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Eating out!!

August 18th, 2008 at 03:58 pm

For a month now, I have been keeping track of how much we spend eating out almost every night.
I have decided to start charging it, cause our Chase credit card will give us 3% back on all restaurnant charges. So, I charge the bill, then I come home and put that much cash in an envelope. Then, when the bill comes in, I have the cash to pay it all off.
This past month, we spent $322 eating out almost every night. We usually have enough left overs for lunch at home every day.
To us, eating out is just not a way to get a quick meal.
To us, it is a date out every night. We are allowed to brown bag it, so we have cocktails and just talk for about an hour before we order our meal. Of course, my dh is very careful to make his drinks very very mild since he is always the designated driver.
I guess it is worth $322 a month to enjoy every night out; at least it is to us.

Oh, I need to add the aarp money to my $20 challenge.

Prev. total $19,711.00
today 60.00
new total $19,771.00

11 Responses to “Eating out!!”

  1. ceejay74 Says:
    1219071952

    That's a great idea, to keep the cash and pay off each month. As soon as we're out of credit card debt completely, we'll probably adopt a similar system so we can get cash back too.

    My favorite restaurants would cost a bit (a lot) more than that if we ate out every night, but it sounds like you've hit on something you love that doesn't cost very much at all. Congrats!

  2. HELPmeFriend Says:
    1219072448

    How far back does your challenge money go?
    I wanted to know if that is only this year, last year and this year, or the last three years.

  3. Cheryl Says:
    1219091326

    We love to eat out too--I can relate--as you stated it is a fun experience for us. I think I might have just signed up for the same credit card you have too.

  4. Ima saver Says:
    1219094970

    Help me friend, my challenge money is restarted every year with $20. So, the amount is for this year only!!

  5. Analise Says:
    1219125158

    Your plan to use the CC is very smart and another way to get your $$ to work for you. I think it's wonderful to enjoy the simple pleasure of eating out with your DH, and $322 is reasonable for so many meals... We love to eat out too, but since I also like to cook, we only go about 2-3 times a week.

  6. Lost in Debt Says:
    1219125945

  7. Lost in Debt Says:
    1219126050

    Before the housing crash I use to eat out a night or two a week. Since I went through this financial crisis, I don't think we will return to that position. Since I am a good cook and like to cook, I always feel like I have saved money when I cook a great meal. Tonight I made Shrimp Scampi and I only paid $8.00 for a package of jumbo shrimp and they were delicious. My total dinner tonight with salad, rice and shrimp scampi probably cost less than $15.00, if I had gone to the local restaurant, I would have probably paid double for that and add the appetizer, wine and dessert and have spent over $100. If you are eating out nightly you have found a possibly inexpensve family restaurant, there are a few of those here and the food is good and we treat ourselves once in a while.

    It's great that you put the money away for the bill monthly, many of us have good intentions to pay the entire bill and then something comes up and you make just the minimum and that is how it gets carried away and before you know it, you have maxed your card.

  8. Ima saver Says:
    1219159787

    Actually, we eat pretty lightly. Our bill usually comes to $16 for both of us and we brown bag our own drinks.

  9. Cindy Says:
    1219175369

    Kudos to you on your Chase card. I too use a Chase Rewards card and get 5% for Gas, Grocery and Drugstore purchases. I just reached my rewards limit for this year though ($300). I will have to check on this Restaurant reward card as I was not aware of this one.

  10. Ima saver Says:
    1219247706

    Cindy, my Chase reward card has no limit. I have earned $500 already this year.

  11. Cindy Says:
    1219276445

    OK - I have to know what card this is! I looked on the Chase website at the cards they offer and I saw a card that would give fast food rewards - is this the one? Did you get the card fairly recently? What color is it? Have I asked enough questions? LOL- sorry!

    Thanks for your gracious replies

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