Saving Money | Squirrelers

Spend to Save: 4 Car Maintenance Tasks You Should Pay For

Mar 072013

I generally prefer not to spend money frivolously. Okay, if you regularly visit here, that’s not exactly a newsflash! In fact, you might even be similarly inclined when it comes to being interested in sensible spending as a part of your approach to personal finance.

Of course, there are are times when we need to spend money. It’s a theme I’ve touched on lately, and this topic fits into that framework. One of these times is when we need to make sure that we do the right maintenance and repairs. We’ve explored the topic of saving money for home maintenance, and how it’s important to make sure we take care of keeping things in good shape before big problems occur.

The same concept applies to car maintenance. It’s almost like taking care of our health, and relating it to money. Of course health itself is paramount aside from money concerns, but if we eat well and keep ourselves fit, it can only help us financially. With car maintenance, if we do the right things along the way during the life of the car, we may be able to enjoy car longevity and avoid spending extra money. As far as that money is concerned, if we need to spend it we might have to utilize cash loans, but doing the right things regularly can help us control expenses better.

So, here are 4 car maintenance tasks that are worth spending money on:

Oil Changes

When you get an oil change, you’re taking a step that can keep the engine safe from heat and friction. There are also additives included that can help your engine in a variety of ways. If you don’t change the oil, the impact on the engine can be devastating.

It’s simple and doesn’t take much time. I know there are a few folks that want to do this themselves, but considering the concept of time is money, I will use a coupon and go someplace to get the oil change done.

Tire Maintenance

So, how do you “maintain” tires? I think it’s multi-faceted. One way is to make sure that you regularly check tire pressure. Having the right pressure can help the health of the tire (thus avoiding shortening its life), and can also help with fuel efficiency. Another way is to rotate tires. I’ve done this every few oil changes, but what’s best for you might depend on how you drive your car and the type of car and tires.

Also, needless to say, replace tires when this needs to be done. This is of course good for safety.

Air Filter

These things aren’t overly expensive, but they’re important. If the air can’t flow, it could impact the cleanliness of oil as well as the ability to keep the engine working properly. It’s something that’s not top of mind, but if you don’t change it, the performance of your car can suffer. Meaning, you could end up spending a ton of money you wouldn’t otherwise want to. So just check it periodically, and change it when needed.

Fluid Levels

Certain fluids are important for your car’s ability to work right. Transmission fluid, brake fluid, coolant, and the like are all vital to keep an eye on. It the fluid levels are low, your car might not function properly and there could be risks of breakdown and maybe even safety in certain cases. Monetarily, it’s worth it to spend when necessary.

My Questions for You

How often do you perform these car maintenance tasks?

Do you do any of these yourself, or do you pay others to do them all?

Do you have any others to add?

Check For Money Leaks

Saving Money 15 Responses »

Feb 282013

At one time, I had a home where I noticed some moisture by one of the windows. At first, I thought it might have been some condensation, based on the recent weather. Basically, I just looked the other way. But then, after some heavy rain, I noticed that there was once again moisture by window – but more this time.

It was clear that there was a leak there, and it needed to be fixed. Yet I delayed, or more accurately procrastinated dealing with it. I suppose I just wanted the problem to go away, or maybe correct itself. Obviously it didn’t, because the next time we had a heavy rain storm, there was water that came into the home. I had to fix it, and very soon thereafter I did just that. It felt good to know that my DIY efforts worked!

So, what does this have to do with personal finance? Well, we can have money leaks too!

What can a money leak be? There are probably different ways one can define this, but to me it’s when you’re seeing money spent on things that you either A) clearly don’t need, and you know it; or B) don’t know you’re spending money on.

A good example from my past is one that I’m not fond of admitting. The reason? There was no sense to it. It made no sense for a person otherwise responsible with money to waste money every month like this.

So what did I do? Well, I had a storage unit in which I kept a number of things after a move. The unit cost over $110 per month, and realistically, I kept a bunch of things that I probably didn’t need to keep. Some were definitely worth keeping, but certainly not everything. The thing is, there was some heavy furniture as well as other items that I didn’t want to clutter my place with. I could have done so, but somehow I though it would be okay to get a storage unit.

Now, sometimes a storage unit is needed for a short period of time. There are ways to save on a storage unit that can help ease the costs. However, you don’t want to make it a long-term solution.

So every month, I noticed $110 on the credit card statement. It just blended in with the rest of the expenses, and after a few months it became an afterthought. But after almost a year, I stopped and thought about the storage unit, and quickly did the calculations in my mind: I’d spent well over $1,000 on this storage unit. Soon after, I also got a notice that they were raising the rates.

Anyway, it took my some time (too long), but I eventually got around to getting rid of the storage unit. I actually had to bring some things home, and also get rid of others. Basically, I just paid someone to come remove the stuff. This added to the costs overall, but at least it helped put an end to the bleeding. Overall, a decent sized money leak ended up draining me of a significant amount of money. It was my fault.

While money leaks can be easy to overlook and even miss, they don’t go away and can cause bigger overall problems down the line. I recommend doing the following:

Track all your expenses
Review your credit card statements and bank statements
Account for each and every expense
Assess each expense and ask yourself if it’s necessary.
If it’s not necessary, eliminate it.

The more active you are with your finances, and more action-oriented you are, the better you can make sure that you don’t leak any money!

My Questions For You

How do you check for money leaks?

Have you ever had any money leaks, sort of like the one I mentioned above?

If so, what did it take for you to “plug” the leak?

Sometimes it Pays to Ask

Saving Money 15 Responses »

Feb 212013

Are you apprehensive to ask for a discount, or to wrangle savings out of a business?

Honestly, it’s not in my nature to be a big time haggler. Generally speaking, I stick to that nature most of the time, or at least in terms of following social norms. That being said, I’ve also learned that at times we have to simply cast aside any apprehensions and just ask for a discount – or whatever it is we want.

One small example of this is a recent episode at a quick-casual restaurant I visited for the first time in a while. For two people, the total cost came out to around $19. Not exactly a fancy dinner, but it got the job done that evening. Some days you just don’t want to cook, right?

First Discount

Anyway, before paying, I remembered that I had a loyalty card there – so asked if they could credit my card. Or, just give me points, or whatever it is they did there. I really didn’t remember how it worked, but just wanted to get credit toward whatever it is was I could get.

So, the girl behind the counter said that I had to have my card present. At that point, I asked if she could look it up if I gave my phone number. She then proceeded to look it up, and guess what? I apparently had earned $5 off my purchase, based on past activity there!

Clearly, it paid to push past her resistance, based on me not having my loyalty card. Just following up her objection by asking if she could look it up saved me $5.

Second Discount

The next discount was even better. It then occurred to me that I had an old punch card in my wallet, from years ago. Actually, I had recently found it and put it in my wallet with the idea that I could try to use it the next time I was at this place. Luckily, I happened to remember this before paying.

I had six “stamps” on this paper card, which then entitled me to a free meal. Now, this had to be 5 years old, and was from before plastic loyalty cards became the standard. I mean, how often do you even see those old-fashioned paper punch/stamp cards these days?

Anyway, I then pulled out the old, beat-up card and said I’d like to use this. She looked at it as if it she was looking at something from outer space. Her jaw dropped, and she stammered something about “I don’t think we give these out”. I mentioned that I got this years ago, at this restaurant, but just forgot to use it. She seemed a bit flustered, and said that she wasn’t sure they could accept it.

I then asked her if she could find out from her manager, as I’ve been a customer for a while and simply hadn’t used the card. Plus, it didn’t have an expiration date anyway. So, she went to ask the manager. A minute later, she came back and said she could honor it and I’d get the free meal I asked for.

Hooray!

She then asked me if I wanted to sign up for their loyalty card, at which point I was the one with the puzzled look. Uh, remember the first discount I asked for? I tried to nicely mention that I already had a card, and that’s how I got the first discount. She then said “Oh, you already have one? OK.”

I can see that the first part of our conversation wasn’t so memorable

Bottom Line: Just by being a little bit persistent, I saved $14 on a $19 meal for two people by getting two discounts. It’s another example of how sometimes it pays it to ask.

My Questions for You

Have you ever been persistent in asking for a discount?

What are some examples where you’ve taken the extra effort to save money?

If You Enjoy Airline Fees, There is a New One For You!

General, Saving Money 11 Responses »

Jan 242013

In recent days, it has been widely reported that Southwest has now added a new potential fee for customers. Yes, we have another airline fee that jumps out as being kind of interesting!

From what has been reported on various other sites, the fee is regarding early boarding privileges. A passenger can be assured to be one of the first 15 to board, an incredibly grand privilege indeed, for the “bargain” price of just $40. I know, I know….you’re so excited that you simply can’t wait to book a flight and get to be one of the first 15 on board! Just know that it’s reported to be only if space is available, and can be done up to 45 minutes before boarding.

It’s getting comical how these fees are being tacked on for air travelers. Back in the day, it was just a matter of paying your airfare and being done with it, for the most part anyway. Actually, the whole air travel experience was apparently a big deal at one point. People made it a point to dress up a bit, and it was a real special occasion to fly. Meals were served to everyone too!

Now, if you want a real meal, maybe think about flying first class. Or, settle for that snack box for which you’ll be paying more than just a couple of dollars. If you want to watch the in-flight movie or listen to music, you might have to pay up. Actually, depending on the airline, you may have to for such things as bottled water, a blanket, a pillow, or the right to choose your seat. It’s not unheard of to have to pay to be able to store a bag in the overhead compartment.

All of this doesn’t even include the hefty fees now in place for checking bags. This certainly wasn’t that case not too many years ago! I do have to say, I have inadvertently circumvented this once before, and managed to avoid airline baggage fees without even trying or intending to do so!

Anyway, at this point, airline travel is getting quite expensive. I have really, really enjoyed traveling in the past – and flying has been a lot of fun. I’ve traveled more than a bit, as mentioned here a few times. 47 states, plus internationally to Europe, Asia, Caribbean, etc. But as fun as it is has been, all of these fees are adding up to make flying less of a bargain than it might have been in the past. Not that I have time to do much traveling anymore, but even if I did, it’s getting pricey!

Might as well just not worry about it, and instead just get a good laugh at the newest attempts at revenue generation by the various airlines in business today. After the aforementioned trips to Europe, and being faced with paying for water at restaurants and paying to use restrooms, I now keep an open mind to such revenue generation attempts by businesses. At least air travel is optional in life, unlike the things I just mentioned having to pay for!

With all this said, I’m curious of your views on this.

Would you pay $40 in order to be one of the first to board the plane?

What do you think of all of these airline fees that have been added, and which ones are the silliest to you?

Have increased costs impacted the amount of air travel that you do?

Is AAA Worth It?

Saving Money 32 Responses »

Jan 212013

I’ve had a AAA membership for years now. My own membership is $57 (currently paying $82 for two), and admittedly, it’s not

Don’t get stranded in bad weather!

something I leverage every day. In fact, I don’t use it very often at all. Therefore, it seems fair to ask the question: is a AAA membership worth the cost ?

I say yes, and a big part of this is the roadside assistance service. Now, I haven’t been prone to too many car fiascoes over the years, so it’s not something that has been used too frequently. But there have been several situations where I needed their help with roadside assistance:

A time where I was in a blizzard, away from home, and somehow lost my keys in the stormy weather. Don’t ask, as I don’t know how I could possibly lose a car key that was in my hand, but it happened. Anyway, it was freezing and I was stranded, so AAA helped.
During a snowstorm, and while driving on a busy highway, my car tire blew out. I made it to the shoulder, but it was very narrow and in a highly urban, trafficked area. Thus, nobody would be too keen on trying to change a tire. Never mind that my spare was actually not in working order as it was. Anyway, it was a perfect time for AAA to help.
A situation where my car battery died, when I was far from home and in an area where I didn’t know anyone to give me a jump. Plus, there weren’t too many other folks around I could ask. I gave them a call, and got help.

I’m sure others have had far worse, even dangerous situations where they needed help.

Anyway, for me, the roadside assistance equals peace of mind. This is especially worth it if you have children driving with you, or if your spouse or a loved one are often driving alone. Or, if you’re often traveling with someone who is elderly or has a disability. You don’t want anyone to be in danger, or even highly stressed by situations. You can often get this other places, perhaps your insurance policy, but I’m not sure the benefits will line up as well for the price.

There are other benefits to having AAA as well:

Hotel Discounts
Retailer Discounts
Travel Information (guides, maps, etc)

Bottom line: If you drive a lot, and are periodically a good distance from home, AAA might very well be worth every penny and then some. It is for me.

My Questions for You

Do you currently have AAA, or have you had it in the past?

What is your opinion on its value?

Squirreling Gone Wild #34: Punished for Being Frugal

Saving Money 7 Responses »

Dec 202012

If you see a shiny new penny on the ground, what would you do? Pick it up, right?

Since frugality has its merits (and I’ll put picking up coins into the frugal category), I would do it. Many people would. After all, it’s there for the taking! Never mind that time is money, and the economic value of picking up pennies isn’t exactly a slam dunk. If it’s right in front of you, just take the free money and move on.

Well, I may have been “punished” for not exactly following my advice on when not to be frugal. If you recall from that post, within the 6 situations I mentioned was a theme surrounding the idea of not sacrificing health for money. I noted food as well as health care specifically, as 2 of the 6 situations. So despite some the antics from the Squirreling Gone Wild series that I’ve shared, I actually do believe it’s important to not go to far just to save a few dollars. Or pennies.

Or, in my case, penny. That’s right, I inadvertently made a trade-off with health, just for a penny.

So there it was…a semi-shiny penny sitting in the parking lot of the local library. Actually there was another one that was more dull right by it, but I never tried for it. Anyway, I just walked out when I stumbled upon the coin. Immediately, I made a quick lunge for the coin, not even completely stopping my stride. That’s when I felt a slight twinge in my back.

Now, I have had a few bouts of back soreness and worse over the years, so this was very mild compared to those episodes. Actaully, it was really an tiny aggravation of recent back soreness (which I felt a little bit in the morning anyway), so I don’t want to make it seem like picking up a coin was the source. But anybody who has had such issues in the past should know that you just have to make some good decisions, such as bending at the knees when picking something up. Not that you’re going to necessarily get hurt otherwise, but it’s just one of those little things that we do to avoid any unnecessary issues.

It did freeze me for a few moments, but I made it to my car without a problem and then went home and stretched out my legs and back – having learned from past experience. Things got back to normal later. No long-term damage, so don’t worry. :)

But still, why deal with any consequences just for something that’s not that important! It could have been anything – this happened to me once when quickly bending to simply check tire pressure on a cold morning, and the result was quite a bit worse than this. However, it just seemed like maybe some type of “justice” being served upon me this particular time, given that it was a coin involved, and that I’ve penny pinched in quite a few instances.

Moral of the story: a little extra money isn’t always worth it.

Apparently I needed to be reminded

My Questions for You:

Have you ever gone too far to save (or make) a little money, or do you know anyone that has?

What was the situation?

6 Examples of When Not to be Frugal

Saving Money 19 Responses »

Nov 292012

Frugality gets a bad rap in some circles, and in a way, such criticism can be over the top. There are people that simply think that it’s dumb to focus on saving at all, while one should simply aspire to bigger and better things with career or investments. In other words, they say make money and enjoy it while you can.

Admittedly, I do like to save money. Now, that’s no shock to those of you that visit here regularly. After all, I’ve shared a story about how I’ve picked up pennies on the ground below the window at drive-thrus, as well as a host of other tactics that can be seen as examples of extreme frugality. Saving is fun.

Plus, let’s face it - we won’t have a chance to grow net worth if we don’t save. It takes living within our means, and making sure our income exceeds our expenses, to allow this to happen of course. Then we can take that difference, invest it, and improve our situation. Bottom line is that saving money plays a big role in our financial success, and frugality can be a key part of it.

However, there really are times when we can’t be too focused on frugality. While it has its place, we can’t be myopic and lose sight of the bigger picture. Here are 6 times when we don’t need to be frugal:

When it Costs Money to Save Money

Sometimes, frugality addicts can go to great lengths to save a few dollars. Or, in some cases, pennies! I have heard people suggest things such as driving 60 minutes round trip to visit a cheaper grocery store, or driving 20 minutes round trip to go to a gas station that sells gas for 8 cents less per gallon. When you add up the cost in terms of gas, in order to drive to these places, it seems ludicrous to make those attempts to save. Particularly for using gas to save money on gas!

When it Takes Time to Save Money

Clipping coupons can be a nice way to save money. However, if we spend 30 minutes clipping coupons in order to save $4 at the grocery store, is it worth it? Would you want to spend your free time working at an $8 hourly rate? If so, maybe it would be worth it. But these are the types of calculations that make sense for us to make, determining the ROI on coupons, in order to see if we are truly spending our time wisely.

Food Choices

I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve been guilty of this one. Did you see above, where I talked about plucking coins off the ground at the drive thru window, where people dropped them? The drive thru isn’t exactly indicative of optimal nutrition However, I’ve gotten much better with choices, and realize that it doesn’t help to buy cheap food just to save money. Food that is healthy and cheap is a great choice, but unhealthy and cheap isn’t. What we save up front we might pay back and then some in health care costs and lower quality of life later.

Necessary Health Care

Have you heard of people who avoid getting healthcare on purpose? By this, I mean people making a decent salary with decent benefits, but choosing not spend on insurance because they “never get sick”. I have. Plus, there are people who don’t want to make doctor visits due to copay costs and medical costs, despite the necessity of such things. I get that some things aren’t truly necessary to do, but others actually are. Don’t shortchange your quality of life to save a few dollars.

Maintenance and Repairs

This can take many forms, but the ones that jump out at me are home and car maintenance. Like anything else, if we do the little things along the way, the long-term results will likely be better. Delay the important expenses, or try to cut corners where we shouldn’t, and we could ulimately lose more money later.

Generosity

I know that many will disagree, but I think it’s rewarding to be generous in spirit and action where feasible. Now, obviously we can’t do this at all times and for everyone. But being willing to shell out a few dollars here and there to be a good sport or truly help someone in need are both nice qualities and can be rewarding. For example, if someone you know asks if you can buy girl scout cookies, how could it really hurt to buy one box? Again, can’t do it for everyone, but sometimes we can.

More importantly, there are people in need. Not all needy people are lazy bums or moochers, some folks have truly experienced misfortune. A few dollars to help on occasion won’t break the bank. To each their own though, of course.

My Questions For You:

Which of these 6 instances of when not to be frugal resonates most with you? How have you applied it in your life?

Are there any you disagree with?

Do you have any more to add?

Here is How I’m Going to Get the Ultimate Black Friday Savings Experience

Saving Money 5 Responses »

Nov 192012

What could be better than lining up at 2AM outside a retail store, shivering in the cold while guarding your position in line? After all, you will be engaging in the the thrill of competing with other bargain hunters who are also trying to race into the store and grab some deals! Who needs sleep, and who needs all that hard earned money you’ve managed to save?

No thanks. Last year, I posted about the best way to save money on Black Friday, and shared how one can ensure that costs will be kept to a minimum. Again, we want to have fun and enjoy ourselves without overspending, right? Well, I plan to do just that this year, and not go shopping on Black Friday.

Sound boring? Well, I know that it will to many folks. But the question is, are you buying what you need? Or, in the case of many Black Friday shoppers, shopping for sport. Yes, I think that some folks view shopping competitively, or at the very least as a form of entertainment.

Okay, we can all define what constitutes entertainment, so I’m nobody to judge that. I just think that if that’s the case, just admit it. Otherwise, there isn’t much need for people to be waiting in line in the wee hours of the morning, disrupting their sleep cycle just to stampede for savings. In many cases, I really believe that some folks buy things that they don’t need or truly wouldn’t normally buy, but get caught up in the frenzy of great offers.

I’m not saying I won’t buy anything at all during the holidays. Of course I will, as I have quite a few presents to buy for others. And, when I see deals for things that I need for myself, I’ll jump in that way too. The more it can be done online, the better. I do admit though that every holiday season I do like to spend an afternoon out and about, taking in the festivities, etc. It can be a lot fun, of course.

However, Black Friday itself, with all the craziness of weird hours, frenzied crowds, and offers that tempt us to buy things we don’t need? I’ll pass this time. Call me boring, but I’ll have a great day anyway, doing other fun things! Oh, and it will be after getting a great night of sleep as well, keeping in mind the idea that the trade-off between sleep and money is to think about :)

My Questions for You

What are your Black Friday plans for this year?

Do you find it worthwhile to jump into the fray and hunt for deals on Black Friday?

Have you ever waited in any really long lines, or gotten to stores at odd hours, in order to get a deal?

How Much Do You Spend on Halloween?

Saving Money 10 Responses »

Oct 222012

The cost of Halloween can be downright scary!

Halloween has become big business.

Back in the day, it was a time focused on kids. You know, dressing up and going out trick or treating. It was a fun time, something that involved going around the neighborhood, knocking on doors, and getting some candy. Some spooky ghost stories added to the fun. All in all, good times, and a fun part of childhood.

Today, Halloween is practically a holiday for some people. Or, at least to the extent that there has become a “Halloween Season” of sorts.

You’ll see not just kids enjoying this season – but teenagers and grown ups as well. There are parties all over the place, and even some workplaces get into the fun in some capacity. Halloween costumes have gotten more elaborate, and for the grown ups – quite expensive and even competitive. People go to great lengths to revel in the festivities.

Oh, that’s not it. There are tons of Halloween-themed products out in stores. Aside from costumes and related items, there are lots of Halloween season clothes, as well as food products out there. It’s not just candy corn, but anything and everything that can be pumpkin flavored or have some kind of monster label attached to is leveraged in attempts to monetize the season.

That brings me to the following question: How much will you spend on Halloween?

Having kids, I look at it as a time where it’s all about them. I guess I’m a bit retro that way. But really, it’s also about – you guessed it – not spending a whole lot of money! Don’t get me wrong – we have other fun fall traditions that we take part in that do cost some money, such as apple picking and visiting the pumpkin patch. So it’s a matter of choice where such spending will go.

So, how much will be spent on Halloween in this household?

Well, of course money will be spent on kids’ costumes. Aside from that, in terms of spending on grown ups, here is the amount that will be spent: ZERO.

Yes, that might seem oh so 20th Century to not be going to a Halloween party and spending tons of money on getting dressed up, eating/drinking, etc. I last did that 4 years ago, and dropped $200 or so that evening! Also, it might seem out of place to not be spending lots of money on Halloween-themed clothes, or decorations, or things of the like. Rather, I’m letting this be a kids holiday.

Admittedly, I do enjoy giving candy to kids that trick-or-treat. To me, it’s a fun part of simply being a regular part of society here in the U.S. Kind of like choosing to buy girl scout cookies – participating is just kind of wholesome and enjoying being a part of things. That being said, this year we won’t have anyone home on that day, so no candy will be bought either.

Bottom line – aside from spending on the kids, I’m spending zero on Halloween this year. And liking it!

My Questions for You

Aside from any spending on kids, how much do you spend on Halloween?

Do you think this is one of those times of the year that you just have to spend money, or not?

Even if you don’t spend much, do you still enjoy participating (as I usually do)?

5 Ways to Stop Overspending On Eating Out at Restaurants

Saving Money 21 Responses »

Oct 032012

Have you heard of the concept of an “Achilles heel”?

We have that in way or another. It can also be described a “thorn in our side”, or in some other creative way. What it’s getting at is that we have that one thing – or more – that just holds us back in some way. This can also happen with our budget.

To me, a financial Achilles heel, so to speak, is the cost of eating out at restaurants. More specifically, the amount of money I spend on going out to eat. These costs can really add up, as a quick look at my spending patterns has told me. While I’m what I would consider to be a financial responsible person who understands the difference between wants and needs, I can acknowledge that even personal finance enthusiasts can have one or two spending weaknesses. I’m no different, as my increasing pattern of getting meals from outside shows.

Here’s the thing – the costs can not only be financial, but can also impact one’s health. Not only might you pay more now, but you can pay later too. The cost of healthcare in retirement can be quite high, so in effect there is a balloon payment involved in your decisions made today. Best to think of overall costs from a holistic point of view.

Anyway, there are habits we can get into which can save us money on costs related to dining out. I’m starting to focus – or in some cases, focus more – on the following 5 ways to curb spending on eating out:

1) Do the math. This is one way that a person can stop spending too much on eating out. Just track your expenses, and see how much you’re spending on eating out. Just to throw out an example, if you’re spending $15 per day on eating out, but you could alternatively spend $10 per day eating very well at home, that’s $5 per day more. Added up, it’s over $1,800 in excess spending per year. Isn’t that motivating? For even more motivation, think about the potential long-term value of simply investing $1,000.

2) Pack your lunch. Often times, it can get expensive eating lunch at work. Whether you go out to eat, or dine at an office cafeteria, you can find yourself spending a fair amount of money daily. And don’t even get me going on vending machine snacks. Though a gold vending machine would be nice, but I digress. Anyway, taking 5 minutes to pack a lunch can be well worth the investment.

3) Batch cook. If you think that it takes time to prepare food to pack, I can understand. That’s how I see it. What I think might be a good solution is batch cooking. Cooking a large amount at one time, while refrigerating or freezing multiple servings, can be good way to manage time. This way, you can save both time and money by getting it all done at once.

4) Learn to appreciate good food. What? Isn’t some restaurant food awesome? Well, sure some can be really tasty. But you know what? The more I think about different meals I’ve had over the years, really well-cooked homemade dishes with fresh ingredients just taste better and healthier. It sure is better than swinging by the drive-thru, and you don’t have to use penny-pinching strategies on saving money at the drive-thru.

5) Challenge yourself. Many of us like a challenge, and have a competitive streak and/or a quest for self-improvement. If you can challenge yourself to cut eating out by 50%, or some other amount, you might end up getting more enthused about making a concerted effort. After succeeding, you just might develop some new habits that can stick with you!

My Questions for You

How often do you eat out at restaurants (or pick up food)?

What approaches do you take to saving money on eating out?

Do you have another expense that is your “financial Achilles heel”?