It is So Worth It
@GardenGerty (169585)
United States
August 21, 2016 5:41pm CST
Hubby and I have talked about eating out less, and for the most part we are making good strides, and it is so worth it.
One reason we ate out often was that we bought gift cards, in order to boost our bonus fuel points from the grocery loyalty program. Instead of doing that, we have decided to buy gift cards for the home improvement store.Yay, saving for a stove, cupboards and a dishwasher.
We did eat out yesterday, at a new restaurant that is not part of a fast food chain. It was reasonably priced and was an adventure.
Thursday night hubby came home with canned crab meat and taco shells--? For lunch today we had crab tacos. We stirred a little bit of guacamole into the shredded crab meat. We accompanied the crab with shredded cheddar cheese and sour cream, tomatoes, and kalamata olives.It was a unique and delicious dish
We have enough shells on hand that we will use some of my southwest shredded pork that I found in the freezer to make pork tacos tonight.
We save gas, time and money and get to eat tasty meals from home. We also could do chicken. Tacos are a nice alternative to sandwiches.
17 people like this
13 responses
@GardenGerty (169585)
• United States
22 Aug 16
We do not live close to anything either, and that is why it is also a savings of time, and a savings of gasoline, as well as saving of money.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169585)
• United States
24 Aug 16
@RasmaSandra Oh yes it does. And even fast food is almost as expensive as a sit down restaurant. We can eat so good at home if we will do it.
2 people like this
@RasmaSandra (98129)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
22 Aug 16
@GardenGerty the tacos sound really good. Here we have no choice even the fast food restaurants are still expensive by this economy. We never go out to eat but I manage to make us decent meals. One time we figured that eating at one of our hamburger place Hessburger would cost us at least a weeks worth of bread, milk, cheese and some other items.
2 people like this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
22 Aug 16
I am running into that too. Craving pizza. I either need to go get frozen ones (I dont like homemade pizza too often), or or go pick them up. delivery is where you pay more, so trying to see how to do that cheaper.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (169585)
• United States
24 Aug 16
Pizza Hut buffet on Wednesday night has been a regular for us, but last Wednesday we cut that in half by having a frozen pizza. Tonight, also Wednesday, hubby is gone on an errand and by the time he gets back it will be too late to go to the buffet, problem solved. I chose not to go with him for that reason.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
25 Aug 16
@GardenGerty I grabbed some frozen pizzas, so we managed a meal on 5 dollars instead of the 30 pizza would have costed, granted no leftovers. But whatever. and lol, sneaky on you there, nicely done!
@dawnald (85137)
• Shingle Springs, California
22 Aug 16
We ate out last night, but it wasn't planned. We were invited to a barbecue for the CATS volunteer group, and we showed up a little after 7. Turns out it started at 5, and we got there just as it ended. So we checked out this soul food place that I had seen down town. Tony had a hot links sandwich, I had a tri-tip sandwich, and our two sides were greens and cole slaw. Very good, will definitely go back.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (169585)
• United States
22 Aug 16
We did eat out yesterday while shopping. I would be content actually with salad bar at the grocery but we would not have a place to sit and enjoy it. We actually tried a new Chinese Buffet in a different town than we usually go to. It was very nice.
@CinnamonGrl (7086)
• Santa Fe, New Mexico
21 Aug 16
I never would have thought of crab tacos in a gazillion years! I bet they're really good. I'm getting hungry. We're having Lloyd's ribs and potato salad from Safeway. So I just have to heat something up tonight instead of really cook. I like that feature in a meal.
That's cool you're gonna get the home improvement store cards. Sounds like you have some serious upgrading to look forward to.
2 people like this
@dawnald (85137)
• Shingle Springs, California
22 Aug 16
Crab enchiladas are yummy, so why not crab tacos? :-D
@GardenGerty (169585)
• United States
22 Aug 16
@CinnamonGrl I would not have come up with this either. He did, and I looked online and sure enough, there were lots of recipes.We had the guacamole on hand, purchased as clearance. Being able to buy something and heat it up lets you still have variety in your menu.@dawnald, I had had shrimp enchiladas but not crab.
@GardenGerty (169585)
• United States
22 Aug 16
It may be that you are sensitive to what they soak the corn in before grinding it to make corn tortillas. I buy a lot of flour tortillas and use at home as well. I know that there are a lot of recipes to make your own and I should do that.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502812)
• Italy
23 Aug 16
@GardenGerty I am not sensitive, but do not like too much the taste of the corn.
1 person likes this
@asfarasiknow (3340)
• Bournemouth, England
22 Aug 16
I believe restaurant staff in your country expect higher tips than those here in the UK where 10% is considered acceptable. That must add to your saving.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (169585)
• United States
24 Aug 16
I think we are usually generous tippers and yes, that adds to the bill as well. I will not go to a sit down restaurant if I cannot afford to tip.
1 person likes this
@peavey (16936)
• United States
22 Aug 16
I hardly ever eat out. I didn't out of habit for awhile because it was just the way I grew up, but my husband liked to eat out, so I got used to it. Then... well I don't want to spend the money on it right now. There's a big difference in how much is spent for food when one cooks at home instead.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169585)
• United States
22 Aug 16
I did not grow up eating out. i did not do it much at all until this last year, and the first few months I knew my husband we ate out a lot as we could have time alone.We got in the bad habit while we were moving. It is way past time to quit. That money could be spent in better ways.
1 person likes this
@peavey (16936)
• United States
22 Aug 16
@GardenGerty It seems to be a bad habit that's easy to fall into! I can't really afford to right now, so quitting was pretty easy. 
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169585)
• United States
24 Aug 16
@peavey We try to avoid being out on the road at meal time, together. Hubby is on an errand right now. If I had gone along we would be eating out. Instead, he will come home and we will have a nice meal. Fast food loses its fast if you drive 20 to 30 minutes to get there.
1 person likes this
@beaniefanatic13 (5068)
• Grand Junction, Colorado
22 Aug 16
I'm glad it's working for you and your husband. We eat out a lot, I hate to work all day and drive home to have to cook and clean at night. In the winter I tend to make more crock-pot meals so it's not as frequent in the winter months. In the summer it could also have to do with heating up the house to cook.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169585)
• United States
24 Aug 16
That has been some of the reason for us eating out this summer. Our house is not very cool and we can go sit in a cool restaurant and someone else can clean up. I use my crockpot now, though and find it still is pretty good.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169585)
• United States
24 Aug 16
Besides that you would be allergic to the corn tortilla shells.
@GardenGerty (169585)
• United States
22 Aug 16
I like seafood and we are trying to incorporate more of it in our diet.
@GardenGerty (169585)
• United States
22 Aug 16
I think we should have various tacos at home more often.it is so easy and good. I have not had fish tacos very often but could enjoy them as well.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169585)
• United States
22 Aug 16
Yes, it is the way to save. We are not in a real tight position, but our resources will be more fluid as we do this and my health will be better as well.
1 person likes this
