Now, if I choose to go out to dinner, I skip the wine. If I head to the bar, I commit to cooking dinner myself when I get home.
I usually make plans around three times a week. If I choose to forgo one $10 drink each time, that saves me around $120 a month. But since, more often than not, one drink turns into two, skipping two drinks three times a week saves $240.
Deciding to do happy hour instead of dinner saves me even more. Looking back on what I’ve typically spent on dinners out in New York, it can run anywhere from $15 to $40. If I skip three $25 dinners a week, that’s $300 in savings for the month.
Of course, I could save a whole lot more by not going out to eat at all and cooking dinner at home every night. And a lot of days, I do. But the combination of exploring the culinary options New York has to offer and sharing a meal with friends is a win-win in my book, and one I’m happy to pay for — especially since I save by packing my lunch every day.
My food-or-alcohol rule forces me to prioritize and choose what’s worth it in the moment. I’m able to continue enjoying the city I love with the people I love without blowing my whole paycheck.
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