Trying to save money—what do you make when you’d rather have takeout?

[Anonymous]

We’ve been spending entirely too much on takeout and vow to eat out less next month. But sometimes I just don’t want to cook. I don’t want to clean. I don’t want to do anything but throw away a paper plate, at most. I’m looking to alternatives to eating out that don’t require ANY effort or energy in the kitchen. **NOT PIZZA!** We already have a rotating pizza night.

I’ve considered those Costco prepared meals, but they aren’t exactly “cheap”, and some of them take planning (like an hour or more to bake the pot pie/meatloaf, etc.)

Cereal night is another idea but in the past, everyone is still hungry later. And, cereal isn’t cheap either! And nobody enjoys the same cereal. If I’m spending $6 a box, we might as well get Subway.

Help!!!

[Anonymous]

Soup with fresh bread.

[Anonymous]

Is microwaving something from Trader Joes too much effort?

[Anonymous]

I think the Costco meals are pretty easy tbh. Trader Joe’s frozen stuff is also easy. You can do replace Chinese takeout reasonably well with it and also add your own veggies.

Takeout is honestly so expensive that the above is a huge cost savings and I think very little effort.

[Anonymous]

You are lazy and cheap. You want to feed your family cereal for dinner? Yet a box of cereal is too expensive for you? You want no effort but putting a prepared tray in the oven is too much work?

[Anonymous]

When you do feel up to cooking, make several times what you need. Freeze in individual portions in dishwashable or disposable containers. On can’t-cook nights, heat up your homemade frozen dinners.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We’ve been spending entirely too much on takeout and vow to eat out less next month. But sometimes I just don’t want to cook. I don’t want to clean. I don’t want to do anything but throw away a paper plate, at most. I’m looking to alternatives to eating out that don’t require ANY effort or energy in the kitchen. **NOT PIZZA!** We already have a rotating pizza night.

I’ve considered those Costco prepared meals, but they aren’t exactly “cheap”, and some of them take planning (like an hour or more to bake the pot pie/meatloaf, etc.)

Cereal night is another idea but in the past, everyone is still hungry later. And, cereal isn’t cheap either! And nobody enjoys the same cereal. If I’m spending $6 a box, we might as well get Subway.

Help!!!

You are in dire need of a math class.

[Anonymous]

I have been doing a lot of quesadillas with corn tortillas and beans lately. Add an avocado and it looks like you actually made an effort.

I also like rice noodle packets with boiled eggs and a vegetable. I put it all in the same pot an serve it with chili crunch oil.

Avocado toast with over easy eggs is also easy.

[Anonymous]

I often make egg roll in a bowl — and use any leftovers to make egg fu yung.
Trader Joe’s has several things that I like as well as — or even better than takeout. Thai style shrimp fried rice, spanakopita, and jap chae are great options instead of takeout. I also buy the Mandarin Orange Chicken, ditch the sauce, and use the chicken to make other dishes.

[Anonymous]

A combo of items from TJ’s and Costco is what we do under these circumstances.

For example, Trader Joe’s kung pao chicken with rice from the rice cooker and maybe some Trader Joe’s spring rolls or pot stickers. I make double the rice I need and use the leftover for rice and bean burritos the next night. Just heat canned beans.

Pretty easy and not too much clean up. Yes, more than from takeout, but not that much more and much less expensive.

[Anonymous]

Tartines? Pasta?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We’ve been spending entirely too much on takeout and vow to eat out less next month. But sometimes I just don’t want to cook. I don’t want to clean. I don’t want to do anything but throw away a paper plate, at most. I’m looking to alternatives to eating out that don’t require ANY effort or energy in the kitchen. **NOT PIZZA!** We already have a rotating pizza night.

I’ve considered those Costco prepared meals, but they aren’t exactly “cheap”, and some of them take planning (like an hour or more to bake the pot pie/meatloaf, etc.)

Cereal night is another idea but in the past, everyone is still hungry later. And, cereal isn’t cheap either! And nobody enjoys the same cereal. If I’m spending $6 a box, we might as well get Subway.

Help!!!

You are in dire need of a math class.

I get what’s she’s saying. I have two kids and they each pick a cereal, and DH and I don’t eat that, and I often don’t like what DH likes. So that’s three boxes. If they are $6 each that’s $18, plus milk, so $20. We could get Subway for $30, or whatever, and have no dishes. I think that’s what OP is saying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We’ve been spending entirely too much on takeout and vow to eat out less next month. But sometimes I just don’t want to cook. I don’t want to clean. I don’t want to do anything but throw away a paper plate, at most. I’m looking to alternatives to eating out that don’t require ANY effort or energy in the kitchen. **NOT PIZZA!** We already have a rotating pizza night.

I’ve considered those Costco prepared meals, but they aren’t exactly “cheap”, and some of them take planning (like an hour or more to bake the pot pie/meatloaf, etc.)

Cereal night is another idea but in the past, everyone is still hungry later. And, cereal isn’t cheap either! And nobody enjoys the same cereal. If I’m spending $6 a box, we might as well get Subway.

Help!!!

You are in dire need of a math class.

I get what’s she’s saying. I have two kids and they each pick a cereal, and DH and I don’t eat that, and I often don’t like what DH likes. So that’s three boxes. If they are $6 each that’s $18, plus milk, so $20. We could get Subway for $30, or whatever, and have no dishes. I think that’s what OP is saying.

Not PP who made the obnoxious comment, but do you eat all the cereal at one sitting? Seems like cereal has a high upfront cost but lasts longer than subway.

[Anonymous]

Noodle soup

[Anonymous]

Nachos
Quesadillas
Boxed tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches
Charcuterie (cheese, crackers, cut up veggies and fruit)
Pancakes (or other breakfast for dinner)

We do all of those with some regularity, but that’s just because one of my kids doesn’t really like nachos. If they all liked nachos as much as I do, that’s what we’d have every time.