Posted on 03/13/2023 10:49:28 AM PDT by nickcarraway
You had me up till Campbell’s in a can. Might be fine for some, but the sodium content plays havoc with blood pressure and greatly increases cardiac risk. Ask me how I know...
It would mean that 8 hours of sleep would cost $400. Now if I can only find someone to pay me $50/hr for that, I’ll be set. Might even put in some overtime.
On the other point, if we simply look at the cost of ingredients, there is no question that making your own meals from food bought at the grocery store is cheaper, but in the real world, it is often cheaper to eat out. This happens because of the intense psychological pressure imposed by modern grocery stores calculated to assure that we buy more -- usually much more -- than what is needed.
“ If you are watching TV then your time is worth less than nothing, you would be making/saving money by using that kind of time cooking, and the activity is good for you.”
Who says you have to choose? Do both at the same time!
“ Three hours purchasing and preparing? Lol. No way.”
I cook nearly everything fresh. Nothing takes that long or it’s not on my menu and I have roast beef, chicken, steak veggies etc
For me eating out or ordering take out is cheaper. I bill hourly. And if it takes me two hours to make dinner that is two hours I could have billed. It works for my situation.
If you are a big family then cooking is the way to go and spread the labor around with everyone else helping to clean up after. Plus there are the benefits of family time.
“”Who says you have to choose? Do both at the same time!””
Oh yeah, I forgot about that, I guess I was thinking of the old days when the one TV was in the living room.
Grabbing a glass of wine and watching the Galloping Gourmet as you cook, would work.
I do my grocery shopping "European" style, in that I get what I need for that day on the way home. Tonight for instance, I'm picking up crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, an onion, a garlic bulb and some jalapenos. At home is ground chicken all thawed out, some shredded cheease and a can of pinto beans that I will make chili with.
Within an hour, it will be all done. Most of that time will be the chili simmering.
There are a lot of dishes my wife and I make at home that are quick to prep and easy to clean up after. Another favorite is cutting a sweet potato into thick slices in a dutch oven and tossing a whole chicken on top. An hour and a half later, you have a one pot meal with the chicken coming off the bones and the sweet potato is drenched in juices from the chicken.
I've tried all the "short cuts" over the years, like those meal kits (i.e. Freshly). Those things are a pain in the neck to make and there is so much wasted packaging.
Ping
Holy cow. I know, it works for you but geez, $600 a month? I too live alone and I budget for $150-200 per month which varies of course and imho, still too high but, like I said, I live alone. I’ve also taken advantage of CCs offering $200 to ‘sign up’ with them and then use that to get groceries.
Can’t see paying what you do but, whatever rings your bell.
So I guess life in Hawaii is not a total paradise?
If you are living by your self, (which you are) this might be a good idea. As we are six, (sometimes eight) and I find planning, shopping, prep and cooking fun this would not work for us. But it is an idea for when I am an old lady living alone with a goldfish.
Truly...the good old days! :)
I chop up a lot of onion, garlic, broccoli, zucchini, carrots and other veggies. Throw them in a frying pan with some hot oil, toss in the veggies, and stir. Simple one-pan meal and you can make endless variations. Reasonably good top sirloin goes on sale at Safeway all the time for $5 to $6 per pound.
Your prep time is theoretically worth money too. That may be where the savings come in.
Haha! Back in 80’s as a single guy working 2 jobs, a staple was ramen with cut-up hot dogs, broccoli, and cheese. I had a much better metabolism back then too.
I think you're being a bit optimistic.
This is a generation that is so lazy they created uber eats and the like. Now they are outsourcing their grocery shopping because even that's too difficult. They can't cook. They can't sew. Most can't change a tire or the oil in their car. A truly helpless, feckless generation.
You can buy a week's worth of lunches of chicken drumsticks for $10. How could this possibly be cheaper?
I think Hubby said Kudlow said it’s almost cheaper to eat out than to buy groceries — about a month ago.
I had co-workers who ate out for lunch every day.
They complained about not having enough money too.
$10 a day or more for fast food is expensive.
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