Cook dinner. We've run up against the reality of budgets and increased health insurance costs, and I had to do a little audit of my spending.
Places we could cut:
1. Charity Giving
2. Educational Expenses and the Kids' classes/lessons
3. Gift Giving/Helping Our Families Out
4. Eating Out
5. Draconian slashes to all the little budgets in the hopes they would add up
6. Difficult to implement things like selling a car to get rid of a payment
Well, it's a no-brainer, really. I'm not going to stop giving to charity, cut my childrens' swim lessons, or stop helping my mother pay for much-needed health insurance. And the last two options are the hard ones, which we would come to if things got worse but not just yet. So, no more eating out it is.
As my husband said, he couldn't make this decision because it primarily affected me. I'm the one who is the primary Domestic One in our family, and I'm the one that will be planning meals, running home from work, cooking the meals, and then often running back to work in the evening. But, seeing my choices at the moment, I'm up for it.
We've said No to eating out except on special occasions, and I'm working on cooking every dinner and having enough left-overs to pack and carry for every lunch. So far, we've been pretty good about it for two weeks and counting.
I know a lot of folks don't eat out often. This probably seems simple to many people - but it was one of the only things I was doing to ease up on my own juggling act of full-time work/full-time homeschooling mom. So, please, wish me luck!
Good Luck! I find meal planning/cooking to be extremely challenging. We are running up against budgets (and tax audit!!!!), too. Maybe we can inspire each other! Are you still on Plan to Eat? I hope things smooth out for you all and it doesn't resort to having to sell the car!
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