{"id":488,"date":"2022-01-17T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-01-17T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/moneywithkatie.com\/the-radical-act-of-going-out-to-eat-my-once-a-week-strategy\/"},"modified":"2025-09-05T16:51:06","modified_gmt":"2025-09-05T16:51:06","slug":"the-radical-act-of-going-out-to-eat-my-once-a-week-strategy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/moneywithkatie.com\/the-radical-act-of-going-out-to-eat-my-once-a-week-strategy\/","title":{"rendered":"The Radical Act of Going Out to Eat: My \u201cOnce a Week\u201d Strategy"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"sqs-html-content\" data-sqsp-text-block-content>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">The other night, my husband and I went out to a nice dinner. It was a Friday evening, I didn\u2019t feel like cooking, and at around 3:30 in the afternoon, I texted him at work: <\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">\u201cI think I\u2019m in the mood to go out for a nice dinner tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">He sent back a meme of Bethenny Frankel begrudgingly going, \u201c\u2026Okay. All right.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">Why, you might be asking, would he only <em>begrudgingly<\/em> accept such an invitation?<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">Because we\u2019re frugal. <\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">We\u2019re aware of the mark-up on the food. We know one night out costs twice as much as our groceries for an entire week. We realize it\u2019s a drain on many Americans\u2019 budgets, and one that often serves as a scapegoat (read: anything about coffee or avocado toast published in the last decade).<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">Why I swore off going out to eat<\/h2>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">A couple of years ago, I decided eating out was doing too much of a number on my monthly budget. It wasn\u2019t unusual for me to spend $400\/mo. to $600\/mo. on \u201cRestaurants,\u201d the category in my old Mint breakdown that would start the month with the best of intentions and come skidding into the 31st bruised, beaten, and abused.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">(Ah, Mint. Mint walked so <a href=\"https:\/\/www.copilot.money\" target=\"_blank\">Copilot<\/a> could run. If you\u2019re looking for a better automatic budgeting solution, the code <strong>KATIE2<\/strong> will double your Copilot free trial.)<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">Cooking at home was cheaper and \u2013&nbsp;in some ways \u2013&nbsp;easier.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">I didn\u2019t have to get dressed up. Drive. Find parking. Choose something off a long menu and hope it didn\u2019t have capers or some other weird shit on it. Tip 20% at the end. <\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">My attitude toward going out to eat was, \u201cI don\u2019t even <em>really<\/em> enjoy it that much, so I\u2019m just going to stop and see what happens.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">What a \u201cdining out\u201d hiatus did for me<\/h2>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">Before the other night, the last time we had gone out for dinner was probably two months ago. Normally, I cook, he cleans, and the whole affair lasts less than 20 minutes (or we just take the pre-prepared meals we buy from a local chef out of their to-go containers and pop \u2018em in the microwave, which is even less time-consuming).<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">It\u2019s efficient. Timely. <em>Unromantic.<\/em> <\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">It\u2019s the eating equivalent of walking up to a wall socket and plugging yourself in \u2013&nbsp;gets the job done without a whole lot of fanfare.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">Of course, I <em>used<\/em> to put a little more zest into my cooking (both literally and figuratively). I\u2019d try new, convoluted recipes, put a lot of effort into the plating, and admire my handiwork. <\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">It was fun! (At first.)<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">Before long, it lost its charm and novelty. I was back to cooking the basics \u2013&nbsp;protein, grain, vegetable \u2013&nbsp;and getting the job done with as little pain as possible each night. <\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">But much like going out to eat all the time became something akin to a disillusioned chore for me, cooking became the same. So when I found myself innocently browsing OpenTable for the first time in a couple months on Friday afternoon, I felt basically no guilt about the decision to abandon the chicken in the fridge and pay a 200% markup on an ahi tuna tower instead.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">The once-a-week dining out strategy<\/h2>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">Honestly, my implementation is probably more like once a <em>month<\/em>, but I know that\u2019ll feel extreme for some. <\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">The difference between my old lifestyle habit and the energy around the most recent decision to go out to eat (to a \u201cthree-dollar-sign restaurant,\u201d no less!) was palpable.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">I was <em>excited<\/em> to try the restaurant. I <em>wanted<\/em> to put on nice clothes. I even looked at the menu ahead of time and scouted out our first round. <\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">Each step of the process was a choice, not a habitual given. <\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">We ordered a bottle of wine. We got fun entrees. We even got our own individual desserts! The gloves were off. We spent $130 after tip. <\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">(A decision that felt even more rebellious upon ordering groceries the next morning and noticing our total for the next <em>week<\/em> was $70.)<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">But the intentionality of the choice, the excitement to go, and \u2013 this is the most important part! \u2013&nbsp;the truly <em>quality<\/em> time together at dinner (we got seated in a cozy round booth and the vibes were elite) made the decision feel <em>good<\/em>, not guilty. <\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">We got to talk over wine for two hours \u2013 something we <em>could<\/em> do at home sitting at the kitchen counter, but something that <em>doesn\u2019t<\/em> happen when the couch and TV are beckoning nearby.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">Dining out isn\u2019t about food<\/h2>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">As we left dinner that night, I couldn\u2019t help but feel <em>really<\/em> happy \u2013&nbsp;decidedly <em>not<\/em> how I used to feel after spending $100 on a single dinner. There was something special about the fact that we did it so infrequently; I even challenged myself to order what looked good without paying too much attention to the prices. <\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">Why? Because it was an experience \u2013&nbsp;it was time spent together without screens, around other people doing the same.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">And that\u2019s the funny thing about dining out: <\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">I think it\u2019s a colossal waste of money if you\u2019re judging it as a means of <em>merely feeding yourself<\/em>. It\u2019s about as inefficient as you can get, in that respect. <\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">But as a means of entertainment, quality time, and bonding? It\u2019s a pretty good contender.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">Going out to eat once a month (or once a week) isn\u2019t going to derail your financial future, but it might strengthen your relationships and bring a little bit of novelty and joy into an otherwise-mostly-mundane life. <\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">As someone who rarely leaves her home (work from home, workout from home, relax at home), the occasion to put on real clothes and be around other humans is nothing short of exciting. <\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">It\u2019s definitely cheaper than an expensive vacation, sporting event, or shopping spree (though I suppose those things are also totally permissible in moderation, too).<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">Budgeting for dining out<\/h2>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">Of course, it crossed my mind after the meal that this is still a <em>relatively<\/em> expensive habit, and one that has to be planned for. <\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">We budget $175 per month for date nights and another $150 for eating out in general \u2013&nbsp;the difference is that the $175 goes toward intentional \u2018sit down like a real person and order a bottle of wine\u2019 nights, whereas the $150 restaurant budget typically gets spent on Thai food that gets delivered to the front porch for Saturday night Succession binges.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">We track these automatically in <a href=\"https:\/\/apps.apple.com\/us\/app\/copilot-the-smart-money-app\/id1447330651\" target=\"_blank\">Copilot<\/a>, my favorite budgeting app, and in our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.moneywithkatie.com\/wealth-planners-breakdown\" target=\"_blank\">2022 Wealth Planner<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<div class=\"sqs-html-content\" data-sqsp-text-block-content>\n<h3 style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">Disclaimer<\/h3>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">I asked Copilot Money to sponsor this article, and they agreed. They had no input as to its content and didn\u2019t see it before it went live.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">You may also like\u2026<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\n  summary-block-wrapper\n\n  summary-block-collection-type-blog-masonry\n\n  summary-block-setting-text-size-medium\n  summary-block-setting-text-align-left\n\n  summary-block-setting-design-list\n  summary-block-setting-design-list-thumbnail-left\n\n  summary-block-setting-metadata-position-below-content\n  summary-block-setting-primary-metadata-cats\n  summary-block-setting-secondary-metadata-tags\n\n  summary-block-setting-show-thumbnail\n  summary-block-setting-show-title\n  summary-block-setting-show-price\n  summary-block-setting-show-excerpt\n  \n\n  \n\n  sqs-gallery-design-list\n\n  \n  \"\n\n  \n><\/p>\n<div class=\"summary-item-list-container sqs-gallery-container\">\n<header class=\"summary-block-header\">\n<div class=\"summary-heading\" data-animation-role=\"content\">\n<p>          <span class=\"summary-header-text\">Featured<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"summary-carousel-pager sqs-gallery-controls\" data-animation-role=\"content\">\n        <span\n          class=\"summary-carousel-pager-prev previous\"\n          tabindex=\"0\"\n          role=\"button\"\n          aria-label=\"Previous\"\n        ><\/span><br \/>\n        <span\n          class=\"summary-carousel-pager-next next\"\n          tabindex=\"0\"\n          role=\"button\"\n          aria-label=\"Next\"\n        ><\/span>\n      <\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"summary-item-list sqs-gallery\">\n<div class=\"\n          summary-item\n          summary-item-record-type-text\n          sqs-gallery-design-list-slide\n          \n          \n            summary-item-has-thumbnail\n          \n          \n          summary-item-has-cats\n          summary-item-has-tags\n          summary-item-has-author\n          \n          \"\n          ><\/p>\n<div class=\"summary-thumbnail-outer-container\">\n      <a\n        \n          \n            href=\"\/blog\/what-will-make-economic-boycotts-work-again\"\n          \n        \n        class=\"\n          summary-thumbnail-container\n          sqs-gallery-image-container\n          \n        \"\n        data-title=\"What Will Make Economic Boycotts Work Again?\"\n        data-description=\"\"\n      ><\/p>\n<div class=\"summary-thumbnail img-wrapper\" data-animation-role=\"image\">\n<p>      <!-- Main Image --><br \/>\n      <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/moneywithkatie.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/NikeProtest.webp\" data-image=\"https:\/\/moneywithkatie.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/NikeProtest.webp\" data-image-dimensions=\"800x600\" data-image-focal-point=\"0.5,0.5\" alt=\"What Will Make Economic Boycotts Work Again?\"  data-load=\"false\" class=\"summary-thumbnail-image\" elementtiming=\"summary-thumbnail-image-list\" \/><\/p><\/div>\n<p>  <\/a><\/p>\n<p>    <!-- Products: Quick View --><\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"summary-content sqs-gallery-meta-container\" data-animation-role=\"content\">\n<div class=\"summary-metadata-container summary-metadata-container--above-title\">\n<div class=\"summary-metadata summary-metadata--primary\">\n<p>\t<!-- Categories --><br \/>\n\t<span class=\"summary-metadata-item summary-metadata-item--cats\"><a href=\"\/blog?category=spending+habits\">spending habits<\/a>, <a href=\"\/blog?category=economy\">economy<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"summary-metadata summary-metadata--secondary\">\n<p>\t<!-- Tags --><br \/>\n\t<span class=\"summary-metadata-item summary-metadata-item--tags\"><a href=\"\/blog?tag=essay\">essay<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"summary-title\">\n                <a\n                \n                  \n                    href=\"\/blog\/what-will-make-economic-boycotts-work-again\"\n                  \n                \n                class=\"summary-title-link\">What Will Make Economic Boycotts Work Again?<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"summary-metadata-container summary-metadata-container--below-title\">\n<div class=\"summary-metadata summary-metadata--primary\">\n<p>\t<!-- Categories --><br \/>\n\t<span class=\"summary-metadata-item summary-metadata-item--cats\"><a href=\"\/blog?category=spending+habits\">spending habits<\/a>, <a href=\"\/blog?category=economy\">economy<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"summary-metadata summary-metadata--secondary\">\n<p>\t<!-- Tags --><br \/>\n\t<span class=\"summary-metadata-item summary-metadata-item--tags\"><a href=\"\/blog?tag=essay\">essay<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"summary-metadata-container summary-metadata-container--below-content\">\n<div class=\"summary-metadata summary-metadata--primary\">\n<p>\t<!-- Categories --><br \/>\n\t<span class=\"summary-metadata-item summary-metadata-item--cats\"><a href=\"\/blog?category=spending+habits\">spending habits<\/a>, <a href=\"\/blog?category=economy\">economy<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"summary-metadata summary-metadata--secondary\">\n<p>\t<!-- Tags --><br \/>\n\t<span class=\"summary-metadata-item summary-metadata-item--tags\"><a href=\"\/blog?tag=essay\">essay<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"\n          summary-item\n          summary-item-record-type-text\n          sqs-gallery-design-list-slide\n          \n          \n            summary-item-has-thumbnail\n          \n          \n          summary-item-has-cats\n          \n          summary-item-has-author\n          \n          \"\n          ><\/p>\n<div class=\"summary-thumbnail-outer-container\">\n      <a\n        \n          \n            href=\"\/blog\/iso-patina\"\n          \n        \n        class=\"\n          summary-thumbnail-container\n          sqs-gallery-image-container\n          \n        \"\n        data-title=\"ISO: Patina\"\n        data-description=\"\"\n      ><\/p>\n<div class=\"summary-thumbnail img-wrapper\" data-animation-role=\"image\">\n<p>      <!-- Main Image --><br \/>\n      <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/moneywithkatie.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/riho-kitagawa-JuDPjcutors-unsplash.webp\" data-image=\"https:\/\/moneywithkatie.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/riho-kitagawa-JuDPjcutors-unsplash.webp\" data-image-dimensions=\"5472x3648\" data-image-focal-point=\"0.5,0.5\" alt=\"ISO: Patina\"  data-load=\"false\" class=\"summary-thumbnail-image\" elementtiming=\"summary-thumbnail-image-list\" \/><\/p><\/div>\n<p>  <\/a><\/p>\n<p>    <!-- Products: Quick View --><\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"summary-content sqs-gallery-meta-container\" data-animation-role=\"content\">\n<div class=\"summary-metadata-container summary-metadata-container--above-title\">\n<div class=\"summary-metadata summary-metadata--primary\">\n<p>\t<!-- Categories --><br \/>\n\t<span class=\"summary-metadata-item summary-metadata-item--cats\"><a href=\"\/blog?category=spending+habits\">spending habits<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"summary-metadata summary-metadata--secondary\">\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"summary-title\">\n                <a\n                \n                  \n                    href=\"\/blog\/iso-patina\"\n                  \n                \n                class=\"summary-title-link\">ISO: Patina<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"summary-metadata-container summary-metadata-container--below-title\">\n<div class=\"summary-metadata summary-metadata--primary\">\n<p>\t<!-- Categories --><br \/>\n\t<span class=\"summary-metadata-item summary-metadata-item--cats\"><a href=\"\/blog?category=spending+habits\">spending habits<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"summary-metadata summary-metadata--secondary\">\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"summary-metadata-container summary-metadata-container--below-content\">\n<div class=\"summary-metadata summary-metadata--primary\">\n<p>\t<!-- Categories --><br \/>\n\t<span class=\"summary-metadata-item summary-metadata-item--cats\"><a href=\"\/blog?category=spending+habits\">spending habits<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"summary-metadata summary-metadata--secondary\">\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"\n          summary-item\n          summary-item-record-type-text\n          sqs-gallery-design-list-slide\n          \n          \n            summary-item-has-thumbnail\n          \n          \n          summary-item-has-cats\n          summary-item-has-tags\n          summary-item-has-author\n          \n          \"\n          ><\/p>\n<div class=\"summary-thumbnail-outer-container\">\n      <a\n        \n          \n            href=\"\/blog\/were-having-fun-right\"\n          \n        \n        class=\"\n          summary-thumbnail-container\n          sqs-gallery-image-container\n          \n        \"\n        data-title=\"We\u2019re Having Fun, Right?\"\n        data-description=\"\"\n      ><\/p>\n<div class=\"summary-thumbnail img-wrapper\" data-animation-role=\"image\">\n<p>      <!-- Main Image --><br \/>\n      <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/moneywithkatie.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/nick-noel-fuEtUkDhbtA-unsplash.webp\" data-image=\"https:\/\/moneywithkatie.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/nick-noel-fuEtUkDhbtA-unsplash.webp\" data-image-dimensions=\"4720x3206\" data-image-focal-point=\"0.5,0.5\" alt=\"We\u2019re Having Fun, Right?\"  data-load=\"false\" class=\"summary-thumbnail-image\" elementtiming=\"summary-thumbnail-image-list\" \/><\/p><\/div>\n<p>  <\/a><\/p>\n<p>    <!-- Products: Quick View --><\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"summary-content sqs-gallery-meta-container\" data-animation-role=\"content\">\n<div class=\"summary-metadata-container summary-metadata-container--above-title\">\n<div class=\"summary-metadata summary-metadata--primary\">\n<p>\t<!-- Categories --><br \/>\n\t<span class=\"summary-metadata-item summary-metadata-item--cats\"><a href=\"\/blog?category=spending+habits\">spending habits<\/a>, <a href=\"\/blog?category=financial+psychology\">financial psychology<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"summary-metadata summary-metadata--secondary\">\n<p>\t<!-- Tags --><br \/>\n\t<span class=\"summary-metadata-item summary-metadata-item--tags\"><a href=\"\/blog?tag=essay\">essay<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"summary-title\">\n                <a\n                \n                  \n                    href=\"\/blog\/were-having-fun-right\"\n                  \n                \n                class=\"summary-title-link\">We\u2019re Having Fun, Right?<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"summary-metadata-container summary-metadata-container--below-title\">\n<div class=\"summary-metadata summary-metadata--primary\">\n<p>\t<!-- Categories --><br \/>\n\t<span class=\"summary-metadata-item summary-metadata-item--cats\"><a href=\"\/blog?category=spending+habits\">spending habits<\/a>, <a href=\"\/blog?category=financial+psychology\">financial psychology<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"summary-metadata summary-metadata--secondary\">\n<p>\t<!-- Tags --><br \/>\n\t<span class=\"summary-metadata-item summary-metadata-item--tags\"><a href=\"\/blog?tag=essay\">essay<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"summary-metadata-container summary-metadata-container--below-content\">\n<div class=\"summary-metadata summary-metadata--primary\">\n<p>\t<!-- Categories --><br \/>\n\t<span class=\"summary-metadata-item summary-metadata-item--cats\"><a href=\"\/blog?category=spending+habits\">spending habits<\/a>, <a href=\"\/blog?category=financial+psychology\">financial psychology<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"summary-metadata summary-metadata--secondary\">\n<p>\t<!-- Tags --><br \/>\n\t<span class=\"summary-metadata-item summary-metadata-item--tags\"><a href=\"\/blog?tag=essay\">essay<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"\n          summary-item\n          summary-item-record-type-text\n          sqs-gallery-design-list-slide\n          \n          \n            summary-item-has-thumbnail\n          \n           summary-item-has-excerpt\n          summary-item-has-cats\n          \n          summary-item-has-author\n          \n          \"\n          ><\/p>\n<div class=\"summary-thumbnail-outer-container\">\n      <a\n        \n          \n            href=\"\/blog\/mimetic-desire-and-consumer-choice\"\n          \n        \n        class=\"\n          summary-thumbnail-container\n          sqs-gallery-image-container\n          \n        \"\n        data-title=\"Mimetic Desire and Consumer \u201cChoice\u201d\"\n        data-description=\"\"\n      ><\/p>\n<div class=\"summary-thumbnail img-wrapper\" data-animation-role=\"image\">\n<p>      <!-- Main Image --><br \/>\n      <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/moneywithkatie.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/unsplash-image-2TLREZi7BUg.webp\" data-image=\"https:\/\/moneywithkatie.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/unsplash-image-2TLREZi7BUg.webp\" data-image-dimensions=\"2500x1621\" data-image-focal-point=\"0.5,0.5\" alt=\"Mimetic Desire and Consumer \u201cChoice\u201d\"  data-load=\"false\" class=\"summary-thumbnail-image\" elementtiming=\"summary-thumbnail-image-list\" \/><\/p><\/div>\n<p>  <\/a><\/p>\n<p>    <!-- Products: Quick View --><\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"summary-content sqs-gallery-meta-container\" data-animation-role=\"content\">\n<div class=\"summary-metadata-container summary-metadata-container--above-title\">\n<div class=\"summary-metadata summary-metadata--primary\">\n<p>\t<!-- Categories --><br \/>\n\t<span class=\"summary-metadata-item summary-metadata-item--cats\"><a href=\"\/blog?category=spending+habits\">spending habits<\/a>, <a href=\"\/blog?category=financial+psychology\">financial psychology<\/a>, <a href=\"\/blog?category=culture\">culture<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"summary-metadata summary-metadata--secondary\">\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"summary-title\">\n                <a\n                \n                  \n                    href=\"\/blog\/mimetic-desire-and-consumer-choice\"\n                  \n                \n                class=\"summary-title-link\">Mimetic Desire and Consumer \u201cChoice\u201d<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"summary-metadata-container summary-metadata-container--below-title\">\n<div class=\"summary-metadata summary-metadata--primary\">\n<p>\t<!-- Categories --><br \/>\n\t<span class=\"summary-metadata-item summary-metadata-item--cats\"><a href=\"\/blog?category=spending+habits\">spending habits<\/a>, <a href=\"\/blog?category=financial+psychology\">financial psychology<\/a>, <a href=\"\/blog?category=culture\">culture<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"summary-metadata summary-metadata--secondary\">\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"\n                  summary-excerpt\n                  summary-excerpt-only\n                \"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"summary-metadata-container summary-metadata-container--below-content\">\n<div class=\"summary-metadata summary-metadata--primary\">\n<p>\t<!-- Categories --><br \/>\n\t<span class=\"summary-metadata-item summary-metadata-item--cats\"><a href=\"\/blog?category=spending+habits\">spending habits<\/a>, <a href=\"\/blog?category=financial+psychology\">financial psychology<\/a>, <a href=\"\/blog?category=culture\">culture<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"summary-metadata summary-metadata--secondary\">\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"\n          summary-item\n          summary-item-record-type-text\n          sqs-gallery-design-list-slide\n          \n          \n            summary-item-has-thumbnail\n          \n          \n          summary-item-has-cats\n          summary-item-has-tags\n          summary-item-has-author\n          \n          \"\n          ><\/p>\n<div class=\"summary-thumbnail-outer-container\">\n      <a\n        \n          \n            href=\"\/blog\/the-financial-case-for-creativity\"\n          \n        \n        class=\"\n          summary-thumbnail-container\n          sqs-gallery-image-container\n          \n        \"\n        data-title=\"The Financial Case for Creativity\"\n        data-description=\"\"\n      ><\/p>\n<div class=\"summary-thumbnail img-wrapper\" data-animation-role=\"image\">\n<p>      <!-- Main Image --><br \/>\n      <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/moneywithkatie.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/jennie-razumnaya-XbcfTH69aAc-unsplash.webp\" data-image=\"https:\/\/moneywithkatie.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/jennie-razumnaya-XbcfTH69aAc-unsplash.webp\" data-image-dimensions=\"4032x3024\" data-image-focal-point=\"0.5,0.5\" alt=\"The Financial Case for Creativity\"  data-load=\"false\" class=\"summary-thumbnail-image\" elementtiming=\"summary-thumbnail-image-list\" \/><\/p><\/div>\n<p>  <\/a><\/p>\n<p>    <!-- Products: Quick View --><\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"summary-content sqs-gallery-meta-container\" data-animation-role=\"content\">\n<div class=\"summary-metadata-container summary-metadata-container--above-title\">\n<div class=\"summary-metadata summary-metadata--primary\">\n<p>\t<!-- Categories --><br \/>\n\t<span class=\"summary-metadata-item summary-metadata-item--cats\"><a href=\"\/blog?category=spending+habits\">spending habits<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"summary-metadata summary-metadata--secondary\">\n<p>\t<!-- Tags --><br \/>\n\t<span class=\"summary-metadata-item summary-metadata-item--tags\"><a href=\"\/blog?tag=essay\">essay<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"summary-title\">\n                <a\n                \n                  \n                    href=\"\/blog\/the-financial-case-for-creativity\"\n                  \n                \n                class=\"summary-title-link\">The Financial Case for Creativity<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"summary-metadata-container summary-metadata-container--below-title\">\n<div class=\"summary-metadata summary-metadata--primary\">\n<p>\t<!-- Categories --><br \/>\n\t<span class=\"summary-metadata-item summary-metadata-item--cats\"><a href=\"\/blog?category=spending+habits\">spending habits<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"summary-metadata summary-metadata--secondary\">\n<p>\t<!-- Tags --><br \/>\n\t<span class=\"summary-metadata-item summary-metadata-item--tags\"><a href=\"\/blog?tag=essay\">essay<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"summary-metadata-container summary-metadata-container--below-content\">\n<div class=\"summary-metadata summary-metadata--primary\">\n<p>\t<!-- Categories --><br \/>\n\t<span class=\"summary-metadata-item summary-metadata-item--cats\"><a href=\"\/blog?category=spending+habits\">spending habits<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"summary-metadata summary-metadata--secondary\">\n<p>\t<!-- Tags --><br \/>\n\t<span class=\"summary-metadata-item summary-metadata-item--tags\"><a href=\"\/blog?tag=essay\">essay<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The other night, my husband and I went out to a nice dinner. It was a Friday evening, I didn\u2019t feel like cooking, and at around 3:30 in the afternoon, I texted him at work: \u201cI think I\u2019m in the mood to go out for a nice dinner tonight.\u201d He sent back a meme of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":178814,"featured_media":2450,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"si-template-single-post-everyday-spending-and-budgeting.php","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[36],"tags":[45],"class_list":["post-488","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-spending-and-saving","tag-everyday-spending-and-budgeting"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>The Radical Act of Going Out to Eat: My \u201cOnce a Week\u201d Strategy - Money with Katie<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/moneywithkatie.com\/the-radical-act-of-going-out-to-eat-my-once-a-week-strategy\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Radical Act of Going Out to Eat: My \u201cOnce a Week\u201d Strategy - Money with Katie\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The other night, my husband and I went out to a nice dinner. It was a Friday evening, I didn\u2019t feel like cooking, and at around 3:30 in the afternoon, I texted him at work: \u201cI think I\u2019m in the mood to go out for a nice dinner tonight.\u201d He sent back a meme of [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/moneywithkatie.com\/the-radical-act-of-going-out-to-eat-my-once-a-week-strategy\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Money with Katie\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2022-01-17T12:00:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-09-05T16:51:06+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/moneywithkatie.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Receipt_Fire-Pink_Cropped.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"757\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Katie Gatti\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Katie Gatti\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/moneywithkatie.com\/the-radical-act-of-going-out-to-eat-my-once-a-week-strategy\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/moneywithkatie.com\/the-radical-act-of-going-out-to-eat-my-once-a-week-strategy\/\",\"name\":\"The Radical Act of Going Out to Eat: My \u201cOnce a Week\u201d Strategy - Money with Katie\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/moneywithkatie.com\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/moneywithkatie.com\/the-radical-act-of-going-out-to-eat-my-once-a-week-strategy\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/moneywithkatie.com\/the-radical-act-of-going-out-to-eat-my-once-a-week-strategy\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/moneywithkatie.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Receipt_Fire-Pink_Cropped.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2022-01-17T12:00:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-09-05T16:51:06+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/moneywithkatie.com\/#\/schema\/person\/51ab3e47f462d7af0d7d2b00ab153000\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/moneywithkatie.com\/the-radical-act-of-going-out-to-eat-my-once-a-week-strategy\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/moneywithkatie.com\/the-radical-act-of-going-out-to-eat-my-once-a-week-strategy\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/moneywithkatie.com\/the-radical-act-of-going-out-to-eat-my-once-a-week-strategy\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/moneywithkatie.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Receipt_Fire-Pink_Cropped.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/moneywithkatie.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Receipt_Fire-Pink_Cropped.png\",\"width\":1000,\"height\":757},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/moneywithkatie.com\/the-radical-act-of-going-out-to-eat-my-once-a-week-strategy\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/moneywithkatie.com\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"The Radical Act of Going Out to Eat: My \u201cOnce a Week\u201d Strategy\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/moneywithkatie.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/moneywithkatie.com\/\",\"name\":\"Money with Katie\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/moneywithkatie.com\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/moneywithkatie.com\/#\/schema\/person\/51ab3e47f462d7af0d7d2b00ab153000\",\"name\":\"Katie Gatti\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/moneywithkatie.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/59c980f5acd370ecf7e985b2da3db33f1883bc4b53677d75e5b8f124f8e1ed74?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/59c980f5acd370ecf7e985b2da3db33f1883bc4b53677d75e5b8f124f8e1ed74?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Katie Gatti\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/moneywithkatie.com\/author\/katiemoneywithkatie-com\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"The Radical Act of Going Out to Eat: My \u201cOnce a Week\u201d Strategy - Money with Katie","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/moneywithkatie.com\/the-radical-act-of-going-out-to-eat-my-once-a-week-strategy\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"The Radical Act of Going Out to Eat: My \u201cOnce a Week\u201d Strategy - Money with Katie","og_description":"The other night, my husband and I went out to a nice dinner. It was a Friday evening, I didn\u2019t feel like cooking, and at around 3:30 in the afternoon, I texted him at work: \u201cI think I\u2019m in the mood to go out for a nice dinner tonight.\u201d He sent back a meme of [&hellip;]","og_url":"https:\/\/moneywithkatie.com\/the-radical-act-of-going-out-to-eat-my-once-a-week-strategy\/","og_site_name":"Money with Katie","article_published_time":"2022-01-17T12:00:00+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-09-05T16:51:06+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1000,"height":757,"url":"https:\/\/moneywithkatie.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Receipt_Fire-Pink_Cropped.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"Katie Gatti","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Katie Gatti","Est. reading time":"7 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/moneywithkatie.com\/the-radical-act-of-going-out-to-eat-my-once-a-week-strategy\/","url":"https:\/\/moneywithkatie.com\/the-radical-act-of-going-out-to-eat-my-once-a-week-strategy\/","name":"The Radical Act of Going Out to Eat: My \u201cOnce a Week\u201d Strategy - Money with Katie","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/moneywithkatie.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/moneywithkatie.com\/the-radical-act-of-going-out-to-eat-my-once-a-week-strategy\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/moneywithkatie.com\/the-radical-act-of-going-out-to-eat-my-once-a-week-strategy\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/moneywithkatie.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Receipt_Fire-Pink_Cropped.png","datePublished":"2022-01-17T12:00:00+00:00","dateModified":"2025-09-05T16:51:06+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/moneywithkatie.com\/#\/schema\/person\/51ab3e47f462d7af0d7d2b00ab153000"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/moneywithkatie.com\/the-radical-act-of-going-out-to-eat-my-once-a-week-strategy\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/moneywithkatie.com\/the-radical-act-of-going-out-to-eat-my-once-a-week-strategy\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/moneywithkatie.com\/the-radical-act-of-going-out-to-eat-my-once-a-week-strategy\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/moneywithkatie.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Receipt_Fire-Pink_Cropped.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/moneywithkatie.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Receipt_Fire-Pink_Cropped.png","width":1000,"height":757},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/moneywithkatie.com\/the-radical-act-of-going-out-to-eat-my-once-a-week-strategy\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/moneywithkatie.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"The Radical Act of Going Out to Eat: My \u201cOnce a Week\u201d Strategy"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/moneywithkatie.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/moneywithkatie.com\/","name":"Money with Katie","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/moneywithkatie.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/moneywithkatie.com\/#\/schema\/person\/51ab3e47f462d7af0d7d2b00ab153000","name":"Katie Gatti","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/moneywithkatie.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/59c980f5acd370ecf7e985b2da3db33f1883bc4b53677d75e5b8f124f8e1ed74?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/59c980f5acd370ecf7e985b2da3db33f1883bc4b53677d75e5b8f124f8e1ed74?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Katie Gatti"},"url":"https:\/\/moneywithkatie.com\/author\/katiemoneywithkatie-com\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/moneywithkatie.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/488","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/moneywithkatie.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/moneywithkatie.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/moneywithkatie.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/178814"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/moneywithkatie.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=488"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/moneywithkatie.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/488\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1629,"href":"https:\/\/moneywithkatie.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/488\/revisions\/1629"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/moneywithkatie.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2450"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/moneywithkatie.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=488"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/moneywithkatie.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=488"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/moneywithkatie.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=488"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}