I wasn’t planning on writing a post today, but I found a couple of articles online that I wanted to share with ya’ll. By far, the biggest leak in our financial ship (before DE-Day, that is) was eating out. You see, I come from a long line of foodies. I remember from the time I was very small the love and laughter that surrounded the kitchen tables of my grandparents and great-grandparents homes. Every family gathering involved food – and lots of it. I remember vividly going to my great-grandma’s house unexpectedly. Sometimes we’d call first before we went, but most times, we just showed up. Great grandma, who was one of the kindest, sweetest women I’ve ever known, would always say, “Oh, I wish you would’ve called first: I’ve got absolutely nothing in the house to feed you!” Five minutes later the table would be filled with leftover roast, spaghetti and other goodies from earlier in the week. She’d pull out what was left of the donuts she got at the store or the baked goodies she’d served with dinner each night. And we ate and were full. Great grandma’s house was never empty – of people or of food. She loved having people over, and her plethora of descendants loved being there. Great grandma showed us love in many ways. She hugged us always, never said an unkind word about anyone in all of the years I knew her (she passed when I was in my early twenties), shelled out “I love yous” regularly and she fed us food that, more than anything, tasted of the tremendous love she had for her family.
Wanting to pass those traditions onto my family, I too work hard to make meals that are well-thought-out and that make it clear that there was heart involved in the making. And before DE-day, that would often included “treating” the kids to a great meal out. Those “treats” happened more often than they should have, and I justified the expense of them with all sorts of excuses: “We’re so busy – I need a break.” “I deserve…..” “It’s not that big of a deal.” “So-and-so spends much more than we do”. Blah, blah, blah.
By and large, we’ve gotten over our desire to eat out and really don’t miss it much at all. It’s far more satisfying knowing that we are getting financially fit. We do however, get the occasional craving for the local Chinese buffet, and for over a month now, we’ve been dreaming of cream cheese wontons and fried rice. 🙂
That craving ended abruptly when I saw this story on Yahoo today. If you’re looking for more motivation to spend less and eat healthier, look no further than this article from Julia LaRoche at Business Insider. This’ll hook you up good – for a long, long time – if you can make it through the read, that is. *Warning: this story is not for the weak of stomach.
The other article I found today was titled What 9 Successful People Wish They’d Known about Money in their 20’s. The article starts off with advice from Mark Cuban. Aside from being handsome, Cuban has a reputation for being a devoted family man and a very generous giver of cash. What’s not to love?? Click on over the get advice from Cuban and some not-so-well-known entrepreneurs who have learned a thing or two about money management.
What’s the point of today’s post? I’m not really sure. But I hope it gave you some “food” for thought, and brought a smile to your face. 🙂
We love family dinners at home. It’s the time we often catch up with everyone, and can discuss anything and everything, including money with our kids! And that why we never eat McDonald’s. Successful people are telling us to invest while we’re young and don’t carry a balance on a credit card. If I only knew. Happy Wednesday!
Glad you enjoy great quality time with your family too, Brian. Sometimes I really have to struggle to not beat myself up for our past financial mistakes, but it helps knowing we’re teaching our kids differently, and that we’re correcting our own mistakes now. Have an awesome day, my friend!
I get caught in those moments too, wishing I got it together 14 years ago, instead of 4, but can’t keep living in the past it does no one any good.
I’m easily won over with good home cooked food too! That’s why I love celebrating the holidays without gifts but with some awesome food and family instead. Thanks for sharing the links and a beautiful rest of the week Laurie 🙂
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday for that same reason, Kassandra. I just love being able to heap food on people and enjoy a meal with them without the pressure of gifts.
I saw that yahoo article yesterday and was very disturbed by it. I’ve had my share if gross fast food finds and am usually turned off by returning that location at least. Now, as a vegan, they don’t hold much appeal to me anyway. The problem for us is that we legitimately have to eat out or picnic at least one night a week. Time is limited, so that makes finding a healthy, cheap, and fast meal almost impossible. We do our best, though 🙂
Ugh, yeah, it was BAD. I think one night a week is acceptable, don’t you? Especially if it’s when you really cannot work out eating at home.
When I read that article from Julia LaRoche, I think I don’t want to eat at McDonald’s again. I used to treat my family eating out after going to church, but it was too expensive! So I just decided to cook a special menu every Sunday, it’s less cheaper but I can guarantee that it’s healthy.
I love that idea, Clarisse, and we try and do special meals at home too on Sundays. Much more fun than sitting at a restaurant with loads of other people you don’t know. 🙂
Great recommendations. I’m huge on not doing things because you “deserve it” so that post really resonates with me. And the more I don’t eat out, the more I save and realize I’m not missing anything. I meal plan and constantly limit any eating out to things that I have to do with work.
Smart move for your money AND for your health, Natalie. Great job. 🙂
I read the McDonalds one and gross! I hate most fast food so thats not going to be a problem. I was worried when I was reading that it was actually something else (think the grossest thing possible) so I’m glad at least it wasn’t that. I think in general I eat at home because it’s healthier and of course cheaper. I do love the occasional meal out but it’s for special occasions or when I’m really, really having a craving. It makes it that much more special. BTW I love the comment from your granny about “Oh I wish you would have told me you were coming over!” My grandma did that too and could whip up something great anyway. I don’t have that skill.
LOL, I thought the same thing, and am still not entirely convinced that it wasn’t “that”. 🙂 Gotta love grannys, don’t ya? I want to be that granny when I’m old. 🙂
With me doing Paleo this month, I’ve not eaten out once. It’s just too hard to stick to my strict challenge when I eat out, so I’ve just avoided the temptation, it has also helped my wallet (which is great since I had to fix my car and get a new computer and internet router). If I had also been spending on eating out, I’d be in even more financial “trouble” this month.
Yay!! Glad you got your new computer!!! Yes, committing to eating healthy definitely helps cut down on dinners out, since most restaurants offer nothing but an abundance of junk. 🙂
I’m a big fan of Mark Cuban, he’s hard working, honest, and tells it like he sees it. Would love to meet the guy and chat about business I bet it would be mind blowing.
OH my gosh, I would love to be in on that meeting with you. Cuban seems like one of the few who has kept his morals along with his growing wealth. 🙂
We never eat out except around our birthdays, and that only because we get all the free birthday meals! On my last birthday we got $47 worth of free meals with only $4 out of pocket expense. And that was choosing only our favorite places. 🙂
Smart move, Deb!! I need to start looking around for some of those free birthday meal places. 🙂
The dinners I love is when my extended family get together and bring their delicious creations and we just eat! We did this this weekend for my bridal shower and we are planning a feast for our wedding. Not sure if this comments makes sense but I read food and just got me thinking about it. haha! Have a great day!
LOL, it’s totally in line with the theme of the post, Brit. 🙂 So glad you are enjoying all of the wedding festivities!
“But I hope it gave you some “food” for thought,” – I saw what you did there 🙂
While I do enjoy eating out, I also enjoy cooking for others and thanks to a few good friends, I enjoy home cooked meals at least once a week!
I do realize that not only is it more prudent to eat at home, but healthier too, as depicted by the photo in the Yahoo story! GROSS! I can tell you what that white goo looks like, but this is a family blog so I’ll keep my thoughts to myself! I did ask my son – who works at McDonalds – what he thought it was and he has no idea. He’s never seen that food issue before.
Thanks for bringing us back from the dark side Laurie and take care. My best to all.
Lyle
LOL, me and Tonya were right there along with you on that one, Lyle. 🙂 John had a great post called Confessions of a Former Fast Food Employee that made our suspicions seem valid, and from stories of my own fast food employee days, it’s not entirely out of the realm of possibility . 🙂
I hope to feel all warm-and-fuzzy about cooking for my family some day, but it’s tough with a kid who’ll only eat mac and cheese, PB&J, and plain pasta. There’s nothing like putting an hour or more into cooking a nice family dinner, and having my daughter refuse to eat it. (We make her try everything before she says she doesn’t like it, but she’s generally pretty adamant about not liking things.)
I’m currently reading the book, “Skinny Bitch”, and while I’m not going to become a vegan – I simply couldn’t live without cheese – it’s really made me think about where our meat, eggs, and milk comes from. The factory farm stories are so disturbing, I’m going to change where I buy those products for my family. (The McDonald’s story made me think of this…)
Haven’t read that one, but there was another documentary called King Corn that showed some similar stuff. We have since switched to grass fed, farm raised beef. Regarding your kid: you must be a nicer mom than me: our rule regarding dinner is “eat what we serve, or starve”. 🙂
Thanks for sharing. I will get right on read those two articles. I’m a foodie too. I struggle with finding affordable frugal meals all of the time.
It’s difficult when you’re a foodie!! I’ve been seriously craving chocolate chip cookies ever since I posted this article. 🙂
We like eating at home and aren’t big fans of fast food. And that McDonald’s story was gross! Bleh…
Your story about your great-grandma reminds me of my grandma. She was the same way. I miss her 🙂
I wonder if grammys today are as nice as grammys back then were? 🙂 Yeah, the McD’s story – as they said in Super Size Me, that one gave me the McPukes. 🙂
Aw, your great-grandma reminds me of my grandma. I always dropped by to visit her and she would always get worked up about what to feed me. She would never take no for an answer. Growing up, my family rarely ate out, so I just never really thought of it as a routine thing. We eat out once a month, but I am not crazy about fast food at all, so it’s usually to a sit-down place. I get worried thinking about what’s in the food that I don’t know about! I’d rather prepare it myself.
LOL, Rick has hard and fast rules about what he will and will not eat at a restaurant for that reason, and he NEVER sends food back. He has an innate fear of hidden retaliation by the cooks. 🙂
That McDonald’s sandwich looked gross, but those chocolate chip cookies at the top look amazing! Where can I get those?
LOL, that’s my “secret” recipe. Check it out: https://www.thefrugalfarmer.net/delicious-chocolate-chip-cookies/
I loved the second article! Here’s my fav quote: “it’s easy to get trapped in a 20-plus-year path of paying for a bloated lifestyle that is always a bit more expensive than the year before. Serfs can become self-made kings, but consultants tend to remain consultants. The only true job security is a superior skill set.” So. Well. Said.
Agreed, Dee! I learned SO much from that article.
Food has always been a central part of our family gatherings too. My mother-in-law is an amazing cook and her meals are a true expression of her love for us. Much like your great grandma, she always has a ton of incredible homemade food readily available! Eating out is a temptation for us too, but now that we never do, I sort of forget about it. Helps that Mr. FW is a great cook!
We are the same way, Mrs. FW! The kids were just saying this week that they really don’t miss eating out at all. It helps though, that I can whip up some awesome baked goods. Nothing says “love you” like a plate of chocolate chip cookies. 🙂
Ick. I read that McDonald’s story yesterday. The only good thing about stories like that are that they make people like me recommit to our decision to not eat out. I’m only sorry that we live in a world where people can do such contemptible things. 🙁 I, too, miss our local Chinese buffet. … sigh
LOL, same here, Kat. 🙂 Yeah, you gotta wonder about those who mess with other people’s food – can you say “messed up”? My mom came up today and took me and the kids out to the local Chinese buffet. First time in several months. It was awesome, but I have to say I was a bit worried about eating the food. 🙂
That McDonalds photo makes me want to vomit. I don’t even want to think about what that was.
I’m not a great cook, but I love to eat (especially home-cooked meals). Thinking about homemade graham cracker pie made by my grandma right now, yum!
I know – isn’t it disgusting???? That graham cracker pie sounds delicious – you should share the recipe on your site, KK!