digitalBush

Ashley and I used to eat out way too much.  It was more of a time thing to us.  By the time we worked 8 hours and did our hour commute home, neither of us wanted to cook a meal.  There was a point where I sat down and realized that we were spending at least $25 per meal for dinner at least 4 times a week!  For those of you counting at home, we were spending $100 or more per week eating out.  Somehow we were doing that and still spending $100/week at the grocery store.

Now we're down to spending $100 per week for groceries and eating out only once a week.  We're easily saving $75/week just by eating at home.  Over the span of a year, that's $3,900 saved!  So, eat at home and save some dough.  You'll have a fatter wallet and eat healthier, more reasonable portions.

One thing that I firmly believe in is buying quality things.  I tend to do this on more expensive things, particularly tools and electronics.  Quality pieces just outlast cheaper made products.  In the end you save money by not buying things twice.  As a general rule, I try to buy items made in the USA.

This Sunday is a bonus for you because I have a second Sunday saver to share.  Not only should you buy quality equipment, but you need to take care of it.  Keep your stuff clean and maintained and you will have it around for a long time.  I have tools from my grandfather that I still use.  I hope one day I can pass them on to my kids.

So, buy good stuff and take care of it.  I don't have a dollar value for you on this.  Just do your research and make your purchases wisely.  Pay a little more up front and enjoy twice the life compared to inferior products.

Photo courtesy of bfurnace

Health reasons made me remove beverages other than water from my diet.  The financials of that decision have solidified it's place in my lifestyle.  Water is basically free and yet most people are content paying money to replace it.  We used to drink a couple of twelve packs of coke (you northerners may call it "soda",  "pop" or something similar). I'd also order sweet tea or coke with my lunches and dinners when we went out.

Right now I eat lunch out of the office 3 times a week and we eat dinner out 2 nights a week.  I'd say on average that restaurant drinks cost $1.50 a whack.  By drinking water, I'm saving $7.50 per week on my own.  That's $390 per year!  I'd say a 12-pack of drinks runs about $3.50 each, so there is another $364 eliminated from our expenses this year.  All together, I'm saving $754 each year just by drinking water.  Think about that next time your server asks you what you'd like to drink with your meal.

I feel bad for this being my only post of this week, but I've been busy.  I've been busy putting up a chain link fence so that my dog can roam free in the back yard without me taking him out on a leash.  So, the fact that I've been busy doing this little project is fitting for this week's tip. 

I originally had a family friend in the fence business quote me to do the job.  The quote would up to be $900.  For no more fence than I was putting up, I just felt like it was too much.  After all, he had put up nearly triple that amount for us for less money only 5 years ago.  The cost of materials have just gone up that much. 

I went down the the local home improvement store and priced the materials and it turned out to be quite a bit less than his quote.  For $500, I could get everything I would need to complete the project.  Not too shabby.  I decided to take the plunge and do the fence myself.  Armed with some general direction from the Internet, I was able to complete the fence in a couple of weekends.  Not only do I get that warm, fuzzy feeling of accomplishment, but I managed to save $400!  To top it all off, I also got a good workout these past two weekends.

So, in summary:

1. Saved $400 in labor.
2. Built a quality fence. (no half-assing)
3. Feel good about what I did.
4. Got a good workout.
5. Dog can now roam free in the back yard.

Adding to last week's savings tip to use coupons, I want to discuss other ways to make your grocery trips lighter on your wallet.  I think the easiest place to start is by making a list of what you intend to get at the store.  This gives your trip purpose and focuses your energy towards completing the task that is grocery shopping.  Without a list, I wander around aimlessly trying to think of what would be good to eat.  I always end up buying things I already had at home or just didn't need.  This is also good for my weight loss goal because it keeps me from buying sweets. 

As an added bonus, I challenge you to take your grocery list making to the next level.  My wife has mapped out the grocery store and now makes the grocery lists in the order that we walk through the store.  At first I was skeptical, but it has made our trips much more efficient.  No more wandering, no more going back to the complete opposite side of the store because you missed something on your list, just efficient shopping hell bliss.  We get in and out without buying a bunch of crap we don't need.