Additional Coverage:
- My family was spending $2,500 on food delivery a month — that’s $1,000 more than our mortgage. Something had to change. (businessinsider.com)
Family Ditches Delivery Habit, Saves Big
A local family’s takeout habit had gotten out of control, costing them a shocking $2,500 in a single month – more than their mortgage payment! Realizing the extent of their overspending, the family implemented some serious changes and are now reaping the rewards.
The parents, both busy professionals, admitted to regularly indulging in the convenience of delivered meals. With a demanding work schedule, homeschooling teenagers, and a chronic illness in the mix, cooking often felt like an insurmountable hurdle.
However, the convenience came at a steep price. Ordering in multiple times a day, even from different restaurants to satisfy picky eaters, quickly escalated their expenses.
“When I saw the total, it was sickening,” the mother confessed. “We were spending $1,000 more on takeout than our house payment. It was embarrassing.”
The family knew they needed a change. They sat down with their teens, explaining the need to cut back and refocus on home-cooked meals.
New rules were established: no more dessert or snack deliveries, single-restaurant orders only, and weekday dinners were back on the menu (with the exception of Mondays due to extracurricular activities). One weekend day remained dedicated to takeout, provided they stuck to the other guidelines.
Meal planning and stocking the fridge with convenient alternatives like pre-made meals and frozen entrees also helped streamline the transition.
The results? In just a few weeks, their food delivery spending plummeted to under $400.
The family is confident that by sticking to their new plan, they’ll continue to see significant savings. A testament to the fact that sometimes, the best things in life are still home-cooked.