Category: Of interest

December was largely free of major events, and we spent the month at home.

The averages for this month:

• Lunch prepared at home $2.33 ($2.23 in November)
• Lunch eaten or purchased outside the home: $9.75 ($7.83)
• Dinner eaten at home: $7.29 ($7.01)
• Dinner eaten out: $14.00 ($12.28)

The averages are fairly consistent with previous months, with some averages slightly higher, some lower. There has been a slow trend for our evening meals to be a little more  expensive on average, partly because we use mostly Prather Ranch dry aged meat, which is definitely more expensive than supermarket, although comparable to dry aged meat at Whole Foods.

Our most expensive meal was the Aussie style Cobb Salad at home for $14.72. Our most expensive meal out was $14.00 at Krua Thai.

Lunches out tend were over 4x times more expensive than those prepared at home, while evening meals run about 1.5 x meals at home.

Had we purchased every lunch and prepared none it would have cost us $305.25 per person in August. We actually spent $46.88 for lunches at home plus $62.64 for lunches purchased or eaten out:  $109.52

Had we purchased every evening meal out and prepared none at home, it would have cost us $586.8. We actually spent $189.16 for dinners at home and $24.56 for dinners out: $213.72.

We saved $568.81 by preparing and eating most meals at home, plus we have better control over what we eat.

Over the month we prepared 22 (again) different recipes for evening meals.

November was largely free of major events, and we spent the month at home.

The averages for this month:

• Lunch prepared at home $2.23 ($2.03 in October)
• Lunch eaten or purchased outside the home: $7.83 ($9.08)
• Dinner eaten at home: $7.01 ($6.58)
• Dinner eaten out: $12.28 ($19.74)

The averages are fairly consistent with previous months, with some averages slightly higher, some lower. There has been a slow trend for our evening meals to be a little more  expensive on average, partly because we use mostly Prather Ranch dry aged meat, which is definitely more expensive than supermarket, although comparable to dry aged meat at Whole Foods.

Our most expensive meal was dinner out at Gordon Biersch at $19.96 for a disappointing meal. We’re reconsidering whether eating at Gordon Biersch is worth it.

Lunches out tend were about 3x times more expensive than those prepared at home, while evening meals run about 1.5 x meals at home, or nearly 3x if we exclude the $5 pizza at LACPUG.

Had we purchased every lunch and prepared none it would have cost us $234.90 per person in November. We actually spent $46.88 for lunches at home plus $62.64 for lunches purchased or eaten out:  $138.94.

Had we purchased every evening meal out and prepared none at home, it would have cost us $586.8. We actually spent $189.16 for dinners at home and $24.56 for dinners out: $213.72.

We saved $498.46 by preparing and eating most meals at home, plus we have better control over what we eat.

Over the month we prepared 22 (again) different recipes for evening meals.

Most of October was spent at home, with the exception of a longish weekend away for the Final Cut Pro X Creative Summit.

The averages for this month:

• Lunch prepared at home $2.03 ($2.47 in September)
• Lunch eaten or purchased outside the home: $9.08 ($9.39)
• Dinner eaten at home: $6.58 ($7.28)
• Dinner eaten out: $19.74 ($16.72)

The averages are fairly consistent with previous months, although dinner meals have become a little more expensive on average.

Our most expensive meal was last Saturday night’s dinner at $34.06 each, but worth it.

Lunches out tend to be 4-5 times more expensive than those prepared at home, while evening meals run about 2.5 x meals at home, because this month we had two of the most expensive meals we’ve prepared at home: the filet mignon on the 30th and

Had we purchased every lunch and prepared none it would have cost us $281.48 per person in August. We actually spent $32.24 for lunches at home plus $136.17 for lunches purchased or eaten out: $168.59.

Had we purchased every evening meal out and prepared none at home, it would have cost us $611.94. We actually spent $164.51 for dinners at home and $98.68 for dinners out: $263.19.

We saved $461.64 by preparing and eating most meals at home, plus we have better control over what we eat.

Over the month we prepared 22 different recipes for evening meals.

September is historically a travel month. IBC in Amsterdam is an essential stop in our business year, and we often head off on side trips to visit clients and do a little sight seeing. Therefore the absolute amounts we spent on food are a lot higher than when we spend most of the month at home.

The averages for this month:

• Lunch prepared at home $2.47 ($2.72 in August)
• Lunch eaten or purchased outside the home: $9.39 ($11.80)
• Dinner eaten at home: $7.28 ($4.98)
• Dinner eaten out: $15.05 if averaged with the $5 pizza, otherwise $16.72 ($19.48)

The averages are fairly consistent with previous months. With a variety of lunch and evening meals out, they balance out in the averages.

Our most expensive meals were paid for by someone else (thank you LumaForge and Ronny Courtens), but of those we paid for ourselves Eatcafe Koevoel was one of the two best. The other is Riva (hosted by LumaForge). These were two very different, but excellent meals.

Our favorite restaurant in Amsterdam is Dos, our local near where we stay in Jordaan.

Lunches out tend to be 4-5 times more expensive than those prepared at home, while evening meals run about 2.5 x meals at home, because this month we had two of the most expensive meals we’ve prepared at home: the filet mignon on the 30th.

Had we purchased every lunch and prepared none it would have cost us $281.70 per person in August. We actually spent $22.23 for lunches at home (because of the travel) plus $169.09 for lunches purchased or eaten out: $191.32.

Had we purchased every evening meal out and prepared none at home, it would have cost us $451.50. We actually spent $123.68 for dinners at home and $105.33 for dinners out: $229.01.

We saved $377.92 by preparing and eating most meals at home, plus we have better control over what we eat.

Over the month we prepared 12 different recipes for evening meals, because we ate out more in Amsterdam.

August was a mixed month. Mostly a quiet time at home, except for most of a week spent in Colorado.

The averages for this month:

• Lunch prepared at home $2.72 ($2.41 in July)
• Lunch eaten or purchased outside the home: $11.80 ($10.29)
• Dinner eaten at home: $4.98 ($5.29)
• Dinner eaten out: $13.28 if averaged with the $5 pizza, otherwise $19.48 ($12.01)

These averages are proving to be fairly consistent month to month. Eating away from home for one week gives a much more accurate average cost of evening meals out.

Our most expensive meals were some lunches in Colorado: a steak lunch and elk on the way back

Lunches out tend to be 4-5 times more expensive than those prepared at home, while evening meals run about 3x meals at home.

Had we purchased every lunch and prepared none it would have cost us $365.80 per person in August. We actually spent $43.52 for lunches at home plus $165.15 for lunches purchased or eaten out: $208.67.

Had we purchased every evening meal out and prepared none at home, it would have cost us $411.68. We actually spent $124.49 for dinners at home and $66.40 for dinners out: $190.89.

We saved $377.92 by preparing and eating most meals at home, plus we have better control over what we eat. That’s more than our mortgage insurance!

Over the month we prepared 19 different recipes for evening meals, because we ate out more in Colorado.

July was a productive month at home, with no travel plans.

The averages for this month:

• Lunch prepared at home $2.41 ($2.82 in June)
• Lunch eaten or purchased outside the home: $10.29 ($8.13)
• Dinner eaten at home: $5.29($5.15)
• Dinner eaten out: $12.01 if averaged with the $5 pizza, otherwise $19.01 ($18.02)

These averages are proving to be fairly consistent month to month, with the primary variable on evening meal averages is whether or not the $5 pizza after LACPUG is included or not. Including it reduces the average quite significantly. Our most expensive meals were two lunches at The Country Deli at $21.55 per serve across both trips.

Meals out tend to cost about three times meals at home.

Had we purchased every lunch and prepared none it would have cost us $318.99 per person in July. We actually spent $48.21 for lunches at home plus $102.94 for lunches purchased or eaten out: $205.35.

Had we purchased every evening meal out and prepared none at home, it would have cost us $589.31. We actually spent $153.29 for dinners at home and $24.01 for dinners out: $177.30.

We saved $526.65 by preparing and eating most meals at home, plus we have better control over what we eat. Over the month we prepared 23 different recipes for evening meals.

June was a fairly typical month, with only a one night side trip to Chicago to break the routine.

The averages for this month:

• Lunch prepared at home $2.82 ($2.48 in May)
• Lunch eaten or purchased outside the home: $8.13 ($8.79)
• Dinner eaten at home: $5.15 ($5.13)
• Dinner eaten out: $18.02 ($8.79)

These averages are proving to be fairly consistent month to month, with the primary variable on evening meal averages is whether or not the $5 pizza after LACPUG is included or not. Including it reduces the average quite significantly. Our most expensive meal was lunch at The Country Deli at $23.21 per serve.

Meals out tend to cost about three times meals at home.

Had we purchased every lunch and prepared none it would have cost us $243.90 per person in June. We actually spent $56.38 for lunches at home plus $73.16 for lunches purchased or eaten out: $148.66.

Had we purchased every evening meal out and prepared none at home, it would have cost us $540.60. We actually spent $133.88 for dinners at home and $18.02 for dinners out: $151.90.

We saved $483.94 by preparing and eating most meals at home, plus we have better control over what we eat. Over the month we prepared 21 different recipes for evening meals.

May was an absolutely typical month with no travel and most meals at home.

The averages for this month:

• Lunch prepared at home $2.48 ($2.50 in April)
• Lunch eaten or purchased outside the home: $8.79 ($11.50)
• Dinner eaten at home: $5.13 ($5.51)
• Dinner eaten out: $8.97 ($21.75)

Our most expensive meal was lunch at The Country Deli at $21.50 per serve.

Had we purchased every lunch and prepared none it would have cost us $272.49 per person in May. We actually spent $51.99 for lunches at home plus $96.67 for lunches purchased or eaten out: $148.66.

Had we purchased every evening meal out and prepared none at home, it would have cost us $278.07, which is artificially low because of LACPUG and Editor’s Lounge. We actually spent $123.01 for dinners at home and $35.89 for dinners out: $158.89.

We saved $243.01 by preparing and eating most meals at home, plus we have better control over what we eat. Over the month we prepared 22 different recipes for evening meals.

April was mostly spent at home, except for the last week which was in Las Vegas for the NAB Show. Our averages this month are back close to our typical amounts, unlike March.

The averages for this month:

• Lunch prepared at home $2.50 ($3.11 in March)
• Lunch eaten or purchased outside the home: $11.50 ($9.80)
• Dinner eaten at home: $5.51 ($6.81)
• Dinner eaten out: $21.75 ($11.48)

Our most expensive meal was dinner at Gordon Biersch (again) at $21.00 per serve. Because we were traveling there was another paid for dinner outside the home.

Had we purchased every lunch and prepared none it would have cost us $345.00 per person in April. We actually spent $37.45 for lunches at home plus $161.06 for lunches purchased or eaten out: $198.51.

Had we purchased every evening meal out and prepared none at home, it would have cost us $652.50. We actually spent $121.23 for dinners at home and $43.50 for dinners out: $164.73.

We saved $634.49 by preparing and eating most meals at home, plus we have better control over what we eat. Over the month we prepared 19 different recipes for evening meals.

March was another month mostly spent at home. Oddly, every meal average seems to be higher this month, possibly due to more smoked salmon, and an attempt to catch up with our Prather Ranch deliveries!

The averages for this month:

• Lunch prepared at home $3.11 ($2.49 in February)
• Lunch eaten or purchased outside the home: $9.80 ($7.68)
• Dinner eaten at home: $6.81 ($5.86)
• Dinner eaten out: $11.48 ($28.00)

Our most expensive meal was dinner at Gordon Biersch (again) at $17.95 per serve. It was the only restaurant dinner, other than pizza after LACPUG. We ate more lunches out than usual, with three trips to The Country Deli this month.

Had we purchased every lunch and prepared none it would have cost us $303.80 per person in March. We actually spent $46.62 for lunches at home plus $147.07 for lunches purchased or eaten out: $193.69.

Had we purchased every evening meal out and prepared none at home, it would have cost us $355.88. We actually spent $177.08 for dinners at home and $22.95 for dinners out: $200.03.

We saved $265.96 by preparing and eating most meals at home, plus we have better control over what we eat. Over the month we prepared 21 different recipes for evening meals.