by Hope
As everyone knows, we had a great #NoSpendJanuary. While I did very briefly toy with the idea of extending it for a few weeks into February like I did back in October, I am definitely not in the mindset to continue.
BUT while I was perusing Facebook this morning, I did find a challenge that appealed to me. And it will definitely contribute to our continued financial gain.
Are you ready to join me for a February Eat at Home Challenge?
Needless to say, I did not create this. They have one posted for every month in the Dave Ramsey Facebook group I belong too. And since eating out is definitely my hardest challenge. I thought this would be a great challenge for me.
Between the kids and I, we have planned out 3 weeks of meals already. And I just have to hit the grocery store and stock up with the list we made from our meal plan.
I am not sure I can commit to every meal at home this month because I really need a break from home right now. And dishes! But I am up for a challenge.
I think I’m going to make a goal of eating 6 home cooked dinners a night at home. And the 7th night will be leftovers.
But I’m going to give myself a little leeway during the day when it’s just me. I can go to the local coffee shop and get soup for $2.50 at lunch time.
Who’s in? Or who has another February Challenge idea for the BAD community? I’m open to suggestions.
Hope is a resourceful, solutions-driven online business manager with over two decades of experience helping clients streamline operations, manage projects, and grow their businesses through digital marketing and technology.
But life has a way of rewriting your plans.
A year ago, Hope made the decision to move in with her aging parents full time – a season she wouldn’t trade, even as it came with its own financial and emotional weight. Earlier this year, she lost her mother, and is now walking the tender, disorienting path of grief while learning what “forward” looks like from here.
Hope came to the Blogging Away Debt community in 2015 as a single mom raising five foster and adoptive children. She’s written through job changes, financial setbacks, and the bittersweet transition to an empty nest. Her kids are finding their footing in the world now – and so is she.
Rooted in faith and fueled by the same perseverance she’s brought to every hard season, Hope is ready to face her finances with fresh eyes and an honest pen. She believes that clarity, courage, and community can change the trajectory of anyone’s story including her own.
She lives in Austin, TX with her dad, loves adventures with her dog Addie, and is figuring out, one step at a time, what this next chapter is meant to be.
..You can also buy a can of soup at the grocery store to heat up for under $1. $1.75 or less if you go with a “fancy” soup.
True! BUT I so need a break from dishes. So I am going to give myself a little bit of grace this month. Certainly not every day, but it will be a nice treat to sit at the local coffee shop and have someone else cook and clean. Not to mention, get out among people other than my kids.
I’m in – we are trying for a no-spend February so eating out is DEFINITELY not “on the menu”!!! This is definitely our hardest thing to conquer, so it will be a challenge, but I think we are up for it!!!
Good luck, Sue! Yes, eating out is the hardest thing for me too.
Thankfully I truly enjoy cooking so it’s getting easier. And if I had a dishwasher, I probably wouldn’t have been quite as worn out with it this month. I’ve definitely added dishwasher to my must have for my next kitchen…which is probably years down the road.
Not eating out is the easiest way to save lots of money. Even if you use convenience foods it is still cheaper.
I don’t mean to highjack your post, Hope, but I did want to say I hope Ashely is ok. We haven’t heard from her in awhile.
That’s true, which is why I think this is a good challenge for us this month. Especially with everyone eating dinner at home most nights. (Breakfast and lunch are hit or miss as to who is home.)
I don’t know what Ashley is up too. Either of them.
I was also wondering about Ashley.
Good luck, Hope! Sounds like a good February challenge!
Hope to give yourself a real every once in awhile but some paper platrs. You can get a 20 count for 97 cents in the party section of walmart. That should give you one day a week of no dishwashing. I also recommend putting a frozen pizza or two in the freezer. It’s more expensive than making your own but definitely less time intensive and saves you from declaring takeout night when you have a long day and just don’t feel like cooking.
I second this!
True. We ran out during #nospendjanuary and I should replace them.
Added to my grocery list just now!
I’ve been doing a similar thing with packing lunch. Keeping a tally of how many I pack and at the end of the month putting the $5 per day I save into savings. It motivates me to keep track so I don’t feel like that extra money just gets “lost”.
This is a great idea!! I did a lot of eating at home in Jan, don’t mind it at all for Feb too.
What about the kids doing all the dishes and dinner clean up? With 3 of them they each only need to do a couple night a week. Or assigning them each a night to cook and clean up after dinner for the family once a week?
I wondered the same thing about the children helping with dishes. And how many dishes does it take to heat soup – a pot, bowl or mug, and a spoon? $2.50/day (or $3 ish if tax/tip weren’t included) will add up quickly..
$2.50 seems really affordable for a cup of soup and some adult interaction. Even if Hope just sits at a table, checks email, and doesn’t talk to a soul it’s a way to feel a bit more human? I don’t know. Full time WFH would be difficult for me, so I would definitely justify a daily Starbucks or something just to get out.
Agreed, Walnut. I am also in a higher cost of living area but cans of soup at the store are shockingly expensive last I looked here; like $3 for a Progresso can. $12-15 a week seems like a reasonable way to get out.
This is how we used to operate. But since the kids are rarely home at dinner time, it makes assigning them a night quite tricky.
All of them have class at night. And the twins often work the nights they don’t have class.
Believe me, I’ve thought of this…numerous times.
I would love to join your challenge. However, *chuckle*, this shortest month sees Valentine’s Day, and our anniversary, and my birthday! The compromise this year is that we’ll have our anniversary dinner (which IS Valentine’s Day) at home, and go out to a modest dinner for my birthday at the end of the month.
We always do Valentines dinner at home because the restaurants are packed. More fun to go out on days that are just special to you, like birthdays and anniversaries.
I supposed you get a pass on those days 🙂
I hadn’t even thought of Valentines. But that’s not really something we celebrate so I don’t suppose it’s a reason to break my “eating out” fast.
Have a wonderful birthday dinner out!!
Sorry, couldn’t resist:
“eating 6 home cooked dinners a night at home”
You’re going to be very full.
LOL!
Ha, good catch!
I think if you want to start eating out, there needs to be a line in your budget for that. When it is finished, no more eating out. That is the beauty of budgeting. I personally find eating out to be a slippery slope, but I an all or nothing person (I don’t moderate well).
You are right. I need to review my winter budget to see where I can pull from.