Holy Take-Out, Batman!

Well here I've been at college for nigh on one week. I've made it a goal to not eat fast food. Now this accomplishes a few things: it's healthier - I don't think I have to convince anyone of this fact.. just rent 'Super Size Me'; second, it saves gas to not have to cruise town to find some greasy chinese take-out place; but most importantly.. fast food gets too darn expensive. The alternative: cook for yourself. There really is a large difference in price between making your own mac and cheese and getting it a'la cart anywhere else.

When I was working at home I would get fast food once a day as well as pop a couple sodas out of the vending machine, daily. Now, I know that Taco Bell's value menue seems pretty cheap, but just add it up. On average I spent about $5 a day on fast food, plus $2 on vending machines (not to mention gas to get accross town during lunch time). That's $7 a day minimum, $140 a month. Let's say after gas that I was spending about $170 for my daily habit. **And don't think you don't spend that much on your habit... try checking your debit card transactions the past few months!

For the next week try buying 12-pack cans of soda (actually the healthiest - and cheapest - option is to filter and bottle your own water) instead of spending $1.25 on vending machine bottles. At $4 for a 12-pack of Mt. Dew, that's $.33 a can. (Even 2 cans, 24 oz. equals $.67! The 50 cent difference would save you $10 a month, at least.) And like I mentioned, bottling your own water (there's no end to the amounts of data that shows the benefits of drinking water) could cost you almost nothing but the 45 seconds it takes to fill up in the morning.

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I actually have always dreamed of getting my own show on Food Network showing great, easy & cheap recipes for young families and college students. Fact is, no mater what you cook (seafood, steak, desserts definately) it's always gonna be cheaper than a restaurant... at least 75% cheaper, I guarantee it. When I have time between classes I'll post some recipes I've made for me and my roommates. Also, since I'm a nerd and like to waste time making wierd financial spreadsheets, I also started calculating the costs (to the nickel) of all the ingredients. It'd blow your mind (the cost difference, not my nerdiness).

I guess to be more fair and balanced, I should say that most people will tell you cooking for one or two people is harder than cooking for your family (which I've experienced moving away from my family and having to take care of myself). Harder, not impossible. Even if you have to waste food it's still cheaper. Learn the art of packing left-overs. Tupperware is cheap.. use it! Invite friends over. In fact cooking food is a great way to make friends. Heck, you could charge them 2 bucks a head and probably make profit.

Anyways, I'll post recipe's later. That's all for now.

Here's the Intro

Hi, I'm Phil, I'm 23 and I'll be starting college two weeks from now. (Though I've already completed two years of community college and recieved my AA I will still be concidered a Freshman at the school I'll be attending.)

This Friday will be my last day working for money and I currently have no plans to get a job during school. Though I'm not too worried about how to survive on limited savings and Sallie Mae loans. I have some good ideas, though - things I've put into practice this past couple years of being a single working adult - on how to stretch a twenty-dollar bill and just saving money in general.

I've never had my own blog before outside of facebook and I thought it would be fun to make one to share some of my humorous-yet-informative tips on penny pinching while still enjoying the best things in life. Maybe we can get some good discussion and I can learn a thing or two from down-and-out college students living off milk money or young families trying to make car payments while working for tips at Applebees.

I tend to write very protracted emails and posts so I will attempt to stick to short themes in my posts to leave room for good discussion. You don't have to be a member to post so leave funny stories, quirky habits (bad or good), and good money saving ideas. That's all for now.