simple stuff, better than nothing!

I've been sticking with a couple lifestyle changes over the past couple months - might as well celebrate even the small ones! They're nothing groundbreaking, but they work.

First up, I started cooking at home a lot more and found that I really enjoy it! My job takes a lot of creative energy and is highly stressful, so when I get home I'm not good for much of anything. Basically I either go for a run (on the good days) or sit around on the couch watching TV and surfing the net (on the bad days!). Cooking dinner has turned out to be great for unwinding. I get to work with my hands and do something constructive, eat a lot better than takeout, and have leftovers for the next day. I even get to indulge my shopaholic side by doing a bit of extra grocery shopping :)

But in the end, it's become a huge money saver. I don't get takeout for dinner nearly as much anymore, and I'm not buying lunch at work either. Most recipes I use will make 4-6 servings. Since it's just J and I, all we really need for a meal is 2 servings - but instead of halving the recipe, I make it as directed and package up two tupperware containers of leftovers that make an easy lunch.

I used to spend about $10 on lunch at least twice a week. And I probably spent about $30 on various takeout/prepared dinner. So I could go through $50 easily in one week...$200 in one month. And I'd still be buying $50 worth of groceries (boxed/frozen stuff) each week. Now I spend around $40-$50 per week on groceries (meats/produce/dairy), and as close to $0 as I can get on takeout, saving myself almost $200 a month.

The other big one was COFFEE. I never did get up early enough to hit Starbucks before work each morning, but at some point during the afternoon or evening I would grab a $5 coffee without even thinking about it. I would get maybe three or four a week, meaning I was spending up to $80 a month of coffee. No more. I set the coffeepot timer at night and take a mug in the car on my way to work, which usually satisfies the craving for the entire day. I'll still get one Starbucks coffee on the weekend, but I limit myself to just that. And I usually order the smallest size now, so I'm spending a little less (about $3.50 or so).

All in all, that's a total savings of $280 a month. Now I know that my spending wouldn't be that high every month, but even one month at that rate is pretty wasteful! And now I just need to get J on board. He still buys coffee pretty regularly and he's terrible at remembering to grab lunch out of the fridge in the morning (but I refuse to be THAT much of a mommy and pack it up all nice for him every night, know what I mean?) So he's throwing a lot of money away. Here's hoping that once we move he realizes he's gotta change that! ;)