Question

How do I stop eating out? I’ve had massive issues with eating out in the past (we’re talking hundreds of dollars a month for just me). I have plenty of food at home, but I get bored with it and don’t have the energy/motivation to prepare it. I’m working a very sporadic schedule at the moment and just pick things while I’m out. I have myself a $0 food budget this month (I have enough at home to last for a while) but end up in the drive through lane with my debit card. Any tough love/ideas to help just knock it off?  

Answer 1

Honestly, you just have to stop yourself. If you’re spending hundreds a month, think of where else that could be going.  

Answer 2

Meal Prep one day a week.  

Answer 3

Start small. I used to eat out most days for lunch and etc so now I will start small and aim for one day a week to splurge but even that I say it has to be under $10 as an example

Answer 4

Maybe scheduling into your budget 1 day a week so you don't feel deprived and meal planning all meals and snacks not just dinner

Answer 5

In the past, when I have gotten in a rut like that, I order a subscription service for a couple weeks on and a couple weeks off for a few months. MICH cheaper than eating out but breaks up the monotony. I keep the recipe cards and rate them on the card and then I can add those recipes in my repertoire

Answer 6

Put eating out in a cash envelope and leave debit card at home. That’s what I had to do.  

Answer 7

Meal prep, but keep it as simple as you can stand and pick meals 'future you' will actually want to est. I like to cook 2 meals and eat them 4times, sometimes with 'recycling, 'where, for ex, cooked chicken from day 1 goes on a salad or in chicken salad day 2.  

Answer 8

Try cutting down one day a week. When I’m working I leave my cash or debit card at home so then I know I don’t have any method of payment to pay for food. Also try to plan the days you expect eat out and budget for it.  

Answer 9

I was the same way. I mea prep on Sunday’s and Wednesday’s. I’ll cool protein on sundays and then used fresh vegetables during the week and Wednesday I’ll make a crock pot meal

Answer 10

I buy a few frozen dinners to have for days I “just don’t want to cook. ” More expensive than regular cooking but much cheaper than take out

Comments

@fantom I'm am learning to do this as well.  

Answer 11

I also am getting better and prep the items I crave such as fried chicken. I make it at home. cheaper/healthier and leftovers

Answer 12

Find a friend or family member who you can call or text when you get the impulse to drive thru. Yes this still takes accountability to reach out to them, but someone who won't shame you and knows your goals/situation may be able to redirect you back towards eating at home. Also, take an inventory of what you do have at home and create a short list of quick, easy meals you can make/eat for those times you REALLY don't want to. Doing some meal prep to get a few things in the freezer you can just heat up may help as well. And as a fail safe - just take the debit card out of your wallet entirely. Get some cash that is specifically for gas or something, but don't even give yourself the means to pay for the drive thru.  

Answer 13

When we tire of leftovers I put them in small freezer containers. I use them for lunch and usually it's a surprise what's in the container. Recently I've been trying to involve my husband by asking what he wants for dinner the next night and we take the meat to defrost and were half way there.  

Answer 14

You need to focus on what your financial goal is and why you want it? If your why is not strong enough, it will be very hard to stop the spending habits. Once you can drill in on that, then like what others have said, carry cash instead of the card so you’re not tempted to use it. I don’t like to cook either so maybe have meal plans that are easy to cook and/or will last more than a day so you can just eat leftovers the next day.  

Answer 15

Same boat . baby steps. For me everything starts with tracking. So I’ve simply been writing down what we’ve been eating for dinner. That way after a while I can just put the stuff we eat on repeat  

Answer 16

I looked over what I spent on eating out and that was a wake up call. So now I limit myself to eat out once a week and I have a spending limit and once it’s gone, it’s gone.  

Answer 17

Pick like your 2 favorites. Price them out and allow for you to have that per week and make a take out envelope. And that's it ! Try really hard to stick to it . Since it's just you. You can make it 3. But I wouldn't do more than that. We ate out alot. And that's what we did. Now it's only 2 a week and sometimes 1. It's hard but if you really want to change it. You can !  

Answer 18

Can you cut other areas of your budget to continue allowing meals out? If you want to stop eating out so much, start with some simple meal prepping; maybe a protein and some veggies on Sundays. Or commit to brown bagging your lunch every day. Start somewhere and you will build new habits. It's hard, but you will see the benefits quickly!  

Answer 19

This is SO me!  

Answer 20

I’m with you. I tried cold turkey and failed every time so now I give myself a $50 budget a week. I don’t buy shoes, a lot of clothes etc. I hope to lessen it in time, but it’s working for me.  

Answer 21

Come to the UK everywhere is shut  

Comments

@asymmetry I would love to!  

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@lely9363 I’ve not had McDonald’s since the start of March, I could cry  

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@asymmetry I wish I could say that! ‍♀️

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@lely9363 I’m so jealous! Post some over!  

Answer 22

Leaving your debit card at home.  

Answer 23

It helps me when I meal plan recipes that I'm excited about. When I do that, the home cooked meal sounds better than anything I could get from a restaurant.  

Answer 24

I am same but not as much - I allow myself x amount per pay check for eating out. Its my weakness and I know if I try cold turkey i will put it on CC so I say just allow yourself a set amount (cut back from what your spending now tho)

Answer 25

I do a prep day, cut and wash veggies for cooking, make snack packs with salami, cheese and crackers, fruit cups, cook meat for a couple of days, cook rice. Then I have the foundations for fresh meals that can be made quick.  

Answer 26

My problem-get depressed get take out. Happy-celebrate get take out. Make frozen meals not enough variety get take out. I need suggestions on how to develop willpower

Answer 27

Eat out once and a while as a treat or only on weekends. You might need to slowly transition to not eating out. That’s what we started doing. Start making a meal plan for the next week if you can. Miko has print outs for this.  

Answer 28

I've sometimes combined eating out envelope with grocery envelope. That, for me personally, means that that number is the number. For ALL the food. I don't buy groceries more than a week or 2 at the most. I'm only pd monthly so I make sure not to go too nuts by the 1st week of the month.  

Answer 29

We had an eating out budget that allows us to do it about once a week. I know if I cut it out completely I’d just end up throwing my budget off for it anyways. It helps knowing I can’t do it often because it makes me ask myself if I REALLY want it (if I get chick fil a tonight, I won’t have enough money to get a drink when I get Mexican food this weekend, etc). Also look at what places you’re frequenting, can you make that food at home for cheaper? We don’t get burgers out much because we started doing them at home instead. I haven’t had much motivation or interest in cooking either (thankfully my wife has stepped up with it), but I put a podcast on last night, decided to make one of my favorite meals, and actually had fun doing it. I’m starting to make a point to try new recipes too so I have something to be excited about!  

Answer 30

Meal preparation for the day/week

Answer 31

Set up a entertainment envelope and give yourself a cash budget. Make a meal plan and work a eating out meal into your meal plan. That way you dont feel as if something is being taken from you. You can do crockpot meals and instapot meals that you can just dump and go.  

Answer 32

Leave your debit card at home. Set a budget for fun money or eating out. When it’s gone, no more until next payday.  

Answer 33

Learn to love cooking. What do you love eating out? Try to make these dishes at home. See how cheap you can get them, when you make them from scratch. And you can adjust the recipes to your taste. So some day you don't even want to go out and eat bc it tastes so much better when you do it yourself

Answer 34

Leave your debit card at home. keep $20 in your car for gas/emergencies. i cook 3-4 times a week, just make a lot and take leftovers.  

Answer 35

Food prep, meal planning, freezer purge. If you have a plan it is easier to follow. Give yourself one meal out a week.  

Answer 36

Leave Your money at Home

Answer 37

What’s you day look like? Are you at home during the day? Or would you need to pack a lunch? Personally, I purchased a toaster oven air fryer that changed the game for me. I always have a chicken breast, or burger patties, or a lean steak defrosted that I can throw in for dinner. Add some bagged French fries and a salad mix. call it a meal. I’ve lost 30 lbs recently doing this!  

Comments

@dent3294 it changes every day. I’m doing gig type work (Uber, Grubhub, instacart) for the moment while school is out of session. That makes it trickier in my eyes. I prepare food at home, but if I bring it in the car with me while I’m working, it could go bad (Texas heat) or I won’t have a place to heat it up (due to covid). I have a gastric sleeve, so I don’t eat much. When I meal prep, it makes enough for at least a week and I get bored of having the same thing every day. I know I just need to buckle down and eat it anyway, but I haven’t had the where with all to do that yet.  

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@lely9363 , ok. Have you tried fasting during your working hours? I eat at 10-11 every day, and then not until 4. Maybe bring some apples and whipped pb along?  

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@dent3294 oooo i like that idea. I'll give it a shot!  

Answer 38

Instant pot! It seriously was a life changer for me. I love to cook but days when im too lazy or tired to cook it makes it so easy and I’ve saved a ton of money doing that instead of eating out. I also make big batches of food for the week and freeze them

Answer 39

Meal prep a couple of staples that could easily be turned into different meals like bowls w different toppings and dressings/sauces, tacos and salads. Buy condiments you enjoy because it can really alter a meal. Also maybe you can buy some easy premade things to hell you ease out of buying out but not having to cook. I think you’ll have to train yourself a bit from the habit of eating out so much and telling yourself you are craving something you can make at home. Good luck!  

Answer 40

The cookbook Cook Once Eat All Week was a game changer for me! You cook for about an hour on Sunday’s and prep the meals for the week using the ingredients you prepped. I believe each week does three different meals using the same three main ingredients but you can also add on additional meals to prep. Everything we had was yummy! You can find their website and download three or four free weeks to test it out before buying. That’s what I did and then bought. the book was around $20 but I stopped going out to eat. Now that I’m working from home I’m not using it as much since I am here to cook but it seriously was a game changer.  

Comments

I signed up to get the free four week plan. I do like how she uses the same ingredients for multiple dishes. Seems like I'd get less bored. Thanks!  

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@lely9363 Exactly! I don’t mind eating leftovers but I don’t want to eat the same thing everyday or I get burnt out! Hope you enjoy!  

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@canaanite And they have options for dairy/grain free?! I’m loving this. Thanks so much!  

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Yep! They also have low carb options too! Each recipe has a side that shows alterations depending on different diets!  

Answer 41

Start by just making what you would have ordered out. If Chinese is your thing, get a kit from the grocery store. If fried chicken, go to the deli of the grocery store deli. If it is Italian, cook some noodles. If you start with simple food that you crave regularly it will become routine much more easily than if you buy a bunch of cookbooks to make things you have never had.  

Answer 42

Put your debit card in a cup of water and freeze it.  

Answer 43

Why is it that you don’t have the energy/desire to make meals at home?  

Comments

@lympho1 It’s never really been part of my routine. And with no fixed work day, I’m all over the place. I’m not fully in the throes of a depressive episode, but close.  

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@lely9363 is it just you or are others depending on meals? I couldn’t tell exactly from your post. It can be hard to cook for one person.  

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@lympho1 just me. I’m single, no kids.  

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@lely9363 Even though we are a family of six, I can definitely relate to experiencing boredom and thinking that it’s just easier to eat out than to cook for myself if I’m home alone. But let me ask you, is the eating out a type of comfort for you? I think you probably know you can use cash or leave your debit card at home- and those are great ways to curb spending- yet it seems as though something deeper is going on that you may need to consider- especially since you mentioned being close to a depressive mode. Just an outsiders opinion .  

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@lympho1 Yup. You’re definitely right. I know all of these things that I could do, I just don’t.  

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@lely9363 If you like to read, check out Atomic Habits by @ophthalmoscope Clear. A lot of what we do as humans is out of habit- and instead of trying to break a habit (like eating out too much), he suggests creating a new habit that eventually nudges out the bad habit. It’s an effective way of looking at it that forces a positive outcome instead constantly being up against breaking a negative habit.  

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@lympho1 I have this audiobook, a friend recommended it. I’ll start listening tonight. Thanks!  

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@lely9363 Awesome! It's one of my favorite go-to books for a kick in the pants :). He has a great weekly newsletter too that you can sign up for on his website (jamesclear. com). Let me know what you think after you listen to it!  

Answer 44

Toss the debit card! Well don’t toss it just don’t carry it with you. I’m not a fan of cooking either but I have a toddler who I’m trying to set an example for since I too was an drive-thru lover. So now I prep our meals. At least 2-3 even 4 days worth. Sunday’s I’ll grill 4-5lbs of chicken and maybe some steak. And I’ll chop up on portions for my toddler and for husband and I, and I freeze them. Then I’ll just whip a salad, or I’ll make some mashed potatoes or I’ll grill some veggies etc. I keep the easier quick stuff for during the week and what takes longest like grilling for weekends.  

Answer 45

Assign a meal to a day and make sure to think about it the day before to thaw out deer meat. Vegan meals are actually cheap and super easy as well. Also meal prep even if you're just chopping your veggies

Answer 46

Don’t know if anyone suggested this but have you tried a meal delivery service? There are few really good ones out there and they will cost you way less than eating out but the variety is great, meals take about 30 mins to prep and you won’t get as bored.  

Comments

@incessant I haven’t found one that will for with my dietary restrictions. Anything would be better than fast food, but I digress.  

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Oh really? That’s too bad. I’ve had some that were paleo focused and way better than drive through processed stuff. But hope you find your solution.  

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@incessant Oh sure, even “imperfect” options would be better than what I’m having now. I’m just making excuses. ‍♀️

Answer 47

I do the same  I really need to stop and find the motivation to cook more at home

Answer 48

This is me!  I have no answer just here to say I feel your pain. Logic goes out the door, as does a full fridge when you just dont feel like it.  

Answer 49

I hate cooking to (feel like I'm no good at it). I got an air fryer and that changed my life. I cook simple now by buying frozen items I can throw in the air fryer like chicken patties, meat balls, veggie patties. I also make shakes at work. We have a refrigerator and lockers. I still cheat here and there but it has helped a LOT!  

Answer 50

Pinterest! I've found so many great recipes

Answer 51

I try to have something I can Heat up quick that is yummy and think about how long that trip takes verses popping it in the microwave for a few minutes. Lunch was always my temptation to go out to eat so I’ve been doing a treat after lunch or a coke as I only allow myself to have them at home and then it gives me something to look forward to. I also would allow a eat out day of the week- whatever day it is i forward to it and then that way I feel like there is balance but self control mixed in there.  

Answer 52

Meal prep. If you lack the motivation to cook, it might make things easier if the meals were already prepared and all you needed to do was heat it up

Answer 53

I’d batch cook some meals so it’s easy to grab something from the freezer that’s prepared. Then build in some reward systems for yourself to celebrate meeting mini goals. Don’t eat out for a week? Reward yourself with something small that you love. Put what you save aside and watch it build.  

Answer 54

Maybe try some meal prep. Now that we are wfh we havent been meal prepping like normal but definitely still prep stuff like buy 2 cooked chickens and shred for easy tacos and easy chicken salad. We will cook a pot of beans and mash them for easy bean dip and to go with tacos and make salsa for the week. We wi cut veggies and buy sauces for easy stir fry. Also buying stuff like burger patties for burger and throwing fries in air fryer, meatballs and frozen chicken patties for easy chicken parm or spaghetti w/meatballs. See If you can commit to eating at home 5-6 days out of the week

Comments

Soo another thing i do is i weigh the cost of a meal vs eating out version. The other day i bought a box of orange chicken at costco it was $14 and thought ugh! Expensive! But when i weighed it against the cost of buying orange chicken at panda Express $14 is not bad especially since it is Costco sized.  

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@bundestag I buy things off of the dollar menu ‍♀️‍♀️

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@lely9363 same! But when you multiply 5 dollar menu items +tax +gas to go out and idle in line. then not so cheap. and also this isnt advice to tell you to NEVER go out to eat but alternatives. We still go out to eat and its 5 adultish people it can get pricey but we limit ourselves to 2 go out to meals in a week about $60-$65 and that is because we are actually not paying for gas since we are still wfh. Again just ideas. Also many go out to eat places have meal kits right now and maybe purchase one of those? You are sti getting your go out to eat experience at home. My personal opinion is if you budget for it then you are okay. if you are not budgeting for it then think about your why. Mine used to be to save money which is super generic my real reason is because i want to be able to spoil my family and buy all the things i really want without going into debt when you really have a REAL why . then it is so much easier to make good money choices

Answer 55

Make a rule, you cant eat out until all your left overs are gone. Also make a reward system, for every day or week you don’t eat out give yourself a point. After so many points you buy something small you’ve been wanting.  

Answer 56

I had a similar problem with eating out and I had gotten into some really bad habits. To break it I came up with a simple plan. I have the same breakfast every day and same AM and PM snack. I cook 3x/week and eat it for 2 dinners and 2 lunches - cook Sunday and eat leftovers for lunch and dinner Mon and lunch Tue. Cook Tue, Cook Thur and same deal with leftovers. Go out for something nice Sat night. By having a routine it makes grocery shopping easy as well as cooking just 3x/week is more manageable for me. Good luck!  

Answer 57

I used to have that problem also. Now I eat out once per week at the most. I looked for recipes online to try new things. I meal prep so I always have food ready to go. If that doesn’t stop you thin about your health then. Because I guarantee the things you’re getting off the dollar menu are 100% artery clogging and no good for you. You may be in good health now, but continue to do it and it will catch up with you and cut your life short. Do you have kids? Do you want them to learn those bad habits or see you die early from coronary heart disease or diabetes? Sorry you asked for tough love - I’m giving it to you. Being sick later in life is not worth the little bit of gratification you get from a fast food meal. Check for new recipes to keep your interest. Also, if you find you’re too tired to cook of could be because of the fast food you eat. There is nothing nutritious in that food. Eating healthier will give you more energy to do things. I’m telling you - I speak from experience. I probably used to spend easiest $500 a month at restaurants. I broke that habit about 4 years ago and I’ve never looked back. I do have the occasional slip but make sure I get right back into meal prepping and eating at home. And if you still find you can’t do it - ask for help from a friend or family member. Or even a professional. Food addictions are not limited to just eating too much. Good luck.  

Comments

@necrophobia6072 I did have some pretty heavy health issues. They’re better, but not completely gone. I’ve actually lost a ton of weight, but the habits are still there. ‍♀️

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@lely9363 just take it one day at a time. Habits are hard to break - I get it. Be forgiving when you fail but then get right back at it. Maybe every time you want to go, you out that money into a jar. When you see the cash at the end of the month you’ll have something to show for it.  

Answer 58

I give myself $20/paycheck for fast food. I've found that if I try to just cut myself off, I end up spending even more than I would've in the first place, then I feel guilty and spend even more ‍♀️ give yourself a break, and take baby steps until youre comfortable and able to cook more meals at home  

Answer 59

Cooking meals and snacks on the weekend helps a lot. Don't eat those meals during the week if you are able to cook at home that night to keep things a bit less boring. If on a saturday or sunday you know there are days where you will be home and want to figure out little tricks to make dinner prep a bit easier, do that. Instant gratification is a huge problem today. That is why we have so many restaurants and fast food places these days. We want that quick fix thats tasty so we can move onto the next thing we want to do. We need to stop thinking like that. Find a way to take pleasure in cooking. Throw on some jams or an audiobook while you do the mundane tasks. If you want a trick to keep you from spending money on fast food, don't allow yourself access to your money when you know you shouldn't need it. Leave your debit cards at home. Go only cash. The emotional connection people have with cash is a bit more to overcome than using a plastic card. If you can help it don't even bring cash. If you forget your food at home, deal with it. It might help you to remember your food the next day. Stop using the debit cards as a crutch for when you forget your food at home. Just trying the tough love thing for ya.! Good luck!  

Answer 60

Live off your crock pot

Answer 61

Meal prep a few days at a time there are lots of ideas on the Internet. You can end meal prep crock pot meals. Do treat yourself though.