“Money is something we choose to trade our life energy for.”
– Vicki Robin and Joe Dominguez, Your Money or Your Life
I’m making an honest review of my spending habits. Not as an exercise in self-punishment, but as an opportunity to see how I can get more happiness while giving up equal or fewer units of life energy.
As a habitual (bordering on compulsive) eater-out, it seemed right to re-visit every one of my restaurant transactions in a single year.
Here’s a summary table, broken down by the quality of the food and experience:
| Gross |
45 |
$579 |
| Meh |
27 |
$447.76 |
| Tasty |
118 |
$1,568.80 |
| Delicious |
27 |
$1,105.41 |
| Totals |
217 |
$3,700.97 |
Meals Out Broken Down By Quality and Cost
Yes, I ate out a lot.
Because full confession is supposed to be cathartic, I present you with the complete, gory transactional details:
(Scan past the table to see what I learned from the analysis.)
|
| 1/2/12 | Rubios | $10.08 | Tasty |
| 1/6/12 | Five Guys | $26.46 | Tasty |
| 1/8/12 | NYPD Pizzeria | $35.81 | Meh |
| 1/11/12 | In n Out Burger | $16.49 | Tasty |
| 1/14/12 | Jimmy John’s | $8.66 | Tasty |
| 1/14/12 | Papa John’s | $16.70 | Meh |
| 1/14/12 | Scaddy Time | $7.52 | Gross |
| 1/16/12 | Thai House Cuisine | $19.40 | Tasty |
| 1/17/12 | Jimmy John’s | $10.76 | Tasty |
| 1/18/12 | Kneaders | $3.23 | Gross |
| 1/19/12 | Barbacoa | $14.09 | Meh |
| 1/20/12 | Paradise Bakery & Cafe | $5.39 | Gross |
| 1/21/12 | Cafe Rio | $18.05 | Tasty |
| 1/21/12 | Coldstone | $13.53 | Tasty |
| 1/21/12 | Paradise Bakery & Cafe | $11.04 | Gross |
| 1/26/12 | In n Out Burger | $14.92 | Tasty |
| 1/28/12 | Chick-fil-a | $22.69 | Tasty |
| 1/28/12 | JCW’s Restaurant Lehi | $5.37 | Gross |
| 1/31/12 | Ichiban | $46.53 | Delicious |
| 1/31/12 | Settebello | $8 | Delicious |
| 2/1/12 | Jimmy John’s | $17.70 | Tasty |
| 2/3/12 | Cafe Zupas | $10.43 | Meh |
| 2/3/12 | Settebello | $36.20 | Delicious |
| 2/3/12 | Settebello | $8.99 | Delicious |
| 2/4/12 | Kneaders | $19.82 | Gross |
| 2/10/12 | Chick-fil-a | $15.96 | Tasty |
| 2/14/12 | Thai Village | $29.70 | Delicious |
| 2/15/12 | Biaggi’s | $37.22 | Meh |
| 2/18/12 | In n Out Burger | $6.43 | Tasty |
| 2/18/12 | Settebello | $13 | Delicious |
| 2/19/12 | Rumbi Island Grill | $28.07 | Gross |
| 2/20/12 | The Downtown Philly | $7.96 | Tasty |
| 2/21/12 | Chick-fil-a | $16.39 | Tasty |
| 2/21/12 | Chick-fil-a | $14.49 | Tasty |
| 2/21/12 | Little Caesars | $7.10 | Gross |
| 2/22/12 | In n Out Burger | $14.32 | Tasty |
| 2/24/12 | Jimmy John’s | $22.87 | Tasty |
| 2/24/12 | Paradise Bakery & Cafe | $4.20 | Gross |
| 2/25/12 | Carl’s Jr | $6.45 | Gross |
| 2/25/12 | Subway | $4.24 | Gross |
| 2/26/12 | Benja Thai and Sushi | $26.27 | Delicious |
| 3/17/12 | Bombay House | $43 | Delicious |
| 3/20/12 | Goodwood Barbecue | $11.70 | Tasty |
| 3/22/12 | Leger’s Deli | $8.26 | Meh |
| 3/23/12 | George’s Gyros and Burger | $18.15 | Tasty |
| 3/24/12 | In n Out Burger | $17.74 | Tasty |
| 3/26/12 | Settebello | $21.44 | Delicious |
| 3/27/12 | Chili’s | $61.88 | Gross |
| 3/30/12 | Ichiban | $59.37 | Delicious |
| 3/30/12 | JCW’s Restaurant Lehi | $14.30 | Gross |
| 3/31/12 | Jimmy John’s | $11.48 | Tasty |
January through March
|
| 4/2/12 | Rumbi Island Grill | $23.86 | Gross |
| 4/3/12 | Chick-fil-a | $14.20 | Tasty |
| 4/6/12 | In n Out Burger | $14.92 | Tasty |
| 4/7/12 | Cafe Rio | $16.72 | Tasty |
| 4/7/12 | Pizzeria Seven Twelve | $43.03 | Delicious |
| 4/10/12 | Paradise Bakery & Cafe | $4.20 | Gross |
| 4/11/12 | Chick-fil-a | $21.24 | Tasty |
| 4/12/12 | Culver’s | $5.04 | Tasty |
| 4/14/12 | Culver’s | $7.09 | Tasty |
| 4/14/12 | Jimmy John’s | $11.48 | Tasty |
| 4/14/12 | Pizzeria Seven Twelve | $58.35 | Delicious |
| 4/16/12 | Barbacoa | $18.28 | Meh |
| 4/17/12 | Thai House Cuisine | $19.40 | Tasty |
| 4/18/12 | JCW’s Restaurant Lehi | $7.84 | Gross |
| 4/18/12 | Jimmy John’s | $11.48 | Tasty |
| 4/19/12 | Scaddy Time | $10.60 | Gross |
| 4/20/12 | JCW’s Restaurant Lehi | $13.98 | Gross |
| 4/20/12 | JCW’s Restaurant Lehi | $4.62 | Gross |
| 4/21/12 | Ichiban | $66.24 | Delicious |
| 4/24/12 | Chick-fil-a | $23 | Tasty |
| 4/25/12 | Thai House Cuisine | $19.40 | Tasty |
| 4/25/12 | Thanksgiving Point | $6.73 | Meh |
| 4/25/12 | Thanksgiving Point | $14.82 | Meh |
| 4/27/12 | Pizzeria Seven Twelve | $56.35 | Delicious |
| 5/12/12 | Communal | $9.54 | Delicious |
| 5/12/12 | El Gallo Giro | $27.45 | Tasty |
| 5/14/12 | Thanksgiving Point | $37.52 | Meh |
| 5/16/12 | Jimmy John’s | $17.40 | Tasty |
| 5/17/12 | IHOP | $26.99 | Gross |
| 5/19/12 | Communal | $153 | Delicious |
| 6/2/12 | Red Robin | $28.67 | Tasty |
| 6/4/12 | Baskin Robbins | $3.48 | Meh |
| 6/4/12 | Stan’s Burger Shack | $9.08 | Tasty |
| 6/8/12 | Stan’s Burger Shack | $9.99 | Tasty |
| 6/13/12 | Cafe DeJeuner | $15.50 | Meh |
| 6/19/12 | In n Out Burger | $4.29 | Tasty |
| 6/22/12 | Thanksgiving Point | $36.79 | Meh |
April through June
|
| 7/19/12 | BWW | $12.66 | Meh |
| 7/19/12 | In n Out Burger | $13.47 | Tasty |
| 7/20/12 | Jimmy John’s | $7.38 | Tasty |
| 7/21/12 | Black Sheep Cafe | $49.17 | Meh |
| 7/23/12 | Cafe Rio | $13.20 | Tasty |
| 7/25/12 | Chick-fil-a | $18.35 | Tasty |
| 7/25/12 | Culver’s | $13.63 | Tasty |
| 7/26/12 | Little Caesars | $10.78 | Gross |
| 7/28/12 | In n Out Burger | $12.45 | Tasty |
| 7/31/12 | In n Out Burger | $2.14 | Tasty |
| 8/1/12 | Five Guys | $11.83 | Tasty |
| 8/1/12 | Jimmy John’s | $20.45 | Tasty |
| 8/2/12 | Chipotle | $10.84 | Delicious |
| 8/3/12 | Culver’s | $9.44 | Tasty |
| 8/3/12 | Jimmy John’s | $7.38 | Tasty |
| 8/4/12 | Ichiban | $42.41 | Delicious |
| 8/7/12 | Five Guys | $6.88 | Tasty |
| 8/8/12 | Chick-fil-a | $18.13 | Tasty |
| 8/10/12 | The Downtown Philly | $10.44 | Tasty |
| 8/11/12 | Bombay House | $44 | Delicious |
| 8/14/12 | In n Out Burger | $15.62 | Tasty |
| 8/17/12 | Kneaders | $0.85 | Gross |
| 8/18/12 | Chick-fil-a | $14.52 | Tasty |
| 8/24/12 | Jimmy John’s | $13.63 | Tasty |
| 8/24/12 | Settebello | $8.00 | Delicious |
| 8/25/12 | Kneaders | $29.56 | Gross |
| 8/25/12 | Red Iguana | $37.06 | Tasty |
| 9/1/12 | In n Out Burger | $15.40 | Tasty |
| 9/3/12 | Culver’s | $15.03 | Tasty |
| 9/4/12 | Rumbi Island Grill | $16 | Gross |
| 9/5/12 | Bombay House | $47.02 | Delicious |
| 9/5/12 | J Dawgs | $5.99 | Tasty |
| 9/6/12 | Kneaders | $12.90 | Gross |
| 9/7/12 | Jimmy John’s | $5.93 | Tasty |
| 9/8/12 | In n Out Burger | $13.24 | Tasty |
| 9/12/12 | Chick-fil-a | $21.02 | Tasty |
| 9/14/12 | Jimmy John’s | $7.70 | Tasty |
| 9/15/12 | Country Bakery of Lehi | $3.65 | Tasty |
| 9/17/12 | Five Guys | $8.60 | Tasty |
| 9/17/12 | Thai House Cuisine | $19.40 | Tasty |
| 9/18/12 | J Dawgs | $4.99 | Tasty |
| 9/19/12 | In n Out Burger | $16 | Tasty |
| 9/20/12 | El Mexiquense Grill | $9.91 | Meh |
| 9/21/12 | Jimmy John’s | $7.70 | Tasty |
| 9/24/12 | Cafe Rio | $14.57 | Tasty |
| 9/25/12 | In n Out Burger | $2.14 | Tasty |
| 9/25/12 | Pier 49 | $17.74 | Gross |
| 9/27/12 | Jimmy John’s | $5.93 | Tasty |
| 9/27/12 | Paradise Bakery & Cafe | $2.21 | Gross |
| 9/28/12 | Culver’s | $2.79 | Tasty |
| 9/28/12 | El Mexiquense Grill | $12.15 | Meh |
| 9/29/12 | In n Out Burger | $4.29 | Tasty |
| 9/29/12 | Pizzeria Seven Twelve | $51.12 | Delicious |
| 9/29/12 | Smart Cookie | $5.66 | Tasty |
July through September
|
| 10/1/12 | J Dawgs | $4.99 | Tasty |
| 10/2/12 | Rubios | $9.36 | Tasty |
| 10/3/12 | BYU Creamery Fountain | $9.18 | Tasty |
| 10/3/12 | Chick-fil-a | $20.82 | Tasty |
| 10/12/12 | Jimmy John’s | $14.70 | Tasty |
| 10/12/12 | Taste of Punjab | $40.92 | Tasty |
| 10/13/12 | Little Caesars | $7.85 | Gross |
| 10/13/12 | Little Caesars | $7.85 | Gross |
| 10/16/12 | In n Out Burger | $12.55 | Tasty |
| 10/17/12 | El Mexiquense Grill | $9.75 | Meh |
| 10/18/12 | Rubios | $9.36 | Tasty |
| 10/19/12 | Thai House Cuisine | $12.92 | Tasty |
| 10/20/12 | JCW’s Restaurant Lehi | $14.30 | Gross |
| 10/21/12 | Ichiban | $60.45 | Delicious |
| 10/22/12 | Jimmy John’s | $7.70 | Tasty |
| 10/23/12 | Cafe Rio | $8.35 | Tasty |
| 10/24/12 | Rubios | $9.36 | Tasty |
| 10/25/12 | El Mexiquense Grill | $9.91 | Meh |
| 10/26/12 | Cafe Rio | $14.49 | Tasty |
| 10/27/12 | Bombay House | $44 | Delicious |
| 10/27/12 | In n Out Burger | $13.47 | Tasty |
| 10/29/12 | Rubios | $9.36 | Tasty |
| 10/30/12 | BBQ and Grill | $8.54 | Meh |
| 10/30/12 | Chick-fil-a | $20.17 | Tasty |
| 11/1/12 | Jimmy John’s | $7.70 | Tasty |
| 11/3/12 | El Mexiquense Grill | $10.18 | Meh |
| 11/3/12 | Jimmy John’s | $16.14 | Tasty |
| 11/3/12 | NYPD Pizzeria | $25.33 | Meh |
| 11/5/12 | El Mexiquense Grill | $9.91 | Meh |
| 11/6/12 | Rubios | $9 | Tasty |
| 11/6/12 | Rumbi Island Grill | $29.48 | Gross |
| 11/7/12 | Kneaders | $17.10 | Gross |
| 11/10/12 | Cafe Rio | $17.13 | Tasty |
| 11/10/12 | Cafe Rio | $9.64 | Tasty |
| 11/12/12 | Beans and Brews | $3.66 | Meh |
| 11/12/12 | In n Out Burger | $5.55 | Tasty |
| 11/13/12 | In n Out Burger | $2.14 | Tasty |
| 11/14/12 | In n Out Burger | $18.10 | Tasty |
| 11/14/12 | Thai House Cuisine | $9.70 | Tasty |
| 11/15/12 | El Mexiquense Grill | $9.63 | Meh |
| 11/16/12 | Cafe Rio | $17.13 | Tasty |
| 11/17/12 | Settebello | $18 | Delicious |
| 11/17/12 | The Downtown Philly | $13.55 | Tasty |
| 11/19/12 | Thai House Cuisine | $19.40 | Tasty |
| 11/20/12 | Little Caesars | $10.78 | Gross |
| 11/21/12 | Kneaders | $15.28 | Gross |
| 11/21/12 | Taste of Punjab | $19.91 | Tasty |
| 11/25/12 | Scaddy Time | $11.18 | Gross |
| 11/26/12 | Beans and Brews | $3.66 | Meh |
| 11/30/12 | Cafe Rio | $9.64 | Tasty |
October and November
|
| 12/1/12 | El Mexiquense Grill | $17.67 | Meh |
| 12/4/12 | Paradise Bakery & Cafe | $4.14 | Gross |
| 12/5/12 | Chick-fil-a | $14.48 | Tasty |
| 12/5/12 | In n Out Burger | $2.14 | Tasty |
| 12/6/12 | JCW’s Restaurant Lehi | $14.30 | Gross |
| 12/7/12 | Culver’s | $6.66 | Tasty |
| 12/8/12 | Pizzeria Seven Twelve | $23.94 | Delicious |
| 12/11/12 | Chick-fil-a | $22.51 | Tasty |
| 12/12/12 | IHOP | $15.91 | Gross |
| 12/12/12 | J Dawgs | $5.00 | Tasty |
| 12/14/12 | Cafe Rio | $9.75 | Tasty |
| 12/15/12 | In n Out Burger | $14.28 | Tasty |
| 12/17/12 | Jimmy John’s | $8.84 | Tasty |
| 12/17/12 | Paradise Bakery & Cafe | $4.14 | Gross |
| 12/18/12 | Rubios | $12.12 | Tasty |
| 12/19/12 | McDonald’s | $5.69 | Gross |
| 12/19/12 | McDonald’s | $2.58 | Gross |
| 12/19/12 | Red Iguana | $18.51 | Tasty |
| 12/20/12 | Bombay House | $76.39 | Delicious |
| 12/24/12 | Cafe Rio | $16 | Tasty |
| 12/25/12 | Subway | $1.05 | Gross |
| 12/25/12 | Subway | $18.57 | Gross |
| 12/26/12 | Mad Greek | $3.76 | Gross |
| 12/26/12 | Mad Greek | $34.26 | Gross |
| 12/29/12 | Woody’s Burgers | $22.76 | Tasty |
December
I Don’t Regret the Expensive, Delicious Meals
…just the cheap, gross ones. Note the meals/restaurants rated “Delicious.” These are places my wife and I can go for some good food and a quiet conversation – which is what we value most.
With a year of data in front of me, I’m inclined to double the money spent on expensive meals, while (almost) eliminating the waste on meals that are anything less than ideal.
No more dollars wasted on “Meh” or “Gross” food. That’s over.
We’re Wasting Something Much More Precious Than Money
The eating out habit robs us of time. Time we could spend enjoying ourselves at home (or a nearby park, or taking a walk together).
Instead, we eat out, which means:
- Driving to and from the restaurant.
- Sitting around in the restaurant, eating mediocre (or terrible) food.
- Scolding our restless kids (and why wouldn’t they be restless and irritable, cooped up in the car and a crappy restaurant).
Excessive eating out is like any other wasteful activity: It creates deep down stress and guilt, and reduces happiness.
Occasional meals out at carefully chosen restaurants create good memories, and adds to our happiness.
The key (for me) is seeing a clear distinction between the two, and acting accordingly.
What about you? Did you spend anything close to my $3,700 eating out in a year's time?
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