know it’s sad that I know the exact number. This was the absolute hardest thing for me to give up. For weeks after I turned it off in favor of the cheapest phone in the store, I seriously had phantom phone pains. Every time I was in a waiting room, I’d reach to surf the net on my phone only to realize I turned it off. It took a full 6 months before I broke this habit. It made me realize how much time I spent on my phone. I feel like I’ve gained back hours every day, and miraculously❠I can still run my blog and my freelance business without it.

3. TV

This one really goes without saying. We all know that we can live without watching TV; it’s just that few of us actually do it. I have personally enjoyed getting rid of my TV. Whenever I want to watch a show, I just catch it online. It’s as simple as that, and it saves me a good chunk of change every month.

4.  Beauty/Spa Treatments

Now, I realize that this one in particular is more directed towards the ladies, but gentlemen I know you like your nice haircuts too. It’s incredible how much money all of us spend on items in this category. Highlights for your hair, pedicures, eyebrow waxing, etc. all add up. I’m not saying to let yourself go or anything, but many of these maintenance❠costs can be fixed by yourself. You can even learn how to give your significant other a decent haircut after a little bit of practice!

Of course, quitting all of these things at once might be a bit much, so I recommend slowly weaning off of one at a time. Once you do, you’ll not only have hundreds of extra dollars a month but you’ll also feel healthier and more relaxed.

I’m sure these are not the only things that you can find to cut out of your monthly routines. These are just a few that I have personally dealt with. What are some of the things you’ve given up that others can’t seem to live without?

photo by denharsh