Category: Of interest

February was very much a stay at home month. We were only out for three evenings: a Super Bowl party, dinner with a friend and dinner and beers with some other developers.

The averages for this month:

• Lunch prepared at home $2.49 ($2.93 in January)
• Lunch eaten or purchased outside the home: $7.68 ($8.81)
• Dinner eaten at home: $5.86 ($6.36)
• Dinner eaten out: $28.00 ($12.36)

Our most expensive meal was dinner at Gordon Biersch at $28.00 per serve.

Had we purchased every lunch and prepared none it would have cost us $215.04 per person in February. We actually spent $34.82 for lunches at home plus $92.13 for lunches purchased or eaten out: $126.95.

Had we purchased every evening meal out and prepared none at home, it would have cost us $784.00. We actually spent $146.62 for dinners at home and $28.00 for dinners out: $174.62.

We saved $697.42 by preparing and eating most meals at home, plus we have better control over what we eat. Over the month we prepared 16 different recipes for evening meals.

December has been the most atypical month yet. We travelled to Australia and stayed with various members of our family, so we rarely cooked and infrequently paid for evening meals. Because we were traveling we mostly ate lunch out. I have not included free meals in the averages,

The averages for this month:

• Lunch prepared at home $2.48 ($2.76 in November) but in fairness we only prepared two meals at home that we paid for
• Lunch eaten or purchased outside the home: $8.55 ($7.42)
• Dinner eaten at home: $6.41 ($5.14), largely influenced by our Dec 31 meal and seven meals eaten at home and paid for
• Dinner eaten out: $21.03 ($5.00) but again it was only four meals

Our most expensive meal was at Gordon Biersch early in the month at $25.15 per serve, but The Country Deli was next most expensive at $21.00 per serve.

Had we purchased every lunch and prepared none it would have cost us $265.05 per person in December. We actually spent $4.95 for lunches at home plus $145.27 for lunches purchased or eaten out: $150.22.

Had we purchased every evening meal out and prepared none at home, it would have cost us $651.93. We actually spent $44.84 for dinners at home and $63.10 for dinners out: $107.94, but our evening meals were heavily subsidized by our family hosts.

It’s hardly a typical month to base anything long term on, and there’s nowhere near the variety this month.

While we spent most of the month at home, the results are influenced by a quick trip to Barcelona for a presentation which meant that some meals were included in an air fare, some paid for by the conference organizers and some extra eaten outside the home.

The averages for this month:

• Lunch prepared at home $2.76 ($2.12 in October)
• Lunch eaten or purchased outside the home: $7.42 ($9.05)
• Dinner eaten at home: $5.14 ($5.31)
• Dinner eaten out: $5.00 ($26.32)

Our most expensive meal was lunch sat The Country Deli at $21.00 per serve.

Had we purchased every lunch and prepared none it would have cost us $222.60 per person in November. We actually spent $46.85 for lunches at home plus $59.36 for lunches purchased or eaten out: $106.21.

Had we purchased every evening meal out and prepared none at home, it would have cost us $150.00 based on last night’s pizza, so not exactly a typical meal because it is subsidized by being part of a group. We actually spent $138.75 for dinners at home and $5.00 for dinners out: $143.75.

We saved $116.40 by preparing and eating most meals at home although eating subsided pizza every night isn’t exactly an option.

While we spent most of the month at home, the results are influenced by four days away at the Final Cut Pro X Creative Summit and an pop-up restaurant meal.

The averages for this month:

• Lunch prepared at home $2.12 ($3.66 in September)
• Lunch eaten or purchased outside the home: $9.05 ($12.72)
• Dinner eaten at home: $5.31 ($5.86)
• Dinner eaten out: $26.32 ($26.28)

Our most expensive meal was the pop-up restaurant at $64.00 per serve.

Had we purchased every lunch and prepared none it would have cost us $280.55 per person in October. We actually spent $33.95 for lunches at home plus $126.67 for lunches purchased or eaten out: $160.62.

Had we purchased every evening meal out and prepared none at home, it would have cost us $815.92. We actually spent $116.87 for dinners at home and $157.92 for dinners out: $274.79.

We saved $661 by preparing and eating most meals at home.

This month we  ate a lot of food outside the home, largely because we spent 18 days traveling in Europe: Amsterdam for IBC, Geneva for a presentation and Copenhagen to meet with clients. During that trip all meals were outside the home, although not all were expensive.

The averages for this month:

• Lunch prepared at home $3.66 ($2.52 in August)
• Lunch eaten or purchased outside the home: $12.72 ($10.60)
• Dinner eaten at home: $5.86 ($5.30)
• Dinner eaten out: $26.28 ($15.82)

Our most expensive meal was the Signature Evening with Höst at approximately $103 per person. The two meals at Höst were among the best meals of our life, and well worth the cost.

Had we purchased every lunch and prepared none it would have cost us $381.60 per person inSeptember. We actually spent $32.97 for lunches at home plus $254.35 for lunches purchased or eaten out: $287.32.

Had we purchased every evening meal out and prepared none at home, it would have cost us $788.72. We actually spent $58.62 for dinners at home and $446.76 for dinners out: $505.

September is always going to be atypical, as we traveled most of the month.

This month we  ate a lot of lunches prepared out of the home – 14 of the 31 days, or a bit more than most months, but the same as last month. This month we ate out four evenings – a little more than usual for us.

The averages for this month:

• Lunch prepared at home $2.52 ($2.54 in July)
• Lunch eaten or purchased outside the home: $10.60 ($10.29)
• Dinner eaten at home: $5.30 ($5.90)
• Dinner eaten out: $15.82 ($5.00)

The evening meal difference is because we ate out more than just LACPUG pizza!

Our most expensive meal was at lunch at Mission Cantina in Hollywood with friends.

Had we purchased every lunch and prepared none it would have cost us $328.60 per person in June. We actually spent $44.83 for lunches at home plus $148.44 for lunches purchased or eaten out: $193.27.

Had we purchased every evening meal out and prepared none at home, it would have cost us $490.42. We actually spent $143.21 for dinners at home and $63.28 for dinners out: $206.49.

That’s just working on the average. Several of the meals we had would have been well over $30 a serve in a restaurant. Even without taking the cost of restaurant meals into consideration, eating at home saved us around $420 each.

Although it seemed like we ate a lot of lunches prepared out of the home, it was only 11 of the 30 days, or about the same as most months. Notably we only ate out two (Foodie Greg) or three (Philip) nights.

The averages for this month:

• Lunch prepared at home $2.84 ($2.43 in May)
• Lunch eaten or purchased outside the home: $10.62 ($6.89)
• Dinner eaten at home: $5.72 ($5.62)
• Dinner eaten out: $12.50 ($15.64)

Our most expensive meal was at Gordon Biersch when we shared a working meal with another software developer, where it ran to $20.00 per head with tax and tip.

Had we purchased every lunch and prepared none it would have cost us $318.60 per person in June. We actually spent $53.91 for lunches at home plus $116.77 for lunches purchased or eaten out: $268.64.

Had we purchased every dinner out at the same average it would be $375.00 each, compared with $148.64 for meals prepared at home and $25.00 for meals out, or the $173.64 total.

That’s just working on the average. Several of the meals we had would have been well over $30 a serve in a restaurant.

May was our most stay-at-home month this year. We only ate out in the evening four times, and 21 of 31 lunches were prepared at home from ingredients.

May was also the month we acquired a stove-top smoker for hot smoking food. This adds another layer of flavor to our meals.

The averages for this month:

• Lunch prepared at home $2.43 ($3.21 in April)
• Lunch eaten or purchased outside the home: $6.89 ($10.84)
• Dinner eaten at home: $5.62 ($6.07)
• Dinner eaten out: $15.64 ($12.23)

Our most expensive meal was at Gordon Biersch when we shared a working meal with another software developer, where it ran to $20.90 per head.

Had we purchased every lunch and prepared none it would have cost us $213.59 per person in May. We actually spent $51.05 for lunches at home plus $68.94 for lunches purchased or eaten out: $119.99.

Had we purchased every dinner out at the same average it would be $484.84 each, compared with $151.87 for meals prepared at home and $62.54 for meals out, or the $214.41 total.

That’s just working on the average. Several of the meals we had would have been well over $30 a serve in a restaurant.

Yes, definitely late, but here’s the summary of our eating and cooking in April, 2016. Notably we had NAB in Las Vegas in the middle of the month, which led to more eating out than would be typical for us.

The averages for this month:

• Lunch prepared at home $3.21 ($2.95 in March)
• Lunch eaten or purchased outside the home: $10.84 ($6.02)
• Dinner eaten at home: $6.07 ($5.29)
• Dinner eaten out: $12.23 ($17.34)

Our most expensive meal was a shared Indian feast where we all contributed $15.00 toward the cost.

Had we purchased every lunch and prepared none it would have cost us $352 per person in April. We actually spent $51.34 for lunches at home plus $108.44 for lunches purchased or eaten out: $159.78.

Had we purchased every dinner out at the same average it would be $366.90 each, compared with $133.60 for meals prepared at home and $36.70 for meals out, or the $190.61 total.

That’s just working on the average. Several of the meals we had would have been well over $30 a serve in a restaurant.