2008 Year in Review

Eating Out

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?” Mathew 6:25 Mathew 6 is one of my favorite chapters regarding money, as it is Jesus telling us to get our financial priorities in perspective and trust the Father’s provision.

In money coaching sessions with clients, eating out is an area of overspending that is often revealed. I love food and like to eat out, but I do not eat out before my bills are covered. If you are eating out and you have past due bills, you need to revisit your financial priorities. As I’ve mentioned in previous articles, your spending priorities should be tithing/giving, shelter, transportation, clothing, and food (groceries). If you want to substitute part of your grocery funds (when money is tight) for eating $1 tacos some night, then fine.

Groceries can also be a challenge, with rising food costs. However, how many foods do you waste just because something else sounded better to eat than what you have in your house? This week I challenge you to decrease your “grocery inventory” by making meals based on the supplies in your house. If you need to buy some staple items, by all means go to the store. However, a bag of chips or case of pop are not staple items, milk or bread are staples.

Unfortunately, because most people do not have a budget, they have no idea how much eating out and impulse grocery shopping are affecting their finances. If your budget has room for eating out, then eat out if that is what you like to do. I do not expect people to live like misers, but I do expect people to pay their bills on time, before treating themselves to the luxuries like eating out.

by  Editor, theCity1.com
September 2, 2008