As a widower with no partner I eat out about once a week. It's nice to have a meal put in front of you rather than having to prepare it yourself. Also if you live alone it's a chance to interact with other humans even if it's only the waiter/waitress and sometimes you bump into people you know.
@@ThisIsOurRetirementI’m a widow too and eat lunch out very occasionally. After years of eating with my husband and our kids too, I miss the company. Lunch is much less expensive and I enjoy it more.
I’m a widow as well. I use to cook every dinner, and make lunches to take to work. Since my husband passed away I hate cooking for one. I know I need to eat out less often, but I would rather eat with other people around, (I do still make my lunches). Next year I retire and I know that I need to cut back on my meals out. It’s depressing.
I am also a widow, we should have a club and that way we will never eat alone! I am not yet retired (53 years wise) and I enjoy eating my cooked food :) I never actually went out on my own to eat come to think about it. I enjoy my own company: coffee, walks, symphony, but i have not tried to eat alone in a restaurant. It is usually with friends or with kids. If I decide to go alone one day, I would sit at the bar likely and will have brunch/lunch. Pancakes, bacon and eggs!
Eat that steak and drink that glass of wine folks ! If all your bills are paid dont be a slave to your money! As we age our time on earth is very limited so dont forget to live
After 58 years of marriage cooking almost every day, something I enjoyed at one time, has now at 79 become more of a chore. It’s not just cooking, it’s thinking what to cook, shopping for ingredients etc. When I do cook I tend to “batch cook” making several meals and freezing some,but the occasional cheap meal out is such a treat.
I’m 79, been retired twenty years, and food is the last thing I would try to save money on, a healthy diet is far more important than a holiday or a different car or new clothes. So my take is cook healthy meals at home or eat at restaurants that cook from scratch, but don’t skimp. Exercise and diet are your first priority if you want the long and happy retirement that I am enjoying.
You can save money and eat very healthy. I'll give you an example: I make a to-die-for risotto with brown rice, leeks, mushrooms and olives + home made pickled beets as a side dish to grilled salmon for less than $5 a serving. The price of French fries at McDonalds. You don't even need a "healthy" raw salad that can be iffy when it comes to food safety. I have maybe 15 recipes that I became an expert in, and never have to worry about ever not having enough money for a great meal.
I've been responsible for cooking almost all meals (provisioning, cooking, cleaning) for 40+ years, I've never enjoyed it. A cheap dinner out every now and then is a very worthwhile break, in my opinion.
I agree. Publix supermarket is among the best takeout in town--they are pretty much Boston market... The rotisserie chicken at 6.99-7.99 is non compete for all if us. You cannot go to the store to get the raw chicken, dress and spice and bake for double that amount at home. Glad to hear air-fryer an hour and a half. Fantastic.
When you have cooked almost every meal for your entire adult life it is wonderful to have a meal put in front of you once in a while. Thousands of meals, trying to think what to cook, shopping for the ingredients and then cooking and washing up day after day after day. I’ve had enough but sadly it is something you can’t stop………
I agree. I'll be 70 in a few months, and I am completely sick of cleaning and cooking. I enjoy cooking, but not every night, so I always make enough to have leftovers for dinner the next night. We eat out two to four times a month because we can afford it and we don't go to high-priced places to eat because it's not where we like to go or the kind of food we like to eat. My husband likes to go out to dinner, too, and he knows it gives me a break from having to cook. The people in this video are apparently having to budget in retirement and I completely understand where they're coming from, but since my husband and I CAN afford to eat out at least once a week, we do and I'm grateful after spending over 40 years working full-time in an office and then coming home and working my second job as a mother, a housewife, a laundress, and a cook. At this point in my life, I want someone else to take care of the heavy house cleaning and have been thinking about having a cleaner come in every other week. We're tidy and organized people, so I don't mind doing the laundry, light cleaning tasks, and most of the cooking and cleaning up afterward, but somebody younger can certainly do the mopping, vacuuming, bathrooms, and hard scrubbing and give this tired old lady a rest.
I definitely understand the meal planning/purchasing/prepping/clean up fatigue! As Norm and Tina have shared, it doesn’t have to be complicated to be good! (That is where I struggle) It ultimately comes down to 2 things: BUDGET and PRIORITIES. For most of us, we have to learn and adhere to managing both. We budget $300/mo for date night/entertainment. Some months that means eating a couple of nice meals out. Other times we buy tickets to a concert, the theater, or a sporting event. But when that $300 is gone, we’re done for the month. If spending $300/mo on entertainment meant we couldn’t travel, then we’d have to reevaluate our budget and priorities.
With all due respect to Suzie Orman, life isn't all about utility. Going out for a nice meal isn't just about sustenance. I'm hardly wasteful and have always been responsible with my money but I'm not going to have such a minimalist retirement that I won’t go out for an enjoyable evening because it costs more than picking up a Costco chicken or grocery store sushi. That would be a very bleak retirement indeed.
I agree with you, I can afford and enjoy a once a month dinner out with my husband which is a treat! We aren’t drinkers so an entree and dessert are entirely within our retirement budget
@@RuthBrown-tm2gt when was she charged with fraud and when was she convicted? Oh by the way, she’s no longer on the air because she lost the ability to talk and walk due to complications from spinal cord surgery to remove a tumor. But you obviously knew that from looking it up, right?
Eating out in moderation is the answer. Yes, eating at home is more affordable but occasionally it's nice just to enjoy a restaurant meal prepared and served by someone else in a nice location.
It's not that nice when you know how they prepare your food, without ANY regard to your nutritional needs. Actually I have aversion towards restaurants once I understood how even "great" chefs do not understand and follow basic principles and wreck even perfectly healthy ingredients. Once you pass 40, everyone needs to learn to ENJOY cooking at home and make a few great recipes. You don't need that many and eat out only in an emergency, not for fun. There's no fun in getting sick.
The main reason to avoid eating out is to avoid eating crap. Even the best restaurants use seed oils etc. and you have no idea of the other ingredients used.
I think a few meals out here and there really will not do most of us that much harm, only if you habitually haunt the burger bars and fast food places that’s a time to be concerned , but a beautiful Sunday roast perfectly cooked, a lovely Italian meal and a lovely tasty Chinese meal in a good restaurant, these are things that lighten your life and give joy to you and your friends. Believe me I have cooked thousands of meals over my lifetime and going out is very often the highlight of the week. Just enjoy. Costco chicken really!
My story… my investments and pension with social security provide me with an amount of money that I have trouble spending all of each year. I worked hard to reach this point after saving for the majority of my life. My rich retirement life plans include never thinking about what I spend on meals, groceries, travel, gifts or anything that doesn’t serve me in my retirement life. This season of life for me is the spending years. I realize this is not everyone’s story but I’m so proud of and grateful for MY life.
Patdennis....congratulations, you’ve earned it! I get so tired of people complaining about the government not doing enough for pensioners. What did they do all their adult life not to think about their retirement years?...cheers🍷🇨🇦
It's funny, because a sit-down meal costs about the same as fast food, anymore. The tip adds to it, but they're trying to add that to counter service at fast food joints, too.
That sounds bleak. I’ve cooked for decades and am soooo over it. I’m in Mexico now, eating out all the time. You saved for retirement. Time to spend it.
As I get older I realize it makes more sense to buy a better bottle of wine and better quality food to cook and eat at home. I resent 300% markup on booze followed by a request for a 20-25% tip on the machine. When we go out for dinner now it is usually for cheap eats with no booze.
After almost 60 years of working I am not sitting back and waiting for my unavoidable demise. Get out and enjoy all there is to do, meeting up with others and enjoy different and delicious foods.
I agree. If I go out to eat I end up regretting it because of the unhealthy food, poor service, outrageous prices, etc. I travel a lot and I am forced to eat out. But eating out in foreign countries is more enjoyable for me. When I’m home, I eat healthy and cook.
If you can afford to go out to eat definitely go out and enjoy yourself. Some couples spend their money on travelling or other hobbies and so I think it’s like anything else and that is just be sensible with how you spend your money but if you have it enjoy spending it as the saying goes you only live once.
Every one is different and so is their budget. We chose to eat out on occasion and twice a month with friends. We don't over spend on clothes, vacations, hobbies, and expensive cars. I went to Costco once with a friend. Never again. Too big! I do better with regular grocery stores. You can eat out for less than $100 for 2 people. Watch for specials, go to lunch not dinner, take half home, do early bird special. No appetizers, alcohol or desserts. We pay cash. Not credit card debt.
Suzie Orman is a huckster of the first order. And the notion that eating out is something to cut out in retirement makes no sense. The key to a successful retirement is a balanced budget and a balanced approach to budgeting. Budget for the things you ENJOY-it may or may not be eating out. To each his own. But to single out “eating out,” as a particular obstacle to a successful retirement? I can’t agree. Eating out is about more than eating-it is a social experience, it can be an artistic experience, it can be an adventure.
@@micheller5516 Advice such as live debt free, pay off your mortgage before you retire, save in a retirement account and plan for RMDs, live below your means, put off collecting social security until 70 to maximize the benefit, plan for future bear markets, invest in low-cost index funds or ETFs, understand your retirement expenses before you actually retire and make sure you have adequate retirement income, establish a cash emergency fund, review your Medicare choices every year, set up a written budget and stick to it, down size if your current place will be a burden. Yeah, really bad advice.
@@thomaschew2191 Dave Ramsey is similar. He's great at what he does, but steps too far out of his lane at times. Suze Orman is no different. Life isn't all about money. Planning and (no) debt are certainly important, but so is living.
@@kwilliams2239 Tell that to the retired couple that is losing their home to foreclosure because they spent too much time living and not enough time planning. I'm sure you will have plenty of soothing words to keep them warm at night.
We're on the same page. Eating out is a huge expense and we rarely do it. If anything, we'll eat take out lunch from our favourite gyro place for $20. Delicious, lots of veggies and super filling. We also buy a Costco chicken or the chicken pot pie which is $11 and add a spring mix salad. Much healthier and tasty. Our biggest money saver this year was when our 24 yr old son moved out! My goodness, the grocery bill went down significantly 😃
I think the trick is to eliminate money wasted on low quality/low experience eating out. This would include most fast food restaurants and restaurant chains like Cactus Club, Olive Garden, etc. . My wife and I budget for 1 to 2 nice meals out per month. We enjoy getting out of the house and look at this as the “living” part of retirement”.
Good to see so many comments disagreeing with the basic premise. I budget and know exactly where my money is going, eating out is one way of interacting with the world outside my home and is an enjoyable part of my retirement. I didn't retire to sit in my house hoarding pennies, I retired to enjoy life the way I choose. It would be fine to say "if you want to save money, this is one way to do it... " but the premise that this MUST be cut is a stretch.
My spouse does not cook. 44 years later, even estimating 3 meals a day for 350 days ( maybe we had left overs) for 2 people ( not including our 3 kids and six grandchildren) hmmmm I'm getting 92, 400 meals planned, shopped for and prepped . WELL NOW, dinner out sounds good....
Being retired you adjust your life to how and where you want to spend your money. My friends and I meet for breakfast at a restaurant once a month. It’s cheap and it’s great to get out and catch up with them. Keeping social is important for me since I’m on my own. Great video, thanks again.
I must concur. One thing moving from working to retirement was giving up eating out - which was more necessary during working years - suddenly discovered how much further money goes eating at home. The price of eating out has risen almost exponentially. I would say it’s ok to treat yourself now or then for a special occasion and also when you do eat out, consume half of what was ordered and bring the other half home for another meal. Leftovers are money savings.
My husband and I often split meals and get water with lemon to save money on eating out while still enjoying it. We also look for coupons and special restaurant deals in mail flyers.
Eating out is not a want. It’s about the lifestyle that enables you to enjoy your life!! I’d rather turn off the heating than not eat out once or twice a week
In the US, depending on your age and city, senior centers offer lunches. Our city offers seniors free or very low cost lunches 5 days a week. Breakfast is even offered for about $1.50 more or less depending on what you order. My husband and I go from time to time for lunch a la carte and spend under $5 total but we could eat for free if we so needed. We talk to other seniors, get out of the house, and eat out without killing the budget. These centers are more than food; they provide critical human contact for many. Centers often had loads of donated books you can take, offer classes, have fitness centers, and more. Use your local senior resources if you are 65 or older.
For us young retirees, my wife and I. We know exactly what we need for the month , we enjoy a good restaurant when we fancy it. We have lived more than we are going to live, so we enjoy retirement.
Advice given to me by an elderly gentleman when we got married “have a date night once a week. Cook some steaks, put on some music, nice wine and romantic music” especially when you can’t afford to go out in the early mortgage-filled years. And as for eating out…when the weathers good - pack a fancy picnic. Home made, chilled rosé and plastic glasses. Superb 💕
OMG! WE EAT OUT 5 TIMES EACH WEEK. We saved for a lifetime. And im going to treat myself now. My salutation was,move to Chiangmai Thailand 🇹🇭 cost is 50% to 60% less that Canada/ America, screw the tipping culture back home. Obtw you guys are a cute couple :) ❤
Wife and I talk this all the time. I am a master steak griller and she has mastered the most amazing hamburger patty. By not going out, we eat so well now with finest cuts of filet and the best lean burgers and yes a good bottle of wine.
I agree, Steak at a restaurant is often disappointing compared to what can be done at home (I always use a cast iron skillet) and much cheaper even with the price of steak in the supermarket.
In Australia about 10 years or so ago there was a comment in the media about why young people couldn't afford a house deposit and the problem was eating smashed avocado on toast for breakfast at a cafe on a regular basis.
Norm, I sold my Porsche 911 as I went into retirement at age 51. I regret the smiles that car gave me, but I enjoy not having to go to a job even more. The cost of car ownership would surprise most people when you add up the depreciation, insurance, maintenance, fuel, licensing/registration fees etc.
I'm always intrigued at the thought of a car being an "option". Where I live, it's not optional. No public transportation whatsoever, and it's 4 miles to the nearest ANYthing, other than other neighbors. With winter temps dipping down to zero F at times, a car is a must, even if you would be able to carry your groceries in a backpack and hike it
Exactly! We plan on selling off one of our cars when I retire since I won't need one for the 40km commute to my work. Saving car insurance, gas, maintenance etc annually 💰❤
We limit eating out to 2 times per week. This gives me a break from cooking meals. Also, have your home paid for SAVE SAVE SAVE in preparation. Most people in the US seem to forget simple math when it comes to their finances. I even see people with MBAs who are flat broke while others, with only a high-school education, retiring with 4 - 5 million. Think ahead and use your head.
We do the same. We live on the coast of Maine and every couple of weeks we get the urge for lobster. We could go out and pay $50+ each for a lobster dinner (lobster, corn on the cob maybe with some cole slaw), but what we do is visit a lobster fisher I know and buy direct I take them home and cook them and do whatever I want with the lobster. Last week I bought two lobsters and made very nice lobster rolls. I saved the left over lobster for lobster omelettes for breakfast the next day. A nice meal for $20 including breakfast. We don't have a balcony so we took the lobster rolls to the yacht and ate our meal there. We did splurge with a nice New Zealand sauvignon blanc and still came out way ahead of the cost of eating out.
I eat almost every meal at home. The only time I eat in a restaurant is when my friend wants to go. It’s usually about once per month. I enjoy some meals but most are not as good as my own cooking
We go to the senior center twice a month. They serve complete dinners with milk coffee water and desert with cup of soup. The donation is 3 .00. Per person. After dinner on Fridays a movie is shown along with popcorn served. For 6.00 donation we have a big date out. Sometimes we sit and read magazines and books afterward. We have made some friends there also. Check out the services at your local senior centers
If you truly care about your health, you will make most of your own food at home. Costco chickens are loaded with additives and they are farmed in the most horrific way. That’s why they’re so cheap!
@@lafarrell3192 yes I have to agree - I’m mainly plant based (maybe 80/%) but when I have eggs I pay the extra for free range and same for chicken - cannot bear to see the suffering
20 yrs ago we enjoyed Costco’s roast chicken but we can’t stomach them now. Now they’re filled with God know what garbage. The meat texture is so weird and overly salty.
I have noticed how the prices at restaurants have gone way up. Breakfast in particular - two going out for breakfast with coffee and tip is over USD $30. I can make bacon and eggs for two for the whole week for that. Cook all the bacon at one time and portion it out for the week, cook the eggs fresh. One pan clean up most days - and how much have you saved? Crazy.
As is the case in so many things, all things in moderation - eating out every week (or more frequently) will make you poor quickly. We rarely eat out but when we do its for a celebration (birthday, anniversary) or to catch up with friends - a social outing - and someplace we know is good / offers food we don't cook at home. And yes, a pizza crust from the supermarket, a jar of pizza sauce, and some toppings from the supermarket makes frankly a better pizza than most of the pizza chains and half the price. And roasting a chiken at home is so easy and a huge money saver. Throw in some cut potatoes and carrots with the chicken and you have a complete meal with leftovers for the next day or making sandwiches.
You don’t get it. Your needs are before retirement. During retirement, it’s ALL about what you want. That’s what you saved up for. Your wants in retirement. Don’t be the richest one in the cemetery.
Where I live, a Costco chicken is $5. I can’t find a whole raw chicken for that anywhere in town. I buy my favorite parts of the chicken and cook those in the air fryer. When I go out, I usually order things I don’t cook at home but I rarely eat out or order takeout.
I do this too. Recently divorced and kids are getting married and starting their lives. So,mom cooking for one. I take the carcass and make chicken stock out of it. Don’t like to waste anything I can repurpose. But, I do like to cook. I typically go out once a week with my best friend so we can catch up.
Absolutely, I stopped eating out years ago and have saved so much!! I also drive once maybe twice a week to buy groceries, fill up gas tank (only when needed), stopped buying expensive gifts …… grandkids get $25 for birthdays, Christmas compared to the $50-$100 per child I have 6 😄 I stopped going away 5-6 times a year just because I have the time off from work, I use my cc for all and never pay interest because I pay before it’s due for the CASH REWARDS. Ty for the great video!!
My wife and I retired 15 years ago, so we have a bit of experience to call upon. Eating out, even at a moderately priced restaurant, is very expensive to do regularly, so we do it only as an occasional treat. For most retirees, that money is much better used elsewhere.
So true. eating out has become too high of a cost, breakfast costs $17. at a diner, i choose oatmeal or eggs for about .30 cents or less a day at home. add coffee . and so true again the quality is better at home . thank You great advice.
It depends if your married and or single. I'm single and I'm looking forward to eating out 5 days a week. Traveling to new places to eat. New cities, new states, etc. Life is short.
Speaking of pizza, this is a true story: friends were out to dinner and the wife ordered a personal pizza. Delicious! After the meal, the husband stepped into the Men's room, which was opposite the kitchen. He saw the "DiGiorno" pizza box on the counter.
Agree 100%. We eat out or get take-out once per week, a habit we started during the pandemic. We are in a city of 125,000 so the selection is decent, but there are few restaurants due to the price / quality factor. As Tina and Norm mentioned, having a $100 meal is not upscale, but it still is disappointing when you can prepare a better meal at home for a quarter of the price as both of us are decent cooks. Also amazed that people spend an extra $10 or $20 to get it delivered. Would rather spend those funds towards a winter in Portugal program
@@Luc-ro7qj factor in a 20% tip and it’s crazy expensive. We are finding that Eastern European countries and Southeast Asia have much cheaper and healthier meal options. We are in Turkiye currently and just had 2 entrees and 2 non alcoholic drinks for under $20usd including a small tip.
I agree! I refuse to eat out, at a minimum 30$/person for mediocre food, we don’t drink alcohol thankfully or it would be nasty! Not happening. As much as I am tired of cooking at 69 yo, I refuse to pay big dollars for crumby meals. I miss seeing our friends but I can serve them at home for less than one meal eating out and besides I’m not making do with what restaurants have to offer. And we can play cards afterwards!❤😊
30 dollars per person is very expensive! My husband and I just had dinner at Chili’s for a total of $27. We had the ‘3 for me’ deal. Excellent food and reasonable
Très facile de cuisiner Mr, faire revenir des rondelles de courgettes à l'huile chaud. Cuire vos riz bazmatique épicerie c est très SIMPLE. Bonne appétit.
People often feel embarrassed to ask for tap water in pubs. But I worked out a long time ago I can eat out more often if I say no to buy drinks. I also use any discounts available combined with pub offers for that particular day. And you are right about food quality it’s so low it just doesn’t feel worth it anymore.
We went out for our anniversary and I discovered that my glass of wine these days costs the price of a whole bottle of the wine being served! Now I still like a glass with a nice meal and I will buy a glass. But at least I now KNOW what the markup is and will budget accordingly. I will say that if you dine out, you MUST plan to tip your server well, That's their living and they deserve to be tipped! (I am in the USA so maybe other places don't have this.)
I understand your points but as a young woman I loved having seafood at restaurants. Now I’m allergic. Right now I’m grateful I was able to enjoy when I could 🤷🏻♀️
I agree, Naan bread pizza is the best! Brush it with olive oil and garlic then a healthy layer of fresh spinach, then all the veggies and BLACK BEANS! Add the grated mozzarella and then 10 minutes in the oven, 1.5 minutes under the broiler and done!! Super easy and literally costs a couple of dollars to make. 😊
Oh eating out is one of our hobbies. We have cut back a bit. But we look forward to it. We usually bus it into town. We get free travel at 66 yrs in Ireland. So we can have a drink. Meet friends. Of course lots of local cafe/restaurants. We keep it simple. Splash out for Birthdays.
I've been retired for 5 years. We eat out about 12 times a year and we budget something for doing so. That way we know how much we are comfortable spending each year. You could easily overspend if you ate out frequently but I still think its a great thing to do in moderation for celebrations, catching up with friends etc. The secret is to find places that offer great value - good food that doesn't cost the earth.
I love eating out but at good quality proper restaurants with friends it is not only good food but also great for your soul, just like buying flowers great for the heart and soul. I will not be cutting back on any of those things whilst in retirement! One life, so enjoy.
Agree it is eating out. I use to cook and make things from what I bought in a grocery store 99% of the time then ended up eating out way too much and not cooking anymore. A few circumstances led me into that but yes eating out too much is a huge money drainer. Far from retirement (15 more years) and wish was now but can imagine having the time and freedom to not eat out.
I have never joined Costco as they specialize in large quantities which causes waste and requires more storage than we have. Some of my colleagues have let their Costco membership lapse as they said it was costing them too much money as it encourages them to buy excess quantities of food.
Yes, got divorced late in life, became an empty nester, so I gave up the Costco membership. I still have most of a bottle of 500 Kirkland version Benadryl tablets 😅
I agree, no longer a member until I need glasses. Their wholesale prices are very reasonable. When I do need something from Costco, I found out that I can still get it delivered as a non-member. Just pay a $5 surcharge. As a couple living in a major city, we don’t need to stockpile much.
We very rarely eat out while we’re at home. Maybe once or twice per year. On special occasions, we prefer to splurge on a couple of nice steaks and grill them ourselves at home. We save restaurant meals for when we’re travelling, and even then we try to economize by finding accommodations with cooking facilities and/or we do picnics with takeaways from a supermarket.
I can see that you are getting some push back on this idea, but in addition to saving money, calories are important too. I agree with the concept of occasionally eating out.
We do make better meals at home, because we cook the way we like it. It’s healthier, too, especially when you cook whole foods that include fruit and vegetables. You don’t worry about excessive salt, preservatives and sugar used in many restaurants.
With food allergies, pancreatic diabetes and basically a carnivore diet, we never eat out. I honestly just don’t like restaurant food, it’s never as good as home and WAY too expensive!
You eat out for this reason: In the USA South many families have an heirloom cast iron pan. Sometimes 125+ years old. These pans are NEVER washed, only wiped down. Thus they have decades of seasoning on them that Makes food taste uniquely delicious. The grill at your local restaurant is similarly seasoned by decades of cooking hash browns in the same corner. That flavor cannot be replilcated. This is why you eat out. That seasoned grill.
Eating out is ALWAYS based on your income. I have several former co-workers who saved into 7 figures and have a pension AND social security. They eat out when they want to. Retirement isn't always about moving into the poor house.
I've probably said this before, but one of the resources you have in retirement is time. Time to make things like jams and preserves etc. Even if you don't have a garden, there are times in the year when fruit and vegetables are plentiful and cheaper. This is the time to replenish your larder with jams and preserves. They are not only useful at times when prices go up, but make much appreciated gifts. Homemade gifts are always welcome as your friends also know that the ingredients are genuine and made with care for them thia applies to other things like cakes and biscuits, especially well received at Christas time. My mother used to make a huge batch of Christmas puddings (mixed in a sterlized baby bath!). This way all her friends had a pudding for Christmas. I now try to do the same. There are so many ideas for making food as gifts. Also inviting friends round for a meal is as much fun as going out to a resataurant and maybe they wiil di the same, so you do get to eat out.
Whether your working or retired creating and tracking what you spend is the foundation of financial success. Simply tracking under broad categories (plenty of free spreadsheet templates online) where your money goes is eyeopening. Then you have the information to ask is that the way I want to spend my money? and change your behavior accordingly. The other major benefit is if your are still working, ask yourself what costs change in retirement? Some costs might reduce others might increase because you use more power when your in the home or traveling more. This information gives you the knowledge to plan better for retirement! Don't see budgeting as something painful that is restricting what you spend, see it as educational to provide you with the information to make better decisions! It's your money you can do whatever you want, just be intentional.
While not being rich, we have more than enough for our needs. So being in retirement for 15 odd years , now is the time to send on wants whenever it’s appropriate. We may not have lots of years left so most of the time if we want it we have it. We still look for a bargain but enjoy what we do spend our money on.
We stopped going out to restaurants in our small town when I became a manager in our local hospital. I couldn’t discuss my work day in anyway for fear of someone overhearing or misinterpreting. We are fortunate that my husband is an excellent cook, he even makes Nan bread!
Eating out is not cheap but it's a treat. I'm retired and eat on my own at home everyday. All meals. I've eaten out only 4 times in a year. 2 on my own. So nice to have someone else cook and have company. I could do it more but I am cost conscious, despite being able to increase my savings balance each month. To break the habit of a lifetime of saving for the future is really hard. Exactly what am I saving for? To stay at home and save money? What's the point of that? I for one think I should start increasing the number of meals out rather than cut back. Pointless saving for retirement and then not spending it. Leaving money to others in a Will, who will go and spend it on meals out!
Eating out is a killer, absolutely. And paradoxically, it's also a luxury that everyone loves. The social aspect, the giving yourself a break from cooking aspect, and the change of pace from your own usual prepared diet. Best bet is to make sure you cut back in other areas you won't miss as much, find a bit of part time income, so you can continue eating out occasionally at least.
I guess it’s a bit relative. In San Francisco Bay Area here a bowl of Ramen gets to $25 USD after tax and tips so does add up fast! But if I’m in Thailand or Spain or Portugal I would probably eating out much more. Besides I’ve been working and cooking for most of my life, in retirement hopefully can let someone else do the cooking and cleaning 😂😂.
My husband and I use to tell people that the only reason we had a kitchen was that it came with the house. But now, like you we cook and eat at home and I agree with you, it does taste better. Thanks for your thoughts.
Eating a large meal out is a special treat for me, probably no more than once every two or three months. I do meet other retired friends for coffee and a chat occasionally or perhaps a dessert at a restaurant owned by a dear friend. However, most of my meals are eaten at home.
We stopped eating out after covid and have not gone out for dinner since. And we make nearly everything from scratch. Healthier and our bank account is healthier too. It blows my mind what we used to pay every year eating out!
The one thing we found was that we , being two people, could do without, was the Costco membership cost. Don’t need the quantity offered and shopping around will find as good or better deals
So true... eating out is SUPER EXPENSIVE... but there are ways to keep in check... like local diners, hole-in-the-wall or no-frills places, especially if you enjoy ethnic cuisine !
I am a 74 year old divorced retiree and eat most of my meals at home. However, it is healthy to get out of the house at least once a day. Restaurant meals don't have to be expensive if you look for the specials and avoid dessert and alcohol.
With high inflation, cost of eating out certainly is no longer what it used to be. Last week, went out for a steak kidney pie and fish'n chip lunch. Bill comes to C$100. Of course neither of the dishes is simple to prepare at home.
Actually it's pretty easy. In the years before retirement you stop smoking (this used to be more of a thing in the years past), drastically reduce drinking, and change your eating habits to reflect less need for calories. Also pay off your mortgage, get rid of the second car, maybe even the first car and voila, you reduced your expenses to half.
Glad to hear everything. Well done. People need to change their mind set. Eating at home does not mean you need to compromise. Better food and less money
So many good options for how to save money on food. Someone compared their WalMart Instacart order from 2020 to today (exact same items and size of item) and the total was 400% higher. Thanks for the videos and keep 'em coming!
'Shaking up' where and what you eat can be done at home and takes the monotony out of daily life pattern. For Valentines dinners,and sometimes 'just because' dinners ,we move a small table into living rm in front of our fireplace, throw a tablecloth and candles on it and serve chinese food from grocery store, or pizza from store, that we add more toppings to. So much cheaper than going out.
Thanks for the tips. I can roast a chicken In the oven at 400 degrees with one turnover in one hour and 20 minutes… Plus cook a bunch of root vegetables that are left over in the house, onions, yams, potatoes, etc. which I can’t get into my air fryer
Not eating out at all sounds so unreasonable…..we eat Whole Foods Plant Based, no meat, fish, or dairy, and cook most of our meals and have saved about 30% -40% on our grocery bill since we started in 2017 but even with that savings I can’t fathom not eating out once a week on weekends as those like us who travel outside of the town and then having to brown bag a meal and coffee??? No Way! …we’re on a fixed income but Suzie’s advice must be for those who eat out more often than not….
*sigh* Challenging myself to cut back on hobbies too. One thing I've been amazed with as a food money saver is an "Instant Pot" pressure cooker. While not exactly 'instant', you can buy the junkiest cheap tough bird or brutally tough bit of beef on super sale, and turn them into a tender piece of meat stew, fit for several very solid meals within about 1.5 hours from start to plate. Get a rice cooker too and buy 25lb bags of long-grain jasmine rice at the Asian grocery. You can get similar tenderized stew results with an old-fashioned crock-pot if you plan ahead to cook it 12 hours. Something to remember when Covid times hit again, or meat prices go through the roof.
This is so true, even for vegetarians. I cook all my beans from dried - much cheaper, nicer, and no heavy cans to lug home! I've had mine for years and use it several times a week.
Thank you, you reminded me. I have a soup maker and lack of mobility means I have my groceries delivered. Just added a couple of packs of dried peas to the order., I forgot last time.
As a widower with no partner I eat out about once a week. It's nice to have a meal put in front of you rather than having to prepare it yourself. Also if you live alone it's a chance to interact with other humans even if it's only the waiter/waitress and sometimes you bump into people you know.
We understand completely and if that was us we would do the same Robert Cheers 🍻🙂
@@ThisIsOurRetirementI’m a widow too and eat lunch out very occasionally. After years of eating with my husband and our kids too, I miss the company. Lunch is much less expensive and I enjoy it more.
@@virginiasummer2619 That's a good point. I should do that more too.
I’m a widow as well. I use to cook every dinner, and make lunches to take to work. Since my husband passed away I hate cooking for one. I know I need to eat out less often, but I would rather eat with other people around, (I do still make my lunches).
Next year I retire and I know that I need to cut back on my meals out. It’s depressing.
I am also a widow, we should have a club and that way we will never eat alone! I am not yet retired (53 years wise) and I enjoy eating my cooked food :) I never actually went out on my own to eat come to think about it. I enjoy my own company: coffee, walks, symphony, but i have not tried to eat alone in a restaurant. It is usually with friends or with kids. If I decide to go alone one day, I would sit at the bar likely and will have brunch/lunch. Pancakes, bacon and eggs!
Eat that steak and drink that glass of wine folks ! If all your bills are paid dont be a slave to your money! As we age our time on earth is very limited so dont forget to live
Spot on!!!
After 58 years of marriage cooking almost every day, something I enjoyed at one time, has now at 79 become more of a chore. It’s not just cooking, it’s thinking what to cook, shopping for ingredients etc. When I do cook I tend to “batch cook” making several meals and freezing some,but the occasional cheap meal out is such a treat.
I’m 79, been retired twenty years, and food is the last thing I would try to save money on, a healthy diet is far more important than a holiday or a different car or new clothes.
So my take is cook healthy meals at home or eat at restaurants that cook from scratch, but don’t skimp. Exercise and diet are your first priority if you want the long and happy retirement that I am enjoying.
You can save money and eat very healthy. I'll give you an example: I make a to-die-for risotto with brown rice, leeks, mushrooms and olives + home made pickled beets as a side dish to grilled salmon for less than $5 a serving. The price of French fries at McDonalds. You don't even need a "healthy" raw salad that can be iffy when it comes to food safety. I have maybe 15 recipes that I became an expert in, and never have to worry about ever not having enough money for a great meal.
@@tudvalstone Sounds great.
Many of the restaurants food are from freezer to fryer, they have lost me and I am keeping monies.
@@glennet9613 You can't take it with you! Enjoy your meals! Life is too short!
I've been responsible for cooking almost all meals (provisioning, cooking, cleaning) for 40+ years, I've never enjoyed it. A cheap dinner out every now and then is a very worthwhile break, in my opinion.
Testify
GOOD FOR YOU 🎉
Same here. But, we only do it about once a week. So great for me, the cook.
I agree. Publix supermarket is among the best takeout in town--they are pretty much Boston market...
The rotisserie chicken at 6.99-7.99 is non compete for all if us.
You cannot go to the store to get the raw chicken, dress and spice and bake for double that amount at home.
Glad to hear air-fryer an hour and a half. Fantastic.
Good for you!
When you have cooked almost every meal for your entire adult life it is wonderful to have a meal put in front of you once in a while. Thousands of meals, trying to think what to cook, shopping for the ingredients and then cooking and washing up day after day after day. I’ve had enough but sadly it is something you can’t stop………
I agree. I'll be 70 in a few months, and I am completely sick of cleaning and cooking. I enjoy cooking, but not every night, so I always make enough to have leftovers for dinner the next night. We eat out two to four times a month because we can afford it and we don't go to high-priced places to eat because it's not where we like to go or the kind of food we like to eat. My husband likes to go out to dinner, too, and he knows it gives me a break from having to cook. The people in this video are apparently having to budget in retirement and I completely understand where they're coming from, but since my husband and I CAN afford to eat out at least once a week, we do and I'm grateful after spending over 40 years working full-time in an office and then coming home and working my second job as a mother, a housewife, a laundress, and a cook. At this point in my life, I want someone else to take care of the heavy house cleaning and have been thinking about having a cleaner come in every other week. We're tidy and organized people, so I don't mind doing the laundry, light cleaning tasks, and most of the cooking and cleaning up afterward, but somebody younger can certainly do the mopping, vacuuming, bathrooms, and hard scrubbing and give this tired old lady a rest.
@@janetstanland2015 , I agree. If you can find a good place with good food. I’d actually be happy to pay more for good food.
I definitely understand the meal planning/purchasing/prepping/clean up fatigue! As Norm and Tina have shared, it doesn’t have to be complicated to be good! (That is where I struggle) It ultimately comes down to 2 things: BUDGET and PRIORITIES. For most of us, we have to learn and adhere to managing both. We budget $300/mo for date night/entertainment. Some months that means eating a couple of nice meals out. Other times we buy tickets to a concert, the theater, or a sporting event. But when that $300 is gone, we’re done for the month. If spending $300/mo on entertainment meant we couldn’t travel, then we’d have to reevaluate our budget and priorities.
With all due respect to Suzie Orman, life isn't all about utility. Going out for a nice meal isn't just about sustenance. I'm hardly wasteful and have always been responsible with my money but I'm not going to have such a minimalist retirement that I won’t go out for an enjoyable evening because it costs more than picking up a Costco chicken or grocery store sushi. That would be a very bleak retirement indeed.
I agree with you, I can afford and enjoy a once a month dinner out with my husband which is a treat! We aren’t drinkers so an entree and dessert are entirely within our retirement budget
Zero respect for the fraud, Susie Orman.
@@RuthBrown-tm2gt what makes her a fraud exactly? I can disagree with her views without implying criminal intent.
@@Pacman398 look it up. Why do you think she is not on air anymore?
@@RuthBrown-tm2gt when was she charged with fraud and when was she convicted? Oh by the way, she’s no longer on the air because she lost the ability to talk and walk due to complications from spinal cord surgery to remove a tumor. But you obviously knew that from looking it up, right?
Eating out in moderation is the answer. Yes, eating at home is more affordable but occasionally it's nice just to enjoy a restaurant meal prepared and served by someone else in a nice location.
It's not that nice when you know how they prepare your food, without ANY regard to your nutritional needs. Actually I have aversion towards restaurants once I understood how even "great" chefs do not understand and follow basic principles and wreck even perfectly healthy ingredients. Once you pass 40, everyone needs to learn to ENJOY cooking at home and make a few great recipes. You don't need that many and eat out only in an emergency, not for fun. There's no fun in getting sick.
@tudvalstone
I know my nutritional needs and I order food accordingly
@@tudvalstone you seem like a delight😂
The main reason to avoid eating out is to avoid eating crap. Even the best restaurants use seed oils etc. and you have no idea of the other ingredients used.
I think a few meals out here and there really will not do most of us that much harm, only if you habitually haunt the burger bars and fast food places that’s a time to be concerned , but a beautiful Sunday roast perfectly cooked, a lovely Italian meal and a lovely tasty Chinese meal in a good restaurant, these are things that lighten your life and give joy to you and your friends. Believe me I have cooked thousands of meals over my lifetime and going out is very often the highlight of the week. Just enjoy. Costco chicken really!
My story… my investments and pension with social security provide me with an amount of money that I have trouble spending all of each year. I worked hard to reach this point after saving for the majority of my life. My rich retirement life plans include never thinking about what I spend on meals, groceries, travel, gifts or anything that doesn’t serve me in my retirement life. This season of life for me is the spending years. I realize this is not everyone’s story but I’m so proud of and grateful for MY life.
We agree Pat that going from saving the money 💰 mode to spending it actually is harder than we thought it would be Cheers 🇺🇸🍻🙂🇨🇦
Patdennis....congratulations, you’ve earned it! I get so tired of people complaining about the government not doing enough for pensioners. What did they do all their adult life not to think about their retirement years?...cheers🍷🇨🇦
Life is short.....moderation is key..... not cutting it out....
My wife and I like to eat out for breakfast twice a week. Breakfast costs about 1/3 the price of dinner.
It's funny, because a sit-down meal costs about the same as fast food, anymore. The tip adds to it, but they're trying to add that to counter service at fast food joints, too.
That sounds bleak. I’ve cooked for decades and am soooo over it. I’m in Mexico now, eating out all the time.
You saved for retirement. Time to spend it.
As I get older I realize it makes more sense to buy a better bottle of wine and better quality food to cook and eat at home. I resent 300% markup on booze followed by a request for a 20-25% tip on the machine. When we go out for dinner now it is usually for cheap eats with no booze.
After almost 60 years of working I am not sitting back and waiting for my unavoidable demise. Get out and enjoy all there is to do, meeting up with others and enjoy different and delicious foods.
After my blood test results, I decided to eat more at home. Restaurants use highly oxidized oils which can cause a host of cardiovascular conditions.
I agree. If I go out to eat I end up regretting it because of the unhealthy food, poor service, outrageous prices, etc. I travel a lot and I am forced to eat out. But eating out in foreign countries is more enjoyable for me. When I’m home, I eat healthy and cook.
Avoid all seed oils. They hurt your heart and liver. Olive oil is the best.
It is a rare treat even before retirement. Cooking your own food at home will always be healthier.
It's rare for you, perhaps, but why should it be for others. Ever hear of "date night". Old farts do it too.😉
If you can afford to go out to eat definitely go out and enjoy yourself. Some couples spend their money on travelling or other hobbies and so I think it’s like anything else and that is just be sensible with how you spend your money but if you have it enjoy spending it as the saying goes you only live once.
Agree some like to travel or eat out , or high cost hobbies and yes we only live once 🙂🍷🌺
Every one is different and so is their budget. We chose to eat out on occasion and twice a month with friends. We don't over spend on clothes, vacations, hobbies, and expensive cars. I went to Costco once with a friend. Never again. Too big! I do better with regular grocery stores. You can eat out for less than $100 for 2 people. Watch for specials, go to lunch not dinner, take half home, do early bird special. No appetizers, alcohol or desserts. We pay cash. Not credit card debt.
You said it all with those three little words, " just be sensible" . That is exactly what so many people are lacking, common sense.
Suzie Orman is a huckster of the first order. And the notion that eating out is something to cut out in retirement makes no sense. The key to a successful retirement is a balanced budget and a balanced approach to budgeting. Budget for the things you ENJOY-it may or may not be eating out. To each his own. But to single out “eating out,” as a particular obstacle to a successful retirement? I can’t agree. Eating out is about more than eating-it is a social experience, it can be an artistic experience, it can be an adventure.
Agree about Susie Orman
Susie is definitely only for entertainment, not to follow any advice she gives.
@@micheller5516 Advice such as live debt free, pay off your mortgage before you retire, save in a retirement account and plan for RMDs, live below your means, put off collecting social security until 70 to maximize the benefit, plan for future bear markets, invest in low-cost index funds or ETFs, understand your retirement expenses before you actually retire and make sure you have adequate retirement income, establish a cash emergency fund, review your Medicare choices every year, set up a written budget and stick to it, down size if your current place will be a burden. Yeah, really bad advice.
@@thomaschew2191 Dave Ramsey is similar. He's great at what he does, but steps too far out of his lane at times. Suze Orman is no different. Life isn't all about money. Planning and (no) debt are certainly important, but so is living.
@@kwilliams2239 Tell that to the retired couple that is losing their home to foreclosure because they spent too much time living and not enough time planning. I'm sure you will have plenty of soothing words to keep them warm at night.
We're on the same page. Eating out is a huge expense and we rarely do it. If anything, we'll eat take out lunch from our favourite gyro place for $20. Delicious, lots of veggies and super filling. We also buy a Costco chicken or the chicken pot pie which is $11 and add a spring mix salad. Much healthier and tasty. Our biggest money saver this year was when our 24 yr old son moved out! My goodness, the grocery bill went down significantly 😃
Too funny about your son moving out 😂😂 they do eat a lot ! thanks for sharing 🍻🙂
So true!
I think the trick is to eliminate money wasted on low quality/low experience eating out. This would include most fast food restaurants and restaurant chains like Cactus Club, Olive Garden, etc. . My wife and I budget for 1 to 2 nice meals out per month. We enjoy getting out of the house and look at this as the “living” part of retirement”.
We love eating out but we budget for it.
Good to see so many comments disagreeing with the basic premise. I budget and know exactly where my money is going, eating out is one way of interacting with the world outside my home and is an enjoyable part of my retirement. I didn't retire to sit in my house hoarding pennies, I retired to enjoy life the way I choose. It would be fine to say "if you want to save money, this is one way to do it... " but the premise that this MUST be cut is a stretch.
I'm glad we are not as tight or poor to have to live like a monk in my retirement .😊
My spouse does not cook. 44 years later, even estimating 3 meals a day for 350 days ( maybe we had left overs) for 2 people ( not including our 3 kids and six grandchildren) hmmmm I'm getting 92, 400 meals planned, shopped for and prepped . WELL NOW, dinner out sounds good....
Being retired you adjust your life to how and where you want to spend your money. My friends and I meet for breakfast at a restaurant once a month. It’s cheap and it’s great to get out and catch up with them. Keeping social is important for me since I’m on my own. Great video, thanks again.
Your very welcome Elaine 🌺🙂
I must concur. One thing moving from working to retirement was giving up eating out - which was more necessary during working years - suddenly discovered how much further money goes eating at home. The price of eating out has risen almost exponentially. I would say it’s ok to treat yourself now or then for a special occasion and also when you do eat out, consume half of what was ordered and bring the other half home for another meal. Leftovers are money savings.
My husband and I often split meals and get water with lemon to save money on eating out while still enjoying it. We also look for coupons and special restaurant deals in mail flyers.
Eating out is not a want. It’s about the lifestyle that enables you to enjoy your life!! I’d rather turn off the heating than not eat out once or twice a week
Totally agree
In the US, depending on your age and city, senior centers offer lunches. Our city offers seniors free or very low cost lunches 5 days a week. Breakfast is even offered for about $1.50 more or less depending on what you order. My husband and I go from time to time for lunch a la carte and spend under $5 total but we could eat for free if we so needed. We talk to other seniors, get out of the house, and eat out without killing the budget. These centers are more than food; they provide critical human contact for many. Centers often had loads of donated books you can take, offer classes, have fitness centers, and more. Use your local senior resources if you are 65 or older.
For us young retirees, my wife and I. We know exactly what we need for the month , we enjoy a good restaurant when we fancy it. We have lived more than we are going to live, so we enjoy retirement.
Advice given to me by an elderly gentleman when we got married “have a date night once a week. Cook some steaks, put on some music, nice wine and romantic music” especially when you can’t afford to go out in the early mortgage-filled years. And as for eating out…when the weathers good - pack a fancy picnic. Home made, chilled rosé and plastic glasses. Superb 💕
OMG! WE EAT OUT 5 TIMES EACH WEEK. We saved for a lifetime. And im going to treat myself now.
My salutation was,move to Chiangmai Thailand 🇹🇭 cost is 50% to 60% less that Canada/ America, screw the tipping culture back home. Obtw you guys are a cute couple :) ❤
Wife and I talk this all the time. I am a master steak griller and she has mastered the most amazing hamburger patty. By not going out, we eat so well now with finest cuts of filet and the best lean burgers and yes a good bottle of wine.
Sounds wonderful Cheers Barry 🍻🙂🍷
I agree, Steak at a restaurant is often disappointing compared to what can be done at home (I always use a cast iron skillet) and much cheaper even with the price of steak in the supermarket.
I do enjoy...or go for breakfast
In Australia about 10 years or so ago there was a comment in the media about why young people couldn't afford a house deposit and the problem was eating smashed avocado on toast for breakfast at a cafe on a regular basis.
And buying 2 or 3 coffees a day from a coffee shop. It's expensive.
Wow very interesting 🍷 🇦🇺 🍻🇨🇦🙂
Norm, I sold my Porsche 911 as I went into retirement at age 51. I regret the smiles that car gave me, but I enjoy not having to go to a job even more. The cost of car ownership would surprise most people when you add up the depreciation, insurance, maintenance, fuel, licensing/registration fees etc.
I'm always intrigued at the thought of a car being an "option". Where I live, it's not optional. No public transportation whatsoever, and it's 4 miles to the nearest ANYthing, other than other neighbors. With winter temps dipping down to zero F at times, a car is a must, even if you would be able to carry your groceries in a backpack and hike it
Exactly! We plan on selling off one of our cars when I retire since I won't need one for the 40km commute to my work. Saving car insurance, gas, maintenance etc annually 💰❤
Completely agree. Restaurants are so unaffordable these days for the value they provide.
I'll drink to that! (AT HOME)
We limit eating out to 2 times per week. This gives me a break from cooking meals. Also, have your home paid for SAVE SAVE SAVE in preparation. Most people in the US seem to forget simple math when it comes to their finances. I even see people with MBAs who are flat broke while others, with only a high-school education, retiring with 4 - 5 million. Think ahead and use your head.
We do the same. We live on the coast of Maine and every couple of weeks we get the urge for lobster. We could go out and pay $50+ each for a lobster dinner (lobster, corn on the cob maybe with some cole slaw), but what we do is visit a lobster fisher I know and buy direct I take them home and cook them and do whatever I want with the lobster. Last week I bought two lobsters and made very nice lobster rolls. I saved the left over lobster for lobster omelettes for breakfast the next day. A nice meal for $20 including breakfast. We don't have a balcony so we took the lobster rolls to the yacht and ate our meal there. We did splurge with a nice New Zealand sauvignon blanc and still came out way ahead of the cost of eating out.
Wow sounds wonderful Lobster 🦞 and can’t beat New Zealand Savignon Blanc (Tina’s Favourite) 🍷🙂🍻
Yum! Lobster and wine! Nova Scotian here!
I eat almost every meal at home. The only time I eat in a restaurant is when my friend wants to go. It’s usually about once per month. I enjoy some meals but most are not as good as my own cooking
Another advantage of living in the middle of no where, there is no where to go. Haven't seen a restaurant in three years.
Growing up, we never ate out as a family.
Same! This is why eating out for me is not something I crave, quite opposite. 😂
We go to the senior center twice a month. They serve complete dinners with milk coffee water and desert with cup of soup. The donation is 3 .00. Per person. After dinner on Fridays a movie is shown along with popcorn served. For 6.00 donation we have a big date out. Sometimes we sit and read magazines and books afterward. We have made some friends there also. Check out the services at your local senior centers
If you truly care about your health, you will make most of your own food at home. Costco chickens are loaded with additives and they are farmed in the most horrific way. That’s why they’re so cheap!
@@lafarrell3192 yes I have to agree - I’m mainly plant based (maybe 80/%) but when I have eggs I pay the extra for free range and same for chicken - cannot bear to see the suffering
Those chickens at costco are disgusting and full of chemicals !
Farmed badly. Yes. And do they come from Canada? I think not....they may come from the US where regulations are much less stringent.
Sa doit ETRE DEGEULASSE BERC BERC c est honteux de vendre ce genre de mal BOUFFF
20 yrs ago we enjoyed Costco’s roast chicken but we can’t stomach them now. Now they’re filled with God know what garbage. The meat texture is so weird and overly salty.
I have noticed how the prices at restaurants have gone way up. Breakfast in particular - two going out for breakfast with coffee and tip is over USD $30. I can make bacon and eggs for two for the whole week for that. Cook all the bacon at one time and portion it out for the week, cook the eggs fresh. One pan clean up most days - and how much have you saved? Crazy.
As is the case in so many things, all things in moderation - eating out every week (or more frequently) will make you poor quickly. We rarely eat out but when we do its for a celebration (birthday, anniversary) or to catch up with friends - a social outing - and someplace we know is good / offers food we don't cook at home. And yes, a pizza crust from the supermarket, a jar of pizza sauce, and some toppings from the supermarket makes frankly a better pizza than most of the pizza chains and half the price. And roasting a chiken at home is so easy and a huge money saver. Throw in some cut potatoes and carrots with the chicken and you have a complete meal with leftovers for the next day or making sandwiches.
You don’t get it. Your needs are before retirement. During retirement, it’s ALL about what you want. That’s what you saved up for. Your wants in retirement. Don’t be the richest one in the cemetery.
@miketheyunggod2534 agreed there's more to life than dying rich. But I do understand that we need to live within our means.
Where I live, a Costco chicken is $5. I can’t find a whole raw chicken for that anywhere in town. I buy my favorite parts of the chicken and cook those in the air fryer. When I go out, I usually order things I don’t cook at home but I rarely eat out or order takeout.
We love cooking in our air fryer too great invention 🇺🇸😂🇨🇦
I do this too. Recently divorced and kids are getting married and starting their lives. So,mom cooking for one. I take the carcass and make chicken stock out of it. Don’t like to waste anything I can repurpose. But, I do like to cook. I typically go out once a week with my best friend so we can catch up.
Awesome 👏🙂
Absolutely, I stopped eating out years ago and have saved so much!! I also drive once maybe twice a week to buy groceries, fill up gas tank (only when needed), stopped buying expensive gifts …… grandkids get $25 for birthdays, Christmas compared to the $50-$100 per child I have 6 😄 I stopped going away 5-6 times a year just because I have the time off from work, I use my cc for all and never pay interest because I pay before it’s due for the CASH REWARDS. Ty for the great video!!
So glad you enjoyed it Cheers 🙂🍷🌺
Problem with eating out: too much salt, too much fat, and too much sugar, these things combined cause poor health and will spoil enjoyment of life.
Choose restaurants with meals where you can have a to-go plate and have a leftover meal for home! No alcohol….saves money on extra tap and tip.
My wife and I retired 15 years ago, so we have a bit of experience to call upon. Eating out, even at a moderately priced restaurant, is very expensive to do regularly, so we do it only as an occasional treat. For most retirees, that money is much better used elsewhere.
So true. eating out has become too high of a cost, breakfast costs $17. at a diner, i choose oatmeal or eggs for about .30 cents or less a day at home. add coffee .
and so true again the quality is better at home . thank You great advice.
It depends if your married and or single. I'm single and I'm looking forward to eating out 5 days a week. Traveling to new places to eat. New cities, new states, etc. Life is short.
I never eat out. Even when travelling in my campervan to Spain or Italy. Needs and wants are so important to distinguish between. Thanks
Speaking of pizza, this is a true story: friends were out to dinner and the wife ordered a personal pizza. Delicious! After the meal, the husband stepped into the Men's room, which was opposite the kitchen. He saw the "DiGiorno" pizza box on the counter.
WOW!!!
Yikes 😱
Agree 100%. We eat out or get take-out once per week, a habit we started during the pandemic. We are in a city of 125,000 so the selection is decent, but there are few restaurants due to the price / quality factor. As Tina and Norm mentioned, having a $100 meal is not upscale, but it still is disappointing when you can prepare a better meal at home for a quarter of the price as both of us are decent cooks. Also amazed that people spend an extra $10 or $20 to get it delivered. Would rather spend those funds towards a winter in Portugal program
@@Luc-ro7qj factor in a 20% tip and it’s crazy expensive. We are finding that Eastern European countries and Southeast Asia have much cheaper and healthier meal options. We are in Turkiye currently and just had 2 entrees and 2 non alcoholic drinks for under $20usd including a small tip.
Eating in restaurants has never been a way to save money. Everything in moderation.
I agree! I refuse to eat out, at a minimum 30$/person for mediocre food, we don’t drink alcohol thankfully or it would be nasty! Not happening.
As much as I am tired of cooking at 69 yo, I refuse to pay big dollars for crumby meals. I miss seeing our friends but I can serve them at home for less than one meal eating out and besides I’m not making do with what restaurants have to offer. And we can play cards afterwards!❤😊
Awesome 👏 great comment 🙂🌺
30 dollars per person is very expensive! My husband and I just had dinner at Chili’s for a total of $27. We had the ‘3 for me’ deal. Excellent food and reasonable
Très facile de cuisiner Mr, faire revenir des rondelles de courgettes à l'huile chaud. Cuire vos riz bazmatique épicerie c est très SIMPLE. Bonne appétit.
Eating at home = no having to shell out for subpar meals, and those annoying tip$
People often feel embarrassed to ask for tap water in pubs. But I worked out a long time ago I can eat out more often if I say no to buy drinks. I also use any discounts available combined with pub offers for that particular day. And you are right about food quality it’s so low it just doesn’t feel worth it anymore.
We went out for our anniversary and I discovered that my glass of wine these days costs the price of a whole bottle of the wine being served! Now I still like a glass with a nice meal and I will buy a glass. But at least I now KNOW what the markup is and will budget accordingly. I will say that if you dine out, you MUST plan to tip your server well, That's their living and they deserve to be tipped! (I am in the USA so maybe other places don't have this.)
That is awesome! and yes one glass is the same as a bottle at home 🍷 but nice to have a treat sometimes 🍷🙂
I understand your points but as a young woman I loved having seafood at restaurants. Now I’m allergic. Right now I’m grateful I was able to enjoy when I could 🤷🏻♀️
I agree, Naan bread pizza is the best! Brush it with olive oil and garlic then a healthy layer of fresh spinach, then all the veggies and BLACK BEANS! Add the grated mozzarella and then 10 minutes in the oven, 1.5 minutes under the broiler and done!! Super easy and literally costs a couple of dollars to make. 😊
Agree. I can’t believe I messed around with making my own pizza dough all these years.. Naan bread is great for pizza 🍕
Oh eating out is one of our hobbies. We have cut back a bit. But we look forward to it. We usually bus it into town. We get free travel at 66 yrs in Ireland. So we can have a drink. Meet friends. Of course lots of local cafe/restaurants. We keep it simple. Splash out for Birthdays.
Sounds great!🍷🙂🌺
I've been retired for 5 years. We eat out about 12 times a year and we budget something for doing so. That way we know how much we are comfortable spending each year. You could easily overspend if you ate out frequently but I still think its a great thing to do in moderation for celebrations, catching up with friends etc. The secret is to find places that offer great value - good food that doesn't cost the earth.
Sounds like a great plan ☕️🙂
I love eating out but at good quality proper restaurants with friends it is not only good food but also great for your soul, just like buying flowers great for the heart and soul. I will not be cutting back on any of those things whilst in retirement! One life, so enjoy.
Agree it is eating out. I use to cook and make things from what I bought in a grocery store 99% of the time then ended up eating out way too much and not cooking anymore. A few circumstances led me into that but yes eating out too much is a huge money drainer. Far from retirement (15 more years) and wish was now but can imagine having the time and freedom to not eat out.
I have never joined Costco as they specialize in large quantities which causes waste and requires more storage than we have. Some of my colleagues have let their Costco membership lapse as they said it was costing them too much money as it encourages them to buy excess quantities of food.
Yes, got divorced late in life, became an empty nester, so I gave up the Costco membership. I still have most of a bottle of 500 Kirkland version Benadryl tablets 😅
That is so true, the best way to economise is to always be running out.
@@grahvisI like that
I agree, no longer a member until I need glasses. Their wholesale prices are very reasonable.
When I do need something from Costco, I found out that I can still get it delivered as a non-member. Just pay a $5 surcharge. As a couple living in a major city, we don’t need to stockpile much.
You guys are one of the nicest people in this universe...Wish you all the best and most the health to enjoy your retimerent
Thank you So much George 🌺🙂
$9 for a glass of wine is actually pretty cheap!
We very rarely eat out while we’re at home. Maybe once or twice per year. On special occasions, we prefer to splurge on a couple of nice steaks and grill them ourselves at home. We save restaurant meals for when we’re travelling, and even then we try to economize by finding accommodations with cooking facilities and/or we do picnics with takeaways from a supermarket.
I can see that you are getting some push back on this idea, but in addition to saving money, calories are important too. I agree with the concept of occasionally eating out.
We do make better meals at home, because we cook the way we like it. It’s healthier, too, especially when you cook whole foods that include fruit and vegetables. You don’t worry about excessive salt, preservatives and sugar used in many restaurants.
We go out for lunch occasionally instead of dinner. Menu items are usually cheaper for lunch and it’s still a treat!
With food allergies, pancreatic diabetes and basically a carnivore diet, we never eat out. I honestly just don’t like restaurant food, it’s never as good as home and WAY too expensive!
You eat out for this reason:
In the USA South many families have an heirloom cast iron pan.
Sometimes 125+ years old.
These pans are NEVER washed, only wiped down.
Thus they have decades of seasoning on them that
Makes food taste uniquely delicious.
The grill at your local restaurant is similarly seasoned by decades of cooking hash browns in the same corner.
That flavor cannot be replilcated.
This is why you eat out.
That seasoned grill.
I think the answer is moderation, once or maybe twice a week works. Getting out amongst people, even if they are not friends, helps as well.
Very true!
Eating out is ALWAYS based on your income. I have several former co-workers who saved into 7 figures and have a pension AND social security. They eat out when they want to. Retirement isn't always about moving into the poor house.
I've probably said this before, but one of the resources you have in retirement is time. Time to make things like jams and preserves etc. Even if you don't have a garden, there are times in the year when fruit and vegetables are plentiful and cheaper. This is the time to replenish your larder with jams and preserves. They are not only useful at times when prices go up, but make much appreciated gifts. Homemade gifts are always welcome as your friends also know that the ingredients are genuine and made with care for them thia applies to other things like cakes and biscuits, especially well received at Christas time. My mother used to make a huge batch of Christmas puddings (mixed in a sterlized baby bath!). This way all her friends had a pudding for Christmas. I now try to do the same. There are so many ideas for making food as gifts. Also inviting friends round for a meal is as much fun as going out to a resataurant and maybe they wiil di the same, so you do get to eat out.
Whether your working or retired creating and tracking what you spend is the foundation of financial success. Simply tracking under broad categories (plenty of free spreadsheet templates online) where your money goes is eyeopening. Then you have the information to ask is that the way I want to spend my money? and change your behavior accordingly.
The other major benefit is if your are still working, ask yourself what costs change in retirement? Some costs might reduce others might increase because you use more power when your in the home or traveling more. This information gives you the knowledge to plan better for retirement!
Don't see budgeting as something painful that is restricting what you spend, see it as educational to provide you with the information to make better decisions! It's your money you can do whatever you want, just be intentional.
While not being rich, we have more than enough for our needs. So being in retirement for 15 odd years , now is the time to send on wants whenever it’s appropriate. We may not have lots of years left so most of the time if we want it we have it. We still look for a bargain but enjoy what we do spend our money on.
We stopped going out to restaurants in our small town when I became a manager in our local hospital. I couldn’t discuss my work day in anyway for fear of someone overhearing or misinterpreting. We are fortunate that my husband is an excellent cook, he even makes Nan bread!
Eating out is not cheap but it's a treat. I'm retired and eat on my own at home everyday. All meals. I've eaten out only 4 times in a year. 2 on my own. So nice to have someone else cook and have company. I could do it more but I am cost conscious, despite being able to increase my savings balance each month. To break the habit of a lifetime of saving for the future is really hard. Exactly what am I saving for? To stay at home and save money? What's the point of that? I for one think I should start increasing the number of meals out rather than cut back. Pointless saving for retirement and then not spending it. Leaving money to others in a Will, who will go and spend it on meals out!
Eating out is a killer, absolutely. And paradoxically, it's also a luxury that everyone loves. The social aspect, the giving yourself a break from cooking aspect, and the change of pace from your own usual prepared diet. Best bet is to make sure you cut back in other areas you won't miss as much, find a bit of part time income, so you can continue eating out occasionally at least.
I guess it’s a bit relative. In San Francisco Bay Area here a bowl of Ramen gets to $25 USD after tax and tips so does add up fast! But if I’m in Thailand or Spain or Portugal I would probably eating out much more. Besides I’ve been working and cooking for most of my life, in retirement hopefully can let someone else do the cooking and cleaning 😂😂.
My husband and I use to tell people that the only reason we had a kitchen was that it came with the house. But now, like you we cook and eat at home and I agree with you, it does taste better. Thanks for your thoughts.
Eating a large meal out is a special treat for me, probably no more than once every two or three months. I do meet other retired friends for coffee and a chat occasionally or perhaps a dessert at a restaurant owned by a dear friend. However, most of my meals are eaten at home.
We stopped eating out after covid and have not gone out for dinner since. And we make nearly everything from scratch. Healthier and our bank account is healthier too. It blows my mind what we used to pay every year eating out!
We agree
The one thing we found was that we , being two people, could do without, was the Costco membership cost. Don’t need the quantity
offered and shopping around will find as good or better deals
So true... eating out is SUPER EXPENSIVE... but there are ways to keep in check... like local diners, hole-in-the-wall or no-frills places, especially if you enjoy ethnic cuisine !
I am a 74 year old divorced retiree and eat most of my meals at home. However, it is healthy to get out of the house at least once a day. Restaurant meals don't have to be expensive if you look for the specials and avoid dessert and alcohol.
With high inflation, cost of eating out certainly is no longer what it used to be. Last week, went out for a steak kidney pie and fish'n chip lunch. Bill comes to C$100. Of course neither of the dishes is simple to prepare at home.
Actually it's pretty easy. In the years before retirement you stop smoking (this used to be more of a thing in the years past), drastically reduce drinking, and change your eating habits to reflect less need for calories. Also pay off your mortgage, get rid of the second car, maybe even the first car and voila, you reduced your expenses to half.
oh so true, so true. a dinner out for us is at least $50. and the food isn't as good as it used to be
Glad to hear everything. Well done. People need to change their mind set. Eating at home does not mean you need to compromise. Better food and less money
So many good options for how to save money on food. Someone compared their WalMart Instacart order from 2020 to today (exact same items and size of item) and the total was 400% higher. Thanks for the videos and keep 'em coming!
'Shaking up' where and what you eat can be done at home and takes the monotony out of daily life pattern. For Valentines dinners,and sometimes 'just because' dinners ,we move a small table into living rm in front of our fireplace, throw a tablecloth and candles on it and serve chinese food from grocery store, or pizza from store, that we add more toppings to. So much cheaper than going out.
Sounds just lovely 🌺🙂🍷
Start a dinner club where once a month you have couples over for dinner, then you rotate.
Thanks for the tips. I can roast a chicken In the oven at 400 degrees with one turnover in one hour and 20 minutes… Plus cook a bunch of root vegetables that are left over in the house, onions, yams, potatoes, etc. which I can’t get into my air fryer
Eating out is a favorite treat at least twice a month. The prices are.certainly rising sharply.
Not eating out at all sounds so unreasonable…..we eat Whole Foods Plant Based, no meat, fish, or dairy, and cook most of our meals and have saved about 30% -40% on our grocery bill since we started in 2017 but even with that savings I can’t fathom not eating out once a week on weekends as those like us who travel outside of the town and then having to brown bag a meal and coffee??? No Way! …we’re on a fixed income but Suzie’s advice must be for those who eat out more often than not….
*sigh*
Challenging myself to cut back on hobbies too.
One thing I've been amazed with as a food money saver is an "Instant Pot" pressure cooker. While not exactly 'instant', you can buy the junkiest cheap tough bird or brutally tough bit of beef on super sale, and turn them into a tender piece of meat stew, fit for several very solid meals within about 1.5 hours from start to plate. Get a rice cooker too and buy 25lb bags of long-grain jasmine rice at the Asian grocery. You can get similar tenderized stew results with an old-fashioned crock-pot if you plan ahead to cook it 12 hours. Something to remember when Covid times hit again, or meat prices go through the roof.
This is so true, even for vegetarians. I cook all my beans from dried - much cheaper, nicer, and no heavy cans to lug home! I've had mine for years and use it several times a week.
@@karrelaw Oooh yeah. Pea soup or lentils in that are amazing.
Thank you, you reminded me. I have a soup maker and lack of mobility means I have my groceries delivered. Just added a couple of packs of dried peas to the order., I forgot last time.