She Strengthens

The High Cost of Dining Out: Why Meal Planning is Key to Saving Money

Eating out can be a significant drain on your finances, and it’s a challenge many of us face. I, for one, love trying new restaurants and enjoying a meal cooked by someone else. However, I also know that it’s essential to prioritize my financial goals over the occasional indulgence.

The Double Whammy of Dining Out

Not only does eating out hurt your wallet, but it can also negatively impact your health. When I eat at a restaurant, I’m more likely to overeat and make unhealthy choices. On the other hand, planning my meals in advance allows me to make better decisions and stick to a healthier diet.

Finding a Balance

I’m not suggesting that you should never eat out. Instead, I recommend having a plan in place to ensure you’re not doing it too frequently. For my household, that means limiting ourselves to one dinner and one lunch out per week. This approach helps us strike a balance between enjoying the occasional meal out and staying on track with our financial goals.

The Power of Meal Planning

Having a fridge full of ingredients is a great motivator for cooking at home. I hate wasting food, so when I have all the necessary ingredients, I’m more likely to prepare a meal. Meal planning is a lifesaver in this regard. My partner and I work together to plan our meals for the week, and then we do our grocery shopping in one trip. This approach saves us time and money in the long run.

Grocery Shopping Made Easy

We’ve discovered that using a home delivery service can make grocery shopping more convenient. While it may be slightly more expensive than traditional grocery shopping, the quality of the produce is excellent, and it saves us time in the long run.

Finding Inspiration

Pinterest is an incredible resource for recipes, and I find most of our meals on the platform. We prefer quick and easy dinners, especially on weeknights, and slow cooker recipes are a staple in our household. I choose recipes that make enough leftovers for lunch the next day, which helps reduce food waste and saves us money.

Meal Planning in Action

To give you a head start on meal planning, I’m sharing our recipes for the next two weeks. These 12 meals will help you get started on planning your own meals and saving money in the process.

• Red Curry Lentils
• Easy Skillet Baked Ziti With Sausage and Ricotta Recipe
• Baked Buffalo Chicken Taquitos
• Kalua Pork Tacos
• Creamy Thai Sweet Potato Curry
• 7-Ingredient Easy Zuppa Toscana (Creamy Gnocchi Soup with Kale and Sausage)
• One-Pan Chicken Burrito Bowls
• Thai Coconut Curry Shrimp Noodle Bowls
• Huevos Rancheros
• Korean Beef and Rice
• Asian Pork Tenderloin with Ginger Glaze
• Sticky Thai Peanut Orange Chicken

Join the Conversation

Are you an avid meal planner or do you prefer to wing it? Share your favorite recipes and meal planning tips in the comments below!