Our Frugal Lifestyle

My photo
Passionate about eco-frugality. I used to party hard, clubbing my way from pay-packet to pay-packet. Never getting ahead, just getting by. Then came our much wanted baby with no savings in the bank - only an old car. Changes were made to our lifestyle and we didn't turn back. In the past 6yrs we purchased a flat, found employment, lived below our means, built an emergency fund, purchased a reliable car and saw the financial benefits of our frugal lifestyle. Our only debt is our mortgage. Our aim is to manage our cash flow wisely, pay off our home quickly and eventually work for pleasure, not necessity. Join us on our journey, share insights, tips and tricks to help us and others to get ahead while having a good time.

Monday, July 4, 2011

Eating Out.

Roughly 3 years ago we cut back our restaurant eating to about once a week, then once a month. In the past year we've brought that down to about once every 4 months with a small takeaway to share every once in a while. Tonight we ate at the Casino buffet restaurant with my mum because it's my birthday. And I had no problems eating like the glutton I am.

Costs for the 4 or us:

  • The Rambling Expat & I = $34.95 - 20% ($27.85 each) Monday nights = $55.70
  • My mum with a senior citizen card = $26.85
  • Dolly = free.
Total = $82.55


After we paid I realised we had free loyalty cards that would have given us a further $5 discount each if swiped. Kicking myself for not thinking beforehand.

This is what I ate from the - all you can eat buffet:
(Poor photos, as I was embarrassed taking photos of my plates)
Mussles, prawns, yabbies, blue nipper crab and baby octopus.

Mash potato, beef strogonoff, pumpkin, pork & pepperoni, steamed green beans, ousso bucco and potato gratin.

Green Asian vegetables & green beans, baramundi, nile perch wrapped in banana leaf,  roast beef, roast pork.

I shared a slice of cake with Dolly. (She ate seafood and 2 bowls of ice cream with sprinkles!)

It was a good evening and I ate well, but after this I went and wasted my hard earned money. And I mean BIG TIME!!!!! I hit the Casino games with a gifted card they gave me with $20 for the pokies. Well the $20 went very quickly and so I played just a lone $5 note...  and then another lone $5 and then I pulled out a $20 note!!!!! And that was wasted too... in the hope tonight would be my lucky night. After that I bolted out of there before I wasted another cent on a dream..

Have you ever gotten carried away by the dream, colours, sounds and glimmer of hope, only to waste your hard to come by cash?

2 comments:

  1. I never have but my husband has. He went to Las Vegas, spent his budget and then some. However the monthly statement from the flexible friend does not lie so everything he had '' forgotten about'' came back to memory. Arcades & casinos have never interested me, fortunately !!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I think the best way is to 'stay away' because you do get a bit sucked in by the noise and the lights etc....I havnt been to the pokies or casino since my kids were born...I always think you might as well have just gone and flushed it down the toilet...lol............

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for commenting - I love getting feedback, sharing experiences and learning from you.