People who know me are often amazed by how quickly I am able to save money. Well, it isn't a mystery, really.
One of the things I avoid doing is dining in restaurants. How much does a meal cost in Paradise Inn or Din Tai Fung, for examples?
This doesn't mean that I don't dine in restaurants but I do it sparingly. Some might remember my fortnightly visits to Soup Restaurant, partly because I was a shareholder. Anyway, I have stopped visiting them for many moons now as I feel that the standard has dropped.
If we go to restaurants frequently, reducing the frequency meaningfully could see quite a bit of savings every month. See related post number 1 at the end of this blog post to read a family man's experience.
Feeling hungry? Just go to Old Chang Kee to get a curry puff. Doesn't cost an arm and a leg. On other days, just have simple meals at home. Sandwiches and oatmeal are easy to prepare. Porridge and noodles too.
This was what I had tonight:
Choy sum. |
Chopped and rinsed. |
Time for a hot water bath. |
Add some fried ikan bilis and ginger. Looks good, tastes good! |
Mustn't forget to have a fruit. |
Home baked chocolate chip cookie, thanks to my sis. |
Avoid going to restaurants and we could save money more quickly. Feed our wallets! Burp!
Related posts:
1. How to have a comfortable retirement?
"His family used to dine in restaurants every Sunday. This is now reduced to only once a month. This helps him save more than $200 each month."
2. Rich gets richer. Poor gets poorer.
"只要功夫深,铁杆磨成针."
3. If we are not rich, don't act rich.
"Now, this may sound jaded as I have said it before many times and that is we should run our lives like we would run a business!"
16 comments:
i see you eat banana quite often.
my hubby also love to eat banana:)
http://nnszsp.spzs.com/listproduct/792966.html
i bought this from NTUC , think around 1.75 per pack.can serve 3 person.
well, i find this noodle taste is nice and the noodle is non fried noodle.
with dark soya sauce, light soya sauce, sesame oil and rice wine. very yummy.
then make a boiled egg and boil some vegetable.
very yummy.
A nice meal and saves money as well. Makes me hungry now. Yummy!!
Hi AK,
Indeed, I seconded what you say. I tried bringing bf to work, reduce weekend done out to once a week, and I felt things improve a lot ( psychologically), the money saved might not be mind boggling but over the longer run, it gave a state of calmness which is priceless.
Also, weekend dine out is a great bonding time, I do not advocate scrimping on that, but once a week and choose your restaurant, it should be ok on the pockets. No need to go those atas European restaurants or high class chinese cruisine.
A family of 6 for a Swensen meal is about $100. Not crippling at all, if it's once a week. A similar trip to Tung Lok could easily be above $200, and you can have 2 meals instead of one.
Also, do you really need te higher plan for your HP. Mine is the lowest data plan, I always online but I dun really watch video, never burst my plan before for the past 2 years. Just has to managed the urge to get the latest phone with less subsidy from telecom. I slash $25 every month just but switching my plan to a lower value Coporate plan.
Hi yeh,
I am switching to non fried noodles too. Healthier choice! :)
Banana doesn't keep very well. So, I don't usually like to buy them although I enjoy eating them. Recently, NTUC Fairprice kept having special price of 99c for a bunch. So, I have been buying a lot more bananas recently. Yes, I know. I giam siap. ;p
Hi SPCF,
Yup. This is Mee Poh from Myojo, just in case you are wondering. :)
SMOL is the instant noodles gourment in the financial blogging circuit. If you have questions, ask him. ;)
Hi Mike,
Once a week, $100 per visit is $400 a month! Wow! For me, about $100 a month is plenty.
OK. Don't mind me. Different lah. I am a swinging bachelor. I better enjoy quality me time while I still can. ;p
I think I have the same data plan as you have for my phone. I didn't want to have a data plan but I was forced to have one when I re-contracted. Bummer. -.-"
Well, I did get a new phone for free. So, shan't complain. ;)
LOL AK,
Indeed it is different. That's why I no longer 强求 financial freedom anymore.
Oops ... Sorry, different message from your blog. But it's good to save.
My MIL is saying ex ex. But when I see the smile on her face when she eat her favorite ciabatta bread, I think it's a worthwhile for her care for my son.
Hi Mike,
Oh, to see our loved ones smile is priceless. A family dinner or two every month at your favourite family restaurant? That is an affordable luxury. ;)
That is what I say about my car too. An affordable luxury. ;p
Hahaha.. You are a good man, Mike. :)
hi Mike,
you can buy via groupon or Qoo for good deals:)
i always buy via groupon or Qoo for good foods.
then i will go tao bao to search for my household items. i just bought some LED light bulb and hubby's house wear from taobao.
not bad.
hi AK
my home cooked foods tonight to serve 3 person:)
http://yehinvestmentandmusic.blogspot.sg/2015/01/home-cooked-foods-again-is-made-from.html
as my health not very good, so i try to cook as much as i can. now, i just simply enjoy home cooked foods.
sometimes, i feel that my own cook foods taste nicer than restaurant foods. really thick face, bu yao lian:) hahahaha
http://list.qoo10.sg/item/RICE-COOKER-HEATING-LUNCH-BOX-LUNCH/414629429#customerTabWrap1
i bought this to office recently, well.
i will start my own cook lunch tomorrow onwards:) yeh! can eat more healthier and save more money.
Hi yeh,
Thanks for all the sharing! :)
I am sure you are a good cook and you get to save money too. What's not to like? ;p
Hi AK,
If you have unfinished bananas, can freeze it and make some delicious food like cookies and milkshakes:
http://www.thekitchn.com/lighter-treat-recipe-frozen-banana-peanut-butter-chocolate-milkshake-111540
Enjoy!
Hi Jes,
Thanks but, no, thanks. Too much work. I am lazy.
Actually, it has to do with the fact that I do not have a proper kitchen in my shoebox apartment too. Don't have a blender. Don't have a mixer. You get the idea. ;p
Hi Ak,
So happy to see your colorful meal. Looking at the screen made ME hungry as well.
Before long, i will have to ask you for advice on cooking noodles!
^_^
Hi pansy,
It is like a work of art, isn't it? LOL. Yah, AK the thick skin cook. ;p
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