It has been two months since I have created a budget and have been tracking my expenses in an effort to get my money in line. I have learned that I am spending too much money on travel (2X to NYC, 1X to Vancouver) but compensating for it (somewhat) by underspending on entertainment. So I am going to cut down on travel plans and continue saving on my entertainment costs by opting to stay in (also good for productivity levels).
Inspired by John Allemang's 'Broke? Get Cooking' in Saturday's Globe & Mail I have decided to continue putting energy toward getting my expenses in order by cooking more at home. It is also great for health since I am also choosing what type of products are being put in my body.
My favorite place to get meat is Rowe Farms on Roncesvalles, where it is locally-grown, antibiotic and hormone-free. It is more expensive than say going to Costco and piling up on bulk beef, but I find it balances out when you buy quality and eat less meat and more vegetables anyway. I would love to be able to buy all organic vegetables and fruit say from a local farmer's market on the weekend. But realistically I do not want to get up at 8 AM Saturday morning to run and grab some apples so I just stock up in the grocery store on organic produce where it's important (apples, brocolli) and buy the regular stuf where pesticides are not as likely (bananas, avocados) to be as big of a deal.
Cooking at home does take a lot of time and preparation, especially for me since I am not a natural Jamie Oliver who can just throw this and that together based on what is in season (or in my cupboard). I need to source out recipes that are not too complex, don't require me buying too many new ingredients, and are fairly quick and easy (oh yeah and gluten/wheat/yeast-free). Easier said than done, but I am narrowing them down (I have a binder full of recipes collected over the years) and freeing myself from those recipes that simply will never happen. Roasted duck legs with rhubarb orange sauce? Toss. Swedish meatballs. Keep. Also recommended to me was this blog 'Poor Girl Eats Well' which I will definitely use as a source.
So I am back to the basics and loving it. And while cooking is a basic life necessity to most, it is a revelation to most of us young urban dwellers. "It's not so hard to cook cheaply," says cookbook author Ms. Jennifer McLagan to John Allemang of The Globe & Mail. "All it requires is an investment of time." And now without all that travel and entertainment time is something I will have on my hands.
See Related Posts:
From Rags to Riches VI: Curate your wardrobe
From Rags to Riches V: Banish Big Box
The Art of Consignment: From riches to rags IV
Cooking for dollars: From riches to rags III
Keeping in line: From riches to rags II
From riches to rags
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4 comments:
I'm here too!
Money is tight, and I want to change jobs so I'm currently looking for new opportunities. So money out but no money in...
I'm not a natural cook either, but I'm learning and I love cooking simple but tasty dishes. It's cheap and rewarding I find.
It is rewarding - absolutement! It is a great (abeit late) start to creating more health and wealth in all of our lives . . . so simple yet so enriching :)
I've been experimenting with this for a few months now.
I pack a lunch to work and eat at home. When I do go out, my girlfriend and I scour for good eats and good deals.
We've also taken to cooking and staying in. It's good because I'm usually exhausted after a long week at the office, so snuggling up on a couch with old movies and self made food is so relaxing.
I think that being in a relationship sure makes this a lot easier - then the grocery shopping is more fun, the cooking, the snuggling. But there also is someone to help with dishes and stuff, which is fantastic-o.
Last night I got off easy (deadlines are looming) and had dinner and dishes done for me! Tonight we are going to 2 for 1 burgers at Freshwood Grill on Roncesvalles - whoo hoo!
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