How I Saved $10,000 in a Year by Cooking Every Meal at Home

The Story

"Before the pandemic, I never thought twice about eating out. Coffee in the morning, takeout lunches, dinners with friends — it all felt normal. But one month I sat down and looked at my bank statements. I was spending close to $800 every month on restaurants and delivery. That was almost $10,000 a year! It hit me: I was literally eating my future savings. So, I made a challenge — for one year, I would cook every single meal at home. The first month was hard, but soon I got better at meal prepping and even enjoyed learning new recipes. By the end of the year, I had saved over $10,000, and I felt more in control of my money than ever before."

Advisor Breakdown

Situation:

• Overspending on restaurants and takeout.

• Nearly $800/month → $9,600/year drained from savings.

👉 This is one of the most common leaks I see in people’s budgets. Food spending sneaks up quickly.

Task:

• Reduce monthly spending drastically.

• Build habits that could last beyond the challenge.

Action:

• Cooked 100% of meals at home for 12 months.

• Learned meal prepping and bought groceries in bulk.

• Tracked spending weekly to see progress.

👉 I like this approach — focusing on one major category instead of trying to cut everything at once. It’s realistic and sustainable.

Result:

• Saved ~$10,000 in one year.

• Built cooking skills + healthier habits.

• Continued cooking 80% of meals at home even after the challenge.

Key Takeaways

• Food is often the biggest “hidden” budget leak.

• Focusing on one major expense can supercharge savings.

• Meal prepping saves both time and money.

• Big wins come from consistency, not one-time cuts.