First, the bad news - I spend $900 - $1100 a month on food. This is just me, and recently, sometimes cooking for my girlfriend (we see one another a couple times a week). This includes eating out. Although I am CONSTANTLY trying to create meal plans and save, I never follow through. My biggest expense is Whole Foods. Healthy food is important to me, so I often can't resist stopping by after work to pick up vegetables (although I often impulse buy other things as well, including chocolate). I try to cook in bulk, but once I do, I often get tired of the meal (let's say sweet potato soup) within a day or two, and the rest sits until it goes bad. I've calculated that I spend roughly 20% of my paycheck on food.
The good news - this is by far my biggest expenditure. I do not buy clothes or go on expensive vacations - although I do have a gym membership and sign up for Masters swimming classes. I have no debt, besides a 15 year mortgage (about 9 years to go). I have saved about $55,000 in cash for a down payment on a new house, unforeseen costs, etc (this is separate from retirement accounts - I am 33).
How badly am I messing up here? Has anyone been in my situation, and if so, what strategies did you use to get out? I appreciate anyone's viewpoints. Honesty is appreciated.
Submitted March 01, 2019 at 08:58AM by shakeyramon https://ift.tt/2SwyqK4
