Oof, yeah, I’ve never done that, but I can only imagine. If I go out to eat, my general rule (for myself) is to stick to under $10 a plate. I also can’t help but compare the cost of making something to what the convenience is costing me – like paying $6 for an omelette when a carton of eggs costs less than that. (And that’s why I rarely go out to eat!)

Awesome work! I basically have “back-up” meals that are super, super easy to make, this way I’m not tempted by alternatives. There are days when I forget to take something out of the freezer or whatever, but eggs are crazy easy to make and fill me up. I also make sure to make more when I do cook so I have leftovers on hand during the week.

Haha, very true, Heather! I just went through changing my address as I moved, and it’s definitely an eye-opener.

Yes, the phone bill is a culprit for a lot of people! I’m just not attached to my phone enough to pay that much for it anymore. I work from home, so I’m typically on my PC or laptop anyway. Good luck on making the switch!

Well, if food is something you truly enjoy, then perhaps it’s worth reducing other areas to make room for increased grocery spending.

When you’re committed to eating better, it can be a little difficult to lower your grocery spending. If you haven’t (or if they’re available), I’d suggest checking out farmers markets and ethnic food stores, as their meat, veggies, and fruit can be cheaper. I’ve also heard Aldi has decently priced produce!

Thanks Jef! I totally agree; health is not something people should be skimping on. It’s not fun to pay copayments, but the longer you put off an issue, the worse it can get. It’s not worth it. Interesting that travel is something you’d cut back on! I imagine that would be a hard decision for a lot of people to make, myself included.