Everyone thinks that losing weight is rocket science or that it requires some sort of boot camp for twinky lovers. Well my fine readers, I hope that by now you see how “easy” it is to take control of your body via your mind! In Part 1, I introduced the key to unlocking the secret to weight loss: changing your mentality. In Part 2, I followed up with a way to not get off track of your weight loss goals: finding a system that works for you. And finally in Part 3, I want to share with you the financial implications of changing your mentality and how you can keep more money in your pocket by finding a system that works for you.
Peer Pressure Strikes Again!
At my previous job, my department co-workers and I went “out” to lunch almost everyday. Hey when you’re making $85K a year you can do that, I thought. After receiving my bank statements though, I realized I was spending $200+ a month on eating lunch in addition to my $200 budget for buying groceries. Crazy right? Even though we usually went to a nearby deli for sandwiches or pizza, it was still about $10 I was spending a day. Ouch. My co-workers don’t care about money like I do, so when I told them i couldn’t go out to lunch with them they were stunned at my explanation. Oh well, unless you’re buying me lunch I ain’t goin. hehe.
Eating Out Is Expensive!
Everyone knows that eating out is like having a vacuum cleaner on one end of your wallet. But why oh why do we do it anyway? Just look at these prices for an average meal:
- Burger King: Whopper Meal – $6.00
- McDonalds: Quarter Pounder Meal – $6.00
- In-N-Out: #2 Double Cheese Burger with a Drink – $7.00
- Subway: Footlong BLT Meal - $7.00
- Quiznos: Philly Cheese Steak Regular Meal - $8.50
- Togos: Black Forest Ham and Cheese Regular Sandwhich Meal - $10.00
- Taco Bell: Crunchwrap with two tacos and a drink - $6.00
- Taqueria: Burrito with a Drink and Free Nachos – $8.00
- Local Deli: Turkey Sandwhich with the works, and a drink – $9.00
- Starbucks: Sandwhich + Coffee – $9.00
- Panda Express: 2 Item Combo and a Drink – $7.00
- KFC: Two drumsticks, breast, side dish and a drink – $8.00
The average price for the average lunch at these places is $7.71 or $8.00
If you eat out 3 times a week thats already $24, if you eat out 5 times a week, make it $40. (Besides a lot of this food isn’t healthy to begin with!)
What can you buy with LESS than $24:
- Loaf of wheat bread: $2.50
- Deli/Lunch Meat: $3.00
- Cheese: $3.00
- Lettuce: $1.00
- Tomatoes: $1.50
- Jar of Mayo: $2.00
For $13 you will have two weeks worth of sandwiches, and plenty of Mayo and Cheese to last you into the third week. Cost average per week is roughly 1/4 the cost of going out everyday for a week.
For $40 you can buy enough lunch for an a full month and a half and still have plenty of mayo and cheese left over. That’s assuming you buy Mayonnaise four times a month…
On to Page 2 : Whores of Convenience >>
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So how is your weight loss going… I just accidently found your website and the whole costco thing is so true.. I can spend 80-100 at costco get everything i need for 2 weeks and that still saves me spending money for lunch so that is 200 on groceries a month. Also now that Im eating way less that saves money too.. glad to see someone else has the same perspective as me!!!! One last thing I have to hide out from the work people at lunch time but I have found a buddy that brings her lunch too!!!