She Strengthens

Breaking the Cycle of Dining Out: A 30-Day Experiment

As the holiday season approached in 2015, I made a conscious decision to limit my dining out habits. It wasn’t a New Year’s resolution, but rather a personal challenge to see if I could stick to cooking at home for an entire month. With my roommate’s support, we kept things low-key during the holidays, avoiding the temptation to book dinner reservations or go out for drinks.

The Real Test Begins

Come January, I embarked on a 30-day journey to eat at home every single day. No restaurants, no takeout, no exceptions. It wasn’t going to be easy, especially since my friends and I loved trying new restaurants and enjoying each other’s company over a good meal. But I was determined to break the cycle of excessive dining out and focus on healthier eating habits.

Lessons Learned

Learning to Say No

One of the biggest challenges I faced was saying no to social invitations that involved eating out. It’s hard to resist the pressure from friends who want to grab a bite to eat, but I knew I had to be firm. Explaining my reasons to my roommate and friends wasn’t easy, but it helped me stay committed to my goal.

Becoming a Better Cook

Forcing myself to cook at home every day pushed me out of my comfort zone. I experimented with new recipes, ingredients, and cooking techniques. I even started looking up quick meal ideas online and adapting them to suit my taste. Cooking became a fun and creative outlet, and I discovered a newfound confidence in the kitchen.

Making it Fun

Having my partner join me on this journey made a huge difference. We turned cooking into a fun, bonding experience, complete with music, candles, and cultural exchange. It was amazing to see how much more enjoyable cooking at home could be when shared with someone.

The Financial Benefits

The most significant benefit of my 30-day experiment was the substantial amount of money I saved. By cutting out dining out expenses, I reduced my monthly spending by AED 1,250.8 ($340). This amount is more than half of my monthly car loan payment and equivalent to my monthly utility bills. Seeing the numbers in black and white was a powerful motivator to continue this new habit.

A New Balance

While I won’t completely eliminate dining out from my life, I’ve learned to appreciate the value of cooking at home. My goal moving forward is to strike a balance between satisfying my social and culinary needs while maintaining a healthy approach to personal finance. By limiting dining out to weekends and cooking at home during the week, I can enjoy the best of both worlds.