[USER]

I really have an eating out addiction. Has anyone else dealt with this? How did you overcome it? I know I could save a lot more money if I just quit eating out.

I’ve realized that eating out has become a habit for me, and it’s starting to affect both my health and finances.

I’m often tempted by the convenience and variety of restaurant meals, but I’m also aware that it’s costing me more than I’d like to spend.

I want to break this cycle and start preparing more meals at home, but I’m not sure where to start or how to stay motivated.

For those who have successfully cut back on dining out, what strategies worked for you? How did you balance convenience, taste, and cost?

Any practical tips for meal prepping, budgeting, or resisting the urge to eat out would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

[Kelly]

If you really think you have an addiction, you should seek treatment. That’s not typically something people are addicted to, like alcohol or gambling or shopping.

But go see a therapist specializing in addiction.

[Courtney]

Copycat recipes for your favorite restaurant meals
If it’s a time issue, buy pre-cut veggies to get used to it. They’re more expensive than just buying fresh produce, but it takes away a step and will still be cheaper than eating out.

Once you get into the routine, you can cut that part out, but to get started you have to remove the barriers to cooking at home.

Get a few meals in your rotation that you enjoy and pick one day a week that you’ll go out.

[Katie]

I’ve never really had the addiction to ordering out, probably because I’ve always needed to feed my kids and husband as well and it’s just too expensive.

Although I’ve gotten great at cooking, sometimes I’m just over it lol.

I’ve found for me that putting on a cooking show on my phone, usually a competition style one, while I’m making dinner really helps.

Gives me some motivation and it’s more enjoyable.

Also start with easy meals and recipes. There is so many Facebook groups, TikTok, and things on Pinterest that can get you started. Make it fun, instead of a chore.

Might help

[Eva]

I used to eat out all my meals (even breakfast), when I was in my mid 20s. Now I only occasionally eat out and don’t do it unless it’s with friends.

Something that helped was buying groceries so that when it came time to eat there was the option of food already at home.

(Before that, I was so used to eating out and having groceries rot in the fridge, I ended up rarely having groceries in the fridge.) Another thing I did was to make a commitment for just one month to not eat out.

During that month if I felt like eating out I would go to the grocery store instead of the restaurant and pick up quick and easy foods like hummus, etc.

And when I was informed that eating homemade food would be better for my health the knowledge helped me to want to make it more of a priority.

So, it wasn’t just about the amount of money I was spending. And when I went back to school, I had the extra motivation to save my money for tuition.

So maybe you could find a better use for your money, like set aside a vacation fund or try to max out what you put into your retirement account, etc.

[Deborah]

Those places make it easy to eat out.
So do as they do and learn from them!
Make it easy to eat in.

Make a nice dining area at home or use a nice tray.
Start by buying frozen entrees and bagged salads.
Start by buying some deli meats and sides.

Then gradually add some easy cooked meals into it.

Allow yourself the luxury of eating out once a week or doing pickup to eat at home.

It’s delayed gratification and it works.

[Kim]

I’m with ya. I love to eat out. What really shocked me into better behavior and eating out way less was when I added it all up for a month.

I was genuinely shocked at how much just cheesesticks and a Coke added up to when you’re swinging through the drive-thru for just a “munchie”—I was APPALLED! And I was doing that three or four times a WEEK.

Ack! And that didn’t even take into account the actual meals I ate out.

It sobered me up pretty quickly!

[Tami]

Limit the places you can eat out at. We limit ours to 1 place… the Costco food court!

That does the trick!

[Stephanie]

I am the opposite, I loathe eating out. The whole deal takes too long and for mediocre expensive food.

[Rebecca]

Look for copy-cat recipes of your fav meals and challenge yourself!

[Lisa]

Maybe ease into it a bit. It can be overwhelming to go from eating out all the time to cooking at home all the time. So, maybe get some pre-done dinners a few days of the week?

Also, batch cook, so for instance, make ground beef for tacos in multiple pounds and freeze to pull out (same with chicken).

This way, you have some fast, easy meals ready to go and it’s easier to talk yourself into eating at home (vs “I have nothing at home or it’s going to take an hour to make something”)

[Andrea]

You could buy a small deep freeze for what you spend on 3 dinners at a restaurant!

Plan menus for the week, grocery shop when you’re not hungry, prep food as soon as you get home & start preparing meals in the crock pot, in the oven, on the grill, whatever.

Divide those meals into portions & freeze.

I’m single & when I’m tempted to call a friend to dine out or stop & pu a meal, I remind myself of all the good, nutritious meals I have at home in my freezer.

Plus, if you’re putting g those meals on a cc & not paying it off every month you are paying up to 33% more than you think!

I suggest you do a deep dive into your finances & calculate the amount spent in a month on dining out.

You could make an extra mortgage payment, invest that $, save it for a vacation or add it to your emergency fund.

If all of those suggestions sound unreasonable to you, then you probably should seek professional help to work on your addiction.

Maybe get a PT job waiting tables…you always get at least a discount on your meals!

[Denise]

Keep easy to fix, finish, food in your freezer. Frozen pizza,burritos..

[Helen]

You probably want to be around people volunteer somewhere ,senior home,hospital, church.

Invite people to your home for a pot luck dinner.

[Author]

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