Weight Loss on a Budget Tip #14: Eat Out Less

Tip #14 for our October Challenge is at the top of the list when it comes to losing weight on a budget…”Eat Out Less“!!  That’s right, It’s another no brainer.  Eating at restaurants is on average more expensive than preparing your own meals at home.  You will save money not only on the cost of meals, but also on things like the cost of alcohol, valet parking, city parking and tipping a waiter.

In addition you’ll avoid many desserts and extra calories in foods in general.   Consider this; When you don’t cook the food, you don’t know what’s in it.  When you select and prepare your own food, you can save money but also save yourself from the foods that will counter act your positive weight loss efforts.

When I say “eating out”, I’m talking about dinners on the town, lunches at work, coffee drinks, cupcakes from a cute store and food out of vending machines…just to name a few sources of food that you may be spending money on.  Think about how you can cut back on some of this eating and how you can prepare more meals at home or in ways that will save you money.

• Pack you lunch
• Buy healthy drinks in bulk and take them with you
• Eat and drink before you go out with friends so that you won’t be tempted or you will eat significantly less
• Buy healthy snacks in bulk so that you aren’t tempted by the vending machine snacks