Purpose:
Build motivation for cooking at home. Keep track of our savings.
Rules:
Every time we cook at home, we add $10 to our total. We have piece of paper on our refrigerator so we can track. I have the paper divided into two columns: the right column is for how much we have saved since we started, the left hand column tracks how close are to our next increment of $160. When we hit $160, we celebrate with something small (think a movie rental and popcorn at home).
I think $10 for each meal is about right. If we go to a sit-down restaurant, then the cost difference is almost always over the $10. However, it is possible to eat so-called fast food for much cheaper. In that case, I can only try to justify the $10 with future medical bills and future quality of life. If you want to try this and go with $5, or a different amount, that's fine. I'm not the boss of you.
Let's do some fun math for a second:
If we eat in 1 time a week for 10 years, the total will be $ 5,200.
If we eat in 2 times a week for 10 years, the total will be $10,400.
If we eat in 3 times a week for 10 years, the total will be $15,600.
If we eat in 4 times a week for 10 years, the total will be $20,800.
I guess if you wanted to add lunch in that could be:
If we eat in 6 times a week for 10 years, the total will be $31,200.
If we eat in 8 times a week for 10 years, the total will be $41,600.
And 10 times is $52,000. I have seen game-show prizes of that amount. That's life-changing money. If you are willing to patiently work at it for 10 years, then you are able to give yourself life-changing money.
