How Much You Can Save By Cooking Will Shock You

Cooking is a great and rewarding skill, but it is something that many people just don’t do. In fact, it is estimated that only 20% of Americans cook their own meals from scratch. The majority of Americans are now spending the majority of their evenings eating out, getting takeaways or cooking ready meals.

Although these can be an easy option for busy individuals, it can be hugely expensive. If you are still unsure about cooking from home, here’s how much you can save by cooking from home, as well as some tips and tricks to help you start cooking if you have never done it before.

The cost of eating out

It will come as no surprise that eating out costs a lot more than cooking for yourself. However, you might be shocked to know just how much it is costing you. According to Forbes, it is almost five times more expensive to order delivery from a restaurant than it is to cook for yourself at home.

The average commercially-prepared meal costs around $13. If you are eating out multiple times a week, dining out could be costing you thousands of dollars each year. In contrast, cooking a meal from home costs around $4. This means that, for every time you choose to cook instead of dine out, you will be saving $9 per person each time.

To put it a different way, a $13 restaurant meal is about 325% more expensive than a meal that you prepare yourself.

Benefits of cooking

Not only is cooking from home much cheaper than dining out, but it also has numerous other benefits:

Better for your physical health: a 2017 study from the University of Washington Health Sciences found that people who ate at home at least three days per week had an overall healthier diet and made healthier food choices than those who did not. If you are eating out multiple times a week, you are likely to be consuming a lot of calories, much more than you would be consuming if you ate at home.

It has mental health benefits: multiple studies have shown how cooking from home is a great way to de-stress after a long day of work. When you are cooking, your mind can wander away from other things that might be on your mind, and will allow you to be more present with your family.

Can save you lots of money: as previously stated, cooking from home can save you hundreds (and potentially thousands if you are used to eating out multiple times a week). Moreover, if you invest in energy-efficient appliances, you could end up saving money on your Vectren Energy bill.

It brings your family together: cooking is a fantastic way to get the whole family in one place, even if it is just to eat the meal you have created. If you have children, you can teach them the valuable life skill of cooking while you get them to help you prepare.

Beginner chef: tips and tricks

If you have never cooked before, here are a few tips to get you started:

Start with the basics: buy a beginners recipe book and study it. When you are first starting out, try and stick to the recipe, as this will make sure that you don’t make any mistakes.

Prep ahead of time: getting everything prepared beforehand (or as the french call it, mise en place) can help you feel less overwhelmed, especially if you get stressed when cooking.

Invest in good knives: knives are the most essential part of any kitchen. They make cooking a lot faster and easier, so make sure you invest in some good quality ones.

Conclusion

If you are looking for some easy ways to save money, you should seriously consider giving up the takeaway and start spending more time at home in your own kitchen.