Spending too much

renaissancewoman101 · 07-24-2009, 09:27 PM

What causes people to spend too much? I know budgeting is something people have to do to control one's spending.

I find that lately I have been spending money excessively on eating out and other food things. For a while there I stopped going to Starbucks except on weekends. I also stopped eating out for lunch. I didn't manage to save that much (since I paid off other bills). Lately, I have been having a hard time getting up in the morning so now I go to Starbucks almost every morning. I also sometimes will pick up lunch instead of eating a Lean Cuisine entree.

I know a lot of it has to do with my appetite increasing (because of the anxiety meds). I don't exercise a lot, except for fencing.

I also eat out a lot for dinner. Dinner usually consists of me stopping at Whole Foods after work to pick up some stuff and eating that, along with some fruit since that is healthier. I also pick up stuff at places to eat after work. For example, I had to run errands last night, so picked up some sushi for dinner. Tonight I was happy it was Friday and so picked up a wood-fired pizza from a restaurant.

I usually eat out on Sat night with friends.

I find I am frittering away my money again on FOOD!!! Not a good thing. I do try to find healthy alternatives for eating (salads on the go, healthy entrees from Whole Foods, fruit, etc).

I don't cook well and living on my cooking can turn me off at times.

When I look at my online bank and credit card statements, I find that a lot of my money goes to food.

InBruges · 07-24-2009, 09:32 PM

Limit those expensive tastes. Instead of the $4 Starbucks drink, get the $1.65 tall cup of plain coffee. Or go to a gas station and get a cup for $0.89. Either way gets you that nice morning drive.

Instead of going to the Whole Foods where everything costs twice as much as a regular grocery store, go to the regular grocery store. The non-organic stuff isn't deadly, I promise.

Unfortunately, there's no real secret. There's just the two options: frugal and save or fancy stuff and don't save. Up to you.

renaissancewoman101 · 07-24-2009, 09:38 PM

When I go to Starbucks I try not to get the expensive coffee drinks. Usually I get a Toffee Nut Americano (coffee with 2 espresso shots and toffee nut syrup). It is about $2.40. Regular coffee doesn't give me the shot of caffeine that I need to get through the day.

It also doesn't help our sales tax out here is VERY HIGH!!!!

InBruges · 07-24-2009, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by renaissancewoman101

When I go to Starbucks I try not to get the expensive coffee drinks. Usually I get a Toffee Nut Americano (coffee with 2 espresso shots and toffee nut syrup). It is about $2.40. Regular coffee doesn't give me the shot of caffeine that I need to get through the day.

It also doesn't help our sales tax out here is VERY HIGH!!!!

Whoa whoa whoa! Regular coffee has a lot more caffeine than two espresso shots. A tall coffee (12oz) is 260mg of caffeine. Two espresso shots is 150mg combined.

**annie24** · 07-24-2009, 10:31 PM

if you are going to pick up your dinner at whole foods, make something yourself, instead of picking up something from the deli. do you know how to cook? you should focus more on cooking for yourself. i have cookbooks that are simple, and some recipes take less than 20 minutes to prepare, so you have dinner ready in less than the time it takes to go shopping.

TheSmilingTurnip · 07-24-2009, 10:45 PM

I think it is definitely time for you to develop a new skill: cooking. There are many easy ways to learn this. When I got my daughter years ago, I needed to learn to cook too. One thing that helped me was a service called Saving Dinner. You get a weekly menu plan for your dinners, with a grocery list and directions. It's cheap. Just google it. It taught me to cook.

Next up - perhaps you should invest in a coffee maker. I recently discovered coffee this year too and I found myself spending 2.25 per cup. That was too much for us. I got the coffee maker. A little non-fat powdered milk, some equal, and I'm good. It's awesome.

Stick it in a travel mug and your morning drive is taken care of.

So -- cooking and coffee maker. Problems solved.

**annie24** · 07-24-2009, 10:46 PM

have you considered taking a healthy cooking class?

you should also get a slow cooker. can't be easier. meat, vegetables, spices, 8 hours later, you have a delicious hot meal. start it cooking when you leave for work, and then you have dinner when you get home.

**annie24** · 07-24-2009, 10:46 PM

i also have my own espresso maker. saves sooooooo much money in the long run!

JeckyllNHyde · 07-25-2009, 12:36 AM

I'm not the greatest cook either but am very very aware (and try to make others too sometimes) about how much one can end up spending just on eating out all the time.. even if it's junk food (which is supposedly quick and cheap compared to other things).

Instead of going to the deli I'd change that meal up wit cereal for dinner for instance lol. Sounds silly, but it's a healthy meal when you think of it (consisting of calcium).
Or plan sandwiches made at home (I think it would be way cheaper to buy a pack of deli sliced ham/turkey/chicken/you choose) and other things to put on it like tomatoes, etc. As well as those subway style loaves.

What I never get is how people would rather drive all the way out to places like wholefood/fast food places/take outs instead of just go to the supermarket once a week and gather groceries. I'm a bit lazy I guess, and usually just want to get home asap after work- which is why I say that.

There's a ton of other stuff you can make which is quick and easy: omlets, pasta, salads with pre bought veggies, etc.
These things all take less then 10 minutes to prepare, same/less time then it takes to go out and buy stuff.

I also find it fun to try out and learn to cook new/easy things. With practise you will get better and learn, but if you don't try you won't. Take it from me... a once not so confident "cook".

Mousty · 07-25-2009, 10:01 AM

I'd say start with learning how to cook the basics. If you find yourself suceeding at making those easier receipes, you might find it more fun.

- Speggathi
- Rice, oven chicken and veggies

07-24-2009, 09:27 PM	#1
renaissancewoman101 Offline Platinum Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: the land by the sea Gender: Female Age: 36 Posts: 8,563	Spending too much What causes people to spend too much? I know budgeting is something people have to do to control one's spending. I find that lately I have been spending money excessively on eating out and other food things. For a while there I stopped going to Starbucks except on weekends. I also stopped eating out for lunch. I didn't manage to save that much (since I paid off other bills). Lately, I have been having a hard time getting up in the morning so now I go to Starbucks almost every morning. I also sometimes will pick up lunch instead of eating a Lean Cuisine entree. I know a lot of it has to do with my appetite increasing (because of the anxiety meds). I don't exercise a lot, except for fencing. I also eat out a lot for dinner. Dinner usually consists of me stopping at Whole Foods after work to pick up some stuff and eating that, along with some fruit since that is healthier. I also pick up stuff at places to eat after work. For example, I had to run errands last night, so picked up some sushi for dinner. Tonight I was happy it was Friday and so picked up a wood-fired pizza from a restaurant. I usually eat out on Sat night with friends. I find I am frittering away my money again on FOOD!!! Not a good thing. I do try to find healthy alternatives for eating (salads on the go, healthy entrees from Whole Foods, fruit, etc). I don't cook well and living on my cooking can turn me off at times. When I look at my online bank and credit card statements, I find that a lot of my money goes to food.

07-24-2009, 09:32 PM	#2
InBruges Offline Gold Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Gender: Male Posts: 515	Limit those expensive tastes. Instead of the $4 Starbucks drink, get the $1.65 tall cup of plain coffee. Or go to a gas station and get a cup for $0.89. Either way gets you that nice morning drive. Instead of going to the Whole Foods where everything costs twice as much as a regular grocery store, go to the regular grocery store. The non-organic stuff isn't deadly, I promise. Unfortunately, there's no real secret. There's just the two options: frugal and save or fancy stuff and don't save. Up to you. __________________ "It's a fairytale town, isn't it? How's a fairytale town not somebody's f**ing thing?"

07-24-2009, 10:45 PM	#6
TheSmilingTurnip Offline Platinum Member Join Date: May 2005 Age: 33 Posts: 2,042	I think it is definitely time for you to develop a new skill: cooking. There are many easy ways to learn this. When I got my daughter years ago, I needed to learn to cook too. One thing that helped me was a service called Saving Dinner. You get a weekly menu plan for your dinners, with a grocery list and directions. It's cheap. Just google it. It taught me to cook. Next up - perhaps you should invest in a coffee maker. I recently discovered coffee this year too and I found myself spending 2.25 per cup. That was too much for us. I got the coffee maker. A little non-fat powdered milk, some equal, and I'm good. It's awesome. Stick it in a travel mug and your morning drive is taken care of. So -- cooking and coffee maker. Problems solved. __________________ BOUNDARIES...where you end and someone else begins. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Keep the fights clean and the sex dirty." ~ Kevin Bacon on keeping marriage together.

07-25-2009, 12:36 AM	#9
JeckyllNHyde Offline Platinum Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Gender: Female Age: 23 Posts: 5,194	I'm not the greatest cook either but am very very aware (and try to make others too sometimes) about how much one can end up spending just on eating out all the time.. even if it's junk food (which is supposedly quick and cheap compared to other things). Instead of going to the deli I'd change that meal up wit cereal for dinner for instance lol. Sounds silly, but it's a healthy meal when you think of it (consisting of calcium). Or plan sandwiches made at home (I think it would be way cheaper to buy a pack of deli sliced ham/turkey/chicken/you choose) and other things to put on it like tomatoes, etc. As well as those subway style loaves. What I never get is how people would rather drive all the way out to places like wholefood/fast food places/take outs instead of just go to the supermarket once a week and gather groceries. I'm a bit lazy I guess, and usually just want to get home asap after work- which is why I say that. There's a ton of other stuff you can make which is quick and easy: omlets, pasta, salads with pre bought veggies, etc. These things all take less then 10 minutes to prepare, same/less time then it takes to go out and buy stuff. I also find it fun to try out and learn to cook new/easy things. With practise you will get better and learn, but if you don't try you won't. Take it from me... a once not so confident "cook". __________________ You're just too good to be true... Can't take my eyes off of you...

07-25-2009, 10:01 AM	#10
Mousty Offline Platinum Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Quebec Gender: Female Age: 24 Posts: 2,688	I'd say start with learning how to cook the basics. If you find yourself suceeding at making those easier receipes, you might find it more fun. - Speggathi - Rice, oven chicken and veggies __________________ Watching her little baby grow everyday.

07-24-2009, 09:38 PM	#3
renaissancewoman101 Offline Platinum Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: the land by the sea Gender: Female Age: 36 Posts: 8,563	When I go to Starbucks I try not to get the expensive coffee drinks. Usually I get a Toffee Nut Americano (coffee with 2 espresso shots and toffee nut syrup). It is about $2.40. Regular coffee doesn't give me the shot of caffeine that I need to get through the day. It also doesn't help our sales tax out here is VERY HIGH!!!!

07-24-2009, 10:31 PM	#5
annie24 Online Super Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Age: 29 Posts: 26,827	if you are going to pick up your dinner at whole foods, make something yourself, instead of picking up something from the deli. do you know how to cook? you should focus more on cooking for yourself. i have cookbooks that are simple, and some recipes take less than 20 minutes to prepare, so you have dinner ready in less than the time it takes to go shopping.

07-24-2009, 10:46 PM	#7
annie24 Online Super Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Age: 29 Posts: 26,827	have you considered taking a healthy cooking class? you should also get a slow cooker. can't be easier. meat, vegetables, spices, 8 hours later, you have a delicious hot meal. start it cooking when you leave for work, and then you have dinner when you get home.