Comments on: Reason for Not Eating Out #19: Because you can almost afford to live alone

By: apartments rent

apartments rent — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 12:57:29 +0000

I heard that there is a under the table gratuity you need to pay when you want to enter some apartment complexes in mumbai. How does it work? what is the amount? any way to aviod it?

By: Carmen

Carmen — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 19:31:03 +0000

Ah, I really miss living alone .. I did it for years before getting married. When it was just me, I could easily spend $25 or less on groceries. Unfortunately, it costs much more to feed my husband.

By: kittie

kittie — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 12:04:39 +0000

Wow – I spend so much money on groceries since I started my food blog, as I keep thinking up experiments I want to make!

I am now living alone again, and am determined to try to cut my costs down – I’m thinking pulses might have to be the way to go!

By: Koren

Koren — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 17:43:30 +0000

This gives me so much comfort, as I am currently contemplating a move from a shared apartment to my own place, and expect to be paying $400 more a month in rent. I’m hoping I can make it work.

I can imagine spending $25 a week on groceries, although only because I shop at the Park Slope Food Coop. If anything, I think your estimate of how much people spend eating out each week in New York is conservative. I love not spending all that money by cooking and eating at home.

By: Yvo

Yvo — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 16:25:02 +0000

I’m going to guess people are shocked but it’s a steady, consistent $25 a week, so about $100 a month, right? I mean… that’s totally reasonable because you have stuff in your pantry that you don’t need to buy… and every once in a while you go out and restock so that week would be more… right? I’m totally saving a ton of money by bringing lunch from home every day.

And living alone is so blissful, so amazing, so wonderful. When’s dinner? WHENEVER I WANT IT. What’s for dinner? WHATEVER I WANT! No one else to be responsible for *blissful gleeful sob* Yes, I’m liking it very much indeed.

By: liz

liz — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 04:50:04 +0000

your first paragraph is making me feel all nostalgic. i loved living alone — the feeling of being able to do (and cook) whatever you want, whenever you want is the best! Not that I’m complaining. But having your own space is definitely a good incentive to stay in, whether you want to save cash or just play around in the kitchen.

By: michelle @ TNS

michelle @ TNS — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 16:53:38 +0000

$25 bucks a week? whoa! can you come over and give me lessons?

still, even though i spend considerably more than $25/week on food, it’s astounding how much more $ i have in my pocket since i’ve started committing to eating in. seriously, starting a food blog has been such a wise financial decision i didn’t even anticipate.

By: cathy

cathy — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 14:27:04 +0000

I’m so glad that I’ve fooled people into thinking I spend more than $25 a week on groceries, but it really is quite an accurate estimate, as the cost calculator for each recipe can attest to… those Obama Rolls? Didn’t hardly cost nothin’. Of course the total fluctuates given the week’s activities, but in general, for one person? Totally.
Erin: Yes, happy hours can get dicey, but my friends and I prefer hanging out in Brooklyn so we tend to stop home first before meeting up anyway. I do bring snacks/dinner if I know that I’m going out right after work, though. Actually, the last time I met up with a friend for a happy hour, she got a little hungry. So we went to the D’Agostino grocery across the street and ended up cooking a skirt steak and green beans at her place. It was awesome.

By: Terry B

Terry B — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 01:30:54 +0000

Cathy–Congratulations on your lovely new apartment and divine solitude! Sounds very cozy.

By: Your cubemate

Your cubemate — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 21:20:16 +0000

Cathy, I think it’s time for you to join the coop. The grocery savings will be incredible, and the produce… unbeatable. (see you in a few hours, btw)