The Financially Secure Eat Leftovers
This weekend, I read “You’re Broke because You Want to be: How to Stop Getting by and Start Getting ahead” by Larry Winget. It’s a pretty good read. It’s not groundbreaking advice, but the straight talk with no excuses is entertaining. In the book, he says that people who are financially stable don’t go out to eat very often, or at all. I agree. It’s easy to forget how much you spend on eating out. You may not realize how much you have spent until you add up the meals. Cooking at home is cheaper. We all know this already.
Thinking about it further, I came up with a corollary to that statement that perhaps Mr. Winget should include in his next edition. People who are financially stable eat leftovers. I know that I could be opening a whole can of worms. In my life, I’ve encountered many people who are adamant about not eating leftovers. It’s not good for the kids. It does not reheat well. The problem is that excess food can be difficult to store. As a lover of leftovers, I won’t be buying any of this. When did the kids start dictating what is served for dinner? Send them home without dinner if they don’t want it. If you are careful and pay attention to what the food needs, it will reheat better. Don’t blindly throw the food in the microwave for 5 minutes on high and hope for best. It’s easy to understand. We encourage people to choose the best because we live in a land of abundance. Many people don’t think leftovers are the best. Why waste food when you can eat “new” foods? Isn’t it only people with no choice who eat leftovers? Let me tell you, before you think I’m being a bit naive, I have actually heard people say things like this. I don’t think they are alone in this, so I’m willing bet that many of the reasons people use for not eating leftovers is their PC version of “It just doesn’t taste good to me (or to my children).” Waste. Food is a waste of money and resources. I can’t imagine how someone who wastes so much food could be financially comfortable, at least in the long run. It would seem to me that those who blithely toss excess food are probably not that careful with their money, either.
Tossing perfectly good food in the trash is much the same as tossing money in the trash. You paid for the food. You have to eat the food to get back your money. You can throw away five dollars if you buy an entree for $10, only eat half of it, and leave the other half behind. Is this smart? Nope. Does this ensure long-term financial security? What a waste. It saves you money
This has to be one of the most important reasons for eating leftovers. You get the most value for your money if you eat leftovers from home or from a restaurant. They make life easier for the chef of the family.
As a designated chef, I can tell you that my family would be hungry without leftovers. I don’t like to cook every evening. I have other things to do. I take every opportunity to serve leftovers. It allows me to maximize my time. It gives you a delicious lunch.
If brown-bagging your lunch is a regular habit, you may get bored of sandwiches. Bring your leftovers for lunch from the steakhouse. Watch your coworkers drool as they eat their bologna sandwiches.
It reduces or eliminates waste
Food that gets tossed goes to the landfill. Food that is thrown away ends up in landfills. Your steak was made possible by a cow’s death. Would it be fair to the cow if you threw half of the steak in the garbage? Is it fair that the farmer spent time and effort on those vegetables, that you just throw them away? Not to mention all the energy spent on processing, preparing and packaging the food. Not just food is thrown in the garbage. The labor, energy and materials used to make the food are also wasted. According to the USDA, Americans throw away 96 billion pounds worth of food every year. A study found that Americans throw away the equivalent of one grocery bag of food for every three bags of groceries they buy. You probably waste one of every three bags that you take home from the grocery store. It’s amazing, isn’t it? Blows the mind, doesn’t it?
It demonstrates overall financial responsibility
If eating leftovers is “beneath” you and you’re willing to waste that money, you probably have deeper financial problems. You’re not willing to work hard and sacrifice to achieve wealth. You may be unwilling to accept a job which is not your dream, but pays the bills. You may not want to go out and pick up the change on the street or look for the best deal. You may not be willing to cut cable television when you are facing financial difficulties. There’s an attitude of, “I shouldn’t have to do that because I’m better educated, smarter, wealthier, etc.” I’m not saying that eating leftovers will net you millions, but it can be an indicator of your overall financial outlook and your willingness to do what is required to get ahead in life.
It’s healthier
Restaurant portions are huge. Divide the meal in half, and spread it out over two meals rather than eating it all at once. You might lose weight by eating leftovers. You might find yourself losing weight by eating leftovers.
You don’t have to eat it on back to back days
So you just had spaghetti yesterday and don’t want it again today. You don’t have to eat leftovers today. If stored correctly, most foods can last a few weeks (and others can be frozen). You don’t need to eat your leftovers the next day if you spread them out. Use leftover meat and vegetables as ingredients in stew, for example. Or pool all your leftovers from the week to have a buffet on Friday night. You can invest in containers to make transporting and storing food easier. Invest in plastic containers that can be reused. They are easy to heat, transport and store food. You can encourage your kids to eat leftovers by putting them in small containers. If they can just heat and eat without having to hunt for plates ands serving utensils, they might be more receptive to leftovers.
Learn how to properly reheat food
Some foods shouldn’t be nuked on the second go round because they get soggy. These can be cooked in the toaster or oven. Some of these should be cooked in a skillet. It is best to eat some foods cold the second time. It is possible. It is possible.
Learn how to season leftovers to get rid of the blandness
Some foods do require a little extra spicing up the second time around. You’ll spend less money on gas if you keep a supply of basic sauces and spices on hand. Was do leftovers have to do gas? Eating at home as much as possible is a great way to save money in more places than just the food budget. Label your fridge with what it is and when you put it in. This will make it easier to know what’s in there and when to eat it to prevent spoilage. No more guess work or, “But I didn’t know we had that” moments.
Learn to cook and buy knowing you’ll be eating the leftovers
If you know there are some things that you absolutely will not eat as a leftover, don’t buy or make it unless you are prepared to eat the whole thing in one go. You should only cook or buy food that someone else in your household will eat. They save you time.
If your schedule is hectic, having leftovers in the fridge can be a good alternative to eating fast food. It’s easy to heat up and go. It’s perfect for nights when people have to rush around and the only option is the McDonalds drive-thru. You’ll save money by not eating fast-food, as shown in #1. And you will be healthier if you don’t eat it, as shown in #6. You’ve probably been converted by now to the idea that leftovers are good for you. If you can’t stand the thought of having leftovers, order and buy less. Order smaller portions at restaurants, or share meals. Prepare and buy just enough food for your family. You can still order and shop smarter to save money and reduce waste without having to eat the leftovers.
